Apex Clean Energy Wind Farm Map
May 23, 2024 – Apex Clean Energy met this week with the Hopkins County Commissioners and County Judge Robert Newsom. During that meeting, APEX layed out their plan for a Wind Energy Plant in Hopkins County.
A map of all the property APEX needs for their project was displayed at the meeting. KSST was unable to get a copy of the map, however a photo of the map was taken. From that photo an approximation of the land required has been created.
Windmill Company Informs County of Intentions to Build Huge Wind Farm in Hopkins County
May 23, 2024 – Five employees of Apex Clean Energy met with county commissioners on this past Wednesday for a scheduled work session to inform the Hopkins County Court of their intentions to lease up to 14,000 acres in hopes to erect up to 100 giant windmills. Two major electricity transmission lines disect Hopkins County making the area appealing to wind farms to sell windmill-generated electicity onto the Texas power grid.
Mark Weaver, Apex Senior Land Manager, told the court his team has already secured several pieces of property so far, and hopes to get 10,000 acres secured to begin testing for viability of installation of between 50 and 100 of the huge windmills. The vast project area map shown to commissioners covers a wide swath of Hopkins County properties west of Hwy 19, but above and below Interstate 30. In reality, Apex hopes to lease enough space either in the northern or southern areas to build one wind farm to connect to the closest transmission line. During the discussion, Apex revealed that it would probably not be feasible to have two smaller wind farms connecting to both the northern and southern transmission lines.
During the meeting, Apex Development Manager Callie Chaplain, stated that the project would only move forward based on several criteria including: Apex leasing enough property from land owners, having a “road agreement” in place with Hopkins County, and receiving a sizeable tax abatement from the taxing authorities in which the wind farm would be placed. County Commissioners were very interested in the road agreement as Apex stated depending upon where each of the windmills would be placed, up to six over-sized, over-length 18-wheeler truck trips would have to be made down county roads and across county bridges to supply parts to build each windmill. Apex Clean Energy was involved in a lawsuit recently in Kansas as the Neosho County Court sued the conglomerate for failure to repair damaged roads known as “haul roads” after agreeing with the county that they would pay for the rebuilding of those roads.
Chaplain also stated that a tax abatement was key to getting the project moving forward as they hope to get relief from a large portion of the tax burden over the life of the project estimated to be 30 years. Another Apex employee explained the bulk of the tax abatement would last for the first 10 years of the project during the time of accelerated depreciation of the equipment. A schedule of the remaining expected tax revenue was promised to be produced at a later time by Apex on the request of the Hopkins County auditor.
Hopkins County Commissioner Mickey Barker was adamant about Apex Clean Energy “informing the public of their intentions of the project, not only to those landowners in the project area, but to other landowners outside the project.” Callie Chaplain stated that Apex Clean Energy often enters into contracts with non-participants of the project which she referred to as “Good Neighbor Contracts” to be able to place windmills closer to property lines than the regular set-back rules would allow. On average, Apex would have to stay 1200 feet away from a property line of a neighboring property that was not under contract, but with this “good neighbor contract” the company would be allowed to build up to the property line but still stay 1200 feet away from an occupied structure.
Meal-A-Day Closed on Monday
May 23, 2023 – The Senior Citizen Activity Center will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day. Meal-A-Day will also be closed.
Volunteers were busy Thursday morning making bags of food to send out to clients with Friday’s meal. The food is intended to help seniors during the holiday.
“It’s a balancing act, ” said Director Amanda Dietlin. “We want to send canned and non-perishable foods, but we also dont want to overload the volunteer drivers.”
Clients will receive a variety of foods, and without charge. MAD provides the bags as a public service on days when Senior Activity Center is closed.
Activites Start Tuesday May 28th, 2024
May 23, 2024 – Senior Citizen activities officially start at the new Senior Citizen Activity Center on Tuesday. Volunteers are working to move the last of the supplies from the old building on MLK to the new one at 301 Oak Ave. Heavier, and more bulky items have already made the trip. The City of Sulphur Springs has been working for the last few weeks to make the short move a huge success.
Meal-A-Day will begin setting up shelving in the dry storage area of the new building on Saturday. The climate controlled pantry will be a huge improvement. Issues with food spoiling due to intense summer heat will not longer be a concern.
Director Amanda Dietlin said, “Meal-A-Day is not in any hurry to move. We have several hoops to jump through with the Texas Food Bank, and the current facilities are working well. We want to make sure all our clients get those daily meals.”
Volunteer cooks and drivers will be notified by Meal-A-Day when the new facilities are ready. If could be several weeks before that happens.
