Tira News-May 11th, 2018
By Jan Vaughn
We want to express our sympathy to the family of Donna Joslin. Her funeral was held on Sunday afternoon, May 6th, at the Tira Methodist Church. Lunch was served for the family at the Community Center, prior to the funeral. We want to thank all who helped with the meal. Please remember Donna’s family in prayer.
L to R: Director, Producer, Actor, and Lee Beck
Kim Beck reports, “Alex Kennedy, a friend of our daughter Maddie, is graduating from NYU and his Sr. Project was the film “Save the Cat.” The crew was here in November to film, using Kim and Lee’s home for one of the locations. Kim says, “They fell in love with our 1969 Ford truck and used it as well.” Kim and Lee were visited again by the NYU film students over the weekend, so that they could get some additional shots for the film. Kim comments, “The weather was perfect and they got what they needed. They did have some motor trouble with “Old Blue” and we had to bring the 1969 Ford truck home on a wrecker from Athens. They quickly switched their outdoor location from Corsicana to Athens with permission from the land owner where the truck broke down. The sunset was beautiful and they wrapped the film. We hope to see a copy in the next few months.”
Joyce Dodd shared, “William and I enjoyed a very nice visit from Aunt Rosemary [Horn] and Glenda [Zumwalt] on Saturday afternoon. We enjoyed talking about old times.”
The annual Horn Family Reunion was held at the Tira Community Center on Saturday, May 5th. Janie Lewis had put a lot of energy into decorating the Center for the event and everything looked beautiful. Twenty-one people attended and enjoyed a delicious pot-luck meal and visiting.
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].
Pond weed control with fish: The grass carp By Mario Villarino
As our weather warms up, major attention is driven to our outdoor activities including enjoying our ponds and lakes. Because it is common to fish, the presence of pond weeds are often more noticed in warm weather when our families gathered to enjoy the outdoors. A common method to control weeds is using vegetarian fish. There are two main fish species used to control vegetation in ponds in Texas: the Mozambique tilapia and the grass carp. These two types of fish are considerable different in their habit, survival in ponds and food they eat. To learn more about the grass carp, I will share with you some basic information related to grass carp biology for you to learn of what grass carp do, and must important, what grass carp cannot do.
This information was release by Texas Park and Wildlife as part of the permit process to use grass carp in Texas (Grass Carp is a permitted species, a Texas Park and Wildlife permit is required to stock in ponds and lakes in Texas). The grass carp, also known as white amur, is a vegetarian fish native to the Amur River in Asia. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduced grass carp into the United States in 1963 for experimental purposes. Because this fish feeds on aquatic plants, it can be an effective biological tool for control of nuisance vegetation. Since 1992, Texas has allowed stocking of triploid grass carp, a sterile form of the species, with a permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
Facts
Triploid grass carp:
a. offer a biological alternative for aquatic plant control.
b. are sterile and will not reproduce.
c. are only distantly related to the undesirable European carp, and share few of its habits.
d. live for at least 10 years and probably longer in Texas waters.
e. grow rapidly and may exceed 60 pounds.
f. feed only on plants, not on fish eggs or young fishes.
g. feed from the top of the plant downward; however, where all submersed vegetation has been eliminated, the water can become turbid, as hungry fish eat the organic material out of the sediments.
h. have definite food preferences. Plants like water lilies, filamentous algae (pond scum or moss), muskgrass and Eurasian milfoil are not preferred. Bushy and American pondweeds and hydrilla are preferred foods.
i. are not effective for control of bulrush, filamentous algae (pond scum or moss), water primrose, coontail, Eurasian milfoil, or cattails.
j. go dormant during the winter and resume intensive feeding when water temperatures reach 68o F.
k. are difficult to catch with conventional fishing methods.
Stocking Considerations
1. Triploid grass carp are inexpensive compared to most other aquatic vegetation control methods.
2. Depending on plant types, plant density, and stocking rate, it may take several years to achieve control using triploid grass carp. Restocking, generally every 5 to 7 years, is needed for maximum effectiveness.
3. The types of plants triploid grass carp prefer may also be important for fish habitat and waterfowl food. Aquatic vegetation can be important in maintaining good fish communities and providing food for other wildlife species.
4. If the water body is overstocked, all submersed aquatic plants may be eliminated. Removing excess fish can be difficult.
