Blackland Smokehouse to Open on Friday

A new restaurant opens in downtown Roscoe.

A new barbecue restaurant, the Blackland Smokehouse, will make its debut on Friday.  Located on the north side of Broadway in downtown Roscoe between The Wildflower Boutique and Memorial Park, it will be jointly owned and run by ex-Plowboys Randy Williams, Class of ’74, and wife Fonda, and their son Travis, Class of  ’03. 

Randy and Fonda Williams have a proven track record with barbecue.  From 2003 to 2009, they owned and ran Spyke’s BBQ in Kingsland on Lake LBJ and were quite successful with that venture, building up a large clientele before selling the establishment at a nice profit.

They then lived in Ecuador for a couple of years before returning to Roscoe last year.

The Blackland Smokehouse will have a barbecue buffet setup, serving beef brisket, pork ribs, sausage, and chicken along with the usual barbecue trimmings.  It will also feature a Plowboy Special, which is basically a pile-on, and there will also be a different special every day, such as pulled pork or a chicken special, which will be on the same day from one week to the next. 

Beverages served will include cokes, tea and coffee.  Beer and wine will not be available, but customers may bring their own to drink while dining.

Hours of operation may change later, but for now they are 11:00am-8:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 11:00am-3:00pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.  The restaurant will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

We wish the Williamses all the success with their new venture.

--o--

COUNTRY MUSIC GREAT MEL TILLIS TO PERFORM HERE FRIDAY NIGHT

Mel Tillis brings his act to the Lumberyard on Friday night.

Roscoe will once again host one of country music’s top stars Friday night when Mel Tillis sings on the outdoor stage of the Lumberyard. 

In February, President Obama bestowed upon Tillis the National Medal of the Arts for his contributions to country music, just one of the many awards he has received over the years.  He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, and the Nashville Song Writers International Hall of Fame.  He has also been named the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year, Comedian of the Year six times, and Songwriter of the Decade for two decades.

Over the years, he has recorded over sixty albums and had 36 Top Ten singles with nine going to Number One, including “I Ain’t Never,” “Good Woman Blues,” “Coca Cola Cowboy,” “Heart Over Mind,” “Send Me Down to Tucson,” “I Believe in You,” “Southern Rains,” and many others.

He has also written over a thousand songs, approximately 600 of which have been recorded by major artists.  These include “Detroit City,” “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” “Burning Memories,” “Thoughts of a Fool,” “Honey (Open That Door),” and “The Snakes Crawl at Night.”

West Texans will be treated to a rare, and perhaps final, opportunity to see the star, who doesn’t do that many shows and, when he does, performs all over the country.  He is doing only two shows this month, both in Texas, one of which is his appearance here at the Lumberyard.

Tickets are $15 in advance or at the door, and a huge crowd is expected.  Tables are sold out, but guests can bring a lawn chair.  The show will begin at 9:30pm.

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GEORGE PARKS MEMORIAL FUND GOAL REACHED

This photo of George Parks will appear on the monument.

Thanks to the generosity of a large number of people, the $3100 needed to fund a permanent memorial to George Parks was reached yesterday.  The order has been placed with Sterling Monument in Eastland, and work on the marker will soon be underway. 

This past week saw nice contributions from the following donors:

        Jim Boston
        Josh & Delma Boston
        Jimmie Cantrell
        Larry Cornoyer
        Larry Holderman
        Larry London
        Larry McBurnett
        Johnny Pepper
        Gene Witherspoon

There is now a tentative plan in the works for Roscoe artist Larry Cornoyer to create a bronze bust of George Parks, possibly to be placed in Old Town Park where the Times Office used to be.  The Hard Times will keep readers informed on the progress of this second venture as more particulars develop.

Thanks to all who have contributed time and/or money to the project.
  

--o--

CITY SWIMMING POOL CLOSED FOR THE SUMMER

The Swimming Pool is history for 2012.

The City Swimming Pool has been closed since Thursday due to problems with the filtration system leaking sand into the pool.   Repairs may not be made quickly, and since the pool was due to close in a week anyway, it will now be closed for the rest of the summer.

Repairs will be addressed when pool companies are not as busy as now, and the pool should be as good as new when it re-opens next spring.  Scheduled pool parties have necessarily been canceled and will be given refunds.

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RHS CLASS OF 1952 PLANS GATHERING FOR ALUMNI OF THAT ERA

This year will be the sixtieth anniversary of the class of 1952, and some of the graduates of that class are planning a gathering on the weekend of October 5-6 centered around the Plowboy game against Cross Plains and a dinner at one of the local restaurants.  

