It's that time of year again; time to start saving up for Christmas gifts to friends and loved ones. What better way to save money than to shop locally, where quality service combined with a convenient location makes for a great saving.

Tim's Trucking

Tim Drawbond, owner of Tim's Trucking, is always hard at work to make sure the materials his customers need get to where the materials need to be.

"I haul sand, dirt and gravel for various people in the area," Drawbond said. "What got me into the business is I didn't want to go back and work in Houston; I wanted to stay close to my son in Lindale."

Since starting the business about a year ago, word of Tim's Trucking has spread mostly by word of mouth from his satisfied customers.

Tim's number is 903-752-8715.

Palady Air

Jim Palady of Palady Air, based in Brownsboro, is experienced and can get your home ready for the winter months.

"I started Palady Air around 1995," Jim said. "I've been in AC and refrigeration work about 30 years."

Palady Air is licensed for both air conditioner work and refrigerator work, and with a Class A license.

The service number is 903-852-7888. New Visions Water Treatment

New Visions Water Treatment is there to take care of problems with the quality of water.

Whether the job is commercial, residential, municipal or industrial in nature, the company is well-prepared to get it done.

R.W. "Skip" Inks, owner, said New Visions has service from its location on Highway 110 in Whitehouse all the way to Athens, Longview, Kilgore, Rusk and Mineola.

"If someone came in and said, `Hey, this is coming out of my faucet'," Skip said as he revealed a jar full of brown water, "we can fix it."

New Visions' service line is 903-534-4855.

Dreams Come True Travel

Agency

Want to take a vacation? Milton Wallace, owner of

Dreams Come True Travel, wants to make it happen. An online agency located at www.ytbtravel.com/ wallacem, Dreams Come True Travel provides helpful links on the site designed to streamline both the ticket buying process and the entire vacation. Events can even be booked on the site. Wallace himself is always on the lookout for the best deals travelers can take advantage

of, so try out Dreams Come True and take that vacation.

Smith and Sons Tractor and

Equipment

Hard working land owners with many an acre would do well to check out Smith and Sons Tractor and Equipment in Murchison. Located on Highway 31, Smith and Sons provides a host of durable engines designed to get the job done efficiently.

The business is owned by Lloyd Smith and his sons, Jeremy and Greg Smith.

It started in early 2006 when Greg called Lloyd and proposed that they go into business together. Greg had worked for Owner's Management Company out of Dallas, a company for storage facilities and gates.

In June of 2007 the company signed on with the Agco Corporation and became a Massey Ferguson supplier.

"Massey Ferguson means everything to our company," Lloyd said. "Our business had steadily grown, and had not been a Massey Ferguson dealership since Larry owned it about 12 years ago."

Wagon Wheel Antique Mall

Wagon Wheel Antique Mall provides a truly massive collection of all different types of antiques and collectibles to choose from. With up to 40 separate dealers who are all set up in the mall, there is plenty to choose from.

David Michelini, one of the mall's three owners, said its current location in Murchison along Highway 31 was chosen because of its high visibility. It's almost impossible to miss.

"It's really the best location for us," Michelini said. "In terms of visibility and traffic flow, it's much better than Athens. "

Farmers Insurance

Farmers Insurance and Financial Services Agent Jeff Smiley knows his job well. He's been in the insurance business nine years, and for him, the name of the game is helping people.

"I was formerly a manager for Farmers in Tyler and decided to open the business in Brownsboro," Smiley said.

Smiley's agency is located in Brownsboro on Highway 31.

To Smiley, the best part of the job is dealing and talking with people.

"This is a people industry," Smiley said. "And it gives me a flexible schedule."

He is also a minister, and so a flexible schedule is a big plus.

With Farmers Insurance Agency, Smiley offers all kinds of coverage.

"We do auto, home owner, commercial property, liability, farm and ranch insurance, animal mortality, health insurance, life insurance, bonds and various financial services products such as mutual funds," he said. You can reach Jeff at 903-852-6092.

Ellis Mercantile

Ellis Mercantile has the item you want at a price you won't believe. Owned by Loyd Ellis, Ellis Mercantile is a family resale store with a bit of everything. It's the place to go for quality furniture, namebrand clothing and even movies at incredibly low prices.

Don't expect to spend a lot of time rifling through the store for that one needed item, either. Everything is clean and well organized. The resale store is located on Highway 31 between Chandler and Tyler.

Joey Ridgle's Septic Service

It's a sort of slogan at Joey Ridgle's Septic Service just east of Murchison on Highway 31. The service fleet trucks have the words "A straight flush beats a full house" on the sides, and this is Ridgle's goal.

"I started 12 years ago in Brownsboro on FM 314," Joey Ridgle, owner of the septic service, said. "We moved to Murchison four years ago. It's good that we're on the highway now."

Ridgle and his team will service anything involving waste water.

"If it has anything to do with waste water, we'll do it," he said. "From pumping septic tanks to installing brand new systems to servicing all types of systems, we can go to work."

The service line is 903-852-3740.

Artesian Plumbing

Artesian Plumbing is a local, family-owned and operated business, and it is in repair and remodeling sinks, faucets, disposals, bathrooms, all phases of plumbing and even the kitchen sink.

Artesian Plumbing will even work on additions to bathrooms.

Based in Chandler and owned by the Watters family, Artesian Plumbing has been hard at work for four years.

It's involved in the community as a member of the Chandler and Brownsboro Area Chamber of Commerce, and is well qualified to handle whatever you can throw at them.

The company is licensed and insured with a combined 20 years of experience.

The Artesian Plumbing name is a trustworthy one with experience to speak for it.

The service line is 903-849-2393.

Businesses like these work every day to provide services to the area.

Stop by today to see what they can do for you.