Chamber Connection – July 2, 2024
By Butch Burney
Every year, our family looks forward to the Saturday before Thanksgiving, when we gather for dinner, turn on KSST and get our phones ready for the annual Sulphur Springs Symphony League auction.
It is a hoot and a can’t-miss event! They always have a great range of items, from tens of dollars to thousands of dollars in value, and that doesn’t include the entertainment from the moderators like Bill Owens and Chad Young.
Donations are used as a fundraiser for the Symphony League and all they do for this city and county – which includes the annual Independence Day concert and fireworks display, but is certainly not limited to that.
The great thing about our community is the way we rally around people and organizations that need and deserve our support. The Symphony League deserves our support now more than ever.
They have planned and orchestrated the concert and fireworks for decades, to the delight of generations of our residents and visitors.
So, let’s rally for the Symphony League, not just with donations at the auction, but with support for what they mean in bringing the arts to our community and especially our youth.
You won’t be disappointed by being a part of the solution. Mark your calendars for the auction.
Cocktails and Conversation
Join us for our main networking monthly event when Nations Lending hosts our Cocktails and Conversation on Thursday, June 18.
You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend. It is free to everyone, and a prime time to make friends and contacts.
The event will also mark the grand opening for Bethany Ashby’s new Nations Lending office, located at 425 Main St.
Stew is in the Air
It’s too hot for stew in June, but it’s not too early to begin thinking about the stew contest.
Stew cooks and sponsors, be looking for registration and sponsorship forms to be distributed in the next couple of weeks. This year’s theme for the 55th Annual Hopkins County Stew Contest on Oct. 26 is Stewper Heroes.
The registration cost will remain at $100 per stew site.
Back to School Fair
CANHelp in Sulphur Springs is gearing up to host their annual Back-to-School Fair, which assists children in low-to-moderate income families prepare for the new school year, by providing school supplies, haircuts and other needs. The fair is on August 1, but pre-registration is required for students to receive school supplies.
You can pick up an application at CANHelp (613 Gilmer Street).
Businesses may also register to participate as a vendor.
Designer Handbag Bingo
The Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation’s extremely popular Designer Handbag Bingo event is coming Aug. 8, and tickets will go quickly.
Tables of eight for the event are currently on sale, and individual tickets will be up for grabs on July 13.
The link to access sponsorship and ticket information is handbagbingo24.givesmart.com
Quilt Show
The Lone Star Heritage Quilt Show is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22 at the ROC on Putman Street. Numerous projects will be on display, and one special quilt will be up for raffle during the event.
If you’re interested in entering your own quilt project, those arrangements must be made by July 31. To request entry, email [email protected].
What Does A Scammer Call Sound Like?
July 3, 2024 – Scammers contacting seniors is a constant threat. Millions of dollar are lost to these individuals each year.
But what do they sound like over the phone?
We have recorded a conversation with a scammer, and have provided the audio. Please take a moment to listen to this call with anyone who might fall victim to this type of theft.
The first portion is the ‘cold caller’ setting up the victim for the more experienced ‘Steve the floor supervisor’. There are several red flags that confirm this is a scam call.
- The phone number they called is on the do-not-call list.
- Criminals don’t bother following the rules.
- They refer to me using one of many fake names I have given to other scammers.
- Scammers share information, and run multiple scams from the same site.
- The caller ID says their phone number is from Sulphur Springs, TX.
- When questioned about the product or service they lie, give ambiguous information or no information at all. All they care about is your bank or credit card information.
- No legitimate company information was provided.
Pyrotecnico Takes Blame For Sulphur Springs Fireworks Failure
July 2, 2024 – In a letter dated July 2, 2024 Regional Director Justin Pruett for Pyrotecnico, the fireworks provider for the Independence Day Concert on June 29th, took responsibility for the failure experienced by those in attendance for the sub-standard show. The letter further stated that the fireworks show that they delivered was not in accordance with the expectations fo the Sulphur Springs Symphony League, who has worked with this particular fireworks company since 2016. Justin Pruett indicated that he and his company have offered a “replacement show” at no charge as well as crediting the charge for last week’s show.
