Kiwanis members hear Habitat update
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–Kiwanis member Sue Cardin gave an update Wednesday, on the Habitat for Humanity for Henderson County at the weekly Cedar Creek Lake Kiwanis Club luncheon at the Jalapeño Tree in Gun Barrel City.
The charity is something Cardin said she truly supports and as a board member spends time helping to obtain land, interviewing prospective buyers and other activities.
She also volunteers when it comes time to build the home.
She described herself as a “nester,” appreciating quiet time at home and that she wants to help others have the same privilege.
The current Habitat house under construction is a four-bedroom home being built in Athens.
“It really is the cutest thing,” she said.
A fundraiser using the house plans of the next home to be built.
Supporters can “buy a square” of the house for $37, she explained
For information or to volunteer to help build a home, call (903) 887-5055.



Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Members of the Cedar Creek Lake Kiwanis Club enjoy lunch at the Jalapeño Tree Wednesday.

Risk of rotating power outages grows
Conserve electrical power between 3-5 p.m.
Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–ERCOT initialized Energy Emergency Alert 2 late Thursday.
Operators will begin dropping large commercial/industrial load resources under contract to be interrupted during an emergency.
Local utility providers are taking steps to secure distribution system load and take possible action to transfer service to non-ERCOT Control Area.
During the days ahead, power consumers can help by shutting off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and delaying laundry and other activities requiring electricity-consuming appliances until later in the evening, a press release from ERCOT stated.
Other conservation tips include:
• Limiting electricity usage to only that consumption which is absolutely necessary. Turn off all unnecessary lights, appliances, and electronic equipment.
• Limiting use of the dishwasher, laundry equipment, hair dryers, coffee makers, pool pump, or other home appliances to hours other than 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. a peak time.
• Closing blinds and drapes on windows that get direct sun, set air conditioning thermostats to 80 degrees, and use fans to circulate the air.
• Using microwaves or outdoor grills for cooking to avoid heating the home.
•Minimizing the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible.
• Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.

Drought predicted to worsen this year
Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–According to news reports Thursday, La Nina conditions contributing to the worst Texas-wide drought in decades may re-occur later this year.
The Climate Prediction Center issed a La Nina watch Thursday, just two months after declaring the last La Nina had ended.
The phenomenon is marked by a cooling of the tropical Pacific Ocean, resulting in less rain for southern states.
The U.S. Drought Monitor expects most of Texas to remain in exceptional drought conditions through the end of October.
Experts were trying to confirm Thursday that the current drought is the second worst in Texas history, trailing a devastating drought in the 1950s, which was also fueled by a series of La Nina conditions.
Temperatures in Dallas on Thursday were expected to reach 109 degrees, which would be a record for the date.
The unrelenting heat is predicted to cause record losses for Texas ranchers and farmers, while the state’s electrical grid will continue to be challenged by the unprecedented demand for power to keep cool.