Terlingua Moon
6 October 2026 --Vol. 37 #40
this week’s Moon brought to you by Ghost Writers on the Sly.
THE source for news in South Brewster County. Updated every Tuesday. If you have something to share, send it to us at terlinguamoon@gmail.com.
Send information in plain text by NOON on Monday. We are what you share. Please no PDFs or fancy fonts! Don’t format it yourself! –
MAKE A PLAN AND VOTE!
EARLY VOTING:
October 19– October 23, 8 am – 5 pm
Saturday October 24, 7 am – 7 pm
Sunday October 25, 1 pm - 7 pm
October 26 – October 30, 7 am – 7 pm
EARLY VOTING LOCATION: Val Clark Beard Complex 203 N 7th St, Alpine
BALLOTS BY MAIL: Eligible voters can request mail ballots from the County Election Office 432-837-6000 Ext 6230. Deadline to request a ballot by mail is October 23. To be counted, mail ballots must be returned to the County Election Office by 4 pm on November 3.
ELECTION DAY: November 3, 7 am – 7 pm
ELECTION DAY VOTING LOCATIONS:
Precinct 1 & 2 --Judge Val Clark Beard Office Complex, 203 N 7th, Alpine
Precinct 3—Marathon Community Center 150 N 2nd St, Marathon
Precincts 4 & 8—Alpine Civic Center 801 West Holland Ave, Alpine
Precincts 5, 6, & 7—JW “Red” Pattillo Community Center, 201 Rex Ivey Road, Study Butte
NOTE: There will be NO early voting in Study Butte/Terlingua. Remember, on Election Day, you MUST vote in your designated precinct location.
KEEP BIG BEND WILD applauds the plaintiffs and lawyers who successfully won the preliminary injunction last Friday ceasing all groundbreaking activity and “staying” all of the waivers in the entire Big Bend Sector. The data KBBW obtained from the NPS about apprehensions in the national park was an important plaintiff exhibit, and the subject of the testimony KBBW Chair and former BBNP Superintendent Bob Krumenaker discussed as the first “fact witness” called in the hearing. This data clearly show that the national park and the sector are not an “area of high illegal entry”, which is the legally-required predicate for DHS to issue the waivers.
It’s sweet that this order followed quickly upon CBP’s announcement that they were ending the “pause” and would make a decision soon on what they actually plan to do in the national park and beyond. Incredible that they were bulldozing a national park and yet didn’t (and still don’t) have an actual plan.
Find the preliminary injunction and all of KBBW’s court documents at keepbigbendwild.org/court-
All parties await the Judge’s “memorandum opinion” that will follow, which will more fully explain her reasoning. We also await the government’s decision on whether to appeal. That’s likely, and until that’s resolved, we can’t rest for more than a moment. Even if not appealed, the injunction lasts only until the case is resolved in the district court. And while the Judge indicated that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits on at least one of their claims in the suit, no border infrastructure lawsuit has ever defeated DHS.
Hence we continue to work on the legislative strategy, as discussed in previous installments – stopping or delaying the appropriations in the congressional lame duck session after the midterms and getting a bipartisan bill introduced early in the next Congress. We’re working on drafting the text of that bill now and will share it for review and hopefully get letters of support from community members, businesses, and local government this fall or winter.
Keep Big Bend Wild’s goal is a “Protect Big Bend Forever” Act establishing permanent, binding protection for the undeveloped areas of the national park; a permanent rescission of the waiver authority DHS has to operate at will without accountability; cancellation of the contracts; and a requirement that any major border infrastructure construction in the future would have to be explicitly authorized with site-specific legislation by a future congress and subject to normal environmental and cultural review, with meaningful opportunities for public involvement.
With enough support, and enough voices, we can get this done. With enough voices, we can get it done for more than just the national park – hopefully for the entire area from Fort Quitman to Amistad.
Congressional staff suggested in our Hill discussions that the likelihood of success for a Big Bend bill will be greatest if these elements are bundled together. Let’s work together for this common goal!
JIM CARRICO CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Join family and friends to honor the life of Jim Carrico on Saturday, October 24, 2026. We will meet in the Terlingua Cemetery at 11:00 am followed by a celebration at Desert Sports. Bring your photographs, stories, limericks and puns. Food and beverages will be provided! If unable to attend, please send memories to share at creasetall@gmail.com. Help us honor the life of this extraordinary human being!
CAMERA LENS
Hello. I am reaching out in hopes that you might be able to help me locate a camera lens I lost in the Terlingua area. On or around September 2, 2026, I lost a Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens near the Ghost Town ruins in Terlingua, Texas.
I have been searching online and contacting local businesses and used camera retailers, but so far I have not been able to locate it.
If someone found the lens or knows of anyone who may have picked it up, I would be extremely grateful for the information. I am offering a reward for its safe return.
-Guillermo Luna
Terlingua Music Bash - October 15 -18 2026! The excitement level out there for The Bash is super high this year, it's going to be a fabulous weekend of music and friendship. Cabin 10 Inc. 501(c)3 charitable organization makes the festival happen, it has deep roots in both The Hill Country and Terlingua and as you can see, it's about half "hometown" Chihuahuan Desert players and half "visiting" Hill Country players, many of these friendships go back decades. It's totally unique, memories made at The Bash are priceless. If this will be your first Bash welcome aboard - come start new friendships, make some great music and help fund a local scholarship for Ghostown in appreciation... it's THE thing to do every 3rd weekend of October!
