1. Breaking news. Nothing else tops this week's list, for students, than having a week off from classes. So enjoy your final two days.

2. Happy anny, Mall of Abilene. Our mall hit the big four-oh Friday. Hard to believe that back in 1978, the mall area was nothing but fields, with only the Stonegate neighborhood extending beyond the Winters Freeway. But on March 15, 1979, that changed with the opening of the mall and the area toward Wylie ISD's single campus began to fill in, and fast.

3. Keenum trade. Former Wylie standout Case Keenum continues his tour of the NFL, traded last week from unstable situation in Denver to perhaps more potential for success in D.C. Keenum had a decent year with a team packing less punch on offense and defense. We look forward to him dueling with another West Texas boy, Colt McCoy, for the starting job. They are similar in styles. Can't wait to see those guys vs. the Dallas Cowboys.

4. Honors times two. Nice recent notice for the former Rosetyme home (now The Resilient) in Abilene and reborn Laguna Hotel Lofts in Cisco. It's great to see two places come back to life. Congrats.

5. One more. On Friday, local author and bookstore owner (with his wife, Carol) Glenn Dromgoole was inducted into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame. He's gotten a lot of mileage out of learning what dogs and cats teach us. Congrats, Glenn.

6. Beto for prez. Give the Democrats credit. They can field as many presidential candidates as Republicans. Maybe more. Two now are from Texas after last year's Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke announced his intentions to run. The former congressman joins Julián Castro in the starting gates. This is starting to look like a March Madness bracket. Who'll make it to Milwaukee?


1. Wicked wind. Can we dislike the wind any more than we did this week? Well, sure. This is West Texas. But wind that can topple a 300-foot tower - Maria, maybe? - is pretty darn fierce. At least no one was hurt, but it will take the Texas Department of Transportation months to fix. 


1. Johnny Lam was one of a kind. Sad news Friday that Johnny "Lam" Jones had died. The Lampasas speedster won state gold, then starred at the University of Texas, then won 1976 Olympic gold in the mile relay before a brief NFL career. The nickname was needed because there also was Johnny "Ham" Jones, from Hamlin. Lam's come-from-behind relay wins are the stuff of legend.


1. Alcohol OK. Will permitting alcohol consumption at bridge tournaments at Rose Park draw bigger crowds and make them more exciting? We'll see. The City Council, by a 4-2 vote (guess who was absent?), OK'd alcohol for pre-approved, permitted events, including the Rose Park Senior Center. This could get interesting.

2. Tech wrecked. It's always exciting this time of year to see which teams will make the NCAA dances, both men and women. Basketball fans in Texas can be excited that both the Texas Tech men's team and Baylor women's team look formidable. Oops, maybe Tech is not that fearsome after its unexpected early departure from the Big 12 tourney, as the Red-faced Raiders. Hard to beat the same team three times (Gonzaga learned that in a loss to St. Mary's), so hopefully a blip for Tech.

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