News

Most TxDOT survey work includes establishing property boundaries, making maps and other above-ground tasks to prepare an area for design and construction. But last winter, a TxDOT survey team got to work underground in the Inner Space Cavern near Georgetown to create a detailed 3D model of the cavern.

The Museum of the Big Bend is set to present its 39th Annual Trappings of Texas, the nation’s longest-running exhibit and sale dedicated to Western art and custom cowboy gear, with opening weekend events scheduled for Sept. 18-20.

Pull out your dancing shoes and get set for an evening of fun on Saturday, September 27, when the Rotary Club of Fort Stockton hosts its annual Cruise Party at the Pecos County Civic Center. This event raises the necessary funds for the Rotary’s charitable projects, such as the annual Christmas Toy Drive, repairs to the Lilah Smith House, help for Meals on Wheels and new furniture at the Se- nior Citizen’s Center. Tickets are only $60 a person and will include a beef tenderloin Cajunthemed dinner, an open bar with top shelf spirits, dancing to the music of DJ Duli Jase and a chance to win a $3,500 cruise of your choice. (Last year’s winner was Darla Cude.) The party will take place at the Pecos County Civic Center, and if you have too much fun, there will be a free Tipsy Taxi to get you home safely. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the party starts at 7 p.m. going to midnight.

The Pecos County Senior Citizens Center is hosting a Labor Day potluck lunch this Friday, September 5, at noon, inviting all members and anyone interested in joining to celebrate the recent holiday. The meal will feature beef brisket and hot corn, with attendees encouraged to bring a side dish or dessert to share.

Local health care providers in West Texas, including those serving communities like Fort Stockton, are set to benefit from a new initiative aimed at enhancing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) care in rural areas.

In response to public feedback The Fort Stockton Film Society will present Westward the Women, this Saturday afternoon, September 6, at the Nelson Street Theater, 102 S. Nelson at 4:00 pm. Doors will open at 3:30 pm.

The Fort Stockton City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, August 25, addressing a range of issues impacting residents, from property taxes and local business opportunities to significant longterm economic development plans and city governance.

The Pecos County Memorial Hospital District Directors convened Tuesday, August 19, where they approved a reduction in the 2025 tax rate, adopted the 2026 budget, and greenlit a major tax abatement for a new solar energy project. The board also reviewed significant financial and administrative reports, approved numerous contracts for facility improvements and services, and discussed ongoing efforts to enhance patient care and hospital operations.

The Pecos County Commissioners Court approved its 2026 budget and set the total tax rate at 0.7196 cents per $100 of taxable value during a regular session Monday, August 25, confronting declining mineral values and state legislative impacts on county revenue.

The West Texas Water Research Center (WTWRC) at Sul Ross State University is surging ahead, with interim leadership in place, a seasoned research scientist joining the team, and a stakeholder-driven planning process underway. Housed within the university’s Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) and launched with a challenge grant from the Horizon Foundation, the WTWRC will deliver science-based solutions to address West Texas’ most pressing water issues and will focus on water availability, recharge, and sustainability in the Trans-Pecos.