People, Places & Events

Vietnam Memorial Wall
delivered to county
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–Despite coastal warnings of a hurricane moving in, it was a beautiful Saturday, and people from all over gathered to welcome the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall to Kaufman.
The Wall will travel no further, as the Kaufman VFW, a citizens committee and several others have worked many hours to secure the Wall for Kaufman’s Veteran’s Park.
The Wall was escorted to Kaufman past Seagoville by a motorcycle escort consisting of 291 riders and passengers.
State Senator Bob Deuell spoke, reminding the large gathering of the cost of freedom.
“Every man on the wall wanted peace,” he said.
State Rep. Betty Brown spoke of the honor the Wall brings to Kaufman.
“From now on, it will be known as the home of the Vietnam Memorial Wall,” she said.
Five-term County Judge Wayne Gent thanked those involved and spoke of the history the Wall represents.
“It’s tremendous that we can have a part of it. I thank all of you for being a part of it,” he said.
County Treasurer and Veterans of Foreign Wars member Johnny Countryman serves as chairman of the Vietnam Memorial Wall Committee.
Ray Raymond is the chairman of the park board.
The Wall will be stored until a permanent foundation is constructed, Countryman explained.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
A crowd gathered Saturday morning at the Kaufman Veteran’ s Park to welcome
the Vietnam Memorial Wall to its journey’s end. The Wall will become a permanent
feature of the park in the near future.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Judge Wayne Gent delivers a short message to the large audience present to
welcome the Vietnam Memorial Wall Saturday. Pictured are (from left) Gent,
Rep. Betty Brown and Sen. Bob Deuell. VMW committee chairman Johnny
Countryman is directly behind Gent.

Western dance at Kemp Senior Center draws crowd
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Despite the callousness of some recent thieves who took $100 in petty cash and a game as well as breaking out a window at the Kemp Senior Center, spirits were high as seniors ejoyed a western dance Aug. 27.
Starting around 10:30 a.m., people began arriving ready to dance or just listen to the music of Joe Davis, Lester Taylor and Sandy Barnett.
Approximately 75 people were in attendence.
Tables for food were set up and favorite covered dishes filled them to capacity.
Everyone visited with friends and very little was said about last week’s intruders.
Coming up in early September the “Oldy Wed Game” and later the “Senior Olympics.”


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Seniors gather for a group photograph at the Western Dance held Aug. 27
At least 25 others chose not to be in the picture for a total of approximately
75 who showed up to hear the music of Joe Davis, Leslie Taylor and Sandy Barnett.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Les Pickering (left) gives Kemp Senior Center director Lisa Stinnett a whirl
around the dance floor before the crowd comes in at the Western Dance.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Cowboys and Cowgirls alike get a quick lesson in the proper methods to real
Texas boot scootin’ just before the crowd gathers and the dancing begins in
earnest. The Western Dance took place at Kemp Senior Center Aug. 27.

VZ moves voting precincts
By Terry Britt
Monitor Staff Writer
CANTON–Eight Van Zandt County polling places for the November General Election will be relocated, mostly due to accessibility and parking issues.
Commissioners approved the changes Aug. 26, including the moving of all three precinct voting locations out of their traditional homes in the county courthouse.
County Clerk Charlotte Bledsoe said she feared the courthouse would not be able to handle the voter turnout expected for Nov. 4.
“We all know the courthouse is not the most accessible building in the world,” Bledsoe said.
Finding sites that appeared to be better suited for wheelchair access also figured into Bledsoe’s recommendations. Voting Precinct No. 1 box will be hosted in the East Center Baptist Church on Farm-to-Market 1652.
That box had been at the county treasurer’s office in the courthouse.
The other two boxes to be moved out of the courthouse are Voting Precinct No. 12 and No. 24.
Formerly in the county courtroom, Precinct No. 12 will move to the Farm Bureau Auditorium on Highway 243 in Canton.
Precinct No. 24 will be shifted from the courthouse’s law library to the First United Methodist Church in Canton.
Bledsoe said a different situation arose with Voting Precinct No. 4 being in Wiley’s Gun Shop in last year’s General Election. The shop’s owner, C.B. Wiley, is on the ballot running unopposed for Precinct 2 Constable.
“The election law does not allow a polling place to be in someone’s residence,” Bledsoe said, “but when I called the state (election commission) about this, they said it had never come up before.”
Precinct No. 4 will be moved to Teel Church of Christ on Van Zandt County Road 2504.
Other relocations include: Voting Precinct No. 3 moving from the Phalba Community Center to Phalba Independent Church; Precinct No. 6 going from the County Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace office to the Grand Saline Chamber of Commerce Pavilion; Precinct No. 11 moving from the County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace office to the Ben Wheeler Fire Department; and Precinct No. 28 moving from the Bateman Center in Edgewood to the Edgewood Civic Center/Senior Building.
Also, Bledsoe said she has reserved the Free State Building at the Van Zandt County Fairgrounds for a special Saturday early voting session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 25.
Otherwise, early voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, Oct. 20-31, in the courthouse law library.
Bledsoe also mentioned the Free State Building will be the site of training sessions for election judges on two Saturdays, Oct. 11 and 18.