News from February 2, 2012
FHS seeks distinguished graduate nominations
From Dr. Chris Morrow, FHS principal
Friona Independent School District is pleased to continue the tradition of the Friona High School “Hall of Distinguished Graduates.” The purpose of this Hall is to honor and recognize former graduates who have exhibited strong personal character and integrity while attaining prominence in their elected fields of endeavor, and through their accomplishments have had a positive impact on society.
Nominees must meet the following criteria: 1) Gained recognition and prominence in his/her field of endeavor, 2) person of good character and integrity, 3) positive impact on society.
Eligibility: 1) Friona High school graduate (eligible 10 years after graduation), or 2) an individual who has made exceptional contributions to Friona High School.
If you would like to nominate a candidate who meets the above referenced criteria and eligibility, please contact Chris Morrow at 806-250-3951 and request a Friona High School Hall of Distinguished Graduates nominee application form. Nominations will be accepted until February 24, 2012.
Cardiac clinic opens at hospital
Dr. Neelagaru
Parmer Medical Center has announced that a specialty clinic in cardiology is now open. Services are provided by Suresh Neelagaru, M.D., a board certified cardiologist.
Dr. Neelagaru offers cardiology services to patients aged 15 and older. He will be providing echocardiograms, EKGs, holter monitors and pre-treatment consultations and post-treatment follow up visits at PMC.
Some of the wide range of treatments and services he provides in his Amarillo office include pacemakers, defibrillation, heart caths, cardiomyopathy and more. He will be providing clinics monthly and appointments can be made by a referral from your primary care physician or by calling Dr. Neelagaru’s office at 806-352-9090 for a self-referral.
The cardiology clinic is an addition to the other clinics already offered at PMC, including sports medicine and orthopedics, gastroenterology and hepatology, and gynecology. For more information on this new service or any of the other existing clinics, contact Amber Bonds at 806-250-2754.
Magician to perform
at Chamber banquet
Monte Holder
The 56th annual Friona Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture banquet will be held Tuesday March 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the community center.
Tickets are $25 and will be sold in advance only, no tickets sold at the door. Tickets will be available at the Chamber office, 621 Main St. beginning February 21. Gold tables are available for $500. You will receive a table with reserved seating for eight plus recognition in the program and in all news coverage.
The banquet will have a Hawaiian theme this year so get out those Hawaiian flowered shirts and dress tropical. The menu will include prime rib and all the trimmings.
As in the past there will be a silent auction. Donations for the auction will be accepted through February 28. Citizen award nominations can be made by picking up a form at the Chamber or off the Chamber website. Nomination deadline is 3 p.m. Friday February 17. Nominations are for Man and Woman of the Year, Boy and Girl Student of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and Most Courteous Employee.
Award-winning Lubbock magician Monte Holder will perform ”The Magic of Montgomery”. He has entertained audiences across the Southwest U.S. and performed for corporate events, fairs, festivals, and schools.
Montgomery believes that magic is one of the true forms of entertainment that is capable of breaching language and cultural barriers. He takes great pride in offering family oriented entertainment that can be enjoyed by all ages.
For more information about the banquet contact Chris Alexander or Betty Lamb at the Chamber office, 250-3491.
Town Talk II
Just like that the first month of the new year is history. This is a leap year so February has 29 days. We’ve had great weather this week but the meteor guys in Amarillo are saying some rain and/or snow maybe this weekend. Don’t wait until Sunday to gather your Super Bowl food and drink. Stores likely to be crowded with last minute party goers.
*****
At 9 a.m. Thursday February 2 the UIL district realignments for the next two years will be announced. Several schools will change classification i.e., River Road to 3A and Nazareth to 6-man football. Hopefully Friona will get out of the 8-team district. Should be interesting to see who and where we wind up.
*****
Received word this week that Anne Corn has shown marked improvement from the initial effects of her stroke and hopes to be back home in Canyon this week. She will require assistance but it is not known if it will be round the clock care or day assistance. All the best to Anne during her recovery.
*****
St. Teresa’s Catholic Church is planning its annual Mexican dinner for Sunday March 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church ladies’ salsa will be worth the trip. Adults $9 and children under 10 are $4. Mark your calendar but we will remind you again later.
