Singles and seniors
Singles and seniors – meet for fellowship, fun and games at 1 p.m. each Monday at the Cedar Creek Lake United Methodist Church fellowship hall in Tool. Refreshments are served. All singles and seniors from around the lake are invited. Monthly outings, breakfast and occasional parties are planned. For information call (903) 432-2688 or (903) 887-1680.

Hensarling town meeting
U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling will give a Washington legislative update at 3:15 p.m. Thursday (today) at the TVCC Cafeteria meeting room, 100 Cardinal Drive, Athens, and at 6:30 p.m. at the Terrell City Hall council chambers, 201 Nash Street, Terrell. For information call Phillip Smith at (903) 675-8288.

Tea Party meeting
A Tea Party meeting for the west side of Henderson County is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday (tonight) at the Dairy Queen, Seven Points.

49ers Senior Club
The Cedar Creek Lake 49ers Senior Citizens Club meets for dancing to the music of Chuck & the 49ers from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday (tonight and every Thursday). Friendly atmosphere, no alcohol or smoking. Small donation at the door. Located off SH 334, two blocks south on Arnold Hills Road, Seven Points. Phone or fax to (903) 432-3522.

Relay for Life
Registration for the Relay for Life, either as participant or survivor, is set for 2 to 4 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, Feb. 4-5, at the GBC McDonald’s. Also register from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at McDonald’s in Athens. Information will be available at the registration about the event, teams, becoming a team leader, a participant and the American Cancer Society Action Network. For information call (903) 425-6720.

CCL Garden Club
The Cedar Creek Lake Garden Club meets at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, in the community room at Tomlinson’s Funeral Home. “Principles of Design” will be presented by Sandee Walters. Those interested in design are invited to attend.

St. Jude Friday fish fry
The Knights of Columbus and St. Jude Catholic Church is hosting an “all-you-can-eat” first Friday fish fry from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at the St. Jude Church on Luther Lane, behind the Pizza Hut. All profits benefit local, state and national charities.

VFW hosts benefit
The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 4376, Seven Points, is hosting a silent auction and bake sale at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, to benefit a returning soldier who has served three tours in Iraq and was wounded during each tour. Also, a chili supper will be available for a small donation. For information call (903) 887-0827.

Early Valentine dinner
The annual “That’s Amore” Valentine’s Day dinner show is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at Mabank High School Cafeteria. Choir students will serve as wait staff and will provide entertainment. Tickets may be purchased from any choir student, the front desk at the high school or by calling the Fine Arts Department at (903) 880-1620.

Methodist OWLS study
Mabank First United Methodist Church OWLS (Older, Wiser, Loving Seniors) are sponsoring “From Age-ing to Sage-ing,” a study by Zalman Schichter-Shalome and Ronald S. Miller, taught by the Rev. Eston Williams, pastor of Aley UMC. Four sessions are planned for 7 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 7, 21, 28 and March 7, at Mabank FUMC. Free except for study book.

Garden workshop
Kaufman County Master Gardener Margaret Ann Trail is presenting a short workshop on maintaining and cutting back ornamental grasses at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 7. The event, weather permitting, will be in front of the Garden Learning Center at the Kaufman County south annex (old jail), 3003 S. Washington. For information call The Texas AgriLife Extension Office at (972) 932-9069.

Rose pruning workshop
Master Gardener Debra Middleton will present a workshop on pruning roses, which should be done in February. The workshop is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, at the EarthKind Rose Trial Garden located in front of the Kaufman County AgriLife Extension Office at 2471 North SH 34. For information call the Extension office at (972) 932-9069.

CCL Literary Club
The Literary Club of Cedar Creek Lake meets Tuesday, Feb. 8, starting with refreshments at 9:30 a.m. at The Library at Cedar Creek Lake, Seven Points. Rose-Mary Rumbley will present the “History of the Comic Strip.”
Guests are welcome, and for information on membership, call Ruth Pimm at (903) 778-4752.

Wild Olive Branch sale
The Wild Olive Branch Ministry is hosting a garment sale of gently loved linens from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 9-11, with a salad buffet luncheon both Thursday and Friday, featuring salads, croissants, sandwiches, tea breads, scones, decadent cookies, cakes and tarts. The church is located at 1008 South Tool Drive (across from the Tool water tower).

Valentine celebration
The Cedar Creek Lake 49ers Senior Citizens Club is hosting a valentine celebration from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, with dancing to Chuck & the 49ers. Great decorations and friendly atmosphere. Donation at the door. Located two blocks off Arnold Hills Road, off SH 334, Seven Points. Phone or fax to (903) 432-3552.

Library fund-raiser
The Friends of the Tri-County Library are sponsoring a fund-raiser for the library from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Feb. 10-11, in the library community room. Items include plants, baked goods, jewelry, etc. For information call Jackie Groom at (903) 887-8545.

Quincy Jones
The First Baptist Church, Kemp, is hosting its fifth Sunday event, Quincy Jones, aka “Q,” founder of hip-hop group, Christcentric, immediately following the Kemp High School basketball game Friday, Feb. 11. Visit the website www.christcentric.net.

Malakoff FFA events
The third annual Run for Roses barrel race is set for 9 a.m. (taking entries) and exhibition from 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Malakoff AG Arena, 15201 FM 3062, behind the high school. Watch for signs.
Following the barrel race, the second annual chili dinner and auction will begin at 4:30 p.m. with the crowning of the FFA Sweetheart during the dinner.

