Beverley, Bill Owens To Co-Chair Hopkins County United Way 2019-20 Campaign
Lifelong Hopkins County residents Beverley and Bill Owens were announced Wednesday as the co-chairs for Hopkins County United Way’s 2019-2020 fundraising campaign.
“I am very excited for Bill and Beverley this year. We are here to be your support group. If you need help reach out and lean on us. You are going to do a great job,” said Mike Jumper, HCUW president. ” You’re going to be successful. It’s going to be a fun and great experience for you. I hope you get as much out of it as I did when I went through it. It’s a great opportunity for us to help our community.”
Beverley has been involved with HCUW for more than 20 years as a campaign worker and volunteers. She has also served on several HCUW committees through the years. She also volunteers with several community organizations that benefit from United Way funds, so she knows first hand a lot of the needs.
Each has also been involved with the community through Trinity Harvest Church of God and their work.
Bill Owens says he’s known about HCUW for a long time and has always considered it to be a good thing, but has not been involved aside from contributing. He says he knows there are many needs in the community that HCUW helps serve, and is learning a lot more about HCUW.
Bill Owens announced the proposed theme for the 2019-20 campaign is to “Be a HERO, Give to the United Way.” “By being a HERO, H-E-R-O-, give hope, empowerment, renewing and opportunities,” he explained.
For example, HCUW gives hope for 1,250 families, 36 percent of those who are unemployed and 28 percent disabled, through CANHelp where they receive food, clothing, help with rent and other basic necessities, Bill Owens said
HCUW helps give empowerment by helping Boy Scouts prepare for adult life.
United Way offers renewing for those trapped in substance abuse through recovery, education and prevention through East Texas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
HCUW helps provide opportunities for kids to learn sewing skills, do livestock shows food nutrition workshops, public speaking by being part of a Hopkins County 4-H Club.
“So HERO, I’m reminded today’s the 75th anniversary of D-Day, where thousands of heroes gave everything they had by storming Omaha Beach to give hope, empowerment, renewing and opportunity to the world. Our challenge this year is to storm Hopkins County for those that need in our own little community, by giving them hope, empowerment, renewing and opportunity by volunteering and giving in any way we can through the United Way,” Bill Owens said. “We ask for your prayers, for Beverley and I to be the HEROs we need to be. Thank you all for being a hero.”
Also recognized were new HCUW board members Larry Crowson, Markeda Fisher, Mike Horne, Sherry McGraw and Bill Owens. They join Mike Jumper, Charlotte Henderson, Adam Teer, Beverly Owens, Larry Willis, Debra Evans and Chuck Askins.
Serving on the Budget and Allocations Committee are Mike Jumper, Beverley Owens, Bill Owens, Charlotte Henderson, Bob Weaver, Tim Kelty and Joey Baker. This group spends two days interviewing representatives from the various non-profit agencies requesting assistance, then allocations funds accordingly.
“I always feel there is a lot of responsibility serving on it because we’ve only got so many dollars. It seems like the need is always greater every year, but the budget is not always relative to the need. We’ve got to be good stewards with our funds. I appreciate everybody for stepping up and being on that allocations committee,” Jumper said.
The Owens also announced the dates for 2019-2020 campaign. The campaign workers luncheon will be held at noon Wednesday, Sept. 18, at Southwest Dairy Museum. The lead donor luncheon will be one week later, starting at noon Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Sulphur Springs Country Club. The first campaign workers report meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Anyone who would like to serve as a HCUW campaign volunteer is asked to contact HCUW Executive Secretary Susan Berning at [email protected] or 903-243-4066, Bill Owens at [email protected] or 903-348-5122 or Beverley Owens at [email protected] or 903-348-5121.
Dairy Festival is a Favorite Stop for Hot Air Balloonists!
High noon, Friday June 7, 2019, downtown. Be there. Because that’s when you’ll meet the Parade Marshall, Queen’s contestants, hot air balloonists and other celebrities as the ribbon is cut and the Hopkins County Dairy Festival is officially kicked off!
