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Sam Cordero, a devoted family man, has passed away at the age of 66.
Sam, a man whose life was defined by the steady work of his hands, strength of character and leadership and kindness of his heart, leaves behind a legacy that will resonate in the hearts of many in El Paso, Alpine and across Texas.
Sam spent a long and respected career in the oil and gas industry. He coached and mentored youth and college baseball players at Sul Ross University. And later in life, he turned his passion for construction into his own business. He didn’t just build structures; he built foundations for others to stand and grow on.
Sam’s heart always belonged to the baseball diamond. He was the first of two high school baseball players in El Paso drafted by a professional baseball team in 1978. His love for the game stayed with him throughout his life, demonstrated in the grit, teamwork, and passion he poured into being a son, brother, dad, and Grandpa. Above all else, Sam loved fiercely, finding his greatest joy in the presence of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, sisters and the family he deeply loved.
Sam leaves his four children, four grandchildren, four sisters, nieces and nephews, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
The family will receive friends and loved ones for a visitation tomorrow (TUESDAY) from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., followed by the rosary from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. at 209 W Sul Ross Ave.
A funeral mass for Sam will be Wednesday, March 18, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Alpine. Interment will follow the mass at Holy Angel Cemetery.
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Today (MONDAY), the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens will host a cactus and succulent sale.
The sale is today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at CDRI, located off of Highway 118, just 4 miles southeast of Fort Davis.
For more information, call 432-364-2499.
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Tomorrow (TUESDAY), city and county officials will come together to address emergency medical services in the Alpine area.
On Tuesday, March 17, the city of Alpine will hold a joint workshop with Brewster County officials to go over recommendations from a taskforce that held town halls earlier this year to gather feedback on ground ambulance services in the region.
That workshop starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Brewster County Courthouse, located at 201 W. Ave. E Alpine.
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This week, the Small Business Development Center at Sul Ross State University will host training opportunities for business owners.
In the first workshop, you’ll join moderator Jana Minifie who’ll share strategies to provide clarity to your business and help you transition from surviving to thriving. This training is today (MONDAY) from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The next training will focus on leadership development. On Wednesday, March 18, learn more about conflict resolution, team building and emotional intelligence for leaders. This workshop is from 9:30 am to 10:30 a.m.
To sign up for these webinars, head to sbdc.sulross.edu/alpine/seminar-training-calendar.
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This weekend, ten former Sul Ross Lobos will be honored at the university’s 38th annual alumni gala.
On Saturday, March 21 distinguished alumni, rodeo exes, athletes and friends will be inducted into the Hall of Honor. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the ceremony.
Tickets are $75 for adults and $25 for children under the age of 12.
The event will be at the Gallego Center in Alpine.
For tickets and more information, visit sulross.edu/alumni/lobo-night.
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The local nonprofit Historic Alpine is hosting a year of community-focused programming to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the archives at Sul Ross State University.
The celebration starts with an interactive Archives “Roadshow” on Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the Archives of the Big Bend.
The archives “Roadshow” invites residents to bring photographs, letters, documents, videos, and family stories connected to Alpine and the Big Bend. With the guidance of archivists and trained volunteers, materials will be digitized, stories recorded, and historical context preserved—while all original items are returned to their owners the same day.
The archives’ 50th anniversary celebration is later this year on Friday, July 10.
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.