Valentine’s dinner
A Valentine’s sit-down dinner hosted by American Legion Post 310 on SH 198 South is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12. The dinner (prime rib and trimmings) is followed by Big Band DJ music. Dressy casual attire. Reservations required (only 72 seats available) and a charge.
For information call Marcia or Benny at the Post, (903) 887-3532.

Sweetheart dance
The Rope, Catch and Ride for Christ Cowboy church is hosting a free Sweetheart Dance from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, featuring John Spivey and his band. Donations accepted to pay the band. Prizes for kids and adults. Concession stand open to the public. North on SH 198 to CR 2807, turn right. Cowboy Church is on the right and looks like a red barn.
For information call Vickie at (9030 880-2695.

CC Civic League
The Cedar Creek Civic League is hosting a Joker Tournament and luncheon benefit, with doors opening at 9 a.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at the Lakeshore RV Park recreation room, Seven Points. Prizes for top players. Profits benefit Special Olympics, Tri-County Library, The Library at Cedar Creek Lake, ETMC Neo-Natal Department and Women’s Crisis, plus local Head Start programs, to name a few. To register or for information, call Jeanie Hulsey at (903) 432-3341 or Claudett Allsup at (903) 432-3545.

Donate cars
Many Boys and Girls Clubs are running a car donation campaign. Donated cars are sold at auction and the funds generated help support their many programs. For information or to donate call toll-free (800) 246-0493.

Westside Senior Center
The Westside Senior Citizens Center meets from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 (every Thursday), at the Cedar Creek Bible Church activities building, 700 North seven Points Boulevard (SH 274). Seniors 55 and older in the area are invited for fellowship, domino and card games, other games, coffee and snacks. A light lunch will be served. For information call (903) 340-9672.

Kemp Senior Citizens
The Kemp Senior Citizens Center, 300 North Dallas Street, Kemp, serves lunch for a small donation at noon weekdays. Seniors can enjoy games, quilting, puzzles, exercise class, Bible study and a lot more from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information call Lisa Smith at (903) 498-4046.

Free tax help
Free tax help is available at Tri-County Library, Mabank, with Peggy Rogers, VITA. Rogers worked for the IRS for many years and keeps up with current changes. Call the library at (903) 887-9622, leaving name, local phone number (calls from cells with long distance numbers will not be returned), and the best time for her to return your call to set up an appointment.

AARP free tax help
AARP free tax services will be available from 8 a.m. to noon through Wednesday, April 13, at the following locations: Fridays at the Henderson County Senior Center, Athens, Mondays at The Library at Cedar Creek Lake, Seven Points, and Wednesdays at the Senior Citizens Center, Malakoff. For information call (903) 778-2423.

Grief counsel meeting
First Assembly of God Church, 116 West Market Street, Mabank, is holding grief counseling meetings at 10 a.m. each Thursday.
For information, call Pastor Royce Barker at (903) 887-4881 or the Rev. Kathy Floyd at (903) 880-9692.

Flu shots available
Flu shots are available for adults and children. Contact the Texas Department of State Health Services at (972) 932-2038 for an appointment. Medicare/Medicaid accepted, sliding fee scale or $20 for adults. The clinic is located at 3001 S. Washington, Kaufman.

News in Brief policy
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Man falls from water tower
Monitor Staff Reports
KAUFMAN-A man is listed in critical condition Monday after he fell from a water tower in Kaufman.
Kaufman County deputies responded to the emergency call Sunday morning. Brandon Milley, 21, of Hampton, Va., was working on the underneath portion of the top of the North Kaufman Water Supply tower on County Road 139, when he fell about 110 feet to the ground.
A coworker, who was moving some air lines, turned to see Milley falling from the tower, along with the lift he was in.
A news release reported that Milley sustained severe injuries, and was airlifted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
He is an employee of Worldwide Industrial Corp., a company based in Butler, Pa., to do maintenance on the water tower.

Yarborough nabs 2 copper thieves
Monitor Staff Reports
LOUISIANA–Ralph Yarborough is at it again.
The Associated Press reported this week that the former Gun Barrel City council member, justice of the peace and Tool municipal judge held two copper thieves at gunpoint until police arrived to take over.
According to the AP story, a neighbor called Yarborough and told him two men were at the vacant house where Yarborough’s wife was born.
The former judge got his gun, sneaked into the house and heard noise in the attic. He ordered the intruders to come downstairs, and when they refused, he threatened to start shooting holes in the ceiling.
They came down after that.
The 73-year-old Yarborough did something similar when he was a lake-area resident.
He told the Associated Press, “When I lived in Texas, a neighbor called me and said someone was stealing his boat. I went down to the lake and fired a warning shot and stopped them. They stayed there in the cold water until officers got there.”
Yarborough spent his whole life in law enforcement, becoming a deputy sheriff in 1956.
According to the AP, Yarborough and his wife, Ida, moved to her family’s land in Louisiana four years ago.
 

United Way gives $5,000 for the animal shelter

Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
Henderson County United Way board members Ralph Fortner (left), the Rev. Eston Williams and Ralph Monroe hand over a $5,000 check Monday to Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake president Joni Walker and members of her board, Cindy Walter, Debbie Lumpkins, Debra Hutcherson and dog walker Debbie Shubert. Rising in the background is the facility's new building. The animal shelter board is actively seeking more funds to complete the inside and two more project phases to increase the shelter's capacity. Also, donations of basic necessities are greatly appreciated.