Editor’s Notes
The
Enlightened Bean
I
’ve seen my first turkey
vulture – and you know
what that means –
spring is here! Notwith -
standing the interesting
temperatures we had in
February, the cycle of life
keeps on and the winter
blahs give way to the green-
ing up even of the high
desert. As soon as the wind
starts, I’ll know the seasons are turning for sure.
If you remember riding the train as a kid,
you’ll remember all over again with Warren
Taylor’s tale of the Sunset Limited. Maybe one
day we’ll go back to riding the train routinely and
watching the world go by!
The Big Bend is the stuff that dreams are
made of – not to mention mystery fiction. Follow
Melissa Keane sleuthing to find what makes the
settings in fictionalized Big Bend place settings
ring true.
You don’t have to look far in the Trans-Pecos
to see all kinds of rock – as our poetry selections
note. But ancient peoples not only looked at the
rocks, they used them for myriad things in daily
life from cooking to decoration; Richard Walter
explains.
Alpine is not only the place where you go to
shop in the Big Bend, it’s the place that has been
the cultural capital for over a century – from the
opening of the Sul Ross Normal College in 1920
through the Great Depression when Dr. More -
lock, president of the college and H. L. Kokernot,
local rancher, put their heads together to create
Kokernot Lodge and Amphitheater, through
families like the Crosses, into the present day
when we look toward saving the structures from
the past as we form a vision for what the city can
be in the future. Chelsea Rios, Reba Cross Seals
and David Keller tell the stories of Alpine, past
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and future.
And across the Rio Grande, a hardy band of
wildfire fighters keeps both sides of the River
safer. Los Diablos, wildfire fighters from the
Mexican side of the river, are an invaluable
resource for all of us who live in the borderlands
– and beyond. Phyllis Dunham tells us why
they’re so special.
One hundred fifty years ago this year, the Civil
War divided our country. Texas and Old Fort
Davis were part of the Confederacy. Meet the
people and conflicts of that time here in Far West
Texas through the words of Bob Miles.
Photographing the Big Bend is almost a nation-
al pastime. But among the artists with a camera is
surely James Evans. His new book is a chronicle
of his 20 years capturing the land he loves in pho-
tographs. Nature photographer Crystal Allbright
takes us through the book in her review.
Big Bend citizens who fly the skies, offer hospi-
tality and work for excellence in higher education
are our Voices of the Big Bend this time. Enjoy
Jim Glendinning’s interviews.
Details in the desert are Cathy Hoyt’s specialty
in our Photo Essay.
More mystery in Charlie Angell’s Trans-Pecos
ghosts.
Our cover is from James’ new book and our
occasional art from the fine pen of Michael
Nickell, nature illustrator par excellence.
We hope you enjoy this issue, and we urge you
to shop with and patronize our advertisers. They
make this magazine possible – they pay for every
bit of it with their advertising support. And all of
us can help keep the Big Bend the special place it
is by shopping locally and keeping our sales tax
dollars here at home!
Published by Cenizo Journal LLC
P.O. Box 2025, Alpine, Texas 79831
www.cenizojournal.com
Alpine Community
Credit Union
C E N I Z O J O U R N A L S TA F F
PUBLISHER/EDITOR/ADVERTIZING
Dallas Baxter
[email protected]
The only local financial institution in Alpine
If you live or work in Alpine, bank with us
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6
Cenizo
Second Quarter 2011
BUSINESS MANAGER
Martha Latta
[email protected]
WEB MANAGER
Jennifer Turner
[email protected]
GRAPHICS
Katherine Shaughnessy
[email protected]
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Cenizo Journal will be mailed direct for $25.00 annually.
Checks made payable to: Cenizo Journal, P.O. Box 2025, Alpine, Texas 79831
SUBMISSIONS
Deadline for Third Quarter 2011 issue: Advertising ~ May 10, Editorial ~ May 15, 2011.
Art, photographic and literary works may be e-mailed to the Editor.
For advertising rates or to place an ad, contact: [email protected]