For the first time since before Christmas, the calendar week is back to normal. We have only one Monday and one Friday this week. Had a hard time keeping the days straight during the holidays. What wasn’t normal was starting the week on Monday with a 6 degree temperature and a 3 degree wind chill. They say the brutal freezing across the north and eastern half of the country is a polar vortex. Some brutal sub-zero cold up north. I got cold just watching the Packers-49ers game Sunday where the temperature was 4 degrees but almost 75,000 fans still showed up. That’s crazy.
*****
There will be a band booster meeting Monday January 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the high school band hall. All parents and boosters are urged to attend.
*****
Peggy Monroe and her volunteers say thank you for the donations to the Empty Stocking Fund providing gifts to needy children at Christmas. Peggy said they shopped at Penney’s in Amarillo and provided clothes, socks, jackets, and underwear to 27 children. Names of children who receive gifts are provided by the schools. Also, the US Department of Agriculture inspectors at Cargill donated toys and food for the Empty Stocking Fund children.
*****
Friona High School and WT graduate Deirdre Johnston Long has been hired as the FHS speech and drama teacher. Deirdre did her student teaching in Friona last semester and graduated WT in December. The speech/drama opening was due to Erika Montana’s promotion to assistant high school principal. Retired speech/drama teacher Joy Morton came out of retirement as the interim speech/drama teacher last semester. Congratulations and much success to Deirdre.
*****
The local Friona livestock show is Sunday January 12 at the community center. Animal weigh-in is at 1:30 p.m. and the show follows about 2:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. The County Junior Livestock Show is January 15-18 at the community center. Weigh-in and heifer/steer show is Wednesday January 15, Thursday show starts at 8:00 a.m. with lambs and goats. Premium sale is Saturday January 18 starting at 1:00 p.m. Come out and support the kids and their animals. Plenty of concession stand stuff will be available.
*****
Congratulations to 2013 FHS graduate Adilene Adame for being named to the Eastern New Mexico University Dean’s List for the fall semester. Also named to the Dean’s List was Crystal Potts. To be eligible for the Dean’s List a student must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours with a GPA between 3.25 and 4.00.
*****
The next Friona blood drive will be Thursday January 30 from noon to 7:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church. Details will be printed in the Star between now and then. Donors can make an appointment or just show up. Refreshments and t-shirts are provided. Friona folks have been big supporters of the Coffee Memorial blood drives and we hope that continues in 2014.
*****
Our sympathies to Coach Creighton Henderson and his family on the loss of his mother LaQuetta Henderson. Services were held Tuesday at Sundown High School.
*****
Congratulations to Betty and Delton Lewellen on the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary. Daughters Pam Hamilton and Donna Schueler organized a party with grandkids and great grandkids and family attending. Betty said they all had a good time.
*****
Also congratulations to Paul (Lucky) and Susan Gonzales celebrating their 45th anniversary Sunday.
*****
Margaret Parsons said the family Christmas dinner at Heritage Estates was a good time. Good music by Sheila Barton and Jim and Rhonda Murphree, good food and good attendance. Margaret says, “Our families blessed us with a shower of cup towels which were badly needed and very much appreciated. We love you families.”
*****
Prairie Acres family council meeting will be Thursday January 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the front conference room. Administrator Billy Ray Johnston will give a report. Family Council president is Cindy Rogers.. The resident of the month is Eva Turner. The employee of the month is Rosa Pineda. Rosa works in the dietary department and has been employed since December 2009.
*****
Betty Louise Rector and other members of the Rector family took a trip down to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where they relaxed, soaked up some sun, and ventured to swim with the dolphins. Don’t know if Betty Louise actually swam with the dolphins but there is a photo on this page of her smooching one.
*****
We will be making a few subtle changes to the Star as we get started on 2014. With the addition of Dana Jameson to our staff we will be able to cover even more local events and happenings. We plan to use a slightly larger type font and feature more photos and local news so if you have some news to share send it along. Our email is frionastar@wtrt.net. Here’s to a great 2014 for all of us. Until then!
*****
