Features

KIDS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

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Over 40 youngsters from Fort Stockton and the surrounding area took part in the Second Annual Tiny Tot Track Meet held on the Fort Stockton Middle School campus on July 30. Kids ranging from 1-6 years old were able to participate in the event. Fort Stockton native Tammy Lujan, who started the event a year ago, put on the event once again this year and hopes to continue to do so in the future. Her passion for the sport of track and field, and her son Tomas, 3, originally inspired her to organize the event. “I decided to host a tiny tot track meet because track and field has always been near and dear to my heart. With covid restrictions so rough in 2020 I felt activities for the youth were struggling. I wanted my son, who was 2-years-old at the time, to get social and get active,” she said. “I wanted to involve children ages six and under because they don’t have a lot of activities do to for them. It is very rewarding to know that I can contribute to our youth in this community.” Pictured from left to right is Genesis Arguing, Aubrey Gonzalez, Piper McCullough, Emory Young, and Azariah Rivera. Photo by Nathan Heuer
KIDS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

Barrio Fest to highlight local Mexican history

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“For some reason, she’s really jazzed up about this,” says son Tony Swanke about his mother, Sarita Urias, after hearing about Barrio Fest in Fort Stockton.

If her name sounds familiar, that’s because Doña Sarita Urias was born in Fort Stockton and is an important figure to Mexican Americans in the area.

Fort Stockton native Doña Sarita Urias will return to Fort Stockton to celebrate Barriofest next after celebrating Mexican Independence Day in an unprecedented event in the city from 1948-1949. Courtesy Photo

City’s expanded event plan continues

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The City of Fort Stockton embarked on a mission to provide the community with more in-town entertainment through the purchase of its new Convention Center. Formally Stockton’s Entertainment, the large building is overseen by the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) who coordinate city sponsored events and work to facilitate private events.
Saturday’s “The Arrival” wrestling event drew an impressive crowd of 250 attendees to the Fort Stockton Convention Center. The wrestler known as Akantus is pictured signing “luchador”wrestling masks at his merchandise table. Photo courtesy of Brenda DelaO, City Marketing and Sales Coordinator.

Where Ya Headed?

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The charm of Fort Stockton is occasionally discovered by visiting a friend who has moved here from elsewhere. This was the case for Ben Johnson, an Austin native who stopped by to visit a former friend and colleague.
Ben Johnson and Lauren Reichert of Austin shared a day of touristic sightseeing in Fort Stockton. The couple enjoyed a morning of exploring the Annie Riggs Memorial Museum before departing to their new home in Washington. Photo by Jeremy Gonzalez

A beginning of a new chapter

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The Fort Stockton Independent School District held a meet and great for new head football coach and athletic director Jeremy Hickman at the Spanish Trail Lodge on July 13. The event featured a ribbon cutting ceremony at the facility, which is the district’s transitional housing facility moving forward. Teachers began moving into the rooms last month. As of last week, only a few rooms were still available. Rent at the facility is set at $250 a month per room and the agreement allows to teachers to pay the rate on a month-to-month basis. Pictured from left to right: Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Zamora, board president Billy Espino, and board members Ursula Sanchez, Freddie Martinez, Andy Rivera, Flo Garcia. Courtesy photo of Fort Stockton ISD.
A beginning of a new chapter

2022 Water Carnival Royalty

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The Junior Miss Fort Stockton award recipients from Friday’s Water Carnival pageant were: Jocelynn Carrillo, second runner-up, Ariana Alexandra Ramirez Junior Miss Fort Stockton, Aubrey Janelle Salgado, runner up.
The Junior Miss Fort Stockton award recipients from Friday’s Water Carnival pageant were: Jocelynn Carrillo, second runner-up, Ariana Alexandra Ramirez Junior Miss Fort Stockton, Aubrey Janelle Salgado, runner up.

2022 Miss Fort Stockton Contestants

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Ten Contestants competed in the 86th Annual Miss Fort Stockton pageant on July 16 at the Comanche Springs Pool. Pictured are the contestants during Saturday's competition.

The following were the award winners from Saturday night’s event:

Miss Fort Stockton: Ysabella Sanchez

First Runner Up: Katheryn Mendoza

Second Runner Up: Eliana Mata

Miss Photogenic: Anaih Montoya

Miss Congeniality: Katheryn Mendoza

Anaih Montoya

Photo Gallery: Water Carnival Parade

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The annual Water Carnival Parade took place on Saturday morning in Fort Stockton on Dickinson Boulevard and Main Street. Former Fort Stockton High School graduation classes and Water Carnival contestants, among many others, took part in the event.

See photos in the July 21 paper.

Water Carnival Parade

Miss Fort Stockton Tea Party

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Miss Fort Stockton Tea Party Glitzy Trendz in Fort Stockton hosted a team party for the 2022 Miss Fort Stockton contestants and current Miss Fort Stockton, Gabrielle Renteria. Pictured from left to right: Anaih Montoya, Ysabella Sanchez, Ashlyn Foster, Victoria Soto.
Pictured from left to right: Anaih Montoya, Ysabella Sanchez, Ashlyn Foster, Victoria Soto. Courtesy Photos
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