Local News
The Abilene Black Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 31st annual Martin Luther King Jr. banquet on Monday, Jan. 20, featuring Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, the CEO of Carmell Corporation, as the keynote speaker. The banquet will be held at the Abilene Convention Center, located at 1100 N. Sixth St. There will be a meet-and-greet at 6…
Abilene is one step closer to getting two new recreation centers after the Abilene City Council, at their last meeting, authorized the city manager to approve a guaranteed maximum price $23,207,695 for the construction of the G.V. Daniels and Cesar Chavez Recreation Centers. On Dec. 19, the council voted 6-1 to approve the resolution regarding…
By Clay Landen Harris In June, a group of Abilene residents, former students, and ambassadors from the African-American community gathered at the site of the Carter G. Woodson Elementary School. At the time they looked upon the dilapidated complex in north-central Abilene, they were unsure of what the future might hold for the historic…
Obituaries
Danny C. Myrick, 88 of Abilene, passed away on Saturday, July 6, 2024. A visitation for the public will be on Friday, July 12, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street. A family only graveside service will be on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Cross…
Known as Montse, passed away on May 1, 2024 at her home in Abilene, Texas at the age of 92. Montse had donated her body to Texas Tech University for education and research. A Memorial Service honoring her life will be held Friday, October 4, 2024 at 10:00am at the Veterans Cemetery in Abilene. Montse…
Obituary for Bernard Porter ,Sr. Elmer “Bernard” Porter, Sr., a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at Medical City in Arlington, Texas, on May 29, 2024, at the age of 94. Born on December 17, 1929, in Pelham, Texas, Bernard was the cherished son of Elmer O. Porter and Jimmie Sweeney Porter.…
Sports
By Jack Walker After the Dallas Cowboys’ thrilling win against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Nov. 24, it’s impossible to make any definitive conclusions about the 2024 NFL season. The game featured two kickoff returns for touchdowns, two missed extra points, and a blocked point that all led to a stunning second-half comeback by Dallas.…
Compiled by Jack Walker for www.westtexastribune.org Freddie Went Fence & Ohtani’ shoulder shake up first two games of the Pennant #national Freddie Freeman ruined every baseball haters day-late- Friday night in game one of the 2024 Major League Baseball World Series after smashing a walk-off home run in the first extra inning to beat the Yankees, 6-3…
Hate it or love it, the underdog is on top and still rising. Charismatic, athletic and charming with the ‘can’t be broken’ attitude of a natural disaster, the outspoken swagger of a rebellious saint and the backstory that could very easily be dismissed as the product of a very talented writer’s imagination William Graves has…
Community
Check out these photos from around Abilene by Aida Pantoja:
Pastor Crystal King hosted a Friendsgiving at Wildfire Global Church. There was a lot of delicious food catered by Shawantee Fleming. A worship service followed the meal. The Brown Family performed several songs, and Christian comedian Tate Ellison provided entertainment.
By Susan Brandt Odessa Tipps has lived a life full of remarkable accomplishments and resilience. Born in the early 1920s, she was one of five children in her family, and four of them were born deaf. In a world that often left her on the margins, Odessa had to teach herself how to navigate a…
Opinion
By Floyd Miller/Publisher Happy New Year! We made it. The question is, where are we? It all depends on where you are in your head. Some of you maybe quick to say I’m in Abilene, Texas. I did not ask you where your feet were. The question is where is your head? To be a…
By Carol Kelly Dilworth I have been thinking about my grandmother a lot the last few days. She was a strong, courageous woman, never afraid to express her feelings nor her opinions. I nostalgically recall one of my family’s favorite accounts of the time she bought a rooster from the High Sheriff, as he was…
By Kevin B. Kimble On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump declared that America needs a health system that will “take care of everybody,” not just those who can “pay for it.” It’s easy to understand why tens of millions of Americans — of both parties — agree with this basic moral sentiment. Every major…
Arts & Entertainment
The pumpkins have arrived at Abilene’s South Branch Library and now’s the time for the community to cast their votes on their favorites. The South Branch Library has announced that voting in the Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest will be open until Thursday, Oct. 31. To see the entries from participants of all ages and help…
Education
By Ben Barkley/TSTC Caleb Mitchell was exploring possible programs of study at Texas State Technical College when a co-worker provided some guidance. Mitchell said a fellow AEP Texas employee told him about the college’s Electrical Power and Controls program and how it could help Mitchell further his career. “My meter electrician (at AEP Texas) has…
Abilene Christian University recently announced the acceptance of Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student Lyssa Chandler into the Minority Fellowship Program organized by the Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a professional association for those serving in the therapy field. The AAMFT and FAHS represent…
By Ben Barkley/TSTC Omar Chavez wants to leave his past behind while he moves forward with his second chance in life. Chavez, who is originally from Mineral Wells, is starting the next chapter of his life by studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree in Wind Energy Technology at Texas State Technical College…
Politics
By Floyd Miller Texas continues to get redder, and so does the nation. Ted Cruz survived a challenge from Colin Allred and former president Donald Trump, after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, is headed back to the White House with Senate in tow and possibly the Congress. This race was destined to be one of…
Early voting in the 2024 General Election continues through 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at several locations throughout Abilene. Election Day will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. On Friday, Nov. 1, registered voters may cast their ballots at the following locations between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.: Taylor County Plaza, 400 Oak St., Suite 101-A Abilene…
My Fellow Americans, Over the past three and a half years, we have made great progress as a Nation. Today, America has the strongest economy in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our Nation, in lowering prescription drug costs for seniors, and in expanding affordable health care to a record number of Americans.…