Tira News for June 20, 2019
By Jan Vaughn
We want to express our sympathy to the family of David Lee, who passed away a few weeks ago. Kelly Fletcher, David’s niece, shared about his life and the memorial, which was held on May 11, 2019. David was the son of the late (David) Boyd and Catherine (Patterson) Lee, of Tira. Kelly commented that David was a great singer and guitarist and “a very fine house painter.” Kelly shares his love for music and played a trumpet solo at his memorial. Several close friends and relatives gathered for the service, which was held inside the Tira Methodist Church, due to the “terrible weather.” Kelly reported noticing the “beautiful new pews” and said, “The entire church is so pretty.” David is survived by his sisters, Nell Crowson and Margaret Fletcher; brother, Don Lee and his wife, Vicki; and several nieces and nephews. Please remember the family in prayer.
Regina Payton spent a few days visiting her mother, Martha Payton, last week. They went to the Reilly Springs Jamboree at Heritage Park in Sulphur Springs on Saturday night, to mark the occasion of Martha’s birthday, which was coming up on Wednesday, June 19. Happy birthday, Martha!
Joyce Dodd reports, “We got about 12 bags of groceries today from ‘our angels’ and from Martha Payton and her brother Von. It is all stocked in the shelves and the pantry is full.” We always appreciate those who contribute to the pantry and those who volunteer to keep it stocked.
Don’t forget about the upcoming Tira Homecoming. It will be held on Sunday, July 7, with the program beginning at 11 a.m. in the Tira Methodist Church, and then a covered-dish lunch at the picnic tables on the grounds.
Malcolm and Kenden Joslin joined us for Father’s Day lunch on Sunday. Grace and Linda Ellen Vaughn were here, too. Later that afternoon, our great-grandchildren, Dixie, Rylan, Brailon and Slaiden came for a visit. Dixie went home with Landon and Laiken for a special evening with them, before returning to her home in Sour Lake, near Beaumont, the next day. She was in Tira for 3 weeks and got to go with them all on their vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. While there, they went on hikes and scenic drives and saw beautiful mountains and waterfalls, as well as some bears, deer, and other wildlife. They, also, enjoyed playing in the water park at the resort. The boys spent Sunday night with us and went to Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church with Chip on Monday.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
City Officials Propose Plan To Help Fund New Senior Citizens Center, Pacific Park Improvements
Sulphur Springs City Council is expected to be asked during their July meeting to call for an election which would help fund improvements at Pacific Park and construction of a new Senior Citizens Center.
City Manager Marc Maxwell during the June council meeting said the election would simply allow the city to utilize funds designated for business development to be spent for other purposes.
Maxwell said the city in 1999 took the same option to the voters, to provide $150,000 in 4A EDC funding coming to the city to be used for 4B purposes, specifically construction of Coleman Park. The city took out a bonds, paid using the annual EDC funding; this is the last year of payment on that note.
City officials are proposing taking the same motion to the taxpayers, asking to be able to utilize about $200,000 a year for 20 years to pay a new note, which would be used for Pacific Park improvements identified during a charrette and to build a new Senior Citizens Center, Maxwell said Wednesday morning.
The measure will be presented to the City Council at the next meeting, asking them to call a November election to allow voters to determine whether or not to continue using the EDC funding for parks and recreational purposes.
“Let’s do it again, only this time let’s ask voters if they want to approve $200,000 a year. It’s a greater amount, but it’s a lesser percentage of EDC revenues, because the EDC revenues have double in those 20 years. Let’s use that to sell $3 million worth of bonds,” Maxwell said.
The city manager proposed half go toward Pacific Park improvements and the other toward a new senior center. The city also plans to apply this fall for a $500,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant, which if granted would also help fund improvements at Pacific Park. While the two funding sources are not dependent on the other, both would go a long way toward funding the improvements the community asked for at the charrette.
