Press Release from the Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department

July 17, 2025

By Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

Top Picture by Robinson

06-12-25

A line of severe thunderstorms that moved through the Uvalde County area late on Tuesday evening though early Wednesday morning resulting in extended power outages in Sabinal and Knippa. Uvalde County Emergency Management Coordinator Forrest Anderson said straight line winds between 60-80 miles an hour snapped electrical poles located on 187 South near Sabinal. Residents of Sabinal and Knippa lost power late Tuesday night and AEP did not have power restored until Wednesday evening after 5 PM.

Anderson also reported that the strong winds resulted in downed tree limbs causing some road closures with many having been addressed.

He went on to say there are still a few locations without power.

The Uvalde Hesperian observed electrical crews along Highway 90 between Uvalde and Knippa this morning working on power transmission lines.

 Press release from T-Mobile

03-20-25

  Today, T-Mobile announced Sabinal as one of its latest Hometown Grant recipients.

 The city of Sabinal will receive a $50,000 grant that will go towards enhancing the Veterans Memorial Live Oak Park by installing a playground to maintain the physical health of the community and provide a recreational area for children to play.

  “I am extremely grateful to T-Mobile for this Hometown Grant … For years we’ve had the same playground equipment and it’s a blessing to have on this grant we applied for! The children of Sabinal will enjoy these blessings for generations to come,” said Erik Gomez, Mayor, City of Sabinal. 

  Through Hometown Grants, people in communities nationwide are kickstarting projects that make a real difference and help their towns thrive. Since launching its five-year commitment to small towns in April 2021, T-Mobile has awarded a whopping 375 communities across 48 states and Puerto Rico more than $16 million in funding. 

  Each quarter, T-Mobile awards 25 Hometown Grants to small towns with populations of 50,000 or less. To apply for a Hometown Grant, visit here. To learn more about this quarter’s recipients, visit our newsroom.  

  T-Mobile will host a check presentation on Saturday, March 29 – details below! Media and the public are welcome to attend. Photos can be sent afterwards upon request.

Article and picture submitted by K. Irene Stone

12-23–24

Written December 10, 2017, by K. Irene Stone, the first Christmas after I moved
back to Uvalde County.

Gray December Morning Musing: The door slammed behind me as I entered the long
utility hall and walked into the warm kitchen. An enthusiastic “Renee!” greeted me as
Grandma got up from her recliner in the living room. She came over, gave me a hug,
and asked if I wanted some coffee.

Sure, I said, and pulled out a chair to sit at the small kitchen table. She busied herself
getting down the delicate-flowered China cups out of the top cabinet — no coffee mugs
for the Reagans — and poured us both a cup. I’m not much of a coffee drinker but
drinking coffee from a China cup made me feel elegant, cultured. As I took the first sip I
could hear Pop in the living room, cheering on the Spurs.

Grandma sat down by me and before she could lift the cup to her lips, the door
slammed again. We looked up expectantly, and mom walked into the kitchen. Her
yellow sweatshirt was faded and covered with dirt, but she was grinning from ear to ear.
Look what I found, she said, holding out a garden-gloved hand. There, in her covered
palm was a perfect arrowhead, still crusty with dirt. Grandma immediately jumped up,
and, without asking, retrieved another China cup and poured mom a cup of coffee while
Mom carefully placed the arrowhead in my hand. I glanced down at it and enviously
asked, where did you find it? By the cement tank — dug it up, she replied, patting the
rusty spade in the tool belt on her waist. She took the steaming cup from Grandma.
Whew, its cold out there she said as she and Grandma sat down.

I reached over and opened the cookie drawer and pulled out a few stale Oreo cookie
from the opened package. Grandma had the best stale Oreo cookies. I handed Mom
one as the door slammed. We looked over as Daddy walked in, his brown jacket flecked
with deer hair. Got a nice eight-point buck, he grinned, pushing his cowboy hat back.
Bob and WC are dressing it now. Grandma got up, retrieved another cup, filled it up,
and handed him a cup of coffee. He blew on it to cool it. Sure is getting nippy out there,
he commented as he leaned against the kitchen wall, cup in hand.

