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In the Heart of the Blackland Divide

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is this evening, so remember to buy some trick-or-treat candy if you haven’t already done so, and keep in mind that some kids will be out trick-or-treating and walking the streets before and after sundown.

The Baptist Church is hosting a “Trunk or Treat” at 6:00 this evening, and the Church of Christ is holding theirs at 7:00. A large number of kids will be participating at one or the other—or both—and that’s become the norm for the way Halloween is celebrated these days.

That’s not the way it was in Roscoe fifty or sixty years ago. Back then, no one had heard of sickos lacing the candy with razor blades or LSD. I doubt that there was any less crime back then than there is today, but with the media being so much less of our lives then, people didn’t know or think about it as much. So, there was less regard for potential dangers, and, as a result, the holiday was celebrated differently.

For starters, “trick-or-treat” meant trick or treat.  If we kids said, “Trick or treat,” and the person who answered the door didn’t give us some candy or if they told us to go away, then a “trick” was fair game. I can remember carrying a piece of soap to write with on window screens in case of such an eventuality, and I can also remember kids with toilet paper as well. Mischief was in the air.

And unless we were pre-schoolers, there were no adults out walking us around. When we were ready to go, our parents told us to behave ourselves, and then they went back in the house while we headed out in small groups for a night of adventure with masks on our faces and empty paper sacks that we were anxious to fill.

We roamed the town knocking on doors and hoping to hit the jackpot with candy. As far as treats went, the best were not pre-packaged but home-made candy apples or caramel popcorn balls—although getting something like a Milky Way or Three Musketeers was a rare and treasured gift. Usually, though, the treat was something like candy corn, marshmallow peanuts, Kits, Tootsie Rolls, or some other kind of penny candy.

And prank playing was a regular part of the evening, especially for the older kids. While the younger ones were trick-or-treating, teenagers were out prowling around and running in packs looking for some kind of monkey business to get involved in. Those big enough to be going around in cars sometimes had water balloons, and if you were a kid walking the streets, you had to watch out for them.

When we got back home from our trick-or-treating, we emptied our sacks onto the table and checked out our take for the evening, and, if our mothers weren’t watching too closely, we ate too much of it, starting with the best first.

Still, although Halloween has changed over the years, I expect today's kids enjoy the holiday as much as we did—just in a different way.  


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HANNAH WARD WINS AT NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION
(from the press release of the Texas FFA Association)

Hannah Ward and Caleb Boren at the National FFA Convention.
Hannah Ward was the national winner of her division at the 91st Annual National FFA Convention in Indianapolis last weekend. Competing in Animal Systems, Division 3, her project topic was the Effects of Various Disinfectants on Bacteria Growth in a Veterinary Clinic. This was her second trip to the National FFA Agriscience Fair. Last year, she was a silver medalist with her project in Division 1 of Animal Systems.

Caleb Boren also received a gold medal for placing 6th in Animal Systems, Division 5. His topic was the Effects of Breed and Gender on Cardiac Ultrasound in Canines. Both he and Hannah are members of the Roscoe FFA Chapter.

Guest speakers at the Convention included President Donald Trump, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, and Secretary of Agriculture Sunny Perdue.

Hannah and Caleb, along with other members of the nation’s largest agricultural youth leadership organization, spent the week attending leadership workshops, participating in events and activities, being recognized for their achievements, and serving as the legislative body for the National FFA Association.

The Agriscience Fair fuses the traditional science fair with agriculture. FFA members conduct cutting edge agricultural research to compete in categories such as biochemistry and microbiology, environmental science, zoology, botany, and engineering. Sponsors were Cargill, Chevrolet, Bayer, Corteva Agriscience, Darling Ingredients, John Deere, Sygenta, Farmer’s Pantry, and Wrangler. The Animal Systems Divisions of the Agriscience Fair was sponsored by Zoetis. FFA gives students the opportunity to apply practical classroom knowledge to real world experiences through local, state and national competitions. For more information about the National FFA, visit www.ffa.org.

Congratulations, Hannah and Caleb!


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HASKELL KNOCKS OFF PLOWBOYS, 48-28


An unidentified Plowboy tackles the Haskell ball carrier as Xavier Frith (40) and Roman Garza (58) close in. (Football photos by Tamara Alexander.)
Halloween came early for the Plowboys in Haskell Friday evening as a series of first-half miscues put them in a hole they never got out of, and the Indians built a 35-0 lead before cruising to a 48-28 victory.

Roscoe received the opening kickoff, but on the first play from scrimmage the center snapped the ball over the quarterback’s head and Haskell recovered at the one-yard line. They quickly followed with their first touchdown and a 7-0 lead. That set the tone for a half in which Roscoe committed four turnovers—three fumbles and an interception. By the end of the first quarter, Haskell had scored two more touchdowns on long pass plays, one covering 46 yards and the other 36 yards, for a commanding 21-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Haskell scored twice more on pass plays of 9 and 53 yards while holding the Plowboy offense scoreless to increase their lead to 35-0. Right before the half, however, Jayden Gonzales hit Brandon Lavalais with a 16-yard touchdown pass to put the Plowboys on the scoreboard. Jose Ortega kicked the extra point, and the halftime score was 35-7.

