Under West Texas Skies

The beautiful Winkler County Courthouse is normally a quiet and stately place where smiling men in fashionable hats once hung out.

It's home to a dead cat (that used to live in the county clerk's office)

and a time capsule (to be opened soon, I see).

Well, forget all that, because it's time for "Under West Texas Skies." On July 30 (Yes, I'm way behind on blogging!), one of Midland/Odessa's TV stations, NewsWest9, came to town and did much of their 4 PM, 5 PM and 6 PM newscast live from the courthouse lawn. This was their first trip to Kermit in about seven years. Robert is interested in possibly being a newscaster someday, so we like to go to these things.

The chase van, so named because it's mainly used in the pursuit of storms, beams a signal 56 miles back to the station. Robert is also interested in stormchasing.

If I stand here long enough, I'll be on TV!.

A rare shot of Liz with three of her supervisors. From left to right: Kermit Elementary Principal Mr. Gabe Espino, KISD Superintendent Mr. Santos L. Lujan, Jr., Liz, and Kermit Elementary Vice Principal Ms. Sonia Gonzales. I think they were waiting for an interview that unfortunately never happened.

Kermit has no county fair, so I guess events like this fill a void ... or maybe I don't know what I'm talking about but I won't stop yammering!

The sports guy plays Frisbee with the "yutes" (youths).

These are some of the contestants in the Ugly Dog Contest, although IMHO none of them are ugly, just distinctive-looking:

There are larger rats in Kermit than the above chihuahua!

This was the eventual winner, owned by Don and Vida Simpson.

The mayor, Ted Westmoreland, gets interviewed.

Correspondents Crystal Crews and Michael Stafford.


Robert the autograph hound! Did I mention he might want to join the ghostbusters someday?

The mandatory ice cream eating contest.

GAAA! It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man! No, just an ice-cream cone from the local DQ, handing out free treats!

The hot dog eating contest.

Finally it's time to pack up the pineapples and go home.

This looks ... expensive ... and ... unguarded ... hmmm ...

One happy kid.

For a minute.