“The Washington Redskins are removing that embarrassing demeaning word from their team name. From now on they will just be called the Redskins!” This came from Ruth Buzzi, the funny lady of Laugh-In fame. Many of you are too young to remember the TV show Laugh-In but it was a very popular and funny show for many years.
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I hung out for a while at the Kendrick Golf Tournament Saturday afternoon. The tournament ended Sunday afternoon and the country club course is now closed. Some of the golfers I talked with said the course was in pretty rough shape for this final go around. The country club has been an integral part of the community for many years. Sad to see it go.
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The Saturday evening meal for the golfers was catered by Canna and Jeff Ray. Their food is always top notch and they stay busy with their Country Rose location near Summerfield. It is booked virtually every weekend for some sort of gathering from weddings to class reunions to birthday parties and any other reason you could think of.
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Former Friona football coach Mike Herbert retired from Lubbock Monterey at the end of this school year after 29 years of coaching, many of those years in Friona. Mike has taken a job as a sales representative for a sporting goods operation in Lubbock.
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The long and short of anniversaries. Clarence and Wynona Martin celebrated 67 years Sunday. Sharon and Teddy White 48 years. Allison and Bryan Johnston observed a 32nd anniversary last week. Terry and Varla Wilcox celebrated 35 years. Jose and Marie Samarron 21 years. Krista Graham Wheeler and Kyle celebrated four years and Deirdre Johnston Long and Bill observed their first year anniversary. Congratulations and many more to all of these June brides.
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Might want to check out the garage sale at the Ingram residence Friday June 27 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Several families participating. Stop by 1626 W. 9th in Friona.
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A BNSF train notified local law enforcement they were stopping a train in Friona Monday evening about 8:00 p.m. to remove a man who had evidently caught a ride, which is a big no-no. The train stopped and a Sheriff’s deputy found the man near Washington St. I believe he was from California. Got this info from my scanner. Don’t know what happened to the guy but the railroad doesn’t take kindly to anybody messing around the trains and tracks.
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Congratulations and good luck to former Friona resident Donice Jones Strickland and husband T.J. on opening Strickland’s Floral & Gifts at 119 E. 5th St. in Clovis, NM. They live in Texico and Donice has become quite the craftsy person.
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Drawing winners at the Friona blood drive, all of whom received gift cards to Thai City, Los Arcos, or Tasty Cream, were Robert Neelley, Phillip Zeller, Emily Barraza, and Juan Rivera.
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Since we have some rain and water in Reeve Lake, a KidFish day will be held Sunday July 13 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Fishing rods and bait furnished or bring your own. Prizes awarded by age group. Be sure to register when you get there.
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The Chamber of Commerce reports that eight cheeseburger cook teams have officially signed up for the Cheeseburger Festival July 19 with another four teams that say they are going to participate. It is not too late to get your cook team entered to win the $1,000 first prize or $300 second place prize. Team forms and vendor forms and car show forms are on the Chamber website, frionachamber.com.
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This weekend, June 27-29, a youth group from the Lubbock Sunset Church of Christ will be in Friona on a mission trip to clean up and paint some local properties. Will be about 30 kids in the group.
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We have a couple of fireworks stands ready to open this week. They will sell through midnight July 4. Shooting fireworks in the Friona city limits is prohibited. If you are caught there can be a fine. If you are going to be shooting fireworks remember to be careful about starting fires. The burn ban is still lifted but that could change. Just be careful. It is not difficult.
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County commissioners this week hired Southwest Business Solutions of Clovis to provide IT support for the county offices. Discussion was held on replacing the NetData server or using the Cloud for future court case filings. County Judge Trey Ellis said by 2016 the state will require all court cases to be e-filed.
Sheriff Randy Geries reported that insurance has been paid to purchase a new Tahoe to replace the one totaled a few months back. The Sheriff department’s transportation van has been sold to Deaf Smith County and a new pickup will be purchased to be used as a patrol vehicle.
A resolution opposing the federal Clean Water Act was approved. The regulations would require extensive expansion of the use of culverts and dredging deeper bar ditches in all counties among other requirements.
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We met the new Friona primary school principal this week. She is Ashley Smith, an elementary school teacher from Hereford. Her husband works at Sweet Bran in Bovina. She has a 2-year-old and a 7-month-old. The family will be moving to Friona when their home in Hereford is sold. Welcome to the Smith family.
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At an early morning special meeting Tuesday, the city council approved the appointment of Lt. Isidro Jimenez as interim Police Chief. Lt. Jimenez assumes the police chief duties on the retirement of Chief Frank Mooney effective July 1. He has been with the Friona PD since 2004.
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A carnival is in town through Saturday, maybe Sunday. It is located on Hwy 214 at the community center. Wristband for rides is $20. They have some other stuff. That’s all I know.
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A neighborhood 4th of July parade is planned for Friday July 4 beginning at 10:00 a.m. starting and ending at 1606 W. 10th. Bring the kids, bikes, trikes, golf carts, wagons, strollers. Larry Rector will have his kid train there and will lead the parade as Uncle Sam. Prize bags will be given to the first 100 parade entrants. The parade will be only about two long blocks but will be fun for the kids and patriotic grownups. The Gingg family is coordinating the event so look for some dairy products being handed out.
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See you all back here next week. Send us your local news and photos. Until then!
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