Opinion

“All to Jesus I surrender; At His feet, I humbly bow, Worldly pleasures, all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now.” — Traditional hymn lyrics by Judson W. Van DeVenter, 1896 Despite the old joke about getting to church “early to get a good seat — one in the back,” the front seat is where I sit.

Texas has a lot to offer which includes over 80,000 highway lane miles. We also have world-class rail and air facilities for freight and passengers. Nearly 2,000 people move here every day, steadily increasing the pressure on our infrastructure. That’s one of the reasons why my Texas Transportation Commission colleagues and I made history this month with the approval of a record $142 billion total investment for Texas’ transportation infrastructure, including the $100 billion 10-year Unified Transportation Program (UTP). This funding will help ensure vital transportation projects will improve safety, congestion, preservation, and connectivity for Texas drivers.

Alpine- Casparis Municipal Airport, also known by its Federal Aviation Administration location identification E38(Echo 38), is located northwest of Alpine. The airport is owned by the City of Alpine and is considered a general aviation facility being primarily for small commercial and private aircraft. Our airport is non commercial meaning it does not have a scheduled air service for passengers. The airport has two intersecting runways, 01/19 and 05/23, with the longer being 6003ft and the latter 5018ft. The runways are identified with two numbers because they can be used in either direction for take offs and landings, with pilots usually choosing the runway with the more favorable wind direction.

“If these walls could talk, I wonder what secrets they’d tell.” — Gayle Forman, writer That question was evidently on my mind many years ago. April 3, 1975, to be exact.

“The most disastrous crisis we face in the next two decades will be the food shortage crisis.” — Jack “Spot” Baird, Professor of Possumolgy Fifty some-odd years is a long time to chronicle people, places, and events. Maybe that’s why, ever so often, one of the well-known or illustrious individuals I’ve been privileged to interview comes to mind.

As residents of the Chihuahuan Desert, individuals in West Texas know better than most just how precious of a resource water is. With a skyrocketing population infl ux, coupled with historically dry conditions, Texans everywhere are becoming all too familiar with the uncomfortable feeling of water insecurity. This instability in water availability serves as a reminder that we must all do our part to take conservation-based approaches to managing our natural resources.

“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.” — Franklin P.

No matter the size or nature of your endeavor, whether you’re planning a professional construction project or simply planting a tree in your backyard, reaching out to 811 is an essential step in protecting underground utilities and ensuring everyone’s safety. According to the Texas Railroad Commission’s Pipeline Damage Prevention program, “Texas has more miles of pipeline than any other state. In reports submitted to the Texas Railroad Commission in 2020, 27 % of pipeline damages are done by people digging with hand tools, such as shovels.” So, how can you get involved? It’s simple. First and foremost, always remember to contact 811 at least two business days before digging. When calling 811, homeowners, DIYers, and contractors will connect to the local One-Call Center which notifies the appropriate utility company of their intent to dig. This will allow professional locators to mark the approximate location of underground utilities on your property, with flags, spray paint or both, preventing accidental damage. Spread the word about safe digging practices to your friends, family, and neighbors.

Co·in·ci·dence – noun: a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection. — Oxford Language Dictionary “So, what are you gonna do now,” asked Craig as we sat at the tall work table stools just inside The Monitor newspaper office.