Almost 20 years ago, David Black and his family got involved with the then ‘newest’ addition to Dairy Festival, the Dairy Aires Hot Air Balloon Rally. He liked it, and has continued to chair that committee, even attending other rallies and conventions across the country to see how we can improve our balloon event. He feels we are doing something right because, according to numerous balloon pilots he has spoken to, our event is ranked “right up there with Albuquerque as one of the best and most enjoyable”. Black also shared that “a respect for safety is a huge factor for these pilots to frequent your event. Ours is ‘safety first’. Some contests in other places may try to urge pilots to get in the air when there’s a question on the weather. We don’t. If it’s not safe to fly, we don’t go up. And besides the presence of seasoned pilots, we also have some of the best weather professionals watching and reporting to us during balloon weekend. Conditions which seem nearly calm on the ground can be very different above our heads!”
The warm hospitality shown to visitors is another reason balloon pilots, families and crews like to come to Hopkins County. And while here, pilots also get to enter the cow milking contest and be featured in the parade. Where else can you get to do that? And don’t forget, also appearing in the Parade will be the Budweiser Clydesdales and the 1st Calvary Division Marching Band.
So, set aside Friday June 7 and Saturday June 8 for these events! FRIDAY: The Kick-off on Celebration Plaza at 12 noon, and the Balloon Rally and Glow at Shannon Oaks Church at 6pm with free live entertainment
SATURDAY: The 6am Rally and Competition Flight from Shannon Oaks, the Dairy Festival Parade from Buford Park at 10 am, the Dairy Classic Cattle Show at 10am in the Civic Center, the Milking Contest at 3 pm in the Civic Center arena, the Homemade Ice Cream Freeze-off at 5:30 pm at Shannon Oaks Church, followed by the Hot Air Balloon Rally and Glow at 6pm.
City Council Appoints Police Chief, Fire Chief/Marshal, Utilities Director
Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday night voted to eliminate the public safety director position, with one council member voting against the measure.
The city will go back to the prior tradition of having a separate fire chief and separate police chief.
For the fire department, the top officer will be the fire chief/fire marshal. David James was appointed to fill that role.
Jason Ricketson, a longtime officer at Sulphur Springs Police Department who has been serving as interim police chief since March, was officially appointed as the city police chief.
Woodside Lane resident Jay Julian prior to their vote, asked the council to consider the financial impact of having two chiefs, and if the decision was made for a separate chief for each department to at least consider conducting a regional search to find the best candidate for each position.
Councilman Doug Moore pointed out that by having a fire chief/marshal that will make a fire marshal available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to conduct inspections on request for occupancy and other construction needs. Currently, businesses have to wait until a certified person is on duty every third day to conduct the inspections
“I feel like that’s more of a scheduling issue, not a personnel. You need to attempt to work on the scheduling issue,” Julian replied.
The motion to split the top job, with one for each department instead of a public safety director over both, was discussed along with the position of director of utilities by the city council during an executive session held 30 minutes prior to the start of the regular June council meeting.
The motion for two separate chiefs was approved, with Councilman Freddie Taylor casting the lone vote against the proposal.
The council also followed the recommendation of city staff that James Jordan be employed as the city’s utilities director.
Judge Rules Kyri Ivery To Continue On Probation on Assault Charges
After a short trial, 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt opted to sentence Kyri Shakur Ivery to continue on probation on the Sept. 21, 2016 aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge and assault of a peace officer charge.
Assistant District Attorney Matt Harris asked the judge to revoke Ivery’s probation and assess her time in prison. He contended she’d been given leniency with deferred probation offered for the aggravated assault of her brother with a steak knife, then biting him and attempting to bite a police officer.
