Annual Wildgame Dinner and Auction to be Held March 9th
March 1, 2024 – The Annual Wildgame Dinner and Auction is scheduled to take place Saturday, March 9, 2024. The Annual event will be hosted by the Como Methodist Church. Activities begin at 5:30pm. The public is invited to attend this popular event. Stay tuned for more information.
Chamber Connection – February 28th
By Butch Burney
February 29, 2024 – Need glasses for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse? Want a T-shirt and sticker? We know where you can get them.
We have eclipse merchandise at the Chamber of Commerce, including T-shirts, stickers and glasses. With tens of thousands of visitors targeting Hopkins County for April 8, don’t wait until the last minute.
The Chamber has an eclipse website, TotalEclipseSSTx.com, in which you can upload information about events, attractions, lodging, retail shops and restaurants. That will be the information clearinghouse for what is happening in Hopkins County on April 8 and the weekend leading up to that day.
We will be hosting a free concert on Saturday, April 6, downtown, featuring The Paper Dolls, Jason Waldon and the Alibis and Dubb and the Luv Machines. Plus, there will be vendors’ market at The Venue at 219 that weekend.
Check out the website, upload information and get prepared!
Chamber Golf Tournament
For all the linksters out there, the Chamber’s annual golf tournament, which is historically the first Friday in April, has been moved to the first Friday in May due to the eclipse traffic. We will post registration forms the middle of next week.
The tournament is limited to 43 teams – 18 in the morning and 25 in the afternoon.
The cost for a team of six is $750, which includes a morning or afternoon tee time, three carts and six lunches.
Pick up a registration form at the chamber or look for it to be posted on the Chamber website next week.
Cocktails and Conversation
Join us for our next Cocktails and Conversation mixer, hosted by the Haus of Sabo at their new studio located at 206 Church St. The mixer will be from 5-6 p.m. on Thursday, March 7.
You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend and there is no charge.
Come and enjoy some cocktails and conversation.
Ribbon Cuttings
Haus of Sabo will have a ribbon cutting at noon on Friday, March 8, at their new location at 206 Church St. Please join us for this event.
TAMU-C Professor Produced Film to Premier at SXSW Film Festival
February 29, 2024 – A documentary chronicling the life of Liz Carpenter that is associate produced by Texas A&M University-Commerce Distinguished Professor Dr. Jessica Brannon-Wranosky is set for its screen debut at the prestigious South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, scheduled for March 8-16 in Austin, Texas.
The film, titled “Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter,” explores the life of prominent journalist, feminist leader and former John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson White House staff advisor Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Sutherland Carpenter. A Texas native, Carpenter was an ardent supporter of many feminist causes including serving as a founder of the National Women’s Political Caucus and co-chaired ERAmerica, traveling the U.S. to advocate for the “Equal Rights Amendment” to the U.S. Constitution.
Her 1969 memoir “Ruffles and Flourishes” was a best-seller that chronicled her time as Press Secretary and Chief of Staff to former First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson. Carpenter passed away in 2010 at the age of 89.
Brannon-Wranosky is an associate producer on the film and the film’s lead historical advisor, which is produced and directed by award winning filmmaker Abby Ginzberg and Liz’s daughter and biographer Christy Carpenter. She says she first met Christy a few years ago, as she and Ginzberg were beginning plans for the film. They soon invited Brannon-Wranosky to join the project.
“The prospect of this documentary was appealing because there was a lot about her that highlights women’s roles in politics and public life in the twentieth century,” Brannon-Wranosky said. “She was a larger than life personality, often center stage and even often in the roles to decide who was in the spotlight. It seems that everyone who met her has a ‘Liz Carpenter story’ to share, and this fact really showed through in the process of making this film”
Those interviewed in the documentary include Dan Rather, Gloria Steinem, former Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Luci Baines Johnson and Lynda Johnson Robb.
