Terlingua Moon Vol. 21 No. 26
May 26 2026
Please no PDFs or fancy fonts! (We like it easy.)
On the web at: theterlinguamoon.blogspot.com
For 37 years, THE source for news in South Brewster County.
Updated every Tuesday. Or Monday
Million sMiles
We are what you share.
“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it,
all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you.
But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end
can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water.
If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does." —Margaret Atwood
MILKY WAY TREATS ice cream trailer will be open this weekend, Saturday through Monday, 4 to 9 PM. We’ll have our creamy dreamy, vanilla, and chocolate soft serve. Our ‘3 Years Here /Terlingua Ice Cream Social will be Monday, June 1, 7-9pm! This annual community event will have free root beer floats, music by Moses Martinez, prizes and more! This year, we’re adding something new, we call it ‘The Pie Off’. Make your best pie and bring it to our panel of esteemed judges for them to decide who gets to win the prize for Best Pie and Best Crust in Terlingua! I hope you can join us, thank you, Terlingua!
Come see us at the Saturday Community Market, open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Located at the Community Garden in the Ghost Town, we're here every Saturday with happy vendors offering an array of locally produced goods and other items. You'll also be able to enjoy our fabulous local mobile library and portable free ‘porch’, even consult with Dr. Gigabyte if you have a computer problem.
Local art, handcrafted textile goods, fresh eggs, sour dough bread, all natural lip balms and skin care products, all natural essential oil fragrances, beard oil and massage oils, handcrafted, creative jewelry, resin creations, block printed textiles and vintage goods, both curated and upcycled, 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.
Mindy Hamlett, Mermaid of the Desert
Sept. 16, 1943 - March 23, 2026 Mindy (Melinda) Hamlett arrived in Terlingua in 1994 with her sis-in-law Diane, driving a large old Winaibego, their mobile abode while traveling “the perimeter of the US.” I met them working at Grumpy Ed’s Long Draw Saloon. We schlepped pizzas and beer together until the pair drove off again. A year later, she returned with the love of her life, and life-long partner, Fred Gossein.
They made their home in the Big Bend, and she found jobs as we all did. She worked as a massage therapist, a highway flagger, a Lajitas barista, a ghost-town clerk and a deli server, and she supported our community with various volunteer work. Her focus was the local recycling effort, and she facilitated that for several years as a member of the Big Bend Citizens Alliance. The pair made time for their travels together: camping at remote hot springs in New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming, and exploring old mining towns. They made several road trips to Mexico together, camping on beaches in Northern Baja and Sonora, near a sugarcane field in Tamaulipas, in Spanish mining ruins in San Luis Potosi, and near the famous mining town of Mapimi. They even made it to the Giant Crystal Cave in Naica, Chihuahua, never open to tourists, where a chance encounter with an engineer led to their inclusion in a small group tour. A West Coast girl who loved the ocean, she eventually moved to Victoria after attending San Francisco State University and getting her massage certification in Vancouver, BC. Besides her work as a teacher and masseuse in Oakland and in Canada, she was a gardener, an artist, and a caretaker for her mother. She was Fred’s fiery partner, a dear friend to many of us for years, and my sister in Al Anon. She had a great sense of humor, and an equally great temper, with a good dose of fear around some things, to balance her fierce courage about living, and one of the largest hearts I've ever known.
She was as she put it, the “Mermaid of the Desert,” bringing magic and love into our desert lives.
May her spirit dive deep in the universe,
Mary Diesel and Fred Gossein
No Wall 79852 Update
No Wall. No Wire. No Way.
Join our weekly family friendly Saturday protest at FM 170 and Hwy 118 8:00am-10:00am or so.
Every Saturday in May!
Dispelling rumors
There are many misleading headlines stating that there will be no border wall here. This is simply NOT true.
