Guess I’m not the only one who slept through the wind that hit town early Monday morning. It was strong enough to move a trampoline from a backyard to the front yard on Summitt, peel the roof off of the Friona Detail building on Highway 60, and blow Carolyn and Kevin Wiseman’s patio gazebo up on their roof. Only a bare trace of rain came with it, not even enough to measure. Rain is in and out of the forecast for the remainder of the week though.
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Family gathered on Memorial Day weekend at the home of Velma Schlenker to celebrate her 90th birthday. All four of her children were able to attend: Connie Johnson of Friona, Jim Schlenker of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, Floyd Schlenker of Friona, and Carleen Sims of Lubbock. Connie said seven of ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren were there to help her celebrate.
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Spirit Wind, the United Methodist Youth Choir, will perform at Friona Methodist Church June 17 at 7 p.m. The choir is made up of 24 senior high school youth from West Texas and the Panhandle. Local students participating in Spirit Wind are Holly Johnston and Stefon Knoll. Allison Johnston is asking for volunteers to provide food and shelter for the choir kids while they are here. If you can help give her a call.
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About 60 folks attended the Memorial Day service at Bovina Cemetery. Suezy Smith says there are 149 veterans buried in the Bovina Cemetery. Jessie Stone presented a MIA/POW flag to the cemetery to fly along with the U.S. and Texas flags.
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From the Prairie Acres newsletter, Heritage Estates is starting a community game time from 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays beginning June 11. You are invited to go by and play games with the residents and enjoy refreshments. New residents at Heritage Estates are Lavon and John Renner.
Resident of the Month at Prairie Acres is Leroy Widner. Employee of the Month is Brenda Gonzalez. She works in the dietary department. PA activities director Elizabeth Romero says they have planted a garden, took a trip to Juanito’s Mexican Restaurant in Clovis, then went to play Bingo at the Baxter Curren Senior Center.
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First Baptist Church Vacation Bible School is June 24-28 from 9 a.m. to noon. Ages, completed kindergarten to completed 5th grade are invited to attend. If you have any questions contact Lindsey Hoyle at 250-5108 or 240-2270.
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Bessie and Ira Holt are coming up on their 60th wedding anniversary June 19. Bessie said they married June 19, 1953 at her folks house in the country. It has been a fast 60 years, huh Bessie? Then again maybe not. Appreciate your work coordinating the Friona blood drives too.
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Also on the anniversary list, Joe and Loy McLellan celebrated 35 years on Tuesday June 4. Joe said they would be going out to eat to celebrate. Hope he remembered. Congratulations neighbors.
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Hugh Moseley, consummate county historian and now a resident of Sweeny, Texas, sent along an article from the Houston Chronicle. It was a Memorial Day article about a B-24 Liberator bomber that was shot down February 22, 1944, over Nepomuk, Czechoslovakia. They interviewed the last survivor of the bomber mission. Killed when the bomber was shot down was Sgt. Roy Hughes. His sister, Wanda Hughes, was in the 1947 graduation class at Friona High School. Hugh says they were in the same class. Always enjoy bits of history. Thanks Hugh.
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The Coffee Memorial Blood Center mobile unit was in town Saturday June 1 during the Kidz Safety and Health Fair at the city park. They had 12 donations, a pretty good showing for a short time here.
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The 2013 Summer Drama Workshop will be held July 8 – 20. Directors will be Allison Johnston, Candice Geske, and Joy Morton. Age groups are elementary, junior high and high school. Cost is still only $25 per person. Donations are requested to help out with expenses and subsidize student tuition. Mail donations to Friona Fine Arts Council, 801 W. 5th, Friona, Tx 79035. Public performances will be Friday July 19 for high school and junior high and Saturday July 20 for elementary. See the story on the front page for more info.
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Amber Widner White has completed her clinical exams and is now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker after studying for five years. She is employed at Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. Hoorah Amber, well done.
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Mackenzie Malone has made the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Angelo State University in San Angelo.
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Jay Patel, owner of Friona Inn, says he has recently installed new carpet, bedding, sinks, and furniture in the rooms. The family recently sold the motel in Muleshoe operated by his dad and his parents have moved to Friona. Good to see local investment. Jay and Julie’s daughter Sajal was the Class of 2013 valedictorian. Congratulations all around to the Patel family.
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Friona firefighters were dispatched Saturday about 4 p.m. to a tree on fire on Hwy 86 east of Hub near CR 20. When they couldn’t find it they headed back to Friona. Turns out it was a couple of miles further east near CR 23. They were called to turn around and go back but before they got there they were told to disregard again. A deputy finally spotted the tree on fire but it was minor and had gone out by itself. The life of a volunteer fireman.
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It was a nice evening for the Class of 2013 graduation last Friday. We were there to take photos of the ceremony. Seems like a record crowd attended. The stands at Chieftain Field were full. Holly Campbell and I had a contest to see who could get the best “cap toss” photo. She won and her photo is on today’s front page. Our graduation photos will be posted at frionaonline.com this week. We tried to get a photo of each graduate and have other random photos of the proceedings. You can order copies through the website.
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The Friona High School Class of 1983 is having a 30-year reunion June 14-16 at Lake Brownwood, Texas. Contact Shea Woodard at 325-665-4115 or sheawoodard2007@gmail.com.
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We have confirmed that former resident Andy Kendrick and family will be moving back to Friona where Andy will be working in the family business and Amy Murphree Hand has accepted a volleyball coaching job in Hereford and will be relocating. Good luck to both.
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I graduated from Hillsboro High School on June 6, 1957. Now, 56-years later, I’ll be in Denton on June 6, 2013 to attend my grandson Harrison Holmes’ graduation from Coppell High School. There were 75 in my class, his has 684. I know, I know, it is not nice to leave after his name is called. Congratulations to all graduates everywhere. Don’t forget to send us your news. See you next week. Until then!
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