Stephanie and Melissa believe rural America is being targeted because rural areas are financially weaker; land values are lower; and they think rural areas have less education and it is easier to get contracts on our land. There are options for solar farms like parking garages, big commercial buildings like Amazon or Walmart but they choose rural America because it is cheaper. As a person living in Texas, where the sun beats down us, especially in the summer, I would love to park in the shade so put solar farms over our concrete or asphalt parking lots don’t block the sun from my land where I might have crops or livestock. Places that have solar farms do not get lower utility rates, so explain to me why I should allow a solar farm on my land.

Solar farms can change your property from agricultural to commercial which in turn can change your property tax to a more expensive bracket. Can contracts for solar farms be sold to another company? Who is responsible for infrastructure and damage. I heard when a tornado hit Indiana or Iowa last year, a solar farm was part of the damage. That community was asking who is responsible for cleaning up the solar farm and the shards of glass everywhere.

How does a solar farm affect the future of Eastland County? How will it affect community businesses? How will community leaders protect our local businesses? How will local salaries be affected and the local economy?

Please join us on Thursday, June 11th, at 6:30 PM in the Big Dam room at the Myrtle Wilks Community Center, 1498 IH-20 W, Cisco, Texas. Doors open at 6 PM. All are welcome.

5/1/2026 Douglas L. Kendall, 54, of Cisco, Assault CBI-FV arrested by Corporal Samuel Munoz.

5/6/2026 Felipe G. Cantu, 25, of Texas, Municipal Court Warrant arrested by Officer Justin Pope.

5/6/2026 Edwin J. Gonzales, 20, non-residential federal immigration detainer arrested by Corporal Samuel Munoz.

5/7/2026 Maria G. Rodrigues De La Cruz, 31, non-residential immigration violation detainer arrested by Officer Edgar Sanches.

5/7/2026 Ramon E. Zarate, 51, non-resident federal immigration detainer arrested by Corporal Samuel Munoz.

5/7/2026 Francisco A. Lopez, 28, non-resident federal immigration detainer arrested by Corporal Samuel Munoz.

5/7/2026 Jose F. Romero, 45, non-resident federal immigration detainer arrested by Corporal Samuel Munoz.

5/18/2026 Rafael B. Galvan, 51, of Mexico, federal immigration detainer arrested by Lt. Lee Risdon.

5/18/2026 Angel V. Garcia, 24, of Mexico, federal immigration detainer arrested by Lt. Lee Risdon.

5/18/2026 Jorge S Villela, 25, of Mexico, federal immigration detainer arrested by Lt. Lee Risdon.

5/18/2026 Noe C. Cordova, 22, of Mexico, federal immigration detainer arrested by Lt. Lee Risdon.

5/18/2026 Emanuel R. Cardona, 27, of Mexico, federal immigration detainer arrested by Lt. Lee Risdon.

5/18/2026 Loza B. Flores, 51, non-resident, federal immigration detainer arrested by Officer Mark Purpura.

5/19/2026 Jose P Mendoza, 36, non-resident, federal immigration detainer arrested by officer Samuel Munoz 5/19/2026 Jared L. Hall, 38, of Cisco, Evading Arrest or Detention/ Injury to Elderly, arrested by Officer Mark Purpura 5/20/2026 Shawn A. Caloway, 32, of Cisco, Continuous Sexual Assault of Child Warrant, arrested by Officer Edgar Sanchez.

5/20/2026 Payton M. Boyd, 24, of Cisco, Municipal Court Warrant, arrested by Officer Justin Pope.

5/22/2026 Braden K. Morrison, 27, of Cisco, Assault CBI-FV arrested by Officer Sanchez.

5/22/2026 Sarag R. Scuderi, 38, of Texas, Assault CBI-FV arrested by Officer Sanchez.5/23/2026 Cesar A. Rodriguez, 36, of Texas, failed to maintain financial responsibility, operate a vehicle with unapproved sun screening device, expired trailer registration arrested by Officer Justin Pope.

