Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 230, Ed. 1 Friday, August 14, 2009 Page: 1 of 14
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Friday, August 14, 2009
Sweetwater
tttttMttMMttttS DIGIT 79556
NOLAN COUNTY LIBRARY
20o ELN ST
SIFFTIATER TX 79556-452<
www.sweetwaterreporter.com
Vol. Ill, Issue 230 ■ 50 cents
Sports
Mustangs
to have first
scrimmage
- See Page 7
Life
Sweetwater HC
celebrates
15 years
— See Page 5
Inside
See more All-
American SBD
Photos
See Page l0
-TEXAS-
LOTTERV
PICK 3 (Day)- I 7 9
Daily 4 (Day) - 7 0 3 H
PICK 3 - 7 9 6
Daily 4 - 2 7 7 2
TEXAS TWO STEP
4 13 22 35 BB 30
CASH FIVE
2 5 17 19 34
Local derby winners share experience of a lifetime
Aaron Phillips (top) and Matthew Butler (below ) had an experience of a lifetime at
the All-American Soap Box Derby Race is Akron, Ohio. The two Sweetwater boys
were the winners of the Texas Midwest Soap Box Derby Race in Sweetwater.
Photos by Weston Pyburn
BY AMANDA MORENO
Staff Writer
One small Texas town, two determined boys, 3,000
miles ... destination: Akron, Ohio.
Aaron Phillips and Matthew Butler placed first in the
NDR race and the West Texas Soap Box Derby, both
races took place in Sweetwater. Winning first place
earned each of them a spot in the 72nd All American
Soap Box Derby, in Akron.
Aaron Phillips is going to the fourth grade and races
in the Stock Division. Matthew Butler is going to be a
freshman at Sweetwater High School, and he races in the
Super Stock Division. This is the second year racing for
both boys. The Jaycees sponsored both of the boys with
their cars.
"I got into racing because my mom wanted me to, but 1
enjoy it because of all the different people I get to meet,"
Aaron Phillips said.
Phillips and Butler said in Akron, they met people
from Canada, Japan, Germany, Guam, Hawaii, and all
over the United States.
"We used to take the boys to watch the races all the
time, and once Matthew got in the car he was hooked,"
Vicki Gamez, Matthew's grandmother said.
Matthew said," I used to think that racing was boring,
• See RACE page 3
SHS announces
2009-10 dress code
The dress code of Sweetwater High School is established
to instill discipline, prevent disruption, instill pride in
self and school, avoid safety' hazards and teach respect
for authority. Students are expected to wear neat and
appropriate dress to school. Any article or mode of dress
that is determined by the campus administration to be
disruptive, unsafe or disturbing is subject to correction.
Administrators shall have the authority to appraise cur-
rent fashions and determine their appropriateness for
school.
Dress Standards
1. Clothes should be size-appropriate. They must not be
sloppy, excessively baggy or too tight. Pants must not be
cut, worn with holes or tears or be excessively frayed at the
bottom. Pajama pants may not be worn.
2. Skirts, skorts, shorts and dresses must not be more
that four inches above the top of the kneecap and must not
be too revealing in the front or back. If the garment has
slits, the top of the slits must not lie more that four inches
• See DRESS page 3
The Butler boys of Sweetwater Luke. Marc and Matthew, all received trophies dur-
ing the Texas Midwest Soap Box Derby in Sweetwater. Matthew won first place in
his division and had the chance to travel to Akron, Ohio to race in the All-American
Soap Box Derby.
Photo by Amanda Moreno
Got Bananas?
BY AMANDA MORENO
Staff Writer
That’s a bunch of bananas ... growing in
Sweetwater.
When someone thinks of trees that grow
in Texas, willows, elms, oak and mesquite
come to mind. Not many people would
mention a banana tree when making that
list, but Rita Lawrence might.
Lawrence is one of the few people in
Sweetwater that has a banana tree growing
in her backyard.
"I originally wanted the banana tree
just for the foliage," Lawrence said. "Even
though it's not talked about, you can
get banana trees at Lowes or other local
areas."
Lawrence has had her banana tree for
three years, and for the past three weeks, it
has been developing to grow bananas.
"I came outside one day and saw this red
pod coming out of the center of the tree. I
had no idea what it was," Lawrence said.
"My son told me not to cut it off because
they were bananas."
Banana trees are native to the tropical
region of Southeast Asia, but can make it in
other climates. The winter will take a toll on
them if left outside though.
"Every year we have dug them up and
brought them inside," Lawrence said. "This
year 1 think we are going to leave them
outside and insulate them in the ground
and see what happens. They are getting too
big to dig up."
Lawrence has numerous banana trees in
her backyard, and other types of plants.
"1 have a little garden where I'm growing,
tomatoes, habenero peppers, and onions,"
Lawrence said.
She said that during the winter she moves
all the plants together and covers her back-
porch with plastic to keep the plants safe.
"I don't buy new plants, I reproduce the
ones that I already have," Lawrence said.
"During the winter I use propane heaters
to keep the plants alive."
Lawrence said that once a banana tree
produces bananas, the tree will die. The
tree does reproduce so other banana trees
will take its place.
"It has really been a fun and educational
experience," Lawrence said. "It's my sanc-
tuary. This is where I spend my time. I'd
rather be out here than inside."
Rita Lawrence
of Sweetwater
has several
banana trees
growing in her
backyard. One
of those trees
(shown) has
actual bananas
growing on it.
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Rodriguez, Tatiana. Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 230, Ed. 1 Friday, August 14, 2009, newspaper, August 14, 2009; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth561442/m1/1/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.