Chamber Connection – Aug. 22, 2019
By Lezley Brown, president/CEO, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
The 50th Anniversary of Stew Contest will be here before we know it! Cooks have begun reserving their spots, and it’s going to be quite a celebration.
Just so you know, cook letters and entry forms have been mailed out. Your letter, if you cooked last year, should have arrived in the mail. However, 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! Sept.13 is the last day 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.
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!
Every year, the Chamber allows a non-profit organization to sell drinks at the Stew Cook-off. There are several rules and regulations to follow, but if you are interested in placing your organization’s name in the hat, please call the Chamber. You will be asked to come in and sign an understanding agreement in regard to rules and expectations. Deadline for volunteers is Aug. 30. Once we have all our volunteers in place, we will literally pick one out of a hat and award drink sales to that organization. Please call if you have any questions.
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.
We are more than halfway through the 4th Annual Chamber of Commerce Photography Contest! Let me review the basics. Anyone of any age can enter as we have a children’s category. The picture must be newer than Jan. 1, 2017 and must have been taken in Hopkins County. The contest will be open from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31.
There are seven categories you may enter: Natural World, Travel, People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile and Children’s Category. Only digital images are accepted (no prints).
To submit your photograph, email the picture to [email protected]. Rules and releases will be available on the Chamber of Commerce website. I cannot wait to see your beautiful photos!
Dixon & Dixon Insurance Ribbon Cutting
Dixon & Dixon Insurance is under new ownership and has scheduled a ribbon cutting celebration. It will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 4, at noon. Please make plans to join us at 322 Gilmer St. in Sulphur Springs.
Accents and Accessories has scheduled their ribbon cutting
Accents and Accessories, located at 8857 FM 17 north 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!
Magic Scoop is Growing
Magic Scoop is excited to host a ribbon cutting celebration for their new drive-through location! The drive-through is located 1401 South Broadway St. Come join us to check out the second location for Magic Scoop!
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, and children under 12 are free. In addition, raffle tickets are available at $1 per ticket or 6 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, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m. The Town Hall meeting will be located at the Hopkins County Courthouse.
Teen Arrested In Titus County On Felony Hopkins County Warrant
A 19-year-old Mount Pleasant man was reportedly taken into custody in Titus County on a Hopkins County warrant. Once alerted, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office sent Corrections Officer Melvin Jackson to Titus County jail where he took Zadarrius Tremaine Gamble into custody at 1:22 p.m. Tuesday, according to arrest reports.
Gamble was transported to Hopkins County jail where, he was held on a warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for theft of a firearm. He was denied bond and remained in the Hopkins County jail Wednesday afternoon on the charge, according to arrest reports. His aliases, according to jail and arrest reports, include Fat-Daddy, Little-Z and Phat-Daddy.
Gamble was reportedly arrested and jailed locally on Dec. 12 for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and theft of a firearm; he was released later that day on $10,000 on the unlawful possession charge and $5,000 on the theft of firearm charge. He was arrested again on Dec. 22 and released the next day on $5,000 bond on a Franklin County warrant for violation probation, which he was on for theft of a firearm, according to jail reports.
Police: Wanted Sulphur Springs Man Had 2.4 Grams Of Methamphetamine At Time Of Arrest
A wanted 32-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested early Wednesdaymorning for failure to identify and controlled substance possession in addition to both Collin County charges.
Sulphur Springs Police reportedly learned a wanted person at a location where an accidental blaze destroyed a shed Tuesday night, according to police and fire reports. A records check showed the person in question was indeed wanted on two charges, which were confirmed by Collin County authorities, according to arrest reports.
Officials located 32-year-old Cesar Mendoza in the 500 block of Junell Street just after 12:45 a.m. Aug. 21. When asked for his name and date of birth to verify he was the person named in the warrants, he allegedly told identified himself by a different, yet similar, last name and gave a birth date one year younger than his actual age, police alleged in arrest reports.
Mendoza reportedly tried to resist when police went to take him into custody on the Collin County warrants for violating probation, which he was on for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana. Police secured him into custody without incident or injury, Sulphur Springs Police Lt. Eddie Moon and Officer Zach Brown noted in arrest reports.
