Tax-free faithfuls

The remnants of Saturday's heavy, morning rains couldn't keep Criselda Aguirre away from her plans of stocking up on tax-free school clothes for her 6-year-old son, Daniel.

The 35-year-old stay-at-home mom hit the west side Bealls on Saturday afternoon as her first stop for tax-free shopping. She searched for mostly shoes, socks, white shirts and underwear for Daniel, a San Jacinto Elementary first-grader, and her 1-year-old, Joaquin.

"That's what I use tax-free season for," Criselda Aguirre said as she opened a box of children's size 13 casual dress shoes.

Each year the state designates one weekend of shopping where no state sales taxes are imposed on various items, including most clothing and shoes.

Aguirre said her shopping strategy involved trying to avoid the heavy traffic at Music City Mall and rain-soaked streets in parts of the city.

Another shopper Debbie Thomas helped her two children, Ashuana Bell, 17, and Antoine Richardson, 10, look for shirts, shorts and pants in the clothing sections of the store Saturday.

The 42-year-old said even though the Saturday rains kept the family from shopping earlier in the day, the trio planned to check out the mall before heading home.

Thomas said the family had a spending limit of $600, and the deals they found were a great bonus to the tax-free holiday.

Thomas held up two pairs of basketball shorts Antoine had picked out - on sale at two for $15.

"If you get the tax off of it, that's even better," Thomas said.

Across town at Target, Dolly Martinez said she'd already hit the mall early Saturday and was still racking up various outfits for her two children.

The 31-year-old said this year marked her first tax-free holiday experience and she came away with about $400 in items.

She said she usually doesn't want to elbow through the crowds, but with Saturday's rains she found it a great opportunity to shop.

"It was just something to do to get out of the house," she said, noting she'll continue to shop for clothes long after tax-free weekend.

Back at Bealls, Thomas agreed her family was just getting started with a couple weeks worth of clothes on their Saturday outing.

"We'll probably be out here even next week," Thomas said.

LAST DAY TO SHOP TAX-FREE HOLIDAY

Sunday marks the final day of tax-free savings, in which the state designates one weekend of shopping where no state sales taxes are imposed on various items, including most clothes, shoes and backpacks.

RAINFALL

Unofficial rain totals for Saturday's storm as reported by Odessa's fire stations are:

>> 1.5 inches: Fire Station No. 2, 1801 E. Murphy St.

>> 1.4 inches: Fire Station No. 3, 5151 E. University Blvd.

>> 2 inches: Fire Station No. 5, 7155 Eastridge Road.

>> 2.2 inches: Fire Station No. 6, 3414 Brentwood Drive

>> 1.45 inches: Fire Station No. 7, 2501 W. Eighth St.

>> 1.5 inches: Fire Station No. 8, 301 E. Yukon Road.