The Plowboys scored first in the third quarter on 43-yard pass from Lavalais to Junior Martinez to narrow the score to 35-14. But Haskell responded with another scoring drive, and at the end of three, the score was 41-14.

Roscoe scored twice more in the fourth quarter, the first on a 48-yard pass play from Gonzales to Ortega, and the second on a 23-yarder from Gonzales to Martinez. After the second, Jathan Coale ran for the two-point conversion, and the score was 41-28. With 5:23 left in the game, Haskell’s lead had been cut to 13 points.

But that was as close as the Plowboys ever got, as Haskell responded with a final TD with 2:03 left to make the final score 48-28.

Along with the scoring, Haskell led the Plowboys in the stats with 442 to 291 total yards and 24 first downs to Roscoe’s 16. They also led in time of possession with 34:43 to 13:17 and had only one turnover to the Plowboys’ four.

Gonzales completed 24 of 38 passes for 3 TDs with one interception, and Lavalais was 2 for 2 for 24 yards and 1 TD. Leading receivers were Martinez with 8 catches for 150 yards and 2 TDs, Ortega with 8 for 115 and 1 TD, and Lavalais with 6 for 44 and 1 TD. The Plowboys’ leading rusher was Jaythan Coale with 2 carries for 17 yards.

Jacob Rainey led the defense with 8 tackles, while Ortega had 7½, Xavier Frith had 7, Gary Shaw 6½, Lavalais 4½, and Jordan Blain 4. Others had 3½ or fewer.    


Plowboys vs. Baird Bears at Plowboy Field Friday

The Plowboys get another chance for their first district victory on Friday when Baird comes to town. The Bears are 4-4 on the season but with all four wins against non-district opponents. They beat Grape Creek 30-0, Irion County 48-7, Miles 25-13, and Roby 48-7, while losing to Menard 40-18. However, like Roscoe, they are 0-3 in district play, losing to Albany 48-12, Cross Plains 25-6, and Hamlin 62-0. They are led on offense by quarterback Trace Price and running back Jax Bellar, and on defense by Bellar.

This game is a good opportunity for the Plowboys to break out of their losing streak and get back on the winning track. Making the playoffs is still a mathematical possibility, but it will require a victory over Baird here Friday followed by at least a twelve-point victory over Cross Plains in Cross Plains next week.

Kickoff at Plowboy Field is at 7:00pm.


--o--

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS ON SUNDAY


This coming Sunday, November 4, 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, time with the family, catching up on undone chores, indulging in a 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.

As it is, though, 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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WEATHER REPORT: BEAUTIFUL DAYS, THEN MORE RAIN


This morning my garden is once again a pool of water.
The past week was a welcome change from the rain, cool temperatures, and cloudiness of the previous weeks. Puddles were still around but decidedly smaller than they were this time last week. Skies cleared, the sun came out, and days were warmer, some of them as beautiful as could be asked for with only light breezes, if that. Thursday’s high was 68°F, Friday’s 75°, and Saturday’s 79°. Then from Sunday through yesterday, the highs reached into the low eighties under sunny skies. Evenings were also warmer with lows in the mid-fifties.

However, all that came to a halt with the arrival of a cool front yesterday evening as the sky clouded over and temperatures began to drop.


Then, this morning starting at four or five o'clock, I think, the rain began to fall. By 7:30, it was a full-blown thunderstorm with thunder crashing, lightning flashing, and rain pouring out of the sky. At 8:00, the National Weather Service put Roscoe and the surrounding area under a significant weather advisory as rain continued to fall. The storm lasted about another hour before letting up, although a light rain is still falling. 

Roscoe weatherman Kenny Landfried reports that as of 10:00am, Roscoe has officially received 2.1". Others have contacted me with amounts from 1.5" to more than 3".  Unfortunately, rain is forecast to continue throughout the day today.


That will change tomorrow, however, as the sun breaks through the clouds and temperatures warm up to 59°.  Chances for rain will drop to 10% or so. By Friday, the clouds will be gone, and the afternoon high will reach about 68°, warming to 73° on Saturday with strong southwest winds. Sunday will be slightly cooler with a high of 65° but much less windy.

Chances for more rain will not return until the following Saturday and Sunday when they reach 40%.


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Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Pat Green, Steve Helms at Lumberyard Saturday

Pat Green
The last time Pat Green came to the Lumberyard, the population of Roscoe roughly doubled while he was here. He planned an encore return in September, but a big storm between here and Dallas prevented it, and his show was postponed to a later date. 

That date arrives this Saturday, and this time the forecast is for sunny skies with an afternoon high in the seventies, so all systems are go for a big evening. And this time, Steve Helms, whose song, “Nowhere But Texas,” is played at Texas Rangers games, will be opening for Green. With those two and their bands performing, it should be a memorable Saturday night for Roscoe and the Lumberyard.

A native Texan, Pat Green got his start in Lubbock playing gigs while attending Texas Tech. He committed to music as a career in 1997, and his first step toward national recognition came when he played at Willie Nelson’s 4th of July picnic in 1998.

