Kevin Lavalais Makes All-Big Country Super Team, Several Plowboys Make 2A Teams

Kevin Lavalais is a receiver on the All-Big Country Super Team.

The Abilene Reporter-News announced its All-Big Country Super Team on Monday, and Kevin Lavalais made the first team as a receiver. The Super Team is made up of football players of all classes, from 6A all the way down to 1A. First and second teams on both offense and defense were named. In selecting Lavalais for the first team offense, the article cited his 59 receptions on the year for 912 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Lavalais was also one of several Plowboys chosen last week for the 2A All-Big Country teams. The 2A teams comprised players from both 2A-Division 1 and 2A-Division 2 schools. Both Lavalais and Javier Leaños were on the first team offense, Lavalais as a receiver, and Leaños as the punter. Leaños also received Honorable Mention as a receiver, as did Jose Ortega, the only freshman from any 2A school to be so honored.

Vincent Pantoja and Max Nemir were both on the second-team defense, Pantoja as a lineman, and Max Nemir as a linebacker. Pantoja also received Honorable Mention as a running back. Brayden Beal received Honorable Mention as a quarterback, and Rafael Aguayo received Honorable Mention as a linebacker.

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TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE HONORS ROSCOE 4-H PROGRAM WITH SUPERIOR SERVICE AWARD

Roxanna Reyna, Roscoe's 4-H Director and AgriLife Extension Program Specialist, center, and Kim Alexander, second from left, with A&M officials in College Station.

The Roscoe Collegiate 4-H Program was presented with a 2015-2016 Superior Service Award in College Station on Tuesday, January 12. Here’s the press release that accompanied the award:

Population growth, changing demographics, poverty, and a globally competitive workforce all carry the risk of a diminished quality of life in Texas. In 2012, the Roscoe Collegiate ISD and AgriLife Extension have helped minority and underserved youth prepare for, attend, and graduate from community colleges and universities.

The Roscoe Collegiate 4-H Program stimulates student interest and engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through a combination of two 4-H curricula. In 2014, 89% of the program’s students graduates with both a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. All students are engaged in activities that interconnect learning with career exploration and development. The program can be a model for other small and rural schools working to prepare every student for success in school, the workforce and life.

The 4-H award also got mention in a nice article in the Abilene Reporter-News this past weekend entitled “Roscoe preparing students for ag job of the future.” You can access it by clicking here.

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TOWN HALL MEETING WITH ISAAC CASTRO IN COMMUNITY CENTER TODAY

Isaac Castro

Isaac Castro, a lawyer and former mayor of Hamlin, is the featured guest at a Town Hall meeting in the Roscoe Community Center today at 5:00pm. He is running for State Representative of District 71, which is made up of Nolan, Taylor, and Jones Counties.

A Republican who says he holds conservative values, Castro is running for the seat being vacated by Susan King, R-Abilene, who is running for the State Senate seat of District 24.

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PLOWBOYS FALL TO STAMFORD BUT WHIP WINTERS IN DISTRICT GAMES

The Plowboys lost to Stamford 81-48 in Stamford Friday night but beat Winters in Winters last night 62-41 to go 1-1 for the week and remain at .500 in district play with a 4-4 record. Here are the scores by quarters, followed by individual Plowboy scoring:

Stamford 81 – Plowboys 48

Stamford          21        39        62        81
Plowboys            7         18        35        48

Rafael Aguayo 13, Javier Leaños 12, Brayden Beal 6, Kevin Lavalais 5, Jose Ortega 4, Isaiah Gonzales 4, Johnathon Cuellar 4.

Plowboys 62 – Winters 41

Plowboys          10        29        41        62
Winters               6        18        27        41

Leaños 18, Aguayo 13, Ortega 10, Lavalais 8, Gonzales 6, Beal 5, Cuellar 2.

The Plowboys face Albany here Friday evening and Anson there next Tuesday.

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PLOWGIRLS WIN ONE, LOSE ONE IN DISTRICT PLAY

The Plowgirls also split two district games this past week, losing to Stamford in Stamford Friday night 60-20, and then knocking off Winters in Winters last night 29-24.

Stamford 60 – Plowgirls 20

Stamford          18        34        46        60
Plowgirls           11         15         17        20

Bergan Trevino 6, Veronica Cuellar 6, Lynzi Atkinson 5, Bonnie Wilkinson 4.

