Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Impacts on Child Health/Wellness
By Johanna Hicks
According to 2018 statistics, the total Hopkins County population is approximately 36,810 with 24.6 percent under the age of 18; 21.1 percent of children under the age of 17 live in poverty. The Community Health/Wellness Alliance, Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers, and the Family & Community Health Committee have been driving forces in addressing issues pertaining to nutrition physical activity and well-being.
“Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness”
“Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness” completed its 10th year in 2019. This three-week, nine-session summer camp is targeted toward Sulphur Springs students who had just completed grades 1-4. Three major topics were covered in the camp:
Nutrition
Six sessions focused on a food group and included a hands-on food preparation activity. Cereal snack mix, grape/berry parfait, chicken salad, moo-licious smoothies, black bean and rice salad, and banana pancakes were the hands-on recipes made by campers. We also discussed food safety, kitchen safety, and hand hygiene. Incentive items given to campers included milk cups, drinking bottles, soup mugs and MyPlate plates, along with a certificate of excellence for each food group.
Physical Activity
Six sessions also focused on physical activities. Dr. Angela Doddy implemented “Walk with a Doc” to promote asking questions while the group walked outside, played kickball, and other fun activities. Incentive items distributed were cool neck wraps. Minutes of physical activity were logged for six days as part of the Walk Across Texas initiative. Campers completed 804.65 miles. They also learned that they need 60 minutes of physical activity everyday.
Horticulture
The Hopkins County Master Gardeners conducted 3 sessions. They discussed the importance of plants to provide food and how they need sunlight, food, and water to grow. They also discussed how birds pollinate flowers, eat insects, and provide beauty. Each session provided a hands-on component.
Mini Sessions
Six 30-minute sessions included water safety, stranger danger, fire safety, visit from a police canine, yoga and bicycle safety. Each camper received a bike helmet and safety lights.
The final day of Kids’ Camp was held at Classic Lanes. Campers had unlimited bowling and access to laser tag. Each camper received a cute bag with all their camp activity sheets, awards and crafts projects.
Written evaluation indicated that campers planned to adopt the practices of eating breakfast every day, eating more fruits and vegetables, and drinking more water/less sweetened beverages. Eight-nine percent of the campers indicated that they would use Kids’ Camp recipes at home. Special thanks to the Sulphur Springs Blue Blazes for assisting with each camp session.
Skills Camp
Due to responses from parents whose children had aged-out of Kids’ Camp, a camp for older students was developed to provide learning experiences in a variety of workshops, thus keeping the kids off the couch and away from phones, computers, and video games. 2019 was the fifth year for this four-session camp.
Topics for Skills Camp included Photography, led by Isabel Reyna, Woodworking let by Dennis Sink and Harold Bryant, Baking led by Cindy Welch, and Pet Care let by Linda Hill. Campers were also treated to ice cream at the Southwest Dairy Museum. Take-home items included muffin pans, mini whisks, wooden spoons, measuring cups, hand-crafted wooden tote box which campers built, yard sticks, tape measures and tool aprons.
One hundred percent indicated learning something new and intent to adopt practices learned at camp. Special thanks to Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers for assisting with each session.
Dates for the 2020 Kids’ Camp and Skills Camp have been set, and plans will begin after the first of the year. Stay tuned for more impact reports from your Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Hopkins County!
Closing Thought
Make good choices – great things happen! — Nathan Harmon
Sulphur Springs City Council Dec. 3 Agenda
CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
DECEMBER 3, 2019 7 P.M.
An Executive Session will be held at 6PM in accordance with Texas Government Code, Title 5, Chapter 551.074, Personnel Matters specifically relating to the City Manager.
The regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 in the Council Room at 201 North Davis Street.
The following items will be discussed:
- Call to order.
- Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag, Texas Flag, and invocation.
- Presentations, proclamations, and announcements.
- Manager’s report will include a status report of capital improvements, wastewater treatment plant operations, accidents and claims for the month, and a review of expenditures, revenues, purchases, abatement orders, and a discussion of urban sprawl and development practices.
- Discussion/action on Consent Agenda.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1184 to determine the City does not propose to annex property or territory that is required to be in an annexation plan or required to offer a development agreement.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1185 to set date, times, and a place for public hearings on a proposed annexation of certain property.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1186 appointment to the Hopkins County Appraisal District Board of Directors.
- Discussion/action on a motion to allow JetTribe Core Watercraft Company to hold a jet ski watercraft exhibition event at Coleman Lake.
- Discussion/action on board appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Discussion only regarding downtown parking.
- Visitors and public forum.
- Discussion/action on Executive Session item.
- Adjourn
Former Wildcats Soccer Assistant Javier Aguayo Begins Lady Cats Practices Monday
New Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javier Aguayo believes he has been given a great opportunity and he is excited about it. The Lady Cats begin workouts officially Monday (December 2). He says the Lady Cats will get a lot of conditioning work early. Several weeks ago Coach Aguayo and his assistant coach Kristov Martinez determined which girls would be on the varsity and which ones would be assigned to the JV. He says girls were notified last week. The Lady Cats graduated seven seniors off of last year’s team. The Lady Cats were fourth in district last year and lost a bi-district match to always tough Hallsville. Coach Aguayo says this year’s team features nine seniors and six of them were on varsity last year. Among returners are Ashley Noe, Jasmine Olivera and Lois Rocha. He says some young players will be mixed in. He expects two freshmen to start on the varsity and there will be some sophomores and juniors on the varsity as well. The Lady Cats have their first scrimmage on Thursday, December 12 against Class 4A power Kilgore at Gerald Prim Stadium. The Lady Cats open the regular season against North Lamar at home on Tuesday, January 7.
