Hurray the weather man finally got it right in regard to getting the rain we needed so badly. Two and one half inch and as much as three in some places were reported.

There are still reports on family Christmas events coming in. Jerome and Shirley reported that they had a very good Christmas.

All of their children were home except Blake Gideon who was in Colorado, Quincee from Pasadena, California and Jessica and Tony Kelley. They are looking forward to seeing Blake who will be coming home for awhile after the Denver Broncos were beaten Saturday. They attended Char-lene Brister’s birthday party last Saturday and reported that it was great. They, like everyone else, are trying to avoid coming down with the flu.

Jane Clark reported that Boyd Clark and his sons’ Eli and Silas spent a week over the Christmas holiday and during that time they picked pecans. Elie picked nearly three sacks and was going to use the money to purchase some fancy pigeons from Ken McCoy. Saturday the family celebrated Jaylee Messer’s birthday. Bobby Clark, Clinton and Rachel Wallace and their two boys’ Lane

and Colton visited the home of William and Jane Saturday.

Dillon Brister competed in the Lampasas County Youth Stock show this past weekend. He won ribbons with all three of his lambs. He placed 2nd & 4th in the lightweight and 2nd in the medium weight hair sheep division. Dillon along with all of the other exhibitors served guests at the buyers dinner Saturday night before the sale. Dillon made the sale with two of his lambs on Saturday night. His grandparent’s Tommy & Becky Grant from Salado came to support him. Because Dillon had two lambs in the same weight class, John Brooks of Bend showed one of them for him. Michael & Gennifer wants to say a very special thanks to John for not only showing one of his lambs, but for being such a good role model. Dillon had been begging his dad to let him show a hog next year and his grandmother Becky won a hog feeder in a raffle, which she gave to Dillon. So it looks like he will be showing hogs next year. John Brooks has offered to help him.

From all reports the Lampasas Stock show was a big success; they had 177 entrees. John Brooks had two first place, two second place and one third place pig. He won randchampion on his Hampshire Gilt; and his sister Katherine Hicks showed her pigs and won a second, third and fifth place. Another Bend entree Steve Byrd showed chickens; he won a first place and had the grand champion. Dillon Brister showed lambs and he placed second and fourth in the lightweight and second in the medium weight hair sheep division. Congratulations go out to John, Katherine, Steve and Dillon on their wins.

Donnie Eckhoff came in Saturday and helped his parents, Leon and Mebbie gather pecans. They went to San Saba and had lunch at Pepper Belly’s before Donnie had to return to Austin. That afternoon Robbie, Amy, Ethan and Ory Eckhoff came in to help with the sheep. They spent the night before returning home to Hawley. Mebbie reported that they had been looking for a place to buy in Hawley and they finally found a house and 25 acres which they purchased. Mebbie reported that in July she and Leon are looking forward to going to Heber City, Utah to attend the National Sheep Show and Rambouillet sheep sale.

Happy birthday wish goes out to Valerie Price who will celebrate a birthday January 18, to Mebbie Eckhoff who will celebrate a birthday January 19, to Wayland Harris, Alton Pope, who will be celebrating a birthday January 20, to Bodie Lemons whose birthday is January 22 and to Micky Henniger whose birthday is January 23.

Congratulations go out to Jimmy and Sylvia Stinnett who will be celebrating their anniversary January 20.