Big Rains Drench Area

Water filled the streets and my back yard on Thursday afternoon.

The Roscoe area had had no significant rainfall since early July, but that all changed last Thursday when the clouds rolled in and, starting about 6am, dropped a deluge that lasted all morning and into the early afternoon. Sometimes the rain fell hard and sometimes it dropped off to a light shower, but it never let up until after 1pm. By that time my rain gauge had recorded 5.08”. Then on Friday, it rained again on three different occasions totaling .94” in my rain gauge, making a grand total of 6.02” for the two days.

Others I talked to had amounts in that range. The official rainfall for Roscoe for the two days was 5.69”. At Pyron, northwest of town, it was 4¾ inches, and west of town got about the same. The most I heard of was 8 inches south of Champion. Champion got about six, and Allen Richburg, southwest of town, got a little over six. Avenger Field, west of Sweetwater, got 3.93”, Sweetwater had 3.55” and Abilene 4.41”.

I was surprised at how quickly the five inches of rainfall soaked into the ground on Thursday. Of course the ground was pretty dry with big cracks in it, but it wasn’t really until Friday that we got all the standing water that we still have. The dry lakes around town are all full, and a lot of open cotton has been damaged by the continued wetness—although the prospects for a good winter wheat crop have naturally taken a turn for the better, and ranchers are happy.

The rains and a cold front that immediately followed dropped the temperatures, and for the first time in what has been a very mild fall, we’ve had some seriously cool weather with highs in the sixties and lows as low as Monday morning’s 43°F. I had to turn on my heat for the first time this fall when I got up on Sunday morning and it was 44° outside. By yesterday, it had warmed up again to a high of 81° and a low of 53° this morning. A dry cold front moves through today, so the forecast highs for today and tomorrow are 72° and 77° respectively.

Although farmers with cotton still in the fields could use some drying out time, forecasters are predicting more possible rain starting tomorrow night when the chances for precipitation are at 50%, increasing on Friday to 60%. They will then decrease to 20% on Saturday, so the trick-or-treaters out on Saturday night most likely won’t need to worry about getting wet.

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ROSCOE ROLLS OVER ROBY 55-0, MENARD NEXT FOR DISTRICT TITLE

It was no contest Friday night as the Plowboys easily defeated an overmatched Roby team 55-0. The victory, which puts them at 3-0 in district play, sets them up for a big game this week when they play the Menard Yellow Jackets, who are also 3-0 in district.

The Roby game was essentially over by the end of the first quarter, by which time the Plowboys had a 35-0 lead over the Lions. Vincent Pantoja scored the first TD on a 23-yard run to put the Plowboys up 7-0. Jose Ortega scored next on an 11-yard run, and a short time later Brayden Beal scored on a 60-yard dash to paydirt to put Roscoe up 21-0. Beal then hit Kevin Lavalais on an 8-yard pass to make the score 28-0, and then Ortega returned a Roby punt 50 yards to make it 35-0.

The Plowboys made two more touchdowns in the second quarter, the first on a 30-yard pass play from Beal to Lavalais, and the second a 4-yard run by Rafael Aguayo. The score at halftime was 48-0.

The Plowboys began substituting in the second quarter, and the JV players played the entire second half when the Plowboys continued to shut out the Lions while scoring one more touchdown on a 20-yard run by Diego Garza.

For the evening, the Plowboys amassed 240 yards rushing and 64 passing. Beal completed 4 of 5 passes for 64 yards and 2 TDs, all of them to Lavalais. Beal was also the leading rusher with 71 yards on 3 carries and 1 TD, followed by Francisco Garcia with 53 yards on 12 carries, and Vincent Pantoja with 34 yards on 4 carries and 1 TD. Erick Huidobro was successful on 6 of 7 extra-point kicks.

Top defensive players were Aguayo, Austin Willman, and Francisco Garcia, all with 3 tackles each. Javier Leaños and Roady Mann had 2 tackles each, and several others recorded one.

Friday evening the Plowboys will be playing for all the marbles when they face Menard in Menard. Both teams are undefeated in district play while all the other teams already have at least two losses, so the winner will be the district champ. The Yellow Jackets are 7-1 on the year, their only loss coming to Baird 15-13 in their second game of the season. The two teams’ only common foes so far are Miles, which Menard beat this past Friday 35-22, and Roby, which they beat the week before 39-8. They and Roscoe seem to be fairly evenly matched, so the game should be a good one.

Kickoff is at 7:30pm on Friday in Menard.  

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STEM CENTER HOLDS OPEN HOUSE

The new STEM Research Center had its formal opening Monday evening when a large number of its advisory board members, dignitaries, and others viewed the new building and learned of its programs.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the event because of a prior engagement, but yesterday the Abilene Reporter-News published a fine article of the event by Timothy Chipp entitled "Roscoe Collegiate Unveils STEM Agriculture Center."

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RCHS ROBOTICS TEAM WINS HONORS AT TSTC ROBOTICS COMPETITION

The RCHS Robotics team had an excellent weekend at the HUB BEST Robotics Competition at TSTC in Sweetwater on Friday and Saturday. Besides winning an award for Most Robust Design, the team also received the following medals:

1st - Overall
1st - Web Design
1st - Engineering Notebook
2nd - Spirit and Sportsmanship
2nd - Marketing Presentation

In addition, their coach, John Cox, was named Coach of the Year.

Next up is the regional robotics meet in Garland on November 13 and 14.

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COACH MARTIN’S PICKUP RECOVERED

Roscoe Police report that Johnny Martin’s stolen pickup was recovered in Abilene last weekend. The good news is that he’s got his pickup back; the bad news is that there was damage to it that will have to be fixed. Police have a suspect but won’t issue a warrant for his arrest until some witness statements are completed.

Police Chief Felix Pantoja also reported that Roscoe’s new police dog, Stalin, was certified in Amarillo last Thursday and is now a licensed law enforcement dog.

