The Ballinger Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Chamber Banquet 7:00 PM Thursday, Feb 23 at the Ballinger Community Center. The theme for the annual event is "Western Nights," and boots and jeans are the welcomed attire. A barbeque meal will be served, as well as a silent auction and the announcement of Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year, and the Junior Chamber's Citizen of the Year.

Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased from any Chamber director or at the Chamber office at 700 Railroad Avenue. Tickets may be purchased at the door, hoever advance ticket sales are highly encouraged. For more information, call 365-2333.

The Rowena Catholic Daughters will host the annual spaghetti dinner Sunday, February 26 at St. Joseph Parish Hall in Rowena. Serving will be from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM with dine-in or drive-thru plates available. Plates are $7.00 each for adults and $4.00 for children 10 and under. There will be a bake sale and you can register to win prizes.

Livestock producers in Texas are required to update their brand registration every ten years and the registration period is underway.  According to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, the design and location of the brand must be re-registered with the county clerk of the county in which the livestock is pastured or grazed.  If producers operate, or graze livestock in multiple counties, the brand or ear mark must be registered in each county.  Producers are encouraged to register their brands as well as their electronic identification devices, livestock tattoos, and ear marks.  The cost of the registration fee varies between counties and is set by the commissioners' court of the respective county.  Cost for brand registration in Runnels County is $11.00 per brand.  If a producer has multiple brands, each brand must be registered.  Producers using an unregistered brand may be charged with a misdemeanor crime.  The deadline for the re-registration of brands is February 29, 2012. 

With incidents of livestock theft on the rise, the registry of these unique markings is as valuable in the identification of stolen livestock as a fingerprint may be in the identifcation of a suspect in a crime.  The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association offers a one stop website for frequently asked questions about brand registration at TSCRAbrands.com.  Brand registration forms may be downloaded from the site, completed, and taken to the appropriate county clerks' office for registry.  For further information on brand registry in your county, contact your county clerk's office.     

The Texas Department of State Health Services will host the monthly immunization clinic Thursday, March 1 at the Professional Building, 110 South Main, Suite 108.  Flu vaccine will be available.  Please use the Grant Street entrance.  Hours for the clinic are 1:30 to 5:30 PM.  Parents are reminded to bring their child's immunization records and medicaid or CHIP cards if applicable. For more information, call 754-4945.

Ballinger Memorial Hospital will continue the 2012 Diabetes and Nutrition Education Series on Thursday (March 1) from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the Wellness Center at Ballinger Memorial Hospital.  A variety of topics will be dsicussed including healthy food choices for families and meal planning.  There is no fee charged for the program.  For more information, contact BMH Dietary Director Norma Haddon at 365-2531.