Jimmie and Mary Lynn Cantrell of Abilene, Bobby Haney of Imperial, CA, and Eddie Perry of LaBelle, FL, will attend.  They welcome all RHS graduates of 1952 and surrounding years to take part.  They are also looking for someone from Roscoe or Sweetwater to help coordinate the event.

--o--

WEATHER REPORT

Once again, we had typical August weather with highs in the upper 90s and low 100s and lows in the mid to lower 70s.  The hottest day was on Sunday when the temperature climbed to 106°F before cooling off.  On Sunday evening there was plenty of thunder and lightning, and it actually rained enough to get the ground wet but little more.  Measurable amounts were between one and two tenths of an inch.

The forecast is for continued hot and dry weather with a 20% chance of rain over the next couple of days.  On Friday, the chance increases to 30% and on Saturday to 40%, along with temperatures cooling to highs of around 90°F over the weekend.  

The cotton crop is still looking okay in most places but would benefit greatly from a good rain in the next week or so. 

--o--

It’s That Time Again: Plowboys Begin Football Workouts

The Plowboys prepare for the 2012 season on the newly turfed Plowboy Field.

Since Monday morning, the 2012 version of the Roscoe Plowboys football team has been working out from 7:00-10:30am on the new Astroturf of Plowboy Field.  They will continue this schedule through next Thursday, August 16. 

Coaches for the 2012 Plowboys are Head Coach Jonathan Haseloff and Assistant Coaches Chuck Cathey, Alan Steele, Jonathan McClure, and Johnny Martin, along with help from new science teacher Jordan Morales and student teacher Ryan Dillon from ACU.

With seven returning starters on both offense and defense, the Plowboys expect to improve significantly on last year’s record.  Their first scrimmage is against Haskell at 5:00pm next Friday, August 17, at Plowboy Field.  Then on Thursday, August 23, they scrimmage Hawley at Hawley.

They will open the regular season on Thursday, August 30, against the De Leon Bearcats in the Sammy Baugh Classic at Mustang Bowl in Sweetwater. 

Unlike last year, when Roscoe was the southernmost team in their district, this year they will be the westernmost.  Other teams in their new eight-team district, 7-A Division II, are Albany, Baird, Cross Plains, Gorman, Hamlin, Ranger, and Roby.

Dave Campbell’s 2012 Texas Football magazine lists Albany as the clear favorite to win the district with the Plowboys projected at sixth.  Here is the magazine’s predicted district finish:

       1.    Albany Lions
       2.    Hamlin Pied Pipers
       3.    Gorman Panthers
       4.    Cross Plains Buffaloes
       5.    Roby Lions
       6.    Roscoe Plowboys
       7.    Baird Bears
       8.    Ranger Bulldogs

And here is the Plowboys’ 2012 schedule:

       Date           Opponent         Location
       Aug. 30      De Leon            Sweetwater
       Sept. 7        Irion County    Mertzon
       Sept. 14      Miles                 Roscoe
       Sept. 28      Baird*               Baird
       Oct. 5          Cross Plains*   Roscoe
       Oct. 12        Albany*            Albany
       Oct. 19        Ranger*            Roscoe
       Oct. 26        Gorman*          Gorman
       Nov. 2         Hamlin*            Hamlin
       Nov. 9         Roby*               Roscoe

Asterisks denote district games.  All games start at 7:30pm.  

--o--

GEORGE PARKS MEMORIAL FUND UPDATE

Swimming in the Nueces River at Boys Club Camp in 1957.

This past week the George Parks Memorial Fund has received nice gifts from the following donors:

           Jimmy Dyer
           Ronnie Fry
           Dr. Phil Grayson
           Pete Porter
           Edgar Nance
           John Strother

The good news is that the fund now has a total of $2025, which is about 2/3 of the $3100 needed.  The bad news is that we still need over $1000, and several significant names are missing from the donor list that ought to be there.  

If you are one of those missing donors, please take the time this week to write a check to the George Parks Memorial Fund.  Take it by the Roscoe State Bank, or send it to the George Parks Memorial Fund, Roscoe State Bank, P. O. Box 609, Roscoe, Texas 79545. 

--o--

PANTOJA REPLACES PORTER AS COMMUNITY CENTER PRESIDENT

At last night’s meeting at the Roscoe Community Center, Pete Porter stepped down as President, and Police Chief Felix Pantoja agreed to serve as Acting President until October, when a permanent President will be selected.

Christi Pepper Beal will serve as the Community Center’s Treasurer, and Helen Perry as its Events Coordinator.  For more information, contact Felix Pantoja at 325-514-8384.  To reserve the Community Center for an event, call Helen Perry at 325-766-3149.