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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS ON SUNDAY

This coming Sunday, November 1, is that special day we get only once a year—a 25-hour day. Personally, I wish we had more such days because of the advantage of that extra hour, which we can use however we want: an extra hour of sleep, spending time with the family, catching up on undone chores, indulging in our favorite hobby or pastime, or anything else our hearts desire. Imagine how nice it would be if all days lasted 25 hours. Life would definitely be more enjoyable, even if only by a little bit.

If we could just figure out how to nudge our trajectory around the sun into a slightly longer orbit, we might be able to do it. This would also solve the problems of global warming as it would also make the earth just a bit cooler than it now is. The North Pole icecap would refreeze, polar bears would once again regain their health and happy hunting, the sea would stop rising, glaciers would stop melting, rains would return to west Texas, Santa Claus wouldn’t have to worry about his elves’ workshop being flooded, along with several other related benefits.

As it is, however, we will have to be satisfied with things as they are now. In any case, just remember that when you go to bed Saturday night or when you wake up Sunday morning, you’ll need to move clocks and watches—the ones that don’t already do it automatically—back one hour. The official time of the change is at 2:00am. Enjoy that extra hour! You won’t get another one until this time rolls around again next year.

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PLOWBOY CROSS COUNTRY TEAM DISTRICT RUNNER-UP

The Plowboy Cross Country team came in second in the recent district meet and advanced to regional as a team. Medalists were as follows:

Plowboys                   Place       Time
Braiden Moore              2          19:59
Alfonzo Islas                  3          20:11
Spencer Little                9          21:49

Plowgirls
Alejandra Solis             4          13:54
Lyndi Wilkinson          8          14:07

Other Plowboys at Regionals running as a team:

Jetly Hobdy                  12        22:15
Juan Garcia                  13        22:23
Camden Boren             26        28:17

At the regionals, which were held on Monday in Lubbock, no Plowboys or Plowgirls qualified for the state meet in Austin.

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† SHERRY LYN HUNTER

Funeral Services will be held 1:00pm on Monday, November 2, at the First Baptist Church in Roscoe for Sherry Lyn Hunter, 81, who passed away in Stephenville on Wednesday, October 21.

Visitation will be held 5:00 to 6:30pm Sunday, November 1, at Stephenville Funeral Home.

Sherry was born May 7, 1934, in Lawton, Oklahoma, to Lee and Eula Hunter and was raised in a loving home with her brother, Howard and sister, Sandy. She graduated from Lawton High School and Camron University, where she obtained an associate’s degree, in Lawton, Ok. She met the love of her life, Archie Hunter, while he was stationed at Fort Still, OK. They were married on February 25, 1956, in Lawton.

Shortly after being married, Sherry and Archie moved to Texas and then settled in his hometown of Roscoe. She was an active member of the Roscoe First Baptist Church and the community. She greatly enjoyed sharing her ‘plain ole stories’ with everyone she met, especially her family. Countless people enjoyed the harvest from their garden and she gave endlessly to people in need, friends, neighbors, and was known as a “good cooker”. She was a fan of the Plowboys, and spent thousands of hours traveling with Archie to support students and their activities, even long after their own children had graduated. She worked for the Roscoe, Snyder, and Pacific Railroad, and the Nolan County Farm Bureau for most of her professional career.

Following Archie’s death in 2011, she moved to Stephenville to be closer to her family. She will be missed greatly in our hearts, but remembered with joy by those that had the fortune to meet her. She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Sandy Graham and husband Hal of Stephenville; sons, Art Hunter and wife Netia of Crawford, and Dan Hunter and wife Nancy of Austin; sister, Sandy Lair and husband John of Lakeview, AR; sisters-in-law, Alma Hunter, Geet Hunter, Audrey Hunter, Mae Hunter, and Sue Sanford; grandchildren, Ashley Van Winkle and husband Anthony of Krum, Alexis Lyn Hunter of Washington, DC, Addison Hunter and wife Vicki of Stephenville; great-grandchildren, Arlie Van Winkle, Liam Hunter; and numerous nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Howard; son-in-law, Johnny Johnson; and her husband, Archie.

In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to the First Baptist Church of Roscoe or to the Cowboy Church of Erath County.

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† LETHA ANN GRACEY BOSTON

Funeral services will be held at 10:00am tomorrow, October 29, at First Baptist Church in Roscoe for Letha Ann Gracey, 77, of Roscoe, who passed away at her home on Saturday, October 24. Burial will follow at Roscoe Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00pm today at McCoy Funeral Home, 401 E. 3rd Street, Sweetwater.

A longtime member of the First Baptist Church, Letha was born in Roscoe to Mary B. and R E Gracey on July 1, 1938. She graduated from Roscoe High School in 1956 and from Texas Tech University in 1960 with her BBA. From Angelo State University she received her elementary education certificate. She married Jim Boston on February 4, 1961, in Fort Worth. In her 54 years of marriage, she held numerous jobs at Texas A & M University, J. J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Hermleigh High School, and served on the Roscoe ISD school board. After thirteen years of service to Hermleigh School, she retired in 1999. However, she did not retire from service to organizations, including Meals on Wheels, the Roscoe First Baptist Church, Nolan County Library Board, Nolan County Child Welfare Board and continued to be an active member of the Texas Tech chapter of Pi Beta Phi. Letha never met a stranger. She was a generous and caring lover of people of all ages. She enjoyed her yard, her garden (especially fresh tomatoes), her family, spoiling her three grandkids, exercising with her friends, playing bridge, and her club, “The Stitches.” Letha was fiercely loyal and would bravely stand up for what she thought was right and true.

Letha is survived by her loving husband and best friend, Jim Boston, along with her daughter, Kelly Richardson and husband Eddie, son Josh Boston and wife Delma, grandchildren James and Annie Martin and Jayton Boston, three step-grandchildren, and her special dog Leo. She is also survived by sisters Sid Weaver of Sugarland, Tiny Hinrichs of Houston, Rebecca Gracey of Albuquerque, NM, one brother-in-law, her special friend, Billie Jean Martin, and many special cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, R E and Mary B. Gracey; sisters, Jane Horn and Gwen Terry, and brothers-in-law Peyton Weaver, Buster Horn, Jack Hinrichs, and Bob Killian.

