People, Places & Events

Kemp Sonic Santa Cop benefit slated Saturday
Monitor Staff Reports
KEMP–The Kemp Sonic Drive-in will be hosting a major fund-raiser for the “Santa-Cop Program” all day Saturday, Dec. 5.
Volunteer “car hops” will be dressed in custom-designed T-shirts, delivering food and collecting donations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to support the Santa-Cop program, which benefits underprivileged families in the community.
The Kemp Municipal Police Association and the Kemp Police Department are also setting up collection boxes where contributors can deposit new, unwrapped toys and check donations.
Checks should be mailed to KMPA Santa-Cop, P.O. Box 196, Kemp, TX 75143 (be sure to write Santa-Cop on the outside of the envelope.
Or, if you want to make a cash contribution, come by the front desk at the Kemp City Hall with your contribution in a sealed envelope. The KMPA is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt public charity, and all contributions are tax-deductible.
Donation boxes are at the city hall main lobby, the Sonic Drive-In and the First National Bank of Kemp’s main lobby downtown.
For more information, e-mail KMPA president Steven Crawley at kmpa2008@hotmail.com, call him at (903) 286-6032 or stop by the Kemp City Hall and speak with any on-duty police officer.

H1N1 shot clinic by appointment only set for Gun Barrel City, Dec. 7
Special to The Monitor
ATHENS–The Northeast Texas Public Health District (NETPHD) received a supply of the H1N1 vaccine and will begin administering the vaccine in Henderson County starting Wednesday, Dec. 2, by appointment only.
These clinics for Henderson County will be held at locations in Malakoff, Gun Barrel City and Athens.
A clinic is set for 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 at Brawner Hall. Only those within the priority groups with an appointment will be served.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has narrowed the target groups, listed below, in order to provide for those at highest risk.
Priority Groups:
• Pregnant women
• Children 6 months through 4 years of age
• Those 5-64 years-old with high-risk health conditions
• Health care workers who provide direct patient care
• Those in close contact with infants six months or younger
Individuals in the community that fall into the priority groups may call (877) 244-9641 to schedule an appointment for the H1N1 vaccination.
“We expect to continue to receive shipments of vaccine each week and will work through the media to let the public know when those who do not fall in the priority groups will be vaccinated,” senior deputy director of NETPHD Harold Higgins said.
“We have been anxiously awaiting the vaccine, and are pleased that we received an adequate amount to be able to protect those most vulnerable in our community” CEO of NETPHD George Roberts said.
Health Officials encourage people to continue taking preventative actions daily to protect against illness.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow or a tissue
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Stay home if you are sick and consult a physician.

Christmas Food Drive ends Dec. 22
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–With just a few weeks remaining in the Spirit of Christmas Food Drive, more donations are needed to help the 16,000 families targeted to receive assistance this year.
The food drive ends Tuesday, Dec. 22, in most areas.
“Donations have been coming in steadily, but we need more help to reach all those in need,” director of consumer and community relations for Brookshire Grocery Company Sam Anderson said.
All food collected within the area will be distributed to families here. Brookshire Grocery Company will donate at least one roasting hen to each family assisted through the food drive.
Last year, the company provided more than 16,000 hens.
The drive, sponsored by participating Brookshire’s and Super 1 Foods stores, as well as service organizations including St. James Episcopal Church in Kemp, helps families in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi who need assistance during the holiday season.
Donations may be made by placing non-perishable food items in the designated containers at the front of participating stores.
Items in glass jars and homemade goods are not accepted. Bulk items, such as flour and corn meal, should be donated in smaller quantities.
Volunteers will collect, sort, package and deliver the food to the recipients before Christmas.
 

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