VFW seeks youth
The VFW Post 4376 and its Ladies Auxiliary are looking for youth groups interested in volunteering to help gather items for military and help pack the boxes to send overseas. Items needed include pencils, paper, books, envelopes, socks, etc. If interested call Lynn Hill at (903) 887-0827 or Sid McIntosh for details.

VFW seeks teachers
The VFW is looking for outstanding teachers in Mabank, Kemp, Malakoff (includes Tool) school districts to nominate for an award program. Call Lynn Hill at (903) 887-0827 or Sid McIntosh at (903) 432-2138.

Westside seniors
The Westside Seniors will host the Cedar Home Health Care and Hospice Thursday (today). Birthday cake and blood pressure checks will be offered, as well as information about their services. A light lunch is served at noon. The Center is open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Cedar Creek Bible Church activities building, 700 N. Seven Points Blvd., one mile north of the traffic light at SH 274, Seven Points.

VFW attends carnival
The VFW and Ladies Auxiliary of Post 4376 are attending the VA Hospital carnival at 6 p.m. Thursday, (today), in Dallas for Patients Day Out. If interested in volunteering or making a donation call Naomi Jones, VAVS representative at (903) 432-2138 or (903) 887-3213.

American Legion dinner
The American Legion Auxiliary is serving homemade stew and cornbread with dessert 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21. Proceeds benefit a local high school junior girl to Girls State. For information, call (903) 887-4980.

Make a Difference Day
The annual Make A Difference Day is set for Saturday, Oct. 22. A free trash disposal, electronic recycling and paper shredding is offered from 9 to noon at the Mabank Pavilion. The event is sponsored by the city of Mabank, Environmental Co-op and Tri-County Ford. For information, call (972) 524-0007.

Food Drive
Bridgeway Hospice is hosting a food drive for Faith in Action Outreach (Malakoff Food Pantry) in conjunction with Make A Difference Day. Boxes for contributions of canned goods are placed in local and surrounding nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Aley Methodist bazaar
The annual fund-raising event for Aley United Methodist Women is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. The sale features homemade baked goods and candy, crafts and Christmas decorations, a beautiful handmade quilt to be given away, jewelry and other items. Soup and stew are served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is located 1.5 miles west of Seven Points on Farm-to-Market 85.

Caney Creek Church
The Caney Creek eighth annual Fall Festival is noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at Caney Creek Baptist Church. Tournaments include washers, horseshoes and dominoes. Other activities include live music, cake walk, hay rides, bounce house, carnival games and a free drawing. Food includes hot dogs, pop corn, cotton candy, snow cones and barbecue.

Evolution or creation
An evolution or creation workshop is being taught from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Trinidad Church of Christ. For information, visit www.church-of-christ@trinidad.org.

Heaven’s Gates presented
The presentation of “Heaven’s Gates, Hell’s Flames” is set for 7 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 23-25, at Christian Life Center, 2611 Main St., Gun Barrel City. The event is free and child care is provided. For information, call (903) 887-5429 or e-mail to andy@christianlifecenter.tv  or visit our web site at www.christianlifecenter.tv.

VFW cancer benefit
The members of VFW Post 4376 and the Ladies Auxiliary are hosting a benefit for cancer aid and research at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23. A shrimp boil is featured for a donation

Tamarack Halloween
The Tamarack POA annual Halloween Party is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Blackie Ensey Park. For information, call Liz at (903) 887-7049.

CC Civic League
The Cedar Creek Civic League meets at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at the Library at Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points. Norma Lambert of the Athens Humane Society will be the speaker.

MHS women’s banquet
The Mabank High School Student Council is hosting “MHS Celebrates Women,” in observance of domestic violence month at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at Cedar Creek Country Club. Any help or donation is appreciated. For ticket information, call Cris Cary at (903) 880-1600 ext. 2131 by Oct. 21.

CCL Women’s Club
The Cedar Creek Lake Women’s Club meets at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at Cedar Creek Country Club. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Penny Turk will present the program, “Spoken from the Heart,” by Laura Bush.

Hatchery Halloween
The annual Halloween event at the Texas Fresh Water Fisheries Center is set for 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at the TFWFC. Local businesses and organizations will hand out free candy. The TFFC will be decorated throughout with a Halloween theme.

49er’s seniors club
The Cedar Creek Lake 49er’s Senior Citizen Club is hosting a Halloween costume party 7-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, and dancing any Thursday to the music of Chuck & the 49er’s. No smoking or alcohol. Donation at the door. Located on Arnold Hills Road, two blocks south of SH 334, Seven Points.

Styx gospel singing
The Styx Baptist Church is hosting a gospel singing 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. Everyone is welcome. Bring instruments, music, CDs, friends and family. Refreshments served afterwards. The church is located at 31800 SH 85, six miles west of Seven Points. For information, call (214) 616-4659.

