“Battle of the Badges” Blood Drive This Saturday in SS
First responders know how important it is to have a safe and abundant community blood supply. Carter Bloodcare is bringing a mobile unit to Sulphur Springs, Texas to be placed on the Jay Hodge Chevrolet lot on Saturday June 16, 2018 from 8am til 3pm. Members of law enforcement, fire and emergency teams will enter into friendly competition for the most donations of “the gift of life”, and invite the public to get involved. Anyone who donates blood on Saturday can “vote” for the first responder unit they wish in the friendly competition. All donors will receive a Battle of the Badges Local Hero T-shirt and a buy one-get one voucher to a Texas Rangers game. All types of blood are needed.
Donations of B Negative blood for a local 11-year-old leukemia victim, Hailey Geraci, can also be made at Saturday’s drive as well.
In a press release, Carter Blood Care informs that supplies of blood can run low during the summer months. Potential donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, feel well on the day of donation, and present a government-based photo ID when donating. Donors may be age 16 with parental consent, and persons age 17 and up may give independently. For more information, contact carterbloodcare.org
Queen Jaci Plans College, Career Onstage in Musical Theater, Business
She’s loved singing, dancing and acting all her life. Her first big break to fame was a local one, as the 58th Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen, crowned in 2017. Jaci has absolutely loved the role, and hopes that the new Dairy Festival Queen will have as much enrichment and enjoyment wearing the crown as she has. Now, Jaci plans to take her singing, dancing and acting skills to school at the University of Central Oklahoma, located at Edmund, Oklahoma, to pursue a major and degree in Music and Musical Theater, with a minor in Business and Communications. After that, she hopes to get into the musical theater business or start her own company.
It is interesting to her how this plan formed. Early on she had been accepted at a Texas university, and had even arranged for housing there for the Fall 2018 semester. But in February 2018, she attended a TETA (Texas Education Theater Association) convention in Galveston where she came in contact with theater directors from all over the place. She received calls back from many, but the University of Central Oklahoma music department sounded just right. She went to visit the school and changed courses at that time. She feels it was a “God thing” because she had been praying about making the right choices and steps toward the career she was dreaming of.
Jaci thanks her mom and her dad, her grandparents and relatives for support through her Dairy Festival year and Senior year. Career-wise, she thanks all her local mentors in singing and stage, and especially Amanda Thompson Brandenburg, Josh Thompson and their mother Linda for guidance and encouragement during her high school years. Jaci is an only child as was her mom, and she does include having a family as part of her future, after getting her career grounded. Will we see her on the Broadway stage? She hopes so, as it’s “definitely part of my plan!” Good Luck, Jaci!
Jaci will make her final appearance as Dairy Festival royalty when she crowns the new Queen on Saturday June 16, 2018 at 7pm. The Coronation Pageant will be held inside the SSISD Auditorium at the Civic Center in Sulphur Springs. Tickets are $10 at the door.
SCU Serves Warrant Following Meth Purchase
During an investigation, Special Crimes Unit purchased Methamphetamine from Danny Joe Woodard, 31, of Sulphur Springs. A warrant was obtained and Woodard is now in Hopkins County Jail charged with Manufacture Delivery Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram, a State Jail Felony. His numerous arrests for illegal substances began in 2004 in Hopkins County.
An attempt to serve the felony arrest warrant began when SCU and the Sulphur Springs patrol division were unable to get anyone to open the door at Woodard’s home on Cottonwood Street. However, family members advised officers that he was inside the residence and provided officers with a key to the residence to make entry. Woodard was located in a back bedroom.
Accident Closes Highway 19N near FM 1537 Just Days Before 19N Coalition Forms
Traffic was routed around an accident Thursday morning on State Highway 19N near FM 1537. Northbound traffic on 19N was routed to the Mahoney cut-off. Two vehicles were involved in the accident that closed Highway 19 near the intersection.
Currently, residents in northern Hopkins County that often travel State Highway 19N are forming a coalition to seek more immediate changes to the roadway that combines both State Highway 19 and State Highway 154 connecting to State Highway 24 providing a route between Sulphur Springs and Paris. Some speed changes and other physical changes to the roadway are planned for the future. However, a number of accidents in recent years, several fatal, have prompted the immediate concern.
