Plowboys Down Eldorado 33-27

Vincent Pantoja (30) heads for the Plowboys' first TD against Eldorado.

In a close game at Plowboy Field Friday night, the Plowboys broke into the win column by prevailing over a scrappy Eldorado team 33-27. The victory was important as it gives the team momentum moving into district play next weekend. The Plowboys, who had already shown an effective passing game, also relied on a powerful running game led by Vincent Pantoja, who amassed 203 yards on 26 carries.

Mixing the run and pass, the Plowboys moved quickly down the field on their opening drive, capped off by a four-yard touchdown run by Pantoja to put Roscoe up 7-0. But Eldorado responded with a drive of its own and on a 15-yard TD run tied the game at 7-7, which was also the score at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Brayden Beal hit a wide-open Javier Leaños on a 60-yard pass play that put the Plowboys up 13-7.  Once again, though, the Eagles answered with a scoring drive, ending with a 42-yard run when their back, Ochoa, turned the corner and raced down the left sideline for their second touchdown. Their extra-point attempt failed, and the score was tied again, this time at 13-13. Then the Plowboys put together another drive shortly before the half with Pantoja running into the end zone from one yard out. The extra-point attempt was supposed to be a Huidobro kick, but the holder, Beal, couldn’t set the ball in time, so he jumped up and ran it in for two points, and the Plowboys went into halftime with a 21-13 lead.

Roscoe got the first score of the second half when Beal hit Leaños on a 12-yard touchdown pass. The extra-point kick was no good, and the Plowboys led 27-13. The Eagles kept it close with another touchdown just before the end of the quarter. Their extra-point kick was good, and the score was 27-20.

The Plowboys scored first in the fourth quarter when Beal once again hit a wide open Leaños, this time from 14 yards out. The extra-point kick failed, but the Plowboys had a 13-point lead, 33-20. Then the Eagles put together a drive culminating in an 8-yard scoring pass. The extra-point kick was again good, and the lead was cut to six, 33-27, with between three and four minutes left in the game.

The Eagles, however, never saw the ball again as the Plowboys took the ensuing kickoff and moved the ball down the field, making first downs and in the process eating up the remaining time on the clock. The game effectively ended when Pantoja broke through the line on a fourth down to make a critical first down with just a little over a minute left to play. He could have run it in for a touchdown but purposely slid down on the Eldorado 17-yard line. The Plowboys then did a couple of kneel-downs, and the game was over.

Beal had another good passing night, completing 10 of 18 passes for a total of 144 yards and 3 TDs. The leading receiver was Leaños with 5 receptions for 110 yards and 3 TDs, and Pantoja was the leading rusher with 203 yards on 26 carries and 2 TDs.

The Plowboys have an open date this weekend. Their next game will be their district opener next Friday, October 9, with Miles in Miles.

Click the arrow below for video highlights of the Roscoe-Eldorado game (2:05). Then click bottom right-hand corner for full page view:

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PLOWBOY MUDBOG RVFD FUNDRAISER THIS SATURDAY

The Plowboy Mudbog will not be at the West Texas Wind Festival this year as it has in the past. Instead, it will be this Saturday, October 3, and all proceeds will go to the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department.

Registration for entrants begins at 9:30am Saturday morning at the northwest corner of the baseball field at Second and Sycamore Streets.  The driver entry fee is $30.

Entries will be in four classes:

1.    Street: 35” tires and under
2.    Modified: 36” to 39” with limited engine modification
3.    Super Modified: 36” to 39” with engine vac under 13”
4.    Open: 40” and over.

Since there’s an advantage in going last rather than first, each mud vehicle will make two runs, with the second run in reverse order from the first.

The public gate will open at 11:00am with the mudbog beginning at noon.  Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for kids from 8 to 14.  Children 7 and under are free.  All proceeds will benefit the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department, which will also run the concession booth.

Time permittting, there will also be a Plowboy Mudbog “Dash for Cash,” an entertaining event featuring kids running through knee-deep mud. There are also rumors that country singers Stoney LaRue and Brandon Jenkins, in town for a performance at the Lumberyard Saturday night, may participate in some way.

So, make plans now to attend and contribute to a worthy cause! For more information, see the Plowboy Mudbog Facebook page, or contact Felix Pantoja at 325-514-8384.

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MEEK BLOOD DONATION BUS HERE FRIDAY

The MEEK Community Blood Bank bus will be in front of the Special Events Center at the Roscoe School on Friday from 9:00am to 2:00pm to take blood donations from all healthy volunteers.

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ROSCOE ELEMENTARY “RUN WITH THE WIND” 5K RUN TO BE PART OF WIND FESTIVAL

Runners set out on a previous Fun Run.

In conjunction with Roscoe’s Annual West Texas Wind Festival on Saturday, October 17, Roscoe Elementary School will be hosting a 5K Run and 1 mile Fun Run to raise money for the ABC Fund.

Start times are 10:00am for the Fun Run and 10:30am for the 5K Run. Both will begin at the Roscoe ISD Special Events Center on 7th Street.

Registration fee for the 5K run is $25 for all participants and $15 for the Fun Run (children younger than first grade are free).

