Nohemi Castillo and Breanna Godinez were two of the 48 donors at last week's Friona Community Blood Drive hosted by the Friona Noon Lions Club. Coffee Memorial Blood Center representative Misty Newsom would like to thank Friona blood donors for their gifts of life.
The Friona community rose to the occasion again as they made the "2020-2021 Fingers Crossed" blood drive last Thursday a huge success. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, brave donors showed up to help others in need.
Out of the 56 who registered, 48 were able to donate. At the end of the day, Coffee Memorial Blood Center employees collected 41 units of whole blood, 4 RBC (doubles/8 units), and 3 plasma (CCP) donations. A low iron level or high blood pressure are the main reasons that prevent some from being able to donate.
The convalescent plasma is used to treat patients who have contracted the COVID-19 virus. Anyone who has recovered from the COVID-19 virus and has not taken a vaccine is eligible to donate plasma for use in treating the virus. Call 806-358-4563 for more information.
Donors received a long sleeve t-shirt and a free pass to "Escape the Trap House" in Amarillo. The next Friona community blood drive will be in April.
The 2021 FHS Mid-Winter Senior Recognition Night Ceremony will be on Tuesday, February 2nd immediately following the Friona Squaws basketball game. The Basketball King & Queen will be announced and Senior basketball players, powerlifters, and cheerleaders will be recognized along with their parents.
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FYI - St. Ann's Catholic Church of Bovina is having their annual German Sausage Dinner on Sunday, January 31, 2021 from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. (Texas time) at the St. Ann's Parish Hall on 3rd Street in Bovina, Texas. Donations will be $12 for adults and $6 for children under six years of age. Take-out plates will be available at no additional charge.
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Candidate filing is open for positions on the Friona Independent School District Board of Trustees, Friona City Council, and Parmer County Hospital District Board of Directors. The filing period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 12th. The general election will be held on Saturday, May 1st from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.
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February joined the calendar with January around 700 B.C. When February was first added to the calendar along with January in 700 B.C. by Numa Pompilius, it became the last month of the year. Pompilius tacked on these two months to line up with the lunar cycle. Julius Caesar attempted to align the calendar with the solar season creating the Julian calendar. February, already a short month, gained a few days bringing it to 28. Then every four years, a leap day was added. Under the current Gregorian calendar, the leap year functions differently. Leap years are divisible by four, with one exception. Centennial years must be divisible by 400. February is unique in other ways, too. Because it usually has 28 days, once every 6 years, it's the only month to have 4 full 7 day weeks. In the years that aren't leap years (otherwise known as common years), February and March start on the same day of the week.
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The Friona HIgh School Boys Powerlifting Team won first place at last week's Dimmitt Invitational Meet. It was the second team win of the season for the Chiefs. They also won the Cub Classic a couple of weeks ago in Brownfield.
Back row: Eduardo Juarez, Gabriel Abarca, Eduardo Rodriguez, Matthew Dimas, Giovanny Ponce, Anthony Abarca, Aaron Rodriguez, Frank Perez, Jarrett White
Front row: Michael Bautista, Mario Bautista, Isaac Olmos
The Parmer County Commissioners Court met in regular session on Monday, January 25, 2021 at 10 a.m. in the County Courtroom of the Parmer County Courthouse in Farwell, Texas. The meeting began with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and Texas Flag.
There were no public comments. Minutes from the January 11th meeting were read and approved. Commissioners approved the payment of the accounts payables as presented by County Treasurer Sharon May. The Treasurer's Report and the Quarterly Report were also approved.
Commissioners discussed a lease extension involving the county's land in the Permanent School Fund. Disagreements arose over the wording of the extension and whether or not the county would have any control over the publication of an intended survey of the property by the company currently leasing the land. The discussion was tabled until the next meeting.
Approval was given for contracting of part-time assistance in the Treasurer's Office. Altha Herrington has been hired in the past to assist with the budget process and the end-of-year budget adjustments that are required.
Commissioners approved the purchase of a Road Grader for use in Precinct 1. The new grader will be purchased from Warren Cat in Lubbock utilizing their 5-year trade-in program. The $127,600 payment will be made in full to avoid any interest charges. The purchase price for a new grader is $272,000 without trade-in.
A new COVID-19 Leave Policy was approved. The policy grants each county employee 80 hours of COVID-19 leave with the stipulation that they must take the vaccine when available to remain eligible for the leave time. The policy also becomes null and void if the federal government offers an identical COVID-19 Leave Policy.
In other business, a bond was approved for Tax Assessor Awyna Sanchez, twenty CE hours were approved for District Clerk Sandra Warren, and consideration on a water line under a county road was tabled until the next meeting.
Approval was given to the request by Bovina ISD for $116,290.88 of its Permanent School Fund money to pay for construction projects.
An internet provider contract was approved with Plateau for $392 per month to facilitate the installation of the new phone system.
A lease agreement was extended with Sea Scrolls for the Friona offices of Justice of the Peace #1, Department of Public Safety, and Parmer County Sheriff.
Commissioners accepted the resignation of long-time groundskeeper Andria Griswold.
Sheriff Randy Geries reported that he is currently housing 20 inmates in the Parmer County Law Enforcement Center. Approval was given for a security fence to be constructed to protect the new generator that was installed at the center.
The next scheduled Commissioners Court meeting is Monday, February 8th.
All meetings are open to the public. The Commissioner's Court reserves the right to go into Executive Session at any time. The agenda may be found on the Parmer County website. Information in this article is only a summary. Any questions concerning specific actions should be directed to the Commissioners Court.
Judge Jo Beth Gipson is serving her final week as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1. She tendered her resignation on January 11th at the Parmer County Commissioner Court meeting in Farwell.
Judge Gipson was first elected JP in 2010 when she ran against Jerry Loflin. She ran unopposed in the 2014 election and won office for a third time in 2018 when she ran against Ross Paiz.
The JP Precinct 1 office will remain vacant until action by the Commissioners Court or until the next election in 2022. The current Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 is Judge Deena Leuea and Judge Pam Haseloff is the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3.
Jo Beth and husband Bruce are moving to Graham, Texas to be closer to family. Bruce was the Director of the Community Supervision & Correction Department from March 2005 until October 2016. He then worked briefly for Deaf Smith County as a CS&C officer and for Benchmark Solutions. In August 2017, he began work as a Supervisor in the Special Case Loads at CSCD where he is currently employed until his retirement on February 24th.
Jo Beth and Bruce have been a vital part of our community and will be missed. We wish them the very best.
Health Protocols for Voters and Elections (English)
County Disaster Declaration (English)
March 16 FISD Letter (English) (Spanish)
March 31 FISD Letter (English) (Spanish)
Letter from City Manager (English) (Spanish)
Friona Community Helpline (English)
2-1-1 Texas Social Services Hotline (English)
Share The Facts about COVID-19 (English) (Spanish)
What You Need To Know (English) (Spanish)
What To Do If You Are Sick (English) (Spanish)
County Clerk PSA (English)
Chamber of Commerce Letter to Businesses (English)
FISD Emergency Resolution (English)
Covid Risk Chart (English)
