Thirty RCHS Seniors Receive Their Diplomas

2020 Grads file into Plowboy Field Friday evening. (from EduDrone video)

The Roscoe Collegiate High School Class of 2020 reached one of life’s milestones Friday evening in a completely novel and unexpected way when they were awarded their high school diplomas while social distancing to an audience limited to close family members at Plowboy Field. They are certainly the first RCHS graduating class ever to do so, and let’s hope they’re also the last. They were also the first to have the ceremony livestreamed on social media, thanks to the crew at EduDrone, who broadcast it on their Facebook page.

In addition to their high school diplomas, most of the graduates had just received their Associate Degrees from Western Texas College in Snyder and/or earned professional certifications through their work at one of the RCHS P-Tech programs, EduDrone, EduWeld, EduVet, or EduMake It,

Valedictorian of the Class of 2020 is Martín Luna with an overall grade average of 100.25. Salutatorian is Rebecca Shaw with an average of 97.7567.

Here is a list of the Class of 2020 along with their academic attainments:

Damian Aguayo §                      Jessie Lynn Mallion *
Hunter Aaron Anglin §             Jesus Martinez, Jr. *
Michael Jacob Arce §                Sadie Gayle McCambridge * Φ
Tristan James Baker * § Φ β   Brayan Medina Solis
Garrett Chastain Bowers          Melissa Montealvo
Jaythan Taylor Coale *             Anahi Ortega Solis
Cera Rae Cuellar § *                  Kaylee Palacios-Herrera * Φ
Leandra Marie DeLeon            Alexander Melchisedek Pantoja * Φ
Gerardo Garcia Solis                 Hagen Riley Payne *
Roman Javier Garza * § β         Jacob Teague Rainey * Φ
Mayra Alejandra Gonzalez        Lyndsey Simone Ruiz
Giselle Herrera                            Esperanza Marie Sanchez * Φ
Karen Edith Herrera § Φ           Rebecca Lynne Shaw * Φ §
Ryan Scott Highsmith §            Shayden Lynn Tinkler * Φ §
Martín Manuel Luna § Φ          Landry Lee Turnbow * Φ §

* = WTC Associate Degree
§ = Industry-Based Certificate
Φ = Phi Theta Kappa (WTC Honor Society)
β = Boys State

Here are the top ten graduates gradewise:
1. Martín Luna                           6. Jacob Rainey
2. Rebecca Shaw                       7. Shayden Tinkler
3. Landry Turnbow                  8. Kaylee Palacios-Herrera
4. Tristan Baker                        9. Jesus Martinez, Jr.
5. Sadie McCambridge           10. Alexander Pantoja

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CLASS OF 2020 GRADUATION VIDEO

Made for those who were unable to attend the event but serving as a lasting memento for all was this video made for the Class of 2020 by EduDrone’s Cade Garrett, who not only filmed the graduating seniors, but also got their families involved. The 17-minute video was made available on the EduDrone Facebook page yesterday and is or will be placed on the Roscoe Collegiate website.

 

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PLOWBOYS, PLOWGIRLS RECEIVE ATHLETIC HONORS

Junior Martinez is Football Plowboy of the Year.

Although there was no Athletic Banquet this year, several Plowboys were awarded honors for their athletic endeavors in football, basketball, track, and powerlifting, while Plowgirls were recognized for their attainments in basketball and cross country.

Football Plowboy of the Year: Junior Martinez
Football Fighting Heart: Ryan Highsmith

Basketball Plowboy of the Year: Ryan Highsmith, Hunter Anglin
Basketball Mr. Defense: Brayan Medina, Tristan Baker

Track Plowboys of the Year: Seniors Ryan Highsmith, Jaythan Coale, Brayan Medina, Tristan Baker, Junior Martinez

Powerlifting Plowboy of the Year: Jathan Sheridan

Clyde Jay Memorial Scholarship Recipients: Sadie McCambridge, Tristan Baker, Roman Garza

Britt Paty Memorial Award: Jaythan Coale

Shauna McCambridge is Basketball Plowgirl of the Year.

Cross Country Plowgirl of the Year: Itzel Ortega-Solis

Basketball Plowgirl of the Year: Shauna McCambridge
Basketball Miss Defense: Carson Greenwood

Plowgirl Fighting Heart: Sadie McCambridge

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AMERICAN LEGION HONORS VETS ON MEMORIAL DAY

Post Commander J. H. Tollison with Larry Clements and Jodie Kingston.

On Monday, Roscoe’s American Legion Post 227 members honored veterans on Memorial Day as they do every year. In the morning was the flag-raising ceremony and the placement of flags on the graves of former servicemen at the Roscoe Cemetery. This year, 293 flags were placed. 

At noon, the flag was changed from half-mast to full, and in the late afternoon the flags were picked up, and the flag at the Legion Hall lowered.

