Johnny Rodriguez Returns to Lumberyard Saturday Night

Johnny Rodriguez

It looks like another big weekend for music in Roscoe as Rance Norton and the Cadillac Cowboys will play at the Lumberyard on Friday night, and Johnny Rodriguez returns for an encore performance Saturday.

Country music great Johnny Rodriguez, who always draws a large crowd, will be playing here for the third time.  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 year before last released a new album, Johnny Rodriguez: Live from Texas.

Tickets for Johnny Rodriguez are $13 in advance and $15 at the door.

Rance Norton and the Cadillac Cowboys

Rance Norton and the Cadillac Cowboys were the headline band at the Spring Fling earlier this year.  They have also opened here for Mel Tillis and Moe Bandy.  Norton’s two CDs, True Country and Here We Go Again, are filled with traditional country music.  As Norton says, “If it doesn’t have a fiddle or steel guitar, it isn’t country music.”

Tickets for Rance Norton and the Cadillac Cowboys are $10.  For more information, call the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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AMERICAN LEGION HONORS BOYS STATE PARTICIPANTS

Post Commander Donnie Willman presents Kevin Pantoja with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Roscoe’s Frost-Whittington American Legion Post 227 honored this year’s local Boys State participants with an awards dinner Saturday evening at the Post.  The three boys, Matthew Davila and Laramie Cathey from Roscoe and Kevin Pantoja from Highland, were sponsored by the local Post for the annual trip to Austin to participate with other Boys State selections from all over the state.

Kevin Pantoja reported to the assembled crowd some of his experiences on the trip and was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by Post Commander Donnie Willman.  The boys were selected by the quality of essays on their qualifications and reasons for wanting to attend Boys State.

American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each student becomes a part of the operation of his local, county, and state government.  Texas Boys State is held in Austin every summer and lasts for five days.  This year’s dates were June 8-June 13.

American Legion Post 227, which sponsors the boys’ attendance, sincerely thanks the Roscoe State Bank, the Loraine State Bank, the Sweetwater Jaycees, and the Sweetwater Jaycee Roosters for their generous donations.  They also received help from Brookshire’s Supermarket in Sweetwater and Fullers Foods in Colorado City in helping to pay for the food.

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LOCAL MAN TALKS DISTRAUGHT MAN OUT OF SUICIDE

A white, 43-year-old man from the Houston area caused a stir at the I-20 overpass next to Stripes on Saturday afternoon when he threatened to commit suicide by jumping off the overpass.  He was upset because he was separated from his family and couldn't see them.

Jerry Williams, a local resident, spoke with the man and talked him out of committing suicide.  Roscoe Police then took the man to Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital in Sweetwater for evaluation by their Mental Health Unit. 

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WEATHER REPORT

Young cotton.

The summer heat which was here for most of the week abated somewhat yesterday as a cool front moved through, dropping high temperatures from the mid to upper nineties down to a more pleasant 85°F.  The high for the week was 98° on Monday, and there was no rain.  It sprinkled on Monday just enough to get the sidewalk wet, but that was it.

Today should be mostly cloudy with a high back up into the mid nineties, and there is a 60% chance for rain tonight.  Forecasters are also giving us a 50% chance of precipitation tomorrow and tomorrow night.  It would be a great thing for this country if we could get a good rain right now.  Rains are hard to come by in July, and this would definitely be a good time for the cotton and feed crops.

By the weekend we should be back into typical July weather with highs in the mid nineties, lows in the mid seventies, sunny skies, and winds from the south.

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City's July 4th Celebration is a Huge Success

Cypress Street and Old Town Park were packed for the free concert and street dance.

Roscoe’s July 4th celebrations just seem to get bigger and better every year.  From the morning parade down Broadway to the fireworks show that closed the day, everything seemed to run smoothly and to the enjoyment of all.  

Downtown, street vendors sold food, drinks, and merchandise on Cypress and Broadway and along the south wall of Old Town Park, kids played in the bounce houses and on other inflatables in the City’s downtown parking lot, and the Roscoe Historical Museum was open and received many visitors.  At the baseball field, a large crowd enjoyed watching souped-up vehicles tackle the blackland mud at the Plowboy Mudbog, and a huge evening crowd was on hand for the free concert and street dance followed by the fireworks show.

Texas Tech's Masked Rider gives Tech's familiar "Guns up" sign. 

The day began with a big parade down Broadway with a wide variety of floats, vehicles, and participants.  The Parade Marshal was Jessie Marth, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday, and there were fire trucks, vintage cars, riders on horseback, motorcycles, tractors, kids on bicycles, and, of course, plenty of candy thrown to the kids who lined the streets.  Even the Texas Tech Masked Rider was on hand for the event.

Here is a list of the parade’s prize winners:

      1. Best Bicycle - Wetsel Family
      2. Best Motorcycle - Brandon Gray
      3. Best Patriotic - Maryneal Volunteer Fire Department
      4. Best Antique Car - Danny Wann
      5. Best Float - Bob McNair
      6. Best Mardi Gras - Leyendecker Family
      7. Best Truck - Roscoe Junior High Cheerleaders
      8. Best Semi - Roscoe T-Ball

Parade organizer Valerie Pruitt extends special thanks to Amy Lara Castillo and Joanna Chavira for being Parade Judges, Zela Gail Belsher-Armstrong for driving the Parade Marshal, Danny Wann for loaning the Thunderbird, Jessica Stein and Katie for carrying the sign, Schyler Kimbrell for leading the parade, and Staci Armstong and Dustin Tatro for all their help.  Special thanks also to the Texas Tech Masked Rider crew.

She also wishes to thank all the businesses that donated or advertised--McVey's Native Nursery, Wildflower Boutique, TSTC, Compass Hospice, State Farm, the National Guard, Sonic, Stripes, RVFD, and the Lumberyard.  And finally, she thanks all the participants, who made the parade bigger and better. 

