Sulphur Springs Seniors Ctr. Plans Tentative Dates
The summer schedule at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center had these dates on the calendar, however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Seniors Center at 150 MLK Drive has been closed to walk-ins or public gatherings since late March 2020. Director Karon Weatherman wants you to know about these upcoming summer events which are on the calendar through the Sr’s Center. It is hoped that they will be able to be held. Contact the Center at 903-885-1661 to get details.
The annual ‘Seniors Prom’ – July 25th
Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Contestants Tea – August 14th
Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant – – August 15th
The annual Senior Olympics – August 27th
OVET 42 Tournament – August 29th
The Clara Bridges 90+ Banquet – September 26th
Dairy Festival is a “GO” in Hopkins County, August 8 !
According to Gena Prickette, the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board of Directors is excited to let you know that the Dairy Festival is ON! for Summer 2020! ‘Our Hometown Tradition’ is the theme this year and there are 10 contestants for the title and crown of Dairy Festival Queen! The one-day festival date is Saturday August 8, 2020 with a parade and a pageant planned on that date.
Gena stated, “although the hot-air balloons were not able to switch dates and cannot attend, two other events will take place on Saturday August 8th. In the morning, the Dairy Festival Parade will be held at 9:00 am (an hour earlier than usual) and that evening, the pageant will be staged at 7:00 pm. Preceding the Dairy Festival date, we are planning a milking contest on Sunday August 2nd at 3:00 in the Horse Pavilion of the Hopkins County Civic Center. During pageant rehearsal week, the contestants will attend evening practices August 3rd through 7th in leading up to pageant night, August 8. Our website should be updated very soon with these dates and times.” On that website, hopkinscountydairyfestival.com, you’ll also find interesting facts and hometown tradition within the rich 60-year history of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival. Dairy Festival. 2020 Membership of the Board of Directors include President David McCaig, Vice President Robin Vaughn, Secretary April Ashmore and Treasurer Lynda Hager. The reigning 2019 Dairy Festival Queen is Rachel Bramlett.
Hopkins County COVID-19 Testing Update: 971 Tests, 782 Negative, 131 Pending
Three additional confirmed new COVID-19 cases and seven additional recoveries were reported in Hopkins County over the last week. Only 13 new screenings were conducted during that time, leaving 131 test results pending, according to the weekly Hopkins County COVID-19 testing update provided June 17 by Hopkins County Hospital District COO/EMS Director Brent Smith.
The fewest number of new positive COVID-19 cases during a 7-day period in the last month was reported April 17. Overall, the 3 new cases pushed the overall total to 43 COVID-19 cases reported by the local emergency management team since mid-March. However, as has been the case in recent weeks, the DSHS/Health and Human Services website shows 44 total cases in Hopkins County.
The number of Hopkins County residents who have recovered from COVID-19 nearly doubled, however, from 8 to 15 in Hopkins County, according to Hopkins County Emergency Management Team and Smith’s report.
Smith defines recovered cases as those released under the Centers for Disease Control guidelines and a Local Health Authority. All guidelines can be found on the CDC website, https://www.cdc.gov, or Texas Department of State Health Services website, https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/.
The June 17 DSHS/HHS report shows an “estimated” 22 Hopkins County residents as having recovered from COVID-19. “Recovery and active case data by county lag data on other tabs by one day, and include publicly reported recoveries by local health departments,” DSHS/HHS reports.
Testing rose from 181 total screenings conducted on April 28 to 897 total screenings on May 27, then increased to a total of 924 tests on June 3, including two mobile test screenings conducted for Hopkins County residents (one each in April and May). There were only 34 new screenings sent for testing from June 3 to June 10, and in the last week only 13 new screenings were sent for testing. That’s a total of 971 individual tests of individuals who reside in Hopkins County who met criteria put in place by DSHS and the CDC for screening, according to Smith’s June 17 report.
Of the 971 total screenings of Hopkins County residents that have been conducted since March, 782 tests have come back negative for COVID-19, up from 648 on June 10.
“Some private businesses and health facilities have used private organizations to screen their workers, those numbers are not represented in this press release as they are not required to report the information to the Hospital District. Their information is only reported to Texas Department of State Health Services (TX-DSHS),” Smith noted in the June 17 Covid-19 testing update.
Also, there have been no recorded coronavirus related deaths in Hopkins County since the pandemic began in mid-March, according to the HCHD/EMS report and the DSHS/HHS report.
As of 10:30 a.m. June 17, 131 test results were still pending, down from 270 pending on June 10.
Wildcats Tennis Coach Offering The Edge
Sulphur Springs High School Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez is offering The Edge conditioning program Mondays through Thursdays at the Wildcat Tennis Center.