Pallbearers will be Joe Brad McVey, Mike Ensminger, Johnny Martin, Bill Hunter, Lloyd Harris, Jesse Valdivia, Patrick Ivy, and Britt Pieper.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Roscoe First Baptist Church Benevolence / Missions Fund.

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West Texas Wind Festival A Memorable Event

Bobby Bare had a good time at the West Texas Wind Festival.

Folks who attended Saturday’s West Texas Wind Festival in downtown Roscoe got a real treat. The weather was as nice as could be asked for, plenty of vendors were selling food and merchandise, and there were several ways to get involved in the fun—from the 5K and one-mile fun runs to the chicken poop bingo and wild hog sacking, as well as the free concert and street dance followed by the fireworks show. Around the Community Center and Fire House, aromas of steaks and pork were in the air for most of the day as teams competed for cash prizes in the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department’s “BBQing in the Wind” Cookoff, and the Roscoe Historical Museum had a steady stream of visitors.

Country legend Bobby Bare put on a great performance at the free concert and seemed to be enjoying the event as much as, if not more so, than the large, enthusiastic audience of people who came to see him. He sang all the songs that made him famous—“Detroit City,” “500 Miles Away From Home,” “Four Strong Winds,” and several others, and he got a bunch of kids to come up next to the stage and do the witches’ screams to help him out when he sang “Marie Laveau.” After the show, he hung around to sign autographs and get his picture taken with anyone who wanted it.

As always, the fireworks show was a big success, and a crowd at the Lumberyard continued the celebration until midnight.

Here are the results of the contests:

And they're off! The start of the 1 Mile Fun Run.

5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run

5K - Male 12 and under
     1. Luke Wilson
     2. Gregory Paty

5K - Female over 12
     1. Mari Cornett
     2. Patty Hamilton
     3. Becky Kid

5K - Male over 12
     1. Guillermo Lara
     2. Andy Wilson
     3. Joe Montoya

1 Mile Fun Run Female
     1. Marley Weaver
     2. Nora Lopez
     3. Katie Wilson

1 Mile Fun Run Male
     1. Sam Wilson
     2. Nate Wilson


“Cock-a-Doodle Poo” Bingo
$500 Winner – Misty Muncy

Kaelyn Bankhead and Brayden Boil

Wild Hog Sacking
$500 Winners – Kaelyn Bankhead & Brayden Boil

Highland High’s Juniors, who will use the proceeds from their ticket sales, concession stand, and entry fees toward their prom, graduation, and senior trip, raised $5800 on Saturday.

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PLOWBOYS BLAST BLIZZARDS 41-22, ROBY NEXT

Brayden Beal (3) makes 10 yards on a keeper in the first quarter.

The Roscoe Plowboys are now 2-0 in district play after using a relentless passing attack to defeat Winters at Plowboy Field Friday night. The game featured teams with different approaches to offense. While the Plowboys amassed most of their yardage through the air—271 of 347 total—the Blizzards got most of theirs on the ground, 210 of 227 total. The contest was decided on the Plowboys’ ability to hold off the Winters rushing attack while the Blizzards had few answers for the Plowboys’ passing game.

The Plowboys jumped out to a quick start in the first quarter when they recovered a Winters fumble on the Blizzards’ first drive. They capitalized on the turnover when Brayden Beal hit a wide open Javier Leaños on a 35-yard pass play for an easy touchdown. The try for the extra-point was no good, but the Plowboys were up 6-0.  The defense then stopped Winters, and the Plowboys moved down the field with Beal hitting Kevin Lavalais for a 34-yard gain and Vincent Pantoja running the ball for good yardage. They scored their second TD on a Beal pass to Lavalais that covered 20 yards. Erick Huidobro’s extra-point kick was good, and the Plowboys were ahead 13-0. The next time they got the ball, they scored a third touchdown on another Beal pass to a wide open Leaños, this time for 55 yards. Once again the extra-point kick was good, and the first quarter ended with Roscoe up 20-0.

At that point, it appeared that the Plowboys might blow the Blizzards out, but the rest of the game turned out to be pretty even both in points and yardage, although the Plowboys managed to maintain a comfortable lead throughout the contest. Both teams made touchdowns in the second quarter, the Blizzards making theirs first to narrow the score to 20-8. But a Beal to Jose Ortega 35-yard TD pass later in the quarter extended the Plowboys lead to 27-8, which was the score at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Plowboys received the kickoff and struck first with a drive that ended with a 20-yard Pantoja run, which put the Plowboys up 34-8. Winters responded with a scoring drive that narrowed the score to 34-14, but the Plowboys followed with another Beal to Leaños scoring strike, this one covering 34 yards. The quarter ended with the score 41-14.

The Blizzards made another TD and 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter to make the score 41-22, and, following a Plowboy turnover, put together a final drive that ended on downs inside the Roscoe 5-yard line. The Plowboys then ran out the clock to end the game.

For the game, Beal completed 14 of 25 passes for 271 yards and 5 TDs with 2 interceptions. Top receivers were Leaños with 4 catches for 142 yards and 3 TDs, Lavalais with 5 for 69 and 1 TD, Ortega with 2 for 40 and 1 TD, and Nemir with 2 for 16. Pantoja led the Plowboy rushing game with 12 carries for 67 yards and 1 TD, and Erick Huidobro kicked 5 extra points. The offensive line did a pretty good job of pass protection, and Beal usually had time to throw.