Brannon-Wranosky, who specializes in women, gender and sexuality through her work as a historian, said that Liz’s background was another factor that spurred her to participate in the documentary.
“Liz was very Texan and proud of it,” Brannon-Wranosky said. “As a multiple generation Texan myself, it’s interesting to see how that part of who she was played itself out on the world’s stage and shaped how she did things.”
The documentary isn’t Brannon-Wranosky’s first foray into filmmaking. She served an advisor for and her research and publications were used as the basis for “Citizens at Last,” which tells the story of women in Texas and their fight for suffrage leading up to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920. The documentary aired on PBS stations globally starting in 2021. She has also co-produced five short films that will debut this year.
Brannon-Wranosky adds that she hopes filmgoers take away Liz’s “larger than life” story when seeing the documentary and realize her impact on women’s roles and access as a whole.
“Liz embodied a version of second-wave feminism,” Brannon-Wranosky said. “Women like her shaped the times she lived in.”
“Shaking It Up: The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter” is scheduled for three showings during the SXSW Film Festival:
• March 10, 11 a.m. at the ZACH Theatre, 202 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
• March 13, 6 p.m. at the Violet Crown Cinema, Screen 1, 434 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
• March 13, 6:30 p.m. at the Violet Crown Cinema, Screen 3, 434 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
For tickets and venue information, visit the SXSW website. Learn more about the film at the documentary website.
TxDOT and Students Team Up to Prevent Drunk Driving Crashes
February 29, 2024 – As spring break approaches, TxDOT is teaming up with college students to make sure their celebrations don’t have catastrophic consequences.
The Drive Sober. No Regrets. campaign is traveling to college campuses and spring break hot spots across the state to spread the message that there is always a safe and sober way to get home. TxDOT is partnering with campus-based U in the Driver Seat and student leaders across Texas to reinforce this message with their classmates.
“Every death due to drunk driving is preventable,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. “We want students to understand that it’s easy to celebrate spring break safely. By finding a sober ride, taking a cab, using a rideshare, or simply staying put after drinking, students can make sure their families gather for graduation and not a funeral.”
In 2022, there were 810 DUI-alcohol-related traffic crashes during the spring break period, killing 44 people and seriously injuring 90 others. All because someone chose to get behind the wheel while impaired.
Throughout March, TxDOT will show the real consequences of driving after drinking as it brings its mobile “DUI Not So Fun House” and video exhibit to college campuses and key spring break locations. The mobile exhibit lets people experience the effects of alcohol and the dangers associated with driving under the influence.
TxDOT’s Drive Sober. No Regrets. campaign is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel to help end the streak of daily deaths. Nov. 7, 2000, was the last deathless day on Texas roadways.
The American Rodeo Ticket Giveaway
February 28, 2024 – KSST is giving away tickets to the American Rodeo.
THE AMERICAN RODEO ANNOUNCES RETURN TO GLOBE LIFE FIELD IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS, MARCH 8 – 9, 2024 WITH NEW THREE-YEAR VENUE PARTNERSHIP
Hey rodeo fans! Teton Ridge announced that The American Western Weekend is returning to Globe Life Field March 8-9, 2024. The action-packed weekend will include The American Performance Horseman and The American Rodeo. You won’t want to miss some of the best in entertainment and western sports!
- Friday night is The American Performance Horseman, followed by a musical performance from Luke Bryan
- Saturday night is The American Rodeo, capped off by a musical performance from Post Malone
To enter, comment on this post on Facebook. Winners will need to install the AXS app on their smart device.
Sponsorships for the First Man Bingo Sought
February 27, 2024 – Sulphur Springs, TX –
Plans for Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s Man Bingo, known as Mingo, are underway. Sponsorships are now available for this event which will be held on Thursday, April 18.
A Big Daddy Sponsorship runs $2,500 and includes a front-row reserved table with 8 bingo packets. Sponsors’ names and logos will be displayed next to the prize sponsored, and the sponsors’ logos will be printed in the program. Additionally, the sponsors’ names will be announced from the podium.
