Rare Off Night For Ranked Saltillo Lady Lions at Home Against Gilmer
It was a rare off night Tuesday for the #16 ranked Saltillo Lady Lions. The Lady Lions lost to Gilmer, 54-40 Tuesday at home. The Lady Buckeyes got off to a fast start and led 14-5 after the first quarter. Saltillo made some headway in the second quarter but still trailed, 21-14 at halftime. Gilmer extended their lead after three quarters going up, 43-30. Saltillo Coach Bill Giles said the Lady Lions played uninspired and shot really poorly. He added he hoped the Lady Lions would start playing better ball at their next game on Thursday. Tuesday the Lady Lions were led in scoring by Chandler Bain with 13 points. Allie Lane had 9 points, Anna Reeder scored 7 points, Brittney Peeples had 5 points and Julianna Giles and Kristina Wade scored 3 points each. The Lady Lions season record is now 8-4. The Lady Lions play next at a Dodd City tournament on Thursday against North Lamar at 2:30 p.m. and against Sam Rayburn at 5:30 p.m.
2019 4-H Hopkins County Agricultural Plan
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hopkins County, Texas
Relevance
4-H Agriculture and Natural Resources projects are an important component of the county 4-H program in Texas. Currently, 63 percent of Texas 4-H members are enrolled in a livestock project. These projects provide youth with subject matter education, as well as valuable learning experiences, character education and leadership skills.
Adult volunteer engagement is critical to administer the program and expand outreach. The development of youth volunteers as ambassadors for agriculture and natural resources will educate and recruit other youth to the project.
Today, youth are further removed from farming. Many do not understand the importance of agriculture and how it impacts their daily lives.
This plan included a Science of Agriculture (Ag Literacy/Awareness) program component to target elementary students (grades 4) and teachers in Hopkins County, and provides the following educational components: Educational support materials for Science of Agriculture including Ag Day/Ag Fair field trip and information about 4-H opportunities for the participants and parents. Water conservation/protection awareness will be also included.
Hopkins County will utilize 4-H Livestock Project Coalitions to provide direction and support for the programs and events conducted. The programs and events provided support unities for 4-Hers to develop or improve their leadership skills and other life skills.
Volunteer recruitment, training, and utilization will be an important component of the plan. This plan involved 200 youth and 60 volunteers in projects and 900 in curriculum enrichment component in Ag/NR 4-H projects.
Response
- 12 Veterinary Science Sessions monthly, 12 participants
- 2 State Heifer Validation
- NETLA Steer Validation
- 6 Coalition Meetings
- NETLA Swine Validation, November
- District Dairy Judging Contest, January
- District Livestock Judging, April
- HC 4-H Round Up, 36 participants
- NETLA project visits, 36
- NETLA Junior Livestock Show, February, 330 exhibitors
- Ag in the Classroom (October, 900 youth, 80 adults)
- Goat Clipping Clinic (February, 4 youth)
- Goat and Lamb Showmanship Clinic (10 youth)
- Shot Gun District Competition (May, 110 youth)
- Poultry Clinic (November, 25 youth)
- NETLA Dairy Show (June, 12 youth)
Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status. The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating
Results
A specific pre- and post-test was conducted in a statistically significant subsample (50 students) in a randomly selected 4th grade school class in Hopkins County, with post test results as follows:
- 63 percent (40/64) indicated a better understanding of the connection between agriculture and health.
- 84 percent (53/63) have a better understanding of the path food takes to get to their plate.
- 63 percent (40/64) have a better understanding of the importance and nutritional values of food
- 77 percent (49/64) have a better understanding of the way farmers and ranchers produce the food they eat.
- 61 percent (39/64) have a better understanding of the value of agriculture and how it is important in life.
- 83 percent (52/63) have a better understanding of the importance of eating a healthy diet and a variety of food.
Impact
Agriculture and Natural Resource Projects in Texas remained a cornerstone for youth programs in 4-H. Hopkins County is no exception. More than 50 livestock projects and numerous public speaking and educational presentations were based on agriculture and natural resources.
The Hopkins County Extension Office would like to recognize the multiple organizations supporting curriculum enrichment experiences and Hopkins Rains Farm Bureau for their support, leadership and commitment to our youth in Hopkins County during the 2018 Ag in the Classroom.
The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.
City Appraisal District Board Representative Appointed
Of the two appointments Sulphur Springs City Council was asked to consider appointing, only one received approval; the other was tabled at the Dec. 3 City Council meeting.
City Secretary Gale Roberts recommended Bill Watts to serve another term on the Hopkins County Appraisal District Board of Directors. Watts has served on the board since 2010. Before Watts, Michael Barrett served on HCCAD Board.
Roberts said she contacted Watts, who said he would be willing to serve another 2 years on the appraisal district board.