Sessions are offered evenings from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. and Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Kids entering the 7th through the 12th grade are welcome.
Coach Martinez says he is glad to see his players back on the tennis courts. He says many of them have not picked up a racket for the past couple of months.
The Wildcats last match took place on March 7. Coach Martinez says the players did not have access to the high school courts or municipal courts when they were isolated due to coronavirus concerns.
The Edge began at various facilities at Sulphur Springs High School and Middle School on June 8. Coach Martinez says a handful of players did some hitting on courts at Buford Park during the hiatus.
Besides hitting tennis balls at The Edge, Coach Martinez says he is also working with players on moving from side to side along with quick sprint work and other agility drills. He says he hopes to offer some medicine ball tossing to improve upper body strength. Coach Martinez says that will require wiping off the balls after every use. Due to the heat some days, he says he is easing the players back into things. He says strengthening the core is very important for tennis players.
Coach Martinez says he has been averaging about 8 to 13 players for each session. He hopes every player can attend at least a couple of sessions each week. The Edge is expected to continue through the end of July.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Click here for more Wildcat and Lady Cat Sports
HCUW 2020-21 Campaign Chair, New Board Member Introduced
Hopkins County United Way 2019-2020 Campaign Co-Chairs Bill and Beverley Owens announced Mike Horne as the HCUW 2020-21 campaign chair during a United Way Board meeting Wednesday morning, June 17, 2020 at Texas AgriLife Extension Office.
“We really appreciate you stepping up and being campaign chair this year. Thank you very much,” said Beverley Owens, who will serve as co-president with Bill during the 2020-21 HCUW campaign.
When asked about the HCUW 2020-21 fundraising campaign that will be conducted this fall, Horne said,”I think mainly it’s going to be a little bit different of a year. But, I’m looking at it as an opportunity, because I think more people are going to need. I’m really going to push — I know it’s going to be tight on businesses — but I think that it’s an opportunity for us to all come together as a community and really help people that need the help in our community.”
“As Mike said, there’s a big need here in the community. It’s a bigger need and it’s probably a harder need to fulfill with things going on, so we appreciate everybody’s help. We’re looking for this to be a great opportunity for everyone,” Bill Owens said.
Bill and Beverley Owens also introduced Kristy Moseley as HCUW’s newest board member. Moseley follows the tradition of her mother Deanna Landers, in her service to HCUW. Landers’ involvement in HCUW included serving as the 2005-2006 campaign chair.
Also acknowledged for their service as HCUW Board members include 2020-21 Co-Presidents Bill and Beverley Owens, Chuck Askins, Larry Crowson, Debra Evans, Markeda Fisher, Charlotte Henderson, Mike Jumper, Sherry McGraw and Larry Willis.
Horne too acknowledge those who serve alongside him on the Budget and Allocations Committee: Bill and Beverley Owens, Lezley Brown, Markeda Fisher and Charlotte Henderson.
He encouraged campaign workers to put Wednesday, Sept. 23, on their calendars, for the annual kickoff luncheon to be held at noon at the Dairy Museum.
The lead donor lunch will follow at noon Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Sulphur Springs Country Club, to acknowledge top contributors to the 2019-2020 campaign.
Hopkins County United Way is a leadership and support organization for local nonprofit organizations based in Hopkins County. All funding decisions are made with the input of local leaders and community stakeholders.
ZBA Approved Special Use Permit, Variance Request
The Sulphur Springs Zoning Board of Adjustments Tuesday conducted the regular June meeting in short order. The ZBA approved a special use permit and a variance request during the meeting. The meeting lasted less than 10 minutes.
Special Use Permit
Brandy Estes request for a special permit was granted. She will now be allowed to provide cosmetic tattooing at her new business, BackLash Salon, at 440 South Hillcrest Drive in Woodbridge Square.
The cosmetologist was previously approved to operate at Southern Roots Salon on South Broadway Street. She told the Planning & Zoning Commission Monday night that she’d been thinking of starting her own salon. The government ordered closure of all salons due to COVID-19 seemed the right time to do so. She attained state requirements and rented space in Woodbridge Square.
She plans to offer a variety of services including hair, nails, lash extensions, tanning, facials, microblading and waxing. Because cosmetic tattooing is licensed through the state the same as regular tattooing, a special permit is required from the city to provide those services due to zoning in that area and city ordinances.
Fourteen letters were sent to property owners within 200 feet of 440 South Hillcrest Drive. City staff receive three letters, one in support and two in opposition to the request.
City staff and the P&Z Commission recommended approval of the special use permit. The ZBA approved the permit request.
City staff reported another business person had also expressed interest in a special use permit for cosmetic tattooing, but had not completed the process to attain one as of Tuesday.
Variance Request
Brigido Valles requested a variance for property located at 234 Ardis St., to add a 600-square foot three-car garage.
