Cookies for Cancer Survivors — Friona FCCLA generously gave the funds it collected from selling cookies to the Parmer County Cancer Coalition. In the photo — (l-r) Merary Salinas, Vice President Emily Ibarra, Mayor Greg Lewellen, Secretary Jocelyn Hernandez, Kyloe Galan, Enrique Juarez, and Sharron Serrano.
Raising Awareness — Mayor Greg Lewellen (center) proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness/Prevention Month for the City of Friona at Monday evening’s council meeting. Deaf Smith Crisis Center Executive Director Angela Gamoa (left) and Board President Jennifer Rampley (right) accepted the proclamation. Deaf Smith Crisis Center serves Deaf Smith, Parmer, Castro and Oldham Counties. Last year, they assisted in 287 cases in the four county area. The Crisis Center hotline number is 806-363-6727.
Sausage Wrap rescheduled — Friona Banking Center will host its annual Sausage Wrap fundraiser on Thursday, October 23rd from 11 a.m. till 1p.m. in the parking lot. Proceeds will be donated to a local charity.
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Rural Texas Hospitals Seek Federal Funding — The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed this summer, created the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion grant program for the nation’s rural hospitals. On Monday, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) heard from rural providers before submitting the state’s grant application next month. Over the last two decades, 25 rural Texas hospitals have closed, creating obstacles to accessing care for residents living in remote areas of the state. Currently, 76 of the state’s 156 rural hospitals are at risk of closure, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality & Payment Reform. A representative for Electra Hospital District said rural hospitals “bear the burden of Medicaid and economically disadvantaged patients in our communities.” Another medical professional said that insurance companies often reimburse independent rural hospitals far less than urban hospitals. HHSC will submit the grant application for Texas by Nov. 5, and recipients will be announced by the end of the year. The Texas Flyover
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Second Chances — National Mulligan Day is observed every October 17th to offer an opportunity to give yourself a second chance or, as some people call it, a do-over. In golf, a “mulligan” is when a player gets a second chance to make a shot or put. In local charity golf tournaments, mulligans usually cost $5 each and are used as a fundraising tool. We can all think of something that at one point in time, we have said, “I wish I could do that over.” Celebrate the day by taking a do-over and be considerate and offer a “mulligan” to friends and neighbors. Some days we all deserve it.
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National Exascale Day — This day celebrates the scientists and researchers who make breakthrough discoveries in medicine, materials sciences, energy and beyond with the help of some of the fastest supercomputers in the world. Exascale is defined as a quintillion computations per second. For perspective, if all 7.7 billion people on earth each completed one calculation per second, it would take over 4 years. An exascale computer can complete a quintillion computations in 1 second.
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Average New Car Prices Set Record — The average price of a new vehicle in the U.S. hit a record $50,080 in September, breaking the $50,000 barrier for the first time, according to Kelley Blue Book. Expensive electric vehicles and luxury models are driving the surge, with EVs now averaging around $58,000 and Porsche leading all brands at nearly $120,000 per sale. Analysts say the $20,000 car is effectively extinct, leaving budget-conscious buyers to hunt the used market.
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National Days
October 16: Dictionary Day
October 17: Mulligan Day
October 18: Exascale Day
October 19: Seafood Bisque Day
October 20: Chicken & Waffles Day
October 21: Pharmacy Tech Day
October 22: Nut Day
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FHS Junior Varsity Cheerleaders — Back Row (l-r) Adrynn Castaneda, Avril Wells, Leah Salazar. Front Row (l-r) Melanie Estrada, Zaylee Dominguez, Kalie Hernandez.
In Parmer County: $40 per year
Out of Parmer County: $50 per year
eStar (emailed): $30 per year
Call 806-250-5200 for more information
