Meet the new Supervisor of Cooper Lake State Park in this Episode of A Second Cup of Coffee
The new Supervisor for Cooper Lake State Park, Aaron Mabe, stopped by the KSST studios to have a Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey. Aaron Mabe shares some information about himself and where he has worked in the past. John Mark and Aaron also chat about a Veterans Suicide Awareness event coming up, they chat about Christmas, and much more. Be sure to check out the video and learn about the new Supervisor, Aaron Mabe!
A Look Back at a Hollywood Star
In this episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Peter “Pastor Pete” McNabb, Senior Pastor of Sulphur Springs First United Methodist Church. Pastor Pete just happens to be the nephew of Hollywood Starlet Martha Hyer Wallis. The two discuss First United Methodist Church, what the Church is doing in September, and, or course, Martha Hyer. Catch a glimpse of some Hollywood History with this episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee!
Hopkins County Genealogical Society Library to be Open September 14th
September 9, 2024 – The Hopkins County Genealogical Society announces that their library will be open Saturday, September 14th, 2024, from 9:30am to 1:00pm. The library will be open for “all your research needs.” The Hopkins County Genealogical Society hopes “you will join us!”
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Offers Valuable Resources for fall Gardening by Mario Villarino
September 9, 2024 – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offers valuable resources for fall gardening, helping both novice and experienced gardeners make the most of the cooler season. Fall is an ideal time to plant a wide variety of crops in Texas and similar climates due to milder temperatures, reduced pests, and favorable growing conditions. By leveraging AgriLife Extension’s knowledge and guidelines, gardeners can plan and cultivate productive fall gardens that thrive well into winter.
Choosing the Right Crops : One of the key aspects of successful fall gardening is selecting appropriate crops. Many cool-season vegetables perform best when planted in the fall. Leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, and kale are popular choices due to their ability to tolerate cooler temperatures. Root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets are also well-suited for fall planting. Additionally, certain brassicas like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage can thrive in cooler weather. The AgriLife Extension provides recommended planting dates for different regions of Texas, ensuring that crops are planted at optimal times to avoid frost damage and maximize yields.
Soil Preparation and Planting: Before planting, it’s crucial to prepare the soil. AgriLife Extension recommends testing soil quality to determine its pH and nutrient content, which helps in deciding whether amendments such as compost or fertilizers are necessary. Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with organic matter will give plants the best chance to establish healthy roots. Proper spacing is also essential, as overcrowding can lead to competition for nutrients, water, and sunlight, weakening plant growth.
Irrigation and Mulching: Fall gardens, while generally cooler and less prone to extreme heat, still require consistent moisture. The AgriLife Extension advises using drip irrigation or soaker hoses to ensure water reaches the root zone efficiently. To conserve soil moisture and suppress weed growth, mulching with organic materials like straw or leaves is recommended. Mulch also helps regulate soil temperature as nights grow cooler.
Pest Management: Although pest pressure tends to decrease in the fall, some pests like aphids and cabbage loopers may still pose a threat to garden crops. AgriLife Extension encourages integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, including regular monitoring of plants, using beneficial insects, and employing organic pest control methods to minimize pesticide use.
With AgriLife Extension’s expert guidance, gardeners can enjoy a productive fall harvest by choosing suitable crops, preparing soil properly, maintaining moisture levels, and managing pests. Fall gardening not only provides fresh, homegrown produce but also extends the growing season for gardeners in Texas. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
SEN. CRUZ RELEASES STATEMENT ON NICARAGUA’S RELEASE OF 135 POLITICAL PRISONERS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement after the United States secured the freedom of 135 political prisoners on humanitarian grounds, including 13 individuals affiliated with Texas-based religious organization Mountain Gateway. These political prisoners were being wrongly detained by Nicaraguan authorities.
