Kaufman County clean-up slated for May 13-14
Electronics recycling set for May 7 in Terrell
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN–The Kaufman County Clean-Up will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 13-14 at various locations throughout the county. (See below for a list of locations.)
The Clean-up is sponsored by Kaufman County and is free to all Kaufman County residents.
Proof of residency (drivers license or water bill) is required at all locations.
No cattle trailers or enclosed trailers will be allowed.
Items that WILL NOT be accepted include TVs, computers, microwaves, latex paint, pesticide containers, or hazardous household waste.
In addition, Precinct 4 will not accept barbed wire, bricks, concrete, rock, roofing shingles, brush, boats, travel trailers, or dead animals of any sort.
• Kaufman ( Precinct 1) – Kaufman Trash Disposal and Recycling Center at 701 Alton Street in Kaufman. Contact numbers are (972) 932-2161 or (972) 932-2216.
Residential trash and four tires per residence will be allowed.
• Forney (Precinct 2) – Precinct 2 Maintenance Barn at FM 2932 and FM 741 in Forney. Contact numbers are (972) 564-7282 or (972) 564-4054, Ext. 3
Residential trash and four tires per residence will be allowed.
• Terrell (Precinct 3) – Citizens Convenience Station at CR 319 (N. on SH 34) in Terrell. Contact number is (972) 551-6628.
Residential trash and four tires per residence will be allowed.
• Elmo (Precinct 3) – Elmo Food Stop at 7398 E. State Highway 80 in Terrell. Contact number is (972) 563-5362.
Trash only allowed at this location.
• Kemp (Precinct 4) – Eco-Station at 6520 Plainview Drive in Kemp. Contact number is (903) 498-4135.
Residential trash and four tires per residence will be allowed.
Mabank (Precinct 4) – Rodeo Grounds, (903) 498-4135.
Trash only allowed at this location.
Crandall (Precinct 4) – Trunk Street across from the KCAAP Animal Clinic. Contact number is (903) 498-4135.
Residential trash and four tires per residence will be allowed.
Scurry (Precinct 4) – Across from Sloan’s Grocery (8102 S. SH 34) in Scurry.
Trash only allowed at this location.
The Environmental Co-op will sponsor, free-of-charge, an electronics recycling and shredding event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 7, at American National Bank, Operations Bldg. Parking Lot at 200 N. Catherine St. in Terrell.
They will take computers, laptops, printers, copiers, scanners, fax machines, servers, main frame units, networking equipment, systems, printed circuit boards, telephones, cellular phones, stereos, DVD players, consumer electronics, monitors and TVs.
 

Mabank ISD staff honored at awards banquet
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–A huge majority of Mabank Independent School District’s more than 500 employees, along with family and friends, gathered for the annual Mabank ISD Employee Awards Banquet April 28.
Junior High teacher Inken Hoeppner was named District Teacher of the Year, and Intermediate School Paraprofessional Shanna Burks was named District Para of the Year.
A musical tribute to the employees was performed during dinner by the MHS Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Jeff Dubose.
The welcome to those present was delivered by Assistant Superintendent Linda McKee.
A special thank you was presented by board of trustees president Kenneth Odom.
Introductory remarks were made by superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall prior to the presentation of service awards and retirement plaques.
Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Mabank ISD Teachers of the Year honored April 28 included (not in order) High School Amanda LaNier, Junior High Inken Hoeppner, Intermediate School Peyton Adams, Central Elementary Rachel Stokes, Lakeview Elementary Windy Preston and Southside Elementary Melody Stephenson.

Presentations were made to the employees who served the district for five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 years.
Twenty-year recipients were Nancy Borden, Sheila Carter, Sharon Fisher, Brenda Martin, Kathy Norman, Kathy Reynolds and Carol Voris; 25-year pins went to Laurie Reeve and Pat Stone; a 30-year pin went to Vicky Clark and Linda Carter was recognized for 40 years of service.
Retiring employees were also recognized – Jan Davis, Linda Engel, Gail Fankhauser, Marian Flowers, Judy Idom, Billie Jennings, Brenda Jones, Jennie Kinnard, Cindy Saenz, Barbara Spahlinger and Denise Tetreault.
 

Artisans Trail’s Art Jam set in Edom May 14
Special to The Monitor
EDOM–The 279 Artisans Trail’s Second Saturday Art Jam takes place Saturday, May 14, along a 20-mile stretch of Farm-to-Market 279 in and around Ben Wheeler and Edom.
Artists, farmers, restaurants, and shopkeepers hold open houses, demonstrate crafts, sell their wares and open their lodging to visitors.
A list of participants includes Antiques & Texas Heritage, Arbor Castle Birdhouses, Blue Moon Gardens, Blueberry Hill Farms, Edom Ranch Art, Flying Fish Gallery, Ben Wheeler Community Garden, Harrison & Son Knifesmith and Jeffrey Lance Photography.
Also, Ken Carpenter Jewelry, Lambs Antiques, The Old Firehouse music venue, Players music store, Potters Brown, Rave Art Gallery, Saxon Tomatoes, Scoots ‘n Scoops and Shiloh Acres Plant Farm.
Also, Sojourn Gallery, Studio Metals, Wagon Wheel Forge & Gallery, Whimzee, and several restaurants, including Edom Bakery & Grill and The Shed in Edom, and Moore’s Store and The Forge in Ben Wheeler.
As part of the 279 Artisans Trail, these businesses embrace sharing and teaching during this event. There will be demonstrations, classes and workshops during the Art Jam and also throughout the month at various locations.
Many of the shops demonstrate their work on-site on a regular basis, such as potters Doug and Beth Brown, knife maker Dan Harrison, birdhouse maker Joseph Hopps, and jewelers Ken Carpenter and Dyan Johnson. They also will do so May 14.
In addition, many of the shops have scheduled special events and demonstrations for Art Jam Saturday.
For example, Arbor Castle Birdhouses presents artist Jerry Crites carving birds out of wood; Andy Smith demonstrates stone and metal jewelry making at Antiques & Texas Heritage; Pam Mueller of Pam-damonium Jewelry Studio demonstrates her hand-made custom-designed jewelry at The Old Firehouse; Kerian Massey shows her painting techniques at Flying Fish Gallery; and Judy Pritchett demonstrates weaving at Blue Moon Gardens.
County Line Magazine will host its second Music, Art, & Poetry event from 2-4 p.m. that day at The Old Schoolhouse in downtown Ben Wheeler, and the Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation also will present an art exhibit in The Old Schoolhouse.
Expect live “porch” music throughout the day in both the Edom and Ben Wheeler downtown areas.
Shopkeepers will open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. or later. A Crawfish Boil begins at 4 p.m. at Moore’s Store, while the music of Zydeco Stingrays will be heard all day, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Local favorite Tommy Aduddell performs at The Forge from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and at The Old Firehouse, singer/songwriter Chuck Brodsky will perform his original songs in this acoustic music “listening” room.
For tickets go to www.theoldfirehouse.net.  Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.