The defense also did a good job against a strong Winters rushing attack. Nemir had 8 tackles, 2 of them for losses, and 4 assists, followed closely by Rafael Aguayo with 6 tackles, 1 for a loss, and 5 assists. Pantoja had 5 with 1 for a loss, and 3 assists.  Others with tackles and assists were Ortega, Lavalais, Austin Willman, Anthony Ortegon, Francisco Garcia, Ray Bohall, Paul Pantoja, Bernardo Villa, and Juan Garcia.

This Friday the Plowboys play Roby in Roby. The Lions are struggling this year with an 0-7 record and are coming off a 39-8 loss to Menard last Friday. They have some good athletes, but with one of the smallest student bodies in the state to still be playing eleven-man football, they are lacking in depth.

Kickoff in Roby is at 7:30.

Here are some video highlights of the Winters game:

    (Click square image in lower right-hand corner to enlarge.)

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Roscoe Police Department's K-9 Unit, Sgt. Steve Spencer and Stalin.

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COACH MARTIN’S PICKUP STOLEN

Johnny Martin’s new beige Ford F-150 pickup truck was stolen from the Stripes station early Friday morning. Early in the mornings, he often goes there to get a cup of coffee and a newspaper before going to school, and on Friday, when he went in, he left his pickup unlocked and running, as he usually does. But when he went back outside, he discovered that the pickup was gone—someone had gotten into it and driven it away. He went back in, informed the workers there, and the police were called.

The pickup and person who took it have still not been located. If you have any information regarding this crime or any other crime, call the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office at 325-235-5471 or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 325-235-TIPS (8477).

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FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE AT ROSCOE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOMORROW

Sponsored by The Medicine Place pharmacy in Sweetwater, flu shots will be available to the public tomorrow, October 22, at the Nurse’s Office in Roscoe Elementary School. The price is $25.

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FOOTBALL SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW EXPLAINED

The football schedule tomorrow for the seventh and eighth grade and high school Junior Varsity football teams is potentially confusing. Here it is:

The 7th grade will play Haskell in Hamlin at 4:00pm.
The 8th grade will play Roby here in Roscoe at 5:00pm.
The Junior Varsity will play Mason here in Roscoe as soon as the 8th grade game is over.

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TRUCK STOP ON I-20 IN WEST ROSCOE UNDERGOING RENOVATION

A new look for the old truck stop and restaurant.

The old Truck and Travel Truck Stop and Restaurant just across I-20 from the new STEM Research Center in west Roscoe is being renovated for sale by its owners, who live in Weatherford. It has been vacant for about three years now, and it will be nice to see it up and running again.

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JOSH ABBOTT BAND AT LUMBERYARD SATURDAY NIGHT

The Josh Abbott Band

The Lumberyard is preparing for another big show this weekend with the return of the Josh Abbott Band, a popular Texas Country group originally from Lubbock.

The Band was formed in 2006 and began touring in 2008. They released their first album, Scapegoat, in 2009 and followed it with She’s Like Texas in 2010. Their first sellout crowd was at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth in 2010, when they sold 6000 tickets. Their third album, Small Town Family Dream, was released in 2012. The Band's singles include “Road Trippin’,” “Oh, Tonight,” (with Kacey Musgraves), “Touch,” and “She Will Be Free.”

Their latest album, Front Row Seat, featuring the single, “Amnesia,” is ready for release in two weeks, November 6. It also contains the single, “Wasn’t That Drunk,” with Carly Pearce, which premiered and was recorded live recently at Stubb’s in Austin. You can listen to it here.

For reservations and more information call the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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WEATHER REPORT: NICE FALL WEATHER, RAIN IN FORECAST

The Moon on Monday night. (Photo by Sharion McFaul Henley)

The past week has seen this area move from the summerlike temperatures of a week ago to milder ones starting last Friday and continuing up to the present, with skies completely or mostly clear throughout. Last Wednesday’s and Thursday’s highs of 92°F dropped on Friday to a high of 77°, followed by highs in the low eighties through the weekend.

One of the nicest days of all was on Saturday, when a large number of folks were out enjoying the West Texas Wind Festival. The high that afternoon was 83°, but it cooled down nicely toward sunset, and by the time Bobby Bare entertained the crowd, followed by the fireworks show, it was just about as nice as one could hope for.  Lows remained above average for this time of year, mostly right around 60°.

Since Sunday, it’s been breezy with sustained southeast winds of about 14mph with gusts up to 31, and this windiness will continue for the next few days.

The big news, though, is what’s in the forecast. Starting today and continuing through Saturday, there are predictions of overcast skies, showers, and thunderstorms. There is a 40% chance of rain today followed by 70% tonight, 70% to 80% tomorrow, 40% to 50% Friday, and 40% during the day on Saturday, decreasing to 20% Saturday night. Highs will be in the upper seventies and lows in the low sixties until Sunday morning when the low will drop to the mid-fifties.

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West Texas Wind Festival in Downtown Roscoe Saturday

Bobby Bare is the featured singer at the free concert and street dance.

Plans are being finalized for the ninth annual West Texas Wind Festival, and organizers are expecting a large crowd, especially for the free concert and the fireworks show. As usual, the downtown streets will be lined with vendors all afternoon and evening, and the Roscoe Historical Museum will be open. The Roscoe Express Shuttle will also be on hand to take people to and from selected parking areas and downtown all afternoon at no charge.

Cooks will be barbecuing around the Fire House and Community Center most of the day, and the Highland Juniors will host Cock-a-Doodle Poo Bingo in the morning and a Wild Hog Sacking in the afternoon and evening in the Young Farm Estates lot across the street from the Lumberyard.

Music for the free concert and street dance in Cypress Street will begin at about four with the West Texas Heat Band followed by the Back Porch Band at around six.

Then at around eight, country music legend Bobby Bare will take the stage. Bare, whose songs “Detroit City,” “Four Strong Winds,” “Marie Laveau,” “500 Miles Away from Home,” and many others have earned him several Grammy awards and nominations over the years, and in 2013 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The fireworks show will follow Bobby Bare’s performance at about 9:40 and conclude this year’s Wind Festival, although those who aren’t ready to go home yet can move over to the Lumberyard, where the music will go on until midnight with Zack Harmon and Band from Abilene.  There will be no cover charge.

