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*****Just a reminder, if you plan to attend the huge School Reunion for graduating classes of 1925 to 1979, the deadline for reservations is May 1. Get your money and registration form in to Joanne Harvey as soon as possible.

*****George & Angie Stearns were gone most of last week, they went to Longview on Tuesday to visit Angie’s dad who had hand surgery for something called Dupuytren’s Contracture on Wednesday; then Thursday to Bryan to deliver a prayer shawl from the church for Melvin Eubanks, and to visit the Eubanks’ and the Binghams. They had supper with Sterling, Dolly, and Geneva (Andy was sick), then went over to the rehab center to see Carolyn and Melvin. (Melvin was scheduled to go home on Friday.) From there to South Padre for two nights for a 45th reunion of George’s McAllen High class of ‘63. Angie met a bunch of them last year in Fredericksburg (and at the 40th) and both had a great time, got back to JC Sunday evening pretty tired after lunch in McAllen with friends. All in all, several nice days of family, good friends, and great memories.

*****Jeremy Crawford, son of Mark and Melanie Crawford, was home on leave for 18 days. He has been deployed back to Iraq for 10 more months. Jeremy’s brother Jason has been in Hawaii for a short time in route to Afghanistan.

*****Members of the sixth and seventh grade band from LBJ Middle School went to a contest in San Antonio on Saturday. After the hard work, they were rewarded with a trip to Fiesta Texas.

*****Kudos to Ed Kohlleppel and Paul Penick! They attended the first weekend of two for Firefighting II certifications. Both men are members of the Johnson City Volunteer Fire Department.

*****Did you miss the first annual bar-b-q dinner for the R. K. Byars Scholarship Fund at the Blanco County Fair Grounds on Sunday?

*****Andy Lee really surprised his wife, Sandy Lee, for her 60th birthday this past weekend. While on a weekend trip to San Antonio and Corpus Christi, her daughter, Jen Macdonald, along with her fiance, Marty Lantieri, showed up and surprised her. They all had a wonderful weekend and then there was a surprise birthday party at the Wine Bistro Sunday night to hear the “pickers” play. All in all it was a terrific time. Andy sure is one great guy!!!!

*****David Jeremy and Lidia Anderson arrived at the home of their parents, Paul and Sherry Jenkins on the 21st of April. The Jenkins hosted a little get-together on Saturday, April 26th to visit and say goodbye. They will be departing the US to somewhere undetermined. Jeremy will be on Embassy duty. There were horseshoes and washer pitchin’ and just plain old sittin’ around!

*****You might be a Johnson City native if you remember when George Byars, Sr. was Mayor of Johnson City for 30 years!

*****Happy Birthday wishes to: May 8th – Sheridan Hodge, Sierra Hodge and Angie Sisson; May 9th – Audrey Saul and Marlene Edwards; May 10th – Jennifer Mills and Carol Summy; May 11th – Jody Hudson, Judy Mills and Garrett DeSpain; May 12th – Jimmy Hodge, Janette Hoppe and Norma Honeycutt; May 13th – Brit Odiorne, Bobby Wilson, and Carrie DeSpain.

*****Anniversary congratulations to Andy and Julie Shanks and Jim and Kay Odiorne on May 10th.

*****Tip for the week: Keep an empty cardboard ‘donation box’ in each of your bedrooms in a prominent or obvious place. When an article of clothing is taken out but no longer fits, is no longer in style, is worn out, or needs repair, etc., it is NOT put back in a closet or dresser drawer. It goes in the ‘donation box’, in the ‘Fix Box’ in the sewing room, or discarded if it’s beyond repair or badly stained. When its time for the next Emergency Services Auxiliary Garage Sale you will always be ready to give!

*****I’ll see you again when there’s more news! Speaking of news, email it to ped01@sprintpcs.com.