5. If insufficient numbers of triploid grass carp are stocked, less-favored plants may become overabundant.
6. Stocking triploid grass carp may result in alga blooms and reduced water clarity.
Emigration Barrier
Triploid grass carp readily seek flowing water and often escape before controlling nuisance aquatic plants. Escapement of the stocked fish can reduce or eliminate their potential for plant control within targeted areas, and can threaten beneficial plants outside of targeted areas. Impoundments on permanently flowing creeks, or those that overflow frequently, should not be stocked with triploid grass carp unless they can be effectively screened.
Therefore, emigration barriers are required for many, and recommended for most, water bodies being stocked with triploid grass carp. In cases where emigration cannot be prevented, chemical or mechanical control of aquatic plants is recommended. With few exceptions, the best screening device for nearly all outlet types is the horizontal parallel steel-bar design. The orientation of the bars allows unrestricted passage of small debris, thereby minimizing maintenance, clogging, and flooding concerns. Bar thickness of ¼- to ½- inch is preferred. Round bar stock will facilitate debris passage.
For a spillway barrier, the horizontal bars are attached to vertical support posts (minimum ¾-inch diameter) spaced 4 feet apart. Horizontal bars should be spaced 2 inches apart. The barrier should span the entire spillway. Since triploid grass carp are excellent jumpers, barrier height should extend 2 feet above the normal high-water level. For capping a drainage pipe, a similar bar design should be used. Extending the bars 4-5 feet above the overflow pipe allows water to rise over debris and begin flowing again should the screen become clogged.
Welded wire and chicken wire are not effective as barrier materials. These types of materials readily clog with debris and the force of even a small amount of water can destroy the barrier. Clogged barriers may threaten the integrity of dams. For capping a drainage pipe, a similar bar design should be used. Extending the bars 4-5 feet above the overflow pipe allows water to rise over debris and begin flowing again should the screen become clogged.
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
Happy Mother’s Day & Summer Camps for Kids By Johanna Hicks
Happy Mother’s Day
Sunday is a special day for moms all across the country. Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. It complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Father’s Day, Siblings Day, and Grandparents Day. In the United States, celebration of Mother’s Day began in the early 20th century.
The modern holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. In 1908, the U.S. Congress rejected a proposal to make Mother’s Day an official holiday, joking that they would also have to proclaim a “Mother-in-law’s Day”. However, owing to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, by 1911 all U.S. states observed the holiday.
In most countries, Mother’s Day is an observance derived from the holiday as it has evolved in the United States. In some cases, countries already had existing celebrations honoring motherhood, and their celebrations then adopted several external characteristics from the US holiday, such as giving carnations and other presents to one’s mother. However you celebrate this special day, enjoy time with family and friends!
Summer Camps for Kids
My office often receives phone calls from individuals seeking summer activities for their children. I am directly involved in the planning and implementation of three separate camps, targeting various ages groups. Below is a listing of opportunities:
- Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness: This will be the 8th annual 3-week day camp for Sulphur Springs students who will be finishing grades 1 thru 4 at the end of the current school year. Dates are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, June 11, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, and 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. We will be meeting at Sulphur Springs Middle School in the auxiliary gym. Activities will include team games, Walk Across Texas, nutrition & hands-on food preparation, fire safety clowns, water safety, sun/weather safety, stranger danger, and simple money management on Mondays and Wednesdays. Friday sessions will be led by our Hopkins County Master Gardeners. Prizes, snacks, and incentive items will be given out each day. Registration forms are available at each of the Sulphur Springs primary campuses and Sulphur Springs Elementary School, or you may pick up a registration form at the Extension Office. Cost is $10 per child for the entire camp, or $20 family maximum if more than two children from the same family wish to attend. Deadline to sign up is May 31. This camp is sponsored by the Hopkins County Community Health Wellness Alliance.