Hopkins County Records – May/June 2024
Daily Instrument Register For 6/3/24 Thru 6/5/24
- LJ Martin Ranch LLC to Launie Lewandowski and Mariusz Lewandowski; Tract in the AC David Smith Survey
- Aaron A Woodruff and Magan L Woodruff to Awbree Summers and Rich Summers; Tract in the AC J Lee Survey
- Misty Lynn Blair, Ann McFarlin Block, Danny Lafay Cline, James Albert Cline, Jessie Cline, Joanna Cline, Johnny R Cline, Michael Cline, Gary Don McFarlin, James McFarlin, and Leeroy McFarlin to Ralph McFarlin; Tract in the AC J W Mead Survey
- Mary Starrett and Stephen Wayne Starrett to Frances Nicole Starrett; Tract in the AC Barry West Survey
- Rogelio Garcia to Fino GHM Holdings LLC; Tract in the J Ybarbo Survey
- Fino GHM Holdings LLC to Phu Dolma Sherpa, Sondiki Sherpa, and Sonam Tamang; Tract in the J Ybarbo Survey
- Matthew Grant White to Cindy Dodd and Darrell Dodd; Tract in the AC Levi Landers Survey
- State of Texas Veterans Land Board to Cecil Roe Williams; Tract in the AC Alex O Wetmore Survey
- Luis Martin Domingeuz Chairez, Also Knon As Luis Dominguez to Gabriel Garcia Sanchez and Miguel Angel Garcia Sanchez; Tract in the AC Antonio Lazarine Survey
- Great American Insurance Company to Fullstack Solutions LLC; Tract in the AC William Ewing Survey
- Jacqueline Sue Williams and Thomas Craig Williams to Jean Marie Williams and Michael Wayne Williams; Tract in the AC Newman McGee Survey
- Jacqueline Sue Williams and Thomas Craig Williams to Reggie Layne Williams; Tract in the AC Newman McGee Survey
- Ashley Thompson, Also Known As Ashley Marie Thompson, and Jeremy Thompson, Also Known As Jeremy Wayne Thompson to Traci K Lawler-Shortt; Tract in the Nacogdoches Univ Survey
- Jeremy Thompson, Also Known As Jeremy Wayne Thompson to Ashley Thompson, Also Known As Ahley Marie Thompson; Tract in the Nacogdoches Univ Survey
- Northeaset Texas Heart of Hope to Signature Solar LLC; Tract in the AC Mary Ann Bowlin Survey
- J & K Wagoner Group LLC Series H to Sydney Lin Petrea and Zachary Adam Petrea; Tract in the Lot 13R Harris-Hamby Addityion Survey
- Carol Overstreet and Don Carson Overstreet to Charles Sickles and Tracie Sickles; Tract in the AC J Ybarbo Survey
- Kenneth Andrews to David Ray; Tract in the AC Ocela Barb Survey
- Michael Allen Cloutier and Stacey Lynn Sharp to Mary Ann Parrish; Trqact in the M A Bowlin Survey
Report of Marriage Documents for Hopkins County 5/10/24 Thru 5/16/24
- Brady Coyt Crouse and Chandler Bryton Bain
- Roberto Lira and Brenda G Castro
- Michael Lane Goldsmith and Jessica Cheyenne Smithers
- Carl Featherston and Sarah Renee Grubbs
- Tommy Wayne Blackston and Leigh Anne Mills
- Collin Baylor Sewell and Savanna Jo Stanley
Report of Marriage Documents for Hopkins County 5/17/24 Thru 6/12/24
- Barriga Efrain Corral and Tovar Leslie Munoz
- Teotino Zapata and Lizbeth Rojas
- Timothy Edward Morton and Laura Denise Owens
- Cameron Riley Kaufert and Madilynn Gail Rupe
- Gregory Alan Ponder and Kimberly Ann Mims
- Colten Lane Burnett and Stephanie Michelle Floyd
- Jose Armando Contreras and Maria Elena Gasca
- Danny Wayne Barrett Jr and Samantha Edna Lyn Rhoades
- Joshua Paul Sutton and Jillian Grace Younts
- Ayala Jesus Alejan Robles and Melba Gutierrez
- Levi Nathaniel Noble and Madison Nicole McKinney
- Walter Jeffrey Stokes and Katlyn Brook Ball
- Michael Dakota McPherson and Jaycie Blair Jordan
- Jaimes Martin Perez and Erica Hernandez Grimaldi
- Christopher ER McLaughlin and Alyssa Marie Robles
- Kaden Michael Argenbright and Hannah Grace Dixon
- Cody Daniel Price and Marly Johanna Murphy
- David Stephen-Mich Ramsey and Danielle Annamari Brunett
- Thomas Clinton Glosup and Claire Bass
- Don Jose Erasmo Torres and Torres Ana Cecilia Zamora
- Easton Bartley Silman and Allison Breanne Burns
- William Barrett Snyder and Brinklee Kate Driver
- Jacob Duke Fitts and Taryn Myers
- Dakota Darrell House and Savannah Kari Nugent
- Charles Eric Richey and Vickie Lynn Lucas
- Logan Aaron Williams and Taylor Rae Crookham
- Alberto Gutierrez and Maddison Lauren Hardin
Texas A&M-Commerce: Chancellor John Sharp Announces His Retirement
The Texas A&M University System chancellor will retire in 2025.
