An Associated Press dispatch from Kingsville, Texas:

In this friendly little ranching town, "Hello" is wearing out its welcome.

And Leonso Canales Jr. is happy as heck.

At his urging, the Kleberg County commissioners on Monday unanimously designated "Heaven-o" as the county's official greeting.

The reason: "Hello" contains the word "Hell."

"When you go to school and church, they tell you 'hell' is negative and 'heaven' is positive," said the 56-year-old Canales, who owns the Kingsville Flea Market. "I think it's time that we set a new precedent, to tell our kids that we are positive adults."

The new salutation, according to the county resolution is a "symbol of peace, friendship and welcome" in this "age of anxiety."

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