HOME
STORM CENTER: Jones set for world
When Janae Jones moved to Bowie, she was invited by her new friends to go play roller hockey at the former Pop’s Skateland.
Little did she know it would turn into her life’s passion.
And now Jones will represent Team USA at the first-ever World Roller Games championships set for Nanjing, China, the final week of August.
All the world’s roller sports will convene in one location for an Olympics-style competition.
These are the disciplines in roller sports: Inline hockey, roller freestyle, inline alpine, inline downhill, inline freestyle, roller hockey, rink hockey, skateboarding and speed skating – on wheels of course.
“It makes me proud to represent my county,” said Jones, a Bowie High School senior who also competes for the Lady Rabbits track and field and tennis teams. “Especially when I walk out for the opening ceremony, it’s going to be really heavy.”
So, in about four years, roller hockey went from a social activity to elite competition – and there have been plenty of people to help Jones along the way.
“I gave Janae the building blocks,” said Frank Tillery, who served as Janae’s coach and whose son Cole has also played roller hockey at the international level.
“She took to the sport quite well,” Tillery said. “I was a defenseman, so I taught her what I knew. I couldn’t be prouder of her. She has played all around the world.”
Tillery said roller hockey is a skill and finesse sport, and that’s why he played into his 50s – as did Decatur-based coach Don Allen.
Roller hockey employs elements of other sports such as lacrosse and basketball into an incredibly fast-paced sport.
As the USA Roller Sports Rink Hockey site explains, this is a sport with “tight turns, quick starts and equally rapid stops.”
“You have to be in shape,” Janae said, “because there’s so much going on at once. You have to be a good skater. There’s a lot of excitement to it.”
And roller hockey is hugely popular in other parts of the world, primarily Europe, and especially in Spain and Portugal. Read more in the Aug. 12 Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: These are the expressed views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not necessarily The Bowie News.
Bowie High School senior Janae Jones will compete for Team USA at the World Roller Games in Nanjing, China, during the final weekend of August. Jones picked up the sport as a pre-adolescent. It went from a social activity to an elite-level competition. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie City Council welcomed three newly-elected members Tuesday night and the panel had its annual council orientation of duties presented by the city attorney.
Brandon Walker and Laramie Truax took the oath of office for their respective seats during the meeting. Laura Sproles was sworn in prior to the meeting as she was enroute to the hospital after a fall at home where she injured her hand and wrist. All the candidates had to take the oath by Tuesday night after the votes were canvassed.
City Attorney Courtney Goodman-Morris made the presentation on council duties and obligations, as well legal requirements. Brent Shaw was elected as mayor pro tem.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Oct. 7 is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 5 general election.
Voters also should double check their voter registration to make sure all the information is up-to-date. Go to votetexas.gov on the Texas Secretary of State’s website to make any address changes.
Registering to vote in Texas is easy, simply complete a voter registration application on the SOS website and return it to your county election office at least 30 days before the upcoming election date.
Fill in the required information, print and sign the complete application. At this late date it may be best to deliver the registration form in person to the election office in the courthouse annex at Montague.
Any additional information on voter registration can be seen on the county website at co.montague.tx.us, click on elections. Direct any questions to the office at 894-2540.
Marty Hilton and his crew with City of Saint Jo Public Works pulled an all nighter repairing an eight-inch water main break along U.S. 82 and Boggess Street. The break was reported around noon on Wednesday. City officials said one of the hardest parts was digging on U.S. 82 and when large trucks would go by the vibrations kept making the walls fall down causing them to be dug out again. The repair was completed at 10:30 a.m. Thursday and the water turned back on. The city is under a boil order until the water tests are complete, which can’t happen until Monday when the lab reopens. (Courtesy photo)
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS1 year agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS2 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS1 year agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS2 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint