Flags Fly at Half Staff 9/11
The flags at the Veterans Memorial and around the City will be lowered to half staff at 8 a.m. and will remain until 5 p.m. at which time they will be raised full staff by the Hopkins County Marine Corps League.
The Marine Corps League is following a directive from Governor Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump concerning the flying of flags on September 11, 2018. The event marks a remembrance of September 11, 2001 when 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
4-Way Stop at 19N/FM 71 to Begin September 17
PARIS – Texas Department of Transportation officials today announced that four-way stop signs will be installed at the intersection of State Highway 19 and FM 71 in northern Hopkins County beginning Sept. 17.
Message boards are already in place to alert drivers to the upcoming change in the traffic pattern on this portion of SH 19. TxDOT personnel will install the bases for the four-way stop signs during the week of Sept. 10, officials said.
TxDOT officials asked motorists and others who travel frequently in this area to remain alert and observe the posted speed limit when approaching and passing through this intersection. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Coach Reflects on Lady Cat Volleyball at Wylie East
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness said the scores of the Lady Cats’ road loss at Wylie East Friday (September 7) don’t reflect how good of a match it was. The Lady Raiders won 3-0 by scores of 25-21, 25-19 and 25-17. Coach Maness said it was an exciting match.
He felt the Lady Cats competed well and played with effort and intensity, especially during sets one and two and the first half of set three. Coach Maness said the match boiled down to the Lady Cats making more unforced errors. He said the Lady Raiders, who played the Lady Cats last season in a bi-district match, were better than they were last season. Coach Maness said Wylie East moved the ball around, hit the ball hard and played very good defense. He said the match had lots of good volleys but he said the Lady Raiders ended up winning a majority of them.
Coach Maness said the match was a good growing lesson for the Lady Cats. He told his team after the match to think of Wylie East as a Lindale or Royse City team they will soon face in district play. Coach Maness also told them they will be facing teams like Wylie East in the playoffs. He said the Lady Cats will have to be able to compete at that level, Coach Maness said the Lady Cats blocking was off Friday and he added the Lady Cats missed too many serves.
The Lady Cats are now 22-6 for the season. He said the team still has time to get better before district play begins on September 21. Next up is a home match against Edgewood Tuesday night. Coach Maness said Edgewood is a salty team with a good won-loss record. Then the Lady Cats will be off for Homecoming activities Friday.
Cross Country: Miller Grove; Saltillo; Sulphur Springs
Both the Miller Grove Hornets and Lady Hornets and the Saltillo Lady Lions competed in recent cross country meets.
The Saltillo Lady Lions were at the 22nd Tim Menke Invitational at North Hopkins last Thursday (September 6) and the Lady Lions finished 12th as a team. Sienna Collins led the Lady Lions with a 3rd place finish running a time of 13:00. Raegan Spear was 50th in the race. Ofelia Cabrera was 92nd, Danielle Ross finished 99th and Chandler Bain 101st. The Lady Lions will compete next this Thursday (September 13) at the Miller Grove Invitational.
The Miller Grove Hornets and Lady Hornets ran at a Tyler Lee sponsored meet held at UT Tyler Saturday (September 8). The Hornets took first place in the race of 17 teams in Class 1A through 4A. Grant Earp led the Hornets with a 3rd place finish in a time of 17:32. Lance Davis finished 6th, Tanner Hensley was 7th, Matt Brignon was 16th and Lexton Sly was 34th. Hornet Isaiah Billingsley competed in the race with Class 5A and 6A athletes at UT Tyler and he finished 6th with a time of 16:26. The Miller Grove Lady Hornets finished 3rd among 18 teams in a Class 1A through 4A race. Jolee Fox led the Lady Hornets with a 7th place finish with a time of 12:31. Lauren Bullard was 8th, Cassidy Seaney was 11th, Lainy Burnett was 52nd, Alexa Pelerose was 56th and Harli Watson was 94th. Miller Grove Cross Country Coach Gary Billingsley said his teams had improvements this weekend. He said it was good to see hard work paying off.
The Wildcats finished 4th and the Lady Cats 10th at a Tyler Lee sponsored cross country meet Saturday (September 8) at UT- Tyler. Landon Thornton was the top finisher for the Wildcats with an 8th place finish. Coach Ross Hicks said Thornton was followed by Christian Palomino, Eli Sellers, Nabian Ramirez and Jose Mejia. Coach Hicks said all five ran season best times. The Lady Cats were led by Sydney Washburn who wound up in around 20th place according to Coach Hicks. He said she really wants to get better as a runner. Other Lady Cats finishers were Bailey Arrington, Ashley Noe, Maurie Flecker and Jessica Yanez. The Wildcats and Lady Cats will be competing Friday (September 14) in a Wylie sponsored cross country meet that will be held in Audubon Park in Garland. Coach Hicks said the meet will feature lots of competition.
