Since 1925 Vol. 92, No. 49 Thursday, December 13, 2018 Ten Pages $1.00 Friona Students Find Their Own Way They had a vision. They knew what they wanted, but did not know exactly how to get there. Friona High School students Kessly Salinas, Adriana Ortiz, and Angel Mills wanted to make a change but they needed some guidance and inspiration. They got both in the form of State Senator Kel Seliger. The FHS trio met Kel at his Town Hall meeting at the Depot back in October and were impressed by his willingness to show them the path they needed to travel to reach their goal. They left the meeting very enthused and immediately went to work to achieve their dream. First, they visited with local residents who would be involved with the change. Second, they worked with City Manager Lee Davila to iron out the logistics of the project and to develop a presentation for the City Council. Phase three was the actual presentation of their vision in front of their own local elected officials. The result? Chieftain Way. On Monday evening, the Friona City Council voted to change the name of 7th Street, between Grand and Etta, to Chieftain Way. The vision had become reality and three FHS students had learned a lesson about life. Education is an ongoing process and you are never too young or too old to learn. It’s the Chieftain Way. Council approves name change The Friona City Council hearing of the session, applying for grant funding met in regular session on the Friona City Council from the Texas DOT to Monday, December 10th approved unanimously initiate a “Safe Routes to at 6:30 p.m. in the City the changing of 7th Street School” campaign for 2019. Council Chambers at 619 between Grand and Etta The Council also Main in Friona, Texas. The Avenue to Chieftain Way. discussed the possibility meeting began with a roll Next, the Council of selling the former call, an invocation, and the received a presentation municipal landfill located Pledge of Allegiance. from the firm Parkhill, one mile north of Friona on First on the agenda was Smith & Cooper regarding Highway 214. The 20-acre a time allotted to receive an anticipated school bond tract sits just west of the public comments. Friona project with the Friona highway. Also discussed High School students ISD that would include was the construction Angel Mills, Adriana working closely with the project involving the Ortiz, and Kessly Salinas City of Friona and could Emergency Medical addressed the Council with possibly involve the partial Services Building. It was a proposal to change the closing of a city street. This agreed that the bidding name of 7th Street between presentation was a general process for the project Grand and Etta Avenue overview and a more should be implemented. to Chieftain Way. They detailed report would The meeting was then informed the Council that be given at the January adjourned. other schools in the area Council Meeting. All meetings are open had changed a street name The Council then to the public. The City in or around their campus. heard an operational Council reserves the They also reported that report from the Friona right to go into Executive they had canvassed all Police Department which session at any time. Go to (l-r) Angel Mills, Kessly Salinas, State Senator Kel Seliger, and Adriana Ortiz. the residents that would included the Department’s cityoffriona.com to find Top left photo: Kessly installs the new sign at Grand. Top right photo: Angel be affected by the name 1st Annual Christmas the agendas and minutes inspects the new sign at Etta Ave. change and there was 100% Gift Drive for the Elderly from previous meetings. support for the new name. at Prairie Acres Nursing Information in this article The students thanked the Home. The Accounts is only a summary. Any Council listening to their Payable and Financial questions concerning Commissioners receive 2018 Fire Report request. No other public Statement for November specific actions should comment was made. 2018 were approved and be directed to the City The Parmer County Commissioners Court from Farwell; and Hollis Horton, Joe Bob Mann, The first order of City Manager Lee Davila Council. met in regular session on Monday, December Mary Johnston, Sharon White, and Mitch & business in the regular informed the Council about -- 10th at 10:00 a.m. in the County Courtroom Kathy Terry from Friona. of the Parmer County Courthouse in Farwell, Next, approval was given to Bonds for Texas. The meeting began with prayer and the the District Clerk, Tax Assessor, and County Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and Treasurer employees. Continuing Education the Texas Flag. hours were also approved for the County The Minutes from the previous meeting were