RCHS BASKETBALL
Plowgirls vs. Eula
Friday, November 19
Special Events Center
Junior Varsity 5:00pm
Varsity 6:15pm
--o--
Roscoe in Years Gone By
1922 Roscoe High football team.
(from The Roscoe Times, December 1, 1922)
ROSCOE 26 - ACC RESERVES 17
Roscoe high school closed its season in glorious fashion Thanksgiving Day by defeating the Abilene Christian College reserves on the Roscoe field 26 to 17.
The game furnished several thrills that kept the crowd in a high pitch of excitement. A.C.C. outplayed Roscoe in the first half and were leading 17 to 13 at the half. But during the second half, it was a different story. Behind perfect interference, Sam Fitzhugh made several long runs, and Jack Johnson and Schley Copeland played the game of their lives. The generalship of Cecil Smith would have done credit to any college player and the entire line played a great game against their much heavier college opponents.
Just to show they weren’t tired out, the Roscoe lads played Snyder a basketball game Thanksgiving night, and also won over them.
For the season, Roscoe won 8 of 9 games and scored 179 points to their opponents’ 60. Only three opponents scored on them, and only one, Big Spring, was able to win, that by 18-12.
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ROSCOE COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS
We have several open dates for rental, so be sure and call to reserve
Kevin Lavalais is a receiver on the All-Big Country Super Team.
The
Abilene Reporter-News announced its All-Big Country Super Team on
Monday, and Kevin Lavalais made the first team as a receiver. The Super
Team is made up of football players of all classes, from 6A all the way
down to 1A. First and second teams on both offense and defense were
named. In selecting Lavalais for the first team offense, the article
cited his 59 receptions on the year for 912 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Lavalais
was also one of several Plowboys chosen last week for the 2A All-Big
Country teams. The 2A teams comprised players from both 2A-Division 1
and 2A-Division 2 schools. Both Lavalais and Javier Leaños were on the
first team offense, Lavalais as a receiver, and Leaños as the punter.
Leaños also received Honorable Mention as a receiver, as did Jose
Ortega, the only freshman from any 2A school to be so honored.
Vincent
Pantoja and Max Nemir were both on the second-team defense, Pantoja as a
lineman, and Max Nemir as a linebacker. Pantoja also received Honorable
Mention as a running back. Brayden Beal received Honorable Mention as a
quarterback, and Rafael Aguayo received Honorable Mention as a
linebacker.
--o--
TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE HONORS ROSCOE 4-H PROGRAM WITH SUPERIOR SERVICE AWARD
Roxanna Reyna, Roscoe's 4-H Director and AgriLife Extension Program Specialist, center, and Kim Alexander, second from left, with A&M officials in College Station.
The
Roscoe Collegiate 4-H Program was presented with a 2015-2016 Superior
Service Award in College Station on Tuesday, January 12. Here’s the
press release that accompanied the award:
Population growth,
changing demographics, poverty, and a globally competitive workforce all
carry the risk of a diminished quality of life in Texas. In 2012, the
Roscoe Collegiate ISD and AgriLife Extension have helped minority and
underserved youth prepare for, attend, and graduate from community
colleges and universities.
The Roscoe Collegiate 4-H Program
stimulates student interest and engagement in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics through a combination of two 4-H curricula.
In 2014, 89% of the program’s students graduates with both a high school
diploma and an associate’s degree. All students are engaged in
activities that interconnect learning with career exploration and
development. The program can be a model for other small and rural
schools working to prepare every student for success in school, the
workforce and life.
The 4-H award also got mention in a nice article
in the Abilene Reporter-News this past weekend entitled “Roscoe preparing students for ag job of the future.” You can access it by
clicking here.
--o--
TOWN HALL MEETING WITH ISAAC CASTRO IN COMMUNITY CENTER TODAY
Isaac Castro
Isaac
Castro, a lawyer and former mayor of Hamlin, is the featured guest at a
Town Hall meeting in the Roscoe Community Center today at 5:00pm. He is
running for State Representative of District 71, which is made up of
Nolan, Taylor, and Jones Counties.
A Republican who says he holds
conservative values, Castro is running for the seat being vacated by
Susan King, R-Abilene, who is running for the State Senate seat of
District 24.
--o--
PLOWBOYS FALL TO STAMFORD BUT WHIP WINTERS IN DISTRICT GAMES
The
Plowboys lost to Stamford 81-48 in Stamford Friday night but beat
Winters in Winters last night 62-41 to go 1-1 for the week and remain at
.500 in district play with a 4-4 record. Here are the scores by
quarters, followed by individual Plowboy scoring:
Stamford 81 – Plowboys 48
Stamford 21 39 62 81
Plowboys 7 18 35 48
Rafael Aguayo 13, Javier Leaños 12, Brayden Beal 6, Kevin Lavalais 5, Jose Ortega 4, Isaiah Gonzales 4, Johnathon Cuellar 4.
The Plowboys face Albany here Friday evening and Anson there next Tuesday.
--o--
PLOWGIRLS WIN ONE, LOSE ONE IN DISTRICT PLAY
The
Plowgirls also split two district games this past week, losing to
Stamford in Stamford Friday night 60-20, and then knocking off Winters
in Winters last night 29-24.
Their next game is against Albany here Friday night, followed by Anson in Anson next Tuesday.
--o--
BAPTIST CHURCH TO HOST MOVIE NIGHT SUNDAY EVENING
The
First Baptist Church of Roscoe at 401 Main Street will show the movie,
War Room, on Sunday, January 31, at 6:00pm. Everyone is invited!
--o--
OMISSION FROM LAST WEEK’S STOCK SHOW RESULTS
Last
week’s results from the Nolan County Livestock show failed to mention
that Lynzi Atkinson also won the Senior Goat Showmanship award.
--o--
LUMBERYARD TO HOST BENEFIT SATURDAY NIGHT
Saints Eleven
A
benefit show will be held this weekend to help the Dickerhoff family of
Snyder with medical bills incurred for their 3-year-old. Featured
performers will be the Saints Eleven and Zach Edwards bands.
Saints
Eleven is a Texas Country band from Midlothian, just south of Dallas. Their most recent CD is
Saints Eleven: One Night at a Time. You can see a YouTube version of
their single “I’ll Be Fine” by clicking here.
