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| Picnic tables in Memorial Park for student work or eating takeout. |
Since then, it’s been pretty quiet around town. On I-20, the service stations and their convenience stores are still open, as is Heady’s auto parts store. Downtown, the Roscoe State Bank and City Hall are open along with the Co-op Gin office, VP Tire, and the wind company offices and CPS on east Broadway.
In Sweetwater, Walmart and Brookshire’s supermarket remain open, but at both it can sometimes be difficult to maintain the suggested “social distance” between customers. Also, certain items are unavailable or in short supply and have been for well over a week as customers stocked up for the long haul: toilet paper, paper towels, dried beans, peas, rice, and pasta, eggs, much fresh chicken, beef, and pork, and other items. When I went to Walmart on Friday, I took the last two loaves of whole-wheat bread, my favorite kind, but at checkout the checker took one away from me, saying that no one was allowed more than one loaf of bread.
At Roscoe Collegiate, all schoolwork shifted to online instruction on Monday and will continue that way most likely for the rest of the school year. This mode of instruction is new to both faculty and students, so it will take some learning and adjustment, which is never easy but is now necessary. Students without internet access at home have homework assignments that can be completed on paper. The school is trying to get a wi-fi solution for at least some of them, but the companies that offer it are currently backlogged, so it may take a while. The cafeteria, open 9am to noon, is serving takeout breakfasts and lunches and is the dropoff and pickup location for paper assignments and homework. Details are available by going to the school website here and looking for the latest COVID-19 updates.
Everyone is urged to take proper precautions against catching or passing the coronavirus. Just because there are no “confirmed” cases in Roscoe doesn’t mean that it’s not here. In fact, there is a possibility that it is here and has been for a couple of weeks. At least three local folks have all the symptoms of Covid-19 but don’t know if they have it because of the severe shortage of testing kits. One whose doctor told to get tested tried to do so but was turned down because his fever was low when he went there, and they were testing only people with higher fever because of the test-kit shortage. Likewise, neither of the other two have been tested. They are all okay without need of hospitalization and are trying to stay away from other people. However, they mixed with others before suspecting they might have Covid-19, so there is a chance that they and others may also have been infected.
Of course, if you are a younger person and catch the virus, chances are good you will suffer no worse than you would with a case of the flu, maybe even less. Even so, you are encouraged to follow all the social distancing guidelines, especially around old people, many of whom have compromising health conditions and are in serious danger if they contract the disease. So, even if you’re not that worried about yourself, please consider that you could pass it to someone it could hospitalize and potentially kill.
If you think you may have coronavirus, please click here for online screening to see if you need a test, or phone Hendrick Health System in Abilene for a screening test by calling 325-216-4824 and texting covidhelp.
Hopefully, we can all get through the crisis without any serious problems.
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“INJUN ROBERT” SAYS 2020 CROPS WILL BE OKAY
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| A north wind blows the smoke south. (Photo by Robert McBride) |
For newer readers who don’t know what we’re talking about, a little background is necessary. The ritual “Injun Robert” performs was an annual custom of the Plains Indians long before the white man came. Said to predict the success of the coming year’s crop, the Comanches called it Taba’na Yuan’e, or the “Sunrise Wind” ceremony. They always performed it on the first dawn after the first day of spring. Just before sunrise, they would build a fire, and then, as the sun appeared, they observed which way the wind blew the smoke, believing its direction foretold the kind of crop they could expect for the coming year.
If the wind that carried the smoke upward was from the east or northeast, crops would be plentiful. A north or northwest wind foretold average yields, a west wind was bad, a southwest wind worse, and a south wind the worst of all.
And this is the ritual “Injun Robert” performed Saturday morning, which was the first dawn after this year’s first day of spring on Friday. The almost forgotten ceremony was revived in Roscoe in the early 1970s by George Parks after learning about it from “Injun John,” who performed it in Muleshoe every year—just as his father had since the 1880s. “Injun George” executed the ritual faithfully in Roscoe for years before going to the happy hunting grounds in 1983. Then in 2012 it was once again revived, this time by “Injun Robert,” i.e., Robert McBride, who has performed it annually since then.
His record is good, but not perfect. Here’s his record so far with the annual number of bales ginned at the Central Rolling Plains Co-op used as his measure of success.
Year Wind Prediction Bales Ginned
2012 Northwest Average 66,985
2013 Southwest Poor 71,849
2014 Southwest Poor 32,274
2015 Northwest Average 75,636
2016 Southwest Poor 87,827
2017 Southwest Poor 111,598
2018 Southwest Poor 23,372
2019 Calm None 62,284
Last year was unusual in that there was no wind at all when dawn arrived on the appointed day. So, following tradition wasn’t possible since that possibility hadn’t been covered or handed down. However, last year’s final number of 62,284 bales is about as close to average as you could get, since the yearly average for all the years the gin has been in operation (since 2007) is 62,998 bales. So, if there’s any validity to the ceremony at all, a calm wind predicts an average crop.
With that said, we note that the predictions have been accurate for four of the other seven years, i.e., 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2018, while three years, all with southwest winds, have been underestimated, i.e., 2013, 2016, and 2017.
This year’s wind from the north is the first from that direction since the ritual was resumed in 2012. We’ll have to wait until fall to see how well the traditional prediction turns out.
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WEATHER REPORT: HOT WEATHER ARRIVES TODAY
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| A big puddle on Broadway Thursday morning after Wednesday's rain. |
The good news is that a norther blows in on Saturday and will cool things down to a more reasonable high of 70° or so with a morning low of 44°. However, it may be too windy to be pleasant. So we’ve now reached that time of year when you need the AC one day and the heater the next, and sometimes even both on the same day.
