John Schneider at the Lumberyard Saturday

John Schneider at the Grand Ole Opry.

When country singer and TV star John Schneider comes to Roscoe, it's big news for the Big Country. If you don't believe it, just take a look at the lead story on the front page of today's Abilene Reporter-News. 

You can check it out online by clicking its title here: "Bound for Roscoe, TV's Bo Duke Drives Home Point about the General Lee." 

Schneider, who is making his first appearance ever at the Lumberyard Saturday night, is best known as Beauregard “Bo” Duke of the long-running TV series The Dukes of Hazzard, which he began playing in 1979 at the age of 18. Later in 2001, he played Clark Kent’s father Jonathan Kent in the Smallville TV series, starring in 100 episodes before his character was killed off. Over the years, he has also acted in many movies and appeared on many TV shows, including Hee Haw, CSI, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and Walker, Texas Ranger.

As a singer, he has produced over two dozen albums, including A Memory Like You, which hit No. 1 on the country charts, and Too Good to Stop Now, which reached No. 4. His first single ever, “It’s Now or Never,” a cover of Elvis Presley’s version, reached No. 4 on Billboard’s country chart in 1981. He then went on to produce four singles that went to No. 1—“I’ve Been Around Enough to Know,” “Country Girls,” “What’s a Memory Like You (Doing in a Love Like This),” and “You’re the Last Thing I Needed Tonight,” along with others like “At the Sound of the Tone,” and “Love, You Ain’t Seen the Last of Me,”  which made the Top Ten.

Last year he and his dance partner Emma Slater competed on the TV show Dancing with the Stars, and earlier this year he was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in Baton Rouge. He also owns and operates his own film studio in Louisiana.

If you like his music and The Dukes of Hazzard, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss. He will take the stage around 9:00 Saturday evening. For more information or reservations, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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BROKEN PUMP CLOSES CITY SWIMMING POOL

A broken pump has forced the closing of Roscoe’s swimming pool. The break occurred last Thursday. 

The broken part has been ordered and should arrive tomorrow. Assuming that fixes the problem, the pool will be open again on Saturday.

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WEATHER REPORT: RETURN TO JULY HEAT

Summer clouds in the southern sky yesterday.

After a three-day stretch last week when the temperature failed to reach ninety, the heat returned on Friday and Saturday with highs of 91° and 92° respectively before increasing to 96° on Sunday and Monday and 97° yesterday. Lows have also increased, going from a nice 63° last Wednesday to 66° on Thursday, 67° on Friday, and 68° on Saturday up to 73° Sunday and 74° Monday and yesterday. During this span, no rain was recorded. There were some sprinkles here and there on Monday but not enough to make any difference. The area is getting seriously dry, and a nice shower would be more than welcome.

The steadily increasing heat will only get worse in the next few days as today’s high is predicted to reach 98°, tomorrow’s 99°, and Friday’s 100° with lows increasing to Friday’s 76° before dropping to 74° on Saturday. Saturday’s high will also drop to 95°, and Sunday’s to 93° before beginning another increase to 94° on Monday and 97° on Tuesday.

During the coming week, the chances for any rain are almost nil as the meteorologists are giving us a 0% chance between now and Friday and only 10% for the weekend before returning to 0% on Monday. Sad but true.

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West Texas A&M Brings Bachelor's Degree to Roscoe

West Texas A&M President Walter Wendler, RCISD Superintendent Kim Alexander, and Western Texas College President Barbara Beebe hold up their signed copies of the agreements of the three schools to work together on the new Bachelor's program at Roscoe Collegiate.

Top administrators from West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) were in Roscoe Monday to sign an agreement with Western Texas College and Roscoe Collegiate ISD that will allow students to earn a bachelor’s degree from WTAMU here in Roscoe.

Starting this fall, the new program allows college students to attend classes in Roscoe and have the support of a local adviser while pursuing online classes in their chosen field of study. More details are available in this official press release from WTAMU about Monday’s meeting in the Shelansky building:

WT is Bringing Bachelor's Degree to Roscoe

ROSCOE, Texas—West Texas A&M University (WT), Western Texas College (WTC), and the Roscoe Collegiate Independent School District (RCISD) through its new 501 C(3) Non-Profit, Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN), partner to deliver a bachelor’s degree without leaving the area.  This partnership will provide many of the advantages of a local program and all the flexibility of an online degree. Officials kicked-off the agreement with a signing on July 22 in Roscoe to begin the program in fall 2019.