The Community Center received a $100 donation to kick off its fundraiser, which will be supper at the center next Friday, August 17, 6:00-9:00pm.  The supper will include hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and cokes, and will cost $6.00.  Please make plans to attend.

--o--

NEW PART-TIME POLICE OFFICER HIRED

Roscoe Police Chief Felix Pantoja has chosen a new Police Officer to work part-time for the City.  He is Fabian Jimenez, and he will join Officer Les Soles as a part-time officer.  Both he and Soles are veterans of the Sweetwater Police Department.

--o--

ROSCOE’S COTTON CROP BETTER THAN MOST

Bruce McGlothlin reports that feed company representative C. M. Caraway of De Leon, who travels this region, says that the Roscoe area’s cotton crops are among the best he’s seen.  Caraway says that both Fisher and Scurry Counties are hurting for rain, and the country between Snyder and Gail is desolate, although between Gail and Lamesa it looks a lot better. 

McGlothlin also makes a fearless prediction about this year’s first freeze in Roscoe and is emphatic about the accuracy of his method.  He says the first freeze will occur precisely on November 3, exactly three months after the first norther in August.  He says he’s known ever since he felt a breeze from the north last Friday, August 3.

--o--

WEATHER REPORT

I was gone on a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, from last Wednesday until yesterday, so I didn’t experience Roscoe’s weather first hand, but I’ve been told that outside of a few scattered showers that didn’t amount to much, the weather around here was hot and dry with several days hitting highs in the triple digits. 

The forecast for the next few days is for more of the same with highs of around 100°F, lows in the seventies, and 20% or less chance of rain. 

--o--

New Wind Energy Documentary Features Roscoe Wind Farm

A plane flies over the Roscoe Wind Farm in the documentary "Switch."

The Roscoe Wind Farm is once again a featured subject in a documentary film on energy.  

This time the film is “Switch,” a production of Arcos Films and the American Geosciences Institute.  In it, Dr. Steve Tinker, the State Geologist of Texas and a Professor of Geosciences at the University of Texas, explores the world’s leading energy sources, from oil and coal to solar and biofuels, in an attempt to discover the most pragmatic approach for solving the energy needs of the future. 

In the documentary’s look at wind energy, Dr. Tinker comes to the Roscoe Wind Farm and interviews Cliff Etheredge in a video that lasts for a little over nine minutes.  You can view it by clicking here.

The complete documentary, winner of the Colorado Environmental Film Festival and recipient of several other awards, has been highly praised since its release.  You can learn more about it at the website of the Switch Energy Project.

--o--

GEORGE PARKS MEMORIAL UPDATE

George Parks checks out money to waiting boys on a 1962 trip to Yellowstone Park.

After last week’s call for donations for a permanent memorial to George Parks, we have received several nice contributions from the following donors:

      Ken Brawley
      Lois Brawley
      David Duncan
      Edwin Duncan
      Harold Duvall
      Danny Jay
      Billy Joe Jay
      John Jay
      The Lumberyard
      James Pietzsch
      John Wayne Raines
      Tony Tidwell
      Gay Young

We thank those who have given.  We now have exactly half of the $3100 needed to pay for the monument.

But we still need help from some of you "stupid little freaks" who don’t want to pass up this one-time opportunity to show your appreciation to a man who gave of himself to make your life a little better.  

Let’s keep those donations coming in.  We’ve still got a ways to go.

You can drop off your donation at the Roscoe State Bank, or you can mail it to the George Parks Memorial Fund, Roscoe State Bank, P. O. Box 609, Roscoe, Texas 79545.  Make checks payable to the George Parks Memorial Fund.

--o--

COMMUNITY CENTER MEETING AND FUNDRAISER PLANNED

The Community Center will be the site of a meeting on Tuesday, August 7, at 7:00pm to make plans for the fundraiser on August 17 along with future activities to be held in the Community Center.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate.

Then on Friday, August 17, from 6:00-9:00pm, there will be a supper held at the Community Center to raise funds for it and to show recent improvements, including new paint, a new ceiling and a newly buffed floor, as well as the results of other cleaning done by several adult volunteers and by Coilla Smith and several of her high school students.

The supper will be $6.00 and will consist of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks.  Everyone is invited.

--o--

WEATHER REPORT

Last week we got a much needed rain.  

On Wednesday evening we got a light shower in town, enough to get the ground wet but not much more than that.  I had a tenth of an inch in my rain gauge.  Then on Thursday afternoon and evening it rained considerably more.  The heaviest rains were to the south and west, but practically everyone got something.

Roscoe got about an inch.  I had an inch in my rain gauge, and the City Shop just west of the baseball field had the same.  Kenny Landfried on the east side of town got .78”, and Lyndall Underwood on the west side got 1.2”. 

