AARP free tax service
AARP tax-aide volunteers continue to offer free income tax help from 8 a.m. to noon Mondays at The Library at Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points on Wednesdays at the Senior Center in Malakoff and the Senior Center in Athens through April 15.
For information call Gil Betts at (903) 778-2423.

Shelter needs volunteers
The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake needs volunteers to take dogs and cats to KCAAP Spay Neuter Clinic in Crandall. Pickup animals up at the shelter at 8:30 a.m. Monday mornings and check them in, then return at 3 p.m. to pick them up and return to the shelter.
To volunteer call Krista at (903) 432-3422 or e-mail dogshsccl@yahoo.com. 

Country music at Poynor
Country music is presented at the Poynor Civic Center from 6:30 to 9 p.m.. Thursday, March 1. The Frankston Health Care Center is serving a meal starting at 6 p.m. Donations accepted. Desserts appreciated.
For information call (903) 360-0766 or (903) 876-5448.

TVCC spring concert
The Trinity Valley Community College Music Department is presenting its first spring concert, “We Sing of Praise,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Dogwood Baptist Church, 6467 FM 2494, three miles west of the college, in Athens. The college’s Cardinal Singers and Chamber Singers will present a variety of songs in the free concert.
For information call (903) 675-6327.

GBC First Assembly
The First Assembly of God Church, Gun Barrel City, welcomes new pastor and his family. Pastor Tim Howard of Eustace begins his ministry in the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 4 service.
The church is located at 721 W. Main St.

Kemp First Assembly
The First Assembly of God Church in Kemp is celebrating its homecoming service at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 4, and at 2 p.m. with a dinner served between the two services. The event will also be the 23rd anniversary for Pastor and Sister Smeal at the church.
A guest speaker and singer from Houston will be featured.
The church is located on Business 175, next to the Kemp fire station.

Try ‘pocket gardening’
Kaufman County Master Gardener, Bonnie Hoover will present a free program on how to make a simple pocket garden at 9 a.m. March 5, just before the association’s monthly meeting at the Kaufman Fire Department, 301 S. Madison St. Refreshments provided.

CC Model A Club
The Cedar Creek Model A Club meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 6 (first Tuesday of the month), at the Dairy Queen in Seven Points.
Visitors are always welcome and you do not have to own a Model A to join.

Eustace hosts MADD
The Eustace VFD will present a victims impact presentation by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), at 7 p.m. Monday, March 5, at the fire station. The department invites members of the community to help them fill the station to standing room only.

CCL Literary Club
The Literary Club of Cedar Creek Lake executive board meeting is at 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at the Library at Cedar Creek Lake, Seven Points.

PSUMC fellowship night
The Payne Springs United Methodist Church is hosting a performance by the Mabank Panther Edition at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, following the 6:30 p.m. covered dish dinner. The church is located at 9667 SH 198, across from the Payne Springs VFD.
For information, call (903) 451-3131 or (903) 451-2978.

VZ Senior Citizens
The Van Zandt Senior Citizens Club monthly dance is set for 7 p.m. Friday, March 9, at the Henderson County Senior Center in Athens. Joe Walenta and the Ranch Hands will provide the music.

Junior Livestock benefit
The Kaufman County Junior Livestock Show board is hosting a barbecue cookoff with all proceeds benefitting the KC Junior Livestock Show scholarship fund. The event is set for Saturday, March 10, at the county fairgrounds on South 34, Kaufman. Judges needed.
E-mail Jackie Robertson at jrobertson@ag.tamu  or call Bill Thornton at (972) 452-3290 or (214) 729-4522.

HSCCL Art Auction
The third annual Art Auction benefitting the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is set for 2 to 7 p.m. for a silent auction and 6:30 p.m. live auction, Saturday, March 10, at the Library at Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points. Drinks and appetizers plus $1 million fuzzy bucks included with ticket.
For information call Krista at (903) 432-3422 or Sue at (903) 887-2234.

All day walk-in tax day
Free tax help! First come, first served. An all-Day Walk-in Tax day is set for Monday, March 12, at Tri-County Library, Mabank. Bring all your information.
For other times, call the library at (903) 887-9622, and someone will call you back to make an appointment.

Food ministries
Orders for Low Cost Food Ministries are being taken from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, March 12-15.
For information call James at (903) 603-5309.

News in Brief Policy
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The deadline for submission is 4 p.m. Monday for each Thursday’s issue and 4 p.m. Wednesday for each Sunday’s issue. Announcements will run for four issues (two weeks).
Organizations needing to relay more information on services or events, or who seek a longer promotion time, are encouraged to call our advertising staff at (903) 887-4511.
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Motorcyclist dies on 3080
Monitor Staff Reports
CANTON–A motorcycle rider traveling east on County Road 3080, north of Mabank, died when his 1979 Harley Davidson sideswiped a mid-sized SUV traveling in the opposite direction Sunday.
Department of Transportation trooper Brady Lunceford out of the Canton office, worked the accident with assistance from the Mabank Police Department.
Lunceford reported that Eustace resident Donald White, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after the occurrence around 6:50 p.m.
Van Zandt Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Scott Shinn was called in from Edom to oversee the proceedings.
The body was transported to Dallas for an autopsy, Lunceford said.
Another Eustace resident Dennis Wisdom, 37, was driving a Dodge Durango west on 3080 with his wife, Carrie Sue Zark, and three children ages 11, 13, and 16, all wearing seat belts at the time.
Only Carrie Sue was treated and released from ETMC-Athens as a result of the collision.
Lunceford said the deceased was reported to have been driving down the center of the roadway, when the two vehicles sideswiped each other. He was not wearing a helmet at the time and was not thrown from his bike, but skidded off the road.
On Tuesday, he could not say whether drugs or alcohol were involved in the cause of the wreck.
The road is little traveled, so the accident did not impact through traffic, Lunceford reported.

Drive-thru trouble leads to drug arrest and cash
Monitor Staff Reports
GUN BARREL CITY–A disorderly conduct call at Julio’s drive-through window at the Gun Barrel Shopping Village late Saturday night turned into a drug bust.
According to Sgt. Patrick Johnson, two officers responded to a complaint that customers were giving employees problems at Julio’s.
Officers spoke with occupants of a white chevy pickup and ended up putting all three under arrest for disorderly conduct. they were Derrell Jenkins, 44 of Mabank and Merwin Walker, 48, and Trina Conary, 52, both of Denison.
A search of the vehicle resulted in finding a large quantity of methamphetamines, pills, drug paraphernalia and cash in the amount of $2,895.
It was ascertained that all the narcotics and cash belonged to Conary, who drew additional charges for drug possession. The cash was seized.
Conary was transported to the Henderson County jail and is being held on bonds totaling $19,000.