City Council to Meet Wednesday, January 9, 2019 for Second Public Hearing on Annexation
The special meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 in the Council Room at 201 North Davis Street. The meeting will follow a Tuesday meeting that includes the first public hearing on annexation for the two areas (see here). The following items will be discussed:
- Call to order
- Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag, Texas Flag, and invocation.
- Conduct a Public Hearing for Annexation Area 1, generally referred to as the Pioneer Business Park and adjacent properties.
- Conduct a Public Hearing for Annexation of Area 2, generally referred to as Heritage Business Park and adjacent properties.
5. Adjourn.
Sulphur Springs City Council Agenda for January 8, 2019
The special meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 in the Council Room at 201 North Davis Street.
The following items will be discussed:
1. Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag, Texas Flag, and invocation.
2. Presentations, proclamations, and announcements.: (a) Chris Brown, ARK-TEX Council of Governments Presentation; (b) David James, Assistant Fire Marshal, ISO Presentation; (c) School Choice Week Proclamation
Manager’s report will include a status report of capital improvements, wastewater treatment plant operations, accidents and claims for the month, and a review of expenditures and revenues.
Discussion/action on Consent Agenda.
Conduct a Public Hearing for Annexation of Area 1, generally referred to as the Pioneer Business Park and adjacent properties.
Conduct a Public Hearing for Annexation of Area 2, generally referred to as Heritage Business Park and adjacent properties.
Discussion/action on public hearing for second and final first reading of Ordinance No. 2738, amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Sulphur Springs, Texas, Chapter 6, Section 6; Chapter 11, Section 11-39; Chapter 12, Section 12-7(b); Chapter 15A, Section 15A-1; Chapter 15B, Section 15B-1; Chapter 15C, Section 15C-1; and Chapter 19, Section 19-1 and Section 19-1. 2, updating the building codes, electrical code, and the property maintenance code.
Discussion/action on first reading of Ordinance No. 2739, an ordinance of the City of Sulphur Springs, Texas, adopting the recommendations of the 2018 Charter Review Committee, approving proposed amendments to the City of Sulphur Springs, making recommendations for inclusion of proposed changes to the official ballot of the upcoming municipal election, making findings in support thereof, and overruling any ordinance in conflict herewith.
Discussion/action on authorization for city staff and financial advisor to begin the process of issuing tax notes for the purchase of certain equipment and vehicles that were approved in the 2019 budget.
Discussion/action to consider refunding Series 2009 Certificate of Obligation for interest rate savings and authorizing city staff and the city’s financial advisor to begin work om the refunding for presentation at a future city council meeting.
Discussion/action on bids and award of contract for the Summer Paving Program. (Bids will be opened January 8)
Visitors and public fomm.
Adjourn.
Lady Bears Overcome Deficit to Win District Opener
The Sulphur Bluff Lady Bears rallied from a big first quarter deficit to win their district opener Thursday against Avinger, 49-45.
Avinger had a 17-8 first quarter lead. The Lady Bears outscored Avinger 12-6 in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 23-20 at halftime. Sulphur Bluff used a big third quarter to take the lead. The Lady Cats outscored Avinger 17-6 to take a 37-29 lead into the fourth quarter. Avinger made a run at Sulphur Bluff in the fourth quarter but the Lady Bears held on to win by 4 points.
Makenna Morgan led the Lady Bears with 18 points. Katlyn Rochelle scored 13 points. Alley Collett had 10 points. Ann Dorner scored 7 points. Margaret Ryman added 4 points. Angel Brown scored 1 point.
Sulphur Bluff Coach Zandra Peyton said the Lady Bears ability to fight and get back in the game shows how much heart they have. She said she set several goals for the Lady Bears for this game and she said the team accomplished each of them.
Saltillo Lady Lions Open District With Win at Avery
The Saltillo Lady Lions’ basketball team opened district play Thursday (January 3) with a solid win at Avery. The Lady Lions won, 51-25. The Lady Lions outscored Avery in every quarter. They led 11-6 after one quarter, 22-10 at the half and 35-13 after three quarters.
Anna Reeder led the Lady Lions with 16 points. Chandler Bain had 10 points. Jocelyn Ochoa scored 9 points. Maddy Smith had 7 points. Brittney Peeples scored 6 points.
The Lady Lions are 1-0 in district play and their season record is 17-8. They play next at home Saturday at 6 p.m. against Union Grove.