Zach Edwards
Zach Edwards, who
grew up in Big Lake but now lives in Fort Worth, also plays Texas
Country. His most recent album is entitled Lone Star. A YouTube video of
his single “Alcohol of Fame” is available here.
With a forecast high in the mid-seventies on Saturday, the show is scheduled to take place on the
music stage outside. Cover charge is $10 with further donations welcome.
For reservations and more information, contact the Lumberyard at
325-766-2457.
--o--
WEATHER REPORT: WARM WEEKEND ON THE WAY
The snowfall in Maryland on Saturday. (Photo by Suzy Sayre)
For
me this past week, the biggest news was what was not happening in
Roscoe—or anywhere else in west Texas for that matter. I watched
sympathetically as Towson, Maryland, my home for seventeen years, got a
record 31” snow on Saturday. I still remember digging out from that
two-foot snow we got in 2010, my last year up there, and, to tell you
the truth, that's one aspect of Maryland I don’t miss a bit. Here in Roscoe on Saturday it was 63°F
with sunny skies, which is nothing unusual for this time of year. So,
if you’re complaining about the weather we’re getting here, keep in mind
it could always be worse.
Sunday was even warmer with a high of
73°, and I went for a nice walk in my t-shirt that afternoon, which
suited me just fine. The weather for the whole week was a little cooler,
with highs in the fifties for three days, and a cool day yesterday with
a high of only 44°. The outlook for today is warmer at 57°, and, as we
move into the weekend, even warmer. Thursday’s high will be in the
mid-sixties, on Friday the low seventies, and on Saturday a forecast of
76°, with Sunday and Monday about the same. Lows will be in the forties
up to 50° on Sunday morning.
Skies will be clear, and there is no rain in the forecast.
--o--
† MICHAEL LYNN BARNES
A
private family graveside service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday,
January 30, at Roscoe Cemetery for Michael Lynn Barnes, 69, of
Sweetwater. He died Wednesday, January 20, in Winters, and his wishes
were to be cremated.
Mike was born February 20, 1946, in Borden
County. He grew up in Roscoe and was a member of the RHS class of 1964. A
member of Woodmen of the World, he was a professional welder and had a
love for all animals.
Survivors include his sons, Mike Barnes of
Winters, Billy Barnes of Abilene, Randy Barnes and wife Pamela of
Winters, Melvin Todd Barnes of Winters, and Ronald Jeffery Barnes of
Sweetwater; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his
son Richard Dean Barnes; and his parents, M. L. and Ruth Barnes. Online
condolences may be expressed at www.mccoyfh.com.
Javier Leaños (4) brings the ball upcourt against Hamlin Friday evening.
The Plowboys won
two more district games this past week, winning both games at home. They
defeated Hamlin 47-40 on Friday and Haskell 50-36 last night. They are
now 3-3 in district play. Here are the scores by quarters along with the
Plowboys' individual scoring.
Plowboys 47 – Hamlin 40
Plowboys 9 26 34 47
Hamlin 15 23 31 40
Javier Leaños 20, Rafael Aguayo 10, Jose Ortega 7, Brayden Beal 2, Kevin Lavalais 2, Isaiah Gonzales 2, Johnathon Cuellar 2.
Next up are Stamford in Stamford on Friday and Winters in Winters next Tuesday.
--o--
PLOWGIRLS FALL TO HASKELL, HAMLIN
Veronica Cuellar takes a long shot. She made 28 points against the Lady Pipers.
The
Plowgirls lost two more district games this past week, falling to
Hamlin 62-37 on Friday and to Haskell 52-34 last night. They are now 0-6
in district play.
B. Wilkinson 14, Trevino 7, Pena 5, Alejandra Solis 4, Cuellar 4.
Next up for the Plowgirls are Stamford in Stamford on Friday and Winters in Winters next Tuesday.
--o--
NOLAN COUNTY LIVESTOCK SHOW ROSCOE CISD RESULTS
(Photo by Rachel Shipp)
Landry
Turnbow had the Grand Champion Steer, Kaylee Palacios the Grand
Champion Hampshire Swine, and Lynzie Atkinson the Reserve Champion Goat
at the Nolan County Livestock Show in the Nolan County Coliseum this
past weekend.
Here are the results for all the Roscoe Collegiate
ISD FFA or 4-H students who participated in the show with their names
and places their entries finished:
BROILERS
Alfonso Islas 12
Derek Creed 13
Kaleb Bohall 14
WOPB Heavy Weight
Kaylee Palacios 3
Max Nemir 4
Phoenix Walker 6
BOPB Light Weight
Derek Creed 7
BOPB Heavy Weight
Zeke Murphy 1
Zeke Murphy 7
Cross Heavy Weight
Max Nemir 2
Kaylee Palacios 3
Justin Herrera 4
--o--
GRIFFITH TAX SERVICES MOVES TO NEW OFFICE
Tom
Griffith has moved his Griffith Tax Services to a new office located at
100 Cypress Suite A. Entry to the office is through the front door of
the Mexico Lindo Restaurant. The door will be unlocked at times when the
restaurant is closed and Griffith Tax Services is open.
--o--
TOWN HALL MEETING WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATE ISAAC CASTRO NEXT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27
Isaac
Castro (R) will be the featured guest at a Town Hall meeting at the
Roscoe Community Center next Wednesday at 5:00pm. Castro, a lawyer in
Hamlin and the town’s former mayor, is running for State Representative
of District 71, which comprises Nolan, Taylor, and Jones Counties.
The
current representative, Susan King, R-Abilene, will not seek another
term. She is running for the State Senate District 24 seat being vacated
by Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, who is retiring.
Everyone is invited to attend.
--o--
EARLY RELEASE AT RCISD TODAY
Roscoe
students get an early release at 12:45pm today as the teachers will
hold a workshop in the afternoon. Normal times resume again tomorrow.
--o--
WEATHER REPORT
Yesterday's sunset.
There
were no drastic weather events to report this past week, nothing but
the kind of weather you typically expect for January in west Texas.