Here are details for the events of the day:

5K “Run With the Wind” 5K Run and 1 mile Fun Run

Roscoe Elementary School will host 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 today, 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.

BBQing in the Wind Cookoff

First Place Steak Prize:  
$1500 from Fuller Foods, Colorado City

Categories:
16 oz. Rib Eye Steak
Pork Spare Ribs
Pulled Pork

Schedule:
6:30-8:30pm (Friday)/8:00am (Saturday) – Meat inspection begins
10:00am – Cooks’ meeting
3:00pm – Pulled Pork turn in
4:00pm – Pork Spare Ribs turn in
5:00pm – Rib Eye Steak turn in

Contestants must enter all three events to enter the Steak category. Cost for all three is $150. Cooking fuel may be wood, gas, or charcoal.  Dry camper spaces only. No hookups. No electricity per cook site. One camper, one vehicle, up to 12' x 12' cover, and up to two pits in cooking area are allowed.

The Fire Department will supply a public electricity and water station.

All proceeds go to the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department.  For more information, contact Gary Armstrong at 325-235-4110.

Cock-a-Doodle Poo Bingo and Wild Hog Sacking

 The Highland High School Class of 2017 will host two interesting contests as fund raisers, both with $500 cash prizes (assuming all tickets are sold. If less, then a lesser prize will be awarded) and both at the side lot of the Young Farm Estates office across the street from the Lumberyard:

1. Cock-a-Doodle-Poo “Bingo”
Chicken will be released at 10:30am.

Bingo squares are $25 each, and squares may be purchased up until the event begins.

2. Wild Hog Sacking

4:00pm – Midnight

$20 entry fee per adult team (2 person team required, i.e., $10 per person); $10 child team (ages 6-9) 2 person team required, i.e., $5 per person). An admission fee to watch will be charged on the day of the event.

All proceeds benefit the Highland Class of 2017. Tickets may be purchased from any Highland High Junior. For more information, contact Dawn Huckabee at 325-235-7597 or Jandi Boil at 325-236-0055.

Downtown Schedule:

4:00pm/5:30pm - West Texas Heat Band
6:00pm/7:30pm - Back Porch Band
7:40pm – Announcements of Cookoff Winners, give aways
8:00pm – Bobby Bare and Band
9:40pm – Fireworks Show
10:00 – Event Ends

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PLOWBOYS MAUL MILES 48-7, WINTERS NEXT

In what was expected to be a hard-fought game, the Plowboys used a devastating passing attack Friday night in Miles to blow out the Bulldogs 48-7. Brayden Beal and his receivers amassed 321 passing yards and three touchdowns in the contest, while Vincent Pantoja had three rushing TDs and Francisco Garcia one in racking up their first district win of the year.

The Plowboys began the scoring in the first quarter when Vincent Pantoja scored on a 3-yard run and Erick Huidobro kicked the extra-point to go up 7-0. Miles responded with a drive and a 34-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 7-7, which was also the score at the end of the quarter. That touchdown, however, turned out to be the Bulldogs’ last one for the rest of the game.

In the second quarter, the Plowboys went up 14-7 when Beal hit Kevin Lavalais on a 62-yard pass play and scored again later in the quarter on another Pantoja run, this one from five yards out. The extra-point kick was no good, but the Plowboys went into halftime ahead 20-7.

In the third quarter, Roscoe scored two more touchdowns, the first on another pass from Beal to Lavalais, this one covering 28 yards. Then later in the quarter, Pantoja ran the ball in from the one, and the Plowboys increased their lead to 34-7.

In the fourth quarter, the Plowboys scored two more. Beal hit Jose Ortega on a 37-yard play for one, and Francisco Garcia made the other on a 10-yard run.

For the evening, Beal completed 16 of 26 passes for 3 TDs with no interceptions. Top receivers were Lavalais with 6 catches for 175 yards and 2 TDs, Rafael Aguayo with 5 catches for 87 yards, and Ortega with 4 catches for 50 yards and 1 TD. Top rushers were Pantoja with 17 carries for 67 yards and 3 TDs, Garcia with 9 carries for 46 yards and 1 TD, Beal with 7 for 23 yards, and Ortega with 4 for 23 yards.

The Plowboy defense also excelled. Aguayo led with 5 tackles and a sack, followed by Anthony Ortegon with 4 and a sack and Max Nemir also with 4. Lavalais and Juan Garcia each had an interception.  

Coach Freeman’s Plowboys have another big test Friday evening when they take on the Winters Blizzards, the District 6-2A-II pre-season favorites, here in Roscoe. Winters is coming off a 34-0 victory over Roby after losing all their non-district games. The only common non-district opponents of the two teams were Hamlin, who beat Winters 39-8 and the Plowboys 40-20; and Eldorado, who beat Winters 25-18 and lost to the Plowboys 33-27. The Blizzards’ other losses were to Christoval, Ballinger, and TLCA (San Angelo). It should be a good game and could be the one that decides the district championship.

Kickoff at Plowboy Field is at 7:30pm.

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ROSCOE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADDS K-9 UNIT

On October 1, the Sweetwater and Roscoe Police Departments announced an agreement that will greatly benefit the citizens of both cities, as well as those of the 32nd judicial district. The Roscoe Police Department will now be responsible for K-9 "Stalin." Sgt. Steven Spencer will be the handler of the two-year-old Belgian Malinois.

"I was contacted in September by officials from SWPD, and asked if I would be interested in taking over the responsibilities of Stalin," Spencer stated. "Having a K-9 is a lot of responsibility. It is also a lot of work, I honestly had to do some thinking on it," added Spencer. Sgt. Spencer, who came to Roscoe two years ago, has been a K-9 handler before. "I also knew that a majority of the funds to purchase Stalin came from the citizens of Sweetwater, and I didn't want to take away from that. So, after all the wrinkles were ironed out, I took possession of Stalin on October 1."

