May

22

Kemp Band students head to state UIL contest

Posted by : Monitor Admin | On : May 22, 2013

Category: Schools

Monitor Photos/Pearl Cantrell

Monitor Photos/Pearl Cantrell


Kemp High School is sending two percussion ensembles to state UIL competitions this weekend. They will perform the Class 1 selection Valley of Nepal. The public got to hear the selection Monday night during the Percussion Pizazz at the school featuring all percussionists sixth through 12th grade. This is the first year Kemp is sending two percussion ensembles to state. BELOW: Marc Christy directs a six-man percussion ensemble Monday in the Class 1 selection County Clare the group will be performing when they compete for state UIL judges this weekend. Class 1 selections are the most difficult to perform and since this group earned the top rating of a Division One when they competed in Regionals in February that advanced them to the state competition.
See more photos in the Thursday, May 23, 2013 issue of The Monitor.

May

22

Three named as Eustace Athletes of the Year

Posted by : Monitor Admin | On : May 22, 2013

Category: Sports

Monitor Photo/Sam Epps John Bradburn (left), Evan Arambula (right) and Casey Bramblitt (center) were all named as Eustace Athletes of the Year at the annual Eustace Bulldog Athletic Banquet May 18.

Monitor Photo/Sam Epps
John Bradburn (left), Evan Arambula (right) and Casey Bramblitt (center) were all named as Eustace Athletes of the Year at the annual Eustace Bulldog Athletic Banquet May 18.

By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
EUSTACE–John Bradburn, Evan Arambula and Casey Bramblitt were all named as Eustace Athletes of the Year at the annual Eustace Bulldog Athletic Banquet May 18.
Bradburn is a football, basketball, baseball and track standout.
Arambula is a long-distance runner, setting school records in cross country, as well as the 3200-meter and 1600-meter runs.
Bramblitt participated in volleyball, basketball, cross country, powerlifting, softball and track.
At the Eustace athletic Booster Club-sponsored banquet, team awards, EASA scholarships and other recognition was given to students parents and local businesses.
Gavin Kirkhart and Alexis Cravey each received a $250 scholarship from the Eustace All Sports Association (EASA).
The booster club recognized and expressed thanks to several businesses, including Brookshire’s for providing food and drinks to help make the parking lot party prior to the homecoming game possible.
The J&L Technology group donated the inflatable runthrough for the varsity Bulldogs, as well as providing helmets for the junior high football teams.
Kevin Lilly’s McDonald’s was recognized for donating $5,000 for a new end-zone camera.
The Contran Corporation was recognized for a $10,000 donation on behalf of Mrs. Arambula.
Mrs. Arambula passed away when Evan and his siblings were young.
The donation was used to purchase a new tent for the track and cross country teams, EHS flags seen on the sidelines during football games and track suits for the track team.
Eustace Lady Bulldog received a special, $600 scholarship, from the Trinity Valley Volleyball Officials Association.
Team awards were given to players who meant a lot to their respective teams, and who provided leadership and heart during the seasons.
Team award winner are:
Boys Track
• Chad Tindel – Newcomer of the Year
• MVP – Evan Arambula
Girls track
• Chelsea Oldham – MVP Thrower.
• Alexis Cravey – Best All Around
• Jaci Aiken – MVP
Powerlifting
• Casey Bramblitt – MVP
Baseball
• Trevor Lane – MVP
• Forrest Lane – Defensive MVP
• Kyle Purselly – Offensive MVP
• Newcomer of the Year – John Bradburn
Boys Basketball
• Co-MVPs – John Bradburn and Kyle Wood
• Offensive Player of the Year – Steven Stine
• Defensive Player of the Year – Forrest Lane
• Heart Award – Chad Tindel
Girls Basketball
• Co-MVPs – Casey Bramblitt and Kacie Richards
• Defensive MVP – Alexis Cravey
• Newcomer Of The Year – Grace Holcombe
• Role Player of The Year – Chelsea Oldham
• Heart Award – Sheyenne Merrell
Cross Country
• Mark Zimmerer – Heart Award
• Evan Arámbula – MVP
• Hunter Rose – Male New Comer of the Year
• Casey Bramblitt – Lady Newcomer of the Year
• Noa Taylor – Heart Award
• Michelle Gomez – MVP
Volleyball
• MVP – Mallory Keeling
• Heart Award – Chelsea Oldham
• Newcomer of the Year – Peyton DiBari.

May

22

Great kids fun at Purtis Creek State Park

Posted by : Monitor Admin | On : May 22, 2013

Category: Clubs, Community, Non profits

Monitor Photo/Robyn Wheeler Purtis Creek State Park superintendent Mendy Davis displays a beaver skin and animal skull while she speaks to Kiwanis members about children’s activities offered by the park including classes on fishing, beavers, animal senses and fireflies.

Monitor Photo/Robyn Wheeler
Purtis Creek State Park superintendent Mendy Davis displays a beaver skin and animal skull while she speaks to Kiwanis members about children’s activities offered by the park including classes on fishing, beavers, animal senses and fireflies.

By Robyn Wheeler
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–Kiwanis members learned of the many and diverse children’s programs offered at Purtis Creek State Park from the park’s superintendent Mendy Davis at the recent meeting at The Jalepeno Tree Restaurant May 15.
“We offer activities to peak their interests and draw them in,” Davis said.
“We offer classes on fishing, knot tying, beavers, nature hikes and much more,” she added.
Educational programs at the park focus on the emotional and intellectual bond between the child and the resource, utilizing hands-on activities, and cause and effect scenario games in a safe environment.
Because Purtis Creek State Park does not employ an interpreter, all volunteers and their eight employees have undergone extensive training on conducting classes.
“We offer Dutch-Oven cooking, geocaching (a treasure hunting game using GPS to hide and seek containers with other participants), canoe and kayaking classes. Last year we gave 1,236 programs to 724 kids and 512 adults. Because of the staff and volunteer training this year, we’ve already given more than 5,000 programs,” Davis said.
Purtis Creek State Park has increased their revenue by 30 percent, and visitation is up by 14 percent.
“We are almost self-sustaining,” Davis said of the $280,000 revenue taken in last year which goes toward the $360,000 in expenses.
Future plans for the park include creating another overnight camping loop and offering visitors the option to checkout a backpack for the day.
“The infrastructure is there,” Davis said, explaining the completion of the loop requires manpower and more funding.
“We would like to have day backpacks that can be checked out and include information and items visitors can use during their visit but they are a little costly,” she added.
Purtis Creek State Park plans to offer Texas Outdoor Family Days in October and November for families to learn how to cook, pitch a tent, clean fish and learn all aspects of camping in the outdoors. All necessary camping gear is provided.
Davis has been the Purtis Creek State Park superintendent for a little more than three years.
“I was a manager at Lockhead Martin for many years, but two hours after 9/11, I decided the money was not important. I took a two-thirds cut in pay in order to spend more quality time with my children and this is something that interests me and my boys,” Davis said.
Purtis Creek State Park is located at 14225 FM 316, Eustace, TX 75124.
The park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week year-round.
For more information, call (903) 425-2332 or go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/purtis-creek.