West of town, David Duncan (3 miles west on the railroad track) got 1.33”, Arlon Orman got 1.5”, Champion got 2.0”, and so did Phil Wright.  Kenny Landfried had 1.9” on his place near Cottonwood Creek, and the Rolling Plains Coop Gin received the same.

Five miles north of town Tim Tomlin got .8” while Pyron got 1.0”, and Jimmy Hudgins, six miles northeast of Pyron, got 1.5”.

The heaviest area rain I heard of was 3.5 inches on the Compton Ranch south of Maryneal.  Lake Sweetwater got 2.4” and Lake Trammell had .95”

Since then, a high pressure system has moved in, the skies have cleared, and temperatures have heated up into the triple digits.  Yesterday it was 102°F, and today and tomorrow it is supposed to go up to 105°.  Highs predicted for the weekend are in the 103° range, cooling down to a mere 101° or so on Sunday and Monday.  Lows will be in the upper and mid seventies. 

There is no rain in the forecast.

--o--

ROSCOE VOTING FAIRLY EVEN IN REPUBLICAN RUNOFF ELECTIONS

Voting in the school cafetorium was almost evenly split in yesterday's Republican runoff elections, but not in the Democratic one. Here are the results for Roscoe.

Republican Runoffs:

      U. S. Senator
            Ted Cruz 32
            David Dewhurst 32

      Railroad Commissioner
            Christi Craddick 30
            Warren Chisum 29

      Railroad Commissioner (Unexpired Term)
            Barry Smitherman 26
            Greg Parker 27

      Supreme Court Justice, Place 4
            John Devine 28
            David Medina 27

Democratic Runoff:

      U. S. Senator
            Paul Sadler 6
            Grady Yarbrough 1

Memorial Planned for George Parks

George Parks with a group of boys on a trip to New Mexico in the 1940s.

George Parks spent his life working for the good of Roscoe and, although he has been gone for almost thirty years, he is still remembered by many as a teacher, mentor, and friend who changed their lives for the better. 

Now, several former Boys Club members are working to honor his memory with a monument to be placed in Memorial Park. 

The monument will be made by Sterling Monument of Eastland, the same company that made the veteran’s memorial now in Memorial Park, across from the museum.  It will be gray granite, 32” tall, 22” wide, and 6” thick and will have a 5” x 7” porcelain photo of George above the engraved words George Parks.  Just below that will be an 18” x 18” bronze plaque with the words in the left-hand column.

The completed monument will cost $3100, which will be raised through donations. 

This is where we need your help.  If you are one of those whose life has been enriched by George Parks, this is your chance to honor his memory by contributing to the purchase of the monument.
 
About a third of the required amount has already been raised, but we still need the rest and hope to raise it before the end of August.  

You can drop off your donation at the Roscoe State Bank, or you can mail it to the George Parks Memorial Fund, Roscoe State Bank, P. O. Box 609, Roscoe, Texas 79545.  Make checks payable to the George Parks Memorial Fund. 

--o--

ROBERT MCBRIDE INTERVIEWED FOR “VOICES OF VETERANS” WEBSITE

Staff Sergeant McBride stands in front of his truck in Baghdad's "Green Zone."

Roscoe City Councilman Robert McBride is the subject of an interview now available on the “Voices of Veterans” website, a program of the Texas Veterans Land Board that records the stories of Texas veterans. 

The audio interview lasts for sixty-six minutes and covers McBride’s military odyssey from boot camp to jump school, deployment overseas, and action in Desert Storm, the first Iraq war.  It then continues with his return to the States, his subsequent experiences as a drill sergeant, and his re-deployment to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the second Iraq war, where he was awarded the Silver Star for heroism.  Finally, he recounts his return home, retirement from the Army after over twenty years service, and his eventual employment in his current position as Nolan County’s Veteran Service Officer. 

The interview is illuminating, interesting, and straightforward.  McBride answers the interviewer’s questions concisely and to the point without getting bogged down in details or digressions.  I recommend it to everyone but especially to young people who are contemplating military service as a career.

The interview is available at http://www.glo.texas.gov/voices-of-veterans/interviews/mcbride.html.

The Voices of Veterans’ motto is “every veteran has a story to tell,” and they want to hear from other veterans interested in telling their stories.  They can be reached at 1-800-252-VETS (8387) or by e-mail at vlbinfo@glo.state.tx.us.  Oral history interviews can be conducted in person in Austin or by telephone from anywhere in Texas.  Interviews usually last from one to two hours.

--o--

TWO ROSCOE BOYS STILL IN STATE BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

Barrett Beal pitching for the Cubs.