Skies were clear to partly cloudy, and daily highs ranged from 45° on
Monday to 65° last Thursday and also yesterday. Lows ranged from Monday
morning’s 23° to last Thursday's 42°. Otherwise, highs were generally in
the fifties or thereabouts and lows were in the thirties or upper
twenties. Winds were breezy all week.
The forecast is for more of
the same. Today’s high could reach 60° with highs predicted in the
fifties until Sunday when it is forecast to hit 65°. Lows will be at or
just below freezing on Thursday and Friday but warm into the forties on
Saturday and Sunday.
Skies will be clear or partly cloudy, and there is no precipitation of any kind in the forecast.
--o--
† EULA DEAN “DEANY” DOWNS
A
Memorial Service for Eula Dean “Deany” Downs, 87, will be held at
Martha Bowman United Methodist Church in Macon, GA, at 2:00pm on
Saturday, January 23. She passed away in Macon, where she had been a
resident since 2004.
Deany was born on March 27, 1928, in Rogers,
NM. She was one of four children of J.H. and Maude Vincent and lived on
their farm until they moved to Sudan, Texas. She loved music and played
the coronet in the Sudan High School Band and also played the piano.
She majored in music at the University of New Mexico. She met and
married Robert E. Downs on January 9, 1949. They raised their two
children, Robert and Karen, in Roscoe.
She was active in women’s
social organizations and served as church organist at the First United
Methodist Church for many years. She also served as a den mother to the
cub scouts and was always active in the life of her family. She worked
as a bookkeeper at the local elevator and later as bookkeeper and office
manager for three different surgeons, all of whom still remained in
touch with her. She later retired, but remained in Roscoe until moving
to Macon in 2004. While in Macon, she remained socially active with the
activities at the Gables where she lived as well as staying true to her
love of music by serving as pianist for the Nan Freeman Sunday School
Class.
She was preceded in death by Robert E. Downs, her husband
of 35 years; and is survived by her two brothers, Coye of Baltimore, MD,
and Kenneth of Lubbock; and her sister, Leota Harley of Midland. She is
also survived by her two children, Robert (Bob) and wife, Jeanie, of
Yorktown, VA, and Karen Rogers and husband, John, of Macon; as well as
six grandchildren and five great grandchildren, along with numerous
nieces and nephews.
The family will have a Viewing at Hart’s
Mortuary on Friday, January 22, from 5pm to 7pm. The family requests
memorials be sent to Martha Bowman United Methodist Church, or to
Daybreak, PO Box 204, Macon, GA, 31202.
Hart’s Mortuary at the Cupola (www.hartsmort.com) has charge of arrangements.
--o--
† WALTER “BUDDY” LEE CLEMENTS, JR.
Funeral
services for Walter “Buddy” Lee Clements, Jr., 87, were held at McCoy
Chapel of Memories in Sweetwater at 2pm on Tuesday, January 12, followed
by interment at Sweetwater Cemetery. He passed away on Thursday,
January 7, at Sweetwater Health Care.
Mr. Clements was born in
Blackwell on October 8, 1928. On February 25, 1950, he married Doris
Henderson in Sweetwater. He was a member of Lamar Baptist Church and had
lived in Roscoe for the past 59 years. He was employed by El Paso
Natural Gas Company for 35 years in plant operations. Then, after
retiring he worked for Pri-Corp Prison at Avenger Village for four
years. Buddy farmed and ranched from 1967 to 2007. He was a veteran of
World War II serving in the U.S. Air Force for four years in Japan.
Survivors
include his wife, Doris Clements of Roscoe; sons, Larry Clements of
Roscoe, Jacky Ray Clements and wife, Betty, of Batesville, Arkansas;
sisters, Joann Priest of Eastland and Ruby Dressler of Iowa Park, TX;
six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, along with numerous
nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his
parents, Walter Lee Clements, Sr., on August 13, 1987, and Minnie Anne
Bayless on March 18, 2000; his son, Walter Lee Clements III on December
22, 2006; and two sisters, Virginia Carter and Helen Mearse.
Pallbearers were Dale Finch, Randy Hanes, Raymond Lambert, Norman Massey, Don Kite and Jimmy Davis.
Ed: My apologies for missing this last week.
--o--
† MARY JO COLLINS
Graveside
services for Mary Jo Collins, 69, will be at 2:00pm on Saturday,
January 23, at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Sweetwater, with Dr. Perry
Collins officiating. She passed away on Monday, January 17, at Rolling
Plains Hospital in Sweetwater.
Ms. Collins was born on September
10, 1946 in Roscoe and grew up there. She was a graduate of Highland
High School. Jo lived most of her life in Sweetwater and worked at
Staton’s Pharmacy as a Pharmacy Assistant and later at U.S.G. as a Lab
Technician. She was a member of Fourth and Elm Church of Christ, ABWA,
and the Purple Hats Club. Jo loved watching the Dallas Cowboys. She will
be missed by many friends, neighbors and family.
Survivors
include her sons, Steven Collins of Katy, Dr. Perry Collins and wife,
Cassie Collins, of Plainview; daughter, Misty Baron of Abilene; sister,
Martha Rae Blair of Abilene; and five grandchildren, Emily Collins,
Zachary Collins, Brooklyn Collins, Chandler Collins and Kristen Collins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin L. Smith on September 5, 1976, and Eula Dolly Fry Smith on November 24, 2006.
Pallbearers will be Steve Collins, Dr. Perry Collins, Cory Stroman, Larry Denton, Gary Setliff and Ron Baron.
The family will receive friends at McCoy Funeral Home from 12:30 to 1:45pm on Saturday, January 23.
City Attorney Zollie Steakley swears in new Councilman Edwin Duncan.
At its monthly meeting in City
Hall yesterday evening, the City Council appointed a new member, heard
the monthly update from City Manager Cody Thompson, and approved routine
items.
Edwin Duncan was nominated and his appointment
unanimously approved to fill the empty Council seat resulting from
Councilman Ken Brawley’s resignation last month because of health
issues. Duncan will serve until May, when a new Council Member is
elected to serve a two-year term.
City Manager Cody Thompson
began by informing the Council of the City’s B Board selection of
country singer Robert Earl Keen as the feature performer at this year’s
Spring Super Sunday. The festival will be in April this year and will be
similar to the one held last year that featured Merle Haggard. City
merchants will be open that afternoon, and Keen’s show will be in the
Lumberyard.
