Rices celebrate 60 years

On Christmas Eve, 2007, Sam and Charlene Rice celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They were married in Tula, Texas on Dec. 24, 1947, by the Justice of Peace, but have spent the last 45 years in Hollister. Many of those years were spent as pastors of the Apostolic Full Gospel Church on Santa Ana Road.

The celebration was held at their home and was attended by their three children and their spouses, and most of their grandchildren and great grandchildren. There was a two-tier cake, pies and lots of good food for the celebration.

A special poem, "60 Years," was written and read to the happy couple by their grandson Jesse Rice.

When asked the secret to their happy marriage, Pastor Sam said, "I treat her like a queen because she treats me like a king." But he added that the real secret is that they have always tried to put God first in their lives.

BIRTHDAY

Mario Barbaglia

Long time local resident Mario J. Barbaglia celebrates his 85th birthday today. The grandfather of nine and great-grandfather of six also served as a sailor on the USS Essex in World War II.

ENGAGEMENT

Ownbey/Recht

Sara Danielle Ownbey and Stanley David Recht announced their engagement in front of family members Christmas Eve 2007.

Sara is the daughter of Diane Castaneda of Hollister and Ronnie Ownbey of Gilroy, and Stan is the son of Pam and David Recht of Hollister. Both are graduates of San Benito High School, Sara class of 2006 Stanley class of 2003. She is currently employed with Save Mart Supermarkets and he is currently employed with Rossi Tire Company.

The couple will exchange wedding vows in front of family and friends in a church wedding and celebration immediately following. Sara and Stanley plan to reside in Hollister.

WEDDING

Cook/Campos

Kacey Elizabeth Cook and Robert John Campos were married June 24, 2007 at Cypress Community Church in Salinas. The reception was held at the Marriott in Monterey. The wedding was performed by Pastor Wayne Adams, Robert's grandfather.

Casey is the daughter of Jeff and Kathy Cook of Morgan Hill. She is a nursing student at San Jose State University and works as a card rep for Papyrus.

Robert is the son of John and Wendy Campos of Morgan Hill. He works as a manager at Barnes and Noble in San Jose while attending school at Mission College in Santa Clara.

BIRTHS

Riley Davis Murrill

Riley Davis Murrill was born Sept. 23, 2007 to parents Jennifer and Michael Murrill of Morgan Hill. Riley weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces.

Gilberto Jesus Mendoza Jr.

Gilberto Jesus Mendoza Jr. was born Dec. 21, 2007 at Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy to parents Cynthia Del Toro and Gilbert Mendoza. He weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces.

HONORS

Sarah Penkethman

Sarah Penkethman of Gilroy, a student at Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y., has been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2007 semester. This distinction is awarded to students who have earned a semester grade point average of 3.5 or better.

Wagner College, founded in 1883, is located on Staten Island's Grymes Hill, overlooking the historic New York Harbor. It is a residential liberal arts college enrolling 1,950 undergraduate and 300 graduate students from all over the United States and a dozen nations around the world. Wagner's nationally recognized curriculum, the Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts, links college coursework with genuine field experience throughout each student's academic career and across the entire curriculum.

Casey McMullen

Army Pvt. Casey J. McMullen has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.

She is the daughter of Cindy McMullen of Bear Valley and sister of Shealyn McMullen of Morgan Hill. McMullen graduated in 2007 from Bret Harte Union High School, Angels Camp.

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