Sulphur Springs FFA, Ag Mechanics Students Do Well At Fort Worth Stock Show
The month of January has flown by for Sulphur Springs ISD FFA members and agriculture students, who have spent quite a bit of their time preparing for and at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
The trio of SSHS FFA students who visited the KSST Good Morning Show on Thursday January 30, 2020 talked about showing cattle, competing in the Calf Scramble, and their 2020 Ft Worth Stock Show experiences in general. John Holland along with Jr. Savannah Allen, Freshman Wayne Hinton IV and Jr. Jace Mayers came in. “It is a busy month for all ag teachers across the state as we kick off spring stock shows and judging season,” said John Holland, Ag Teacher and Sulphur springs High School FFA advisor. “We actually have about 300 students in the SSHS FFA Chapter this year.”
This past weekend, Jan. 23-27, Sulphur Springs had seven students showing seven beef heifers. John-Robert Mason showed his Shorthorn Saturday and placed fifth in his class. Jace Mayers placed eighth with his Beefmaster heifer and Maurie Flecker showed her Beefmaster. Savannah Allen showed her Hereford Saturday placing sixth in her class.
In addition, Alex Flecker scrambled Saturday night at the Ft. Worth Rodeo and caught a calf, receiving a $500 certificate.
On Monday, Coen Bell showed his Semmental Heifer placing third in class; Cash Vititow showed his Brahman placing seventh; and Blaine Allen showed his Brahman Heifers. In addition Annie Horton showed her market Lamb, placing 10th out of 77.
Jan. 16-22, Wayne Hinton, Tripp Smith and Matti Smith showed five Holstien heifers at the Ft. Worth Dairy Show.
“All did very well in some of the biggest classes in the breed. In addition, all three of the kids caught a calf at the Ft. Worth Calf Scramble and received a $500 certificate to go purchase another dairy heifer to show next year,” said Holland.
During that same weekend, Holland said, SSISD agriculture mechanics students Austin Crouse, Haydan Keller and Oliver Yanez exhibit a deer blind that they built.
The first week of February, Coen Bell will be returning to Ft. Worth with his steer. Also during that week, a group of ag mechanics students travel to San Angelo for another ag mechanics project show.
“Don’t forget the Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show and NETLA Sale in the Hopkins County Civic Center arena. It will be starting Tuesday, Feb 25, with the Ag Mechanics Show and then the Youth Livestock Project Shows on Thursday, Feb 27 and Friday February 28, and wrapping up on Saturday February 29 with the Northeast Texas Livestock Association ‘Sale of Champions’. Free to attend, everybody come out for that!” Holland said.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Approves Fire Investigation And Protection Agreements
Emergency Management Coordinator Approved For 3 Cities
Hopkins County Commissioners Court during their regular meeting this week approved at least five items related to emergency management, fire and safety.
Appointment, Agreements With Cities
The court officially appointed Hopkins County emergency management coordinator to serve as not just the emergency management coordinator for all unincorporated areas of Hopkins County but also for the City of Como, City of Cumby and City of Tira. The mayors of each city will have roles in the event an emergency situation arises. Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley as the county’s emergency management coordinator or designated county emergency management staff will function as the emergency management coordinator for the three cities as well..
Endsley explained that he, as the county’s emergency management coordinator, has been serving in this capacity. This would allow him to officially continue in this capacity, serving all areas of the county except the City of Sulphur Springs, which has its own emergency management officials. This information will be listed in emergency management plans filed with Texas Department of Emergency Management.
Fire investigation agreements with the City of Como, City of Cumby and City or Tira were also approved by the Commissioners Court at the Jan. 27 session. Having the investigations in place will allow the HCFD marshal’s office to conduct fire investigations in those cities, which do not have their own fire marshals.
“This really helps out from a legal aspect say if a case goes to court and it allows the fire marshal to go in when there’s a fire and investigate,” said Endsley. “The City of Sulphur Springs has their own investigators.”
Volunteer Fire Departments
The final fire protection agreement, with Arbala Volunteer Fire Department, was approved Monday, Jan. 27, just four days shy of the deadline.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court required all volunteer fire departments in Hopkins County to sign a fire protection agreement in order to receive benefits from the county. According to the county judge, under the fire protection agreement, the county agrees to do the following for each volunteer fire department:
- pay the VFD’s fuel bills;
- provide a monthly stipend which averages over $700 a month;
- provide workers compensation for each member, in the event any are injured while responding to calls; and
- offers to reimbursement for vehicle insurance.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom noted that the level of support offered to the VFDs is higher than he’s aware of it ever being in the past. The county over the last few years has continued to increase the level of support provided to the VFDs. Costs of all fuel and vehicle and vehicle insurance reimbursements were benefits added over in the last couple of years for the volunteer departments. The monthly stipend each VFD receives was also increased this year by 10 percent.
