Tristian Barragan Journalism

08/23/2026

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08/23/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝟱𝗞

More than a year after the loss of Fort Stockton High School sophomore Eddie Vela, the community gathered Saturday morning at Rooney Park to celebrate the life of a young man whose love for running continues to inspire others.

Family members, friends, classmates, teammates, teachers and supporters filled the park for the inaugural Eddie Vela Memorial 5K, an event created not only to honor Eddie's memory but to provide hope for students still navigating the grief left behind by his passing.

Eddie, who was 15 years old when he died in a tragic automobile accident in the summer of 2025, had just completed his sophomore year at Fort Stockton High School. A member of the Panther varsity cross country team, Eddie was known for his passion for running, a passion reflected throughout Saturday's event as runners of all ages crossed the finish line in his honor.

Before race awards were presented, Eddie's grandmother, Magdalene "Maggie" Hernandez, who organized the memorial 5K on behalf of the Vela family, thanked the community for the overwhelming support.

"Thank you all for coming and remembering him and honoring him," Hernandez told the crowd. "That's what he loved to do. He loved to run."

The morning carried an atmosphere unlike a typical road race. While runners competed for top finishes, the event's true purpose remained centered on remembrance and healing. Conversations among classmates and teachers mixed with laughter from children playing in the park, creating a scene that reflected both the pain of loss and the strength of a community determined to move forward together.

Hernandez also announced that proceeds from the memorial run will help bring Coach Al (Alvaro Venegas), known as "A Man on a Mission," to Fort Stockton schools later this fall. Coach Al is a California-based motivational speaker and coach whose work centers on mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellness while encouraging young people to live with purpose and resilience. He is scheduled to speak at Fort Stockton High School at 9:30 a.m. and Fort Stockton Middle School at 2 p.m. on Oct. 20, where he will address students about coping with grief, overcoming adversity and making safe decisions behind the wheel.

"The money that we raised is going to go towards a public speaker," Hernandez said during the awards ceremony.

She told those in attendance that the event was created not only to remember Eddie but to help students who continue to struggle with losing a friend and classmate.

"This has been a big loss for Stockton families, kids, and it's just a collective grief on everybody," Hernandez said.

The event also promoted public safety beyond the race itself. EMS personnel were on hand throughout the morning offering demonstrations of CPR and "Stop the Bleed" techniques while encouraging residents to learn life-saving skills that could one day save a life.

During her closing remarks, Hernandez thanked the many volunteers, sponsors and donors who made the morning possible, recognizing local businesses and community members who contributed water, snacks, supplies and countless volunteer hours. She specifically acknowledged those who stepped forward early in the planning process, saying the event would not have been possible without the community's willingness to help.

Following the awards presentation, the community gathered together one final time as Eddie's father delivered the closing prayer. Surrounded by family, friends, classmates, teammates, teachers and supporters, he prayed for comfort for those still grieving, strength for the community and protection over Fort Stockton's young people. The heartfelt moment brought the morning to a quiet close, reminding those in attendance that while the pain of loss remains, so does the love and faith that continue to carry Eddie's family forward.

Among the day's top finishers was Rankin High School freshman Taysen Norwood, who captured first place overall while setting a personal record of 17 minutes, 26 seconds. Now entering his freshman year, Norwood said the race served as valuable preparation for the upcoming cross country season.

"Just to get extra work in," Norwood said. "Keep my times up when I go out to another meet."

Norwood, who has been running since the seventh grade and is currently Rankin's top cross country runner, said Saturday's performance marked a new personal best and provided confidence heading into the fall season.

Although trophies were handed out and personal records were achieved, the morning ultimately belonged to Eddie.

For those who knew him—as a son, grandson, teammate, classmate, student or friend—the memorial represented far more than a 5K. It served as a reminder that one young man's life continues to bring people together, encouraging compassion, strengthening friendships and inspiring conversations that Hernandez hopes will help another family avoid experiencing the same heartbreak.

As runners left Rooney Park Saturday morning, Eddie's love for the sport remained evident—not in a finish time, but in the hundreds of footsteps taken in his memory.

08/23/2026

08/22/2026

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸! ⚽

A total of 150 children from pre-K through fourth grade took the fields Saturday morning for the opening weekend of Fort Stockton’s four-week youth soccer season through the Fort Stockton Recreation Department. Twenty teams filled the park as volunteer coaches, parents and grandparents came out to support the community’s youngest players.

