Yes that was thunder, lightning, and rain during the early morning Tuesday. Scared a bunch of folks. Official weather guy John Gurley said he recorded .39” in town and .45” north of town. A report on the Clovis News Journal Facebook page said .66” in Bovina. Most of us were glued to the newscasts about the massive tornado in Moore, Oklahoma Monday afternoon. What a tragedy, especially the deaths of the children.
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Chamber of Commerce board member LaDonna Grubbs will be traveling to Oklahoma this weekend and next weekend to give a helping hand to tornado victims. If anyone would like to donate please call LaDonna at Kendrick Oil, 806-250-3991 ext 222. They are mainly asking for money at this point. Make checks payable to Oklahoma Relief-Red Cross.
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Teachers across Texas should be happy now that the legislature has announced an end to the controversial CSCOPE curriculum. No lesson plans can be used after August 31, 2013. I didn’t know much about it but this quote from an Americans for Prosperity news release is disturbing: “Regional Education Service Centers (ESCs) cloaked CSCOPE in secrecy. The ESCs created a non-profit shell corporation (TESCCC-Texas Education Service Center Curriculum Collaborative) which had no employees, no money, and no address, but was used as a shield for ESC staff to claim they were not subject to open records or open meetings.” Wow! Cheating in politics and now cheating in education.
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The Panhandle Plains Historical Museum is having a Night at the Museum June 8 from 8:30 – 11:30 p.m. It won’t be scary but it will be dark. They say bring your flashlights. Cost is $10 adults, $5 kids 4-12, free for kids under 4. Pioneers will come to life in the museum exhibits and you can talk to them. Sounds like fun. Tickets are sold at the door.
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The annual HK Kendrick golf tournament at the Friona Golf Club June 22-23 is said to be sold out. It is a popular two-person scramble tournament. Proceeds benefit the Parmer County Cancer Coalition. If you want some info about it call Greg Lewellen at 806-250-3991, ext 230. I might add that Greg was chosen as mayor pro-tem on the city council at Monday night’s meeting. And….there is a strong rumor that Andy Kendrick and family will be returning to Friona this summer to work for the family business. Always great to welcome the younger folks back.
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The Oklahoma Lane Cemetery workday will be held Monday May 27 starting at 9 a.m. They would appreciate volunteers with rakes, hoes, shovels, hand clippers, gloves, trash bags, etc. Questions contact Tommie Fulcher at 806-825-2782.
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The top names for Texas babies in 2012, according to the Social Security folks, were Jacob and Sophia, followed by Jayden, Ethan, Noah, and Daniel for boys and Isabella, Emma, Mia, and Emily for girls.
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A Kid’s Safety & Health Fair will be held at Friona city park Saturday June 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Coffee Memorial Blood Center Bloodmobile will be there for donations. Donors will receive a Keep Calm t-shirt and be entered in a drawing for a one-year supply of milk (52 weeks) courtesy of Plains Dairy. See the PMC Safety Fair ad elsewhere in today’s Star. Free helmets and hot dogs too.
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John Blackwell had a hip replacement May 7 at BSA and is in rehab recovery here at Parmer Medical Center. Keep on keeping on John.
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Former Friona resident and 1975 Friona grad Loren Walters lives in Moore, Oklahoma and his house was destroyed by the tornado. His sister Regina also lives in Moore but her house was spared.
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The Friona “liberry” summer Dig into Reading program begins May 30 to June 28. Programs will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. Get your kids into reading. Call the “liberry” at 250-3200 for info. The Book Shoppe used book store program is in limbo right now. There are some concerns with the utility bills at the building and the Friends are discussing its future. More details when available.
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Folks in Clovis that receive the Star may get it a day later now. The mail truck from Friona went to Clovis and carried our papers but that truck no longer goes to Clovis so your papers now go to Amarillo and back to Clovis by some means. Be patient.
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Kendall Kimbrough and Coke Capshaw, both juniors (soon to be seniors) at Friona high school have been selected to attend Girls State and Boys State in Austin in June. It is a great experience for young people to experience how government works, or is supposed to work.
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We have received word of the passing of Wilmot “Earl” Crow, Friona Class of 1963. Mr. Crow died of cancer at his home in Mission, Texas on May 16. He was 67.
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Friona graduation is Friday May 31 at 8 p.m. at Chieftain Field. Some may have received graduation invitation notices that said the time was 7 p.m. It is not. We confirmed with the school it is 8 p.m.
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We received new phone books this week. Note to the folks who deliver them and left two on the sidewalk at our front door. The Panhandle winds and blowing dirt are not good for phone books left on the sidewalk outside. If you need a copy go to WT Services.
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My research has shown that the most popular fried pie at Fast Stop is apricot. When the fried pie people stock the pie shelf the apricot ones always go first, leaving the less popular lemon and pineapple ones in last place. You would think the pie people would figure that out and increase the number of apricot pies. Life is hard some days.
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The Friona fire volunteers were called out Sunday about 11:30 a.m. to a small grass fire east of town. One of the guys said they could have stomped it out. Then Monday midday they were dispatched to a dumpster fire on Beach St. They answer calls large and small. Thanks for keeping us safe.
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My son-in-law Jamey McCurry lives in Frisco and is on a pretty good BBQ cook-off team. They enter competitions, cooked at the Houston Stock Show, and often win prizes. This week they are pulling their grill rig to Moore, Oklahoma along with other BBQ teams to cook and feed the victims of the tornado. They are also hauling other needed supplies like water, diapers, etc. Proud of you Jamey.
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Yes, the estate auction at mother’s house was a success. Lots of people came, bid, and bought until it was all gone, which was the object of having an auction. I can’t say enough about the Priest family from Clovis at W&J Auctions. Many of you know James and Jeri and Gid from previous auctions. They worked hard, did everything they said they would do, and treated us with respect and honesty. I highly recommend them if you need an auction. They made the task of selling mom’s stuff a little easier.
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Dee King stopped by the office this week. Good to see him. He and Cindy lost their house to a fire recently. It was a complete loss he said. They are living in daughter Audra’s house in Amarillo since she got married and lives in Clovis. They are struggling with whether to rebuild at the same location. A builder told them clearing the lot and rebuilding would probably take 18 months. A lot to think about.
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Thanks to everyone that bought brooms and mops and supplies at the Lions Club Broom & Mop sale last Thursday. It was the largest broom sale ever with sales over $6,000. We appreciate the community support of our Lions fundraisers and hope you enjoy your sweeping and mopping.
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This Class of 2013 graduation edition of the Friona Star is always our largest paper of the year. It takes a lot of work by our employees and cooperation from the high school, especially Allison Johnston and Leigh Monroe. We thank them, the school staff, and especially our advertisers who highlight the seniors and support this community newspaper with their advertising. We appreciate you all. Thank you. Until then!
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