Treasurer and Tax Assessor-Collector. Also, read and approved and approval was given for payment for unused vacation days was payment of the accounts payables as presented approved for 3 County employees. by County Auditor Larry Johnston. The The 2018 Parmer County Fire Report was Commissioners reviewed the Treasurer’s Report presented to the Commissioners by the 5 fire presented by Altha Herington and approved departments that serve Parmer County. There the calculated payroll and disbursement for all were a total of 160 calls with the breakdown county employees and elected officials. by department as follows: Bovina (22), Farwell Next, the Commissioners approved an (35), Friona (55), Lazbuddie (43), and Rhea extension of the Tax Abatement Agreement (5). Parmer County allocates $150,000 each with Mariah del Este until December 2019, they year to the fire departments for the purchase approved CRI to conduct the Parmer County of equipment. Approximately $40,000 of that Outside Audit, and they tabled the purchase of amount is distributed to the fire departments a road grader for use in Precinct #4 until next (excluding Rhea) on a per call basis. year when the new Court is sworn in. All meetings are open to the public. The The Court then approved 14 individuals Commissioners Court reserves the right to go to serve on the 2019-2020 Texas Historical into Executive session at any time. Meeting Commission for two-year terms. They include: agendas can be found on the Parmer County Don & Gladys Spring, and Richard Carson from website. Information in this article is only a District Football Award Winners, (l-r) Marcos Juarez, Zach Ramos, Angel Bovina; Tommie Fulcher, Gay Goettsch, Bonnie summary. Any questions concerning specific Hernandez, Eduardo Chavez, Jonathan Hernandez, Sergio Flores, and Marco Howard, Mary Lee Mitzelfelt, and Teresa Ancira actions should be directed to the Court. Montreal. See Page 9 for details. District Opener Friona Squaws Mayor’s Minutes Colby Carthel Small Town Cookin’ District Football Awards vs Bushland Page 2 Page 6 Page 8 Page 9 Friday Night at 6:30 PAGE 2 Thursday, December 13, 2018 Community Calendar Mayor’s Minutes by Ricky White Send Calendar information to: [email protected] I want to thank everyone that helped (3- driving while intoxicated and 2- There was a video camera installed in make “Christmas in the Park” a success. warrants). The officers drove a total of the judges office to meet a state required call (806) 250-2211 or fax (806) 250-5127 Even with the cold temperature and high 2776 miles patrolling and protecting mandate due by the end of 2019. With the wind, there was a good crowd at this our city. Congratulations to the police recent vandalism to the judges office, we event. The Chamber of Commerce and department for winning the “Best Float thought it best to install the camera now. December 13 Lee Davila, City Manager, did a good job Award” at the light parade. There will also be a camera installed on -Parmer County Area AA meeting planning and organizing. The kids had a Volunteer Fire Department responded the outside of her office in the coming great time seeing and visiting with Santa. to three emergency calls in November. week. at the Friona Methodist Church City Council voted unanimously to On November 12th, seven firefighters Accounts payable totaled $149,765.37 (north entrance) at 7 p.m. rename 7th street that runs directly in and two trucks responded to a vehicle for the month of November. All bills are - Snack Pak 4 kids Friona United front of the High School to “Chieftain accident. On November 20th, fivepaid and the city is in good standings. Methodist Church 4:30 p.m. Way”. There was a public hearing held firefighters and two trucks responded Approximately one third of expenses during the council meeting to discuss to another vehicle accident and on each month is spent in water and sewer this matter. All documentation was November 27th, 10 firefighters and five departments. The remaining expenses December 19 collected to approve this request. Signs trucks responded to a grass fire. are spent in the other 12 departments Customer Appreciation Day at Friona will be changed this week. Emergency Medical Service responded that operate under the City’s control. Banking Center from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. The city hired a firm out of Abilene, TX, to 31 calls in November. There were seven Friona Public Library had a total of 1093 to perform the city’s annual audit. This calls for 911, fifteen calls for transfers patrons visits for the month of November firm will be onsite the week of December and nine calls ended in a “no transport”. an average of 52 per day and was open December 20 10th thru 14th.