Lake Area
Billboard
East Cedar Creek Freshwater Supply District meets at 12:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the ECCFSD office
on Hammer Road just off Welch Lane in Gun Barrel City.
Eustace City Council meets at 7
p.m. in the Eustace City Hall the first Thursday of each month. For more information,
please call 425-4702. The public is invited to attend.
Eustace Independent School District meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Eustace High
School Library. For more information, please call 425-7131. The public is invited to
attend.
Gun Barrel City Council meets in
Brawner Hall at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information,
please call 887-1087. The public is invited to attend.
Gun Barrel City Economic Development Corporation meets at 1831 W. Main, GBC, at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month.
For more information, please call 887-1899.
Henderson County Commissioner’s Court meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the
Henderson County Courthouse in Athens. The public is invited to attend.
Henderson County Emergency Services District #4 meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at 525 S. Tool Dr. in
Tool.
Henderson County Historical Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. in the HC Historical
Museum.
Kaufman County Commissioner’s Court meets the first, second, third and fourth Monday of each month at 9:45
a.m. in the Kaufman County Courthouse in Kaufman. The public is invited to attend.
Kemp City Council meets at Kemp
City Hall at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call
498-3191. The public is invited to attend.
Kemp Independent School District
meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Board Room in the Administration Building.
For more information, please call 498-1314. The public is invited to attend.
Log Cabin City Council meets the
third Thursday of the month in city hall. For more information, please call 489-2195. The
public is invited to attend.
Mabank City Council meets at 7
p.m. in Mabank City Hall the first Tuesday of each month. For more information, please
call 887-3241. The public is invited to attend.
Mabank Independent School District meets at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. For more information,
please call 887-9310. The public is invited to attend.
Payne Springs City Council meets
at city hall at 7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of each month. For more information, please
call 451-9229. The public is invited to attend.
Payne Springs Water Supply Corp. meets
the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Payne Springs Community Center, located
at 9690 Hwy. 198.
Seven Points City Council meets
at 7 p.m. in Seven Points city hall the second Tuesday of each month. For more
information, please call 432-3176. The public is invited to attend.
Tool City Council meets at 6
p.m. in the OranWhite Civic Center the third Thursday of each month. For more information,
please call 432-3522. The public is invited to attend.
West Cedar Creek Municipal Utility District is held at 5 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. For more information,
please call 432-3704. The public is invited. |
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Chamber members
hear promotional tips
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–An appreciation day was a successful way McDade’s Nursery was able to
connect with customers, nursery owner Stephen Gent told members of the Cedar Creek Lake
Area Chamber of Commerce. 
Gent was the main speaker at the July 8 monthly Chamber luncheon at the Cedar Creek
Country Club.
His theme included five tips to guide businesses into a better relationship with
customers.
The first dealt with communications. He described several information venues, including
e-mail and signs.
“I change the wording daily, sometimes twice daily, on my sign in front,” he
explained.
As proof that the sign works, Gent said he changed the wording to read “Honk if you
like plants.”
The response was surprising, he said.
Other hints instructed businesses to make sure their customers had a good and memorable
experience.
Engage in promotions for the business, Gent recommended.
Gent said his appreciation day featured chili dogs, and was well-received.
His last tip included a suggestion to seek guidance from organizations, such as the
Chamber, and spiritual help.
Chamber members also heard these announcements:
• concerning the Chamber magazine, now gearing up for publication.
• the annual golf tournament is set for 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 26, at Cedar Creek
Country Club.
• the annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner Rotary fund-raiser is set for Saturday, Aug. 7,
at the Athens Country Club.
• the annual Parrot Head Poker Run is set for Saturday, July 17.Festival
fund-raiser set for July 24
Special to “The Monitor
SEVEN POINTS–First Baptist Church of Seven Points, State Higway 85, Cedar Creek
Parkway, 4/10 miles west of red light in Seven Points will be holding a Summer Fun
Festival fund-raiser from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 24.
Live bands all day with “On The Move,” from Dallas 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and different
times throughout the day; “Hearts of Joy,” from Dallas 11 a.m.-noon; “Final
Hour,” from Cedar Creek Lake 3-4 p.m.; Will Rigdon from Kaufman 2-3 p.m. and area
singers from 4-6 p.m.
Dinner is barbecue or smoked sausage, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, bread and tea,
$6.
There will also be hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones, homemade ice cream,
lemonade, sodas, floats, etc.
Fun activities will include bounce house, dunking booth, ring toss, corn bag toss,
basketball throw, balloon pop, dipping for ducks, sponge throw and a target game for
prizes, bake sale and craft sale.
The main event for the day is to see how many people can dunk pastor David Lewis between
2-3 p.m.
Lewis will be in a contest with Suzie Vinson to see who can get the most donations.
