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COUNTY LIFE

Local athlete prepares to take on the world

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Three years ago, Bowie’s Janaé Jones had never played rink hockey. Next month, she’ll represent her home country as part of Team U.S.A. at the 2014 Rink Hockey Ladies World Championship in Tourcoing, France.
The 15-year-old daughter of John and Dara Jones, Janaé was introduced to the sport by her friends. She was invited to go skating and grew to enjoy the activity. Eventually she was asked to play hockey with them.
“Janaé and her sister were rink kids,” said Dara, noting the family lives about a mile from Pop’s Skateland in Bowie. “They spent a lot of time there before it closed. She even worked there for a while.”
Janaé, Jasmine, 12, and their younger brother John, six, better known as Bubba, all took to the floor to learn the game. Janaé began to play for Pop’s in-house and travel team. As her skills grew, so did her affection for a sport few are familiar with in the U.S.
Rink hockey, also referred to as roller hockey and hardball hockey, is played with four floor players and one goalie. Aside from the goalie, minimal equipment is worn by players. The objective is to score by putting the ball into the opponent’s goal, using a stick.
In the U.S., the sport is governed by the United States Association of Roller Sports (USARS). Despite resembling ice hockey, contact between players is comparable to basketball. Those familiar with the game say it more closely resembles soccer than ice hockey.
Of the four players on the floor, two play offense, while two are on defense. Janaé is a defensive player.
“When I started, I focused on defense. I knew nothing of the sport and defense came most naturally,” she said. “My coach, Frank Tillery, taught me from the ground up and helped set the foundation for the player I am becoming today. He supported me and encouraged me every step of the way. If ever I needed anything, he was there. To this day, I still play with his old, well loved gloves, knee pads and stick that he handed down to me.”
Tillery still services, tweaks and builds all of the Jones family’s skates and he still supports the kids in anyway he is able.
“When’s Pop’s Skateland closed in October 2013, everyone was sad, skating as the Jones kids knew it, was over. The Bowie hockey players merged with the hockey club at Decatur Skate,” Dara recalled. “After the merge, we realized we were joining a very experienced club and would have the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the sport.”
Read the full story in the Sept. 6 edition of the Bowie News.

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COUNTY LIFE

Get ready to track Santa via NORAD on Christmas Eve

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Visit noradsanta.org to track Santa as he heads out on his worldwide trek tomorrow night. The site has games and other fun activities for the entire family before the kids head off to bed and sleep before the Big Guy arrives in Texas.

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COUNTY LIFE

Santa Claus makes a stop at Bowie Elementary

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Brothers dressed in their holiday PJs get their pic with Santa. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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COUNTY LIFE

Bowie fish fry to assist youth fair sales on Jan. 4

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Enjoy a fish fry and live music concert on Jan. 4 all to support the 4-H and FFA youth of Montague County as they compete in the annual youth fair.
The annual Bowie fish fry for the Bowie buyers group will begin serving at 5:30 p.m. at the Bowie Community Center. Cost is $10 per plate. There will be a live auction at 7 p.m.
The evening’s concert will feature Dax Davis. Live music begins at 8:30 p.m. with the Davis concert at 9:30 p.m. Cost for the concert is $25 per ticket and $20 for a student, or $300 for a reserved table for eight.
Tickets are available at Fashion Floors, 202 N. Smythe or call 872-2468.

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