Proposed by the city manager as a site for the new Senior Citizens Center is utilizing a piece of property on Oak Avenue that previously served as a nursing facility as well as the property to the south of it. The property is now owned by the taxing entities — the city, county, school and hospital districts. Maxwell said the other taxing entities would be asked to deed over their portion for the project. The property has been vacant for years, and the building in addition to requiring significant repairs before it is utilized also has an asbestos problem that must be abated.
Maxwell proposes razing the old rest home building on Oak Avenue. The property to the south of it could then be raised, and the new Senior Citizens Center placed on it. Where the old rest home building sat could then also be raised up a bit and used as the parking lot for the Senior Citizens Center to better accommodate the heavy use and activities for the facility.
If that does not occur, an alternate plan and location would have to be considered.
The tax funding and grant would allow a new Grays Building to be constructed in Pacific Park. One the other end of the park would be a sports pavilion that would include a basketball court and volleyball court, or provide space where chairs could be set up. There improvements, funding providing, would also mean a new playground, multipurpose area with backstop where baseball or other activities could be played and carried out.
Ranch for Profit Workshop Scheduled June 29
By Dr. Mario Villarino, Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Agent, agriculture, natural resources
According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, financial sustainability of a business is measured by the ability to maintain equity and to generate a net after tax positive income and cover withdrawals for owner operator labor and management.
The reason withdrawals and distributions are important in evaluation of business sustainability is because frequently the ranch business must provide income for living withdrawals. Measuring the financial sustainability of a business does not require any new methodology since the business accrual adjusted financial statements clearly show historical financial sustainability.
The Farm Financial Standards methodology provides the guidelines for measuring equity change and return on investment (ROI) using the balance sheet and accrual adjusted income statement. At least 3 years of history and projected financial statements can provide information to evaluate future sustainability.
Projections are always limited by the ability to forecast future productivity and commodity prices. History is real but one can be misguided by past performance without realistic projections. Cash is king in the ranching business.
In the short run, cash income can be maintained by not replacing capital assets, called living on depreciation or not spending money on inputs like brush control and fertilizer. Remember, it is net after tax income that increases equity. For every equity dollar lost it will take $1.15 to $1.28 net income, depending on the tax rate, to earn equity back.
Ranch investment cash flow cannot service much debt or support large family withdrawals. This is why so few families make their living solely from ranching in the Southwest. There is no simple way to make this investment highly profitable when one looks at ROI.
Equity can be sustained by contributions from other business activities or salary earnings. However, to measure business financial sustainability, it is advisable to evaluate the ranch business then, consider the non-business earnings and oil and gas contribution.
The low rate of operating return on farm and ranch assets creates a major debt service challenge for borrowers. When producers make an investment, the returns generated should be greater than the cost (interest rate). In order to pay the cost of capital, the producer must use after tax return from equity or other sources of income to pay the difference between cost and earnings.
Ranches just have a very low repayment capacity and must avoid high leverage. The beef cattle industry is still often a predator or prey situation. It is wise to have the information to avoid being the prey. All this information improves the communication between decision makers.
“Let the numbers do the talking” is a challenge in the cattle industry as it is less common for cow-calf producers to manage by the numbers than any sector in agriculture. Any business decision that focuses on evaluations of alternatives needs to begin with a good set of “numbers” that clearly show the current situation and then present the numbers for alternatives. The users must understand the numbers so they really communicate.
In addition, as with any communication, the users must have confidence in the numbers. Communication has to take place in a timely manner before decisions are made. Closeouts from retained ownership are more important than projections. Actual cash flow means more than budgets. Accounting systems have to meet IRS reporting requirement, but can be organized in a way to provide the financial numbers that can used to develop accrual adjusted financial statements that communicate real financial performance. Calculation of return on investment (ROI) is critical in measuring the cow-calf sector – the investment phase in the beef cattle sector.
Opinions and talk without the numbers or mixing emotional reasons for doing things will not provide sound informed business management decisions. Talk is cheap when it is not backed by good accurate and timely numbers. Many ranchers and people around them are willing to express opinions with little information or understanding of the decision environment (historical or current situation).
