Chamber Connection For Sept. 5, 2019
By Lezley Brown, President/CEO of Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
We have a Stew deadline looking us in the eyeballs! Sept. 13 is the last day for cooks to enter and keep your stew site from 2018. All unreserved sites will be open to new cooks on Monday, Sept. 16, at 8 a.m. Forms have been mailed out, but if you need them, all forms are on our website at www.hopkinschamber.org, and we have them at the Chamber. So, all of you cooks who have gone into retirement, I have a spot for you! I’d love for you to cook one more time in this 50th anniversary! The 50th anniversary of the Stew Contest will be here before we know it!
We are also looking for judges for the Stew Contest. If you are interested in judging, please give us a call here at the Chamber, (903) 885-6515. This would be a great year to judge!
The Chamber is excited to announce our vendor call for the Stew Fest Market! The Chamber is currently accepting vendors for the Stew Fest Market, which will be located on the south side of Buford Park during Friday night and Saturday Stew Contest activities. This is a great opportunity to sell goods or to promote your business to 7,000 people who attend the Stew Contest annually. Vendors may rent booth space to sell goods or distribute information about their business. Booths will be assigned on a first-paid basis. Access to electricity is not guaranteed. Generators are permitted. Desserts may be sold, but no other food or drinks may be distributed. Vendors who are interested in purchasing booth space, call the Chamber of Commerce at (903) 885-6515.
I have some more very exciting news! The Chamber of Commerce is currently selling our 2019 Hopkins County Christmas ornament. This ornament is the second of our series and features our beautiful Buford Park, the 50th Anniversary Stew Contest, and beautiful oak trees under a starry sky. It is dated with the year, made with 24 karat gold, shatterproof, and VERY limited in number. They are quite beautiful and the perfect addition to a rare collection. They are $40 each and literally flying out the door. If you would like to purchase one, please call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515, or come by soon.
Echo Publishing Is Offering A Stew Banner Promotion
Attention all Stew Contest cooks, Stew Fest Market participants, and all those who just like to eat stew: Echo Print and Design is offering 20 percent off plus free design on all vinyl banners now thru October 18th. Call Echo at 903-885-0861 or stop by 401 Church St., Suite A, in Sulphur Springs.
Main Street Theater Presents Greater Tuna
The Main Street Theater Community Players Presents Greater Tuna on two upcoming weekends. The first weekend is Sept. 6-7 at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on the 8th. The second weekend of performances will be Sept. 13-14 at 7 p.m., with a matinee performance on the 15th at 2 p.m. Online reservations can be made at www.communityplayersinc.com or by calling (903) 885-0107. Main Street Theater is located at 225 Main St. in Sulphur Springs.
Accents And Accessories Has Scheduled Their Ribbon Cutting
Accents and Accessories, located at 8857 Nornth FM 17 in Yantis, has scheduled their ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, Sept. 6, at noon. Please make plans to welcome this new business to the area.
Big Smith’s is celebrating the BIG 30!
Big Smith’s BBQ and Catfish is hosting a Business After Hours to celebrate 30 years of operation in Hopkins County! This anniversary celebration is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Grab your friends and co-workers and head out to this big celebration!
Hope Family Fellowship schedules Hero Day Lunch
On Wednesday, Sept. 11, Hope Family Fellowship in Sulphur Springs is hosting a Hero Day lunch for all police officers, fire personnel and first responders. They will serve from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Hope Family Fellowship is located at 434 East Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs.
Magic Scoop Is Growing
Magic Scoop is excited to host a ribbon cutting celebration for their new drive-through location on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 4 p.m. The drive-through is located 1401 South Broadway St. Come join us to check out the second location for Magic Scoop!
Celebration Antiques Is Hosting A Ribbon Cutting Celebration
Celebration Antiques, located at 800 Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs, is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, Sept. 13, at noon. Please make plans to attend!
Hopkins County Republican Party Hosts Old Time Political Rally
The Hopkins County Republican Party is hosting an Old Time Political Rally on Saturday, September 14th at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs at 6 p.m. Make plans to enjoy hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, homemade ice cream and speakers galore! Tickets are $5 per person, or $10 for a family of five. Tickets need to be purchased in advanced. For more information visit www.hopkinscountygop.org.