He later earned major-label support in Nashville and since then has become an icon of Texas country for a whole generation of fans. Among other achievements, his albums have sold over two million copies, he’s been nominated for three Grammy awards, and he has sold out the Astrodome.

Since 2001, he has produced six studio albums, Three Days, Wave on Wave, Lucky Ones, Cannonball, What I’m For, and Home.
Top singles include “Wave on Wave,” “Don’t Break My Heart Again,” “While I Was Away,” “Feels Just Like it Should,” “Three Days,” and “Songs About Texas.”  His most recent single is “Friday’s Coming,” released in July.

Steve Helms
Steve Helms is originally from Cleburne, and his song, “Nowhere But Texas," besides the Ranger games, is also played at University of Texas sporting events, Lone Star Park horse races, and elsewhere. There’s even a Nowhere But Texas brand of beer now.

He released his latest album, Can I Buy You a Country Song, earlier this year. Other albums include Nowhere But Texas, and Red Wine and Copenhagen.

Singles include “Can I Buy You a Country Song,” “Wanted Woman,” and “Talkin’ ‘Bout the Weather.”

Check out this video of “Nowhere But Texas,” and see how many of the celebrities in it you can name.

The Lumberyard will also have live music on Friday when Max Stallings comes to town.


Max Stallings

Max Stallings is a country singer/songwriter from Carrizo Springs with a master’s degree from Texas A&M. After college, he worked at Frito-Lay in Dallas before embarking full-time on a music career. He now plays about 150 shows a year and is in his third year of a Budweiser sponsorship. He has produced four studio albums and two live ones and has a star in the South Texas Music Hall of Fame.

Popular Max Stallings singles include “Runnin’ Buddy,” “The Pila Song,” “Last Dog,” “I-35,” “I Ain’t Drinkin’ Alone,” and “Bass Run.”

The Friday night show begins at 9:00pm. The Saturday night show begins at 8:00pm. For reservations and more information, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.


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T. GRAHAM BROWN AT THE WEST TEXAS WIND FESTIVAL


Video clip of T. Graham Brown's performance at the West Texas Wind Festival in downtown Roscoe Saturday evening.

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ALBANY ROLLS OVER PLOWBOYS 49-6


Ryan Highsmith, left, and Garrett Bowers, right, bring down the Albany ball carrier as Gary Shaw (32) and Junior Martinez (4) close in. (Football photos by Tamara Alexander.)
It was another tough game for the Plowboys Friday night as Albany methodically ground them down in a 49-6 victory at Plowboy Field. It was the Plowboys’ third consecutive one-sided loss, and the outcome was never in doubt after the first quarter.

The Plowboy defense managed to hold the Lions to only one TD in the first quarter, but the offense never got untracked, managing only two first downs the entire first half. The first came on their first possession and the second shortly before the half after Albany had taken a commanding 28-0 lead. Otherwise, all the Plowboys’ first-half possessions were three-and-outs that ended in punts.

In the third quarter after two more Lion TDs, the Plowboys scored on a 26-yard pass from Jayden Gonzales to Junior Martinez to narrow the score to 42-6, but Albany scored once more in the fourth to make it 49-6, the game’s final outcome.

There is little doubt that the 2-5 Plowboys have had the misfortune this year of playing three very good teams in a row. Gruver, Hamlin, and Albany all seem destined to go deep in the playoffs. And, it may be difficult for the Plowboys to get fired up after those devastating losses, but they will have to do just that if they want to make it to the playoffs this year.


Plowboys vs. Haskell in Haskell Friday

They need to get back on the winning track by beating the Indians in Haskell Friday evening, and they should be able to do that. Like the Plowboys, the Indians are 0-2 in district play. They have only one victory so far this season, a 34-7 defeat of Munday on September 14. Otherwise, all their other games have resulted in losses, to Quanah 42-14, Brady 56-12, Stamford 42-8, Cross Plains 19-14, and Hamlin this past week 48-7. They are led on offense by quarterback Reed Roewe and on defense by linebacker Caleb Wright.

Kickoff at Indian Stadium is at 7:00pm.


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COMMUNITY CENTER ANNOUNCES NOVEMBER EVENTS


Thanksgiving Lunch

The Roscoe Community Center will be having its Annual Thanksgiving Lunch November 4 at the Community Center at 100 Bois d’Arc from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm.

Come enjoy a complete Thanksgiving Lunch complete with turkey & dressing, ham and all the trimmings, with drink and dessert.

This is a FREE MEAL to all people in the community, so mark your calendars and make plans to join us!!

If anyone has any questions or would like to help, contact Connie Baize at 325-338-1287.


Holiday Trades Day

The Roscoe Community Center will be having a Holiday Trades Day & Open House,

Saturday, Nov. 10 - 8am-4pm
Sunday, Nov 11 - 1pm-5pm

We will have vendor booths set up both days to help you get your Christmas shopping started.

Be sure to come in both days, as we have a gift basket loaded with lots of great things to give away each day. We will also have a concession stand open Saturday and will be serving Breakfast and Lunch. So come eat with us. It will be good!

On Sunday, we will be participating with the Roscoe city-wide businesses’ Christmas Open House and serving refreshments.

