49ers seniors club
The Cedar Creek Lake 49ers Senior Citizens Club hosts a dance from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday (tonight and every Thursday night) to the music of Chuck & the 49ers. No smoking or alcohol. Donation at the door. Location is off SH 334, two blocks south on Arnold Hills Road, Seven Points. For information call or fax to (903) 432-3552.

Senior Center
The Westside Senior Center in Seven Points will have a Senior Health and Promotional Event (SHAPE) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday (today and each Thursday), at the center located at 700 North Seven Points Boulevard, in the Cedar Creek church activities building (one mile north of the traffic light). Various health services and related organizations will be represented. Seniors 55 and older encouraged to come and join in the activities. For information call (903) 340-9672.

Van Zandt dance
The Van Zandt Senior Citizens Club monthly dance is set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 13, at the Henderson County Senior Citizens Center in Athens. Country & Western music by Joe Walenta and the Ranch Hands. Everyone is welcome.

KC clean-up
The annual Kaufman County-wide Clean-up is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 13-14, at various locations, including the cities of Mabank, Kemp and Scurry. Free to all Kaufman County residents. For information call Texas AgriLife Extension Service at (972) 932-9069.

Tamarack sale
The Tamarack Ladies Club rummage and bake sale is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 13-14, at the TLC Hall in Blackie Ensley Park. Craft tables are available. For information call Linda at (903) 887-8984 or Liz at (903) 887-7049.

Rummage sale
The First Baptist Church of Eustace, 209 Meredith Street, is hosting a rummage sale from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 14, at the church, benefitting the Youth Mission.

Pancake breakfast
The Payne Springs United Methodist Church is hosting an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14. The church is located at 9667 SH 198. Also, a garage sale will take place across the street at Lord’s Acres. For information call (903) 489-0480.

Howard tourney
The sixth annual Courtney Howard Memorial Scholarship golf tournament is set for Saturday, May 14. Contact Groom & Sons’ Hardware and Lumber at (903) 887-1689.

Harbor Point POA
The Harbor Point POA semi-annual membership meeting is set for 10:15 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at Harbor Point’s Ethridge Pavilion, followed by barbecued hot dogs. Bring a covered dish to share. For agenda and information visit www.harborpointpoa.org.

Rootseekers Society
The Rootseekers Genealogical Society meets at 7 p.m. Monday, May 16, at Tri-County Library, Mabank. Ruth Shelton will present “Creating and Preserving Family History.” A volunteer will be available from 9:30 a.m. to noon each Tuesday in the library’s Genealogy Room for those needing help in research.

Learn about trees
A free program, “Learn all About Your Trees,” is set for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 21, at Kaufman County Library, 3790 South Houston Street, Kaufman. Program includes proper selection of trees, planting tips, pruning to improve tree health and protecting your home from wildland fires. RSVP by Monday, May 16, to urban forester Pam Coder at (469) 285-3370 or e-mail to pcorder@kaufmancounty.net.

CCL Women’s Club
The executive board for the Cedar Creek Lake Women’s Club meets at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, at the Cedar Creek Country Club for lunch and business meeting.

Sarah Maples DAR
The Sarah Maples Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution meets from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, for a luncheon and program at the First Presbyterian Church, 112 West Mt. Vernon Street, Mabank. Contact Kathy Cryer for reservations. Brad Ackerman will present a program on “The Watershed Project.” This is the final meeting before summer break.

Rike Book Signing
Abbe Rike (season 8 “Biggest Loser” contestant) will host a signing of her new book at 5 p.m. Friday, May 20, at Mabank High School. Books available at the event.

GBC Toys for Tots
The Gun Barrel City Toys for Tots annual Jail-n-Bail event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 21, in the Beall’s parking lot. If you or someone you know would be a “prisoner,” call Cheyenne Lyons at (903) 887-1289. Funds raised will benefit local kids during the Christmas season providing toys, clothing and a Christmas meal.

Catholic garage sale
Mary Queen of Heaven Council of Catholic Women is hosting its annual garage sale, one day only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, May 20. Includes appliances, furniture, books, glassware, clothes, knickknacks and items too numerous to mention. The CCW will have packages of cookies for sale and the Knights will have hot dogs for sale with free drink. Take SH 198 to Star Harbor Road (CR 3062) Malakoff. Follow church sign to CR 1703.

Becker fundraiser
The annual Market & Arts show benefitting the Becker Community Center will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21. Vendors have paintings, drawings, folk art, leather work candles and jewelry for sale. The Center is located at the intersection of FM 1895 and FM 2860, Becker.

Confederate Rose
Confederate Rose Chapter 2548 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy meets at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at Tri-County Library, Mabank. Program presented by Alma Cornwell. Visitors are welcome. For information call (903) 451-2709.

