Kaufman County Fair
The 2012 Kaufman County Fair is set through Saturday, April 7, at the Kaufman County Fair Grounds. The fair is open to all residents of the county and to those that attend school in the county.
For information on categories and judging and the complete rules call Jackie Robertson at (972) 932-9069 or go to http://kaufmantx.tamu.edu.

FBC Easter egg hunt
The First Baptist Church of Gun Barrel City is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at the church. For information call (903) 887-6887, ext. 3.

Beautiful Acres hunt
The Beautiful Acres Missionary Baptist Church is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt and hotdog cookout at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at the home located at First Street and Oak Trail. A sign is at the corner location.

Rainbow car wash
The Gun Barrel City Rainbow Girls Masonic Youth are hosting a car was from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at the Athens Brookshire’s store on SH 31.
This activity is a fundraiser for the assembly and to gain attention to the new assembly forming in Athens.

Providence Baptist hunt
The Providence Baptist Church is hosting an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 7, with plenty of eggs to be found by all kids participating plus cupcakes and juice following the hunt. The Easter Bunny will join the fun and be available for photos. For information call (903) 432-3238.

Poynor music event
Country music from 6 to 9 p.m. and a meal prepared by Frankston Health Care Center from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 5, is open to the public, benefitting the Frankston Health Care Center. For information, call (903) 360-0766 or (903) 876-5448.

Senior eye screenings
Free eye screening for seniors (65 and older) sponsored by Carter Eye Center, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at the Senior Center at the Ball Park, 405 West Walnut St., Mabank. No appointment necessary.

Tamarack Easter egg hunt
The Tamarack annual Easter egg hunt is at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at Blackie Ensey Park. All Tamarack children, ages toddler to 12 years old and their parents are invited. Refreshments served. For information call Liz at (903) 887-7049.

Masonic blood drive
Carter BloodCare will set up for donations for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at Tri-County Ford, 102 W. Market St., Mabank, hosted by Roddy Masonic Lodge No. 734. For information, call Robert Aldredge at (903) 880-2288.

Easter ‘Son’ rise service
A special Easter “Son” rise Service will be held at Melton Rock at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, April 8. The Southern Joy Quartet begins singing at 6 a.m. All denominations welcome. Bro. Brian McWhorter brings the message. Dress warm and casual and wear tennis shoes. Located off CR 2804, about 8 miles north of Eustace. For information or directions, call (903) 425-7625 (ROCK).

FBC sunrise service & Easter Musical
The community is invited to an Easter Sunrise Service at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, April 8, at the First Baptist Church, located in Gun Barrel City. At 10 a.m., The sanctuary choir will present “Oh, What a Savior.” For information, call (903) 887-6887.

Becker Candidate forum
The Becker Community Association is hosting a candidate forum at 7 p.m. Monday, April 9, at the Becker Community Center, corner of FM 1895 and FM 2860. Questions can be e-mailed to Douglas Gibbs at navychief95@yahoo.com.

IRS tax walk-in days
The Tri-County Library in Mabank is hosting two walk-in days on its tax help program from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 9, and Friday, April 13. Deadline to file taxes on time is Tuesday, April 17. For information call the library at (903) 887-9622.

Kaufman Republican forum
A Kaufman County Republican candidate forum is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, at the Kemp High School Auditorium. For information call (903) 880-6770.

CCL Literary Club
The Literary Club of Cedar Creek Lake meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 10, At The Library at Cedar Creek Lake. Nutritionist Jim Judd will present, “How to Look 20 years Younger in Three Months.” For membership information call Ruth Pimm at (903) 778-4752.

HC Goes Blue
In conjunction with April being Child Abuse Awareness Month, everyone is encouraged to wear blue on Wednesday April 11, to show your support.

U.S. Congress update
Congressman Jeb Hensarling will present a Washington Update at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, April 12, at Mabank City Hall, 129 East Market St.

Books & Bargains sale
The Friends of the Kaufman County Library are hosting the 15th annual Books and Bargains sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, April 13, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 14, plus their very popular bake sale, at the library located at 3790 S. Houston St. Kaufman.

Annual kids day
The third annual Kids Day, in conjunction with CASA’s 5K run at the Cain Center in Athens, is set for 8 a.m. Saturday, April 14.

Senior supplies needed
The Kemp Certified Nurse Aide class seeks help with “Supplies for Seniors” benefitting Kemp Care Center, full size hygiene products include shampoo, body wash, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, toothpaste and denture care products. Red boxes are placed at Kemp Family Pharmacy, First National Bank of Kemp, many area churches and all Kemp school campuses. For information call Liz Thorne, RN, at Kemp HS – (903) 498-9273.

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Youth baseball coach gets 16 years
Mabank coach to serve concurrent jail time for indecency with a child
Monitor Staff Reports
ATHENS–Former Mabank baseball league coach Kevin Reed was sentenced Monday on two counts of indecency with a child by contact.
Judge Dan Moore, preciding over the 173rd District Court, sentenced the 36-year-old to 16 years in prison on each count to run concurrently.
Reed was facing jail time of two to 20 years on each charge.
Reed’s trial began in February with a plea of not guilty, but after three days of testimony, Reed changed his plea to no contest on two of the three charges.
District Attorney Scott McKee was forced to drop the third charge because the victim’s parents refused to have their child testify.
Assistant district attorneys Nancy Rumar and Justin Weiner prosecuted the case. Reed was arrested in July, 2010, after a parent of one of the victims accused his baseball coach of touching her son inappropriately. Investigator Ceresa Ballard was assigned the case.
Ballard and Dep. Jack Valentine attempted to serve the arrest warrant at Reed’s home but did not find him there.
Reed, having heard he was sought turned himself in the following day.

Utility agrees to loan Kemp $250K
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
TOOL–During a special meeting called for Monday morning, West Cedar Creek Municipal Utility District directors reconsidered Kemp’s request to finance the balance of a project that would provide potable water to Kemp this summer.
During its regular meeting Mach 26, the directors had rejected Kemp’s request to finance $250,000 or so over 15 years at zero percent interest.
Utility general manager Tony Ciardo delivered the board’s rejection to Kemp city manager Charles Fenner Friday.
“Kemp really needs some help. They are facing a tough road,” Ciardo said. “I told Fenner I’d ask the board to reconsider the city’s request.”
Board president Clifton Smith said the lowest interest rate the district could consider would be 3 percent on a 15-year note.
Director David Lewis made that motion and it passed unanimously. Board director Joe King, who had raised certain business objections to Kemp’s request was absent from the special meeting.
Ciardo said though he won’t know the cost of the project, half a million dollars was a good figure. Kemp is in line to receive a $350,000 emergency disaster grant. Fenner had asked the utility to consider financing the rest of the cost.
“I have no idea what rates are going to have to be to pull this off,” Ciardo said. “But I do believe we can offer them the best rates. The rates are going to be high, no matter what.”
Ciardo added the repayment and interest could be wrapped into the water service agreement.