Mark Macy in Bug Nasty makes his run through the Roscoe mud.

The Plowboy Mudbog was also a huge success.  About 1500 people showed up to brave the summer heat and watch some of the best mud vehicles in the region compete against one another.  The Roscoe Little League made about $3000 from the gate and concession stand, and some of Roscoe’s baseball players picked up by Colorado City teams going to the state tournament were allowed to sell baked goods and wash mud vehicles to raise an additional $1000 for their trip.

There was a total of 59 entrants in the various classes, which was down from last year’s 90, but was actually a blessing in disguise.  For one thing, the smaller number allowed for an earlier finish to the competition, which last year ran on into the late evening, and, for another, the quality of the vehicles was better with a larger open class and participants from a wider range than ever.

The Abilene Reporter-News, which had a reporter covering the event, ran a nice article, which you can access by clicking here.

Additionally, the Plowboy Mudbog made international news when a photo of the Mudbog submitted by the Reporter-News’ Thomas Metthe appeared in The Guardian, an English newspaper.  The Guardian selected it for one of its photos of the week, along with such other international events as the World Cup, the Tour de France, the Calgary Stampede, and the running of the bulls in Pamplona , Spain.  You can see it by clicking here. 


 
Here are the top three finishers of the various vehicle classes along with their home towns:

Street
      1. Harley Rich                         Hobbs, NM
      2. Kyle Bradshaw                   Aspermont
      3. Shane Laird                         Big Spring
 
Super Street
      1. Justin Davis                         Seminole
      2. Anthony Montgomery    Big Spring
      3. Ryan Grammer                   Tonganoxie, KS

Modified
      1. Pam Alvarez                        Colorado City
      2. Von Rhodes                         Big Spring
      3. Jay Vickers                          Hobbs, NM

Super Modified
      1. Brandon Oden                     Colorado City
      2. Daryl Haag                           Colorado City
      3. Arden Alvarez                     Colorado City

Open
      1. Donny Scott                         Hobbs, NM
      2. Marc Macy                          Hobbs, NM
      3. Jim Martinez                       Ballinger

 

At six o’clock, the free concert and street dance began, and music filled the air from the stage set up between City Hall and Old Town Park.  Nine Mile Mountain, a local band with members from Roscoe and Sweetwater, got things started.  They were followed at eight o’clock by Jason Boland and the Stragglers, one of the best of the Red Dirt/Texas Country bands.  By the time they were done, an estimated crowd of 3500 was either watching or dancing in the street.

The concert was followed by another of Robert McBride’s fireworks extravaganzas, which was a fitting way to end the day and the celebration of our country’s independence.

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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HELEN PERRY RECEIVES CIVIC LEADERSHIP AWARD

On Saturday afternoon at the July 4th celebration, Mayor Pete Porter took the stage in Cypress Street before a large audience to present long time City Council member Helen Perry with a Civic Leadership Award for her unceasing dedication to the City of Roscoe over the years.  Her daughter, Bea Rocha, a 1974 RHS grad, delivered an eloquent introduction to the presentation, noting what an inspiration her mother has been over the years and citing some of her accomplishments. 

Helen Perry has served on the City Council for fourteen years and has just begun another three-year term.  She is a member of the American Legion Post 227 Ladies' Auxiliary, and has run or helped run the Roscoe Community Center for many years.  We appreciate her leadership, hard work, and dedication and wish we had more people like her.

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CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS SPEED LIMIT CHANGE FOR FM 608 IN NORTH ROSCOE

City Manager Cody Thompson addresses the Council.

At last night’s monthly City Council meeting, the Council approved conducting a speed limit survey on N. Cypress St. and FM 608 on the City’s north side.  It also heard reports from the City Manager and Chief of Police and denied a variance to the City’s animal ordinance.

City Manager Cody Thompson reported that he met with the contractors for the water treatment plant yesterday.  They are still tweaking the water quality and working on the finishing touches.  The final meeting and completion of the project will take place in late August or early September.

Thompson also met yesterday with Scott Hay of E/HT, the Abilene engineering firm overseeing the current work on the City’s water lines.  The City still has about $162,000 from the money provided by the State, and most of that will be used to bore with casing two different lines under the Union Pacific railroad tracks to make sure the water system is looped correctly and we never have damages concerning the railroad.  Permits, insurance, bonding, etc., will also have to be obtained since most of the work will be in the highway and railroad right of way.

Following up on complaints from residents on the north side of town about speeding trucks, the Council also approved a speed limit survey.  Since FM 608 is a state road, any change to its speed limit will have to follow state rules.  These include a traffic count and a study of the average speed of vehicles on the roadway and will take two or three months before the results are known.  The study is being conducted by a group from Abilene.

The Council also denied the request of a resident on South Main Street for a variance in the animal ordinance.  The resident wants to keep a Shetland pony on his property, but he failed to attend the meeting to make his case.

Roscoe Chief of Police Felix Pantoja also gave the Council the Police Report for the month of June.  There were 3 arrests, 12 citations issued, 4 cases filed, 1 crash report, and 83 calls for service.

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NOLAN COUNTY GRAND JURY INDICTS THREE FROM ROSCOE

A Nolan County grand jury recently indicted three young men from Roscoe suspected of committing crimes in and around Roscoe.  Luke Clark, Tony Leyba, and Jeremy Solano were all indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity.  All were cited in court documents for entering a habitation with intent to commit theft on December 20, 2013, and each had bond set at $15,000.

Clark was also indicted for assault with a deadly weapon, a second degree felony.  Court documents state that he stabbed the victim in the torso with a knife.  His bond was set another $15,000 for that offense.

The Roscoe Police Department worked with the Nolan County Sheriff’s Department on the investigation.

--o--

WEATHER REPORT

Summer skies over Roscoe.

Last Wednesday afternoon we got a little shower.  Here in town it didn’t amount to much, only about a tenth of an inch, but in some areas there was more.  East of town got about a quarter of an inch, but Champion got about an inch with as much as an inch and a half reported south of Champion.  Areas west and northwest of town didn't get a drop.