Ribbon Cutting for Happily Ever After And 4-J’s Body Shop
Happily Ever After and 4-J’s Body Shop are hosting a double ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, September 19th at noon. They are located 4411 Highway 19 North in Sulphur Springs. Please make plans to join us!
Chaffer’s Place Presents Their Monthly Concert
Chaffer’s Place, located at 410 Main St. in Sulphur Springs, is hosting a live concert called Paying Tribute to Chaka Khan. The concert will be held on Sept. 19, and doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. This includes dinner and a show! For more information call 470-848-2246 or visit www.ckproductions.info. Chaffer’s Place also offers live music every Friday and Saturday night.
Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild Hosting Their Annual Quilt Show
The Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild is hosting their annual quilt show on Friday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The show will be held at The ROC which is located at 115 Putnam St. in Sulphur Springs. Quilt show admission is $5.00, and children under 12 are free. In addition, raffle tickets are available at $1 per ticket or six for $5 for the 2019 Raffle Quilt called “Tessalla.” For more information, visit www.SulphurSpringsTxQuilts.com.
Brick Street Vintage Market Is Scheduled For Saturday, Sept. 21, From 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Downtown Business Alliance is sponsoring a Brick Street Vintage Market on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be located downtown on Connally and Gilmer streets. Many local and out of town vendors and businesses will be here participating as wineries, galleries, antiques, fashion boutiques, homemade ice cream, kitchen items, restaurants, and even more. You don’t want to miss this!
Senator Bob Hall To Host Town Hall
Senator Bob Hall will be hosting an 86th Legislative Session Town Hall on Saturday, September 21st at 2 p.m. The Town Hall meeting will be located at the Hopkins County Courthouse.
Workforce Solutions Will Host Its Annual LEAP Conference From 9 a.m. To Noon Oct. 4
Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting its annual LEAP (Learning Endorsements and Professions) Youth Expo on Friday, Oct. 4. This event is very much like a job fair except that it is geared to educate eighth graders and help guide them as they make their endorsement selections heading into high school. Workforce Solutions is seeking a wide variety of companies and businesses to attend the LEAP Youth Expo to describe your business and expose eighth graders to all career avenues after graduation. Since students now choose their high school endorsements while in eighth grade, the Expo is perfect for them. Over the past two years, they’ve had difficulty getting a veterinarian, doctor, dentist, orthodontist, pilot, author, artist, musician, architect, and sports/personal trainer. Please consider attending this Expo and taking visuals and information to give away. They will be so thankful to have you there! Please call Bart Spivy at (903)794-9490 ext. 513 with any questions.
Know Your Native Plants: Pokeweed
Submitted By Dr. Mario Villarino, Hopkins County Extension Agent, Ag., N.R.
A common native plant setting berries this time of the year is the pokeweed.
According to Penn State Extension:
the common pokeweed (Phytolacca decandra) is an herbaceous perennial plant that can grow up to 9 feet tall. Mature plants resemble shrubs or young trees. However, the stems are not woody. Pokeweed reproduces from seeds.
New leaves and roots, along with the berries, should not be eaten because they are toxic; having said that, years ago parts of the plant were used for medicinal use.
The seedlings have alternate leaves that are reddish on the underside. The new shoots that emerge each year from the taproot resemble seedlings, but are thicker and clustered together before extending laterally. A pokeweed taproot can be over a foot long and 4 inches thick. Stems of mature plants are reddish.
Pokeweed produces flowers from July into early fall. The small white flowers grow on reddish-stemmed racemes (clusters of lowers grown on short pedicels). The racemes are erect or droop. The fruit are green at first and turn purple to almost black as they mature. They are very noticeable and contain a lot of red juice. Numerous birds use the fruit as a food source.
Pokeweed can be a weed in landscape beds and nurseries. First-year plants can be hand removed, particularly early in the growing season.
