Tira News: July 13th 2018
By Jan Vaughn
Tira residents who have an interest in serving on the Tira City Council have until 5:00 p.m. on August 20, 2018 to file as a write-in candidate for the November 6th election. For more information, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, Tira City Secretary. My phone numbers and email address are at the end of the column and my mailing address is 776 FM 1536, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482.
An informational meeting was held at the Tira Community Center on Monday afternoon, July 9th, concerning the possibility of certain fire fighting equipment lowering the insurance rates of the community residents. Tira Mayor, Powell Vickery, reported that Hopkins County Fire Chief, Andy Endsley, County Judge Robert Newsom, and Commissioner Danny Evans were on hand to give the presentation and answer questions. John and Shawn Martin were there representing the Tira Volunteer Fire Department and they shared information on a fire truck that meets the specifications. Several community residents and Tira council members attended the meeting.
Powell, also, shared that the LED lighting has been installed at the Tira Community Center.
Our daughter, Tiffany, and grandchildren, Kenden and Jaidyn, and Chip and I spent a few days at Holly Lake Resort for the 4th of July holiday. We drove there on Tuesday evening and stopped at Verona’s Italian Cafe at Lake Fork for dinner on the way. On Wednesday morning, we watched the decorated golf cart parade, and then enjoyed the fireworks display over the lake that night. We stayed until Friday afternoon and had fun playing mini golf, shuffleboard, swimming, and playing games.
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]
Evaluating Tree Health By Mario Villarino
The impact in our landscapes of hot and dry weather can be seen not only during the current seasons but for years to come. Trees, a significant landscape asset of your garden tend to reveal the drought effects YEARS after the actual drought takes effect. Many weather effects can be noticed right away specially if those are caused by storms or snow. Drought effects, in the other hand, are hard to evaluate until the next spring season. At times, the use of an arborist are recommended in highly valuable trees. An arborist is a specialist in the care and cultivation of trees. Hiring an arborist can be a prudent investment in the health and longevity of your trees, and helps to insure that weak or aging trees do not become a liability.
Arborists may be called upon for the following:
- Selecting an appropriate tree for a site and climate.
- Planting trees.
- Pruning to improve shape of tree, removed dead or weakened limbs, clear limbs from other structures and power lines, increase light penetration.
- Administer proactive plant health care to fertilize, aerate, and protect against pests and disease, among other activities.
- Provide emergency care to trees that have been injured in storms, or those that are posing active risk to other structures or people on the property.
- Removing weakened trees that are beyond a therapeutic course of care, determined a risk, or are an impediment. Arborists can help determine if a tree needs to be cut down, and have the expertise and equipment to carry out the removal safely.
As advised by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, consider the following when selecting an arborist:
- Check for membership in professional organizations such as the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), or the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA).
- Check for ISA arborist certification.
- Ask for proof of insurance and then phone the insurance company if you are not satisfied. A reputable arborist carries personal and property damage insurance as well as workers compensation insurance.
- Check for necessary permits and licenses. Some governmental agencies require contractors to apply for permits and/or to apply for a license before they are able to work.
- Ask for references to find out where the company has done work similar to the work you are requesting.
- Get more than one estimate, unless you know and are comfortable with the arborist. You may have to pay for the estimates, and it will take more time, but it will be worth the investment.
- Don’t always accept the low bid. You should examine the credentials and the written specifications of the firms that submitted bids and determine the best combination of price, work to be done, skill, and professionalism to protect your substantial investment.
- Be wary of individuals who go door to door and offer bargains for performing tree work. Most reputable companies are too busy to solicit work in this manner. Improper tree care can take many years to correct itself and, in some cases, it can never be corrected. Are you willing to take that risk with your valuable investment?
- Keep in mind that good arborists will perform only accepted practices.
- Get it in writing. Most reputable arborists have their clients sign a contract. Be sure to read the contract carefully.
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
Expand Your Horizons By Johanna Hicks
Expand Your Horizons!
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension prides itself in quality volunteers and collaborators. Because of feedback from several people, we are bringing a workshop to Sulphur Springs which will have far-reaching impact, not only on Hopkins County, but also in surrounding counties. The Certified Volunteer Training for Judging Fairs, Festivals, and Events, will take place on two separate days, with each day covering different topics. If you have ever attended the Hopkins County Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest, you have seen the ribbons attached to the entries during public viewing. They didn’t just appear on their own! Certified judges from other counties were called in to serve as judges for categories in which they received special training.
Due to requests from folks in Hopkins, Rains, and Wood Counties, a training is now scheduled and we want to invite you to attend! You are not required to judge a certain amount of events, and you don’t have to keep up with your hours. In other words, by taking the training you are not obligated to do anything – you simply pick what, if any, event and location you want to judge when called.
