Wednesday night Awana
Hillcrest Baptist Church will be offering Awana to children ages 3 to sixth grade from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday nights. Hillcrest Baptist Church is located at 909 N. Elm in Kemp.

PSUMC fellowship
The public is invited to Payne Springs United Methodist Church monthly fellowship night Thursday, Oct. 6 (today). A covered dish dinner will be served followed by entertainers Jasmine Richman and Friends. The church is located on SH 198 across from the PSVFD. For more information, call (903) 451-2978.

Swingers square dance club garage sale
The Log Cabin Swingers Dance Club will hold a garage sale 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 6-8 at Promenade Hall, located at 1210 North Tool Drive in Tool. The next regular square dance will be 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. For more information, call (903) 340-9672.

Yard sale to benefit Susan G. Komen
All proceeds from a yard sale in Paradise Bay will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund.
Sale will be held Friday-Sunday Oct. 7-9 at 1209 Aloha Road in Tool. Go to the back.

Designs through discovery series at library
The Cedar Creek Lake Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at the Library at Cedar Creek Lake. The program focuses on the use of lilies in design. The hostess is Hyta Sims and the inspiration will be presented by Donna Kay Cooper. Individuals interested in making new friends are cordially invited to attend. For more information, call (903) 498-6544.

VFW benefit suppers
The VFW Post 4376 on Veterans Way in Seven Points is holding a hamburger benefit supper 7-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 and a hot dog chili supper Friday, Oct. 14 for the homeless veterans fund for $5.

All you can eat fish fry
Knights of Columbus Council 8806 will hold their all-you-can-eat fish fry 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at St. Jude Catholic Church on Luther Lane. Menu includes U.S. farm raised catfish, french fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, ice tea/coffee and homemade baked goods.

Lord’s Acre Fall Festival
Kick off the 16th annual Lord’s Acre Fall Festival early this year with a pumpkin patch visit Monday, Oct. 3. It’s a great opportunity to take photos of the kids and grandkids. The First United Methodist Church, located at 301 S. Third St. in Mabank is holding its annual Lord’s Acre festival starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 with a fun run at 7 a.m.
There will also be a Country Store open at 9 a.m., barbecue luncheon at 11 a.m. and live auction at 1 p.m.
For more information call (903) 887-3691.

Blessing of the animals
The annual Blessing of the Animals will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at St. James on the Lake Episcopal Church. Bring your pets to be blessed by Fr. Jerry Morriss. After the blessing, we will have a hot dog cook out.
Open to the pet-free public as well.

Whitton Community Center barbecue and auction
Donated items such as antiques, arts, crafts and baked goods are wanted for the auction to benefit Tarver Cemetery maintenance and upkeep. Auction and barbecue will be 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 at the center located on VZFM 1651, four miles north of Jackson off 198. Menu includes brisket, lot links, beans, potato salad, coleslaw, drinks and dessert.
Donations of $8 for adults, $4 for children 12 and over accepted.

National Night Out Against Crime
The Mabank Police Department is hosting a city wide Night Out Against Crime 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 on Market Street. The western-themed event will feature entertainment, food, tours of police cars and fire engines and the outdoor showing of a great family movie.
Lock your doors, turn on an outside light and spend the evening with neighbors, police and firemen enjoying fun activities.
Don’t forget your lawn chairs.

Model Railroad Show
The 29th annual Model Railroad Show will be held Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 8-9 at the LMRA facility at 3400 Bryant Irvin Road in southwest Fort Worth. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Visitors will see modular model displays of various scales, tour the LMRA club’s 1200 sq. ft. HO-scale model railroad layout that is 90 percent complete.
For more information call (817) 732-7731.

Special Olympics Bocce blowout and fund raiser
The Church of Christ in Seven Points is holding a fund raiser 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 to help with the purchase of team uniforms. Hot dogs, chips, soft drinks, water and baked goods will be on sale. A drawing for special items will be included. Pauline the Clown will be there. Located at 235 W. Cedar Creek Parkway in Seven Points.

