People, Places & Events

Cedar Creek Rotarians asked to plan a blood drive
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–This past summer it was announced blood was in short supply.
Dianne Martin, recruitment consultant with Carter BloodCare, Stewart Regional Blood Center, told Rotarians that was part of the reason the companies merged.
That is why she is asking organizations, such as The Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, to sponsor at least one drive during the year, she said.
Martin was the main speaker for the weekly Friday luncheon, and she offered statistics to explain the need for blood.
“We normally try to keep a three- to four-day supply of blood, and this summer we dropped down to two to three hours,” she explained.
Her company supplies 100 percent of the blood used by East Texas Medical Center, but ETMC, so far, holds no blood drives, Martin said.
“My challenge in handling this is to hold as many blood drives as possible. My job is to make us visible. My goal is to collect 41,000 units of blood,” she explained.
The need is very acute across the nation, and in Texas.
“At this time, there is no replacement for human blood. Someone uses a pint of blood every three seconds,” Martin said.
The recent blood drive at Lowe’s was very successful, Martin emphasized.
“And Lowe’s for Life has agreed to have another drive,” she added.
“I challenge you (the Rotary Club) to have one four-hour blood drive a year,” she said.
The Rotarians all agreed with the challenge and club President Lee Montgomery said a date in December would be a good time.
In other business, Rotarians:
• were reminded of the board meeting set for Wednesday, Oct. 17.
• heard a report from Make-A-Difference Day chairman Jan Wood.
She said plans and projects are coming along, with 16 projects scheduled so far.
Applications are still being sought for those who need help.
If you need help or know of someone who does, fill out a registration form and mail to the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake, P.O. Box 1658, Mabank, TX 75147, or drop it by Tri-County Ford or Brookshire’s in Mabank, or fax to (903) 675-4235.
• heard Andrea Pickens give an update on the trash collection for Saturday, Oct. 27 (Make-A-Difference Day). She said no brush or tires will be accepted.
Also a separate container is scheduled for newspapers and magazines through the Kemp Eco-Station.
• were asked by Montgomery to put in volunteer hours on the Mabank High School Habitat for Humanity house, to be built with the almost $60,000 raised during Spirit Week.

25th annual model railroad show set
Special to The Monitor
FORT WORTH–The Lockheed Martin Model Railroad Activity (LMRA) railroad clubs 25th annual model train show will be held Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 13-14.
The train show will turn gyms 1, 2 and 3 of the LMRA Sports Fitness Center, located at 3400 Bryant Irvin Road, southwest Fort Worth, into a hub of model railroading fun.
Admission is $6 per person with children under 10 admitted free. It is an ideal event for children.
There will be 180 dealer tables as well as several local area modular clubs.
The local clubs will be the Heartland RR from Dallas, the Trinity N-Trak Club of Fort Worth and the Tex-N Modular from Dallas.
Children will delight in seeing the Thomas the Tank miniature trains running on the modules.
There will also be a new Thomas the Tank play area for children this year, where they will be able to build layouts and run battery powered Thomas the Tank engines and watch Thomas videos.
A special attraction this year will be a gathering of Circus Model Builders, Inc. and the Carnival Historical & Model Builders Society.
These two organizations will be displaying circus trains, miniature circuses and carnivals and other types of circus memorabilia.
In addition to the traveling modular clubs, the fabulous LMRA club’s permanent layout will be open both days of the show.
The city of St. Charles has been completely rebuilt.
The Mountain States refinery has been improved with a lot of detail.
In addition, the Red Mesa Mountain area is just about finished. Signals and many new details have been added to other areas.
Come to the show and see the many changes that have been made since last year.
While at the show, visit one of the many dealers. They will have many railroad items to sell, such as trains, videos, prints, memorabilia and RR books.
For more information, call (817) 713-6887 or (817) 732-7731.

Grant for large dog neutering available
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–Friends of the Animals Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic has received a grant enabling people needing financial assistance in getting large dogs, male or female, spayed or neutered.
This grant will pay for the surgery of dogs more than 40 pounds at the time of surgery. A co-pay is required.
The reason the grant is so specific is that smaller dogs are usually easy to place and have small litters.
Large dogs, however, languish in shelters as no one wants them, and can have litters of up to 15 puppies two to three times a year, most of which end up being put on the trash heap.
The grant excludes cats, because the cost of sterilization is considered reasonable ($25/$35).
The Family Resource Center (903) 887-4711 and the Christian Life Center Food Pantry (903) 887-5429/Tuesday and Thursday), both in Gun Barrel City, and the Athens Food Pantry at 715 E. Corsicana in Athens (Monday-Friday 8:30-noon), have vouchers for making appointments – or you can call (903) 887-PETS (7387).
To obtain a voucher, you must bring your driver’s license, your Social Security card and proof of income. A co-pay is required at the time of surgery.
Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization running the Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic in Gun Barrel City.