Normal Lake Level is 322.00 feet
above Mean Sea Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is: 317.51
Water Temperature:
90 degrees - top
87 degrees - bottom

Sports in Brief

Red Hot ‘18’
The annual Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce golf tournament, the Red Hot “18” will be held Monday, July 25, at Kings Creek Golf Club, with a 7:45 a.m. check in and an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.
Entry for the tournament is $60 per player in advance, $65 the day of the tournament, which includes a light breakfast, golf, cart and lunch.
For information, contact Tiffany Lilly at (903) 887-6001, Robbye Grissom at (214) 926-1395 or Debra Davis at (903) 887-2870, or contact the chamber office at (903) 887-3152, or e-mail dorene@cedarcreek-lakechamber.com.

Tri-County Soccer sign-ups
The Tri-County Soccer Association will be holding sign-ups for the Fall 2011 soccer season. Signups will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, and from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Gun Barrel City McDonald’s. Children must be at least 4 years of age prior to Monday, Aug. 1, in order to play. Entry fee is $60. Games will begin Sept. 10.

Learn campfire skills
Purtis Creek State Park will have a campfire skills program from 8 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 30. There will be workshops and seminars geared to help you learn outdoor skills. There will also be campfire gatherings and hayrides. For more information, contact Purtis Creek State Park at (903) 425-2332.

Canoe/Kayake Skills
Purtis Creek State Park will hold basic canoe and kayake skills lessons from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13. Learn basic paddling skills, including safe entry and exit of the boat. Reservations are required. The deadline is the day before the lessons. For information, or to make reservations, call Purtis Creek State Park at (903) 425-2332.




Upcoming Events

Texas launches mandatory boater education requirement, additional safety measures
Special to The Monitor
AUSTIN – A new state law from the recent legislative session will require mandatory boater education for more people in Texas, a move supporters say will save lives and make crowded waters safer.
According to a legislative report by the state’s Advisory Panel on Boating Safety, the primary cause of boating deaths nationally is drowning, with 543 in 2009, of which 385 were not wearing lifejackets, usually in rough weather or on hazardous water.
Changes to Texas laws targeting boating safety include: mandatory boating safety education certification for anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1993, to operate a vessel with a motor of more than 15 horsepower or a wind-blown vessel measuring more than 14 feet in length.
While all boaters are encouraged to take boating safety education, those born before Sept. 1, 1993, are exempt from required certification.
Previously, only 13- to 17-year olds were required to complete a boating safety course to operate a vessel without adult supervision.
Texas’ state-approved boater education course is available as a one-day, classroom training, as a home-study course or as an online course at www.boat-ed.com.
The course takes about six hours to complete. The cost ranges from $13 for classroom course, to approximately $25 for the home-study course.
Information about boater education, including schedules of upcoming classroom courses, is available at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/boater_education/ .
Boaters falling under the boater education requirement will be required to carry a valid ID and documentation of having taken and passed a boater education course.
Failure to meet the requirements is a Class C misdemeanor, and violators have 90 days to complete a boater education course to have the charges dismissed.
The 82nd Texas Legislature during its regular session clarified the definition of a vessel to encompass such craft as standup paddle craft, kayaks and canoes.
In Texas public waters everyone onboard a vessel that measures less than 26-feet in length must have a life jacket available and kids under 13 must wear one.

Kemp football camp wraps up















The Kemp Yellowjacket Football Camp wrapped up Thursday. Pictured are (from left, back row) Coach Greg Anderson, Zach Najarro, Cord Wood, Terrance McCloud, Cody Ross, Cliff Cain, Brandon Hankins, Zach Burleson, (middle row) Nick Anderson, Bradley Langston, D.W. Sivley, Josiah Brewington, Taylor Donovan, Dakota Price, (front row) Braxton Garmon, Eathan Brooks, Danny Spakes, Ethan Carrizales, Derek Clamon, Cameron Clamon, John Brooks.

MLLFA to host carnival
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK-The Mabank Little League Football Association (MLLFA) will host its inaugural carnival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 30.
Shay Ray's Barbecue will provide food for sale, and local band “Full Circle” will perform.
Bracelets and tickets for children to participate in the many games will be made available. Also, several businesses from the area are volunteering time to set up carnival-style games for children to enjoy.
There is no charge for businesses to participate by helping out at the event, but there is a $50 spot fee for businesses wishing to sell merchandise. The fee will allow sales of anything but food.
Please contact Amber Dunn at (903) 340-5171, or by email at dunnshouse@gmail.com  to reserve a spot, or if you have questions.
All benefits will go to the MLLFA to help support local little league football teams.