Once in custody, he allegedly admitted to having methamphetamine in his pocket. A pat down did revealed 2.4 grams of suspected methamphetamine in his pocket, along with a glass pipe and butane torch, Moon and Brown alleged.
In addition to the two Collin County warrants, Mendoza was charged with failure to identify and possession of 2 grams or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
Mendoza reportedly remained in the county jail Wednesday afternoon. Bond was set at $10,000 on the controlled substance charge, $1,000 on the failure to identify charge and $1,000 for violating probation on the Collin County marijuana charge; no bond was set for the other probation violation charge, according to jail reports.
Bowie Primary Student Flown To Dallas Doctor For Broken Arm
A Bowie Primary student was flown to Dallas for an injury reportedly sustained at school Wednesday morning.
The student reportedly broke an arm while on the playground at school, according to Sulphur Springs ISD Assistant Superintendent Rusty Harden.
The student’s parents were notified. The child was flown in a medical helicopter to a pediatric doctor in Dallas, school officials reported.
Community Chest Changes Hours: Starts New Program
Community Chest in Sulphur Springs is starting a new pickup program for all it’s clients. This new system allows clients to get fresh food every week.
Community Chest will now be open on Fridays starting 8-23-19 from 1p.m.-3p.m. All clients are encouraged to come in at this new time and pick up fruits and vegetables. Clients are reminded they must bring their own bags or boxes for this new pickup.
Community Chest will no longer be open on Monday beginning 8-21-2019.
Hopkins County Community Chest and Christian Alliance
217 Linda Drive
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
Phone: 903-885-3452
Lady Cats Volleyball Falls To Forney
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team Drops Road Match at Forney, 3-0 Tuesday Evening
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team lost a road contest at Forney Tuesday (August 20) evening, 3-0. The score was 16-25, 15-25 and 20-25. The Lady Cats have now lost two matches in a row. They also lost in the championship game of a Wills Point tournament to Commerce Saturday. The Lady Cats season record is now 10-6. The Lady Cats play next in an Edgewood tournament on Thursday and Saturday. A scheduling mix up prevented the Lady Cats from playing in a Tyler tournament later this week but Lady Cats Coach Bailey Dorner was able to get her team into the Edgewood tournament.
Wildcats Team Tennis Wins
Wildcats Team Tennis Takes 10-8 Win Over Pleasant Grove Tuesday at Wildcat Tennis Center
Wildcats Team Tennis took their second victory of the season edging by Pleasant Grove, 10-8 Tuesday (August 20) afternoon and evening. The teams did not play a mixed doubles match. In the last match of the night with both teams watching, Wildcats senior Jordan Gonzales dropped his first set but then rallied to take the second in a tiebreaker and then won another tiebreaker to win his match. That made the difference. If the match had gone the other way, the two teams would have ended in a 9-9 tie. The Wildcats split six boys and girls doubles matches getting wins from the girls team of Trynity Luckett and Mykylie Meador and from boys doubles teams of Aaron Lucas and Logan Schumacher and from Tate Smith and Alex Romero. Besides Gonzales, the Wildcats also got boys singles wins from Lucas, Schumacher, Carlos Lopez and Waylon Matlock. The Wildcats got girls singles wins from Paige Miesse and Savannah Lilley. The Wildcats season record is now 2-9. The Wildcats do not play again until Thursday, August 29 when they play Bullard at Tyler Junior College at 3:30 p.m. The two teams met in a Whitehouse tournament on August 15 with Bullard escaping with a 10-9 win.
Weed Control By Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
As we continue our activities in pastures and meadows during this summer season, here a reminder of fundamentals on weed control from Dr. Vanessa Olsen, forage specialist for Texas A&M agrilife extension: Our human nature is to find a simple, one-time solution for our problems. Unfortunately, this simple, one time solution does not exist for weed control in pastures and hay meadows. There are several factors that are important when it comes to weed control. These include:
Weed Identification: We cannot make the best management decisions if we don’t even know what the plant is we are trying to eradicate. Identification will determine the timing of our herbicide application along with the herbicide we choose. There are a multitude of resources available to help with identification. County extension agents, extension specialist, websites books, etc. Identification is important since some herbicides are more effective on certain weed species than others. Correct identification of the target plant helps ensure the selection of the most effective herbicide as well as most effective time of application. As a general rule, herbicides are more effecting in young stages of the weed but those are harder to identify at that stage.