The training will take place at the ROC (Recreation Outreach Center) of First Baptist Church. Each day will start at 9:00 a.m. with check-in, and end at 3:00 p.m. with a wrap-up and survey. The cost is $25 (per session), which covers lunch and cooking demonstrations, refreshments, and all materials. Choose one or both sessions!
Below are the dates and topics:
- Tuesday, August 7: Judging Woodworking, Food Preservation, Baked Goods, and Art
- Tuesday, August 28: Judging Horticulture, Quilts & Fiber Arts, Home Accessories, and Photography
Participants will rotate through all four sessions and earn their certification as a Certified Volunteer Judge in each category.
My colleagues from Hunt (Sarah Latham), Rains (Denita Young), and Wood (Angie Monk) will be partnering with me to bring this event to Sulphur Springs. We encourage you to attend, but we need to have registration information by July 18 if possible. Forms are available at the Hopkins County Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston Street, Sulphur Springs; on Facebook (under Hopkins County Family & Community Health); on-line at https://Hopkins.agrilife.org; or by calling any of the Extension Offices listed above. I can also e-mail the registration form.
Expand your horizons and join us!
Back to School Fair
I don’t want to get tarred and feathered for mentioning back-to-school, but this event is something you DON’T want to miss! The 2nd annual Back-to-School Fair is very similar to an event we held for several years (Kids’ Safe Saturday), but it is bigger and better! The event will feature numerous exhibitors with fun activities for kids. In addition, dental screenings and fluoride applications, vision screenings, school physicals, immunizations for children and adults, haircuts, food and drinks will be available, free of charge! Families needing assistance with school supplies can apply in advance at www.canhelponline.org. Qualifying families may pick up their school supplies and backpacks the day of the event.
Here are the details:
- When: Friday, August 10
- Where: Hopkins County Civic Center
- Time: 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Be sure to stop by the Texas A&M AgriLife exhibit for some great information on upcoming workshops, series, and special events. Also, stop by the Hopkins County 4-H exhibit. 4-H registration for the 2018/2019 year will begin in mid-August, so this will be the perfect time to learn about what all our Hopkins County 4-H program has to offer.
Closing Thought
Always be a little kinder than necessary.
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
Flood Advisory for Hopkins and Delta Counties Until 7:45 p.m. Thursday
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Flood Advisory for... Hopkins County in north central Texas... Delta County in north central Texas... * Until 745 PM CDT. * At 540 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms that were producing heavy rainfall across the central and western portions of Hopkins and Rains County. Excessive runoff from these thunderstorms will cause urban and small stream flooding. Areas that are low lying or usually experience poor drainage are most likely to experience flooding. This means some low water crossings in the region may become impassable. Up to two inches of rain have already fallen. * Some locations that will experience flooding include... Sulphur Springs, Cooper, Cumby, Como, Cooper Lake Park South Sulphur, Cooper Lake Park Doctors Creek, Tira and Pecan Gap. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
2019-2023 Capital Improvement Program Includes 10 Major Projects
During their Tuesday night council session, the Sulphur Springs City Council approved 10 projects for the Capital Improvement Program for 2019-2023. All but two of the projects include water and sewer line replacement along with street rehabilitation. Those two projects, Highway 11 Rock Creek Crossing and a Highway 11 West a reimbursable expense, will be sewer only. The total cost of the 5-year plan is estimated to be $11,017,963.
In the graph below, provided by the city Development Office, the highlighted amounts are the project costs approved by the council. Not all streets will be concrete Connally Street, College Street from Jackson to Como Streets, and College Street from the downtown square to Jackson Street will be concrete streets with water and sewer lines replace. Other streets on the list were approved to be asphalt only by vote of the council.
49th Annual Stew Contest T-Shirt Design Contest Begins Monday
It’s time to turn in your t-shirt designs for the 49thAnnual Stew Contest, according to Lezley Brown, Chamber Executive. The Chamber will be accepting submitted designs from Monday, July 16th through Tuesday, July 31st.
The submitted entries will be voted on by the Chamber Board of Directors, and the winner will be announced on August 9th. If your design wins the t-shirt contest, it will be used on all shirts, hoodies, and marketing for the 49th Annual Stew Contest.
Regarding the designs to be submitted, Brown says, “Originality is the key and the sky is the limit. You dream it and you do it.” She said the uniqueness of the local stew fest is enhanced by the unique designs that are submitted each year.
Email your designs to [email protected].
Winning design for the 2017 shirt . Who and what design will win this year?