Highway 19N Coalition will have its first meeting June 19, 2018 at the North Hopkins School Cafeteria. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. According to organizers, they are seeking to unite the community to bring a safer road for the daily travel of residents in northern Hopkins County. Organizers have commend the efforts of Commissioner Precinct 4, Danny Evans. Evans term ends December 31st. In March, 2017, Evans served as a catalyst for conversation between the county and TxDOT regarding the roadway. In May, TXDOT announced they had concluded a detailed speed study on State Highway 19, from Loop 301 in Sulphur Springs to State Highway 24 in Delta County. After reviewing the results of the study, TXDOT has proposed a speed reduction pending approval from the Texas Transportation Commission. This proposal is on the agenda for the June commission meeting. Following TTC approval, TXDOT will install new regulatory speed limit signs.
The proposed speed limit reduction will lower the existing speed limit from 70 mph to 65 mph from Loop 301 to the Delta County line, and reduce the speed limit from 65 mph to 55 mph through Birthright. TXDOT also has two upcoming Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) projects on State Highway 19: The first project is set to let for bidding in May 2020. The project limits are from the Delta County line to SH 154 and will consist of extending and installing safety end treatments for cross drainage structures, upgrading bridge rail, and upgrading metal beam guard fence. The second project is set to let for bidding in August 2020. The project limits are from Loop 301 in Sulphur Springs to FM 1537 and will consist of extending drainage structures, upgrading bridge rail and metal beam guard fence, and installing a passing lane.
Video Presentation: Preview of Benefit Album Set for Caps and Flasks; Pullen, Cortez Present Ajaneece Johnson
A preview of an album being produced by a Sulphur Springs High School graduate, Santiago Cortez, will be presented at Caps and Flasks Friday, June 15, 2018, 9 p.m. until midnight. When the album of Cortez original music is produced, one half of the proceeds will be given to needy families in Sulphur Springs.
Tristan Pullen, also a SSHS grad and well known local actor/director, says Ajaneece Johnson, who began her career as a background singer for Usher and is now a singer/song writer, will present two songs that will be on the album Friday night. Johnson, from Detroit, Michigan, is preparing for her own singing tour. Johnson primarily sings soul and R & B but also enjoys incorporating various cultures into her music. She said she is excited to be a part of Cortez’s and Pullen’s community project.
Johnson and Pullen met in college and collaborated on a movie. Pullen wrote the script that is now being turned into a novel. Johnson wrote the music for the movie trailer.
Pullen and Johnson visited with KSST News Thursday afternoon.
Tira News for June 15th, 2018
By Jan Vaughn
Joyce Dodd would like to let everyone know about a Bible study at the Tira United Methodist Church every other Tuesday at 1:00, taught by Beth Hargrave. She says, “Bring your Bible and study with us on June 26th”.
Just Married: Tonja Dodd Jones and Jerry Lucas
Tonja Dodd Jones and Jerry Lucas were married on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at the Sulphur Bluff Assembly of God church. The couple will be living in Tira, after a short wedding trip. Tonja is the daughter of William and Joyce Dodd.
The 80th Annual Tira Homecoming is coming up on Sunday, July 1st . The program and cemetery meeting will begin at 11:00 in the Tira Methodist Church. A covered dish lunch will be shared at the picnic tables at noon. Make plans to come share memories. The reunion of families Lewis, Joslin, Speaks, Braden, Parker, Hobgood, and King was held on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
Dorothy Hargrave reports that the Tira Community Center was “bustling with activity” and “a good time was had.” She adds, “The reunion was established to honor Edna Lewis.” Those in attendance were Odell Lewis, Richard King, Johnny Parker, Sherman and Loretta Crawford, Dorothy Lewis Hargrave, C. W. and Diane Freeman, Clovis Hobgood, Imogene King Phillips, Bill and Joan Speaks, Reggie and Janice Hargrave ,Rick and Donna Hobgood, Greg, Pam and Hanna Hargrave, Wesley and Kaye Hobgood, Larry Clayton, Wanda Lewis Clayton, Judy Lewis, Sam and Kathy King Powlen and grandsons Cooper and Holden, Carolyn Allen, Allen and Pam Hobgood, Randy and Becky Hargrave, Peter Casey, Randall Douglas, Michael and Donna Zamora, James, Jeanna and Hayley Schaare, Jeremy Allen and special guests Amber, Susan Nunnelly, Linda Crowder and Donnis Newman. The Traveling Cross was won by Jeremy Allen. Good Food, fellowship and an auction provided much enjoyment. Rachel Lewis reported that she and Gary were at the high school graduation of their first grandchild that weekend, so they had to miss the reunion this year.
Jorene Orr would like to remind everyone about the meeting for concerned citizens on June 19th regarding traffic safety on Highway 19 North. It is being held in the North Hopkins School Cafeteria, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00. Yvonne Weir has just returned from a trip to her family home place in South Dakota. I look forward to sharing news from her travels soon.