Timing of Application: Once we have identified the weed we can determine if the plant is an annual, biennial or a perennial. Growth pattern will influence our timing to maximize control as well as reduce future populations. Annual plants, like wooly croton, complete their life cycle in one year/season. Ideal time to spray annual weeds with herbicide is when they are small and growing, well before they produce any flower or seed. Perennials complete their life cycle in multiple years/seasons. They often reproduce by seed and can regrow from root structures. An example of a perennial is blackberry/dewberry. Most perennials need to be sprayed with a herbicide at blooming or shortly thereafter. Identification will help determine the best time to be the most effective with given herbicides.
Follow the Label Directions: Strict adherence to label directions is required by law. Paying close attention to label directions will also ensure safe, effective, and economical use. Herbicide labels contain directions for proper rate and timing of application, a list of susceptible species, and information regarding cleanup and disposal following use.
Remember: The label is the law. Always read the pesticide label before using. Do not follow recommendations against the law.
Cumby Bond Election: What The Bond Funds, Tax Impact
Voters within Cumby ISD will be asked this fall to cast their preference either in favor of or against a $6.2 million bond election to fund facilities improvements.
The bond proposal is at least 2 years worth of work by administrators trustees and a facilities comittee.
District administrators explained a facilities inventory and evaluation was ordered in 2017. Then, a 10-member facilities committee determined how best to meet district needs and what would be required to fund them. Wants and needs were assessed, with creation of a 20-35 year district facilities plan as the goal.
After considering many different plans proposed, trustees and school administrators feel they have one for the first phase of improvement.
The plan, identified as Option 4, would allow the elementary campus to be more secure. That includes an 11,200-square foot eight-classroom elementary addition at the end of the existing elementary building. A new enclosed playground would be constructed behind the expanded cafeteria. Drainage improvements, cafeteria expansion behind the elementary are also in the plan, secure entry, new parking and drives, sidewalks and canopies, interior renovations and secure entry are also in the elementary plan.
These improvement would not only allow for interior renovations, but make the campus more secure and safer for the district’s youngest students. It’d also get them out of portable buildings, which have exceeded their intended life span by at least 8 years.
The overall improvements planned the elementary are estimated to be $4.01 million.
Because these improvements would be on the current football field, the field would need to be relocated; it’d be moved west of the current school facilities. It would have an 8-lane dirt track around it, which would keep students on the school grounds as opposed to running along the roadside in town, which some citizens had expressed concern about. The estimate to relocate the stadium is estimated at $900,000. A paved track is not included at this time due to the significant cost.
A new metal shop for vocational technology and career and technology classes would accommodate changes in education to provide more students with opportunities for more industry certifications and as many college and career credits as possible. That is estimated at $480,000
In order to repay the bond, the ad valorem tax rate paid to Cumby ISD would increase.
The current tax rate is $1.19, with $1.06 going toward maintenance and operations and 13-cents toward the existing debt. If the bond passes, that will increase the school tax rate by 37-cents per $100 property valuation. That’d make Cumby ISD’s overall tax rate $1.56 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation; 50-cents would go to repay debts. Overall, that’s just 1-cent higher than Cumby ISD’s tax rate in 2014, the school officials noted.
Senior citizens who qualify for the 1-acre homestead exemption would still receive it, but all other property would be taxable. In other words, if a resident owns 40 acres, only the acre the home is on is exempt. The remaining 39 acres would still be subject to full school taxes. Any rules applied to agricultural land would be factored in as well.
After a 90 day period following passing of the bond, the design period would begin. Construction could potentially begin in the spring and span two summers. Fall of 2021 is targeted for students to start classes in the new facility. Construction on existing facilities would be conducted over the summer, during Christmas break or other lengthy school holidays. New construction could we done during the school year.