For questions or information on Booth Rental, contact Misty Reynolds at 325-338-1005.


Other News

The Roscoe Community Center is getting a new floor!   Thanks to all the support and donations from Roscoe citizens. It will be completed in about a week, so be sure to come and visit us at the Thanksgiving Lunch November 4 and our Trades Day/Open House November 10-11th, and check it out!

Rentals

We have spaces still available for your Christmas and New Year Parties. Call Misty Reynolds at 325-338-1005 for availability. 

--o--

WEATHER REPORT: MORE RAIN, THEN SOME SUN


Friday's sunset.
More rain fell last week on the already saturated ground from the previous two weeks’ rains. On Wednesday, Roscoe weatherman Kenny Landfried recorded .95", on Thursday .58", and on Friday .94" for a total of 2.47".  There was more water around than we have seen around here in years.

So, it was a relief to see the sky clear up on Friday afternoon. It was then dry from Friday until about 3:30 this morning when more rain began to fall. The forecast is for more rain today, but none tomorrow or through the weekend. More is forecast for next Wednesday and Thursday, however, with meteorologists currently giving us 50%-60% chances for precipitation on those days.

Along with the moisture, temperatures have been cooler and skies cloudier than normal for this time of year. The high on Thursday was only 52°F, warming to highs in the sixties since then. Today’s high will reach only about 52°, but tomorrow it will be back up to 66°, on Friday to 73°, and Saturday to 75°. Skies should clear on Friday and remain sunny until next Tuesday.


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Wednesday, October 17, 2018

West Texas Wind Festival This Saturday

T. Graham Brown is the featured performer for the festival's free concert.
Plans are being finalized for the twelfth annual West Texas Wind Festival this Saturday, and organizers are expecting a large crowd, especially for the free concert and the fireworks show. 

The current weather forecast is favorable—cloudy skies early on Saturday morning followed by sunshine and partial clearing on Saturday afternoon and evening with afternoon temperatures in the mid-sixties. Chances for rain are 10%.

The downtown streets will be lined with vendors afternoon and evening, and downtown shops will be open for business. The Roscoe Historical Museum will be open, and the Roscoe Express Shuttle will be on hand to take people to and from selected parking areas and downtown all afternoon at no charge.

Plowboy Mudbog

Unfortunately, the Plowboy Mudbog has been postponed to a later date. The recent rains have filled the area where the Mudbog is normally held with standing water, making the location unusable for both competition and spectators.

Roscoe Collegiate Open House

The Roscoe Collegiate School will hold an open house Saturday afternoon at the Edu-Drone office in the Shelansky Building. Edu-Vet will be in the same building to answer questions and inform visitors about the program, and Edu-Make It will also be on hand to show some of its new equipment, such as the 3-D printer. The Edu-Weld building (formerly Nitzsche’s Welding Shop) on west Broadway will also be open to visitors. 

Free Concert 

The free concert and street dance on Cypress Street will begin around six with music by the Branded Texans, an area band.

Then at around eight, country, soul, and gospel singer/songwriter T. Graham Brown will take the stage. Active since the 1970s, the Georgia native has recorded thirteen studio albums with over twenty hit singles on the Billboard Country chart, including three number ones.


These include “Hell or High Water,” “I Wish I Could Hurt That Way,” “Don’t Go to Strangers,” “She Couldn’t Love Me Anymore,” “Darlene,” “The Last Resort,” “Come as You Were,” “Wine into Water,” and “Happy Ever After.” The last two were on his 2014 album Forever Changed, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album.

Fireworks Show

The fireworks show by the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department will follow Brown’s performance at about 9:40pm and conclude this year’s Wind Festival shortly after 10pm.

After the Fireworks

However, those who aren’t ready to go home yet can move over to the Lumberyard, where Lyndall Underwood & the Dusty Creek Band will play until midnight with no cover charge.

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HAMLIN DEFEATS PLOWBOYS 50-21

Andrew Deleon tackles the Hamlin ball carrier as Nick Limones and Brandon Lavalais close in. (Football photos by Tamara Alexander)
Friday night’s game with Hamlin had a disastrous opening and then went downhill from there as the Pied Pipers jumped out to a quick 14-0 start and never looked back, cruising to a commanding halftime lead and a final score of 50-21. It was the second consecutive lopsided loss for the Plowboys and a resounding victory for the Pipers, who now appear to be in the driver’s seat for the district championship.

Hamlin received the opening kickoff and the Plowboys stopped them on their first three plays, but with a 4th and 6, the Pipers successfully ran a fake punt to keep the drive alive and then drove for a touchdown to go up 7-0. They then kicked off to the Plowboys. On the third play from scrimmage, Hamlin blitzed, and in an attempt to avoid a sack, the Plowboy quarterback tried to throw the ball away, but it fell into the arms of a big Hamlin lineman, who then ran untouched thirty yards for Hamlin’s second TD. The Pipers had scored twice in less than a minute, and from that point on they had the momentum, and the game became a runaway. They scored again on the last play of the first quarter to increase their lead to 22-0.