The City is getting prices for the following projects:
1. Roof repair for the Community Center and the Roscoe Historical Museum.
2. Electrical plugs in Old Town Park for use in City events, and lights for the trees on the downtown sidewalks.
3. Repair and/or upgrade for the fountain in Memorial Park.
4. Wayfinding signage at the intersection of Broadway and Main Street. (This will point visitors to various local businesses).
The
City is consulting financial advisors and bond attorneys about costs
for a bond program to pave City streets. Thompson told the Council that
by next month’s meeting he should have some firm figures concerning
estimated project costs, funds, and fees, at which time the Council can
discuss what they want to do about the proposal. An ordinance calling
for a bond election would have to be approved by February 19 in order to
be on the ballot in the May 7 election.
A Texas Water Development Board representative was in Roscoe on Friday and signed off on the City’s R-O Water Treatment project.
Construction on the two new homes in the Young Farm Estates subdivision will begin before the end of the month.
--o--
NOLAN COUNTY STOCK SHOW RUNS THROUGH WEEKEND
Kids show their swine in the Nolan County Coliseum.
The
annual Nolan County Junior Livestock Show begins today in the Nolan
County Coliseum and runs through Saturday. Here’s the schedule:
Thursday:
9am-12pm Steers, Heifers, & Swine Weigh-In
4pm Goat Show, followed by Lamb Show (North side)
4pm Rabbit Show, followed by Broiler Show (South side)
Friday:
2pm Steer Show
4pm Swine Show
Saturday:
9:30am Sign-Up for Honorary Show
10am Honorary Show - Kids 2nd grade and younger
11am Luncheon – Lone Star Ag Credit & Skeet’s Texas Grill
1pm Awards, followed by Premium Sale
--o--
PLOWBOYS, PLOWGIRLS LOSE DISTRICT GAMES TO ANSON, HAWLEY
Both the Plowboys and Plowgirls had a rough week in basketball, losing two district games each, first to Anson here on Friday, then to Hawley in Hawley yesterday evening.
Here are the scores by quarters followed by individual scoring.
Anson 49 – Plowboys 36
Anson 13 22 37 49
Plowboys 10 24 31 36
Javier Leaños 15, Rafael Aguayo 14, Isaiah Gonzales 4, Jose Ortega 3.
The next game for both teams is on Friday when they face Hamlin here, followed by games in Haskell in Haskell next Tuesday.
--o--
MARYNEAL SHOOTER, LANCE LIGHT, DIES IN ABILENE
Sweetwater
Police received confirmation from the Texas Rangers on Saturday that
Lance Light, 54, died earlier that day at Hendrick Medical Center in
Abilene. He had been there since being shot in the head by a Sweetwater
Police Officer the previous Saturday, January 2.
Light, an
Abilene resident formerly of Maryneal, allegedly shot and killed Lonnie
Sturdivant, 59, in Maryneal. He fled the scene and was pursued by a DPS
trooper while driving to Sweetwater. He stopped at the intersection of
Texas Highway 70 and I-20 and was then shot when he allegedly pointed
his pistol at law enforcement officers. He was then medevac’d to
Hendrick Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition until
this past Saturday, when he died.
The Texas Rangers, Sweetwater
Police, and Nolan County Sheriff’s Office are conducting an ongoing
investigation, and the Sweetwater Policeman who shot him is on leave
until the investigation is complete.
--o--
JASON EADY INSIDE AT LUMBERYARD SATURDAY
Jason Eady
Texas
Country music singer Jason Eady will be playing acoustic guitar inside
at the Lumberyard Saturday night. His two most recent albums, AM Country
Heaven (2012) and Daylight and Dark (2014) made numbers 9 and 12
respectively on the US Heatseekers chart, and numbers 40 and 45 on the
Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Other Jason Eady albums are
From Underneath the Old (2005), Wild-Eyed Serenade (2007), and When the
Money’s All Gone (2012). Singles include “Whiskey & You,” “Daylight
& Dark,” “Cry Pretty,” “God Fearing Blues,” “OK Whiskey,” “The Other
Side of Abilene,” and others.
Eady will appear with “special
guest” singer-songwriter Courtney Patton, who also just happens to be
his wife. The performance begins at about 9:30pm. The cover charge is
$10. For reservations or more information, call the Lumberyard at
325-766-2457.
--o--
WEATHER REPORT: STILL COLD
The storm cloud approaches from the northwest Saturday evening.
Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday of last week were windy and warmer than the
preceding days with highs of 52°F, 63°, and 57° respectively. Lows on
all three nights were around 40°. However, chilly weather returned on
Saturday and has pretty much stayed that way since. Saturday’s high was
only 40° with a low of 28°, Sunday’s high was 41° with a low of 24°, and
Monday’s high was 50° with a low of 31°.
The storm that blew in
from the northwest on Saturday evening was supposed to bring snow, but
all we got was about .05” of light rain. That doesn’t sound like much,
but with the ground still wet from previous rains, it was enough to
create puddles.
Yesterday was much nicer. The sun came out,
breezes were light, and the temperature rose to 58°. Today and tomorrow
should continue the trend with highs in the lower sixties and lows
around 40°. Friday will be a bit cooler with a projected high in the
mid-fifties and a low in the upper thirties, and the weekend will once
again be cool. Saturday’s high should be only 48° with a low of around
33°, while Sunday and Monday will have highs in the low fifties and lows
in the low to mid thirties.
There is no precipitation in the forecast.
--o--
† HAZEL LEOLA NEVES
Services
for Hazel Leola Neves, 89, were held on Monday, January 11, at First
Baptist Church in Roscoe with Reverend David Draper officiating.
Interment followed at Roscoe Cemetery. She passed away on Thursday,
January 7, at Snyder Healthcare Nursing Home. She was a resident of
Snyder, formerly of Roscoe.
Ms. Neves was born on October 8,
1926, in Clarksville, Texas. She married Kenneth C. (Bill) Neves, on
August 21, 1941 in DeKalb, Texas. She was a member of the First Baptist
Church in Roscoe, the Sweetwater V.F.W., and the Roscoe American Legion
Ladies Auxiliaries for fifty plus years. She had lived in Roscoe since
1957 and in Snyder the past five years. Hazel did volunteer work at
Roscoe Nursing Home and was a seamstress for Walls Industrial, as well
as a homemaker.
