Winter officially begins Sunday December 21. I'm hoping for a mild winter with just enough precipitation to keep our farmers smiling, crops growing, and cattle fattening. Not too fond of big snowdrifts but some gentle falling snow would be nice. Not fond at all of fog. We've been foggy around here for a couple of days. Fog delayed my weekly trip to Clovis last Thursday morning to pick up the Friona Star at the printers. Trying to drive in fog is a scary experience Hope you don't have to.
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City employee Larry Martin and Friona Interbank employee Dale Mann and Friona ISD employee Mary Stone will all be retiring at the end of December. A retirement reception for Mary Stone will be held Friday December 19 from 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. A retirement reception for Larry Martin will be held Tuesday December 30 from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. at city hall.
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At the Friona fire department Christmas banquet Friday night, we enjoyed the catered dinner by Danny's Hens & Fins from Lubbock. Fire Chief Jim Taylor handed out service pins to: 5 years - Albert Trevino and Jason Brawley; 15 years - Matt Osborn; and 20 years - Bryan Harris. Thanks to these guys and all of our firemen for their volunteer service to the community.
Fireman Andrew Stowers was named the 2014 Friona Fireman of the Year. The annual award is voted on by the firemen. Andrew and wife Emily welcomed their second daughter on Thursday before the Friday banquet. Also recognized were Deirdre and Mark Osborn, parents of Aaron Osborn. Aaron, also a Friona volunteer fireman, died in a car accident in May.
Santa paid a visit for the fireman kids. It was a nice evening and I appreciate the invitation.
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The Canadian Wildcats will be playing in the 2A state final football game in Cowboy Stadium Thursday December 18. Two Canadian coaches, Hayden Merket and Jeff Isom, are former Friona coaches. Good luck Wildcats.
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Lot of local folks graduating college this past weekend. Ron Smiley donned the blue cap and gown and, at the age of 76, walked the Amarillo College stage to receive his degree from the Amarillo College School of Mortuary Science. After taking the state exam Ron will be a licensed funeral director. He is employed at Blackwell-Mullins Funeral Home. Hats off to my friend Ron.
Also noted that Joann Padilla and Jeremy Alaniz received degrees from Amarillo College. Anna Murphree and Amber Bonds received degrees from West Texas A&M. Dillon Welch graduated from Texas Tech with a major in Petroleum Engineering and a minor in Mechanical Engineering. Congratulations to all. If there are others we missed please let us know.
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On my Christmas wish list, I would like for the Geico and Progressive Insurance commercials to be banned from TV for at least 100 years. Maybe they could save the ad money and lower their rates or help the poor. Just stay off television. That is all.
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The Littlefield newspaper reported that the Leal's Restaurant in Littlefield has closed. No reason was given. I met a friend there for lunch a few months back. Nice new décor and typical good Leal's food. Thought it would be a gathering place when we travel to play Littlefeld but guess not.
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We published some Santa letters last week and the rest are included this week. Our editor Dana Jameson typed 26 pages of Santa letters. Some of the little ones were quite specific and prolific. Others not so much. Hope we didn't leave any out and that the children get at least most of what they wished for.
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Went over to Bovina Monday night to help judge the Bovina Chamber's Christmas lighting contest. Lots of decorated Christmas displays. We chose the Davidson home on 7th St. as the 1st place winner. Dona Teague on Sherwood St. was 2nd, and the Robledo home on Avenue D was 3rd. Merry Christmas Bovina.
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Davy Howard at Interior Impressions is having an open house and sidewalk sale and refreshments Friday and Saturday December 19-20 at 721 Main St. There is still plenty of time to shop local. Ivy Cottage and Glamor and Décor (formerly Ingram's) have some great gift items. Parmer County Implement has a selection of farm toys and Yeti coolers under their tree out there. Blackburn Hardware has some gift stuff. Or go big and buy TVs and furniture at Bi-Wize.
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Project Christmas Card collected over $2,000 for the Parmer Medical Center auxiliary. Donations to the Empty Stocking Fund was more than enough to provide Christmas for 47 needy Friona children. Thank you all for your generosity. We live in a warm and generous community.
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This is our last Friona Star for 2014. We will not print a paper next week during the Christmas week. Our next Star will be dated January 1, 2015. We will enjoy the holiday break and hope you do also. Thanks to our readers, subscribers, and advertisers for the support you give us each year. During the holidays we will be posting any local news of interest on our Friona Star Facebook page. Friend us and tag along. Merry Christmas to everyone and to all a goodnight. Until then!