Additional funding volunteer fire departments can apply for is the VFD emergency equipment fund, that is $10,000 designated annually to assist VFDs with emergency need of equipment repairs or replacements. The department can request funding, which would be awarded based on the vote of the VFD chiefs. That funding is then paid back by the borrowing VFD over an agreed-upon period of time in small increments. Only a total of $10,000 is designated in this fund per year.
For instance, Brinker VFD a few years back was approved for an emergency loan, approved by the other VFD chiefs, so the department’s engine could receive repairs critical for operations. Brinker VFD made regular payments over the ensuring years as agreed. Brinker recently finished paying off the amount borrow from the emergency fund.
Regional Grant
The Commissioners Court also approved a resolution to apply for Fiscal Year 2020 State Homeland Security Program Grant funds to put toward a Hopkins County Regional Communications Trailer Project.
Endsley said the county can apply for this type of funding annually. In the past, the county has collaborated to obtain law enforcement equipment. This time, the request would be for Hopkins County for a communications trailer, but would be available to help other entities in the nine county region if needed
“It’s for a trailer that we’re building. It will be regional because our neighbor helped us in our need, when we had our fuel spill out at Turkey Creek, from Franklin County. We’re building our on trailer. We’ll purchase six mobile radios to go inside that trailer. It will help with our communications needs in case of a large event,” Endsley told the commissioners.
The funding would require no match from the county for the project. However, a resolution from the Commissioners Court is required to apply for the grant, Endsley said.
Endsley said much of the $20,000 Community Assistance Grant awarded in October by Sabine River Authority to the county to help the county replenish supplies and buy new equipment following the Turkey Creek fuel spill needed to help in the future are dedicated to the trailer, outfitting the trailer.
Miscellaneous
The Commissioners Court also accepted Smoke Eaters BBQ & Catering and The Rustic O‘s donation of a Task Force Tip hose nozzle for the Hopkins County Fire Department. The nozzle has an approximate value of $800, according to Endsley.
“It’s always great when people give you things you can use,” Newsom said.
Also approved by the Commissioners Court at the Jan. 27 meeting were:
- A one-year agricultural lease agreement between the City of Sulphur Springs and Precinct 2 for access to a sand pit for $2 a year;
- Requests from FEC to construct electric power distribution facilities that will cross County Roads 3518, 1178, 1127 and 1181; and
- A line item transfer of $50,000 from the Precinct 1 machinery and equipment into the lease line to pay off a piece of equipment purchased for Precinct 1.
Chamber Connection — Jan. 30, 2020
By Lezley Brown, president/CEO, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
Have you reserved your seats yet? It is with great pleasure that the 2020 Board of Directors invites you to the 94th Annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Thursday, February 13, at 6 p.m. at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. Tickets are already going fast! We will host a Networking Cocktail Happy Half Hour at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:30, and the awards will follow at 7 p.m.
Please take this opportunity to bring your family, friends, and employees to an evening of dinner and community awards including Large and Small Business of the Year, Educator of the Year, Caregiver Award, Agriculturist of the Year, Woman of the Year, Growth and Renewal Award, Community Pride Award, and Citizen of the Year.
Our banquet theme is “Be the Light” and focuses on positivity and community pride moving into the next decade. It promises to be one of our most beautiful and unusual banquets to date. We are excited for you and your business to join us for this extraordinary evening. Please make your reservation TODAY by calling the Chamber of Commerce, (903) 885-6515, or by stopping by to visit at 110 Main St. in Sulphur Springs.
Hopkins County Reads held through Sulphur Springs Library
The Sulphur Springs Public Library sponsors the yearlong community wide event for teens and adults and includes author visits and discussions about the historical nature of the books. Author Ann Weisgarber will be here in Sulphur Springs to discuss the history surrounding Galveston Island during the 1900 hurricane and sign copies of her book, available for sale at the library on Thursday, January 30, at 6 p.m. at Sulphur Springs Public Library.
Uptown Cutts hosts their ribbon cutting celebration
Uptown Cutts, located at 1402 Mockingbird Lane in Sulphur Springs, will host their ribbon cutting celebration on Tuesday, February 4, at noon. Please join us at the celebration for networking and congratulating Uptown
Cutts.
Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center Says Come Get "All Shook Up" With Elvis for Valentine's Day
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center will hold a Valentine’s Day Party with Elvis on February 14th.
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Activity Center is located in the heart of Sulphur Springs, Texas. The City of Sulphur Springs has provided a place senior adults age 50 and over can go to for fun and fellowship. The Center offers a variety of activities for seniors citizens Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Activity Center can be found at 301 Oak Ave in Sulphur Springs.
Sulphur Springs ISD Board Of Trustees Extending Superintendent's Contract
Sulphur Springs Independent School Board of Trustees held a special meeting Wednesday to conduct their annual evaluation of the superintendent and consider extending Michael Lamb’s contract.
The school board was originally scheduled to conduct the annual evaluation of the superintendent, along with any other personnel matters, Jan. 13 during the executive session at their regular monthly meeting.
