By Butch Burney
Nominations are being accepted for Citizen of the Year, Woman of the Year, Small and Large Businesses of the Year and other superlative recognitions by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce.
The awards will be announced at the Chamber’s membership banquet on Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
When nominating a person or business, please write in the nomination letter the reasons you are proposing them for the award.
Nominations can be sent to [email protected] or mailed to 110 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. The awards to be presented include:
- Citizen of the Year
- Woman of the Year
- Caregiver of the Year
- Community Pride Award
- Agriculturist of the Year— (can also be mailed to Hopkins/Rains Counties Farm Bureau at 233 College St., Sulphur Springs 75482).
- Growth and Renewal
- Outstanding Professional Educator (Administrator, Counselor, Diagnostician, or Teacher
- Outstanding ParaProfessional Educator (Secretary or Aide
- Outstanding Auxiliary Educator (Maintenance, Custodial, Transportation, Nurse or Cafeteria
Businesses of the Year nominations should be for those businesses which exhibit outstanding community involvement—civic, church, educational, benevolent, humanitarian or other.
- Large Business of the Year (50 or more employees)
- Small Business of the Year (fewer than 50 full-time employees)
Please get your nominations in before the end of the year.
Ornaments on Sale
Our 2025 Christmas ornaments, featuring Buford Park, are on sale at the Chamber office. They are $45 each.
The Chamber also has a limited supply of 2025 stew merchandise still available. This includes a few shirts, tumblers, mugs and caps. We are located at 110 Main St.
Christmas Activities
■ Lake Country CASA’s annual Cookie Walk is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 5, beginning at 9 a.m. at First United Methodist Church. There will be cookies, cakes and other treats for sale to benefit Lake Country CASA.
■ The Lions Club Lighted Christmas Parade is set for Friday, Dec. 5 starting at Buford Park. Line-up begins at 4 p.m. with the parade starting at 7. Registration must be received by noon on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Categories will be Large Business, Small Business and Non-Profit, with cash prizes awarded to winners.
Registration sheets are available at the Chamber office, 110 Main St.
Entry fee is one new unwrapped present for Blue Santa.
■ Along with the parade, the city will host the Lighted Celebration Market downtown from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. It will include lighting of the city Christmas tree at 5:45 p.m., and the snow slide opening at 6 p.m.
■ Christmas in the Park continues Dec. 6 at Heritage Park on Jackson Street. Affordable family fun under the Christmas lights, with Santa, live music, nativity and more.
■ The Christmas Market on Main Street will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6, downtown. You can do your shopping with our local merchants and vendors that day.
■ Northeast Texas Choral Society will have their “Joy to the World” production at 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 7, at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Visit the website SingersCount.org for ticket information.
■ “Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Sulphur Springs Christmas” will be playing at Main Street Theatre at 7 p.m. on Dec. 4, 6, 7, 11, 13 and 14. Tickets are $15. Visit communityplayersinc.com for more information.
First Responders Banquet
The annual banquet to show appreciation for our county’s First Responders is set for Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
All first responders who work in the county are invited to attend and bring a significant other at no charge. They will be served a catered meal and we will have thousands of dollars in gifts to give away.
If you would like to help sponsor the banquet, call the Chamber office at 903-885-6515.
Coffee and Conversation
The Way Bible Church in Martin Spring is hosting the next Coffee and Conversation from 8-9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4.
You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend, and it’s a great way to start off the day. Please join us for this event.
We will also have a Cocktails and Conversation at Jay Hodge Chevrolet from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11. Please come and enjoy refreshments.
Ribbon Cuttings
CHRISTUS Health will host a ribbon cutting and blessing at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, for the new multi-specialty clinic. Enjoy tours of Orthopedics, Pain Management, General Surgery, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine. Refreshments will be served.
NextLink will host a ribbon cutting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Chamber office. Please join us for this event.