Other than that it was typical July weather with sunny or partly cloudy skies with high temperatures in the low to mid nineties and lows ranging from 68° last Thursday to 72° on Monday.

The outlook through the weekend is for more of the same—highs in the low to mid nineties and lows in the low seventies.  Skies will be sunny or partly cloudy with winds from the south at 10-15 mph.

There is no rain in the forecast.

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Independence Day Celebration is Saturday

Jason Boland & the Stragglers are the featured band at the free concert.

Preparations are being finalized for the City of Roscoe’s July 4th celebration, which takes place this Saturday, July 5.  Here are the major events of what is shaping up to be another great fun-filled day:

The Independence Day Parade

The party starts early with a parade down Broadway starting at 10:00am.  Parade line-up is at 9:30 at the starting point at Cedar and Broadway.  The parade will come down Broadway from the west and conclude at George Parks Field in east Roscoe.

The Roscoe Historical Museum

The museum, which contains photos, stories, and memorabilia of old Roscoe, will be open from around 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Street Vendors

Vendors will be on Broadway and Cypress Streets as well as in Old Town Park across from City Hall.  They will begin setting up at 10:00am and be open until the end of the fireworks show at around 10:00pm.  Everything from food and drink of various kinds to jewelry, clothing, and other merchandise will be available.

Kids’ Area

Bounce houses and other inflatables will be in Old Town and/or Memorial Park for the kids from about 10:00am to 6:00pm.

The Plowboy Mudbog

The Plowboy Mudbog at George Parks Field should be bigger and better than ever this year.  Entrants will be coming from as far away as Hobbs and Roswell, NM, El Paso, and Dalhart as well as from local communities.  Former open class winners such as Headhunter and Bug Nasty from Hobbs will compete along with some new contestants with monster vehicles.

Registration for entrants is from 8:00-10:00am at the northwest corner of the baseball field at Second and Sycamore Streets.  The driver entry fee is $30.

The public gate opens at 11:00am and competition begins at 12:00 noon.  It will conclude when all vehicles of the different classes have made two runs, probably around 6:30pm or so.

The concession stand will be open throughout and will be run this year by the Roscoe Little League.

Admission for kids 7 and under is free; from ages 8 to 14 is $2.00; and from ages 15 and up is $5.00.  All proceeds go to the Roscoe Little League.

Swimming Pool

Swimming at the Roscoe City Pool will be free of charge from 1:00-5:00pm.  The City Pool is located at 4th and Cedar Streets next to the City Park.

Free Concert and Street Dance
 
The free concert and street dance will be on Cypress Street between City Hall and Old Town Park in downtown Roscoe.  Live music will begin at 6:00pm with Nine Mile, a popular band from Sweetwater featuring Jamie Tollison on vocals.  The band plays traditional country music made for dancing.

They will be followed at 8:00pm with the headline act for the evening, Jason Boland and the Stragglers.  One of the most popular of the “Red Dirt/Texas Country” bands now dominating the Texas music scene, the group got its start in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1998 and released its first album, Pearl Snaps, in 1999.  Since then, they have gone on to produce six more studio albums: Truckstop Diaries (2001), Somewhere in the Middle (2004), The Bourbon Legend (2006), Comal County Blue (2008), Rancho Alto (2011), and Dark & Dirty Mile (2013), along with two live albums: Live and Lit at Billy Bob’s Texas (2002) and High in the Rockies (2010).

This will be your only chance ever to see them free of charge, so make sure not to miss them.  They will play to about 9:30pm.

The Fireworks Show

This year’s firework show will begin at the close of the free concert and street dance.  It should also be bigger and better than ever and will be a fitting conclusion to another great celebration of our country’s independence.

After Hours Party

Those who want to continue celebrating after City festivities close with the fireworks show may do so at the Lumberyard, where another local band, the Blackland Bullet Company, will be playing on the outdoor stage.  Admission is free and the party will go on until 1:00am.

The People’s Tram

During the afternoon a people’s tram will shuttle people back and forth between the Plowboy Mudbog at the baseball field and downtown.  It will also be free of charge.

Everyone planning to attend the free concert and fireworks show is encouraged to bring their own folding chairs and coolers.  So come on out and listen to the live music, visit with friends, eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves at another memorable Independence Day Celebration in downtown Roscoe.

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JAKE HOOKER AND THE OUTSIDERS TO PLAY AT THE LUMBERYARD FRIDAY NIGHT

Jake Hooker & the Outsiders

The July 4th weekend in Roscoe begins Friday evening, July 4, with the return of the ever popular Jake Hooker and the Outsiders at the Lumberyard.  Hooker and his band, masters of Texas Country Swing, always bring a big, enthusiastic crowd.

Jake Hooker was born listening to the traditional country music of his father’s west Texas country band.  He began playing the bass at the age of seven and formed his own band when he was fourteen.  After studying music theory at South Plains College in Levelland, he moved to Fort Worth in 1998, where he quickly became a local favorite.

Since then, he and his band have produced seven albums, Jake Hooker & the Outsiders (Live - 2000), Jake Hooker & the Outsiders (Live – 2002) sets 1 and 2, You Had a Call (2003), Faded Lights (2005), The Outsider (2007), Lost Along the Way (2009), and One Man World (2011).

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.  For more information, call the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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ROSCOE POLICEMAN MAKES I-20 DRUG BUST, NABS SUSPECTED CHILD BEATER

Roscoe Police Officer Steven Spencer made two significant arrests last Wednesday, the first involving a highway drug bust of two men and a woman, and the second the location and detention of a San Angelo man wanted for injury to a child.

Around 8pm on June 25, Officer Spencer pulled over a car on I-20 for speeding.  The driver, a man from Odessa, showed unusual signs of nervousness, and a woman passenger, also from Odessa, acted in ways that convinced Spencer that criminal activity was taking place.  During a roadside investigation, Spencer learned that the other passenger in the car, a man from San Antonio, was wanted in Bexar County and took the man into custody.

