Don't forget to turn all of your clocks back one hour as of Sunday November 1 at 2:00 a.m. We are falling back to Central Standard Time, screwing up the daylight for a few months. It is a drag for the first few days but we will no doubt adjust. They recommend you change your smoke detector batteries too.
*****
Glad to see gasoline prices down to $1.99 this week. Wasn't too long ago we were paying $4.09 here and elsewhere. My observation is no matter how low gasoline goes someone will find it cheaper somewhere else and gripe about it. Lower gasoline prices help a lot of people, like my brother Rick, a traveling salesman for Becknell who is on the road every week. Like many others whose livelihood depends on favorable gasoline prices, the $1.99 is nice to see.
*****
Muleshoe native Senior Airman T.J. Brantley, son of Curby and Kay Brantley and husband of Friona native Staci Murphree Brantley, was honored as the 2015 USO Airman of the Year in ceremonies in Washington D.C. Staci and T.J. met Vice President Joe Biden and other star-spangled folks. They will soon be adding another grandbaby to the Murphree clan. It will be Curby and Kay's first grandchild.
*****
Is it time for some blinking caution lights at the Cargill plant entrance? Over the years we have reported on two main trouble spots for traffic accidents, the Hub intersection and the Cargill plant entrance. A major accident at the Cargill entrance Thursday October 22 about 6:30 a.m. in the early morning darkness claimed the life of a local woman, Tomasa Raymundo-Rodriguez.
It was a chain reaction accident. A dually pickup pulling a cattle trailer struck an SUV. A second accident was caused as a red car exited the plant, attempted to go around the first wreck, and drove into the path of a semi-cattle truck which struck the car in the rear. Eastbound Hwy 60 was closed for several hours and all traffic was re-routed to the westbound side of the highway.
Ambulances from Friona and Bovina were called and transported four victims to our Friona hospital. Mrs. Raymundo-Rodriguez died at the hospital. The Friona volunteer firemen, Friona police, Sheriff's deputies, and several DPS Troopers worked the accident scene. The road remained closed for several hours. DPS cleared the scene about 2:00 p.m.
Thank you to all of the first responders/volunteers for your service to our community.
*****
Was proud to attend the 6th St. Church of Christ 3rd annual first responders dinner Saturday night. Had some great fried chicken, white gravy, green beans, dessert and fellowship. Pastor Jeff Procter introduced those present from DPS Troopers, Friona police, EMS, Sheriff's office, and Friona volunteer fire department. His daughter Elaina assisted in handing out appreciation certificates to those present. He offered a prayer for protection and safety for the first responders and their families. We are grateful for their service.
*****
Did you get by the band's brisket dinner Sunday? I got there early, snapped a few photos, and took a plate home. Special thanks to whoever baked or bought the carrot cake. It was delicious as was the brisket meal. Thanks to the band boosters, parents, and band members for the Sunday dinner.
*****
Let's see, I had free hotdogs at the volleyball game Friday evening, fried chicken at the 6th St. Church of Christ Saturday, then brisket Sunday noon. Then Monday the World Health Organization (WHO) publishes a study that meat and wieners can cause cancer. It is a study that will be mostly ignored around here, and probably everywhere else. At one time or another almost everything has been said to cause cancer.
*****
Speaking of food, one of the area's most popular dinners will be at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bovina Sunday November 1 when they serve the annual Thanksgiving turkey and dressing feast. If you have been there before you know the tasty menu. If you have never been go and treat yourself. I believe it begins at 11:00 a.m.
*****
Tomasa Raymundo-Rodriguez is the lady killed in last Thursday's major accident at the Cargill plant entrance. She is a native of Guatemala who lived in Friona and worked on the cleaning crew at the plant. She was 33 years-old and leaves several children as survivors. Her obituary is included in this Star. Donations are being accepted to assist the family in returning Tomasa to Guatemala. We donated at the high school office Friday and there is a donation box at Fast Stop. It is a great tragedy and if you can help with a donation please do so.
*****
Kim and Mitchell Smiley flew up to Boston last weekend to spend Parents Day with son Haden, a student at Harvard. They attended the Harvard-Princeton football game too. Saw a photo of Mitchell with his Harvard ballcap on at the game. Must be nice to be an Ivy Leaguer.
*****
Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) has introduced a bill in Congress titled CHANGE. That stands for Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government. He wants us to stop using the term illegal aliens. It is a hurtful term. We are supposed to use "undocumented foreign national" in federal law and government documents. Sorry but that is too much for me to remember.
*****
Local official weather guy John Gurley reports Friona has received 6.98" of rain in October and 32.57" total for the year. We have definitely been blessed with moisture in 2015.
*****
Have a look at the Red Ribbon Week drawings throughout the Star this week. Big thanks to junior high art teacher Aaron Moralez and his students for providing the drawings and the business sponsors for their advertising support urging everyone to be drug free.
*****
The November FISD calendar is on page 16 of this week's paper. Lot of activities this time of year leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Squaws are volleyball district champions and basketball is right around the corner. Stick with us as we try to keep up the pace. See you at the Country Market Friday and Saturday. Canna Ray is cooking in the concession stand. What else can I say? Until then!
*****