In the second quarter, Hamlin made three more touchdowns. After the first two, they were ahead 36-0, but with 18 seconds left to go in the half Jose Ortega ran eight yards for the Plowboys’ first score, giving the team something positive before the half. After the ensuing kickoff, however, the Pipers had time for one more play and completed a 46-yard bomb for another TD as the half ended to go up 43-7. It was that kind of night for the Plowboys.

Not a lot happened in the second half. Hamlin scored in the third quarter to go up 50-7, and the Plowboys scored twice in the fourth, one on a 45-yard pass from Jayden Gonzales to Brandon Lavalais, and the other on a one-yard run by Nick Limones. But it was too little, too late, and the final score was 50-21.

For the game, the Plowboys actually had more first downs than Hamlin, 18 to 16, but it was Hamlin’s big plays—and they had several—that killed the Plowboys. Hamlin’s quarterback, sophomore Braydin Warner, completed 12 of 14 passes, which is quite a feat for high school, but he’s a good player and everything was clicking for the Pipers.

Plowboy quarterback Jayden Gonzales completed 15 of 31 passes for 149 yards with 3 interceptions and one TD. Jose Ortega was the leading Plowboy receiver with 5 catches for 66 yards, while Lavalais had 2 for 46 yards and 1 TD. Ortega was also the leading rusher with 7 carries for 46 yards and a TD.

He was also the Plowboys’ leading defender with 9 tackles, followed closely by Gary Shaw with 7. In the second quarter, Brandon Lavalais made a spectacular one-handed interception of a long Hamlin pass, but the play was negated by a holding penalty.


Plowboys vs. Albany Here Friday

This year is a down year so far for perennial 2A power Albany as they lost their first five games—to Colorado City 32-13, Dublin 26-20, Eastland 48-14, Hawley 32-7, and Brook Hill 50-14. But don’t let that losing record fool you into believing they’ll be pushovers. All five of those schools are larger and, with the exception of 2A-I Hawley, are either 3A-I (Eastland), 3A-II (Colorado City, Dublin) or larger. Brook Hill, Albany’s makeup game to replace Roby, is an east Texas Christian school near Tyler with 660 students, meaning if it were in the UIL, it would be classed as 4A.

The only 2A-II school Albany has played so far was last week’s district opener with Baird, and they beat them 48-12. The Lions are led by quarterback Ryan Hill and running back/linebacker Cutter Edgar. To win, the Plowboys will need to forget about the last two weeks and play four good quarters.

Kickoff at Plowboy Field is at 7:00pm.

Note: Some Plowboy season schedules erroneously listed this week’s game as being in Albany. It is here in Roscoe.


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CENTRAL ROLLING PLAINS CO-OP HOLDS FALL MEETING

Co-op members enjoy hamburger lunches at yesterday's meeting.
The Central Rolling Plains Co-op held its annual fall meeting yesterday at the Community Center instead of the cotton gin, where it normally meets, because of the weather. 

Hamburger lunches were served, and Gin Manager Larry Black gave a short address to the members present, updating them on gin matters, particularly the recent increase of plastic found in bales of ginned cotton, which hurts its quality.

Members also wrote down their guesses for the number of cotton bales to be ginned this year, and a $100 prize awaits the person who gets the closest without going over.


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PLOWGIRLS FOURTH IN DISTRICT CROSS-COUNTRY MEET

The varsity Plowgirls finished fourth at the District 8-2A Cross-Country meet last Wednesday behind Haskell, Stamford, and Cross Plains in that order.

Roscoe’s athletes had an average team time of 14:40 for the two-mile race. Here are the individuals’ times and finish position:

                 Athlete                                Time                            Finish
          Victoria Martinez                   14:00.2                             6
          Riley Sheridan                        14:13.2                              9
          Sadie McCambridge              14:25.0                             11
          Jaci Alexander                        14:59.4                             16
          Kadee Martinez                      15:42.7                             26
          Bonnie Wilkinson                  15:56.4                            (27)
          Hartley Sager                          16:31.7                            (28)

The varsity Plowboys finished fourth.

          Caleb Reed                               16:47.8                            <5
          Tyler Guelker                           17:25.5                             <5
          Aidan Hermosillio                  17:28.1                             <5

The Plowgirl JV team also finished fourth. Team members were Kaylea Perez, Alexis Arce, Shauna McCambridge, Jovana Peña, and Isabel Ortega.

The Junior High Plowboys finished third. Comprising its team were Jesus Aguayo, Graham Gleaton, Jacob Blain, Jaiden Frith, Zain Jackson, and Gaven Martinez.


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WEATHER REPORT: COLD AND RAINY

Lake Roscoe. (Photo by Felix Pantoja)
The weather for the past week has been unusually harsh for early October in west Texas. The rains of the previous week have continued, but this time with much cooler temperatures. An arctic front moved through with strong north winds, and the seventy and eighty-degree highs of the previous week fell to highs in the fifties and forties. Lows fell similarly from the previous week’s sixties and fifties to lows in the forties and thirties.