The city council approved Resolution No. 1186, appointing Watts to the position.
The City Council was also asked to consider appointing a person to fill a Planning and Zoning Commission opening.
Sulphur Springs Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski explained that one P&Z commissioner felt the need to step down from the board due to personal reasons. The board is seeking a replacement to be appointed as soon as possible to fill that seat on the commission.
Councilman John Sellers asked about names that’d been talked about at a previous retreat.
Roberts reported four individuals had previously been discussed as potential options. However, to her knowledge none of them had been contacted regarding potential willingness to serve on the commission.
Sellers recommended tabling the appointment until they had time to confer and ask people if they’d be willing to serve. The council unanimously agreed, tabling the item until a future meeting.
Sulphur Springs ISD Fine Arts Department Gearing Up For Busy Month
The Sulphur Springs Independent School District Fine Arts students kicked off their annual “Sights and Sounds of the Season” schedule this week with seven performances.
The Jazz Band Jump Started the holidays with performances Tuesday at Alliance Bank and Wednesday at Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab; they have three more performances scheduled this week in the community. The high school band, drill team and Lamar second graders also have performances scheduled this week.
Later this month the middle and high school bands, and choirs, advanced theatre students, elementary choir, Bowie and Travis second graders, Bowie choir, Strings Orchestra and Barbara Bush students all have outings and event scheduled as well.
To help the community keep track of all of the activities, the Fine Arts Department has provided the following schedule denoting upcoming seasonal events.
City Takes First Steps To Begin Process To Annex Former Luminant Property
The first steps were taken Tuesday night by Sulphur Springs City Council to being the process of annexing the former Luminant property into the city.
“Now that the city now owns the former Luminant property, one of the first steps that needs to happen before it’s incorporated into the city limits is to annex the property. Before we do that, we need to establish what process we’re going to file on as far as annexation is concerned as well as indicate whether we need to offer any development agreements to any property owners that would be affected as part of the annexation,” .Sulphur Springs Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski.
Because the property is city-owned, it could be filed under an exempt annexation procedure, which wouldn’t require an annexation plan or development agreement. Resolution No. 1184, would establish that process, the community development director explained, and recommended the council approve it.
Councilman Doug Moore asked whether the 15-19 acres of railroad and farm market road would be included in that property and if not, would they be considered in the city limits.
Niewiadomski said they would be “accepted,” that they dedicated right-of-ways of the state.
Moore asked if the railroad that comes through town is considered part of the city. Niewiadomski said they are still part of the city, but are are railroad right-of-ways.
City Manager Marc Maxwell said to annex city property into the city would be a relatively easy process, started with the two resolutions. Adding any railroad right-of-ways or a home would complicate the matter considerably.
Notices still have to be given to the railroad, state and Department of Transportation of the proposed annexation. Annexing their properties would “completely change the procedure,” City Attorney Jim McLeroy said.
Resolution No. 1184 was unanimously approved by the council.
Niewiadomski said the next step in the annexation process is to set dates, times and a place to hold public hearings before the proposed annexation for the Luminant property can be considered.
He recommended Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m., which would give officials time to give and post notices as required by law.
McLeroy recommended starting at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 7, to be held prior to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Since it is a regular council night.
The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 1185 as recommended by city staff regarding the schedule for two public hearings for the proposed annexation of the former Luminant property into the city.
Wildcats Basketball Hands Paris Their First Loss
Wildcats Basketball Team Outscores Paris in 4th Quarter to Take Home Win, 67-61
After trailing for more than two quarters, the #5 ranked Class 5A Wildcats Basketball Team was able to pull into a tie after three quarters and then outscored Paris, ranked #17 in Class 4A, in the 4th quarter to take a 67-61 win at home Tuesday night. A defensive change in the third quarter paid dividends for the Wildcats as they went into a half court trap. The Wildcats got big 9 point third quarters from Cameron Kahn and Boo Wilkerson. The score was tied 51-51 after three quarters. The Wildcats outscored Paris, 16-10 in the fourth quarter. Justin Brock hit a big three pointer and Grayson McClure canned two threes. Day Day Hall had a basket and three free throws and Kahn added a basket. Paris led after the first quarter, 16-12 and at the half, 34-31. Kahn led the Wildcats with 20 points including a three-pointer. Hall added 16 points. McClure had 12 points on four three-point baskets. Wilkerson had 9 points and battled ferociously for rebounds against taller players. Brock had 6 points on a pair of treys. Point guard Lamodrick Johnson had 4 points. Trevon Dennis of Paris led all scorers with 24 points. Dennis also hit four shots from behind the arc and was a force on the offensive boards. The Wildcats improved their season record to 4-1. Next the Wildcats play in the Spring Creek Tournament in Mansfield Thursday through Saturday.
