People, Places & Events

Kemp school trustees talk soccer costs
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–Adding soccer to the Kemp High School athletic program is the goal of Todd Weber, a former Kemp city council member and the parent of a student who likes to play soccer.
It might not be so easy. Kemp Independent School District trustees were handed some cost figures to consider by athletic director Greg Anderson at the board’s Dec. 16 meeting.
“The start-up costs are high – about $10,000 the first year – but the costs to maintain the program are lower,” Anderson said.
“I have contacted several local schools that have soccer programs in place. Eustace ISD is the most similar in size to Kemp ISD,” he said.
The active season for high school soccer begins with the start of practices around Dec. 1, with games starting Jan. 2 this school year, Anderson explained.
“We would need to add a coach for the boys team and one for the girls team, at about $7,500 per coach, per year,” he said.
Other costs included gate workers, scoreboard, officials and paint for the stripes.
The largest cost likely would be transporting teams where they need to play. Anderson estimated bussing costs at $1.75 per mile for a 100-mile trip.
Students might also have to miss some class time if the match was at a distant site, he warned.
In other business, trustees:
• heard Blair Williams of Blair Williams Construction give an update on the progress of the new high school.
“We have caught up about two weeks on the ‘behind time,’ and expect to gain more in the future,” Williams said.
Only one small slab of concrete is left to pour, and the Ag building is going up as well, he explained.
Materials are being delivered and some of the outdoor painting is underway, he said.
“Architect Randy Fromberg said he is satisfied with out progress,” Williams added.
• heard the annual audit report by J.W. Lambright, who told trustees the district’s end-of-year fund balance was not as large as anticipated.
“It could be better, but you’re still fine,” Lambright said. “You are going in a positive direction.”
The tax collection is well over state requirements, he added.
“Overall, the report is very good,” he said.
• heard an explanation on the district’s advantages with the federally-funded free/reduced food program from Superintendent Dr. Peter Running.
“The benefits the district receives from the free/reduced food program is not based on the number of students who participate,” he said. “Instead, it is based on the number of qualified students who apply, whether they take part in the program or not.
“We are trying to get this information out to the public,” he added.
• approved Policy Update 84, affecting local policies.
• authorized payment for the high school construction project.
• agreed to use the ACH deposit payment system.
• accepted two donations from the Athletic Booster Club.
One donation totaled $5,216.29, while the other totaled $5,035.60.
• heard the Board Buzz report from trustee Jim Collinsworth.
There were some dark questions, some concerning suicide, he said. A lot of parents asked for more pictures of the high school construction progress.
The junior high school will be presenting the next Board Buzz program.
• heard the superintendent’s report on the high school marquee.
“Once we give the word, 12 weeks after, the sign will be in place,” he said. “I think the current location is a good site.”
Running said he wants to set up the marquee support tower sometime after the Christmas holiday break.

DA-elect Scott McKee plans
conference room for grand jury
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
ATHENS–As the time shortens for Scott McKee to take his oath as the new Henderson County district attorney, he is making plans to change the office and make it more efficient, starting with the physical space.
Among the bills submitted for payment Dec. 16 to county commissioners, a charge for tables and chairs for the Justice Center caught the eye of Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence.
McKee was present and told commissioners three rooms in the relatively new Justice Center were being under-utilized. He plans to turn one of them into a conference room for the grand jury, when it is secluded to deliberate.
“Right now, they are using a room which houses two other people. I don’t think that is very private,” McKee said. This room has been used to store boxes in, he said.
“That seemed like a poor use, so I had all those boxes moved into storage,” he said.
McKee acknowledged the price for the table seemed high, but was one of the most economical for a table that would seat up to 14 people.
“When I first saw that price tag, I thought you were getting a few of those big padded leather executive chairs,” Lawrence chuckled.
Also among the expenses was a safe, which McKee said he needed to store evidence being presented in current cases, as well as firearms.
“I plan to also purchase a flat-screen monitor from my budget and have it mounted on the wall,” so a TV and cart doesn’t have to be wheeled in every time the grand jury wants to examine some video evidence, he said.
The room will also require installing some ductwork and dropping the ceiling, he said. “But once the work is done, it will give the county a much needed conference room,” he added.
McKee gets sworn into office along with county attorney-elect Clint Davis at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, in Judge Nancy Perryman’s court.

Kemp Christmas Parade and Festival
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–The Kemp Business and Civic Association once again brought the community together – this time with the Kemp Christmas Festival and Parade.
“Civic pride builds with every successful event,” festival organizer Diana Clemmo said.
Despite cold temperatures and high winds, the Christmas celebration in the park and afternoon parade on Dec. 13, was enjoyed by one and all.
Miss Kemp, Samantha Hulick, played to the crowd as she rode beside Santa on a float sponsored by The First National Bank of Kemp, Western Cafe, Clemmo Feed and Tack, C&W Welding and the Sunflower Patch.
Exhibition horse riders from the East Texas Riders and Texas Spirit Drill Team ran their decorated mounts through their paces.
The Kemp Police Association set up a booth to collect foodstuffs and toys for a family it is sponsoring for Christmas.
And venders offered tasty treats, homemade crafts for gift giving and photos with Santa to those in attendance.
Little ones thrilled to get to ride a live pony provided by Merry-Go-Round, while parents and grandparents shot pictures to preserve the moment.
At dusk, the community gathered for a traditional tree lighting ceremony.


Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
The Kemp High School Yellowjacket band entertained parade goers with lively
Christmas tunes.