Survivors include her daughter, Teresa Thomas of
The Woodlands; sons, Ernest (Ernie) Neves of Burkett, and Norman Neves
of Snyder; brother, Maxie Lincecum of Myrtle Creek, Oregon; 9
Grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great
great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband,
Kenneth C. “BIll” Neves, on July 15, 1987, a son, Kenneth Jay Neves, in
1969, and her parents, Ora and Eula Lincecum.
Pallbearers were Lance Neves, Laura Neves, Russell Cordell, grandsons and great-grandsons.
--o--
† LONNIE O’DELL STURDIVANT
A
memorial service was held at 11am on Saturday, January 9, at the First
Baptist Church in Maryneal for Lonnie O’dell Sturdivant, 59, who died
Saturday, January 2, at Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital in Sweetwater.
Graveside memorial services will be held at 11am this Saturday, January
16, at Cavness Cemetery in Mason. McCoy Funeral Home in Sweetwater is in
charge of arrangements.
Lonnie was born January 21, 1956, in
Hobbs, New Mexico. He married Connie Brooks October 19, 2014, in
Maryneal He was raised Pentecostal and was a graduate of Mason High
School in 1974. Lonnie moved to Maryneal 9 years ago from Mason. He was a
truck driver and crane operator, working for Crane Services in
Sweetwater. He also owned Heidi Trucking Company. He was a union member,
enjoyed playing his fiddle, and was a Christian. He was a sweet
soft-spoken man and considered his word as a contract.
He is
survived by his wife, Connie Brooks Sturdivant, of Maryneal, sons Seth
Blackwell Sturdivant of Maryneal, Michael Brandon Moore of Lometa, Eric
Wade Moore of Richland Springs, sister Shirley Wilkins of New Braunfels,
granddaughter Heidi Abigail Sturdivant of Abilene, and eight step
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Johnny Sturdivant, three years ago, and his parents Leonard and Iva Mae (Keith) Sturdivant.
A
shooting in Maryneal left one killed and the alleged shooter critically
wounded in Sweetwater on Saturday afternoon around 4pm.
Lonnie
Odell Sturdivant, 59, of Maryneal, was shot and killed at his home
allegedly by Lance Light, 54, of Abilene, formerly of Maryneal. Light
fled the scene in a white SUV and was soon located south of Sweetwater
on Texas Highway 70 by a DPS trooper, who pursued him to the
intersection of I-20 and 70 in Sweetwater, where he stopped. During his
arrest there, he was shot in the head and critically wounded by a
Sweetwater police officer, who reportedly fired three times. According
to a DPS news release, he was shot “when he produced a gun and pointed
it at officers.”
KTXS-TV of Abilene reported that he went to
the Sturdivant home to shoot Sturdivant’s son but shot the father
instead. The son is reportedly involved in divorce proceedings and a
custody battle with his ex-wife, Light’s daughter. Light is an ACU ex
and former teacher at Thomas Elementary in Abilene.
The
Sweetwater officer who shot Light is now on paid administrative leave,
and the DPS, Texas Rangers, Nolan County Sheriff’s Office, and
Sweetwater Police Department are conducting an investigation.
--o--
FIRE ON MAIN STREET DESTROYS ZAMBRANO HOME
(fire photos by Valerie Pruitt)
According to Fire
Chief Gary Armstrong, the Roscoe Volunteer Fire Department responded to a
call at 6:56pm on Saturday of a house fire at 310 Main Street. They
arrived on the scene with fire coming from the attic and did a search of
the house to find that the owner, Elpidio Zambrano, was not at home.
However, they did save his dog from the burning structure.
The Sweetwater Fire Department assisted with fighting the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
--o--
PLOWBOYS FALL IN EULA TOURNAMENT, WIN ONE AND LOSE ONE IN DISTRICT PLAY
The
Plowboys ran into some rough sledding in the Eula Tournament last week,
losing all three games they played, two to 3A schools, Jim Ned and
Clyde, and one to 1A Huckabay, which doesn’t play football and whose
players have been honing their basketball skills since school started.
The
Plowboys did a little better in district play, winning their opener
against Winters here in Roscoe on Friday 64-49, but then falling to
Albany in Albany last night 57-33.
Here are the games in order with scores by quarters followed by individual Plowboy scoring:
Jim Ned 88 – Plowboys 36
Scores by Quarters Jim Ned 24 43 68 88 Plowboys 7 11 19 36
Plowboy Scoring Rafael Aguayo 11, Javier Leaños 10, Brayden Beal 6, Jose Ortega 4, Nick Limones 3, Johnathan Cuellar 2.
The Plowboys are now 1-1 in district play. Their next game is with Anson here in Roscoe on Friday. Tipoff is at 8:00pm.
--o--
PLOWGIRLS LOSE FIRST TWO DISTRICT GAMES
The Plowgirls are 0-2 in district after losing their first two games, one to Winters 36-32 here on Friday and the other to Albany 41-26 in Albany last night. They play Anson here on Friday. The game begins at 6:00pm.
Cuellar 12, B. Wilkinson 5, L. Wilkinson 5, Trevino 2, Lynzi Atlinson 2.
--o--
WEATHER REPORT: COLD
Sunrise yesterday morning.
The weather has been a mixed bag this past
week, but with one common feature: it’s been colder than usual. Last
Wednesday and Thursday the area was covered by a heavy fog with highs in
the thirties, followed by overcast skies on Friday and a sunny Saturday
followed by a beautiful sunny day on Sunday when the high of the week
was 54°F with only a very slight breeze. It was cooler Monday and
yesterday with highs of 48° and 46° respectively. Yesterday felt a lot
colder, though, because it was windier with a wind chill in the
thirties. Lows for the week ranged from 27° on Thursday to 34° Monday
and yesterday.
It should be a lot warmer today with a high of
around 55° with a 40% chance of light rain. Tomorrow and Friday will
have partly cloudy skies and highs in the sixties but with strong, gusty
southwest winds both days. The weekend will be cooler, and on Sunday
evening and Monday morning there is a 50% chance of snow.
