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Council appoints Kyle McAfee
interim Mabank police chief
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–Following a lengthy executive session, the Mabank
City Council appointed Kyle McAfee interim police chief.
Alex Smith completed his last day of service in that post Nov. 23 and
had tendered his resignation. Smith transferred to the Mesquite police
department.
His resignation letter expressed appreciation for the opportunity to
serve his hometown as the chief of police for the last six years.
McAfee has been serving in the Mabank police department since July 8,
2004.
The reason given for the lengthy closed session was the council members
were expressing their views on how the police department should operate.
In related business, the city named three wrecker services to the police
department’s rotation list.
McAfee said he had inspected each applicant’s facility, and said three
of the four met with the city ordinance, which requires a covered
building on a cement slab that can be secured, should the vehicle become
part of a crime investigation.
The three wrecker service providers are Sunshine Auto Parts, operated by
councilman Dennis Terry (he refrained from voting on the issue);
Damon’s, operated by Damon Terry, Terry’s son, in Gun Barrel City; and
Gun Barrel Wrecker Service, Inc., operated by Steve Rondridge.
In other business, council members:
• directed city administrator Louann Confer to consult with the Texas
Department of Transportation on the possibility of installing red-light
cameras on certain traffic signals on Third Street, apprising them of
the planned upgrades to Champion Street across from the post office and
in view of the road widening of State Highway 198, set to begin soon.
The action came after Donald Paninski requested the installation of
cameras on certain traffic signal lights.
• reset nine city holidays days for 2008.
• heard the city would be relocating a water line, due to the widening
of U.S. Highway 175 between Eustace and Mabank
• thanked city workers for their assistance in the successful running of
the area-wide Christmas Parade through Mabank Saturday, and for their
help in the city’s participation in the parade.
• heard it has been confirmed that the city of Mabank now has an ISO
rating of 4. The rating reflects the ability of the city to respond to a
fire threat.
Once the second fire station is opened and the city takes delivery of a
new fire truck, the state inspector has said he will reinspect the city
for a possible upgrade in its rating.
• heard the Prairieville fire station is completed. Though overseen by
its own fire district, the land was deeded to the city of Mabank for
building a fire station.
Woman pinned
Monitor Staff Reports
NEAR SEVEN POINTS–A Kaufman County woman living just north of Mabank is
in critical condition after being pinned by her car Monday.
The incident occurred just west of Seven Points at Henderson County Road
2138 (Gravel Pit Road) and 2428.
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Department reports Shelly Hagler Allen,
38, and Jacqueline C. Tinsley, 19, were traveling south on 2138 in a
blue GMC utility vehicle.
Allen began to make a U-turn, but the front wheels nearly entered the
ditch on the east side of the road. The reverse gear was inoperable.
While trying to push the vehicle backwards, it rolled forward, pinning
Allen at her waist against an embankment.
Mabank resident Joe Gregory happened by and towed the SUV, freeing
Allen.
EMS transported her to the Seven Points helipad for airlifting to Tyler.
Creative Christmas crafts adorn library
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
 Nell
Walker (left), registrar and former regent for the National Society of
the Daughters of the American Revolution, speaks with Mabank Garden Club
vice president Kathy LaRue while looking over the club’s selection of
hand-made decorative Christmas trees at the Tri-County Library, prior to
the start of the annual Mabank Home Tour Dec. 1.
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
AT RIGHT: Jackie Groom (left) shows a church replica from a selection of
miniature historic Mabank buildings to local historian Opal Toney during
preparations for the annual Mabank Christmas Home Tour at the Tri-County
Library Dec. 1.
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
AT LEFT: Mabank resident Alice Barker and her granddaughter, Rockwall
third-grader Merideth Cooper, look over the selection of jams and
jellies on sale at the Tri-County Library prior to the start of the
annual Mabank Christmas Home Tour Dec. 1. This is the fifth straight
year for Merideth to join her grandmother at the tour.
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
ABOVE: Visitors to the annual Mabank Christmas Home Tour look over the
buffet table selections during the tour’s kick-off luncheon at the
Tri-County Library Dec. 1.
Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
ABOVE: A standing-room-only crowd gathered around the buffet table in
the Tri-County Library’s community room for the Mabank Garden Club
sponsored luncheon Dec. 1.
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