Keegan Covington in Serious Condition after Shooting Accident

Keegan Covington

Keegan Covington, 9, of Roscoe is still in serious condition in Lubbock after being accidentally shot at a ranch near Roby on Saturday. He and a family friend were riding in a four-wheeler when the friend, an adult who has not been named by authorities, used a 9-millimeter pistol to kill a non-poisonous snake. He was reloading when the gun went off, hitting Keegan in the back. The bullet pierced both lungs and caused multiple fractures.

While Keegan was being transported by helicopter to Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, he went into cardiac arrest but was resuscitated, and according to reports, family friends say he is not in danger of lasting brain damage.

Fisher County Sheriff Allan Arnwine told KTXS that the shooting is being investigated as an accident and no arrests have been made. He did say, however, that alcohol could have been a factor.

Yesterday, Keegan underwent surgery, and according to reports the operation was successful. The hole in the right lung was repaired, and the doctor didn’t have to take any out. He said Keegan’s vitals are also good.

Keegan's aunt has set up a GoFundMe account for those who wish to help by donating. Updates on the child’s condition can be found on a Facebook page, Prayers for Keegan Covington.

His family has released this statement:

 “We would like to thank the community for their support and encouragement at this time and ask everyone for their continued thoughts and prayers for our sweet boy. We ask for and appreciate the privacy while Keegan recovers.”

(This report was compiled from articles and news reports by KTXS, KRBC, KCBD, KLBK, the Big Country homepage, and the Prayers for Keegan Facebook page. News of this incident has gone viral nationally as I noticed articles last night in such far-flung newspapers as the Miami Herald, Kansas City Star and Sacramento Bee.)

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CITY COUNCIL HEARS REPORTS, CONDUCTS BUSINESS

City Manager Cody Thompson informs the City Council.

At its monthly meeting in City Hall last night, the Roscoe City Council received updates from City Manager Cody Thompson and Police Chief Felix Pantoja, installed two Council Members for new 2-year terms, appointed a Mayor Pro-Tem, and selected a company to assist in applying for and managing a Texas Community Development Block Grant.

City Manager Cody Thompson reported that preparations continue for the upcoming July 4^th Celebration, which will be held this year on Saturday, June 30. Fireworks have been ordered and will be picked up on June 22.

The remaining funds ($24,000) from the Texas Water Development Board will be used to video and clean problem sanitary sewer lines.

Seal coating preparations are underway for this summer’s sealcoating of City streets by City and County workers.

A new pool sweep had to be purchased for the City Swimming Pool, but all is going well there at this time.

Police Chief Felix Pantoja gave his monthly Police Report, saying that May was a busy month. The Department had 114 calls for assistance, issued 3 citations, and dealt with three vehicle crashes, 14 burglaries of vehicles, and 2 burglaries of buildings (VP Tire & Service, and Plowboy Center Lodge). He said that they have a suspect for the vehicle burglaries and the cases will be presented to the next Grand Jury. He also said that one police vehicle is back from the Ford shop after taking care of recalls, and the other one will be gone for a week at the Chevy shop.

The Council appointed Councilman Robert McBride to be Mayor Pro-Tem for the coming year. It also swore in Council Members Edwin Duncan and Robert McBride to new two-year terms. Both ran unopposed for new terms in the recent City election.

Finally, the Council appointed A & J Howco Services to assist in applying for and managing a Texas Community Development Block Grant for future development on the City’s north side.

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SAINTS ELEVEN AT THE LUMBERYARD FRIDAY

Saints Eleven

Saints Eleven will be at the Lumberyard Friday evening singing a mix of Texas Country, Red Dirt, and honky tonk. The band is originally from Midlothian, just south of Dallas, and is well known at clubs in the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex.

Composed of Jeff Grossman, Alex Shepherd, Ivan L.Pierce  and Alex Johnson, the band’s most recent albums are  Saints Eleven: One Night at a Time and Coming Back Around. Singles include “I’ll Be Fine,” “One Night at a Time,” “Just for Tonight,” “Turns to Rust,” and “Man in the Water.”  

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

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WEATHER REPORT: BIG STORM IN CHAMPION

Clouds in the eastern sky this morning.

There was only thunder, lightning, and wind in Roscoe Friday night, but no rain, hail, or possible tornadoes like there was in Champion and points west like the Loraine and Colorado City areas. Roofs were blown off a couple of houses, center pivot sprinklers were seriously damaged, and there was extensive hail and wind damage with trees stripped of their leaves.  Areas west and north of town got varying amounts of rain, although not even enough to measure fell in Roscoe and Sweetwater.

The heat wave continued with three of the last seven days hitting the 100° mark and the other four in the mid to upper nineties. The high temperature was last Wednesday’s 103°, and the lowest maximum was Friday’s 94°. The low temperature for the week was Friday’s 68°.

Farmers are planting cotton now, and much of the local area needs rain although chances are slight until next Monday. Skies will be sunny through Sunday with winds from the south. The heat will abate slightly with highs of around 95° today, tomorrow, and Friday. Saturday’s high is forecast to be 93° and Sunday’s only 90°.