Although the Freshman Division Roscoe Padres were eliminated from contention in the district playoffs at Hawley two weeks ago, two Roscoe players are still involved in the Midget Division and have a chance of becoming members of a state champion team. 

They are Zeke Murphy, son of Billy and Melissa Murphy, and Barrett Beal, son of Christi Pepper Beal.  Both were picked up by the Colorado City Cubs for the playoffs.

The Cubs won the District Tournament in Winters by defeating Winters 5-4, the Ballinger Rangers 18-4, and the Winters Brewers twice, 8-4 the first game and then 15-3 in the Championship game.

They then advanced to the State Tournament in Eastland, where they are currently playing.  On Monday night they lost to DeLeon 11-1 but bounced back last night with a win over Hawley 20-14. 

Today at 6:00pm they play the same Winters Brewers they beat in the district championship game.  We wish them the best of luck.

--o--

TWO FROM ODESSA KILLED IN I-20 WRECK EAST OF TOWN

Two Odessans were killed and three more injured in a one-vehicle rollover early Friday afternoon on I-20 between Roscoe and Sweetwater.  All five were from the same family.  

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, at 12:45pm the driver, Kimberly Guynn, 57, traveling east, started to take the Highway 170 exit (that goes to Avenger Field) but then went back to the highway.  In the process, she overcorrected, and the vehicle rolled toward the outside lane.

Ronnie Troutz, 65, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Kaysie Guynn, 28, died at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital an hour later.

Kimberly Guynn was taken to Rolling Plains with neck injuries, while Ethan Guynn, 6, and Meta Troutz, 86, went to Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene with head and neck injuries respectively. 

Everyone in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt.

Eastbound traffic on I-20 and on US 84 was backed up as far as Roscoe for over three hours.

--o--

JOHNNY RODRIGUEZ DRAWS HUGE CROWD AT LUMBERYARD

Johnny Rodriguez at the Lumberyard.

Parking places were hard to find downtown on Saturday night as a crowd of over a thousand people was on hand to see country music great Johnny Rodriguez sing on the outdoor stage of the Lumberyard.

To view a video clip of his performance, click here.

The Lumberyard is preparing for an even larger crowd when Mel Tillis comes to town on August 17.

--o--

SCHOOL EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUAL ASSAULT

Felix Abrigo, 47, a bus driver and custodian for the Roscoe Independent School District for the past fifteen years, pled guilty to second degree sexual assault last Tuesday in 32nd Judicial District Court.  The assault was on an adult woman last June and was unrelated to Abrigo’s job at school.

Abrigo received ten years’ probation and will have to register as a sex offender, pay a $5000 fine plus $743 in court costs, and serve 240 hours of community service.  He will also lose his job with the school since employing felons is against district policy.

--o--

WEATHER REPORT

The area experienced another week of typical July weather with highs in the upper nineties or low one hundreds and lows in the low to mid-seventies.  On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday the hot weather  produced afternoon clouds that led to a few scattered showers here and there but nothing of any consequence. 

The forecast is for more of the same with a 20% chance of afternoon showers.

--o--

Country Music Star Johnny Rodriguez to Play Here on Saturday

Johnny Rodriguez

Country music great Johnny Rodriguez is the latest big name to bring his act to Roscoe.  He and his band will be performing on the outdoor stage of the Lumberyard this Saturday night, starting at about 9:20pm.  

His former number one hits on the country chart include “You Always Come Back to Hurting Me,” “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico,” “I Just Can’t Get Her Out of My Mind,” “Just Get Up and Close the Door,” and “Love Put a Song in My Heart.”

He was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and this year has released a new album, “Johnny Rodriguez: Live from Texas.”

The cover charge will be $10.   A large crowd is expected. 

--o--

ROSCOE PADRES’ SEASON ENDS IN PLAYOFFS AT HAWLEY

Padres batter hits the ball in game against the Hawley Orioles.

After winning their league championship, the Roscoe Padres went to the playoffs with high hopes but were eliminated with back-to-back losses last week.  On a very hot day they played their first game against the Hawley Orioles and went into the final inning with a one-run lead but were unable to hold it and wound up losing by a score of 12-11.

They then had to play the second game against the Colorado City A’s immediately following the Hawley game, and one Padre starter was unable to start because he was overcome by the heat.  Before the game was over, another player had to come out, also due to the heat.  The A’s went on to win the game, and the Padres' season was over.

Nevertheless, they had a great run while it lasted.  Congratulations to the Padres for a fine season!

--o--

WASTELLA TRUCK WRECK CLAIMS LIFE OF ALABAMA MAN

A one-vehicle crash near Wastella on US 84 and FM 1982 last Wednesday claimed the life of one man and injured another.  Frederick Barry Littlefield, 56, a mover from Dothan, Alabama, died on Sunday night at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene after hanging on for four days.  David Lee Jackson, 49, a truck driver, was injured and taken to Rolling Plains Hospital in Sweetwater, where he was treated and released.