NOAA PREDICTS WET, COOL WEATHER AGAIN FOR NEXT THREE MONTHS
Precipitation outlook on left, temperature on right for January, February, and March 2016. (Click to enlarge.)
Since the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) forecast was pretty much on target for last year, I thought I'd consult it again for the first three months of this year.
As you can see by the map on the left, their meteorologists say the outlook for January, February, and March in our area is for more rain than normal, indicated by the green strip that runs from central California to the Texas gulf coast. We're not projected to get as much as southern California to southwest Texas (dark green strip) but more than northern California to east Texas (light green strip).
That A in Arizona means above normal. The B in the northern part of the country means below normal, and the EC in the middle means equal chances for normal, above normal, or below normal.
The map on the right is the temperature outlook for the same three months, and the forecast for our area is for below average temperatures, unlike up north, where they'll be above average.
According to the NOAA, this weather pattern is being driven by El Niño, which continues to have the surface of the south Pacific Ocean much hotter than normal, the same as last year. They believe it will peak soon and then start cooling off, but just when and how much are anybody's guess.
As we move into the new year and out of
the old, this is a good time to take a look back at 2015 and the year’s
major happenings in and around the City of Roscoe.
Festivals and the Music Scene
Merle Haggard at the Lumberyard on Spring Super Sunday in April.
One
of the first things that springs to mind is the City’s three major
festivals: the Spring Fling, known this year as Spring Super Sunday, the
July 4th Celebration, and the West Texas Wind Festival. All three
events drew large crowds with live music and street dances, contests,
street vendors, and fireworks shows. The Spring Super Sunday featured
country music legend Merle Haggard, the July 4th celebration also had
its annual parade and Plowboy Mudbog competition, and the West Texas
Wind Festival featured another country music great, Bobby Bare, as well
as Roscoe Elementary’s 5k and 1 mile fun run, the Fire Department’s
“Blowin’ in the Wind” cookoff with its $1500 first prize, and a new
popular feature this year, the Wild Hog Sacking sponsored by Highland
High’s Junior class. All three events drew large crowds of visitors from
area cities, adding to Roscoe’s reputation as a vibrant community with
plenty to offer. The Cinco de Mayo celebration, always well attended,
was another popular downtown event, as was the Roscoe merchants’
Christmas Open House in November.
Roscoe’s fame as a major music
venue was once again enhanced by popular artists who played at the
Lumberyard. Besides Merle Haggard, these also included such country
legends as Mickey Gilley and Johnny Lee of Urban Cowboy fame, the Bellamy
Brothers, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, Terri Clark, and Travis
Tritt. Popular with the younger audiences were the Texas Country and
“Red Dirt” artists like Stoney LaRue, Josh Abbott, Wade Bowen, Randy
Rogers, Cody Canada, Aaron Watson, Shinyribs, and others. A recent
article in the Austin American-Statesman, which you can access by
clicking here, focused on Roscoe’s music scene as well as some of its
other positive aspects.
Schools and the STEM initiative
US Rep. Randy Neugebauer and RCISD Supt. Kim Alexander outside the STEM Research Center.
The
Roscoe Collegiate ISD had another banner year, increasing its standing
as possibly the best small town school district in the entire state. It
achieved national recognition this year for its 90% completion rate for
the Associate’s Degree of its senior class in May, when 18 of the 20
graduating students also received their Associate’s Degrees from Western
Texas College in Snyder. These completion rates have grown from one
student in 2010 to 52% in 2011, 58% in 2012, 73% in 2013, 89% in 2014,
and 90% in 2015. The program is both a time and money saver for students
going on to college.
As an ACU graduate, Superintendent Kim
Alexander received in March that school’s Grover C. Morlan Award for an
alumnus who has made significant contributions to the field of
education, and in November Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appointed him as one of
ten outstanding educators to the Texas Student Assessment/Accountability
Commission and the only one from a rural school district.
In
October, the school completed the new STEM Research Center and held its
Open House, where the keynote speaker was Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, Chair
of the Education Committee for the Texas House of Representatives.
During the year, various other dignitaries also visited to learn about
the STEM Academy, which will provide certification that will give
students a leg up both at universities and on the job market. In
February, Texas Senator Charles Perry and Texas Education Commissioner
Michael Williams came to learn about the program, and in November US
Congressman Randy Neugebauer took a tour of the new facilities.
Roscoe
Collegiate ISD also continued to grow as it has every year since 2011.
The initial opening enrollment in August was 618 for grades K-12, an
increase of 45 over the previous year’s 573. Among the total were 260
transfer students from other area communities who want to take advantage
of the education that RCISD provides.
The Plowboy football team
surprised almost everyone with their success this year. After losing
their first four games, they went on an eight-game winning streak, were
undefeated in district play, and made it all the way to the regional
finals before falling to Iraan. Their players dominated the all-district
selections, and head coach Jake Freeman and his coaching staff were
named as the district coaches of the year.
Highland ISD was also
recognized for its academic excellence. In October it received a 2015
National Blue Ribbon, one of only 25 schools in Texas and of 335 schools
in the country to do so. It was awarded the honor for the high
performance levels of its students and was nominated for the honor by
the Texas Education Agency. Like RCISD, Highland ISD has a large
percentage of transfer students from area communities.
Cotton and the Weather
Cottonwood Creek overflowed its banks after the big rain on July 7. (Photo by Kenny Landfried)
Of
course, as everyone around here already knows, with all the rain we got
this year we could have had a bumper cotton crop if Mother Nature had
just given us a good rain in late July, August, or early September. But
she didn’t. After the four inches that fell on July 7 and 8, farmers
were optimistic that this might be another year like 2007.
Unfortunately, that never happened. For the next three months (i.e.,
between July 8 and October 9), the only rain that fell was the .62” that
came on August 24, not enough to make a difference. So, what might have
been a great crop turned out to be just about average.
For those
who are interested in such things, this outcome accords with the
prediction made last spring by “Injun Robert” McBride. As you’ll recall,
he built a fire just before dawn on the day after the spring equinox,
as the ancient Taba’na Yuan’e or “Sunrise Wind” ceremony of the Plains
Indians demands. At dawn, the wind came from the north-northwest, which
according to tradition foretells an average crop. So, Injun Robert’s
prediction was that this year’s crop would be better than the previous
year’s below average crop, and he was right.
