We had a small 20 percent chance of rain Sunday and again Monday. As of Monday afternoon nothing was coming down. Even with it being so dry the fruit trees is in full bloom around the Bend and other parts of the county. With the temperature going crazy it seems we are going into summer and skipping spring all together. Air-conditioners are being put to use early this year.

The news from around the Bend is like the rain, it has all but dried up for this week and maybe next week there will be more to report.

Even with the dry conditions there are a few people putting in a vegetable garden and praying for it to rain.

There were no reports of anyone being sick and that is certainly good news.

The Price family made a flying trip to Midland, Thursday, to attend the ARCO retirement luncheon. The group keeps getting smaller and smaller it seems at each meeting.

Did get some big news from Mebbie Eckhoff. She reported some big wins at the Houston Live stock show this last week. She won the champion open breeding Rambouillet ewe and reserve champion Rambouillet ram. She also won a first for a two-tooth ewe lamb, and a third on a two-tooth ewe lamb and had a first for the best pair of sheep.

Grandson Ethan Eckhoff won both champion and reserve champion ewe open breeding Columbia and first for a two-tooth ewe, first for a ewe lamb.

Grandson Ory Eckhoff won champion ram open breeding Columbian, a second for a ewe lamb, and a first place for a two-tooth ram, first in best pair of sheep.

Mebbie also won another jacket with her name on it. Leon is going to have to build or enlarge the closet to make room for all the jackets she has won. They arrived home in the late hours Sunday night. Exhausted but happy. Congratulations go out to the Eckhoff family.

Happy birthday for Mary Jane Dennis who will celebrate a birthday March 12, to Jordan Messer whose birthday is March 13, to Jo Price and Shelly Rose Freeman who will celebrate their birthday March 14, to Laura Beth Hicks who will celebrate a birthday March 17 and Calvin Henniger whose birthday is March 18.

Congratulations go out to Boyd and Melissa Clark who will celebrate their anniversary March 16.