People, Places & Events

SAR inducts new officers
Special to The Monitor
ATHENS–The Sons of the American Revolution Athens chapter held its annual meeting Jan. 8.
Officers elected for 2009 were president Charles Luna, vice president Ernest Holland and secretary/treasurer Sam Whitten.
Appointed officers were registrar Art Hall, chaplain Johnny Goforth, chancellor Jim Robertson, sgt. at arms David Cason and historian Roald “Skip” Gustafson.
Other chapter appointments were SAR advisor/liaison Harry Fife and webmaster/photographer Wayne Stafford.
Outgoing chapter president “Skip” Gustafson conducted the meeting and turned the gavel over to incoming president Charles Luna.
Various awards were presented, with Gustafson receiving the Meritorious Service Medal for eadership in 2008.
SAR Texas Society President Harry Fife inducted the officers and gave an update on the progress of the Texas Society.
Luna presented chapter goals for 2009, including youth and civic recognition, public service awards and community awareness.
A highlight of the meeting was the induction of new member Adron Neill into the chapter by Registrar Art Hall.
The Sons of the American Revolution is an educational, historic and patriotic society.
The Athens chapter was chartered with nine founding members and three charter members May 20, 1994.
The chapter now has 40 members, with the majority residing in Henderson and Kaufman counties.
Eligibility for SAR membership includes proven ancestors who served, provided a service or declared their loyalty in the American Revolution for the cause of American independence from Great Britain.
The chapter conducts five dinner meetings and six business meetings yearly. Prospective members may contact chapter registrar Art Hall at (903) 675-5441.


Courtesy Photo
Incoming and outgoing officers gather at the Sons of the American Revolution annual meeting in
Athens Jan. 8. Pictured are (from left, front row) incoming vice president Ernest Holland, incoming president Charles Luna and incoming secretary/treasurer Sam Whitten; (back row) outgoing chaplain Johnny Goforth, outgoing president “Skip” Gustafson, state registrar Art Hall and state president/installing officer Harry Fife.

Kiwanis members review programs, projects
Monitor Staff Reports
GUN BARREL CITY–On the 94th anniversary of Kiwanis International, the Cedar Creek Lake Kiwanis members reviewed the dozens of programs the club sponsors and participates in across the area.
“Kiwanis has more volunteer hours than any organization,” past president and new club secretary Dr. Jeannie Caillet said. “Priority One is kids aged zero to 5.”
Speaking to a small group gathered for the club’s regular Wednesday meeting, Caillet said one of the club’s key efforts is the “nurse’s closet” project with campuses in the Mabank, Eustace and Trinidad school districts.
“They (school nurses) tell us what they need, and we buy what they need,” she said.
Caillet said a number of children around the lake area come from very depressed economic circumstances.
One nurse has a washer/dryer and shower available, and washes clothes for some students as they shower at school, because there’s no water service at home, she related.
Kiwanis encourages reading through its “Read Around the World” program, handled locally by club members Linda and Russ Rau, who give monthly story reachings at both local libraries.
Children attending the storytelling hour are presented a brand-new book provided by the club, Caillet said.
The club also hands out books to children who attend the annual “Breakfast with Santa” at The Library at Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points.
Another big project Kiwanis supports is the annual Children’s Miracle Network fund drive.
Caillet outlined the monthly, quarterly and annual reports the club submits to District 26, part of the Kiwanis Texas-Oklahoma District.
Former club member JoAnn McCarty, now the president of the Athens Kiwanis club, is the District 26 lieutenant governor this year, Caillet said.
Another major aspect of Kiwanis is service leadership programs, she said.
“K Kids, Builder’s Club and Key Clubs, and all the things that go along with those programs, are part of that,” she explained.
Kiwanis sponsors the “Terrific Kids” and “BUGs” programs at local elementary campuses. Both are classroom-based rewards programs sponsored by the teacher, and aimed at developing good study habits and learning skills.
There are 27 Terrific Kids and 27 BUGs programs established at local schools, Caillet reported.
“We have more than any other club in the Texas-Oklahoma District,” she added.
Terrific Kids focuses on developing leadership skills, while BUGs stands for Bringing Up Grades. Classroom rewards can include bumper stickers, special pens/pencils and other items.
K Kids organizations are for slightly older students (grades 3-5), and involve the students themselves choosing to participate and developing their own campus or community service projects, Caillet explained.
The same is true for Builder’s Club (middle school) and Key Club (high school) organizations. Those older groups focus on community service.
“In Trinidad, to be an honor student, you have to perform 100 hours of community service,” Caillet said. “This is also a way for students to gain scholarships.”
Each K Kids, Builders Club and Key Club group has a faculty sponsor and a Kiwanis advisor.
Carie Goodrich said she joined Kiwanis because of her daughter’s involvement at the Eustace Intermediate K Kids group.
“I had always thought that Kiwanis was for older people, sort of like Masons, with funny hats or something,” she said. “I didn’t know.
“I joined after I found out all of the things Kiwanis does for children,” she added. “I enjoy being a sponsor for K Kids.”

