People, Places & Events

Kaufman County clean-up scheduled
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN–Clean-up 2008 in Kaufman County will be held Friday-Saturday, May 16-17, at various locations.
This annual clean-up is provided free by Kaufman County and proof of residence will be required at all locations (drivers license or water bill).
No cattle trailers or closed top trailers allowed. Terrell Iron and Metal, 1031 S. Delphine, Terrell will take appliances, batteries, aluminum, steel cans, metals including wire and wire fencing.
Kaufman - Precinct 1
Kaufman Trash Disposal and Recycling Center, 701 Alton Street, Kaufman, (972) 932-2161 or (972) 932-2216.
Residential trash only and 4 tires allowed at this location.
Forney - Precinct 2
Precinct 2 Maintenance Barn, Farm-to-Market 2932 and FM 741, Forney, (972) 564-7282 or (972) 564-4054, Ext. 3.
Residential trash only and 4 tires allowed at this location.
Terrell - Precinct 3
Citizens Convenience Station, County Road 319 (north on State Highway 34), Terrell, (972) 551-6628.
Residential trash only and 4 tires allowed at this location.
Elmo - Precinct 3
Elmo Food Stop, 7938 E. U.S. Highway 80, east of Terrell, (972) 563-5362.
Residential trash only allowed at this location.
Kemp - Precinct 4
ECO-Station, 6520 Plainview Drive, Kemp, (903) 498-4135 or (903) 498-3492.
Residential trash only and 4 tires allowed at this location.
Mabank - Precinct 4
Andrew Gibbs Rodeo Arena, Business U.S. 175, Mabank, (903) 887-3241 or (903) 498-2121.
Residential trash only allowed at this location.
Combine - Precinct 4
Combine Fire Station (off FM 1389 on Davis Road), (903) 498-2121.
Residential trash only and 4 tires allowed at this location.
Scurry - Precinct 4
Across from Sloan’s Grocery on State Highway 34, (903) 498-2121.
Residential trash only allowed at this location.
Peeltown - Precinct 4
Across from the Peeltown Store on County Road 4074, (903) 498-2121.
Residential trash only allowed at this location.

