People, Places & Events

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Lake Area
Billboard
East Cedar Creek Freshwater Supply District meets at 12:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the ECCFSD office on Hammer Road just off Welch Lane in Gun Barrel City.
Eustace City Council meets at 7 p.m. in the Eustace City Hall the first Thursday of each month. For more information, please call 425-4702. The public is invited to attend.
Eustace Independent School District meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Eustace High School Library. For more information, please call 425-7131. The public is invited to attend.
Gun Barrel City Council meets in Brawner Hall at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 887-1087. The public is invited to attend.
Gun Barrel City Economic Development Corporation meets at 1831 W. Main, GBC, at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 887-1899.
Henderson County Commissioner’s Court meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the Henderson County Courthouse in Athens. The public is invited to attend.
Henderson County Emergency Services District #4 meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at 525 S. Tool Dr. in Tool.
Henderson County Historical Commission meets the first Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. in the HC Historical Museum.
Kaufman County Commissioner’s Court meets the first, second, third and fourth Monday of each month at 9:45 a.m. in the Kaufman County Courthouse in Kaufman. The public is invited to attend.
Kemp City Council meets at Kemp City Hall at 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 498-3191. The public is invited to attend.
Kemp Independent School District meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Board Room in the Administration Building. For more information, please call 498-1314. The public is invited to attend.
Log Cabin City Council meets the third Thursday of the month in city hall. For more information, please call 489-2195. The public is invited to attend.
Mabank City Council meets at 7 p.m. in Mabank City Hall the first Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 887-3241. The public is invited to attend.
Mabank Independent School District meets at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. For more information, please call 887-9310. The public is invited to attend.
Payne Springs City Council meets at city hall at 7:30 p.m. every third Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 451-9229. The public is invited to attend.
Payne Springs Water Supply Corp. meets the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Payne Springs Community Center, located at 9690 Hwy. 198.
Seven Points City Council meets at 7 p.m. in Seven Points city hall the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, please call 432-3176. The public is invited to attend.
Tool City Council meets at 6 p.m. in the OranWhite Civic Center the third Thursday of each month. For more information, please call 432-3522. The public is invited to attend.
West Cedar Creek Municipal Utility District is held at 5 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month. For more information, please call 432-3704. The public is invited.

Monitor Photo/
Barbara Gartman
Mabank Independent School District principals were honored with the Gold Performance Awards for the outstanding progress the students on their campuses have achieved during the past year. Pictured are (from left) Kevyn Pate/Lakeview Elementary, Julie Wiebersch/Southside Elementary, James Pate/Intermediate School, Darrin Jolly/Junior High, Debbie DeRosa/Mabank Academy, Terri Watson/Central Elementary and MISD superintendent Russell Marshall.

Monday, Mabank Independent School District trustees heard mostly good news from J.W. Lambright of Lambright & Associates, the district’s outside auditor.
“You had a good budget this year,” Lambright said. “There was less in state funds, but more in federal funds (paid to the district), due to stimulus funds.”
Even though the additional federal funding helped some, it did not completely offset the loss in state monies, Lambright reported.
In other business, trustees:
• watched a slide presentation on the accomplishments of students attending the Mabank Academy.
The academy offers students who need a boost in grades and credits a chance to recover credits and take and pass the TAKS test.
The Academy has graduated 23 students so far this year. Currently, 62 students are enrolled in the program and there are 40 students on the waiting list.
• accepted funds (as a flow-through agency) from the Mabank ISD Education Foundation.
• agreed to submit applications for the Lowe’s charitable and Educational and Foundation Grant, the Ginger Murchison Foundation Grant and the Pepsi Refresh Project Grant.
• accepted an insurance payment on a wrecked automobile.
The district plans to use the payment to purchase another vehicle to replace the wrecked car.
• approved as presented the Optional Flexible School Day program.
• canceled the December board meeting and scheduled the next meeting for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011.
That date is also School Board Appreciation Day.
• heard that all board members have met their board training requirements.
• heard the district is taking part in the Choose to Care Program. For information visit choosetocare.com.
• heard the district’s annual Christmas tea is an all-day event, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1, in the board room.
• heard the MISD Administration Office and Central Elementary are both on the annual Mabank Christmas Tour of Homes, conducted from 11 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4.

