Chamber Connection, November 15, 2018
The Sulphur Springs Hopkins County EDC and the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce are hosting their annual Economic Outlook Conference at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center on Wednesday, December 5th from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. We are so excited to welcome Mr. Richard Froeschle, current Labor Market Economist, as our keynote speaker at the 2018 Economic Outlook Conference. Mr. Froeschle will present Hopkins County the economic outlook for Northeast Texas for 2019. Sponsorships of the conference and tickets are available. Lunch will be provided. For further information, please call the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515.
I’m excited to let you know that we have begun work on the 2019 Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Directory. We distribute over 7,000 of these directories to visitors, relocation hopefuls, and even home town heroes who are interested in learning more about our local businesses. They include historical information as well all things to the see and do in Hopkins County. The best part is, they include an alphabetical and categorical listing of your business. LeeAnn Peugh, with Echo Publishing, will be contacting you in the next few weeks to see if you are interested in placing an ad in the directory. The rates are affordable, and one of the best ways to represent your business. I hope you will consider this a wise investment with over 7,000 opportunities for business exposure. You may also contact the Chamber, and I will pass your information along to her. I’m proud to produce this book telling all about the place we love. I hope you will join me in the journey!
Here’s another HUGE announcement from the Chamber! Our Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce has joined in with the Longview Chamber to offer small businesses health insurance through United Healthcare. It is called HealthyVIEW and is only offered to small businesses, 2-50 employees, who are members of our Chamber. This is a huge milestone for our Chamber to offer, and an extremely needed benefit for many. For additional information, contact Lezley Brown at the Chamber, (903) 885-6515. We are thrilled to be able to offer this invaluable asset to our Chamber members!
Wesley Methodist Church Fall Round-up
Wesley United Methodist Church is hosting their 40th Annual Fall Round Up on Saturday, November 17th from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be Hopkins County Stew, a silent auction, country store, and a live auction. Tickets are $6 for adults, and $3 for children. Visit www.wesleysst.org/fallroundup for more information.
Hunt Regional is offering Mobile Mammography Coach in Sulphur Springs
Hunt Regional Hospital is offering the Tubby Adkisson Memorial Mobile Mammography Coach on November 15th in the Spring Village Shopping Center in Sulphur Springs. All insurances accepted at Hunt Regional are also accepted for the Mobile Mammography Coach, including Medicare and Medicaid. To schedule individual screening mammograms, please call (903) 408-5010. Appointments and pre-registration are requested.
Love’s Travel Stop hosting their grand opening
Love’s Travel Stop in Sulphur Springs is hosting their grand opening on Thursday, November 15th. Make sure to stop by and check out the biggest Love’s Travel Stop to date. The Chamber will host a ribbon cutting for Love’s on Tuesday, November 27th at noon.
Reilly Springs Jamboree
The Reilly Springs Jamboree plans “Thanksgiving in the Country” with the music of the Jean Wranglers from Austin, Texas at 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 17th. Don’t miss the 2-part character portrayal by Paula Altenbaumer of Hopkins County early pioneer Henry Stout. Roger Reed and Enola Gay will add to the evening with an acoustic country-gospel set. You can shop in the Country Store and sit down to Hopkins County Stew, cooked outside and served in the Reilly Springs Kitchen. Bring your friends and family and enjoy a relaxing evening of Thanksgiving in the Country. Admission $10 person. The Reilly Springs Community Center is located at 109 CR 1439.
Sulphur Springs Youth Orchestra hosts winter concert
The Sulphur Springs Youth Orchestra is hosting a free concert called A Winter Classical on Thursday, December 6th, at Shannon Oaks Church in Sulphur Springs. For additional information, call (903) 261-7907 or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SSY017/.
Heritage Park will host Christmas in the Park on Saturday, November 24th
The Hopkins County Historical Society presents Christmas in the Park on Saturday, November 24, and Saturday, December 1, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $3.00, and children under seven are free. Visit with Santa, see the light displays, listen to live music, enjoy hot cocoa, old-fashioned cider, coffee and cookies, and begin your Christmas shopping in the Country Store.
