People, Places & Events

GBC administrative clerk gets promotion
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY– Gina Kuykendall has been a GBC employee for two and a half years.
This year she received a promotion from administrative clerk to permit assistant for the Gun Barrel City.
Kuykendall has completed the first in a series of training seminars offered by the Permit Tech Institute and sponsored by the International Code Council Training and Education of Country Club Hills, Illinois.
The IBC (International Building Code) is published by the ICC (International Construction Council).
This series of seminars provides her the knowledge, skills and ability needed to perform her job more effectively in the role of permit technician in the building/code administration department.
As a general rule, the permit tech is the first person the public meets as they begin the permit process.
Showing consideration and service to the public, Kuykendall performs her varied responsibilities on a daily basis.
She registers all contractors in order to verify proper licensing and insurance before they are permitted to work on projects within the city limits of Gun Barrel.
She accepts, processes, and verifies residential, commercial and occupancy applications for all building projects in the city. She provides information on established procedures and requirements by phone or in person to homeowners and contractors.
She calculates and collects fees to be charged and maintains accurate computer records on the various permits.
Also, she is responsible for processing applications and fee collection for all City Alcohol Business permits and Food Service permits. Gerry Boren, GBC City Manager, has also designated her as the Webmaster for the City of Gun Barrel.
After Kuykendall completes the series, she will be required to take an exam and submit additional documentation.
At that time, she will become an ICC certified Permit Technician.
“By attending the seminar, I had the opportunity to meet other people from different cities and learn how their procedures work,” Kuykendall said.

Eustace Christmas festivities scheduled
Special to The Monitor
EUSTACE–Saturday, Dec. 13, is time for the Eustace Christmas Light Parade and Christmas on the Square.
Churches, youth groups, Sunday School classes, clubs, bands, school groups, organizations and businesses are invited to participate this year.
Line up at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Eustace High School parking lot for the Christmas Light Parade.
Best float awards will be first place $150, second place $100 and third place $75.
Immediately after the parade, all are invited to join in a fun-filled family night at Christmas on the Square.
Entrance fee for the parade will be a new unwrapped toy.
For more information, contact the Eustace City Hall at (903) 425-4702.

St. Peter’s to host Thanksgiving dinner
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–The members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Gun Barrel City are serving Thanksgiving dinner today.
The lonely and needy are welcome to enjoy fellowship and a harvest supper anytime from noon until 4 p.m. today.
Several businesses are providing food items, and donations continuing to come in daily, hosting committee chairwoman Linda Spinker said.
“The members of St. Peter’s have worked hard and put their talents to host an event to reach out and fill a need in the community,” Spinker said.
“There are so many people in our area who either don’t have someone to share a Thanksgiving Day meal with, or just don’t have the resources to do it themselves,” co-chair Barb Niedenbach added.
On the menu is turkey, stuffing and gravy, sweet potatoes, assorted vegetable dishes, cranberry sauce, rolls and homemade desserts.
St. Peter Lutheran Church is located at 130 Luther Lane in Gun Barrel City, across from the Pizza Hut.
“You are most welcome to share in our blessings,” Spinker and Niedenbach said.