Fireworks Thursday July 4 at dusk at Reeve Lake, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Friona volunteer firefighters.
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Yay! It rained last Thursday night. Even thundered too. With our 90-100 degree temps it didn’t take long for it to dry up. Then came Saturday and Sunday night with wind, dirt, rain, and hail. The Saturday night hail shredded many corn crops in the area. Farmers were assessing damage Monday. The volunteer firefighters were paged out during the Saturday night storm to respond to lightning striking a tree on Cleveland St. but they never found a tree on fire anywhere. More rain is on the way they say.
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Rough week for truck traffic in Friona. Last Thursday a westbound semi- lost two wheels and a big steel brake drum. One wheel went through a Hi-Pro fence before smashing into Superintendent Kenny Austin’s FISD SUV parked at the admin building. The heavy brake drum spun across the WT Services parking lot, hit a raised sidewalk and went airborne through the break room window and gouged a hole in the interior wall. The second tire hit the east end of a trailer in the trailer park on east Hwy 60. Luckily no injuries.
Then Friday afternoon the rear gate on a semi- loaded with cattle manure came open at eastbound Hwy 60 and Grand and spread manure in the outside lane all the way to in front of Hernandez Restaurant. Friona police directed traffic while crews from TxDot and Cargill spread sand over the mess and cleaned it up.
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A note from former Parmer County resident/historian Hugh Moseley: To read the Friona Star in Sweeny, Texas go to Sweeny Barber Shop. Max LeMaster, the barber, likes the Texas Crossword so Hugh Moseley takes the Friona Star to him. Thanks Hugh. Hope all is well. Say hello to Max the barber.
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A friend was having a busy office day. Offering to help out I sent her a text that read simply: “Need help call me.” Within seconds my cell phone rang and she said, “What’s the matter.” Seems she thought I needed help. Guess that is an example of unintended consequences in modern communications.
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Hernandez Restaurant extended their hours last week to stay open a little longer. They are now open 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
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Friday is fried catfish day for lunch and supper at Headquarters Restaurant. I had a catfish supper there last Friday and it was very good with fried catfish, choice of slaw or salad, onion rings, French fries, and tartar sauce. Lupe said they ordered 8 boxes of catfish and ran out about 6 p.m. Friday evening. Try it but get there early.
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An early anniversary wish to Holly and Danny Campbell. They will celebrate their 36th anniversary on July 23. Mentioning it now because I might forget. Two of my favorite friends.
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Coach Mike Prokop sent an email that the boys’ all-sports camp will be held July 8-10 from 9 -11 a.m. at Friona High School. It is for boys entering 3rd grade through 9th grade in September 2013. Cost is $50. Drop-off and pick-up will be on the north side of the high school at the practice field. The camp will cover all sports, i.e. football, basketball, baseball, weight training, etc.
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Coach David Woods says the Chieftain Masters Golf Tournament that was postponed earlier will be held Saturday afternoon, July 20, following the Cheeseburger Festival and Car Show.
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Friona graduate Susan Bailey has been named Girls Athletic Coordinator and Head Girls Cross Country Coach, and will continue as girls Head Track and Field Coach at Dallas Highland Park High School. Susan‘s parents are the late Bill Bailey and her mother Helen who is in King’s Manor in Hereford. She has a brother Bill and a sister Beverly, both of whom are also FHS graduates. Hollis and Lunell Horton’s Bowden grandchildren attend Dallas Highland Park. Susan’s HP cross country track teams won three consecutive state championships. She also teaches geometry.
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At the Thursday July 11 blood drive, 12 – 7 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, donors will receive a 20% off coupon from Hunan Restaurant. Also, donor names will be put in a drawing for one free meal from Hunan and one free meal from Thai City for $25. This is the Boots & Badges blood drive where you vote for the firemen or the police and get a Boots & Badges t-shirt. Noon Lions will cook burgers and fries. Details elsewhere in this Star.
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Swimming lessons at the city pool will start in July. Level one will start July 9 at 10a.m. followed by level two the next week. The price is $30 per child. Any questions call the pool at 250-5279. Caitlin Bronniman is the manager. Caitlin says the levels depend on skill level. She doesn’t usually set an age group for the levels. Parents can talk to her about which level fits the child.
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Congratulations to John O’Brian, son of Greg and Kay O’Brian. He graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Dairy Science pre-veterinarian.
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Cheer camps coming. The cheer camps will be held July 29-August 1. Junior high and 6th grade will be from 4-6 p.m. and the camp for 4-year-olds to 5th graders will be 7-8 p.m. Registration will begin at 3:30 p.m. for the young ones and 6:30 p.m. for the junior highs. Both camps will be in the high school gym. The price is $25 and includes a t-shirt.
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Volleyball and basketball too. July 29-31 are the dates for volleyball camp. Coaches Bryan Masse and Darrell Ray in charge. 3rd thru 8th graders. Sessions will be 9:00 – 11:45 a.m. The girls’ basketball camp will begin July 31 from 1:15 – 4:00 p.m. following the final volleyball session. The coaches will focus on the basics to prepare the girls for their level of competition. All campers will get a t-shirt. Cost is $40 per camp or $70 for both. For more information call Coach Ray at 575-749-2880.
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Don’t forget to support the Depot window fundraiser. The Old Depot in city park is the center of Friona history and serves an important part of Friona today. The windows need replacing. Make a donation at Friona InterBank, check payable to the Community Heritage Society. Donations in any amount will be appreciated. At their board meeting Monday the Friona Chamber of Commerce voted to donate for two of the ten windows that need repair, a total donation of about $800. Contact Bill White or Bobby Thompson to find out how to purchase a window.
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Chamber of Commerce exec Chris Alexander said they were going to have a cheeseburger eating contest at the July 20 Cheeseburger Festival. There will be a time limit and the person that eats the most will be the winner. There will be no cost to enter and it is limited to the first 10 participants. Contest rules will be ready in the near future. Big eaters be ready. Stay tuned.
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The carnival is in town and don’t forget Kid Fish Day Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. We are getting ready for a busy July with lots of camps, summer drama workshop, cheeseburger festival, then it will be August and football and volleyball practices will start. Then September comes and….well you get the idea. Be safe if you are traveling this weekend. Happy Birthday America. Until then!
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