James Kenneth (Ken) Fling, 103, of Gun Barrel City passed away Oct. 10, 2025. He was born Sept. 7, 1922, in Blue Ridge to Joe Allen Fling and Rosa Lee Walker Fling. 
He was a man of faith, a Deacon in the Baptist Church and was known as a consummate gentleman and a dapper dresser.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Mabank Mayor Randy Teague signs a proclamation to recognize Nov. 4, 6 and 7 as the First Presbyterian Fall Festival. The proclamation said,”Many volunteers contribute their time and talent to make the Fall Festival a success with their historical Election Day Presbyterian stew and sale of busy bee crafts, dry mixes, baked goods, jams, and jellies, a cafe serving dine-in and carry-out meals, and whereas the Fall Festival draws a large crowd into the city of Mabank each year and provides fun and fellowship for all that attend.”

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Oct. 20, crime scene tape remains draped across fences at a property along Taos Drive in the Cedar Creek Shores subdivision near Payne Springs, where a 29-year-old man allegedly shot and killed three people in the early morning hours of Oct. 17, including two women and a man. The man then fled to Ennis, where he shot himself after crashing into a gas station store, authorities said.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
The City of Tool hosts a meet the candidate night Oct. 9. Citizens sent in questions that they wanted the candidates to answer. Mayorial candidates Greg Figueroa and Vera Bennett answered questions about working with other council members, city hall staff, opportunities for the city and their vision for spending city funds. The election will be Tuesday, November 4.