Congratulations to all of the Chamber of Commerce winners, and a big thank you to participants and sponsors for another successful banquet. The Friona Star is happy to bring you a special section of the newspaper this week featuring all the highlights and happenings of the Chamber banquet, and we hope you enjoy reading about the honorees of our beloved community.
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St. Patrick’s Day is this Saturday, March 17, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick who was the foremost patron saint of Ireland. Originally a religious feast holiday, St. Patrick’s Day has taken on many traditional celebrations of Irish culture including parades, festivals, and a lot of green. For whatever your plans are this holiday weekend, we hope you’ll always remember to consider the safety of yourself and others.
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Writing ‘Friona Flashbacks’ has become one of my favorite weekly duties here at the Friona Star. I enjoy looking back to different years, seeing the way things have changed or the way they’ve stayed the same. It brings me joy to see people I recognize, or photos of myself as a child, or events that I remember. It also intrigues me to look back even further, long before my time or even my dad’s time, just to imagine Friona in those days, and the Friona Star operating just as it is today. This week I pulled a Friona Star newspaper from September 3, 1937, one of the earliest physical copies we have in the office. I began reading and was quickly interested, noticing language like “arduous task”, “most joyously spent”, and “very much enthused”. I felt that some of the older Friona folks might be especially interested this week to see if they recognize any of the names or events listed in the stories. I also couldn’t help but notice that the weather pattern reported at that time is about the same as we face right now… (still waiting on that rain). I hope you enjoy, I look forward to bringing you more history in the coming weeks.
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If you’re looking for something to do at the tail end of Spring Break, you should consider taking your family to the ‘Sounds of Rescue’ event at the Don Harrington Discovery Center in Amarillo this Friday, March 16. Get up close and personal with the Lifestar Helicopter (from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), discover how sounds of an AMR Ambulance and AMS Therapy Dogs can help us when we’re in trouble (from 1-4 p.m.), test the sirens on a police car (from 1-4 p.m.), or learn about safety and smoke alarms and how to get out of danger (1-4 p.m.). Kids can also sign up for Summer Camp with the DHDC. For more information about spring or summer events at the DHDC, please visit www.dhdc.org or contact Mandi Ried at (806)355-9547.
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The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is reminding Texans that there are only two official websites for conducting Texas driver license/identification card/driver record transactions: www.texas.gov and www.dps.texas.gov. To prevent fraudulent use of your personal information and to avoid paying unnecessary fees, only conduct transactions on these two websites.
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Some of my family and I will be traveling to Childress next weekend to attend a ceremony as part of the 108th Panhandle Press Association Convention where my dad, Ron Carr, former editor in chief of the Friona Star, will be inducted into the PPA Hall of Fame. My dad won many plaques of honor with the PPA for his writing and photographs during his time at the Friona Star. I am so proud of him, and discover something new of his accomplishments every single day.
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The big Senior Steak Dinner is fast approaching and will be on April 15, 2018 in the Friona Junior High cafeteria. Tickets can be purchased for $15 in advance or $16 at the door. All proceeds of this event will benefit the Senior Drug-Free All-Night Party.
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The adorable Transportation Parade (photos on Page 12) took place last Friday morning between the Friona Primary and Elementary schools. The kids of Pre-K and Special Education were learning about all different types of transportation in their unit during the school week, so they showed up with everything from Bat-mobiles and unicorns to cattle trucks and police cars. Angelina Zulas, a preschool assistant teacher, did a fantastic job narrating the event via megaphone, listing each unique vehicle and their drivers. Parents and school friends lined the streets with smiles and waves, creating a special and memorable event for the little ones. Photos of the parade were taken by Clint Mears, Adrianna Aguirre, and myself.
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“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