Sgt. Spencer and Stalin will now be on 24-hour standby to assist and aid Sweetwater when called upon. They will also be utilized throughout the 32nd Judicial District. "Sgt. Olds, who is SWPD'S handler of K-9 "Dana," has been a tremendous help in the transition process. We will coordinate our schedules as to have a K-9 Unit readily available  as much as possible. If Sgt. Olds is off and a SWPD Officer is needing a K-9, they will call me, and we will come running.  It's something I'm used to from being a handler before and just comes with the territory of having a K-9 partner.  We will also be training and certifying together." Spencer went on to add.

Police K-9 units require constant training. Both department units will be training together, along with the Abilene Police Department K-9 units.

The Roscoe Police Department will be utilizing funds from their Drug Seizure funds to outfit Sgt. Spencer's patrol unit. It will now have a K-9 transport section, heat detection system, emergency cooling and "bail out" system. Chief Felix Pantoja stated, "We seized the proceeds from the crooks’ illegal drug activity, so it's  just seems fair to let them pay for Stalin to ride as comfortably and safely as possible."

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CITY COUNCIL HEARS REPORTS, APPROVES RAISE IN CEMETERY MAINTENANCE FEES

Police Chief Felix Pantoja gives Police Report to Council.

At its regularly monthly meeting at City Hall last night, City Manager Cody Thompson reported on preparations for this weekend’s West Texas Wind Festival in downtown Roscoe and upcoming work on the old City Sewer, and Police Chief Felix Pantoja gave the Police Department’s monthly report and informed the Council of the Department’s addition of a K-9 unit to be used by the Roscoe and Sweetwater Police Departments.

The Council also approved the City investment report for the fourth quarter and discussed the raising of cemetery maintenance fees. Thompson reported that the annual $15 fee, which hasn’t changed in many years does not cover the City’s expenditures for cemetery maintenance. After some discussion, the Council approved raising the annual fee from $15 to $20 per plot.

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WEATHER REPORT: A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

The weather was decidedly varied this week with temperatures both cool and hot, winds ranging from calm to gusty, and skies from completely clear to overcast. We even got a little rain on Thursday and Friday. My battery-operated rain gauge recorded .38” on Thursday and .24” on Friday for a total of .62”, and most people I talked to got something between a half and three quarters of an inch for both days.

High temperatures varied from a high of 77°F on Friday to 92° on Sunday. Nights were generally cooler than the previous week with lows in the upper fifties to low sixties.

Today and tomorrow will see hot afternoons again with highs of around 91°, but a front will move through on Friday resulting in a high of only about 80° for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So, the weather for the Wind Festival should be nice.

There is no rain in the forecast for the coming week, but a front should arrive next Wednesday, and the long range forecasters are currently predicting a 90% chance of rain when it does.

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† SHIRLEY DEAN McFAUL

Funeral services were held yesterday, October 13, at 4:00pm at McCoy Chapel of Memories for Shirley Dean McFaul, 71, who passed away on Friday, October 9, at Rolling Plains Hospital in Sweetwater. Interment followed in Sweetwater Cemetery. She was born on August 20, 1944, in Navarro County, Texas.

Survivors include her sons, Raymond Roy McFaul and wife, Shelley, of Abilene, and Ricky Lynn McFaul and wife, DeeAnn, of Sweetwater; daughters, Brenda Kay Rogers and husband, Mike, of Slaton, and Billie Jo Berry of Sweetwater; sisters, Mavies Shute of Sweetwater and Louise Shubert; brother, Tollie Parker, Jr., of Weatherford; eighteen grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond McFaul, her parents, Tollie and Ivereen Parker, and her brother, Mauria Parker.

Pallbearers were Christopher Rogers, Cody Rogers, Bryan Berry, Justin Scott, Dallas McFaul and Michael Seabring.

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Bobby Bare to Play Free Concert at West Texas Wind Festival

Bobby Bare

Country great Bobby Bare, whose song “Detroit City” is well known to almost everyone, will be the featured performer at the free concert and street dance of this year’s annual West Texas Wind Festival next Saturday. The planned appearance of John Conlee had to be canceled because of a scheduling conflict, and City Manager Cody Thompson was able to book Bare as his replacement. Bare, who says he hasn’t been in west Texas in about thirty years, is looking forward to revisiting the area and doing the show.

Over the years, Bobby Bare has produced a multitude of hit albums and singles and has received numerous national awards. Besides “Detroit City,” which earned him a Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording in 1963, his hit singles also include “500 Miles Away from Home,” “Four Strong Winds,” “Talk Me Some Sense,” “(Margie’s at) The Lincoln Park Inn,” “The Winner,” “Streets of Baltimore,” “God Bless America Again,” “Miller’s Cave,” “Come Sundown,” “How I Got to Memphis,” “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends,” “Sylvia’s Mother,”  “Marie Laveau,” “No Memories Hangin’ Round” (with Rosanne Cash), “Numbers,” “Tequila Sheila,” and many others.

Starting with his first album, “Detroit City” and Other Hits in 1963, he has produced a total of 22 albums at RCA, Mercury, and Columbia, among others. His most recent is Darker Than Light produced by Plowboy Records in 2012.

In 1998 he formed the band Old Dogs with his friends Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis, and Waylon Jennings. He has also done some acting. He was in a western movie, A Distant Trumpet, with Troy Donahue as well as a few episodes of the TV series No Time for Sergeants.

In 2013, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame along with Kenny Rogers.

He will take the stage on Cypress Street in downtown Roscoe at 8:00pm and play until about 9:30, followed by the fireworks show. This could be your only chance ever to see him perform—and certainly your only chance ever to see him free of charge—so make plans now to attend the West Texas Wind Festival in downtown Roscoe next Saturday, October 17.

