Daylight Saving Time starts at 2:00 a.m. Sunday March 8. Set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed Saturday night. Remember, Spring forward. Also, Friona schools will observe spring break next week.
*****
This up and down weather plays havoc with our life routines. It plays havoc with delivery of our Friona Star newspapers to out of town subscribers. We have had several "I didn't get my Friona Star" calls during the winter ice and snow. Obviously mail trucks and post office carriers face challenges when there is snow and ice on highways and sidewalks.
I have a by-mail subscription to the Clovis News Journal. They publish a paper six times a week, every day except Monday. Instead of receiving one a day, last week on Thursday I received five Clovis newspapers in my PO Box. Then I received two more on Saturday. There is no accounting for post office delivery to out-of-town readers, so be patient. If you don't get your Star on the day you think you should more than likely it is slow post office delivery (not the Friona post office). All we do is put the labels on the papers and take them to our local post office. Thanks for your patience. Spring and summer are coming.
*****
Friona high school has 44 students going to state in band and choir. Seven students qualified in both band and choir. Congratulations to Allison Johnston and Chris Rackley and our talented students. We will have photos and more later.
*****
There will NOT be a local election in Friona on May 9. There were three vacancies on both the school board and city council. Three people signed up on each so an election will not be necessary. On the city council the three incumbents signed up: Alan Monroe, Nancy Davis, and Bruce Fleming. For the school board, incumbents Andy Montana and Antonio Rocha and newcomer Jason Rector signed up. School board incumbent Mitchell Smiley chose not to run for re-election. All will be sworn in at the May meetings.
*****
Randy and Doreen Stone celebrated their 15th anniversary. Doreen had to celebrate her February 29 leap year birthday on February 28 but 2016 is leap year so she can celebrate her real birthday next year. Tonya and Kelly Lookingbill celebrated their 29th anniversary. Congratulations to all of these nice folks.
*****
We like to see young folks come back home. Jacy (Grimsley) Weatherly and her family have moved back to Friona from Amarillo. Jacy is a pharmacist and will be commuting a couple of days a week to work at an Amarillo hospital. Her husband works in Hereford. Kyle and Heather (Clark) Grimsley are returning to Friona. Kyle is a DPS Trooper and will be assigned to our area. Good news all around. Welcome back.
*****
Dana Jameson and I will be attending the Bovina Chamber of Commerce banquet next Thursday March 12 at the XIT Recreation Center. It is a nice facility and we are looking forward to the steaks and visiting. Tickets are $15 each and available from Don or Gladys Spring or pay at the door. If you are attending let them know, 251-1552.
*****
The Friona high school choir is selling Chieftain flip flops for $20. Director Allison Johnston says they have all sizes available. See any choir member or Allison to buy yours. You can let her know on Facebook or call or text her at 806-220-1610.
*****
Enjoyed the Sunday Mexican dinner at St. Teresa's. A great plate and took home a pint of their homemade salsa. (Was not too crazy about the round chips though.) I want to compliment the junior high boys and girls that helped us get our food and tea and desserts to the table then came around often filling glasses, carrying away plates and cups, and cleaning tables. What a great bunch of nice polite friendly kids. They made the meal even better. Once again the Catholic ladies provided a great dining experience. Thank you all.
*****
The first Class of 2015 senior banquet will be held at St. Teresa's Catholic Church Monday March 23 at 6:30 p.m. Mercedes Williams said she was ordering the sombreros this week and was planning the menu too. If the Baptist, Methodist, or Church of Christ has planned a senior banquet date please let us know.
*****
After lunch Sunday I moseyed over to the gym to check out donkey basketball for a while. The event drew a nice crowd and the kids on the donkeys were pretty much hilarious. We took a lot of fun photos included this week. On the homemade sweets table I snagged a box of three dozen cream cheese chocolate chip cookies for $10. The dessert sales were donations to the FFA students too. Thanks Diane White. Your cookies were scrumptious.
*****
Kitty Gallman and Melanie Braun are holding garage sale #4 Saturday March 7 from 1:00 - 3:00 P.M. at 306 W. 14th. This week features blankets, rugs, tablecloths, office and craft supplies, some furniture and more, all from the estate of the late Clydie Black, Kitty's mom and Melanie's grandmother.
*****
Our EMS and firemen first responders were dispatched Monday evening about 9:00 p.m. to a two vehicle accident on South Highway 214. Sheriff's deputies were also on the scene. Firemen used the jaws of life to extract one of the drivers. The two drivers were taken to Parmer Medical Center. Once again we thank our volunteer first responders for their service to the community.
*****
Also want to give a shout out to the TxDOT workers that spent hours and miles in the cold plowing snow off the highways. And to the private citizen front loader guys that show up and clear off parking lots at businesses around town. We appreciate all of you too.
*****
Prairie Acres administrator Billy Ray Johnston reports the census is below 40 at Prairie Acres and 12 at Heritage Estates. He says the reconstruction of the last several months is finished with new roof, kitchen, plumbing, electrical, new flooring in the front lobby and down the hall to the nurse's station, plus new furniture in the board room.
Resident of the month is Avanelle Sherrill and employee of the month is Jonathan Cruz who works in the dietary department and has been employed since November 2011. Elizabeth Williams is recognized for 15 years of service at Prairie Acres.
*****
The Chieftains squeezed in a baseball game Tuesday afternoon. The Monday Dalhart game was moved to Tuesday because of the melting snow and a sloppy field. Some baseball dads helped coaches dry out the field during the day Tuesday, using fans and other devices. It was the Chiefs first official game and they beat Dalhart 15-0 in the five innings mercy rule. I predict the Chiefs baseball team will have a good year. They have some big boys, lots of experience in returning starters, and new enthusiastic coaches in Jesus Quiroz and David Woods. Make plans to go watch a game.
*****
Finally, many folks noticed that the sprinklers were watering at the city park last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday when there was snow on the ground. People called the city and the police department to report it. City manager Patricia Phipps explained they had to empty water from the north water well tank because contractors were coming to do maintenance inside the tank. They ran water at the cemetery and city park to empty the tank for cleaning. Now you have the rest of the story. See you back here next week. Until then!
*****
