This week we began talking about Santa letters. Can you believe it? We set a deadline of December 7 for the primary and elementary schools to have Santa letters in. Any letters mailed at the post office are forwarded to us plus you can bring Santa letters by the office during our Monday-Wednesday business hours. Our Christmas newspaper will be published Thursday December 17. We are taking off the week of Christmas (no paper that week) and will be back in the office Monday December 30.
*****
Congratulations to Els and Koen Ally, proprietors of Optima Dairy, on the occasion of their 13th anniversary.
*****
Received a subscription renewal from Helen Vaughn of Waxahachie, just up the road from my hometown of Hillsboro. Helen included this note: "Ron, I read that James Wiley renewed his subscription to the Friona Star recently. James and my husband Odell Vaughn have been friends for a long time. James gave him a gift subscription to the Star a number of years ago and of course we are still enjoying reading the Friona Star every week. Thanks to James we are keeping up with the news of Friona. Thanks for a good paper, Ron." Thank you Helen for the nice comments and memories.
*****
Emma Lou Stewart's son Bob Stewart and wife Mary went to Africa last summer on a camera safari. Tuesday November 17 at 7:00 p.m. they will be showing their photos at Calvary Baptist Church. It is free of charge. Emma Lou thinks kids and adults will enjoy the presentation of a good selection of animals in Africa. Everyone is invited.
*****
Up for election in 2016 are the following county offices: District Attorney Kathryn Gurley, County Attorney Jeff Actkinson, Sheriff Randy Geries, Tax Assessor Bobbie Pierson, and Commissioners in Precinct 1 Kirk Frye and Precinct 3 Kenny White. The primary election is in March and the national election in November 2016.
*****
The Friona blood drive last Thursday collected 43 units of blood for Coffee Memorial Blood Center. The total was down from previous drives as the Blood Center did not accept donors with type A blood and many donors were busy with planting wheat while the weather was good. In the blood drive's hourly drawing for a free turkey, the turkey winners were Dale Houlette, Connie Jimenez, Andrew Aguirre, Jim Dixon, Angie Raymond, Jackie Martin, and Nina Trevino. The next blood drive is in January.
Many thanks to our local Subway for providing sandwiches for the donors and to the Noon Lions/Headquarters Restaurant for providing cobbler.
*****
My sources say that the Thai Sky Restaurant, formerly Thai City, is now open for business. It is the one next door to the grocery store. Congratulations to Hunan Restaurant as the Chamber of Commerce Member of the Month.
*****
This week marked 45 years since Dr. Gary Cash set up his veterinary shop here in Friona fresh out of Texas A&M. He said he and Mrs. Cash arrived with a U-Haul and a new baby. He went to the pool hall on Main St. and recruited some guys to help unload. Friona has been blessed to have Dr. Cash. We appreciate his animal practice and the photos he shares and lets us use in the Star. An all-around nice guy.
*****
Note from Connie Slagle. The Book Shop which is usually open Wednesdays from 2-5:30 p.m. will be closed November 25, the day before Thanksgiving.
Also, the Bigs in Schools program is going very well in the elementary school this fall. There is a need for four more volunteers who would be willing to help a child during their lunch hour on Wednesdays. For more information call Connie at 265-5811 or email Sara Pesina at sara@herefordbbbs.org. "Bigs" is a division of Big Brothers Big Sisters in which one adult tutors/mentors one child one hour per week at his school during the lunch period.
*****
Friends of the Friona Public Library. What a great group of ladies (and a few guys). I attended the Veterans Day breakfast Wednesday morning. It is sponsored by the Friends. How can we start the day better than scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, orange juice and coffee being served by a group of smiling ladies wearing aprons that said "God Bless America." The ladies volunteer to cook, decorate, and serve this Veterans observance every year and it is always well attended by veterans and families. Thank you Friends for all that you do.
*****
Dennis and Vickie Field bought the Masonic Lodge building on 7th St. and will be using it for driver's education classes. New state laws have made getting a driver license a bit more complicated these days. Our police chief told the city council Monday night they charged 11 people in October for driving without a license. If you are stopped without a license they haul you to the police station, call the municipal judge to come and collect a fine, call parents or a licensed driver, or have your vehicle towed. Yet people still do it.
*****
FHS seniors have received their packets for graduation. The packet includes order forms for cap and gown and invitations. They are due next Wednesday November 18 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. in the high school library.
*****
Basketball starts this week. We will be covering home games and playoff games. Thanksgiving is here almost, then Christmas, New Year, Easter, graduation, and summer. I might be moving too fast. See you next week. Until then!
*****
