Vol. 37, No. 43

 

Terlingua Moon

Volume 37, No. 43

October 27, 2026 by FreeBird

“[W]hile we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.” ‑‑ Amanda Gorman

BREWSTER COUNTY REGULAR COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING

Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 9:30 AM in the Brewster County Courthouse, Commissioners Courtroom.
See attached agenda or visit Commissioners Court agenda 10/27/26.
invites you to join us for a spooky evening under the full moon
at The Cactus Farm!

LAST CHANCE TO VOTE EARLY!

Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30, 7 am – 7 pm

EARLY VOTING LOCATION:

Val Clark Beard Complex 203 N 7th St, Alpine.

This is the ONLY option for early voting.  There will be no early voting in Study Butte/Terlingua.

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

Remember, on Election Day, you MUST vote in your designated precinct location.

BALLOTS BY MAIL ‑‑ To be counted, mail ballots must be received at the County Election Office by 4 pm on November 3.

FAMILY CRISIS CENTER OF THE BIG BEND ‑‑ Thank You, David Elkowitz, Reine Wonite, and the Terlingua Preservation Society!  FCCBB extends our heartfelt gratitude to the Terlingua Preservation Society for their generous donation!  Your support helps us continue providing vital services and support to individuals and families in South Brewster County.  We are grateful for community partners like you who help us make a difference in the lives of those we serve.  Thank you for investing in our mission and the well-being of our community!

FULL MOON POTLUCK — HALLOWEEN EDITION!

Jackass Flats Improvement Association

October 26th

The Cactus Farm

Start eating at 7:00 PM

Music starts at 7:30 PM with Moses!

Costumes are encouraged!

Halloween-themed dishes are encouraged too!  Bring your favorite spooky, creepy, or just plain delicious creation to share.  Come enjoy good food, good music, great company, and a little Halloween fun under that beautiful West Texas moon.  Bring a dish, bring a friend, wear a costume, and come hang out with your Jackass Flats community.  Everyone is welcome!

TERLINGUA RANCH PROPERTY OWNERS' POTLUCK ‑‑ Join your friends and neighbors on Monday, November 2nd, 6:00 pm, at the Bunkhouse for our monthly potluck.  It will be an evening of great fun as we will be amazed at a MAGIC show by Brad and Georgeanne.  Following the potluck, Starry Night Ranch will host a FREE STAR PARTY for property owners from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm.  For the star party, please bring a chair and a red light if you have one.  The ranch will provide plates, cutlery, iced tea and water.  Please bring a covered dish to share.  For more information, call Marilynn at 512.484.1409.  See you there!

FREE BBQ & BREATHWORK ‑‑ Join us for an evening of community, connection, and healing, featuring a heartfelt discussion led by voices from our community, and FREE BBQ (vegan option provided) at 5 PM.

At 6 PM, unwind with a sundown Kundalini breathwork and sound bath experience led by Kasie Lunson, Midland-based yoga and breathwork practitioner.  Mats provided if needed.  No need to have a level of knowledge.  If you breath air, this practice is for you!

Let’s explore how we can support our community mentally, emotionally, and wholeheartedly.

Come for the food, stay for the connection, and leave feeling renewed.

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.

BETTY ALEX ‑‑ Betty touched the lives of many people in the Big Bend region of west Texas.  Join others to honor her life on Saturday, November 14, 2026.  We will meet at the Red Patillo Community Center in Study Butte, Texas at 2:00 pm to share stories of our shared life in this remarkable desert.  Bring photographs and stories about how Betty touched your life here.  If unable to attend, please send memories to share to email.tom.alex@gmail.com.  Refreshments will be provided.

 

JACKASS FLATS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION ‑‑ Dutch Oven Cookoff and Potluck

November 13 through the 15th

Bring a dish or enter your Dutch Oven

Team Roping, Wagon Rides, Horseshoes, Art Show, Flea Market, Stick horse contest and race, Women’s Skillet Toss

Games, Music, Prizes

Western Food, fun and camping for all ages.

51491 Hwy 118, 60 miles south of Alpine, Texas

Contact the Little Burro Country Store 432 271 2082 or Pam Gordon 765 252 8863.

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)

MILKY WAY TREATS ‑‑ ice cream will be open this weekend, Saturday (Halloween!) thru Monday (Dia de Los Muertos).  We’ll have our delicious vanilla and chocolate sauce serve, along with some awesome homemade pints!  Check out our spooky sundaes!  Gracias, Terlingua!

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.

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.

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/DEBRIS 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.

PAISANO POST FROM TERLINGUA SCHOOL

Book Fair Time:  Oct. 26th-30th at BBHS - During school hours.  Parents’ nite Oct. 28th 00pm. 

The folks at CASI would like to spread the word, concerning Trick or Treating, during the Cook Off ‑‑ 

“Halloween is on the Friday when most of us arrive.  There will not be that many trailers for the kids to trick or treat.  I think most of us are just going to set up tables under the pavilion so they don’t have to walk around while trailers are pulling in.”

