Lady Cats Volleyball Plays at Wylie East in Bi-District Rematch
The #14 ranked Lady Cats’ volleyball team will be in action on this Friday (September 7) game day. The Lady Cats will travel to Wylie East to play the Lady Raiders. Game time for the varsity is at 4:30 p.m. Friday. The Lady Cats have a 22-5 season record and they have won their last two matches including a Tuesday night win at home against Wills Point. One wonders if the match against Wylie East might be a special one. After all it was the Lady Raiders that ended the Lady Cats season last year. It was a shocker. The Lady Raiders came in with a losing record at 15-19. They were their district’s #4 seed. The Lady Cats were district champs and the district’s #1 seed. However at Royse City on Halloween, Wylie East defeated the Lady Cats, 3-0. Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness wants consistent play from his Lady Cats regardless of their opponent. Six current members of the twelve member Lady Cats team were on the roster for last season’s shocking upset.
Wildcats Football Hosts Lovejoy Friday For Home Opener at The Prim
For Wildcats’ football, it’s week #2 and the Wildcats have their season opener at Gerald Prim Stadium Friday night (September 7). Lucas Lovejoy is coming to town. This is a rematch of a bi-district game played here back on November 17. The Leopards won that one, 45-29. Both teams come in tonight at 1-0. The Wildcats defeated Frisco Wakeland, 37-35 last Friday at Frisco Memorial Stadium. Lovejoy topped Frisco Heritage, 42-26 in Allen last Saturday at the Tom Landry Classic.
This is the final non-district game for both teams as both teams start district play next week. The Leopards’ head coach is Todd Ford. He’s in his third year at Lovejoy. Lovejoy started last season 0-5 so they have already improved on that this season.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens is in his thirteenth year at his alma mater. If the Wildcats play like they practiced this week, especially early in the week, then they should look good tonight. We will bring you Wildcats and Lovejoy football, live on KSST Radio. We will also videotape the game for replay at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Meet Central Baptist Church’ New Pastor Chris Stevens and Plan to Attend Revival October 21-24
September 7, 2018 – Chris Stevens likes small towns. During his lifetime he has lived in many of them in 49 different states, and pastored churches in Alabama, Kansas and Texas. He has a broad base of interests and experience, having worked part-time in radio and in sports officiating, even in farming and breaking horses, all to supplement his income at times as a pastor. Pastor Stevens feels his calling to become a pastor came right after he was saved at age 10, and that’s all he ever really wanted to do. He also plays several instruments and is thrilled by the fact that Central Baptist Church members love to sing!
Melinda Henderson is the Children’s Director at Central Baptist Church and she lined up our meeting on the KSST Good Morning Show. Dr. Stevens and his wife Robin settled in Sulphur Springs back in the summer and are excited about getting involved in every activity of the church family. “With new leadership comes change, and with change comes new focus, new direction and the blessings that result” he said. Revival is planned for October 21-24 with evangelist Brian Beaver. Opening day, Sunday October 21 is “Friends Day”. There will be a special feature on Saturday October 20 starting at noon, when right after the Fall Festival Parade concludes in town, Central Baptist will host a free Pumpkin Patch with hot dogs, games, pumpkin painting and pumpkin bowling during the afternoon. All children of the community are invited.
The AWANA Children’s progam is set to begin Sunday September 9 with registration at 5pm and class time at 5:30. AWANA classes will be held every Sunday evening from 5:30 til 7pm children age three through fifth grade. On the Sunday morning schedule for kids, it’s Sunday School at 9:30am, then a “Kids Zone” Children’s Church begins at 10:30am. Designed for nursery through 5th grade, Kids Zone will have reading and art stations, games, Bible lessons and a Snack Shack.
For the adults, Pastor Stevens says Sunday School will become “Life Groups” and will focus on connecting the various age groups through common interests and life skills. Currently there are 5 Life Groups for adults and two for Teens, meeting Sunday mornings at 9:30am. Church services start at 10:30am with the Pastor’s message and including a good share of choir and congregational singing. Sunday evenings services begin at 6pm. Wednesday nights will feature 6:30pm services followed by practice for choir and praise teams.
Central Baptist Church is located at 840 Connally Street, at the intersection of Connally Street and League Street, next to the entrance to Buford Park. Keep up with services and activities by visiting atcentral.org.
Tira News Sept. 7th, 2018
By Jan Vaughn
Nicolaas Esterhuyse spent the long weekend with his grandparents Robert and Yvonne Weir, while his parents were visiting Fredericksburg, Texas. Yvonne says he kept them busy. On Sunday they visited Dustin in Rowlett and took Nico home to his mom and dad, Destri and Eben.
Billy Moss reported that on August 29 th he had been shopping at Dollar General in Birthright and had put his receipt in his pocket. Later he noticed that his bank envelope with his money was missing, so he called the store to check on it. They said that it had been turned it in. Billy wants to express his appreciation to the “honest man” who found his money.
