See our interview with our 2016 Mrs. Santa winner Irma Leal who received gifts from K&K Pharmacy and the Dinner Bell Restaurant.  Irma and her late husband Jesse Leal established the first tortilla factory and subsequent Mexican food restaurant in Muleshoe beginning in 1957.

See the Muleshoe City Council Meeting held on February 13, 2017, at City Hall in Muleshoe, Texas.  Meet the new CEO of the Muleshoe Area Medical Center Dennis Fleenor and new Nurse Practitioner Christy Lee. Items on the agenda: 1. Approval of Minutes January 9, 2016. 2. Receive 2015-2016 Audit report – Randall L. Field. 3. Receive Muleshoe Police Department 2016 Annual Contact Data Report. 4. Consider Ordinance O-491-0217 Stop Sign Ordinance. 5. Consider request of Muleshoe Roadriders for Hotel/Motel Tax Funds for the promotion of the 2017 Muleshoe Roadrider Motorcycle Rally. 6. Consider Recommendation from Muleshoe Economic Development Corporation to partner with Leading EDG. 7. Consider resignation letter from Austin Bamert, Council Member District 2. 8. Consider Election Services Contract with Muleshoe ISD. 9. Consider Election Services Contract with Muleshoe Area Hospital District. 10. Order City General Election to be held May 6, 2017. 11. Order City Special Election to be held May 6, 2017. 12. Receive Financial Statement for the month ending January 31, 2017. 13. Administrative Reports: A. The City will hold a Wellness Clinic on Tuesday, February 28th, for employees and their adult dependents. B. The City of Muleshoe Training Facility project is progressing. C. The east elevated storage tank is being painted and renovations are taking place. 14. Mayor and Council Remarks. 15. Adjourn

See our interview with MISD Superintendent Dr. R.L. Richards and Assistant Superintendent Dani Heathington about the new TEA grades that the Muleshoe schools recently received.   See our interview with MISD Superintendent Dr. R.L. Richards and Assistant Superintendent Dani Heathington about the new TEA grades that the Muleshoe schools recently received.   Meet Your Neighbor is brought to you by United Supermarkets.   Interview was conducted on February 3, 2017.

See the Muleshoe Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Membership Breakfast Meeting held on January 31, 2017, at the Bailey County Electric Meeting Room.  Muleshoe Chamber President is Steve Friskup and the Chamber Manager is Kaci Morris.  Agenda includes Welcome by Steve Friskup, Prayer by Basil Nash, Board Member, 2016 Chamber Review by Craig Black, Past President, Chamber Update and Introduction of Board Members by Kaci Morris and Business Meeting and Closing Remarks by Steve Friskup.  Also see a video introduction of this year’s Muleshoe Chamber of Commerce Banquet Speaker Clint Bruce which will be held on March 4, 2017.  You can inquire about tickets and get more information by calling Kaci at the chamber office at 806-272-4248.

See the Bailey County Junior Livestock Show held on January 20 & 21, 2017, at the Bailey County Coliseum in Muleshoe, Texas.   Grand Champion Steer exhibited by Haley Hunt and Reserve by Rowdy Ramage. ‬ Champion Beef Heifer shown by Keely Dunham and Reserve Champion by Rowdy Ramage. Junior Showmanship awarded to Rowdy Ramage and Senior and Overall Showman to Keely Dunham. ‪ Dairy Heifer Champion shown by Hayden Burrus and Reserve Champ by Jaxson Burrus. ‬ Senior Dairy Showmanship Award to Katelyn Kelley and Overall and Junior to Jaxson Burrus.   Sheep Grand Champ exhibited by Payton Hart and Reserve Champion by Kaitlynn Hart.  ‬Senior Sheep Showmanship award to Madison Price and Junior and Overall to Kaitlynn Hart.  Goat Grand Champion shown by Cassidy Cage and Reserve Champion by Jason Bohler.   Junior Goat Showmanship awarded to Cord Coker and Senior and Overall to Jose Quintana.  Grand Champion Pig shown by Coleman Preston and Reserve Champion by Jacob Deleon.  Pig Showmanship Junior Award to Noah Deleon and Senior and Overall to Coleman Preston.  Winner of the Jimmy Dale Black Showmanship Award is Keely Dunham.  P.A. Announcers are MHS Assistant Principal Rob Hollis and MHS Ag Teacher Jim Daniel.  Judge for the Steer Show is Greg Jones of Lubbock, retired from Garza County Extension Agent.   Dairy Heifer Judge is K.R. Averhoff of Blue Sky Farms in Shallowater.  Goat/Sheep Show Judge is Nathan Carr from Canyon and Pig Show Judge is Cody Hill from Gail, Borden County Extension Agent.  Jimmy Dale Black Judges are WT students Kaci Major, Janine Johnson and Miriam Garcia.  Gil Lamb Advertising coverage of the 2017 Bailey County Junior Livestock Show brought to you by Bailey County Electric, Five Area Telephone/West Plains Telecomm, Barrett Potato Farms, Burton Service Center, Bamert Seed, CHS, Central Compress & Warehouse,, Dale Oil Company, Farmers Insurance/Julie DeBruin, Ag Texas, Hereford Feed Ingredients, Muleshoe Livestock Auction, Muleshoe Housing Authority, Muleshoe State Bank, Precure Electric, Randall Field CPA, Wilson Drilling, WTG Fuels, Mohawk Auto Parts, Capital Farm Credit , Muleshoe ISD, McDonald’s Restaurant, Muleshoe Animal Clinic, Shipman’s Body Shop/Autoplex, C&H Equipment, Silveus Insurance, K&K Pharmacy, Leal’s Tortilla Factory, Ag Aviation, Irrigation Pumps & Power, H&R Block, Muleshoe Feed Barn and Lance Insurance.  ‬

