Cenizo Journal Spring 2011 | Página 6

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 Café Homemade Desserts Fabulous Food Reasonable Prices Serving breakfast and lunch 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. We cater in the evenings 432.229.3131 201 W. O’Reilly, Presidio S T A R G A Z I N G 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 See the difference at your local credit union 111 N 2ND STREET • ALPINE • 432.837.5156 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]