Did you see the tree? Grandma asked all of us. Your Christmas tree? I asked back. Yes,
only ten days to Christmas, but I got it up in the parlor, she said proudly. Mom and I
scooted our chairs back and followed her into the living room, Daddy trailing behind.
As I passed by Pop, he sat up in his recliner, the footrest making a loud sound. His farm
and cattleman magazines leaned haphazardly on the side table. A couple fell off when I
leaned over and kissed him. A big man, 6′ 5″, he was a softie around his grandkids. I
stood back, forgetting about the TV and the Spurs game. He waved me aside. Can’t see
through muddy water, he said. I laughed, got of his way, and turned as Grandma
motioned me into the parlor with Mom and Daddy.

The back door slammed again, and Darrell walked into the living room, pulling off his
diesel-soiled jacket. It’s cold out there, he said. Daylight’s getting dimmer. Had to come
in with all you sissies. Ha! I said, hugging his neck, the strong scent of diesel
surrounding me, and maybe just a hint of cattle. Howdy, cuz, he replied, a big grin on
his face, pulling me closer. I laughed and tightened my hug.

Come in and see Grandma’s tree, I told him, stepping back. He chuckled, I bet its red.
Isn’t it always, I replied as we walked into the parlor together. There before us was a
small artificial tree covered in red lights and ornaments. Grandma’s signature Christmas
tree.

We all gathered around the little tree, and I reached over to cup one of the red bulbs. As
it glowed in my hand, I could feel its red glow reach up into my heart, enveloping it with
its warmth. I closed my eyes, wishing this moment would never fade, feeling the
presence of all whom I held dear gathered around me. There was no cold. No darkness.
Only warmth and happiness. Slowly, hesitantly, I opened by eyes, the bulb still cupped
in my hand … knowing I would be the only one left standing there.

Christmas memories. During this time of year, I pray they never lose their glow for you
and me, even when our dear loved ones are long gone and live only in our hearts.

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all
wrapped up in each other” – Burton Hills

Facebook post by Cindy Fritsch Casburn (shared with permission)

12-19-24

  If you are wondering what’s going on at the “Y,” it is a very Merry Christmas present for Keep Sabinal Beautiful and the Sabinal community!

KSB is so grateful for the gif and collaboration with KUB.  There will be homage paid to Utopia in the structure for their goodwill.

Press release from Rice/ The Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity in Education.

Thursday, August 5th, 2024

  Local students are kicking off the school year with newfound skills and confidence in the classroom thanks to a summer of learning and growth at Rice University’s camps hosted by The Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity in Education.

  Sponsored by ExxonMobil, the Tapia Camps for rising 8^th-12^th graders feature a five-night, six-day residential experience with a challenging STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum that emphasizes real world problems. This summer, campers completed a project developed by the Tapia Center and ExxonMobil that challenged campers to build models of an underground reservoir using household items to demonstrate the concept of carbon capture and storage (CCS). During camp, students also enhance their communication and team building skills by learning how to simplify complicated STEM ideas through completion of an end-of-camp oral presentation – all while experiencing life on a college campus.

  “The Tapia Camps were designed to encourage students of all backgrounds to explore careers in STEM and empower them with the tools to feel confident pursuing STEM classes and careers,” said Dr. Paul Hand, director of the Tapia Camps at Rice University. “It is a privilege to support these young individuals as they grow and consider new possibilities throughout their time at camp. It is also rewarding to equip educators from across the state with the tools and skills to improve student engagement and hear their success stories after they implement the methodology in their classrooms.”

  The professional development camp for educators of all subjects and levels provides participants the tools to implement project-based learning—a set of techniques that encourage hands-on, engaging experiences—in their classrooms. Teachers who complete the program earn Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours.

  Registration for 2025 programming will open November 1. Individuals or school districts looking for more information can reach out to The Tapia Center at tapiacenter@rice.edu or 713-348-5182. Corporations and charitable foundations interested in sponsorship opportunities may also reach out to The Tapia Center for more information.

###

About the Tapia Center

  The Richard Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity in Education at Rice University was founded in 1995 to promote greater participation of underrepresented minorities and women in the sciences and engineering and empower them to be future leaders. The Center’s founder, Dr. Richard Tapia, is internationally known for his research in the computational and mathematical sciences and is a national leader in education and outreach.

  Since inception, the Tapia Center has provided direct training and guidance to more than 6,000 students and 2,500 teachers and educated nearly 250,000 students and professionals about the importance of diversity and representation.