Paisano Post from Terlingua School
Thank you to Mr. Maus and the 3rd-5th Enrichment class for creating posters of appreciation for the Rio Grande Electric workers. Congratulations to Mr. Victor Garcia who was named as the Region 18 Facilities Professional of the Year. Ms. Pena took the Senior class to a Career Fair at Fort Stockton High School. Good luck to the JH & HS Cross Country teams as they compete at the UIL 1A- District 9 Championship this Wednesday at the Marfa Golf Course. This will be the last meet for the JH and HS athletes will have a chance at advancing to Regionals in Arlington with either a Top 10 finish or a Team place of 3rd or higher. The schools participating will be Terlingua, Marfa, Balmorhea, Fort Davis, Valentine, Sierra Blanca, Dell City, and Fort Hancock. Go Paisanos!
Big Bend Episcopal Mission & The Otra Vez Thrift Shop
Blessings of the Animals: 10/7 5:30p-6:30p. This Come-and-ago event will be held at the Otra Vez Thrift Shop. The store will also be open. September Dollar Bag Sales Days are done and our normal pricing of most items $1 will run until May.
Sts. Mary & Joseph’s- Lajitas Chapel- Holy Eucharist on Saturdays at 5pm
31st ANNUAL KEN & JOEE BARNES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER - Join us November 14th for our annual Cribbage & Horseshoe tournaments (sign up at 9), BBQ (noonish) and silent auction at the Terlingua Ghostown Horseshoe Pits.
31st Annual Fundraiser for Terlingua High School graduate scholarships. We lost Joee May Barnes at the age of 16 after a tragic accident. The community opened their hearts and rallied to raise funds for our family, but it wasn’t needed for its intended purpose. We decided to return the money thru a Scholarship and my father, Ken Barnes, kept the scholarship fund going by honoring Joee’s memory with a Memorial Fundraiser every year. My husband, Jared, and I have kept the tradition going after Ken’s passing and the fundraiser now honors both their memories.
TERLINGUA STAR PARK - STAR PARTIES ARE HERE! ₊˚⊹☆
Public star parties have officially begun at Terlingua Star Park! Enjoy the same kind of laser-guided star tour and hands-on telescope experience inspired by our friends at McDonald Observatory, but at a fraction of the cost and much closer to Terlingua.
We keep our groups small, with a 20-to-1 guest-to-telescope ratio, so you get more time at the eyepiece. We can’t compete with McDonald’s world-class equipment and facilities (yet!), but we’ve modeled our program after theirs and are bringing that experience to the Big Bend community.
Most Fridays & Saturdays, with additional dates throughout the season.
Tickets & schedule: astromucho.com
NOW HIRING
The Terlingua Trading is interviewing for a cashier/inventory manager position. Stop by the store in the Terlingua Ghost Town for details!
HELP WANTED
The Terlingua Trading Company is currently interviewing for a part time position, stop by the store in the Terlingua Ghost Town for details.
Earth and Fire Art Gallery
Guess who is back!!!? Richard Curtin is our guest artist for the month of October! Stop
on by and see his beautiful artwork!
MILKY WAY TREATS ice cream trailer will be open this weekend, Saturday-Monday, 4-9 pm. We’ll have our creamy vanilla soft serve along with the dairy-free mango. Check out one of our fun sundaes, milkshakes, or just take-home a pint of my homemade ice cream! Treat yourself! Gracias, Terlingua!
Espresso ...y poco mas
Ghost Town favorite for locals and visitors to the area. Seven days a week for home cooked breakfasts, lunches and the best coffee in the area. Smoothies and iced drinks. Great seating with fantastic views, strong wifi, and newspapers. 432 371 3044 for to go orders.
Taqueria El Milagro
Ghost Town's authentic Mexican food and more. Serving Mexican recipes from street tacos to steaks and huge side dishes. Great food, great setting. BYOB and make a party. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 3 pm until 9 pm. 432 371-2060 for take-out via our drive through window.
FLEA MARKET
Second Saturday Sale Sat.Oct 10 at Chili Pepper Cafe parking lot 9:30-1:00 Free Set Up! Tools, Clothing, Kitchen Ware, Collectibles, Furniture, Shelves, Come And Set Up or Shop!!!
Come see us at the Saturday Community Market, open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Located in the Ghost Town, down in the Community Garden, we're here every Saturday with happy vendors offering an array of locally produced goods and other items.
Local art, handcrafted textile goods, fresh eggs, sour dough bread, jelly, pickles, all natural lip balms and skin care products, all natural essential oil fragrances, beard oil and massage oils, handcrafted, creative jewelry, resin creations, practical and artistic items made of reclaimed steel and more -- you never know just what or who you'll find here.
Flea market items are also welcome. After all, reusing and up-cycling already existing items is smart and green. We ask a $10 donation to the Community Garden to set up, helping us to continue to improve this space and experience for all of us.
We welcome new vendors. To make it easy for new vendors to try our market and to show our appreciation to our regular vendors, we waive set-up fees on the first Saturday of the month, offering free set-up on that day.
For more information, text or call 432.213.1863 or pop in at the market for a chat. Prepared food vendors must display current food handling licence. (A quick, easy and affordable online course can provide that).
Please help keep our market space safe and comfortable for all, two-legged and four, by keeping all dogs leashed and under control. We look forward to seeing you there.
Terlingua Trash Pickup - weekly trash pickup for residential and business.
Straightforward pricing: No long term contracts, No fuel fees, No environmental fees!
We do JUNK REMOVAL too: wood piles, bulk trash, tires, house clean outs, mattresses, appliances, and more!
Details and pricing here: www.terlinguatrash.com.
Have a great day! -Jimmy (432) 201-5638.
DON'T LOSE THAT PRECIOUS RAIN WATER! We can help - Call:
TANKS A LOT TERLINGUA
Water Catchment Tanks, Pumps, Filters and Installation
Locally owned - located near the Terlingua Ranch Lodge.
Call Mark or Michelle: 432-371-3096 (home/office) or 806-781-7814 (cell)