The Dude Sponsorship is $1,500 and includes a premium reserved table with 8 bingo packets. Sponsors’ names and logos will be displayed next to the prize sponsored, and the sponsors’ logos will be printed in the program. Additionally, the sponsors’ names will be announced from the podium.
A Master Sponsorship is $500 and is a prize sponsor only, with no tickets. The sponsor’s name will appear next to the sponsored prize, printed in the program, and acknowledged from the podium.
Tike Sponsorships are $250 each and are prize sponsors only, with no tickets. The sponsor will receive the same marketing benefits as with a Master Sponsorship.
The various level of sponsorship determines the value of the prize being sponsored. Examples of prizes include guided fishing experiences, grill accessories, coolers, hats, rifles, earbuds, sporting goods, and tech.
Proceeds of the event will be used to fund heart calcification tests for Hopkins County men. The goal of the Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit, is to improve Hopkins County’s healthcare.
To sponsor, visit mingo2024.givesmart.com or for more information, email [email protected] or call 903-438-4799.
Sulphur Springs FFA Ag Mechanics Competed in San Antonio, Texas
February 27, 2024 – SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW & RODEO (one of the largest competitions for FFA)
Sulphur Springs FFA Ag Mechanics competed in San Antonio. They put one in the books for us! This was a huge win for SSHS. Congratulations to Mr. Spencer Clark (teacher) and his brilliant teams. All of these projects were built from the ground up by these teams of high school students. Please take time to see how amazing these projects truly are.
•G R A N D C H A M P I O N• Ag Mechanics Project! There were 800 entries in this contest.
Congratulations to Cash Gamblin, Lane Kerns, and Kohen Moss on their big win with their 40 ft. Hydraulic Dove Tail Trailer. These guys spent 1600 hours on this build. Their winnings include $20,000 in scholarships, 3 trophy buckles each, a plaque each, 5 super welding machines and the bragging rights for winning Grand Champion of a huge show.
LeeRoy Hernandez, Stetson Mullins, and Braddox Rawson won 2nd in class with their 24ft Cattle Trailer and received several prizes.
Lexie Logan, Cinch Shackelford, Jacob Howell, and Colton Privitt also won second in class with their 12ft Cattle Trailer and received several prizes as well!
Jayden Arledge exhibited his truck bed and received a red ribbon. He did a great job exhibiting his project to the judges.
Pictures and information provided to KSST by Johna Shipley from SSISD. Way to go, Wildcats!
Sulphur Springs High School Theatre Will Present Their 2024 UIL One Act Play Sunday, March 3rd, 2024
February 27, 2024 – SSHS Theatre will present their 2024 UIL One Act Play, Failure: A Love Story, for the public this Sunday at 2pm in preparation for the upcoming District contest. The performance will be held at the SSHS Auditorium located at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.
The story: By the end of 1928, all three Fail sisters will be dead — expiring in reverse order, youngest to oldest, from blunt object to the head, disappearance, and finally consumption. A whimsical chorus follows the story of Nelly (Senior Caroline Prickette), Jenny June (Junior Aspen Mayhew), and Gerty (Senior Talley Brown) as they live out their lives above the family clock repair shop near the Chicago River, before their time unexpectedly runs out. A magical fable where, in the end, the power of love is far greater than any individual’s successes or failures.
Failure also feature Seniors Addison Bradley, Jolene Reed, and Oliver Falter, Junior Aiden Woodard, Sophomores Nathan Bilyeu, Emma Boatman, and Conner Curtis, and Freshman Lizi Green. Crew members include Freshman stage manager Bella Gilbreath, Senior Kaela Gardner, Junior Audrey Tanton, and Freshmen Sunni Vanderburg, Haley Hopkins, and Sebastion Hernandez.
You do not want to miss this one! And tickets are free! (Donations are accepted—which will go to Addison Bradley and Emma Boatman and families.)