Basketball seasons are gearing up.  The Home Opener for Junior High will be vs. Presidio on Nov. 12th at 5pm.  The Home Opener for High School will be Girls vs. Valentine on Nov.16th at 5pm.

BIG BEND ESPICOPAL MISSION & OTRA VEZ THRIFT SHOP

Sts. Mary & Joseph’s Chapel in Lajitas:  All are welcome to attend services on Saturdays at 5pm.  Our Lady of Guadalupe service will be held at Santa Inez in the Ghost town on Dec. 12th at 5pm.

Thrift Shop Times:  Wednesdays 5:30pm-6:30pm.  NO Saturday Hours on 10/31.  Thank you for your support.

Mark ("eYeBall") Kneeskern Memorial Scholarship and Terlingua Music Bash

MARK (“eYeBall”) KNEESKERN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AND TERLINGUA MUSIC BASH

Cabin 10 would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way, shape or form to the 2026 Terlingua Music Bash and Silent Auction benefitting the Mark (“eYeBall”) Kneeskern Memorial Art Scholarship for Terlingua High School.  We are assured of the continuation of this scholarship thanks to your generosity – both those who donated items and those who bid on/ purchased items.

We would also like to thank the venues who contributed to the success:  Greg and Mellie Hammer of The Boathouse Bar and Bugalows; The Ivey family and The Starlight; Don Baucham and DB’s Rustic BBQ; Mike Minnick and The Temple of the Bird and Meg Lowery La Kiva.

Mark was a beloved member of our community, and we are so grateful that you continue to show up and make sure this scholarship remains whole and his memory alive.  He loved this community and he especially loved the children of Terlingua and always encouraged their creativity and pursuit of the arts.  This past year, two scholarships were awarded.  One to graduating senior Ervey Sotelo and the second was a renewal of the scholarship presented last year to Caitlin Staib.  We look forward to the presentation of the scholarship in May of 2027 and hope many of you will come to the Terlingua High School graduating ceremony as all of the graduating seniors embark on their next journey.

For more information on Cabin 10 and this scholarship, check out https://cabin10.org/scholarships. 

TAQUERIA EL MILAGRO ‑‑ Authentic Mexican food and more located in the Ghost Town. We serve 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 takeout via our drive-through window.

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.  

KEEP BIG BEND WILD!

Justice Samuel Alito, who gets the first look at all applications for Supreme Court action from Texas, has given the plaintiffs until this Thursday, October 29, to submit a brief in opposition to the government’s request that SCOTUS stay or overturn the preliminary injunction.  This is an encouraging sign – Alito is not acting quickly or unilaterally, apparently wanting to thoroughly understand the arguments on all sides.  The Justices meet in conference next week to discuss cases, so it’s also possible that he will bump this to the entire court for consideration.

So the injunction holds at least until late Thursday, and possibly much longer.  Or he could just be delaying until after the midterms – we simply don’t know.

Have you seen this frightening article in the NY Times this week, about AI surveillance towers?  Here is a gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/10/22/us/politics/ai-surveillance-cameras-border-mexico.html?unlocked_article_code=1.LFE.WjD7.5nB9gxrElxuQ&smid=url-share.  (It may require registration, but there’s no actual paywall.  Make up an email if you have to…)  This is a stark reminder that when DHS or CBP say they are “considering” alternative plans for the Big Bend area that will have lesser impact, and when some well-meaning folks in our area say that technology is the answer rather than barriers, all technological solutions are not the same.  We NEED to continue to DEMAND transparency from the government, and see their entire plan, including all the towers, roads, power and communications cables, man camps, wells, staging areas, etc.  Their arrogant responses to the court suggests that they continue, despite almost universal opposition, to assert that they alone can solve the problem, and they alone can define what that problem actually is.  WE DON”T BUY IT.

This government overreach appalls people across the political spectrum, which is why KBBW strongly believes that a bipartisan legislative solution in the next Congress is the necessary resolution to the current situation for the entire Big Bend region. 

So do the folks at LetTexansDoTexas.Org (LTDT), a new politically-savvy Texas-based organization that has emerged from within the midst of this fight. LTDT is advocating for a redirection of federal border infrastructure money to a trust fund that Texans control, as we know best what is really needed in the Big Bend to assure a secure border AND the protection of our environment, economy, livelihoods, and quality of life.  Cordial discussions are ongoing between KBBW and LTDT, as we share a commitment to establishing wilderness at Big Bend National Park as part of the legislative strategy – see www.lettexansdotexas.org/the-solution.

We probably don't need to remind folks that your vote really counts this time, more than ever.

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. 

KBBW is a strategic partner in the No Big Bend Wall Coalition.  Please follow us on our FaceBook and Instagram pages.   #keepbigbendwild

Bob Krumenaker

Chair, Keep Big Bend Wild

bob.krumenaker@keepbigbendwild.org

www.keepbigbendwild.org

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” ‑‑ Abe Lincoln

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Updated every Tuesday (sometimes Monday).