The Class of 1953 held its 60th reunion Saturday September 21 at the First Baptist Church. They were joined by special guests and the Class of 1952. There were 24 attending, 10 from the Class of 1953, 6 from the Class of 1952, and 8 spouses.
They met for lunch and visited around the tables, talked about old times and caught up on the news from the ones who couldn’t come.
Attending from the Class of 1953 were Jimmy and Shirley (Coconougher) Gore, Sue (Gibson) Barrett, Eugene and Patsy (Reed) Bandy, Willis Dufur, Calvin Ivie, Neal and Imogene (Sherley) Cearley, George and Gay (Cass) Price, Roy and Mary Lou Haney, Mary Joyce (Renner) Barnett, and Ira Holt.
From the Class of 1952 were Doyce Barnett, Frankie Dee Allen, Rex and Chuck Blackburn, Billy and Ann Nazworth, and Dale and Laura Hart.
Mary Joyce Barnett said “We apologize to the ones attending but not in the picture (on this page). We were having such a good time we forgot to get another picture after everyone got there.”
Roy and Mary Lou Haney traveled 1,100 miles from Tampico, Illinois to be here. A great time was had by all and they plan to meet again in 5 years if not before.
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I visited with the Schwab family at the Dalhart game Friday evening. Former residents Pat and Patricia Schwab’s youngest son Mark, now a senior, was playing for the Golden Wolves. Game announcer Ricky Barnett said happy 50th birthday to Patricia over the PA system for all to hear. Pat was the Cargill Cattle Feeders manager here before transferring to Dalhart several years ago.
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The Noon Lions sold about 350 burgers and 350 pounds of fries at the football game. It is a big fundraiser for the club and they thank everyone for the support. A special thanks from the club to Cargill for donating the hamburger meat. And another special thanks to Donna Mears for the delicious homemade banana nut ice cream provided to the hardworking Lions Club members. It was a great evening.
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Tuesday morning I went out to Cargill to take a United Way photo (on the front page). Met the new Cargill general manager Matt Neu who transferred here from a Cargill plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Nice young man. A native of Iowa. Welcome to Friona Matt.
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Sue Procter stopped by with a scam she received in the mail, supposedly from Publishers Clearing House. It contained a check for over $4,000 she had “won for third place” in a contest, but don’t tell anybody, even family. The letter said cash the check and send some money to an address somewhere. Not sure about details but definitely a scam. Good time to warn folks again, especially us elderly, to not send money to people you don’t know and if you get phone calls asking for financial info just hang up.
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Claire Blanco called me from California this week. She moved last week to be near family. She has kids and lots of grandkids out there. Right now she is living with a daughter until her little apartment is available next week. I don’t usually put home addresses and phone numbers in the paper but here is Claire’s address and phone in case any of her local friends want to contact her. I know she would be thrilled to get a card or letter or phone call. Claire Blanco, PO Box 3032, Crestline, CA 92325. Phone 909-338-4725.
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The Sheriff’s Office is looking for a dispatcher. See the classified ad and contact the Sheriff’s Office in Farwell. Friona Police Chief Mooney said the police department is also short one dispatcher. Check our classifieds for more opportunities.
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Congratulations to Dale and Laura Hart for celebrating their 59th anniversary this week. Laura has worked one day a week at the Friona Star for at least 50 years, preparing the weekly papers for mailing at the Post Office.
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Activities at Prairie Acres/Heritage: October 14 Family Night dinner at Heritage Estates, at 6:30 p.m.; October 15 Volunteer Appreciation dinner at Prairie Acres at 6:30 p.m. for all P. Acres and Heritage volunteers; and October 29 Family Night dinner at Prairie Acres at 6:30 p.m. Mark your calendar now.
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Trista (Hand) Stallings and her husband Tommy have purchased The Gym at Main and Hwy 60 and renamed it Chieftain Sports & Fitness. Trista, a 1994 FHS graduate, has a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science & Physiology from Texas Tech and has worked in Lubbock, Dallas/Ft. Worth, and Houston as a personal trainer. Trista came by to visit this week. “It has been my goal to spread knowledge and experience to others by opening a fitness center and personal training business,” she said. Trista and Tommy have bought a home in Friona and their children Taylor, Graci, and Cason are attending Friona schools.
The couple has big plans for the Chieftain Sports & Fitness location across the street from the post office. Trista says they will offer fitness classes, yoga, pilates, boot camp, and personal training packages. She said they are planning youth fitness activities including boxing, and baseball, basketball, and football clinics. She invites folks to come in and look around and see what they have to offer. The phone number is 806-247-0040. Memberships are available. Go by and say hello. Oh, they offer spray tans too.
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Erik and Emilia Estrada have opened an auto sales location on Hwy 60 at the FM2013 split. It is called Double EE Auto Sales. Erik operates the K3Towing service also. They are announcing their business in this issue of the Star and are having an open house all day Saturday October 12 with free hot dogs from 1-4 p.m. Stop by and say hello.
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There is a lot of stuff in this week’s paper. Take your time and read through it several times. Don’t want you to miss anything. We’ll be back next week, the Lord willing. Be sure to let us know about anniversaries, weddings, babies, or any local news you would like to share. Until then!
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