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CORONAVIRUS SITUATION LOOKING BETTER IN ABILENE, WORSE IN SNYDER

The Covid-19 situation in Abilene seems to be improving with 33 active cases of the virus and only two in the hospital, which may also include patients from other counties. The easing of the shutdown rules so far hasn’t seemed to create any significant health problems there, although admittedly we are still in the early stages of the business re-openings, so it’s still too early to know for sure.

On the other hand, Snyder, which had only two active cases since early April and both of them recovered, has had an outbreak of positive cases in the past week, and as of yesterday had a total of 20 confirmed.

The news stories from Snyder don’t specify where those cases are, although a Lubbock news source said two were law enforcement employees, and the extensive testing they did on Monday with law enforcement and inmates suggest at least some of them are in jail or prison. An Abilene Reporter-News article yesterday on the Snyder outbreak also mentioned that some of Monday’s testing was in a nursing home. There are 192 of the Scurry County tests now pending, the results of which won’t be known until later this week.

However, Scurry County officials did say that eight of the new cases were caused by “community spread,” which indicates that the coronavirus is also active in the general population. Those interested in daily results from Snyder can check on the Scurry County Emergency Facebook page.

Abilene now has 230 positive results with 33 active cases and 2 hospitalizations.

Here are this week’s Big Country county figures as of yesterday (with last week’s in parentheses if different): Jones, 101 (115); Brown, 57 (51); Scurry, 20 (2); Comanche, 9 (3); Callahan, 9 (8); Howard, 6; Eastland, 5; Stephens, 4 (1); Coleman, 2; Nolan, 2; Fisher, 2 (1); Haskell 2, Runnels, 2; Coke, 1;  Knox, 1; Mitchell, 1; Shackelford, 1.

Selected west Texas counties yesterday (with last Tuesday’s count in parentheses): Lubbock, 667 (624); Midland, 124 (122); Ector (Odessa), 151 (115); Wichita (Wichita Falls), 82 (80); Tom Green (San Angelo), 64(62).

Texas now has 56,560 cases (49,912 last Tuesday) and 1,536 deaths (1,369 last Tuesday).

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WEATHER: MANY CHANCES FOR RAIN, FEW RESULTS

Cloud on Thursday evening. (Photo by Eden Baker)

This was a frustrating week for the weather, as several prime opportunities for rain never materialized, or when they did, produced disappointing results. Although there were afternoon buildups of clouds along with strong winds, lightning, and thunder for three or four days in a row, I received a little less than two-tenths of an inch in my rain gauge, a little on Sunday night and a little more Monday evening. As they do sometimes, the clouds looked promising on radar as they approached from the southwest but seemed to break up or go north or south—or both—shortly before they got to the Roscoe area.

Temperatures were in the 90s every afternoon through Sunday, and there were strong south winds on Saturday and Sunday with high winds of 20 and 25mph with gusts up to 35. Early Monday morning when a norther blew in, it came with gusts in the 40s and up to 50mph. It also cooled everything down. Monday’s high was only 75°F and yesterday's 81°.

The forecast for today is for warmer temperatures with a high of 90°, mostly sunny skies, and almost no chance for rain. The upcoming several days will also be mild with highs in the upper 80s or around 90° through Monday with lows in the 60s. Skies will be sunny on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and rain is unlikely, which is not good, as May is traditionally the wettest month of the year—but apparently not this year. Here’s hoping that lack turns around in June.

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† RODRIGO SANCHEZ DE LOERA

 A graveside service for Rodrigo Sanchez De Loera, Sr., “Gigo,” and “Rod,” 88, of Roscoe is being held this morning at 10:00am at Roscoe Cemetery with Father Nilo Nalugon officiating. He passed away on Saturday, May 23, at his home with his wife at his side.

Rod married the love his life, Ofelia Esquivel, on December 27, 1960, in Mexico. Together they had three girls and four boys. He was a hardworking man who began his career as a farmer, then worked for the railroad company and at the City of Roscoe. He enjoyed telling jokes, working outside on the yard, staying busy in his shop, and cruising the streets in Roscoe. But, most of all he enjoyed his grandkids and great grandkids.

Rod is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ofelia De Loera; son, Rod De Loera, Jr., of Arlington; daughter, Norma Lara and husband Richard of Sweetwater; daughter, Sally De Loera Gonzalez of Sweetwater; son, Frank De Loera and wife Lupe of Sweetwater; son, Jerry De Loera and fiancée Tania Brown of Sweetwater; daughter, Diana De Loera and husband Jaime Valdez of Sweetwater; son, John Joe De Loera and wife Ruby of Sweetwater;  9 grandkids and numerous great-grandkids.

Pallbearers are Richard Lara II, Andrew De Loera, Frankie Gonzalez, and Austin De Loera.

Honorary Pallbearers: Jo Christian “Guero” De Loera, Jacyn Lara, Jayden De Loera, Julian De Loera, Jesse De Loera, Landry Brown.

We will miss his fun personality, jokes, and hugs but will take comfort in all the memories he left us with.

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