Buckle up to save your own life: Click It or Ticket
AUSTIN – In the time it takes to read this sentence, Texans can click their seat belt and save themselves from an early grave — and save their loved ones from the sorrow of preventable loss.
While millions wear their seat belts every day as drivers or passengers, unbuckled drivers and passengers accounted for 1,183 — that’s 28% — of the more than 4,200 lives lost on Texas roads last year, and nearly half of all fatalities where someone could have worn a seat belt.
The harsh reality is that life can be ripped away from our loved ones in the blink of an eye — especially if they’re not wearing a seat belt.
“If only David had buckled up that day, he’d still be with us,” said Doreen Palestrant, the mother of a 17-year-old Kerrville high school football player who lost his life in a November 2021 rollover crash that took his life. David, who was unbuckled in the back seat, died at the scene when the pickup he was riding in rolled several times.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my son,” she said. “In my son’s memory, I encourage all Texans to always wear their seat belt, whether for a short trip around the block or a longer trip across town.”
TxDOT’s annual Click It or Ticket campaign aims to save lives by getting drivers and passengers to wear their seat belt 100% of the time.
“Buckling up is both the simplest and most effective safety decision that most of us make every day,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “No one ever expects to be in a crash, and that’s why it’s so important to always put your seat belt on every time you get in a vehicle. The one time you skip it could be the time you pay the price.”
In addition to conducting educational outreach, the campaign partners with Texas law enforcement around the state to step up enforcement of seat belt and car seat laws from May 20 through June 2, including Memorial Day weekend.
Texas law requires everyone in a vehicle to buckle up or face fines and court costs up to $200. Children younger than 8 years old must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they’re taller than 4 feet 9 inches. If they aren’t properly restrained, the driver faces fines up to $250 plus court costs. TxDOT offers free safety seat inspections across the state.
TxDOT’s Click It or Ticket campaign is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths. Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.
Make a Splash Safely During Water Safety Month
May 16, 2024 AUSTIN – As temperatures across the state start to heat up, many Texans will begin taking refuge in the water. May is National Water Safety Month and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) reminds boaters to follow some simple yet effective safety precautions to prevent accidents and save lives.
In 2023, 175 boating accidents occurred in Texas waters, resulting in 28 fatalities. Cody Jones, Texas Game Warden assistant commander for marine enforcement, is confident those numbers can shrink with more awareness and safety training.
“While we’re grateful the total number of boating accidents and fatalities decreased more than 17 percent and injuries decreased more than 15 percent from 2022, we’re not in the clear yet,” said Jones. “Accidents on the water can happen quickly and unexpectedly. It’s important to stay aware of your surroundings and practice boating safety.”
Jones also offers these safety tips:
- Wear a life jacket.
- Use an engine cut-off switch.
- Take a boater safety education course.
In 2023, drowning accounted for more than 57 percent of deaths on the water and was the leading cause of death in recreational boating fatalities. Of those, 75 percent of the victims were not wearing a life jacket.
“Wearing a personal floatation device or life jacket is one of the easiest things someone can do to protect themselves while on the water,” said Kimberly Sorensen, boating education manager. “In the event that an accident does occur, it is unlikely someone will have time to find their life jacket and properly secure it, so it is best to wear one at all times when on the water.”
Under the Water Safety Act, Texas law requires that a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket must be available and accessible for each occupant of a boat or paddle craft. Children under the age of 13 are required, by law, to wear their life jacket while the boat or paddle craft is underway or drifting.
“It’s important that each person have a properly fitted life jacket,” said Sorensen. “Adult-sized life jackets are not appropriate for children to wear, and you should never buy a life jacket for your child to ‘grow into.’”
If a life jacket is too big, whether on an adult or child, it can push up around the swimmer’s face and will not perform properly. TPWD has put together a quick, informative video about how to select the correct size of life jacket for children. Please refer to TPWD’s Boater Education website for more information about life jacket fitting, safety and regulations.
Engine cut-off switches are another important tool to prevent injuries and fatalities. Most motorized boats are equipped with this device, typically attached with a lanyard. Texas law requires that anyone operating a personal watercraft or motorboat less than 26 feet in length must have the engine cut-off device attached to themselves, their clothing or their life jacket when operating at greater than idle speed. In the event the boat operator falls off the boat or moves from the helm, the engine automatically and immediately shuts off.
“Most accidents and injuries happen when people are cruising around in boats or relaxing on the water; nearly a quarter of all operators involved in an accident have had more than 500 hours on the water,” Jones said. “This shows that even seasoned boaters in relatively benign circumstances can experience a mishap, so don’t let your guard down. Accidents can happen when it’s least expected. We want everyone to stay safe on the water.”
