Cumby ISD School Board, Facilities Committee Hosting Aug. 8 Community Meeting
Cumby Independent School District have been looking at way to fund facilities improvements. One option being considered is a bond election, which would provide funding for additional renovations to better address safety and security at the elementary campus, specifically moving classrooms out of the portable buildings.
Cumby ISD trustees are considering calling for a bond election to update facilities, but would still like additional community input regarding the matter. Thus, the CISD school board and Facilities Committee are hosting a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, in the high school library to discuss the possible bond election. Community members are asked to voice their input and concerns for facilities improvements and a potential bond election, and help prioritize needs during this meeting.
“Nothing is final. This will be a community-wide meeting. We invite everyone to attend, ask questions and discuss fundamentals,” said Cumby ISD Superintendent Shelly Slaughter.
In order to get a bond election on the Nov. 5 election ballot, the official order calling for an election would have to be approved by Aug. 19. The school board likely will be asked to consider calling for a bond election at their next meeting on Aug. 15.
Filing for the fall school board election continues through Aug. 19. Applications are currently available and can be returned from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday through, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 19 in Cumby ISD Central Administration Builiding, 303 Sayle St. in Cumby.
All three seats to be determined in the election are full three-year seats on the school board. Currently, Jason Hudson, Tony Aguilar and Jody Jarvis are serving in those positions.
Season Ticket Holders Seek Upgrades on Wednesday of Season Ticket Week
Some people were lined up outside Sulphur Springs High School Wednesday morning waiting for season ticket sales to resume at 8:15 a.m. The first person in line arrived at 4 a.m. Wednesday during season ticket week is always a very big day as season ticket holders who have renewed their tickets Monday or Tuesday may seek upgrades. They had some tickets to choose from. Lynette King with the season ticket sales team said 90% of season tickets were renewed Monday and Tuesday. That left 10% for those seeking upgrades. Ms. King said those showing up Wednesday morning mostly got tickets that they wanted. She added there were still some good tickets left when I talked to her around 11 a.m. Wednesday. She said there were still some chair back seats in Section C and a few in Sections D and E. Tickets are still available in rail back seats in Section B. Chair back seats are $50 for the five-game package and the rail back seats are $40. Tickets left after Wednesday will go on sale for the general public Thursday and Friday. Season ticket sales are taking place at the high school Media Center or Library Wednesday until 5:30 p.m., Thursday from 8:15 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m. until noon.
Community’s Friendliness, EDC Cited As Factors In Attracting My Perfect Pet Owner To Sulphur Springs
A gathering of about three dozen local officials, business representatives and community members joined Karen Neola at 49 Pioneer Parkway Monday morning to welcome her to Sulphur Springs and officially break ground on the site where she is expected in less than a year to begin production of her gourmet pet food products for pets.
Neola started My Perfect Pet after two of her dogs became severely ill 12 1/2 years ago, then lost Hunter. This was followed 2 months later by one of the largest pet food recalls in history.
The California business woman said she didn’t set out intending to start a business. She didn’t trust packaged pet food anymore, and wanted to make sure her babies were safe by controlling her pets food, by making it herself.
She said she decided if she was going to make it, it’d have to be perfect, like her pets, hence the company name My Perfect Pet. She began doing research to make sure pets dietary needs, appetites and pallets are met. In fact, she says she is still very dedicated to educating people about the various needs of their pets so that their diet is safe and healthy.
Only meat approved safe for human consumption will do for her pets and the My Perfect Pet production, Neola said. Meat is cooked at the minimum FDA prescribed temperature for food safety. The vegetables are added raw and whole for added nutritional value, and no preservatives are added. The food is frozen into bars, shipped frozen and distributed for retail sale.
The process started in Neola’s own kitchen and grew into first a nonprofit, then transitioned into a business offering 10 different blends for dogs (including low glycemic and low phosphorus blends) and three blends for cats. Due to the costs of shipping frozen products across the country, Neola began looking for a more centralized location.
She admitted Sulphur Springs was one of several places she was considering. However, the Sulphur Springs location was chosen not only because of it’s more centralized position in Northeast Texas, but for a few other reasons as well.
Neola said the attentiveness of the Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation staff and board over the last 2 years as she’s been considering her options made a big impact. They not only were always ready to answer any question she had, but often followed up on visits and questions, remaining in regular contact with her.
She complimented Mike Minton and the folks at Midwest Regional Bank, who are helping provide the financing that make the Sulphur Springs My Perfect Pet location possible.
