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Monday, February 19th and I’m PJ Benevich.
The Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering capped off a successful event this weekend with a packed house at Marshall Auditorium on Saturday night.
The Gathering used reserved seating this year for all paid shows and almost every seat was full for the capstone show Saturday night.
Attendance also was good for the six other paid shows and thirty-nine free sessions of cowboy music and poetry on the Sul Ross State University campus.
The Gathering brought attendees from 34 states and at least six countries to Alpine to witness the more than 40 Cowboy Poetry performers.
The Wednesday night Show Rodeo raised 13 hundred and 75 dollars for the Sul Ross Rodeo Team.
Contributing to the success of the event were 124 paid members, 41 sponsors and several donors who underwrote the event.
A Gathering press release Sunday thanked all the City of Alpine, community volunteers, Sul Ross staff and students and everybody who helped make the event a success.
The Lone Star Board was created in 2019 to keep the tradition alive after 33 successful years by the Texas Gathering Board.
The first year for the Lone Star Board in 2020 was in-person but the Covic Pandemic hit later that year and the 2021 show produced two filmed events.
But it was back to in-person in 2022, 23 and 24 and has grown each year.
It grew by one day when the Show Rodeo was added two years ago when a Thursday night show was added.
Because the Sul Ross Rodeo team produces the show rodeo, it is not considered part of the Gathering, ever though the Gathering sponsors it.
The Big Bend Sentinel reports that Presidio County candidates, it its words, “have a poor history of filing the required documents.
State law requires candidates to name a treasurer at the start of their campaign and report donations and expenses of more than one thousand 80 dollars each.
It reviewed fillings within 30 days of the state’s primary election and found less than half had filed the required paperwork.
The treasurer must be named from the first day, though candidates can name themselves as treasurer.
Financial reporting is required when it goes over the minimum.
The state Ethics Commission can fine candidates by as much as ten thousand dollars but they usually are far less than that.
The Big Bend Arts Council has scheduled another R-3 show, for Repurpose, Reuse and Recycle, with show date from February 29 to April 16 at the Gallery on the Square.
A reception with the show will be from 5 to 7 Friday, also at the Gallery on the Square at 115 West Holland Avenue.
Arts Council members will be able to show one or two entries for five dollars. Non-member will pay 30 dollars but that also includes membership fees.
Acceptable media must use recycled materials. They must be 70 percent repurposed, Reused or Recycled and can include mixed media, paintings, sculptures, jewelry and collages.
For more information, email Jan Moeller at janmoeller@bigbend.net
Brewster County Detention Officers participated in the College and Career Placement Event at Alpine High School Friday.
Unlike a Texas Peace Officer license that requires license holders to be 21, graduating students, on their 18 th birthday are eligible to become certified detention officers in the State of Texas.
This allows employment at Brewster County and other jails across the state.
For more information on employment, contact 837-3488.
Early voting for the March 5 primary election will begin Tuesday and continues until March 1.
Three contested races are in Brewster County, two on the Republican ballot and one on the Democratic ballot.
On the Republican ballot, the bid for the 394 th District Judge is between the current Assistant District Attorney Bill Parham and local attorney Monty Kimball.
Incumbent Roy B. Ferguson chose not to run for re-election.
Incumbent 83 rd District Attorney Ori T. White of Fort Stockton is being challenged by Fort Stockton attorney Jesse Gonzales, Jr.
Running unopposed is Marisol Aguilar Skelton for the office now held by long-standing county attorney Steve Houston.
Running unopposed are County Commissioner Jim Westermann, Constable Flavio “Rene” Ybarra and Republican County Chair Monica McBride.
Republicans also will vote on 13 proposed Constitutional amendments.
On the Democrat side, County Commissioner Ruben Ortega faces a challenge by Joe Portillo.
Running unopposed are Sheriff Ronny Dodson, Tax Assessor-Collector Sylvia Vega and County Democratic Chair Mary Bell Lockhart.
For more information, see brewstercountytx.com/vote
First Baptist Church of Alpine has announced it will begin stocking a blessing box Sunday, February 25.
It will provide blankets, hygiene items and other basic necessities at 203 North 4th Street on the side facing the West Texas National Bank drive-through A.T.M.
Donations from the public will be accepted. For more information, call 837-2487.
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.