News

Mr. and Mrs. Pat Kennedy will celebrate their fiftieth anniversary Friday, Aug. 5, 2016. The couple lives in Atlanta and have six children:  Debbie Stiles and husband David of Atlanta; Pat Kennedy and wife Diana of Linden; Carolyn Lance and her late husband Ronnie of Denver, Colo.; Donna Kuczmarski and husband John of Alaska; Ron Faubion of Little Rock, Ark.; and son-in-law Harry Ekalook of Alaska, husband of the late Terri Ekalook. They have 17 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. 
Joyce grew up in Queen City and Pat is originally from Bloomburg. Though the couple dated in high school, along the way, they married others. However they were reunited in 1966, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.

This year, the sales tax holiday is scheduled for Aug. 5-7.
Shoppers can save money on certain items priced for less than $100 during the state’s annual sales tax holiday. 
The law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced below $100 from sales tax, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend during the weekend.
Lists of apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax-free can be found on the the Texas Comptroller’s website at TexasTaxHoliday.org.
This year, shoppers will save an estimated $92 million in state and local sales taxes during the sales tax holiday. 

By Bobby Horn Jr.
news@casscountynow.com

By Bobby Horn Jr.
news@casscountynews.com

By Randy Grider
randy@casscountynow.com

By Bobby Horn Jr.
news@casscountynow.com

It may come as no surprise that scam artists are working through social media sites such as Facebook.
Atlanta Police Chief Jay Womack said recently his department has been contacted by residents who say they have been contacted through Facebook about persons wanting them to send a sum of money to receive a sum of money.  
“This is a scam,” Womack said. “You will lose the money you send if you fall for this scam.  The chances of the police department being able to recover your money are slim.  Please do not fall for this scam.”  
Womack said that Identifying these individuals are almost impossible. “These individuals could be in other states or even other countries,” he said,
The Better Business Bureau offers tips on how to identify sweepstakes/prize scams:

By Randy Grider
randy@casscountynow.com

From Staff Reports

The Cass County Extension Office is warning those who own chickens to be on the lookout for a new Salmonella outbreak.

According to a statement from the Texas Animal Commission, “An ongoing Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 611 people in 45 states, including Texas, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak has been linked to live poultry in backyard flocks.

Texas is home to one of the largest backyard chicken flock populations in the U.S. To minimize the spread of Salmonella, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) emphasizes the use of proper biosecurity. Biosecurity is a set of preventative measures designed to reduce the risk of introduction and transmission of an infectious disease agent, such as Salmonella. Even when they appear healthy and clean, live poultry may have Salmonella bacteria in their droppings and on their feathers, feet and beaks.

By Lauren Anderson
Special to the Journal

By Randy Grider
randy@casscountynow.com