Look for more photos and the full story in this week’s edition of the Fort Stockton Pioneer! 📰📸

08/20/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆

𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒕𝒐𝒏’𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑿𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒆.

Weather forced Fort Stockton’s Meet the Panthers and Prowlers event away from Panther Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 13, but the move indoors did little to quiet the annual celebration of the district’s fall athletes.
The Special Events Center took on the atmosphere originally planned for the stadium as students, coaches and community members gathered inside the basketball gym. Fort Stockton’s fall sports teams were introduced, and varsity athletes were individually called by name before an energetic crowd.
The evening served as a public introduction to the Panthers and Prowlers preparing to compete in football, volleyball, tennis, swim, cross-country and even the Band during the 2026 season. It also gave new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Xavier Rangel another opportunity to address the community as his first school year in Fort Stockton begins.
Rangel closed the event by thanking residents for the reception he and the district’s new coaches have received since his arrival in late May.
“Just want to thank everybody for being so welcoming to myself as well as the coaching staff,” Rangel said. “It’s just an exciting time to be a Panther. Right now, we’re looking to raise the standards in all of our programs. I think we’ve brought some great coaches on staff as well as the coaches that have already been here.”
The new athletic director recognized the work already underway across the district. Volleyball has started its season, while the cross-country teams have trained during 6 a.m. practices. Fort Stockton’s tennis team has also faced a demanding early schedule designed to prepare the Panthers and Prowlers for district competition.
Rangel said the effort across those programs reflects what Fort Stockton’s coaching staff expects from its athletes throughout the year.
“Our kids are working hard, staying busy this summer,” Rangel said. “I know the girls have already started volleyball and are dominating there, which is what we expect.”
Although winning remains one of the department’s stated goals, Rangel emphasized that Fort Stockton athletes will also be expected to represent the district and community properly whenever they compete.
“The biggest thing we want to do as a program, as coaches, we want to make sure that anytime any of these athletes step on the court, the field, wherever they’re playing, they’re gonna represent our community to the fullest,” Rangel said. “We want to make sure that they represent us the right way.”
That responsibility, he said, will continue after the athletes leave their respective programs.
“When they get done with our program, we want to make sure that they’re great citizens going out into the community and representing us well,” Rangel said.
Rangel then shifted the energy inside the gym toward the competitive expectations he has set for both the Panthers and Prowlers. He told the crowd that the coaching staff is not looking merely for improvement, but for district championships and accomplishments that would establish new standards across Fort Stockton athletics.
“I guarantee by the time this coaching staff is gone, on the boys’ and girls’ side, by the time we’re done, there’s gonna be things done that have never been done in Fort Stockton before,” Rangel said.
He concluded with a direct message to Superintendent Gil-Rey Madrid and a promise that the district’s trophy collection will grow across multiple sports.
“So Mr. Madrid, wherever you’re at, start building some trophy cases because we’re gonna start adding to ’em — football, basketball, baseball, track, volleyball, it doesn’t matter,” Rangel said. “But we’re here to win championships and we’re taking it to another level.”
With the introductions complete, Fort Stockton’s fall teams now turn their full attention toward competition. Panther football will meet Sweetwater in its final scrimmage Thursday, Aug. 20, at Midland Christian before opening the regular season at home against San Angelo Lake View at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.

Photos by Isabella Gutierrez, Tumbleweed+

Read more local stories and community highlights in the Fort Stockton Pioneer.

08/20/2026

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀 𝟲𝗔 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹

Fort Stockton and Imperial will always be home for DJ Weems, even as his coaching career takes him to one of the biggest stages in West Texas.

Weems, 26, was named Midland High School’s head girls basketball coach July 28 after leading McCamey through a turnaround season in his first year as a head coach. He now takes over a Class 6A program after admitting he initially considered himself a long shot for the position.

“When I originally applied, I knew I was taking a shot,” Weems said. “I was a 26-year-old coach with only one year of head coaching experience, so part of me thought, ‘There’s no way they’re going to hire me.’”