Due to the size of the taproot, it can be difficult to eradicate once it becomes established. A non-chemical method would be to cut the plant a number of times each growing season until it exhausts the energy stored in the taproot. A systemic herbicide, such as glyphosate or 2, 4-D, can be applied to the foliage in late summer. It will be taken down into the root.
A more targeted approach would be to cut the plant near the ground and apply undiluted herbicide to the wound. The herbicide has a shorter trip into the taproot. Remember to always read the label for specific application sites, precautions and mix rates.
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].
Street Maintenance Doubled In Sulphur Springs In Spring
Waste Lift System Repairs Begin Sooner Than Originally Planned
The street maintenance fee program implements in 2019 has been successful, doubling the amount street surfaces that received repairs this year, thanks to the $5 street maintenance fee Sulphur Springs residents pay on their utility bills.
Plans for another major repair project had to be started immediately due to the precarious state of the system; the Cantex sewer lift system overhaul wasn’t scheduled to begin until the next budget year, but are already in progress due to the serious problems already experienced along the line, according to city officials.
Street Maintenance
Sulphur Springs crews were able to repair a total of 3.59 miles of city streets this year, including 1.53 mile more than approved in the regular summer paving program. That’s thanks to the street maintenance fee collected since January. That’s part of seven additional street repaired using the street maintenance fee, according to Sulphur Springs Finance Director Lesa Smith.
As of Aug. 31, the city had billed $339,332 in street maintenance fees, collected $306,064 and expended $360,231 in street maintenance fees. Collections should be a little bit higher as reports are 20-25 days behind.
In 2020, the first full year for SMF collections, the city anticipates spending $489,500 to pave more than 2.5 miles of city roads, parts of nine different streets with the SMF revenue, although the actual area paved will depend on bids at the time of paving, according to Smith.
Streets paved with a Type D asphalt overlay (along with the project’s size and cost) since the street maintenance fee was implement in January include:
- Peach Street/Georgia Street – 0.25 of a mile (1,331 feet), at a cost of $65,383.02.
- Putman Street – 0.22 mile (1,150 feet), $44,965.50
- Ashcroft Street/Town Street – 0.21 miles (1,110 feet), $37,100.65
- Brewer Street – 0.14 mile (750 feet), $26,273.50
- Carter Street – 0.22 mile (1,141 feet), $74,797.05
- Hodge Street – 0.19 mile (1,029 feet), $62,187.53
- North Locust Street – 0.3 miles (1,600 feet), $49,523.46.
In fact, the finance director noted, North Locust Street was not originally on the SMF repair plan this year, but were able to add later.
City Manager Marc Maxwell asked Smith in future reports on the street improvement fund if she could include also the cost per square
Sewer Lift Station
Maxwell also advised Sulphur Springs City Council during their meeting Tuesday evening that the timeline for one capital improvement project had been moved up due to the precarious situation it presents.
In the city’s 2013-17 capital improvement plans, 2,400 linear feet of aging sewer 2 force mains and 2,900 feet of gravity main were replaced with a Canex force main, which was routed to pass around instead of going through the middle of the hospital complex. The final segment of sewer main was connected to the new Cantex lift system on Oct. 1, 2018, according to city records. A lift station, a low point where sewage run through the system.
“In this case, Cantex handles about one-third of the sewage for the city. We’re starting to have a lot of problems with the Cantex lift station. In the last 60 days, we replaced pumps 4-5 times. It’s a combination of problems. One, the internal mechanical works of the lift station are worn out. Two, we were having a problem somewhere up stream with a manhole,” Maxwell said.
The manhole was an old brick manhole. Bricks were getting into the system, sending them down the line into the pumps, destroying them. City officials began looking for the manhole, and believed they’ve found it, however, there’s no way of knowing at this point, how many bricks are already in the system, and when they’ll flow down the line to the pumps again, according to the city manager.
City officials included $130,000 in the 2019-2020 budget to rebuild the lift station in a way that it will last for a couple of decades and so it won’t be affected by the bricks.
“But, we can’t wait for the budget year to do the work, so I authorized building director James Jordan to go ahead with the expenditures in this year to do work to build the station,” Maxwell told the council Tuesday night.
