Dear Editor,
I want to thank The Big Bend Sentinel for covering a wide range of important issues all across the Tri-County. I live in Alpine, but in many ways I have experienced the Tri-County as one community. Many Alpine residents depend on your broad coverage to stay informed.
Keep up the good work.
Pam Gaddis
Alpine
Dear Editor,
I would like to bring public attention to our city dog park. Congratulations to the city on its work improving the park for both humans and pets. The most recent additions are top notch. These include a water fountain for people and dogs and a large well-constructed metal “Dog Park” sign. The landscape trees are thriving for the most part. Litter collection is being handled very well.
Unfortunately more than half the park is now unusable due to infestation of puncture vine, aka goat heads. These and other weeds are established in the wood chips forming the running/playing surface. Removal of the plants will leave roots and seeds, herbicide would be toxic to pets and humans, and flame suppression and wood chips are not a good mix.
At this point there is no way to rid the park of these pests except complete removal of some or all the ground cover. I salute the city for the renewal of the park; it is a great asset for everyone. I feel that the only viable long-term solution to the continuing weed infestation problem is installation of a permanent, durable, surface made for dog parks. This improvement, coupled with continued care, will make our city dog park an attractive, useful place for a long time.
Scott May
Marfa
Dear Editor,
I am a nurse who works in Presidio County. Last Friday evening I visited Porter’s grocery store in Alpine. As I walked through the store there were several shoppers without masks. When I asked the clerk why people without masks were being allowed to enter, she stated “We have been told not to challenge anyone who is without a mask.”
This was so alarming, especially as I saw one shopper without a mask handling fruit. I asked where the manager was and when I asked him, he said that he was told by his boss not to challenge anyone. This is horrifying and saddening. 209,000 people have died in the U.S. and a grocery store is jeopardizing the safety of its employees and consumers by not putting community safety as their number one priority.
I ask the management to reconsider their policy and make shopping at Porter’s in Alpine safe for everyone by sticking to the executive order and only allowing masked shoppers entry. I am not entering the store until they do so and I ask other community members to do the same.
Sincerely,
Christina Wright, RN
Marfa