5/23/2026 Jose I. Mendoza, 44, non- resident, federal immigration detainer arrested by Corporal Samuel Munoz.

5/23/2026 Miguel A. Mendoza, 41, non-resident, federal immigration detainer arrested by Corporal Samuel Munoz. 5/23/2026 Jose R. Mendoza, 44, non-resident federal immigration detainer arrested by Corporal Samuel Munoz.

5/23/2026 Juan J. Camarillo, 34, non-resident federal immigration detainer arrested by officer Samuel Munoz.

5/25/2026 Kelly Maddox, 62, of Cisco Texas, Man/Del Controlled Substance DFZ arrested by Sgt.Derek Gunstanson.

5/25/2026 Tommy Davis, 54, of Cisco Texas, Man/Del Controlled Substance DFZ arrested by Sgt.Derek Gunstanson.

5/25/2026 Brandi Campbell, 36, of Cisco 20 Texas, Man/Del Controlled Substance DFZ arrested by Sgt.Derek Gunstanson.

5/25/2026 Kimberly Winblad, 37, of Cisco Texas, Man/Del Controlled Substance DFZ arrested by Sgt.Derek Gunstanson.

5/25/2026 Ann Michelle Young, 60, of Cisco Texas, Man/Del Controlled Substance DFZ arrested by Sgt. Derek Gunstanson.

5/28/2026 Bilder A. Santos, 27, non-residential federal immigration detainer arrested by Corporal Samuel Munoz.

5/28/2026 Santos T. Ramirez, 47, non-residential federal immigration detainer arrested by officer Samuel Munoz.

5/29/2026 Gabriel P. Moreno, 52, of Mexico, federal immigration detainer arrested by Lt. Lee Risdon.

5/29/2026 Rubert Sanchez, 25, of Venezuela, immigration violation arrested by Officer James Thomas.

5/29/2026 Jose V. Rosales, 20, of Honduras, federal immigration detainer arrested by Lt.Lee Risdon.

5/29/2026 Luis F. Mateo, 28, of Honduras, federal immigration detainer arrested by Lt. Lee Risdon.

5/30/2026 Luis A. Benitez, 49, non-resident federal immigration detainer arrested by Officer Mark Purpura.

5/30/2026 Jose A. Vasquez, 40, non-resident federal immigration detainer arrested by Officer Mark Purpura.

5/31/2026 Linda Phillips, 45, of Cisco Texas, Injury to Elderly arrested by Officer James Thomas.

5/31/2026 Christian G. Ramirez, 27, non-residential federal immigration detainer arrested by Officer Mark Purpura.

5/31/2026 Mario P. Perez, 29, non-residential federal immigration detainer arrested by Officer Mark Purpura.

Cisco Writers Club’s 50th Annual Writing Contest

by Priscilla Bettis Facebook@ PriscillaBettisAuthor

Cisco Writers Club is excited to announce that its 50th Annual Writing Contest is now open! The deadline for submitting entries is midnight (Central Time) on July 31, 2026. Anyone, anywhere may enter. You do not have to be a Cisco Writers Club member. (You must be 15 years or younger, born on or after August 1, 2010, to enter the Adventures in Writing category.)

Cisco Writers Club awards cash prizes of $100, $50, $10, and $5 respectively for judges’ determinations of first, second, third, and honorable mention. Additionally, the David Autry Sweepstakes Award is $250; ten other special awards are $50 each. There are noncash prizes only for the Adventures in Writing category which is only for young writers 15 and under. (In previous years, the Adventures in Writing prize was a 15-minute loop around Cisco in a private airplane, followed by a pizza party.)

There is a modest five-dollar fee to enter (no entry fees for Adventures in Writing).

The six entry categories are Poetry, Publication Briefs, Articles, Short Stories, Books, and Adventures in Writing.

