East Cedar Creek Freshwater Supply District meets at 12:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the ECCFSD office on Hammer Road just off Welch Lane in Gun Barrel City.
Eustace City Council meets at 7 p.m. in the Eustace City Hall the first Thursday of each month. For more information, call (903) 425-4702. The public is welcome
Eustace Independent School District meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Eustace High School Library. For more information, call (903) 425-7131. The public is welcome.
Gun Barrel City Council meets in Brawner Hall at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month. Call (903) 887-1087 for more info. The public is welcome.
Gun Barrel City Economic Development Corporation meets at 1831 W. Main, GBC, at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call (903) 887-1899.
Henderson County Commissioner’s Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Henderson County Courthouse in Athens. The public is invited to attend.
Henderson County Emergency Services District #4 meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at 525 S. Tool Dr. in Tool.
Henderson County Historical Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. in the HC Historical Museum.
Kaufman County Commissioner’s Court meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the Kaufman County Courthouse in Kaufman and sets a night meeting the second Monday of the quarter at 6 p.m. Call (972) 932-0218. The public is invited to attend.
Kemp City Council meets at Kemp City Hall at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call (903) 498-3191. The public is invited to attend.
Kemp Independent School District meets at 6 p.m. the third Monday of each month in the Board Room in the Administration Building. For more information, please call (903) 498-1314. The public is invited to attend.
Log Cabin City Council meets the third Thursday of the month in city hall. For more information, please call (903) 489-2195. The public is invited to attend.
Mabank City Council meets at 7 p.m. in Mabank City Hall the first Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call (903) 887-3241. The public is invited to attend.
Mabank Independent School District meets at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. For more information, please call (903) 887-9310. The public is invited to attend.
Payne Springs City Council meets at city hall at 7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call (903) 451-9229. The public is welcome.
Payne Springs Water Supply Corp. meets the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Payne Springs Community Center, located at 9690 Hwy. 198.
Seven Points City Council meets at 7 p.m. in Seven Points city hall the second Thursday of each month. For more information, please call (903) 432-3176. The public is invited to attend.
Tool City Council meets at 6 p.m. in the OranWhite Civic Center the third Thursday of each month. For more information, please call (903) 432-3522.
West Cedar Creek Municipal Utility District is held at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. For more information, please call (903) 432-3704.

Special to The Monitor
MABANK–January is School Board Recognition Month in Texas.
Mabank Independent School District is joining other districts across the state to gratefully acknowledge local trustees’ unfailing commitment to our communities and schools.
This month, we encourage our community to help honor the contributions and dedication of our local school board members. 

Courtesy Photo
Mabank ISD school board members are recognized for their service.

“These locally elected citizens, who work without pay, make decisions that influence and direct the education of our youth,” MISD Superintendent, Dr. Russell D. Marshall said.
“Our board is made up of local leaders who understand the Cedar Creek Lake area culture, values and challenges. They are a vital link between the community and the classroom. They bear responsibility for an annual budget of $31.5 million. Their job is not an easy one, but they have a commitment to serve their community and ensure that all students are given every opportunity to excel through education.” Marshall said.
“We need to take a moment to thank the MISD board for making the time to share their vision and voice about the future of our children. We proudly salute these men as they provide leadership for student achievement, academic programs, district funding and school facilities,” he said.
The members serving Mabank ISD and their years of service are:
• president Kenneth Odom, 17 yrs.
• vice-president Dr. Darrell Kinnard, 26 yrs.
• secretary Michael Cathey, 10 yrs.
• Gary Sapp, 13 yrs.
• Todd Grimes, 4 yrs.
• Tyson Johnson, 4 yrs.
• Dr. Jeff Gaddis, 2 yrs.

VZ memorial welcomes Phantom jet
Monitor Staff Reports
CANTON-The Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial Committee is hosting a parade to celebrate the meeting of a longtime dream and goal.
At 10 a.m Saturday, Jan. 14. A refurbished F-4-D Phantom Jet will make its way to its new home in the Memorial Plaza at the intersection of state highways 243 and 19.
For years, volunteers have been working to raise funds to purchase and repaint the jet. Now the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial Committee would like to show everyone this accomplishment by hosting this parade.
The Bringing the Jet Home Parade will start at State Highway 64 and SH 243, and proceed to the Plaza located at SH 243 and SH 19.
The Grand Marshall will be Field McConnell, former pilot of the F4, who flew it more than seven years.
All Van Zandt County school marching bands will be performing together under the direction of Rob Toups, weather permitting.
Everyone is invited to come celebrate.
Beginning in 1959, the F-4 Phantom jet set 15 world records, including an absolute speed record, and an absolute altitude record.
The F-4 was used extensively during the Vietnam War, serving as the principal air superiority fighter for both the Navy and Air Force, as well as being important in the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles by the close of U.S. involvement in the war.
Wikipedia reports the Phantom has the distinction of being the last U.S. fighter flown to attain status in the 20th century. The F-4 continued to form a major part of U.S. military air power throughout the 1970s and 1980s, being gradually replaced by more modern and remained in use by the U.S. in reconnaissance and suppression of enemy air defenses in the 1991 Gulf War, finally leaving U.S. service in 1996. Phantoms remain in front line service with seven countries. Phantom production ran from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5,195 built, making it the most numerous American supersonic military aircraft.

Chamber breakfast talks taxes
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
SEVEN POINTS-Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce chairman Tate Cramm introduced breakfast speaker Don Kinney to business leaders at Dairy Queen in Seven Points Wednesday. The certified public accountant warned Seven Points-Tool Chapter members of changes to income tax rules.
The IRS are going after what they view as “low-hanging fruit” in the way of the mileage deduction and contract labor that’s really employees, McKinney warned.
“If you put down a flat (mileage) rate, like 20,000 miles, they’ll know you don’t have the records to back it up,” he said. Also since for half of 2011 the federal rate was set at 51 cents per mile and the rest of the time at 55 cents per mile, they’ll be looking for two separate mileage totals, no averaging, he warned.
“I’m asking my clients to show me a log book that they’ve been using to track their mileage,” he added.
And miles driven to and from the work site are not deductible, he said.
In addition “The Bush tax cuts are expiring,” he said. “They were meant to be temporary and now they’re going away.” In 2012, deductions for sales tax, higher education payments, distributions from IRAs directly to charities (for those over 70 years of age) and $200 for teachers expense will not be allowed. The residential energy credit is capped at $500 and may only be taken once in a lifetime, he said.
The IRS has also gotten more stringent on contract labor. There are about 22 characteristics to help taxpayers decide whether or not they have an employee or a contract laborer, among them are:
They have and use their own tools and work without supervision and work for others, in addition to you.
“At this point you can voluntarily change the status without too much grief,” Kinney said, adding he wasn’t sure how much longer the amnesty program would last.
The 15-year depreciation period allowed in 2011 on new construction or major repairs is gone for 2012 he said, extended to a 39-year period on commercial buildings and 27 years on residential ones, he said.
“I don’t see any changes to make a positive effect on the economy,” he concluded.