Sunday, March 16, 2008

MABANK–The Mabank Independent School District and Food Fast convenience stores are joining together to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.
Collection jars with the project’s name – Quest for a Million Pennies – are being placed at all MISD campuses and Food Fast stores around the Cedar Creek Lake area.
Chase Dickerson, the Children’s Miracle Network champion in 1998, is the mascot for the collection drive, which will last through the annual CMN telethon, set Saturday and Sunday, May 31-June 1.

Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Mabank Schools Superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall places a dollar in a “Quest for a Million Pennies” collection jar held by former Children’s Miracle Network champion Chase Dickerson. Mabank schools and Food Fast convenience stores are joining together in the fund-raising drive benefiting the Children’s Miracle Network.

This year’s telethon will be broadcast on Tyler-based CBS Channel 19.
A familiar face to many Cedar Creek Lake area residents, Dickerson was born with a genetic disease called “Hurlers Syndrome.”
Through a donation drive, funds were raised to help pay for a bone marrow transplant, and to help the family live in San Antonio for nearly two years prior to and after the transplant.
Over the years, Dickerson has undergone 34 surgeries to correct deformities or problems caused by the disease.
“We’re excited about being able to support this great charity,” MISD Superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall said. “Chase exemplifies the spirit and determination we wish every student could develop and possess.”
For more information on the Children’s Miracle Network or the Quest for a Million Pennies fund-raising effort, contact Robin Rowan at (903) 531-5437.
 

Kemp City Park sparks civic pride
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–With the completion of the new pavilion, citizens of Kemp are looking forward to events that might possibly be held there.
Already, the Kemp Economic Development Corporation has met there.
“We discussed several things concerning the new pavilion,” EDC president Jody Deller told Kemp council members Tuesday, adding a rental fee for its use could be considered.
“We would like to see weekly functions that would get people out to the pavilion,” Deller said, naming musical events, karaoke, or other fun activities that would be free to the public.
A new organization is also looking at the pavilion and park as a way to attract visitors.
The Business and Civic Association of Kemp is being formed under the direction of Diana Clemmo.
Business owners asked her to form the organization, she said.
“They suggested social activities to draw people to Kemp, such as parades and picnics the city used to have,” she said.
“A lot of people don’t realize how much the park is used in the summer. My store is across the street, and I see all the activity over there,” Clemmo said as she queried the council for interest in supporting the group.
Council members agreed that it was a good idea.
“Nobody is going to look after us like we ourselves,” councilwoman Barbara McFaul said.
In other business, council members:
• viewed the new logo for Kemp city maintenance trucks.
• took no action on a rezoning request.
• accepted a letter of credit for three years from 3-R Gardner, Ltd, for the extension of maintenance term.
• approved the final plat for Lonesome Creek, with the acceptance of the maintenance term.

City accepts credit card payments
 Council discusses curfew laws
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–The Gun Barrel City Council unanimously authorized credit card payments for city services, especially the payment of fines and citations.
A 3 percent processing fee will be added to keep the transaction budget neutral – neither earning or costing the city money to use, city manager Gerry Boren explained.
The city judge has researched the service provider that can best work with the court’s accounting system, he added.
The card-swipe system should be in place and ready for use, he told The Monitor.
The council also discussed curfews for its youth, including daytime curfews.
Boren asked the council for direction in revising the city’s curfew ordinance. “Only a few Texas cities have daytime curfews,” he said.
Councilman Marty Goss expressed concern for kids skipping school, in the absence of truant officers, and those skateboarding on sidewalks and in front of stores.
Councilman Todd Hogan didn’t want teen boys (like his own) to be bothered by police when playing a spontaneous game of football in an empty lot.
Also discussed was whether or not a warning system should be part of the ordinance, so a youth can receive warnings before being cited, or to leave it up to officer’s discretion.
Proposed changes to the current curfew law were presented as follows:
• taking out the section on a “holding location” for juvenile offender for pick up and the section defining “direct route.”
• adding the word “guardian” to the definition of parent
• adding penalties for violation of curfew not to exceed $500.
• added the curfew ordinance is to be reviewed every three years.
City attorney Bill Krueger said he would bring curfew ordinances that have been tested in court for the council’s review by next meeting.
In other business, council members:
• changed the wording of city ordinance 94.17 heading from “Notice to Remove or Abate Nuisance” to Code Compliance and using the phrase “Code Enforcement.” This is part of the direction to simplify and clarify how the city responds to violations of the city codes, Boren said.
In similar action, Boren presented three job descriptions titled Code Enforcement Officer I - Supervisor, Code Enforcement Officer II and Code Enforcement Officer III-Litter Abatement.
• set a public hearing for April 8 during the council’s regular meeting to hear comments on the issuance of a special use permit to operate a tattoo clinic at 114 S. Old Gun Barrel Lane, Suite 6, and comments on the rezoning of 4.71 acres on Cedar Isle from agriculture to residential–townhouses.
• appointed Marty Goss to head a July 4 Festival committee.
• awarded bids for road materials and work to Armour Material, R.K. Hall Construction, Trinity Materials and S&S Trucking.
• resolved to ask East Texas Medical Center to continue a contract with United Health Care Options Pro to allow network access through TML Intergovernmental Employee Benefits Pool. Most city employees have their insurance through United, which handles TML’s insurance program. If ETMC pulls out, it will greatly affect city workers here and all over East Texas, Boren said.