Grand Opening of the Lumberyard

Ribbon Cutting at the Lumberyard.  L to R: KXOX Radio DJ "Skinny Kenny" Brawley; Delma Boston, Wildflower Boutique; Pete Porter, Roscoe Mayor; Brenda Martinez, Lumberyard staff; Nolan Martin, Lumberyard General Manager; Timy Teel, Lumberyard staff; Misty Guelker, Brooklyn's Heavenly Treasures; Kelly Etheredge, Roscoe Wind Council; Vickie Haynes, Vickie's Gifts; Edwin Duncan, Roscoe Hard Times.

Downtown Roscoe will be rocking this weekend with the official Grand Opening of the Lumberyard.  Located on the site of the old Higginbotham-Bartlett Lumberyard on 7 Cypress Street just south of the Texas & Pacific railroad track, this new establishment gives a welcome boost of energy to the downtown area.  Whether it should be termed a restaurant, sports bar, recreational area, or night club depends on the time and reason for going. 

During the day and on many evenings it is primarily a restaurant with a variety of dishes for customers.  This evening, however, when the Texas Rangers play their first World Series game against the San Francisco Giants, it will definitely be a sports bar with its two wide-screen TVs.  Tomorrow night when country music star Tommy Alverson brings his music to town—or on Friday evening when the Tejas Brothers help Roscoe celebrate Halloween with a costume party and contest, it will definitely be a night club.  

If it weren’t for the appearance of these two well-known musical acts, one might almost consider the Grand Opening itself something of an anti-climax, since the Lumberyard actually opened a couple of days before the West Texas Wind Festival back on October 16 and has been going strong ever since.  Sizeable numbers were on hand to watch the Texas Rangers playoff games against the Yankees last week as well as the Dallas Cowboys football game on Monday night.  And a daily lunch crowd has already developed on regular weekdays.  

Owner Cody Thompson and Lumberyard manager Nolan Martin have been busy for some time getting the place ready to go, and their hard work is paying off.  In addition to the restaurant and sports bar inside, there is the raised stage and dance floor outside, a horseshoe pitching area, and an outdoor pavilion for drinks and dominoes.  

The Lumberyard is a welcome addition to the life of our community, and we wish it the best of luck!

Inside the Lumberyard

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FOOTBALL: CROSBYTON DEFEATS PLOWBOYS 56-29.

The Crosbyton Chiefs beat the Plowboys in Crosbyton last Friday night 56-29.  For details, see the write-up in the Sweetwater Reporter by clicking here.  The Plowboys are now 1-2 in district play and 2-6 overall.  This Friday night they'll play the Ralls Jackrabbits in Ralls.  Kickoff is at 7:30.

4th Annual West Texas Wind Harvest Festival

Part 1. 4th Annual West Texas Wind Harvest Festival, Roscoe, Texas, October 16, 2010: High School Quarterback Challenge, "Carbon Nation," Plowboy Mudbog, Mudbog Dash for Cash, inflated slide, Matt Davis, the Dusty Creek Band, street scene.

Part 2. "Barbecuing in the Wind Cookoff" awards, "Carbon Nation" producer Peter Byck, the Dusty Creek Band, Gary P. Nunn and the Bunkhouse Band: "What I like about Texas," "Two-Step Away," fireworks show.

Gary P. Nunn and the Bunkhouse Band: "London Homesick Blues," "Terlingua Sky," "Reggae Armadillo."

Plowboys Down Roby 22-8

Caden Smith scores on a ten-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Roscoe Plowboys got back on the winning track against the Roby Lions in a hard-fought game Friday night at Plowboy Field.  The Plowboys scored first on a Caden Smith run in the first quarter and converted the extra point to go up 8-0, but Roby came right back with a drive of their own and tied the score at 8-8.  The second quarter had several big plays but no scores, and at halftime the teams were still deadlocked at 8-8.  

The Plowboys opened the third quarter with a long drive culminating in a touchdown and a kicked extra point, and the score was 15-8.  On the ensuing drive, Roby quarterback Stormy Rasberry got his bell rung and had to leave the game, and the Lions lost their punch on offense after that.  The Plowboys scored another Caden Smith touchdown in the fourth quarter to ice the game and make the final score 22-8.  Plowboy standouts were Caden Smith, Edgar Gallegos, and Austin Carrasco, while Stormy Rasberry led the Lions.