Jackson was traveling northwest on US 84 and was attempting to change lanes in a curve when he lost control and skidded sideways into the center median, causing his 2005 International truck to overturn. 

Neither Jackson nor Littlefield was wearing a seat belt. 

--o--

UPDATE ON THE TIMELINE FOR CITY WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS AND WATER TREATMENT PLANT

According to City Manager Cody Thompson, the current schedule for the new reverse-osmosis water treatment plant to be built on West Broadway has been moved back slightly. 

The word now is that the plans and specifications should be delivered by September.  Then, thirty to sixty days will be allotted for City and State review.  Bids should go out by mid-November and be awarded by mid-December.  Construction should then begin in January and go on for approximately eight months, meaning that the Water Treatment Plant should be online by September or October of next year.

Water line improvements will also be made and take from three to five months to complete.  Part of the improvements will be a new SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Analysis) system, which monitors the water system and eliminates fluctuations in water pressure.

The new water treatment plant and water line improvements are possible because of a $1, 725,000 award from the Texas Water Development Board.

Bids for a new lift station for sewage for the north side of Roscoe will also go out in September.  The north side is currently served by an older lift station too small for expansion.  The new one will allow for further development of the area.

 

--o--

WEATHER REPORT

The area experienced typical July weather for another week.  Highs were generally in the mid to upper nineties with lows in the low seventies.  Monday was cloudy most of the day and considerably cooler, and at times the sky looked promising, but once again there was no moisture. 

The outlook for the next few days is for more of the same—sunny skies, highs in the mid nineties and lows in the seventies.  There is no rain in the forecast.   

--o--

Independence Day Celebration an All-Day Crowd Pleaser

A rainbow graces the downtown sky at Saturday's celebration.

A large crowd of local folks and visitors filled the streets of Roscoe all day long on Saturday as the city celebrated Independence Day with a parade, street vendors, inflatables for the kids, a Plowboy Mudbog, and a street dance with live music followed by the traditional fireworks show.  Events filled the hot summer day from morning to night.

(Video 1 - The parade and kids playing on the inflatables.)

The day kicked off with a big parade down Broadway at ten o’clock with a wide variety of floats, vehicles, and participants.  This year’s Parade Marshals were Johnny and Billie Martin, Betty Sasin, Frank Young, and Doyle Sanders.  Parade Judges were Mayor Pete Porter and Vershal Smith. 

The parade’s prize winners for the listed categories were as follows:

     Antique Car - Red Sportster
     Western Float - Kristie Martin (Loraine)
     Bicycle - Nate Bennett
     Patriotic Float - American Legion Ladies Auxiliary
     Mud Bog Truck - No Mojo
     Overall Float - the Barrel Train
     ATV's & Motorcycles - Gator with Flags
     Farm Implement - Chris Hagerman’s John Deere Tractor

Donating to the prize winners’ gift bags were the following businesses and organizations: Vickie’s Gifts, Pizza Hut, Sonic, Hagerman’s Auto, Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department, Compass Hospice of Big Spring, and the Plowboy Mudbog Association.

Parade organizer Valerie Pruitt extends special thanks to marshal drivers Shorie Henderson, Patty McBride, and Doyle Sanders and to Zela and Staci Armstrong for their help with the parade.  

The Sweetwater Reporter ran an article and full-page pictorial on the Roscoe parade in its Monday edition.

The Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department held a raffle for a very nice homemade barbecue pit, and the winner was someone from San Angelo. 

A variety of food, arts and crafts, and other vendors were on hand selling their wares, and the inflatables in Memorial Park were enjoyed by kids of various age groups.

(Video 2 - The Plowboy Mudbog with clips of selected entries.)

Participation and attendance at the Plowboy Mudbog exceeded all expectations.  A crowd of about a thousand braved the summer heat to see some of the best mud vehicles and drivers in this region attempt to successfully navigate the Roscoe blackland mud, and a record 57 contestants in five different classes extended the time of the event from noon to late in the afternoon. 

The open class was a special treat as a few of its drivers made it all the way through the course without bogging down, and monster machines like No Mojo, Bug Nasty, and Head Hunter were real crowd pleasers.

Here are the Plowboy Mudbog first-place prize winners:

     CLASS                  VEHICLE                 (OWNER/DRIVER)
     Street Class         Blue Jeep                  (Harley Rich)
     Super Street        Black/Blue Chevy   (Marcelo Martinez)
     Modified               Black Blazer             (Glenn Owens)
     Super Modified    Jeep                          (Arden Alvarez)
     Open                     Head Hunter            (Charley Rich)

Abilene Reporter-News reporters and photographers were on hand to record the event, and on Sunday the paper published an article about it, which you can access by clicking here.

