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GARDENER’S MAILBAG Dear Neil, Regarding waxleaf ligustrums – I read your column today. I hope you will be more grudging in recommending them.

S______ P__ C.___ Fort Stockton Pioneer.

Members of the Pecos County Memorial Hospital District Employee Activities Committee are recognized during a board meeting on December 16, for their efforts in boosting staff morale. The committee was commended for organizing Hospital Week celebrations and the recent annual Christmas party. Pictured from left are Brandon Hernandez, Monica Mendoza, Kerry Winters, Naomi Valenzuela, and Betsy Briscoe, CEO. Not pictured are Malissa Trevino, Nonna Rojas, and Shawn Nethery. Photo by Joh Covington

Here’s what the Texas Transportation Commission discussed and approved at its December meeting. Year at a glance Acting Commission Chair Alvin New presented a recap of notable accomplishments and events the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) saw in 2025.

The College of Graduate Studies at Sul Ross State University announced the first six recipients of the Dual Credit Pedagogy Certificate, which allows students to enhance their instructional skills for college level teaching.

The Fort Stockton Independent School District Board of Trustees met for its regular December meeting on Monday, December 15, at 6 p.m., with Vice President Anastacio Dominguez presiding in the absence of Board President Flo Garcia III.

The Fort Stockton community is invited to gather this weekend to celebrate the life and legacy of local figure Dean Ward as he debuts his new book, “Memories of a Cowboy.” While many friends and associates may feel they know Ward well, the sources indicate they are familiar with only a fraction of his true story. The event is scheduled for Sunday, December 28, at the First United Methodist Church, located at 1501 W 5th Street.

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The Fort Stockton City Council greenlit significant infrastructure projects and advanced major renewable energy initiatives Monday during its regular meeting at City Hall. The council approved a general construction contract totaling $5,390,900 with Triun LLC for crucial improvements to the city’s utility infrastructure.

For decades, the stories of the Buffalo Soldiers, the African American regiments formed after the Civil War, have been confined to two-dimensional images in history books, but one dedicated historian is fighting to change that by making history tangible and accessible. As the founder of the Living History Foundation, Allen Mack, has dedicated his life to sharing the full, complex narra- rative of these crucial figures.