Imago Dei: We Are In His Image a Men’s Conference at First Baptist Church Sulphur Springs
A men’s conference at First Baptist Church Sulphur Springs will focus on Imago Dei: We are in His Image. The conference features Dr. Delvin Atchison, Director of the Great Commission Team of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
The conference is set for Friday, September 28 from 6 until 9 p.m. Menu for the evening meal includes Grilled Rib Eye Steak, Baked Potato, Green Beans, Salad and Dessert. Cost is $20. Tickets are available at at First Baptist Church.
Poverty in Hopkins County: Health, Food, Housing, Programs
By Jim Rogers
With a number of local arrest reports showing “homeless” and other visually evident signs of poverty’s affect, KSST News has begun an examination of the local poverty rate and its impact in Hopkins County and the communities and cities that comprise the county. Although the following article, the first of several, is not an exhaustive view of poverty, it does cover information that should cause local residents to be concerned for their neighbors and encourage one to become an advocate for better jobs and housing.
Overview
Hopkins County’s poverty rate is 19.5%. In a county with a population of 35,844, a median age of 39.2, a median household income of $45,748, and where the population is in slow growth, there are certain concerns that become apparent. The poverty rate in the county places almost 7,000 people below the poverty line and puts the county at a percentage higher than the 14% national average. In the county, 24% of children are living in poverty. However, the largest city, Sulphur Springs, faces an even greater percentage of poverty. The city’s poverty rate is 26.4% among the 15,896 people.
Health Care
Poverty affects health. In Hopkins County, 21% of those under 65-years of age are uninsured. In a county where 18% of adults report being in fair or poor health, 32% of adults are obese, and 31% of adults are physically inactive, health costs are a constant drain on family budgets. These county numbers exceed both state and national figures. Although the percentage of smokers in Hopkins County, 17%, is on par with the national percentage, the county exceeds the Texas percentage of 14%. Hopkins County Agri-Life Extension has designated health concerns as a primary focus for programming during their next fiscal year.
Food
Food is also an issue. According to Feeding America, 6,540 or 18% of the people in Hopkins County are food insecure. In Sulphur Springs Public Schools, all students below third grade are receiving free breakfast and lunch at school. Students in the remaining grades may be eligible for free meals and families may apply if they meet specific criteria. Other schools in Hopkins County reflect a similar approach.
Several programs provide meals in Hopkins County. Meal-a-Day, operated in and through the Senior Center, Dinner Bell, and a newly opened program sponsored by Color Blind Ministries in Como are among sources for nutrition. At First Baptist’s ROC, meals are available to those who walk in during operating hours. On average, FBC gives out 150 to 200 meals per week to those who are hungry and in need. Toward the end of the month that number grows to 300-400 meals per week. The meal provided by the ROC is a sandwich, chips, cookies and anything else that is donated. Volunteers at the ROC prepare the meals.
Hopkins County Community Chest and the Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry provide food for county residents. Hopkins County now has over 250 senior citizens receiving individually an additional 27 pounds of food each month.
Other services also assist in filling the food need (We will note those in later articles).
One source that provides food to various organizations that feed the hungry in a 13-county service area, which includes Hopkins County, is the North Texas Food Bank. The NTFB is a hunger relief organization that has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and has a proven record of accomplishment. Focused on providing nutritious food, the program has provided access to more than 190,000 meals for hungry children, seniors, and families in their service area. In the 13-county service area, one of every six people is served. That is over 800,000 persons served due to hunger. The annual household income of 95% of the households served by NTFB is $30,000 or less. Among those served, 60% of the client households report unpaid medical bills and one in three client households are affected by diabetes.
Housing
Housing for the homeless and those at or below the poverty line also remains a local problem. There is some low rent or rent subsidized housing units in the City of Sulphur Springs and the County but there are also those who move into unoccupied houses or buildings and establish a tentative residence. Community Chest assists with utility payments or establishing utility service. However, when there is not utility service available to the building or the individual is what is commonly called a “squatter”, there is no availability of funding.
According to Community Chest Executive Director Judy Ann Moore, there are those who have sought assistance from the organization that are living in their vehicle. Those living in their car or other vehicle are not just single individuals or a couple. There are families that are attempting to be accommodated in their car.
Programs
The people of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County rally for programs that seek to meet needs. Recent reaction to Lil’ 4s and to the needs of children and adults undergoing care for cancer or rare diseases are just two examples of compassion. However, there are needs that continue to depend on the development of programs in education, nutrition, and job skills that should also find the attention of those who seek to provide a better-than-subsistence quality of life for local residents.
Free “Whole Pie” Event Will Educate, Inform About Medicare Choices and Benefits
Karon Weatherman, Director of the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is getting the word out about a fun way to learn more about the important facts and features of Medicare. The non-biased Medicare Seminar is set for Monday September 24 at 1pm at the Sr’s Center, 150 MLK Drive. Anyone can attend, but if you want to receive a free pie, you must register before September 20 by calling 903-571-6750.