In a statement, Sen. Cruz said, “Today, we celebrate a significant victory for freedom as over one hundred political prisoners have been released from the oppressive control of Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime. I am particularly grateful for the release of members from Texas’s Mountain Gateway community, who were unjustly targeted and detained for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights. As we welcome these Americans back home, our nation’s joint efforts with Guatemala will ensure that the freed political prisoners in Nicaragua receive the support of a just democratic society to rebuild their lives. I stand in unwavering solidarity with the Nicaraguan people, who deserve to have their voices heard and respected in peace.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Travis County Over Illegal Use of Taxpayer Funds to Hire Partisan Organization to Identify Potentially Unregistered Voters
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Travis County Commissioners Court to stop the unlawful appropriation of taxpayer money. Travis County, where the City of Austin is located, hired a partisan third-party organization to identify potentially unregistered voters without statutory authority.
In August 2024, the Travis County Commissioners Court hired a third-party vendor with taxpayer funds to operate a program that would identify residents who were unregistered to vote. The company, Civic Government Solutions, is a subsidiary of a known partisan organization and was contracted to provide services that Travis County is not authorized by Texas law to perform. The program will create confusion, potentially facilitate fraud, and undermine public trust in the election process.
“Travis County has blatantly violated Texas law by paying partisan actors to conduct unlawful identification efforts to track down people who are not registered to vote,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Programs like this invite fraud and reduce public trust in our elections. We will stop them and any other county considering such programs.”
Attorney General Paxton recently sued Bexar County over a program that would send mass mailout to unregistered individuals, potentially to those ineligible to vote, and sent a letter to Harris County warning against passing a voter registration mailout resolution.
Sulphur Springs Emergency Sirens Will Be Tested September 9
July 3, 2024 – Emergency sirens will be tested in Sulphur Springs at noon today by the Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Office.
The test is to gauge the reliability of the emergency warning system and is conducted to find any potential flaws in the system so they can be corrected prior to a real emergency situation. The sirens could be sounded not only for weather warnings such as tornadoes, which are the most common in the area, but also in case of any emergency that could affect the safety and lives of citizens in Sulphur Springs.
Recent tests have shown the emergency sirens to be a ready source of warning in case of emergencies such as tornados or other threats to safety.
This will only be a test.
Your Wildcats Took on the Greenville Lions September 6th – Check out the Action Below
September 8, 2024 – The KSST crew traveled to Greenville September 6th to bring you the exciting Sulphur Springs High School Wildcats Football game against the Greenville Lions. Sports Director John Mark Dempsey and Tony Flippin called the shots during this exciting broadcast. Erin Groom helped out on the camera for the first time. Be sure to check out this awesome game down below! This was Senior Night for Greenville.
Local Author to Hold Book Signing September 14th
September 8, 2024 – Local Christian author, Andrea Cannon, will hold a book signing event September 14, 2024, at the Good News Christian Bookstore. Meet the author of Christian Devotionals and middle-grade fiction from Noon to 2:00pm. The bookstore is located at 1181 South Broadway, Sulphur Springs, Texas, 75482.
Coastal Redwoods From Master Gardener David Wall
September 8, 2024 – Coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are trees that we’ve heard and read about since our youth. They’re the tallest plant on Earth. Thirty-seven are 330’ tall & the tallest is 360’ tall, and they are still growing! Their slender thickness, however, prevents them from being the largest trees. That honor goes to their cousin the shorter (by a little) but more massive Sequoia gigantia or giant sequoia. Both grow in California, but in different regions. Coastal redwoods, as the name implies, grow along the pacific coast in foggy areas. Actually, redwoods were once the largest overall, but all those trees were cut down by loggers.
The pacific coast is the key to their size, as ocean winds bring in fog containing moisture for their needle leaves. Their height means moisture has great difficulty getting up the tree to the leaves. Without the moisture brought in from the ocean, the trees, at their current height, could not long survive. Even with the additional moisture, coastal redwoods are commonly referred to as a dying species.
Redwoods are highly resistant to fires, due to the thickness of their bark, which is several inches thick and is highly fire resistant. If fire completely destroys the canopy, redwoods will regenerate the foliage, although it may take a hundred years!
Regeneration by seed almost never occurs in dense redwood forests. Rather, regeneration occurs from dead logs or sprouts from roots. When this occurs, the new trees are incapable of photosynthesis, as they have no chlorophyll in their needles. Water, carbohydrates and other nutrients are provided solely by the root systems of their neighbors. This allows redwoods to outcompete other conifers, even when growing in deep shade of their parent trees.
If a redwood grows with a lean, gravity will eventually kill it by causing it to fall.