That one season at McCamey, however, produced results. Weems led the Lady Badgers to a 14-11 record and a share of the District 6-2A championship. The program doubled its previous win total, recorded its first double-digit-win season in 15 years and defeated Wink for the first time in a decade.

Participation also grew enough for McCamey to field a junior varsity team for the first time in five years. Weems was named the district’s co-Coach of the Year following the season.

“McCamey taught me that you have to be willing to endure,” Weems said. “You have to remain positive and consistent even when things aren’t going your way. It wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but we continued to work, stayed dedicated to what we were trying to build and trusted that the results would eventually follow.”

As Weems prepares to lead Midland High, he has not forgotten the Fort Stockton-area educators and coaches who helped shape his path.

“Some of the best teachers and coaches I ever had were people I encountered growing up in Fort Stockton,” Weems said. “Coach Bachman, Coach Woods, my own father Dr. David Weems Sr., to name a few. They showed me how much influence an educator or coach can have on a young person.”

Weems said growing up in a small West Texas community taught him to value honesty, tradition and relationships. Those lessons remain central to his coaching philosophy as he works to develop athletes both on and off the court.

“Players know when you genuinely care about them, and they respect coaches who see them as people first—not just as basketball players who can help you win games,” Weems said.

A Buena Vista High School graduate, Weems attended Fort Stockton High School as a freshman before playing college basketball at Dean College in Massachusetts. He later worked with Northeastern University’s women’s basketball program and coached at multiple levels in Texas high school athletics, including serving as an assistant at Pecos.

At Midland High, Weems plans to establish a program that plays fast, competes with tremendous effort and applies consistent defensive pressure. Just as importantly, he wants his players to know that high expectations can exist alongside genuine care and support.

“McCamey reinforced my belief that you don’t have to choose between developing people and developing players,” Weems said. “You can—and should—do both.”

For Weems, the Midland High opportunity represents the fulfillment of a goal he has carried since deciding to make coaching his career.

“Basketball is obviously a huge part of what I do, and I’m extremely competitive, but coaching gives me the opportunity to impact young people on a much larger scale,” Weems said. “For Midland High to trust me with that responsibility and respect me as a high-level coach at this point in my career is something I’m incredibly grateful for, and I don’t take it lightly.”

No matter where that career leads, Weems said his connection to the Fort Stockton area will remain.

“Fort Stockton/Imperial has always been home to me,” Weems said. “My family is from Fort Stockton, I grew up there, and no matter where my career takes me, it will always feel like home.”

Read more local stories and community highlights in the Fort Stockton Pioneer.

08/05/2026

ᴘᴀɪᴅ ᴀᴅᴠᴇʀᴛɪꜱᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ

𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣, 𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗔𝗧 𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧 & 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗦 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗘𝗧

The first Rust & Roots Market will bring local and surrounding-area vendors together Saturday, Aug. 8, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Pecos County Civic Center on Airport Drive in Fort Stockton.

Visitors can shop from 23 vendors, enjoy the market’s dining area, play board games and socialize while listening to background music—all in a comfortable indoor space regardless of the weather.

This will be the first of three Rust & Roots markets planned for the remainder of 2026. Organizers hope to begin holding the market monthly next year.

Follow Rust & Roots Market on Facebook and Instagram at Rust & Roots Market for updates and additional information.

08/04/2026

𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗻

Fort Stockton played host to one of the nation's premier youth baseball organizations over the weekend as the city welcomed its first-ever Perfect Game tournament to Shuster and Taylor Fields, drawing teams from across West Texas and showcasing some of the region's top young talent.

Teams from Midland, Odessa, Lubbock, El Paso, Monahans and Fort Stockton competed throughout Saturday and Sunday, with championship games closing out the weekend in several age divisions. The event also served as a fundraiser benefiting local travel baseball programs while introducing Fort Stockton as a new destination for one of the country's most recognizable amateur baseball organizations.

Among the hometown highlights, Fort Stockton's West Texas DEFCON captured the 12U championship, defeating the Permian Basin Knights in dominant fashion, 17-1, to claim the tournament title in front of a home crowd.

Champions were crowned across multiple divisions over the weekend. In the 8U bracket, Texas Premier defeated the Monahans Chanclas for the championship. The 10U division title went to the Texas Cobras, who finished first after defeating Jackboy in the championship game. On the softball side, Glory earned the 12U girls championship with a win over the Fort Stockton Roadrunners.

