People, Places & Events

GUN BARREL CITY–U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 5-14 members received commendations for their service to boaters and the public on Cedar Creek Lake during an award banquet held Saturday at Vetoni’s Italian Restaurant.
Auxiliary members help patrol the lake, respond to distress calls, point out boating safety rules and conduct public safe boating courses the last Saturday of each month for licensing and possible lowering insurance rates. [Call Jon Raden at (972) 875-7842]
Under the leadership of immediate past flotilla Cmdr. Bill Fackler, Flotilla 5-24 once again was awarded the Silver Oar, 
“Y’all help us out greatly,” keynote speaker game warden Shawn Smith said. “Thank you very much.”
Smith also updated the flotilla on the search for an Athens man and his grandson, still continuing since March 23 at Richland-Chambers Reservoir.
Friday, searchers recovered the body of Jerry King, 72, and were still searching for Jerrod Rachel, 17, a senior at Cross Roads High School, Smith said.
A likely scenario suggests one man fell in and the other went in after him. The water temperature was between 55 and 60 degrees March 23, cold enough to cause a swimmer’s muscles to contract on contact with the water.
“The individual didn’t have a life jacket on. In fact, the life jackets were still in the plastic packages on board,” Smith added. “Continue to stress to people that life jackets save lives.”
Members learned that Flotilla 5-14 is the largest auxiliary group in its sector, with some 30 active members and the oldest, in terms of average age of its membership, which is 66.8 years.
Among the service awards, Linda Fernald was recognized for 35 years of affiliation, along with Glenna Roodhouse with 25 years of service.
Those marking up the highest number of operational hours included Betty Abbott with 102.4; Chuck Abbott with 107.8; Cmdr. Jim Salzmann with 115.4; Harry Kaufman, 122.1; Helga Nicholas, 127.2; and Nick Nicholas with 129.5 hours.
The Auxiliarist of the Year 2008 awards in different categories were awarded to Chuck Abbott/Operations, Harry Kaufman/Public Education, Royce Brimage/RBVP, Jon Raden/VE; Betty Abbott/VFC and for most distinctive auxiliarist, Cmdr. Bill Fackler.
When the official awards had been handed out, Sandy Janow got up and handed out his own silver and gold (paint) brush awards to those who helped paint and spruce up flotilla headquarters in Tool.
The U.S. Coast Guard Houston-Galveston sector, of which Flotilla 5-14 is a part, was noted for being a partner in helping perform more than 6,000 vessel inspections, eight times the average sector workload.
It also responded to nearly 500 search and rescue cases, saving more than 150 lives, as stated in a letter of commendation from U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral D. B. Peterman.
“Overwhelmingly, most boating accidents result from the operator not knowing the limitations of his vessel,” guest speaker USCG Lt.j.g.Gullermo Holmes commented as he read the letter, and also described some of his duties.
In addition, the sector aggressively responded to the release of 10 million gallons of phosphoric acid and successfully averted a catastrophic release of 350 million gallons of acid, while simultaneously responding to Hurricane Humberto, Holmes read.
Galveston inspectors and investigators pursued three illegal oil discharge cases with the Department of Justice, resulting in a $35 million fine, the largest monetary penalty in U.S. history to a shipping company for criminal violation of environmental laws.

KISD cancels board vote
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–After certifying the candidates as unopposed, Kemp Independent School District board of trustees canceled its May 9 school board election March 24.
“No one showed up as a candidate under the timelines or guidelines as a candidate,” Superintendent Dr. Peter Running said.
Incumbents Keith Foisey, Place 3, and Scott Clearman, Place 4, were certified as unopposed and will serve another three-year term.
In other business, trustees:
• heard grief counselors were standing by to counsel students, following the March 25 fatal accident of Kemp graduate Nick Lane (see obituary information, page 11A).
• heard a report on the progress of the new high school construction from Ed Nelson with Baird Construction and Todd Bennett from Fromberg Associates Architects.
The building is almost closed up, and a small amount of roofing is left, Nelson said, adding the construction was making “good progress.”
However, the building is still slightly behind schedule. The tentative completion date is Aug. 1.
• approved a construction payment of $1,681,387.50 as certified by auditors and architects.
• agreed to apply for a waiver for low attendance days, such as a bad weather day.
“That day can be taken off the (school) calendar, so it doesn’t count off the attendance for the school year,” Running said.
• agreed to extend the bank depository contract for an additional two years.
This year the district was required to go out for bids, but the rules changed recently.
The change allows a two-year extension until Sept. 30, 2011, Running said.
• authorized the superintendent to spend up to $765,000 for furniture and equipment for the new high school.
The order was to be placed by Friday to insure timely delivery, Running said.
• discussed other possible costs, including $50,000 to $100,000 for a security system and $15,000 for a scoreboard. Trustee Scott Clearman suggested asking district librarians what materials should be ordered for the libraries.
• agreed to continue the “no charge policy” for students transferring into the district.
• heard the water line to the new high school is 100 percent complete.
Also, the land where the portables were sitting has been cleaned up. The land smoothed out and grass seeding is set to begin, Running said.
• heard financial and tax reports as presented by business manager Kim Johnson.
Kemp ISD tax collections were at 80 percent as of Feb. 28. Trustees were not happy with the tax collection statement.
For March, collections improved to 82 percent, slightly higher than through March of last year.
Trustees agreed to invite the Kaufman County Tax Collector to a board meeting to discuss the matter.

Funds sought for therapeutic saddle
Special to The Monitor
SCURRY–The Prospect Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center is asking for monetary donations to assist it in getting a special saddle, designed especially for those with varying degrees of physical disabilities.
Prospect Mountain CEO Teri Lisenby reports she has finally gotten the chance to buy the Independence Saddle, made by Independent Strides of Grand Haven, Mich.
The Independence Saddle allows a person with severe physical challenges to sit safely and independently astride a horse, while the traditional physical dependency on sidewalkers is dramatically decreased, according to the company.
“The Independence saddle offers both safety and versatility, and is adaptable enough to accommodate riders of varying sizes, disabilities and/or injuries,” according to the maker.
Independent Strides is offering a used saddle for $2,800, a significant reduction from the $6,000 cost of a new one. It is a saddle that had been loaned out and recently returned.
Lisenby has just until the end of April to take advantage of the offer before it is offered elsewhere.
“This saddle will help those that other therapeutic riding centers are unable to help,” she adds.
Prospect Mountain is a member of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, and uses certified instructors and trained volunteers to assist riders in achieving horsemanship skills and establish a special bond with their horses.
Prospect Mountain has about 20 students and a dozen special horses.
Three children have been waiting to be able to ride at the center, but have been prevented by the lack of this specially designed saddle that includes a head and back rest, among other therapeutic features.
One of these three riders has seen her health deteriorate.
“I promised her a year ago that we would get her to ride again,” Lisenby writes. “The joy I saw in her face (at this news) was immeasurable.”
Lisenby fears this young rider’s life may come to an end soon.
The saddle may be viewed at independentstrides.com.
Those able to send a tax-deductible donation may send it via the Internet at www.pmtrc.org and going to the horse page and following the donation prompt. Those without Internet access may send a donation to Prospect Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center, c/o Teri Lisenby, 7471 FM 3094, Scurry TX 75158.
Questions may be directed to Lisenby by calling (469) 595-2019.