According to the U.S. Census, more than 9,000 people older than 25 years in the four-county area near Roscoe have some college but not a bachelor’s degree. Most are with jobs, mortgages and family commitments that make it difficult to pursue a traditional academic degree, and research suggests most nontraditional students dislike the isolation often found in online degree programs.

In response to those challenges, WT and its partners have developed the “Innovation Degree.”  This program utilizes up to 81 hours of prior college credit and has the flexibility to be tailored to the specific goals of each student.

This is the most recent development growing out of the University’s generational plan, “WT125: From the Panhandle to the World.” This plan looks ahead to the year 2035, WT’s 125th anniversary, when the University will have attained doctoral status.

“WT has some of the lowest tuition rates among universities in Texas. Furthermore, we assist in identifying courses at Western Texas College that will apply to this degree and further reduce the cost,” says Dr. Brad Johnson, vice president for strategic relations at WT.

The flexibility of the program allows a student to satisfy all degree requirements through online courses while receiving staff support in person at the Roscoe Collegiate Academy. Students work with experienced advisors to devise their own set of courses from various disciplines, which is why the degree has become known as the Innovation Degree.

The degree is especially adaptable for students who want to qualify for graduate school in a variety of disciplines or employees who aspire to earn promotions, pay raises or are considering a different career field. For more information about this opportunity, contact Patricia McCormick at 806-651-5307.

“Through our Early College Program that provides students the opportunity to earn their Associate Degree prior to high school graduation, thanks to the long standing partnership between RCISD and WTC, we’re excited to now partner with WT to offer non-traditional support for students throughout the Big Country Area to complete Bachelor’s and Graduate Degrees from right here in Roscoe,” according to Dr. Kim Alexander, Chancellor of Collegiate Edu-Nation. “This new system model for K12 alignment with higher education could prove to be a real game changer for rural students throughout Texas and the U.S.”

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2019 HOMECOMING COMMITTEE MEETS, SETS TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Homecoming Committee members Connie McIntire Baize, Misty Burns Reynolds, Sue Cooper Cannon, Teresa McFaul Watson, and Kay Tarrant Hallman at Monday's meeting in the Community Center. 

On Monday evening, the Homecoming Committee met at the Roscoe Community Center to plan this year’s Homecoming and to set a tentative schedule to work from. At this point, just about everything is penciled in, and some of the times and activities are subject to change. But the overall schedule will be similar to those in the past, and will look something like this:

Thursday: Possible early evening bonfire

Friday:
1:30pm - Exes’ Reception & Registration
2:45 – Pep Rally at Special Events Center
4-7 – Meal in School Cafetorium
7:30 – Plowboys vs. Christoval Football Game
8:30 – Exes & Friends Coffee in Special Events Center Concession Area
            Coffee/Punch/Snacks
9:30 – Music and Dancing at the Lumberyard

Saturday:
8:30-9:30am – Coffee & Donuts at the Community Center
10:00 – Homecoming Parade
11:30am-1:30pm – Lunch/Silent Auction/Door Prizes
1:30-2:30 – Reminiscing at School Cafetorium
2:30-Midnight – Visiting and Reunions (Bring Refreshments)
8:00pm – Music & Dancing at the Lumberyard ($10 cover)

One event that will almost certainly take place is the Parade under the direction of Misty Burns Reynolds. So, if your organization or graduating class wants to have an entry, now’s the time to start thinking about how you’ll go about making it happen.

The committee wants this to be the best homecoming ever, so if you’re an RHS or RCHS ex, make plans now to attend and remind your classmates that they need to come, too. Also, if you want to help with the planning or in getting addresses of classmates, let one of the committee members know.