Spencer obtained consent for a search and found an undisclosed amount of cocaine and marijuana, weighing scales, and materials used for packaging and distributing.  The Odessa woman claimed ownership of the cocaine and was arrested for possession with intent to distribute.  The San Antonio man was booked for the Bexar County warrant and both were taken to the Nolan County Jail.

Earlier on the same day and working with the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office, Spencer located a San Angelo man wanted in that area for injury to a child.  Tom Green authorities quickly obtained an arrest warrant, and, as soon as the judge signed it, contacted Spencer, who arrested the man for first-degree felony injury to a child, an 18-month old in a San Angelo hospital with multiple fractures and contusions allegedly sustained in a series of beatings from the man.  The suspect was taken into custody and prearranged bond set at $500,000.  He is currently awaiting transport back to Tom Green County.

Roscoe Police also responded to a family violence assault at 530 Ash Street, where they arrested Tony Leyba, 18, at about 2:30am on Monday.

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CITY AND COUNTY AT WORK PAVING CITY STREETS

The road gravel near the Community Center used to sealcoat the streets.

The City of Roscoe and Nolan County are currently sealcoating various city streets in town with the City furnishing the road gravel and asphalt and the County providing the equipment and manpower.  Already completed are North Ash, North Bois d’Arc, and Sweetwater Streets in north Roscoe and Tenth Street from Cedar to Ash Streets in south Roscoe.

The City has also just finished improvements to Cypress Street at the west I-20 service road, where recent rains created a big pool of water that impeded traffic.

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WEATHER REPORT: HOT & WINDY

Eden Baker took this shot of last Wednesday's rainbow.

Roscoe lived up to its name of wind capital of the world the past few days with almost unceasing strong winds from the south-southeast from last Thursday up until yesterday morning.  Thursday’s sustained high winds of 18mph with gusts up to 25mph increased to Friday’s 31mph with gusts up to 39, Saturday’s 31 and 38 respectively, Sunday’s26 and 33, Monday’s 29 and 34 and yesterday morning’s 21 and 30.  The next few days, however, should be calmer as winds will to diminish to 5-10mph.

The past week was also marked by mostly sunny skies and more traditional summer heat.  Highs have been in the low to mid nineties with lows in the mid seventies.  So, all the puddles in town left by the previous rains have now dried up, and the area feels more like it usually does for this time of year.

The good news is that there is a 20% chance of precipitation later today, a 50% chance tonight, and a 20% chance again tomorrow.  Beyond that, we should experience typical mid summer heat with highs in the mid nineties and lows in the low seventies through the weekend and days following.

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† RICHARD GLEN McINTIRE, SR.

Services were held in Broadway Baptist Church of Sweetwater on Monday for Richard Glen McIntire, 62, who passed away at his home in Sweetwater last Wednesday, June 25.  Interment followed at the Roscoe Cemetery.

He was born on November 7, 1951, in Loraine and lived in Nolan County all of his life.  He loved to farm cotton and was an IBEW Journeyman Electrician who spent thirty years in the electrical field.  He was a Baptist.

Survivors include his son, Richie McIntire of Price, Utah; daughters, Nicole Carpenter of Loraine and Robbin Baker of Sweetwater; mother, Marcia McIntire of Sweetwater; sister, Melanie Houston of Sweetwater; brother, Van McIntire of Eugene, Oregon; eight grandchildren; and long time companion, Shirley Baker of Sweetwater.

He was preceded in death by his father, Glen Ivron McIntire, in 2007; his first wife, Debbie Teaff in 1976, and his second wife, Dorothy Eaton.

--o--

RCHS Homecoming Set for October 11 Weekend

RHS exes filled the stands at last year's pre-game pep rally.

Homecoming Committee member Katie Heaps has announced that this year’s RCHS Homecoming will be the weekend of October 11, i.e., October 9-12.

Exes who were unaware that there would be a Homecoming this year should know that back in January, a group of high school students formally proposed to the RISD School Board that Homecoming be held every year instead of every three years as has been the practice.  The School Board approved the proposal, so this year will be the first of the annual Homecomings.

In hopes of cutting down on the time and expense of mailing out paper invitations, the Homecoming Committee is asking RHS exes to send their e-mail addresses to let it know they have received the news as well as to update the Homecoming Committee’s database of exes.

For more information, consult the Roscoe Homecoming Facebook page.

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BIG WEEKEND AT THE LUMBERYARD: WADE BOWEN FRIDAY EVENING, KXOX TEXAS COUNTRY SHOWDOWN SATURDAY

Wade Bowen

When Texas Country music star Wade Bowen and Band make their appearance at the Lumberyard Friday night, they will join several other “Red Dirt” groups that have already played in Roscoe.  These include Cody Canada, Josh Abbott, Stoney LaRue, Brandon Rhyder, Brandon Jenkins, and Bart Crow--with Jason Boland coming on July 5.

Bowen, originally from Waco and a Texas Tech grad, has grown in popularity over the years and now has a large following.  His albums include Try Not to Listen (2002), The Blue Light Live (2004), Lost Hotel (2006), If We Ever Make It Home (2008), Live at Billy Bob’s Texas (2010), and The Given (2012).  Top singles include “Saturday Night,” “To Live is to Fly,” “Trouble,” “God Bless This Town,” and “Songs About Trucks.”

Wade Bowen and Band will take the stage at 9:30pm.  Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

Then on Saturday evening, the Lumberyard will host the KXOX Texas Country Showdown, an event which showcases local talent and provides the winner an opportunity to compete at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth against other regional winners, and, should they win there, a trip to Nashville and a chance to win $100,000, along with other benefits.

The show begins at 7:00pm and is free of charge.

For reservations and more information, call the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457. 

