People, Places & Events

County approves Kemp’s use of
heavy equipment and road repair
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–The city of Kemp continues to struggle with its street maintenance, but for at least a year has received help from the county.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Jim Deller submitted the requests for renewal of two agreements with the city Monday.
Both requests were approved by the Kaufman County Commissioners so needed street repairs could continue.
An interlocal agreement for the use of heavy equipment, and a similar agreement for help with road repairs will continue for another year.
Deller explained the city of Kemp will pay $50 an hour for the heavy equipment, and has qualified operators to drive them.
In other business, commissioners:
• heard a report on operations at the county children’s shelter for May, June and July presented by director LaReta Williams.
Williams said the shelter has hosted, on the average, 12.8 children per day for the year.
She also shared two success stories concerning two girls, both 17.
“I want everyone to know we do make a difference,” she said.
• authorized County Judge Wayne Gent to sign a letter of agreement with Henry & Peters, PC to perform the annual outside audit for the county for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, and to grant the exemption from bid requirements, as allowed under the law for professional services contracts.
• accepted the treasurer’s monthly report for August as presented by Johnny Countryman.
• approved a presentation by CareFlite for emergency helicopter service for county employees and their families, at a cost of $10 per family per year.
Countryman said the county has 450 full-time employees.
• agreed to file eminent domain proceedings on Parcel 14 of the FM 3486 project.
• approved requests from Embarq to bury communications cable across (under) the right of way of County Road 118 in Precinct 1 and CR 4006 in Precinct 4.
• approved budget transfers as presented by auditor Hal D. Jones.
• paid bills totaling $453,841.24.

Mabank merchants sponsor
downtown festival


Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Leslie Dare (at far left) and her beginner dancers from The Dance Connection
do the "Freeze Dance" during an appearance at the Mabank downtown festival Saturday.


Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Ben Nail and Nancy Burk (center left and right) of Fort Worth brew coffee as
Jerry Garvin of Eustace (left) and Bill Boyd of Gun Barrel City look on at the
grand opening of Old Friends Antiques and Gifts in downtown Mabank Saturday.


Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Visitors to the Mabank downtown festival Saturday
relax as local clowns (in the background) make balloon
animals for the youngsters.

Kemp approves HS marquee
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–The marquee planned for the new Kemp High School will definitely get the attention of drivers traversing State Highway 274.
Tuesday, school trustees approved a 16-foot-tall sign, with a five-foot-wide signboard tall enough to display three lines of lettering.
Along with identifying Kemp High School, the sign’s flashing lights will announce upcoming events.
“I have done some pricing,” superintendent Dr. Peter Running told the trustees.
Running said he watched for discounts and was aware of cost-saving promotions during the Texas Association of School Boards convention. The sign will cost approximately $45,300, saving several thousand dollars off the regular price.
“It will be delivered in about 12 weeks or so,” he said.
In other business, trustees:
• approved a construction change order to upgrade the new high school’s parking lot from asphalt to concrete.
The cost difference, $222,742, includes saw-cut joints, a method used to allow cracks to be repaired in a specific section.
• heard from citizens unhappy with parking facilities at the high school construction site.
Former Kemp city council member Alice Morton said she didn’t understand why the new facility was being built where it is.
Board president Keith Foisey explained the citizens attending the public planning meetings did not want the building hidden “back in the trees” on adjacent school property.
During the hearings, citizens insisted the new school be “visible” to the public, as a means of helping the community grow, he explained.
Morton spoke of the problems the Kemp Area Sports Association (KASA) was undergoing.
“Did you even think of KASA?” she asked.
“They are having to endure the same inconvenience that we are,” Foisey said.
There are only two home Kemp Yellowjacket games left in the season, both district contests – against Eustace Oct. 24 and against Canton in the season finale Nov. 7.
Cleo Lindsey, owner of Western Cafe, asked for a solution to the parking problem, saying parking lots for her restaurant and the Dollar General Store (both across the street from the new high school and football field) were both inundated with game attendees.
Foisey explained the district has published word of the shuttle service from the current high school, the junior high and the intermediate parking facilities.
He said while out-of-town visitors seemed to enjoy the air-conditioned bus rides, Kemp fans still insist on parking close to the field.
• heard a presentation from former city councilman Todd Weber on bringing school-sponsored soccer to the district.
Weber named 15 schools in the area that currently have varsity-level soccer teams, including Eustace, Mabank and Kaufman.
“It takes 14 kids, and there is an interest here,” he said.
Kemp students who wish to play soccer have only two choices, to chose another sport or to change schools, he said.
“I’m here to find out what needs to be done to make it happen,” Weber said.
Trustee Scott Clearman asked when soccer season was.
“In the spring,” Weber answered. Someone said soccer wouldn’t conflict with other sports.
(Editor’s note: Soccer practices may open Dec. 1. Scrimmages may begin Jan. 2, and the first matches may be played Jan. 8. Districts must finish play for certification by March 17, and state championships will be held in early April. Varsity soccer would directly conflict with varsity boys and girls basketball, and the start of baseball and softball.)
• heard a report on summer school.
Dr. Debra Airheart said approximately 70 high school students signed up for the 16 days of class, but only 36 showed up.
Explanations concerning why the students did not attend included summer jobs and vacations, she said.
• approved the purchase of an air-conditioned 2009 Freightliner Thomasville 72-seat bus at a cost of $79,495.
Transportation director Dewey Haley told trustees seat belts will be required in new buses starting in 2010.
• approved the sale of five portable buildings at a cost of $3,500 each.
One building belongs to the federal program and the district will receive no money for it. Three buildings are confirmed sold, while one sale is pending.
• heard a favorable report on the “Board Buzz” for August.
The next Board Buzz is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the high school cafetorium.
The meeting will be sponsored by the high school and will feature subjects concerning that campus.