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
Doctor’s Day — Parmer Medical Center celebrated National Doctor’s Day on Monday with a Provider Appreciation Reception held in the hospital lobby. In the photo — (l-r) Connie McCoy, APRN-CNP; Dr. Bob Alexander, retired; Amber Bonds, APRN-CNP; Alexandra Caballero, APRN-CNP; Rene McCutchen, APRN-CNP; and Dr. Andrew Banuelos. Friona and Parmer County are fortunate to have such a great team!
SH 214 Bridge will close to traffic and drivers detoured
PARMER COUNTY – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is set to begin work on a $4.1 million project that will make repairs to the SH 214 bridge, located south of Friona. Renovations include replacing the bridge joints, concrete repair and placing a new road surface on the bridge.
Project contractor Pathfield Investments, LLC, of Balch Springs, Texas, is scheduled to begin setting barricades on Monday, April 6, said Neil Welch, P.E., TxDOT’s Littlefield area engineer.
“The project is expected to take six months to complete,” Welch said. “No traffic will be allowed on the bridge while the repairs are being made. Closing the bridge to all traffic will allow for the work to be expedited.”
The project’s completion date is scheduled for late-2026.
Graduation Party Fundraiser Change — Due to the extremely high price of beef, parents of the Class of 2026 have decided to replace the Senior Steak Dinner this year with a Raffle Fundraiser. As usual, the proceeds will be used for the annual alcohol-free all night party held after the graduation ceremony. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased from any 2026 Senior through April 16th. The drawing will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Please see ad on this page.
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FISD Holiday Schedule — Friona ISD has scheduled No School on Friday, April 3rd and Monday, April 6th in conjunction with the Easter holiday on Sunday, April 5th. Classes will resume on Tuesday, April 7th.
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Drought Outlook — The latest seasonal drought outlook for conditions through the end of June anticipates more drought expansion in the Panhandle and West Texas. But April/June rainfall is expected to be sufficient to keep pockets of Central Texas drought free and bring some improvement to the northeast corner of the state. Pray for rain!
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New SNAP Benefits Rules — Approximately 3.3 million Texans enrolled in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can no longer purchase candy or sweetened drinks using their benefits. The new restrictions, effective April 1st, have been implemented in response to a state law passed last year and a waiver approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Texas is one of 22 states that have received a waiver to restrict the use of SNAP benefits. The new rules prohibit using benefits for candy bars, gum, and drinks that contain 5 grams or more of added sugar, or any amount of artificial sweetener. The Texas Flyover
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Food Deal — Spice maker McCormick announced Tuesday it will combine with Unilever’s food division in the second-largest food transaction in history, creating a company worth roughly $65 billion. The deal brings Hellmann’s mayonnaise, Knorr seasonings, and Marmite under the same roof as McCormick’s Frank’s RedHot, Old Bay, and Cholula, with a total annual revenue of $20 billion. McCormick will pay $15.7 billion in cash, while Unilever and its shareholders will own 65% of the combined company. The deal is expected to close by mid-2027 pending regulatory approval. The merger allows Unilever to focus on its faster-growing personal care business after spinning off its ice cream division last year. The Flyover
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3D Barracks — The U.S. Army is building 10 3D-printed barracks at Fort Bliss to house over 500 soldiers deployed to the installation for the ongoing border security mission. It’s the Department of War’s largest robotic construction project to date. Austin-based ICON, which built similar barracks for a Texas National Guard training site in 2021, was commissioned to complete the $87 million project in six months. In December, the Defense Department Inspector General reported that troops were living in facilities with leaking sewage and inadequate electricity. A traditional build of similar size would have cost five times as much as the 3D-printed barracks, according to Jordan Gillis, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy, and environment. The Texas Flyover
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