KILGOROUND
LINDA BALLARD

It was the season for much more than the holidays, according to Bobbie Allison, nurse at Laird Memorial Hospital.

“There was an influx of stomach viruses seen several weeks before Christmas and an increase in upper respiratory infections during the week before Christmas,” she said. “Good hand washing is always imperative to help prevent spreading germs. When around those sneezing and coughing and you know your body is susceptible to viruses, stay away from them. When suffering from a cold always cover your hand and mouth when sneezing and keep those hands washed.”

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Entertaining out-of state family for the holidays were Steve and Donna VanMeter. Donna's sister, Gina, brother-in-law Tracy and son Hayden Traxler traveled in from Casper, Wyoming to celebrate Christmas. Joining them from the naval academy

ocated in Annapolis, Maryland was nephew, Dustin Packer and parents Cliff and Teresa Packer. Many other family members filled their home with joy this year. They were also seen about town enjoying the after-Christmas sales.

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Exhausted smiles met shoppers on the biggest day-after sales at Wal-Mart. Before Christmas retail stores were reporting “soft sales” but, according to Wal-Mart manager John Kenna, sales at our local store was up. “We were very pleased with the sales and our expectations were doubled. As a total, we have had a very good year. We have all of the surrounding communities to thank for that, as well as our local people. The refunds have been moderate to light,” he explained. “And we can thank the invention of the gift card for that. It is amazing how convenient gift cards are and gives the recipient the choice of purchases. Customers will see a big change this week as we go in to our spring items.”

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Need to start the New Year out by sending those promised letters? Better do so now, as postage goes up on January 8. The cost of a first-class stamp will go from 37 cents to 39 cents and the postcard rate will rise a penny to 24 cents. A minimal increase will affect other postal services including over night delivery.

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As published fifty years ago today in the Kilgore News Herald: Headlines read “Texan Delivered New Automobile He Paid For Way Back in '25.”

Roy W. Wicker, Jr. got a new car for Christmas but it wasn't just a cut-and-dried business transaction.

In fact, it still has some of the officials of the Lubbock Motor Company a little bewildered. Roy W. Wicker, Sr. walked into the salesroom and asked if he had placed an order for a car. Wicker said yes, he had placed some time ago. He pulled out a receipt. It was dated March 13, 1925... some 30 years earlier.

He had explained he had just never got around to coming in for the care he paid for. He said his son had come back from the service and needed a car and he “figured this would be as good a time as any.”

A new model was promptly delivered and Wicker, Sr. paid the difference.

Harry Morris, manager of the company, said the company had been unable to locate Wicker and make the delivery in the past. He said Wicker had placed his order before Ford quit making the Model T.

Morris also said there wasn't much difference between the age of the receipt and the age of Wicker's son who got the new car.

Blowing out the candles today are:

Scott Cochran, Johnnie Henderson, Raven Tyiska, Tom Clements, Liz Dreadin, Bessie Ferguson, Leslie Sullivan, Christopher Sanders, Glenn Hadaway, Kim Roper, Miranda Russ, Nathan Palmer Jr., Autria Godfrey, Dylan Foxworth, Yvonne Jones, Jonathan Garcia, Katie Ann Slayter, Coby Jase Slayter, Kallie Michelle Slayter, Carmen Clayton, McKenzie Love Faye

Happy Anniversary to: Willard and Kim Gore