People, Places & Events

Artist brings concept of life to dead trees
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–The tree had been hit by lightning and was scheduled to be removed but Cedar Creek County Club manager Ray Kachel had other ideas.
He hired artist Hugo Prisciliano of Waxahachie to convert the dead tree into something beautiful.
The lightning damaged tree is now a largemouth bass.
“Instead of taking a tree down and leaving a big hole, this will be something (club) members will enjoy for years,” Kachel explained.
Prisciliano said he has been doing the carving for about eight years.
His boss at Fine Wood Carvings saw what he could do and encouraged him to carve the figures, Prisciliano recalled.
“I like it” he said, speaking of the carving.
“I can also do birds, raccoons, Indians and other things,” he explained.
The 29-year-old Prisciliano can be reached at (214) 677-5262. He has a catalog of items he hs done..
Having only been at the club for a bit more than three months, Kachel decided to try something he had done at other clubs.
At those clubs he said he also had an artist carve figures for him.
The artist takes the dead tree and creates something unusual, and then it is treated and sealed so it will last a long time.
“The design usually is selected according to the shape of the tree,” Kachel explained.
He expects to commission several more carvings for the golf course and club grounds, he aded.
Prisciliano has already begun his second project, an eagle.
Scaffolding has been built around the tree so he could work, Kachel explained.
A model of an eagle sits beside the tree for the artist to look at and guide him as he carves.
The work usually takes him approximately three to seven days, depending on its size, Kachel said.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Adrienne McDonald, assistant golf professional at
Cedar Creek Country Club, shows the treated and
sealed big largemouth bass carved from the trunk
of a tree struck by lightning. The fish is the first
of a series of art figures to be carved by Hugo
Prisciliano for the club.

County receives safety award
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–The Texas Association of Counties recently presented Kaufman with the County Safety Award.
County Judge Wayne Gent showed the award to commissioners Monday.
Gent said the credit and honor belongs to Public Works Director Kathy Morris.
“It is her department that has put in many hours of work toward this,” he said.
Kaufman is one of 38 counties that received the award, Precinct 4 Commissioner Deller explained.
The award earned the county $100,000 in a savings reduction on Workers Compensation premiums.
In other business, commissioners:
• heard a presentation by Travis Medlock on an indigent automated screening system.
Gent suggested the company, D-Med Corporation do a demonstration on the system to show how it works and how it can save the county money.
Medlock agreed and said they would set up a time for a demonstration.
• accepted the 2007 annual audit report prepared by Henry & Peters, PC.
• extended the bid dates for an annual food service contract with the KC Detention Center at the request of purchasing agent Jack Sabastian.
The closing date is set for Friday, June 20, with bids to be opened Monday, June 23.
• adopted a resolution supporting increasing the statutory competitive bid rate from $25,000 to $50,000.
Kaufman County joins several other counties in requesting the legislature to increase the rate.
• appointed Gary Graves to replace Jimmy Tucker as Emergency Service District No. 1 board member.
• approved application for fiscal year 2008 Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant program.
• approved the deputation of Eric Shane Powers as reserve deputy constable for Precinct 1, Valarie Hobbs as reserve deputy constable in Precinct 3, and Stephen D. Hendrix for the sheriff’s department.
• approved the Embarq request to bury cable on County Road 106, Precinct 1.
• approved budget transfers as presented by county auditor Hal D. Jones.
• paid bills for May totaling $487,756.26.

Fate of open air fruit stand discussed
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–The City Council of Mabank refused to put aside its hard-fought new development ordinance.
A developer asked it for two variances to accommodate a new fruit stand on prime commercial property.
Mayor pro-tem Tim Johnson presided at the Monday night meeting and advocated for city staff and SRC Investments to draft a contract for special use, on a temporary basis.
The council agreed, 3-1, with councilman Dennis Terry opposed.
“It’s not the right time to stick a fruit stand out on that corner with all the people coming to look us over,” Terry said, referring to lot next to the Napa store.
A special city council meeting is set for Tuesday, June 10 to consider a proposed special-use agreement.
Ron Massey of SRC Investments, proposed a fruit stand on a concrete floor with water, sewer and electricity to be constructed on Business 175 next to the Napa Auto Parts store, across from Tri-County Ford.
“It would be a vast improvement over what it (the fruit stand) is now,” he said.
Currently, the fruit stand that once leased space on the south side of Food Fast is set up in a front yard of a house on South Third Street.
The new development ordinance requires 50 percent masonry on front and sides of all new metal buildings.
The proposed fruit stand would be made of metal but without a front, so does the ordinance apply? Massey asked.
“Couldn’t you turn the building around and rock the backside,” Terry countered.
The second variance asked to waive the off-street paved parking areas. Massey proposes a gravel parking area.
“It’s all temporary, once a development of substance requests the space, the fruit stand is gone,” Massey said. “This is just for until,” he said. A big sign on the property now reads, “Build to Suit.”
“I’m not against produce stands,” Development Review Committee member LouAnn Confer said. “But I don’t feel comfortable granting the variances. We’ve worked long and hard to develop guidelines for how buildings are to look.”
Fire Marshal John Holcomb requested council members to allow above-ground fuel storage tanks, if the tank meets national fire standards and is approved by the fire marshal.
The Mabank Feed Store, located across the street from the fire department proposes installing a small tank to dispense farm diesel. The nearest dispenser is in Athens, he said.
After a short discussion, the council approved amending a section of the city code to allow the activity.
In other business, council members:
• ordered demolition of a structure deemed unsafe at 612 E. Mason St., owned by Greater Elam Grove Church. “They are begging us to tear it down,” Confer said.
• tabled until June 10, a decision to demolish a house at 103 E. Troupe St.
• ordered the police to evaluate traffic situation on W. Troupe in front of the Mabank Nursing Home to see if speed bumps are warranted.
• adopted an ordinance requiring a refundable deposit of $250 upon issuance of building permits to insure final inspections on electric and water are done. “It’s hoped that if we are holding their money, they’ll remember to schedule a final inspection,” Utility director Ronnie Tuttle said.
• adopted four resolutions in keeping with a planning grant requirement before $45,000 will be released to the city.
The resolutions pertain to a written citizen grievance procedure; excessive force during nonviolent civil rights demonstrations, including the physical barring of entrances or exists of facilities or locations; a citizen complaint procedure for the Texas Community Development Program; and pertaining to the city’s citizen participation plan.