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.
Members of the Nocona City Council will meet for a regular meeting at 5 p.m. on May 12 in council chambers.
A public hearing on an ordinance annexing adjacent and contiguous territory to the city will be offered. This relates to two small tracts of land at the front and back of the Tales ‘N’ Trails Museum property. It does not involve providing any services, but clarifies the property in the museum’s tract. Any action would follow in the regular agenda.
Mayor and council reports on items of community interest follow along with public comments.
Items slated for the agenda include the following: Discuss bid to mow and weed-eat the Nocona Cemetery; discuss bids to furnish a 180,000-200,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water; three requests from the Nocona Economic Development Corporation – Type A and B boards funding a grant for signage at the American Legion at $2,300, both boards fund a grant for Tales ‘N’ Trails to enclose the east win of the barn for $18,000 and both boards to grant the Chisholm Trail Art Association $2,000 to support the Art of the Song Music Festival Art Show.
Other council topics will be consider repair of the water found at Enid Justin City Park; discuss public nuisance code violations; hear request from David Yowell to purchase water for the Nocona Hills Golf Course; discuss appraised value, setting price and conditions for sealed bids on 19.5 acres of city-owned land adjacent to the Nocona Hills Golf Course; discuss slide on upstream water side of dam and discuss changes to rental agreement for H.J. Justin Community Room.
The majority of these items will be considered for action during the regular agenda following the workshop agenda.
Present for the Bowie Community Development proclamation for National Travel and Tourism Week May 3-9 made by Mayor Gaylynn Burris were volunteers and staff: Matthew Hunt, Cindy Roller, Brittany Barnes, Sylvia Henning, Mildred McCraw, and Joe Barnhill. Community Development focus is on beautification and tourism for the City of Bowie. The group focuses on tourism through its many festival and events, welcoming people to the community. (News photo by Barbara Green)
Make plans to attend the 6th Annual May Day Mental Health Awareness Arts Festival from noon to 4 p.m. on May 9 at Pelham Park.
This event is free and open to the public presented by interested local residents and Texas Community Counseling. It will feature mental health related resource tables, veteran’s support information, peer support and other activities.
The afternoon will feature an open mic for any artist, live art, kid’s activities, bake sale, silent auction and a brown bag drawing. All proceeds will benefit Texas Community Counseling.
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