Happy Tail benefit fundraiser
Happy Tails animal rescue will have a benefit fundraiser at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9 at Cedar Isle Restaurant and Baja Beach Club at 2001 E Cedar Creek Pkwy in Seven Points. Join us for food, fun, live music, a silent auction drawings and prizes. The $20 cover charge includes your meal.
For more information call (903) 432-2220 or go to www.cedarisle.com. 

Westside Senior Citizens Center
The Westside Senior Citizens Center opens 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, (today) Oct. 6 and every Thursday at the Cedar Creek Bible Church Activities Building, 700 north Seven Points Blvd., one mile north of the traffic light in Seven Points. Seniors 55 and older are invited for refreshments, card games, dominos and other activities. A light lunch will be served. For more information, call (903) 340-9672.

Adopt a family open golf tournament
St. James on the Lake Episcopal Church hosts the 12th annual Adopt-a-Family Open Golf Tournament Oct. 10 at the Cedar Creek Country Club. All proceeds go to charity to help families at Christmas and throughout the year. Located at 10707 KCR 4022 near the entrance to the Cedar Creek County Club.

AARP Driver Safety Course
A one-day AARP Driver Safety Program will be held 1-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at The Library at Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points. The refresher course is designed for drivers age 50 and over, but is open to anyone. For more information, call Jean Dirks at (903) 887-3836.

‘Bookworms’
Tri-County Library book club, the “bookworms,” will meet at 10 a.m. on the second Friday of each month beginning Oct. 14 in the Community Room. Refreshments will be served. No membership fees.
For more information, call Madelyn Healey at (903) 880-3699.

American Legion cook out
The American Legion riders will be holding a cook out benefit Friday-Saturday, Oct. 14-15. Monies will used for toys for children of Cedar Creek Lake at Christmas. Friday, Oct. 14 will be brisket burger and beans for a donation of $5. Oct 15 will be smoked sausage and fixings for a donation of $6. Cooking starts at 5 p.m. and served until there is no more.
For more information call, Sammie Jones at (903) 451-2477.

Taters ‘n’ Tunes dinner show
The Mabank High Choirs are hosting the Umpteenth annual Taters ‘n’ Tunes dinner show and fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at the Mabank High School cafeteria prior to the football game. The country western themed event includes baked potato and brisket dinner and a great show where the servers and the performers are the choir students themselves.
Tickets must be purchased in advance from students or the high school office for $8.
For more information call Marsha Sanchez at (903) 880-1620.

Van Zandt senior citizen club dance
The Van Zandt Senior Citizens Club hosts a monthly dance at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at the Henderson County Senior Center in Athens. Country western music will be provided by Joe Walenta and the Ranch Hands. Everyone is welcome.
For more information call (903) 675-3774.

Enchanted Oaks garage sale
The annual Enchanted Oaks city wide garage sale is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, located on the east side of the lake. Enjoy shopping the “Red Balloon” houses for a wide variety of items. Maps available at the entrance.

Score for Desi volleyball tournament benefit
The Score for Desi Volleyball Tournament benefit will be held at 8 a.m. Oct. 15 at Kemp City Park. To register a six man team for $30 call Shannon Garmon at (214) 317-8023.

Cotton Row Run 5K Run/Walk
The Cotton Row Run 5K Run/Walk will start at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, in Kerens. Registration will start at 7 a.m. Please register by Saturday, Oct. 1. For more information, please call (903) 872-6045 or visit www.kerens.com. 

Hunter Education Course
A course in hunter education will be held at 6 p.m. Monday- Tuesday, Oct. 17-18 and Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Mabank High School agriculture building.
The course is open to adults and youngsters and will include instruction in modern firearms and primitive sporting arms handling and safety, outdoor responsibilities and ethics, laws and regulations, wildlife conservation and management, hunting traditions, field care of game and wilderness first aid and survival. Minimum age for certification is 9 years old and the cost is $15. Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call (800) 792-1112.

