Pool’s out for summer
PRESIDIO –– Over the weekend, Presidio’s swimmers were disappointed to learn that the recirculation pump at the city pool had suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure. The pool is typically open through Labor Day, but the bad pump pushed the city to make the disappointing decision to close the pool for the duration of the season.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Director Elvis Medina estimated that the new pump will cost approximately $8,000. City officials spearheaded an online discussion about how best to handle the issue to keep the pool open for a few more weeks. “City finances are such that buying a new pump outright at this time is not an option,” Mayor John Ferguson wrote on Facebook.
Ojinaga woman takes 5th in Olympic race walking competition
Last Thursday, 25-year-old track superstar Alegna González earned fifth place in the Olympic race walking competition in Paris. González continues building a legacy of success, coming off of another fifth-place performance in the 2020 Tokyo games.
González — originally of Ojinaga — is one of three athletes from the Mexican state of Chihuahua competing at this year’s games, alongside Portillo Rodriguez of Cuahtémoc and Uziel Muñoz Galarza of Nuevo Casas Grandes, who are competing in high jump and shot put, respectively.
Race walking is an Olympic sport similar to other kinds of traditional track races, but one of the athlete’s feet must be touching the ground at all times. This year’s games feature a 20 km race walk in a men’s and a women’s division and a mixed gender race walk relay.
On Wednesday morning, González competed in the relay alongside Ricardo Ortiz. The pair earned another fifth-place medal for Mexico.
Museum of the Big Bend director candidates visit Sul Ross Campus
ALPINE — Candidates for the role of the new director of the Museum of the Big Bend are visiting the Sul Ross State University campus this month.
The top administrative role at the Museum of the Big Bend has been vacant since the retirement of previous director Mary Bones on April 30. Bones had a 24-year tenure at the institution. The Permian Basin Area Foundation established an endowment in her honor.
The search for the new director began in April, with the university advertising the role on their website and in trade publications. A total of nine applicants were received. The two finalists selected for campus visits are Dr. John Klingemann, who visited the campus last week, and Bill Mercer, who visits this coming week.
A candidate forum for Mercer will be held Monday, August 12 , from 3:10 to 4 p.m. at the Espino Conference Center. He will have the opportunity to address his vision to the Alpine community and Sul Ross personnel, as Klingemann did on August 1.
Klingemann is currently serving as a professor, dean and director of the Mayer Museum at Angelo State University. Mercer is an experienced museum administrator who has most recently worked in a consulting capacity and as the associate director for curatorial affairs and curator of art at the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, Texas.
The search committee tasked with hiring a new director for the Museum of the Big Bend will meet after Mercer’s visit on August 12 to make their final decision on who will fill the role.
H-E-B launches 2025 search for Texas’ top educators
SAN ANTONIO — Nominations for the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards are now open to all Texas public school professionals in Texas and close on October 7, 2024. Teachers, counselors, principals, early childhood centers, school boards and districts can win cash prizes for their outstanding work. Since 2002, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program, which recognizes educators who go the extra mile to serve their students and their communities, has awarded more than $14 million in funding to finalists, winners and their schools.
All state-certified public school educators currently teaching in Texas are eligible for the awards program as well as Texas early childhood education centers/schools.
“Educators are the backbone of our society, and they deserve recognition for going above and beyond to uplift our communities and shape the next generation of leaders,” Jill Reynolds, H-E-B public affairs manager, said. “By nominating an educator, you are starting a journey that can lead to impactful benefits for not only the school but also your community.”
Anyone can nominate their favorite Texas educator at heblovesteachers.com/nominate/. Eligibility is not dependent on proximity to H-E-B store locations. Nomination categories include:
- Teacher
- School Counselor
- Principal
- Early Childhood Facility
- School Board
- School District
Educators who are nominated will receive an invitation to apply before December 2, 2024. While a nomination is not required to apply for an award, a nomination lets an educator know they are appreciated and encouraged to apply for the awards program.
Finalists and winners will be selected by a panel of judges composed of educators, administrators and community leaders throughout the state. Ten winners — six teachers, two counselors and two principals — along with an early childhood facility, public school board and two school districts, will be announced at an awards ceremony in May 2025. Each award recipient’s school will also receive a matching grant.
In 2024, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards program distributed over $780,000 in cash and grants to educators and schools. Through this program, H-E-B seeks to pay tribute to those educators who go the extra mile each day to serve their students and communities and who inspire others to do the same. To nominate an educator, visit heblovesteachers.com/nominate/.