People, Places & Events

Mabank school employees lauded at annual banquet

Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
Mabank Independent School District campus paraprofessionals of the year Traci Johnson (left) – administration, Misty Davis – Lakeview, Janice Armstrong – Mabank High School and Vickie Zabojnik (far right) – Mabank Middle School, celebrate with the overall designate Vicki Shelton of Central Elementary.

Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–About 100 teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals and support personnel were recognized for years of service and contributions of excellence during the Mabank school district Employee Appreciation dinner Thursday.
The coveted Teacher of the Year award went to high school science teacher/coach Michael Rowland, who has been with the district four years.
MHS principal Dr. Tommy Wallis called Rowland “the epitome of the teacher-coach,” and praised him on bringing a great deal of college scholarship to Mabank athletes.
Wallis added that in his 16 years in education, Rowland is one of the best teachers he’s seen.
“He’s taken the science department to a whole other level,” Wallis said.
Attendees also learned Rowland is newly engaged to be married to Robin Powell, a 2004 Mabank graduate and Texas A&M at Commerce student. A wedding date is set for June, 2008, Powell told The Monitor.
Campus teachers of the year were lauded by their school principals.
Charlotte Purl has been with the district 23 years and has wanted to become a teacher since seventh grade, MMS principal Gary Jacobs said. Purl brings history to life for seventh graders, Jacobs said.
Janna Parker, 17 years with the district, is the Central Elementary technologist, but she has done it all, retiring Principal Elizabeth Horton said. She’s taught third and fourth grade, math, and she’s also served as school librarian.
Parker said the rewards of being a teacher are innumerable as one helps children reach their full potential.
Traci Clark has been with the district 10 years and teaches first grade. She began as a pre-kindergarten teacher.

Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
Mabank assistant superintendent Linda McKee (back) named the Employee of the Year from each department as Weldon Reid (left) – custodial, Theressa Henderson – food service, Tommy Dobbs – maintenance, and Sondra Caffey – transportation.

The last three Southside teachers of the year have come from the first grade, and four out of 11 have come from the first grade, Southside Elementary Principal James Pate said.
It was said of Barbie Bolin that she has been teaching in the barn her whole life, Lakeview Elementary School Principal Kevyn Pate said.
“She loves to teach and excels at motivating kids to do their best,” Pate added. She’s been with the school five years and teaches fourth grade.
Of the finalists for paraprofessional of the year, Vicki Shelton, a reading and math intervention specialist at Central, received the top honor.
“Shelton goes out of her way to help children succeed,” reaching coach Jodi Dowdy told The Monitor.
Employees also received pins for years of service.
Ralaine Manning, a reading intervention specialist at Southside Elementary, was recognized for 30 years of service.
Sherry Ann Brown, Billie Jennings and Janis Jones, an American studies teacher at the MMS, marked 25 years, while Judeen Downing, Karen Jones, Doyle Lewis and Mary Scarborough received 20-year pins.
Many more were recognized for five, 10 and 15 years of service.
Those recognized for their retirement at the end of this school year were Jeannie Gurley – Lakeview, Robert Hood and Lewis both of MHS, William Rehl – MMS, Bickie Roberts – Southside, B.J. Shackelford – transportation, Horton, Marvilou Walters and Dorothy Warms, all of Central Elementary.
The Mabank Independent School District has 550 employees.
 

Malakoff Cornbread Festival

Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Trinidad twins Zachary (left) and Zanthany Jackson, both 3, feast on orange shaved ice Saturday at Malakoff’s Cornbread Festival. They are the sons of Zachary and Deneicia Jackson Jr. of Trinidad.

Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Grandmother Matsy Walker holds 2-year-old Janie Crosby as she tastes a traditional gordita at the Rivera family booth Saturday at the Cornbread Festival.

Annual garage sale supports safe boating
Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–The Friends of Safe Boating are holding its annual garage sale 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday at Tom Finley Park.
The annual event has been held 15 times, garage chairwoman Glenna Roodhouse said.
However the last two years, it hasn’t been held.
That means a lot of great stuff has accumulated for the garage sale, Roodhouse said.
Mid-cities Storage provides the group with a storage unit for the garage sale.
This year the sale will include used clothing, something it hasn’t had in the past, she said.
It will also feature water sports equipment such as wet suits and one paddleboat, Roodhouse said.
Funds raised through the garage sale supports the work of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 5-14.
The flotilla helps patrol the lake on weekends to insure people are practicing safe boating.
“We’re not law enforcement,” Roodhouse said. “We’re educators.”
That’s why the flotilla also conducts ABC Public Education classes on safe boating, visits schools and libraries telling children how important it is to wear life jackets while on the lake.
U.S.C.G. members conduct courtesy boat safety inspections, and its members assist game wardens at boat accident scenes, she said.

Ask SCORE
Manage your working capital to maintain business success
Special to The Monitor
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–As the owner of a small business, you may think it has little in common with a large corporation.
While it is true that you will likely rely more on trade credit, bank financing, lease financing and personal equity, your long-term investment decisions require the same kind of analysis used by large firms.
The key is understanding those factors that affect financial decisions, how they apply to your business’s short- and long-term goals and strategies, and any other influences that may be unique to your situation.
Working capital is the difference between current assets and current liabilities. Lack of close control on working capital is one cause of business failure. The small business owner must be constantly alert to changes in working capital, the reasons for them, and any resulting business implications.
It is helpful for the owner to think of working capital in terms of its six components:
1) Cash and equivalents. This most liquid form of working capital requires constant supervision.
A good cash budgeting system addresses many important considerations: whether the cash level is adequate to meet current expenses as they come due; timing of cash inflow, cash outflow and peak cash needs; amount to borrow to meet cash shortfalls; and the timing of repayment of loans.
2) Accounts receivable. Almost all businesses extend credit to their customers.
Make sure the amount of accounts receivable is reasonable in relation to sales and that receivables are being collected promptly. Identify slow-paying customers and have a strategy for dealing with them.
3) Inventory. Inventory often constitutes as much as 50 percent of a firm’s current assets.
Is the inventory level reasonable compared with sales and the nature of the business? Know the rate of inventory turnover compared with other companies in your type of business.
4) Accounts payable. Financing by trade is common in small business and is one of the major sources of funds for entrepreneurs.
Understand whether your business’s payment policy is helping or hurting your credit rating. Know the timing pattern between payment of accounts payable and collections of accounts receivable.
5) Notes payable. Notes to banks or other financial sources represent a popular alternative financing source.
Note whether the amount of borrowing is reasonable compared to the equity financing of the firm. Look at when payments are due and whether the money will be there to make these payments on schedule.
6) Accrued expenses and taxes payable. These are obligations of the firm at any given time, and represent expenses already obligated, even if payment is not yet issued.
If you would like to discuss business financing, understanding financial statements or budgeting, contact SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business.”
SCORE is a nonprofit organization of more than 10,500 volunteer business counselors who provide free and confidential advice to veteran entrepreneurs and those just starting out.
There is a SCORE Chapter at The Greater Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Call (903) 887-3152 for an appointment.