Business briefs

Accounting firm celebrates 75 years
The Sproles Woodard accounting firm recently celebrated its 75th anniversary.
The firm has offices in Midland, Fort Worth and Artesia, N.M.
Lyle Sproles and Charlie Woodard started the firm in 1933. The Midland office opened in the 1940s.
Along with oil and gas companies, Sproles Woodard also provides services to manufacturing, wholesale distribution, trade associations, higher education, museums, foundations and nonprofit entities.
The firm is also developing a new logo to coincide with the 75th anniversary. It also plans to take several opportunities to thank current and former clients.
ON THE NET: www.sproles.com

Albertsons gasoline
Valero Energy Corp. has purchased 72 convenience stores and gas stations from Albertsons - including the location at 1350 E. Eighth St. in Odessa.
The stores are expected to be converted to Valero Corner Stores.
In an e-mail, Valero spokesman Bill Day said it had yet to be determined when the stores would be converted, but that the deal is expected to close in August.
Most of the stores involved are located in the Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Phoenix, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La., areas.
According to its website, Valero has 5,800 retail and wholesale stores in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It has 22,000 employees and assets valued at $38 billion.
ON THE NET:  www.valero.com

Increased production
Parallel Petroleum of Midland announced increases in production in the first quarter.
The company averaged 7,592 equivalent barrels of oil per day, an increase of 13 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2007.
In a news release, the company said it has two resource gas projects in varying stages of development, one in the Fort Worth Basin of North Texas, the other in the Permian Basin of New Mexico.
The company has four oil projects in the Permian Basin in West Texas located in Andrews, Gaines and Scurry counties.
ON THE NET: www.plll.com

E-cards for moms
Texas Oncology, operators of the West Texas Cancer Center in Odessa, is offering personalized e-postcards to remind moms of all ages about the need for cancer screenings.
The Mother's Day Screening Campaign is part of a program launched by Texas Oncology to raise awareness and increase cancer screenings across the state in an effort to fight against cancer.
To send an e-postcard and remind a woman about the importance of cancer screenings, visit www.HealthyMothersDay
.com. Cards can be customized to fit the woman you care about. ON THE NET: www.westtexascancercenter.com