The Lady Lions JV also defeated Avery’s JV, 31-12 on Thursday. Saltillo JV scorers included Bianca Castro and Danielle Ross with 10 points each, Ofelia Cabrera with 4 points, Josey Bench with 3 points, Trinity White with 2 points and Raegan Speir and McKenna Gurley with 1 point each. The Lady Lions JV now has a 9-1 season record.
Soccer Game Day: Wildcats at Princeton Tournament; Lady Cats at Terrell Tourney
CThe Wildcats’ soccer team played good defense for the most part but struggled to get the ball into the net as they opened the regular season with a 1-0 loss to Celina in a Princeton tournament Friday. Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats’ soccer teams open the regular season with games in tournaments on this game day Friday. They were supposed to begin Thursday but those games were canceled due to the threat of wintry weather. They should play today under much improved weather conditions Friday.
The Wildcats, 0-1 for the season, will also play host Princeton Saturday morning at 9:15.
Meanwhile the Lady Cats have two games in a Terrell tournament on this game day Friday. The Lady Cats will be playing Mesquite Poteet at 3 p.m. and then Red Oak at 7:30 p.m. The Lady Cats are also scheduled to play the Highland Park JV Saturday at noon. Additional games on Saturday for the Wildcats and Lady Cats depend on how their earlier games turn out.
Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats are battling early season injuries and illnesses.
Basketball Game Day: Wildcats at Home in Non-District Game; Lady Cats at Royse City to Start District Play
Wildcats Basketball at Home Versus Princeton on Friday Game Day
The Wildcats’ basketball team, now ranked #7 in Class 5A, starts a new calendar year of competition with a home game on this game day Friday (January 4). The Wildcats play host to a good Princeton Panther team. There will be a freshman game at 5 p.m., a JV contest at 6:15 p.m. with the varsity game set to begin at 7:30 p.m. This will be the Wildcats final non-district game before district play gets underway next Friday at home against Greenville. Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta said Princeton has a record of either 13-2 or 13-3 so they have had some success. He called them athletic and he said they remind him of Lake Highlands, a team that defeated the Wildcats earlier this season. The Wildcats enter the Princeton contest with a season record of 13-8. Five of the eight losses came against teams ranked in the top 25 in Class 6A. The Wildcats have not played in almost a week. They completed play in the 2018 Whataburger Tournament last Saturday morning with a close loss to Little Rock Parkview. The Wildcats enter play Friday on a two game losing streak. The Wildcats and Princeton basketball game Friday night will be broadcast live on KSST Radio with live video streaming available at ksstradio.com. The game will also be videotaped for replay at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Lady Cats Basketball Opens District Play At Highly Ranked Royse City
The Lady Cats’ basketball team opens district play on game day Friday (January 4) against the toughest of opponents. The Lady Cats face the Lady Bulldogs of Royse City at Royse City. The Lady Bulldogs have a sterling record of 22-2 and in new rankings this week they are #6 in Class 5A according to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches . There will be a JV contest at 5 p.m. Friday with the varsity game set to start at 6:15 p.m. Lady Cats Coach Brittney Tisdell said she believes Royse City will be the Lady Cats’ toughest competition in the district. She acknowledged that some people believe that Texas High might provide the hardest district competition but she said the Lady Bulldogs have played some great schools and have stepped u and have done great things. Coach Tisdell said Royse City would provide a true test for the Lady Cats to show what they can do. The Lady Cats have had a wonderful season so far and they are 18-3 overall. They are coming off of a tournament championship win last weekend at the Idabel, Oklahoma Winter Classic. The Lady Cats last played last Saturday night as they defeated Hugo, Oklahoma to win the Idabel tournament. The Lady Cats enter play at Royse City Friday on an 8-game winning streak. There last loss was to Edgewood in the Edgewood tournament back on December 7.
2019 “Vegas” Gala Event to Benefit the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation
“What’s raised in Hopkins County stays in Hopkins County!” stated Meredith Caddell, CEO of the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation. “What that means is, funds raised locally for hospital improvements stay right here in Hopkins County for use by our own CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs. Money we raise isn’t divided among other CHRISTUS hospitals in the network. And in the past few years, amazing things have been done with funds raised by the Gala and other Foundation events. Purchases of much-needed equipment that benefit our entire population have been made, and that’s something I am very proud of. This year’s Gala is super exciting and will be lots of fun, so plan to be there!”