“In our current year budget, we have a certain amount set aside for our water and sewer line repairs, replacement – all of that. We won’t use all of that this year, so there’s plenty of money in the budget, as it stands, to make those repairs,” Smith said.
“We will need to do a budget amendment to accommodate this expenditure,” Maxwell told the council “I just wanted you to know what’s going on. We are still bypassing it. We’ve got temporary pumps out there for pumping around the lift station. It’s a very precarious situation.”
Annual ‘Walk to Remember’ Campaign Steps Off for Terrific Tuesdays
The Terrific Tuesdays Respite Program for caregivers of Alzheimers and dementia victims is entering it’s annual fundraising season. There are a number of ‘mini-walks’ planned starting with the first one on Tuesday September 10 at 10am from the home base of Terrific Tuesdays, First United Methodist Church on Church Street in Sulphur Springs. Anyone who would like to register to come and make the leisurely stroll around the parking lot with the Terrific Tuesday “club members” is welcome to do so, in a show of support for the loyalty and dedication on the part of caregivers of this disease as well as appreciation for the weekly respite program.
Here are other opportunities you have to take the “mini-walks”: Wednesday September 11 at 10:30am, Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab Thursday September 12 at 9:30am, Sulphur Springs Seniors Center Friday September 14 at 10am, Wesley House Assisted Living Wednesday September 18 at 10:30am, Pioneer Crossing Wednesday September 18 at 2pm at Hopkins Place Monday September 23 at 10am, Carriage House Manor Wednesday September 25 at 10am, Rock Creek Health and Rehab Thursday September 26 at 10am, Sulphur Springs Imaging Center Friday September 27 at 10:30am at Sunny Springs Nursing and Rehab
The final walk, the major ‘Walk to Remember’ will be a festive occasion on Celebration Plaza on Thursday October 3 starting at 10:30 am. Alzheimers and dementia patients, their caregivers, family and friends will be there to participate in the fundraising walk. More than 17 prizes and spirit awards will be handed out. Walk to Remember T-shirts are available now at $20 each at the Seniors Center, 150 MLK Drive, or by phoning Tammy Reardon at 706-580-2379. Donations for the Terrific Tuesday program can be mailed to FUMC att: Terrific Tuesdays, 301 Church Street, Sulphur Springs, Tx 75482. The 2019 goal is $10,000 to fund the local Terrific Tuesdays program during 2020.
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Pickton Man Taken In Custody In Bell County On 3 Hopkins County Warrants
A 26-year-old Pickton man was jailed in Bell County on three Hopkins County warrants, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was alerted that Christian Kirby Collins was at their jail. A transport deputy was sent to Bell County jail, where he took Collins into custody at 11:29 a.m. Sept. 3. Collins was transported to Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center.
Collins was booked into the county jail on warrants for possession of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and violation of probation, which he was on for possession of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and aggravated perjury, according to jail reports. According to arrest reports, the offenses occurred on Jan. 8, 2015.
According to jail records, Collins has been in and out of jail on those as well as other charges more than once in the past five years.
Collins was jailed Dec. 13, 2014, on the aggravated perjury charge and assessed 10 years in Texas Department of Criminal Justice on one controlled substance charge; he remained in Hopkins County jail on those charges until March 26, 2015, according to jail reports.
He was again booked into and released from jail on the perjury charge on Feb. 24, 2015; and held in the county jail on a bench warrant on the controlled substance charge from Aug. 18 to Aug. 20, 2015, according to jail records.
Collins returned to Hopkins County jail from Feb. 12 to April 20, 2016, for violation of probation on both controlled substance charges as well as the aggravated perjury charge, according to jail reports.
