by SANDRA GRIZZLE
Effective Oct. 1, 2012, life-long Buda resident Richard Spiller will officially be retired from the United States Marine Corps Reserve after 26 years of honorable service.
In that time, Spiller rose to the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant/E-9. He spent his entire career in the infantry, starting out as a rifleman in a Fire Team and ending as the Operations Chief for the 1st Battalion 23rd Marines.
During his enlistment he had the opportunity to visit multiple states, from Virginia to Hawaii, and many countries, from Panama to Morocco.
The culminating events in his career were combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Iraq, his duties included leading a Mobile Assault Platoon in over 90 Combat Patrols. In Afghanistan, he was the Senior Staff Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge of the Marine contingent for NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. In this capacity he was responsible for the security and mission accomplishment of the 141 Marines in his command located at 12 sites throughout the country.
Spiller is now home in Buda and back working full time at his owner-operated business, Spiller Pest Control.
Thanks for your years of service to our country, Richard, and we’re glad to have you safely home again.
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Get your October calendar marked for the many upcoming local events: National Night Out Against Crime will be celebrated on Tuesday, Oct. 2. Check out your neighborhood to see what events are planned. Time again for Buda’s “First Thursday” in the downtown area. Come down for eating, entertainment and shopping from 5-9 p.m. Oct. 4.
Heritage Day in Driftwood is Oct. 6; Mountain City Fire & Ice Festival is Oct.13; Buda’s Fine Art & Jazz Festival is Oct. 20-21; and the ever-popular Boo-da Downtown Halloween, with treats from the local merchants, is Oct. 25.
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Anniversary wishes go out to Linda and Jim Stavlo, who will celebrate their 50th wedding date on Sept. 29. Congratulations!
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Birthday wishes go out to Adeline Odell and Katherine Brewer on Sept. 28; Michael Britton on Sept. 30; Rita Durham on Oct. 1; three-year-old twins Deborah and Karen Lecklider, Sue Verver, Anna DePenning and Craig Hernandez on Oct. 2; four-year-old Eden Jones, Leanna Holloway Johnson and Sylvia Rodriguez on Oct. 3.
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The Buda Farmers Market is still in downtown Buda next to City Hall on Main Street. Shop every Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon through October.
