March has been, well you can just say it has been a typical March month so far. Wind, wind and some more wind, but it is to be expected in March. Some rain and promise of more this week. Sunday was a beautiful day, and there is a promise of rain Tuesday.

All of the fruit trees are in full bloom and with the up and down weather we have been having it is a toss up as to whether another frost will get the fruit. Everyone who is planning a garden this year has been busy planting or at least getting ready to plant. If the rains continue this Spring and into the early summer the gardens should produce lots of good things to eat. Just keep your fingers crossed!

Spring break is going full blast and the park, and the fishing camps are bursting with visitors. The traffic on FM 580 was just about bumper to bumper going both directions, especially heavy Sunday morning and afternoon. Bad Bob’s store was doing a brisk business over the weekend. He reported that the white bass is really biting with a limit of 25 caught in just an hour. Now that is a story that is really hard to believe, but then you know how fish stories get around. He does have pictures of fish to prove some of the catches. Blues, Channel cats, Buffalos, Gaspergoos and Carp are also being caught. It is reported that the river is in better shape than has been in a long time. The fishing camps Sulfur Springs and Barefoot also reported catches of white bass.

Gennifer Brister reported that the birthday party for Michael was a complete surprise, as he didn’t suspect a thing. The planning for the surprise started months ahead of the event and keeping it secret from Michael was very difficult. Attending was family, business customers and friends who helped to make it a great success. The guest attending the affair came from Oklahoma, Amarillo, Houston, Austin, Maypearl, Caldwell, San Antonio, Cherokee and of course Bend. The party was held at the AMVETS in Lampasas where guest dinned on BarBQ catered by the "Family Tradition" in Troy. A band the "Backroads" from Salado provided the music to dance by and enjoyment of the guest. The large five layer cake a was enjoyed by everyone.

A special thanks goes out to everyone who helped to make the birthday surprise a success. Gennifer reported that she wouldn’t be doing another surprise birthday party for Michael until he turns 80.

Tyler Grant of Salado spent Spring break with his aunt and uncle Michael and Gennifer. Tyler did a lot of fishing while here. He is a 7th grader at Salado and will start golf next week.

The Bend Community meeting will take place March 20, at 6:30 p.m. with a covered dish meal. Everyone is welcome to attend and asked to bring their favorite covered dish and/or dessert. A business meeting will follow the meal.

Happy birthday goes out to Tyler Lackey who will celebrate a birthday March 20, to Autumn Edwards who will celebrate her birthday March 22, to Justin McCoury who will celebrate a birthday March 24.

Congratulations go out to Jim and Edna Machen who will celebrate an anniversary March 25.