The weekend marked an important milestone for youth baseball in Fort Stockton. Perfect Game is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading amateur baseball organizations, hosting tournaments, showcases and player evaluations across the country. Its events attract talented players while providing opportunities for families, college coaches, Major League Baseball organizations and scouts to follow the development of young athletes throughout their baseball careers.

According to the organization, its mission is to promote the game of baseball by hosting high-quality amateur events while creating meaningful opportunities for players and families. Perfect Game also works alongside Major League Baseball and other baseball partners to help grow the sport, encourage participation from athletes of all backgrounds, educate parents and players, promote player safety and provide first-class facilities and competition for its events.

For Fort Stockton, hosting a Perfect Game tournament represents more than just a weekend of baseball. Bringing one of the sport's most recognizable brands to the community provides local players with the chance to compete under the Perfect Game banner while exposing visiting teams and families to the city's facilities and hospitality. Tournament organizers hope the event becomes a regular stop on the West Texas baseball calendar, creating additional opportunities for local athletes and generating economic activity for the community.

Tournament site directors Eric Leyva and Cristian Zapata coordinated the inaugural event, which organizers hope will continue to grow in future years.

With strong local participation, competitive championship games and a hometown team bringing home the 12U title, the inaugural Perfect Game tournament proved to be a successful debut for Fort Stockton. As the organization continues expanding its presence across Texas, this weekend's event could be the beginning of a long-term partnership that benefits both youth baseball and the local community.

08/04/2026

‘𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄’ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗻’𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲 - 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟳𝘁𝗵 & 𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗖𝗼

Fort Stockton’s art scene has gradually become more visible in recent years, moving beyond private studios and individual projects to murals, public commissions and exhibitions hosted inside local businesses. For artist Jeremy Gonzalez, that growth represents something he has wanted to see for years.

“I’ve always yearned for an art scene here in Fort Stockton,” Gonzalez said. “And I’ve seen it kind of bloom.”

That momentum will continue Aug. 7-8 when Gonzalez presents “The Jesus Show,” a two-day, come-and-go exhibition at Rü Coffee Shop in downtown Fort Stockton. It will be the coffee shop’s first art show and, Gonzalez hopes, another step toward establishing a lasting space for local artists and their work.

Fort Stockton has long existed near communities known for their arts and culture, including Marfa, Alpine and Marathon. More recently, however, original artwork has become increasingly visible within Fort Stockton itself. Murals, restored signs, festivals and creative collaborations with downtown businesses have given artists more opportunities to share their work locally.

Gonzalez has contributed to that shift through murals and commissioned pieces found across the city. His work has appeared on the Agua Fresca trailer, inside Caleb’s Barbershop and on a horned lizard mural near the Fort Stockton Pioneer. He has also completed memorial murals, painted rocking chairs and floors and helped restore aging signs around town.

One restoration incorporated Fort Stockton’s newer roadrunner logo before the design became widely used throughout the community. Gonzalez sees those visual symbols as an important part of a city’s identity and wants to continue adding original public artwork to Fort Stockton.

“I would love to do more public art in Fort Stockton, like more murals,” he said.

Gonzalez’s connection to art began early. His parents were artists who met at the Art Institute of Dallas, although he initially resisted following the same path. Instead, he pursued journalism and eventually served as managing editor of the Pioneer, where he also created an illustrated comic titled “A Pig Called Bob.”

His first solo exhibition, “Cosmic Data,” was held at South Side on Lamar in Dallas in 2008. The collection featured imaginative subjects such as robots, bears and jellyfish with antlers. He later sold whimsical West Texas-inspired artwork in Marathon, but said his upcoming collection represents a deeper turn toward narrative and emotion.

The idea for “The Jesus Show” originated with Gonzalez’s wife about a year ago. He later read the Bible from beginning to end and began painting the collection Jan. 14. Since then, the project has developed into a series of vivid, unconventional interpretations of biblical moments.

“I started and haven’t been able to stop because he’s so captivating,” Gonzalez said.

The collection includes depictions of Jesus being tempted by the devil, riding a donkey and holding a cup from Rü. “The Second Adam” connects the crucifixion with the Garden of Eden, while Gonzalez’s personal favorite, “Neon Jesus,” features lime-green hair, a poured-paint background and eyes resembling planets.