It would potentially encroach the front and rear setbacks of the property. The home, built in 1982, appears to be approximately 25 feet from the front property line and about 6 feet from the rear property line. The property is zoned multifamily and has a 25-foot front yard setback and 10-foot rear yard setback, which would make it a non-conforming home, according to Sulphur Springs Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski.
While the handdrawn diagram of the proposed garage appears to extend further than the house, the house has a roof that’s 32 feet wide. The proposal is for the garage to be 30 feet deep and 20 feet wide, and appears to be extending in line with the existing home, and not any closer to the property lines, Niewiadomski noted.
The purpose of setbacks, he explained, is to provide a barrier of delineation between properties so that activities on a site do not infringe on the rights of neighbors, provides greenspace for lawns and trees that serve as filtration for storm-water runoff, fire separation between structures, access to sunlight and air, establishes aesthetic character in districts and prevents the overcrowding of land, the community development director reports.
Eighteen letters were sent out by the city to property owners within 200 feet of Ardis Street property regarding the variance request but received no responses.
City staff recommended the variance request be approved, provided the garage addition maintains the same width and line of the existing home so as not to encroach any closer to the rear and front yard setbacks than the existing home.
The ZBA granted the variance request provided the recommended condition is met.
Montalba Man Allegedly Caught In A Stolen SUV
Sulphur Springs Police Department Special Crimes Unit Investigators arrested a 38-year-old Montalba, Texas man allegedly caught in a stolen SUV in Sulphur Springs Tuesday night. (Montalba is an unincorporated community 10 miles north of Palestine on State Highway 19 in Anderson County.)
Sulphur Springs Police Department Special Crimes Unit Lt. Mark Estes and Sgt. Joe Scott reported being made aware a vehicle that’d been reported to Palestine authorities as stolen might be in the Sulphur Springs area.
The SCU investigators reported seeing a silver Chevrolet Tahoe matching the description of the stolen SUV traveling north on Carter Street. The SUV was spotted on turning east onto Fuller Street, according to police reports.
Estes and Scott reportedly requested assistance from SSPD patrol units, then conducted a traffic stop in the 700 block of Fuller Street. SSPD dispatchers, using information relayed by the police officers on scene, confirmed the vehicle was the stolen silver Tahoe.
Consequently, the driver, identified as Jeremy Brandon Conley, was arrested without incident for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Palestine Police Department was contacted regarding the vehicle, which was then driven to Sulphur Springs police station and secured.
Conley was transported to Hopkins County jail, where he remained Wednesday morning, June 18, on the UUMV charge. Bond was set at $5,000 on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Chamber Connection – June 18, 2020
By Lezley Brown, President/CEO, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
The Hopkins County Adult Leadership is happy to announce that we are currently taking applications for the 2020-21 class. The Adult Leadership Class is a community leadership development program sponsored by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. The course was created in 1989 with the concept of offering leadership training and community involvement for emerging business and community leaders. Leadership Sulphur Springs is a 9-month session, with meetings held once a month. For more information and to get an application, please call the Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515.
The Chamber Golf Tournament is almost full! Our reschedule date is Friday, June 19, at Sulphur Springs Country Club. As usual, we will have morning and afternoon flights, and we have availability for teams right now. Give us a call at (903) 885-6515 to register your team!
Fireworks to be held on Saturday, July 4
Judge Newsom reached out to some businesses in town in hopes to offer fireworks of some kind for July 4. As a result, fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 4. There will be a band downtown who will play until about 8 p.m. Fireworks will begin at nightfall.
Let’s talk about some ways to keep everyone safe and healthy.
First, you are welcome to bring your lawn chairs and sit on the Plaza to listen to the band and watch fireworks. Please make sure to put 6 feet in between your family and the family next to you.
Second, you are also welcomed to find a place near the square to park and watch the show from your vehicle. Grab a snack from your favorite local business, take your lawn chairs, and hop in the back of your pickup! This will be a great way to watch the show and remain perfectly socially distanced.
Third, keep in mind that COVID is still a part of our lives right now. Be respectful of peoples’ wishes. They may not want to shake hands or hug, and that’s perfectly okay. Everyone has a varied opinion about the virus, so we need to be understanding of all of them. Attendance is a personal decision, so do whatever it is that you are comfortable with, personally.
Finally, let’s all keep in mind that this holiday celebration is our favorite each year because of the outstanding talent and hard work of the Symphony League. They will host their concert and fireworks celebration for 2020 on Labor Day weekend. Hopkins County will get 2 fireworks shows this year, and everyone knows … we need a little extra!!! The Symphony League will host their concert and fireworks as usual in 2021; this is the only year things will look a little different.