Steer Show Breed Champions

British – Rowdy Ramage     Reserve – Kenadee Ramage

American Cross – Dagen Dunham    Reserve – Kinley Coker

Exotic – Haley Hunt  (GC)    Reserve – Marki Stearmer

Sheep Show Breed Champions

Finewool Cross – Kaitlynn Hart

Medium Wool – Payton Hart (GC)    Reserve – Kaitlynn Hart

Southdown – Payton Hart

Pig Show Breed Champions

Gilt – Matthew Deleon     Reserve – Coleman Preston

Berkshire – Jacob Deleon (RC)     Reserve – Jacob Kettner

Duroc – Mackenzie Thomason   Reserve – Noah Deleon

Hampshire – Riley Kettner     Reserve – Kyle Kettner

Black OPB – Garrison Bohler    Reserve – Riley Kettner

White OPB – Nathan Wilton    Reserve – Mackenzie Thomason

Yorkshire – Haleigh Kennemer    Reserve – Garrison Bohler

Crosses – Coleman Preston (GC)   Reserve – Matthew Deleon

See MHS Assistant Principal Rob Hollis draw for the first semester perfect attendance prizes on January 19, 2017, in Muleshoe, Texas.  Out of the 47 perfect attenders Sadie Sudduth and David Olvera won Beats Audio Pro 3 wireless headphones.

See our interview with Muleshoe State Bank President Jay Messenger about the upcoming merger between Muleshoe State Bank and AimBank and hear about all of the exciting opportunities the new partnership will bring to the Muleshoe area.   Interview was conducted on January 13, 2017.

See the Muleshoe City Council Meeting held on January 9, 2017, at City Hall in Muleshoe, Texas.  Items on the agenda:  1. Approval of Minutes  a.  December 12, 2016.  2.  Animal Shelter – Lynn Hicks.  3. Consider Resolution R-726-0117 Authorizing the submission of a 2017-2018 Texas Community Development Block Grant Program Application to the Texas Department of Agriculture.  4. Consider Ordinance O-490-0117 Stop Sign Ordinance.  5. Consider reimbursement of receipts of $1,833.00 from Muleshoe Rotary Club for reimbursement for the 24th Annual Team Roping Event from Hotel/Motel Tax Funds.   6. Receive Financial Statement and investment summary for the month ending December 31, 2016.  7.  Administrative Reports:  a. The City hosted a blood drive on December 21, 2016, from 10-2.  They saw 10 patients and collected 9 units.  B.  The demolition work has been completed at 303 S. Main.  Contractors will begin renovation work in the near future.  C.  Notice has been received from Atmos West Texas that the annual rate case was filed December 1, 2016.  Atmos is requesting increases of 6.49% for residential customers and 5.23% for commercial customers.  Negotiations to reduce the percentage increases have begun.  D. Notice has been posted for the application period for the City General Election as well as the Muleshoe ISD general election and the Muleshoe Area Hospital District general election.  The first day to file an application for a place on the ballot is January 18th.  Council and respective boards will order general elections in February.  Council District #3 and #4 will be elected this year.  8. Mayor and Council remarks.  9. Adjourn.

We are saddened to learn that the fourth person to be issued a birth certificate in Bailey County has died, Roy H. Elrod. See our 2011 interview with this Muleshoe pioneer. 

Lt. Col. Roy Holland Elrod, USMC (Ret), 97, of Fredericksburg passed away peacefully on December 17, 2016 at his home.
Born June 23, 1919, north of Muleshoe, Texas, Roy was the first child of a pioneer Bailey County farming and ranching couple. His father died when he was 4 years old and Roy was forced to grow up fast, learning how to work hard at a very young age.
While attending Muleshoe High School, Roy first met and fell in love with Malda Chandler. After graduating from high school, Roy attended Texas A&M for 2 years, until World War II broke out, at which time he enlisted in the Marines.
Roy’s time in the war, as was the case with many Marines, was spent in vicious combat in the Pacific. His first combat action was seen at Guadalcanal, where he was awarded the Silver Star for engaging and then disabling a particularly deadly Japanese machine gun emplacement by crawling to the front of the nest and pulling out the gun by its red-hot barrel.
After that, he led a battalion of anti-tank guns ashore through withering fire onto the beaches of Tarawa. All four of his guns made it into action and played a pivotal roll in knocking out the command headquarters.
His last, and final, combat was at Saipan, where he was severely wounded by Japanese artillery fire. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his action at Saipan, and on the 70th anniversary of the battle, returned to the island, along with other Marines, to a hero’s welcome.
After recovering from his wounds, Roy made his way as quickly as he could to Galveston, Texas, where Malda was working at the time. They were married on December 21, 1944 and enjoyed 64 years of marriage, making 3 trips around the world, before Malda passed away in 2008.
After the war, Roy went on to complete a storied career in the Marines, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.
After his military service, Roy enjoyed a very successful construction career, building numerous hospitals, schools and developments throughout the D.C. area.
Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Malda Chandler Elrod.
He is survived by many friends and family from all over the country, all of whom he was diligent in keeping up with over the years.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 pm on Wednesday, January 4, at Covenant Funeral Service Fredericksburg. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Dumfries, VA or Families of the Wounded Fund, Richmond, Va.

See our interview with Chad and Crystal Freeman and their daughters Xaine and Avonli who are missionaries with Youth with a Mission and based in Lindale, Texas.  You can contact Chad and Crystal by calling 903-780-8108 or by emailing chad.freeman@ywamtyler.org  Youth with a Mission can be found online at http://www.ywam.org/  This is our Meet your Neighbor program for December brought to you by United Supermarkets.