- Multi-County 4-H Camp: This is a popular camp among our Hopkins County 4-H members! However, you do not have to be a member of 4-H to attend. This camp is open to students who will be completing grades 3-12 at the end of the current school year. Dates are July 9-11, at Lakeview Baptist Conference Center in Lone Star, Texas. Cost is $115, which includes lodging, meals, workshops, and all amenities of the camp (swimming pool, lake, canoeing, kayaking, ping pong, gift shop, and more). Workshops will include archery, healthy lifestyles (team games), real life skills, nature, re-Use Derby, and Ropes course. For those wishing to attend, we will meet at the Extension Office on Monday, July 9 to carpool to the camp. Registration forms and a list of things to bring are available at the Extension Office. The registration deadline is May 31st. Hopkins County typically has the largest attendance at this camp, so let’s make this the largest attendance yet!
- Life Skills Camp: This will be the 4th annual day camp, targeted toward Sulphur Springs students who will have completed grades 5 and 6 at the end of the current school year. As the title implies, this camp will teach skills that participants can use as a hobby, or perhaps even as an introduction to a career. The dates are Monday thru Thursday, July 16 thru 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Each session, with the exception of one, will take place at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office in Sulphur Springs. Sessions will include: Monday – woodworking, led by Harold Bryant and Dennis Sink, upcycling led by camp staff; Tuesday – photography, led by Isabel Reyna; Wednesday – ceramics, led by Melba Crain (we will meet at the ROC on this day, so participants will need to be taken there instead of the Extension Office); Thursday – outdoor cooking, led by Johnny Ross. Cost of this camp is $15. Registration forms are available at Douglas Intermediate and Sulphur Springs Middle School and also available at the Extension Office. They are due by June 22. This camp is sponsored by the Hopkins County Community Health/Wellness Alliance.
Closing Thought
We should worry less about who we might offend and worry more about who we might inspire – Mike Baxter, “Last Man Standing”
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]
Votes Canvassed, New Council Members Take City Council Oath
Thursday afternoon, May 10, 2018, four new members of the Sulphur Springs City Council received the oath of office following a canvass of Saturday’s municipal election. The four will receive the oath once again in a more formal setting when the council convenes for its June regular session.
Mayor John Sellers read the official vote totals and declared Erica Armstrong, Jimmy Lucas, and Norman Sanders elected by the voters. Doug Moore was also seated on the council following his appointment to the council during the May regular session.
Gale Roberts administered the oath to each new member of the council.
Elected Place 1, Erica Armstrong defeated incumbent Craig Johnson. Although Justin Davidson had withdrawn from the race, he did receive just over 40 votes.
Elected Place 2, Jimmy Lucas defeated Sara Gibson. Incumbent Clay Walker decided not to seek reelection.
Elected Place 3, Norman Sanders defeated incumbent Oscar Aguilar.
Appointed Place 4, Doug Moore replaces Dan Froneberger, who resigned from the council to pursue what he called higher ground-family and a spiritual calling.
Voter Requirements to Vote in Republican Runoff Election
As early voting in the Primary Runoff elections begins Monday, some question who may vote. The question is asked primarily due to two Hopkins County contests, County Treasurer and Commissioner Precinct 2, in the Republican primary that will determine the person who will be elected in November. There will be no challenger on the General Election ballot in November.
According to Donnie Wisenbaker, Chairman of the Hopkins County Republican Party, and the County Clerk’s Office , those eligible to vote in the Republican Primary include a registered voter who did not vote in the Democratic Primary and who did not sign a petition for a Democratic Candidate or any other non-Republican candidate running for office. The Voter will not need proof of voting in the March Republican Primary thanks to technology that tracks the primary in which the voter participated. The technology does not track for which candidate one votes.
Democrats will cast a run-off ballot for state nominees only.
Voting for the Primary Runoff elections in Hopkins County and the State of Texas is May 22. Early voting beings Monday, May 14th and continues through May 18th at the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Courtroom, 128 Jefferson Street, 8-5 p.m. each day. May 11th is the last day to receive an application for a ballot to be voted by mail.
On Election Day, voting places have been consolidated. Voting on Election Day is Tuesday, May 22nd will be at the Precinct 1, Lutheran Church, 1000 Texas Street; Precinct 2A, Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 2018 Fuller Street; Precinct 3, Courthouse, 118 Church Street; Precinct 4A, League Street Church of Christ, 1100 South League Street; and Precinct 13, Como-Pickton CISD, 13017 Texas Highway 11E, Como.