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LESLIE TOM AT LUMBERYARD FRIDAY, NO COVER

Leslie Tom

Friday evening Leslie Tom makes a special appearance at the Lumberyard with no cover charge. She is currently on a road trip of Texas promoting her new album, Ain’t It Something, Hank Williams, produced in Nashville.

Her music is a lot like the album’s title suggests—traditional country. The new album contains her covers of Hank Williams’ classics “Hey, Good Lookin’” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” as well as his lesser known “Angel of Death” along with some of her own originals.  Although she is currently based in Denver, she is all Texan, raised in Calallen, just outside of Corpus Christi, and a graduate of Texas A&M.

Some of her singles are “Hank You Very Much,” “Ain’t It Something, Hank Williams,” “Bless This Barbecue,” “I Love Texas More Than You,” and “Cowboy Talkin’”.

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

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WEATHER REPORT: HOT WITH A BREAK
 

Sunday's clear blue sky.

It’s been another week of hot weather—or at least it was until Monday and yesterday when a norther blew in, and we got a welcome break from the heat. From last Wednesday to Sunday, skies were essentially clear with hot days and warm nights. Highs from Wednesday through Sunday were in the upper nineties with lows of 74° or 75°. Both Friday and Saturday had highs of 99°, and Sunday’s was 98°.

But on Monday morning the south wind died down to nothing for a while and then the north wind came in and immediately cooled things off. The high Monday afternoon was down to 91° and the low dropped to 69°. Yesterday was even cooler with a high of 85° and a low of 66°. There was a bit of a sprinkle in some areas Monday morning, but it was not enough to be measurable.

Today, the cooler weather—at least for late July—continues with a projected high of 88° under sunny skies and a low of 66°. Temperatures will gradually rise until Sunday but will remain slightly below average for this time of year. Tomorrow’s high should be about 89°, Friday’s 91°, and Saturday’s 93°. Lows will remain in the mid to upper sixties.

Next week’s highs will run in the mid-nineties and lows in the low seventies with winds from the south-southeast. There is little chance of rain. Currently only one day, next Monday, has as much as a 20% chance of rain. All the others are either 0% or 10%.

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Roscoe and the Ag Adjustment Act of 1933

A government agent shoots cattle at R. E. Gracey's place in 1934.*

In 1972, Fred Carpenter of the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library at Texas Tech came to Roscoe and interviewed several citizens as part of a west Texas oral history project. He asked two of them, R. E. Gracey and Walter Potter, to give him some of their enduring memories of the depression years in Roscoe, and in separate interviews both of them mentioned the killing of the cattle in 1934.

This was an action that no one liked to see but one that played out in towns all over the country because it was part of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (A.A.A.) passed by Congress in 1933, shortly after President Franklin Roosevelt took office. The act had a major effect on the lives of Roscoe folks in two ways, cattle and cotton.

In the first years of the depression, prices for cattle, hogs, and cotton dropped to levels not seen since the 1890s, a result not only of the Wall Street crash but also of overproduction and a shrinking international market for all three commodities. Like many other cotton-growing areas, Roscoe had had a record cotton crop in 1932, producing over 22,000 bales. Its total was not surpassed until 1962, when farming techniques were considerably improved. The price of cotton, however, was down to around 6ȼ a pound, so even with the bumper crop, farmers were hardly able to make a profit.

Roosevelt’s solution was to drastically reduce the supply in order to drive their prices back up, so in the spring of 1933, the federal government began “emergency livestock reductions” by buying hogs and restricting cotton acreage by paying farmers not to put a percentage of their fields in cotton. Cattle were added to the program in 1934.

The way the A.A.A. worked for cattle in Roscoe was explained by R. E. Gracey in his interview with Fred Carpenter. In those days, most families, including those living in town, kept a cow for milk, cream, and butter, but many were flat broke and would be unable to buy feed through the winter—and many of the cows were already underfed. So, when the government agents offered to buy them for $10 or $15 each, depending on their health, most people jumped at the chance. Farmers and ranchers with cattle were given the same deal, and, according to Walter Potter, almost everyone enlisted in the program.