No Action Taken By Council Following Executive Session
Community Members Pack City Hall, Several Address Council Regarding Closed Session, City Manager
Despite an extended executive session, Sulphur Springs City Council did not act on “personnel matters specifically relating to the city manager.”
“There’s not going to be any action taken tonight, but you’ll still get a chance to speak in the public forum,” Sulphur Springs Mayor Norman Sanders said after the regular City Council meeting convened, about 20 minutes after 7 p.m. Tuesday.
“Just for clarification, there will be no action taken tonight, is that correct? This will be scheduled for a later meeting, correct?” asked City Attorney Jim McLeroy.
Sanders affirmed that to be correct, which was met with applause from many who filled the Council Room at City Hall Dec. 3.
McLeroy noted that people who’d signed up to speak regarding an action item would still have the opportunity to speak when it came to that agenda item.
One member of the audience asked if that meant those who’d signed up to speak during public forum regarding the executive session item wouldn’t be able to speak about it Tuesday night.
“Everyone by law has a chance to speak tonight if they want to, but if there’s not going to be an action item tonight you might want to come back and speak at another meeting, when there is an action item,” McLeroy clarified.
About half of the meeting was spent in public forum. The majority of comments — from at least five business professionals, community residents and leaders — regarded personnel matters concerning the city manager.
Most spoke positively on City Manager Marc Maxwell’s behalf or asked the City Council to give more consideration in decision making as well as more transparency as to why the council is considering the personnel matters related to the city manager.
Jay Julian during public forum expressed disappointed in the lack of guidance shown for the city’s “vision” during a September meeting, but offered appreciation to Maxwell for the “great vision” he showed when talking about urban sprawl during the November council meeting.
“That is very, very forward thinking for a town this size to be thinking that far head. That is a vision. That is way, way vision. That is great vision and I appreciate that,” Julian said.
He also expressed appreciation and thanks to Maxwell for the vision and forward thinking in the decision to use mechanical concrete, utilizing parts of old tires to help stabilize road.
“The other thing I want to say tonight, since we’ve tabled the number one agenda item — the results of the executive session, if you’ll go to Goggle and type in ‘How to have a city recall election in Texas’ the very first thing that comes up is the city council recall by the Texas Municipal League and it’s a .pdf document. It’s pretty easy to do. We can all go home tonight, in case we need this next month or the next month, and maybe we can refresh ourselves,” Julian concluded.
Brad Johnson, speaking on his behalf as well as his wife and Northeast Texas Farmers Co-operative, “would like to thank the city council’s full consideration of not only giving Marc Maxwell a significant pay raise” but also extending his contract by years.
Clay Walker, who has served on the City Council and Planning and Zoning commission, cited a number of city accomplishments achieved during Maxwell’s time as city manager, including a 30-inch water line, parks and a city that looks so pleasing people want to not only visit but move to Sulphur Springs.
Walker said the city was able to do those things due to the city’s leadership: the City Council, staff and Marc Maxwell. While the leadership has at time not been happy with everything, they have been able to attain incredible opportunities for the city and people of the city, including jobs good enough to keep young people from having to move elsewhere, Walker added. He cited the city taking ownership of the Luminant property as another “great opportunity” the city wouldn’t have without Maxwell.
He concluded by issuing a hope that the council puts away any animosity or personal agendas in order to get along and make the right decisions for the city city, particularly regarding Maxwell.
Lifelong city resident Tyler Law during public forum said while he was originally skeptical of the downtown revitalization effort, now, 10 years in, he thinks it to be a very amazing thing that’s driving business, growing the town. That, he said, is what drives tax revenue, generates money for street repairs. Maxwell, Law said, “is a huge part of that.”
Law suggested, if the council is considering firing Maxwell as has been rumored and speculated in the community, that they take any issues they may have to the city manager to see if he can address them first. He also asked that the specific reason for the executive session be given, especially if firing is being considered.
“To go and try to fire someone, where are the reasons? Where’s the transparency in that? If you are going to fire someone, bring some reasons to the table so we can see it. I don’t want to just go and fire him. That makes no sense,” Law said.
Ending the city manager’s employment with the city after 24 years would would have repercussions, including the need and process of hiring someone to fill the position. There’s no guaranty any one would provide long-term continuity in leadership nor be fiscally responsible, Law told the council during public forum.
“So, I just think we need to think about that. I would really like some transparency and have some additional conversations of ‘If we’re going to fire someone, why are we firing him?’ And, I’m not seeing any of that,” Law said.
“There’s supposed to be transparency. I would love to see it, and I really don’t want people to act on emotion,” Law continued. “What it really feels like we’re pushing here is emotional. We’re reacting to what the keyboard warriors on Facebook are saying and it’s pretty inaccurate a lot of the times. I haven’t really seen a valid answer, a valid reason on why we should fire the city manager. So, I would really, really like to see some transparency and a decision made that’s not emotionally driven,” Law continued.