Jennings Back in Jail on Evading Arrest Warrant
February 27, 2024 – An active warrant of Evading Arrest or Detention (Class A Misdeameanor) for Everett Jennings resulted in the arrest of the suspect at the Hopkins County Courthouse on Monday. This latest arrest marks the second arrest for the Sulphur Springs resident in as many weeks since allegedly fleeing apprehension from a family member’s residence. Jennings was arrested in Rockwall County on another charge stemming from the warrant attempted to be served in mid-February. These latest charges are in addition to the auto theft charges in early January of this year when a stolen Lamborghini was recovered at a property owned by Jennings as well as two suspected stolen Chevrolet Corvettes. In that case, a Houston man tracked his stolen Lamborghini to a residence on Country Club Road in Sulphur Springs. Jennings, through social media posts, maintains his innocence as having no knowledge of the history of the vehicles when he made the purchases. Bond has been set for $50,000 on the charge.
Scott and Margaret Stahl Continue Lion Legacy at A&M Commerce
February 26, 2024 – Alumnus Scott Stahl and his wife, Margaret, from Sulphur Springs, Texas, have recently presented a generous gift to Texas A&M University-Commerce. The Scott W. Stahl and Margaret Stahl Gift Agreement will provide matching gift opportunities that champion the Greatest Need Fund and Alumni Association memberships at the university.
The Stahl’s Lion legacy spans three generations, including Dr. Jim Stahl, father to Scott, and Jacob, one of Scott and Margaret’s two sons. Philanthropy and a commitment to serving others are integral Stahl family values, evident across the generations. It’s no surprise that Scott’s resonant message to fellow alumni can be summed up in three words: “Just get involved.”
Scott W. Stahl and Margaret Stahl Gift Agreement
Scott and Margaret are both firm believers in the power of engaged alumni, and they designed their gift to incentivize alumni participation. The Stahls will match membership dues for alumni who join the Alumni Association. New members may then direct the matching funds to the TAMUC college of their choice, or to the Alumni Legacy Scholarship or the Lion Athletics Scholarship Fund.
Similarly, when alumni contribute to the Greatest Need Fund at A&M-Commerce, the Stahls’ gift will match the donation. The Greatest Need Fund is especially close to Scott’s heart as it allows the university to quickly respond to students with pressing needs that may threaten their ability to stay in school. The Greatest Need Fund has supported hundreds of students since its inception.
“It’s tough for many families,” Scott said. “Education and living expenses have gotten very expensive, so perhaps the Greatest Need Fund can help in some way. And then, after students get their degrees, move on to other places, and start their careers, maybe they will come back to A&M-Commerce and pay back a little bit of it to others.”
Scott’s Story
Student Life
Scott’s association with A&M-Commerce spans most of his life. He and his family moved to Commerce, Texas, in 1976 and lived just a few blocks from campus. His mother was an elementary school teacher, and his father, Dr. Jim Stahl, was the renowned director of the Zeppa Center at A&M-Commerce (predecessor to the current Morris Recreation Center) for 21 years.
Scott graduated from Commerce High School in 1978, and he felt like it was a natural choice to stay in town and attend A&M-Commerce (known then as East Texas State University, or ETSU).
“ETSU was a great path for me because it was right in my backyard, and my dad worked there. That university has always been very important to me and to them. It was just kind of a natural fit,” he said.
Scott recalled that, even back then, first-year students were required to complete two computer science classes as part of their core curriculum. In those classes, Scott developed an interest in computer programming. At the time, computers were imposing giants, spreading across entire rooms. Yet, Scott jumped in with both feet, learning the inner workings of the big machines and how to make them function.
It turns out he was in the right place at the right time. ETSU was a national leader in computer science education, launching the first undergraduate degree in computer science in Texas in 1971.
“For a small university at that time, they were on the leading edge of technology,” Scott recalled.
