The annual Project Christmas Card had collected $2,495.86 as of our press time Wednesday. There were 70 resident families that contributed. Project Christmas Card is a program coordinated by the Hospital Auxiliary. The money will be given to Parmer Medical Center to purchase an air bed. Thanks to your generosity the hospital is able to purchase a useful piece of equipment each year. Donor names are listed elsewhere in this Star Christmas edition.
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JoAnn Berend was the big winner of $100 Friona Bucks in the Chamber of Commerce Ho! Ho! Home for the Holidays promotion. Other $25 Buck winners are listed elsewhere in this Star.
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We received wind, dust, rain, and small hail all wrapped up in the same storm last Friday afternoon. The aftermath left most vehicles around town in need of a wash. The strong wind gusts left a couple of big trees blown over here and in Bovina. Not enough rain to do any good but it sure was nice to see it.
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A reminder to save your Lowe’s register receipts and give them to the Friona primary school (or elementary). The extra percentage earned by collecting the receipts helps buy supplies for the school.
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Last week seemed to be shoulder operation week here in town. Dee Willard, Alan Monroe, and John Jarecki all had shoulder surgery and all are reported recovering nicely. Dee had his operation in Houston. John and Alan had theirs in Amarillo.
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Friona firefighters were called out at 5 p.m. Sunday to a hay fire at the former Lone Star Dairy on FM 1172 southeast of Friona. They were on the scene until after 9 p.m. Sunday night. No quick way to battle a hay fire. Lots of water and spread the bales with a tractor/loader. Probably be smoldering for a few days.
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The Chieftains and Squaws host Olton Friday night December 21 for a district basketball contest. JV is at 5 p.m., Squaws at 6:30 p.m. and Chiefs at 8 p.m. This will be the district opener for the Chiefs. The Squaws are 1-1 in district. They beat Abernathy and lost to Muleshoe in overtime. Come out and support the teams. A video replay broadcast of the varsity games will be shown at 10 a.m. Saturday on WT Services channel 76.
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Hooray to James and Rachel Clark who celebrated 25 years of marriage this week on December 19. Rachel called it 25 years of wedded bliss. Congrats to the Clarks.
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Friona photojournalist Mike Ortiz, FHS Class of 2001, is now working at a TV station in Baltimore, Maryland. His crew was sent to Newtown, Connecticut, to cover the tragedy and the news conferences there. I believe he was also there when the President spoke at the prayer vigil. I enjoy following Mike’s adventures on Facebook and his mother Mary is happy when I mention him in the Star.
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Allison Johnston has been nominated for the 2012 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award. The nominating letter stated: “The accomplishments of each of these nominees clearly demonstrate the high level of dedication, care, and achievement you all share as exemplary sponsors of UIL events.” Congratulations to Allison, a very deserved honor for a hard-working lady. In addition to choir and band she is also the yearbook sponsor. She helps us out here at the Star in many ways. You win our Friona Star Excellence Award.
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Parmer County Commissioners are meeting Friday, December 21 at 10 a.m. at the courthouse. They usually meet every other Monday but Christmas Eve is Monday, so they are meeting Friday. The agenda lists usual items such as treasurer’s report, county audit, and buying a road grader. Item 13 should be interesting. It reads “Consider Pigeon Problem at Parmer County Courthouse.” Commissioner Kirk Frye says the pigeon population is causing a mess and health concerns, mainly on the west side where the second floor balcony is.
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The Hernandez family has re-opened Tasty Cream. They also operate the Hernandez Carniceria Mexican Restaurant. The landmark diner re-opened Monday December 17 with an 11:30 a.m. ribbon cutting. They gave away free wings and a brisket sandwich. Both are menu items and I can vouch that they were tasty.
The drive-thru only will open from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. selling breakfast burritos. Then at 10:30 a.m. the inside dining room will open until as late as 11 p.m. according to Luis Hernandez. He and wife Janet are the owners and their daughter Leslie will be managing Tasty Cream. They are keeping much of the same Tasty Cream menu and adding a few items. It will be open Monday – Saturday.
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Friona grad Kyle Grimsley, Jimmy’s son, is moving from Lubbock to Dalhart. Kyle was a regional manager for Glazer Wholesale Liquor Co. but is changing hats and careers. He will have a State Farm Insurance Agency in Dalhart. Kyle was the quarterback on the 1996 Chieftain football team that made it to the state semi-finals. We wish him all the best with the move.
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Another Kyle Grimsley, Joan’s son, and a Parmer County Sheriff’s deputy, and his wife Heather welcomed baby girl Tensley last week. She has two older brothers and all are doing well. A Merry Christmas at the Grimsley house.
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At the basketball games Tuesday night I was glad to see a couple of former Chieftains, Nathan Haile and Adam Bandy. They have been out of school about 10 years I think. Lot of memories for me from when these boys were in high school. Always good to see former Friona folks come back for a visit.
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In 2011, TxDOT reports there were 14,670 crashes in roadway construction zones resulting in 116 fatalities, the majority of which were motorists. There is a lot of construction on our Texas highways. If you are driving this holiday season, observe the speed limits and be safe in all construction zones, especially if you are traveling on I-35. DPS will be watching.
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Twenty five years ago, Christmas 1987, I drove out from Dallas to visit my mother and family for Christmas. It snowed. It snowed a lot. The day after Christmas I headed back to Dallas. It took more than six hours to get from Friona to Snyder where I holed up for the night in a Best Western. Took a while to get out of the hotel parking lot the next morning. One lane open until I got to I-20. A Christmas memory I’m not too fond of but we sure could use that snow now.
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Well, I’m sitting here in the office amidst donuts, cookies, chocolate fudge, and assorted Christmas goodies, with a good cup of Folger’s, putting the finishing touches on the 2012 newspaper year. As always the year has flown by and here we are looking ahead to another new year. My thanks to everyone for the support and the news contributions during 2012. The next Friona Star will be January 3, 2013. Until then!
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From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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