Gary Spraggins also spoke on Maxwell’s behalf during public forum. He noted that Maxwell has remained in Sulphur Springs for 24 years, despite having lucrative offers of employment elsewhere during that time. He cited serious construction at the airport, Coleman Park, a “phenomenal” revitalized downtown and new industry along US 67 among the city’s achievements attained during Maxwell’s tenure.
Maxwell did not achieve those alone, Spraggins pointed out. Maxwell did hire Peter Karstens, “a brilliant person who found ways for us to pay for the improvements in our city,” Spraggins noted. The EDC played a large role in the new industrial growth, as did the business-friendly environment, which he said is thanks in large part to Maxwell and the City Council leadership in past years,” Spraggins told the council.
Spraggins urged the council to “be wise about it, look at all the good he’s done,” when considering the “personnel matter” regarding the city manager.
“A man told me today that if this council fires Marc Maxwell, they’ll go down in history as being the worst city council we’ve ever had. If you want to have that legacy attached to your names for the rest of your days, then you would fire Marc Maxwell, tonight or any other time. But you don’t need to do that,” Spraggins said. “Let me encourage you to consider your actions very carefully. Make sure you’re being wise in what you do. And I think what you’ve got is a good thing here; you ought to hang on to it,” Spraggins concluded.
When Tom Sellers addressed the council during public forum, he noted there’d been a lot of discussion and a lot of good points made during the meeting. He said he’s seen a lot of changse, a lot of them good, in Sulphur Springs over the years. He said he hasn’t always agreed with Maxwell, but that people are nor perfect, including city managers.
“Leadership is tough. Tough decisions have to be made. It’s not always popular,” Tom Sellers said.
He noted that Sulphur Springs is blessed with a thriving downtown area people from out-of-town visit, take pictures, do business and spend their money. A lot of other towns in East Texas aren’t as vibrant, are losing businesses and boarded up as their downtowns are declining. According to Tom Sellers, Sulphur Springs has things that are important to people and businesses: good schools, a good hospital system, and “have had and hopefully we will continue to have strong city government, stable with good continuity,” and an assertive economic development corporation. People also consider what’s going on in the town and government, when considering moving businesses and families to Sulphur Springs.
Tom Sellers asked the council to consider the big picture, choose wisely and make good decisions for all in the community and to overcome any personality issues that might arise while in discussions, working toward a solution.
“If there are personality issues, please sit down in the same room and talk through them and be adults. Get your problems out on the table. Discuss it and work for solutions. There has to be solutions other than dismissing a leader at a critical time. I believe our city and our area is destined to continue to grow and expand, and be a bright place in the future,” Tom Sellers said.
John Cooper, stated he’d affirm Tom Sellers remarks, then directly addressed Councilman Jimmy Lucas.
“My forefront for Councilman Lucas, I’m asking you tonight to resign your commission as councilman and to leave this building anytime you get ready. Sir, I feel you are a detriment to the community, I feel you are a detriment to the city council, and I’m asking you right now to resign sir,” Cooper said.
The meeting was then adjourned by the mayor without further comment or action from the city council. After the meeting, Lucas declined to comment on Cooper’s request or any of the statements made by the community during the meeting.
In fact, nearly all of the city council members declined to comment regarding either the executive session and any comments made during the meeting.
After the meeting, Councilman John Seller said only, “I’m glad that we’re taking more time.”
“I’m very appreciative for all the people who came out tonight for their support,” Maxwell said following the meeting.
Blue Santa Drive Wraps Up and Toys, Bikes Still Needed!
Members of local law enforcement experienced the joy of Christmas giving as citizens brought toys, bicycles and money for Blue Santa on Tuesday December 3 as the 2019 toy drive wrapped up. Many families brought their children, who personally handed over dolls, games and even bicycles with big smiles on their faces. More than one local business donated up to a dozen boxed bicycles. Employees of local industry pooled their donations and turned in sizable amounts for Blue Santa. During the final hour, a steady stream of drivers were pulling up to hand cash or checks to SSPD Sgt. Josh Schufeldt and his team of volunteers. The money will be used to purchase additional toys for the more than 800 Hopkins County children on the 2019 list. Joy in giving was felt by those giving as well as those taking the donations!
Through the final afternoon and evening, the donation trailer gradually filled up with boxed and bagged toys and the row of parked bicycles grew to over 50! As of 7 pm Tuesday, monetary donations had grown to over $13,000.00. Last year, Blue Santa money donations amounted to over $18,000 with bicycle donations of almost 100. Now, donations of all kinds will still be accepted at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department for the next few days. Blue Santa Distribution Day is Sunday December 15.