Plowgirls 29 – Winters 24

Plowgirls             5            9        21        29
Winters                9          10        13        24

Wilkinson 13, Cuellar 7, Pena 5, Trevino 3, Atkinson 1.

Their next game is against Albany here Friday night, followed by Anson in Anson next Tuesday.

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BAPTIST CHURCH TO HOST MOVIE NIGHT SUNDAY EVENING

The First Baptist Church of Roscoe at 401 Main Street will show the movie, War Room, on Sunday, January 31, at 6:00pm. Everyone is invited!

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OMISSION FROM LAST WEEK’S STOCK SHOW RESULTS

Last week’s results from the Nolan County Livestock show failed to mention that Lynzi Atkinson also won the Senior Goat Showmanship award.

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LUMBERYARD TO HOST BENEFIT SATURDAY NIGHT

Saints Eleven

A benefit show will be held this weekend to help the Dickerhoff family of Snyder with medical bills incurred for their 3-year-old. Featured performers will be the Saints Eleven and Zach Edwards bands.

Saints Eleven is a Texas Country band from Midlothian, just south of Dallas. Their most recent CD is Saints Eleven: One Night at a Time. You can see a YouTube version of their single “I’ll Be Fine” by clicking here.

Zach Edwards

Zach Edwards, who grew up in Big Lake but now lives in Fort Worth, also plays Texas Country. His most recent album is entitled Lone Star. A YouTube video of his single “Alcohol of Fame” is available here.

With a forecast high in the mid-seventies on Saturday, the show is scheduled to take place on the music stage outside. Cover charge is $10 with further donations welcome. For reservations and more information, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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WEATHER REPORT: WARM WEEKEND ON THE WAY

The snowfall in Maryland on Saturday. (Photo by Suzy Sayre)

For me this past week, the biggest news was what was not happening in Roscoe—or anywhere else in west Texas for that matter. I watched sympathetically as Towson, Maryland, my home for seventeen years, got a record 31” snow on Saturday. I still remember digging out from that two-foot snow we got in 2010, my last year up there, and, to tell you the truth, that's one aspect of Maryland I don’t miss a bit. Here in Roscoe on Saturday it was 63°F with sunny skies, which is nothing unusual for this time of year. So, if you’re complaining about the weather we’re getting here, keep in mind it could always be worse.

Sunday was even warmer with a high of 73°, and I went for a nice walk in my t-shirt that afternoon, which suited me just fine. The weather for the whole week was a little cooler, with highs in the fifties for three days, and a cool day yesterday with a high of only 44°. The outlook for today is warmer at 57°, and, as we move into the weekend, even warmer. Thursday’s high will be in the mid-sixties, on Friday the low seventies, and on Saturday a forecast of 76°, with Sunday and Monday about the same. Lows will be in the forties up to 50° on Sunday morning.

Skies will be clear, and there is no rain in the forecast.

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† MICHAEL LYNN BARNES

A private family graveside service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, January 30, at Roscoe Cemetery for Michael Lynn Barnes, 69, of Sweetwater. He died Wednesday, January 20, in Winters, and his wishes were to be cremated.

Mike was born February 20, 1946, in Borden County. He grew up in Roscoe and was a member of the RHS class of 1964. A member of Woodmen of the World, he was a professional welder and had a love for all animals.

Survivors include his sons, Mike Barnes of Winters, Billy Barnes of Abilene, Randy Barnes and wife Pamela of Winters, Melvin Todd Barnes of Winters, and Ronald Jeffery Barnes of Sweetwater; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son Richard Dean Barnes; and his parents, M. L. and Ruth Barnes. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mccoyfh.com.

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Plowboys Down Haskell, Hamlin in District Play

Javier Leaños (4) brings the ball upcourt against Hamlin Friday evening.

The Plowboys won two more district games this past week, winning both games at home. They defeated Hamlin 47-40 on Friday and Haskell 50-36 last night. They are now 3-3 in district play. Here are the scores by quarters along with the Plowboys' individual scoring.

Plowboys 47 – Hamlin 40

Plowboys            9        26        34        47
Hamlin              15        23        31        40

Javier Leaños 20, Rafael Aguayo 10, Jose Ortega 7, Brayden Beal 2, Kevin Lavalais 2, Isaiah Gonzales 2, Johnathon Cuellar 2.

