People, Places & Events

Kiwanis agree to meet
with chamber at luncheon
Monitor Staff Reports
GUN BARREL CITY–Citing the opportunities to meet potential new members and network with area leaders, the Cedar Creek Lake Kiwanis club members agreed to begin meeting with the area chamber of commerce.
The Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce holds a luncheon each second Thursday at Vetoni’s Italian Restaurant in Gun Barrel City, and past president Ralph Fortner said meeting in conjunction with the chamber each month would help spread the word about Kiwanis.
“We are a member of the chamber, and we’ve partnered with them successfully on a couple of projects,” Fortner said. “I think it’s worth a try.”
“It might be a good way to draw in some new members,” Kathy Kendrick agreed.
Linda Rau told the other club members she and husband Russ came to the lake area 13 years ago.
“We were delighted to find out about Kiwanis,” she said. “The chamber sent us to it.”
“It would give us an opportunity to tell people about Kiwanis, and also network with people,” Paula Kimbell noted.
Calling for a vote, new president Denise York heard no opposition, and said the club will try the new joint meeting at the chamber’s Nov. 13 luncheon.
York said the club will continue working on a project on each third Wednesday, with a board of directors meeting following.
“One of the things I really want to try to do this (coming) year is to get us a website,” York said.
Fortner reminded members the club’s annual officer installation banquet is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at the Victorian Lady Tea Room in downtown Mabank.
Linda and Russ Rau entertained club members by presenting their latest story hour, offered each first Saturday at both The Library at Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points and the Tri-County Library in Mabank.
Children who attend story hour receive a brand-new book, provided by the Kiwanis club.
Reminding club members they were all under 6 years of age, Linda presented the October story time, featuring “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything,” by Linda Williams.
As Linda read the story aloud, Russ provided visual cues, including boots clomping, pants flapping, a shirt swishing, gloves clapping and a scary jack-o’-lantern, while club members contributed sound effects between guffaws.


Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Linda Rau (left) reacts when a jack-o’-lantern reveals a ghost, as she and Russ
Rau present a Halloween story time for Cedar Creek Lake Kiwanis members Wednesday.

Kaufman County historical ghost walk set
Special to The Monitor
KAUFMAN–The Kaufman County Historical Commission (KCHC), will sponsor an archeology exhibit in observance of Texas Archeology Month (October) and also feature living history demonstrations at the Kaufman Scarecrow Festival Saturday, Oct. 25, in downtown Kaufman on the courthouse square.
Beginning at dark, KCHC’s annual award winning, “Ghosts of Kaufman County Past,” historical ghost walk will be held at the historic county “Poor Farm” located at Farm-to-Market 1388 and State Highway 34 in Kaufman.
The KCHC exhibits at the scarecrow festival will open at 9 a.m. and close at 4 p.m.
It will include archeology exhibits and living history activities, such as hands-on demonstrations of butter churning, rope making and much more.
The public is invited to bring their own artifacts to be identified and evaluated.
Site tours at the “Poor Farm” location will be offered during the day.
The scarecrow festival offers a full day of family fun including a parade at 9 a.m., followed by live music, entertainment, delicious food, arts and crafts and children’s amusements.
The historical ghost walk tour featuring “Ghosts of Kaufman County Past” will begin at 7 p.m.
Small groups will be escorted on the Walk at predetermined intervals.
The tour takes approximately one and a half hours to complete.
Absolute quiet must be maintained by walk participants since no audio equipment or electronic devices will be used.
For that reason, no children under the age of 12 will be admitted.
Tickets for the tour are $10 each.
For ticket information and tour schedules contact KCHC at (469) 376-4121, e-mail kchc@kaufmancounty.net.
Other Archeology Awareness Month activities are being scheduled by KCHC that include presentations to county school students.
Archeology exhibits will be on display during the entire month of October in local libraries and museums.
These presentations will provide an opportunity for students to discover past human cultures and learn about the historical significance of Texas archeological sites and the importance of proper archeological practices.
For more information, visit KCHC’s web site at kaufmancounty.net/kchc.htm.

Beacon Hill debuts luxury
lakeside home sites
Monitor Staff Reports
KEMP–Dignitaries and city officials were invited to a dedication and site tour of the new Beacon Hill master-planned community development fronting U.S. Highway 175 and Cedar Creek Lake in Kemp.
Wednesday, State Rep. Betty Brown joined local officials to view the 4,000 feet of improved waterfront, private marina and boat launch, as well as 900-foot lighted fishing jetty with observation piers.
The property’s signature beacon emits a beam of light miles into the night sky to guide boaters safely home.
Lakefront home sites are guarded from the encroaching lake by steel retaining walls down to a six-foot depth. This allows homeowners to build recessed boathouses with fully equipped party rooms or guest quarters, a unique advantage on Cedar Creek Lake, Realtors Janice and Terry Ellis said.
The husband-wife team from Ebby Halliday Realtors specialize in Cedar Creek Lake properties and represent the 101 home sites at Beacon Hill.
Also unique to the 140-acre development is its scenic woods and wildlife habitat.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has designated the green space as a protected area for migratory North American pelicans, wood ducks and other rare wildlife species.
Residents will enjoy the nature trails and observation platforms overlooking wildlife refuges and the bird island, monitored by the Audubon Society.
“The emphasis on retaining the scenic beauty of Cedar Creek Lake and protecting fish and migratory bird habitats was extremely important in the development of Beacon Hill,” Jim Stewart of Kemp Lakeside Investors said.
He and his wife, Barbara, are longtime Cedar Creek Lake residents and the visionaries behind Beacon Hill’s tranquil, natural setting for ultra-luxury homes with the most desired community amenities.
The private marina includes floating boat slips with air-conditioned party rooms equipped with big-screen TVs, bathroom facilities and private storage for beverages and supplies.
Solar powered lighted channel buoys will mark the boat lane from the private jetty to open water and guide nighttime boaters to port.
The development includes a private nine-acre interior lake stocked for fishing and including a swimming beach and activity area. Homeowners can enjoy the benefits of lakeside living with boat slips available for lease at the private marina.
Other amenities include a clubhouse overlooking the lake with a beautifully landscaped outdoor swimming pool and hot tub.
Mesa Engineering provided the site planning, and artist Billy Williamson has created sculptures of waterfalls and realistic natural formations to blend the utilities infrastructure into the natural setting.
“The attention to detail in the master plan is incredible,” Andy Bearden, Ebby Builder Services director said. “We are in the process of identifying a select group of architects and custom home builders to work closely with the homeowners to assure homes are designed and built to complement the integrity of the community.”
Interested home builders may call The Welcome Center at (903) 498-LAKE (5253).


Monitor Photo/Pearl Cantrell
Beacon Hill debuts its 101-home site development with developer Jim Stewart
(left), Kemp mayor Billy Teel, State Rep. Betty Brown, Kemp ISD superintendent
Dr. Peter Running, co-developer Barbara Stewart, infrastructure manager Roger
VanDuyne, Realtor Janice Ellis, The Monitor representative Angela Penland, Kemp
EDC president Jody Deller, Kemp council members Leodis Buckley, Dorothy Locklin
and Matt Ganssle, Kemp EDC member Bob Burns and Kemp city administrator James Stroman.