Jumper to Lead Hopkins County United Way 2018-2019 Campaign
Mike Jumper will serve as the 2018-2019 Hopkins County United Way Campaign Chair. Jumper and new board members were introduced at Wednesday’s United Way meeting in Sulphur Springs. The campaign begins with a workers luncheon at the Dairy Museum, September 19 and the Lead Donor Luncheon at Sulphur Springs Country Club, September 26.
New Board members for the United Way Campaign are Chuck Askins, Debra Evans, and Jumper. The Budget and Allocation Committee members for the 2018-2019 campaign include Adam Teer, Jumper, Charlotte Henderson, Rusty Harden, Lezley Brown, and Lindsey Johnson.
Parade of Pride: the Dairy Festival’s 59th Parade is Saturday June 9 from Buford Park
David Watson has been a volunteer for the Dairy Festival since, as a four year-old, he posed as a leprechaun on a parade float. David has helped build parade floats for his sister Gena, daughter Kate and others. Even his wife Myra Pilcher Watson rode atop a a float as a contestant in the Hopkins County Dairy Festival, so being part of the parade every year is a family tradition for the Watsons. David encourages everyone to reach out for a full share of our hometown heritage this Saturday June 9, 2018!
Judy Rawson’s 1964 float entry themed “Ireland” featured five local leprechauns (clockwise from Left) Jeff Johnson, Tony Hager, Mike McCool, Kent Johnson and David Watson
Today, David plays the role of Dairy Festival Parade Chairman and invites everyone to be in the parade or turn out to watch on Saturday June 9, 2018 at 10am. There are plenty of good locations along the route to see the floats and wave at people you know. The lineup will begin at 9am for floats, vehicles and walking groups with two check-in points at the north and south entrances to the park. Both check-in points will have sign-in sheets available, or you can get one online. The Connally Street entrance will be blocked from traffic, as it will serve as the parade’s starting point. A police car will lead the procession along the traditional route. Mounted members of the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Posse will carry the colors. Groups of business employees, members of ball teams and Bible School classes and just about anyone is welcome to decorate a float or pickup and enter the parade. Horseback riders are asked to ride at the rear. There is no cost to enter. The parade will travel from Buford Park heading East on Connally Street to the downtown square. In front of City National Bank, the procession will turn south and cross the square, continuing south on Gilmer/Broadway to the intersection of Lee Street. At that point, the parade will disperse and the contestants floats will be returned to the Civic Center grounds for viewing and judging. Find sign-in sheets and full information about the annual festival at hopkinscountydairyfestival.com. There are more events to enjoy through Saturday June 16, 2018!
David Watson, Dairy Festival Parade Chairman and Board member since 2007
City Council Elects Mayor, Plans Workshop to Discuss Capital Improvement Plan for 2019-2023
Members of the Sulphur Springs City Council tabled the agenda item that would have put in place Capital Improvements for 2019-2023. They did agree to conduct a workshop to give further consideration to the project, including the number of projects, that will be included in the improvement plan. Mayor John Sellers and Mayor Pro Tem Emily Glass were re-elected along with the swearing-in of new council members.
In the discussion of the Capital Improvement Plan, Councilman Jimmy Lucas asked members of the city staff, who were present to answer any questions concerning the Capital plan, if they had personally been involved in assimilating streets and water and sewer line projects presented. They each answered yes. Lucas stated he agreed with the plan because those workers knew the city as they drive the streets and study the needs.
The difficulty in approving the plan as presented is the current overwhelming need in the city. Over the next five years the city needs to spend between $37-million to $49-million to stay on schedule for replacement. Currently, last year the city spent $1.4-million. According to the city staff report, sewer and water line replacement is falling behind1.25 miles a year. In five years, the city will be 6.25 miles behind schedule. In 20 years the city will be 25 miles, or 16% of the city system will be worse. Currently, roads are being rebuilt with a goal of 1.55 miles per year. In 20 years, the city will be 20 miles behind schedule, which means 21% of the system will be worse. Overlay of streets is falling behind 4 miles a year and in 20 years, 86% of the street system will be worse meaning the city will need to rebuild more streets.
Council members tabled the Capital Improvement Plan to discuss all the possibilities that would bring the city to a steady pace to keep up with improvements as needed.
The council approved contracts for piping and fittings and for boring needed in the Cantex Capital Improvement Plan. The Cantex project will replace 2,400 linear feet of aging sewer force main and 2,900 feet of gravity main. Currently the main passes through the middle of the hospital complex. The proposed route would go around the hospital complex rather than through it. One-third of the city’s sewage passes through this line.