Community Players Fund Raising
Community Players Inc. is a non-profit that owns and operates Main Street Theatre in Sulphur Springs. They are hosting a fundraising event on Saturday, June 20, to raise funds to repair the façade on their downtown building. They will have a parking lot sale at B & B Rentals, 1422 Hillcrest Drive, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will include some nice things and some thrift items as well as baked goods and bottles of water. Collection of donations will be Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m. and Friday beginning at 7 a.m. Monetary donations may be made through their website: www.communityplayersinc.com (press the “Buy tickets” button) or on their Facebook page with the “Get tickets” button.
Jettribe to host ribbon cutting celebration
Jettribe will host their ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, June 24th at noon. They are located at 1120 Como Street South in Sulphur Springs. Make plans to come by and welcome Jettribe to Hopkins County! They will also be hosting a launch party on Friday, June 26th from 7-9 p.m. at Cedar Canyon. To register to attend this event, visit www.Jettribe.com.
Texas Rock Tops will host ribbon cutting
Texas Rock Tops, located at 225 East I-30 Service Road North in Cumby, is hosting their ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, July 1, at noon. Please make plans to join us for networking and learning about this Hopkins County business!
Business Highlight
During the year 2020, The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a business each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for June 18, the J&J Meat Market. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Tips For Selecting Sunscreen For Texas Summer Heat
By Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County
Our Texas summer heat is in full swing and while you should use sunscreen every day of the year, it’s even more important during summertime. The days are longer, the sun is stronger, and it’s easier to spend more time outdoors.
When choosing sunscreen, be sure to read the label before you buy. Food and Drug Administration regulations require the labels to follow certain guidelines. The American Cancer Society provides a guide to help you understand the terms:
- Choose a sunscreen with “broad spectrum” protection. Sunscreens with this label protect against both UVA and UVB rays. All sunscreen products protect against UVB rays, which are the main cause of sunburn and skin cancers. But UVA rays also contribute to skin cancer and premature aging. Only products that pass a certain test can be labeled “broad spectrum.” Products that aren’t broad spectrum must carry a warning that they only protect against sunburn, not skin cancer or skin aging.
- Make sure your sunscreen has a sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher. The SPF number is the level of protection the sunscreen provides against UVB rays. Higher SPF numbers do mean more protection, but the higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%, SPF 50 sunscreens about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. No sunscreen protects you completely. The FDA requires any sunscreen with SPF below 15 to carry a warning that it only protects against sunburn, not skin cancer or skin aging.
- “Water resistant” does not mean “waterproof.” No sunscreens are waterproof or “sweatproof,” and manufacturers are not allowed to claim that they are. If a product’s front label makes claims of being water resistant, it must specify whether it lasts for 40 minutes or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating. For best results, reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and even more often if you are swimming or sweating. Sunscreen usually rubs off when you towel yourself dry, so you will need to put more on.
In addition to choosing the correct sunscreen and using it correctly, the American Cancer Society recommends following these steps to help protect your skin from sun damage that can cause premature aging and skin cancer:
- Cover up. When you are out in the sun, wear clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect as much skin as possible. Protect your eyes with sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UV light.
- Seek shade. Limit your direct exposure to the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest.
- Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps. Both can cause serious long-term skin damage and contribute to skin cancer.
Closing Thought
A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. – Douglas Pagels
— Contact Johanna Hicks at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, Hopkins County, P.O. Box 518,1200-B West Houston St., Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
2 Jailed On Felony Hopkins County Charges
Two people were jailed June 15 on felony Hopkins County charges, according to arrest reports.
Desiree Skye Butler, 30, of Mount Pleasant was jailed in Titus County from May 30-June 15, 2020, according to Titus County jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was alerted the woman was in custody on a Hopkins County warrant for violation of probation, which she was on for an April 2018 possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge. She also had a Titus County warrant for possession of controlled substance charge.
HCSO Deputy Elijah Fite traveled to Titus County jail and took the Butler into custody at 1:27 p.m. June 15. She was then transported to Hopkins County, where the Mount Pleasant woman was jailed on the warrant.
Butler remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday, June 16, 2020 on the charge. This marks the second time Butler has been jailed in Hopkins County for violation of probation.
She was jailed May 7-16, 2019, in Titus County on a Hopkins County charge, then spent May 16-Aug. 26, 2019, in Hopkins County jail for violation of probation on the April 2018 controlled substance charge.
Elijah Don King, 24, of Brashear was taken into custody by Cpl. Todd Evans at 10:40 a.m. June 15, 2020, in the district courtroom for bond revocation on a possession of controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
June 15 marked the second time in less than 1 month he has been booked into Hopkins County jail. King was previously jailed May 31 to June 2, 2020, on possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia warrants, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
