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FRIONA WEATHER

New Photos This Week:

Homecoming 2026

Varsity Chiefs vs Farwell

Maize Days Parade

Bed Race

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

To report a problem or emergency

with the BNSF Railroad,

call 1-800-832-5452

Please note the appropriate intersection:

County Road 17 – Crossing #014771U

County Road 20 – Crossing #014768L

Main Street – Crossing #014769T

To report a problem or complaint

with the TxDOT overpass project,

call 1-806-385-3552

Town Talk

Save The Date — St. Teresa’s Catholic Church of Friona will host their annual Turkey Dinner on Sunday, October 11th from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the church hall. The meal will consist of turkey & dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, dessert, and tea. Adult plates are $15 each and children’s plates (under 10 years old) are $10 each. Take-out plates will be available at no additional charge. Funds raised will be used for the construction of a children’s educational building.

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Time To Celebrate — The staff at Prairie Acres invites you to join them to celebrate their 50th Anniversary at a Come & Go Reception from 1:30 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 18th. Prairie Acres opened its doors at 201 E. 15th Street in 1976.

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Texas Diesel Emergency — Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster proclamation for all 254 Texas counties Monday, clearing farmers and truckers to run dyed diesel in vehicles on public roads as pump prices hit a record $5.97 a gallon. Dyed diesel is the red-marked off-road fuel that powers tractors and bulldozers and is sold without the state motor-fuels tax. Texas normally bars it from public roads, and the proclamation lifts that ban and its penalties, though not the tax. Trucks hauling fuel, crops, or timber can also skip oversize and overweight permits and move loads up to 95,000 pounds. Abbott asked EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to temporarily waive federal ultra-low sulfur diesel rules in 110 counties. “Texas agriculture and freight run on diesel,” Abbott said. “Record prices put both industries at risk and raise costs for every Texas family.” The Texas Flyover

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Texas Poverty Risks — Children continue to face the greatest risk of poverty in Texas, according to the latest U.S. Census data. In 2024, 17.1% of Texans under age 18 lived in poverty, compared with 14.8% of children nationwide. Although poverty affects Texans across every age group, children experience the highest rates of economic hardship, reflecting the unique challenges faced by many families throughout the state. Texas also reported slightly higher poverty rates than the nation among working-age adults and older adults, highlighting differences in economic well-being across the population. These data provide important context for understanding the circumstances of Texans at different stages of life and the demographic trends shaping communities across the state. Texas Demographic Center

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Steel Deal – President Trump announced Monday that Mesabi Metallics will build a $15 billion steel plant in Iowa, the largest in U.S. history. Production is slated to start in 2030, providing about 1,750 permanent jobs. The Minnesota-based company will feed the mill with ore from its new $2.5 billion iron mine in Minnesota’s Mesabi Range, the first new U.S. iron mine in 50 years. The plant’s exact site hasn’t been named, though Energy Secretary Chris Wright said it will be in southeast Iowa. The Export-Import Bank is backing Mesabi’s expansion with up to $10 billion in financing, and the White House says the steel will meet defense-grade requirements. The Flyover

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Not Your Average Joe — Joe Petraro-Hyppolite spent his early school years in special education, misunderstood and struggling to communicate. He was bullied for his verbal and physical tics. Then in third grade, a teacher recommended evaluations, and everything changed. Joe was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, dyslexia, and severe OCD. His IQ tested at 168. That same year, he was also diagnosed with leukemia. “It was a bad year,” his mother, Anne, said. But Joe transferred to a school where he could work at his own pace, and he took off. He graduated high school at 11, scored 1,590 on the SAT at 10, and is now finishing his bachelor’s degree at Louisiana State University at 13. Next fall, he’ll begin a master’s program at NYU, making him one of the youngest people ever accepted into a master’s program at the university. Outside the classroom, Joe founded Joe’s Be Kind Campaign, an initiative that includes an Adopt a Grandparent program and Joe’s Wells for Humanity, which has built more than 127 wells in Africa. He also runs a free, inclusive sports league and volunteers at a local nursing home. The Feel Good Flyover

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In Parmer County: $40 per year

Out of Parmer County: $50 per year

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Call 806-250-5200 for more information

The Mural of the Story — Mason Fleming was a guest artist at the Hoodoo Mural Festival in Amarillo on Saturday September 26, 2026. He created a Route 66 themed mural to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the legendary roadway. The mural features the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, the Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, Roy’s Motel and Café in Amboy, California, and the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. Friona is home to two of Mason’s previous murals.