Terlingua Moon   Vol. 37   No. 34

August 25  2026

Please no PDFs or fancy fonts!  (We like it easy.)  

On the web at: theterlinguamoon.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

Espresso ...y poco mas

Ghost Town's go to 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

We're back from summer break  and open with our 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.

Big Bend Health presents

Back to School Health Fair

Join us for free school vaccinations and dental sealants

(for students who qualify)  August 26, 2026  10 AM to 3 PM

Red Patillo Community Center  201 Rex Ivy Road, Terlingua 

Free Sports Physicals August 28 10 AM to 2 PM

(for students who qualify)  Terlingua School District

Earth and Fire Gallery

Jewelry is a must-see! 

Come see our beautiful collection of handcrafted jewelry imported from Mexico. Each piece features incredible craftsmanship, intricate details, and a style all its own.  These are truly special pieces you’ll want to see in person!

One Tail at a Time- West Texas - Pet Food Pantry 

Friday And Saturday August 28th and 29th 

10 am - 4 pm 

We are teaming up with Alpine Humane Society during their Spay/Neuter Clinic to help provide FREE food for our South County Pets.  

Where:  Red Patillo Community Center

Cost:  FREE   When:  Friday 28th 10 am - 4 pm (during Alpine Humane Society’s Spay/Neuter Clinic)

Saturday 29th 10 am - 4 pm (while supplies last)

What:  Pet food is NOT CHEAP.  We understand that these are tough economic times and our goal is to get pet food to our communities in Rural West Texas. Just here to help out our neighbors with 4 legged friends. 

How:  Just drive up and let us know what you need.  No forms to fill out. No questions asked. 

*Supplies are limited.  When it’s gone….it’s gone.*

This program is made possible by the generous support of the Borderland Rescue Fund, a project of El Paso Community Foundation.

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.

During these difficult days we're going through a helpful reminder is a good thing. Texas Law, and the proper application of Purple Paint 

The placement of identifying purple paint marks on trees or posts on the property, provided that the marks are: 

(i) vertical lines of not less than eight inches in length and not less than one inch in width; 

(ii) placed so that the bottom of the mark is not less than three feet from the ground or more than five feet from the ground; and 

(iii) placed at locations that are readily visible to any person approaching the property and no more than: 

(a) 100 feet apart on forest land; or 

(b) 1,000 feet apart on land other than forest land; 

BREWSTER COUNTY ELECTIONS OPEN HOUSEE, Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 1-6 p.m., Judge Val Clark Beard Office Complex, 203 N 7th Street, Alpine, TX

Meet your county elections officials

Register to Vote

Information on Voting by mail

Apply to be an election worker

Learn about the election process and how we work to ensure your vote counts

All about the upcoming general election

Hi everyone – it’s just under 2 months until the 31st Annual Terlingua Music Bash (October 15-18).  The Bash is hosted by Cabin 10, Inc. (a 501 (c)(3) and funds the Mark Kneeskern Memorial Art Scholarship which is awarded to a graduating senior of Terlingua High School each year. For the school year ending in May 2026, a scholarship was awarded to 2 individuals. One was awarded to graduating senior, Ervey Sotelo, of the class of 2026.  The second scholarship was a renewal of the Scholarship presented last year to Caitlin Staib. 

The scholarship funds are raised by way of a silent auction. This year’s auction will take place on the 17th of October. If you would be able to once again donate an item to the auction (or for the first time), we would be most appreciative. Artwork, in-kind items, weekend rentals, professional services, etc. are most welcome. Please email cabin10org@gmail.com or call 512/ 739-2212.

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.

Jim Hines Memorial

TFEMS has established a scholarship fund In memory of Jim.  Donations may be made to TFEMS, P.O Box 290, Terlingua, Texas  79852.  Please call TFEMS at 432-371-2536 if you have questions regarding donations.

MILKY WAY TREATS 

ice cream trailer will be open this weekend, Sat-Mon, 4-9pm! We’ll have our creamy, dreamy chocolate and vanilla soft serve! Lots of homemade pints to-go and fun sundaes, too. Stop by and treat yourself. Gracias, Terlingua!

Terlingua Trash Pickup - weekly trash pickup for residential and business.