A Pioneering Career
In the 1970s, ETSU’s massive mainframe computer performed functions for enrollment, payroll, financial aid, housing and other administrative offices at the university. Scott launched his computer programming career as a student-operator on the machine in the university’s data processing department.
“I had a background in the programming language that we used back then,” he said. “This was back in the old keypunch days, and we’d have to load those card decks and everything on the big mainframe. ”
In 1981, Scott was offered a full-time programming position at ETSU.
“I was probably a junior in college then, and they let me finish my coursework to get my degree, but at the same time, I was working full-time for the university,” Scott said.
Scott graduated from ETSU in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and General Business and spent the next three years as a programmer at ETSU. Then, in 1985, he accepted a job with a tiny new software company in Sulphur Springs called NET Data.
“I was the first hire they ever had, and it was just me and my boss,” he said.
In this role, Scott and his colleague wrote and developed programs for local government operations, including county government offices, court systems and sheriff’s offices.
“We wrote programs and did all the design work, customer support and marketing. When you’re working in a small, young company, you’ve got to wear many different hats. We worked hard,” he said.
After 35 years with NET Data, Scott retired in 2020 as the senior vice president and partner of the company. Under his leadership, the company grew from two employees to more than 75.
Meanwhile, Margaret continues her career as a consultant for independent insurance agencies across the U.S.
Serving TAMUC
Staying Involved
Following retirement, Scott has enjoyed doubling down on his efforts to serve A&M-Commerce.
“Now that I’m retired, I can only mow my yard so many times in a day,” he joked. “So, I decided to become more involved at A&M-Commerce, and I just love it.”
Scott is a member of the College of Business Advisory Board, a director of the A&M-Commerce Foundation Board, and an active member of the Alumni Association. He is also a member of PI Kappa Alpha Alumni Association and chair-elect of the Foundation Board’s Governance Committee. In 2011, the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at A&M-Commerce named him an Alumni Ambassador.
Scott’s philanthropic spirit seems to have been acquired from his parents.
“My parents raised me to be really involved in the university,” Scott said. “It’s very important to them.”
His father has also given generously to A&M-Commerce through service and scholarships over the years. In fact, Scott and Dr. Stahl collaborated to present the university a gift in 2017 to support an outstanding faculty member in the engineering or computer science departments.
A Message to Fellow Alumni
As evidenced by their recent gift, Scott and Margaret firmly believe the university changes for the better when alumni are involved. According to Scott, the first step is to bring former students back to campus to see the great things that are happening here.
“I want to motivate all our alumni to come back and look around,” Scott said. “Sometimes I walk around campus, and I’m inspired by all the improvements. It’s just incredible.”
His message to fellow alumni is simple but direct: “Just get involved. Come to a football game now and then. Come to a basketball game, or just take a tour of the university. Your university is part of your history that doesn’t go away. You’ll always be a part of this place, and you’re always welcome here. We’re proud of what you’ve done, so come back and visit!”
“Maybe just visiting campus will motivate our alumni to do more for the university,” Scott reflected. “Active alumni are sorely needed here.”
A Lasting Impact
The Stahls’ story weaves together the threads of a Lion legacy, a pioneering career in computer programming, and a lifelong dedication to A&M-Commerce. Their transformative gift exemplifies not just a financial contribution but a commitment to nurturing future opportunities through matching gifts.
“Scott and Margaret’s generous gift speaks volumes about their love for our institution and also underscores their dedication to the betterment of our academic community,” said Devin Girod, vice president of Philanthropy and Engagement. “Their leadership is cultivating a culture of giving and engagement among our alumni, which in turn is advancing our university’s mission to transform lives. We are sincerely grateful for their commitment and leadership.”
“Just Get Involved”
Choose your match and make an impact today!
Alumni Association Membership Match: https://www.tamuc.edu/membership-match/
Greatest Need Fund Match: https://www.tamuc.edu/match-greatest-need/