Rosser Cemetery benefit
Rosser Mt. Olive Church is hosting a benefit for Rosser Cemetery 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. Events include face painting, talent show, bounce house, cake walk, 3-on-3 basketball and a lot more. Bring a dish for the pot luck dinner. For information, call Erlisa Gibbons 469-595-3340.

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

Rootseekers Seminar
The Rootseekers Genealogical Society is hosting a seminar featuring Lloyd Bockstruck from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the First United Methodist Church Hall, 501 Third st. SH 198, Mabank. He will speak on how to find the maiden names of females and onomatology (the study of names). For information, call Brenda Price at (903) 880-2488 or go by Tri-County Library. Proceeds earned benefit the genealogy room at the library.

CC Church Octoberfest
Cedar Creek Church of God is holding Octoberfest from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at 142 Rodney Dr. in Gun Barrel City. Food, games, auctions, entertainment and a drawing for a car, televisions and other prizes featured.. For more information, call Cheryl Barr at (214) 536-5072.

Christian Life Center
The annual Hallelujah Party, hosted by Christian Life Center, is set for 6-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31. The event is free and offers inflatables, games and lots of candy. The church is located at 2611 W. Main, Gun Barrel City. For information, call (903) 887-5429.

Kemp Fun Fest
Hillcrest Baptist Church is holding its annual Fun Fest 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, as an alternative to trick or treating. The church is located at 909 N Elm in Kemp. There will be food, games and prizes.

Patriotic essay contest
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4376 annouces the 2012 Patriotic Essay Contest for students in grades 9-12. The winning essay on the theme, “Is There Pride in Serving in Our Military,” offers an opportunity for students to compete at higher levels to earn college funds. An essay contest for students in grades 6 to 8 is also offered. For information on either contest, call Cmdr. Sid McIntosh at (903) 432-2138 or president Lynn Hill at (903) 887-0827.

Decorating contest
The Gun Barrel City Beautification 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.

Humane Society needs
The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake currently has a shortage of canned dog and puppy food and is in immediate need of donations. Lamb and rice or chicken is preferred. The brand is not important.

Square Dance
The Log Cabin Swingers Square Dance Club meets from 8 to 10 p.m. the first and third Saturday of each month. All square dancers are welcome. No charge for observers. Lessons taught by Club members are from 7 to 9 p.m. each Monday at Promenade Hall, 1210 N. Tool Dr. (SH 274) in Tool. For information, call (903) 340-9672.

Recovery Program
Celebrate recovery with Hurts, Habits and Hang-ups recovery program at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at the Church of the Nazarene, 150 Mabelle Ln. in Gun Barrel City. For more information, call (903) 880-7080.

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Head-on wreck sends 4 to hospital Traffic on
SH 198 bridge grinds to halt for an hour
Monitor Staff Reports
PAYNE SPRINGS–No one was reported dead Tuesday, from a head-on collision that occurred at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, on the bridge connecting Gun Barrel City with Payne Springs.
Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Trooper Jean Dark told The Monitor, four people from the wreck were transported to hospitals in Dallas. However, their current condition was not officially reported Tuesday.
According to Dark, local resident Jessica Hyde, 27, was southbound in a 2002 Chevy Suburban on State Highway 198, but crossed the center line and collided with a 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada in the northbound lane.
Both vehicles carried passengers, who live in the Cedar Creek Lake area.
From Hyde’s vehicle, passenger Dr. Soi Sy, 38, along with Hyde were airlifted to Parkland Hospital. Three children in the back seat, all in car seat restraints, were not seriously injured, Dark said. Though one, a 5-year-old boy, suffered a broken leg. His twin sister and 1-year-old brother escaped injury and are being cared for by a family member.
Sy is the sole proprietor of Cedar Creek Health Care in Gun Barrel City, and a chiropractic doctor.
Corey Daugherty, 42, the driver of the second SUV, was taken to Baylor Hospital, where he was reported to be on life support Tuesday, according to prayer chain information. A 10-year-old passenger in Daugherty’s vehicle was airlifted to Children’s Hospital. A third passenger was identified as Elizabeth Binkley, 38.
Trooper Joe Gomez, out of the Athens DPS office, is heading the probe into what may have caused the collision, and would not speak on the status of the ongoing investigation.
North and southbound commuters on that section of SH 198 either turned around or waited the hour it took to clear the scene.