We do JUNK REMOVAL too: wood piles, tires, house clean outs, mattresses, appliances, and more!  Details and pricing here: www.terlinguatrash.com

Have a great day! -Jimmy (432) 201 -5638.

BBAC

We have a show that is all about food coming up in September!

"Delicious, all about food" opens on September 10...Bring entries in by September 8th. Take-In Entry Deadline: September 8  Reception: Friday September 11

   We had a great showing for the Plein Air Painters' group.  There were lots of opportunities to paint at ranches, homes, State parks, etc.  Thank you Liz for organizing this event!

  The Big Bend Community Chorale begins rehearsals this Monday-6pm in the Choir Room, second floor of the Fine Arts Building at SRSU.

We will restart our monthly BBAC members' meetings in September.

Terlingua Crisis Center

Assorted fruits at the Crisis Center.   Come help yourself. Watermelons are on the side of the building. The rest is on the porch.

Brewster County Commissioners Court meeting

Tuesday, August 25 at 9:30 AM in Alpine at the Courthouse

KEEP BIG BEND WILD!

The “pause,” we are told, will extend at least through 8/31/26.  We hear the Commissioner is considering abandoning construction of all new roads in the national park, and that everything is negotiable.  Glad to hear it – and we will be delighted if CBP’s actions match their words.  We’ll remain positive, but even if they stick to existing roads, until their plans are transparent and public input is sought and considered before the dozers and excavators return, there’s still tremendous damage that can be done as long as the legal waiver remains in place.  Like you, we will stay vigilant, and do everything we can do to keep the light shining on Big Bend.  It’s what has gotten us to this point.

 

We are not pausing, even if the contractors are.  But it is a good time to put the current crisis into context and discuss long-term strategy.  Keep Big Bend Wild formed in 2021 as a partnership between citizens who love the park and the NPS, to resurrect interest and support to see most of the undeveloped lands of the park outside of road corridors permanently protected from additional development other than possible hiking trails. While a wilderness designation with carefully drawn boundaries would preserve every existing legal visitor use in the park, many were skeptical that it 

was worth the political challenge of trying to get a bill through Congress, when the park was already well-protected.  If you haven’t looked at our 5-minute video, it’s worth a look.  Go to our home page and scroll down:keepbigbendwild.org

That calm debate seems like a hundred years ago.  We live in a different world now.  The threats to Big Bend have generated bipartisan national outrage, and I hope it’s clear to local Moon readers that whatever differences or skepticism they may have once had with park leadership, we are all on the same side now.  Keep Big Bend Wild is in the fight for the same reason you are – to protect the park that we thought was already protected.

 

So let’s look beyond the pause.  The need for legislation has never been greater, and there will be a new Congress in 2027 with a likely different dynamic.  KBBW is in discussion with key Capitol Hill offices interested in legislation that would:

Bestow most of the remaining undeveloped areas of the park – recognizing that the boundaries could have to be shrunk somewhat pending what damage DHS does – with a wilderness protection overlay, mandating that the NPS manage them to protect the opportunities for visitors to enjoy their wild character in perpetuity.

Rescind the DHS-imposed waiver of federal laws in the entire park – and beyond, if we can get enough support – and prohibit any laws from ever being waived there in the future without explicit, site-specific legislation by a future Congress. Any future border security infrastructure construction would be subject to normal environmental and cultural review, and meaningful opportunities for public involvement.

Cancel any  outstanding contracts and mandate that CBP fund the restoration of any destruction they have caused in Big Bend National Park, subject to coordination and oversight by the NPS.

 

This is not a pipe dream.  We intend to also work on the appropriations front, to be discussed in another post.  We can do this – we urge everyone who opposes what is being done to the park, and desires that its resources, values, and opportunities be guaranteed to be preserved for our grandchildren, and theirs, please support us if you’ve not already done so (keepbigbendwild.org/become-a-supporter)  and work with us to make that a reality. Local people, local businesses, and local governments are essential to show elected reps of both parties that Texans are united, and we expect them to act, not just talk, to protect Big Bend in perpetuity.  

 

KBBW is a strategic partner in the No Big Bend Wall Coalition.  

#keepbigbendwild

Bob Krumenaker

Chair, Keep Big Bend Wild

bob.krumenaker@keepbigbendwild.org

www.keepbigbendwild.org

 

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