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton is Excited By First Day of Practice Monday
After the long off season, the Wildcats Soccer Team began practice Monday (December 2) officially. Coach Alexi Upton says the first three days of practice are big ones for Wildcats JV players trying to impress him so they can land a spot on the varsity. He says a ton of players will be trying out. Coach Upton says the Wildcats have done a good job working on their conditioning so that is not expected to be a big point of emphasis in early practices. He says mainly the team will be working to get better. Coach Upton says that will be important considering that the Wildcats play lots of ranked opponents. He says the team will work a lot on tactics and situational soccer. He says he is very optimistic about the potential of this year’s team. Coach Upton believes the Wildcats have the players to challenge Mount Pleasant like never before. Coach Upton is assisted by Coach Salvador Mejia. The Wildcats play their first scrimmage on Saturday, December 14 at Gerald Prim Stadium. The Wildcats will scrimmage Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill, Sabine and Mineola. They open the season on January 2 in the prestigious Frisco ISD Dr. Pink Varsity Soccer Tournament.
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta Says Team Got Off to a Slow Start in Loss Saturday
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta says Port Allen, Louisiana is a really good team. The Pelicans topped the Wildcats, 60-50 Saturday (November 30) in the Duncanville HoopFest. Coach Cipoletta says the showcase drew some of the best teams in the country adding the the Wildcats got a great opportunity by being invited to the event. He says the Wildcats started out slowly and fell into a 23-10 hole after the first quarter. Coach Cipoletta says the Wildcats won the last three quarters but not by enough to overcome the slow start. He says the Pelicans hit some big shots but he says the Wildcats did not come out with the focus and energy level needed. He says Port Allen took control of the game. Coach Cipoletta says the Wildcats are not built to come from way behind. He says they do better building a lead and holding on to it. Coach Cipoletta says overall the Wildcats did not play well as a group. He did say Lamodrick Johnson played under control and Day Day Hall had some good moments inside. His bottom line is that the Wildcats offense and defense Saturday was far from where they needed to be. If there is any benefit to taking a loss, Coach Cipoletta says it may convince the Wildcats that they are not invincible. He says the Wildcats will get everyone’s best game and he adds no one will be overlooking them. The Wildcats, now ranked #5 in Class 5A, play Paris Tuesday night at home. The Wildcats are 3-1 for the season. Paris, ranked #17 in Class 4A, is 4-0 for the season.
Adult Education Offered At Paris Junior College – Sulphur Springs Center
Kathryn Alvis, Adult Education Instructor at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center, will be offering registration, orientation, and assessment opportunities on Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. at the center. Students interested in studying for their GED, working on basic skills, or would like to learn English must complete the full registration process to be enrolled in an adult education class. GED prep/basic skills is offered Monday-Thursday from 6-9 p.m. English as a second language is offered Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6-9 p.m. at the CAN Help Building with Angela Sancho as instructor.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Paris District Road Report for the week of Dec. 2, 2019
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in Hunt and Rains Counties during the week of Dec. 2, 2019. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903)455-2303; Rains Co. Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
SH 66, Hunt County: from near FM 6 to near FM 2642. A project consisting of widening pavement, installing continuous left turn lanes, and safety treating fixed objects is underway. Please be aware of lane closures and workers in this area.
I-30/US69, Hunt County, project to replace metal beam guard fence is underway. Please be cautious when driving in this area.
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The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining 80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, maritime, rail and public transportation across the state.
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Executive Session, Annexation, Parking, Watercraft Exhibition Top Council Agenda
Sulphur Springs City Council has two sessions scheduled Tuesday evening: a special executive session at 6 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by the regular monthly council meeting.
The executive session is being held for “personnel matters specifically relating to the City Manager.” The agenda cites Texas Government Code Title 5, Chapter 551.074, is slated to discuss is to specifically relate to personnel matters regarding the city manager position.
The council is then slated to reconvene at 7 p.m. in open session for the regular meeting. The final item before adjournment on the Dec. 3 agenda includes discussion or action on the executive session item.
However, the agenda stipulates the City Council does reserve the right to adjourn into executive session during the course of the regular meeting per Texas Government Code 551.071-551.074, 551.076 and 551.087. Any action regarding those items would follow during open session.
The regular agenda includes two items regarding property annexation, two appointments, a request to host a jet ski watercraft event and downtown parking.
The City Council will be asked to consider Resolution No. 1184, which notes that property the city is considering annexing isn’t required to have an annexation plan nor a development agreement plan. Resolution No. 1185 then would set dates, times and a place for public hearings on a proposed annexation of certain property.
A request to allow JetTribe Core Watercraft Company to hold a jet ski watercraft exhibition event on Coleman Park is also expected to be presented for City Council approval.
The council is then asked to consider Resolution No. 1186, which would appoint a city representative to Hopkins County Appraisal District Board of Directors. The council members also will be asked consider appointing a representative to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
Downtown parking is also slated to be discussed, although no action is to be taken at that time.
The meeting is also slated to include the monthly city manager’s report, including capital improvements; wastewater treatment plant operations; accidents and claims for the month; and review of expenditures, purchases, abatement orders, and a discussion on urban sprawl and development practices.
The City Council meetings are slated to be conducted at the Municipal Building, 201 North Davis St. The regular meeting will convene in the Council Room at 7 p.m.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report For Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2019
Arrests
- Dawson Klika, 18 years of age, of Winnsboro, Texas, was arrested on Nov. 25, 2019, for driving while intoxicated.
- Hunter Weems, 21 years of age, of Winnsboro, Texas, was arrested on Nov. 25, 2019 on a Texas Pardon and Parole warrant.
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 155 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 29 citations and 45 warnings during this reporting period.
