Election Puts New Faces on School Board, City Council

The election results as reported on KTAB-TV Saturday night.

In what many considered something of a surprise, two incumbents, one on the RCISD School Board, the other on the Roscoe City Council, were passed over in favor of first-time candidates in the local election on Saturday. The School Board will have two new members in Edward “Spider” Herrera and Kenny Hope, Jr. David Pantoja is a former member who is back after a break, and James Arnwine is a returning incumbent. Steve Anthony, who was running for re-election, came up a few votes short, as did first-time candidate Christie Galvan. The Members of the School Board are now Jason Freeman, Wes Williams, Frankie Santiago, David Pantoja, Spider Herrera, and Kenny Hope, Jr.

In the Roscoe City Council election, KC Hope had more votes than either incumbent and replaces long-time member Helen Perry, while incumbent Billy Joe Jay returns for another two-year term. The Council is now made up of Robert McBride, Billy Joe Jay, Suzie Alford, Edwin Duncan, KC Hope, and Mayor Pete Porter.

--o--

CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES NEW MEMBER, CONDUCTS BUSINESS

City Secretary Donna Parker swears in new Council Member KC Hope, left, and Billy Joe Jay.

At its monthly meeting in City Hall yesterday evening, the City Council heard reports from the City Manager and Police Chief and swore in the two winners of Saturday’s election, incumbent Billy Joe Jay and new member KC Hope, to two-year terms. The Council also joined in expressing appreciation to Police Officer Dickie Summers upon his retirement from the Roscoe Police Force and to outgoing Council Member Helen Perry for her long service to the City both as a Council Member and as former director of the Community Center. It also approved Atmos Energy Corporation’s negotiated settlement regarding the company’s 2017 rate review filings, a routine legal procedure that must be done every year.

City Manager Cody Thompson reported that a plan will be put together with RCISD school officials regarding regulations for school zone traffic on Main Street near the Early Childhood Center, which is opening when school resumes in August. The plan will also involve the Texas Department of Transportation since Main Street is also a state highway, FM 608, and must conform to state regulations regarding school zone speed limits, cell phone usage, and possible installation of warning lights.

The City will re-work 7th Street from Ash Street east to Main Street starting in mid to late May. The finished street will not have the inversion as it does between Ash and Cedar since there is a slight natural drop from Ash to Main, so drainage will not be a problem. The street will also be widened and sealcoated later in the summer during the annual City-County sealcoat program. Estimated cost to the City will be $28,000, which will be taken from the Street Maintenance Fund.

The sanitary sewer improvements by Whitney Underground Utilities should begin this week. Equipment and supplies are still being delivered.

Business investors from Fort Worth/Weatherford will visit within the next couple of weeks to see about putting in a Travel Center at or near the intersection of FM 608 and US 84 on the Young Farm property. One investor has already visited the property and will be visiting this time with an additional partner.

Police Chief Felix Pantoja gave the Police Report for April. The Department had 101 calls for service and 3 crash reports. It filed 4 cases and issued 17 traffic warnings and 3 citations. The Department’s grant application for $6,225.10 for new radios was approved by the West Central Texas Council of Governments, and new handheld radios and radios for police vehicles have been purchased.

The Council then approved the appointment of Rita Norwood as manager of the City Swimming Pool this summer.

City Hall will be closed on Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day.

--o--

ROSCOE COLLEGIATE ISD SETS NEW STANDARD FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS

(RCISD Press Release)

RCHS Western Texas College graduates.

On Friday, May 5, 2017, twenty-seven of twenty-eight (96%) of the entire Roscoe Collegiate Independent School District’s (RCISD) senior class graduated from Western Texas College in Snyder with the Associate Degree, two weeks before they will cross the high school graduation stage in Roscoe.

Already a state and national leader in college and career readiness as an Early College/STEM Academy, RCISD continues to elevate the standard. Now in Year 9 as an Early College, the first year in 2009 RCISD had one graduate, followed by 38%, 52%, 58%, 73%, and 89% in 2014. Then, in 2015 the District reached its target of 90%, followed by 92% in 2016, and 96% in 2017. Of those 96% graduating from Roscoe Collegiate this year with the Associate Degree, 96% have also earned industry recognized workforce endorsements.

Now as the District continues to raise the bar as a state and national model, The Roscoe Collegiate P-20 System Model for Student Success, RCISD has begun negotiations with Four Year Universities to bring Four Year and Graduate Degree Programs to Roscoe, thereby enabling the District to reach another target, which is 90% of its graduates completing Four Year Degrees and 50% of its graduates completing Graduate Degrees by 2025. If successful in bringing the Four Year and Graduate Degree opportunities to Roscoe, that program will also be made available to young and mid-career adults from Roscoe and surrounding areas, as part of a Local Rural Economic Development Effort for Nolan County.

--o--

COMMUNITY CENTER TRADE DAY THIS SATURDAY, MAY 13

The Roscoe Community Center at 100 Bois d'Arc will hold its May Trade Day this Saturday from 8am to 4pm.

16 vendors will be on hand for your shopping convenience.
The concession stand will be serving
Breakfast Burritos  $2
Fancy burritos for lunch. $5
Plain Jane. burritos. $4
Plus lots of snacks
Come out and shop the trades day and all the local businesses!