--o--

A NEW LIFE FOR “MARVIN” THE HORSE
by Robert McBride

Editor's note: The following photo and story were posted yesterday on Facebook by Robert McBride.  With his permission, both are presented here.

This is "Marvin" and here is the part of his tale that I know. He was found wandering on Highway 70 in Blackwell by Tommy White who led him to the Blackwell riding club's arena where he secured him. Some time later the owner of the animal demanded he return him. Tommy refused to but told them they could take him if they wanted to. This led to the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office being called and when they saw the condition of "Marvin" they confiscated him. He was taken to a local veterinarian and examined, after which he was prescribed a diet and boarded by the veterinarian for a time. Terry Willman reached out to the Roscoe ISD to keep "Marvin" at the Ag Farm so Terry could feed him until he was healthy enough to go to auction. My wife and I took over feeding "Marvin" for a day when Terry had to go out of town. The picture of "Marvin" posted here is after almost a month of feeding him. I can only imagine what he looked like when Tommy White first put a rope on him. "Marvin" brought $20 at auction and has a new home.

I wish I could take over the feeding of his former owners for a while.

--o--

PLOWBOY MUDBOG SET FOR JULY 5

The action was intense at last year's mudbog.

This year’s Plowboy Mudbog is shaping up to be another great event as part of Roscoe’s Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, July 5.  The organizers report that there will once again be a large number of entries with some from local communities and others from as far away as Hobbs, New Mexico.

The event will take place as usual at George Parks Field at Second and Sycamore Streets.  Registration for participants is at 9:30am, the public gate will open at 11:00am, and competition begins at noon.

Admission is free for kids 7 and under, $2 for ages 9-14, and $5 for 15 and up.  The driver entry fee is $30.  All proceeds go to benefit the Roscoe Little League.  The Little League will also run the concession stand this year.

For more information, contact Roscoe Police Chief Felix Pantoja at 325-514-8384, or visit the Plowboy Mudbog Facebook Page. 

--o--

VENDOR SPACES STILL AVAILABLE FOR JULY 5TH CELEBRATION

Street vendors on Cypress Street.

There are still a few spaces available for vendors on Broadway and Cypress Streets downtown for the Independence Day celebration on Saturday, July 5.  Prices for non-profits are $25 per space and $40 for others.

To reserve a spot, phone City Hall during business hours at 325-766-3871.  Deadline is Thursday, July 3.

--o--

WEATHER REPORT: COOL, CLOUDY, WET

Skies were cloudy over Roscoe for much of the week.

This was an unusually moderate week for June in Roscoe as there have been no days since last Wednesday in which the temperature got as high as 90°F, and the high for three of the seven days never got as high as 80°.  Highs for the week were the 89° days recorded on Thursday and Sunday.  The three days with highs of 79° were Friday, Saturday, and yesterday.

The week was marked by cloudy skies and also a little more rain.  On Monday morning an unexpected storm blew in about 5:30am, and an intermittent light rain fell for the next couple of hours.  Roscoe’s official total was .53” recorded by Kenny Landfried in east Roscoe.  Lyndall Underwood on the west side got .41”, and most others in the area got anywhere from a quarter to a half inch.  Then yesterday we were on the southwest end of a cloud that didn’t produce as much rain here as it did in Fisher County and Sweetwater.  Here in Roscoe, about a tenth of an inch fell while Avenger Field got 1.18”.  Areas west of town, however, didn’t get any rain at all.

The outlook for the rest of the week is for weather more typical for this time of year.  Today’s high should be only 87° with a low of 68° and a 20% chance of rain.  But Thursday should be sunny and warm with a high in the low nineties, and on Friday and the days following, temperatures will rise into the mid nineties with lows in the low seventies and little chance of rain.

--o--

Bellamy Brothers to Play at Lumberyard Friday Night

The Bellamy Brothers

The Bellamy Brothers, who drew such a large crowd to the West Texas Wind Festival a couple of years back, are returning to Roscoe Friday night for an encore performance at the Lumberyard.

The brothers, David and Howard, have been performing together since 1968 and over the years have established themselves as one of the noted musical groups in the country.  Even if you’re not a big country and western fan, you’ll be familiar with many of their songs. “Let Your Love Flow,” released in 1976, hit number one on the pop charts in both the U.S. and Europe, and their country classic, “If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body, Would You Hold It Against Me,” also was a crossover number one hit.  It was also named the 1979 “Song of the Year” in the UK. 

The pair also had a string of hits in the eighties and nineties, including such songs as “Redneck Girl,” “Santa Fe,” “Old Hippie,” and others.  In 2005 they recorded Angels & Outlaws, Volume 1, a compilation album with Dolly Parton, George Jones, Tanya Tucker, Alan Jackson, and Montgomery Gentry, while more recent albums include The Anthology, Volume 1, with the single, “Guilty of the Crime,” and a CD of gospel music entitled Jesus is Coming.

The show starts at 9:30pm, and there will be a $20 cover charge.

On Saturday night, the featured band is the Midnight River Choir from Austin.  Cover charge is $10.
 
For more information, phone the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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JESSIE MARTH CELEBRATES 100TH BIRTHDAY

Jessie Marth poses for a photo with some of her great-grandchildren.

A large crowd of friends and relatives was on hand at the Community Center Sunday afternoon to honor Roscoe’s oldest citizen, Jessie Marth, as she celebrated her one-hundredth birthday.  Still spry, she obviously enjoyed having so many of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren around to help her celebrate her big day.

Mayor Pete Porter read a proclamation officially designating June 15 as “Jessie Marth Day” and presented her with a framed copy of the proclamation.

She was born on August 9, 1914, near Waxahachie in Ellis County and came to Roscoe with her family during the depression.  She married Rudolph Marth on December 19, 1934, and they were together until he passed away in 1982.  They had two children, Donald and Frances.

