Vol. 37, No. 33, August 18, 2026

BCAD PRESS RELEASE – BORDER WALL INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT

Brewster County Appraisal District is seeking the public’s help and input identifying and locating taxable infrastructure and heavy equipment in South Brewster County related to recent border wall construction.  Our county is expansive, and much of this taxable heavy equipment and infrastructure is likely located in remote areas that may be difficult or impossible for the Appraisal District to identify efficiently.

If you are aware of any man camps, equipment yards, materials depots or new sand/gravel mining operations located in Brewster County that the Appraisal District may be unaware of, please call us at 432-837-2558.  Callers may choose to remain anonymous.

KEEP BIG BEND WILD!

The big news all Moon readers already know is that the CBP Commissioner is in our area meeting with the sheriffs, the county judge, and a few of you to hear and see first-hand why border infrastructure construction is a horrific idea here.  He’s announced that “CBP is pausing all construction activity in Big Bend National Park” while he conducts his review.  This is, of course, the same person who said last week that there was no construction activity in progress even in the face of overwhelming images showing the opposite.  We’ll be cautiously optimistic for now but make no assumptions that the fight has been won. 

Keep Big Bend Wild and the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (http://www.protectnps.org/) filed a brief of Amici Curiae (Friends of the Court) last Friday in support of the plaintiffs in the ongoing federal lawsuit filed by the Friends of the Ruidosa Church, Billy Miller, and the Center for Biological Diversity.  We seek to demonstrate that Congress did not authorize DHS’s proposed actions in the national park, as it is not an area of high illegal entry, as required by law, and that DHS is violating the Constitution by acting outside its authority.  KBBW will post a link to the brief this week on our website. 

 Amidst the atrocities being committed inside Big Bend National Park, there are nonetheless some rays of hope.  The “wall” of Republican elected officials’ silence is breaking – Sen. Cornyn has spoken in opposition, State Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has issued a strong “Cease and Desist” order for state lands, and last week at least 2 members of the majority party in the Texas House have joined Rep. Eddie Morales and 43 other legislators in a letter to Governor Abbott imploring him to call on DHS to “immediately cease demolition and border barrier construction activities” in the national park. (https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6031859-texas-lawmakers-urge-abbott-stop-border-barriers-big-bend). Hope is not a strategy, however, so we all need to keep the pressure on DHS and CBP.

 Note KBBW is bipartisan – we will work with members of any party that will oppose destroying Big Bend, and criticize those of any party that stay silent. 

Sheriff Cleveland’s plea to CBP Commissioner Scott to come to see our area ASAP appears to have worked – Scott is coming.  CBP is putting out defensive statements.  They hear us, they’re worried, but meanwhile the bulldozers and excavators continue to expand their destruction in the national park.

While we suspect it’s just window dressing, CBP is accepting comments until August 31 on their plans for BBT-5, which includes most of the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River downstream of the national park and Black Gap WMA.  See KBBW’s Call to Action and suggested points you can use to submit comments here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/193EVnNyvx/

Please follow us on our Facebook page, which is really taking off.  A big thank you to everyone, especially local businesses, that have added your names to the Keep Big Bend Wild supporter list at keepbigbendwild.org/become-a-supporter.  While donations are helpful and appreciated (we're financially sponsored by the El Paso Community Foundation, a 501c3),  your names as supporters are even more valuable.  Local business supporters are especially important, and appreciated.  Elected officials see the growing number of real people and real businesses from real places that want to see Texas’ Gift to the Nation protected from destruction.  Keep Big Bend Wild’s goal remains permanent, legislative protection, including a rollback of the authority DHS has to operate at will without accountability. With enough support, and enough voices, we will make it happen.

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

#keepbigbendwild

TIME TO CALL, NO WALL REMINDER 

Please continue to call Governor Abbott (512) 463-1828 (perhaps this would be a good time to ask what changed his mind since December 2016??)

 Markwayne Mullin (202) 282-8000 extension 6

 Senator Cruz  (202) 224-3121

 Senator Cornyn (202) 224-3121

No Big Bend Wall.org is an excellent source of information.  Follow us on Facebook at No Wall 79852 for current updates. Things are changing quickly.

Your voice matters. Speak up for Texas parks, for wildlife, for our economic survival, and for future generations. 

NO WALL.  NO WIRE.  NO WAY!

