People, Places & Events

Tri-County Ford gives area
sneak peek at the 2009 F-150
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–Truck sales may be down in some areas of America, but in the lake area and the surrounding farm and ranch lands, you’re in Truck Country.
For years, the Ford F-150 was the best-selling vehicle in America – not just the best-selling truck – so a preview of the new 2009 pickup brought out numerous customers, business people, Chamber of Commerce representatives and just plain folks curious about what Ford’s perennial sales leader will look like.
Nov. 14 was like a birthday party, as people enjoyed light refreshments and listened to the general improvements to the F-150, such as making it a lighter vehicle, improving gas milage to about 21 miles per gallon.
The new tailgate step and an automatic entry step fascinated the viewers. Open the door and presto, there’s the step. Shut the door and it silently disappears.
A new dash layout resembles the cockpit of an airplane, while the seats were comfortable enough to snooze in – while someone else does the driving, of course.
Two F-150s, one red and one black, on display at the preview were on loan from Ford training and were “fully loaded.”
Tri-County Ford owner Andrea Pickens said in a few weeks, the 75-year-old downtown Mabank dealership will be getting a couple of its own F-150s for display.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
Take a look at the interior of this new Ford F-150! Four doors, steps and lush,
comfortable seats. Viewing the new 2009 F-150 at Tri-County Ford (from left)
are Trinity Valley Electric Co-op member services representative Shannon
Steakley, Greater Cedar Creek Lake Chamber of Commerce president JoAnn
Hanstrom and Edward Jones/Mabank financial advisor Debra Davis. All three
are also Chamber officers.

Rotarians learn hows of keeping
tap water clean
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–East Cedar Creek Fresh Water Supply District General Manager Bill Goheen told members of the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake some of the reasons and difficulties in making sure drinking water is safe.
“Water is a vital life-sustaining substance,” he told Rotarians during the club’s weekly luncheon Friday.
It isn’t always easy to keep up with the state and federal rules and regulations, and water companies must constantly be aware of all the regulations, Goheen said.
“We are taking all the (rules on testing) seriously,” Goheen said. Several different chemicals, which are constantly being monitored, are used in the disinfecting and treatment process, he explained.
ECCFWSD operates surface water treatment plants, drawing water from Cedar Creek Lake, opposed to groundwater, or water from wells, he said.
“The district is run by a seven-member board, and we have 5,550 water customers,” Goheen reported.
In other business, Rotarians heard:
• there will be no meeting Friday, Nov. 28.
• the next book give-away is set for 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at Kemp Primary School.

Keep an eye on utility usage to lower expenses, Chamber members told
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–It isn’t impossible to cut those high utility bills – it just takes a little planning.
Shannon Steakley, with Trinity Valley Electric Co-op, was the speaker for the Greater Cedar Creek Lake Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon Nov. 13, and presented some statistics she said all homeowners should be aware of, and take action on.
“The water heater consumes 13 percent of your electric bill. It is the third-largest cost,” Steakley said.
Another 20 percent is used up by other appliances, such as the freezer, ranges, ovens, washer and dryer, and dishwashers, she added.
Some advice on how to save included turning the water heater’s temperature down.
Steakley also suggested turning electric range burners off and allow food to finish cooking on the still-hot burner, and she cautioned one should always run full loads in the dishwasher and then air-dry them.
“Watch your ‘vampire drains’ too,” she said, explaining that all the little red lights gleaming in the house, charging appliances and other items, use power.
Her advice was to unplug them.
“Check attic insulation and weather-stripping, and be sure to use curtains and blinds,” she advised.
In other business, chamber members heard:
• the Business of the Month for November is Brookshire’s Grocery.
Manager Dean Fannin for the Mabank Brookshire’s and manager Sandra Miller for the Seven Points Brookshire’s accepted award plaques.
• the sponsor for the November meeting was Tiffany Lillie State Farm Insurance.
• volunteer bell ringers for the Salvation Army will be needed at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. For information, call the chamber office at (903) 887-3152.