Coach Owens Comments on the Wildcats and Lovejoy Leopards at His Weekly Media Gathering
During Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens weekly media gathering Wednsday (September 4), he said losing was a humbling experience that knocked down some of the players a bit. He said some players are being told they have to step up. Obviously videotape showed lots of things that need to be improved upon. Coach Owens said Frisco Wakeland was the type of team that makes you pay when you make mistakes. He called the Wakeland loss a wake up call. Coach Owens added the players focus has been great this week at practice. He called the Wildcats a work in progress adding they are still trying to figure out who they are. Coach Owens said some good things did happen during last week’s game. He called Friday night’s opponent Lovejoy smart and disciplined. He said they play hard. But Coach Owens biggest impression from scouting Lovejoy last Saturday was how large they are in the offensive and defensive lines. He said they are much bigger than Wakeland. Lovejoy is also 0-1 losing 13-10 to Colleyville Heritage last Saturday. Coach Owens said Lovejoy appears to pass first to set up the run. He said the Leopards feature a good running quarterback. Coach Owens said Lovejoy has plays designed for him to run. He called the Leopards’ defense scrappy. Coach Owens said he wants to win but perhaps more important for the long run is for the Wildcats to focus on getting better for district games.
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Says Everyone Played Well in Win Over Wills Point at Home Tuesday
Gee it’s great to be back home. Paul Simon’s lyric would definitely apply to the Lady Cats Volleyball Team. After opening the regular season with 23 straight road matches, the Lady Cats finally got to play before the home crowd Tuesday (September 3). They defeated Wills Point, 3-0 by the score of 25-10, 25-14 and 25-12. Lady Cats Coach Bailey Dorner agreed that the Lady Cats played some of their best volleyball this season. Coach Dorner said everyone had a great game noting that they played as a team. Senior Sydney Washburn had an exceptional game. Coach Dorner said Sydney made great passes, was a force at the net and also had blocks and good serves. She said Sydney had to have a kill percentage of somewhere between 50% and 75%. Coach Dorner said the team’s good passing also resulted in solid sets by setter Peyton Hammack that led to hitters putting the ball away at the net. The game also marked the return of Erika VanBenthem, who has missed some time recently with a turned ankle. The Lady Cats next have a rematch against Edgewood on the road Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Cats, 2-0 in an Edgewood tournament August 24. Coach Dorner said Edgewood provides good competition but he added if the Lady Cats play like they did against Wills Point, she expects the result to be different Friday. In a special promotion next Tuesday, the Lady Cats will offer free admission for all fans that bring can goods to the game. The cans will be donated to the local food bank.
Wildcats Team Tennis Coach Pleased With His Team’s Competitive Effort in 12-7 Loss to Lindale
Wildcats Team Tennis Coach Tony Martinez was pleased that his Wildcats had a competitive match against a strong Lindale team at the Wildcat Tennis Center Tuesday (September 3). The Eagles won 12-7. Coach Martinez was happy with the players who picked up wins but he was also pleased with several Wildcats who lost but had highly competitive matches. The match featured the Eagles’ strong girls lineup against the Wildcats senior-laden boys bunch. The Wildcats had to play without their #1 girls player, Jeauxleigh Cantu, who is injured. Coach Martinez pressed two freshmen girls into action, Tryniti Luckett and Kaylee Schumacher. Paige Miesse managed to win her girls’ singles match. Coach Martinez said Harleigh Stiegent also battled and sophomore Emily Dick gained valuable experience. The Wildcats boys captured the #1 and #2 boys doubles and four singles matches. Jonah Kirkpatrick teamed with Carlos Lopez to win their match as did the steady doubles pair of Aaron Lucas and Logan Schumacher. Coach Martinez also liked the grit displayed by the doubles team of Waylon Matlock and Alex Romero. Coach Martinez said the competitiveness of the matches shows improvement. Senior Jordan Gonzales also won his singles match. Just like against Pleasant Grove, Gonzales played in front of an audience of both teams as the last match of the night. The Wildcats, now 0-1 in district play, have a big district match at Greenville next Tuesday. Coach Martinez said the Lions have their third head coach in two years. Still he expects the two teams to be battling for a playoff spot next week.
PJC Sulphur Springs News
Paris Junior College English Instructor Ken Haley reviews an assignment with his English 1301 class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center. For information about academic and workforce education opportunities at PJC, call 903-885-1232.
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.