The $15 cows were shipped out to the cities to feed the people standing in bread lines, while the weaker $10 ones were shot and buried in a bulldozed pit on R. E. Gracey’s place just southwest of town. When the shooting was finished, the bulldozers covered the carcasses with dirt. Before they did this, though, R. E. Gracey said he skinned a few and later sold their hides. (Under the A.A.A., hogs were also bought and killed in the same way, but neither Gracey nor Potter discussed how this was done in Roscoe.)

Of course, it was a sad day for people to lose their cows, many of which had names and were considered part of the family, and parents didn’t allow their children to watch the shooting. Also, there was criticism of the government action, especially in the beginning when all the cows were shot and buried, because people were going hungry in the cities. The outcry resulted in Congress amending the act to allow sending away the healthy ones to be meat for people needing food.

For cotton, the A.A.A., as originally passed, paid farmers not to plant cotton on a certain percentage of their acreage, but by the time the program got implemented, the farmers had already planted their crops. So, the government then required anyone signing up for the program to plow up a certain amount of their cotton. This changed policy became known as the Plow-up Campaign of 1933.

The program paid $6 per acre to anyone with a history of 100 pounds per acre and $20 per acre to anyone who could prove an annual yield of 275 pounds or more. The result was the loss of 28% of the 1933 cotton crop nationwide, but the program succeeded in doubling the price of cotton to 12ȼ a pound in the following years and boosted local economies by putting money into the pockets of people who wouldn’t have had any otherwise.

The local popularity of the Plow-up Campaign can be seen from this editorial, which appeared in the October 6, 1933, issue of the Roscoe Times:

Business has been practically doubled, farmers are getting their debts paid up, and what they receive for their cotton crop will be practically clear money as a result of the government checks being received here in payment for the cotton plow-up campaign of last summer.

How do we know?

Business men and bankers told us. They said so emphatically.

Here is what T. M. Dobbins, president of the Roscoe State Bank, had to say:

“More people are ‘getting well’ this fall than any time during the past four or five years. These cotton checks have enabled the farmers to pay up what they owe, and when they sell their cotton, it is practically clear money. The plow-up campaign certainly has been a big boost to business and general financial conditions.”

Nor is Mr. Dobbins alone in this opinion. Business men in almost every line agree with him in full.

“Business would certainly be dull if it hadn’t been for the $60,000 or so already turned loose here by the plow-up campaign,” one said. “I believe it has practically doubled my business.”

“Several of my old accounts have been paid up in full, and payments have been made on others from this cotton check money,” another said. The same sentiment is repeated up and down the line.

Another factor that is counted on as a big boost to business is the increased price of cotton this fall. With the staple selling at several cents above the figure it has for the last few seasons, farmers are able to make an actual profit on their crop for the first time in a good while.

“Better times ahead” seems to be the general outlook for the future with the plow-up campaign coming in for a large part of the credit.

* The photograph above owned by the Roscoe Historical Museum is the only one Tech historian Fred Carpenter was able to find of a government agent killing cattle as part of the A.A.A. When he saw it, he immediately asked for a copy so the Southwestern Collection could have it as part of the history of that era.

Editor’s note: According to Walter Potter, 1934 and 1935 were drouth years in west Texas, so despite the increased prices for hogs, cattle, and cotton, the hard times continued.

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Country recording artist Joe Nichols sang to a full house at the Lumberyard Saturday night.

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STOLEN ROSCOE SUV RECOVERED IN SWEETWATER

A 2014 Chevy Traverse owned by Kay Aiken was stolen by an unknown person or persons from her home on Sunday at around 2:20am. 

It was located Monday around 3:00pm in Sweetwater near Robert Lee Street and West Alabama Avenue. The perpetrator has not yet been apprehended, and the investigation by Roscoe Police is still ongoing.

The robbery is similar to others in Sweetwater and Blackwell currently under investigation by the Sweetwater Police Department and Nolan County Sheriff’s Department.

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ST. PAUL SPEAKS BRINGS SCRIPTURE TO LIFE AT BAPTIST CHURCH SUNDAY, JULY 28

Jolene and Philip Smith

On July 28, Roscoe First Baptist Church will present St. Paul Speaks Performance Scripture during the 10:55am service. Philip Smith, who portrays the Apostle Paul, is a descendant of several long-time Roscoe area families. Both his mother’s and father’s families worshiped at Roscoe First Baptist Church for decades.