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BANKHEAD MILITARY CONVOY TO PASS THROUGH ROSCOE TOMORROW MORNING

The cross-country military convoy that went through Roscoe in 1920.

In August 1920 a military convoy came down Broadway through downtown Roscoe on its way from Washington, DC, to San Diego, California. Following the route of the old Bankhead Highway (later US 80), it consisted of 50 vehicles, 32 officers, and 160 enlisted men under Col. John F. Franklin. Its purpose was to assess the practicality of motorized transport and its place in the US Army. The trip covered over 3300 miles and took 116 days to complete.

Now, 95 years later, the Military Vehicle Preservation Association is sponsoring the 2015 MVPA Bankhead Highway Cross-Country Convoy, which will consist of some sixty military vehicles and follow as closely as possible the same route of the 1920 convoy. The convoy began on September 19 in Washington, DC, and traveling at top speeds of 35 mph, will take 29 days to complete its journey to San Diego.

The MVPA Bankhead Highway Convoy in Georgia in September 2015.

The convoy will stay overnight at the Nolan County Coliseum in Sweetwater tonight and come through Roscoe some time tomorrow morning on its way to its next overnight stop in Midland. It will make its way from Sweetwater past Avenger Field down the old Bankhead Highway next to the railroad track and come into Roscoe on east Broadway. From there it will go through town and make the turn on Business I-20 just west of town out to I-20, where it will go through the underpass and continue on to downtown Loraine on the south service road of I-20, formerly the old Bankhead Highway.

The convoy has been received with fanfare on its route through the southern states to Dallas and Fort Worth and points west and will be a sight worth seeing if you can manage it.

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PLOWBOYS’ DISTRICT OPENER IN MILES FRIDAY

Jose Ortega (2) carries the ball in the game against Jim Ned.

The Plowboys begin 6-2A-II District play Friday evening with an away game at Miles. The Bulldogs are 2-3 on the year after beating Rocksprings and Nueces Canyon and losing to Irion County, Coahoma, and Forsan. Like the Plowboys, they had an open date last week.

The outcome of this contest is important for both teams as Winters, the pre-season favorite, hasn’t performed up to expectations, putting the district up for grabs, and both Miles and Roscoe are major contenders. Both the Plowboys and Bulldogs (avg. 32 points per game) have potent offenses, so the game is likely to be a high-scoring affair.

Kickoff is at 7:30pm at Bulldog Field in Miles.

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ROSCOE’S FIRST COTTON OF THE YEAR HARVESTED

Roscoe's first module of 2015, harvested by Lonnie Orman on September 30. (Photo by David Duncan)

Roscoe farmer Lonnie Orman harvested Roscoe’s first cotton module of the year last Wednesday, September 30, on a farm northeast of Roscoe owned by the Faust sisters, Teresa and Tracy. It was just the first of several modules he stripped that day. He said it is the first time he ever harvested any cotton in the Roscoe area in September.

The module was taken to the Central Rolling Plains Co-op Gin, where it produced the area’s first bale of the year, for which Orman will receive a $100 prize.

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CENTRAL ROLLING PLAINS CO-OP HOSTS OPEN HOUSE AT GIN

Members at the Co-op Open House at the Gin Thursday.

The Central Rolling Plains Co-op held its annual open house last Thursday with a hamburger lunch at the gin northwest of town.  Gin Manager Larry Black gave a short address to the members present and invited everyone to look over the gin’s recent enhancements.

Door prizes were awarded, and members also wrote down their guesses for the number of cotton bales to be ginned this year, with a $100 prize awaiting the person who gets the closest without going over the total.

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PLOWBOY MUDBOG RESULTS FROM SATURDAY

A mud vehicle tries to conquer the squishy blackland mudbog Saturday.
(Photo by Patty McBride)

Here are the results of the various vehicle classes participating in the Plowboy Mudbog held last Saturday at George Parks Field to benefit the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department:

Street Class
1. Anthony Montgomery  Big Spring     ’82 Brown Chevy      359’1”
2. Kyle Bradshaw              Aspermont    ’85 Orange Blazer     351’ 1”
3. Rachel Bradshaw          Aspermont   ’89 Aqua Chevy         345’ 7”

Modified Class
1. Shannon Mollette  Rotan          Yellow Suzuki Samurai   388’ 11’
2. Max Likens          Roswell, NM ’73 Green Ford Bronco    378’ 2”
3. Caleb Dean             Roscoe           ’79 Cream/Brown F250   378’

Super Modified Class
1. Phillip Garcia            Colorado City   ’79 Gray Chevy  Cleared Pit
2. Raymond Martinez  Colorado City   ’89 Black Dodge     422’ 3”
3. Branden Oden           Colorado City   ’85 White S-10       203’ 7”

Open Class
1. Arden Alvarez      Colorado City   Blue S-10                      7.15 sec.
2. James Pantoja     Roscoe              Yellow Landcruiser    15.65 sec.
3. Jeremy Sisk          Sweetwater       2000 Red S-10          16.86 sec.

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CHARLIE ROBISON, PHIL HAMILTON AT LUMBERYARD SATURDAY

Charlie Robison

Another Red Dirt/Texas Country double-header is in store for patrons of the Lumberyard Saturday night when Phil Hamilton and Charlie Robison come to town.

Singer/songwriter Charlie Robison, 51, is probably best known for his single “My Home Town.” A native Texan who grew up on a ranch near Bandera, he began his musical career in Austin in the late eighties when he played in various bands.  He went solo and released his first album, Bandera, in 1996, followed by Life of the Party (1998), Unleashed Live (2000), Step Right Up (2001), Live (2003), Good Times (2004), Beautiful Day (2009), Live at Billy Bob’s Texas (2012), and his latest CD, High Life (2013).

Besides “My Hometown,” his best known singles include “I Want You Bad,” “Barlight,” “Poor Man’s Son,” and “Walter.”

Phil Hamilton.