Ivery testified Tuesday that she got the knife on Sept. 21, 2016, after she became angry with her brother, who she claimed was on drugs, stealing and said words that set her off. She attempted to get her mother’s phone, but he prevented her, from getting it, so she got the knife to try to get him to giver her the phone, Ivery testified.
Her mother and brother had wrestled the knife away from her and held her to the couch when police arrived. She said she did not calm down when the police told her to, earning the assault on peace officer charge for her biting. She remained in jail on both assault charges until Nov. 29, 2016
Ivery reportedly violated the terms of her probation by smoking marijuana and consuming alcohol since being sentenced to 7 years probation, officials said. She was assessed time in a Moral Reconation Therapy program, which she quit before completing it. She was assessed 180 days in an Intermediate Sanction Facility, where she said she learned many tools for modifying her behavior. She was on probation, gainfully employed at a job she loves, supporting herself and her daughter, when she was arrested May 20 for violating probation.
She admitted to consuming alcohol after her release at her mother’s home, celebrating her release from custody. Her mother testified that she had not read the terms of her daughter’s probation and did not know the no alcohol stipulation, or would have encouraged her not to consume.
Ivery reportedly admitted to probation officer Mila Garcia that she had consumed beverages after work to help her calm down and relax. She said she did not believe she has a substance abuse problem, and had met all of the other terms of her probation. She was arrested Feb. 5, 2018 and May 20, 2019 for violation of probation.
Ivery said the last wo weeks in jail were helpful, making her more committed to meeting the terms of her probation, if given another chance. Ivery said her daughter, who will be 9 later this month, has been staying with mother while she’s been in jail, and would continue to do so if she were sent to prison.
Sherry Nash, who employed Ivery at a hair salon, said even if Ivery were sentenced to a Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility for up to a year, she’d be willing to employ her upon her release. Nash described Ivery as a good worker, who is willing to work extra hours and come in on short notice. Nash said Ivery has a lot of people request her by name. Since Ivery was arrested for violating terms of her probation on May 20, several customers have come in and, after learning what happened, offered to testify on Ivery’s behalf on request, she testified.
Michele Edwards, who works with Ivery, said she’d never seen the defendant get angry at work. She said she has a daughter Ivery’s age and considers her like another daughter, who she continues to encourage. She said she’s seen a significant difference in Ivery since her last program and asked the judge to consider giving her another chance on probation instead of sending her to prison.
After hearing from the defendant, her parents, a friend and coworkers, as well as her probation officer, Northcutt opted to keep Ivery on 7 years probation instead of sentencing her to prison time. He noted that despite violating term of her probation, Ivery has shown significant efforts to turn her life around and meet the terms of her probation. He also waived the requirement for her to perform any additional community service so she can spend that time in counseling.
Northcutt said an evaluation of her cases showed that Ivery did not appear to have undergone a full psychological evaluation as originally ordered per her release on probation. He said aside from being required to take an anger management class in high school, it appeared she had not received assistance in learning to deal with that anger issues and violent outbursts in response to stress. He ordered her to undergo counseling, telling her to report to a program per the judge to request help developing coping skills, stress management and short temper issues.
Rep. Ratcliffe Announces Rising Lone Star Winners In Hopkins County
WASHINGTON – Rep. John Ratcliffe announced Brennon Newell and Caitlin Weatheread from Sulphur Bluff High School as the 2019 Rising Lone Star winners from Hopkins County today.
“I’d like to congratulate this year’s winning students for standing out as the best and brightest in their class. I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors as they graduate high school. I’m confident they’ll go on to make Texas’ 4th District very proud,” Ratcliffe said.
Ratcliffe launched the Rising Lone Star award program to recognize high school students across the 18 counties in Texas’ 4th District who exhibit outstanding leadership or service in their schools and communities. The recipients are nominated for the Rising Lone Star by their principals, administrators or counselors.
Monday In-town Route Driver Needed For Meal A Day Program
“Meal A Day is in desperate need of a Monday route driver,” said Karon Weatherman, program director.” The current driver had back surgery and needs to be off about 2 months. “
The route is in-town, and takes approximately 1 hour, starting a between 9:30 and 10 a.m. Mondays.