Plowboys 50 – Haskell 36

Plowboys            5        22        35        50
Haskell              13        20        23        36

Leaños 22, Aguayo 13, Ortega 6, Gonzales 6, Lavalais 3.

Next up are Stamford in Stamford on Friday and Winters in Winters next Tuesday.

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PLOWGIRLS FALL TO HASKELL, HAMLIN

Veronica Cuellar takes a long shot. She made 28 points against the Lady Pipers.

The Plowgirls lost two more district games this past week, falling to Hamlin 62-37 on Friday and to Haskell 52-34 last night. They are now 0-6 in district play.

Hamlin 62 – Plowgirls 37

Hamlin               8        20        41        62
Plowgirls          12        26        31        37

Veronica Cuellar 28, Pena 4, Bergan Trevino 2, Bonnie Wilkinson 2.

Haskell 52 – Plowgirls 34

Haskell             10        25        42        52
Plowgirls            9        16        19         34

B. Wilkinson 14, Trevino 7, Pena 5, Alejandra Solis 4, Cuellar 4.

Next up for the Plowgirls are Stamford in Stamford on Friday and Winters in Winters next Tuesday.

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NOLAN COUNTY LIVESTOCK SHOW ROSCOE CISD RESULTS

(Photo by Rachel Shipp)

Landry Turnbow had the Grand Champion Steer, Kaylee Palacios the Grand Champion Hampshire Swine, and Lynzie Atkinson the Reserve Champion Goat at the Nolan County Livestock Show in the Nolan County Coliseum this past weekend.

Here are the results for all the Roscoe Collegiate ISD FFA or 4-H students who participated in the show with their names and places their entries finished:

BROILERS
Alfonso Islas                 12
Derek Creed                  13
Kaleb Bohall                 14

RABBITS
Light Weight
Darbee Drake                7
Jaci Stewart                  11
Jaci Lawson                  12
Isabel Ortega                13

GOATS
Lynzie Atkinson            1  (Reserve Champion Goat)
Jaci Stewart                  2
Lynzie Atkinson            3

LAMBS
Finewool Light Weight
Tait Fullwood               4
Lynzie Atkinson            5

Finewool Medium Weight
Ty Fullwood                 4

Finewool Cross Medium Weight
Lynzie Atkinson           4

Southdown Heavy Weight
Lynzie Atkinson           3

Medium Wool Light Weight
Ty Fullwood                 2

Medium Wool Heavy Weight
Lynzie Atkinson           3

STEERS
Heavy Weight
Landry Turnbow           1  (Grand Champion Steer)

SWINE
Duroc Medium Weight
Max Nemir                    5
Derek Creed                  8

Hampshire Medium Weight
Brena Robison              3
Derek Creed                  4
Daxton Drake               7

Hampshire Heavy Weight
Kaylee Palacios             1  (Grand Champion Hampshire)
Justin Herrera              2

WOPB Heavy Weight
Kaylee Palacios             3
Max Nemir                    4
Phoenix Walker            6

BOPB Light Weight
Derek Creed                  7

BOPB Heavy Weight
Zeke Murphy                1
Zeke Murphy                7

Cross Heavy Weight
Max Nemir                    2
Kaylee Palacios             3
Justin Herrera              4

--o--

GRIFFITH TAX SERVICES MOVES TO NEW OFFICE

Tom Griffith has moved his Griffith Tax Services to a new office located at 100 Cypress Suite A. Entry to the office is through the front door of the Mexico Lindo Restaurant. The door will be unlocked at times when the restaurant is closed and Griffith Tax Services is open.

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TOWN HALL MEETING WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATE ISAAC CASTRO NEXT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27

Isaac Castro (R) will be the featured guest at a Town Hall meeting at the Roscoe Community Center next Wednesday at 5:00pm. Castro, a lawyer in Hamlin and the town’s former mayor, is running for State Representative of District 71, which comprises Nolan, Taylor, and Jones Counties.

The current representative, Susan King, R-Abilene, will not seek another term. She is running for the State Senate District 24 seat being vacated by Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, who is retiring.

Everyone is invited to attend.

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EARLY RELEASE AT RCISD TODAY

Roscoe students get an early release at 12:45pm today as the teachers will hold a workshop in the afternoon. Normal times resume again tomorrow.