Participants may register in person at the Roscoe Elementary School office, online at http://bit.ly/runwiththewind, or at the event between 9:00 and 9:45am. They may also mail their registration forms along with a check to P.O. Box 129, Roscoe, TX 79545.

All participants who register by Wednesday, October 14, will receive a T-Shirt. Prizes will be awarded to the first place male and female finishers. Medals will be given to the top three overall finishers. Showers will be available after the race.

For more information, contact the Roscoe Elementary School office at 325-766-3323.

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“RED DIRT” SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE LUMBERYARD: BRANDON JENKINS AND STONEY LARUE

Stoney LaRue

Another huge crowd is expected at the Lumberyard Saturday as two “Red Dirt” icons, Brandon Jenkins and Stoney LaRue, return to Roscoe. Both were instrumental in developing the “Red Dirt” sound in the late nineties in Stillwater, Oklahoma, along with Cody Canada and Jason Boland.

Brandon Jenkins

Noted country singer/songwriter Brandon Jenkins will take the stage at around 8:00pm. His songs “My Feet Don’t Touch the Ground,” “Why Did We Ever Say Goodbye,” “Down in Flames,” “Finger on the Trigger,” and others have also been sung by other artists and are familiar to lovers of the Red Dirt sound.

He will be followed at about 10:00 by Stoney LaRue and his band, the Arsenals. 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, and his latest album, Aviator, released last 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.

A new album, Us Time, is due for release on October 16, so he may sing a few of his new songs at the show.

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

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WEATHER REPORT: BLOOD MOON AND WINDLESS DAYS

The sunset at Friday evening's football game.

Two unusual events happened this past week. One was the Super Moon which went into a full eclipse Sunday evening and became a “Blood Moon” for a while. People in Roscoe missed a clear view of the eclipse’s very beginning because of some high clouds but got a perfect view afterwards. It was quite a sight to see, and I couldn’t help but think about what kinds of alarm it must have raised in the old days to people who had no idea what was going on.

Almost as unusual as the moon’s changing appearance was the almost total, and at times total, lack of wind we had a couple of days here in the “Wind Capital of the World.” At the football game Friday evening, the flag at the south end of the field hung completely limp the entire game. In fact, all day Friday was almost completely devoid of any breezes, as was Sunday and yesterday morning. Today the forecast is for more near calm until tonight when winds from the southeast will pick up to 5-10 mph.

There was no rain again this past week as the weather was once again similar to the weeks before. There was a trace of precipitation on Saturday but it wasn’t even enough to get the sidewalks wet. Afternoon temperatures were in the upper eighties all week with highs of 89°F on Friday and Saturday and 87° or 88° otherwise. Lows were in the mid-sixties.

The forecast is for more of the same until Sunday when a mild front moves through and drops the afternoon high to about 82° and the morning low to about 62°. There is a 20% chance of rain through the weekend with partly or mostly cloudy skies. The long range forecast is for a 40% chance of rain next Wednesday.

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Roscoe Alumni Enjoy Homecoming 2015

The Pep Rally in the old gym on Friday afternoon.

RHS exes came from far and wide this past weekend to attend this year’s homecoming festivities, and lots of community and school spirit were evident as the weekend progressed.

A bonfire and fireworks show on Thursday evening kicked off the celebration with cheerleaders, the flag team, the Plowboy Band, and the football team on hand. Then on Friday, the Exes’ Reception in the Special Events Center allowed exes to renew old acquaintances before attending a boisterous pep rally in the old gym. A baked potato supper in the Cafetorium then preceded the football game at Plowboy Field. There was also a Meet and Greet for all the ex-Plowboy Cheerleaders before the game.

Homecoming Court was held at halftime of the football game. Ashley Lara was crowned Football Sweetheart and her Beau was Isaiah Gonzales. The Band Sweetheart and Beau were Jovanah Guzman and Javier Armenta.

During and following the football game, exes enjoyed conversations and coffee in the Special Events Concession Room.

Saturday morning began with coffee and donuts at the Community Center followed by the Homecoming Parade, which featured the Plowboy Band, several floats, kids on bicycles, and vehicles of all varieties, including fire trucks. Following the parade, everyone converged at the Cafetorium for a Mexican pile-on dinner, conversations with old acquaintances, a slide show of Roscoe’s school history, and the singing of ex-Plowboy cheerleader, Anna Mae (Smith) Peptis, who entertained the crowd with her beautiful voice.

Tours of the new STEM Research Center were also available for everyone from 11:00 to 2:30, and at 3:00 ex-Boys Club members gathered in Memorial Park downtown to dedicate the monument to George Parks and to tell tales of their experiences in the Boys Club.

On Saturday evening there were class parties, the biggest being the fiftieth anniversary gathering for the Class of 1965.

In short, an enjoyable time was had by all, and the Homecoming Committee, led by Max Watt, deserves our thanks for organizing and putting on such a successful event.

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JIM NED’S STRONG FINISH DOOMS PLOWBOYS 47-36

Brayden Beal (3) throws a touchdown pass in the first quarter.

Jim Ned put a damper on Roscoe’s Homecoming festivities Friday night at Plowboy Field with a hard-fought victory over the Plowboys. The game was an exciting one with plenty of offense and several lead changes. In fact, the Plowboys had a ten-point lead at one point in the third quarter, but they were unable to hold on as Jim Ned prevailed in the fourth to come away with a 47-36 win.