Billy’s mother, Mamie Jo (Garner) Jenkins fell and broke her ankle and 3 bones in her foot. Please pray for a quick recovery.
Chip and I fixed hamburgers and homemade ice cream for our family on Saturday evening. Those who came were Tiffany, Jaidyn, Kenden and his friend, Whitney, Landon, Laiken, Dixie, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden.
On Sunday afternoon, Brailon Joslin was honored with a party for his 5th birthday at the Tira Community Center. Helping him celebrate were his parents and siblings, Landon, Laiken, Dixie, Rylan, and Slaiden, and grandparents, aunts, and uncles – Leigh Ann, Bailey, and Kasen, Tiffany, Jaidyn, Malcolm, Morgan, Tiffany’s friend, Perry, and Chip and I. Brailon was very excited and enjoyed playing with all his new toys!
I returned to work at my office on Monday and was treated to a home cooked meal when I got home. Tiffany and her friend, Perry, had made “breakfast for supper”. Jaidyn and Kenden and his friend, Whitney, were here, too.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected]
To do list for September in the Garden By Mario Villarino
Here the list of activities for the garden for late summer, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Specialists:
Sustaining adequate moisture in the garden and landscape is the #1 priority for late summer and fall, Water trees and shrubs by giving them at least one inch of water per week, delivered slowly, around the plants as far out as the “dripline” extends.
Rejuvenate heat-stressed geraniums and begonias for the fall season by lightly pruning, fertilizing, and watering.
Don’t allow plants with green fruit or berries to suffer from lack of moisture. Hollies will frequently drop their fruit under drought conditions.
Prune out dead or diseased wood from trees and shrubs. Hold off on major pruning until midwinter. Pruning now may stimulate tender growth prior to frost.
Divide spring-flowering perennials such as irises, Shasta daisies, gaillardias, cannas, day lilies, violets, liriope, and ajuga. Reset divisions into well prepared soil with generous amounts of organic material worked into the top 8 to 10 inches. Water in thoroughly. Prepare the beds for spring-flowering bulbs as soon as possible.
It is important to cultivate the soil and add generous amounts of organic matter to improve the water drainage. Bulbs will rot without proper drainage. Plantings at this time can provide landscape color for three seasons in central, east, and south Texas.
Annuals set out early enough will bloom as soon as Thanksgiving, and frequently last until Memorial Day. Annuals that should soon be available in nurseries and garden shops include petunias, calendulas, pansies, snapdragons, stock, sweet peas, and violas (from seed).
Christmas cactus can be made to flower by supplying 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness and cool nights (55 degrees F.) for a month, starting in mid-October. Keep plants on the dry side for a month prior to treatment. Replenish mulches around trees and shrubs.
Start cool-season vegetables, such as mustard, lettuce, arugula, broccoli, carrots, and turnips, from seed in well prepared beds. Harvest okra, peppers, squash, and other vegetables often to encourage production. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
NETBIO Sales Scheduled
Special cattle sales, including a dairy dispersal and three Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization (NETBIO) sales will be held at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission between now and November 14.
The first of the four upcoming sales will be the September 19 NETBIO pre-conditioned stocker and feeder calf sale. The consignment book has closed on that sale with over 7,000 head to be sold.
All of the NETBIO sales begin at 1 p.m. and visitors are invited to come early and view the cattle.
Along with the regular dairy sale on October 4 at the market center, the dispersal of the Bob Neal Dairy will be held. Included in that sale will be 105 milking cows, 23 dry cows and 84 heifers, some to calve in two months.
The consignment book is still open for the October 17 NETBIO sale. This sale was added to the organizations pre-conditioned sales list a year ago due to the increased demand from organization members wanting to sell their pre-conditioned calves and yearlings through the NETBIO marketing system.
Producers interested in consigning cattle to one of the NETBIO sales should call the market center and get their ear tags. It is the only one of the three NETBIO sales that still has an open consignment book.
The organization’s anniversasry sale will be held on November 14 and will mark the 20th year for this pre-conditioned cattle producer organization. This sale has been full for quite some time — with over 8,000 head of pre-conditioned cattle on the books.
All NETBIO auctions are broadcast on the Internet and the Sulphur Springs Livestock Auction will be accepting bids at LMA Auctions.com. Internet buyers should register in advance in order to bid.
For more information on these sales, call 903-885-2455 or visit their Web Site at sslivestockauctions.com.
Tailgating and Picnicking Safely this Football Season By Johanna Hicks
Texans are crazy about football. However, this is also middle school and high school cross country, volleyball, and tennis season. Sports fans are out in full force to support their favorite high school, college, and professional teams. Tailgating is often associated with football season, so don’t let your fun be spoiled by foodborne illness.
Foodborne illness, with its stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, headaches, and maybe even vomiting, can result from the improper handling of foods. The pathogens that cause foodborne illness grow at
temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees F. This is called the “danger zone.” Foods prepared for outdoor eating can enter into the danger zone even when the weather is cool.