Compared to what’s coming up, this past week has been relatively mild and unremarkable. After the rains of the earlier part of last week, the skies cleared and the puddles began to soak in and dry up. Temperatures were temperate, actually a little too cool with highs on Friday and Saturday of 58° and 45° with a sharp, north wind along with clouds and a heavy mist. Sunday was nice with sunny skies and a high of 64° and Monday and Tuesday even better with highs of 80° and 79° respectively.
Starting on Sunday we will once again have nice weather for a few days with partly cloudy skies, lighter south winds, and highs of about 72° with morning lows of 50°.
Monday and Tuesday have a 20% chance of rain.
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IS A HOT, DRY SPRING IN STORE FOR THE ROSCOE AREA?
The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center seems to think so, at least warmer than usual. On Thursday, it made its forecast for the continental US for the next three months: April, May, and June. They are presented in the two maps below, the first one for temperature and the second for precipitation.
The meteorologists admit in accompanying text that these predictions are highly uncertain because of conflicting signals and trends, so as with all predictions, they should be taken with a grain of salt. But I’m sure you already knew that. Anyway, for what they’re worth, here they are.
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† BEATRICE BEE RENFRO
Bee was born August 3, 1924, in Oklahoma to the late Eldie and Nancy (Leigh) Allen. She married Billy Weldon Renfro on February 18, 1946, in Cross Plains. They lived in Sweetwater for 18 years before moving to Roscoe in 1970. Bee was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church in Roscoe.
She is survived by her grandchildren, Nancy Wallace Martinez and husband James of Aubrey, Texas; Michael Wallace of Roscoe, and Crystal Renfro Graham of Chillicothe; great-grandchildren, Jace and Emily Martinez of Aubrey; and her son-in-law, James McFaul of Roscoe.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, February 5, 1995; son, Billy Wayne Renfro, December 15, 2019; daughter, Sandra McFaul, January 13, 2020; one sister, three brothers, and a grandson.
Pallbearers were James McFaul, James Martinez, Michael Wallace, Edward Acevedo, Lonnie Heffernan, and Kenny Landfried.
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† DIMPLE JEAN WILLIAMS
Ms. Dimple Jean Williams, “Heavy D and the Girls,” a wife, sister, and spectacular aunt, was a woman of integrity, loyalty, and patience, and a good listener with a strong belief in family unity. She was born March 25, 1954, in Sweetwater to Mr. Hill Nora Williams and Ms. Minnie Ola Jackson-Williams. Ms. Dimple Jean worked for Beverly Enterprise at the Sweetwater Nursing Home as a Dietician. She worked at her place of employment until she was no longer able. She received her GED and afterwards attended Cisco Junior College in Abilene. She was a strong supporter of family and friends. She was respected, loved, and admired due to her kind nurturing heart. Sunday dinners were most valued moments with family and friends. She enjoyed bingo, fishing, playing cards, and shopping at garage sales. Ms. Dimple Jean’s personality was always full of laughter and smiles.
Ms. Dimple leaves to mourn Mr. Willie Williams, husband; Ms. Minnie Ola Williams, mother; brothers, Robert Jr. and Laverne Williams of Roscoe, Sherman Williams of Sweetwater, Thurman Williams and Charles Williams of Abilene, Billy and Peggy Williams of Sweetwater, and Hillie Ray and Essa Williams of Amarillo; sisters, Linda Williams-Johnson and Pearl Mae Williams of Sweetwater, Donna Kay and Travis Wallace of Roby, and Lounda Bussey of Sweetwater; oldest nieces, Denise Williams, Evelyn Nicole Morrison, Georgia Williams, Nay Nay Williams, Shayla Williams, and India Williams; oldest nephews, Robert Williams, Jr., Jonathan Lamar Williams, Jeremey Robert Thompson, Travis (KeKe) Wallace, Jr., Hillie Ray Williams, Jr., Tommy Lamont Williams, Randy Williams, and Jerome Williams. Ms. Dimple also had a host of great nephews and nieces.
Ms. Dimple Jean is preceded in death by Mr. Hill Nora Williams, father; Lillie Jean Williams, sister; and Nicholas James Williams, nephew; and Allen Johnson, Jr. She loved God and when feeling well, she often attended service at Holy Temple of Christ Sanctuary with her husband Willie and sometimes attended service with Robert Jr. Williams, her brother, at Greater Zion Baptist Church.
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† JOE DON SPENCER
Joe was born June 25, 1951, in Breckenridge to Paul and Lorna Spencer. He was in the 1969 graduating class of Roscoe High School. He then attended Ranger Junior College.
He married Karla Sells on October 13, 1973, in Pampa.
In his early years, Joe worked at Holiday Rambler. Later he worked for Mapco for more than twenty-three years in Fritch, TX, and more than twenty years for Pioneer Natural Resources from which he retired. He was a reliable employee.
During retirement Joe enjoyed playing golf and loved to meet at Henry D’s with his fellow Pioneer Natural Resources retirees. He loved his family, NASCAR, and mowing the lawn.
Joe attended Hillside Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Paul Spencer; and a niece Tammy Jo Petty.
Survivors include his wife, Karla Spencer, of Amarillo; a son, Ricky Spencer and wife Ashely, of Columbus, GA; a daughter, Tracie Spencer, of Amarillo; his mother, Lorna Mae “Nanny” Spencer, of Lubbock; a sister, Linda Petty and husband Charles, of Lubbock; five grandchildren, Brennan Spencer, Teagan Spencer, Ethan Colley, Emma Colley, and Duncan Spencer; two nieces, Paula Mercer and husband Bill, of Lubbock, and Teresa Vaughn and husband Chris; four grand-nephews; and one great-niece.
Obituary at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Amarillo by clicking here.
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