April 2021

The Fort Stockton Middle School tennis team earned a district title on April 24 on their home court. Paige Boone earned a girl’s singles title as well as Alexander Gomez and Jazlene Tijerina, who placed first in the mixed doubles division. Dylan Jones was the runner-up in the boy’s singles bracket. Alyssa Bernal and the mixed doubles team of Moises Villarreal and Vianey placed third, rounding out a superior showing by the Panthers and Prowlers.

Fort Stockton School Board members Anastacio Dominguez, left, and Tom Ezell, right, were awarded for their years of service at the FSISD school board meeting on April 26. Dominguez has served on the board for five years and Ezell has served on the board for 15 years. Photo by Nathan Heuer

Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) on April 23 announced over $350,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Head Start programs in the Texas 23rd District. Gonzales previously served as the community representative for the City of San Antonio Head Start Policy Council from 2018-2019.

Fort Stockton started the season by winning four of their first five games against district competition and since that time, the Panthers have been defeated in five consecutive games – moving their district record to 4-5 to conclude the regular season.

The week of April 18–24 marked the 40th anniversary of the observance of National Crime Victims Rights Week. In cooperation with the City of Fort Stockton, Frank Lacy and his staff have donated and planted a red maple tree to honor victims of crimes in Pecos County.

The federal government awarded a $530 million migrant services contract to Endeavors, a Texas nonprofit that recently hired a Biden transition team official. Coincidence? The no-bid contract - the second largest ever issued by the Administration for Children and Families, and 12 times bigger than Endeavors’ annual budget - comes on the heels of the nonprofit’s $87 million no-bid arrangement with U.S.

Fort Stockton’s Isaiah Garcia showed flashes of brilliance on the mound and at the plate in the Panthers JV White team’s season finale on April against Stanton. Garcia pitched a complete game shutout for the Panthers while managing to throw only 60 pitches) in his team’s 10-0 victory.

It’s not unusual for a traveler to bring a pet along for the ride, but typically the four-legged passenger will be a dog or a cat. “I’m driving with a baby buffalo,” revealed Gavin McKinnon, who was parked at the Love’s travel stop last week.