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.  

--o--

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!

--o--

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.

--o--

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%.

--o--