News

Fun for the whole family is slated Saturday, March 30, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., in Clifton City Park with an old fashioned Easter egg hunt for the kids. Coordinated by Brookshire’s the event will offer lots of Easter eggs with prizes, free hot dogs and lemonade, kids visit with a fire truck, and free photos taken by Blue Cove Studios of the kids with the Easter Bunny.

The first item on the agenda for the Clifton City Council on Tuesday was to accept Mayor Fred Volcansek’s letter of resignation and withdrawal from the May general election. The motion was made to accept the letter of resignation, with regret. The following item was to elect a mayor to replace Volcansek until the election on May 11. Mayor Pro Tem J.W. Thiele asked the council to entertain the thought of seating Richard Spitzer as mayor until the election, “seeing as he is the only one on the ballot;” however, Spitzer spoke quickly saying “I would like J.W. to consider holding the seat for the next couple of months – until my eyes are back to normal.” When Thiele said, “I’d rather not,” Alderwoman Joann Gloff said, “As Mayor Pro Tem – you’re elected.”

Trinity Lutheran will be honoring Pastor Laird H. Duran and family with a retirement celebration on Sunday, March 24. The 10:30 worship service will be followed by a lunch at Trinity Lutheran Fellowship Hall. Friends and acquaintances are invited to the festivities. His last Sunday with Trinity will be Easter Sunday, March 31. Duran was born in Atlantic City, NJ to Joseph L. and Mary H. Duran. His father worked at the electric company for 35 years, and his mother was a writer for the Atlantic City Press for about 25 years. His mother was Lutheran, and his father was Episcopalian, and Duran was baptized in 1950 at St. James Episcopal in Atlantic City.

Clifton 4-H Leaders-4-Life Skill-A-Thon teams partnered with Brookshire’s of Clifton and Meridian, David’s Supermarket, Alco, Dynamic Family Dentistry, and Best Western Velkommen Inn, all of Clifton, Bosque Family Dental of Valley Mills, and some individuals from around the county to make hygiene bags to take to Church Under the Bridge and hand out to the homeless.

Speaking at the 25th annual Bosque County Preservation Luncheon on Saturday, Gene Blakely brought history to life with tales of “The Iredell Hangings and other early tragedies.” Held at the Clifton Civic Center with about 80 guests present, the luncheon was catered by Weithorns of Valley Mills, and everyone was greeted by Allen and Betty Johannes, Chairman and vice chairman of the Bosque County Historical Commission.

Martin Grelle’s “Art Talk” drew 150 Bosque Arts Center Patrons to an evening of art on Saturday, March 9. The evening opened with a social hour of hors d’oeuvres and wine, and a presentation which included a welcome by Wally Penberthy, and a talk by Mary Ellen Boren, prior to Grelle taking the stage. During his welcome to the evening, Penberthy told those in attendance that Martin had recently won the Buyers’ Choice Award at the Cowboy Arts of America’s Cowboy Crossing Show for his painting “Reverence,” and spoke briefly of his growing up in Clifton and attending Clifton High School – Mr. CHS, his beginning as an artist, and his meeting the late world renown artist, Jim Boren.

Clifton’s Robert E. Binford VFW Post #8553 hosted a dinner for contestants in the 2013 annual Voice of Democracy essay contest and the Patriot Pen essay contest on Tuesday, March 5, at the Clifton Civic Center. Approximately 75 adults and students were on hand for the event. Commander David Conrad opened the gathering saying that he appreciated everyone for coming.

A big six-shooter and a good horse were the only requirements for a frontier ranger; it was all he needed to execute his job intervening raiding Indians and curbing lawlessness on the Texas frontier in the latter part of the 19th century. The Bosque Collection hosted a program on March 5, by Texas Historian Bob Alexander, a veteran lawman, native Texan and natural storyteller. He spoke colorfully on the lawless days of Reconstruction and the valuable role Rangers played in those turbulent times.

On a perfect spring day, with soft sunshine and a slight breeze over the rolling hills around Norse, a special wanderer and pathfinder to Texas was memorialized March 6. In the heart of the Norwegian settlement to the South West, History buff and Cranfills Gap postmaster Bryan Davis paid homage to the father of Norwegian immigration to the United States, Cleng Peerson.

Some inspiration and distraction before or during a test can be helpful to boosting student confidence and lessening test anxiety; and hopefully positively influence test results. With STAAR testing coming up after Spring Break, Meridian Elementary School Principal Kim Edwards and Counselor Jill Hanson offered the MES students a unique inspirational event – a BMX bicycle stunt demonstration.