City Council Approves Audit, Sets Election Date at May 6

City Accountant Ricky Bowman gives the Council the annual audit report.

At its monthly meeting in City Hall Monday evening, the City Council had a full slate, hearing reports from City Manager Cody Thompson and City Accountant Ricky Bowman, approving and setting dates for the annual Spring Clean-up in March and a City Election in May, and approving advertising bids for cemetery maintenance.

Thompson reported on the installation of tree lighting for the downtown area as well as electrical outlets for vendor use during City festivals. The City has also purchased a light and wiring for an outdoor sign promoting Roscoe at Inadale, one which can be seen at night. The Type B Board will reimburse the City for most of the expenses. All this work should be done by the end of the month.

City workers are setting forms for a concrete slab that will be the foundation for a future shop barn. The slab will be paid for this budget year, while the building, which will cost $15k-$20k, will be built and paid for next budget year.

A new home start is planned for mid-March in Young Farm Estates.

This year’s Spring Fling will be on Saturday, April 8. Local retailers will stay open late, and talks are underway to possibly get country legend Charlie Pride to be this year’s featured artist at the Lumberyard.

The sanitary sewer grant application is still on track and the City will apply for water line replacement through the TWDB (Texas Water Development Board) before the end of the month utilizing existing engineered water line plans.

The City Council then heard and approved the annual audit report from City Accountant Ricky Bowman.  It also ordered an election be held on May 6 to fill two Council seats, namely, those currently filled by Billy Joe Jay and Helen Perry, whose two-year terms are expiring in May. Deadline for filing to run for either of these positions is this Friday, February 17.

Early voting at City Hall will run from April 24 to May 2, and on May 1 and 2 will be open from 7am-7pm. Early voting judges will be Belinda Ince and Donna Parker, and election judges on May 6 will be Jeannie McBurnett and Ann Teaff.

The Council also set the dates and times for this year’s Spring Clean-up.  It will run from 7am to 7pm starting on Friday, March 24, and conclude on Friday, March 31. The dumpsters this year will be placed by the City Barn at Third and Laurel Streets.

The Council also approved advertising bids for cemetery maintenance.

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MATTHEW BUCKLEY SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY

With his parents on either side and Coach Jake Freeman behind him, Matthew Buckley commits to Hardin-Simmons.

Family, friends, and students gathered in the RCHS Special Events Center yesterday to see Plowboy Matthew Buckley sign a letter of intent to play football at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene next year.

Buckley, a 6’1”, 250-pound senior, was named District 4-2A-II’s Offensive Line MVP in a district that sent three teams deep into the state playoffs this year. He was also on the Second-Team Offense of the Abilene Reporter-News 2A All-Big Country team, where it was noted that being “Graded at 90% with 37 pancake blocks and one sack allowed him to earn District Lineman of the Year honors.” He was also named the 2016 Plowboy Powerlifter of the Year after qualifying for Regional last year. Powerlifting is still ongoing this year, and he has already qualified for Regional again.

He is a good student and also made District 4-2A-II’s Academic All-District team. Last year he won a first-place ribbon in the research poster contest at the 4-H Round Up in College Station. He was also a member of a 4-H team that received recognition for helping to track the northern limits of sugar cane aphids. He will graduate this year with an Associate’s Degree from Western Texas College in Snyder, and HSU has awarded him a $48,000 academic scholarship.

Congratulations, Matt, and good luck at Hardin-Simmons!

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“THIRD SUNDAY” LUNCH AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER THIS SUNDAY

February 19, 11:30am-1:30pm
Menu: Homemade Beef Stew, Cornbread/Crackers, Salad, Dessert, and Drink
$7 per adults; $5 for kids 6 yrs. and under

COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS
We currently running a Rental Special for the months of January, February and March.
Hurry and Book your events!!
Call Misty Reynolds for more information – 325-338-1005.

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PLOWBOYS CONCLUDE BASKETBALL SEASON WITH LOSS AT ANSON

Plowboys left to right are Jayden Gonzales, Johnathon Cuellar, Brayden Beal, and Jose Ortega. (Photo by Zane Graves)

The Plowboys finished their basketball season last night with a loss at Anson. Last week they had losses to Stamford and Hawley. All three were district foes. Here are the stats I've received for those games:

Stamford 49 – Plowboys 35

Scoring by quarters:

Stamford          8          23        40        49
Plowboys          9          18        32        35

Individual Plowboy scoring: Jose Ortega 13, Jayden Gonzales 7, Jack Phillips 6, Brandon Lavalais 3, Johnathon Cuellar 3, Clemente Aguayo 3.

Hawley 58 – Plowboys 29

Scoring by quarters:

Hawley             20        40        49        58
Plowboys            5          7         19        29

Individual Plowboy scoring: Jayden Gonzales 11, Jose Ortega 8, Brayden Beal 4, Jack Phillips 2, Johnathon Cuellar 2.

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WEATHER REPORT: A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING, INCLUDING RAIN

It was cold, wet, and gloomy in Roscoe Monday and yesterday.

What a week it’s been for the weather! This was one of those times when the old adage was true, the one that says, “If you don’t like the weather now, just wait a few minutes.” On Saturday afternoon, skies were sunny, and the temperature in Roscoe reached an official 91°F, probably a record of some kind. A strong southwest wind was blowing, and a fire hazard warning was in effect for all of the Big Country. Two days later on Monday afternoon, skies were cloudy and rainy, a sharp, cold wind was coming from the north, and the temperature had dropped to 34°. The effect was something like walking out of an oven into a blizzard. Well, maybe not that bad, but you get the idea.

Anyway, the rain was welcome since it was the first we’d seen in about a month. Here in town, I had 1.44” in my rain gauge, while Kenny Landfried recorded an official 1.46”. Similar amounts fell north and northwest of town, but people living in places south and east reported more like two inches. In any case, everyone apparently got plenty.

The forecast today is for sunny skies and warmer weather, climbing into the mid-fifties this afternoon. The high tomorrow should be around ten degrees warmer than that, about 65°, and Friday’s and Saturday’s highs should be in the mid-seventies. Sunday will be cloudy, and right now the meteorologists are giving us an 80% chance of rain on Sunday and 40% on Monday. Then next week we’ll have highs in the seventies and lows in the low fifties as we move into March.

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† EDWIN CARLISLE FINCHER, JR.

Edwin Carlisle Fincher, Jr., 75, formerly of Roscoe, passed away on Sunday, February 12, at Hendrick Medical Facility in Abilene.

His wishes were to be cremated. Services will be planned at a later date.

Mr. Fincher was born in Lamesa on October 10, 1941. He grew up in Sweetwater and attended Sweetwater High School. He was a carpenter and lived in Sweetwater the last twenty years of his life.

Survivors include his wife, Charlene Fincher of Sweetwater; son, Jeff Fincher of Sweetwater; daughter, Pamela Box of Sweetwater; sister, Pat McNiel of Stephenville; 4 grandchildren, Molly Sims and husband, Chase, of Abilene; Brandon Box and wife, Erica, of Ellicott City, Maryland; Hannah Box of Plainview, and Kevin Box of San Angelo; 4 great-grandchildren and several cousins.

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