Area business men and band members will also take a turn in the dunking booth with deacon
Billy Robinson at 10-11 a.m.; P&J Automotive Eddie Vinson 11 a.m.-noon; Leonard Eason
noon-1 p.m.; youth minister Phillip Eason 1-2 p.m.; Final Hour James Shoemake 3-4 p.m.;
lead singer of “On the Move.,” Bob and Sons Construction Craig Lewis 4-5 p.m.;
Final Hour James Shoemake 3-4 p.m., lead singer of band “On the Move.”
Everyone is invited to a fun-filled day of food and live music for the whole family.
Kemp ISD approves tax hike
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Kemp Independent School District joined a growing list of schools hiking its tax
rate in order to reduce the overall rate and receive a bigger slice of the state funding
pie.
Monday, Kemp school trustees set a proposed tax rate of $1.56½ per $100 valuation of
property. In the same motion, they also set a proposed tax rate of $1.43½, reflecting a
13-cent reduction.
If voters approve the higher rate in a TRE (tax ratification election), the 13-cent
reduction will kick in, thus lowering the total tax rate to $1.43½ – the same rate
as last year. In addition, the district will receive about $950,000 in additional state
funding.
If voters do not vote for the higher rate, the rate will still be $1.43½, and the
district will not receive an extra $950,000 in state funding.
The proposed election is planned for Saturday, Sept. 18. A public hearing is set for 5:30
p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3, prior to the school board adopting the proposed tax rates. The
board’s usual meeting is set at 6 p.m.
In a web conference, Dr. John Walsh explained the proposed TRE (tax ratification election)
to board members.
Walsh reiterated that most school districts are facing similar tax hike election
prospects.
“The question is not if these districts are going to call a TRE, but when,”
Walsh said.
Also connected to the web conference, Kemp ISD superintendent Dr. Peter Running followed
the discussion from a hospital bed in Dallas.(See related story page 1A.)
Running had blood pressure issues and is expected to be back to work, probably by the time
this edition of the paper is on the stands.
Walsh explained the move by starting with the current tax rate.
“The total is divided into two parts, the M&O (maintenance and operation) –
used to pay salaries, pay utilities, buy equipment and supplies and in general, the
running of the school district – and the I&S (debt service) – the rate
needed to meet the payment of the districts indebtedness,” he explained.
The current M&O, set at $1.04 per $100 valuation, and I&S at 39½ cents, makes up
the current rate of $1.43½, Walsh explained.
“If the increased rate of $1.56½ passes, it will bring more of the tax dollars that
came from Kemp back to the district,” Walsh explained.
“Then, the district will switch the M&O to $1.17 and the I&S to 26.5 cents,
which still totals $1.43½, but the district is ahead by $950,000,” he said.
Regardless of whether the proposal passes or not, the total tax rate remains $1.435, Walsh
said.
“Even though economic times make it hard to get a tax increase, I believe when you
show it (the proposal) to the voters, they will approve it.
“I think it is good stewardship. If it doesn’t pass, the voters will pay the
same rate but the school district loses the $950,000,” he said.
“If it passes, the voters still pay the same rate ($1.435 per $100 valuation) and the
district gains the $950,000,” Walsh said.
“I really believe taxpayers are intelligent. They care about their money, and they
care about their children,” he declared.
Other points Walsh made included:
• in 2005, the district was paying $1.50 and the legislature pushed the amount back,
costing the district a large amount of school funds.
• tax rates will not go up for those citizens 65 and older.
• the first call on the $950,00 will go toward the debt the district owes.
In other business, trustees:
• were informed by trustee Scott Clearman that he will be leaving the board at some
future date.
He and his family are building a new home between Scurry and Warsaw, which will put him in
the Scurry-Rosser school district.
Board president Keith Foisey said the item can be put on the next agenda in order to
decide whether to appoint or to call an election.
“We have 180 days to make our decision,” Foisey said.
Trustee Harvey McFaul thanked Clearman for his action.
“We appreciate the information, as well as his service,” McFaul said.
Come Adopt Us At
The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake |
 The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small
change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and
so on. My name is Domino, and I got my name not only because I’m black and white like
a domino tile, but also because my outgoing, cheerful personality causes my doggie
roommates to smile. This also causes our human friends to smile, which even causes the
kitties in the cat room to smile.
I am an 8-month-old male Pointer/Terrier mix. I love children, other dogs, and even get
along great with kitties. I’ve had all my shots and am ready to be adopted. If
you’d like to experience the domino effect, I am sure to put a forever smile on your
face when you take me to my forever home.
I currently live with a foster family, so if you would like to meet me, call my friends at
the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake at (903) 432-3422 to make an appointment. You can
also email them at dogshsccl@yahoo.com.
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We have many animals at
the
Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points
in dire need of a good home.
Please call or stop by the Humane Society today
and rescue one of these forgotten animals.
The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is located on
10220 County Road 2403 in Seven Points.
For more information, please call (903) 432-3422 after 11 a.m.
We are closed on Wednesday and Sunday. |
For further information visit our
website at petfinder.com |
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