*****
KAMR-TV (Channel 4) in Amarillo did a feature on the St. Ann’s Catholic Church German sausage dinner Sunday in Bovina. I’m told that Dana Campbell was interviewed during the show. I’ve not seen it but was also told you can view it at www.myhiplains.com. Reports are the annual sausagefest was a great success.
*****
Friona firemen and EMS responded to a one vehicle rollover accident Saturday night north of Friona on CR 19 near CR D. EMS dispatched LifeStar from the scene and met the helicopter at the hospital to transfer the driver, Bron Euler, 50, to Amarillo with severe facial lacerations and broken facial bones and other injuries. He was the only occupant in the vehicle. I’m told he was later transferred to Lubbock. Parmer County Sheriff deputies and DPS troopers investigated.
*****
There is a report and photos elsewhere in this week’s paper about Friona firemen and EMS rescuing a truck driver in medical distress from his truck at the west Allsup’s parking lot Sunday. The man had not reported to his company since Friday. A fellow trucker found him seriously ill in the sleeper cab of the semi-. First responders worked an hour to extract the gentleman from the truck cab by removing the driver and passenger seats to get him out. No report on the exact nature of his illness. He was taken to Amarillo via AeroCare. Thanks to our first responder volunteers for their service to the community.
*****
Thank you Gayle Murdock and FCCLA students. Each month Ms. Murdock’s students select a local business or organization to honor as their “Group of the Month.” Tuesday morning about 15-20 students from the class and Ms. Murdock stopped by the Friona Star office with plates of cupcakes and brownies to say thanks for all of the school and FCCLA coverage in our newspaper. We are honored to be the FCCLA “Group of the Month”. What a nice surprise.
*****
Workers are installing a sprinkler system on the lawn at the junior high school. Finally the school maintenance folks will not have to drag around those old hoses and sprinklers to keep the grass growing.
*****
The new 75 mph speed limits on some Texas highways are not official until new signs go up. The new speed limit will apply to portions of I-27 and I-40 here in the Panhandle and quite a few other stretches of road around Texas. TxDOT has removed 950 nighttime and 1050 truck and truck nighttime speed signs in the Lubbock District’s 17 county area. Just watch for the signs and don’t speed.
*****
In 2011 DPS Troopers in the Amarillo District seized the following total amounts of illegal stuff: 7011 lbs marijuana, 685 lbs cocaine, 92 lbs methamphetamines, 55,991 grams codeine, 53,956 grams heroin, total drug value $45,733,060, and cash seized $4,169,638. A pretty good years’ work I’d say. Way to go Troopers.
*****
We also had a visit this week from the Tiger Cub Scouts Troop 56 and their leaders. The youngsters are first graders and are a part of the rebuilding of the Scout program in Friona. The Boy Scout House by the community center is getting a facelift by the adult volunteers and they hope to host an open house at a later date. The boys came by to see how we put the newspaper together. They each got a Friona Star and a piece of candy out of our candy wagon.
*****
Happy birthday Saturday to my son Casey Carr down in Frisco. The boy will be 35. He manages a travel agency and has just returned from a group tour of Viet Nam and Cambodia. Looking forward to hearing about it and looking at their photos, all 1,000 of them perhaps. Yikes! Happy birthday son.
*****
A post on Facebook said the Windmill City Dining Restaurant in Hereford has closed. It was billed as a fine-dining establishment and open for just over a year I think.
*****
The Friona ISD school calendar for February is included this week on page 8. Spring semester is a hectic time at our schools so you may want to save the school calendar page ‘cause your kids don’t always tell you everything that goes on at school. Thanks to Kathy Sandoval at the ISD admin office for getting the calendar together every month.
*****
Went to enemy territory Tuesday evening at the Bobcat Den in Dimmitt. Had a nice brisket burrito combo at the concession stand then watched the Chiefs come from 10 points behind at the half to beat the Bobcats. Oldtimers around here say Friona doesn’t often beat Dimmitt on their home court. Way to go Chiefs. Second place behind Idalou in an 8-team district. Looks like playoffs coming soon.
*****
Well, enjoy the Super Bowl on Sunday. Here’s hoping for a nice quiet weekend. Next week is our annual Valentine’s paper with many little darling photos. Watch for it. We’ll see you later. Until then!
*****