For complete rules, including maximum word counts and category guidelines, and for details on how to enter, visit ciscowritersclub.org and look for the Annual Writing Contest tab. Happy writing, and good luck!

Priscilla Bettis is secretary of the Cisco Writers Club. She’s busy preparing her entries for Cisco Writers Club’s Annual Writing Contest.

The menu for June… Pot Roast, vegetables, salad, rolls & dessert. Washed down with tea donated by Dairy Queen in Cisco and then our drawing for gift baskets put together by Wild Flower Florist in Cisco.

Join us from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Holy Rosary Catholic Church Hall, on the corner of 11th & F. Because of a kind donation from Cisco Strong, this coming year’s meals will be thanks to their generosity.

The meal is a food ministry project, run by parishioners of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. It’s a home cooked meal and anyone from any community is invited for food and fellowship. We encourage families and individuals to attend. So, bring friends, strangers and of course, yourself. We know our guests come for the cooking, but they stay for socializing and drawing. The only requirement is an appetite.

Hey, if you just don’t feel like cooking or you want to meet up with friends for a meal, whatever the reason, come and join us.

Next month’s meal, the first Tuesday of July, the 7th, we are at the First Baptist Church in Eastland at the corner of Lamar and Valley, 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. July’s dinner, Taco Tuesday. And our apologies to our Eastland guests for not having enough pot roast, but it seems Chicken Express was well received as a sub.

If you have any questions, please call Pete Loftin at 254-5952303.

She did this while commuting from Stephenville to Cisco for rodeo practice, to Abilene for nursing classes and clinicals, and at least once leaving directly from Abilene to head out to the next rodeo, the Pecos College Rodeo on April 9.

Kirby admits that having such an intense schedule “turned my life upside down for a minute.” She said she had never had to study in school, that learning came pretty easily. But in nursing school, “I actually have to study. So I was trying to navigate how to study and retain information and apply it in the medical field, all at the same time.” Before beginning nursing school, Kirby had to take some prerequisites, which she completed in her sophomore year. She had to take two courses of Anatomy and Physiology in the Biology Department, as well as a course on Medical Terminology, in addition to other courses. She had to become certified in CPR, and she also took a required 5-week course to become a state-licensed Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She then was eligible to begin LVN training in August 2025, and expects to finish the LVN training this coming August.

She then plans to bridge over into the RN program and afterwards wants to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Kirby’s biggest payday in rodeo came when she was a freshman at Cisco. She was the champion breakaway roper at the Johnny Wayne Hampton Memorial Roping at Stephenville in 2023, with a paycheck of $11,000. She also made the short round at the College Rodeo in Stephenville.

This past year, though still a rodeo student, she put roping on the back burner. “I sold my good horse, Hadley, last summer before getting into the nursing program. So I just have a young one, Glo. So putting her together, finishing her, learning how to ride this horse, all the while go trying to win. So that’s been quite the struggle.”

“My roping suffered last semester because I was going to school Monday to Thursday, 8 o’clock in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. I live an hour and a half away, so I wasn’t getting home until 6 o’clock. It was getting dark at 6, so I had some of my family step in and they helped me” with her horses. She calculated she was driving 712 miles a week from Stephenville to Abilene.

Despite the struggle she ended up fourth in the breakaway roping average at the Vernon Rodeo.

This past semester she had Mondays off. “It’s Tuesday to Friday, and Friday is our clinical day. So I have to be in Abilene at Hendrick North at 6:30. I have to leave my house at 4:00, no later than 4:30 to get there on time.” It is important not to miss classes because “we have 2 days out of the whole year we can miss. And if you miss 3 we’re kicked out.”

She said the struggle has definitely been worth it. “I remember calling home to my parents” in Georgia, the day after her first in the hospital setting, helping clients.

It’s been hard, but it’s

definitely worth it." She is especially

grateful to Don Ed and Pam Eddleman, the Rodeo coaches at Cisco College.