Following the money trail
Council finds city finances running in the red
By Erik Walsh
The Monitor contributing writer
SEVEN POINTS-The Seven Points city council has its hands full getting the city’s budget in order and documented correctly.
After going over the financials for July, August and September with a colorful discourse among councilmen, it was agreed that the city still has strides to make in the area of documentation of money spent. So far the city has been in the red.
“What’s evident is we are losing money every month,” Councilwomen Cheryl Jones said.
A council vote did not approve the financials for July - September.
Councilman Kenny Boyle has his own opinion on how the city got to its current financial state.
“The prior regime spent a lot of money on things they wanted and not necessarily things they needed,” he said.
The city is undergoing further financial strain because of lawsuits brought by former Seven Points police officers Wilbert W. Nutt Jr. and Jason Perrini for wrongful firing. Each side’s lawyers met before the meeting and discussed a settlement.
Mayor Pro-tem Claudette Allsup said that the city has 30 days to pay them $12,000 or “bad things” could happen. Although Seven Points does not have the money it needs to pay the former officers, Allsup said the money should be coming in from a IESI waste/trash reimbursement to a sum of $24,000. Allsup said that IESI hasn’t been paying the city the reimbursement and “caught them.”
Getting the money within the 30 days is very important for the city. “If we delay, it’s going to cost a lot more,” Allsup said.
Jones, wanting background on who the former officers are, asked police chief Curt Koger for more information on the fired men. After a brief hesitation from Koger, Boyle suggested the council discuss the subject in executive session.
“We can’t go into detail,” Boyle said. “We may get into something we shouldn’t publicly.” The action item was taken into executive session for a later time.
In other business, council members:
• decided to change the name of the old Optimist Club building to Seven Points Recreation Center. The building needs a refrigerator, some groundwork and its locks changed.
No deed was needed to the building or property, as the city already owned it and was leasing it to the Optimist Club.
• tied on a vote to engage Vivian Harvey as prosecuting attorney for Municipal Court at a rate of $100 an hour. The item will be brought up again when all five council members are present. Councilman Kevin Pollock was absent from the Oct 13. meeting.
• reversed the name of the Seven Points Department of Public Safety to Seven Points Police Department and agreed to switch the labeling,on cars and uniforms “as far as money allows.”
• allowed Koger and Lt. Stewart Newby to retain their police vehicles 24/7.
 

City expects new water rates soon
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–The Kemp City Council tabled action Oct. 11 on increasing water rates, but assured those attending the issue is a priority, and the city was very close to arriving at a fair rate increase.
Mayor Donald Kile noted that the town meeting held Sept. 24 with representatives of the Texas Commission (TCEQ)on Environmental Quality was very informative and said that 29 people were in attendance.
“Every day that goes by we’re losing money (on the water system),” utility director Chris Burns said. “This is our top priority,” Kile agreed.
TCEQ gave the city a computer program to work out a new rate structure, Kile explained.
“I’ve played around with it and worked it and worked it, and Chris has been working with it and working with it, and we feel we’re almost there,” he said of their efforts.
The hold up comes in plugging in different numbers and scenarios to try to arrive at a rate structure that would take into consideration those on fixed incomes, those served inside and outside of the city, growth factors, projections of funding amount needed to take the city one year, three years, five years and longer, so the city doesn’t have to come back annually to raise the rates again and again, he attempted to explain the process, as well as goal setting for infrastructure replacement and maintenance, he tried to explain.
One audience member made a passionate plea to implement higher rates for those living outside the city, who are not paying city taxes – mentioning those living in Hilltop specifically.
Councilman Tommy McSpedden countered that argument, pointing out that those living outside the city receive no services funded by tax money, such as police protection, trash pickup and the like, and should not be charged more for water, except in circumstances where the city has to lay new line to serve them.
Back and forth discussions between the council and the audience continued through the evening on a variety of subjects from police cars, air in the lines causing high water bills to continue, to stray dogs, overgrown weeds and needed street repairs.
Burns noted that the city only had one major leak this week and with some rain this situation should improve, leaving his department more time to get back to installing new water meters and street patching.
He assured water customers that averaging of water bills would continue for those experiencing air in the lines due to repairs and intermittent water service. “Most should have already seen rebates on their bills,” he noted.
In other business, council members:
• renewed a contract with the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake for animal shelter services. It was noted that the city shouldn’t hold animals for any length of time because it incurs additional liability should anything happen to that animal, such as it becoming infected from another previously impounded animal.
• allowed members from the Rope, Catch and Ride Church to perform an Old West Gun Show at the Kemp City Park after the Saturday, Oct. 29 parade.
• amended a 380 partnership agreement with Jim Elliott dba Cedar Creek Brewery, giving him a six-month extension as recommended by the city’s Economic Development Corporation.
• appointed Dean Gerrell to fill a vacancy on the EDC Board left by Curtis Donovan’s resignation.
• announced the fall festival, being held Oct. 29 is now selling booth space for $10 to exhibitors, and tentatively set Dec. 10 for the Christmas Parade, featuring an old-fashioned singing of Christmas carols, with a local church providing a choir.
• named The Monitor its official newspaper for advertising purposes.