A much anticipated "game-changing" rain took a long time to get here this year and a long time to fall once it arrived. Reeve Lake was a beneficiary of the influx of fresh water and provided the mirror image of the building in the photo. More renovations to the Community Center are in the works. A construction schedule will be announced when it is finalized.
Parmer County Commissioners Court met in regular session on Monday August 22, 2022 at 10:00 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 comments from the public during the open forum. Minutes from the August 8th meeting were read and approved. Commissioners approved the payment of the accounts payables as presented by County Treasurer Sharon May. The Treasurer's Payroll Report was also approved.
Due to last week's weather event which produced 1-2+" of rain for most parts of the county, Commissioners approved the lifting of the burn ban. Also, an order for the November General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 was approved.
A $50 gift card incentive was approved for any county employee who completes a physical exam with their physician or completes a Wellness Check Program provided by Covenant hospital. The incentive program is in conjunction with the Texas Association of Counties and is a strategy to help keep health insurance premiums down.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was approved between PRPC and the Parmer County Sheriff's Office. The agreement involves a State Homeland Security Program in which an AFIS fingerprint system is located in Farwell. Three other systems are located in the 26 county PRPC region to provide law enforcement in the Texas panhandle access to the latest fingerprint technology. Also, a contract was renewed with Southwest Business Solutions to serve as the county's IT services provider.
Parmer County Sheriff Eric Geske informed the Court that the Parmer County Law Enforcement Center is currently housing 25 inmates of which 14 are paying customers from Deaf Smith County.
All meetings are open to the public. Information in this article is only a summary. Any questions concerning specific actions should be directed to the Commissioners Court.
Take Note — The Band boosters are selling t-shirts. They are gray with the Chieftain Band logo on the front and a Chieftain head with the year on the back. They cost $20.00 each. Contact Katie Gilley at 806-346-4934 or email her at katiegilley@live.com for more information and to place an order. Orders due by Wednesday, August 31st. Orders MUST be paid for by the ordering deadline or your order will be canceled.
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Thanks for giving — Thirty-four donors registered at the Friona Community Blood Drive last Thursday. 21 Whole Blood Unit and 7 2RBC (Power Red) procedures were performed for a total of 35 units. Each unit of blood donated saves 3 lives. The next drive is scheduled for November 3rd. Thank you, Friona!
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Snack Pak update — Every other TUESDAY local volunteers meet at 3:00 p.m. at the north end of the Friona United Methodist Church to assemble snack packs to be distributed to the Primary, Elementary, and Junior High Schools. If you would like to help, August 30th is the next "packing" day.
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Got Checked? — August 26th honors Donna Cioffi, a cancer thriver and the President and Founder of First Company Pink. First Company Pink (501c3 nonprofit) founded the National Got Checked Day in 2021. The organization's decade of experience is laser-focused on early prevention. National Got Checked Day creates a call to action, providing a friendly reminder and asking a simple question, "got checked?" Be inspired when you answer, "YES!" Routine breast cancer screenings do save lives.
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Pre-game meal — Next Friday evening, Cargill of Friona and the Friona Noons Lions Club will team up again for a FREE meal prior to the season opening game between Friona and Panhandle. Cargill will serve up the awesome hamburgers with all the fixin's and the Lions Club will dish out their "World Famous" french fries. Be there!!!
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When it rains there, it pours — Last week, some parts of Dallas had more than 16 inches of rain in 24 hours. That is more than we get in an average year of rainfall. We need to pump that extra rain to the Ogallala Aquifer.
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Save the Dates — The Little Miss & Miss Friona pageants will be held on Sunday, September 11th at the FHS Auditorium. Little Miss will begin at 2 p.m. and Miss Friona will start at 6 p.m. Homecoming football game is Friday, September 16th with festivities starting at 6:30 p.m. 66th Annual Maize Days Celebration is Saturday, September 17th.
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Next week — Football Preview, Maize Days news, and more!
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National Days
August 25:
Park Service Founders Day
August 26:
Got Checked Day
August 27:
Just Because Day
August 28:
Thoughtful Day
August 29:
Lemon Juice Day
August 30:
Beach Day
August 31:
Trail Mix Day
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The 59th Annual Stockholders Meeting of the Friona Farmers Co-Op Gin was held on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. in the Friona Jr. High Cafeteria. Danny's Fins & Hens of Lubbock served a meal of fish, chicken, steak fingers, and all the fixings. Stockholders, employees, and family members were welcomed and special guests were recognized.
Mitchell Wiseman, President of the Board of Directors, called the meeting to order. Secretary John Jarecki read the Minutes of the August 31, 2021 annual meeting.
Jimmy Rogers presented the Auditor's Report. He stated that the gin had a $88,802 operating loss for 2022 but that the organization was still in good shape financially for the upcoming year. Rogers informed the audience that this would be the last year for Rogers, Cross, Hanby & Co., LLLC to perform the audit report. He thanked the gin members for their support over the past many years and emphasized that he really enjoyed working with the Friona Farmers Co-Op.
In his manager's report Jeff Watkins reported that 13,731 bales were ginned last year. He explained that the operating loss for 2022 was due mainly to a final $139,804 payment to terminate the cottonseed contract. He added that the decision by the board of directors to store and market cottonseed instead of sending it to a third party has already paid for itself. Watkins estimated that because of the drought and earlier hailstorms around the area, approximately 5,000 bales will be ginned this year. He added, "Our gin is ready to go and we hope that the season is not strung out with a lot of stops and starts."
In other business, three board of director terms expired and were up for election. Incumbents Davy Carthel, John Jarecki, and Mitchell Wiseman were unopposed and re-elected by acclamation. The business meeting was adjourned and a drawing for numerous door prizes was conducted.
2022 Friona Farmers Co-Op Gin Board of Directors — (l-r) Cris Ingram, John Jarecki, Garret Clark, Russell Harkins, Ricky Barnett, Davy Carthel, Mitchell Wiseman.