Senior Center opens
The Mabank Senior Center at the Ballpark is now open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday at 405 W. Walnut, the old YMCA building. It is looking for volunteers for the Kemp Meals on Wheels route. If you can spare one hour a week, you could make a difference in a seniors day. For information, call Lisa Stinnett-Smith at (903) 887-0067.

Kaufman market
Master Gardeners join local growers at the Kaufman County Farmer’s Market selling vegetable plants. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through the first two Saturdays in November. The market is located at 3001 S. Washington St. (southwest corner of FM 1388 and SH 34).

Immunization change
The Texas Department of State Health Services in Henderson County is changing the way it provides immunization for adults & children to appointments only, the first four Wednesdays of each month as of July.. For appointments and information call (903) 675-7742. Please don’t wait until the last minute to have your child or yourself vaccinated.

Immunization clinic
The Texas Department of State Health Services holds monthly immunization clinics at the Mabank Fire Department, 111 E. Mason, Mabank, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday, odd months (July 26). No clinics on holidays. Call (972) 932-2038 for information.

FRC applications
The Family Resource Center is accepting applications for its “Back-to-School Clothing Program” through Wednesday, July 27. Applicants must call Winnie at (903) 519-2934 for requirements and an appointment time.

Westside Seniors
The Westside Senior Center is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday (today and every Thursday) at the Cedar Creek Bible Church activities building, 700 North Seven Points Blvd. (one mile north of the traffic light on SH 274). Seniors 55 and older in the Cedar Creek area are invited for games, fellowship, coffee, tea, snacks and a light lunch. For information, call (903) 340-9672.

Free kids movies
The Tri-County Library offers free children’s movies at 1 p.m. today and every Thursday in the community room of the library at 132 E. Market Street, Mabank. Current for today “Garfield: The Movie.” For more information, call (903) 887-9622.

MHS Varsity Choir
The Mabank Varsity Choir is holding a garage sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 22-23 at 104 South Rye, Gun Barrel City. Proceeds fund the choir’s trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Items include clothing, Christmas decorations, massage chairs, and much more. For information, call Marsha Sanchez at the Fine Arts Department at
(903) 880-1820.

Children’s book drive
Christian Cheer Company and The Library at Cedar Creek Lake are pairing up from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, July 23, to hold a children’s book drive. Books will be donated to local children in order to promote reading.

Red Hot ‘18’ tourney
The annual Red Hot “18” Golf Tournament is set for a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 25, at Kings Creek Country Club. Check-in is at 7:45 a.m. Featured is a hole-in-one contest sponsored by Tri-County Ford. Cost includes light breakfast, golf, cart & lunch. For information, call Tiffany Lilly at (903) 887-6001, Robbye Grissom at (214) 926-1395 or Debra Davis at (903) 887-2870.

49er’s Senior Club
The Cedar Creek Lake 49er’s Senior Citizens Club is hosting a Hawaiian Luau from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28, with dancing to Chuck & the 49er’s every Thursday. Friendly atmosphere, no smoking or alcohol. Small donation at the door. Located two blocks south on Arnold Hills Road, off SH 334, Seven Points. For information, call or fax to (903) 432-3552.

Aggie picnic
The Aggie Scholarship Auction and Picnic is set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at Reunion Ranch, Terrell with silent and live auctions. Proceeds benefit local Aggie scholarships that will be presented that night. All are welcome. For information contact Tori Lucas at (214) 863-6068 or e-mail to torilucas@anbtx.com.

2nd season garden
“Second Season Vegetable Gardening” will be presented at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 30, at East Texas Arboretum, by Patty Leander, Vegetable Gardening contributing writer for Texas Gardener Magazine. The Arboretum is located at 1601 Patterson Rd., Athens. Refreshments and door prizes provided. For information, call (903) 675-6130 or visit http://henderson-co-tx-mg.org.  
 
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Suspect charged in church thefts
Monitor Staff Reports
ATHENS–Two churches on the west side of Cedar Creek Lake were without air conditioning this past Sunday, but the Sheriff’s Office believes it has the man responsible.
Aaron Davis Kiker, 22, of Gun Barrel City admitted Saturday to dismantling three a/c units from two churches – Calvary Baptist Church, at the intersection of County Line Road and State Highway 274, and the Praise and Worship Center in Tool on SH 274.
According to a press release from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Kenny Collard questioned Kiker after locating an abandoned vehicle belonging to him in the vicinity of a stolen copper wire report.
The vehicle appeared wrecked on County Road 2102 with an immobilized right front tire. The vehicle was registered to Kiker.
While having it towed away as a road hazard Collard received a report of stolen copper near the same location and later learned of the thefts of a/c units from the church locations.
When Collard made contact with Kiker, the 22-year-old confessed to stealing three large a/c units from the two churches.
It was discovered that the a/c units were removed during the early hours of July 14.
Kiker said he dismantled the units and sold them for scrap metal. Collard surmised that the first report of stolen copper wire near the abandoned vehicle was a happy coincidence and unrelated to the church thefts.
Kiker was charged with Theft of Property over $1,500 and under $20,000, a state jail felony. Additional charges are expected to follow with the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office for the Calvary Baptist Church a/c theft.
The offence carries a punishment of 180 days up to two years with a fine not to exceed $10,000.
Bond was set at $12,000.

City sets budget workshops
Smile, you’re being video-taped for YouTube
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
SEVEN POINTS–The Seven Points City Council meeting began with Mayor John Dobbs pointing to a camera resting on a tripod at the edge of the council chamber room.
“From now on we will be video recording all (council) meetings,” Dobbs said. “The meetings will be posted on YouTube.
“We will be bringing the meeting back to the citizens. When I was elected I said that was my goal,” Dobbs explained.
In other business, council members:
• set 2011-12 budget workshops for 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, and 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25.
• heard the mayor “tweaked” the personnel manual, which has not been updated since 1986.
“I would like a workshop to give all council members time to review and work on the manual,” Dobbs said.
A workshop is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16.
• approved a resolution for requesting Henderson County Precinct 1 Commissioner Joe Hall to assist in road repair work on Nob Hill to be financed through a grant. The resolution asks him to advertise for bids on road materials.
Hall will also assist with heavy equipment and labor.
Last year, the council was unable to proceed with the grant, councilwoman Claudett Allsup, said.
• approved, 3-1, the June financial statement.
Councilwoman Cheryl Jones opposed.
Jones questioned checks paid to a number of businesses including: CenturyLink, The Lemon Tree Florist, Met Life Insurance, KCKL Radio, Sprint (cell phones and police auto), Lowe’s (material to build an inclosure to keep stray animals until time to transport to the Humane Society), an auto supply store, East Texas Copy Systems and the psychologist, who gave the police officers their evaluations.
City secretary Shirley Kirksey explained most of the statements, and Dobbs explained others.

Burn ban extended
Monitor Staff Reports
ATHENS–Henderson County Commissioners extended the current burn ban another 14 days Tuesday.
The reason is continuing drought conditions in the county, which officials say will only worsen in the near future.
“I don’t think anyone is confused about the weather pattern right now,” said Henderson County Fire Marshal Darrell Furrh.
The average Keetch-Byrum Drough Index score in the county is 663, Furrh reported. A burn ban is recommended when the KBDI score is above 500. Ignoring the burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500.
“Hopefully we will continue to be lucky, because that is what we’ve been so far – lucky,” Furrh said.