The Big Bend Sentinel

The Big Bend Sentinel has been serving Presidio County and the Far West Texas region as a weekly newspaper since 1926.

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Council talks city manager, police pay, El Cosmico, MAC pool

19 hours 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

19 hours 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.
Power lights up the rodeo arena, but the facilities still need care - and new kids

1 week ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Alexis Wolfe

MARFA — “From my understanding, no one really knew we were here,” Lucas Salcido says from inside the Marfa Rodeo Arena, tugging his horse, Nino, towards his trailer parked alongside the agriculture barn.
Terlingua microclinic celebrates first 2 weeks, confirms Marfa and Presidio clinic details

2 weeks ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Sam Karas

PRESIDIO — At last Thursday’s meeting, the Big Bend Regional Hospital District (BBRHD) toasted a successful first two weeks of Bravo Health Terlingua, the region’s new “microclinic.” Billed as an innovative project to transform rural healthcare, the small building — staffed in-person by local nurse Ashley Grover — blends a traditional office visit with cutting-edge telemedicine.
Presidio ISD board addresses taxpayer questions ahead of school bond election

2 weeks ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Sam Karas

PRESIDIO — Last Wednesday, around 30 Presidio ISD parents and staff members gathered to discuss a $9.9 million bond for district improvements that will appear on the ballot this Saturday. School board members Perla Natividad, Jaime Sanchez and Brenda Witty moderated the discussion, fielding questions about school finance and the potential projects that could be funded with the bond. Superintendent Carmen Rubner was also a part of the presentation.
Mayor, water department refute council member’s allegations

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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.
Sul Ross graduate files suit against Trump administration over student visa

3 weeks ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Sam Karas

PORTLAND, Ore. — Last Thursday, Sul Ross graduate Aaron Ortega-Gonzalez filed suit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after his student visa to attend Oregon State University was abruptly pulled on April 4 “without any notice or meaningful explanation,” per his complaint.
Council member alleges city manager was fired for being a ‘whistleblower’

3 weeks ago | bigbendsentinel.com | Mary Cantrell

MARFA — City Councilmember Travis Acreman penned a letter to the editor in this week’s Big Bend Sentinel that alleges previous City Manager Andrea Walter was wrongfully terminated for discovering several instances of “willful mismanagement” by city officers, stretching back years and resulting in the loss of “millions of dollars.” Walter served as the city manager for around a month and a half before she was fired last week.