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Over the weekend (SATURDAY), Blue Origin completed a flight that had been originally delayed, and made aerospace history in the process.
Part of the launch’s crew included Michaela “Michi” (mee-SHEE) Benthaus. She’s a disability rights advocate and aerospace engineer. She became the wheelchair user to travel to space.
Bethaus and five others flew above the Kármán line, the distance considered to be the boundary where Earth ends and space begins. The flight lifted off from the space company’s site north of Van Horn.
In a statement after the launch, New Shepard’s senior vice president Phil Joyce said the flight’s crew reflected the “breadth and diversity of people who can now experience spaceflight.”
To date, New Shepard has flown 86 individuals to space.
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During the holiday week, the city of Alpine will have special hours for the Hal Flanders Recycling Center.
The center will be open only on the following dates during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Tuesday, Dec. 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Tuesday, Dec. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Regular operating hours will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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City offices will also be closed in observance of the Christmas holiday.
They’ll be closed from Wednesday Dec. 24 to Friday Dec. 26. City of Alpine offices will reopen on Monday, Dec. 29.
For more information, visit cityofalpine.com.
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On New Years Day, Balmorhea State Park invites the public to head to the pool to get 2026 started with a plunge into the park’s cool spring-fed waters.
On Thursday, Jan. 1 at 11 a.m., the park will bring the swimmers together to count down with them and leap into the pool.
The event is free with paid entry into the park.
For more information visit the Balmorhea State Park Facebook page.
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In January, the Big Bend Live Stock Association will host its 82nd annual stock show.
The show begins Friday, Jan. 9 at the Alpine ISD ag barn – beginning with the goat show at 9 a.m. And then at 5:30 on Friday, the horse show kicks off at the Sul Ross SALE Arena.
The stock show will continue on Saturday, Jan. 10 with a steer show, an awards show and auction. There will be food each day for sale.
Table reservations for buyers participating in the auction can be made by contacting Caroline Fox at 432-294-0768 or email at cfox@alpineisd.net.
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Next month, the city of Alpine will hold its third annual Wildlife Weekend.
The event is a three-day celebration of the Chihuahuan Desert wildlife, featuring guided walks, speakers, film screenings and activities.
This year’s event will focus on the owls of the Davis Mountains, featuring experts from Borderlands Research Institute, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, and other conservation organizations.
All events are free and open to the public. The third annual Wildlife Weekend takes place Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.
For more information, contact the visitor’s center at visitorcenter@visitalpinetx.com, or call (432) 837-2326.
This has been your local and area news report for KVLF 98.7 FM, 1240 AM and KALP 92.7 FM
Local news can be found on our website at bigbendradio.com.