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.
From a road trip around North Texas to a colorful car show, Nocona is gearing up for its 11th annual springtime festival Cruisin’ Nocona on May 3-4 with lots of family fun activities.
Enjoy the popular Poker Cruise on May 3 as drivers travel a 120-mile trek through the countryside of Montague County enjoying several stops along the way before looping back to Nocona for lunch.
Early-bird registration is $50. Forms are available at the Nocona Chamber of Commerce office at 304 Clay St. #3 or go online to Nocona.org/events to get a form. After April 25 the cost goes up to $65.
There will be on-site registration from 9 – 10:30 a.m. that day at 915 E. U.S. Highway 82, where the cruise starts at 11 a.m. Each driver gets a goodie bag with a Cruisin’ Nocona T-shirt and ticket for the cruise lunch. Additional lunch tickets may be purchased for $20.
First-third place prizes will be awarded to the best poker hands. There will be a big truck light show at 8:30 p.m. at The V at 8:30 p.m. Friday night.
A pancake breakfast served from 8-10 a.m. at The V opens Saturday morning followed by downtown Nocona being filled with classic cars and big trucks for Cruisin’ Car Show. This is the second year to include the big trucks set up along Clay and West Walnut Streets.
Prizes will be awarded to the top 10 cars and pickups, top five motorcycles, Big Truck People’s Choice and Big Truck that traveled the farthest to the show. All makes and models welcomed to enter. Forms are available on the chamber’s website.
The car show will have registration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clay and W. Walnut with judging from 1-3 p.m. Awards will be presented at 4 p.m. at the H.J. Justin Building, 100 Clay.
There will be a power wheel car show from 3-4 p.m. in the Justin building. Cecil Allen Moore will entertain at the same location starting at 5 p.m.
Bowie High School staff and students celebrated its first “Signing Day” on April 25 looking on as three seniors signed their letters of intent to pursue different paths to higher education.
Principal Joanne Keeler said she was excited to present this program and show students the success they can have if they work hard and they also could be signing up for their future. She hopes to see the program expand adding more students who are planning their futures.
Jacobi McGregor signed his letter of intent to attend Ottawa University in Kansas on a powerflifting scholarship. He plans to study sports administration.
Iron Atkinson will be joining the United States Army. His grandmother Sherri Waldrop, looked on as he signed the paperwork.
Traycee Stewart, daughter of Susan and James Stewart, will attending West Texas State A&M University on a music education scholarship.
Read the full story on signing day in the mid-week Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Gold-Burg High School’s one-act play, “Interview,” advanced to state competition in Austin after an outstanding performance at regionals last Friday.
The Bears advance with eight other plays with a chance to take the state title on May 13. Students taking honors at regionals were Izzy Rohde who won Best All Around Female Performer. Director Linda Fitzner said Rohde is an eighth grader and they had to obtain permission for her to move up and participate in one-act.
Levi Hellinger and Barrett Allen won All Star Cast and Aidan Foster received a special individual lighting award. Jimena Garcia was honorable mention All Star Cast.
There will be a public show at 4 p.m. May 5 in the Bowie Junior High Auditorium.
For Gold-Burg this is their first time to take a one-act play to state. They have made it to regionals two or three other times, but it is the first for state.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
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