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WEATHER REPORT

Yesterday's sunset.

There were no drastic weather events to report this past week, nothing but the kind of weather you typically expect for January in west Texas. Skies were clear to partly cloudy, and daily highs ranged from 45° on Monday to 65° last Thursday and also yesterday. Lows ranged from Monday morning’s 23° to last Thursday's 42°. Otherwise, highs were generally in the fifties or thereabouts and lows were in the thirties or upper twenties. Winds were breezy all week.

The forecast is for more of the same. Today’s high could reach 60° with highs predicted in the fifties until Sunday when it is forecast to hit 65°. Lows will be at or just below freezing on Thursday and Friday but warm into the forties on Saturday and Sunday.

Skies will be clear or partly cloudy, and there is no precipitation of any kind in the forecast.

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† EULA DEAN “DEANY” DOWNS

A Memorial Service for Eula Dean “Deany” Downs, 87, will be held at Martha Bowman United Methodist Church in Macon, GA, at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 23. She passed away in Macon, where she had been a resident since 2004.

Deany was born on March 27, 1928, in Rogers, NM. She was one of four children of J.H. and Maude Vincent and lived on their farm until they moved to Sudan, Texas. She loved music and played the coronet in the Sudan High School Band and also played the piano. She majored in music at the University of New Mexico. She met and married Robert E. Downs on January 9, 1949. They raised their two children, Robert and Karen, in Roscoe.

She was active in women’s social organizations and served as church organist at the First United Methodist Church for many years. She also served as a den mother to the cub scouts and was always active in the life of her family. She worked as a bookkeeper at the local elevator and later as bookkeeper and office manager for three different surgeons, all of whom still remained in touch with her. She later retired, but remained in Roscoe until moving to Macon in 2004. While in Macon, she remained socially active with the activities at the Gables where she lived as well as staying true to her love of music by serving as pianist for the Nan Freeman Sunday School Class.

She was preceded in death by Robert E. Downs, her husband of 35 years; and is survived by her two brothers, Coye of Baltimore, MD, and Kenneth of Lubbock; and her sister, Leota Harley of Midland. She is also survived by her two children, Robert (Bob) and wife, Jeanie, of Yorktown, VA, and Karen Rogers and husband, John, of Macon; as well as six grandchildren and five great grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will have a Viewing at Hart’s Mortuary on Friday, January 22, from 5pm to 7pm. The family requests memorials be sent to Martha Bowman United Methodist Church, or to Daybreak, PO Box 204, Macon, GA, 31202.

Hart’s Mortuary at the Cupola (www.hartsmort.com) has charge of arrangements.

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† WALTER “BUDDY” LEE CLEMENTS, JR.

Funeral services for Walter “Buddy” Lee Clements, Jr., 87, were held at McCoy Chapel of Memories in Sweetwater at 2pm on Tuesday, January 12, followed by interment at Sweetwater Cemetery. He passed away on Thursday, January 7, at Sweetwater Health Care.

Mr. Clements was born in Blackwell on October 8, 1928. On February 25, 1950, he married Doris Henderson in Sweetwater. He was a member of Lamar Baptist Church and had lived in Roscoe for the past 59 years. He was employed by El Paso Natural Gas Company for 35 years in plant operations. Then, after retiring he worked for Pri-Corp Prison at Avenger Village for four years. Buddy farmed and ranched from 1967 to 2007. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Air Force for four years in Japan.

Survivors include his wife, Doris Clements of Roscoe; sons, Larry Clements of Roscoe, Jacky Ray Clements and wife, Betty, of Batesville, Arkansas; sisters, Joann Priest of Eastland and Ruby Dressler of Iowa Park, TX; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Lee Clements, Sr., on August 13, 1987, and Minnie Anne Bayless on March 18, 2000; his son, Walter Lee Clements III on December 22, 2006; and two sisters, Virginia Carter and Helen Mearse.

Pallbearers were Dale Finch, Randy Hanes, Raymond Lambert, Norman Massey, Don Kite and Jimmy Davis. 

Ed: My apologies for missing this last week.

--o--

† MARY JO COLLINS

Graveside services for Mary Jo Collins, 69, will be at 2:00pm on Saturday, January 23, at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Sweetwater, with Dr. Perry Collins officiating. She passed away on Monday, January 17, at Rolling Plains Hospital in Sweetwater.

