Country Music Star Stoney LaRue at the Lumberyard on Friday

Stoney LaRue

In the past year, the Lumberyard has hosted several country music greats, among them Ray Price, Mel Tillis, Johnny Rodriguez, the Bellamy Brothers, Asleep at the Wheel, and others.  But none of them may be a bigger draw than Red Dirt icon Stoney LaRue and his band, the Arsenals, who will be in town Friday night for a performance on the Lumberyard’s outdoor stage. 

Born in Texas but raised in Oklahoma, LaRue is famous for developing the Red Dirt sound along with friends Cody Canada, Jason Boland, and Brandon Jenkins (who will perform at the Spring Fling on April 20).  His 2005 CD, “The Red Dirt Album,” reached the Billboard sales charts its debut week, and in 2006 he released the best seller “Live at Billy Bob’s.”  More recently, he has achieved acclaim for his 2011 CD, “Velvet.”

The show starts at 9:30pm.  Cover charge is $12 advance purchase and $15 at the door.  For more information, phone the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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TWO KILLED, ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN MARYNEAL WRECK

Two Roscoe residents were killed and another seriously injured at 6:10 on Friday afternoon when the pickup they were riding in overturned on westbound FM 608 just this side of Maryneal.

A 2001 Dodge extended-cab pickup driven by Joe Camarillo, 34, of Roscoe overturned after the right rear tire blew out and the vehicle left the road.  When Camarillo tried to steer it back onto the highway, it skidded sideways and flipped, throwing out three of the passengers and killing two of them.  The men were returning to Roscoe after working all day near Maryneal. 

Fidel Hernandez Acosta, 39, who was riding on one side in the back seat, was ejected when the pickup overturned.  He was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:05pm.  Jesus Herrera Aldavera, 21, who was on the other side in back, was also ejected.  He suffered severe head injuries and was taken to Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, where he died three hours later.

Victor Manuel Lopez, 29, was thrown from the front passenger seat and was also taken to Shannon Medical Center, where he was treated for internal injuries.  Camarillo, the driver of the pickup, was wearing a seat belt, and escaped unhurt, as did one other passenger, Ismael Perez, who was sitting in the middle in back. 

Funeral services for Fidel Hernandez Acosta will be held in Marivillas, Coahuila, Mexico.  Funeral services for Jesus Herrera Aldavera will be held in Guanajuato, Mexico.  

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PLOWBOTS MAKE SEMIFINALS IN LAS VEGAS COMPETITION

Team robots compete in Las Vegas.  The Plowbots' is 3366, second from left.

The Plowbots, Roscoe Collegiate High’s robotics team, are back from a long and fruitful weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada, where they participated in the Las Vegas Regional Competition of FIRST Robotics.   Forty-seven teams represented various states and countries: New Jersey, California, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, Mexico, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands.

The Plowbots (Team 366) joined Miss Daisy (Team 341) from Ambler, Pennsylvania, and the Friarbots (Team 3309) from Anaheim, California, to win their quarterfinal match and advance to the semifinals.

This alliance then lost a tough match in the semifinals to the alliance that went on to become the champions.  That wasn’t a bad way to end the year as the Plowbots were also quarterfinalists at the regional meet in Lubbock.

The Plowbots would like to thank Terry Frye, Chuck Graff, and Jamie Witt for serving as mentors this season.  They also wish to express their appreciation to team sponsors Ludlum Measurements, West Texas Rock Resources, Roscoe State Bank, Vickie’s Gifts, and FIRST Robotics in Texas for their support. 

Members of the 2012-2013 Plowbots FIRST Robotics Team are as follows:

Faith Boren and Brant Burnett, Co-Presidents; Brenon Moore, Camden Boren, Eduardo Gallegos,  Landon Jones, Tito Arce, Amber Craig, Mirian Solis, Paul Ballenger, Korie Rogers, Makayla Porter, Caleb Ward, Braiden Moore, William Hawkins, Mireya Sanchez, Mike Rosas, Pete  Ortega, and Danielle Dean.

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TERRY ARMSTRONG TO BE PART OF UPCOMING TV SHOW

Terry "Hollywood" Armstrong and the TP Outdoor Adventurers with a big rattler they bagged near Noodle.

Roscoe’s Terry “Hollywood” Armstrong led a Louisiana film crew on a rattlesnake hunt near Noodle last week for a TV show that will air in July on Dishnet.  Along with him were locals Darrell and Eric Sorrells of Maryneal. 

