People, Places & Events

State awards tax credits for workforce housing in Mabank
Special to The Monitor
AUSTIN–With an eye towards providing reasonably priced rental housing for the area’s growing workforce, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) awarded $933,151 in tax credits to support the construction of 116 units within two affordable rental housing developments in Mabank.
”Working Texans need an affordable place to live and we are committed to
supporting the housing opportunities they require to continue working and
contributing to their community,” TDHCA Executive director Michael Gerber said.
“New tax credit developments are great economic generators for local
communities and, once completed, will provide high-quality, stable, and
secure homes,” he added.
Bluestone, 76 units, $758,354. Meadowlake Village Apartments, 40 units, $174,797
These awards comprise part of a total of 53 awards TDHCA made from its
highly competitive 2007 Housing Tax Credit Program.
The Department annually
receives nearly twice as many applications as it can fund, demonstrating the
high demand for these needed developments. Through this program, TDHCA estimates creating 4,837 units statewide of affordable rental housing
serving households earning no more than 60 percent of the area median family
income.
The Housing Tax Credit Program is the nation’s primary means of directing
private capital toward the development of high quality affordable rental housing and will allocate approximately $42 million dollars in these tax credits to the state of Texas in 2007.
The tax credits provide developers and investors with a benefit that is used
to offset a portion of their federal tax liability in exchange for the production of affordable rental housing.
The value associated with the credits allows units in tax credit properties to offer leases to income eligible tenants at rents below those of market rate apartment properties.
The program has helped create or retain approximately 118,837 units of safe,
decent, and affordable rental housing for low income Texans since the first
allocation cycle in 1987.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is Texas’ lead agency
responsible for affordable housing, community and energy assistance programs, and colonia activities.
The Department annually administers funds in excess of $400 million, the majority of which is derived from mortgage revenue bond financing and refinancing, federal grants, and federal tax credits.

Mabank ISD telephone changes
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–Due to facility growth and changes, telephone and fax numbers for the Mabank ISD will change throughout the district on or about Aug. 2 and 3.
New campus and department numbers are:
High School, (903) 880-1600, Middle School, (903) 880-1640, Central Elementary, (903) 880-1380, Lakeview Elementary, (903) 880-1360, Southside Elementary, (903) 880-1340, Administration office, (903) 880-1300 and Transportation department, (903) 880-1690.
This system will allow you to direct your call to a specific area.
Thank you for your patience during this conversion.

Stoney LaRue returns to Gaters
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–Stoney LaRue performs at Gaters Saturday, Aug. 4. Gaters is located at 623 Gun Barrel Lane.
Many subscribe LaRue to the category of artists who are simply natural-born performers.
His style blends varied elements of country, blues and soulful rock into cohesive vocal driven performances.
His August, 2005 release of Stoney LaRue-the Red Dirt Album hit the Billboard sales charts in its first week.
The record established him as a triple threat as a truly gifted vocalist, player and performer.
He performs with band members Jeremy Bryant (drums), Jesse Fritz (bass), Rodney Pyeatt (guitar) and Steve Littleton (keyboard).
For more information, call (903)880-9960

MDA Benefit Rodeo set  for Aug. 16-18, in Athens
Special to The Monitor
ATHENS–It is rodeo time again in Athens and Smith Pro Rodeos is producing the biggest concert and rodeo production of the year for East Texas.
The event will be held at the Henderson County Coliseum in Athens Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 16-18.
It will feature two of the top country and western entertainers along with top PRCA cowboys from throughout the United States.
Thursday night, Aug. 16, will be The Kid’s Rodeo.
We will have special events for kids beginning at 6:30 p.m. Books will open at 5:30 and entries are limited. Friday night, Aug. 17, after the rodeo, Gary Allan takes the stage with his songs like “A Feelin’ Like That,” “Life ain’t always Beautiful” and “Smoke Rings in the Dark.”
Saturday night, Aug. 18, Cross Canadian Ragweed, whose hits include “Fightin’ For,” “17” and “Sick and Tired,” will be performing after the rodeo.
The show will also feature specialty acts, rodeo clowns, bullfighters, NFR qualified stock, and some of the fastest and most exciting rodeo action you will ever see.
This show will be an event for the whole family to attend, with events for the kids each night.
Some form of muscular dystrophy affects more than 400 families in the East Texas area.
A portion of the proceeds from this rodeo will directly benefit those families.
There is no single disease called muscular dystrophy, the term designates a group of hereditary muscle-destroying disorders, which vary in inheritance pattern, age onset, and initial muscles attacked and the rate of progression.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) works in your community to combat neuromuscular disease through basic applied scientific investigation, local comprehensive programs of medical services and clinical care and widespread professional and public health education.
Come on out and enjoy quality entertainment while contributing to a good cause.
This year’s major rodeo sponsors are Elder Dodge, Kelly Harris Tire and Wrecker Service, Franklin Bank, Cedar Valley Communications, KLT, and KNUE.
Thursday night tickets are $5 for adults and children and students get in free.
There are no advance ticket sales or advance entries for the kid’s rodeo.
Friday night tickets are $22 in advance and $24.50 at the gate.
Saturday night tickets are $22 in advance and $24.50 at the gate.
Kids 12 and under get $5 off the adult ticket price in advance and at the gate for Friday and Saturday night.
Come on out and enjoy quality entertainment while contributing to a good cause. The rodeo starts at 7:30 p.m. each night.
Tickets can be purchased at Lone Star Western Wear in Athens and Corsicana, and Cavender’s Boot City in Tyler and Palestine.
Tickets may also be purchased online or by phone.
For additional information you may visit the website at www.ssrodeo.com, or call Smith Pro Rodeos at (903) 489-2652, or 1 (888) 822-5919.