Ms. Collins was born on September 10, 1946 in Roscoe and grew up there. She was a graduate of Highland High School. Jo lived most of her life in Sweetwater and worked at Staton’s Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Assistant and later at U.S.G. as a Lab Technician. She was a member of Fourth and Elm Church of Christ, ABWA, and the Purple Hats Club. Jo loved watching the Dallas Cowboys. She will be missed by many friends, neighbors and family.

Survivors include her sons, Steven Collins of Katy, Dr. Perry Collins and wife, Cassie Collins, of Plainview; daughter, Misty Baron of Abilene; sister, Martha Rae Blair of Abilene; and five grandchildren, Emily Collins, Zachary Collins, Brooklyn Collins, Chandler Collins and Kristen Collins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin L. Smith on September 5, 1976, and Eula Dolly Fry Smith on November 24, 2006.

Pallbearers will be Steve Collins, Dr. Perry Collins, Cory Stroman, Larry Denton, Gary Setliff and Ron Baron.

The family will receive friends at McCoy Funeral Home from 12:30 to 1:45pm on Saturday, January 23.

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City Council Appoints New Member

City Attorney Zollie Steakley swears in new Councilman Edwin Duncan.

At its monthly meeting in City Hall yesterday evening, the City Council appointed a new member, heard the monthly update from City Manager Cody Thompson, and approved routine items.

Edwin Duncan was nominated and his appointment unanimously approved to fill the empty Council seat resulting from Councilman Ken Brawley’s resignation last month because of health issues. Duncan will serve until May, when a new Council Member is elected to serve a two-year term.

City Manager Cody Thompson began by informing the Council of the City’s B Board selection of country singer Robert Earl Keen as the feature performer at this year’s Spring Super Sunday. The festival will be in April this year and will be similar to the one held last year that featured Merle Haggard. City merchants will be open that afternoon, and Keen’s show will be in the Lumberyard.

The City is getting prices for the following projects:

     1. Roof repair for the Community Center and the Roscoe Historical Museum.
     2. Electrical plugs in Old Town Park for use in City events, and lights for the trees on the downtown sidewalks.
     3. Repair and/or upgrade for the fountain in Memorial Park.
     4. Wayfinding signage at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street. (This will point visitors to various local businesses).

The City is consulting financial advisors and bond attorneys about costs for a bond program to pave City streets. Thompson told the Council that by next month’s meeting he should have some firm figures concerning estimated project costs, funds, and fees, at which time the Council can discuss what they want to do about the proposal. An ordinance calling for a bond election would have to be approved by February 19 in order to be on the ballot in the May 7 election.

A Texas Water Development Board representative was in Roscoe on Friday and signed off on the City’s R-O Water Treatment project.

Construction on the two new homes in the Young Farm Estates subdivision will begin before the end of the month.

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NOLAN COUNTY STOCK SHOW RUNS THROUGH WEEKEND

Kids show their swine in the Nolan County Coliseum.

The annual Nolan County Junior Livestock Show begins today in the Nolan County Coliseum and runs through Saturday. Here’s the schedule:

Wednesday:
4pm                 Broilers, Rabbits, Sheep, & Goats Weigh-In

Thursday:
9am-12pm       Steers, Heifers, & Swine Weigh-In
4pm                 Goat Show, followed by Lamb Show (North side)
4pm                 Rabbit Show, followed by Broiler Show (South side)

Friday:
2pm                Steer Show
4pm                 Swine Show

Saturday:
9:30am             Sign-Up for Honorary Show
10am                 Honorary Show - Kids 2nd grade and younger
11am                  Luncheon – Lone Star Ag Credit & Skeet’s Texas Grill
1pm                   Awards, followed by Premium Sale

--o--

PLOWBOYS, PLOWGIRLS LOSE DISTRICT GAMES TO ANSON, HAWLEY

Both the Plowboys and Plowgirls had a rough week in basketball, losing two district games each, first to Anson here on Friday, then to Hawley in Hawley yesterday evening.

Here are the scores by quarters followed by individual scoring.

Anson 49 – Plowboys 36

Anson                13        22        37        49
Plowboys          10        24        31        36

Javier Leaños 15, Rafael Aguayo 14, Isaiah Gonzales 4, Jose Ortega 3.