"They've definitely helped me navigate everything, 17 hours away from my parents, out here on my own. They've definitely been my number one support system throughout all of this." "I know all the hard work I'm putting

into school is going to pay off, and rodeo is always going to be there. I can rope when I'm 80 years old," she said. "In 5 years, I want to be working in a hospital, putting my clinical and critical thinking skills to use in helping others."

It’s a home cooked meal and anyone from any community is invited for food and fellowship. We encourage families and individuals to attend.

The menu for June… Pot Roast, vegetables, salad, rolls & dessert. Washed down with tea donated by Dairy Queen in Cisco and then our drawing for gift baskets put together by Wild Flower Florist in Cisco. The meal is a food ministry project, run by the parishioners of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

So bring yourself, friends or strangers. We know our guests come for the cooking, but they stay for the socializing and basket drawing. Only requirement is an appetite.

If you have any questions, please call Pete Loftin at 254-595-2303.

Don’t Lose Your Verbal Fluency

by Priscilla Bettis Facebook@ PriscillaBettisAuthor I manage a book review site called The Well Read Fish. We recently turned down a review request from an author because his story sounded like it was generated by AI.

He swears it wasn’t. If it wasn’t written by AI, then he’s read enough

AI-generated fiction to start absorbing the sterile prose of ChatGPT’s and Google Gemini’s stories. AI writes the kind of prose that names emotions on the page rather than develops emotions in the reader. If his book truly wasn’t written by AI, then the author has lost his verbal fluency.

We’re all in danger of losing our verbal fluency. Tones, structures, and phrasing are starting to sound the same.

Writing a short story can help fight that.

When you’re trying to get the protagonist’s emotions across, move the action forward, or clearly express what’s at stake for the characters, you seek the exact nouns, the strongest verbs, and the right phrasing to emphasize your story’s key elements. Sterile, AI-type prose won’t get the job done.

If you’ve never tried writing a short story, come to the next Cisco Writers Club meeting. Author Shane Tovar and I will talk about coming up with ideas for short fiction, everything from flash stories to novellas, and how to execute those ideas.

We’ll meet at 7 PM on June 4th in the Big Dam room of the Myrtle Wilks Community Center, Cisco. Visitors are welcome!

Priscilla Bettis is secretary of the Cisco Writers Club. She is an internationally published author of short fiction.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/ spring, and summer.

Shauna Schiermeyer of Ranger (76470) Cassadi Ward of Cisco (76437) Kelsee Rains of Cisco (76437) Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with a 93-year history of educating traditional- aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 200,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH. Recognized as one of the 'Most Innovative' regional universities by U.S. News & World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each learner.

Why a Block Party? Well, we’re celebrating two things: raising funds to update our sanctuary and announcing our renewed church name.

The menu for May… Baked chicken, vegetable, salad, roll and rice pilaf. Washed down with tea donated by Dairy Queen in Cisco and then our drawing for gift baskets put together by Wild Flower Florist in Cisco. . Join us from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Holy Rosary Catholic Church Hall, on the corner of 11th & F. Because of a kind donation from Cisco Strong, this coming year’s meals will be thanks to their generosity. The meal is a food ministry project, run by parishioners of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. It’s a home cooked meal and anyone from any community is invited for food and fellowship. We encourage families and individuals to attend. So, bring friends, strangers and of course, yourself. We know our guests come for the cooking, but they stay for socializing and drawing. The only requirement is an appetite.

If you have any questions, please call Pete Loftin at 254-5952303.

Photo by Linda Spetter

A Review of All My Downs Have Been Ups by Nancy Robinson Masters

All My Downs Have Been Ups by Nancy Robinson Masters (AWOC.COM Publishing, 2012) is like reading an autobiography of a pilot written in micro-memoirs. Read about a place Masters flew to or a person she met after she landed. It will enrich you. Then tomorrow, read about another place she flew to.

Even though she recounts

difficult experiences, like when she struggled to fly to the exacting standards of a tough instructor, the overall impact of Masters’ book is uplifting.

