People, Places & Events

Purtis Creek State Park updates
covered at Chamber lunch
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–Additional funds for a crumbling state park system finally started flowing to facilities in 2007, giving park staff the resources to make badly needed repairs, renovations and replace worn-out equipment.
Purtis Creek State Park Superintendent Shawn Greene told members of the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Sept. 10 the park boasts a 355-acre, no-wake lake that provides swimming and fishing.
Since the lake is wholly contained within a state park, those wishing to fish do not need a fishing license, he said.
“Fishermen can keep any fish they catch, except for the largemouth bass,” Greene explained.
Using a PowerPoint slide presentation, Greene showed various recent improvements and replacements of older equipment, including a broken-down tractor, an old wrecked truck and worn-out utility vehicles pictured side-by-side with new and stronger equipment.
“We also restored fishing piers, the faucets and tiles in restrooms and, in 2010, we will get a new Ranger pickup,” Greene said.
“Visitors can come out and rent paddleboats or canoes, or just enjoy the hike and bike trail,” he added.
Ranger-assisted programs include a stargazing session, canoe tours, night hike with flashlights to look for wildlife, campfire skills, movies and junior angler classes.
“The hike and bike trail will extend a total of five miles, in a sort of butterfly shape,” Greene said.
It can be used now, but still needs the markers in place before it is officially open, he added.
In 2011-12, the park will be widening its RV parking spaces and replacing the current electrical connections with 50-amp hookups, Greene told area business leaders attending the monthly chamber luncheon.
Annual park events include the Kid Fish event held the first weekend in June.
“All kids get a brand new fishing rod,” he said.
The next annual occasion is the popular Halloween event Saturday, Oct. 24, in which the RV campers decorate their campsites, going all out in their efforts.
“The RV spaces are reserved way back (in the early spring), as everyone looks forward to the Halloween party time. There’s no extra cost, except for the regular entrance fee,” he explained.
“If funding continues, the park is planning on adding cabins, to give visitors another option besides tenting or an RV,” Greene said.
More than 57,000 visitors came to the park last year, he added.
In other business, chamber members heard:
• Excite Realty owners B.G. and Judy Pierce and Cornerstone Business Solutions’ Rick and Kristen Brown were named Businesses of the Month.
Ambassador president Sharon Strickland presented certificates to both couples.
• a job fair by Texas Workforce is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at The Library at Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points.
• Don Richardson is having a 10-year anniversary of his franchise with Home Instead Senior Care from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
• First United Methodist in Mabank is hosting its annual Lord’s Acre Harvest Festival Saturday, Oct. 10.

Tax rate for 2010 same as ’09
Kaufman County adopts $43.9 M budget with no increase in tax rate
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–The tax rate will not be increased for residents of Kaufman County. Commissioners set the same rate and approved the budget Monday.
Commissioners adopted the 2010 budget, totaling $43.9 million.
The amount includes $34.6 million for the general fund, $7.1 million for road and bridge, and $2.2 million for debt service.
Commissioners then set a total tax rate of 55.65 cents per $100 evaluation for the 2010 tax season, the same rate as 2009.
Residents could still see an increase in their tax statements, corresponding to any increase in the appraised value of their properties.
In other business, commissioners:
• approved an interlocal agreement with the North Central Texas County of Government for the Cities Readiness Initiative project.
• approved filling a program assistant post for the AgriLife 4-H program.
The position is due to be vacant in October as the current assistant is leaving, agent Carrie Sharp said.
The hiring process can begin immediately now, allowing for a smooth transition in 4-H, Sharp explained.
• tabled action concerning setting a salary structure for (deputy) constables countywide, as requested.
The third time was not a charm but more like three strikes for Constable Joe Don Law. Precinct 2, who presented the proposal to commissioners.
“This is my third time to bring this before the commissioners. We are to a point where we need a salary structure,” Law said.
“If we have no structure, the department will fail,” he added.
When starting to work on the budget in July, commissioners voted that every salary level be frozen, county judge Wayne Gent said.
Commissioners agreed the constables were doing a great job.
Constables are now doing both criminal and civil type work, Law said.
• approved advertising for bids for a prisoner transport bus at a cost of $115,000.
Bids will be opened Wednesday, Oct. 21.
The bus will be paid for from prisoner commissary funds.
• changed Precinct 10 voting location permanently from Mt. Olive Baptist Church to Scurry-Rosser Independent School District administration building.
The change is a prelude to consolidating Scurry and Rosser voting districts, Dick Murphy, Tax Assessor/Collector said.
• heard the tax collection report for August.
Year-to-date amount collected for both the general fund and road and bridge is $32,502,017 or 96 percent, Murphy said.
• approved polling locations for the Nov. 3 election.
• approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Post Oak Bend for road maintenance and for the use of subdivision regulations.
• approved the 2010 resolution for indigent defense discretionary grant program for a total of $84,000.
• paid bills totaling $966,168,39.
• held a three-hour executive (closed) session to consult with an attorney on pending litigation in the Jo Ann E. Combs versus Kaufman County; and issues related to Lawson Road and the boundary line with Dallas County.

Mabank to host National Night Out event Oct. 3
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–All area residents are invited to participate in a National Night Out event in downtown Mabank from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.
City workers will block off Market Street in order to host a number of activities, including the “winner” of the Kiss the Pig contest doing just that.
Mabank police officers will submit themselves as targets for pie throwing, and will be handing out free crime-fighting brochures.
There will be live music, along with a display of classic cars and police cars.
Parents are encouraged to take advantage of child fingerprinting services, and there will be a cake walk and a fund-raising “jail.”
National Night Out is an annual event designed to strengthen communities by encouraging neighborhoods to engage in stronger relationships with each other and with their local law enforcement partners.
The goal is to heighten crime-prevention awareness, build support and participation in local anti-crime programs, and most importantly, sent a message that our neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Come Adopt Us At The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake
My name is Koal (aka Smarty Pants), and I’m a young orphan German Shepherd/Catahoula Leopard mix. I’m very proud to say that German Shepherds are the third smartest dog breed. I, however, beg to differ because I know I am smarter than any other dog in the world. I am very true to my breed. German Shepherds are extremely intelligent, courageous, and have a very strong protective instinct. I would be a great guard dog. I am also a loving family companion and am excellent with children. I am an all-around fun guy who loves to rough house with my pals at the Shelter, then snuggle up to humans who can’t help but reach out to scratch my head every time they walk by.
	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