News

Pickleball is taking the country by storm and the Fort Stockton Independent School District is getting in on the action. The FSISD Board of Trustees on Aug. 2 voted to add a pickleball court to the Fort Stockton Intermediate School tennis courts in lieu of resurfacing the tennis courts. Pickleball is a combination of table tennis (ping-pong) and regular tennis.

A new grant received by the Pecos County Sheriff’s Office will provide deputies with a new layer of protection in the event of an active shooter situation. Bullet-proof shields will be provided to each deputy to keep in their unit, and one will also be located inside each school campus.

The Pecos County Memorial Hospital (PCMH) and Fort Stockton Independent School District (FSISD) are working together to make sure students have the opportunity to receive their required vaccinations before school starts on Monday, Aug. 14.

It is important to note that an arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

CHILD CARE CENTERS CLOSING ACROSS STATE An unprecedented number of child care centers are expected to close across the state as pandemic relief funding ends, the Texas Standard reported. A survey conducted by the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children of about 1,600 child care programs indicated 44% were likely to close their doors without additional funding.

The heat wave that has swept across the state has taken a toll on many water wells in Texas, which were already affected by extended drought conditions. With a lack of moisture and record-setting temperatures, people who rely on well water need to be aware of the signs that their well may run out and take steps to prevent that from happening.

The 2nd annual Barrio Fest, sponsored by the Fort Stockton Community Theater, is rapidly approaching. Last year’s event brought attention to a piece of history that had been forgotten if it had not been for Mrs. Sarita Urias Swonke. She heard of the event and sent us flyers of the Dies y Seis de Septiembre Celebration held on Nelson Street in 1949! At 92, she made the journey from east Texas to her hometown of Fort Stockton. She shared stories and surprised us all by playing the piano at the FMH Hall reception.

Iraan-Sheffield Collegiate ISD School Resource Officer Pete Galvan, left, with Pecos County Sheriff Thomas J. Perkins, and Buena Vista ISD School Resource Officer Christine Moore, right, with county judge Joe Shuster and Sheriff Perkins will continue as School Resource Officers for their respective school districts for the 2023-2024 school year, which begins next week.

The Pecos County Commissioner’s Court held a special session Monday morning, approving the overall tax rates for the county and for the Midland College Williams Regional Technical Training Center. The county’s “No New Tax” rate has been set at $0.5415 per $100 of property valuation and the rate for WRTTC is $0.155. The rates have been posted in the Legals section of this issue and the county rate reflects a decrease of $0.0164 over last year.

The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult times a family can face, and the process of planning a memorial service or funeral only adds stress to an already difficult time. Nancy Olvera and the team at Eternity Funeral Home in Fort Stockton understands the difficulties families face at such a time and have made it their mission to make the process as easy as possible.