The Plowboys got off to a horrible start as the Indians received the opening kickoff and quickly moved down the field for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Then after the ensuing kickoff, on the Plowboys’ second play from scrimmage, a defender intercepted a Brayden Beal pass and ran it back 40 yards for a second TD to put Jim Ned up 13-0. The Plowboys, however, blocked the extra-point kick and ran it back the length of the field to get on the scoreboard and narrow the score to 13-2.

Then, on the next drive, Beal hit Kevin Lavalais with a 21-yard touchdown pass, and the Plowboys were back in the game, trailing only 13-8. Jim Ned answered with another score but failed on a two-point conversion attempt and led 19-8. The Plowboys then responded with another successful drive that ended with a 3-yard Brayden Beal run into the end zone. The extra-point attempt was good, and the Plowboys now trailed by only four, 19-15, which closed out the scoring for the first quarter.

The Plowboys were on a roll and made two more touchdowns in the second quarter, the first a 70-yard pass play from Beal to Javier Leaños and the second a 3-yard Vincent Pantoja run. With the successful extra-point kicks, the Plowboys now led 29-19. Jim Ned came back with another touchdown, though, and at halftime the Plowboys led 29-26.

The Plowboys opened the third quarter scoring when Beal hit Lavalais with a 7-yard TD pass. Pablo Huidobro kicked the extra point, and Roscoe led once again by ten, this time 36-26. Before the quarter’s end, though, Jim Ned drove for another touchdown to narrow the score to 36-33.

The Indians scored again in the fourth on a 3-yard run to go up 40-36. However, the Plowboys had one final drive late in the game, which unfortunately ended when the ball went over on downs in the red zone.  That pretty well sealed the victory for the Indians, but they scored another TD shortly before time ran out to win by eleven, 47-36.

Brayden Beal completed 23 of 36 passes for 288 yards and 3 TDs with 3 interceptions. Javier Leaños led the receivers with 3 receptions for 98 yards and 1 TD; Jose Ortega had 9 catches for 71 yards; Kevin Lavalais 5 for 71 yards and 2 TDs; and Rafael Aguayo 6 for 48.

Vincent Pantoja rushed for 50 yards on 15 carries, while Aguayo had 34 on two carries. The Plowboys had 20 first downs for the game while Jim Ned had 17. Roscoe also led in total yards with 366 to Jim Ned’s 349, but the Plowboys had 3 turnovers while Jim Ned had none.

On Friday the Plowboys play their final non-district opponent, Eldorado, here at Plowboy Field. The Eagles, also a 2A-II team, are currently 2-2 on the year with victories over Winters and Nueces Canyon and losses to Reagan County and TLCA of San Angelo.

Kickoff is at 7:30pm.

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ROSCOE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S FALL FESTIVAL THIS FRIDAY

A contestant throws rings on bottles at last year's Fall Festival.

Roscoe PATHS is hosting its annual Fall Festival this Friday, September 25, from 5:00-7:00pm, and everyone is invited to participate. All funds raised will benefit the Roscoe Elementary School.

Several activities and games are planned, including a cake walk, bingo games, a bounce house, ice cream table, hot dog booth, toilet paper throw, and others.

Make plans now to attend before going to the high school varsity football game at Plowboy Field.

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EX-PLOWBOY CADEN SMITH INTERVIEWED BY MEDIA BEFORE A&M-ARKANSAS GAME

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin chose ex-Plowboy Caden Smith, now an Aggie, to face the media before this week’s A&M-Arkansas game on Saturday. Smith is a tight end and H-back (blocking back) for the Aggies. His number is 47, and the game will be televised starting at 6:00pm on ESPN.

You can view the interview by clicking this link: https://pmtexags-a.akamaihd.net/video/0060164-fnfl-10.mp4

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CITY COUNCIL APPROVES 2015-16 CITY BUDGET, YOUNG FARM ESTATES IMPROVEMENTS

Cody Thompson discusses the City budget at yesterday's City Council meeting.

At a special called meeting at City Hall yesterday evening the Roscoe City Council approved the proposed City budget for 2015-16. The proposed budget for the coming year is very similar to last year’s. The slight increase in revenue from property tax will be offset primarily by increased expenditures for the Police Department along with other miscellaneous expenses.

Young Farm Estates asked for and received conditional approval for manholes, water meter boxes, and fire hydrants raised or lowered to curb or natural lot height.  Water and sewer line improvements and street improvements are to be guaranteed for twelve months from the acceptance date.

City Manager Cody Thompson also informed the Council that the City of Roscoe’s water system is now officially in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act regulations and has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

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ROSCOE POLICE MAKE ANOTHER BIG METH BUST ON I-20

Roscoe Police made their largest methamphetamine bust ever last week.

On Wednesday, September 16, at approximately 9am, Sgt. Steven Spencer initiated a traffic stop at mile-marker 234 of I-20. While questioning the driver, a man from Riverside, California, he noticed indications of criminal activity, whereupon he requested and received consent to search the vehicle. He immediately located items justifying a “probable cause” search.  He then notified two other officers in the area for backup, and after their arrival the trio located a natural compartment area within the vehicle filled with a large amount of what officers quickly determined to be methamphetamine.

