SPORTS
TPWD renovates two new sites in Goliad
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) unveiled two newly renovated sites in Goliad, the new El Camino Real Visitors Center at Goliad State Park and Historic Site and the improved Mission Rosario State Historic Site.
The new visitor’s center was originally built as a cottage for the keeper of Mission Espiritu Santo, but has been refurbished to provide interpretive displays highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the site.
Mission Rosario State Historic Site’s enhancements include the addition of interpretive panels for visitors to learn about the history of the mission, as well as an etched panel of what it looked like in its heyday. A parking area also was added, and the fencing at Mission Rosario was replaced and moved closer so visitors can have a better view of the ruins than ever before.
This project brings the story of El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail to contemporary travelers following the historic route through four TPWD sites. This trail offers an opportunity for visitors to view the historical road remnants of the trail on public property.
“TPWD and the Goliad community is excited to open two of the four sites of the historic El Camino Real de los Tejas trail right in their own backyard,” said Brenda Justice, superintendent of Goliad State Park and Historic Site. “Goliad is rich in history and we are so grateful to have the opportunity to share these special places with the people of Texas.”
The keeper’s cottage was the first building that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built on-site before restoring the mission. Prior to the ceremony, the caretaker’s residence had never been open to the public.
The new visitor’s center will have interactive exhibits displaying the natural and cultural history of the park, as well as showcasing the skill of the National Park Service (NPS) and State Park’s Board architects and the craftsmanship of the 1930s period CCC men who built the site.
The project, along with work completed at Mission Rosario State Historic Site, are two of the four El Camino Real de los Tejas projects underway at Texas State Parks.
Two future projects include construction of a new visitor’s center at Mission Tejas State Park and upgrades to McKinney Falls State Park’s visitor’s center.
Initial funding for the four El Camino Real de los Tejas projects was budgeted in 2014. With additional funding provided by the 84th Legislature and grants secured from the Federal Highway Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation, all four projects are either completed or close to completion.
One of the biggest hurdles to closing out the five-year project at Goliad was Hurricane Harvey.
Harvey hit the Texas coast during the middle the construction phase of the project last year. While the general contractor, Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction, was able to protect the keeper’s cottage from sustaining much damage, several other TPWD facilities along the coast needed their immediate assistance. Within a few days, Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction had replaced or repaired 10 roofs for TPWD.
“Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction was an excellent contractor and we feel they went above and beyond to make sure this project moved to completion successfully,” said Jessica Davisson, director of infrastructure for TPWD. “We appreciate their dedication to the project since it began construction in 2016 and are proud of the hard work they put into the refurbishment of Goliad State Parks’ keeper’s cottage.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
It was announced last week Nocona Athletic director/football coach Blake Crutsinger is resigning from his position at the school after serving four years.
Crutsinger said now is the time for his family to make the move, with his daughter Avery graduating after spending four years at Nocona and with his son Kellar about to enter high school and wanting the same for him at another school.
“With her going off to college, she had a really good four years here and just looking at Keller heading into high school and exploring some opportunities that might be better for him, it is just time,” Crutsinger said.
Crutsinger went 19-22 overall, helping the Indians to two playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023. The team’s best season was 2023, when it went 8-2 and won the district title, the first one in 11 years for the program.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
Saint Jo senior Payzlie Cervantes signed her letter of intent to play college basketball last week at Highland College in Kansas. She also played volleyball, softball and ran track at Saint Jo. “After talking with Coach Tana Coleman, I really connected with her and loved the campus vibe and direction she wants for the team,” Cervantes said. “I’m looking forward to continuing my basketball career while getting my associates degree in nursing to become a registered nurse.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
Last week Montague County had five girls from Bowie and Saint Jo compete at the state tennis tournament, and one team brought back some hardware.
Sisters from Bowie, junior Heidi and freshman Willow Siebert brought back a bronze medal competing in the 3A girl’s doubles bracket.
The pair were the first people from the program to make it back to state since their half sisters, Meagan and Myah Russell, advanced nine years previously.
The Sieberts came into state as a two-seed, having finished second at the regional tournament the previous week.
The duo was ready as they blew through their first two matches. They beat a team from Hondo in the first round with the scores being 6-1, 6-1 and dominated even more in the second round against a team from Tatum, winning 6-0, 6-1.
That got them through to the second day of the tournament, but Coach Dayna Boothe was worried they had had it too easy on day one.
Playing in the semifinals, the Lady Rabbits faced a familiar foe, a team from Peaster they had beaten in the regional tournament the previous week. Unfortunately, near the end of the first set, with the Sieberts fighting to stay alive, Heidi went after a high lob and slammed into the fence. She hurt her right arm and had to play through it for the rest of the match.
They lost the match with the scores being 6-3, 6-3.
It was an all Peaster final, with the other side of the bracket producing the team that both beat the Sieberts at the regional tournament and won their second straight state title.
Still, despite the disappointment, Bowie is bringing back a bronze medal. According to Boothe, after contacting people who would know dating back to the late 1970s, it could possibly be the program’s first medals from the state tournament in tennis.
Of course, Bowie was not the only school represented. Saint Jo had Taylor Patrick competing in girl’s singles and the team of Bailie Nobile and Maxey Johnson competing in girl’s doubles in the 1A classification.
Senior Patrick was making her third appearance at the state tournament, but her first in the singles competition.
She finished third at the regional meet which meant she had a tough first round matchup against a second seed from Fort Davis.
It took everything from Patrick in a match that lasted two and a half hours. She went down in the first set 6-2, but rebounded in a tight second set to win 6-4 to force a third and final set. She had the momentum and won 6-2 to move on.
She had to summon the energy to play later that day against a fresh one-seed player from Utopia. Patrick lost 6-1, 6-1 to end her Saint Jo career. Her opponent would go on to finish second.
Juniors Johnson and Nobile were making their first appearances at the state meet after finishing second at the regional tournament. In the first round they played a tough match against a team from Marathon. It seemed evenly matched throughout, but small mistakes at inopportune times cost them throughout the match. In the end, the team lost by the scores of 6-3, 6-3.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
-
NEWS2 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS2 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS2 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS2 years 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