Transcript:
U.S. Border Patrol Agents from the Big Bend Sector and National Park Service Rangers reported
last week that they had rescued 13 migrants in the park on Nov. 16 after receiving a distress call.
The migrants, including several children, were found in an extremely remote area near San
Vicente Road after being abandoned by human smugglers.
Despite the rugged terrain, all were rescued after one of them called 911.
They were evaluated by a National Park Service emergency medical technician and were found
to be in good condition.
Acting Chief Patrol Agent Marco Cervantes noted the rescue highlighted the indifference many
smuggling organizations have for human life.
He said this journey is especially perilous for children, who often are placed in life-threatening
situations without adequate food, water or shelter.
Thanksgiving, one of this nation’s most important holidays, is this week. It is a time for eating a
huge turkey dinner but it’s much more than that.
It celebrates when our founders sat down with their new Indian friends for a community dinner.
It was called to jointly thank their respective makers in a harvest feast celebrated in 1621 by the
citizens of Plymouth Colony and the native Americans.
To give citizens time to celebrate the holiday, many businesses and other activities close for the
day or the four-day weekend.
But the Alpine Hal Flanders Recycling Center takes it another step. It will be closed all week
and will resume normal hours on Wednesday, December 4.
Additionally, City offices will be closed from Wednesday to Friday this week. Regular Hours
will resume on at 8 on Monday, December 2.
If you experience an Emergency during the closure, dial 911.
For urgent, non-emergency issues call the Alpine Police Department at 837-3486 for assistance.
Happy Holidays.
The Alpine Library has basically completed a 1.1 million dollar library expansion financed
totally donations and grants.
Director Don Wetterauer said last week the expansion was financed totally without the use of any
tax money spent for the improvements.
He said the expansion includes enclosing two outdoor patios. The south patio has been converted
to serve teens and youths and the west patio will be for children.
Wetterauer has invited everyone to see the improvements at an Open House at the Library from 4
to 6 Wednesday, December 11.
For more information, call the library at 837-2621.
Sul Ross State University and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center have joined
forces to address the critical shortage of mental health providers in West Texas.
Our area is one of the nation’s most underserved healthcare regions.
Through new training programs, these institutions are equipping future mental health
professionals with the skills needed to serve the unique needs of rural communities.
Dr. Barbara Tucker, the Dean of Education and Professional Studies at Sul Ross, is working with
Dr. Audrey H. Stevens of the Permian Basin and Crystal Lujan, a mental health rural fellow.
Stevens and Lujan presented the initiative at the Healthier Texas Summit in Austin last month on
how West Texas Academic Institutions have developed a Rural Mental Health Workforce.
The program has already seen success. More than 60 students have received training in rural and
underserved communities, with graduates actively working in high-need areas.
For more information, contact Jessica-S.C.H.A.U.M.A.N.-at-Sul Ross-dot-edu.
( jessica.schauman@sulross.edu.)
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.