What foods are risky? Almost any food can be a source of hazardous bacteria, but most hazardous foods are moist and contain protein, these are known as “Time Control for Safety (TCS) Foods. This includes meats, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs and dairy products (cream pies, custards, and pastries that have cream fillings). Do not leave these foods in danger zone temperatures for more than two hours. Perishable foods or dishes containing perishable foods should be kept either hot (at or above 140 degrees F) or cold (40 degrees F or below).
How do you do this? Hot foods such as chili, soups, stews, and dips can be transported safely in a thermos if it has no cracks or leaks. Check the seal of the thermos for a tight fit. Keep the thermos clean,
then right before use, rinse it with boiling water. Bring food to a boil before pouring it in the thermos. Try to prepare just enough to serve your guests without having leftovers. Discard leftovers if you cannot store them properly. Wrap hot casseroles in several layers of aluminum foil, followed by newspapers and a towel. Or, use insulated containers. Hot casseroles should be served within two hours.
Cold foods can be transported in an ice chest with ice or cold packs to keep the foods below 40 degrees F. Pack the food in shallow containers and pre-chill them before placing them in the ice chest. Keep
sandwiches cold or eat them within two hours.
Watch the clock on ready-to-eat and fast food, too. Fried chicken, deli foods, pizza ,and hamburgers, for example, should be purchased just before the party and eaten within two hours. Or, purchase these foods in advance, refrigerate them until party time, and then reheat them.
When you don’t have time to take proper precautions, serve only non-perishable foods. Try canned meats, dried or cured meats, some hard cheeses, peanut butter, dried fruits, breads, cereal mixes, nuts,
and popcorn.
Once the party starts, follow through with safe food handling practices. Keep hands, utensils and dinnerware clean (disposables make that easier to do). Spread a clean table cloth on the tailgate or picnic table and enjoy.
So, in a nutshell, use these tips to keep your tailgating party from sidelining you:
· Plan your menu to fit the situation.
· Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
· Don’t let perishable foods stay in the “danger zone” (40 to 140 degrees F) for more than two hours.
· Keep everything clean to avoid contamination.
· Take proper care of leftovers, or throw them away.
45th Annual Christmas Joys
Wow! I never knew how quickly word spreads! As of this writing, the 1:30 session is one-third full and the 5:30 session is one-fourth full. But, I digress, so here are the details for the 2018 event:
· What: 2018 45th Annual Extension Christmas Joys holiday program
· When: Monday, November 5
· Time: 1:30, repeated at 5:30 p.m.
· Where: Southwest Dairy Museum
· Cost: $5, payable at the door – children under 10 free
· Must call 903-885-3443 to reserve a seat. We need a name and phone number for each seat reserved, so please don’t call to reserve several seats without giving us names.
Seating is limited to the first 75 per session. A waiting list will be kept in case of cancellations.
This year’s program will feature recipes, decorating ideas, gift-giving ideas, handmade items, and inspirations. One of the past attendees stated that if you want to go to a Christmas program, the Hopkins County Extension Christmas Joys is the one to see. That’s quite an accolade!
Master Wellness Volunteer Training
This serves as a “teaser” to assess interest. Master Wellness Volunteers are individuals who have participated in 40 hours of training and agree to give back 40 hours of service to the community by assisting me with programs, projects, and events. No health or wellness background is required. Individuals will be trained in food safety, childhood nutrition, working with diverse audiences, recognizing reputable websites for information, and other topics. There is a fee associated with the course, but it is minimal compared to the amount of information and resources included.
The training will begin in January if enough interest is generated. Please contact our office at 903-885-3443 for more information.
Closing Thought
Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well – Tommy, age 6
Wildcat Team Tennis Loses First District Match
Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez would have liked to ease into district play in team tennis but it was not to be. The Wildcats had to travel to Lindale Wednesday (September 5) to face a tough team coached by former Wildcats Tennis Coach Randy Namanny. Lindale is one of the toughest teams in the district and the Wildcats lost 16-3.
Coach Martinez said the Wildcats played competitive tennis and he added he was happy with their performance. The Wildcats got a mixed doubles win in three sets from freshman Jo Leaux Cantu and Michael McCord. Aaron Lucas won his match in #3 boys singles. Coach Martinez said Lucas had to overcome pain from newly installed braces on his teeth. The Wildcats also won the final match of the day as Logan Schumacher took his boys singles match in a third set tiebreaker, 10-8. Coach Martinez said Schumacher was a little rusty due to having to recover from an ankle injury suffered about a week ago.
Several other Wildcats had close matches. Coach Martinez said #2 girls singles player Zoe Wilson led in both her sets before they slipped away.
Coach Martinez is encouraging the public to turn out and watch Wildcats’ tennis against Greenville next Tuesday (September 11) at 3:30 p.m. at the Wildcat Tennis Center. He called it perhaps the biggest match in his five year career here as head coach. Both teams are expected to battle for playoff seeding.