The driver was taken into custody and the vehicle removed from the roadway for safety reasons.  The units then met with Chief Felix Pantoja at the Roscoe Police Department, where a more thorough search and investigation was launched. At its conclusion, the California man was charged with felony delivery of enhanced methamphetamine and booked into Nolan County Jail that evening.

Sgt. Spencer will file the case with the District Attorney’s office. Federal prosecutors will review the case for possible federal charges due to evidence obtained in the investigation.

The undisclosed amount of methamphetamine recovered is the largest in the history of the Roscoe Police Department as it continues to play its role in the national drug war and against traffickers moving through Nolan County.

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PLOWBOYS, PLOWGIRLS COMPETE AT LUBBOCK CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL

Plowgirl Lyndi Wilkinson finished second among Big Country 2A runners at the Lubbock Invitational Cross Country Track Meet Saturday, and Braiden Moore finished second among Big Country 2A boys.

Wilkinson’s time for the girls’ two-mile course was 13:49.7, second among Big Country runners only to Krystin Lackey of Anson. Alejandra Solis was fourth with a time of 14:08.4. Karina Cisneros finished in 14:58.5, Bonnie Wilkinson in 15:24.3, Lynzie Atkinson in 15:50.9, and Jonana Peña in 15.59.9.

Moore’s time of 19.17.9 in the boys’ 5000 meter run was second among Big Country 2A contestants only to Phoenix Pineda of Anson. Alfonzo Islas finished in 20:55.9, and Camden Boren in 27:18.1.

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HUGE CROWD EXPECTED FOR RANDY ROGERS BAND AT LUMBERYARD FRIDAY NIGHT

The Randy Rogers Band

Another large crowd is expected in Roscoe Friday night when the Texas Country singer Randy Rogers and his band return to the Lumberyard. The group is making up for a cancelled June date that came right after the death of Rogers’ daughter.

Four of the band’s previous five albums have made it into the top ten on the US country charts, and their most recent, Homemade Tamales (2014), reached number 11.

The band got its start in San Marcos and recorded its first album in 2002.  Since then, they have produced Rollercoaster (2004), Just a Matter of Time (2006), Randy Rogers Band (2008), Burning the Day (2010), and Trouble (2013), along with two other live albums in addition to Homemade Tamales (2014). Rogers’ most recent venture, Hold My Beer, Volume 1, is a joint project with Wade Bowen.

The band’s top singles include “Too Late for Goodbye,” “In My Arms Instead,” “One More Sad Song,” “Kiss Me in the Dark,” “One More Goodbye,” and “Satellite.”

Prophets & Outlaws

Opening for Randy Rogers is Prophets & Outlaws, a Southern Rock band with soul. The band, which has built up a following throughout Texas and Oklahoma, has a passion for the blues while embracing their country roots. They will begin around 8:00pm with the Randy Rogers Band taking the stage at about 10:00.

For reservations or more information, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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WEATHER REPORT: STILL HOT AND DRY

This past week was still technically summer, and the weather reflected it with summerlike temperatures. Before a cool front moved in Friday night, highs were in the mid-nineties and lows in the mid-seventies with the high coming on Friday at 97°. The chances for rain with the front never materialized, so it was also another dry week. Temperatures did drop on Saturday and Sunday with afternoon highs of 84° and 81° respectively and morning lows of 66° and 70°. However, highs were back up to the low nineties Monday and yesterday.

Today is officially the first day of fall, and temperatures for the next week will be a little cooler but not by much. Highs will be in the upper eighties and lows in the mid to upper sixties, but even that is an improvement over what we’ve been getting. Skies will be clear or partly cloudy and winds will continue to be from the south.

There is no rain in the forecast.

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Roscoe High Exes in Town for Homecoming This Weekend

The old high school building, home of RHS from 1938 to 2010.

Roscoe High and Roscoe Collegiate High School alumni will come from far and wide this weekend to renew acquaintances and friendships with old classmates they once knew well and saw on a daily basis. There will be plenty of things to see and do as they do so: a bonfire, a football game, tours of the new STEM Research Center, a memorial dedication to George Parks, coffees, lunches, door prizes, a downtown parade, an exes’ guys & gals basketball game, and live music from exes’ bands.  There will also be several class reunion parties at various locales.

Here is the final schedule:

Thursday:
7:00 Bonfire, tailgating, north of RR tracks, cheerleaders, band, concession, glow items
7:30 or sundown, actual burning

Plowboy football at last year's Homecoming.

Friday:
1:30 Reception, registration, tour of school at Special Events entrance
2:50 Pep Rally-- "Old" gym
4-7:00 Potato Bake-- cafetorium (support for Girls Athletics)
6:30 Ex Cheerleaders Meet and Greet--Special Events Concession Room (enter thru gate and around the corner)
7:30 Football Game, registration, scholarship jar, & lunch tickets sold at discounted price at the gate
Halftime --- Reception for Exes -- Special Events Concession Room (beside the outside concession) --lunch tickets available at discounted price
After the Game--The Lumberyard, meet for fellowship

Saturday:
9:00 Coffee and Donuts--Community Center on Broadway, Reception & Registration, Scholarship Jar--til 9:45 Lunch Tickets available at discounted price
9:45-10:45am Roscoe Historical Museum open
10:00 Parade beginning at Broadway and Hiway 608, then west on Broadway to Oak, then Oak to High School. All entries WELCOME even at the last minute!! Just join in for fun!!
THEME: PURPLE POWER!
11:00 EVERYONE meet at cafetorium for door prizes, tours, presentation, Roscoe History slide show, and visit the Decade Theme Classrooms--meet your classmates there for pictures!
11:00-2:30 STEM Academy Tours--sign up at cafetorium and take the tour!
11:30-1:30 Lunch--cafetorium (support for Homecoming Committee Expenses)
2:30-5 Boy's Club Reunion--The Lumberyard

There will be tours of the new STEM Research Center on September 19 from 11am-2:30pm during Homecoming.