Having good numbers is increasingly important for communication with family members, many with inadequate experience and information to judge performance. Likely the biggest treat ranchers have is often self-inflicted in that the ranch is not treated as a business.
Too much emphasis is placed on the lifestyle. If capital or off ranch, earnings are inadequate to support the family living and meet debt payments the business in not financially sustainable. Living within your means is a challenge in ranching. Too many ranchers wish to live the lifestyle of urban dwellers — an expensive goal in this world of high energy cost.
Inheritance tax places a major threat to ranch survival between generations. High rangeland values with assets that generate low earnings cannot pay high inheritance taxes. Transfers force breakup of properties that are inefficient and require outside earnings to be sustainable.
The ranching sector is increasingly challenged from a business perspective. To help understand private ranch economic scenario, Hopkins/Rains Farm Bureau has organized a “Ranch for Profit Workshop” seminar by Dave Pratt, one of the most sought-after and respected authorities on sustainable ranching in the U.S., on June 29, at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.
The seminar is free thanks to the generous support of sponsors: NETBIO, Northeast Texas Farmers CO-OP, Legacy Ag Credit and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension- Hopkins County.
Local Businesses Be Aware of Who You Purchase Poster Ads From
Here’s a story that seems to come up every year at about this time. Wildcats Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Greg Owens is seeking the news media’s help.
He wants us to inform businesses that want to support school athletic programs to make sure that when they are contacted by someone putting together a poster to make sure they are school personnel and not some outsider. Someone is currently making the rounds of businesses trying to get them on a football poster and posing as school personnel.
School sponsored ads on posters support local student athletes. The Sulphur Springs High School Athletic Department is currently working on their own annual football poster. Ads for that poster are solicited by Wildcats Football Coaches and funds benefit student athletes.
Out of town people keep the money they get for ads for their poster. A man told one business woman that he was going through the local chamber of commerce directory and calling on all the names for ads for a football poster. A poster may be produced but funds don’t go for student athletes. Businesses beware.
Bailey Dorner Is New Lady Cats Head Volleyball Coach
Lady Cats Assistant Softball Coach Bailey Dorner is the new Lady Cats Volleyball Coach. Coach Dorner replaces Justin Maness, who has retired from coaching but will continue to teach at the high school.
Coach Dorner says she is excited about her new challenge and she adds she is ready to get rolling.
Coach Dorner is currently teaching skills to Lady Cats’ volleyball players, as allowed by a new UIL rule. Coach Dorner says her team is lifting weights, doing agility drills and is getting skills training. There is also open gym time for playing the game.
Dorner, a Mount Vernon graduate, played volleyball and softball for four years in high school. Dorner says softball was her passion and she played college softball at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. However, Coach Dorner says she had more fun playing volleyball. She was a setter for four years in high school.
Coach Dorner says she will probably pay a lot of attention to her setters. She says she expects them to be leaders and she adds she has high expectations for them.
Coach Dorner says this summer work has been a tease and it makes her ready to get started this fall. She says she has some talented Lady Cats who are working hard this summer and are getting after it. She says she expects the team to have a good year.
Coach Dorner also invites girls to her volleyball camp coming up July 29-31. Her team will also have a camp at the same time that will be conducted by a Texas A&M-Commerce assistant coach and two of the Lady Lions current players.
Jeremy DeLorge Will Be the New Wildcats Golf Coach
Lady Cats Assistant Basketball Coach Jeremy DeLorge is the new Wildcats Golf Coach. DeLorge replaces Chris Owens, who has retired from coaching and will be taking over as the SAC teacher, a high school in-school disciplinary program.
DeLorge is looking forward to his new challenge. He says he is excited and ready for the opportunity.
He gives Coach Owens credit for doing phenomenal work with the team. Coach DeLorge notes that the Wildcats lost some talented seniors but he adds there are some good players coming back. He wants to talk with Coach Owens this summer and to meet with players and their families to introduce himself.