An election officer may give voting order priority to individuals with a mobility problem that substantially impairs the person’s ability to move around. A person assisting an individual with a mobility problem may also, at the individual’s request, be given voting order priority. Disabilities and conditions that may qualify the voter for voting order priority include paralysis, lung disease, the use of portable oxygen, cardiac deficiency, severe limitation in the ability to walk due to arthritic, neurological, or orthopedic condition, wheelchair confinement, arthritis, foot disorder, the inability to walk 200 feet without stopping to rest, or use of a brace, cane, crutch, or other assistive device. Voters, who wish to be given voting order priority, and be accepted for voting before others in line to vote at that polling place, may indicate this to any election officer serving at the polling place. The presiding election judge will determine whether the voter and the voter’s assistant, if applicable, will be brought forward to the front of the line.
Spring Football Creating Competition; Kickers Perfecting Their Game
After day after day of spring football featuring lots of emotion, Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens same things dragged a little bit Wednesday (May 9), the eighth day of spring workouts. Coach Owens speculated that higher temperature may have been a contributing factor. He said his coaching staff is doing a good job of creating competition this spring with situational stuff like blitzing or third and long setups. Coach Owens said they still got a lot of good stuff done Wednesday but without the emotion of prior practices. He said the Tuesday break for 7 on 7 games was good since it allowed the Wildcats to compete with someone else. He said Gilmer got after the Wildcats varsity in their first game Tuesday but he said he liked the way the Wildcats played better in a second game. Coach Owens said a real positive thing about spring football is extra time the coaching staff has to work with players on technique. With lots of reps for all players, Coach Owens said the Wildcats are able to get all on the players on video so they can be evaluated. He said coaches can tell a player exactly what he needs to work on. Spring football culminates with a spring game, right now tentatively set for Friday, May 18.
While most Wildcats’ football team members go about spring workouts, two Wildcats’ kickers continue to perfect their field goal and extra point kicks. Wildcats Head Soccer Coach and Head Freshman Football Coach Nicky Wiggins knows both kickers very well. They are members of his soccer team and each played one season kicking for the freshman team. Ozial Lopez is a right footed kicker who will be a junior this fall. Hector Hidalgo is left footed and he’ll be a sophomore when school begins in August. Coach Wiggins said both kickers are pretty consistent. He said they don’t have a strong leg like Wildcats kickers have had in the past but he said from around the 30-yard line both were like money in the bank. Coach Wiggins said Lopez was especially good at pooch kicking on kickoffs that Coach Owens loves so much. Coach Owens personally works with the kickoff teams. Coach Wiggins said both kickers caused turnovers with their kickoffs for the freshman team. Coach Wiggins said both players are friends and he added they encourage each other. He expects a good competition. Coach Wiggins said he has not talked with Coach Owens about it yet but he said Coach Owens may find a role on the team for both kickers. Coach Wiggins said Lovejoy utilized both a right footed kicker and left footed kicker on their team we saw in the bi-district playoff game last year.
Hopkins County Deputies, SPCA Seize Approximately 50 Dogs, Find Approximately 50 Dead Dogs in Freezer at Northern Hopkins County Residence
Between 48 and 50 live dogs were found in a house and outbuildings and approximately 50 dead animals including litters, puppies, grown dogs and animal tissue stored in a freezer were found at a residence located just off FM 2285 north of Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County, according to Hopkins County Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford. Animal cruelty charges are being filed Thursday against the home and animal owners. The investigation is ongoing.
Weatherford said that a recent complaint was filed with Hopkins County Animal Control Deputy Kobe Hume and the SPCA of Texas. Thursday morning, Hume and representatives of the SPCA went to the location but were not well received and not given consent to search the property by the home and animal owners. Based on what had been reported and what was seen at the location, Hume and the SPCA sought a search warrant. They returned to the location around noon Thursday, May 10, 2018 and found animals in every room of the house housed in a cruel manner. The dogs had not been allowed to leave the rooms in which they were housed based on the feces and urine on the floor in each room and outbuilding. According to neighbors, few knew any animials were housed at the location.
Law enforcement and SPCA found the animals to be in poor health and having lost hair. Some animals were paralyzed and kept in an inhumane manner in inhumane conditions. The dead dogs in the freezers were stored for what is expected to be gross reasons.
At this time the charges are a misdemeanor but the investigation continues and testing of the dead animals for cause of death is expected to return more evidence that could increase the charges to a felony level, according to law enforcement. Names of the individuals involved have not been released by law enforcement since the charges are currently a misdemeanor. They have been booked into Hopkins County Jail Thursday afternoon.