Hawley 83 – Plowboys 34

Hawley              20        49        68        83
Plowboys             7         15        27        34

Leaños 13, Aguayo 6, Ortega 4, Johnathon Cuellar 32, Kevin Lavalais 3, Beal 2, Gonzales 2.

--o--

Anson 72 – Plowgirls 32

Anson                16        41        54        72
Plowgirls            5        13        21         32

Bonnie Wilkinson 13, Bergan Trevino 7, Veronica Cuellar 5, Karina Cisneros 5, Alejandra Solis 2.


Hawley 62 - Plowgirls 35

Hawley             20         32        53        62
Plowgirls            4          11        18         35

B. Wilkinson 11, Trevino 7, Atkinson 5, Cuellar 4, Cisneros 3, Pena 2.

The next game for both teams is on Friday when they face Hamlin here, followed by games in Haskell in Haskell next Tuesday.

--o--

MARYNEAL SHOOTER, LANCE LIGHT, DIES IN ABILENE

Sweetwater Police received confirmation from the Texas Rangers on Saturday that Lance Light, 54, died earlier that day at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene. He had been there since being shot in the head by a Sweetwater Police Officer the previous Saturday, January 2.

Light, an Abilene resident formerly of Maryneal, allegedly shot and killed Lonnie Sturdivant, 59, in Maryneal. He fled the scene and was pursued by a DPS trooper while driving to Sweetwater. He stopped at the intersection of Texas Highway 70 and I-20 and was then shot when he allegedly pointed his pistol at law enforcement officers. He was then medevac’d to Hendrick Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition until this past Saturday, when he died.

The Texas Rangers, Sweetwater Police, and Nolan County Sheriff’s Office are conducting an ongoing investigation, and the Sweetwater Policeman who shot him is on leave until the investigation is complete.

--o--

JASON EADY INSIDE AT LUMBERYARD SATURDAY

Jason Eady

Texas Country music singer Jason Eady will be playing acoustic guitar inside at the Lumberyard Saturday night. His two most recent albums, AM Country Heaven (2012) and Daylight and Dark (2014) made numbers 9 and 12 respectively on the US Heatseekers chart, and numbers 40 and 45 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

Other Jason Eady albums are From Underneath the Old (2005), Wild-Eyed Serenade (2007), and When the Money’s All Gone (2012). Singles include “Whiskey & You,” “Daylight & Dark,” “Cry Pretty,” “God Fearing Blues,” “OK Whiskey,” “The Other Side of Abilene,” and others.

Eady will appear with “special guest” singer-songwriter Courtney Patton, who also just happens to be his wife. The performance begins at about 9:30pm. The cover charge is $10. For reservations or more information, call the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

--o--

WEATHER REPORT: STILL COLD

The storm cloud approaches from the northwest Saturday evening.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week were windy and warmer than the preceding days with highs of 52°F, 63°, and 57° respectively. Lows on all three nights were around 40°. However, chilly weather returned on Saturday and has pretty much stayed that way since. Saturday’s high was only 40° with a low of 28°, Sunday’s high was 41° with a low of 24°, and Monday’s high was 50° with a low of 31°.

The storm that blew in from the northwest on Saturday evening was supposed to bring snow, but all we got was about .05” of light rain. That doesn’t sound like much, but with the ground still wet from previous rains, it was enough to create puddles.

Yesterday was much nicer. The sun came out, breezes were light, and the temperature rose to 58°. Today and tomorrow should continue the trend with highs in the lower sixties and lows around 40°. Friday will be a bit cooler with a projected high in the mid-fifties and a low in the upper thirties, and the weekend will once again be cool. Saturday’s high should be only 48° with a low of around 33°, while Sunday and Monday will have highs in the low fifties and lows in the low to mid thirties.

There is no precipitation in the forecast.

--o--

† HAZEL LEOLA NEVES

Services for Hazel Leola Neves, 89, were held on Monday, January 11, at First Baptist Church in Roscoe with Reverend David Draper officiating. Interment followed at Roscoe Cemetery. She passed away on Thursday,  January 7, at Snyder Healthcare Nursing Home. She was a resident of Snyder, formerly of Roscoe.