There are beautiful entries in which Masters describes the view from

above when flying to Stephenville or Austin or over the water. She explains then paints a picture of St. Elmo’s Fire

when she flew over the South Pacific Ocean at night. The St. Elmo’s Fire light phenomenon sounds stunning.

There are episodes where Masters weaves in history. Learn about the planes in WWII and the difficulties American Indians had when aggressively modernized by the US government.

Learn how people lived and farmed in the mid 1900s.

Masters includes a few poems, too. They’re contemplative and fun to read aloud to hear the rhythm and rhyme. An especially moving poem is "The Exchange" because it celebrates time as a gift from the Divine. Yes, Masters celebrates the Divine in All My Downs Have Been Ups. But it doesn’t turn preachy. Masters is simply amazed at this planet the Creator has made.

Overall, this is a worthwhile, uplifting read with a happy dose of nostalgia. All My Downs Have Been Ups is available from Amazon.

Nancy Robinson Masters will give the presentation at the May meeting of Cisco Writers Club. She is known as an encouraging speaker, inspiring writers to write their own stories whether a collection of like All My Downs Have Been Ups, fiction stories, or nonfiction. Join us May 7, 2026, at 7 p.m. in the Hilton Room inside the Myrtle Wilks Community Center, Cisco.

BRINGADOLLAR OR TWO to donate toward new books for children in protective care, and take home some books from Nancy’s bundle of bargains she recently received from her publishers. Plus you’ll get some FREE books!

Visitors are always welcome.

Priscilla Bettis is secretary of the Cisco Writers Club. She is the author of Whispers of a Southern Moon.

Who are you? We’re a small church, but have a lot to celebrate. Our little church has been a part of the community for 142 years, opening Bibles together and taking the light back into the town. In the past 14 years, we have come to life in Christ and work like reverent ninjas behind the scenes in everyday life. We hope you know us by our love.

Why a Block Party? Well, we’re celebrating two things: raising funds to update our sanctuary and announcing our renewed church name. We wanted the community we belong to and serve in to be involved with both.

What are you doing in the sanctuary? Updating the things that are over 50 years old: the carpet, seating, and lights mainly.

Why are you changing your name? Although we remain true to the Bible centered, Jesus focused ideals belonging to the Stone-Campbell movement, the current name represents a denomination we haven’t belonged to in thirty years. Changing the name is actually staying true to our roots.

What’s the new name? You’ll find out at 10am at the Block Party!

Tell us more about this Block Party! There will be free activities for kids (bounce houses, bicycle parade), activities for all (dunking booth, axe throwing, photo booth, community interest booths), food (breakfast burritos, smash-burgers, coneys, snow cones, snacks, etc.), silent auction items, t-shirts, vendors, and six hours of live music in our sanctuary.

Who’s playing music? Tim Turnbeaugh, Mike Mcgaugh, Ronnie & Lori Starr, Cody Hutcheson, Frank Spangler, FBC Praise, The Carters, and Sheree and Stephen Kline!

What else do you want us to know? It’ll be Armed Forces Day and we have benefits for veterans and folks with milimicromemoirs tary ID! Otherwise, find us on Facebook @FCCCisco for more information and a place to send us a message if you have any more questions. We hope to see you there!

Sean King, Minister @FCCCisco

The American Angus Association, with more than 21,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef breed association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on over 21 million registered Angus.

The Association records ancestral information and keeps production records and genomic data on individual animals to develop industry-leading selection tools for its members. The programs and services of the Association and its entities — Angus Genetics Inc., Angus Media, Certified Angus Beef LLC and the Angus Foundation — help members advance the beef cattle business by selecting the best animals for their herds and marketing quality genetics for the beef cattle industry and quality beef for consumers.

ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 21,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by more than 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.

For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www. angus.org.

A total of 382 Cisco College students will receive associate degrees or career certificates in three different ceremonies on May 1 in Cisco and May 11 in Abilene, according to Shae White, College Registrar.