Coach DeLorge says he took up golf when he was around 12 or 13 years old. He says when he picked up clubs he fell in love with the game. Coach DeLorge was a four-year letterman in golf at Irving Nimitz High School.
He says he was never a long hitter and had to depend on his short game around the green to score well. Coach DeLorge says he looks forward to developing the short game of his players.
He says he enjoyed this past year as an assistant coach for Lady Cats Head Basketball Coach Brittney Tisdell. This summer Coach DeLorge is continuing to work with Lady Cats’ basketball athletes on skills training.
Future Of Pipeline Road Discussed By Local Officials
June 19, 2019 – City and local transportation officials joined Hopkins County Commissioners Court opened discussions regarding a bridge project and possibility of reopening of Pipeline Road to provide another access route for emergency responders and property owners.
Essentially, the city and county have both considered ways to reopen Pipeline Road, which in addition to having water issues and being grown up also has a bridge in need of repair. Although a city street, the bridge was constructed by Texas Department of Transportation when Loop 301 was constructed. The bridge needs replacing.
TxDOT has some funding set aside to replace or repair it. Funding would be a 80/10/10 percent state/federal/local match program. The local share, even if in-kind labor match, would have to be accounted for within a certain span of time for the project to commence, according to TxDOT officials.
Because of it’s location, TxDOT officials would like to turn the bridge over to the city as part of the city road. The city cannot afford to replace it, Sulphur Springs officials said. TxDOT needs assurance the bridge will be utilized, with the road to it in good repair.
Also mentioned was the possibility of making it a farm to market road.
The TxDOT representative told city and county officials, during a recent commissioners court work session, that the information discussed would be relayed to TxDOT officials for their consideration regarding the bridge on and Pipeline Road in Sulphur Springs.
“Disaster Drill” is Hopkins County Emergency Management Local Test
A “disaster drill”, set for Friday morning June 21, will be held near the Sulphur Springs High School area. If you notice a number of response vehicles and personnel in that area, rest assured it is part of a State-recommended effort which evaluates our local response to various scenarios that may arise during a disaster, and to test the capability of local agencies to work together under an organized command. Signs will be up to inform drivers of Friday’s drill area. The drill will be completed by noon, according to Hopkins County Emergency Management Specialist Kristi Springfield.
If you’d like to know about the safeguard structure in place for Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County residents in event of a local disaster, here are some facts. Sulphur Springs Chief of Police Jason Ricketson is the designated Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Coordinator, a position he has contributed to for the past five years. Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley is the designated Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator. The Hopkins County Emergency Management Director is County Judge Robert Newsom. Endsley’s jurisdiction also covers the incorporated cities of Cumby, Como and Tira. There are numerous local agencies and organizations trained to provide aid as needed. Regional assistance may be requested from Regional Response teams organized through the Ark-Tex Council of Governments, available to a 9-county area. And beyond that, response from Texas Department of Transportation and other state agencies are in place for emergency situations arising within Hopkins County and across Northeast Texas.
Sheriff’s Investigators Locate Man Who Missed Scheduled Court Appearance
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford and Investigator Dennis Findley were made aware Anthony Glenn Ewton, 52, of Sulphur Springs did not appear in the 8th Judicial District Court at 9 a.m. Tuesday as he was scheduled to do. Two warrants had been issued for Ewton’s arrest on the charges he failed to appear on. So, the sheriff’s investigators went to his last known address on Locust Street in Sulphur Springs June 18 to try to serve the warrants, the investigators noted in arrest reports.
On contact, the man allegedly told the investigators he thought his court time was 1 p.m. June 18. His girlfriend was allowed to locate his paperwork. It showed Ewton was scheduled to be in court at 9 a.m. Consequently, Ewton was arrested at 10:30 a.m. on the warrants, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Ewton remained in the county jail at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, bond forfeiture on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance with intent to deliver and bond forfeiture on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. His new bond was set at $50,000 per charge, according to jail reports.