-There is a man camp being developed at the Pecan Grove Farm in Lobo, TX.
https://bigbendsentinel.com/2026/04/29/pecan-farm-draws-the-ire-of-border-wall-opposition/
-At least 4 entities are requesting water well developments in jeff Davis County.
https://www.jeffdaviscounty.texas.gov/upload/template/22377/Jeff%20Davis%20County%20Underground%20Water%20Conservation%20District%20May%2026%202026.pdf
-Massive earth moving equipment is staged on Chispa Road
https://www.marfapublicradio.org/news/2026-05-01/border-wall-contractor-begins-moving-equipment-to-the-rio-grande
Please continue to call Governor Abbott (512) 463-1828
Markwayne Mullin (202) 282-8000 extension 6
Senator Cruz (202) 224-3121
Senator Cornyn (202) 224-3121
Check out water board meetings and county commissioners meetings in Culberson, Jeff Davis, Terrell, and Brewster Counties. Jeff Davis County is holding an Underground Water Conservation District meeting on Tuesday, May 26th at 8:00 a.m. at the Fort Davis Water Supply Corporation at 113 State Street.
nobigbendwall.org is an excellent source of information.
Follow us on Facebook at No Wall 79852 for current updates. Things are changing quickly.
Terlingua Paisanitos would like to thank Desert Sports and Further Adventures for the loan of life jackets for our annual pool party. Thank you also to the Maverick RV Park in Lajitas for allowing us to spend a wonderful afternoon at the pool.
We started our day at the Barton Warnock Center and are very grateful for the park rangers who took the time to teach us about desert wildlife and native peoples. Thank you, all! What a fantastic community!
Paisano Post
Final edition for 2025-2026
Thank you, Community! For this year’s book fair, $1065 was raised with $560 in books being donated as well. Thank you, Ms. Quigg.
Double-edition of Students of the Week:
5/14: Elem: Ashley B. and Jesus Z. MS: Ever G., and HS: Ervey S.
5/21: Elem: Emmanuel A., MS: Edwin G., and HS: Isael G.
End of the Year Awards & Graduation Schedule 5/29
Community is invited and all events will be in the gym. Elem: 8:30am-9:30am, MS: 9:30am-10:30qm, HS: 10:45am-12pm, and Graduation 7pm
Have a great summer!
Big Bend Episcopal Mission and Otra Vez Thrift Shop
Final call for hours open at the Thrift Shop with last Wednesday, 27th. 5:30pm-6:30pm and last Saturday, 30th, 9am-12pm.
Sts. Mary and Joseph’s Chapel in Lajitas will have service at 5pm on May 30th with Father Mike Wallens. All are welcome.
Taqueria El Milagro
Authentic Mexican food and more in the Ghost Town. Serving Mexican recipes from street tacos to steaks and huge side dishes. Great food, great setting. BYOB. Open Wednesday through Sunday from 3 pm until 9 pm. 432 371-2060 for take out via our drive through window.
Espresso ... y poco mas
Open seven days a week for home cooked breakfasts, lunches and the best coffee in the area. Located in the Ghost Town, great seating with fantastic views, strong wifi, and newspapers. 432 371 3044 for to go orders. Open at 7:30 a.m.
NEED A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT?
Veteran Independent Insurance Agent, Michelle Chiles, is coming out of retirement and ready to help. Call or email for information and quotes:
mvmchouse@sbcglobal.net 806-781-4723 - cell
Tanks a Lot Terlingua
Water Catchment Tanks, Pumps, Filters and Installation
NOTICE: the manufacturer has gone up on tank prices effective May 1
HOWEVER we received permission to sell all tanks currently in inventory at the old prices until May 31 - tank sizes currently in inventory: 100, 550, 1100, 2000, 2500, 3000, 5050 gallons.
ALSO NOW AVAILABLE:
Food Grade 275 gallon totes - $275/each
Food Grade 55 gallon barrels with removable lids & ports - $85/each
"Terlingua Trash Pickup - weekly trash pickup for residential and business.
64 gallon can - $49.99 per month.
96 gallon can - $59.99 per month.
We do Junk Removal too!
WEEKLY DUMPSTERS COMING SOON - 4 cubic yard size. Get on wait-list now. Businesses only at this time due to limited quantity. All the details and pricing on the website: www.terlinguatrash.com.
Have a great day! -Jimmy (432) 201 -5638."
New Community Food Co-Op Launches in Terlingua
Gather Co Op, a new community-based buying cooperative serving the Big
Bend region, is launching to help local residents access high-quality food,
animal feed, homesteading supplies, and farm-related goods through
coordinated group purchasing and scheduled pickup events.