TVCC musical groups to present Christmas program
Special to The Monitor
ATHENS–If Christmas could be pared down to one word, that word might be wonder.
After all, the holiday really is all about wonder – the wonder on a face of a child, the wonder of a Christmas Eve snowfall, the wonder of the miracle that started the whole tradition.
Next week at Dogwood Church in Athens, the musical groups at Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) will be celebrating that feeling of wonder that comes with the Christmas season.
The college, in conjunction with Lakeland Community Concerts, will be presenting “The Wonder of Christmas” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5.
“We will be doing some traditional pieces, such as ‘O Holy Night,’ but some new ones, as well, of course,” TVCC choir director Dr. Byron McGilvray said.
The concert is ideal for families, McGilvray said, and those attending will have the opportunity to hear several different musical groups, including the TVCC Cardinal Singers, TVCC Chamber Singers and members of the TVCC band.
The event will also include some special performers. This year, guest singers will include Susie Hurley and Natalie and Richelle Horner. The last two are sisters from Nome, Alaska.
In addition, TVCC’s president, Dr. Glendon Forgey, will be singing.
On the instrumental side, TVCC’s Music Department Coordinator Dr. Marylyn Wright and faculty member Janis Capelle will be featured. Guest conductor will be Michael Matchael, the college’s director of marching bands.
Since no Christmas performance would be complete without the big man himself, Santa will be making an appearance.
There is no admission charge for the concert.
Dogwood Church is located at 6467 Farm-to-Market 2494, four miles west of the TVCC-Athens campus.
In addition to Lakeland Community Concerts, the event is also sponsored by Steve Grant Realty and McAlister’s Deli.

Kaufman, Ellis counties listed for storm damage
Monitor Staff Reports
KAUFMAN–Around Sept. 6 and continuing for the next few days, tropical storm Hermine blew in on the Texas coast, causing wind and flooding damage in approximately 39 counties, including Kaufman, Ellis and Navarro counties, and as far inland as the Red River.
A letter from Texas Gov. Rick Perry to Kaufman County Judge Wayne Gent proclaimed the county had been part of the disaster and outlined the eligibility of homeowners in the 39 counties to receive aid.
Aid can be sought through:
• Homeowner Rehabilitation Assistance (HRA). The HRA program provides up to $80,000 per household for rehabilitation or reconstruction assistance for repairs to their existing home.
• Homebuyer Assistance (HBA).
A local entity administering a HBA program may provide up to $20,000 per household for a down payment and closing cost assistance.
• Tenant Based Rental assistance (TBRA). The TBRA program provides temporary rental assistance for up to 24 months per household.
For information on how to access these funds, contact Sandy Garcia at (512) 475-1391, or e-mail to sandy.garcia@tdhca.state.tx.us, or contact Abby Combs at (512) 475-0908, or e-mail to abby.combs@tdhca.state.tx.us.

Come Adopt Us At The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake
The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on. My name is Domino, and I got my name not only because I’m black and white like a domino tile, but also because my outgoing, cheerful personality causes my doggie roommates to smile. This also causes our human friends to smile, which even causes the kitties in the cat room to smile. I am an 8-month-old male Pointer/Terrier mix. I love children, other dogs, and even get along great with kitties. I’ve had all my shots and am ready to be adopted. If you’d like to experience the domino effect, I am sure to put a forever smile on your face when you take me to my forever home. I currently live with a foster family, so if you would like to meet me, call my friends at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake at (903) 432-3422 to make an appointment. You can also email them at dogshsccl@yahoo.com.
	We have many animals at the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points in dire need of a good home. Please call or stop by the Humane Society today and rescue one of these forgotten animals. The Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake is located on 10220 County Road 2403 in Seven Points. For more information, please call (903) 432-3422 after 11 a.m. We are closed on Wednesday and Sunday.
For further information visit our website at petfinder.com