COUNTY LIFE
Hearing loss doesn’t slow down Lady Indian Reagan Phipps
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Reagan Phipps is the typical 16-year-old teenage girl. She giggles, hangs out with girlfriends, plays sports and loves Taylor Swift; however, she also has
a challenge in her young life, significant hearing loss that requires wearing hearing aids to properly hear.
The Nocona High School junior is the daughter of Rocky and Traci Phipps. She has a little brother, Lincoln, who is an eighth grader.
Phipps is an active student athlete running
cross country where the team has gone to state the last two years, and plays basketball and softball. Her other school activities include National Honor Society, PALs and yearbook.
Her hearing loss may be hereditary as her mother has an implant to assist with her hearing loss that began several years ago. Her great aunt also had hearing issues.
“My hearing has always been ify, but the last four-five years it has gotten much worse. My mom’s loss came on after she was pregnant the second time,” she said.
For Phipps it was a gradual loss and she would wonder why everyone was being so quiet or why they were mumbling. She recalls not being able to hear well in cars due to the engine noise and people needed to look at her when they were talking.
“I wasn’t scared, but I told my mom and she said I may have what she has and I needed to
get tested before it became a problem,” Phipps explains.
During the past four years or so her hearing has gotten worse especially in cars and in restaurants where there is background noise. As for the high school gym filled to the rafters for basketball, she can’t hear at all.
It is hard for her to hear school announcements and answering a phone is difficult because having the hearing aids close to the phone can create noise like a speaker and microphone being too close together. The phone issue can be problematic since she works at a restaurant.
In Christmas 2022 Phipps was able to obtain hearing aids when they went to being sold over county making it more convenient and less expensive for her family.
Read the full feature in your weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Lady Indian Reagan Phipps is a real go-getter on the court and she does not let her hearing loss slow her down a bit. (Photo by Jordan Neal)
Bellevue and Prairie Valley High School seniors will be first up on the stage this week as graduation ceremonies begin for Montague County area schools.
Bellevue High School
Bellevue seniors will graduate at 7 p.m. on May 16 in the school auditorium. Athletic Director Colby Broussard will be the program speaker. There also will be a mantle and rose ceremony.
Honor graduates are Cirstin Allen, Mason Criswell, Jayson Gill, Sarah Hamilton, Avrie Perry, Kason Roper, Richard Smith, Chesney Stanley and Mary Elise Stegerwald. Students listed alphabetically not by class order.
Mason Criswell, the 18-year-old son of T.J. and Stephanie Criswell, will be the senior class valedictorian. Cirstin Allen, the 18-year-old daughter of Jacqueline Allen and Donnie Leatherwood, is class salutatorian.
Prairie Valley High School
The Bulldogs will host graduation ceremonies at 7 p.m. in the gym. The program will include scholarship recognitions, and eighth grade graduation as part of the ceremony. Board President Scott Carpenter will present diplomas. Honor graduates are Tyson Easterling, Makaylee Gomez and Maddy Yeargin.
Tyson Easterling is valedictorian and Makaylee Gomez is salutatorian.
Meet these top graduates in your mid-week Bowie News.
The Gold-Burg Bears ended their one-act play season as a top eight state finalist Monday, and while they didn’t take a medal, Director Linda Fitzner said it was a “phenomenal” experience.
“Interview,” was Gold-Burg High School’s entry into the state University Interscholastic League contest as they joined eight other 1A plays that worked their way to state.
It was a huge jump for the small school’s cast and crew to perform at the Austin Independent School District Performing Arts Center, coming from rehearsals in the school gym.
Levi Hellinger made the All Star cast and Corbin Gilbert received Honorable Mention All Star Cast.
“It’s was a beautiful and phenomental experience,” said Fitzner. “We are thankful to all those who share their kindness, love and support, because this was a beautiful and wonderful dream and experience for all.”
Guthrie High School won first, Benjamin was second and Avery third. The rest of the group received state finalist plaques. Critiques were on Tuesday.
Enjoy a summer kick-off event benefitting Hannah Reyling of Saint Jo from noon to 4 p.m.. on June 8 at Boggess Park.
A 21-year-old graduate of Saint Jo High School and student at Tarleton State University, she is the daughter of Chris and Paulette Reyling. She is battling bacterial meningitis and has undergone some life-changing surgeries.
All proceeds will go to her recovery, rehabilitation and prosthetics.
For the event there will be waterslides, water balloons, slip-N-slide, kickball, fire truck hose spray and more. One wristband at $20 will get you access to all the activities, as well as one meal including a hot dog, chips and a drink. Snow cones also will be available for sale.
Live music by Tyler Cook to follow.
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