People, Places & Events

Kaufman County Precinct 4 ECO-Station opens in Kemp
Special to The Monitor
KEMP–At last, Kaufman County’s newest convenience station, the Kaufman County Precinct 4 ECO-Station, has opened for business to residents of Kaufman County.
Unique to and co-located with this disposal facility is the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) disposal station for all Kaufman County residents.
“We wouldn’t have this new convenience station for the southern sector of Kaufman County, or the Household Hazardous Waste site to benefit all of Kaufman County, without grant funding from North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG),” executive director of Environmental Co-op. Marilyn May said.
“We appreciate all they have done in helping the county develop environmental programs such as this,” she added.
Although disposal at the convenience station is now open for business, the ECO-Station will kick off and show off with a free electronics recycling event and a free Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event 9 a.m until 1 p.m. Saturday, July 14.
The one-time free HHW recycling event will collect everything from oil-based paints (not latex paint – it is not hazardous), paint thinners, fertilizers and chemicals to fluorescent bulbs, automotive fluids and batteries, up to 25 pounds per household.
No commercial disposal is allowed. Not accepted are any containers larger than five gallons, medical waste, explosives, compressed gas or ammunition, or shock sensitive materials.
“At the free Electronics Recycling Event we will collect your worn out electronics, in parts or whole,” May said.
“This is a great way to dispose of unwanted electronics such as computers, monitors, laser printers, cell phones, copiers, fax machines and more.
“We have held these electronic recycling events all over Kaufman County and they have proven very popular to residents. Businesses are also encouraged to dispose of their electronics at this event,” she added.
“By providing this resource we are saving landfills in Texas from thousands of pounds of electronic components that have the potential to seep chemicals into our groundwater,” May said.
The Kaufman County ECO-Station is poised for a Tuesday, July 17, grand opening.
Beginning Wednesday, July 18, the HHW collection station will open to receive household hazardous waste for a fee of $10 per 25 pounds of material.
Disposal coupons for trash or HHW can be bought at the Kaufman County Pct. 4 Sub-Courthouse, 103 E. Main St. in Kemp.
Credit cards will be accepted in a few weeks at the convenience station as an alternative to purchasing them at the Sub-Courthouse. Recyclable material can be disposed for free.
The Kaufman County ECO-Station and HHW site is located at Kemp, on the north side of U.S. Highway 175 at Plainview Rd.
Watch for guidance signage on U.S. Highway 175 to the site.
For more information about disposals at this facility call the ECO-Station, (903) 498-4135, or Environmental Co-op, (972) 524-0007.

Tri-County Library receives children’s books, valued at $1,050
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–Tri-County Library Friends president Eunice Phlug received a grant from Libri Foundation for 67 quality children’s books at a value of more than $1,050.
Matching funds were raised by the Friends recent books/rummage sale. Everyone in the community who donated, worked or otherwise supported the sale helped make this grant possible.
You may join the Friends of the Library by paying yearly dues of $25 or having $2 per month placed on your water bill.
Friends meet at 4 p.m. the second Monday of the month from September through May.
Bring the family, friends and neighbors to check out these high-quality children’s books, recommended from birth to 12 years.
Library hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m, Tuesday 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Lowe’s to serve as donation site for flood relief efforts
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–Lowe’s in Gun Barrel City is one of 140 Lowe’s stores across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas in supporting relief efforts of the American Red Cross to aid victims of last week’s devasting floods.
Through July 31, Lowe’s will match in-store customer donations to the Red Cross up to a total of $50,000.
Customers can conveniently make donations at checkout with cash or electronic transfers.
“Money raised through the Lowe’s customer donation program will help the Red Cross provide for people’s basic needs such as food, shelter, counseling and other assistance,” Lowe’s corporate spokeswoman Kristine Templin said in a press release.
Since partnering with the American Red Cross in 1999, Lowe’s has donated more than $17.5 million to aid in relief efforts.
Lowe’s works with both the national headquarters and local chapters of the American Red Cross on a variety of projects, including disaster relief, product donation and volunteer support.
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation awards more than $13 million annually to diverse organizations across the United States. Lowe’s also encourages volunteerism through the Lowe’s Heroes program, an employee volunteer initiative.
For information on ways to prepare your home and family for a disaster, please visit www.redcross.org.