While enjoying Texas State Parks and water resources this May, please stay safe, stay aware and stay buckled into your life jacket.
For more information about boating safety, laws and requirements, visit TPWD’s boating laws webpage. To enroll in a boater education safety course, visit TPWD’s boater education webpage.
Sulphur Springs First United Methodist Church to Hold Vacation Bible School June 3rd Through 6th
May 21, 2024 – Sulphur Springs First United Methodist Church has an exciting opportunity for parents to send their Pre-K through 3rd grade students to a totally free Vacation Bible School, June 3-6.
It’s four days of developing skills in science, art and music while discovering who they are as children of God.
North Hopkins Cemetery Association Memorial Service to be Held May 26th
May 21, 2024 – The North Hopkins Cemetery Association will hold Memorial Services Sunday, May 26, 2024, beginning at 11:00 am. The event will be held in the Cemetery Chapel in Birthright, Texas. Everyone is invited. If you can’t attend, donations for cemetery upkeep are appreciated. Mail donations to…
North Hopkins Cemetery
In care of Charlene Stewart
120 South Davis Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas, 75482
Chamber Connection – May 21, 2024
By Butch Burney
We all have our favorite super heroes, but right now, the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is looking for a Stewper Hero!
The theme for this year’s 55th Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival is Stewper Heroes and we are looking for just that right logo.
The person who submits the winning logo will receive a Stewper-size package that includes four stew tickets, four T-shirts featuring the logo, one quart ticket and one coveted parking pass.
Logo submissions can be made on our website, HopkinsChamber.org, or emailed to [email protected].
The deadline for submissions is midnight June 7.
This year’s stew festival is Saturday, Oct. 26, at Buford Park.
Cocktails and Conversation
The Chamber’s next Cocktails and Conversation networking event is set for 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Signature Solar on Bill Bradford Road.
There is no charge for the informal event, and ou don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend the Cocktails and Conversation event. It is open to everyone, and a prime time to make friends and contacts.
Wishes Charity Golf Tournament
Heritage Home Health and Hospice is sponsoring the inaugural Wishes Charity Golf Tournament, with drinks, music and food, on Friday, June 7, at Sulphur Springs Country Club.
The shotgun start for the four-person teams is 1:30 p.m. Registration is $500 and includes two golf carts, four meal tickets and range balls.
Proceeds will be used to grant wishes for Heritage’s hospice patients.
For more information, contact Stacy White at 918-471-7397, Cindy Mills at 903-474-1027, Mia Herrera at 903-588-0636 or Tommy Dixon at 903-278-9921.
Main Street Theatre
Kevin Hollingsworth & Friends Comedy Show, presented by the Community Players is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, at Main Street Theatre.
Tickets can be purchased at OnTheStage.tickets.
Celebration Market
The Celebration Market season has open!. The market will be hosted in downtown Sulphur Springs every Saturday through mid-September. Support local vendors and downtown businesses, while enjoying special musical entertainment.
Mammogram Screening
Hunt Regional Healthcare’s Tubby Adkisson Mobile Mammography Coach will be in the area twice this week. It will be at Texas A&M-Commerce on May 22 and at the Spring Village Shopping Center on May 23.
To schedule a screening or for more information on insurance, call 903-408-5010.
Ribbon Cutting
The Dump King had a ribbon cutting on Friday, May 17. They are located at 2071 FM 71 in Birthright. They can also be reached at 903-348-0347.
There will be a ribbon cutting to officially open the new pickleball courts at Coleman Park, a joint project by the city and the Sulphur Springs Leadership class of 2023-24. The ribbon cutting will be at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4. Everyone is invited.
The Dairy Festival will host a ribbon cutting on the downtown Plaza at noon on Friday, June 7. Everyone is invited to the event.
Memorial Day on Celebration Plaza 2024
May 21, 2024 – Saturday May 25, 2024 starting at 11:00AM, the Marine Corp League of Hopkins County will be on Celebration Plaza. They will honor fallen members of all branches of the armed forces with a flag ceremony.
Judge Advocate Bob Kerr, recently elected Commandant Mike Thompson, Vice Commandant Judy Jones, Adjudant Rodney ‘Moose’ Worley and Paymaster Jim Rick will lead the event.
Thank you to the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
If rain occurs, a truncated program will be performed. The public is encouraged to attend this solemn remembrance.
Consider avoiding the phrase ‘Happy Memorial Day’. This day is not for the living, but is intended to provide a time to remember the fallen. You should also avoid thanking a veteran for their service on Memorial Day for the same reason.
