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ATHENS–Henderson County Commissioners’ Court voted unanimously Jan. 6 to decline an offer by the Texas Department of Transportation to sell for nearly $400,000 a bridge over Cedar Creek and a portion of the Farm to Market road leading to it.
That route is considered part of an escape trail out of Trinidad during emergencies such as train derailments along the Union Pacific railroad track that bisects the town.
“We don’t have these funds accessible to us today,” County Judge Wade McKinney said.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
The Mabank Education Foundation awards 19 grants, totaling $59,000, to teachers and campuses Jan. 5 during the district wide convocation held at the Dr. Russell D. Marshall Performing Arts Center at the high school.

Courtesy Photo
Kayla Gonzales is the Kerens Area Chamber of Commerce’s female Student of the Year, with the presentation set Jan. 30.

Courtesy Photo
Isaiah Carter is the Kerens Area Chamber of Commerce’s male Student of the Year, to be awarded at Stockton Hall.

The Monitor/Carla Gray
Second grade teacher Lisa Cupples (right) leads the grade level with the theme “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas,” during the Christmas parade.

The Monitor/Carla Gray
Mabank Independent School District hosts its annual Christmas Tea for faculty and staff Dec. 17, 2025. Superintendent Dr. Russell Marshall (right) shows his holiday spirit with kindness to the Grinch. 

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Malakoff guard Dailynn Jackson (right) goes up against a Grand Saline defender during her team’s Dec. 19 District 15-3A game.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Aniyah Bivins of Malakoff goes in for a steal versus Grand Saline, one moment that helped her team secure a 44-41 victory.

The Monitor/Carla Gray
Home Instead Service Coordinator Kayla Gonzales (from left), Home Instead Caregiver Kim Seay and Mabank’s Senior Center at the Ballpark Director Gail Sturdevant bring in donated gifts for senior citizens. Home Instead had Christmas trees with gift tags on them all around the Mabank area. The gift tags placed had items listed on them that seniors in the area could use. Thanks to community support, these items were delivered to seniors in the area Dec. 11.

The Monitor/Carla Gray
Doug Compton plays “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes before volunteers lay wreaths on graves during the Wreaths Across America event Dec. 13. The seven wreaths behind Compton represent the six branches of our country’s military plus one for POWs and those missing in action.