As of yesterday,
Roscoe’s Central Rolling Plains Co-op gin had ginned 47,141 bales with
1833 modules on the lot or still in the fields. Gin manager Larry Black
is now estimating that the final tally for the season will be from
68,000 to 70,000 bales and is hoping to be done by February 15. This
will be more than double last year’s 32,274 and in the same ball
park as 2013’s 71,849 and 2012’s 66,985.
Assuming we get no more
precipitation before midnight tomorrow, the total official rainfall for
Roscoe in 2015 is 33.55”, almost 12” above the 80-year average (i.e.,
since official records began in 1936) of 21.82”. And the rains we’ve
gotten the past couple of months mean there’s plenty of ground moisture
for wheat and for next year’s cotton crop. Stock tanks are full, and
area lakes have more water now than they’ve had in years. I’ve even
heard some say that some long dormant springs are once again flowing.
So, the area is in good shape in that regard as we move into the coming
year.
Other facts about 2015 from the official records of Roscoe
weatherman Kenny Landfried, are these: The last freeze in the spring
came on March 7, when the temperature fell to 24°F, and the first freeze
this fall was on November 22, when it dropped to 25°. In general, the
year was mild with fewer extremes than usual. The coldest temperature of
the year was 12° on the morning of January 1, and the hottest, 102°,
was recorded on three days: August 7, 9, and 10. In fact, this year had
only six triple-digit days, all in August, and five of those were on
consecutive days. This compares to the 14 100°+ days of last year, the
16 of 2013, 34 of 2012, and 81 of 2011.
City Progress
The new Police Station on Cypress Street opened in February.
The
City of Roscoe also made progress this year. The new Roscoe Police
Station opened in February and since then has got a new bathroom and
other improvements, as has the Fire Station. Last month the Police
Department also added a K-9 unit that will work with area law
enforcement when called upon.
The three newly constructed
state-financed homes in Roscoe were completed in May and placed into the
hands of the owners, who are now living in them. The new
reverse-osmosis water treatment plant was approved by the Environmental
Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and
the City approved the water, sewer, streets, and electricity and gas
lines at Young Farm Estates. Two homes are scheduled for construction
there, and lots are for sale.
The Stone Tower RV Park opened in
January with a coin-operated laundry and now has several tenants. A
new business, Main Street Antiques, owned and operated by Vickie Haynes,
also opened. Sanders, an agricultural company specializing in seeds,
feed, crop protection, chemicals, and fertilizer, erected buildings just
north of the Co-op gin northwest of town and opened for business, and
Smartt Industries LLC, just off US 84 on Roscoe's north side, expanded their
operation by drilling an injection well. Other business activity
includes the re-furbishing of the old Smacker’s Café downtown and the
old Truck 'n' Travel Truck Stop on the west side of Roscoe. Hopefully,
next year will see both up and running again.
In short, things
continue to move in the right direction for Roscoe, and with continued
hard work, creative thinking, and a little bit of luck, the coming year
may well continue the trend. In any case, have a Happy New Year, and
here’s wishing you all a healthy and prosperous 2016!
--o--
ROSCOE POLICE ARREST TWO, STAY BUSY DURING ICE STORM
The Roscoe
Police arrested two men this past week. On Friday, December 25, at
approximately 3:45am they responded to a report of a person firing a gun
on 709 Main Street. No one was injured, but Michael Anthony Feirro of
Roscoe was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. The
case is under investigation.
On Saturday, December 26, at
approximately 10pm, Roscoe Police responded to a report of burglary of a
building at Eagle Railcar. A suspect, William Besse of California, was
found and arrested in the parking lot of the CB Shop near I-20 and FM
608.
The Roscoe Police Department and Roscoe Volunteer Fire
Department assisted DPS troopers and the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office
with vehicle crashes and stranded motorists during the ice storm. Well
over thirty people required help along I-20 and US 84.
--o--
ROSCOE WIND FARM FEATURED IN LE MONDE ARTICLE ON TEXAS
A page from the Sunday magazine of Le Monde, France's top newspaper. The text at right says, "Texaspoliticianslead the chargeagainstthe carbon tax. Even so, the stateisat the forefrontofrenewable energy. It'sthenumberonefor wind powerin the United States.
The Roscoe
Wind Farm continues to make international news. Le Monde, the number
one newspaper in France, recently ran a feature article on Texas in its
Sunday magazine, and the Roscoe Wind Farm was touted as the prime example of
the state’s commitment to wind energy. It included information from an interview with
Cliff Etheredge, the wind farm’s organizer.
--o--
ROSCOE AS SEEN FROM A DRONE
Back
during the West Texas Wind Festival, the City hired a San Angelo firm
to take an aerial video from a drone. City Manager Cody Thompson gave a
copy to the Hard Times, and I uploaded it to YouTube so you can all have
a look. It shows various locations: the City’s north side, the downtown
area, the football field, passing trains, the Fire Station, and Robert
McBride’s fireworks show, among others, all from 30 to 90 feet in the
sky.
For some reason, the video claims to lasts for over eight minutes, but it’s really more like three.
--o--
WEATHER REPORT: WINTER ARRIVES
It was too good to last. The mild
fall weather stayed with us much longer than usual this year—all the way
up to Saturday night actually. The high on Christmas Day was 65°F, and
the 26th, Saturday, was overcast and very windy, but still warm enough
at 64° that afternoon. But that evening the wind shifted from south to
northeast, and at about eleven the big storm, predicted days earlier,
blew in with thunder, lightning, rain, and sustained winds of over 35mph
with gusts up to 50mph.
Winter had arrived—with a vengeance—in
the form of a huge storm that covered New Mexico and a large part of
Texas, bringing in the north and west a blizzard with record snowfalls
and treacherous driving conditions, and in the south and east tornadoes,
heavy rainfall, and flooding. In the Dallas area tornadoes killed many
people and destroyed entire neighborhoods.
