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Though many people have happily put the COVID-19 pandemic behind them, lingering issues related to the pandemic continue to affect individuals in unique ways. That's especially true for drivers looking to replace their existing vehicles. In the early days of the pandemic, efforts to contain the spread of COVID- 19 led many auto manufacturers to cease production at their factories. Semiconductor chip shortages related to the pandemic also led to factory closures. One of the ripple effects of those closures was a reduced inventory of new vehicles, which led individuals to look to the preowned market when they needed a new car. That increased the value of trade-ins, including trade-ins of leased vehicles. The automotive experts at Edmunds note that the average trade-in value of a vehicle leased in 2020 was 19 percent higher than the predetermined residual value, so lessees had greater incentive to keep the vehicles when their leases expired than in years past. That further affected the supply of preowned vehicles on the market, which Cox Automotive reports has led to a spike in the cost of preowned vehicles in 2023. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index indicates that, by mid-March 2023, wholesale used vehicle prices had already increased by 8.8 percent, a trend that Cox forecasters expected to continue as the year progressed.

One of the best movie quotes of all time was said by the amazing Bill Murray in one of the most underrated comedies of all time, What About Bob. “There are two types of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond, and those who don’t. My ex-wife loves him.” That’s how I feel about taking cruises. Some folks love cruising, some just don’t. Some of us aren’t sure how we feel, so we keep booking cruises hoping to make a definitive decision. That’s my group. And yes, that means I’m getting ready for a cruise. It reminds me of my best times on cruise ships. It reminds me of my worst. Cue foghorn.

Whether a couple is going out for a first date or has been in a relationship for years, date nights are opportunities to spend time together and connect. Dinner and a movie is a classic date night, but couples looking to shake things up a bit can explore some fun alternatives to make connections more memorable.

Texas Game Wardens patrolling water bodies across the state reported a decline in water-related fatalities but noticed an increase in boating accidents compared to last year’s Labor Day holiday weekend.

FROG GIGGING-FAST BECOMING A LOST ART

Watch Out for Investment Scams

I suffer a great deal from anxiety and depression. I’m tired. I have tried therapy, and it didn’t help me at all. Do you have any ideas that might help me?

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).

There is an art to leveling soil that most people never get to see. The tractor driver seems to take endless trips around and around the same plot of ground not making any progress—until you really look at the difference in the slope of the soil where the tractor has traveled. The same can be said about the everyday life of a student.

September 13, 2024

Forney resident Preston Dale Aymond graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing-Professional Selling as a part of the summer 2024 class, which included 311 students from throughout Oklahoma, the country and world.

Timothy Akins Graduates from Valdosta State University

Do You Need To Fear Retirement?