March 2024

Norman “Earl” Thompson, 70, of Kemp passed away Feb. 29, 2024, at his home. Earl was born Sept. 11, 1953, in Dallas to Elbis Aaron and Zelma Olivia (Cotten) Thompson.  
Norman worked for Certain Teed after high school and then for TxDOT. 
He retired from TxDOT in 2009 but had many jobs on the side. Hauling dirt, building everyone's house, digging tanks, bailing hay, anything that involved dirt work. 

Frances Marie “Frankie” Phillips, 74, of Kemp passed away Feb. 28, 2024, at her home. Frankie was born Nov. 16, 1949, in Bartlesville, Okla., to Stephen Curtis and Dorothy Mae (Heaton) Hinshaw.  
Frankie graduated in Midland as a member of the class of 1967. She married the love of her life, Keith Phillips Sept. 1, 1978, in Midland and they spent a loving 45 years together.  

Funeral services for Deborah Frazier Eubank, 69, of Gun Barrel City, were held March 3, 2024, at Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home with Bro. Steve Glosup, and Bro. Jerry Don Groom officiating. Interment followed in Cedar Creek Memorial Park.
Deborah passed away Feb. 28, 2024 in Gun Barrel City. She was born Nov. 17, 1954 in Dallas to Rodger Eugene and Mable McFarland Frazier. 
After Deborah graduated from Eustace High School she began a career in the medical field as an LVN. She then worked for Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home for many years before retiring. 

Celebration of life services for Richard Lawrence Diana, 79, of Gun Barrel City were held March 4, 2024, at Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank. 
Richard was born Sept. 21, 1944, in Springville, N.Y. to Phil Diana and Josephine Mildred (Fachitti) Diana. He grew up in New York where he graduated from high school before joining the army and proudly serving this country for four years in active duty. 

Charles Philip Simpson "Chip", 61 of Gun Barrel City was born June 15, 1962 and passed away Feb. 24, 2024. 
Chip is survived by his wife Stephanie, son Colby and four legged friend Fergus, mother Sue Simpson, sister Kelly Simpson and brother Mike Simpson, in-laws Michael Mooney and Mary Ann Mooney.  
Chip loved spending time with his family and at the deer lease with his friends.

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Danica Barnett bats in Kemp’s Feb. 27 home game versus the Arp Lady Tigers, which the Lady Jackets won 11-10.

Monitor Photo/Blaine Clamon
Emma McAda prepares to pitch in the Kemp Lady Jackets’ 1-run Feb. 27 home game win against the Arp Lady Tigers.

Carol Kaelson/Wheel of Fortune®/© 2024 Califon Productions, Inc. ARR.
Tool Elementary Principal Brandi Sutton will appear on Wheel of Fortune at 6:28 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12 on CBS. 

Courtesy Photo/Brandi Sutton
Students at Tool Elementary play a game with Principal Brandi Sutton upon her return from filming Wheel of Fortune.  

CEDAR CREEK LAKE—The March 5 primary election for state, district and county office results are as follows. Results are as of press time at 11:08 p.m., March 5.  
In the Henderson County Commissioner Precinct 1 race Wendy Kinabrew Spivey won with 1,534 votes against Brad Skiles and Mike McCabe with 999 and 262 votes respectively.
Jason Ramsey secured the Constable Precinct 2 position with 1,988 votes against Francisco Gomez who earned 305 votes. In the Precinct 4 Constable race Paul Ellzey won with 1,899 votes against Frank Serrato who earned 669 votes.