The graduation ceremony at the Cisco campus will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 1, at the Harrell Fine Arts Auditorium.

Two more ceremonies at Abilene will be held 10 days later on Monday, May 11, at the Abilene Civic Center. At 5:30 p.m., graduation for the Health Sciences as well as the Career and Technical divisions will take place. At 7:30 p.m., commencement for Abilene Associate degrees as well as all Dual Credit graduates will occur.

Across both campuses, a total of 328 degrees and 54 career certificates were to be awarded.

At Cisco on May 1, a total of 127 students are scheduled to receive their graduation credentials, including 88 receiving Associate of Arts degrees, 12 Associate of Science degrees, 3 Associate of Applied Science degrees, one student receiving both an AA degree and an AS degree, and 23 Career Certificate recipients. Cisco College as a whole awards career certificates in fields such as cosmetology, welding, industrial, HVAC, automotive, and real estate.

Among the Cisco graduates will be four international student athletes from France, England, and Russia.

In Abilene, at the 5:30 p.m. ceremonies on May 11, a total of 45 Health Sciences graduates will include 14 in Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN), 12 in Surgical Technology, 10 in Respiratory Technology, and 9 in Pharmacy Technology.

The 5:30 graduation will also include Career and Technical Education (CTE) divisions, with 10 students receiving career certificates.

The 7:30 p.m. ceremonies on May 11 will present 88 graduates receiving degrees, including 56 Associate of Arts degrees, 15 Associate of Science degrees, 16 Association of Applied Science degrees, and one student receiving both an AA and an AS degree.

Finally, a total of 112 Dual Credit graduates will receive their degrees and certificates as part of the 7:30 p.m. commencement on May 11. The 91 degrees to be awarded include 38 Associate of Arts, 2 Associate of Science, 51 earning both AA degrees and AS degrees, and 21 Career Certificates.

All graduates should arrive at their ceremonies at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony to allow time for check-in and line-up, Registrar Shae White stated.

“We are proud of our students in their achievements in reaching this milestone, in earning their degree or certificate from Cisco College,” White said.

“Graduation day is an

exciting time seeing

the students all smiles that they did it!”

“We wish our graduates much success

as they take their next step—whether they continue their education, or apply the knowledge and skills they have gained at Cisco College in their chosen careers.”

(Submitted by Linda Spetter)

The revitalization project is the result of an intensive, cross-departmental collaboration between the Art and History departments, spearheaded by faculty and students dedicated to preserving local heritage. The project was made possible through a generous grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

The Mystery of the Spider Rocks The Spider Rocks are a series of enigmatic, carved stone maps discovered in the early 20th century near Clyde, Aspermont, and Rotan, Texas. For decades, they have captivated treasure hunters and historians alike, featuring intricate concentric circles, Roman numerals, and cryptic symbols believed by some to be Spanish trail markers or maps to lost riches.

'This exhibit isn't just about the legend of treasure; it’s about the tangible history of our region,' says Staci Shupe, History Professor at Cisco College. 'Our students have worked tirelessly to document and research these artifacts, ensuring that the story of the Spider Rocks remains accessible for future generations of Texans.”

Event Details The reception serves as a celebration of student and faculty scholarship. Highlights of the event include:

• Exhibit Viewing: See the newly curated Spider Rock artifacts and detailed schematic diagrams.

• Student Presentations: Learn about the historical research and artistic techniques used to revitalize the display.

• Community Celebration: Refreshments will be served. Students, faculty, staff, families, and friends of the college are all encouraged to attend.

The event is free and open to the public. As the reception follows the 2:00 PM Cisco Campus Commencement at the Harrell Fine Arts Auditorium, it offers a perfect opportunity for graduating families to celebrate their students' academic and creative achievements.

For more information about the Spider Rock exhibit and K-12 educational resources, visit https://www.cisco. edu/spider-rock.