In short, there should be plenty to do for everyone this weekend.  We hope you can make it and look forward to seeing you there.

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JUNCTION DOWNS PLOWBOYS 53-13

The Plowboys played their third strong opponent in a row Friday evening, this time falling to Junction 56-13 in a game played at Grape Creek. 

The Eagles scored the game’s first three touchdowns, two in first quarter and one in the second, to go up 21-0.  The Plowboys fought back, though, scoring two of their own in the second quarter to narrow the score to 21-13. Their first TD was a one-yard run by Vincent Pantoja, and the second a 60-yard pass play from Brayden Beal to Kevin Lavalais. However, Junction followed with another touchdown and at halftime led the Plowboys 28-13.

The second half was all Junction as they made two touchdowns in the third quarter and two more in the fourth while holding the Plowboys scoreless to win 53-13.

One bright spot for Roscoe in the game was the offense, which made 13 first downs and amassed 297 total yards, 234 passing and 63 rushing.  Brayden Beal completed 14 of 31 passes with 1 TD and 3 interceptions. Kevin Lavalais was the top receiver with 8 catches for 154 yards and one TD, while Javier Leanos had 2 receptions for 39 yards and Jose Ortega 3 for 27. Vincent Pantoja led the Plowboys in rushing with 48 yards in 19 carries, and Francisco Garcia had 6 yards in 5 carries.

On defense, Austin Willman had 7 tackles and 4 assists, Rafael Aguayo 5 tackles, 2 of them for losses, and 5 assists, and Max Nemir 5 tackles and two assists. 

When football schedules are made, coaches only know what they’re getting into based on past results. So, for example, if they schedule a contest with Stamford or Albany, they can assume their players will have to be at the top of their game to have a chance to win, because Stamford and Albany have a history of strong football teams. On the other hand, they can also figure that schools that have been weak in the past are likely to stay that way, especially those teetering on the brink of falling to six-man. 

But sometimes there’s no way of knowing what other teams are going to be like when the games are scheduled, and that’s the way it’s been for the Plowboys this year. A pre-season look at the schedule showed the non-district games to be challenging, but not formidable.  Hawley, traditionally average at best, got a new coach a couple of years ago, beefed up its program, and with a young, talented quarterback are much stronger this year than anyone might have expected. Hamlin has typically been a strong program, so their strength again this year was no surprise even though their team was senior-heavy last year. But Junction, whom the Plowboys beat 14-6 last year, returned ten starters on offense and eight on defense and have won big over all their opponents this year, not just the Plowboys. 

The same is apparently true of this week’s opponent, Jim Ned. Last year, they were the patsies of District 3-3A-I and had to come from behind to beat the Plowboys 18-17.  They seem to have improved dramatically this year, however. They have a new coach, and this past week they beat a good, up-to-then undefeated 2A-I Anson team 36-14. So, once again the Plowboys are facing a tough opponent and need to play their best to come away with a Homecoming victory. But as ESPN announcer Chris Berman always loves to say, “That’s why they play the game!” Go, Plowboys!

Kickoff is at 7:30pm.

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GEORGE PARKS MEMORIAL DEDICATION 3:00pm SATURDAY

The monument to honor George Parks and his half-century of good works with the boys of Roscoe will receive its formal dedication on Saturday in Memorial Park at 3:00pm. The ceremony will be followed by a Boys Club reunion in the Lumberyard.

All former Boys Club members are urged to attend and reminisce about the days when they were growing up, engaging in Boys Club activities, and living a life that was much simpler.

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WEATHER REPORT: SUNNY, HOT, DRY

Our big chance for rain last Wednesday never materialized, and once again the weather remained the same as it has been for weeks—sunny, partly cloudy skies, highs in the low to mid nineties (with the exception of Saturday’s high of 86°F) and lows in the upper sixties (with the exception of yesterday morning’s 61°.

There’s another good chance of rain this weekend. It begins Friday night when a cool front moves through, bringing with it a 40% chance of rain. This increases on Saturday to 50% during the day and then back to 40% that night. We’ll just have to wait and see if the rain affects the outdoor activities planned for that day.

Saturday’s high is projected to be only 81° after 93° the day before, and Sunday should also be mild with a high of 82°.  It appears that Fall weather may be just around the corner.

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City Council Approves Property Tax, Board Budgets for Coming Year

The City Council and City Manager Cody Thompson discuss taxes and budget at yesterday's meeting.

