May 2026

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The Fort Stockton Panthers saw their 2026 baseball season come to an end Friday afternoon in Seminole after dropping a two-game playoff series to the Canyon Eagles in the Bi-District round. Canyon opened the series Thursday night with a 15-0 victory before closing out the sweep Friday with a 10-2 win.

The Fort Stockton High School athletic programs gathered together this week for the annual Spring Fling celebration, an event that has become a staple of Panther and Prowler athletics since it was first introduced four years ago by former Athletic Director Jeremy Hickman. This year’s celebration, however, carried a slightly different feeling as the district continues to navigate the recent departure of former Athletic Director DJ Howell.

Fort Stockton ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach DJ Howell has resigned from his position, with his departure set to take effect June 30—almost exactly one year after he was hired to lead Panther and Prowler athletics.

Fort Stockton senior Eduardo Hernandez is headed back to Austin after another standout performance at the UIL Region 1-4A Track and Field Championships held May 1-2 at Lowrey Field in Lubbock. Representing the Panthers in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash events, Hernandez secured an automatic berth to the UIL State Track and Field Meet by placing second in the 200 meters with a time of 21.52.

Last week we began what will, perhaps, continue as a series of reflections toward what is known as a public theology for the faithful community’s aid in becoming the hands and feet of Jesus, Lord and Savior of God’s creation.

Hanging on our dining room wall is a little plate that is over thirty plus years old. It was given to my wife for Mother’s Day by one of our children. My wife is not too sentimental about little gifts, but I can assure you she is about that little plate. It is faded and hard to read. It has a hand drawn picture of our house with two trees and two little flowers.

“8 Mother’s Day Gifts You Should Never Buy, According to Moms,” blared the headline of a recent “Good Housekeeping” article. (And by blared, I mean “got drowned out by all the seasonal ‘Oprah promises this $20 air fryer will make the stretch marks and sleepless nights worth it’ headlines.”) So, whether you’re feeling good about yourself for making the high school varsity team, landing your first full-time job or raising well-adjusted children of your own… suddenly, there’s a magazine informing you that you’ve been ruining mom’s special day all these years! (It’s a wonder “Good Housekeeping” didn’t partner with “Car and Driver” for this guilt trip.) In a perfect world, “Good Housekeeping” wouldn’t have to lecture us; but even the most controlling mothers are notoriously tight-lipped about gift-giving suggestions.

The average price for a gallon of gasoline in Texas has risen from $2.55 in early February to $3.91 as of Sunday, according to AAA. Diesel prices hover around $5 a gallon. The average Texan now spends $233 a month on gasoline, according to a study reported in The Texas Tribune.