News

Dear Neil: I’ve been admiring coral honeysuckle in landscapes this spring. I’d like to put it on our back fence.

Energy Transfer on April 30 celebrated the official energizing of the Maplewood 2 solar project located in Pecos County. The 28 megawatt alternating current facility in West Texas will deliver low-cost, clean power to Energy Transfer under a 15-year power purchase agreement. This agreement marks Energy Transfer’s first-ever dedicated solar contract.

A dozen South Texas counties have declared a state of disaster due to the growing illegal immigration crisis. Announcing that “health, life and property [are under] imminent threat,” beleaguered officials say the influx of border crossers is cannibalizing their limited resources.

Fort Stockton High School held a National Decision Day ceremony on May 1 in the school’s commons area. The event features high school seniors declaring their intent for careers, military, and future education. Students needed to provide proof of decision (college acceptance letter or military acceptance) in order to participate in the reception. FSISD broadcasted the decisions via social media for the community to view. Pictured are the seniors who participated in the event and were in-person learners. Front row from left to right: Nickie Reynosa, Audrey Gonzalez, Mikayla Alvarez, Nichole Galindo, Shelby Murphy, Alyss Valenzuela, Ty Savage. Back row: Reign Rangel, Katie Villarreal, Rochelle Quiroz, Jennifer Alvarado, Cade Bayer, Jose Bislar, Savannah Rodriguez, Kristoff Colinayo, Mallorie Crenshaw, Dylan Jeter, Kylie Duarte. Photo by Nathan Heuer

BEST WESTERN PLUS HAMPTON INN The Hampton Inn and Best Western Plus staff in Fort Stockton welcomed the Big Bend Open Road Racers as race week started. All employees form each hotel were photographed before the event.

The City of Fort Stockton City Council took an important initial step towards building a new rec center in Fort Stockton on April 27 at the group’s regular meeting. Re-elected councilman Paul Casias presented a brief summary of what the project would intel and the need in the Fort Stockton community for a new athletic facility.

The voter turnout rose by over 15 percent from the 2019 election, but the results proved to be identical for the May 1 election as Fort Stockton Mayor Chris Alexander and city councilmen Paul Casias and Ruben Falcon all retained their seats after a highly-contested race that came to a conclusion on Saturday.

The Pecos County Historical Commission held a brief ceremony to commemorate the creation of Pecos County 150 years on May 3 at Zero Stone Park near the Pecos County Courthouse in Fort Stockton. PCHC President Paul Weatherby read a statement regarding the history of the county, along with Pecos County Judge Joe Shuster, who read a statement as well. The ceremony ended with gun shots in the air by reenactors and by PCHC secretary Kirby Warnock. Pictured is the PCHC board and citizens who were at the event by the Pecos County flag, which was made by the Imperial Improvement Organization in 1971 for their Fourth of July celebration that celebrated 100th year of Pecos County’s existence. See the full video of the ceremony on the Pioneer’s Facebook page. Photo by Nathan Heuer

A report of a kid playing in a city dumpster on May 3 led to the finding of an illegal immigrant shortly after by Fort Stockton Code Enforcement Officer Jeremy Gonzalez. Gonzalez was dispatched to go check on the safety of a kid and to potentially relay the news to their parents Monday morning, but when he arrived to the scene between north Orient St.