• In the recently passed federal budget bill is $250 million for a new Fort Leonard Wood Army Hospital. The legislation is headed to President Trump’s desk.
• At the TriState Fair and Rodeo in Amarillo last week, MM Cheyenne was named overall “Grand Champion Angus Female.” Cheyenne is bred and owned by Mike Moyer of Houston. MM Brandy also bred and owned by Wood River Cattle Co. of Houston was named reserve early calf champion. Both females are sired by natural service herd bulls and out of first calf females that Wood River raised here in Texas County.
• Odds and ends: Was Houston’s homecoming parade on Friday — where the temperature was over 90 — one of the warmest ever?…Houston business owner Claudia Berneau is announcing her retirement in this week’s newpaper. She has operated Puppy Paradise in Houston for 38 years.
• This week’s newspaper — loaded with fliers from area businesses — also includes a section devoted to a big sector of this area’s population, senior citizens.
• The Star Dramatic Company is searching for local talent for its upcoming show, “A Christmas Story,” to be performed in Houston, Willow Springs and West Plains this December.
Auditions are 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at the Melba Theater in Houston; 10 a.m. Sept. 30 at the Star Theater in Willow Springs and 6 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center Center in West Plains.
There will be casting of boys and girls from ages 8 through 16 (must look between 6 and 14 years of age), up to four men appearing to be 35 to 50 years of age, one woman appearing to be 35 to 45, and one woman between 25 and 40.
The Houston performances are contingent on the installation of new seating at the theater.