Chip and I took our daughter, Tiffany, grandson, Morgan, and his fiancee, Allison, out to the Fish Fry in Paris on Friday evening for their June birthdays. On Saturday afternoon, Tiffany went to McKinney to spend time with her friend, Stephanie Weaver. They enjoyed playing games with friends that evening, and then Tiffany returned home for church on Sunday morning.
Malcolm, Kenden, and Jaidyn Joslin attended the Joslin reunion on Saturday.
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].
Nitrate and Prussic Acid Management By Mario Villarino
The One Health concept is a strategy for expanding interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and the environment. To promote improvement in community health, The Hopkins County Leadership Advisory Board is sponsoring a two series event (July 6 and 13) at 6:30 PM at the Hopkins County Extension Office with the idea of conducting an open discussion related to pet and human health (Dr. Leah Larsen) and clearing up the Human Vaccination Confusion (Danielle Altenbaumer, Department of State Health Services). On July 13, Brad Fain (Zoetis) will address issues related to food safety, animal derived protein foods and hormones in food. The purpose is to have an open discussion with our presenters and bring questions and topic priorities from the audience. The sessions are free and everybody is welcome to attend. Coffee and Cookies will be available. Interested participants are encouraged to RSVP by June 29, 2019.
Drought and heat stress can cause nitrate and prussic acid accumulation in grasses. If forage contains too much nitrate the animals cannot complete the conversion and nitrite levels build up. Nitrite is adsorbed directly into the bloodstream through the rumen wall, where it combines with hemoglobin to form methhemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood, but methhemoglobin does not. The formation of methhemoglobin can cause an animal to die from asphyxiation, or lack of oxygen. The animal’s blood turns brown instead of the normal bright red. Monogastrics (i.e., horses, mules, swine, etc.) are less sensitive to nitrate toxicity than ruminants. An animal’s conditioning affects its ability to assimilate or tolerate nitrates, so consult your veterinarian before feeding forage that contains nitrates.
Nitrate Management
- First, carefully determine the nitrate levels in various plant parts. Allow animals to graze the upper one third to one-half of the grass, legume or leaves of coarse-stemmed forages if the nitrate level in these plant parts is safe. Monitor grazing closely and remove livestock when the safe portion of the forage is consumed.
- Monitor nitrate levels in the lower one-third to one half of the plant or coarse stems if livestock are to be released into a field with questionable or potentially toxic nitrate levels. Generally, forage nitrate levels drop significantly 3 to 5 days after sufficient rainfall.
- A third management practice is to cut the forage for hay, field cure and bale it. This will not lower the nitrate levels, but the bales can be ground and mixed with nitrate-free forages to retain a higher overall protein and energy value.
- The forage could be harvested and ensiled. During the ensiling process nitrates are converted to volatile nitrous oxides, also called “silo gases.” These gases are highly toxic and workers should be extremely careful when entering silo pits and bunkers where nitrate-tainted forages have been ensiled. A common safety practice is to remove tarps from a portion of the silo a day or two before removing silage from that part of the pit.
Prussic acid management
Forage type and harvest method determine the best management techniques.
- Standing forages that test positive for prussic acid and will be grazed should be sampled every 3 to 4 days. With frequent sampling, forage can be grazed as soon as it is safe and before its nutritive value decreases more than necessary.
- Standing forages can be green chopped and ensiled. Prussic acid is enzymatically converted to free cyanide, which escapes when silage is removed. Another benefit of green chop/silage systems is that the effect of prussic acid is diluted when livestock
aren’t free to select only leaves.
- Standing forages also can be cut, field cured and baled. As with all baled forages, proper sampling with a bale probe is required. Bales should be sampled repeatedly until prussic acid is no longer detected. Bales can be made even safer by grinding them to combine leaves and stems.
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]
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
JB Weld Breaks Ground for New Facility
An official ground breaking for a $7-million-plus, 78,000 square feet facility to house JB Weld on CMH Road in Sulphur Springs attracted the presence of JB Weld employs, leadership, city council, and members of the Economic Development Corporation. Chip Hanson, JB Weld Executive, said the expansion will enable greater efficiency for the company.
Although others cities were attractive to relocating the local JB Weld facility, Hanson said the decision was made to stay in Sulphur Springs based on the quality and experience of workers and other factors. The expansion will allow for growth. Instead of three buildings that are currently housing the work on Como Street, the new building will provide greater efficiency for the 70 who now work at JB Weld in Sulphur Springs.
Plans are for the building to be completed before the end of this year. Their current location is being purchased by Saputo as a part of their $50-million expansion.
Following the ground breaking, lunch was served at the current JB Weld facility as company leadership shared their plans for the future.