------

Third Sunday Lunch
May 21 - 11:30am-1:30pm
Mexican Pile On, dessert and drink $7
So mark your calendars!!

--o--

CENTRAL ROLLING PLAINS CO-OP HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING

Co-op members gathered for supper before last night's meeting at the School.

The Central Rolling Plains Co-op treated its stockholders to a fish and chicken dinner last night at the Roscoe School Cafetorium, catered by River Smith of Lubbock.  Items of business included the manager’s report, regional reports, audit report and the election of Ricky Bowman as Vice President and James Parrott as Board member. Steve Moore is the President and Leslie Rannefeld the Secretary. Roddy Alexander and Tanner Martin were elected to the Advisory Board. 

At the Co-op’s Open House at the gin last fall, members were challenged to guess the number of bales the gin would produce for the year with a $100 prize going to the person getting the closest without going over the actual amount.  The winner of that challenge was Tanner Martin, who guessed 87,565 bales.  The final total for the year was 87,827.

Dividend checks and equity retirement checks were also distributed and door prizes awarded.

Stockholders who were unable to attend last night's meeting may pick up their checks at the Co-op office at 102 Pecan St. until Friday afternoon, after which the remaining ones will be mailed to recipients.

--o--

WILKINSON SISTERS FEATURED ON KTXS-TV EVENING NEWS

(Photo by KTXS-TV)

If you were watching the 6 or 10 o’clock news on KTXS-TV Monday evening, you were treated to a sports feature on the Plowgirls’ Wilkinson sisters, Bonnie and Lyndi, who will be going to the state track & field finals in Austin this weekend. Lyndi will be running in the 800-meter race, while Bonnie will participate in both the 400-meters and the triple jump. And both will be part of the Plowgirls' 4 x 400-meter relay along with Jaci Alexander and Jaleigh Morales. The video segment is also available online on the Big Country Homepage. You can access it by clicking here.

--o--

BIG WEEKEND AT THE LUMBERYARD WITH GARY P. NUNN FRIDAY, JOHNNY BUSH SATURDAY

Gary P. Nunn

Large crowds are expected at the Lumberyard this weekend as Gary P. Nunn and the Bunkhouse Band return on Friday night and Johnny Bush and the Bandoleros perform on Saturday.

Gary P. Nunn was a pioneer of the outlaw music scene in Austin in the 1970s when he played with Willie Nelson, Michael Murphy, and Jerry Jeff Walker and has been a fixture of the Texas music scene ever since. Over the years he’s received numerous awards, including induction into the West Texas Walk of Fame, and in 1985 Texas Governor Mark White named him Texas’ Official Ambassador to the World. Best known for songs such as “London Homesick Blues,” “What I Like About Texas,” “Love is Just a Two-Step Away,” and others, he and his Bunkhouse Band take pride in being a dance band as well as a show band. In February, they were named the 2017 Ameripolitan “Honky-Tonk Band of the Year.” So, bring your dancing shoes when you come Friday evening.

Johnny Bush

And for Johnny Bush and the Bandoleros, let’s hope that “the third time’s the charm” for him and the Lumberyard. He first came to the Lumberyard three or four years ago, but when he did, so did a norther. It was so cold that only the bravest showed up, and many people who wanted to see him stayed at home. Then, back in April, he was scheduled again, but his appearance had to be postponed because of cold weather and high winds. This Saturday, however, if the weather forecast is anything close to correct, this country legend and his band will finally be able to put on the kind of show they’ve wanted to all along. The forecast is for a beautiful evening with temperatures in the eighties and upper seventies, clear skies, and a light south breeze.

Over his long career, he has produced 23 albums. Songs he is best known for include “Undo the Right,” “Whiskey River,” “Each Time,” “You Gave Me a Mountain,” “I’ll Be There,” “There Stands the Glass,” and “Green Snakes on the Ceiling.”

Both performances will begin around 9:30pm. For reservations and more information, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

--o--

WEATHER REPORT: COOL AND WINDY

Saturday's sunset.

The weekend was warm with temperatures peaking at 90°F on Saturday and 89° on Sunday, but otherwise the days were much cooler than one would expect for May. The highs last Wednesday and Thursday were both only 73° with 81° on Friday. Then on Monday and yesterday they were 76° and 72° respectively. The lows were not that low, however. The lows for the week were 48° on Thursday and Friday morning, but on Sunday and Monday morning the lows were 61°, while yesterday morning was a humid 65° and this morning 67°.

The winds were also noticeable most of the week with high winds from 17-22mph for the past five days with gusts up to 29—until last night when the gusts were up to 37. The weekend was clear, while Monday and yesterday were overcast. But the most important aspect of the weather was once again the lack of any rainfall. May is typically the rainiest month of the year, but so far we haven’t got a drop, and the ground is dry with cracks.

There is a 30% chance of rain and isolated thunderstorms today with afternoon temperatures returning to the mid to high 80s for the rest of the week. After today, the next day with a chance of rain is on Sunday when once again there will be a 30% chance with isolated thunderstorms. Beyond that, you have to wait until Wednesday and Thursday of next week, that is, unless something happens the meteorologists can’t foresee at this time.

But it is May, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

--o--