People, Places & Events

Grant plus state funds give new life to Purtis Creek
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–A $193,000 grant plus $25.6 million recently approved from the state legislature has Purtis Creek State Park definitely in the black.
Park superintendent Justin Rhodes gave a run-down of future park improvements to members of The Greater Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at the monthly luncheon Thursday.
“The department (Texas Parks & Wildlife) is very pleased with this session. It is the most money we have received in a long time,” Rhodes said.
The grant money will provide new trails into parts of the park heretofore unseen by the general public, he said.
“The first six miles of trails and a new restroom should be completed by spring,” Rhodes explained.
Also included in the grant will be more trails and a 60-foot bridge spanning a canyon, he said.
The bridge construction and the additional trails will take about two years to complete, he added.
The state funds will allow the park office to return to its seven-day a week schedule.
“The increase in funds will allow us to make repairs and to paint our restrooms,” Rhodes said.
Part of the funds are designated to replace aging equipment, such as the old 1970s model trucks they use.
Other state parks and facilities also will get funding for repairs.
The battleship U.S.S. Texas, which has been in danger of sinking, will be put into dry-dock for an overhaul, he said.
In other business, members heard:
• Coldwell Banker American Dream Realty is the Business of the Month for June.
• Lone Star Maps sponsored the June luncheon.
Kathy Kendrick thanked members for their support.
The new Lone Star Maps are set to be printed July 2, John Kendrick said.
• a golf tournament is planned for Monday, July 30, at Cedar Creek Country Club.
• Eustace Pioneer Days will take place Saturday, June 23.

Community theater comes to Kemp
Special to The Monitor
KEMP–The Kemp Drama Royalty Group is happy to announce the presentation of its first locally produced play, “Popular,” written by Kemp native Jay Addison.
“Popular” follows the lives of the preps and the nerds at the fictitious West High School, as they discover that, in the end, they’re not so different after all.
A comedy with a timely message, “Popular” will appeal to all age groups, offering moments of drama, music, dance and laughter.
Jay Addison, who also stars as Curtis in the play, began his work on the piece in fifth grade after brainstorming with co-star Hannah Carpenter.
Jay has been active in the Henderson County Performing Arts group for many years.
He attended the Dallas Summer Musicals acting workshop last summer and performed in the finale, featuring scenes from each of the musicals on the 2006 schedule.
He has been a cast member in One Act Play and other productions at both the junior high and high school level, and is an accomplished singer.
“Popular” is Jay’s first play produced for the stage.
The play is directed by Marty Stokes, former director of the One Act Play for Kemp Junior High.
Stokes has a degree in Radio-TV-Film from the University of Texas at Austin and fell in love with the process of working with young people to produce live theater.
In 2006, her Junior High One Act Play production of “Crimes of the Heart” took first place at district competition. Many members of the cast of crew for “Popular” were a part of that production.
Popular’s cast, known as Kemp Drama Royalty, is completed by Hannah Carpenter, Renee Greenlee, Sarah Lamb, Jeremy Prine, Matt Wakeland, Matt Betts, Emmy Golden, Rhyan Pennington, Caleb Murray, Jessica Skirko, Haven Powers, Bardwell, Dr. Debra Airheart, Dylan Bonk and several supporting cast and crew members.
Performances will be 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 29, and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Hillcrest Baptist Church on Business 175 in Kemp.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, with free admission for children 6 and under.
Refreshments will be available during intermission.
We invite everyone to come enjoy the show and support this first production of Community Theater in Kemp.

TVCC computer course set in Kemp
Special to The Monitor
KEMP–Now is the time to enroll at TVCC for that night class you have been looking for in computer help.
Dr. Daniel Sue encourages you to attend this class and learn those basic skills that will help you to keep your computer running at its peak.
Basic computer skills course for adults is designed to teach the basic skills for anyone to be able to use a PC computer.
The course looks at both the hardware aspect of working with a computer, as well as the XP Windows operating system.
Learning Goals:
• Discuss the different hardware components of a computer
• Explain different terminology for computer hardware
• Explore the Windows operating system
• Create shortcuts, change settings and perform most of the common Windows activities
• E-Mail: Setting up and using an e-mail account, address books, and file attachments.
• A quick surf on the Internet.
This is an eight-hour hands-on course starting 7-9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, July 17-18, and July 24-25, at Kemp High School, No.1 Yellowjacket Drive, Kemp, TX 75143, Room 123.
This class is limited to 20 adults.
Contact Trinity Valley Community College to enroll now for this class. Call (903) 675-6200.