PAISANO POST FROM TERLINGUA SCHOOL

Welcome Back Paisanos, Families, and Friends to another school year!  The first day of school will be Wednesday, August 19th.  Breakfast starts at 7:45 a.m. and 1st classes start at 8 a.m.  Cross country athletes have been practicing at 7 a.m. and will be practicing at 6:45 a.m. once school starts on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.  Thank you to Coach A and Coach Hazlehurst for their support this season.  Their 1st Meet will kick-off in Alpine on September 12th.  The Folklorico dancers will be participating at BarrioFest in Fort Stockton on September 11th and 12th by teaching Fort Stockton 5th graders some folklorico moves on Friday and performing on Saturday.  Looking forward to a great year.  Check here for weekly updates, via Social Media (Facebook) at Big Bend High School -Paisanos, or on the web at terlinguacsd.com

CRISIS CENTER ‑‑ Hello Terlingua, Just got it confirmed that the Truck will be in on Thursday the 20th around 11:30 a.m.  Shout out to all of our volunteers, without your help these events could not happen.  Distribution will be on Friday the 21st from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  We have to shut it down at that time in order to get the place cleaned up.  Please pick up before 3:30.  You must bring your cards or the cards for the people you are picking up for.  Thank you.

ESPRESSO …y POCO MAS ‑‑ Located in the Ghost Town and open at  7:30 a.m., 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.  

TERLINGUA PET CLINIC ‑‑ Red Pattillo Community Center, behind the Post Office

201 Rex Ivy Road, Study Butte, TX

Friday and Saturday August 28th and 29th

FREE Spay and Neuter--Available by Appointment ONLY

Surgery Check in at 8 AM

WALK IN Wellness Clinic

Vaccinations and MicroChip

Daily from 10 to 4

Appointments for Cats and Dogs

For Appointment please contact 432 837 2532 or 432 837 3400

Or email Maryann@AlpineHumaneSociety.org

Alpine Humane Society is a 501c3 serving the Big Bend Tri-County area

BIG BEND REGION ALLIED BUSINESSES LIST ‑‑ The businesses listed in this living document (updated as often as possible) are allied in opposition to the Border Wall project in the Big Bend region.  If you would like to join the cause, please support them however you can.

The businesses are sorted by closest town, by establishment type, and when possible include links to their websites.

If you are unfamiliar with the region and are here in person visiting, just keep your eye out for signage posted at allied businesses.

THANK YOU!!! for your support through this difficult time in our communities.

If you see anything incorrect or if you feel your business should be on this list, and you do not see it, please email me at Cigarmountainhouse@gmail.com

Editor’s note:  Let’s support these businesses as much as possible during these hard times.  They are, after all, forfeiting revenue to take a stand.  Big Bend Region Allied Businesses List.  Thank you!

SATURDAY COMMUNITY MARKET ‑‑ 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 license.  (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 ‑‑ trash systems designed for the desert.

Upfront pricing = no games: prices posted publicly on the website:  www.terlinguatrash.com.

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

BIG BEND EPISCOPAL MISSION ‑‑ Weekly church services on Saturdays at 5 p.m. in Lajitas at Sts. Mary and Joseph's Chapel w/Father Mike Wallens.  All are welcome.

OTRA VEZ THRIFT SHOP ‑‑ Wednesdays starting in September at 5:30pm-6:30pm & Saturdays (except the 12th) from 9am-12pm.  All of September will be $1 Bag Sales too. Thank you for your support.

REMINDER ‑‑ Celebrating the Life of Victoria “Vicki” Kempf Harris.

Vicki passed away on July 8, 2026, at the age of 64.  A lifelong resident of Terlingua Ghost Town, she was a beloved part of the Big Bend community. Her spirit was as wild and beautiful as the desert she called home.

Please join us on August 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Terlingua Ghost Town Cemetery to honor Vicki’s life and what would have been her 65th birthday.

An additional celebration will follow at The Boathouse with food beginning at about 12:30 barbecue, music, open mic.  The first beer is on the Harris Family!!!  Additional drinks available for purchase.  Dust off those dancing shoes and bring your best stories of Vicki to share with friends and family.

Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported us.  Your kindness means so much.

LITTLE BURRO COUNTRY STORE ‑‑ Updated dates for the sale at the Burro Store to 8-29-26.  Deb Taylor and Missy Walker are preparing for their show coming up August 29 - September 19, at Little Burro Country Store.  Their opening shindig will be Sunday, August 29, 2026 4-6 p.m.  Live music, Hors d'oeuvres and beverages provided on the porch.  Come see what we’ve been up to!