At the second public hearing and monthly meeting of the City Council at City Hall yesterday evening, the City Council approved the proposed property tax rate for the coming fiscal year and set the budget for the City’s Type A and Type Boards. It also tabled the approval of budget amendments for the current fiscal year until after its next budget meeting on September 22 as one amendment is still not settled.

The City’s property tax rate for this year and next is $0.80118 on each $100.00 valuation of property, of which $0.630826 on each $100 valuation goes to the general fund and the remaining $0.170354 per $100 valuation goes to debt service. In other words, individual City tax assessments will be the same as last year unless there was a re-assessment of a property through improvements or new construction.

The Council also set the budget for the Type A and Type B Boards for the coming fiscal year. The Type A Board (business re/investment and business investment reserve) is set at $25,000, and the Type B Board (festivals, advertising/promotion, improvements, etc.) is set at $50,000. Funding for the two Boards comes from income from the City sales tax. The remainder of sales tax funding goes into the general fund to help pay the City’s expenses without having to raise the property tax.

In his monthly update, City Manager Cody Thompson informed the Council that the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department will be flushing all the fire hydrants in the City during the last two weeks of this month to verify their proper operation. So, if you see water in the streets during that period, don’t assume a leak, and if the City water coming from your faucet is a little red, that’s probably the reason.

In other matters, the Council approved a fireworks permit for the West Texas Wind Festival as well as the closing of Broadway from Main to Bois d’Arc Streets and Main to Front Streets for the same event. The Council also accepted Young Farm improvements and approved the September/October City newsletter.

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PLOWBOYS FALL TO HAMLIN 35-21

The Plowboys dropped their second game of the season Friday night, this one to the Pied Pipers in Hamlin. The Pipers are essentially a young, inexperienced team, but their coach was very pleased with their improvement, especially on defense, over their loss to Anson in the first game.  The game’s outcome was in doubt until the final touchdown, however, as the Plowboys matched the Pipers in scoring for most of the game.

The first quarter was a scoring extravaganza as the two teams alternated touchdowns for the entire quarter. Hamlin got on the boards first on a 36-yard TD pass and extra-point kick to go up 7-0, but the Plowboys responded with a scoring drive ending with a 2-yard Brayden Beal pass to Javier Leanos and  point after to tie the game 7-7. Hamlin came right back with another score on an 8-yard run to go up 14-7, but the Plowboys once again answered, this time on a Beal to Leanos 20-yard touchdown pass. The kick was good and the score was 14-14. Hamlin then pulled into a 21-14 lead on a 2-yard run to close out the scoring in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Pipers scored once again on a 62-yard pass and run, increasing their lead to 27-14 after the extra-point attempt failed. The Plowboys closed out the first-half scoring when Beal connected with Jose Ortega from the 7 to make it a 6-point game, 27-21.

The second half was just as much about defense as the first half was about offense. Hamlin scored in the third quarter on a 7-yard run followed by a 2-point conversion to go up 35-21. That turned out to be the only scoring for the entire half as the Pipers were shut out in the fourth quarter, and the Plowboys failed to score in either quarter.

                            Roscoe      Hamlin

   First Downs       18           19   
Total Yards       304          346
   Passing          165          208
   Rushing         139          138
Fumbles Lost      0             1

Beal passed for 21 completions of 45 attempts with 3 TDs and 2 interceptions, while Hamlin’s Wagner went 14 of 19 with 2 TDs and 1 interception. Francisco Garcia was the Plowboys’ leading rusher with 91 yards on 14 carries, while Leanos had 23 yards on 1 carry, Beal had 17 on 12 attempts, and Ryland Madrid had 6 on 4 attempts. Leading receivers for the Plowboys were Ortega with 8 catches for 81 yards, Leanos 5 for 48, and Kevin Lavalais 6 for 28. Erick Huidobro kicked 2 extra points, and Pablo Huidobro 1.

On defense Rafael Aguayo had 6 tackles; Garcia, Lavalais, and Max Nemir 5; and Leanos 4. Isaias Aguilar had two tackles for losses and a fumble recovery, and Nemir intercepted a pass.

This Friday the Plowboys travel to Grape Creek for another tough game, this one with the 2A-I Junction Eagles, who are undefeated after knocking off Ingram Moore 62-21 and Grape Creek 41-14. An experienced team, they return 10 starters on offense and 8 on defense. In last year’s matchup in San Angelo, however, the Plowboys won 14-6.

Kickoff is at 7:30pm.

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ROSCOE LIONS CLUB HOLDS ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

Vershel Smith addresses Roscoe Lions at last week's meeting in the Community Center.

About twenty charter members of the new Roscoe Lions Club were on hand for the luncheon and meeting held in the Roscoe Community Center last Wednesday. Vershel Smith of the Sweetwater Lions Club explained what needs to be done to get the club organized and running, and Chris Hartman was elected Secretary/Treasurer of the new club. The nomination and election of the President will wait until the next meeting, which will be at noon on Wednesday, September 23, at the Community Center. Thereafter, meetings will be at noon on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.

All who are interested in seeing the Lions Club once again being a positive force in Roscoe are urged to become members, both men and women. For more information, contact Chris Hartman at 325-370-4931.

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PLOWBOY MUDBOG RVFD FUNDRAISER SET FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

 The Plowboy Mudbog will not be at the West Texas Wind Festival this year as it has in the past. Instead, it will be on Saturday, October 3, and all proceeds will go to the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department.