“It’s not as traditional as most artwork of Jesus typically is, but it’s definitely my style,” he said.

The paintings also carry a regional identity through the inclusion of familiar West Texas imagery, including cactus and roadrunners. Gonzalez said he is taking biblical source material and interpreting it through his own visual language rather than attempting to reproduce traditional religious artwork.

The exhibition also arrives as artists and audiences consider the growing presence of artificial intelligence in posters, graphics and other creative work. While Gonzalez recognizes AI’s usefulness, he believes communities still need work created by local artists with their own hands, experiences and perspectives.

“We need some original art,” Gonzalez said.

Rü owners Emma Guerrero and Omar have helped make the exhibition possible, while Ross Harper, Ram Fiero and Rachel Nix are among those who have supported the project behind the scenes. Opening-day plans include refreshments and time to visit with Gonzalez. The second day will feature a raffle for one of his paintings and a Rü gift card.

Although the collection centers on Jesus, Gonzalez said the exhibition is intended to be welcoming to the entire community.

“It’s for everybody,” he said. “If you like Jesus or don’t like Jesus, it’s still a cool experience to have some art in Fort Stockton.”

If the exhibition leads to additional shows at Rü and other local venues, it could help give Fort Stockton artists something they have often traveled elsewhere to find: a place to exhibit, connect with an audience and contribute to the city’s evolving cultural identity.

08/04/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝟱𝗞 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆

What began as a family's desire to honor the life of a young man taken too soon has grown into a community effort focused on healing, remembrance and preventing future tragedies.

The inaugural Eddie Vela Memorial 5K will be held **Saturday, Aug. 22, at 8 a.m. at Rooney Park**, bringing together family, friends, classmates and community members to celebrate Eddie's life while promoting safe driving among teenagers.

Eddie Vela was 15 years old, a sophomore at Fort Stockton High School, and a varsity cross-country runner. Just one month after completing his sophomore year, Eddie was killed in a tragic car accident, leaving behind classmates, teammates, teachers and a community still coping with the loss.

His grandmother, Maggie Hernandez, who is organizing the event, said the memorial run is intended to honor Eddie's legacy while turning tragedy into an opportunity to help others.

"Our goal is to bring the community together to honor Eddie's legacy, help his classmates and friends heal, and raise critical awareness about safe teen driving," Hernandez said.

Proceeds from the 5K and community sponsorships will fund a motivational speaker who will visit Fort Stockton High School and Fort Stockton Middle School this September. The presentation is designed to help students process the loss of a classmate while encouraging responsible driving habits among teen drivers.

According to Hernandez, discussions with Superintendent Gil-Rey Madrid and Fort Stockton High School Principal Sammy Soliz have resulted in tentative plans for assemblies at both campuses. Madrid has also offered district support to help cover costs that cannot be met through fundraising.

While plans for the assemblies continue to move forward, organizers say community support remains essential to making the project a reality.

The family is encouraging local businesses, organizations and individuals to become event sponsors or register for the 5K. Funds raised will help cover the cost of bringing the motivational speaker to Fort Stockton High School and Fort Stockton Middle School, where students will hear messages about coping with loss and the importance of safe driving.

They also hope residents will help spread the word through social media and personal connections.

After speaking with many of Eddie's closest friends, Hernandez said it became clear just how deeply his death continues to affect students.

"After speaking with several of Eddie's friends I know how deeply his death has affected them and feel this assembly would be vital to helping them heal and cope while also making them aware of the need for safe driving practices, so the FS community doesn't have to endure this pain again of losing another young life," she said.

Organizers hope the event serves as more than a fundraiser. They envision it as an opportunity for the community to stand alongside Eddie's family, support the students who continue to grieve, and reinforce the importance of making safe choices behind the wheel.

The inaugural Eddie Vela Memorial 5K begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Rooney Park. Community members can still register for the race or become event sponsors. Organizers hope the community will continue to rally behind the event as race day approaches, ensuring Eddie's legacy lives on through education, healing and a commitment to safer driving.

For more information about participating or becoming a sponsor, contact Maggie Hernandez at 432-290-6986.

Fort Stockton Pioneer
Eddie's Memorial 5k Fun Run/Walk