The high north winds that accompanied the lower temperatures dropped wind-chill readings into the mid-twenties accompanied by cold rain, mostly light but sometimes heavier. Jackets that had been in closets since last spring came out, and heaters were turned on in homes for the first time in months. Sunday night’s low temperature was 36°F and Monday’s was 33°. Monday’s high was 45° and yesterday’s only 43°.

The additional rains have not been as heavy as the week before, but with the ground already saturated, the water has had nowhere to go, and area lakes are fuller than they have been in years and the puddles in town likewise larger and more numerous. About an inch fell on Saturday, .1" on Sunday, .2" on Monday, and .5" or more yesterday for a total of almost two more inches on top of the large amounts from the week before. A light rain is also still falling this morning as I write this.


And we’re not out of the woods yet as continued cool temperatures and showers are forecast until Saturday. Today’s high will reach only about 46°, tomorrow’s 52°, and Friday’s 60°. Chances for rain are 90% today, 70% tomorrow, and 50% on Friday morning. Hopefully, the showers will be over by the time the football game at Plowboy Field begins Friday evening.

On Saturday, cloudy morning skies should begin to clear around midday, which is good news for the West Texas Wind Festival scheduled for Saturday afternoon and evening. Sunday and the first days of next week should be partly cloudy with no more than a 20% chance for showers. If those forecasts are accurate, expect to hear lawn mowers running all over town on those days.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Heavy Rains Inundate Roscoe Area

Standing water in the Bandera addition yesterday. (Photo by Braxton Vick)
Roscoe and the surrounding area experienced the heaviest downpour in years this weekend as up to nine inches and possibly more fell in some areas. The rains began on Saturday with reports of between a half-inch to over 2½ inches. Sunday was much lighter with most places recording no more than one or two tenths but, combined with Saturday’s rain, had the ground fairly well saturated when the really big rain came Monday night and early Tuesday morning with totals topping six inches and more.

The Bandera addition just across I-20 in south Roscoe was a mess yesterday morning with standing water and many of the residences flooded. City workers worked there all day trying to alleviate the situation. The big lake just east of town is full, and the part of the baseball field where the Plowboy Mudbog is held is currently under water. Other area dry lakes are also full, several county roads are washed out and unusable, and area lakes, especially Lake Trammell, are full or very nearly so. Water was roaring over the spillway on both ends of the dam at Lake Trammell, and Lake Sweetwater is higher than it’s been in some time.

The heaviest rains seem to have fallen south of town, although Roscoe itself got more than most. There were several reports of people going out yesterday morning to see how much rain they got and finding that their six-inch gauges were full. Kenny Landfried’s official total for the three days was 6.81” with 1.37” on Saturday, .07” on Sunday, and 5.37” on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Sweetwater also reported an official total of 5.35” for the Monday night rain. Those totals were more than any other area in the Big Country, although most of the region got at least some rain.

Along with the rain came falling temperatures. Last week’s highs in the mid-eighties and lows in the upper sixties fell to highs in the seventies and lows in the fifties. The forecast for the rest of this week is for a period of drying out. Today should be sunny with a high of 70°F and a low of 54°, tomorrow should be partly cloudy with a high of 72° and low of 57°, and Friday should be cloudy with a high of 75° and low of 61°. The weekend, though, could be a wet one. There’s an 80% chance of thunderstorms on Saturday, 50% on Sunday, and 60% on Monday and Tuesday.

It's hard to imagine Roscoe folks saying they’ve had enough rain, but if it starts pouring again this weekend, I’m pretty sure they will.


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CITY COUNCIL MEETING SHORT AND SWEET


Cody Thompson addresses the Council at yesterday's meeting.
The City Council met yesterday evening and finished earlier than usual with less business on the docket than usual.

City Manager Cody Thompson gave an update on City works. He reported that the B Board met and approved their budget for 2018/19, which included expenditures for the upcoming West Texas Wind Festival as well as the construction of a pavilion at Windmill Park.

A Houston company was in town to camera and clean some of the older sanitary sewer lines. They came at the right time as some of their equipment was used to help purge the flood waters in the Bandera addition.

A water line improvement package has been submitted to the Texas Water Development Board for approval and possible funding.

The City is preparing for the West Texas Wind Festival on October 20, and the Council approved closing parts of Broadway and Cypress Street to traffic that day. It also approved a fireworks permit for the festival.

It also approved the quarterly investment report for the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year as well as a replat of lots 20, 21, and 22 of the Young Farm Estates.


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GRUVER OVERPOWERS PLOWBOYS 52-0


Caleb Gray (3) carries the ball. (Football photos by Tamara Alexander)
In a game in Plainview Friday night, the Plowboys were humbled by one of the premier 2A teams in the state 52-0. The game, arranged to fill the schedule gap after Roby dropped out of the district for lack of students, turned out to be of dubious benefit as a final pre-district warm-up for the Plowboys.

The game was not only 150 miles away, but also marked by bad weather. The field was already wet from an earlier rain, and lightning delayed the planned 7:00pm kickoff first to 7:30, then to 8:00, and finally to 8:10.

Gruver kicked off to the Plowboys, who were unable to move the ball and punted. The Greyhounds then fumbled on their own 37, and the Plowboys recovered. This was probably the high point of the evening for Roscoe. However, the Plowboys again came up empty and punted, and on their second possession Gruver completed a 70-yard pass play to go up 6-0. Once more, the Greyhounds held the Plowboys, and, before the first quarter was over, scored again to go up 14-0.

