MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2021

PARTY GAME WILDLY POPULAR IN TEMPLE SUMMER LEAGUE

Cornhole is now a year-round sport

By JENNIFER WILSON, Our Town Temple exclusive

I must admit, I don’t know anything about the game of cornhole. 

When I was asked to write a story about Temple’s new cornhole league, the first thing that popped into my mind was going to my elementary school’s carnival and trying to get a grungy beanbag to go through the mouth of some creepy clown cutout. Lucky for me, cornhole is not quite as disturbing.

The history of cornhole may never be settled. Every website you visit offers a different account on the beginnings of the game, but whether you believe it was started by a cabinet maker, Native Americans or bored farmers, one thing is certain — cornhole is popular. 

If you don’t see someone playing cornhole at summer picnics, family reunions, July Fourth celebrations and at tailgating parties on every college campus in America, you need to look up from your phone.

It certainly should come as no surprise that the city of Temple now has its own cornhole league. The brainchild of Alexis Arguelles, a recreation specialist in athletics with Temple Parks & Recreation, the Temple Cornhole League played its inaugural game earlier this summer.

The league consists of 22 two-person teams ranging from veteran players to beginners. 

Alexis said the names of the teams vary widely from the mundane to the more creative. The Corn Hole Lovers, Cornholios and Corn Stars were just a few examples. The league plays Tuesdays at Lion’s Park at 6:30 p.m., and Alexis encourages people to come and watch the fun.

At its most basic, the object of cornhole is to win points by tossing bags into a hole in a specialized board. Games are played to 21 points. Players must stand in a pitcher’s box to toss the bag, avoiding foul lines, and points differ depending if the bag lands on the board or goes in the hole. Boards and bags have regulation sizes and weights.

In the beginning, Alexis was just hoping to get a summer league started, but interest has proven so high, the Temple Cornhole League will now play seasonally. 

The current summer season ends on August 17 with the post season tournament taking place August 24-31. The fall season will begin September 7, so if you are interested call Alexis and register by August 27. She can be reached at (254) 298-5588.

Somewhere out there lurks Temple’s first Cornhole Summer Champion. All will be revealed on August 31. 

Good luck to all of the cornhole teams! I just hope some creepy clown doesn’t present you with the trophy.

Cap Light built a reputation as a peace officer to be feared by wrongdoers. But unfortunately, he didn’t remain on the smooth side of the law.

Lawman Light goes to the dark side

By DAVID STONE, Our Town Temple

Nearly 140 years ago, William “Cap” Light led a posse that tracked down and killed ruthless Bell County outlaw William Northcott. That was the beginning of Light’s exemplary career in law enforcement.

Unfortunately, he didn’t remain on the smooth side of the law.

Born near Belton around 1864, Light started his working life as a barber. By the time he was 20, however, he sought a more adventurous life and accepted a position as a deputy marshal.

Three years after gunning down the notorious Northcott on March 24, 1884, he married Eva Smith of Temple. Eva was the sister of Randolph “Soapy” Smith, who would later lure Light to the dark side.

But as a lawman, Light made quite the name for himself. 

In August 1889, while assisting a Temple marshal, light captured a prisoner by the name of Ed Cooley. Cooley escaped while being transported to jail, and Light shot him. 

A short time later, a known troublemaker named Sam Hasley was drunk and disorderly in Belton. Light ordered the man to go home, and Hasley responded by drawing his gun. That was a fatal mistake.

Light killed another man the following year at the Cotton Exchange Saloon — now Mexiko restaurant — in downtown Temple. A man named Felix Morales was drunk and creating a ruckus. Light confronted him, and Morales drew. Light was quicker.

According to a Temple newspaper at the time, Morales died with “his pistol in one hand and a beer in the other.”

Light had built a reputation as a lawman to be feared by wrongdoers. But in 1891, Soapy came calling and convinced Light to join him in Denver.

Soapy was known as a con man and was firmly entrenched as head of Denver’s underworld. The new duo moved to a booming silver mine camp known as Creede, Colorado, and Light soon became the town’s deputy marshal, a position he used to help  Soapy become crime boss of the settlement.

While on duty one night in Creede, drunken gunslinger William “Reddy” McCann began shooting up the town and Light was sent to the scene. 

Light’s attempt to arrest McCann was met with resistance. McCann became argumentative and physical. Light knocked a cigar out of his mouth, then McCann drew his pistol. Again, it did not go well as Light fired in a flash. Another one bites the dust.

Apparently Light had grown tired of killing, so he quit his job, quit the gang, and headed back to Texas.

After settling in Temple, he applied for a detective position with Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad. He didn’t get the position and blamed the railroad’s chief detective T.J. Coggins.

The blame turned to hate, and one night while drinking in Temple, the two men crossed paths. Light beat Coggins with his fists and the butt of his pistol. This time, Light viewed a jailhouse from inside the cage.

Coggins didn’t have faith in the justice system, and at Light’s trial, the railroad detective pulled his revolver and shot Light in the jaw, the neck and near his right ear. Miraculously, Light survived. And recovered.