The live animals were removed from the location and are being housed, fed, and given medical treatment by the SPCA.
Dairy Festival Adds New Event: Whipped Challenge
Hopkins County Dairy Festival has added a new event and welcomes participants to compete as teams. The event, Whipped Challenge, is patterned after Chopped, an American reality-based cooking game show. Four member teams may apply using the form below. Only eight teams will be accepted for the event.
Whipped Challenge: Rules of Play:
- Contest will take place on the front grounds of the Hopkins County Civic Center, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, TX on Saturday, June 16, 2018. Check-in begins at the gazebo at 9:30 a.m. Orientation begins at 10:00 a.m., and the contest starts at 10:15 a.m.
- Participation will be limited to the first eight teams (4 members per team). Teams are requested to bring their own knives for chopping and slicing ingredients. After registering, teams will be directed to a food preparation station. There will be a set of ingredients at each station, but no recipe. The ingredients will represent a dish from one of the following: nutritious snack, main dish, dessert
- Preparation: each team will be provided with a set of ingredients reflective of the assigned category, and will create a single dish (not a full meal) using the ingredients.
- Teams are challenged to be creative by developing their own recipe with provided ingredients.
- Team must incorporate each ingredient into the dish. However, teams may determine the exact amount of each ingredient to use.
- Teams will have access to an equipment table and “pantry” of additional ingredients that may be used to compliment or garnish the dish.
- Each dish must contain at least 2 dairy products, provided in the pantry.
Round 1: eight teams will prepare a nutritious snack/appetizer (20 minutes).
Round 2: six teams will prepare a main dish (40 minutes).
Round 3: three remaining teams will prepare a dessert (20 minutes). One team will be named “Whipped” winner. Prizes will be awarded. Note: times include planning, preparation, and plating.
- Note cards may be used to write down the recipe that the team creates.
- Food safety: teams should follow food safety practices since judges will taste dishes.
- Presentation: When time is called, each team will step away from their preparation station and take the completed dish to the judges’ area. The following pertains to team presentations:
- All team members will participate in the presentation.
- A maximum of 3 minutes will be allowed for each team’s presentation.
- Clean-up: Teams will NOT wash pots, cuttings boards, utensils, etc. using the outdoor water faucets. Place dirty cooking equipment and utensils in the trash bags provided. Place hot skillets or pans on table to cool. Discard used paper towels, wrappings, etc. into the trash receptacles. Liquids will be poured into the buckets provided.
Video Update: Dietze, Harper Named Top Grads SSHS Class of 2018
Valedictorian Peyton Dietze (left), Principal Derek Driver (center), Salutatorian Sarah Harper (right)
Thursday morning, May 10, 2018, Sulphur Springs High School Principal Derek Driver introduced the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class of 2018. Peyton Dietze, with a 4.28 Grade Point Average (GPA), was named Valedictorian and Sarah Harper, with a 4.25 GPA, was named Salutatorian.
Dietze (l) Harper (r)
Peyton, daughter of Jason and Jill Dietze, will attend Baylor University and major in Accounting. She has served as Class President her Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years. She is a two year member of National Honor Society and served as President this year. She is President of the SSHS Key Club and has been a member for four years. She is Secretary of the National Technical Honor Society and a two year member. She has cheered for four years as a member of the Freshman quad, Captain of the Junior Varsity, and Co-Captain of the Varsity squad. A FCCLA member for three years, she was a Rotary Youth Leadership Award s Camper her junior year. Peyton is a member of the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce High School Leadership Class, Heart’s Queen Nominee her junior and senior year, and a Senior nominee for Most Thoughtful, Most Friendly, Most Likely to Succeed, and Prom Queen.
Sarah, daughter of Nathan and Liz Crouch and Jaime and Amy Harper, will attend Austin College and continue her education pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Her University Interscholastic League honors include: One Act Play, All-Star Cast district, bi-district, and Honorable Mention Area; Prose, fourth place in district, sixth place in region; Spelling, individual second place in District and advancing to State as a spelling team member. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Chamber of Commerce High School Leadership Class, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Theatre Club, Key Club, and Officer of the International Thespian Society.
