A trace of snow Tuesday morning, not enough to measure. Plenty of snow and icy conditions around the Panhandle though. Was supposed to be brutal low temps Wednesday and Thursday and not too warm this weekend either. Bundle up and be safe if you are driving.
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Enjoyed the Chieftains baseball team pancake supper Friday night at the high school cafeteria. The portions were generous, with plenty of butter, syrup, and juice. The baseball boys were quick to pick up plates and wipe off the sticky tables. Coach Haddock said thanks to everyone who participated. The boys did scrimmage the Hereford JV Monday at 4:00 p.m. The word is that it was pretty cold for baseball.
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We learned that young Lucas Dickson, son of Becky and Dr. Jeff, had an emergency appendectomy last Thursday night about 11:00 p.m. Last we heard he was recovering nicely at home.
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A bit of good news for you political junkies: California Representative and Democrat Henry Waxman is retiring after 40 years in the House. That means the folks in California elected old Waxy 20 times. Lots of Democrats seem to be retiring, not running again, or at least distancing themselves from Barack Obama’s administration. Waxman was one of the main proponents of global warming and architect of Cap and Trade. It never passed. You can look it up. He is a tax and spend Democrat and we won’t miss him.
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A bunch of high school kids helped out with the blood drive last Thursday. Several students rolled up the sleeves and donated for the first time. Coffee Memorial Blood Center reported 59 donations. Thanks again to everyone for their generous donation to give the gift of life.
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Correction: last week I said FHS grad Juan Hernandez was in the Army. He’s in the Air Force. Thanks to his mom Carmela for calling to let me know. I really need to start writing stuff down more.
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Then another correction: Jo Beth Gipson stopped by to bring me up to date on the local SnackPak4Kids program. I gave some wrong info in last week’s Town Talk. The SnackPak location has moved from the Senior Citizen Center to the Friona Methodist Church. The volunteers meet the first and third Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. to stuff the backpacks. They are serving 56 kids a week. Peanut butter (16 oz) and Pop Tarts are always needed. Money donations are also accepted. You can now donate monthly through automatic debits. We have sign-up forms here at the Star office. Money is drafted on the 15th of the month. Stop by for details or contact Jo Beth Gipson or Becky Jones.
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My travel agent son Casey watched the Super Bowl on board a luxury cruise ship between Argentina and Antarctica. He was chaperoning a group. Tuesday Feb 4 was Casey’s 37th birthday. Hope his ship doesn’t get stuck in the ice. Happy birthday Dut.
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FHS algebra teacher and baseball parent Sandra Berend thrilled the fans during the Chieftain game vs. Littlefield Friday night. The Booster Club sells tickets for $1.00 for a chance to putt a golf ball the length of the gym floor and land the ball on a rug and win money donated by Robert Jones and Great Plains Ag Credit. The prize is $50 and accumulates if no one wins.
Friday night, the last night of the competition, the prize had increased to $150. Mrs. Berend had three golf balls to putt. On her third and final putt it took the golf ball what seemed like an eternity to get there but it finally rolled onto the left corner of the rug and amidst rousing cheers, even from the Littlefield fans, she claimed the $150. Nice job Sandra.
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Did I mention that Sandra makes and sells homemade fudge with or without pecans and walnuts. Without is $10 a pound I think. With nuts is $12. Place your order in plenty of time for Valentine’s Day. She even has some pretty Valentine boxes to put it in. Check out her Facebook page or call and place your order. I’ve tried it and it is really good.
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On the anniversary list: Kip and Misty Frye 18 years, Al and Susan Kerby of Bovina 37 years, Mike and Bonnie Pope 37 years, Norman and Gay Taylor 56 years Feb 8, and Vernell and James Cunningham will observe 71 years on Feb 11. Happy anniversary to each and all. If you have an anniversary date to share let us know.
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Friona State Bank (now Interbank) employees and customers will be saying goodbye to Cathy Spencer this week. She has been employed at the bank 34 years. Cathy’s daughter Tammy recently had triplets and Cathy will be relocating to Spur, Texas to help take care of the three babies. As we can imagine, triplets take a lot of frequent attention and effort. Cathy said several friends and church members had been taking turns helping out with the babies. Good luck Cathy and family.
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Prairie Acres/Heritage Estates administrator Billy Ray Johnston reported in the newsletter that Heritage Estates director John Rodriguez resigned to pursue his ambition of being a Physician’s Assistant. He said there are currently 14 residents at Heritage and 47 at Prairie Acres. The resident of the month is Bill Ellis and employee of the month is Rachel Martinez. She has been employed in the laundry department since October 1997.
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I may be the only person in Friona that has ever been to Sochi, Russia. Was there back in the 70s for one day. Check out my column this week for my impressions. Thanks for being a Star reader. Send along your news items and photos. See you next week. Until then!
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