Features

Not all heroes wear capes, in fact some wear baseball caps and drink a lot of Porky’s Icehouse sweet tea. Visiting veteran Rebbeca Smalley has served four Navy deployments with her first one being the events of Sept. 11.

Midland College/WRTTC held a certified nurse assistant pinning ceremony for their high school class on May 10 at the Fort Stockton High School Auditorium. Students that received their CNA certificate included Karina Barraza, Toni Carrasco, Jahel Encias, Caleb Franco, Alexia Galindo, Gabriela Galindo, Justin Gamboa, Caleb Garcia, Viviana Leyva, Luis Mendoza, Connor Miller, John Christian Napay, Alyssa Pacheco, Yanet Rodriguez, Elias Sanchez, Alessandra Sanchez, Ysabella Sanchez, Camryn Sawer. Linda Esquivel, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, and Minerva Franco, Health Science instructor, awarded each student their CNA pin and certificate at the ceremony. Courtesy Photo

Alamo and Comanche Elementary staff that worked under Betty Hickman celebrated a reunion at the Small Community Hall in Fort Stockton on May 14. Those in attendance were: Sylvia (Serrato) Feil, Rufino DeLeon, Estela Casas, Pam White, Betty M. McCallister, Lois Willman and Bill, Arcie Hudgins, Molly Yeager, Susan Sawyer, Lisa Archer David, Gwen Dungan, Nora Horak, Lisa Gossett, Faye Johnson, Lori Smith, Alice Duerksen, Sarah Card, Beth Ivy, Doris J. Morris, Beth Holstein Sparks, Betty Hickman, Ira Lee, Betty Henolee, Janet Stephens, Connie Mendoza, Belva Houston. Courtesy Photo

Pictured is this year’s Fort Stockton graduating class of seniors when they were in Ms. Valdez’s Kindergarten class. Valdez, who is now named Bessie Pacheco, submitted the photo as a way to honor the graduates and to share a memory with her former class. “I’m so proud of all of you! Good luck and best wishes for what’s to come in the future! Love your kindergarten teacher, Ms. Valdez,” she said. Courtesy Photo

Xi Zeta Lambda honored their annual 2022 scholarship winners and their mothers on Sunday, May 2, in the home of member Darrla with all members present. Bella Diaz and Gabriella Galindo were named the winners of the scholarships.

Due to the generous sponsors in the Fort Stockton community and Pecos County, 30 Fort Stockton High School seniors will be heading to college with a significant head start to their college and technical careers.

Re-elected councilman Darren Hodges and James Warnock, as well as newly elected councilman RJ Bernal, took an Oath of Office for a two-year term at the city council’s special meeting on May 17. The Oath of Office occurred after the canvassing of the official election results of the May 7 election. Pictured in group photo from left to right: city manager Frank Rodriguez, councilman RJ Bernal, councilman Ruben Falcon, councilman Paul Casias, mayor Chris Alexander, councilman James Warnock, councilman Darren Hodges, assistant city manager Jesse Gonzales. Photos by Nathan Heuer

The Midland College-WRTTC Alumni’s Second Annual Cinco de Mayo Cornhole Tournament was held on May 5 at K-Bobs Restaurant in Fort Stockton. The event was organized by the WRTTC Alumni group to raise money to assist the WRTTC in events like the Welcome Back Bash Orientation, and primarily to support Scholars’ Dollars Scholarship Fundraisers.

Members of the Keep Historic Fort Stockton Beautiful board assembled last week to present ribbons to the winners of their art contest. The first-place winner, Sanchi Bhakta, will have her artwork displayed on a City sanitation truck for five years. The second-place ribbon went to Audrina Ureste and the third place ribbon went to Andrea Hernandez. Pictured from left to right: Sheila Lehnert, Brenda De la O, second-place winner Audrina Ureste, first-place winner Sanchi Bhakta, third-place winner Andrea Hernandez, Ruben Gonzales and David Neyland. Photo by Jeremy Gonzalez

Before the violent storm tore through Fort Stockton on Tuesday, a traveler named Mike was all smiles earlier that day. “I’m from L.A.,” he began.