Transcript:
Monday, June 3rd news.
Abbey Branch, founder of Alpine Historical Association, reminded members and supporters by email over the weekend of her plan to establish an Historic District in Alpine.
She wrote that as the June 14 deadline approaches to apply for Alpine Hotel Occupancy Tax grants, she wants to move the project forward.
This initiative has become even more pressing in the wake of the May 26 fire that devastated the 100 block of West Holland Avenue.
She attached a proposal from Post Oak Preservation to conduct a survey for Downtown Alpine and Kokernot Field to create a National Register Historic District.
Post Oak Preservation has been working on nominations for the Holland Hotel and Maverick Motel for two years, making this an opportune moment to build on that progress.
Branch said she wants to request funding for this project through the Historic Preservation qualification under the city’s HOT guidelines.
She also plans to submit the proposal to the county and search for other grants to support the initiative.
Depending on Post Oak Preservation’s availability next week, Branch suggested an informational Zoom meeting to explore for questions and answers.
An Historic District could protect and preserves the city’s historical and architectural heritage, attract tourists and make us eligible for more funding.
It also would highlight our rich history and cultural significance and provide federal and state tax incentives for preserving and rehabilitating historic buildings.
The City Council has scheduled a special meeting for 5:30 today in the City Council Chambers to review where we are in response to the fire Sunday last week in downtown Alpine.
Councilors want to review what has happened this week in response to the fire that destroyed much of the 100 block of East Holland Avenue and what still needs to happen.
Numerous collections of donations have been created by both businesses and non-profit to help compensate those who lost their businesses.
Bill Ivey, the owner of the Forcheimer Building which housed the five destroyed businesses, said he did not have insurance.
Hopefully enough donations will come in from the many drives that have been created to provide some relief to those who have lost so much.
The Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute is preparing for its annual Barbeque and Auction in August.
The notice asks for supporters to mark the date on August 10 where they hope to repeat or surpass last year’s results – despite the storm.
Last year, for the first time ever, they were slammed with a sudden, massive downpour, which would have ended the party for most people.
However, supporters held down the tents and saved the auction items from blowing away.
When the storm moved on, they dried off the tables and chairs, handed out T-shirts with the C.D.R.I. logo and finished the evening with the largest event results of the institute’s history.
The ticket price is still 30,dollars, which covers the cost for the catered dinner, beer and wine, live music by Rick Ruiz and his Grupo de la Paz and auctioneer Martin Stringer.
You can pay in person at the C.D.R.I. Visitor Center Information Desk near Fort Davis or call 432/364-2499 to purchase by phone.
The public is invited to participate in the first Community Bicycle Rodeo from 9 to noon June 15 at Sul Ross State University Entrance Two.
For questions or to participate as a vendor, contact Adriana.Rodriguez@txdot.gov or Chief Darrell Losoya at losoya.police@cityofalpine.com.
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.