People, Places & Events

Road widening project ahead of schedule
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
SEVEN POINTS–Now that work has started on the other side of State Highway 334 through Seven Points, business owners are looking forward to its completion.
The work is 62 percent completed within 47 percent of the time allotted, RK Hall Contractor representative Gary Andrews told Chamber members meeting at the Dairy Queen in Seven Points July 2.
“We’re three months ahead of schedule and over the next two months hope to gain another month,” Andrews said.
“Rains have hurt us more than anything,” he added. “With a little bit of luck we could be completely done with the intersection by Oct. 1.”
Work planned to be completed by mid-August includes setting 860 feet of 3x2 concrete drainage boxes and 2,300 feet of pipe.
Andrews mentioned help directing the traffic would be helpful as sometimes the traffic lights malfunction. “I believe there is money in the contract to pay for this kind of help,” he said.
Andrews promised that after they’ve been done and gone one or two months, “you’ll be saying, ‘Well, that didn’t take so long afterall,’”
Danny Hampel, former EDC director, reminded the group that half the Economic Development Corp. funding was being diverted to road repairs. However, sales tax is down due to the construction.
“The faster this construction is done, the sooner sales tax levels can be restored,” he said.
“I wish I could say we’d be done in three months, but that’s not going to happen,” Andrews said.
The second speaker at the Tool/Seven Points Chamber branch meeting was Tool Elementary School principal, Bill Morgan.
The new elementary school will be opening with $2,000 worth of new science equipment, math aids for grades 3-5 and five new novels for third to fifth grade readers.
Also 25 Dell computers have been upgraded with new versions.
The school is switching to Envision Math, which incorporates greater technology and relates well to science, reading and writing, Morgan said.
A new addition this year is social studies. Malakoff ISD has revamped its social studies education and added it to the curriculum for kindergarten through fifth, he said.
The new elementary school rated as a Recognized campus its first year, he said.
This has to do with everyone’s contribution, including grandparents and aunts and uncles as well as cafeteria workers and teachers’ aids, he said.
“The highest level (Exemplary) is attainable,” Morgan said. “The other campus (Malakoff Elementary) missed it by just seven or eight kids.”

Samantha Hulick named Miss Kemp
Monitor Staff Reports
KEMP–Four young ladies competed for the title of Miss Kemp – a contest capping of the Kemp July Fest, Saturday.
Kemp High School senior Samantha Hulick, 17, was selected as Miss Kemp following an evening gown promenade under the Kemp City Pavilion at sunset. Meagan Lacy was chosen as runner up.
Hulick lives with her parents Sarah Jean and Lonnie Cool in Kemp. Meagan Lacy, 17, is the daughter of Sandra Lacy and the late Ben Lacy.
The two girls competed for the title along with Amber Tatum, 13, and Chelsey Mulvany, 17.
Each presented samples of their talent. Hulick gave a karate demonstration, while Lacy did a tumbling routine.
Tatum and Mulvany both sang for an appreciative crowd.
The judges were Kemp Mayor Billy Teel, Constable Kenneth Garvin, Ashley Hicks and former judge Ginger Chambless.
Besides karate, Hulick has participated with the FCCLA, BETA Club, Spanish Club and Student Council.
She also qualified for state competition with the Business Professionals of America and recently received the Board of Director’s Award.
She’s traveled to Europe as a student ambassador for People to People and has been an active member in the National Honor Society and Who’s Who Among American High School students since her freshman year.
This past spring, she competed in UIL events and power lifting competitions.
Lacy has lived in Kemp all her life and attended Kemp ISD since kindergarten.
She currently serves as the head cheerleader for Kemp High School. Lacy has also played volleyball, varsity basketball and varsity track the past three years.
Lacy is a member of the Business Professionals of America, BETA Club, National Honor Society and of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.
Her classmates have voted Lacy “Best Dressed” and “Most Athletic” three years running. She has also served one year as class president.
Along with her crown and sash, Hulick received gifts from the Lemon Tree, The Kemp Family Pharmacy, Mary Kay representative Diana Haley, Sammy’s Barbershop, Sonic, Dairy Queen and the Kemp Business and Civic Association.


Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
Miss Kemp contestants Meagan Lacy (left) in black, Amber Tatum, in red,
Samantha Hulick, wearing magenta, and Chelsea Mulvany in shades of pink,
await the judges' verdict. "They are all Miss Kemp," organizer Diana Clemmo
said before announcing the results of the contest.

The Library at Cedar Creek Lake
sets fund-raiser
Special to The Monitor
SEVEN POINTS–What’s more important than educating our children? The answer is nothing.
The best way to educate our children is by making plenty of learning materials available to them. That’s a major reason why libraries are so important to a community.
With that in mind, the Triple N Ranch is proud to announce the “Denim and Diamonds II” fund-raiser for The Library at Cedar Creek Lake from 5-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.
This esteemed library is funded primarily by private donations and local fund-raisers supported by generous benefactors who contribute money to this very important cause.
Without those important donations, the library could not operate.
Of course, when you think of a library you automatically think of books, but The Library at Cedar Creek Lake is so much more than just a great place for children and adults to enjoy the wonderful world of reading.
The library also hosts cultural and entertainment events for people of all ages, as well as access to movies, magazines, computers, the Internet, book clubs, reading programs and more. And it’s free.
This year’s “Denim and Diamonds II” event will highlight live entertainment from “The Brazos Valley Boys,” named by Billboard magazine as “the Country Touring Band of the Year” for 14 years in a row, and will be hosted by local entertainer Dino Perelli.
It will feature a chuck wagon dinner, live and silent auctions, hay rides, “cow chip bingo,” games, an opportunity to hand-feed a Texas Longhorn, ride a steer and, of course, dancing.
To honor and support the community library, sponsorships are being offered at various levels: Copper ($300), Silver ($500), Gold ($1,000), Platinum ($2,500), and, for those who are fortunate enough to be able to afford it, Diamond Sponsorship ($5,000).
If you would like to become a sponsor of this worthy cause, contact Nan Creel at (903) 778-4288 or Charli Black at (903) 432-9190 and support literacy in your community.
You can find out more about buying tickets, directions to the Triple N Ranch, and the evening’s entertainment, by going on the web, www.DenimAndDiamonds-Event.com.
There are only 200 tickets available for this event, so don’t wait until the last minute to secure your place at this fun gala for a very worthy cause.