Philip will perform “The Gospel of God’s Love,” which is compiled from the letters to Rome, Ephesus and Corinth. The program is composed entirely of scripture. 

Philip’s mother’s family, the Tom & Alice Wimans, farmed west of town and attended Roscoe First Baptist Church for decades. Mrs. Wiman was named Texas Baptist Mother of the Year by the Baptist Standard in 1961. The youngest of their 13 children, Ruth Wiman, was the Home Economics teacher at Roscoe High for 30 years.

Philip’s father’s family also farmed in the area, and his grandparents, Sanford and Madge Smith, made their home in Roscoe. They attended Roscoe First Baptist Church where Mr. Smith was a deacon for many years.

Rev. Cleckler J. and Nora Wiman Smith, Philip’s parents, served in Ira/Snyder area churches before being called by the Baptist Home Mission Board. They moved to western Oklahoma in 1959 and established churches which served the Cheyenne and Arapaho people.

Philip is honored to continue his family’s dedication to serving the church by using his God-given talent as an actor to portray the Apostle Paul. He lives with his wife Jolene in Austin and has been portraying Paul throughout Texas for more than nine years.

You can find out more about St. Paul Speaks Performance Scripture at www.stpaulspeaks.com.

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WEATHER REPORT: TYPICAL SUMMER WEATHER

A thunderhead in the southeastern sky on Thursday.

It’s been another normal July week with mostly sunny skies, light breezes, hot days, and warm nights. After breaking 100° for the second day in a row with last Wednesday’s 101°F, a cool front arrived with light north winds and a drop in temperature. Thursday’s high was 92°, Friday’s 91°, and Saturday’s 88° before warming back up to a high of 92° on Sunday, 96° on Monday, and 98° yesterday. There was no rain.

Today and the rest of the week will be consistently hot. Highs through Saturday will be either 97° or 98° with Sunday dropping to 96°. Lows will be 73° or 74° through Sunday, and winds will be mild and southerly.

Chances for rain are 0% through Saturday, rising to 10% on Sunday and 20% on Monday.

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Roscoe Celebrates Independence Day

Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis at the free concert and street dance.

Once again, the City of Roscoe's celebration of July 4th on Saturday was another fun-filled day. From the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast to the live music of Pat Waters at the Lumberyard after the fireworks show, people enjoyed the day and celebrated the nation’s independence.

After the pancake breakfast, visitors were treated to a big parade with entries of all kinds and lots of candy thrown to the kids. In the afternoon, vendors sold their wares on downtown streets, visitors toured the Roscoe Historical Museum, and a sizeable crowd watched a formidable lineup of mud vehicles at George Parks Field compete in the Plowboy Mudbog.

In the evening, a crowd estimated at between 2500 and 3000 was on hand to hear Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis perform at the free concert and street dance, followed by a spectacular fireworks show. Afterwards, many continued the celebration at the Lumberyard, where they danced to the music of Pat Waters and the Chain Link Band.

In short, it was another enjoyable celebration for all.

(Press the play arrow in the center for a six-minute video.)

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JOE NICHOLS AT LUMBERYARD SATURDAY

Joe Nichols

This Saturday, country singer Joe Nichols makes his first appearance ever at the Lumberyard. Originally from Arkansas, he has been a fixture in country music since his single “The Impossible” reached number 3 on the Billboard country charts in 2002, followed in the same year by his first number one hit,  “Brokenheartsville.”

Since then, he has produced eight more studio albums including Revelation, III, Real Things, Old Things New. Crickets, and Never Gets Old. Top singles include “Brokenheartsville,” “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” “If Nobody Believed in You,” “Sunny and 75,” “Gimmie That Girl,” “I’ll Wait for You,” and “She Only Smokes When She Drinks.”

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

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CITY COUNCIL MEETS AT CITY HALL

City Manager Cody Thompson speaks to the Council yesterday.