Neola too complimented the community, which has been very welcoming. She said she’d returned on more than one occasion, without alerting the EDC of her presence, to look around and meet people to get a true feel for the community. She complimented Sulphur Springs on being “so welcoming” to a Southern California visitor, noting what a “friendly community” it is, one she feels she and her four-legged “child” Sweetheart would feel comfortable calling home.
During her visits, Neola even met a few other business people from California who will be My Perfect Pet neighbor’s in the industrial park, and made a fast friend of another Southern California native who now calls Sulphur Springs home.
Adding to the welcoming at Wednesday’s groundbreaking were congratulations sent from three state elected officials to welcome her to Texas. Many in attendance wore blue t-shirts with the My Perfect Pet logo to show support for the business.
The EDC worked with Neola for about 2 years before Neola committed to growing her business in Sulphur Springs. The operation in California contains a maximum of 15 employees; the Sulphur Springs production is geared toward reaching that goal at least as well.
Once all of the necessary permits have been attained, construction will begin on the nearly 20,000 square foot building, which will include insulated concrete that won’t crack in the cool temperatures needed for freezers to store the gourmet pet food once it’s ready. The construction process is expected to take 7-9 months, which would put the start of production expected in spring 2020.
Currently, the closest retail outlets that offer My Perfect Pet products are in the Dallas area. However, orders for the gourmet pet food can be placed online at www.myperfectpetfood.com, and once the business is up and running, Neola says she hopes to be able to make it available in area retail outlets as well.
However, Neola says local resident can test the product for their pets by stopping at the EDC building on Industrial Drive in Sulphur Springs. Neola has provided some samples of the gourmet dog food products, which are being stored in a freezer at the EDC. Those whose pups like the food can purchase it at a special price while supplies last. She said she hopes to have some cat food samples available at the EDC in the future there as well.
Dixie World Series Game for Saturday August 2nd, 2019
Three age divisions of Dixie Softball, inc will have World Series playoffs at Coleman Park in Sulphur Springs, TX. Round 1 games involving our own Hopkins County Ballplayers are listed below.
Dixie Ponytails X-Play
HOPKINS COUNTY (HOST)
Team E
GAME 3
6:00 pm, Field 1
Team F
LOUISIANA
Dixie Debs
HOPKINS COUNTY (HOST)
Team A
GAME 1
9:00 am, Field 5
Team B
TEXAS
Dixie Angels X-Play
HOPKINS COUNTY (HOST)
Team I
GAME 5
To be announced.
Team J
NORTH CAROLINA
Fort Worth Woman Accused Of Having Forged Social Security, Texas ID Cards
A 25-year-old Fort Worth woman is accused of having forged Social Security and Texas ID cards when stopped by a deputy in Cumby early Tuesday morning. Both documents allegedly had her name on them, and the ID card had her address and date of birth too. However, the number on the Social Security card was fake and the number on the ID card was that of a person who died, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
The woman, identified in arrest reports as Maria Cristina Lopez-Castillo, was a passenger in a Cadillac coupe stopped by Chaney at 1:55 a.m. July 30 on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 112 for a traffic violation. When he approached the vehicle, Chaney reported smelling a marijuana odor in the car and saw suspected marijuana on the top of her legs.
The deputy had both occupants get out of the vehicle and conducted a probable cause search. Chaney reported finding a resealable cigar wrapper with a small amount of marijuana in it; a forged Social Security card with the woman’s name and a fake number in the console; and the Texas ID card with her name, date of birth and address on it in the driver’s side front pocket. A records check using the number on the ID card showed it belonged to a deceased person, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
The woman, identified as Lopez-Castillo was arrested for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. The driver was issued a citation for the traffic violation and released, according to arrest reports.
Lopez-Castillo was released from Hopkins County jail Wednesday, July 31; her bond was set at $10,000 on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
Commissioners Approve Equipment Purchases, Bridge Replace Program Agreement
Steps to attain equipment for road maintenance and fund bridge repairs were among the actions take by Hopkins County Commissioners Court this week.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley will be getting Kubota Tractor with side boom mower, a Ford F250 Ford pickup and Mobank wood chipper to help workers keep county roads in Precinct 3 brush cut, and ditches cleared and brush cut back. The equipment will be financed through a lease purchase agreement. The measure was originally proposed during the July 15 commissioners court session. However, at that time, due to a tie in bids from the two submitting financial institutions, the matter was tabled. At the July 29 meeting, the court was presented two choices: repayment at 3.84 percent interest from City National Bank or 3.93 percent from Alliance Bank. The court opted for the lower rate from CNB, to be paid back over 7 years, starting in October.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker also at the July 15 meeting reported he’d be trading in a Kubota tractor and apply the funds toward another tractor from New Holland. Monday, Barker reported he’d traded it and the funds were included as assets. Because the new equipment costs less than $50,000, a bid was not required for the purchase, he noted.