A year later, a fully healed Light was traveling on a train and accidentally discharged the revolver he was carrying in his pocket. The bullet severed his femoral artery and he bled to death at the ripe old age of 30.

TCU, Baylor, Tech to address State Senate

TCU AD Jeremiah Donati is scheduled to speak during a hearing at the Texas Senate on Monday. COURTESY OF TCU ATHLETICS

Remaining Texas Big 12 teams ponder future

Our Town Texas staff report

Texas’ remaining Big 12 schools — TCU, Baylor and Texas Tech — will meet with the Texas Senate on Monday to discuss the future of the schools’ sports programs.

Texas and Oklahoma have announced intentions to join the Southeast Conference in 2025, leaving the future of the Big 12 in doubt.

The hearing will be held at 1 p.m. in Austin.

The UT/OU departures could be a fatal blow to the Big 12 because those schools represent half of the conference’s value.

Fort Worth, Lubbock and Waco face losing hundreds of millions in economic impact. The Perryman Group evaluated two scenarios in which the Big 12 remains intact without high-profile programs in UT and OU, or if the schools end up in a non-power conference.

The Big 12 staying intact would result in a total annual loss in the three communities of $397.7 million in annual gross product and 5,322 jobs. If teams end up in lesser conferences, the combined loss would be $569.1 million in annual gross product and 7,615 jobs.

The focus of Monday’s hearing is the economic impact and whether the three schools should stay together and try to package itself to either the Big Ten or the Pac-12. Both the Big Ten and Pac-12 have shown an interest in expanding into Texas.

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Our Town Classifieds

FOR SALE: 2006 Nissan Murano 118K miles, White in color, new tires, AC works great. Asking 6,000. Email @ timh810@aol.com if interested.

LIFE SPAN TREADMILL DESK: Great condition. Desk and treadmill come as set. $500. Call/Text 254-654-0548 if interested. Can send pictures.

HEY, REAL ESTATE AGENTS — Here’s a perfect place for your newest listing!

BODY SOLID HOME GYM EXM-1500x: Great condition. $500. Call/Text 254-654-0548 if interested. Can send pictures. Comes with floor pads.

LARGE DESK WITH CHAIR: Great condition. $250. Dark brown in color. Approx 55 inches long, 35.5 inches wide, 35 inches tall. Sides of desk act as bookshelves. Call/Text 254-654-0548 if interested. Can send pictures.

SELLING YOUR CAR? Post it right here!

RAGE FITNESS — 40-pound soft-sided medicine ball. Great for Atlas drills. Like new. $40. (254) 624-4010

VITAMIX — Great condition. Comes with two pitchers. Great for salsas and smoothies. $200. (254) 624-4010

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING? HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? List it here!

PLYO BOX: Soft-sided, 20x24x30 plyometric box. Great condition. $40. (254) 624-4010

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FREE COFFEE WITH PURCHASE OF ANY BREAKFAST ITEM — Easy As Pie, 1217 S 1st St A, Temple. 

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What’s Happening, Temple?

August 6, Friday - Lilly Milford of Lilly & The Implements joins Bryon White of The Damn Quails for a special performance. O’Briens Irish Pub. 9 p.m.

August 6, Friday - Family Night at Summer Fun Water Park, Belton, 7 p.m.

August 6, Friday - Branded Heart, Bo’s Barn Dance Hall, 8 p.m.

August 7, Saturday - Dave Jorgenson, Bo’s Barn Dance Hall, 9 p.m.

August 7, Saturday - Bell County Comic Con is a family friendly event for those interested in comics, pop culture, wrestling, gaming, movies and fantasy. Bell County Expo Center. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

August 7, Saturday - Dig It! Family Day. Will include a sand pit for unearthing treasures. Learn what it’s like to be an archeologist or a paleontologist and the difference between the two fields of science. Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum. 10 a.m.

August 7, Saturday - American Bucking Bull, Bell County Expo Center Equine/Livestock Complex.

August 8, Sunday - Bell County Comic Con is a family friendly event for those interested in comics, pop culture, wrestling, gaming, movies and fantasy. Bell County Expo Center. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

August 13, Friday - Bell County Kennel Club, Bell County Expo Center.

August 13, Friday - Hyway Traveler, Bo’s Barn Dance Hall, 8 p.m.

August 13, Friday - Bell County Cutting Horse Show, Bell County Expo Center Equine/Livestock Complex.

August 14, Saturday - Bell County Kennel Club, Bell County Expo Center.

August 14, Saturday - Texas Senior Pro Rodeo, Bell County Expo Center Equine/Livestock Complex.

August 15, Sunday - Bell County Kennel Club, Bell County Expo Center.

August 15, Sunday - Texas Senior Pro Rodeo, Bell County Expo Center Equine/Livestock Complex.

Have an event you would like to promote? Email info to OurTownTemple@gmail.com with “What’s Happening” in the subject line. Keep it short and sweet — what, when and where. You may include a short description. You must include a phone number for verification purposes. The phone number will not be published unless requested by submitter.