Mary Cantrell

1 week ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

Local officials are privy to the proposal but lack details on key factors like water use PRESIDIO COUNTY — Marfa grasslands, long inhabited by grazing cattle, could soon be the site of a multi-million dollar data center established to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence if preliminary plans progress. Presidio County and City of Marfa officials have recently gleaned project details from Open Origin, the energy generation and distribution company developing the proposal.

1 week ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

MARFA — American Electric Power (AEP) is proposing to build a new, much larger, substation on Oak Street, catty-corner to the existing substation’s current location, and is seeking a rezone in the process, prompting backlash from neighborhood residents who oppose the industrialization of residential property.

1 week ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

MARFA — Marfa City Council members voted to terminate City Manager Andrea Walter at a special council meeting held on Tuesday at noon, effective immediately. Walter was given an hour to collect her things and will receive severance pay for three months. It was not immediately clear why Walter was fired. Mayor Manny Baeza declined to provide further details, stating that “we don’t discuss personnel issues.” Walter declined to comment.

2 weeks ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell |Rob D'Amico

MARFA — Some residents of the Marfa Housing Authority (MHA) are raising concerns about the site’s management after one resident alleged her car was recently illegally towed. For resident Sierra Slaughter, the abrupt and seemingly unjustified towing of her vehicle from the apartment parking lots was the culmination of long standing “harassment” by MHA maintenance man and security guard Juan “John” Lara.

2 weeks ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

ALPINE — Efforts are finally underway to clean up the wreckage on Holland Avenue left by a devastating May 2024 fire. The site, 109 to 115 West Holland Avenue, has remained walled off to the public since the tragedy. The City of Alpine and the building’s current owner, Bill Ivey, have been in negotiations since November 2024 regarding the sale of the site, which used to house several local businesses and is located in the heart of downtown Alpine’s commercial district.