Then, chances for rain are good starting on Monday and running through Thursday, or at least that’s what the meteorologists are currently predicting. They are giving 40%-50% chances for all those days. Let’s hope they’re right, and we get a good rain without any accompanying hail or high winds.

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† DANNY DEAN THOMPSON

Services for Danny Dean Thompson, 80, of Champion will be tomorrow, June 14, at 2pm at Champion Baptist Church with Brother Bruce Parsons officiating. Interment will follow in the Champion Cemetery directed by McCoy Funeral Home. He passed away on Sunday, June 10, surrounded by his family. 

Danny was born January 26, 1938, at the Mesquite Community, Nolan County. He graduated from Highland High School in 1956. He married Priscilla Booth Givens June 22, 1957 in Loraine. He was a life-long resident of Nolan County and a member of Champion Baptist Church. Danny spent his life working as a farmer and being a good neighbor. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Claude Arline and Paralee (Gillean) Thompson.

He is survived by his wife Priscilla Thompson of Champion; a son, Brad Thompson and wife Dawn of Champion; two daughters. Debby Bankhead and husband Wendell of Champion and Lisa Thompson of Champion; two brothers, Thomas Thompson of Midkiff, TX and C. J. (Claude, Jr.) of Pasadena, TX; a sister, Peggy Newcomb and husband Walter (Buddy) of Austin; five grandchildren, Brandon Bankhead and wife Kerry of Champion, Bryan Bankhead and wife Jennifer of Champion, Mandy Mitchell Bain and husband Ryan of Amarillo, Megan Paralee Thompson of San Angelo, and Laramie Thompson of Champion; and eight great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be grandsons Brandon Bankhead, Bryan Bankhead, Ryan Bain, Laramie Thompson, Kaden Nachlinger, Kameryn Bankhead, Blayne Bankhead, Johnny Mitchell, Blake Bankhead.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Deacons of the Champion Baptist Church. 

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† SANDRA JO BUCKNER

Funeral services for Sandra Jo Buckner, 71, will be held tomorrow, June 14, at 10:00am at McCoy Chapel of Memories with Kirk Maberry officiating. Burial will follow at Roscoe Cemetery. She died on Monday, June 11, in Abilene.

Visitation will be held today, June 13, 2018 from 6-8pm at McCoy Funeral Home in Sweetwater.

The daughter of Claire and Fredrick Bemenderfer, Sandy was born in Rochester, Indiana, on September 30, 1946. She was married to Michael D. “Buck” Buckner from August 19, 1972, until the time of her passing.

Sandy was the proud owner and operator of Buck’s Steaks and Bar-B-Que. What she loved most about the business operations was making sure all her employees and customers felt like they were part of the family. She was most passionate about her children, grandchildren, and her fur baby, “Buster the cat.” She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her family, traveling, and taking trips with her beloved husband, Buck. She had been a resident of Sweetwater 26 years and graduated from Newman High School in 1964.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Buck of Sweetwater; her two sons, Ronald Lee Hines, Jr., and wife Denise of Sweetwater and Michael Jo Buckner and wife Annlyn of Sweetwater; her grandchildren, Brittney Espinosa and husband Gilbert, and Brett and Emma Buckner; her brothers, Sonny Baldwin and wife Leonila of Lockhart, and Fredrick Bemenderfer and wife Janet of Plano; sisters, Paulette Elliott and husband Billy of Idaho, and Colleen Garcia and husband Glenn of Dallas; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Brett Buckner, Chad Pierce, Evan Garcia, Freddie Saldivar, Todd Jones, and Robert Carey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Nolan County Shrine Club, P.O. Box 1232, Sweetwater, Texas 79556 or to one’s favorite charity.

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† THEDA JO MOORE

Services for Theda Jo Moore, 90, of Roscoe, formerly of Paris, Texas, were held on Monday, June 11, at 2pm at Bell-Cypert-Seale Funeral Home of Snyder with Rev. Ben Reid officiating. A private family graveside service followed. She died on Saturday, June 9, at Goodlife Senior Living in Snyder.

Mrs. Moore was born on Thursday, April 19, 1928, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Elbert and Blanche (Whitener) Heuschober. She married A. C. Moore on Monday, June 2, 1947 in Fort Worth. He preceded her in death on March 29, 2009.

Theda was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Paris and was involved in the Paris 4-H Club, the Lamar County Livestock Association, and the Red River Valley Fair Association. She was also involved in the Snyder Gold Coats, Home Demonstration Club, and the Scurry County Senior Citizens Center.

She is survived by her sons, Steve Moore and wife Renee of Roscoe and Mark Moore and wife Beth of Salida, Colorado; grandchildren, Chelsie Richard and husband Ryan of Dallas, Lindsey Robinson of Dallas, Leslie Wakefield and husband Clayton of Katy, Tara Moore of Dallas, and Marly Segura and husband Martin of Aurora, Colorado.

She was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Moore.

Memorials can be made to Scurry County Senior Citizens Center, Second Chance Dog Rescue, or your favorite charity. Online condolences may be posted at www.bellcypertseale.com.

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