I was absent when the rain and hail storm hit Wednesday evening. Was in Denton to attend a grandson’s high school graduation. Based on the number of vehicle windows, home windows, skylights, and roofs damaged, guess I was fortunate to be absent. Highway 60 flooded on the west side of town causing many stranded vehicles. Friona police were wading in cold water to push cars out of the roadway.
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The Chieftain golf tournament scheduled last weekend was canceled due to the hail and rain storm that closed the course. It is rescheduled to this Saturday, June 15. Tee time is 9:00 a.m. 4-man scramble, $240 per team. Music, burgers, prizes. A fundraiser for Chieftain football camps. Several openings so get a team together and have some fun. For more info call Coach Mike Prokop at 575-760-8998.
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Anniversaries to mention: Jody and Dee Lewellen celebrated 24 years. Tyson and R.J. Barrett Kerby celebrated a seven year anniversary. (You don’t have to be married forever to get a mention here.) Jon and Rachel Douglas chalked up 18 years. Dwight and Gayle O’Brian celebrated 50 years on June 1.
Mentioned elsewhere in this Star are Floyd and Eva Rector who will observe their 65th anniversary June 16. Happy anniversary to all of these June brides (and grooms). Let us know if you have an anniversary to mention. Yes we do glean some of this anniversary info from Facebook.
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Representatives from Congressman Randy Neugebauer’s office will be in Friona Monday, June 17, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. at the city council chambers, 619 Main St. If you have any input into congressional matters you want to pass on to Mr. Neugebauer drop by and meet with his staff.
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Fireworks sales can officially start Monday June 24 through July 4. The county commissioners will discuss the fireworks situation in the county at their June 24 meeting. In the meantime, TNT has been running a classified ad with us looking for someone to work their fireworks stand.
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The Friona Economic Development Corporation will sponsor a Kid Fish Day on Saturday July 6 from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Reeve Lake. More details later on.
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The 29th annual Greg Black Memorial Run in Hereford will be Saturday, July 20. The 10K, 5K, 2 Mile run and walk starts at the Hereford YMCA. Entry fees before July 20 are $15/$20. T-shirts and caps are available if you sign up early. There is a lot of info about this race so to learn all about it pick up a registration form at the Friona Chamber of Commerce office.
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AgriLife Extension Agent Monti Vandiver reports that very high winds associated with recent storms have added “insult to injury”, damaging crops, sprinkler irrigation systems, and power poles. Some storms contained damaging hail. The injury to corn at this stage should not result in measurable yield loss. Much area cotton has sustained varying degrees of damage, some of which is severe. To read Mr. Vandiver’s entire Northwest Plains Pest Management newsletter go to mrvandiver@ag.tamu.edu.
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Slight correction: Last week in the Lions Club News we said County Probation Officer Bruce Gipson had 800 clients on probation. That number should be 508 total probationers in Parmer/Bailey counties. Mr. Gipson said 65% of his annual budget comes from probationer fees. We apologize for the error.
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Volleyball and basketball camp for girls in 3rd to 8th grade will be held at the end of July. Volleyball is July 29-31. Basketball is July 31-August 2. Fee for one camp is $40. Discount for both camps is $70. Campers who sign early get t-shirt and cap. For more information call Coach Darrel Ray at 575-749-2880.
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The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a carnival July 2-5 at Reeve Lake. Rides, food, games. Armbands are $15 in advance at the Chamber office or $20 at the gate. July 4 fireworks are still pending at this time.
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Friona native Dawn Watson has been hired as the new Bovina elementary school principal. She replaces Darla Sealey who has taken a position in the administration building. Dawn comes from Kelton, near Wheeler where she was school librarian. She was formerly an extension agent in Deaf Smith County. She is the sister of Shana Fleming, Parmer County Extension Agent.
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Is there is chicken raising revolution here? Last week I ran into Carolyn Stowers at the post office. She was picking up a box of baby chickens shipped from Iowa. Reminded me of my youth when lots of folks in Hillsboro, including my family, raised chickens. I remember well picking up boxes of baby chickens at the post office or train depot. Several other folks around the area have taken to raising chickens.
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Yes I drove to Denton last Wednesday for my grandson Harrison Holmes’ Coppell High School graduation. Enjoyed the 75 mph speed limit most all the way. Didn’t enjoy the big city traffic, especially on I-35. The graduation was held in the University of North Texas Coliseum. There were about 675 graduates. The coliseum held three graduations each day for four days. It was a busy place with a good share of traffic jams. Enjoyed visiting with my daughters Candee, Kirsten, and Megan. Megan lives in Denton, Kirsten in Frisco, and Candee in Coppell. Megan was my driver. I kept my eyes closed a lot. Was good to get back home on Saturday evening.
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Cargill is celebrating its 45th anniversary for the Friona plant. It opened in June, 1968 as Missouri Beef Packers. We will be printing a series of articles and accomplishments at the Friona plant the next couple of weeks.
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As I usually do, I attended the city council meeting Monday evening. We have a couple of new council members and a new mayor. They meet the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 619 Main St. Most meetings last about 30-45 minutes. These are volunteers who attend to the business of the city. Although all meetings are open to the public, there is seldom anyone in attendance from the public. In fact I could safely say never. Too bad. It would be good if members of the public sat in on the council meetings to see how city business is handled. I invite you to attend a meeting. I think the council would appreciate it too.
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Went by the high school Wednesday morning to have a look in the new activity center. (Photo on the front page.) There is a lot of construction in progress in the high school building. The activity center is huge. Workers are finishing the walls and installing heating, cooling ducts and electricity and all the stuff that goes into the construction. In the high school they are installing all new lighting and set to begin putting on a new roof. It is all a mess right now but there will be a new look when school starts in August. I was told the activity center should be completed in the fall. Then there is the parking lot to work on.
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The city pool opened this week, a week late because they had to replace a filter. A big filter according to city manager Patricia Phipps. The plastic chairs they use for folks to sit around the pool were beat up and cracked in last week’s hail storm.
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Thanks for reading and supporting our community newspaper. Send along news and photos from your summer vacation or anything else we might be interested in. See you next week. Until then!
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