The Plowboys are now 1-1 in district play and will face Crosbyton at Crosbyton next Friday night.

Gary P. Nunn & the Bunkhouse Band to Highlight Live Music at Wind Festival

Gary P. Nunn

This year’s West Texas Wind Festival on Saturday, October 16, is proud to present Texas country music legend, Gary P. Nunn, along with his Bunkhouse Band, as its feature act for this year’s “street dance on the bricks” downtown.  Nunn, a pioneer of the outlaw music scene in Austin with his Lost Gonzo Band, played with Willie Nelson, Michael Murphy, and Jerry Jeff Walker in the seventies—and has been a fixture of the Texas music scene ever since.  

His fame as a performer is matched, if not exceeded, by his songwriting skills.  What self-respecting Texan can’t sing along to “I want to go home with the armadillo, good country music from Amarillo and Abilene” from his “London Homesick Blues”?  He’ll be singing that and “That’s What I Like about Texas” along with many others, including songs from his latest album, “Taking Texas to the Country.”  

The live music will begin at 4:00pm with Matt Davis from San Angelo, and around 6:00, Roscoe’s own  Dusty Creek Band will take the stage with members Lyndall Underwood, Robbie Nolan, Steve and Chris Myers, and Danny Letz.  They’ll get the crowd going until about 8:00 or 8:30. 

Then Gary P. Nunn and the Bunkhouse Band will take the stage.  They’ll play a 45-minute set and then break for the FIREWORK SHOW, after which they’ll return and do another set.  

Folks, this is one feature of the Wind Festival that you don’t want to miss.  Bring your dancing shoes, and be ready for a musical experience you won’t soon forget!

To warm up for the event, click on these Gary P. Nunn videos:

"London Homesick Blues"            "That's What I Like About Texas"

HIGH SCHOOL QUARTERBACK CHALLENGE

The event that will kick off this year’s Wind Festival is the High School Quarterback Challenge, which starts at 10:00am in the little park directly across from the City Hall on Cypress Street.  Several area high school quarterbacks will test their passing accuracy by attempting to throw footballs through a tire, and the winner will receive not only a trophy but also glory for his football team and high school.  

BARBECUING IN THE WIND COOKOFF

The open areas around the Fire Station on Broadway will be the venue for Roscoe’s First Annual Steak, Stuffed Pepper, and Rib Cookoff.  Organizers for the event are Gary Armstrong and Virgil Pruitt.  Participants may enter one category or all three.  The entry fee is $25 per category or $70 for all three.  Entrants will want to set up early.  Judging will take place at 3:00pm for the Stuffed Pepper Cookoff, 4:00 for the Steak, and 5:00 for the Rib.  There will be a $1000 prize money for the best steak, $500 for the best ribs, and an undetermined amount as of yet for the Stuffed Pepper.

Along with the Cookoff, there will be a raffle for various items with tickets at $1 each or 6 for $5.

SHOWINGS OF THE MOVIE CARBON NATION

A movie somewhat similar in spirit to Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, which discusses pollution and global warming, Carbon Nation, produced by Peter Byck, focuses on solutions to offset the manmade carbon emissions being pumped into the atmosphere.  

The first part of this documentary is about wind energy and the Roscoe wind farm.  It features Cliff Etheredge and possibly other Roscoe folks.  The movie’s producer, Peter Byck, is coming from Kentucky to be on hand for the three showings in the Community Center at 12:00, 1:30, and 3:00.   Admission is free, but event organizer Cliff Etheredge says to bring your own popcorn.

VENDORS

There will be a multitude of vendors selling all sorts of things in the downtown area throughout the Wind Festival.  As of yesterday, 39 were signed up.  So bring some cash.  You’re sure to find something you’ll need to buy.

HELICOPTER NOT COMING

The only known snag in the Wind Festival thus far has been the last-minute cancellation of the announced helicopter rides.  You can blame the federal government for this unfortunate turn of events.  Last month the FAA announced new legislation regarding the insurance for such events, and the company bringing in the helicopter learned that it might not be covered under the new regulations.  So, regretfully, it has had to cancel.  