In addition to her duties as a farm wife and mother, she is a member of the First Salem Lutheran Church.  She was the first woman to serve on its Church Council and taught Sunday School for many years.  She is a member of the Friendship Club, the Home Demonstration Club, and the Bridge Club, and has served as a 4-H leader.  She also volunteered at the Roscoe Care Home.  She made quilts and afghans for each of her children and grandchildren.  She also had the privilege of drawing plans for and having two homes built, one in 1950 and the other in 1970.

Here’s wishing her many more happy, healthy, and fruitful years!

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PLOWBOYS PICKED TO FINISH LAST IN DISTRICT IN FOOTBALL

Dave Campbell’s 2014 Texas Football will hit the magazine racks this weekend, and the Plowboys’ head coach, Jake Freeman, has received word that the venerable publication is picking Roscoe to finish last in District 6-2A-II. 

For those of you who don’t already know, Roscoe is in a new district this year with a 2A classification.  The new classification is not because of an increase in student population, but because the Texas UIL now calls schools of Roscoe’s size 2A, Division II, not 1A, Division II, as in the past. 

Here is Dave Campbell’s predicted order of finish for the new district:

1.    Winters
2.    Menard
3.    Roby
4.    Bronte
5.    Miles
6.    Roscoe

Coach Freeman says he loves this prediction and vows that the Plowboys will have a good time proving it wrong.  He mentions that in his senior year, Roscoe was also picked to finish last and wound up winning district. 

We look forward to seeing this year’s team doing the same.

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FUNKY FLAMINGO SNOW CONE STAND NOW OPEN

The Funky Flamingo Snow Cone stand.

There’s a new snow cone stand in Roscoe.  Yesterday, Funky Flamingo Snow Cones opened for business next to the Rockin’ S Cantina on the service road to I-20 West in south Roscoe.  An extension of the Cantina, it offers 45 different snow cone flavors in three different sizes: Small for $1.50, Medium for $2.25, and Large for $3.00.

In addition to snow cones, the Funky Flamingo sells sodas, bottled water, pickles, and more.  For more information, phone 325-766-3655, or check out the Funky Flamingo Facebook page.

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JESUS LEANOS, SHELTON TOLIVER PLAY IN FCA ALL-STAR FESTIVAL

Plowboys Jesus Leanos and Shelton Toliver participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Festival last week.  Leanos, who was selected to play in the FCA All-Star Basketball Game in Brownwood, scored three points for the North in a losing cause as the South won 79-66. 

Toliver caught one eight-yard pass for the North as his team beat the South 14-11 in the Big Country All-Star Classic Football game Saturday night in Abilene.

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WEATHER REPORT: MORE RAIN

Eden Baker took this photo of last week's approaching dust storm at her home north of Roscoe.

Last Wednesday evening about seven o’clock an old-time dust storm blew into Roscoe full of sound and fury but signifying nothing more than a big time false alarm.  It sprinkled just enough to cover my car with little dots of mud where the dust stuck to the wet spots.  The wind got really high, though, with gusts up to 60 mph, enough to break a big limb off one of my trees—and a really big limb off one of Jeannie McBurnett’s old hundred-year-old trees at the big white house at Third and Cypress Streets.

Then on Saturday night just after midnight, another unexpected storm front blew in, bringing with it about an inch of rain throughout most of the area around Roscoe.  The official total recorded by Roscoe weatherman Kenny Landfried was 1.1”.  With the ground already pretty saturated, it was enough to refill all the major puddles around town.

Other than those two events, the weather has been pretty typical for early summer with sunny skies and highs of around 90°F and lows from the mid sixties to mid seventies.  The high for the week was last Wednesday’s 96°. 
 
The forecast is for more of the same with sunny or partly cloudy skies, high temperatures of around 90° and lows around 70°.  There is a 20% chance of rain extending from today through the weekend.

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Billy Joe Jay, Helen Perry Begin New Terms on City Council

City Attorney Zollie Steakley swears in Billy Joe Jay and Helen Perry.

The top two vote getters in last month’s City Election, Helen Perry and Billy Joe Jay, were sworn in and began new three-year terms on the Roscoe City Council at last night’s monthly meeting at City Hall.  Perry has served for the past fourteen years and is beginning her fifth consecutive term and Jay, who has previously served a term, begins his second.

In his report to the Council, City Manager Cody Thompson noted that yesterday was the first full day in which the new reverse-osmosis water treatment plant has been in full operation.  The plant has been on and off over the past week as testing, activation of old wells, and the working out of problem areas have caused some interruptions. 

Thompson said that citations and warnings are being issued for junk vehicles and other unsightly items.  The big pile of gravel next to the Community Center will be used to sealcoat City and County roads as in past summers.  He also gave water and sewer updates on the Young Farm Estates and Stone Tower RV Park, saying that both are on schedule and progressing well.  The sewer system at Young Farm Estates is in place, and water, gas, and electric lines should be complete in six to eight weeks.

The Council considered a request from 2LM, the owners of Stone Tower RV Park for a fence variance to a height of six feet rather than the eight feet required around RV Parks by City regulations.  After some discussion, the Council denied the request. 

The Council set new water meter installation charges at $175 for ¾” lines, $235 for 1”, $750 for 2”, $1735 for 3”, and $3000 for 4” lines.  City building inspection fees were also set for new residential and commercial buildings at $100 each for plumbing, electrical, and mechanical (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning).  Re-inspections were set at $35 per re-inspection.

The Council also approved a Jessie Marth Day on June 15 as she celebrates her 100th birthday, appointed Billy Joe Jay Mayor Pro-Tem, and approved a fireworks permit for the Independence Day Celebration on July 5. 

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ROSCOE TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY ON SATURDAY, JULY 5

Jason Boland and the Stragglers are headliners for the free concert and street dance.

Preparations are underway for this year’s July 4 celebration, which will take place on Saturday, July 5.  As in years past, the day will begin with a parade down Broadway beginning at 10:00am.  The Plowboy Mudbog will be at the baseball field starting at noon, and street vendors will be on Cypress, Broadway, and in Old Town Park. 
 
