Had nice weather most of this week but at press time they were predicting a cold Thursday with possibility of snow in parts of the Panhandle. They said the high on Thursday would be 19. That is the day we take the paper to the post office. Hope we don’t get a lot of wind.
*****
Former Friona resident and Cargill management employee Carol Aistrup retired as of January 15 after 38 years working for Cargill. Carol transferred from Friona to Wichita, Kansas several years ago.
*****
FHS graduate (and valedictorian I believe) Josh Duenes graduated from Angelo State University in fall commencement ceremonies December 14. Josh received a Bachelor of Science degree.
*****
I enjoyed comments by Cargill plant manager Matt Leu at the Noon Lions meeting last Thursday. He gave some interesting statistics about the local plant. He said cattle prices are high and this is a good time for producers to sell. He said most of the 4,600 head of cattle processed each day at the local plant come from a 100 mile radius of Friona. Nice young man. Moved here from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He and his wife bought a home in Canyon.
*****
Saw Wayne Stone at the livestock show. At the end of the month he is retiring after 38 years as a Precinct 1 county employee. He said a bunch of folks had jobs for him to do after he retires. Sounds like Wayne is going to keep busy.
*****
A familiar name to most of us here, Victor Leal, owner of Leal’s Mexican Restaurants, and his wife Debbie celebrated their 27th anniversary January 17. Happy enchiladas Victor and Debbie.
*****
Former resident Claudia Hanes, now retired with Mike at Lake Kiowa, posted that her brother Dave Corley is being inducted into the West Texas A&M Hall of Champions on February 21, 2014. He played football at WT from 1953 - 1957 and was on the 2nd WT team to play in a bowl game when WT beat So. Mississippi 20-13 in the Tangerine Bowl January 1, 1957. He was a running back.
*****
Should be an interesting Texas governor’s race. Republican Greg Abbott vs. Democrat darling Wendy Davis. So far Ms. Davis has not come across so well. Recently she said of Mr. Abbott, “He’s never walked a mile in my shoes.” Mr. Abbott has been paralyzed, confined to a wheelchair, and unable to walk since his youth. Oops.
*****
Dr. Kayla Smiley has moved from Oklahoma City back to the Metroplex with her chiropractor practice. She is now associated with The Joint Stonebriar at the Tollway and 121 in Plano.
*****
Sharon White (see her letter to the editor) is looking for suggestions on what to do with the material and equipment that was once used for the “Living Christmas Tree.” For several years local singers rehearsed Christmas music then performed for the community on the stands shaped like a Christmas tree. It hasn’t been used since 2003. Got any ideas contact Sharon White.
*****
St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Bovina’s German sausage dinner will be served Sunday February 2 in the parish hall. The church is on 3rd Street. Cost is $10 for some good homemade German sausage and sauerkraut and lots of extra trimmings. Takeouts and extra sausage will be available.
*****
The Bovina Chamber of Commerce banquet will be held at 7 p.m. March 20 at the XIT Recreation Center. Tickets are $15 for a steak dinner. They are also planning to resurrect the Bull Town Days celebration in Bovina. Plans are to have an all day celebration August 2. More details as we get them.
*****
The Friona Chamber of Commerce banquet was announced for March 4 but that is election day and the community center is a polling place. Chamber Executive Director Chris Alexander was communicating with the Chamber board this week to determine an alternate date. Details by next week’s Star. The Chamber is taking nominations for the citizen awards given at each year’s banquet. They are man, woman, teacher, most courteous employee, and boy and girl student of the year. Nomination forms available at the Chamber or call 250-3491.
*****
Friona volunteer firemen responded to two fire calls Tuesday. The first was at 3:45 p.m. east of Black when a passenger car caught fire, pulled off westbound Hwy 60 into the ditch and caught the grass on fire. The fire burned about 100 yards of grass and the rear of the car was burned. Cause of the car fire was unknown. Westbound Hwy 60 was closed and traffic detoured. Another driver flagged the car down when they saw smoke coming from the trunk.
A second Tuesday evening call was to a local residence that smelled an over heated wire smell. Firemen were on the scene for an hour checking wires and circuits but no fire occurred. Thanks to our firemen for their volunteer service to the community.
*****
Tiny Taylor will be celebrating her 90th birthday with a party on February 1. See the invite elsewhere in this Star.
*****
I became acquainted with Robert Vega this week. Robert and his son Ramiro have opened City Lube, an oil change facility located on the north side of Hwy 60 at FM 214. Robert is an independent truck operator and is helping his son get started at City Lube. Check out the details of what they do in their ad in this week’s Star. I know they would appreciate your business. Stop by and say hello.
*****
Postage increases effective Sunday Jan 26. Stamps will be 49-cents and most other postal rates will increase including box rentals. The smallest piece accepted to mail is 3 ½” x 5” and the maximum weight you can mail is 70 pounds. I know people groan about any rate increase but 49-cents is still cheap to send a piece of mail across the country. As far as I know, UPS and FedEx do not have a 49-cents rate.
*****
Yes we went to the stock show Thursday and the sale Saturday. Always enjoy watching the kids show their animals and hear the excitement when the judge awards the blue ribbons. Like most other events around here it takes a lot of work and a bunch of dedicated volunteers for a successful livestock show. The 2014 show appeared to be another success for the kids and for the community.
*****
And thanks for reading the Star. Keep us in mind if you have local news to share. Email us at frionastar@wtrt.net of stop by the office. We are open Mon - Wed 9 to 5. Or call us, 250-2211. Just don’t tweet because we don’t twitter. See ya next week. Until then!
*****
