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SRSU choir camp starts July 1

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The Sul Ross State University Music Department and Big Bend Children’s Chorus will host a choir camp for kids in grades 2-8 beginning Friday, July 1.

The cost to attend is $25. Students will practice daily from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Francois Fine Arts Building on the Alpine campus. They will perform with the Alpine Community Band at 7:30 p.m. at Kokernot Park on July 4 during the Independence Day celebration.

Sul Ross University

IDM programs to combat unsafe driving

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The Texas Department of Public Safety will be increasing the number of Texas Highway Patrol Troopers on the road from Thursday, June 24, through Sunday, July 10, as part of the Intoxicated Driving Mobilization (IDM) - Specific Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).

DPS troopers will be on the roads looking for drivers who are speeding, driving while intoxicated or not wearing their seat belts. The goal of the IDM STEP program is to reduce the number of DWI-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

DPS

Congressman Gonzales offers amendments on border security

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Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) offered three amendments on Friday during the House Homeland Security Appropriations Full Committee Markup.

The proposed amendments aimed to increase border security funding for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), plus up funding for the Operation Stonegarden grant program, and prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from engaging in transactions with certain Chinese military companies.

Tony Gonzales

Capital Highlights: Abortion officially illegal in Texas

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe vs. Wade effectively ends all legal abortions in Texas within the next 30 days, many news media outlets reported.

“Planned Parenthood and Whole Woman’s Health, with clinics across Texas, stopped performing abortions following Friday’s decision, due to uncertainty about how the ruling will affect the state's trigger law and a long-standing ban on abortion that predates Roe v. Wade, officials with those organizations said,” according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Texas Capitol

Senior Citizens Center hosts hot dog supper

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On Friday, July 1, the Pecos County Senior Citizens Center will host its annual July 4th hot dog supper at 6 p.m. The Senior Center will provide hot dogs and all the fixings. Participants are asked to bring side dishes for a potluck. After the meal there will be a sing along of patriotic songs and old favorites.
Hot dog supper

FSPD cracking down on graffiti

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The Fort Stockton Police Department is combatting the recent spike in vandalism across town this past week. According to Police Chief Robert Lujan, the FSPD has identified an individual who has been tagging walls, dumpsters, stop signs and more.
Graffiti was discovered at numerous locations this weekend including the brick wall adjacent to the Comanche Springs Swimming Pool. FSPD reports they are tightening the belt on this issue and have identified a primary subject. Courtesy Photo

Fort Stockton ISD elevates pay scale for teachers

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A recent amendment to the Fort Stockton Independent School District Zone Pay Scale will give first-year educators the opportunity to be some of the highest paid in Texas. A zero-year teacher, who is credentialed, fully certified, and teaching in areas of specific need as defined by the district can make $72,500 starting the 2022-2023 school year.
FSISD Administration Building

New Allsup’s taking shape

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The brand new Allsup’s adjacent to the Pecos County Memorial Hospital is making great strides of progress. The completion date has not budged from August and electric work is soon to begin inside the structure. The new convenience store will operate as a 24-hour chain like its neighbor Flying J. The new business will sell traditional convenience store goods and is particularly famous for its fried burritos. For more information on the forthcoming business, visit allsups.com. Photo by Jeremy Gonzalez
New Allsup’s taking shape

FSISD considers student safety measures

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The Fort Stockton Independent School District is looking into making their campuses safter for students in the immediate future. The Fort Stockton ISD School Board decided to move forward with soliciting vendors for ballistic film to cover windows at all campuses, door censors/cameras at each entrance, and additional fencing at Apache Elementary at their special meeting on June 8.
Fencing around the perimeter of the west side of Apache Elementary School in Fort Stockton is being considered by the district as an additional safety measure for students. Currently there is no fencing on the west side of the campus near the playground. Photo by Nathan Heuer

Local pharmacist calls it a career after 30 years of ownership

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Coming from a family of pharmacists, longtime Fort Stockton resident Mario Juarez knew the career path he wanted to go down since he was a teenager.

The El Paso native began his career in pharmacy as a clerk at the age of 16. Juarez received his degree in pharmacy from the University of Texas in 1984 and eight years later he began to live out his dream.

Baggett Pharmacy new owner Shashwat Patel, left, and former owner Mario Juarez, right, posed for a photo together on June 20 as a representation of the change of ownership that happened last week. Photo by Nathan Heuer
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