People, Places & Events

Districts honor teachers
for appreciation week
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–Area school districts are taking special care to thank their teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3-9.
Dinners and banquets have been scheduled around the lake to let the teachers and employees know how much they are appreciated:
• Trinidad Independent School District teachers enjoyed a luncheon catered by Danny’s barbecue.
• Malakoff ISD held its appreciation banquet April 30. It was catered by Athens Cafe Restaurant in Malakoff.
• Kemp ISD superintendent and board members have plans to honor their teachers.
• Eustace ISD is having its employee appreciation banquet Thursday (tonight). They will pass out service awards.
Mabank ISD held its Employee Appreciation Banquet April 30. Everyone enjoyed a meal catered by Vetoni’s Italian Restaurant with pizza and deserts prepared by Chartwell’s Food Service employees.
Students and classes of all districts are also contributing by preparing gifts and notions for teachers.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Mabank Independent School District honored its campus Teachers of the Year at its
annual appreciation banquet April 30. Pictured are (from left) high school teacher
Sherry Beck, junior high Mandi Brown, intermediate school Charlotte Purl, Central
Elementary Kristin Clark and Southside Elementary and District Teacher of the Year
Melissa Smith. Not pictured is Lakeview Elementary teacher Kathy Runyon.

Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Mabank Superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall (left) congratulates 25-year veteran
Cindy Stout for her years of service to the district.

Women’s Club treated to fashion show
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP– Spring is the time for changing one’s wardrobe and Gayle Robinson of Gilbert & Jones hosted a colorful, stylish presentation of what’s popular, as well as fashionable, this year.
Members of the Cedar Creek Lake Women’s Club were not only the audience, but also modeled the new colorful clothing items.
The event took place at the Cedar Creek Country Club April 28.
Models for the 2009 Fans of Fashion show were Claudette Allsup, Beth Brown, Jenny Beth Duncan, Jeanie Hulsey, Joyce Kinsey, Rita Liacono, June Tinsley, Carol Meyer, JoAnne Tuttle, Annette Wilkerson, Marge Williamson, Betty Wise and Jean Wright.
Models were assisted by Vanetta Miller and Carroll Morriss and coordinated by Aulsine DeLoach.
Members were reminded the next meeting will be a week early, Tuesday, May 19, to accommodate the Memorial Day holiday.


Courtesy Photo
Beth Brown shows off a dressy silk blouse adorned
with a matching beaded necklace.

County OKs first prisoner pact
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
ATHENS–Henderson County Commissioners approved the county’s first contract for housing out-of-county inmates in the newly expanded jail.
Smith County wants to transfer about 20 of its female prisoners from the Kaufman Law Enforcement Center to Henderson County.
The contract is at the same rate of pay as the Kaufman facility – $38/day – and Smith County is providing the transportation, Maj.. Kevin Haynes told commissioners Tuesday.
“This will save them money on their transportation costs, because we’re closer,” Haynes said.
“Is there no other interest in our jail? We’ve got more than 100 empty beds, don’t we?” Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence asked.
“We haven’t had a lot of positive feedback right now,” Haynes answered. “No one is in real need of switching to us right now.”
“This is a test to see what kind of job we are able to do,” Sheriff Ray Nutt explained.
“We’re also exploring (housing) federal inmates,” Nutt added. “Federal jail standards are lower than state ones and they pay $53 per day.”
“We’re late coming on line,” Haynes said, noting Smith County also houses inmates in Gregg County (Longview).
“Leon and Freestone counties are sending inmates to Groesbeck, and they’re not going to change unless given a reason to change,” Haynes added.
The contract form approved earlier by commissioners was accepted by Smith County’s legal team.
However, Smith County officials wanted Henderson County to approve the agreement first, before presenting it to their own commissioners for final approval, Haynes explained.
“Really, they didn’t want any changes?” Judge David Holstein asked. “Makes you wonder if that’s a good thing or not.”
In other business, commissioners:
• proclaimed May as “Elder Abuse Prevention Month” and May 10-16 as “National Nursing Home Week.”
Adult Protective Services representatives told commissioners there are 6,400 disabled adults in the county and 15,828 citizens over age 65.
In the last year, APS has taken in 535 cases and confirmed 358 cases of abuse. Currently, the agency has 605 clients receiving services.
Cedar Lake Nursing Home director Douglas Humble said his facility is really celebrating the residents of Cedar Lake Nursing Home.
“We’re bring the community inside the nursing home, which itself is an important part of the community,” Humble said.
The proclamation encourages citizens to visit or volunteer at a local nursing home, to bring cheer to its residents and appreciation to those who care for the elderly.
• decided to retain the county’s current bank depository, First State Bank, and also its sub-depositories, Citizens State Bank and Prosperity.
• reappointed Henderson County Clint W. Murchison Memorial Library directors for another term. They are Charlotte Owens, Dan Weber, Stewart Cochran and Terry Warren.
• approved budget amendments, with Lawrence opposed. The amendments included transferring $80,000 from last year’s construction budget to this year’s to pay a jail expansion bill from Templeton Construction for $122,000 in change orders approved by the county.
• paid $184,695.60, as a quarterly payment due the state, with Lawrence opposed.
• paid bills totaling $272,331.09.