Buda Bits
by SANDRA GRIZZLE
Madeline Edwards, granddaughter of Jeri and Harold Christian of Buda, has returned from the Olympic trials in Omaha, Nebraska. The 17-year-old Westlake High student competed in the 200m backstroke and was 43rd out of 177 swimmers. A member of the Nitro Swim Club, Edwards is now ranked fifth in the nation for her age bracket.
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Buda folks, Rick and Jeanette Matthews, along with daughter Dana of Corpus Christi, have returned from Sorrento, Italy where they attended the wedding of their son and brother. Derek, a Hays High School grad of the class of ’91, was married to Giuliana Molinari, daughter of Diego Del Pino and Gisella Portaluppi on June 15.
Everyone had a fabulous time in the beautiful country of Italy where the wedding took place in a very magical villa setting overlooking the Gulf of Naples and Gulf of Salerno. After the ceremony, Derek and his bride Giuliana, honeymooned in Madrid and Barcelona, Spain. The couple will make their home in Florida.
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JoAnn Thames is progressing more each day after suffering a stroke and should be moved from Seton-Hays hospital to a rehab center this week.
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Gibby Hatch, son of Rebeca and John Hatch, was hit in the face with his own foul ball last week in Brenham. He had three stitches in his lip and two loose teeth to deal with.
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County Commission Mark Jones’ mother, Pat Shoemaker, is scheduled for surgery this week in Austin.
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Justice of the Peace, Scott Cary had knee replacement surgery last week. Bessie Roach and Lorraine Coffee are also are recovering from knee replacement surgery of a few weeks ago.
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Charlie Taylor celebrated his first birthday (which was Friday, July 6) on the grounds of the state capitol last Saturday, July 7. Little Charlie sat in the middle of a circle of quilts that were all made by his grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother along with tons of presents. He is the grandson of Buda residents Patricia Vandervoort, and Val and Jim Corry, Holly and Terry Taylor and great-grandparents Linda and Jim Stavlo. Mom and Dad are Franny Vandervoort and Josh Taylor, both Hays grads formerly of Buda and now living in Austin.
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Birthday wishes go out to Dell Burns, Donna Sinner and Jim Stavlo on July 12; Roger Myers on July 13; Susie Puryear and two-year-old Ava Sue Michalk on July 14; and…do not want to forget our Free Press boss lady, Cyndy Barton, who will celebrate her day on July 15; Tracy (Raymond) Adams on July 16 and Ralph McClendon on July 17.
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A few long-time married folks will be celebrating anniversaries in the next few days. Adeline and Hal Odell will be married 37 years on July 14; Shirley and Jack Koehler, 55 years and Londa and Autry Burns, 52 years on July 16. Mary and Sam Leming will celebrate 53 years and Sherry and Bob Lowden 43 years on July 18.