The headline band for the free concert and street dance will be “red dirt” singer Jason Boland and the Stragglers, who will take the stage around 8:00pm.  He will be preceded by a local band an hour or so earlier. 

The fireworks show will begin around 9:40pm.

This year’s celebration will also feature a people’s tram which will shuttle people back and forth between the baseball field and downtown.  It will follow a marked route with designated pickup and drop off points.

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CODY CANADA AND THE DEPARTED AT THE LUMBERYARD FRIDAY NIGHT

Cody Canada (center) and the Departed

Popular southern rock and alternative country artist Cody Canada and his band, the Departed, will be playing at the Lumberyard Friday evening.   Canada was the lead singer of Cross Canadian Ragweed, a “red dirt” band from Oklahoma, from 1994-2010, but in 2011, he and bass guitarist Jeremy Plato along with three others formed The Departed and have been playing under that name since. 

The Departed released their first album, This is Indian Land, in 2011 and Adventus in 2012.  Canada also released a solo-acoustic album, Some Old, Some New, Maybe a Cover or Two, this past November.  Popular singles by Canada include, “17,” “Sister,” “Cold Hard Fact,” “Set It Free,” and others.

The Departed will take the stage at 9:30.  Cover charge is $12 in advance, $15 at the door. 

Saturday night’s music at the Lumberyard will be provided by Johnny Cooper & Band.  Cover charge is $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

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

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FORMER ROSCOAN’S SON DIES IN HASKELL WRECK

Andrew Kipling Nemir, 51, son of former Roscoan, Billy Don Nemir, was pronounced dead at 12:52pm on Monday in Haskell County when the car he was driving hit a patch of water in the road, causing him to lose control, veer off the road, and strike a tree. He was not wearing a seat belt.

The crash remains under investigation.  Trooper Kim Koeing of Aspermont was the investigating officer. 

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WEATHER REPORT: MORE RAIN

The puddle at 4th and Cypress Streets.

The Roscoe area got more rain this past weekend, one shower early Sunday morning and another lighter one early Monday morning.  The official total for the two recorded by Roscoe weatherman Kenny Landfried was 1.49”.  Totals around Roscoe were reported as 3” by Cristal Aljoe northeast of town, 1.9” by Jeremy Baker north of town, 1.6” at Pyron by Donna Parker, 2” at Claytonville by Belinda Ince, 1.5" near Cottonwood Creek northwest of town by Kenny Landfried, 2” west of town by David Duncan, and 2” near Champion by Keith Johnson. 

The days before the rain were typical for this time of year as regards temperatures.  The high for the week was 96°F on Thursday followed by 91° on Friday and 92° on Saturday.  Lows on those days were in the low to mid seventies.  Sunday, Monday, and yesterday were markedly cooler with highs of 81°, 79°, and 83° respectively.  Lows were 64°, 59°, and 60°.

The forecast is for a return to summer heat today with a high in the upper nineties and a low of 73°.  There is a 20% chance of rain this afternoon and tonight.  Tomorrow should also top out in the mid nineties, but a cool front will come in tomorrow afternoon and drop temperatures to a low of 65° tomorrow night and a high of 86° on Friday.  The weekend will be sunny and hot with highs in the mid nineties and lows in the low to mid seventies.

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† CARL THORP

Graveside services for Carl “Bud” Thorp, 77, of Hobbs, NM, were held yesterday at 10:00am at Prairie Haven Memorial Park in Hobbs.  He passed away last Thursday, June 5.

He was born on July 9, 1936, and attended Roscoe schools.  A former Plowboy who played football at Roscoe High School, he was a member of the Class of 1955. 

He is survived by sons, Smokie Thorp of Midland, Lane Thorp and Sandy Delgado, of Hobbs, and Lance Corporal Colby Thorp, USMC, and wife, Kelly, of Cherry Pointe, NC; stepsons, David Frederick, Jr., and wife, Kyong Ah, of Ellicott City, MD; James Frederick of Los Angeles, CA; and Scott Tillery of Douglas, GA; as well as grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Elizabeth Thorp Jones, and his wife, Wanda Jean (Brown) Thorp. 
 
Online condolences may be made to www.griffinfuneralhomehobbs.com. 

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Water Treatment Plant Begins Sending R-O Water Through City Lines

$50,000 filters at the R-O Water Treatment Plant.

The day everyone in Roscoe has been waiting for has finally arrived!  As of today, the new water treatment plant has been activated and is sending reverse-osmosis water to homes all over town.  The hard, mineral-laden water that Roscoe has put up with for decades is being replaced by a 70%-30% blend of R-O water and regular water. 

The blend is necessary because pure R-O water would erode the calcium deposits inside the City water lines and create dozens of leaks where none now exist.  Additionally, drinking water needs some minerals in it for taste as well as for the needs of the body.

The rest of this month will be a period of testing the operation of the new plant and the computerized SCADA system, obtaining the ideal blend of well water with R-O water, and adjusting and refining its daily monitoring.  A required report will be sent to the TCEQ (Texas Commission for Environmental Quality) on July 1.

Then in the third or fourth week of July, another phase will begin as the City begins work on improving the existing water lines.  When the Texas Water Development Board provided the $1,765,000 to the City back in 2010, it stipulated that the funds be used to install a reverse-osmosis water treatment plant and SCADA system (which monitors the system and eliminates fluctuations in water pressure), and to improve existing lines.  The water treatment plant and SCADA system have now been installed, and approximately $250,000 in TWDB funding is left to repair and upgrade City water lines. 

Associated Construction Partners, the contractors for the water treatment plant, also have some remaining work to do.  They will paint and put in sidewalks and fences at the plant site and build protective coverings for the well houses. 

The new blend of water will enhance our lives in many ways.  It will be healthier to drink and will extend the lives and improve the operation of household appliances that use water—water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, coffee makers, shower heads, icemakers, and so on.  Tasks such as shampooing the hair and washing vehicles should also be easier and better. 