Yesterday evening at its monthly meeting at City Hall, the Roscoe City Council approved authorizing the issue and sale of City of Roscoe tax and surplus revenue certificates of obligation to the Texas Water Development Board for its loan of $2.3 million to improve the City’s water system, along with approving other matters related to the subject.

In his report on public works, City Manager Cody Thompson briefly summarized the success of this year’s Independence Day celebration on July 6. All activities of the day apparently went off without any problems.

He also mentioned his visit with Brenda Klepper of the Nolan County Appraisal District. She informed him that the tax roll will not be certified until July 23, so the dates for Council’s budget workshops for the upcoming fiscal year will not be set until sometime in early August.

The sanitary sewer line construction is coming along as planned although the current contractors are not working as quickly as the previous ones did last year.

The City’s contracted water and sewer rate study will take about three months. The cost will be in the $13,000 to $20,000 range and the City A Board can help defray the cost.

The West Texas Wind Festival is set for October 19.

The Council also approved the City’s quarterly investment report, and other routine items.

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JULY 4TH PARADE WINNERS NAMED

Decorated bicycles in the July 4th parade.

This year’s Independence Day parade was one of the best yet. Here’s a list of the winners of the various categories:

Best Antique Vehicle: Wes Williams
Best Bicycle: Lydia Draper
Best Motorcycle: Corbin Vieras
Best Western-Themed: Shaylee Leatherwood
Best Semi: Jake Freeman
Best Overall: Astros at Iwo Jima
Best Patriotic Theme: Aubrey Sanford
Best Four-Wheeler: Daisy Talamantez
Winner of AR: Ken Nevins

Parade organizers want to thank the following individuals, businesses, and organizations for their help and contributions: The Lumberyard, Wildflower Boutique, Vickie’s Gifts, Hospice of West Texas, First Financial Bank of Sweetwater, Dr. David King, Doc and Celia Pietzsch, Love’s Storage Center, State Farm Insurance, Hoyt Place, Texas State Technical College, Sonic, Morgan Real Estate, Members of the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department, and the Roscoe Police Department.

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PLOWBOY MUDBOG WINNERS

(Press the play button for a five-minute video of some but not all of the runs of the super-modified, open, and tractor-tire vehicles in Saturday's Plowboy Mudbog.)

Here are the top three finishers of each class:

Street
1. David Scott            Big Spring          Toyota Pickup “Outcast”
2. Jeff Sharp              Colorado City    Blue ’99 Blazer “Dirty Mary”
3. Ben Allen              Buffalo Gap        '79 GMC “Badger”

Super Street
1. Freddy Salazar       Colorado City  Orange ’75 Dodge “Maggie”
2. Rachel Bradshaw  Aspermont       Red ’86 Chevy “Daddy’s Girl”
3. Rene Sotelo            Abilene            Green ’78 Blazer “GrassHopper”

Modified
1. Shelton Walton       Roby                Purple ’80 Toyota “Rufus”
2. Mark Brumley        Lubbock          Black ’96 Chevy Tahoe
3. Billy Beauchamp    Aspermont     Purple ’90 Chevy S10 “Spanky”

Super Modified
1. Wacey Daniel       Big Spring     Green ’94 Chevy S10 “Green Go”
2. A. Montgomery   Big Spring     Brown ’84 Chevy “Bad Company”
3. Brian Robbins     Lovington, NM   Orange ’71 Ford Bronco

Open
1. David Pantoja       Roscoe               ’77 Blazer “Plowboy Bunny”
2. Arden Alvarez      Colorado City    Jeep

Tractor Tire
1. Toby Walker          Midland        Black ’83 Bronco “KarmaKazi”
2. Damon Sisk          Sweetwater   Red ‘02 Chevy “Harley Worth It”
3. M. & T. Roberts   Joshua, Tx     Ford Bronco “Aftermath”

West Texas Mega Trux

Plowboy Mudbog officials and the Roscoe Little League wish to thank West Texas Mega Trux for their donation of $500 to the Roscoe Little League as well as their entries in the Plowboy Mudbog.