Stew and cornbread with the American Legion
The American Legion Auxiliary is serving homemade stew and cornbread with dessert at 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21. Cost is $5 and proceeds will be used to send a local high school junior girl to Girls State. For more information, call (903) 887-4980.

Kemp Fall Festival
The Kemp Fall Festival will be held Thursday, Oct. 29. Park opens at noon, parade at 2 p.m. Vendors welcome. For more details, call (214) 534-4067.

Cedar Creek Church Octoberfest
Cedar Creek Church is holding Octoberfest from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at 142 Rodney Drive. There will be food, games, auctions and entertainment and a drawing for a car, televisions and other prizes. For more information, call Cherl Barr at (214) 530-5072.

Kemp Fun Fest
Hillcrest Baptist Church is holding its annual Fun Fest at 6-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 as an alternative to trick or treating. The church is located at 909 N Elm in Kemp. There will be food, games and prizes.

Decorating contest
The Gun Barrel City Beaufication Committee is holding a holiday merchant decorating contest Tuesday, Nov. 1 at city hall. Entry fees are canned goods and the prize is $250. The winner will be announced Dec. 7. For more information, call (903) 887-8620.

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9 counts deadly assault given in ATV dispute
Monitor Staff Reports
ATHENS–A Malakoff man drawn into an argument that escalated into gunfire over the riding of ATVs near his cousin’s property west of Seven Points June 4 has been indicted for attempted murder.
In addition, Patrick Lewis Russey, a 40-year-old white male (W/M), was indicted on nine counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and five counts of Deadly Conduct Discharge Firearm.
These were six of 79 True Bills returned by the Henderson Grand Jury, which met Sept. 9, and 22-23.
District Attorney R. Scott McKee reported the indictments Sept. 28.
Russey’s cousin, Wilburn “Murl” Stanfield Jr., 43, of Kemp confronted his neighbor Jeff Whitworth, 33. Whitworth and family members were riding ATVs on and near their property at 31081 CR 2100 at around 6:30 p.m.
Stanfield confronted Whitworth with a shotgun and pistol in hand following the unsatisfactory conclusion of a verbal argument, along with Russey and entered Whitworth’s property.
According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office from witnesses at the scene, Stanfield threatened Whitworth with the shotgun, fired at least one shot from a close distance (about a foot), hitting Whitworth.
Whitworth accelerated in turn, and hit Stanfield, who fell with the rear tire of the truck and the attached trailer running him over.
At that point, Russey fired at least one round from a handgun, striking Whitworth’s truck in the driver’s side door.
Whitworth survived his injuries. Stanfield did not and was pronounced dead at the scene.
No True Bills this round were returned naming Whitworth.
Also indicted was James Garfield Marshall, a 20-year-old black male (B/M) from Athens. Marshall was indicted for murder in the drive-by shooting death of 18-year-old Palestine college student Desiree Dijon Brown July 4.
In addition, he is indicted on Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Assault with a Motor Vehicle.
Marshall reportedly had left a group of people on Jonathan Street shortly before midnight to get a gun and return following an argument with an unknown person.
He returned driving a black Chevrolet Impala opening fire with an automatic weapon in the 300 block of Jonathan Street. Brown was one in the crowd of people that night at that location. A second individual suffered a flesh wound and was treated and released.
Investigators recovered physical evidence in the car and at the scene.
Also, Myles Christopher Gray, W/M, 27, from Seven Points, was indicted for Manufacture/ Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Evading Arrest with Motor Vehicle and Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon stemming from an altercation with Gun Barrel City Police, responding to a call of a man sitting in a car with a gun behind Big Chief’s Landing June 1.
Gray refused to acknowledge officers approaching him while seated in a Chevrolet Malibu, accept to put the car in gear in an effort to get by or run over officers surrounding his car.
Shots were fired and Gray fled the scene, driving to a residence in Loon Bay Subdivision, where officers found him directly. Gray had sustained several gunshot wounds. He was transported to the nearest ETMC emergency room.
 

