Mel Tillis a Big Hit at the Lumberyard

Mel Tillis gives a hug to Anna Mae McBride after the show.

Folks from all over the Big Country were on hand Friday night to see one of the best known country music stars of the past half century, and Mel Tillis, along with his band, the Statesiders, didn’t disappoint them.  A crowd of over a thousand filled the outdoor area of the Lumberyard and enjoyed the concert. 

Mel Tillis, who just turned eighty, put on an energetic performance that would do justice to someone half his age, and he and his band displayed the many talents for which they are famous. 

Video clips of the concert are available by clicking here (Part 1: 6:11) or here (Part 2: 6:39).  

After the show, everyone learned that Tillis is not only a consummate professional on the stage, but also one of the nicest and most down-to-earth performers around.  He signed autographs, posed for pictures, shook hands, and spoke to anyone who asked for at least an hour after the show ended. 

Even the weather contributed to the success of the evening.  Storm clouds threatened in the afternoon with thunder, lightning, and even some rain, but the weather cooled down considerably after the sun went down, making for pleasant outdoor conditions and a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

--o--

BANKHEAD HIGHWAY PLAQUE PLACED IN MEMORIAL PARK

On hand to dedicate the Bankhead Highway sign were, left to right, Joe Specht, Librarian Emeritus at McMurry University; Helen Perry, Roscoe City Council; Robert McBride, Roscoe City Council; Mayor Pete Porter, Edwin Duncan, Curator, Roscoe Historical Museum; Terry Willman, County Commissioner; and Delma Boston, Roscoe merchant.

A metal plaque commemorating the Bankhead Highway was placed in Memorial Park on Friday and dedicated yesterday in a morning ceremony.  Several city officials were on hand to hear Mayor Pete Porter read a proclamation honoring the highway that later became US 80.

The dirt road that originally went through Roscoe officially became a highway in 1917 when it was officially designated Texas Highway No. 1, extending from Texarkana to El Paso.  Then, in 1920, it became part of the nation's first transcontinental auto route, the Bankhead Highway, which ran from Washington, DC, to San Diego, California.

It was known as the Bankhead Highway until the late 1920s, when national highways were given numbers, at which time it became US Highway 80.  After it became Highway 80, the route changed somewhat, but “the old road,” which runs alongside the railroad track to Sweetwater, is a still existing part of the old Bankhead Highway.

Because the highway came through town, it contributed significantly to the community’s prosperity until 1959, when Interstate 20 was built to bypass Roscoe. 

More details about the history of Roscoe and the Bankhead Highway may be found in the May 30 issue of the Roscoe Hard Times, available by clicking here.

--o--

PLOWBOY PREVIEW DRAWS NICE CROWD

Joe Ejem and Tim Tomlin grill burgers at the Plowboy Preview dinner.

The Plowboy Preview held at Plowboy Field last Thursday drew a sizable crowd.  Almost two hundred people ate at the hamburger dinner that preceded the event.  

After the dinner, the crowd moved to the stands and was introduced to the 2012 Plowboy band, the football team, and the cheerleaders.

--o--

COMMUNITY CENTER TO HOST GARAGE SALE

The Roscoe Community Center will host a community garage sale on Saturday, August 25, from 8:00am to 2:00pm.  The fee for selling your unwanted treasures is $10, which goes to the Community Center.

Call Helen Perry at 325-766-3149 for details.

--o--

STUDENTS RETURN TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY

The new school year begins on Monday, August 27.  Drivers, please watch out for kids crossing the streets or getting off buses--and remember that it is a ticketable offense to talk or text on your cell phones while on the school grounds.

--o--

CITY TO HOLD BUDGET WORKSHOP NEXT TUESDAY

The public is invited to attend and participate in a workshop to determine next year’s city budget.  The meeting will be held in City Hall on Tuesday, August 28, at 7:00pm. 

--o--

WEATHER REPORT

The weather of the past week has been a welcome break from the stretch of hot, dry weather that typified the first half of the month.  Temperatures cooled down to maximums of 90°F or less and minimums in the high sixties, and some rain fell.

A light shower that was enough to make the sidewalks wet fell on Friday.  Most people I talked to got around a tenth of an inch or so.  Then on Saturday there was another shower accompanied by much thunder and lightning.  Although it didn’t rain a lot in town—amounts varied from a quarter to a half inch, and Kenny Landfried recorded an official total of .33"—some places got a lot more.  The Champion area, for example, got something like two inches. 

Then on Monday night, a big cold front blew in, once again with thunder and lightning that promised more than the cloud actually delivered.  Rainfall in town was about a quarter of an inch or less.  Kenny Landfried recorded an official total of .11". Five miles south of town got about .8”, while Scott Etheredge northwest of town got an inch and a half, and as much as two inches fell a few miles northwest of there.

The forecast is for more cooler weather with highs in the upper eighties and lower nineties and lows in the upper sixties and lower seventies.  There is also a 20% chance of precipitation. 

--o--