Details will follow later, but classes, entry fees, price of admission, etc. will be the same as those in the past, including the one on July 4 of this year. As usual, the mudbog will be at the baseball field on Second and Sycamore Streets, gates will open to the public at 11am, and the event will begin at noon.

So, make plans now to attend and contribute to a worthy cause!

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ROSCOE HARD TIMES BLOG MARKS FIFTH YEAR OF PUBLICATION
Today, September 9, marks the fifth anniversary of my first posting of the Roscoe Hard Times. My opening remarks introducing the blog were on September 9, 2010, and my first reporting of Roscoe news was on the following day when I gave an account of the Plowboys’ football game with Stamford at Mustang Bowl in Sweetwater.

At that time, I posted news as soon as I got it, but by December of that year had figured out that it was much easier on me and on the readers to publish it weekly. I’ve been posting it on Wednesdays ever since, minus two or three times every year when I’m off on vacation or occasionally when I have visiting family in town.

Over time the readership has steadily grown, and with the help of Google Analytics, a free service provided by Google, I’m able to see how many readers the blog has and where they are located.  So, for example, the Hard Times had 345 hits, or visits, this past week, which is pretty normal, although sometimes when something big happens, it will register over 450.  As you might expect, about half of these come on Wednesdays with the rest scattered out pretty evenly over the rest of the week.

As I said this time last year, when I started the blog, I had no idea about how long I’d keep it up—and I still don’t.  I guess I’ll just continue for as long as I consider the reward greater than the effort.  It’s my way of giving back to the community in a way that keeps me busy and mentally active, so I’m happy to do it.

Anyway, thanks to all you readers who regularly check the Hard Times to find out what’s going on in Roscoe.  You make me feel useful and keep me on my toes.

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MIKE RYAN AT LUMBERYARD SATURDAY NIGHT

Country singer/songwriter Mike Ryan and band will make their debut performance at the Lumberyard Saturday night. Ryan, who is originally from San Antonio, currently does his recording in Nashville and performs at venues in various states. On Saturday, he will be coming off a show with Travis Tritt in Louisiana, and next week he’ll be in one in Arkansas with Josh Abbott.

To date, Ryan has three albums: The First One (2010), Night Comes Falling (2012), and Bad Reputation (2014). Top singles include “Dancin’ All Around It,” “Only All the Time,” “Dancin’ with an Angel,” and his latest release, “Girls I Date.”

He will take the stage around 9:00pm. For reservations and more information, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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WEATHER REPORT: HOT AND DRY (AGAIN)

The weather over this past week is almost a carbon copy of the week before, hot and dry, sunny or partly cloudy skies, southerly and southeasterly winds, and highs in the mid to upper nineties with lows in the low to mid seventies, i.e., typical late summer weather for west Texas. The highs for the week were on Monday and yesterday afternoons when temperatures rose to 97°F. The lows were on last Wednesday and Thursday mornings when they dropped to 70°. There was not even a hint of rain.

That all should change starting today, when a mild cool front blows through. In fact, we’re given a 50% chance of rain today, which will diminish to 20% to 30% tonight. The high today will be only about 86° and the low tomorrow morning around 70°. The high temperature through the weekend should be tomorrow when it is predicted to be about 90° with other days in the eighties and with lows in the mid to upper sixties. Saturday’s high is forecast to be only 82° with a low of 64°.

In any case, it’s nice to know we’ll be having cooler weather and the chance of some needed rain. Maybe the long, hot summer has just about run its course and fall is just around the corner.

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Plowboys Fall to Hawley in Opener, 40-20

The 2015 Plowboys varsity football team and cheerleaders.

A disastrous third quarter did the Plowboys in at Plowboy Field Friday night against a much larger Hawley team. Both teams went through a hard-fought first half, but the Bearcats scored three touchdowns, two of them long ones, to Roscoe’s one in the third quarter to break the game open.

The Plowboys and Bearcats fought to a standoff in the first quarter with neither team scoring. Hawley made it inside the Plowboy 20 twice but was stopped both times. Then in the second quarter the Plowboys stopped another Hawley drive with an interception at the Roscoe 15. Hawley made its first touchdown with 3:35 left in the first half when Quay Stokes hit Colton Stoker with a pass from the 17. The extra point was good, and the Bearcats went up 7-0.

However, the Plowboys responded quickly with a drive of their own, moving to the Hawley 25, where Brayden Beal completed a touchdown pass to Jose Ortega. The extra point was good, and the game was tied 7-7. Hawley then scored another TD with less than a minute to go before the half on a 21-yard pass play and went up 14-7, the score at halftime.

The third quarter opened badly for the Plowboys as Hawley’s Stoker returned the kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to put the Bearcats up 21-7. However, the Plowboys put together a long drive culminating in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Beal to Kevin Lavalais. The extra point was no good, and the score was 21-13. Hawley’s second TD of the quarter came on a blocked punt and return of 48 yards, putting them up 27-13. Their third came when Stoker made his third TD of the game on a 28-yard pass play from Stokes, making the score 33-13.

In the fourth quarter, Stokes threw his fourth touchdown pass from the 10, but the Plowboys put together another long drive with Beal hitting Javier Leanos on a 25-yard pass play for a touchdown to close out the scoring.