The commissioners court also gave approval to an advance funding agreement for off-state system federal-aid highway Bridge Replacement And Rehabilitation Program project, and passed a resolution adopting a Hopkins County Bridge Replacement Program.
Essentially, this step was needed in order to be eligible for funding through Texas Department of Transportation for bridge repairs. The county in these documents committed to a 10 percent equivalent match, which has already been done. The county is responsible for a $23,790 match, the state 10 percent and the remaining 80 percent would come from the federal off-system bridge project.
For the county’s 10 percent match, Commissioners Greg Anglin and Joe Price have been doing a lot of culvert work, said Syd Newman, district bridge engineer for Paris District TxDOT.
The county and TxDOT have been in discussions regarding bridges in need of replacement. Several are on the list for potential repair, funding providing, in the next five years. This funding will go a bridge on County Road 4712 at Crooks Creek Tributary, which has been determined to be a structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridge on a public road off the designated state highway system, thus moving it up as a high priority, according to Newman.
Sixty Entering Eighth and Ninth Graders Show Up Tuesday for Wildcats Football Camp
Tuesday, July 30, marked the opening day for the three-day Wildcats Football Camp for SSISD students only entering the 8th and 9th grades. Camp hours are 9:30 a.m. until noon each day through Thursday.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens said camp for younger boys took place in late May and he said that change seemed to help increase numbers for that camp.
With hot weather Tuesday morning, Coach Owens was glad to have the indoor field in the Multipurpose Building. He said about 60 entering 8th and 9th grade football players attended Tuesday morning.
Coach Owens said with the start of school getting closer, players are getting excited about playing football. He said the camp helps get them in a rhythm, gives them something to do and preps them for the fall.
Coach Owens said some kids were missing Tuesday due to vacations and church camps. He said the ones at football camp were getting good work. He said the campers were displaying lots of energy, coaches — including varsity coaches — were working hard and the campers were getting ready for 9th grade two-a-days starting next Monday.
Coach Owens said if parents have eighth or ninth grade players around the house, he encouraged parents to get their kids to football camp. He said coaches are installing offenses and defenses for this fall. He said kids are also getting measured for helmets, shoulder pads, shorts and tee shirts so they will be ready to roll next Monday.
Coach Owens said at camp his coaches are spending 45 minutes to an hour on offense and then an equal time on defense. He said the youngsters are being trained on both sides of the ball. Coach Owens said the kids at camp are getting ahead of the game as two-a-days gear up for the ninth graders next week.
Wildcats Marching Band Hits Practice Field Tuesday To Begin Preparing For Fall Halftime Show
The 120-member Wildcats Marching Band hit the steamy hot practice field Tuesday morning, July 30, to begin preparation for this falls halftime shows and contests. Band Director Spencer Emmert said the on-field work occurred after about an hour of team building and bonding.
Emmert said he was excited about three things occurring this year. First, the band will have the opportunity to advance this year. That happens only every other year for the band. Second, the band will be getting new uniforms. Emmert said they should arrive in time for the band to wear them at the third football game, when temperatures are expected to cool down some. Third, the band will be taking a spring trip to Orlando, Florida, to perform and represent Sulphur Springs High School.
Emmert said he is also excited about this year’s halftime show, entitled “What a Wonderful New World.” He said it will include Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” and a portion of Dvorak’s New World Symphony. Emmert said the show is based on Christopher Columbus’ journeys across the seas. He said he hopes Wildcats fans will stay in their seats at halftime and watch the show.
Despite Tuesday’s heat, Emmert said band members were doing well and were getting lots of water breaks.
Most of the early work on the field involved fundamentals of marching. Emmert said not one note will be played Tuesday. That will change on Wednesday.
Emmert also introduced his new assistant band director Elliot Ayo Tuesday. Emmert said he hired Ayo out of Louisiana when he was at Winnsboro and now he has brought him to Sulphur Springs. Ayo, who played saxophone, will work with woodwinds. He said he likes living in a community where the band program is respected and he said Sulphur Springs’ band members were very committed.