Ms. Neves was born on October 8, 1926, in Clarksville, Texas. She married Kenneth C. (Bill) Neves, on August 21, 1941 in DeKalb, Texas. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Roscoe, the Sweetwater V.F.W., and the Roscoe American Legion Ladies Auxiliaries for fifty plus years. She had lived in Roscoe since 1957 and in Snyder the past five years. Hazel did volunteer work at Roscoe Nursing Home and was a seamstress for Walls Industrial, as well as a homemaker.

Survivors include her daughter, Teresa Thomas of The Woodlands; sons, Ernest (Ernie) Neves of Burkett, and Norman Neves of Snyder; brother, Maxie Lincecum of Myrtle Creek, Oregon; 9 Grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth C. “BIll” Neves, on July 15, 1987, a son, Kenneth Jay Neves, in 1969, and her parents, Ora and Eula Lincecum.

Pallbearers were Lance Neves, Laura Neves, Russell Cordell, grandsons and great-grandsons.

--o--

† LONNIE O’DELL STURDIVANT

A memorial service was held at 11am on Saturday, January 9, at the First Baptist Church in Maryneal for Lonnie O’dell Sturdivant, 59, who died Saturday, January 2, at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital in Sweetwater. Graveside memorial services will be held at 11am this Saturday, January 16, at Cavness Cemetery in Mason. McCoy Funeral Home in Sweetwater is in charge of arrangements.

Lonnie was born January 21, 1956, in Hobbs, New Mexico. He married Connie Brooks October 19, 2014, in Maryneal He was raised Pentecostal and was a graduate of Mason High School in 1974. Lonnie moved to Maryneal 9 years ago from Mason. He was a truck driver and crane operator, working for Crane Services in Sweetwater. He also owned Heidi Trucking Company. He was a union member, enjoyed playing his fiddle, and was a Christian. He was a sweet soft-spoken man and considered his word as a contract.

He is survived by his wife, Connie Brooks Sturdivant, of Maryneal, sons Seth Blackwell Sturdivant of Maryneal, Michael Brandon Moore of Lometa, Eric Wade Moore of Richland Springs, sister Shirley Wilkins of New Braunfels, granddaughter Heidi Abigail Sturdivant of Abilene, and eight step grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Johnny Sturdivant, three years ago, and his parents Leonard and Iva Mae (Keith) Sturdivant.

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One Dead, One Critically Wounded in Maryneal Shooting Incident

Lonnie Sturdivant

A shooting in Maryneal left one killed and the alleged shooter critically wounded in Sweetwater on Saturday afternoon around 4pm.

Lonnie Odell Sturdivant, 59, of Maryneal, was shot and killed at his home allegedly by Lance Light, 54, of Abilene, formerly of Maryneal. Light fled the scene in a white SUV and was soon located south of Sweetwater on Texas Highway 70 by a DPS trooper, who pursued him to the intersection of I-20 and 70 in Sweetwater, where he stopped. During his arrest there, he was shot in the head and critically wounded by a Sweetwater police officer, who reportedly fired three times. According to a DPS news release, he was shot “when he produced a gun and pointed it at officers.”

KTXS-TV of Abilene reported that he went to the Sturdivant home to shoot Sturdivant’s son but shot the father instead. The son is reportedly involved in divorce proceedings and a custody battle with his ex-wife, Light’s daughter. Light is an ACU ex and former teacher at Thomas Elementary in Abilene.

The Sweetwater officer who shot Light is now on paid administrative leave, and the DPS, Texas Rangers, Nolan County Sheriff’s Office, and Sweetwater Police Department are conducting an investigation.

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FIRE ON MAIN STREET DESTROYS ZAMBRANO HOME

(fire photos by Valerie Pruitt)

According to Fire Chief Gary Armstrong, the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call at 6:56pm on Saturday of a house fire at 310 Main Street. They arrived on the scene with fire coming from the attic and did a search of the house to find that the owner, Elpidio Zambrano, was not at home. However, they did save his dog from the burning structure.

The Sweetwater Fire Department assisted with fighting the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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PLOWBOYS FALL IN EULA TOURNAMENT, WIN ONE AND LOSE ONE IN DISTRICT PLAY

The Plowboys ran into some rough sledding in the Eula Tournament last week, losing all three games they played, two to 3A schools, Jim Ned and Clyde, and one to 1A Huckabay, which doesn’t play football and whose players have been honing their basketball skills since school started.