July 2, 2024 – COMMERCE, TX, July 2, 2024—John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, announced that he will retire effective June 30, 2025. He has served as chancellor of the Texas A&M System since September 2011.
Dr. Mark Rudin, president of Texas A&M University-Commerce, emphasized that Sharp has significantly impacted the university during his tenure.
“Chancellor Sharp’s continuing support for A&M-Commerce, including the construction of the Agricultural Multipurpose Education & Training Center and the Welcome and Student Success Center, as well as our expansion into Dallas at 8750 North Park Central, reflect his dedication to advancing our university’s infrastructure and outreach.”
Rudin’s praise highlights Sharp’s role in the growth of A&M-Commerce, recognized as the fastest-growing four-year public institution in Texas.
“The chancellor’s retirement marks the end of an era, but his contributions will leave a lasting legacy at our university, and for that, we thank him!” Rudin concluded.
Review the official announcement from The Texas A&M University System.
Will the Texas ‘Heat Dome’ Send Beryl West?
July 2, 2024 – The Texas Heat home is a high-pressure system that, because physics, traps heat and keeps it there. That pressure system’s atmospheric energy is hard to bust up: The high pressure above is met with the rising heat below, which makes the system especially stubborn and slow-moving. A heat dome often suppress wind during the summer months.
This can make summer heat in Texas feel hotter and make wind power plants unable to reach their peak output.
Forecasts on Category 5 Hurricane Beryl’s path show several possibilities, but a strong contender is that she will head west, missing most of Texas.
“At this point, we cannot rule out Beryl making her way into southern Texas, but the high pressure ‘heat dome’ over the south should steer her into northern Mexico or the Rio Grande Valley.”
The storm could reach Texas on Saturday. Currently, no models suggest Beryl will reach North East Texas.
Texas Leaders Sound Alarm on Future Power Grid Stability
If new estimates from ERCOT are correct, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick say Texas needs “an immediate review of all policies concerning the grid.”
Brandon Waltens | July 1, 2024
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are raising urgent concerns about the future stability of Texas’ power grid.
A joint statement released today follows recent testimony from ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, who warned that Texas might need 150,000 megawatts of power to support its grid by 2030—just six years away.
Texas typically has around 85,000 megawatts of power from wind, solar, coal, nuclear, and natural gas sources.
The potential shortfall has prompted Abbott and Patrick to call for an immediate review of all policies related to the grid. In their statement, they highlighted the pressing need for action.
“If the new estimate is correct, the updated numbers provided by Mr. Vegas call for an immediate review of all policies concerning the grid.”
Last November, Texas voters approved Senate Joint Resolution 93, establishing the Texas Energy Fund. This fund provides a $5 billion low-interest loan program designed to incentivize the construction of more dispatchable natural gas plants. According to Abbott and Patrick, demand for these loans has been overwhelming, with the state receiving notices of intent to apply for $39 billion in loans—nearly eight times the available amount.
In light of the new projections for 2030, Abbott and Patrick announced plans to seek an expansion of the program to $10 billion to expedite the construction of new plants.
“The average plant will take three to four years to complete, and new transmission lines will take three to six years to complete,” they noted. “Texas is currently the fastest state to approve and build new plants and transmission lines because of our low regulations and pro-business policies, but we must move quickly.”
The Republican Party of Texas has made protecting the electric grid a legislative priority for the upcoming session, including ensuring the “delivery of abundant, reliable, and resilient energy.”
Unreliable energy sources like wind and solar—which the state has already spent billions of dollars subsidizing—infamously failed in the winter storm of February 2021, leading to massive power outages across the state.