The SSISD trustees at the Jan. 13 meeting approved four personnel items:
- Sulphur Springs Middle School math teacher Lynn Haberstroh’s notification early retirement notification;
- Justin Findley as new campus officer at Bowie Primary School;
- Ashley Hall as new English teacher at Sulphur Springs High School; and
- Linzi Phillips switching from instructional aide to campus secretary at Barbara Bush Primary School.
However, the trustees opted at the Jan. 13 meeting to postpone Superintendent Michael Lamb’s evaluation and matters related to his contract until a special meeting on Jan. 29.
On Wednesday, following an executive session, SSISD trustees voted to extend Lamb’s contract for an additional year.
Read more stories about Sulphur Springs ISD on KSST Radio. Wildcat and Lady Cat games are also broadcast year round live on the radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Lady Cats Soccer Coach is Looking For His Team to Come Out Ready to Play From the Beginning
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javier Aguayo agreed it was a long night in Pleasant Grove for the Lady Cats Tuesday night (January 28). The Lady Hawks took advantage of several Lady Cats’ defensive mistakes to take a 5-2 win. Coach Aguayo said the Lady Cats started off poorly and the Lady Hawks went up 1-0 with the game barely 5 minutes old. He said Pleasant Grove was a tough opponent but he said he did not think they were any better than the Lady Cats. Coach Aguayo said he told his team after the game that they have to show up ready to play right from the start. He said he did not feel like the Lady Cats woke up until the last 15 to 20 minutes of the game after they were behind, 4-0. The Lady Cats did rally scoring two goals late. A fifth Pleasant Grove goal sealed the deal for them. The Lady Cats game marked the return from injury by goalkeeper McKenna Gammill. The Lady Cts are expected to have their hands full Friday as they play at Wylie East. The Lady Raiders are 10-0-2 for the season and they are ranked #4 in the region. Coach Aguayo said Wylie East has already defeated Mount Pleasant, Lindale and Royse City from our district.
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.
Tira News — Jan. 29, 2020
By Jan Vaughn
We want to express our sympathy to the family of Ray Gardner. He passed away on Tuesday night, January 21, 2020. Please be in prayer for his wife, Tina, and all of his family.
Yvonne Weir reports, “Brenda Allen and Liz Wallace came for a visit on Thursday and Jan Vaughn visited on Sunday.” She is recovering from knee replacement. She adds, “Robert attended the memorial for Garry Crowson on Saturday evening. Garry had been his best friend since grade school and he was the best man in our wedding. He will be missed.” Please remember the Crowson family in your prayers.
Joyce Dodd reports that the Tira Food Pantry could use some canned meats, soups, juices, cereal and canned fruit. She said that they have plenty of vegetables on hand at this time. We always appreciate your donations to the pantry.
Chip and I went to Campbell on Saturday for our great-grandson Rylan Joslin’s Little Dribblers basketball game. They played really well and won their game. Malcolm Joslin and his friend, Melinda, and her children were there, too, along with Rylan’s mother and brothers, Laiken, Brailon and Slaiden Joslin. Landon had to work and couldn’t be there. After the game, Chip and I had lunch in Greenville and did a little shopping.
Grace Vaughn is a new resident of Tira. We moved her into our home on Sunday afternoon. Linda Ellen Vaughn, Chip’s sister, came in from Dallas and helped Chip bring all of her things. Grace had been to church at Posey that morning to hear her grandson, Brian Vaughn, youth minister, preach and to see her great-grandson, Roman Vaughn, be baptized. Lori Vaughn came by for a visit on Sunday afternoon.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Catch up on past Tira News and read information about other ares of the community on KSST.
Lady Cats Basketball Coach Had Hoped for Competitive Game Tuesday Night to Jump Start Playoff Run
Lady Cats Basketball Coach Brittney Tisdell was very complimentary of Royse City after the #10 ranked and unbeaten in district play Lady Bulldogs took a 54-29 win over the Lady Cats at Royse City Tuesday night (January 28). Coach Tisdell said the Lady Bulldogs really are good. She said there is a reason they are 6-0 in district play. She said they do the little things rights and are consistent. Coach Tisdell said she knew the game would be a tough one but she said she had hoped her team would have played them closer. She hoped it would be a game to build on. Coach Tisdell said Lady Cat junior Nylah Lindley impressed her with her defense Tuesday night. Coach Tisdell said Lindley is a competitor who wants to win. Despite a 1-5 district record, Coach Tisdell said the Lady Cats still have a chance at the playoffs if they work as a team. Coach Tisdell said except for Royse City, the rest of the teams in the district are having roller coaster seasons. She said almost all of the teams have lots of young players. The Lady Cats play next at Lindale on Friday.
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.
Miller Grove Hornets Basketball Team Tops Yantis, 75-26
The Miller Grove Hornets Basketball Team defeated Yantis Tuesday (January 28), 75-26. Kobe Robertson led the Hornets with 13 points. Lexton Sly, Isaiah Billingsley and Matt Brignon had 12 points each. Kagan Scott had 11 points. Tanner Hensley scored 8 points. Riley Hasten added 5 points. Jacon George scored 2 points.