The second quarter was no easier as Gruver scored three more touchdowns as rainfall resumed and became heavy shortly before halftime. By the intermission, the game’s outcome was obvious as the score was 32-0. In the third quarter, the Greyhounds scored twice more to make the score 45-0, and the fourth quarter was played with a running clock because of the late hour and long distances to travel home. The final score was 52-0.

The team doesn’t have time to dwell on that loss, however, as district play begins Friday evening at Plowboy Field when the district favorite Hamlin Pied Pipers come to town.


Plowboys vs. Hamlin at Home Friday

Although the consensus pre-season pick to win District 7-2A-II this year was the Albany Lions, primarily because they had been so dominant for so long, their current record shows them to be weaker than expected, and Hamlin has now replaced them as the favorite to take the title.

And Hamlin is good. Their record is 5-0, and they are coming off an open date last week after defeating Stratford the week before 28-14. They also have victories over Anson 42-12, Munday 58-20, Hawley 32-6, and New Home 41-0. They are led by QB Braydin Warner, RB/LB Jackson Sepulveda, and WR/DB Jevon Williams. The Plowboys will have to bring their A game to beat them.

Kickoff is at 7:00pm.

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ROSCOE ELEMENTARY’S FALL FESTIVAL THIS FRIDAY

A boy plays for a prize in a previous Fall Festival.
The Roscoe Elementary School is holding its annual Fall Festival this Friday, October 12, 5:00-7:00pm, at Circle Drive in front of the Elementary School building.

As always, there will be activities of all kinds, prizes, and games of luck and skill, including a cake walk, bingo, snacks, and much more to make the festival a fun evening for everyone. Proceeds benefit the Roscoe Elementary School.

The festival will precede the Plowboys’ home football game with the Hamlin Pied Pipers.


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VARSITY, 8TH GRADE PLOWGIRLS SECOND IN ANSON CROSS-COUNTRY MEET

The high school varsity and 8th grade Plowgirl teams both finished as runners-up in the Anson Cross Country Meet at the Anson Country Club last Wednesday. Itzel Ortega Solis was the winner of the 8th grade 1600 meter race.


Thirteen teams competed in the Varsity Girls 3200 meter cross-country race, finishing in this order: Benjamin, Roscoe, Stamford, Haskell, Hamlin, Breckenridge, Snyder, Anson, Guthrie, Knox City, Jayton, Highland, Leuders-Avoca.

107 girls participated in the high school varsity 3200 meter run. Here are the Plowgirls’ individual results:


                        Athlete                             Time                         Finish
               Victoria Martinez                  14:16.84                        9
               Sadie McCambridge              14:27.87                      12
               Riley Sheridan                        14:44.08                     21
               Jaci Alexander                        14:46.15                      23
               Kadee Martinez                      14:55.31                      25
               Bonnie Wilkinson                  16:43.06                     76
               Hartley Sager                          17:08.31                      81

Eight teams were in the 8th grade 1600 meter event. They finished in this order: Stamford, Roscoe, Guthrie, Anson, O’Brien, Haskell, Hamlin, Trent.

83 girls participated in the 8th grade 1600 meter event. Here are the Plowgirls’ individual results:


                       Athlete                              Time                       Finish
               Itzel Ortega Solis                    9:39.44                        1
               Jissel Rodriguez                    10:30.34                       4
               Candy Ortega                         10:38.97                       6
               Mia Lavalais                           11:28.00                      17
               Carson Greenwood               12:06.00                     22
               Cameron Greenwood           12:49.76                      42


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Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Wind Festival to Feature T. Graham Brown

T. Graham Brown
Country music great T. Graham Brown will be the headline artist at the twelfth annual West Texas Wind Festival on Saturday, October 20. As in the past, the Wind Festival will also feature an exciting afternoon Plowboy Mudbog at the baseball field, street vendors, open businesses and museum downtown, and the free concert and dance “on the bricks” in the evening, followed by the fireworks show.

T. Graham Brown is a country, soul, and gospel singer who has been active since the 1970s. He has recorded thirteen studio albums and has had over twenty singles on the Billboard Country chart, including three Number Ones.  

His musical career began while he was a student at the University of Georgia, where he had his own band. Three years later, he moved to Nashville and made a living singing commercial jingles and writing songs. 


In 1986, his debut album, I Tell It Like It Used to Be, had two songs, “Hell or High Water” and “I Wish I Could Hurt That Way,” that made the Top Ten, launching him into the spotlight. His second album, Brilliant Conversationalist, also had two Top Ten hits, “Don’t Go to Strangers” and “She Couldn’t Love Me Anymore.” His third album, Come as You Were, had a number one hit, “Darlene,” and two other Top Ten hits, “The Last Resort” and “Come as You Were.”

However, he was also battling alcoholism, which interrupted his career in the 1990s. In 1998, he resumed with the album Wine into Water, and, now clean and sober, resumed his tours and recording. His 2014 album, the spiritually-themed Forever Changed, was a hit, and with “Wine into Water” and “Happy Ever After,” it earned a Grammy nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album.

