Maricopa residents Thomas Richard Howard and Velma Howard will mark 70 years of marriage on Thursday. Richard, 95, and Velma, 86, were married Jan. 26, 1947, in Iowa. Richard was a high school custodian. Velma worked as a nurse’s aid at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix. The family will host a party for the couple on Saturday. The Howards have three children, nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. They moved to Cobblestone Farms last summer.
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![City Manager Ben Bitter speaks during a Chamber of Commerce event at Global Water Resources on April 11, 2024. Bitter discussed the current state of economic development in Maricopa, as well as hinting at lowering property tax rates again. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/spencer-041124-ben-bitter-chamber-property-taxes-web-218x150.jpg "City gave new manager big low-interest home loan")
![[Namkeen Dhaba]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/439456716_377105198650519_7536248579664805896_n-100x70.jpg "Maricopa restaurateur makes Food Network connection")