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WEATHER REPORT: SUMMER HEAT AND A SHOWER

Monday's storm as seen from the cemetery. (Photo by Vanya Duncan)

As the forecasters predicted, this past week has been marked by some serious summer heat. Afternoon highs ranged from 92° to 95° all last week up to yesterday, when the high rose to 103°. Lows were also warm with all in the low seventies except for Monday’s 69° after the storm.

The rain came Monday evening at about seven o’clock when a big cloud from the northwest moved in with lightning and thunder. There was a brief shower followed by about an hour of light rain, hardly more than a sprinkle. The storm was heavier north of town than elsewhere, and as much as an inch fell there. Everywhere else, the rain was lighter, ranging from around a half-inch to less than a tenth. Here in town, the official total was .37”. Although not a lot, what rain there was was good for the young cotton.

Today should be another scorcher with another 100° day likely, but the wind will shift to the north tomorrow and cool things off. The high should be only about 90° and the low 69°. Friday will begin a new warming trend with a forecast high of 92°, increasing to Saturday and Sunday’s 94° and Monday’s 96°. Skies will be mostly to completely sunny, and there is no chance higher than 10% for rain in the forecast.

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Roscoe Celebrates July 4th This Saturday

Bruce Robison and wife Kelly Willis are the headliners at the free concert.

Final preparations are underway for Roscoe’s Independence Day Celebration this Saturday, July 6, and the event’s organizers are once again planning a day to remember.

The day will begin at 8am with the Roscoe Lions Club Pancake Breakfast in the open building just west of the Smackers building on Broadway. Then at ten o’clock, the parade will come down Broadway, followed by the Plowboy Mudbog at George Parks Field beginning at twelve.

During the afternoon, street vendors will be open and selling food and other wares along Broadway, Cypress, and Old Town Park, and the Roscoe Historical Museum will be open for visitors.

The Roscoe Express will be available to shuttle people free of charge between downtown and the Plowboy Mudbog during the afternoon. 

Music will begin “on the bricks” of Cypress with Tanner Fenoglio at around six-thirty. Then, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis will take the stage at eight and play until 9:30, followed by the ever-popular fireworks show beginning at about 9:45.

Here are more details about the various events of the day:

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

The Lions Club Pancake Breakfast will start at 8am and end at 10am before the start of the parade. Pancakes, bacon, coffee, and juice will be served for $5/plate in the empty building next to the former Smacker’s Café on Broadway. All proceeds from the ticket sales and breakfast will be used to support the Roscoe Lions Club charitable activities for the year.

PARADE

Once again, parade organizers invite your participation. They are looking for creativity and variety. Float awards will be presented to best overall, best western, and most patriotic. Prizes will also be awarded to the best antique vehicle, best motorcycle, best bicycle, and best semi. Anything is welcome!

The parade will start at 10:00am.  Line-up will be on West Broadway at 9:30am, and judging will be at 9:45am.

For more information, call Valerie Pruitt at 325-338-4666.

PLOWBOY MUDBOG

This year’s Plowboy Mudbog at George Parks Field will feature mudboggers from as far away as Dallas, Amarillo, and New Mexico. Registration for entrants begins at 9:30am Saturday morning at the northwest corner of the baseball field at Second and Sycamore Streets.  The driver entry fee is $30.

Entries will be in five classes:
1.    Street: 35” tires and under with limited engine modification.
2.    Super Street: 35” with engine vac under 13”.
3.    Modified: 36” to 39” with limited engine modification.
4.    Super Modified: 36” to 39” with engine vac under 13”.
5.    Open: 40” and over.

Since there’s an advantage in going last rather than first, each mud vehicle makes two runs, with the second run in reverse order from the first.

The public gate will open at 11:00am with mudbog action beginning at noon. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students 11 to 16. Kids 10 and under are free.  Proceeds will benefit the Roscoe Baseball Little League. The Little League will also run the concession booth.

Time permitting, there will also be a Plowboy Mudbog “Dash for Cash,” an entertaining event featuring kids running through knee-deep mud.

Spectators are encouraged to bring sun block, mosquito repellent, canopy, and lawn chairs. For more information, see the Plowboy Mudbog Facebook page, or contact Felix Pantoja at 325-514-8384.

