Transcript:
Yesterday (SUNDAY), Blue Origin completed its 14th crewed flight from its facility just north of Van Horn.
The flight on the New Shepard rocket took the six-person crew up to the Kármán Line. That’s some 62 miles above Earth’s surface and is considered to be the boundary where Earth ends and space begins.
The space tourism company says the New Shepard rocket, including yesterday’s (Sunday’s) crew, has now flown 75 people into space.
—
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced the deployment of an Aerostat blimp just three miles east of Sanderson.
According to the agency, the blimp became “fully operational” on July 26. They say the blimp presents a quote “major advancement” in the area to track and deter illegal cross-border activity.
In a press release, Lloyd Easterling, the top official in the Big Bend Sector, said the launch of the blimp gives agents an advantage in areas that are QUOTE “difficult to patrol by land.”
This is the second aerostat blimp to be deployed in the Big Bend region. The other one is just north of Marfa.
—
Tomorrow (TUESDAY), Brewster County officials are set to hold a special commissioners meeting – and on the agenda are several items related to the elections department.
Commissioners will consider creating a part-time position with the elections department until they’re able to fill the position permanently. They’re also set to discuss allowing the county clerk to take on the responsibility of administering elections until the position is filled.
The meeting comes as the county officials placed the previous election administrator, Melissa Bergstrom, on paid administrative leave. Bergstrom was arrested in July for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from the booster club for the Alpine High School band.
Bergstrom has submitted her resignation to the county – which commissioners accepted. Her last day with the county will coincide with the end of her paid administrative leave, and will be August 22.
The special commissioners meeting is Tuesday, August 5, 2025, and begins at 9:30 a.m. at the county courthouse.
—
Also tomorrow (TUESDAY), Alpine officials are set to discuss the next steps for hiring a permanent city manager. The agenda for Tuesday’s city council meeting shows the council will go over the interview process for the position — which, according to the city, several candidates have applied for.
The council will also receive the usual department updates, including a report from the director of tourism.
The council meets Tuesday, August 5 at 5:30.
You can find an agenda for the meeting at cityofalpine.com.
—
The Terlingua Music Bash is looking for artists and donations for the event’s silent auction.
The music festival will be held later this year in October in the Terlingua Ghost Town.
The auction benefits the Mark Kneeskern Memorial Art Scholarship, which is awarded to a graduating senior of Big Bend High School that’s pursuing a fine art degree. This year’s recipient is Caitlin Staib, who will be attending Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
If you’re interested in donating an item or a service to this year’s auction, email cabin10org@gmail.com.
You can find more information at cabin10.org/scholarships.
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.