March 2026

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Saturnino L. “JunBug” Dominguez Jr., age 67, was a true legend who passed away peacefully on March 9, 2026, surrounded by family in the comfort of his home in Brownwood, Texas, leaving behind a legacy of love, compassion, and unyielding strength.

Suzanne Hunger May of Fort Stockton passed away Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the age of 95. She passed at the home she and her late husband, John, built in 1956. Sue was born on October 16, 1930, in Rochester, New York to Felix and Helen Hunger. Sue graduated from the University of Arizona, where she met and later married John May on September 22, 1953.

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.

In March of 2025, the Fort Stockton Pioneer, Big Bend Sentinel and Dallas Morning News carried a story about a rare mammoth tusk discovered in Brewster County. According to the wire reports, it was only the second mammoth tusk ever found west of the Pecos.

In a unified voice, five elected sheriffs from the Big Bend region of Texas have issued a joint statement arguing that a continuous physical border wall is “not the most practical or strategic approach” for their specific stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border. The statement, signed by Sheriffs Arvin West (Hudspeth), Oscar Carrillo (Culberson), Danny Dominguez (Presidio), Ronny Dodson (Brewster), and Thaddeus Cleveland (Terrell), emphasizes that border security strategies must be informed by “local terrain, operational realities, and fiscal responsibility”.

A multi-state investigation into the sexual abuse of multiple children has concluded with a severe sentence for the perpetrator, Eduard Steven Quinones. On January 15, 2026, Quinones was found guilty on all counts in the Superior Court of Hall County, Georgia, and was subsequently sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

On the evening of February 9, the women of Xi Zeta Lambda proudly announced Melanie Guest as this year’s Valentine Sweetheart. Guest, a long-time resident of Fort Stockton, has been an active member of Beta Sigma Phi for several years.

It was truly a family milestone. Beyond the official ceremony, community members enjoyed the opportunity to meet the families behind the business, including the owners' children, Inaya and Taha Osman. The entire La Quinta team was on hand, showcasing the hospitality that guests can expect under the new leadership.

The Pecos County Senior Citizens Center will host its monthly potluck on Friday, March 13, at 12:00 noon. It will be a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, so everyone is asked to wear green and bring green-colored side dishes or desserts, if possible.