People, Places & Events

Rod Run and Car Show set Saturday
Monitor Staff Reports
SEVEN POINTS–Seven Points area merchants are sponsoring the fifth annual Rod Run and Car Show Saturday, Aug. 30, at the city park, located behind the Post Office and city hall off Cedar Creek Drive.
Proceeds from the show benefit the Seven Points Volunteer Fire Department.
The show offers 37 different classes of classic cars, hot rods and motorcycles, including Street Rod, Muscle Car, Custom, Original, and plenty of Best ofs (Best of Show, Best Interior, Best Motor, Best Paint).
A $100 cash prize goes to the car/motorcycle club with the largest member participation, along with recognition for traveling the longest distance and for rides under construction.
Registration opens at 10 a.m. and continues until noon, with trophy awards set for 3 p.m. For more information, contact Bear or Donna at (903) 432-3505, or (903) 432-3593, or e-mail at bears@mycvc.net.

Humane Society needs outlined
for Rotary Club
Monitor Staff Reports
GUN BARREL CITY–Space and funding have always been critical issues for the Cedar Creek Lake Humane Society, and that hasn’t changed, Rotary Club members heard Friday.
Now in its 25th year, the Humane Society’s two-acre shelter in Tool continues to be very overcrowded, limiting the length of time animals can be held for adoption.
Shelter manager Krista McAnally, who began serving full-time back in March, said the shelter’s capacity is around 65 dogs and 15 to 20 cats, but has more than twice that number.
The shelter took in about 3,400 animals last year, and is on pace to break that mark this year, with between 1,800 and 1,900 animals taken in so far.
“Our adoption rate is right at 31 percent, which is less than the national average of around 35 percent,” McAnally told Rotarians during their Friday luncheon at Vetoni’s Italian Restaurant.
That means, of course, the 70 percent of animals not adopted must be humanely euthanized, a job no one wants to do, she said.
“Part of that adoption rate is economic stress,” she said. “Some families are having to give up their pets. The family is being foreclosed on, and they have to move into an apartment.”
One of the first questions people usually ask is if the Humane Society’s shelter is a “no-kill” shelter, and the answer is no.
“There are only two no-kill shelters that I know of in Texas,” she said. “We euthanize every Wednesday. It’s just a fact of life.”
Animals that go to a “no-kill” shelter won’t necessarily be adopted, McAnally pointed out.
“One, they (no-kill shelters) are always full, and two, they send their extra animals to us,” she said. “I’m not sure if that makes them ‘no-kill’ or not.”
By law, shelters are required to hold every animal for at least 72 hours to allow an owner to reclaim a lost animal. After that time, it’s up to the shelter to determine if they are adoptable, McAnally said.
“The average stay for a truly ‘adoptable’ dog is about two months,” McAnally said.
Social prejudices mean some animals have less of a chance to be adopted than others, she added.
“If you’re a large-breed black dog, the odds are 90 percent against you being adopted,” she said. “Pit bulls are an exception to all rules. They’re not adopted – they’re either reclaimed, euthanized or rescued, and all the rescue organizations are full.”
Because the shelter doesn’t have enough enclosed kennels to adequately segregate new animals, disease can quickly run through the population.
“When you’ve got 60 dogs in a room built for 30, pretty soon everybody gets kennel cough,” she said. “There’s also the stress of overcrowding, both for the animals and for the people (working with them).”
Unfortunately, the Humane Society has some history of mismanagement to overcome, but the current board has been in place for more than a year and is putting the shelter on firm financial footing.
Part of that financial backing is use contracts with both Henderson County and Kaufman County, as well as 13 municipalities around the lake area.
“All they do is pay us for a service,” McAnally said.
Kaufman County, by far, provides most of the public funding, about $2,000 a month, but it takes about $11,000 a month to keep the shelter operating – and that doesn’t include dog food.
Wal-Mart supplies dog food, usually bags broken open during shipping.
“If we ever got to the point where we would have to buy dog food, we would be shut down within a week,” McAnally said.
With all the difficulties noted, “in the last year, we’ve seen a huge increase in the amount of support from the community,” she added.
The shelter works closely with the Friends of the Animals’ spay/neuter clinic in Gun Barrel City, and the Friends group “has been a great help,” she said.
“We also have a great group of volunteers,” McAnally said. “We have one woman who you can set your watch by.”
“Judy” comes in from 7 to 10 a.m. every Monday and Thursday to clean the cat rooms, she explained.
The Humane Society is also holding more adoption events, 13 so far this year, with more scheduled.
The shelter always needs cleaners, bleach and other items, but manpower is particularly needed.
“If you have some special talents, lend a hand,” she said. “We can always find something for you to do.”
The Humane Society’s Tool shelter is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The shelter is closed Wednesdays.
For more information, call the shelter at (903) 432-3422.
In club news, members:
• heard there would be no meeting Friday, Aug. 29. The Tara Winery, located between Eustace and Athens, will be the scheduled program at the Friday, Sept. 5, meeting.
• heard Friday, Sept. 12, would be the kick-off date for “Make-A-Difference Day” planning this year.
• heard 800 dictionaries destined to be given to area schoolchildren should be in by Sept. 11 or so.


Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Cedar Creek Lake Humane Society shelter manager
Krista McAnally speaks to Rotarians about the needs
of the Tool animal shelter Friday.

Kaufman County 4-H presents
annual awards
Monitor Staff Reports
KAUFMAN–The Kaufman County 4-H held its annual awards banquet recently.
Graduating member and council president Logan Moore recounted the many opportunities his involvement with 4-H has afforded him, including getting to meet President George W. Bush with other young people.
Other departing seniors also recounted some of the valuable lessons their 4-H experience had taught them including experiencing the results of their hard work and the importance good friends are to helping you meet your goals.
Extension agent Carrie Sharp conducted a moving officer installation ceremony, presenting each one with a unique gift to benefit them in fulfilling their office.
Kaufman County 4-H Council officers for 2009 are Brianna Moore/president and district council representative; Catlyn Wold/vice president; Hannah Feller/secretary; Lynsey Culp/treasurer; Melissa Sleeper/reporter and Collin Corder/recreation.
Participants recognized those who make 4-H an enriching experience with the Most Supportive Parent award going to Pandora Feller of the Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club.
Secondly, leaders were recognized for their efforts through the years. The longest serving member with 15 years was Earl Harris.
Those with 10 years of service as leaders honored were Leann Day and Shawna Holder of Kaufman.
Those honored for being with the organization for five years were Cheri Houghton/Crandall, Kim Pierrotti/Poetry and Gary Hawes/Crandall.
The Leader on the Town award went to Randy Woodford of Scurry.
The Friend of 4-H award was received by Cordell Farm and Ranch Store, Kaufman County Farm Bureau – Robert Dobb, agency manager and Metro Mechanical, Inc. with Gary and Debbie Hawes accepting.
4-H members recognized for completing projects this year were Katie Hale/Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club for horse project; Mason St Clair/Forney Green Machine 4-H – science & technology; Marly St Clair/ Forney Green Machine 4-H - horse project; Clark Eastridge/Forney Green Machine 4-H – science & technology; Hannah Feller/ Silver Spurs 4-H Horse club – horse project; Sarah Murff/ Silver Spurs 4-H Horse club – horse project; Artia Romine/Forney Green Machine 4-H – science & technology; Nathan Stibbens/ Silver Spurs 4-H Horse club – horse project; Catlyn Wold/Silver Spurs 4-H Horse club – photography; Collin Corder/Scurry Rosser 4-H – leadership project; Zachery Busby/Hooves and Horns 4-H club – beef project; Hailey Hawes/ Hooves and Horns 4-H club – beef project; Justin Jenkins/Hooves and Horns 4-H club – beef project; Lynsey Culp/Silver Spurs 4-H Horse club – horse project.
Achievement Awards
Bronze Pin – Collin Corder/Scurry Rosser 4-H; Zach Busby/Hooves and Horns 4-H club; Hailey Hawes/ Hooves and Horns 4-H club.
Membership Pin and Rookie of the Year Award – Justin Jenkins/Hooves and Horns 4-H club.
Leader of the Year Award
Rhonda Culp/Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club and Debbie Hawes/Hooves and Horns 4-H Club.
I Dare You Award – Lynsey Culp and Lisa Roberts/Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club.
Kaufman County 4-H Scholarship – Logan Moore/ Forney Green Machine 4-H.
Gold Star Award – Brianna Moore and Hannah Feller/Silver Spurs 4-H Horse Club.


Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
Youngsters received completion awards for their efforts in this year's Kaufman
County 4-H programs.


Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
Gary and Debra Hawes and Farm Bureau agent Robert
Dobbs named “Friends of 4-H.”