Mary Cantrell

Marfa

Reporter at The Big Bend Sentinel

reporter @bigbendsentinel email [email protected] with tips + stories

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Articles

County appraisal district halfway through homestead tax exemption audit

3 weeks ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

PRESIDIO COUNTY — The Presidio County Appraisal District (PCAD) is still in the process of completing a homestead tax exemption audit started in December 2024. The audit, which is required by the state to be completed every five years, is meant to ensure homeowners are not claiming school property tax exemptions on multiple properties, only their primary residence. So far, the PCAD has scrutinized properties with owner last names A-M, with plans to tackle last names N-Z starting in December 2025.
Borderlands Research Institute receives $8M funding windfall

3 weeks ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

ALPINE — Sul Ross State University’s Borderlands Research Institute (BRI), a 2007-established center dedicated to conserving the natural resources of the Chihuahuan Desert, received $8 million dollars in funding over the next two years from a recent legislative appropriation. The funding, $4 million a year for the next two years, is a boon to BRI, one its leaders anticipate will help potentially double staff.
Bravo Health takes over management of the Marfa Country Clinic

1 month ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

MARFA — The Marfa Country Clinic, a healthcare provider celebrating its 15th anniversary this month, is now under the management of Bravo Health, the local brand of Hamilton Health Box, a company specializing in hybrid primary care microclinics in rural areas. The Marfa Country Clinic was founded by Don Culbertson and Valerie Breuvart in 2010.
New independent shipping center ‘Boxes’ strives to stamp out postal pains

1 month ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

MARFA — Boxes, a new independent shipping center in Marfa, recently opened its doors with the goal of increasing postal services for locals who lack access to a UPS or FedEx store and, for the most part, rely solely on the post office. The business allows anyone to send packages from their location and to receive packages and mail if they sign up for a private mail box, which costs $35 a month.
El Cosmico announces July 1 closure of current site

1 month ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

MARFA — Last week El Cosmico announced the July 1 closure of its current site, a collection of “nomadic accommodations” including vintage trailers, tents, yurts and a lobby shop on 21 acres in South Marfa, established by hotelier Liz Lambert over 15 years ago.
Council talks city manager, police pay, El Cosmico, MAC pool

1 month ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

MARFA — Marfa City Council members met Tuesday to discuss next steps regarding the vacant city manager position, raising police officer pay, the El Cosmico expansion project and the reopening of the Marfa Activities Center (MAC) pool for the summer months. Mayor Manny Baeza, Mayor Pro Tem Raul Lara and council members Mark Morrison and Mark Cash were present. Council members Travis Acreman and Eddie Pallarez were absent.
Delayed 2022-23 school accountability ratings released

1 month ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

TRI-COUNTY — School accountability ratings from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the 2022-23 school year were finally released late last month, resulting in an overall increase of D and F ratings across the state. While it is nuanced, Big Bend area districts generally either maintained their ratings or saw lower scores.
Mayor, water department refute council member’s allegations

1 month ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

MARFA — Mayor Manny Baeza and Public Utilities Director Chuck Salgado are refuting claims made by Councilmember Travis Acreman that the previous city manager was fired for being a “whistleblower.” Acreman went public with the accusations in a letter to the editor in last week’s Big Bend Sentinel, claiming Andrea Walter was terminated for discovering instances of “willful mismanagement,” primarily in the water and streets departments.
Alferez signed on for another year as interim superintendent

1 month ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

Plus other Marfa ISD personnel updatesMARFA — The Marfa ISD School Board voted on Monday to renew an administrator contract for Arturo Alferez for the 2025-26 school year. Alferez has served as the interim superintendent since the summer of 2023. The board also approved a temporary interim superintendent stipend agreement for Alferez. It was not immediately clear what that agreement entails. As of October 2024, Alferez was making $85,000 annually.
Marfa Studio of Arts, nonprofit fostering the town’s youngest artists, celebrates 25 years

1 month ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

MARFA — The Marfa Studio of Arts classroom at Marfa Elementary School was a flurry of activity last Friday afternoon as pre-K students took sculpting tools, rolling pens, spray bottles and paint brushes dipped in colorful glazes to their newly-formed clay creations. Many of the seven young artists — who constructed a bowl, an igloo and a “daddy penguin” — sat on their knees in metal chairs in order to reach the top of the wooden work table blanketed in stained canvas.