January 2026

Fort Stockton Independent School District Superintendent Gil Rey Madrid officially recognized January as Texas School Board Appreciation Month, praising the District Board of Trustees for leadership that guides district progress and supports the long-term success of local public education. In a statement shared with the Pioneer, Madrid noted that school board members serve as elected volunteers who dedicate “countless hours” to decisions shaping academics, finances, safety, staffing, and long-range planning.

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The Pecos County Elections Department, along with counties across the state, are diligently working with the Texas Secretary of State’s Office to mail out renewal voter registration certificates for 2026-2027 however due to the state’s redevelopment of the voter registration system, delays across the state are inevitable.

Ingredients 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 large egg, beaten 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce 1-pound jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over 20 saltine crackers, finely crushed 1/4 cup canola oil Lemon wedges, for serving Directions 1. Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl except the crab meat and crushed crackers.

On a recent outing, we made a pitstop sightseeing and wandered into Fogo de Chão, an Argentinian Steakhouse best known for its fire-roasted cuts of beef, tableside service, and gauchos servers moving from table to table with skewers of meat.

Editor's note: It is important to note that an arrest should not be considered evidence of guilt, all defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The following list is provided by the Pecos County Sheriff's Department.

J. David Bamberger, a towering figure in Texas conservation and a pioneering businessman whose unlikely journey led from fried chicken to land restoration, passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, at his beloved Selah Bamberger Ranch near Johnson City. He was 97.

Dear Neil, Can I dig and divide my purpleheart bed before it starts growing this spring? Purpleheart is a true perennial in almost all of Texas. That’s surprising when you consider it’s a sister to the tender types of wandering Jews.

Fort Stockton Pioneer Photos are from the Fort Stockton Pioneer archives at the Pioneer’s office located at 808 W. Dickinson Ste A, Fort Stockton .

The Fort Stockton High School basketball programs put together a strong stretch of district play last week, highlighted by a sweep of Pecos by the Panthers and continued momentum from the Prowlers as they defended their position in the District 1-4A standings. The boys opened district play on Friday, January 16, at home against Pecos and delivered a complete sweep across all three levels.