Seventeen-year-old Ashland Crites was elected as the Hennessey High School senior member of the Hennessey United Board of Directors at the service group’s Aug. 19 meeting.

She will also serve as liaison to United’s 2020-21 Leadership Hennessey program for high school seniors. She has been a Hennessey

She has been a Hennessey student since the fourth grade and attended Drummond Public School before that.

Crites plans to get a degree in education and become a teacher and has been chosen as Outstanding Student of the Year by these high school teachers: Amy Rawlings, English; Marie Parrish, history, and Nate Parker, speech/debate.

She is on the debate team and has placed in state domestic extemporaneous speaking and she and her debate partner were quarterfinalists in competition.

When asked what piece of advice has stuck with her she said: “Have the best day of your life!” told to her by “Mr. Parker.”

She “loves learning,” is a member of the National Honor Society and has been listed on the principal and superintendent honor rolls, and received a superior rating at the Tri-State Music Festival and at districts for choir last year.

When asked what one thing about her that might surprise her classmates, she said, “I care about every one of them, and will miss them after high school.”

She was also asked for the one food and drink she couldn’t live without and replied, “Pizza and water.”

She is the daughter of Rob Crites and the late Sherri Crites and has a twin brother, Keigen, who is also a senior at HHS, and a sister, Aniston, 23.

Other members at this month’s meeting were Stacy Cline (president), Cathy Howard (secretary), Scott Hajek, Bert Gritz and Barb Walter. Guests were Karel Hajek and Kim Gritz.

Absent were Teresa Oliver (vice president), Tammy Lott-Hopkins (treasurer), Wes Hardin, Dagan Hardin, Kaden Mitchell and Mariana Gonzalez.

Farmer’s Market Aug. 28

Cline reported that the first Farmer’s Market (the last Saturday of the month) was a success.

They had about 15 booths and many of the vendors sold out by noon and they all said they had good sales, she told the board.

“We might have 30 this month,” she said, “and I think we’ll have a lot more vegetables this time.”

The market is from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 28 on Oklahoma Avenue west of the stoplight and vendors may call 405-853-5454 to sign up.

We still have United’s tables and chairs here (at the Wellness Mercantile) so for those who didn’t bring them, we charged them $15 to set them up, she said.

“No one had any problems with that cost,” she said, and several brought their own so there were no charges for them.

She said some vendors were selling items as a school, or other, fundraiser project.

Wine & Chocolate Festival

Bert Gritz, fire chief, said firefighters have decided to prepare and sell ribeye steak sandwiches again this year at the Oct. 16 Wine & Chocolate Festival.

Since last year’s festival was canceled due to COVID, he wanted to make sure they are notified by mid-September before they order their meat because it costs $10 a pound.

It was also a toss-up at the fire meeting if they’d have the booth because they have a limited number of helpers, Gritz said.

It was suggested they get students who need public service hours for honor society work to help them.

Gritz said they have been giving the other vendors sandwiches before the festival started.

Howard asked about the save-the-date card, but festival co-chairs Wes Hardin and Oliver were not at the meeting.

Townwide Garage Sales

Howard said the townwide garage sales are the third Saturday next month (Sept. 18) and United pays for the event advertising. There is a $5 registration fee for anyone who wants to be listed on a map showing where all the sales will be held.

Renee Curry is chairman of that event, and said via email that the $5 fee should be taken to Eagle Propane on State Highway 51-U.S. Highway 81 by Thursday, Sept. 16, to be included.

Other business

Having a dinner theatre was talked about during a discussion of other events that United might consider sponsoring in the future.

Howard said she would represent United at the Red Carpet Country Tourism Conference Tuesday in Fairview. The Wellness Mercantile and Vernost Wine Co. donated items for a silent auction at that event.

The board’s next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Wellness Mercantile.