KAUFMAN COUNTY–After a four-day trial at the Kaufman County Justice Center, Trevor McEuen was convicted Oct. 23 of capital murder for the killing of his neighbor Aaron Martinez. 
McEuen was originally indicted for capital murder following the shooting death of Martinez in Forney back in 2023. In those two years, McEuen was re-arrested multiple times and skipped his initial trial date back in May of this year. 

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Malakoff City Administrator Vincent Bailey Jr. (left) introduces Malakoff’s new fire chief, Brian Horton, to the Malakoff City Council at their Oct. 20 meeting. Horton, who was previously the Ferris fire chief and the emergency management coordinator for Ferris and Ellis County Emergency Services District No. 5, also was a firefighter/driver in Athens for 21 years, as well as serving as assistant chief in Canton for 10 years. “I’m glad to be back in East Texas,” Horton told the council.
 

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Gun Barrel City Toys for Tots is dedicated to serving children around the Cedar Creek Lake Area. Volunteers work tirelessly year around so that children not only have Christmas gifts, but are taken care of during a disaster or for college scholarships. Gun Barrel City Toys for Tots President Geneva Garcia (left), receives a check from the Parrot Head Club President Robert Render, while Henderson County Commissioner Precinct 2 Scott Tuley looks on from the stage Oct. 18.

Courtesy Photos/Eustace ISD Athletics
The tradition continues for the Eustace High School cross country program under Coach Josh Sypert, as both the boys’ and girls’ teams win the Regional Championship in Arlington Oct. 20 following both teams' 16th consecutive District championship(s) at that meet in Quitman Oct. 7. The Eustace girls are back-to-back Regional champs while it's the eighth-straight tile for the boys, the team shares on social media.