With the state facing another round of extreme heat, recent polling revealed that most Texans believe an electrical grid failure could happen again this summer.
This article originally appeared here.
Big Bass Bingo in Yantis Supports Youth Riding
July 1, 2024 – The Big Bass Bingo hall in Yantis, TX offers a lot of entertainment, but that’s not all. A large portion of the proceeds from their weekly games go to support the Lake Fork Stables Youth Riding Programs.
Lake Fork Stables, a 501c3 nonprofit organization in Yantis, TX. Lake Fork Stables provides free and discounted therapeutic riding lessons for low-income and autistic families through their Riders Up program. They also offer a variety of other programs, including the Horse Boy Method, Horse Powered Reading, Horses4Heroes, and Joyful Journey (for adults over 50). You can find more information at ridersup.org.
It’s really an “evening out” type of experience. There is no smoking, and plenty of space for groups, or families to sit together. Don’t expect to see the tired bingo cards with the red glass sliding windows. They rent bingo computers that do everything for you as well as daubers and paper game cards. There are also games before and during the actual bingo session. Never a dull moment with something always going on.
Children 6 and up can play too, but the accompanying adults are payed any winnings. If you are new to bingo, the staff is very helpful. It’s best to come when doors open to get situated.
There is food and drink available for purchase, and free refills on popcorn.
Making Easy Compost Tea From Master Gardener David Wall
July 1, 2024 – Pure compost tea (CT) is almost magical, as it’s made from just two ingredients, compost and water. While were talking about vegetable gardens, it works on annual flowers, vegetable plants, herbs, perennials, shrubs and even trees. CT feed plants in two ways. First, they supply nutrients by absorbing into plant roots into the soil. To a lesser degree, they can provide energy by soaking into plant leaves.
Because it’s in liquid form, it works very fast, but what really makes CT so incredible is just how balanced and the nutrients are plus how easy they are for plants to absorb. CTs contain a veritable plethora of nutrients, and they’re all in their purest form. They’ve been slowly decomposed. And all of those nutrients are in their purest form, having slowly decomposed into a readily digestible substance. Then, when soaked in water, the nutrients leach into the water creating a liquid fertilizer that is organic and fast acting.
To make compost tea, fill a 5-gallon or larger bucket at least 1/3 with mature compost. Add well rain or distilled water to near the bucket top. Let sit for 4-5 days, stirring a couple minutes daily. Pour on ground around vegetable plants or even directly on the plants. Using an aerator makes the mixing continuous but doesn’t materially improve the final result.
As discussed, one of the easiest and best ways to help your vegetable plants (OK, flowers too!) is to use nourishing liquids, commonly called compost teas. Liquids that have had compost, banana peels, apple peels, potato peels, or egg shells (pureed) soaked in water 4-5 days, stirring daily, can also provide much need nourishment. All of these and others are variations on compost teas and can be made it at home without any special equipment and at basically no cost.
DPS Reminds Texans of Vehicle Safety Inspection Changes
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) reminds Texans of upcoming changes to the state’s Vehicle Safety Inspection Program that will eliminate most vehicle safety inspections. House Bill 3297, which was passed by the 88th Legislature and signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2023, abolishes the Vehicle Safety Inspection Program for non-commercial vehicles.
Beginning January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles will no longer need a vehicle safety inspection prior to registration. However, all non-commercial vehicles in the state will be subject to a $7.50 inspection program replacement fee. This fee will be added to your total when you register your vehicle with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
New vehicles (those of the current or preceding model year on the date of purchase) purchased in Texas that have not been previously registered in Texas or another state are required to pay an initial inspection program replacement fee of $16.75 to cover two years.
Vehicles Registered in Emissions Counties
While comprehensive vehicle safety inspections will be eliminated for all non-commercial vehicles, Texans whose vehicles are registered in emissions counties will still be required to have emissions tests.
Emissions tests are required in major metropolitan areas, including Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris and Montgomery counties; Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant counties; Travis and Williamson counties; and El Paso County. Bexar County will be added to the list of counties requiring emissions tests in 2026.
Commercial Vehicles
All commercial vehicles in all counties will still be required to obtain a passing vehicle safety inspection. Because they will be required to pay for that safety inspection, commercial vehicles will be exempt from the inspection program replacement fee.
All vehicles will still need to be registered; the registration process will continue to be managed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
