Hope everyone had a nice Easter Sunday. The weather was great for all of those Sunday cookouts. I went to Wal Mart Sunday around the noon hour and one frazzled cashier told me it is one of their busiest days of the year.
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Kim Smiley had a big smile over Easter weekend. She and Mitchell welcomed their first granddaughter after three grandsons. Blake Nicole Morris was born to parents Blair and Barry Morris. Blair is a first grade teacher in Muleshoe. Congratulations to all of the Smileys.
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Sometimes losing your patience comes back to make you look dumb. I admit to being an impatient person. Sunday I pulled up to a gas pump at the Murphy Wal Mart location. Took the gas cap off and laid it on top of the pump. Inserted my debit card and the little screen instructed me to reinsert card. I put the card back in the slot and was again told to reinsert card. After five or six tries with the same reinsert message I lost my patience, closed the gas tank door and left. Monday morning at Fast Stop I realized I left my gas cap on the pump in Hereford. Reality always seems to come back around.
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The Department of State Health Services has announced that as of May 2, 2016 they will no longer hold immunization clinics in Friona, Bovina, and other area cities. The shots will be available in Hereford and Pampa only. There are shot clinics in Friona and Bovina in April. See the story elsewhere in this Star. No reason was given but one might surmise budget cuts were involved.
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The Coffee Memorial blood drive in Friona last Thursday collected 49 units of whole blood, four units of the Trima red blood cells, and had 12 deferrals, folks that showed up but were declined for some reason. Greg Salas was the donor winner of the 24" TV donated by Bi-Wize. Greg O'Brian won the $50 gift card furnished by Friona Interbank. Thanks to everybody that donated and served as volunteers.
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Mark and Karen Barnes were married 38 years as of Thursday March 24. They were married in Muleshoe in 1978. Happy belated anniversary to you two.
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Erin Jones is the new County Extension Agent-Pest Management for Bailey, Parmer, and Castro counties. She is in the Muleshoe office. She has Bachelor's and Master's degrees in biology from West Texas A&M. Shana Fleming is no longer employed with the Parmer County Extension Service.
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The church banquets for the senior class started with Monday's banquet at St. Teresa's Catholic Church. Friona Star Managing Editor Dana Jameson covered the event, took photos, and partook of the Mexican dinner that was served. It is going to be a whirlwind of events between now and graduation. Keep up with it all in the Star.
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Did I see that soon the cost of a stamp will come down from 49 cents to 47 cents? Most folks will think that is pretty good news. We send monthly first class mailings and the reduction should save us at least $3.00 a month. I haven't read the reason for the decrease but I'm sure someone thought more people would send mail if it cost 2 cents less. If you are losing money it doesn't seem like lowering your price is the answer.
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Congratulations and good luck to Friona Chieftains Luis Trejo and Edwin Garcia at the state powerlifting meet in Abilene. The two will be lifting Saturday April 2. Powerlifting coach is Daniel Hutchins. Go Big Red!
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The April school calendar is in this Star. Lot of activities. Might want to clip it out and put it on the fridge to make sure your kids don't miss anything. Thanks to Kathy Sandoval in the administration office for coordinating the monthly calendar.
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Guess we should say congratulations to Jyl and Jayson Grimsley. Their grandchild roster increased by two within the last week. Daughters Jena and Jacy had babies, Jena in Lubbock and Jacy in Amarillo. Jena had a daughter named Sayge and Jacy had a son named Beau. I'm sure Mia Jyl will put the announcements in the Star soon maybe. By my count that is 9 grandkids with the oldest about 6 years. All the best to the Grimsley families.
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I enjoyed attending the Bovina Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday evening. Another great steak meal provided by Sweet Bran and Cargill Meat Solutions. It was a packed house at the XIT Center. They had to roll out a couple of extra tables. Master of Ceremonies Larry Mitchell said it was the largest crowd in the past several years. Congratulations to all of the citizen award winners, especially my friend Denise Anderson as Woman of the Year and Tiny Chisum as Man of the Year.
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The Chieftains opened baseball district play Tuesday night at Shallowater. We lost 20-2 in five innings. The Chiefs host Muleshoe Saturday April 2 here. Game time is 12:00 p.m. Come on down to the ball field and cheer on the Chieftains.
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The 2016 All-Sports banquet is Monday May 16. Tickets will be $10 at the door. No advance sales. The meal will be catered by Friona's master chef Canna Ray and will consist of brisket, pulled pork, twice baked potatoes, green beans, drink, etc. We will remind you again later.
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Words of wisdom heard at the Bovina Chamber banquet: Fix it up, wear it out, make do, or do without. See you in April. Until then!
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