News

The Fort Stockton City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, July 22, at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem James Warnock, Councilman Paul Jerome Chavez, Councilman Darren Hodges, Councilman Ruben J. Bernal, City Manager Frank Rodriguez III, and City Secretary Marina Cantu were in attendance. The meeting began with an invocation by Councilman Hodges.

The Pecos County Commissioners Court met in regular session at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 22. Precinct 3 Commissioner Mickie Jack Perry provided the invocation immediately after Judge Joe Shuster commenced the meeting. No minutes of previous meetings were approved during this session.

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To the Citizens of Fort Stockton, there will be a heavy Law Enforcement and First Responder presence at the Apache School and the Hospital Monday morning July 29, 2024, as we are conducting a full-scale Active School Shooter Drill. Do not be alarmed as this is a DRILL ONLY.

Dear Neil: Is there anything I can use to kill off these unwanted vines (see photos) without harming my Asian jasmine? That is a really impressive planting of Asian jasmine, and I can see why you would want to protect it. I believe you have Hall’s honeysuckle, the wild form that has become naturalized (not a true native, but an invasive nonnative).

Fort Stockton Pioneer.

GUEST COLUMNIST This past Sunday we began a new study that is centered around the work of the Spirit of God in a Christian’s life. Our text is Galatians 5:16: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

I went to the back pasture and there, standing all alone in a remote place was a small tree with lots of fruit on it. I did not recognize it at first but as I approached I was amazed. There stood a small persimmon tree full of fruit. There are other persimmon trees on the place, larger and in better locations, but none with that amount of fruit. I found one persimmon almost ripe and tasted it and it was sweet. That little tree reminded me of something in the Bible. First, if we have never accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord we are not even in God’s garden, (Matthew 7:21-23 & 21:42-44). Second, if we have accepted Christ He expects us to live in a way that brings honor to His name, (Matthew 3:8). A tree can usually be identified by the type of fruit that it bears and we are known by our fruit or the way we live, our lifestyle, (Matthew 7:18-20). Yes, there are hindrances like not being content but just wanting more of anything. And there is the problem of just having the wrong kind of fun or good times in the wrong places and it could be anything that occupies our time and energy but we end with no time for God, (Luke 8:14, Titus 3:3, James 4:3). Is there any fruit in our lives and what kind?

When I was researching the history of Fort Lancaster (1855-1861) for Texas Parks & Wildlife, one of the original sources was the inspection of the post in 1860 by Joesph Mansfield, the Inspector General of the Army. The report included an excellent map. Fort Lancaster was one of the most isolated posts in Texas, and no civilian settlement existed. It was located on the Overland Trail between San Antonio and El Paso and built close to good water sources, Live Oak Creek and the Pecos River.

In a press release from 23rd District of Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales’ office on July 17 of last week, the Department of the Interior formally established the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa as the 430th National Park.