Commissioners hold line on taxes
By Michael V. Hannigan
Monitor Staff Writer
ATHENS–Henderson County Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved a 2012 tax rate of 47.2658 cents per $100 valuation Sept. 20.
District Attorney Scott McKee made one last, futile plea to make a part-time administrative position into a full-time slot, but otherwise no one spoke out during a public hearing before commissioners took the vote.
Commissioners used the effective rate, which will give the county approximately the same amount of money in 2012 as in 2011. Because property values are down slightly across the county, the effective tax rate is about six-tenths of a penny higher than last year’s 46.6016 cents per $100.
Even though the budget’s overall funding level stayed about the same ($33.5 million), county officials were still required to cut the budget.
“I think the commissioners did a great job of looking at the budget and coming up with ideas to make it work out without raising taxes,” County Judge Richard Sanders said.
Sanders pointed out that insurance rates for the county went up 7.2 percent, the cost for retirement went up $115,000, and as of this week the cost of gas was 72 cents higher per gallon than last year.
“We went through this budget line by line ... to absorb the increases,” he said.
Commissioners echoed that thought.
“A lot of (departments) need more,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence, “but we are trying to keep taxes down because of the trying times for our constituents.”

Last day to register to vote approaches
Monitor Staff Reports
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–Those planning to vote in the Nov. 8 General Election have until Tuesday (Oct. 11) to register with the voter’s registrar in Henderson County or with the Tax Assessor/Collector’s Office in Kaufman County.
Registration forms are available at most city halls, and online at the respective county website.
Early voting begins Oct. 24 continuing through Nov. 4 at county courthouses and sub-courthouses.
Senior voters, or those with disabilities or will be away from their voting precincts through early voting and election day may request a mail-in ballot by Nov. 1 by calling (972) 932-0290 in Kaufman County or (903) 675-6149 in Henderson County.
The state will be presenting 10 amendments to the state constitution.
• Prop 1 (SJR 14) – authorizes the legislature to exempt the spouse of a totally disabled veteran from paying ad valorem taxes of all or part of the market value on their residential homestead, as long as spouse remains unmarried.
• Prop. 2 (SJR 4) – authorizes the Texas Water Development Board to issue bonds on a continuing basis for one or more accounts up to a total of $6 billion.
• Prop. 3 (SJR 50) – authorizes the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue and sell bonds to finance educational loans for students, subject to certain restrictions, including setting a maximum principal amount outstanding at any one time.
• Prop. 4 (HJR 63) – authorizes the legislature to permit a county to issue bonds to finance development of unproductive property and pledge increases in ad valorem tax revenues on property in the area by the county for repayment. It does not provide independent authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates.
• Prop. 5 (SJR 26) – would allow cities and counties to enter interlocal contracts with other cities and counties without having to assess an ad valorem tax and set aside a specified amount of funds for the payment of costs under the contract.
• Prop. 6 (HJR 109) – increases the amount of principal available for withdrawal from the permanent school fund each year and would clarify certain references to that fund in the constitution. Increased access to the principal of the state public education trust fund would be based on HJR 109 and would also provide authority to distribute to the available school fund annual revenue from school fund land or other properties, up to $300 million per year.
• Prop. 7 (SJR 28) – adds El Paso County to the list of counties authorized to create conservation and reclamation districts to develop parks and recreational facilities financed by taxes.
• Prop. 8 (SJR 16) – requires the legislature to provide for taxation of open space land devoted to water stewardship purposes on the basis of its productive capacity.
• Prop. 9 (SJR 9) – authorizes the governor, on written recommendation and advice of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, to grant a pardon, reprieve or commutation of punishment to a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision.
• Prop. 10 (SJR 37) – extends the length of the unexpired term that causes the automatic resignation of certain local elected officeholders if they announce candidacy or become candidates for another office from one year to one year and 30 days.