Temple’s Trailer Sales is hosting their 50th Anniversary
Temple’s Trailer Sales is hosting their 50th Anniversary celebration with lunch and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, November 28th at noon. Come celebrate this huge milestone with us!
CASA hosts their annual Cookie Walk
CASA is hosting their annual Cookie Walk on Friday, December 7th, from 9 a.m. to noon at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center. Cookies are sold for $5.00 a pound. Go by there and load up on Christmas cookies while supporting our local CASA!
Lion’s Club will host the 11th Annual Christmas Parade on Friday, December 7th
The Lion’s Club is hosting the 11th Annual Christmas Parade Friday, December 7th at 7 p.m. The parade begins at Buford Park and goes East on Connally Street to the square, turns left onto Church Street, and left on Houston Street to end in the Gerald Prim Stadium parking lot. You may pick up registration forms and rules at the Chamber of Commerce. The entry fee is one toy, to be donated to the Blue Santa Program. Charitable cash donations also accepted, and checks should be made payable to the Sulphur Springs Lions Club. Registration forms must be received by noon on Tuesday, December 4.
PJC-Sulphur Springs Prepares Students for Workforce
PLANNING SPEECH
Members of Instructor Paul May’s public speaking class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center came together in groups to plan their speech presentations. Students in this group are, from left, Designee Rushing, Shelby Whitson, Laura Willits, Instructor May, Sarah Leano and Angel Tavera. For information about classes and workforce training at the Center, call 903-885-1232.
Dinner Bell Thanksgiving 2018
The 2018 Dinner Bell Feast was held Wednesday November 14th, 2018. The largest crowd of the year packed the First United Methodist Church. The local Knights of Columbus sponsored the meal, served the meal and smoked the turkeys diners enjoyed.
Remember: there will not be a Dinner Bell meal served next week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. We hope you enjoy the holiday with friends and family.
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
Two Sentenced Tuesday in Eighth Judicial District Court
Tuesday in Eighth Judicial District Court two made plea bargains and were sentenced to prison.
Nancy James was sentenced to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Failure to Appear and Bail Jumping. Her latest arrest was in October of this year, Sulphur Springs Police responded to a disturbance involving a 2014 Mustang that was westbound at the 120-mile marker on I-30, he made the traffic stop in reference to a criminal investigation of a reported kidnapping. Nancy Lynn James, 47, of Sulphur Springs gave the officer a false name and incorrect date of birth when identifying. She possessed no valid driver’s license in her possession at the time.
Saschtity Patton, 23, was sentenced to five years for Burglary of a Habitation.
Blue Santa Workers Find Joy in Helping in 2018 Season of Giving for Needy Families
Individuals and organizations driving the local Blue Santa Campaign have one major attribute in common; their sincere joy in making sure Christmas is bright with toys for the children of local families who are facing hard times financially. In Hopkins County, sign-ups to receive Christmas toys are going on at CANHelp, 613 Gilmer Street, during business hours. (Special late hours will be held Dec. 3-6) Families must reside in Hopkins County and must be parents of legal guardians of each of the children signing up, in addition to meeting income qualifications. According to Shanna Martin of CANHelp, already 250 children have been signed up, and she expects close to 1,000 names total by the time sign-ups close on December 7. That means Blue Santa may need 5,000-6,000 toys to distribute this Christmas for children age 0-16. How can you help?
For individuals and families, placing new toys in the blue barrels located in shopping areas is the easiest way. Your group, church or organization can pool funds to purchase toys or bicycles. And if you are an employee of a company or industry, you might assist through a group donation which can be matched by your company. Don’t forget, age-appropriate items for teens like music, personal electronics and grooming sets are always needed.
Attend the Blue Santa Toy Drive on the Lowe’s parking lot in Sulphur Springs on Monday December 3 and Tuesday December 4, from 7am til 7pm. Just drive up and hand your toys or personal checks to a member of law enforcement who will be on duty there. Or bring your donations to the night time Christmas Parade downtown Sulphur Springs on Friday December 7, and hand them to Sheriff’s Dept. volunteers walking in the parade. Another way that Blue Santa raises money for toys is through a Sack Lunch Sale on December 3 and 4 during lunchtimes. Brisket sandwiches prepared by CJ Duffey with chips and drink are just $5 each. Or you can order for delivery using a phone number listed on the Blue Santa Facebook page.