Press Release from No Kid Hungry Texas : Top Image from https://secure.nokidhungry.org/

  East Central Development Center and Sabinal ISD are among seven organizations in Texas to receive a grant from No Kid Hungry Texas (NKHT), a local child hunger advocacy organization. The grants awarded include $23,000 to the East Central Development Center and $15,000 to Sabinal ISD. These grants are part of a $123,550 statewide investment, which will support their ability to offer flexible summer meal options, ensuring kids stay fed year-round.

  Kids in rural areas are especially at risk for hunger during the summer months, due to the barriers posed by traditional “congregate” summer meal programs, where meals are required to be consumed on-site. Lack of reliable transportation, fuel costs, and caregiver work schedules that conflict with meal site operating hours are just a few of these barriers.

  New federal flexibilities allow for “non-congregate” meal service in rural areas, meaning meals can be taken home, acquired in bulk, or in some cases, delivered. No Kid Hungry Texas has invested in organizations offering these alternative models and is excited to share the impact these grants will have on the local community.

 Parents, grandparents, and caregivers may also simply text ‘FOOD’ or ‘COMIDA’ to 304-304 to find free summer meals near their neighborhoods or visit No Kid Hungry Texas’ meal finder online: https://www.nokidhungry.org/find-free-meals. 

NO KID HUNGRY STRENGTHENS RURAL SUMMER MEAL PROGRAMS THROUGH $123,550 INVESTMENT

Today, No Kid Hungry Texas announced $123,550 in funding to 7 rural school districts and community organizations designed to expand these organizations’ capacity to offer non-congregate meal services during the summer months. 

  Traditionally, federally funded summer meal programs must be offered in a congregate setting, meaning that kids must consume meals on-site. However, recent federal policy changes have allowed rural communities to offer meals in ways that best meet the needs of their community. These flexibilities — in conjunction with expanded capacity and resources through No Kid Hungry’s grantmaking — will help remove barriers and connect more kids to meals during what is typically the hungriest time of the year. 

  A recent study released by Feeding America found that Texas ranks as one of the nation’s most food-insecure states, surpassing California for the first time. With 1 in 4 kids facing hunger amounting to 1,697,870 Texas children, the latest numbers show a significant increase from the previous year’s data. 

  “We are extremely grateful for the federal policy changes that make offering these flexible programs a possibility,” said Mia Medina, No Kid Hungry Texas Senior Program Manager. “Those living in rural communities face additional obstacles when it comes to traditional meal sites, such as fuel costs for daily commutes to sites that are few and far between, or work schedules that conflict with a site’s operating hours. We are proud to offer support to programs that will allow families to get the nutritious meals their children need in more practical, convenient ways.” 

  The funds will be leveraged to ensure each community is equipped for a successful summer meal season. From kitchen equipment for grab n’ go sites and point-of-sale machines to operating and staffing costs for home delivery services, this cycle of grants will help support more than 20 meal sites across the Lone Star State.  

  The following 7 organizations received grant funding: 

• Central Texas Food Bank – Austin, TX 
• East Central Development Center – San Antonio, TX
• Houston Food Bank – Houston, TX 
• La Grange ISD – La Grange, TX
• Sabinal ISD – Sabinal, TX 
• Smithville ISD – Smithville, TX 
• Tornillo ISD – El Paso, TX

  To learn more about No Kid Hungry’s advocacy work and year-round grantmaking in Texas, please visit https://state.nokidhungry.org/texas/. 

About No Kid Hungry

No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

 An incendiary device was thrown into a window of Sabinal City Hall at 4:33 AM Friday, December 22nd according to Municipal Court Judge Cynthia Casburn. 

  “Yes, no injuries, thank God. The City Secretary discovered the damage and smoke in the Municipal Court Clerk’s office yesterday afternoon and called authorities. Chief Reyes and the Sabinal Volunteer Fire Department Chief responded immediately and had members from the State Fire Marshal’s Office in Sabinal from Austin in under two hours to investigate.

  It has been determined that the attack happened at 4:33 am on Friday morning. City Hall was closed for Christmas on Friday.

  I am extremely grateful for the swift action of our City Secretary, who is also a volunteer firefighter. I am so very thankful for the immediate investigative action of our Chief of Police, Fire Chief and the State Fire and Explosives investigative response team. And I thank God that nobody was hurt.” Casburn said. 

   In speaking with a few area residents about the incident, most brought up the Uvalde County Courthouse fire that occurred in the early morning hours of August 9th, according to Sheriff Rubin Nolasco is being investigated as arson. No arrests have been made. 

  Two local Sabinal residents reported hearing loud booming sounds Friday afternoon.