Grazing management and stockmanship clinic set
Special to The Monitor
ATHENS–Beef producers looking for management strategies that can benefit their ranching operations through the ongoing Texas drought should attend the upcoming Grazing Management and Stockmanship Clinic scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15 in Athens at the Henderson County Regional Fairpark Complex.
“These are challenging times with the current drought. Now more than ever it is critical that ranchers have management practices in place that optimize their animals’ performance, while minimizing input costs,” NRCS grazing lands specialist Ryan Walser said.
“We’ve put together a cattle clinic that can help ranchers meet these challenges. For a registration fee of only $10, ranchers will learn information and techniques that can help them become more profitable with their cow herd,” he added.
Experts from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Grazing Land Conservation Initiative (GLCI), Texas AgriLife Extension and Texas Farm Bureau are scheduled speakers.
Topics such as managing beef cattle nutrition through a drought, post-drought grazing management strategies, along with water rights legislation will be covered.
Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions during a panel discussion.
Acclaimed stockmanship and stewardship instructor, Ron Gill, Texas AgriLife Extension Service’s livestock specialist, will share with attendees behavioral principles of cattle, stockmanship skills and tips, and methods for reducing stress during cattle handling.
Gill will be on horseback while he demonstrates proper cattle handling methods. A chute-side demonstration also will be given.
The clinic starts with registration at 12:30 p.m. The registration fee of $10 includes a meal. The clinic should conclude at 6:30 p.m. with the meal.
For more information or to register contact Matthew Machacek, NRCS-GLCI, at (903) 257-6633 or email matthew.machacek@tx.usda.gov.

 

Clean-up Month set
Special to The Monitor
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–September has become Neighborhood Clean-up Month at Environmental Co-op with a Saturday clean-up offered every week.
Clean-ups are scheduled in Forney, Crandall and Kemp.
Each one is different from the others and offers a chance for volunteers to really help clean up their community and Kaufman County.
Water will be provided, along with safety vests, pick-up tongs, gloves and bags. Sturdy, closed toed shoes are recommended.
Volunteers will also be treated to cookouts, door prizes, and an all out after party depending on which cleanup they sign up to attend.
Individuals and groups are welcome. All clean-up registrations begin at 9 a.m.
The first clean-up is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10 in Forney at Pinson Road (north of U.S. Highway 80) sponsored by the city of Forney, CWD, and the Rotary Club of Forney.
The second will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, and is the annual Trinity River Trash Bash in Crandall. It is sponsored by T.R.E.E.S and Crandall Economic Development Corp.
Saturday, Sept. 24 will be the 13th annual Cedar Creek Clean-up in Kemp, also sponsored by T.R.E.E.S and Tarrant Regional Water District.
There will be a final clean-up scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 8 in Forney at the neighborhood intersection of 740 and 741. It will be sponsored by the city of Forney, CWD, and The Lion’s Club of Forney.
For questions and to volunteer, please contact Environmental Co-op at (972) 524-0007 or visit the website at eco@trashbusters.org.
 

ETMC names new EMS director
Special to The Monitor
ATHENS–ETMC has named Neal Franklin as the new EMS director of operations for the East Texas service area.
Franklin previously served as EMS director of business development and came to ETMC in January, after retiring as fire chief with the city of Tyler.
In this new position, Franklin will be responsible for more than 300 paramedics and emergency medical technicians, covering more than 16,000 square miles in East Texas, responding to 110,000 requests for service and transportation of more than 77,000 patients each year.
Franklin is from Tyler and received his bachelor’s degree in education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
While attending graduate school at the University of North Texas, he became a Dallas firefighter.
In 1987, he moved back to Tyler and worked his way up through the ranks of the Tyler Fire Department and eventually served as chief for seven years.
Franklin has been married for 25 years to Valli and has three children.
 

 

Come Adopt Us At The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake

We have many animals at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points in dire need of a good home. Please call or stop by the Humane Society today and rescue one of these forgotten animals. The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is located on 10220 County Road 2403 in Seven Points. For more information, please call (903) 432-3422 after 11 a.m. We are closed on Wednesday and Sunday.

For further information visit our website at petfinder.com