The Plowboys did a little better in district play, winning their opener against Winters here in Roscoe on Friday 64-49, but then falling to Albany in Albany last night 57-33.

Here are the games in order with scores by quarters followed by individual Plowboy scoring:

Jim Ned 88 – Plowboys 36

Scores by Quarters
Jim Ned            24        43        68        88
Plowboys            7        11        19        36

Plowboy Scoring
Rafael Aguayo 11, Javier Leaños 10, Brayden Beal 6, Jose Ortega 4, Nick Limones 3, Johnathan Cuellar 2.

Huckabay 59 – Plowboys 40

Huckabay          13        27        43        59
Plowboys            7        19        23        40

Ortega 12, Aguayo 11, Isaiah Gonzales 6, Beal 4, Cuellar 4, Limones 3.

Clyde 77 – Plowboys 39

Clyde                23        42        51        77
Plowboys          15        25        31        39

Ortega 17, Aguayo 12, Gonzales 4, Beal 2, Clemente Aguayo 2, Limones 2.

Plowboys 64 - Winters 49
 
Plowboys          17        28        47        64
Winters               9        21        40        49

Ortega 25, R. Aguayo 19, Gonzales 10, Cuellar 4, Beal 2, Mason Hernandez 2, Limones 2.

Albany 57 – Plowboys 33

Albany                8        28        40        57
Plowboys          10        17        20        33

R. Aguayo 14, Ortega 12, Beal 3, Hernandez 2, Cuellar 2.

The Plowboys are now 1-1 in district play. Their next game is with Anson here in Roscoe on Friday. Tipoff is at 8:00pm.

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PLOWGIRLS LOSE FIRST TWO DISTRICT GAMES

The Plowgirls are 0-2 in district after losing their first two games, one to Winters 36-32 here on Friday and the other to Albany 41-26 in Albany last night. They play Anson here on Friday. The game begins at 6:00pm.

 

Winters 36 – Plowgirls 32

Winters             5          21        28        36
Plowgirls          8          16        23        32

Veronica Cuellar 16, Bonnie Wilkinson 8, Lyndi Wilkinson 3, Bergan Trevino 3.

 

Albany 41 – Plowgirls 26
Albany             16        27        34        41
Plowgirls           5        15        21        26

Cuellar 12, B. Wilkinson 5, L. Wilkinson 5, Trevino 2, Lynzi Atlinson 2.

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WEATHER REPORT: COLD

Sunrise yesterday morning.

The weather has been a mixed bag this past week, but with one common feature: it’s been colder than usual. Last Wednesday and Thursday the area was covered by a heavy fog with highs in the thirties, followed by overcast skies on Friday and a sunny Saturday followed by a beautiful sunny day on Sunday when the high of the week was 54°F with only a very slight breeze. It was cooler Monday and yesterday with highs of 48° and 46° respectively. Yesterday felt a lot colder, though, because it was windier with a wind chill in the thirties. Lows for the week ranged from 27° on Thursday to 34° Monday and yesterday.

It should be a lot warmer today with a high of around 55° with a 40% chance of light rain. Tomorrow and Friday will have partly cloudy skies and highs in the sixties but with strong, gusty southwest winds both days. The weekend will be cooler, and on Sunday evening and Monday morning there is a 50% chance of snow.

 

NOAA PREDICTS WET, COOL WEATHER AGAIN FOR NEXT THREE MONTHS

 

Precipitation outlook on left, temperature on right for January, February, and March 2016. (Click to enlarge.)

Since the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) forecast was pretty much on target for last year, I thought I'd consult it again for the first three months of this year. 

 

As you can see by the map on the left, their meteorologists say the outlook for January, February, and March in our area is for more rain than normal, indicated by the green strip that runs from central California to the Texas gulf coast. We're not projected to get as much as southern California to southwest Texas (dark green strip) but more than northern California to east Texas (light green strip).

 

That A in Arizona means above normal. The B in the northern part of the country means below normal, and the EC in the middle means equal chances for normal, above normal, or below normal.

 

The map on the right is the temperature outlook for the same three months, and the forecast for our area is for below average temperatures, unlike up north, where they'll be above average.

 

According to the NOAA, this weather pattern is being driven by El Niño, which continues to have the surface of the south Pacific Ocean much hotter than normal, the same as last year. They believe it will peak soon and then start cooling off, but just when and how much are anybody's guess. 

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