Back2Back Champs — For the second year in a row Republic Services was judged to be cheeseburger masters at the cook-off portion of the 20th Annual Cheeseburger Festival. Matthew Pederson, Municipal Manager for Republic Services, received the championship trophy and $2000 check from Amaya Mendez, reigning Friona Little Miss.
In Parmer County: $40 per year
Out of Parmer County: $50 per year
eStar (emailed): $30 per year
Call 806-250-5200 for more information
It’s All About the Fries — Tom & Kyla Sell were introduced to the “world famous” Lions Club french fries last Saturday as they visited the 20th Annual Cheeseburger Festival. The Sells reside in Lubbock, where they raised their four children, and where Tom Sell serves as a local businessman, lawyer, and is the Republican candidate for Texas’ 19th Congressional District in this fall’s election.
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Last Swim Day — The last day of the summer for the city pool to be open is Saturday, August 8th.
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Blood Drive Update — The next Friona Community Blood Drive is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12th from Noon until 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Citizen’s Building located at 1400 N. Washington Avenue.
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Border Town Days — The Citys of Farwell and Texico will celebrate “Border Town Days” on Saturday, July 25 with kid’s activities, vendors, and parade beginning at 11 a.m.
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We All Scream For Ice Cream — Blue Bell is celebrating National Ice Cream Month with a new limited-edition Chocolate Lava Cake flavor featuring vanilla ice cream, rich chocolate cake pieces, dark chocolate fudge swirls, and chocolate sundae sauce. The flavor is available in half-gallon and pint sizes while supplies last. The Texas Flyover
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Waterlogged — The Kerr County Courthouse will stay closed for the foreseeable future after 6 feet of floodwater filled its lower level. The county attorney’s, human resources, and treasurer’s offices may not return for up to a year. The 1926 building has anchored Kerrville’s square for nearly a century. The Texas Flyover
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Java Jive — Most adults can safely drink up to five cups of coffee a day, according to a new statement from the American Heart Association pegging the ceiling at 400 milligrams of caffeine. Regularly sipping caffeinated coffee was linked to lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and some irregular heart rhythms, doctors said. There’s a catch: the benefits shrink once you add sugar, flavors, or cream. Black is best. Researchers cautioned that most caffeine studies are observational and can’t prove cause and effect. They also warned that energy drinks, with far more caffeine per ounce, can trigger dangerous heart rhythms. The Flyover
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Drought Outlook — Through the first half of 2026, drought has strengthened in the Panhandle while weakening elsewhere in Texas. The latest seasonal drought outlook from the National Weather Service echoes that theme—through October, they expect drought to persist in the Panhandle while improving in other areas of the state. Texas Water Development Board
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Texas Leads The Nation — Texas added 43,400 nonfarm jobs in June, the largest gain of any state, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday. Total nonfarm employment reached a record 14,469,600, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, and the 177,900 jobs Texas added over the past year also led the nation. Construction did much of the lifting: Texas added 24,800 construction jobs over the year, the most in the country, including 5,200 from May to June. Still, the state’s unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in June, up from 4.1% a year earlier and above the national rate of 4.2%. Gov. Greg Abbott credited the state’s “highly skilled workforce, welcoming business climate, and exceptional quality of life.” The Texas Flyover
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