The West Texas Wind Festival is only two and a half weeks away, so make plans now to attend another fun-filled day in Roscoe.


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PLOWBOYS FACE GRUVER IN PLAINVIEW FRIDAY EVENING

Jose Ortega (2) carries the ball against Munday.
For the first time ever, the Roscoe Plowboys will face off with the Gruver Greyhounds Friday evening in Plainview, roughly the halfway point between the two schools. That’s a 154-mile drive from Roscoe and a 171-mile drive from Gruver. Gruver is in the top of the panhandle less than twenty miles from the Oklahoma line. It is closer to Liberal, Kansas, than it is to Amarillo.  

This unusual non-district match-up is the result of Roby’s inability to compete in District 7-2A DII this year. When the Lions dropped out of district play this summer, all their district opponents found themselves with only nine games on their season schedules. The Plowboys were scheduled to play them for their first district game, one week after the open date. So, the loss of the Roby game left the Plowboys with two consecutive weeks without a game right before district play begins, and Head Coach Jake Freeman started looking for a team to fill the gap. It took a while, but he finally found Gruver, which was also looking for a game—and since Roscoe and Gruver are 325 miles apart, they agreed to play in Plainview.

The Greyhounds will be a formidable foe. A 2A-Div. II school like the Plowboys, they advanced last year to the regional semifinals, finishing with a 10-3 overall record and 5-0 in district. According to Texas Football, they return 7 offensive and 6 defensive starters this year and are led by QB/DE Keegan Kelp and WR/DB Creed Spivey. They are currently 4-1, defeating Amarillo Highland Park 79-6, Shamrock 52-18, Sunray 41-8, and Texhoma 56-20. Their only loss so far was to West Texas (Stinnett) 34-29.

The Plowboys are 2-2 with losses to Hawley and Stamford and victories over Miles and Munday.

Kickoff at Plainview is at 7:00pm.


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VICTORIA MARTINEZ WINS CROSS COUNTRY RACE IN HAMLIN

Victoria Martinez
At the Hamlin Cross Country Meet at Hamlin Country Club last week, Victoria Martinez finished first in the Varsity Girls 3200 meter race with a time of 13:00.80. Roscoe girls also finished 1-2-3 in the Eighth Grade 2400 meters: 1) Itzel Ortega-Solis, 2) Jissel Rodriguez, and 3) Candy Ortega.

Athletes from Albany, Anson, Aspermont, Baird, Leuders-Avoca, Roby, Roscoe Collegiate, Rule, Snyder, Stamford, and Sweetwater participated.

Plowgirls who finished in the top ten of their respective races were these:
                                   Athlete                               Time                    Finish
Varsity               Victoria Martinez               13:00.80                     1
(3200 m.)         Riley Sheridan                     13:40.12                     9

Jr. Varsity         Kaylea Perez                         15:43.13                     7
(3200 m.)          Jacey Rodriguez                  15:54.45                   10

8th Grade           Itzel Ortega-Solis               10:00.02                    1
(2400 m.)           Jissel Rodriguez                 10:05.12                     2
                             Candy Ortega                      10:08.88                    3

7th Grade           Jaiden Amador                   10:43.88                    8

(2400 m.)

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RYAN CHRYS & ROUGH CUTS AT LUMBERYARD TOMORROW

Ryan Chris & the Rough Cuts.
Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts debut at the Lumberyard tomorrow evening in a special Thursday night appearance. 

From Denver, they play music that people who love classic country and ‘70s rock music will enjoy. Ryan Chrys, whose career was mostly in bands’ backgrounds, branched out with his country rock albums, A Lick and a Promise and Up From the North. His latest album is A Shovel Full of Coal.

Singles include “Outlaw In Us All,” “Country Music Soundtrack,” “Killer,” and “Tonight We Ride.”

The band will take the stage at 8:00pm. For reservations and more information, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.


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WEATHER REPORT: BEAUTIFUL FALL WEATHER


Monday's sunset.
Last Wednesday was cloudy with a light shower of between one and two tenths of an inch. Afterwards, the skies cleared, and since then we have been having beautiful fall weather, the kind you dream about on a hot August day or a cold January one. Most of the time, neither heat nor air conditioning have been necessary, and the conditions outside are about as pleasant as they ever get. Skies have been clear or partly cloudy, the winds have been relatively light, and afternoon highs have been in the low to mid-eighties with lows in the sixties.

This nice fall weather should continue at least until Saturday. Today’s afternoon high will be a bit on the warm side at 89° but should be only 87° tomorrow and Friday. Skies will be partly cloudy and overnight lows will be 68° or 69°. Then on the weekend and the beginning of next week, there’s a good chance of more rain, i.e., 50% on Saturday and Sunday and 80% on Monday and Tuesday. At least, that’s what the meteorologists are saying right now. Along with the cloudy weather, temperatures will be a little lower with highs of 78° or 79° on Saturday and Sunday and 75° and 72° on Monday and Tuesday. The chances for rain will then diminish to 20% or 10% for the rest of next week.


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