Historic Old Saltillo UMC Hosts Old Saltillo Cemetery Memorial Day Sunday July 15
Since early this year, the almost 90-year-old Old Saltillo United Methodist Church building has undergone extensive repair and renovation, from foundation and structural corrections to fresh paint and floors. Although the project is not yet totally complete, the church is functional and will open it’s doors for the public for the Old Saltillo Cemetery Memorial Day at 10:30 am on Sunday July 15, 2018. Following an association meeting and progress report, a musical program and memorial tribute, lunch will be spread at noon for all to enjoy. Those who attend are asked to bring a full meal with ample portions for sharing in a buffet style. Drinks, ice, utensils and paper goods will be provided. Seating will be inside and outside under the oaks. You can bring folding chairs and tables for your family if you wish to sit outside. Everyone is encouraged to visit the historic cemetery just across the road from the church.
As part of the program, congregational singing will be led by Mike Briley with piano accompaniment by Lisa Lowry. Guest speaker John Sellers will present a historical program which will include a special presentation concerning the Old Saltillo Cemetery.
The Old Saltillo UMC is an active church, holding worship services every Sunday at 11 am, and is located to the south of Interstate 30 at 664 CR 3357, Saltillo, Texas
In a recent KSST interview about renovations to the historic church, we talked with Vivian Monzingo and Reverend Victor Casad. Mrs. Monzingo is President of the Old Saltillo Cemetery Association and Rev. Casad is District Superintendent of the North Texas Conference of United Methodist Churches, and remarked that back in early 2018 at a church conference, it was decided to go ahead with the necessary repairs and renovations. The church site dates back to mid-1800’s and the present structure is actually the third Methodist church built on the site, where services have been held continuously for over 100 years. A popular overland pioneer route during the 1840’s, the Old Jefferson Trail, passed nearby and brought wagon traffic from the east through Louisiana to Jefferson’s steamboat port, across the prairie to Old Tarrant (Hopkins County’s original seat) and westward to what is now the Dallas area. Though still visible at some points in Saltillo, the Old Jefferson Trail was gradually discontinued after the Red River was dammed and railroads constructed, providing more modern overland transportation.
During the 2018 church renovation process, much of the original building has been preserved as well as it’s 1930’s design. Work completed includes foundation repair and leveling, wall studs reinforced and insulation added, ceiling joists replaced, a new red roof installed, bell tower and steeple preserved, windows and doors replaced, walls and ceiling sheetrocked, new wainscoating added to match original, all electrical wiring replaced with new light fixtures, and central heat and air installed. Mrs. Monzingo noted that “many have worked on the project of rebuilding the structure to preserve history and to honor our ancestors who spent their time and labor to make the existing building possible” She also invites everyone who attends to enjoy cool air conditioning, great speakers and music, and an opportunity to pay respect to the loved ones who are buried in the Old Saltillo Cemetery, with provisions made to serve and enjoy food and fellowship with friends and relatives.
Old Saltillo UMC during Spring 2018 renovation
Church functional and work almost complete….
…including complete restoration of steeple and bell tower which faces the Old Saltillo Cemetery
Good Morning Show guests Rev. Victor Casad and Vivian Monzingo
Given Choice, She Chose Six Months in SAFPF and Probation
Wednesday afternoon in Eighth Judicial District Court, a sentencing hearing ended with Mykeya Starlet Payne, 31, of Sulphur Springs, having a choice between five years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or probation with six months in a Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility for Theft under $2,500 three or more Conviction. She chose probation and spending six months in SAFPF. Her arrests for theft and numerous other offenses date back to 2006.
Her last arrest for theft occurred in January of this year when a Sulphur Springs Police officer stopped Payne with $30 in stolen items in her possession as she drove away from a local chain store business. Those items along with two previous convictions for theft led to her arrest. That arrest also led to her arrest on five previous traffic charges.
Payne is currently in Hopkins County Jail awaiting transfer to a SAFPF.
Local Woman Arrested in Traffic Stop
Rebecca Ann McCann, 42, of Sulphur Springs was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram following traffic stop Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m.
The Sulphur Springs Police officer detected the odor of marijuana and McCann (picture not available) told the officer that she had paraphernalia inside the vehicle. A probable cause search led to McCann emptying her pockets. The contents included a grinder containing Marijuana and a baggy containing methamphetamine.
Hearts of Life Presents Tony for Adoption
Tony is 2 years old and a very large mixed breed. He is very intelligent and has a relaxed nature. Tony does very well on a harness and enjoys his walks. He is somewhat independent, but still loves any and all affection from humans.
Tony’s adoption fee is $100.00 which includes all previous vetting, neuter and rabies shot. If you are interested in meeting Tony, please contact Hearts of Life Animal Rescue by phone at 903-439-5019, email at [email protected], www.facebook.com/heartsoflife or find us on Petfinder.com!
