Kim Alexander to Receive ACU Teacher Education Award

Kim Alexander

Roscoe School Superintendent Kim Alexander is the recipient of the 2015 Grover C. Morlan Medal.  According to the announcement on the ACU website, the ACU Department of Teacher Education awards the medal each year to an alumnus who has made significant contributions to the field of education.

The announcement cites Dr. Dana Pemberton, Chair of the ACU Teacher Education Department, who said, “Under Alexander’s leadership, Roscoe administrators and teachers have transformed learning on all levels.  The Roscoe Collegiate System’s model is built on the belief that when structured correctly, all students, regardless of socio-economic, demographic, cultural, or technological background, can be college and career-ready on completion of their 12th grade year.”

The article goes on to note RCISD’s membership in the Texas High Performance Schools consortium and its role in serving as a model for rural schools in other districts.

Under Alexander's leadership, RCHS graduating seniors, in ever increasing numbers, have earned Associate's Degrees from Western Texas College in Snyder along with their high school diplomas.  Last year, 17 of 21 did, and this year's numbers will be comparable.  Also, in November the Administrative Leadership Institute at Texas A&M presented its first-ever Texas School District Excellence Award to Roscoe Collegiate ISD.

Roscoe is also a leader in establishing a viable STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) program for rural schools, and the new STEM research center now being built at RCISD will house this initiative.

Dr. Alexander will receive the award at the 2015 Morlan Award Dinner at 6:30pm tomorrow, March 19, in the Hunter Welcome Center.  Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased by e-mailing Cathy Ford at caf04b@acu.edu or calling 325-674-2112.

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STONEY LARUE RETURNS TO THE LUMBERYARD SATURDAY

Stoney LaRue

This Saturday night, March 21, red-dirt icon Stoney LaRue and his band, the Arsenals, will be in town to play on the new large stage at the Lumberyard.  This will be the first show on the new stage, which is on the north wall and will allow people sitting at tables to view the band and at the same time clear the dance floor for dancing. They will follow Mark McKinney and Band, who will kick off the live music at around 8:00pm. LaRue and the Arsenals will follow at about 9:30.

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. 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.” In 2011 he achieved acclaim for his 2011 CD, “Velvet,” and his latest album, “Aviator,” released this past October, has received accolades in Nashville as well as Texas. It climbed to number 17 on the US Country Music Chart and 15 on the Indie Chart. There is also a video of its title song, “Aviator,” which you can view by clicking here, or his ever popular “Oklahoma Breakdown” by clicking here.

For more information, phone the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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PLOWBOY CENTER LODGE ADDS TWO NEW UNITS, LAUNDROMAT

The new units at Plowboy Center Lodge.

The Plowboy Center Lodge at 1006 Broadway has done so well since opening that it is adding two new site-built rooms and a laundromat with three washers and dryers for use by tenants as well as the public.

For availability and prices, contact Max Watt at 575-799-0812.

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RCHS ROBOTICS TEAM BACK FROM ALAMO REGIONAL IN SAN ANTONIO

Roscoe's Robotics Team in San Antonio last week.

Roscoe Collegiate High’s Robotics Team is back from a busy weekend at the Alamo Regional FIRST Robotics Competition in San Antonio.  The competition featured sixty teams from across the United States.

Roscoe was selected to compete in the playoffs for the sixth alliance, who defeated the number three alliance, but then lost to the eventual second-place alliance.

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R-O WATER ONCE AGAIN FLOWING THROUGH CITY LINES

City Water Works on West Broadway.

Since last Wednesday, reverse-osmosis water is once again flowing through the City water lines.  This is a welcome development because residents have been getting unfiltered water since a faulty membrane first caused the shutdown of the reverse-osmosis process before Christmas.  Then, the ice storms caused breakage that compounded the situation and caused further delay in getting the plant back to its normal operation.

The plant is now undergoing a 45-day test period monitored by the TECQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) to see that it is functioning properly.  The manufacturers, Johnson Control,  have an employee on hand to train City workers and will do quarterly routine maintenance on the membrane, the part that caused the problem.

The bottom line is that the problems are fixed and, once again, we’re getting good, clear water.

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EX-PLOWBOY ELMER GRAY’S NAME TO BE ON NEW ACU TRACK STADIUM

Elmer Gray when he was a Plowboy.

They’re tearing down the old Elmer Gray Stadium at Abilene Christian University and replacing it with a new one.  However, the new track and field stadium will also bear the ex-Plowboy’s name.

Elmer Gray, a 1928 graduate of Roscoe High, won state in the mile run at a time when schools were not divided into classes. He went on to run track for Abilene Christian and was a two-time finalist in the half-mile at the NCAA championships in 1931 and 1932 and the first Wildcat ever to compete in the U.S. Olympic trials in 1932.

After college, he went into real estate in Houston, where he made his fortune.  He made a large donation in 1969 for major improvements to the ACU track, and the Board of Trustees voted to name the stadium in his honor.

According to an article in the Abilene Reporter-News that appeared on Sunday, demolition of the old stadium begins today and is scheduled to be complete in time for a meet on Saturday, April 11, when New Mexico, TCU, and Texas Tech will compete with the Wildcats.

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PLOWBOYS, PLOWGIRLS AT COTTONWOOD CREEK RELAYS FRIDAY

After taking the week off for Spring Break last week, the Plowboys’ and Plowgirls’ track and field teams will resume their season on Friday when they compete in the Cottonwood Creek Relays at Roby.The meet begins at 3:00pm.

The Junior High team will compete in Roby on Thursday.  Their meet begins at 3:30pm.

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WEATHER REPORT: NICE WEATHER

Monday's sunset.

It’s been a nice week for the weather with no rain to speak of, but warm days, clear skies, and mild evenings for the most part.  The highs were consistently in the high sixties with only Monday afternoon breaking the pattern when it got up to 78°F.  The lows were around 50° except for Sunday morning’s low of 44°.  Yesterday was cloudy all day, and when the wind shifted to the north around noon and the winds got up, it actually felt cool, especially when compared to the day before.  There was a chance for rain, but it unfortunately never materialized.

Today should continue the pattern with a high of about 66° and a low of 48°.  Tomorrow will be warmer with a high of 76°.  Then tomorrow night brings a 50% chance of rain, which will diminish to 40% on Friday and during the morning on Saturday.  Skies should then clear with highs of around 70° on Sunday and Monday with lows in the forties.

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† MONROE F. RANNEFELD, SR.

Military graveside services were held at 10:00am on Monday at Roscoe Cemetery for Monroe F. Rannefeld, Sr., 93, who passed away on March 13 in Big Spring. He was a resident of Roscoe.

Mr. Rannefeld was born in Roscoe on May 24, 1921. On December 21, 1946, he married Laura Pauline Wilson. A member of the First Salem Lutheran Church in Roscoe, he was also a member of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the VFW.

Survivors include his wife, Pauline Rannefeld of Roscoe; son, Freddy Rannefeld and wife, Noma, of Sweetwater; daughters, Connie Holder and husband, Steve, of Springfield, MO; and Cindy Watts and husband, Speight, of Sweetwater; four grandchildren: Laura Presley, Crystal Rea and her husband, Randall; Dwane Watts and his wife, Angela; and Corey Holder; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arno and Bertha Rannefeld; his brother, Elgin Rannefeld; his sister, Nora McCracken; and his grandson, Michael David LeCroy.

Honorary Pallbearers were Brandon Presley, Brittany Presley, Austin Moreland, Kendall Rea, Leslee Shaw, Erica Jones, Zachary Schultz, Adrianna Schultz and Lauren Wise.

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