Designed to support rural families facing long travel distances and high
shipping costs, Gather Co Op allows members to participate in scheduled
ordering windows with local pickup opportunities.
Future plans include volunteer opportunities, satellite pickup locations,
plant sales, seed sharing, and partnerships with local producers.
Gather Co Op is currently welcoming founding members and volunteers
from Terlingua, Study Butte, Alpine, Marathon, Big Bend Valley, and
surrounding ranch communities.
Learn more at: www.fibermaiden.com/gather
All YOU NEED TO ATTEND AN AA MEETING IS A DESIRE TO QUIT. If you have, or think you might have, a drinking problem, we meet at 6:30 pm on Thursday at the Big Bend Church, just north of the post office.
Reminder for our upcoming Landscape Show!
"Landscapes, Near and Far"
These can be Plein air or photo referenced.
Take-In DEADLINE: on or before TUESDAY, June 2, 2026. Big Bend Gallery, 121 W. Holland. Reception: Friday 5:00 – 7:00pm, June 5, 2026
Our current show, "Dark Skies" has been quite a success! Congrats to those who entered the show and our thanks for your participation! You may pick up your artwork from the current show on Tuesday, June 2nd prior to closing time (preferably before 4:30pm). There will be a sign out sheet available to track those who pick up their artwork.
KEEP BIG BEND WILD and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks last week sent an open letter to DHS Secretary Mullin signed by almost all of the former NPS superintendents and deputy superintendents of Big Bend National Park (with a combined 259 years of NPS experience) that are still with us. The letter urged the Secretary not to waive any more federal laws in the national park.
Sorry for the overly-long entry this week, but it’s worth repeating some of the letter for our community:
“If a border wall—or other unnecessary and highly destructive border infrastructure—is built inside Big Bend National Park, it would be the most egregious assault on the integrity of the entire National Park System since the construction of a dam in the Hetchy Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park more than a century ago.”
“The [Big Bend] Sector, and the national park in particular, are not an area of high illegal entry, which is a prerequisite for your invoking the waiver.”
“We urge you to not issue any waivers of environmental or historic preservation laws, and to offer your proposals, with alternatives, for public review and input. If upgrades to the existing robust electronic sensor system are needed, and can be accomplished as unobtrusively as the existing installations, we have no concerns with that. As the existing system is a collaborative effort of the Border Patrol, the NPS, and county sheriffs, so should be any improvements -- and no waivers are necessary, as the existing systems work.”
“The Border Patrol used to provide funding to the NPS to maintain park roads patrolled by their agents that are stationed in the park. That no longer occurs, and with the erosion in park staffing since early 2025, we acknowledge that some of those roads are in poor condition. With no need for a waiver, that funding could be resumed, or enhanced, to assure that the existing unpaved roads in the park near the border are restored to the condition both agencies agreed to years ago.
“There does not need to be a conflict between a strong border, a thriving local economy, and conservation of the wildest, most intact landscapes of Texas and our nation. If Customs and Border Protection would engage the public, local elected officials, sheriffs, and the National Park Service, we are absolutely confident that we can find a solution to realistically improve border security at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer.
“But if you issue a waiver that will not be possible. And the unique, nationally significant landscape, natural resources, and cultural heritage of Big Bend National Park, one of the nation’s crown jewels, will be irreparably damaged, and we fear that any sense of commitment to shared stewardship of the nation’s borderland between your agency and the one we devoted our careers to will be as well.”
End of letter. This has been widely circulated on Capitol Hill, to national environmental organizations, and to the media.
Please learn more at keepbigbendwild.org, and consider supporting Keep Big Bend Wild. There's no more important time. Donations are welcome (we're financially sponsored by the El Paso Community Foundation, a 501c3), but we need you to allow us to list you as a supporter even more – no need to donate. Local business supporters are especially appreciated.
We're also looking for additional people to join our core team (ie the board), especially from the Big Bend area. Contact bob.krumenaker@keepbigbendwild.org to discuss.
Bob Krumenaker Chair, Keep Big Bend Wild
bob.krumenaker@keepbigbendwild.org
www.keepbigbendwild.org
#keepbigbendwild
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