FBC Malakoff golf
The First Baptist Church of Malakoff is sponsoring a golf tournament starting with lunch at 11:30 a.m. and tee-off at 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 23, at the Pinnacle Club. Teams needed and to register call FBC at (903) 498-0228 or e-mail to fbc@fbcmalakoff.com.

CCL Women’s Club
The Cedar Creek Lake Women’s Club meets at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, at the Cedar Creek Country Club. Dave Tanner will entertain with musical selections by Nat King Cole. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Bring your school supplies for the Family Resource Center.

Immunization clinic
The Texas Department of Health Services holds immunization clinics during odd months only from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday (May 24) at the Mabank Fire Department, 111 E. Mason, Mabank. No clinics on holidays. For information call (972) 932-2038.

Pet food needed
Happy Tails runs a pet food bank and has been hit hard with the rising gas prices. Please donate if you can by calling (903) 880-4124 or cell (903) 275-5990, HappytailsofGBC.org, Adopt a happy Tail Inc. (a 501(c)(3) organization).

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Photojournalist Charles Stiff dies
Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–A well-known community member died Monday night, having completed his last photographic assignment.
Cedar Creek Pilot photographer Charles Stiff was found dead inside his car shortly after 9 p.m.. His car had rolled into a ditch beside State Highway 274, just south of Kemp.
He died shortly after leaving the Kemp High School spring sports banquet, where he photographed a group of honored student athletes.

Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
Charles Stiff (behind camera) takes a photo during the annual Mabank Special Olympics April 16 at Panther Stadium.

Former Kemp ISD trustee Curtis Donovan – whose daughter Kate was a guest speaker at the banquet – noticed Stiff’s car in the ditch and stopped to see what was the matter.
From there, the word spread quickly and quietly through text messaging, e-mail and phone calls.
By Tuesday morning, most who knew Stiff had gotten the sad news.
Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce president Jo Ann Hanstrom sent out an e-mail at 1:35 a.m. to all chamber members.
“Sports was his passion,” she stated, “and it seems fitting that his last evening was spent photographing the Kemp ISD kids getting their awards.
“Charles Stiff will be sorely missed by our chamber of commerce family and the entire Cedar Creek Lake community,” she wrote.
A memorial service is set for 10 a.m. Monday, May 16, at the First Baptist Church in Gun Barrel City.
He’s survived by his son, Bradley Stiff, who resides in North Carolina, and a sister, Dorthea Puckett of Gun Barrel City.
His wife, Euthema, died at 78 in June, 2009, and services for her were held at the Main Street Pentecostal Church.
For nearly two dozen years, Stiff could be seen on the sidelines at all major school sporting events, including games at Trinity Valley Community College.
His photos were also used in the Athens Daily Review, and he proudly wore a national championship ring presented to him by the TVCC football team.
“We just lost a really good man,” Mabank High School athletic director and head football coach Jimmy Cantrell said Monday.
“Sports was his thing, and I know he was a huge fan of Mabank athletics,” Cantrell said. “He always found time to come over here and talk.”
Cantrell said he and Stiff usually talked sports, particularly the Mabank teams.
“I considered him a good friend. He was always supportive, and that’s what you want (as a coach),” Cantrell said. “He will be missed.”
Stiff also was well-liked by law enforcement.
“You could trust him with sensitive information. He was a man of his word,” Henderson County Chief Deputy Dan Parker told The Monitor.
Parker began a working relationship with Charles in 2003, when Parker was made the head of criminal investigations.
“He was a friend to law enforcement and always gave us a fair shake,” Parker added.
Speaking from a conference in Austin Tuesday, Sheriff Ray Nutt said, “Charles was always known as a good, honest man. Whatever he could do (to help out), he would.”
“He was a great man,” Parker added.
Charles and his wife came to Gun Barrel City to retire in 1978. After getting acquainted with the area, he rolled up his sleeves and lent a hand to the community.
He served as the mayor of Gun Barrel City from 1982-84, just when the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake was getting its start.
“He was a good man,” longtime Gun Barrel City resident and former mayor Joe Agnes said. “He always had the good of the city in mind.”
We at The Monitor knew Charles to be cordial, professional and willing to share his photos with us.
In Charles, we always sensed a man who could have aspired to almost any political office because of the great respect and admiration he engendered. However, we also sensed a man of great restraint, self-knowledge and wisdom in the choices he made.
We salute the memory of a worthy competitor, co-journalist and fellow human being.
 

With steel in short supply right after the war, Ford produced wood-paneled cars
from 1946 to 1949

Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Mabank resident Greg Ketron stands with his "Best in Show" trophy following voting at the annual area chamber of commerce/Kiwanis club Car Show and Krawfish Boil Saturday at the Mabank Pavillion. Ketron's meticulously restored 1946 Ford "woodie" station wagon showed exquisitely polished wood grain on the doors and windows, along with a tan leather interior. For more entries from this year's Car Show, see Sunday's issue of The Monitor.