Trustees hear update on KHS
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Tuesday, Kemp Independent School District trustees heard construction on the new high school is going well.
“Things are changing weekly,” Ed Nelson senior project manager for Baird Williams Construction said.
Although the work fell behind at the start because of a rainy spell, things are picking up, he said.
“We were about 30 days behind, and now we have caught up by about two weeks,” Nelson said.
“We’re ahead on the roof,” he added. “It is 80 percent finished.
“Most of the slabs are poured and we have started the dry wall work,” he said. “We have about 23 ironworkers on the job.”
“At what point will the weather no longer affect you?” trustee Don Jedlicka asked.
“In three weeks to a month,” Nelson answered.
In a related action, the trustees approved payment of $1,330,931 for construction costs on the new high school.
The facility is about 35 percent complete, Nelson said.
Todd Bennett, project manager for Fromberg & Associates, Architects, said he was pleased with the progress on the school.
But, Bennett said there are two issues still to be settled – commencing water service and the placement of driveways.
“We have been working without water and doing okay. But water is critical to testing the plumbing,” Nelson said.
“TxDoT (Texas Department of Transportation) has given us three (driveway) scenarios to be considered,” Superintendent Dr. Peter Running said. “They will visit sometime between Thursday, Jan. 29, and Friday, Feb. 6, to finalize the plans.”
There will be three entrances, with one for maintenance vehicles, Running explained.
TxDoT is concerned the other two will be spaced far enough apart to keep traffic from backing up, he said.
In other business, trustees:
• heard assistant superintendent Sam Swierc report on the district improvements plan.
“The committee is very comfortable with the plans,” he said.
“We are currently going over some grants that may help us provide funds for security cameras,” Running commented.
• heard the ADA (average daily attendance) report presented by Kim Johnson.
“The figures have not come up like we wanted. This year’s budget was based on 1,529 students,” Johnson said.
There were 1,568 students in attendance on Oct. 31, 2008, compared to 1,638 in October, 2007.
“We were closer this year than last year (budget-wise). We are still getting some transfers in,” Running said.
• heard the AEIS (Academic Excellence Indicator System).
This compares the state and district grades based on student TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) testing.
“We will have a public hearing on this in February,” Running said.
• heard the financial report from Johnson.
• approved a property tax resale.
• heard the senior prom is set for Saturday, April 11, at Mill Creek Lodge. The theme will be Mardi Gras.
• heard the next Board Buzz is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27. Trustees attending will be Curtis Donovan and Harvey McFaul.
• recognized those recently honored.
Intermediate assistant principal Joanna Slaton was given a plaque and commended for receiving her doctorate in education (see related story on Lake Life, page 3B).
Coach Greg Anderson was recognized for being named Henderson County Coach of the Year.
Assistant coach Randal Forguson was also recognized for being named state Assistant Baseball Coach of the Year (see related story, page 1A).
Student athletes were presented to the board and commended for their accomplishments.
Students of the month were presented a plaque and a certificate from Kemp Dairy Queen for an eight-inch ice cream cake.