“SOFT OPENING” OF THE LUMBER YARD 

Although the grand opening of The Lumber Yard won’t be until later this month, this new downtown restaurant, located on the site of the old Higginbotham Bartlett lumber yard on Cypress, will be open for a sneak preview during the Wind Festival.

So bring your chair and make a day of the Fourth Annual West Texas Wind Festival! 

For more information about any of the Wind Festival events, contact Kelly Etheredge at 325-725-0756.  

Plowboy Mudbog

The fourth annual West Texas Wind Harvest Festival in Roscoe this weekend will feature many events, but for many, none is more anticipated than the Plowboy Mudbog, to be held at George Parks Field on Saturday afternoon.  

Event organizers Felix and David Pantoja say the word is out among area mudbog enthusiasts, and the competition this weekend should be even tougher than it was at the Plowboy Mudbog in Roscoe on July 4th, when there were 28 entries.  Felix is predicting a huge crowd and as many as 40 entries for Saturday.

The mud track, just beyond right field of the baseball park, will be 200 feet long and go from two-feet deep to four-feet deep in good ol’ squishy Roscoe blackland mud.  Winners are those that go the farthest before coming to a halt.  The winner of the open class at the July 4th mudbog, Zack Welch, made a distance of 140 feet.  

Entries will be in three classes: Street: 36” tires and under; Modified: 36” to 39”; and Open: 40” and over.   Since there’s an advantage in going last rather than first, each truck takes two runs, with the second run in reverse order from the first.  

The registration fee for entries is $25 with the winners of each class taking the fees as prize money.  Registration begins at 8:00am on Saturday in front of the baseball field at Second and Sycamore Streets.  Admission to the event beginning at noon is $5 for adults and $2 for children.  All proceeds will go to benefit the Roscoe baseball little league.  

For more information, contact Felix Pantoja at 325-514-8384 or David Pantoja at 325-280-1917.

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FOOTBALL: The Plowboys lost in Hamlin to the Pied Pipers last Friday night 39-18.  They are now 1-5 on the year and will host the Roby Lions in a district game at Plowboy Field on Friday.  Kickoff is at 7:30.

Gary High

Gary High, 63, who grew up in Roscoe, passed away on Sunday in San Angelo. The funeral will be at 1:30 on Thursday.  Click here for the obituary in the San Angelo Standard-Times.

Hallelujah! Roscoe Lands State Funding to Improve City Water

Anybody who’s lived in Roscoe in recent years knows the problems caused by the minerals in the water.  They create difficulties and shorten the lives of all sorts of appliances that use water—coffee makers, water heaters, shower heads, icemakers, dishwashers, and so on—besides being less than ideal for drinking, especially for expectant mothers, small children, and certain others.

But because of its demographics, the persistence of the city manager, mayor, and city council, and a little bit of luck, Roscoe will receive $1,765,000 from the state in the form of a loan that is 100% loan-forgiveness qualified.  That’s quite a chunk of change for a city the size of Roscoe.  Of that amount, $1,265,000 is for the construction of a new reverse-osmosis water treatment plant and $500,000 will go to sorely needed city water line improvements. 

The City of Roscoe unsuccessfully applied for the loan over a year ago but reapplied and hit the jackpot this time around.  City Manager Cody Thompson and City Council members Ken Brawley and Robert McBride recently made a trip to Austin to attend a hearing on the issue and got the good news earlier this week.  They will be returning there on October 21 to coordinate with the state on the project.  

Construction of the new water treatment plant and work on the water lines should begin sometime next year.  The process of reverse osmosis produces pure, clean water that will enhance the quality of life for everyone in Roscoe in a multitude of ways.  This development is great news, and sincere thanks are due to everyone who’s played a part in bringing it about. 

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FOOTBALL:  The Plowboys lost to Munday last week 31-0.  Enough said.  This week they had an open date, and next week they’ll begin district play in Hamlin against the Pied Pipers.  Hamlin is 3-2 on the year with losses only to Stamford and Albany.

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If you have any news I should mention in the Roscoe Hard Times, contact me at eduncan@towson.edu or 325-766-2233.