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*****Did you see KXAN Channel 36 on Wednesday night the 28th? They came out and did a story on the collection for the border towns that has been happening at the First United Methodist Church. Making Pastor Sid famous again!

*****Diane Beagle has been in Las Vegas since Tuesday (July 20). She joined her older sister, Bettie Jo Benzel, who she met there for a NCOA (non commissioned officer association) 50th convention. Diane’s deceased brother in law, E.L. Benzel was the 12th to have the honor of being inducted into the NCOA Hall of Fame, and she was to receive an award while here. She fell and fractured her hip and arm after just being there 2 hours. Bettie’s been in the hospital since the 20th and has had hip replacement as well as arm surgery and is in rehab now. Diane will fly back to Colorado Springs with her sister to make sure she gets settled in before finally coming home to Johnson City.

*****Pat Smith took his wife Cynthia to her favorite place to eat in Austin, Pappadeaux’s, and they ate until they popped. It was a very good birthday for Cynthia.

*****Blaze and Dusti Welch celebrated their 5th birthday on Sunday July 25th with a hot dog cookout for family and friends. Lots of fun was had by all.

*****Ed Crawford recently had kidney surgery and is now back at work but still recuperating. Here’s hoping he is back on his feet real soon.

*****Debra Crawford celebrated her birthday on July 27th with her family. If you see her in town, ask her about her new "donkey" given to her by her kids. He’s real manly!

*****Congratulations to the Johnson City Independent School District! Both the elementary campus and middle school campus were rated "EXEMPLARY" in Johnson City ISD Friday.

*****Todd & Camille Swift, Amber, Tommy & Truett Fry, Brooke and Casey White, Brittni Coleman & her friend Clayton have gone to the coast at South Padre. Dwayne and Janette Hoppe are at home taking care of the pets and flowers.

*****These are the Results from the District-10 4-H Horse Show held on June 15th & 16th in Gonzales, Texas.: Class 8: Grade Mares winner was Rebecca Harlin placing 3rd ; Class 12: Poles winner was Elizabeth O’Day placing 8th; Class 13: Barrels winner was also Elizabeth O’Day placing 7th; Class 15: Hunter Showmanship winner was Amara Yachimski placing 7th.

*****Tammy Steele met with her 4 sisters in Abilene where they visited their Dad. Then they came on to Johnson City to see their mom who lives in Oakcrest. This was the first time in 30 years all five of them had been together at the same time. Debbie, Peggy, & Sheila came from Florida & Shauna came from Colorado.

*****Delores Fenton is now retired after a little over 19 years at Pedernales Falls State Park. She started at the park in the spring of 1991 and her official retirement day was July 31st. Retirement party will be held off until October when a large group of park volunteers will be back. These volunteers have returned year after year so Delores has worked with many of them longer than she has worked with the staff that is there now.

*****Family reunions have been the destination for the Schulzes - Randy, Chris, Amber, Jonathan, Adrian & Christine. First was the celebration of the 150th anniversary that Adrian’s Great Grandfather, Johann Schulze, arrived in America from Germany. It was held in Round Top, Texas. Adrian & Randy provided delicious barbecue and a polka bands’ music played on! Next was a reunion of Christine’s family, the Michulka’s, in Port Aransas. All of her sisters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grands celebrated there. Jonathan and other relatives went on a deep sea fishing trip and guess who they ran into on the boat — all of the Sam Whittington family! Ambers’ Birthday provided another reason to celebrate.

*****4th Annual Birck Family Fish Fry was held Saturday at Suree & Kaiser Birck’s house. Friends & family had a great time.

*****Soccer sign ups were held from 9 am until noon on Saturday. Only one more left next Saturday!

*****Christy Young got a teaching position in San Augustine, Texas. She will be teaching Family Consumer Science. She will be dearly missed in Johnson City.

*****Speedy recovery wishes to Ima Hobbs who had serious surgery last week at Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg.

*****Get well wishes to John Kinchen who also spent some time in Methodist Hospital in San Antonio.

*****Also recuperating at home is Joy Watson after her recent knee replacement.

*****Brianna Francis, daughter of former Johnson City citizen Mark Francis & granddaughter of Buddy & Evelyn Francis, had an amazing Utah State Swimming Championships. She achieved her first Junior National time cut in the 200 Breast and was awarded the Utah Female Swimming Athlete of the Year, chosen by the coaches across the state. Because of her National time cut, Brianna will be going to Irvine, California, in a week for the Junior National Championship meet. Congratulations to Briana!

*****Older children from the First Baptist Church are attending camp at Piney Woods Encampment this week. Sponsors are Tim Moreland & Annjennette Jackson.

*****You might be a Johnson City native if you can remember when Rosie’s Beauty Salon was in the building on West Main Street that now houses the new Corner Store.

*****Happy Birthday wishes to: August 6th – Sandra Danz, Kay Odiorne, Mike Burow, Gabriel Ortiz, Cindee Sharp, Vivian Garcia & Jerry Wisian; August 7th - Nathan Payne, Ima Hobbs, Luke Neeley, Sophie Solomon, Christine Schultz, Journey Gonsoulin, Jagger Slawinski & Michelle Ratliff Kilgo; August 8th – Jayne Sparkman & Joyce Harper; August 9th – Alton Moreland & Melissa Peterson; August 10th – Judith Ebeling; August 11th – Mary Ann Swafford, Clay Simpson, D. R. Bushnell, Emma Burke, & Denise Luckenbach; and on August 12th - Jewel Sultemeier, Jeffy Furber & Rhonda Ahrns.

*****Anniversary congratulations to Steve & Charlotte Matthews and Robert & Kristie Skylar on August 6th; to Sim & Kara Moreno on August 7th; to Gus & Irma Sanchez and Bob & Linda Breazeale on August 11th; and to Butch & Linda Crofts on August 12th.

*****A light hearted Tip for the week: You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn’t move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn’t move and does, use the duct tape.

*****I’ll see you again when there’s more news! Speaking of news, if you have some, email it to imasnoop01@gmail.com.