THE FREE CONCERT AND STREET DANCE

The music stage will be set up on Cypress Street downtown between the Roscoe State Bank and Old Town Park. Tanner Fenoglio will open the show at around 6:30, followed by this year’s feature act, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis, who will begin around eight o’clock and play until 9:30 or so.

THE FIREWORKS SHOW

The fireworks show should once again be a memorable event that fittingly tops off the day. 

The show begins at about 9:45pm and will last about twenty minutes.
 
AFTER THE FIREWORKS

Those who are still not done celebrating can then go to the Lumberyard, where until 1 o’clock there will be dancing with live music provided by Pat Waters and his Chain Link Band free of charge.

So, if you're in the area on Saturday, make plans to attend, bring lawn chairs and coolers, and help us celebrate the country’s independence!

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ABOUT THE BANDS:
Opening Act: Tanner Fenoglio

The Tanner Fenoglio Band

Originally from Nocona and now based in Fort Worth, Tanner Fenoglio is married with two kids, has been to college and worked 80-hour weeks in the oil patch. But since high school he has always aspired to a music career. He recently released his first CD, This Town, an LP.

Singles include “This Town,” “Cheap Gasoline,” and “This Ain’t the Movies.”

Headliners: Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis

Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis

Husband and wife team Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis are currently on a cross-country tour celebrating the recent release of Beautiful Lies, their latest album. It is their fourth album produced together. They were married in 1996 and have four children.

Both made their names as single performers before marrying and getting together as a duo.

Bruce Robison, the brother of country singer Charlie Robison, has been better known as a songwriter than an individual performer. Songs he wrote that have hit number one on the country charts include Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s “Angry All the Time,” the Dixie Chicks’ “Travelin’ Soldier,” and George Strait’s “Wrapped.” Originally from Bandera, he began his singing career over twenty years ago and in that time has produced twelve albums, including four with his wife. His most recent solo album is The Back Porch Band, released in 2017.

Kelly Willis has also had a singing career separate from her husband’s. Her most recent solo effort is a soul-and-country gem entitled Back Being Blue, released last year. She and Bruce have been married since 1996 and have four children.

The Austin-based couple’s most popular singles as a duet include “Angry All the Time,” “Long Way Home,” and “Leaving.”  
 
After the fireworks: Pat Waters

Pat Waters & the Chain Link Band

Pat Waters came to a music career relatively late in life, not buying his first guitar until he was twenty. Born and raised in Bridgeport, he went to college at North Texas and graduated with a degree in marketing.  He and his uncle partnered up and now own an oil field construction company and a trucking company.  He got his first gig by answering an ad in the Dallas Morning News and playing two songs in an opry house for $25 and, in doing so, found that music was something he wanted to pursue.

He considers himself a family man and homebody who takes his sons hunting and fishing. His music is traditional country, and his latest album is Sorry ‘Bout the Mess. Singles include “You Ain’t Never Been to Texas,” “Texas Tears and Mexican Beer,” and “Love You Back to Texas.”

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FREE SWIMMING AT THE CITY POOL TOMORROW, JULY 4

July 4th Special: No Charge for Swimming at City Pool.

In celebration of July 4th, the City Swimming Pool will be open and offer free swims tomorrow. Hours are from 1-6pm. The pool will be closed Saturday for two private parties.

For more information, contact Pool Manager Candy Aguayo at 325-232-4086.

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WEATHER REPORT: TYPICAL SUMMER HEAT

The southeastern sky yesterday afternoon.

It’s summertime in west Texas, and the weather is showing it with hot, sunny days and summer clouds along with southerly winds. Afternoon temperatures are in the nineties with morning lows in the seventies, and each day is pretty much like the day before—and the day following.

This past week, Saturday’s high was 96°F, Thursday’s was 92°, and the other days were somewhere in between. The low for the week was 68° on both Thursday and Monday.

The coming week will be about the same with slightly warmer temperatures. Today’s high will be around  92°, increasing to 95° tomorrow and 96° on Friday and Saturday. Lows will also be slightly warmer at 72° and 73°.

Rain is once again unlikely with chances of precipitation at 10% to 20% at least through the weekend. However, forecasters are currently saying there is a 40% chance of rain next Monday.

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