Dinner Bell Menu For September 12, 2018
DINNER BELL MENU
September 12, 2018
Menu:
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Bacon Infused Green Beans
Pear and Feta Salad with Poppy Seedless Dressing
Buttered French Bread
Carrot Cake
Pear and Gelatin Dessert (the no added sugar dessert)
We have the ice in the cups and the tea/water ready to pour. Relax, get out of the heat, and enjoy some good company at The Dinner Bell.
Served Wednesdays at 11:45 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs, TX.
Delorean Biopic “Driven” Closes 2018 Venice Film Festival
By Chad Young
Venice, Italy-Closing the Venice Film Festival is the John Delorean biopic “Driven” starring Lee Pace as DeLorean and Jason Sudeikis as Jim Hoffman, an FBI informant that is the undoing of John DeLorean’s career. Throughout the movie, you get the feeling that Delorean himself is his own undoing through his narcissistic and flamboyant demeanor that catapulted him to his meteoric rise through GM in the 60’s and 70’s, but this tale written by Colin Bateman only shows the view from Jim Hoffman, drug dealer turned informant, who somehow lures Delorean into a drug deal.
Lee Pace’s performance as John DeLorean is superb, as a self-assured, automotive genius that enjoys the high life and partying with celebrities. Pace certainly became the character he was portraying. But, Jason Sudeikis’ is really the star of the film as the FBI informant, as the entire story is told from his perspective. His performance as the drug dealer, turned informant, turned DeLorean friend, uses a lot of dramatic license, as the actual person entered witness protection many years ago. Sudeikis’ wit and quick thinking comes through in his performance which no doubt had the screenplay writers on their toes. Although not truly a straight dramatic role for Sudeikis, he pulls off his tongue-in-cheek performance quite convincingly. The disappointing part is the absence of DeLorean’s accomplishments through his career. In the movie, the characters briefly mention that DeLorean is the creator of the Pontiac GTO, but his claims to fame extend far beyond that. DeLorean was the youngest chief of any GM division, in this case Pontiac, in 1965, at the age of 40. While working at Pontiac, he developed a new model by taking a mid-sized Pontiac Tempest and installing a 389 cu in (6.4 L) V8. The Pontiac GTO was born and it was this young vision that many believe set him on course to create the beginning of the muscle car craze. He also developed the Pontiac Firebird. DeLorean moved on to head Chevrolet in 1969 and then abruptly quit in 1973.
Red carpet at Venice Film Festival premier of ‘Driven’ starring Jason Sudeikis.
The movie “Driven” directed by Nick Hamm picks up long after John DeLorean has left Chevrolet and is attempting to start his own car company. In reality, this vision to reality story took much longer, as he was met with resistance on factory space, engine suppliers, etc. He eventually ended up employing 2,000 people in Northern Ireland to build the car, and Renault was supplying the engines. Taking until 1981 to deliver his first car, DeLorean’s company was in financial trouble. In the end, although still a wealthy man, John DeLorean faced financial difficulties with his company and was lured into a scheme by Jim Hoffman to traffic cocaine for a quick profit, to save the faltering company. Although, most car aficionados will remember seeing the grainy black and white video shown on major news channels at the time, from the FBI sting operation, I doubt most of the actors in the film are old enough to remember. It was certainly a fall from grace as then John DeLorean was arrested, tried in federal court, and although acquitted, his car company went into bankruptcy and he would never be relevant in the car industry again.
On a side note for car fans, I found some of the attention to detail in a car movie about a car guy that was also disappointing. Although, the characters hair and wild outfits were true to the late 70’s and early 80’s times, I noticed several cars in the film with 3rd brake lights, which became mandatory in the US in 1986. Since the majority of the film occurred in the years leading up to 1982, I found it lazy that they used a bunch of cars from the late 80’s instead of period correct cars, which should have been easy to find. Although a small detail to most, it’s this attention to detail that makes me wonder if maybe they have been loose on other “facts” about the story as well.
Alfonso Cuaron showing off his Golden Lion for Best Picture at Venice Film Festival
In the end, it was very exciting to be at the Venice Film Festival and see a movie premiere and watch the actors walk the red carpet. Rhonda even met the gentleman that is the Director of the Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera, a virtual rock star in local circles. We also were outside on the red carpet when Alfonso Cuaron, director of the film “Roma” emerged carrying his Golden Lion award for Best Picture from the competition. Although not the Oscars, this competition is the oldest film festival in the world, and although a little hard to get to as we had to take two boats to reach the island where it is held, the people could not have been more congenial. We bought “public” tickets to the premiere the day before the premiere, and sat in the theater as the actors and directors from the film sat behind us as we watched their film. It was a very exciting atmosphere, with people from all over the world coming together for the love of film.
Alberto Barbera the Director of the Venice Film Festival
