March 2026

Certainly, I look forward to becoming reacquainted with all the groovy hairstyles, dated slang and kitschy doodads in a couple of years when my high school classmates open our 50-year time capsule. But I suspect most patriotic citizens are currently more focused on America’s Time Capsule.

Four Islamic schools have been admitted to the Texas voucher program after a federal judge ordered the state to invite the schools to apply, the Houston Chronicle reported. The judge also ordered the application deadline for families be extended to March 31, citing concerns that no Islamic schools had been approved for the program.

Families are invited to join the FSISD community for a Bilingual-ESL Family Night on Monday, March 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event, held at the Alamo Cafeteria, promises a “slice of fun” with an evening featuring pizza, popsicles, pop, and Pictionary for some friendly competition.

The Archives of the Big Bend proudly marks its 50th anniversary in 2026, commemorating five decades of dedication to preserving the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Big Bend region. To kick off the yearlong celebration, author Joe Burgess will present his book, Big Bend Through the Lens of Glenn Burgess: A Photo Journey in Mid-Century West Texas, on Thursday, March 5, at 5:30 p.m.

ANDRES MADRID The local Dairy Queen in Fort Stockton was bustling with activity Thursday as residents gathered to celebrate the restaurant’s annual Free Cone Day, with more than 1,200 free vanilla soft-serve cones, each topped with the signature Dairy Queen curl, served throughout the day. Members of the Pecos County Historical Commission stopped by to recognize the long-standing tradition and observe the role the restaurant continues to play as one of the community’s informal gathering places.

The Pecos County Memorial Hospital District Board of Directors received a significant boost for future facility development during its Tuesday meeting following the surprise recovery of the hospital’s original architectural plans.

Michael Pules, the newly appointed Pecos County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO), will host a Mobile Veteran Outreach and Recognition event on March 30 to connect local service members with essential resources.

On Tuesday evening, March 17, the Fort Stockton Public Library was transformed into a concert hall as it hosted a performance by two renowned artists from The Piatigorsky Foundation. The event, which began at 6:00 PM, featured clarinetist Katsuya Yuasa and pianist Mary Au, bringing a program of classical masterpieces to the local community.

Fort Stockton Pioneer.

Cody Joe Gonzalez entered into eternal rest surrounded by his loved ones on March 13, 2026, in Odessa, Texas. Cody was born on November 24, 1986, in Fort Stockton, Texas, to Froilo Gonzalez, Jr.