Artists receive awards for face painting skills at Dia de Los Muertos event

Winners in the sugar skull face painting contest held Oct. 28 (Tues.) in Uvalde were Laura Zavala, first; Jose Gomez, second; and Amanda Olivarez, third. PHOTOS

(Photo: Laura Zavala (right) and model Karla Guerrero (left) earned first place at sugar skull face painting contest)

Prizes of $50, $25 and $20 were awarded to the top artists in the contest held in conjunction with the "Dia de los Muertos" celebration. A total of 11 participants entered the contest.

The event was sponsored by the SWTJC Uvalde Catholic Club.

Hill College, SHSU take rodeo team honors

SWTJC bullrider Chance Lopez rides bull during the 52nd Annual rodeo

Hill College took the men’s team title, while Sam Houston State University won the women’s division in the 52nd Annual SWTJC College Rodeo held Oct. 2-4 in Uvalde.


No SWTJC athletes finished in the top ten in individual events. Though disappointed by his team’s performance, SWTJC rodeo coach Roy Angermiller was pleased with the overall results of this year’s event.


“I wish our athletes would have had a little more luck,” Angermiller said, “we had an off night but I’m sure we’ll bounce back and compete hard next week.”


Angermiller also thanked sponsors of this year’s event. “The Uvalde and area business community were once again outstanding in supporting our annual rodeo,” Angermiller said. “I just can’t thank them enough for their generous support.”


SWTJC rodeo team members will compete this weekend (Oct. 9-11), in Mt. Pleasant at the Northeast Texas Community College Rodeo.

Palomino Fest donates $25,000 to SWTJC scholarship fund

The Southwest Texas Junior College scholarship fund is $25,000 richer following the most successful Palomino Fest Labor Day Weekend Celebration in history.

Johnny and Jorge Arreola of Los Palominos presented a $25,000 check to SWTJC President Dr. Hector Gonzales on Sept. 25.

“Los Palominos are very pleased to make this contribution to the college scholarship fund,” Arreola said. “We thank our sponsors, volunteers, and the college staff for working hand-in-hand to make this year’s event the best Palomino Fest to date.”

Arreola said the event continues to grow every year largely due to the support of the community. “The county of Uvalde has been one of the festival’s biggest supporters, and we are very thankful for all that they’ve done for this event,” Arreola said. “We’ve been doing this for eighteen years now and I hope we can continue for many years to come.”

Law enforcement academy partners with Continental Tire

(l-r): Robert Armstrong, J.J. Suarez, Dr. Hector Gonzales, Christian Brielmaier, 
Johnny Guzman, Dr. Mark Underwood

The Middle Rio Grande Law Enforcement Academy at Southwest Texas Junior College has entered into an agreement with Continental Tire to make use of their 5000-acre Uvalde Proving Grounds facility, which is located approximately seven miles south of Uvalde on Batesville Road (FM 117).

According to Law Enforcement Academy Coordinator, Robert Armstrong the Uvalde academy will be the only class to use the Uvalde Proving Grounds in the fall, however he expects the Eagle Pass academy to train at the proving grounds along with the Uvalde class in the spring.

“We are excited to partner up with SWTJC and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the law enforcement academy,” said Christian Brielmaier, Uvalde Proving Grounds Test Engineer.

Cadets are scheduled to train on Nov. 15, 16, and Nov. 22-24. They will be learning and performing different maneuvers as part of the Professional Police Driving course.