Phil Hamilton’s single, “Hold on Tight,” from his latest CD, Live at the Whiskey Girl Saloon, recently hit the top ten in Texas Country. Hamilton, also known as Philthy, is well known in the Metroplex. His latest single, “Dirty Love,” is currently being played on the radio. His debut CD was Nothing to Lose (2009), followed by Renegade Rock n Roll (2012), which yielded three hit singles, “Bad,” “Running,” and “Back of a ’73.”

Phil Hamilton will start the show at 8:00pm and be followed by Charlie Robison at about 10:00. For more information and reservations, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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WEATHER REPORT: FIRST TASTE OF FALL

This morning's sunrise.

The past few days have been refreshingly cool as days get shorter and we move into the new season. It wasn’t that way last Thursday, though, when the temperature reached 91°F. That night, however, a cool front moved in and temperatures dropped. The highs for the next four days were 79°, 83°, 79°, and 75° with lows of 60°, 55°, 54°, and 59°.

Yesterday, however, was much warmer with an afternoon high of 86°. Skies were generally sunny or only partly cloudy all week, but on Monday morning it was cloudy with what you might call a heavy sprinkle for a couple of hours, enough to make the sidewalks wet. My rain gauge recorded a total of .06”.

We should get some rain in the next couple of days, though. There is an 80% chance of precipitation tonight, a 60%-70% chance tomorrow, and a 50% chance on Friday. The high today should be about 84°, but Thursday through Saturday will be cooler with highs in the mid to upper seventies and lows in the mid to low sixties. Skies will clear on Sunday and warmer weather will return with forecast highs of 85° on Sunday and 89° on Monday.

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† VIRGINIA ADAMS MUNCY

The Going Home Celebration of life for Virginia Adams Muncy, 87, of Maryneal will be at 2:00pm on Friday, October 9, at McCoy Chapel of Memories in Sweetwater with Jeff Jenkins officiating. She entered into eternal rest on Saturday, October 3. Burial will be in Maryneal Cemetery.

Virginia Ruth Adams was born in Maryneal on August 25, 1928, to Buster and Jewell Adams. She was a life-long resident of Maryneal. She married Billy Drake Muncy of Slidell, TX, in Maryneal on August 21, 1948. She and Billy were involved in ranching in Nolan County their entire married life. Gin, to help supplement the family income, worked in Sweetwater in the 1970s for Fashion Shoes. In the 1980’s she began filling in for the postmaster in Maryneal and ultimately served as Maryneal’s Postmaster for 13 years before she retired in 1991.

Gin was always active in the community and the county. A 1946 graduate of Highland High School, she remained a loyal supporter of Highland School playing the piano for graduations and Highland Halloween Carnivals over the years, cooking hamburgers and frying pies with the booster club, and helping with Highland homecoming planning for decades. She was an active member of the Maryneal Community Center and always helped with event and fundraiser planning for the community. She was a musician and would make an instrument of music out of almost anything, frequently filling crystal water glasses with water and playing them. She began playing the piano at age 4, taught by her mother. She played by ear. “If you can hum it, I can play it,” she’d say. Her mother had to make her quit playing as a child, having to remind her to eat and play somewhere else! She wrote music, poetry, and history of the family, the community, Highland School, and was a contributor to Nolan County’s history. She loved this country and patriotic music. She was a faithful member of the Maryneal Church of Christ her entire life. Her greatest joy in life was her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; they called her GinMama. GinMama was an avid quilter and all the grandchildren got a quilt when they married and a baby quilt for each child they had. Her last quilting project was hand and footprint blocks for each of her 23 great grandchildren. She enjoyed life with gusto. Her hands and mind were always busy with some project. She continued to mow her own grass well into her 80’s. She loved having drop-in visitors but said, “If you’re coming to see my house, make an appointment!” She always had a dog or three around. They were her companions and she treated them like they were kids!

She is survived by a daughter, Cherry Muncy Wright and husband, Jimmy of Highland Village, TX; two sons, Jerry B. Muncy and wife, Lana of Keller; and Terry L. Muncy and wife, Marla of Sweetwater; seven grandchildren: Greg Wright and wife, Christina of Burleson; Nikki Wright Martin and husband, Jason of Grand Prairie; Leslie Muncy of Keller; Cody Muncy and wife, Misty of Maryneal; Mandi Muncy Bartlett and husband, Ki, of Venus, TX; Jennifer Muncy Montgomery and husband, Derek of Burleson; and Randel Muncy Stone and husband, Jeff of Maryneal; 23 great grandchildren: Ryan Wright, Reagan Wright, Raef Wright, Madilyn Martin, Kennedy Martin, Max Martin, Paul Rothe, Basil Rothe, Garrett Muncy, Levi Muncy, Ty Lane Muncy, Drew Muncy, Jaden Muncy, Jackson Bartlett, Kiley Bartlett, Presley Montgomery, Avery Montgomery, Sydney Montgomery, Hallee Montgomery, Maddox Stone, Easton Stone, Nolan Stone and Hudson Stone. She is also survived by her sister, Wanda Womble and husband, P.A. Womble of Maryneal; a niece, Gena Sager of Maryneal; a nephew, John Womble of Maryneal; and a niece, Julie Womble Hurn of Maryneal; and a host of other extended family and friends in the community.

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Travis Blake Muncy, in 1982; her father, Buster Adams, in 1987; her husband, Billy Muncy, in 1987; and her mother, Jewell Jennings Adams, in 1991.

The family will accept visitors tomorrow, October 8, at McCoy Funeral Home in Sweetwater from 6:00 to 8:00pm.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Greg Wright, Cody Muncy, Jason Martin, Derek Montgomery, Jeff Stone, Ki Bartlett, Garrett Muncy, Raef Wright and Paul Rothe.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome and appreciate donations to the Maryneal Church of Christ, Maryneal Community Center, Maryneal Cemetery fund, Maryneal Volunteer Fire Department, or charity of your choice.

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