This day has been a long time coming, and we’re glad it’s finally arrived.  Our thanks go to the Texas Water Development Board for providing the funding and to City Manager Cody Thompson and the Roscoe City Council for all the hard work they’ve put in to make it possible!

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RCHS WORKING WITH TEXAS TECH TO STREAMLINE PATH TO ENGINEERING DEGREE

The RCHS Special Events Center

As work on the new RCHS STEM Research Center gets underway, Superintendent Kim Alexander is also preparing for the changes that go with becoming a STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, Math) Academy.  Last week in Lubbock, he met with the Dean of the College of Engineering to work on a proposal for creating a pathway for Roscoe High School graduates to advance via Western Texas College in Snyder to Texas Tech to obtain an engineering degree in two years.  This will be done in collaboration with Tech’s T-STEM Center.
 
RCHS has also reached agreements with WTC and with Texas A&M and its AgriLife Extension to facilitate the transfer of coursework to the Biomedical Sciences Program in the A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.  Students who complete the program at RCHS will graduate with the title of Veterinary Assistant and be qualified to take the Texas Veterinary Medical Association’s exam to become a Certified Veterinary Assistant. 
 
In order to fulfill core requirements for either the engineering or biomedical science program, course work not currently taught at RCHS will be introduced and the method of instruction redesigned.  Since five years of advanced math is required for the engineering program, for example, Algebra I will be taught in the eighth grade and Calculus and Advanced Calculus in High School.  Instructors for courses not taught by local teachers will be supplied by A&M and Tech graduate students who will use distance learning as a major method of delivery. 

RCHS has also been exploring the possibility of working with TSTC and Ventus Wind, a wind energy company, to do research on the use of drones in blade inspection and repair on wind turbines.  The curriculum for such a program is still under review.

For such programs to be implemented, RCHS is moving away from traditional course work and teaching methods.  The focus on STEM instruction starts with research projects and presentations as early as the third grade (through 4-H) and continues all the way to a capstone research project in grade 12.   And, since Roscoe is a small school, the concentration on STEM development necessarily means that the addition of new courses in grades 8-12 means fewer courses can be offered in other traditional areas such as history or geography, while others such as English will focus more on aspects favorable to STEM education, such as technical writing as opposed to literature or poetry.  Dr. Alexander feels, however, that the increased rigor of the STEM curriculum will adequately prepare students for success in non-STEM career paths they may choose as university students. 
 
Assuming the approach adopted by RCHS is successful, it will be used as a model for other rural schools in Texas by Educate Texas and in other states by Jobs for the Future.

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ROSCOE CITY POOL OPENS FOR SUMMER

There were lots of happy faces at the swimming pool Saturday.

It was a great day for kids on Saturday.  Not only did the Roscoe City Pool open, but the pool staff kicked the summer season off right with free hot dogs for all.

This year the pool is being run by Kalyn Presley-Tate of Roscoe.  It will be open Tuesdays through Sundays from 1:00 to 5:00pm.  Price of admission is $2 for kids K-12 and $3 for adults with season passes available for $75.  “Women’s Only” will be from 11:30-12:30 daily.  

The pool can also be rented for private parties that begin and end between 6:00 and 10:00pm.  The fee is $60 for two hours, $70 for three hours, and $80 for four hours with a $15 deposit.  That price includes an approved licensed lifeguard.

Swimming lessons are also planned, but the exact date and instructor have not yet been determined.

For reservations and additional details, phone 325-766-2352 during open pool hours or visit the pool’s Facebook Page at Roscoe City Pool.

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HUGE CROWD ENJOYS JOSH ABBOTT BAND AT LUMBERYARD

There was little empty space at the Lumberyard Saturday night.

The city of Roscoe more than doubled its population Saturday night when some 2100 fans from the city and surrounding area were on hand to see the Josh Abbott Band perform outside at the Lumberyard.  The weather cooperated with a warm, relatively breezeless evening, and the crowd was enthusiastic for the band, originally from Texas Tech in Lubbock, that has steadily risen in popularity over the last few years.

The Lumberyard is looking for another big weekend with Brandon Rhyder in town on Friday night and Bart Crow on Saturday.

For more information, phone the Lumberyard during business hours at 325-766-2457, or consult the Lumberyard’s Facebook page.

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WEATHER REPORT

Yesterday's sunset.

Since the big rain of the previous weekend, the weather has returned to normal with typical spring temperatures and plenty of sunshine.  Temperatures last weekend were mild with highs in the mid and upper eighties and lows in the sixties.  Since then it’s been only slightly warmer with highs of 91°F on Sunday and Monday, and 90° yesterday.
 
Today and the next couple of days should be considerably warmer, though.  The forecast is for a high today of 99°, with highs in the upper to mid nineties and lows in the low seventies until Sunday, when it cools off to highs in the upper eighties with and lows in the upper sixties.

There is a 20% chance of rain on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

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† E. H. PURSLEY

A memorial service will be held at a later date for Emery H. Pursley, Jr., 65, of Sweetwater, who passed away on Saturday, May 31, in Abilene. 

He was born in Sweetwater on February 23, 1949, and married Margarita Rocha on February 11, 1971, in Scurry County.  He lived in Roscoe in his early years but in Sweetwater most of his life.  He was a member of Avondale Baptist Church. He was a United States Navy Veteran and worked as a bookkeeper and collection agent.

Survivors include his wife, Margie Pursley of Sweetwater; daughters, Valerie Rowden of Mineral Wells and Sherrie Torres of San Angelo; son, James Pursley of San Angelo; sisters, Donna Smith and husband, Lewis, of Sweetwater and Anna Cowan of Sweetwater; nine grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Emery H. Sr. and Veta (Sheppard) Pursley; his brother and sister-in-law, Wayne H. Pursley and Tracey, both on November 10, 1993; and his sister, Mary Anderson.

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