Rule changes mean VZ may not back future grant requests
By Terry Britt
Monitor Staff Writer
CANTON–The rules have changed for the Community Development Block Grant program, administered by the East Texas Council of Governments, and Van Zandt County’s consideration of local projects could change as a result.
In a special commissioners session May 2, consultant Gary Traylor discussed future grant application planning and how the changes could affect the county.
Traylor said the grant distribution has gone to a “round-robin” system, in which points are given for longer lapses of time since the last awarded grant.
The new scoring system was developed in response to criticism that grant money was not being awarded fairly.
“The process had become controversial in recent years,” Traylor explained. “There were communities who started to feel the outcome of their grant application hinged too much on their presentation to the committee.”
Because of the scoring changes, Van Zandt County may have to rethink its past practice to sponsor projects for local water corporations, Traylor warned.
“Water and fire districts are not eligible (for grants) unless the county sponsors their application,” Traylor said. “Under this new scoring system, you cannot say yes to everybody without hurting yourselves,”
Traylor added the county could assist in finding alternative sources of funding for such projects, leaving things open for a better score on its own grant applications.
Much of the discussion centered on future funding of road and bridge projects.
Traylor said those are allowable in the grant program application, as long they can be shown to serve a certain percentage of low-income households.
Although the county recently issued $6 million in certificates of obligation designated for county road repairs and improvements, the money will only go so far, as Precinct 1 Commissioner Ricky LaPrade noted.
“Materials have gotten so outrageous (in price),” LaPrade said. “Plus, you have to add in all the damage from rain last year.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Kelles Miller said weather erosion issues were a constant in the Rolling Oaks subdivision in the far northwest corner of the county.
“The problem is we have so many crossroads draining off onto them,” he said.
Although the county sponsored a funded project in the last round of grant awards, Traylor encouraged the commissioners to apply for the next round, which has a tentative application deadline of Sept. 30.
He said there are currently 91 jurisdictions eligible to apply for grants through ETCOG, but added, “You don’t know from year to year how many will apply.”
Traylor said his company, Gary Traylor and Associates, could work with 2000 census data to find possible targets for block grant road projects.
He suggested the county could act within the next 30 days to start work toward a grant application planning session in July or early August.
In a related matter, the commissioners approved a request from county fire marshal Chuck Allen to apply for a tobacco compliance grant.
The program would help fund tobacco education materials, as well as setting up tobacco sting operations through local law enforcement agencies, Allen explained.
“The award is based on the population of the county and the number of its tobacco retailers,” Allen said.
In other business, the commissioners awarded contracts for road and bridge materials to bidders. Items included:
• emulsion – Ergon Asphalt, with SEM Materials as a backup.
• creosote lumber – Conroe Wood Products, delivered and undelivered prices.
• 14-gauge and 16-gauge steel, and plastic culverts – Contech Construction, delivered and undelivered prices.
• Pea gravel (washed) – S&S Trucking, delivered and undelivered prices.
• Hauling only from Rock Solid and Armor Materials – S&S Trucking.
• Road oil – Bryan & Bryan Asphalt (delivered only).
• Asphalt concrete patching material – APAC Texas.
• Oil dirt “AC 3” – Armor Materials as primary, Wood County Asphalt as backup for Precincts 2 and 4, R.K. Hall as backup for Precincts 1 and 3 (all delivered), and Armor Materials for undelivered.
• Hot plant mix – APAC Texas with Armor Materials as backup for Precincts 2 and 4, Wood County Asphalt as backup for Precinct 1 and R.K. Hall as backup for Precinct 3.
• Cold plant mix – R.K. Hall for Precincts 1, 2 and 3, Armor Materials for Precinct 4, with R.K. Hall as backup for Precinct 4 and Wood County Asphalt as backup for Precincts 1, 2 and 3.
• Sand base mix “AC 20” – Armor Materials with Wood County Asphalt as backup (delivered and undelivered).
• Crushed rock, 1¾ inches – Rock Solid (undelivered only).

Pioneer Day set June 21
Special to The Monitor
EUSTACE–Eustace Pioneer Day will be held Saturday, June 21.
A day of fun and challenge, food and crafts, games and entertainment is planned, starting with a 5K race and ending with a street dance.
Booth space is still available for this popular summer celebration. Booth reservations must be paid when reserved and space is limited.
Booths with electricity are going for $20. Booths without cost $10. Make checks payable to the Eustace Pioneer Fund, 207 Edgar Street, Eustace, TX 75124.
The festivities begin at 8 a.m. with the second annual Pioneer Day 5K, run/walk. Entry fee for the 5K is $20, which includes T-shirt and awards.
The top three runners in each category will take home awards.
Entrants can pick up registration forms at the Eustace High School office or city hall.
If you’re not a runner, you’ll want to at least be on hand by 10 a.m. when the parade from the high school down FM 316 South to Front Street begins.
Everyone is urged take part in the parade. Meet in the Eustace High School parking lot no later than 9:30 a.m.
Or, perhaps you’d like to take a gander at some super cars at the Classic Jaguar Car Show going on on FM 316 South.
The musical Allen Family Four will be performing at the Gazebo throughout the day for your listening enjoyment.
If 42 is your game of dominoes, get to the fire station to sign up to play. The fun begins at 11 a.m. Trophies, donated by the Jane Beeson family, will be awarded to winners. Robert Reeve, (903) 275-7722, is in charge of this event.
Horeshoe winners will gain cash as prizes. Chairpersons are Jerry and Joel Boyd, (903) 880-1093.
Rick and Diane Shaffer, (903) 425-4082, are hosting a pet show right after lunch.
The Eustace Primary School will be hosting a cake walk throughout the day.
After a day of eating, shopping, playing, running, winning and listening to live music, you can kick up your heels to the music of John Allen and the WhipLash Band for a street dance starting at 8 p.m.
So bring your family, friends and their lawn chairs and plan on spending the day in Eustace for an old-fashioned day of socializing and entertainment.