Despite the loss, there was much to be optimistic about in the Plowboys performance against a much larger team that eventually wore them down and a quarterback, Quay Stokes, who was last year’s Abilene Reporter-News “Big Country Newcomer of the Year.” Brayden Beal and his receivers showed a lot of promise by completing 28 of 35 passes for 263 yards and three TDs. Ryland Madrid rushed for 35 yards on 8 carries, and Rafael Aguayo broke a run for 21 yards. Three receivers had big nights. Both Lavalais and Leanos had 6 catches for 72 yards and 1 TD, while Ortega had 4 catches for 62 yards and 1 TD.  On defense, Leanos led the Plowboys with 9 tackles, while Lavalais had 6 and Aguayo 5.

The Plowboys next meet Hamlin in Hamlin Friday evening. The Pied Pipers went 12-1 last year, their only loss coming to Albany 49-35 in the state quarterfinals. That was a senior-heavy team, though, and no one really knows what to expect from them this year.  They lost their opener to Anson 32-14 in Anson last week, but they have a good coach, Russell Lucas, and a strong program that has taken them to the playoffs six times since 2008. Moreover, their JV team went 9-1 last year and they’re playing at home, so the Plowboys can’t take them lightly. It should be a great game. Kickoff is at 7:30pm.

The JV Plowboys will play Hamlin’s JV at Plowboy Field tomorrow evening starting at 6:00pm.

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ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOR ROSCOE LIONS CLUB TODAY AT NOON

Reviving the Roscoe Lions Club is the purpose of a meeting to be held today in the Roscoe Community Center at noon. Lunch will be provided, and everyone, both men and women, are invited to attend.

The organizers, Vershel Smith and attorney Chris Hartman, feel that the city will benefit from a  civic organization that promotes the principles of good government and citizenship and takes an active interest in the civic, cultural, social, and moral welfare of the community.

With a critical mass of new members, the Lions Club can be a force in promoting the interests of the city as it was for 86 years in Roscoe before dissolving some time back. It will also connect to other Lions Clubs worldwide by renewing its membership in Lions Club International.

All who are interested in seeing the Lions Club once again being a positive force in Roscoe are urged to attend. For more information, contact Chris Hartman at 325-370-4931.

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CITY COUNCIL PROPOSES NO CHANGE IN 2016 CITY TAX RATE

At a public hearing and budget meeting of the Roscoe City Council yesterday evening, the Council proposed keeping the tax rate for FY 2016 (starting in October) the same as it was in 2015, i.e., individual tax assessments will be the same as last year unless there was a re-assessment of a property through improvements or new construction.

For the entire city, there has been a $3,000,000 increase in total property value because of new construction and other improvements, so even if the rate remains the same, the City will receive an increase in tax revenues.

Final approval of the Council’s proposal will come next Tuesday at the second public hearing and City Council monthly meeting starting at 7:00pm.

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DEDICATION TO GEORGE PARKS MONUMENT ON HOMECOMING SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

The monument to George Parks, paid for by donations of former members of the Roscoe Boys Club and Boy Scout Troop 37, has been in Memorial Park for a couple of years now, but there has never been a formal dedication, and it has been decided that Saturday, September 17, will be a good time to have the ceremony.

As far as I know, the exact time has not yet been set, but the Boys Club Reunion is scheduled for 2:30-5:00pm at the Lumberyard, so it will fall within that time frame—more on that later. Mayor Pete Porter, himself a former Boys Club member and Times Office employee, will make the formal dedication, and a short program is planned in which former members may briefly speak of their memories of George and the Boys Club, followed by the reunion in the Lumberyard.

All former members are urged to attend.

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ROSCOE MAN SENTENCED TO 33 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Gerald Allen Williams, 55, of Roscoe received a sentence of 33 months in federal prison and has been ordered to pay $410,000 in restitution to Chevron Pipe Line Company.

In April, Williams pled guilty in the U. S. District Court in Lubbock to a fraudulent invoicing scheme with E.D. Walton Construction Co. of Snyder in which he approved fictitious invoices to EDW for payment. EDW then paid him in cash for the amount on the invoices, which falsely showed that EDW had completed various construction and maintenance projects for Chevron. EDW was not charged because they kept no money from the payments.

U. S. District Judge Sam Cummings ordered Williams to begin serving his term on September 25.

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WEATHER REPORT: DOG DAYS OF AUGUST

August clouds over Roscoe.

The Roscoe area had typical August weather again last week with mostly sunny or partly cloudy skies, southerly winds, and highs in the nineties with lows in the high sixties or low seventies. We got a sprinkle last Wednesday, but it was not enough to measure. The high for the week was 99°F on Friday, and the low was 68° on Sunday morning. On Saturday, the skies were cloudy all day, which cooled down things somewhat. The high that afternoon was only 85°, and the evening was downright pleasant for Aaron Watson, Cory Morrow, and a crowd estimated at 2000 at the Lumberyard.

The forecast for today and the coming week is remarkably consistent. Highs are predicted to be 92° or 93° with lows from 68° to 71°. There is little to no chance of rain. I’ll be glad when it starts seriously cooling off, but it appears that won’t be anytime soon.

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