“TP Outdoor Adventures,” now in its third season, is an outdoor adventure show that covers hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Its crew, which operates out of West Monroe, Louisiana, includes host Bill Petrus, cameraman Chris Woodall, Dustin “Duck” Campbell, and Al Lambert, Jr.  

The rattlesnake hunters finished the day with nine rattlesnakes, including one six-footer.  After the hunt, they cooked out at the Lumberyard, where Al Lambert, Jr., sang songs that will also be a part of the July TV show.  

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PLOWBOYS TO HOST DISTRICT TRACK MEET TOMORROW

The District 1A-II Track and Field Meet will take place at Plowboy Field starting at 9:00am tomorrow.

In a tough field at Colorado City’s Lone Wolf Relays last week, Plowboy Jesus Leanos won the 3200-meter run with a time of 10:46.5 and was second in the 1600 meters with a time of 4:59.

Shelton Tolliver was third in the high jump with a leap of 5’6”.

The Regional Track and Field Meet will be at Angelo State University in San Angelo on April 26.

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HIGHLAND’S SIERRA ALLEN, COACH BAUCOM ON ALL-BIG COUNTRY GIRLS’ BASKETBALL TEAM

Highland’s Sierra Allen was selected to the Abilene Reporter-News All-Big Country 1A-II Girls’ Basketball Team, and her coach, Shea Baucom, was named Coach of the Year.

They led the Hornets to the regional championship and the state tournament in Austin before Highland fell to Saltillo in the state semifinals.  Allen averaged 19.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and was also named District 131A-II’s Most Valuable Player.

Hannah Allen received Honorable Mention on the All-Big Country Team along with teammate, Beth Richburg.

Plowgirl Faith Boren also received Honorable Mention. 

The Reporter-News article may be accessed by clicking here. 

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CITY COUNCIL APPROVES CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION

At last night’s monthly meeting, the City Council approved a request for a Cinco de Mayo celebration to be held Saturday, May 4.  

The festivities will include a morning parade, street vendors, music by DJs from 3:00-6:00pm, and a live band, Lunaco, that will play a free concert and street dance from 6:00-10:00pm “on the bricks” next to Old Town Park downtown.

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LITTLE LEAGUE OPENING CEREMONIES SET FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 20

It’s that time of year again!  The Texas Rangers have been playing for over a week now, and the Roscoe Little League teams will kick off their 2013 season with opening ceremonies at George Parks Field starting at 9:00am next Saturday, April 20.

After the opening ceremonies and team introductions, Roscoe teams will play one another in head-to-head games that will count as the first official games of the season.

Brisket, drinks, and other goodies will be available at the concession stand.

Volunteers wishing to sign up for this concession should say so in a message on the Roscoe Little League Facebook page.  Schedules are not yet available but will be posted as soon as they are.  

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WEATHER REPORT

New buds on the old mesquite tree.

Despite the fact that the old mesquite tree in my yard has finally budded out, it’s cold outside this morning--32°F--which is quite a change from the weather we’ve been having.   After three days of afternoon temperatures of over 90°F, a cold front blew through about six o’clock yesterday afternoon, and the temperature plummeted over fifty degrees during the next six hours, dropping to 39° a little after midnight with a strong north wind that dropped the wind chill to 32°.

And speaking of the wind, we’ve had quite a bit of that, too, with gusts out of the southwest from 35-40mph shifting yesterday to gusts out of the north up to 39mph.

Last week's forecast of rain didn’t pan out.  Last Wednesday’s 50% chance of precipitation resulted in a rainfall of only .02”.  We did a little better last night.  The forecast was once again for a 50% chance, and at my house .2" fell.   That's not a lot, but every little bit helps.

Today’s high should be only in the low fifties and tonight’s low in the lower thirties.  Thursday and Friday should see steady warming into the sixties and seventies respectively, and by Sunday we should be back into the upper eighties. 

There is no rain in the forecast, which is unfortunate because the area needs a good rain—especially when the National Weather Service’s three-month (April-May-June) outlook for this area is for below normal rainfall and above normal temperatures.  These forecasts are illustrated on maps at the NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) website, accessible online by clicking here. 

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 † HAROLD DUVALL

Harold Duvall, 83, passed away Saturday, April 6, at Hoyt House in Sweetwater.  Funeral services are pending with McCoy Funeral Home of Sweetwater.

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