Blue Santa Distribution Day is Saturday December 15 through First United Methodist Church volunteers. And remember, you can help any time of the year, as monetary donations which arrive late will be earmarked for the 2019 Blue Santa campaign. Merry Christmas!
Exciting DBA “Ladies Night Out” Shows it Pays to “Shop Local” during 2018 Holidays
As the holidays get closer and closer, you’ll hear reminders to “Shop Local” this Christmas, and that includes local merchants of many types, all over Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. Why drive out of town when there’s such a variety of shops and stops right here? Plan to join the “Shop Local” campaign now, and begin looking for interesting gift-worthy items for your Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations, right here!
On Tuesday, November 13, the Downtown Business Alliance “Ladies Night Out” event yielded a steady flow of visitors and shoppers in the downtown district. Landers Creek Outfitters, Marlene’s Sass and Class, 2 Loops Boutique, The Secret Garden, Everything Unique, Meraki, Gourmet Kitchen and Co, Magic Scoop General Store and Danna’s Gifts and Florist were host shops with storewide discounts and door prize sign-up stations inside. Corner Grub House, Burgerland and Potato House offered special deals and sign-up stations from 5:30 until 8pm. At 8pm, all the sign-up boxes were carried to the event’s prize location, Magic Scoop, where door prizes were awarded. Then at 8:30 pm, the Grand Prize drawing was held for a Gift Basket stuffed with items and gift certificates valued at over $500. Placing prizes in the Gift Basket were the hosting shops and stops, plus DBA members City National Bank, Millennium Shopper, Tully Insurance, Plain and Fancy Sandwich Shop, Flippin Printing and Coffee Off the Square.
Hopkins County Jail Passes Annual Standards Inspection
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and Sheriff Lewis Tatum are pleased that the local jail passed state standards following an inspection Tuesday. Late Tuesday afternoon, November 13th, the inspector told the judge and sheriff that all was in order and that he was surprised to see that the three year old jail is not showing its age considering the number of inmates that have been housed there.
Sheriff Tatum said the state standards cover more than just the facility but also the paper work has to be precise. Tatum told KSST News that the inspector praised the work of jail leadership in maintaining the high standards found. Keeping the facility clean and maintenance of the building were commended. Tatum said training jail staff is ongoing. He noted the Sandra Bland Act that is being instituted. Suicide training is the focus of the act and a segment of the training.
Tatum also noted that the new courtroom being built at the County Law Enforcement Facility will be a benefit to safety for inmates. Tatum stated that local lawyers are delighted with the prospect of the new building. He said he is waiting to see how District Judge Eddie Northcutt will want to use the facility.
Local Man Arrested for Assault
Sulphur Springs Police Officers were called to an apartment on Helm Lane Wednesday morning around 2 a.m. in reference to an individual trying to kick in a door. When officers arrived, they heard a female making loud noise as though in pain and a male yelling.
Visible injuries on the female and telling officers that the male was beating her led to the arrest of Tom Coy Childress, 33, who lived at the address. Childress is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Assault Family Violence Imped/Breath, a felony 3. His bond is set at $25,000.
Willis Led Wildcats With 26 in 76-57 Win
The Wildcats’ basketball team improved their season record to 2-0 with a dominating 76-57 win over Class 6A Rockwall-Heath Tuesday night in Wildcats Gym. The Wildcats led only 20-17 after one quarter and 36-31 at halftime before blowing the game wide open in the third quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Hawks, 23-9 in the third period to extend their lead to 59-40.
Senior Keaston Willis led the Wildcats with 28 points including three 3-pointers. Junior Sadaidriene “Day Day” Hall scored 20 points and senior Xavier Cork added 13 points. Senior Jeremiah Roland scored 7 points. Junior Cameron Kahn had 5 points. Sophomore Lamodrick Johnson had 2 points and senior Duece Berry scored 1 point.
Next the Wildcats will face their third Class 6A team this season. The Wildcats, ranked #14 in Class 5A in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Poll, will play Rockwall, ranked #6 in Class 6A, next Monday night at 7:30 p.m. in Wildcats Gym.