Meal A Day is staffed by volunteers who donate their time to prepare and deliver food to senior citizens and individuals who are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves.
Weatherman asks that anyone willing to help, even if for a little while, to contact her at 903-885-1661.
A&M-Commerce Hosts Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station Research Conference
A&M-Commerce hosted the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Research Conference on May 21 and 22. Event coordinator Dr. Brent Donham, dean of the College of Science and Engineering, explained that the conference “brings together engineering and computer science researchers from the A&M System schools and other TEES members across the state.”
Representatives from 13 Texas colleges and universities participated in the conference, including universities from The Texas A&M University System, Del Mar College, Texas Woman’s University and the University of North Texas. Other attendees included representatives from Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, Texas A&M Energy Institute and Hanover Research.
The annual conference moves between Texas A&M University and another host school every other year. According to Donham, this is the first year A&M-Commerce has hosted a major system-wide event.
“This conference provided an opportunity for researchers across the A&M System and state to learn about A&M-Commerce and the vital role we serve in Northeast Texas,” Donham explained. “It also provided an opportunity for faculty to expand their network among researchers, which will lead to collaborative partnerships in the fields of engineering and computer science.”
The conference began with a Tuesday evening networking reception in the Rayburn Student Center where the A&M-Commerce Panimation Steel Drums performed an exciting show for guests.
President Mark Rudin welcomed attendees on Wednesday and highlighted A&M-Commerce’s new focus on research. He outlined several initiatives that will move A&M-Commerce forward as a research university, including reassigned time for faculty to work on funded research, and plans for a new College of Innovation and Technology. Rudin stated, “It’s a new day. We are going to elevate research. We want to be seen as a viable partner to all our sister organizations within TEES and the A&M System.”
Dr. Donham partnered with Tech Titans to provide the keynote speaker and panelists for the conference. Hubert Zajicek of Health Wildcatters delivered the keynote speech, followed by several volunteer panelists who shared their expertise. A&M-Commerce alum Todd Wynne, vice president of Bluebeam, Inc., spoke about emerging technology in the construction industry. Wynne co-created a successful digital mapping tool that is used in complex construction projects. John Randall of Zyvex Labs and James Walton of ENTOUCH Smart Building Solutions also presented.
During afternoon work sessions, researchers developed collaborative ideas and presented them to judges at the end of the day. Winning teams received funding for the development of their innovative projects.
Several A&M-Commerce faculty members were on the winning teams:
$20,000 (1st Place award), A&M-Commerce Member: Dr. Dan Creider (Computer Science), Thematic Area: Cybersecurity, Project Name: Powering Up: Cybersecurity Education for a Dispersed Workforce
$2,500 (3rd Place award), A&M-Commerce Member: Dr. Perry Moler (Technology Management), Thematic Area: Infrastructure, Project Name: REALI: Model Public Perception and Use of Green Technology to Reduce Water Erosion in San Angelo, Texas
$2,500 (3rd Place award), A&M-Commerce Member: Dr. Marty Yaqub (Industrial Engineering), Thematic Area: Energy Systems, Project Name: Autonomous Vehicles Infrastructure Development (AVID)
$2,500 (3rd Place award), A&M-Commerce Members: Dr. Sojung Kim (Industrial Engineering) and Mr. Pat Carter (Electrical Engineering), Thematic Area: Energy Systems, Project Name: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Energy.
The conference is produced by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, a state agency that is operated by the A&M System. The agency operates 26 research centers across Texas. According to their website, “TEES researchers conduct relevant research and provide practical answers to critical state and national needs.”
The conference is produced by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, a state agency that is operated by the A&M System. The agency operates 26 research centers across Texas. According to their website, “TEES researchers conduct relevant research and provide practical answers to critical state and national needs.”