A few tickets remain for the “Vegas” Gala, to be held in the Hopkins County Civic Center on Saturday January 26, 2019. Meredith explained, “the decor will be in a classically elegant Las Vegas style. Expect lavish food and drink. Dress will be ‘high glam’ so go all out! The band ‘Intensity’ will keep up a lively cross-section of music for dancing and listening. Part of the fun will be the gambling table with prizes like designer items and casino stays. A “$100 for 100″ feature will allow an exclusive group of 100 ticketholders the chance to claim ten different large-ticket items. And when it’s time for the Auction, well, that’s the high point of the evening. Gala is going to be an event you’ll remember.”
On the “wish list” for this year’s gift to the hospital is a 3-D Mammography machine, representing a $500,000 purchase. This state-of-the–art screening technology will provide greater accuracy of detection of breast tissue abnormalities. Use of the 3-D machine also reduces call-backs (or recalls) of the patient to the facility when screening views require additional images. So, while the patient is still the suite, images can be examined and re-screenings done. If biopsy is needed, this can also be performed during the same visit.
Because mammograms are the first step in breast cancer screenings, the combination of 3-D Mammography, current 2-D technology, Breast Ultrasound (or sonogram) screenings and Bone Density screenings make up a powerful array of services for women. A “Women’s Center” offering these services and more is the vision of the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation for our hospital. As plans go forward for the Center, “naming opportunities” exist for various portions of the facility. The entire Center could be named in honor of a person or family, as can the rooms and suites inside the Center. Find out more about naming opportunities by calling Meredith Caddell at 903-438-4799 or see the hopkins county healthcare foundation facebook page.
Master QuickBooks With a Class at PJC-Sulphur Springs
A class on QuickBooks Level I is available at the Paris Junior College – Sulphur Springs Center starting next Friday (Jan. 11) at 9:00 a.m. Offered through the Continuing Education Department, the course covers the basics of the popular record keeping software used by many small businesses today.
Taught by Jim Struwe, a counselor with the Paris Small Business Development Center, the course assists with business management through accurate record-keeping. Covering the basics allows better control of business income and expenses for more success and profitability.
The course will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on January 11, 18, and 25. To register, call 903-782-0447.
Berger Officials Meet Next Week to Plan Future for Facility at Birthright
“It was not the Christmas present we expected or wanted for our team.” Martine Berger said the fire that destroyed the main building at Berger Horticulture at Birthright is especially difficult at this time of year. She said the evaluation of the main building is that it is a complete loss. The Canada based company does intend to re-build, according to Berger.
According to Mike Matthews, Hopkins County Fire Marshall, the cause of the fire is undetermined but there is nothing to raise suspicions as to its cause. ATF assisted in the investigation with technology and manpower. He stated the fire did start in the center of the factory area where the building collapsed. He stated that interviews with employees have been conducted to assist in possible causes for the fire and there are a couple of interviews that remain. He emphasized that there is no suspicion of foul play as a cause for the fire.
Other buildings at the facility are safe, according to Berger. She said no dollar figure has been attached to the loss at the time. Berger told KSST News Thursday, January 3, 2019, that the family owned business is putting together a contingency plan but will meet next week to begin the process of planning for the future of the local facility.
At this time no employee wages have been lost and company officials will meet with employees next week so they will know the solution that will be put in place. She said the company, “…wants to take care of our people”.
Berger said the company is grateful for the quick and effective work of emergency services and the county and area fire departments. She said they also thank the neighbor who reported the fire.
The first call came in Monday at 11:28 a.m. of a possible structure fire at Berger Horticulture located near Birthright on State Highway 19N. The fire was officially under control at 3:20 p.m. Monday, December 24, 2018. Hopkins County Engine 20, Sulphur Springs Fire Department Engine, and North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the scene at the same time. Noting the fire was consuming the front side of the building, an all call was given to all county volunteer departments. County Tankers from surrounding counties–Lamar, Franklin, and Delta–and the City of Commerce responded.
Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley said the fire could have gone on all night had it not been for the sacrifices of the crews involved. He noted that even though it was Christmas Eve Day when many would be finalizing shopping and family activities, the dedication of county, city, and area firemen kept the fire from escalating to a greater level.
