This last week was windy with warm Spring like weather, but it may make a big change this week if the weather forecast is correct we could be in for some cooler and hopefully wet weather. Just keep your fingers crossed!This past Saturday John Brooks along with parents and sister Jimmy, Mary and Catherine Hicks was in Waco to the State Farm Bureau state level speech contest. John won 2nd place and has a scholarship total of $2500.00 and won an expense paid trip to Washington D.C. There was a total of 10 contestants at Waco. Congratulations to John from everyone at the Bend and Lometa.Charlene Reavis called in a report on her family gathering for Thanksgiving. She reported that son Mark and her sister Debbie January were at her home to join her and Jerry to celebrate Thanksgiving. Mebbie and Leon Eckhoff were off in Houston doing their thing.It was reported that Jackie and Charlene Brister had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Jackie fried the turkey and members of the family enjoyed the wonderful meal.Those attending were Dr. Marilyn Brister, husband Carl Adams, Joe and Elizabeth Tamez, Steve and Shari Raesz and Layla Jewel, Bryan Benningfield and Jackie’s niece Wendy and Kevin Hayden from Houston.Jane Clark and sister Gladys Brister were on the road this past Thursday making their way to New Mexico. They spent the night in Lubbock with Boyd Clark and his son’s Eli and Silas. They got up early Friday and made their way on to Portales, N.M. to the home of Elsa Dean Shirley. Friday night they all attended a Christmas program put on by the Houston Eastern University and some of the Portales youngsters. Jane reported that it was a wonderful program. The next day they got up early and went to garage sales and that afternoon attended the Style show and luncheon put on by Dillards department store. They returned home Sunday.Thursday Jim and OraBeth Hicks was in Llano at the home of Rodney Hooten to celebrate Thanksgiving.Sunday 22nd, a birthday and a Thanksgiving dinner were held at the home of Jim and OraBeth Hicks home. The birthday celebration was for Elaina Hooten and a total of sixteen family members gathered to help celebrate her birthday.On November 26 Vernon and Judy Brister along with Jim and OraBeth Hicks went to the Maples State Park to see the changing tree colors. OraBeth reported that along the way down to the park that it was beautiful to see all the different trees.On December 1, Judy Brister and OraBeth Hicks went to the tour of homes in Fredericks-burg. It was a birthday gift from Judy to OraBeth and afterward they had lunch before going to the Rockbox Theater to see a Christmas variety show, which they really enjoyed..The Bend Community Christmas meeting will take place Saturday, December 15. The meal will consist of turkey, dressing and Ham plus all the normal side dishes and desserts that the members will provide. Everyone is invited and asked to bring a gift for the children to be handed out by Santa Claus.. Women will bring a gift suitable for a woman and the men a gift suitable for a man for the Chinese gift exchange.If you have someone to buy a gift for and just do not know what to get—think of the Bend Cook Book, it is full of good recipes and can be had by calling Winnie Lou McCoury at 628-3261.A belated birthday greeting goes out to Elaina Hooter whose birthday was November 14.Happy birthday greetings goes out to Chee Chee Brockman and Sylvia Stinnett who will celebrate their birthday December 7, to OraBeth Hicks who will celebrate a birthday December 8. to Jimma Hick who will celebrate a birthday December 9.