In Roscoe the
temperature steadily fell, going below freezing at about 3am as a light,
blowing rain turned to sleet. It continued to drop until about 8am
Sunday morning, and throughout the day the high winds persisted and
sleet fell with intermittent thunder and temperatures of around
freezing. The blizzard put the entire Big Country under a winter weather
warning advising everyone not to leave home unless absolutely
necessary. Most people never ventured out all day, and power was out in
several country locations. Several electric poles were blown down, and
electric company workers were out in several locations yesterday trying
to repair the damage.
By Monday morning the brunt of the storm
had moved on, although a light sleet turning to snow fell through the
night. Roscoe weatherman Kenny Landfried recorded an official 1.72”, of
which about 1.1” was from the rain and the rest from the snow and sleet.
Since
then, the cold weather the storm brought still lingers, but the high
winds are gone and there has been almost no wind at all since Monday.
Weather will remain chilly for the rest of the week. Today’s high will
be about 46°, tomorrow’s about 40°, and Friday’s only 37°. Skies will be partly to
mostly cloudy and there is a slight chance of rain or light sleet
tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday nights. Lows will be in the upper
twenties or lower thirties. Next week will be only slightly warmer with
highs around 50° and lows in the thirties or low forties.
Merry Christmas
everyone! Here’s wishing you the best of holiday cheer! By this
time you should be just about finished with your Christmas shopping, and if you’re
really diligent, you may have all your gift wrapping done as well. I hope you’ve
been a good boy or girl this year and won’t wind up with switches or lumps of
coal in your Christmas stocking.
If you’re lucky,
you won’t be facing one of those late night sessions that require you to put
together something with “some assembly required.” But if you must, just be
patient as you read the garbled instructions, and remember that the Chinese
person who wrote them was doing the best that he or she could with only two
years of high school English. I’ve also found that those two or three pieces
that are left over when you’re finished probably aren’t necessary anyway.
In any case, here’s
hoping you enjoy this special holiday with family and friends, that you don’t
eat or drink too much, and that the gifts you give and receive are perfect.
Merry Christmas!
--o--
SANTA CLAUS VISITS ROSCOE
Santa Claus was more than welcome at school last week. (Photo by Jodi McFaul Kingston)
Santa Claus made two pre-Christmas visits to
Roscoe last week. On Wednesday he went to Roscoe Elementary School to find out
what boys and girls want for Christmas this year. Then on Saturday, he did the
same in Old Town Park after riding in the Christmas Parade with the American
Legion Ladies Auxiliary.
He’ll be back tomorrow night with his reindeer and
sleigh, so don’t forget to leave him some milk and cookies! Delivering all
those presents is hard work.
Santa rides in the Roscoe Express in the Christmas Parade. (Photo by Jodi McFaul Kingston)
--o--
PLOWGIRLS FALL TO STAMFORD 47-33
In a game played in Stamford Friday evening, the Plowgirls stayed
close in the first half, but in the second the Lady Bulldogs pulled away for a
47-33 victory.
The Plowgirls are off for Christmas Break and
will resume play next week at the Eula Tournament, December 28-30.
--o--
MASONIC LODGE PROGRAM
TEACHES FIRST GRADERS HEALTHY DENTAL HABITS
Shane Tomlin and first graders.
The Sweetwater Masonic Lodge #571
presented the Fantastic Teeth Program to the First Grade Class at Roscoe
Elementary School. Shane Tomlin and Jimmy Apel, members of the Lodge, were
on hand for the presentation.
The students had a lively “quiz” with Tomlin
regarding healthy dental practices. At the end of the program, all students
received a Dental Kit, compliments of the Masonic Home and School of
Texas.
The Fantastic Teeth Program focuses on
preventing tooth decay in children by teaching children and parents good dental
habits. This program, sponsored by Masonic Home and School of Texas
(MHS), delivers thousands of free prevent tooth decay kits across the State of
Texas.
--o--
CITY HALL TO CLOSE FOR CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR’S
The Roscoe City Hall will be closed tomorrow,
December 24, and Friday, Christmas Day. It will open again on Monday, December
28 and close again next Thursday and Friday for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s
Day.
Trash pick-up will be on Thursdays, as usual.
--o--
TxDOT COMPLETES BRIDGE INTO ABILENE, CLOSES DETOUR
Roscoe folks who travel to south Abilene will be
glad to know that the Business I-20 bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad in
southwest Abilene is scheduled to open today, and that the detour on eastbound I-20
will no longer be necessary. The regular route to US 84, which has been closed
since last May, is once again open, and drivers will be able to resume their
normal route on the newly constructed bridge.
The project was completed one month ahead of
schedule.
--o--
WEATHER REPORT:
MILD BUT WINDY
The flag at the Museum was popping in yesterday's strong west wind.
This past week has
been generally warmer and windier than average for this time of year. After
cool weather on Thursday and Friday, when highs were in the fifties and lows in
the upper twenties and thirties, it warmed up into the sixties in the
afternoons on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with lows in the forties. Then
yesterday afternoon the temperature reached 74°F, the high for the week. The
low came on Friday morning when it was only 27°. Even so, the grass in my yard
is still green.
However, the most
prominent feature of the weather this past week has been the wind. Under clear or partly cloudy skies, the south
and southwest winds started blowing on Saturday and have continued ever since,
peaking in the afternoons and diminishing at night. The windiest day was Sunday
when there were sustained high winds of 31mph with gusts up to 41.
Today should be a
repeat of yesterday with partly cloudy skies and south winds of 15 to 20mph. Temperatures
should climb to about 70° this afternoon and fall tomorrow morning into the
mid-forties. Christmas Day will see a high of about 68° and a low of 54° with
less wind.
Meteorologists are
also saying that we could see our first snow of the year on Sunday night or
early Monday morning. A front will move through on Saturday, bringing a 50%
chance of rain during the day, increasing to 70% Saturday night. Then on Sunday
the projected high will be only about 36° with a 60% chance of rain and a 40%
chance of rain, freezing rain, or snow Sunday night. People who are going north
to the panhandle should be prepared for snow instead of rain, so it may be
advisable to leave earlier rather than later. Monday’s chances of precipitation
will be much less, but it will still be cold with a high of around forty and a
low in the upper twenties.
Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the English Department at Towson University, Towson, Maryland; now a Gentleman of Leisure. If you're from Roscoe, you probably know me as "Snake" or "Bitsy."