The Big Country website also features a video on Roscoe's celebration, which is accessible here.

(Video 3 - Greg Maldo & Band, Curtis Potter & Band, Fireworks)

Starting at six o’clock, live music filled the air from a stage set up between the Roscoe State Bank and Old Town Park as couples danced in the street.  Greg Maldo & Band from Lubbock opened for Big Country music star Curtis Potter, who brought along special guest Justin Trevino. 

A crowd estimated at somewhere between 2500 and 3000 was on hand that evening for the live music and the fireworks show that followed. 

As usual, the event organizers did an excellent job and deserve the thanks of everyone who attended the activities and enjoyed the day.

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WEATHER REPORT

On Sunday night it rained.  It was welcomed everywhere as it came at an opportune time, but almost everyone I talked to would greatly appreciate more. 

Amounts varied according to location.  Here in town, most folks got about a half-inch.  I had .65” in my rain guage, the City Shop on Pecan Street had .75”, Kenny Landfried on the east side got .42”, and Lyndall Underwood on the west side got about the same.

Heavier rains fell west and southwest of town with 1.85” at Brownlee, 1.8” at Champion, two inches at Daylon Althof’s, and 1.65” at David Duncan’s three miles west of town.  Kenny Landfried reported 2.5” on his farm near Cottonwood Creek.  

North of town generally got less than an inch and in some cases much less. Area farms in Fisher County got little or nothing. 

Farmers are hoping for more as the chance of rain is still in the forecast today and tomorrow.

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† CHARLES D. RICHBURG

Services for Charles D. Richburg, 79, are being held at 10:00am this morning at the First United Methodist Church in Roscoe followed by interment in the Roscoe Cemetery.  He died on Saturday, July 7, at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.

Mr. Richburg was born in Loraine on May 11, 1933, and married Peggy Dunn on December 30, 1955, in Hart.  He was a member of the Lions Club and the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department as well as the First United Methodist Church, where he was an administrator for the Sunday School.  He served in the United States Army during the Korean war.

He is survived by his sons Lance Richburg and Doug Richburg, both of Sweetwater; daughter Billye Sue Richburg Hughes of Roscoe; sisters Cindy Wilson of Fredericksburg and Margaret Vaughn of Abilene; grandchildren Heather Schriber; Tommy, B. J., and Allie Hughes; Rachel, Dylan, Kaci, Emily, and Molly Richburg; and Kyndal and Corbin Knapp; nine great-grandchildren; and girlfriend Carol Greenway.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Peggy Richburg; and brothers Don Richburg and Jerry Richburg.

Pallbearers will be B. J. Hughes, Tommy Hughes, James Parrott, Allen Richburg, Charles Wilson, and Donnie Horne.

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† D. M. PIEPER

Holy Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Delman M. Pieper, 92, at 10:00am tomorrow, July 12, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church followed by interment in the Roscoe Cemetery.  Mr. Pieper passed away on Monday at the Sweetwater Healthcare Center.

He was born on February 19, 1920, in Oglesby, Texas, and graduated from Pyron High School in 1938.  He then attended Texas Tech for one year and, later, attended Anderson Aircraft School near Burbank, California, where he completed a certificate for aircraft construction.  He was employed in that field for two years by Lockheed Aircraft before returning home and then working for the Army Air Corps in Roswell, NM, as a civil servant.  In 1945 he married Edith Brom, and they moved to Wastella, where he then farmed until 1985. 

A member of Holy Family Catholic Church, he served on several local boards including the Roscoe School Board, Inadale Co-op Gin, Rolling Plains Compress, and Nolan County Farm Bureau.

He is survived by his wife, Edith Pieper of Sweetwater; daughter Janice Tiemann and husband Harold of Yorktown; son Gary Pieper and wife Frances of Roscoe; grandchildren Christopher Pieper and Amy Webb; Jacob, Melody, and Nathan Tiemann; and two great grandchildren; three brothers, Arnold Lee Pieper of Loraine, Carl Pieper of Clyde, and Travis Pieper of Odessa; and two sisters, Velma Nader of Fort Worth and Jewel Harris of Borger.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Myrtle Pieper, sister Orene Cummings, and brothers Barnett Pieper, Arnold Pieper, and Robert Duane Pieper.

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† CHELSEA ANN FULLWOOD

Services for Chelsea Ann Fullwood, 17, of Dayton, Texas, will be at 2:00pm Saturday, July 14, at the Roscoe Church of Christ followed by interment in the Roscoe Cemetery.  She died on Friday, July 6, in Liberty, Texas.

