COUNTY LIFE
Jacob Skinner
By BARBARA GREEN
“We don’t meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason.” (Unknown author)
Melissa Sillivent calls the young man who crossed her path on the worst day of her life a “hero.” Someone who embraced a hysterical mother trying to get home to find her child.
Missing
It was a tragic day for Melissa and Robert Sillivent as their only child, Benjamin Ryder went missing and was found a short time later in a nearby pond.
It occurred on May 25 at a rural residence on Lawhorn Lane near Sunset. Robert Sillivent called 911 to report his two-and-a-half year old son was missing. He told law officers he had been feeding horses and Ryder was playing nearby. When the dad stepped away for a moment he returned to find the boy gone.
Firefighters, police and sheriff’s deputies and medical first responders from across the area arrived to search. After Ryder was found, medical personnel attempted to revive him and he was airlifted to Cook Children’s Hospital, where he died.
The Sillivents are devastated by the death of their first and only child. Melissa says they are trying to take it day by day, but it is so hard
“It just seems so unreal, like living in a nightmare every minute of the day. It’s like you’ve always heard, you blame yourself, hate yourself, ask what’s the point of life? Why is this happening? He was the light of our lives,” she explains through tears.
While the death of their child is the center of their life, Melissa approached The Bowie News because she wanted to thank one young man whom she says helped her get to her baby.
That grieving mother had no idea who the young man was who gave her ride in an effort to get home as everyone searched for her lost child, but eventually she found Jacob Skinner and she wants everyone to know of his kindness on the worst day of her life.
Read the full story in the weekend News.
Gold-Burg High School students will perform at area one-act competition at 9:30 a.m. on April 11 at Grayson County College.
Director Linda Fitzner said they present “Lady Precious Stream” followed by Newcastle, Irivium Academy, Sulphur Bluff, Avery and Bryson. She called it a “tough, tough area” as Bryson was at state the year before. Gold-Burg also has made a state run last year.
Nocona Public Library and Friends of the Library will be hosting a children’s Easter story time at 10 a.m. on April 11.
Dean Prine will be reading to the children before they make a craft. Dean always makes it a fun story time. All children are invited to attend.
Summer is quickly approaching and the library is already making plans for our summer reading program. Starting June 1, the children can pick up their reading logs. A professional story teller will be visiting the library in July. More details will be released as time gets closer to summer.
The library has received several new books in the last week. “In To Deep” by Lee Child, “Paranoia” by James Patterson and “Far From Home” by Danielle Steel, are just a few new ones that are available for checkout.
Did you know that the library is not all about books? The library staff can make copies and send faxes for a small fee. It has computers for the public to use. Stop by and see what all you can do at the library. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Bowie High School’s one-act play, “View From The Bridge,” advanced out of bi-district to area after competing this past week.
Teacher and Director April Word said area will be on April 12 at Clyde High School. Bowie performs as the final play of the day.
Other schools performing will be Holliday, Early, Clyde, Ingram Moore and Jim Ned. Plays begin at noon that day and cost to watch is $10.
“The students were amazing at bi-district and had a tremendous performance. I could not have asked for more from them,” said Word.
At bi-district Lia Meier was named best performer, Corban Word was named to the All-Star Cast and Corben Wolsey, honorable mention All-Star Cast.
Aowyn Word received the All-Star Tech and the tech crew was named best overall. Crew members are Elise Fitch, TJ Ferguson, Keller Dosch, Adamari Alonso and Aowyn Word. “Break a leg” Jackrabbits.
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