COUNTY LIFE
Local athlete prepares to take on the world
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.
Members of the Red River High School Bass Club would like to honor Weldon “Duff” by collecting memorial contributions to assist the family following his recent unexpected passing.
In honor of his lifelong love of fishing, memorial contributions be made through the bass club. All donations will go directly to the family. Duff was a longtime supporter and captain in the bass club.
Contributions may be mailed to the Red River High School Bass Club, P.O. Box 136, Montague, TX 76251. Or payments can be sent through Venmo QR code on the club’s Facebook page. Please note Duff Memorial in the payment description.
Fun festivities for American’s 250th birthday this July 4 are being readied in several local communities.
Saint Jo has planned its annual old fashioned celebration with games, free watermelon, fireworks and the homemade ice cream contest is back hosted by the Saint Jo Volunteer Fire Department.
July 4th starts early in Saint Jo with the 18th Annual Old Jo’s Firecracker 5K. This chip-time, certified course, takes runners and walkers out of the historic Saint Jo Square through the countryside north of town and then back for the finish. There is a variety of age brackets for male and female runners.
The race is hosted by the Saint Jo Chamber of Commerce and Easy Street Animal Shelter.
On-site registration and check-in plus packet pick-up can be done early on July 3 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and race day check-in starts at 6:30 a.m. at the gazebo on the square. Race starts at 7 a.m.
Register at raceroster.com where you find registration fees and additional information.
Once the race is done, pull out your lawnchairs and enjoy the rest of the day in Boggess Park. During the afternoon guests are invited to enjoy a pick-up game of basketball or volleyball, maybe even horseshoes.
The homemade ice cream contest is back so get your ice cream made from your best recipe. Judging will take place at 2 p.m.
Pre-register by calling Britney Thomas 903-870-8338. The contest is open to all ages and there is no entry fee.
Contestants must provide a full freezer’s worth of ice cream and their own freezer, electric or hand-cranked. Electricity is provided. Tasting begins at 2 p.m. for the People’s Choice contest. First place wins $50. Winner announced at 3:15 p.m.
Free cold watermelon will be available along with other concessions including hot dogs, hamburgers and snowcones.
As the dark descends the Saint Jo Firefighters will set the skies ablaze with its popular fireworks show.
Donations support the fire department and the fireworks show. Donation jars will be around town or contact Britney Thomas at 903-870-8338 to donate or ask about a sponsorship for the evening.
Nocona
The Nocona Lions Club is planning its annual fireworks show at Lake Nocona on July 4th. The decorated boat parade starts at 6:30 p.m. at Weldon Robb and Jaycee Park.
Boaters are encouraged to dress up, play patriotic music and share their holiday spirit.
The course will boat north following the western coastline toward Boone Park, then go along the shoreline south to Nocona Hills and Lake Estates and finish back at Weldon Robb.
Boaters are reminded to follow all state boating regulations to remain safe, pick up your trash and protect pets that may be scared by the fireworks.
The Lions Club will host fireworks at dark and it welcomes donations
Friends of the Nocona Public Library invite you to come “Unearth a story,” during the July summer reading program hosted at Nocona Elementary School and includes a free lunch, story and an activity.
From 11 a.m. to noon on July 8 the program will focus on the ever-popular dinosaur, then on July 15 dig into the wild also from 11 a.m. to noon.
On July 22, the program will be 10 a.m. to noon at Mary Beckman Davis Park in downtown for final awards and a “Foamy Flake” party featuring mountains of soap suds.
This program is open to children pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. Pick up reading logs at the library, 10 Cooke Street.
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