She was born November 19, 1994, in Abilene to Gary Lynn and Tracy Ann Fullwood, and had lived in the Colorado City and Dayton areas the past few years.

She is survived by her mother and stepfather, Tracy and Russell Antonucci of Dayton; her father and stepmother, Gary and Anita Fullwood of Big Spring; her brother, Jarrett Fullwood of Dayton; stepbrothers and sisters Matthew Eric Arellano, Adrian Lee Arellano, Felicia Monique Arellano, Adriana Jolene Martinez and Mia Preseas Silva; grandparents Ted and Peggy Kimbrell, Jesse and Patty Fullwood, and Russell and Joanne Antonucci, as well as numerous other relatives and close friends. 

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City Prepares for Independence Day Celebration on Saturday

City workers hang a Welcome to Roscoe banner on Broadway in anticipation of Saturday's festivities.

Happy July the 4th!  Final preparations are underway for Saturday’s big Independence Day Celebration, and the event’s organizers are planning a day to remember. 

The day will begin with a parade down Broadway at ten o’clock, followed by the Plowboy Mudbog at George Parks Field, with the gates opening at eleven and the event beginning at twelve.  

After the parade, street vendors will open and be selling food and other wares along  Broadway and Cypress, and bounce houses will be available for the kids in Old Town Park across from the bank. 

Music will begin “on the bricks” of Cypress next to the bank at six o’clock with Greg Maldo, followed at eight by country music star Curtis Potter.  Shortly after dark, there will be the fireworks show followed by more music. 

See below for more details about the various events of the day.

THE INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE
 
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, and prizes will also be awarded for the best bicycles, antique vehicles, motorcycles, semis, and farm implements.  

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

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

VENDORS AND KIDS’ ACTIVITIES

As always, several food booths along with arts and crafts vendors will open on Broadway and Cypress after the parade and remain open for the rest of the day.  

Bounce houses and other inflatables will also be available for the kids.  This year’s selection has something for children of all age groups—a 45-foot obstacle castle, a deluxe combo bounce house with slide, a jousting arena, and a giant 18-foot slide. 

THE PLOWBOY MUDBOG

 This year’s Plowboy Mudbog at George Parks Field will feature two of the best known mudboggers in the region with the appearance of Bug Nasty and Head Hunter, both of Hobbs, New Mexico.  There will also be contestants from Amarillo, Odessa, Ballinger, Colorado City, Roscoe, and elsewhere, so the competition should be fierce. 

Entries will be divided into five classes.  See last week’s Hard Times for details. The public gate will open at 11:00am with the mudbog beginning at noon.  Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for kids from 8 to 14.  Children 7 and under are free.  Proceeds will benefit the Roscoe baseball little league, and the Roscoe FFA will run the concession booth. 

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

For more information, see the Plowboy Mudbog Facebook page, or contact Felix Pantoja at 325-514-8384 or David Pantoja at 325-280-1917.

THE STREET DANCE “ON THE BRICKS”

Curtis Potter

The music stage will be set up on Cypress Street between the Roscoe State Bank and Old Town Park.  Greg Maldo from Lubbock will open the show at around six o’clock.  (You can listen to his song “Anymore” by clicking here).

He will be followed at eight o’clock by this year’s feature performer, Curtis Potter. 

Curtis Potter has been performing all his life.  Born in Cross Plains, he was a regular on the old Slim Willet Show on KRBC-TV in the early days of west Texas television and went on to become a star in Nashville and in Texas.  His first major hit was “You Comb Her Hair Every Morning” (click to listen), and he went on to perform several others, such as “Walkin’, Talkin’, Breathin’ Case of Sorrow.” 

In 1984, he helped form Step One Records in Nashville, which went on to become the largest independent label in the world.  In 1995, he and Willie Nelson had a number one video in “Turn Me Loose and Let Me Swing,” taken from the album “Six Hours at the Pedernales” teaming Potter with Willie Nelson. 

Since 2005, he’s released three albums, “Them Old Honky Tonks,” “Chicago Dancing Girls,” and “Down in Texas Today,” all on the Heart of Texas label.

FIREWORKS SHOW

This year’s fireworks show, organized by City Councilman Robert McBride, will, as always, be a memorable event that fittingly tops off the day.

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

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WEATHER REPORT

The entire past week has been typical summer west Texas weather—hot and dry.  Today should be no different—sunny with highs in the mid-nineties and south winds 15-20mph. 
The rest of the week will be similar with sunny skies, highs in the mid to upper nineties and lows in the seventies.  There is no rain in the forecast.