Commissioners hear plans for religious retreat facility
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–A mission-oriented complex named Gospel for Asia has been on the drawing board for some time, and plans are now being completed for the facility.
Details of the construction plans were provided to Kaufman County Commissioners by Todd Wintters P.E. with Engineering Concepts at the commissioners’ April 26 regular meeting.
“I just wanted to update you on the details on what the plans are,” Wintters said.
The 275-acre project is located in the Shadow Lake subdivision in Precinct 3, just off County Road 2965.
Wintters said the project architect has been hired, and plans call for the infrastructure (streets and utilities) to be put in this coming fall, before building any structures.
Included in the overall design are a chapel and a dining hall, each with the capability of seating 500 people, Wintters said.
Also in the plans are two structures (at least) that will be two stories tall – a dormitory and an office building.
Private residences will be included, but not for sale to the general public, he explained.
The mission-type organization is moving to the area from Carrollton, Wintters said. Plans call for the complex to be finished by the end of 2013 or sometime early in 2014.
In other business, commissioners:
• agreed to post “No Parking, No Stopping and No Standing” signs on a portion of CR 314 near U.S. Highway 80 in Precinct 3.
“The (school) buses need the room to negotiate that area,” County Judge Bruce Wood explained.
• accepted the March tax assessor/collector report as presented by Richard Murphy. Collections are 1 percent above the collections for March, 2010, he said.
The property tax collected for the general fund totals $27,447,815, or 92 percent of the levy, he said. Road and bridge taxes total $2,659,665.
• approved a variance request for two homes in Oak View Ranch, Phase 2A.
The problem stemmed from county subdivision regulation changes that occurred in 2006. The developer was still using regulations from 2002, commissioners heard.
Future homes in the subdivision will be set back to the 50-foot line as now required, commissioners were told.
• awarded an annual contract to Bluebonnet Waste Control of Dallas for waste hauling from the Precinct 4 Convenience Station near Kemp.
• awarded a contract for waste hauling for this weekend’s county-wide clean-up to Bluebonnet Community Waste and Total Sanitation.
• approved two expenditures exceeding $15,000 – fixing the boiler at the sheriff’s Department ($16,420.28) and upgrading computer equipment at the courthouse ($16,941.12).
• heard a short update on census data as it relates to redistricting county precincts.
“The plans or a model should be coming down pretty soon,” Wood said.
The plans may call for about 17,000 voters to be moved from Precinct 2 to Precinct 3, he added.
• heard a major failure in the air-conditioning chiller system on top of the courthouse may require repairs costing from $50,000 to $75,000.
The a/c unit is covered by insurance, Wood said, and the item was tabled for discussion at the commissioners’ next meeting.
• tabled action on installing permanent lighting on the Vietnam Memorial Wall and to complete the back.
• paid bills totaling $396,965.84.

56th Mabank Western Week set June 20-25
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–Plans are now underway for the 56th annual Mabank Western Week activities June 20-25, featuring the traditional rodeo, parade through downtown and Western Week games at the Pavilion.
Sponsored by the Mabank Volunteer Fire Department, Western Week activities open with the selection of the Rodeo Queen Monday, June 20.
The queen will be announced at the Queen’s Dinner, 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Mabank Fire Station.
Queen nominees are now being sought. Girls from grades 8-12 are eligible, but must have access to a horse and western wear for the entire event.
Queen entries must be turned in to the Mabank Fire Station no later than Monday, June 13. For more information, contact Johnny Adams at (903) 880-3858.
Traditional games open the Mabank Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, capped at 8 p.m. with the always competitive bed races. For more information on the bed races, contact Mat Ewaskiw at the Mabank Fire Station, (903) 887-4747.
Mabank Rodeo will feature stock provided by Hat Brand Rodeo Company of Corsicana. Books will be open from 6-10 p.m. Monday (RS and TE); for rodeo entry information call (903) 905-9835.
Cowboys and cowgirls are reminded UPRA and CPRA dress code will be enforced and negative Coggins tests must be provided.
Entry fee is $80 for most events, with novice barrels offered each night for a $5 entry fee. An additional $400 will be added to each event.
Events scheduled include calf roping ($100 entry), breakaway roping, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping ($100 per man entry), ladies open barrels, bareback bronc and bull riding.
Rodeo action gets underway with slack competition at 8 p.m. Thursday, followed by performances at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Andrew Gibbs Memorial Arena.
Admission to the rodeo will be $5 for adults and $3 for children 6-13, with children under 5 admitted free. Kids are invited to join the calf scramble each night. A dance at the Pavilion will follow the Saturday night performance.
The traditional parade through downtown is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, with line-up at 4 p.m. at the rodeo arena. Prizes will be awarded for best western theme float or wagon – $100 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third place.
Parade sign-up forms are available at the Mabank Fire Station, and are due at 2 p.m. Saturday.

80th Fiddlers Reunion set May 26-27
Monitor Staff Reports
ATHENS–Downtown Athens will be dancing to the music all day Thursday and Friday, May 26-27, with the 80th annual Fiddler’s Reunion congregating around the courthouse square.
A traditional 7 p.m. jam session caps Thursday’s events, before competition gets underway at 9 a.m. Friday.
Men’s competition will be divided into four age groups – 18 and under, 19-30, 31-65 and 65 and older, while one ladies’ group is planned.
Each group awards cash to the top five competitors, and the five first-place winners will compete in a 5 p.m. playoff for the grand champion title.
Following the competition at 8 p.m., the annual street dance will be held in front of the bandstand on the west side of the square.
For more information, call (903) 675-1859 or toll-free (888) 294-2847.