They also approved changes to the personnel policy regarding the Police Department. The changes will allow hourly officers to work 12 hour shifts, 80 hours in two weeks.
Board and Commission appointments, the City Manager’s Report are found in other stories.
Profile: Lynda Hager and Patricia Chase… Veteran Volunteers for Dairy Festival
If you have ever attended a Dairy Festival event in Hopkins County, Texas, you were probably impressed by large-scale productions and mass participation by the county’s population, for these are among it’s hallmarks. In 2018, the Dairy Festival tradition is 59 years old, originally created to celebrate the dairy industry’s local economic impact. The 25-member Board of Directors works year-round to produce the annual Dairy Month extravaganza each June, but at least part of it’s success may be credited to personal care and hands-on effort by talented, devoted individuals. It’s time to profile two of these individuals, Lynda Hager and Patricia Chase. Over the years, they have worked alongside dozens of other Festival volunteers . Between them, these two women bring a tenure of 85 years!
Longest-serving Festival volunteers seated on the Queen’s bench: Lynda Hager, since 1964 and Patricia Chase, since 1987.
Lynda Mosley Hager was born in Hopkins County, was the daughter of a dairying family and became involved in the fledgling festival in 1964 as a young adult. However, her first brush with recognition came during high school when she was selected as the “Dairy Queen” for that year’s annual Dairy cattle show. She never forgets that today’s Dairy Festival was developed from those original cattle shows by dairy farmers. The first time that she volunteered to help with the Festival was when she was in the Mother’s Culture Club. Back then, the Festival sought participation from the active service clubs, and in turn these would nominate young ladies they knew as candidates. There might be up to a dozen candidates and sometimes more!. Club members would construct a parade float in keeping with a theme, and floats were required from the Festival’s beginning, except for the very first year, 1959, when the young ladies rode on convertibles. Queen candidates usually helped out, and often there was intense secrecy between the clubs as to their candidate’s float design! Lynda’s niece Judy Rawson represented the Mother’s Culture Club in the 1964 parade and Pageant. Lynda recalls the float Mother’s Club built for Judy that year. “We used a flat bed trailer, not one of the traditional cotton trailers the Festival provided. The flat bed was lower to the ground, and that allowed us to build an elevated platform on the back six feet higher than the trailer floor. The float’s theme was ‘Ireland’. The rectangular shape of the trailer was transformed into an amazing three-leaf clover shape. Judy was placed standing next to a large milk pail, mounted on a post, which was pouring a plastic painted stream of milk into a “pot of gold”. Chicken wire was used to cover the sides of the clover shape and white paper napkins were stuffed into the wire to produce a fluffy effect”. Linda muses that back then, crews worked with primitive materials and themes. For example, this floats’s floor was covered with hay, with the hay spray-painted green. This particular entry did not have a live calf on it, but back then, most floats did carry a live calf onboard, and many used the cardboard milk cartons to construct props like barns and windmills. Lynda knows that the task of building a winning float can be daunting. And you might wonder, how can the weeks-long task of designing and constructing a float can be of lasting importance to these dairy debutantes? Lynda knows that it’s actually a training tool. “Today’s Dairy Festival Queen candidates design and build their own floats. This involves creative thinking, teamwork, resourcefulness and determination. Pulling in the talents of parents and grandparents, neighbors and friends has produced more than just a float for the contestants. It’s produced lasting friendships, a lot of pride and great memories”. At one time, the Kiwanis Club was especially renowned for their gorgeous, elaborate floats. Today, as service club memberships have declined, only a few clubs (Jr. Waverly, Dial Study Club and Mother’s Culture Club) are still involved, with most floats being sponsored by local business and industry.
1964 Contestant Judy Rawson float with “Ireland” theme with Jeff Johnson, Tony Hager, Kent Johnson, Mike McCool and David Watson as Leprechauns.
Lynda is married to Bill Hager and they have two children. She has been a Festival volunteer for 53 consecutive years and board member for most of that time. Currently Treasurer of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival, she’s worn many hats, but her heart is still with the parade floats. From the 1966 Festival, she recalls a very detailed float with a Rapunzel theme. “Carla Brice was the candidate, and she rode about 15 feet above the street in a giant 3-color ice cream cone, with her yellow hair braid streaming down”. One of the creative volunteers invented a massive (and heavy!) plait of yarn, making Carla’s float extra-impressive. Many entries have featured heads that nod, arms that wave and other fascinating moving features. Indeed, every Festival has produced awe-inspiring floats illustrating themes such as Dolls in Dairyland, Pirates of the Cow-ribbean, Moo-sic Land USA, Red White and Moo, and Cow-A-Bunga.
Gena Watson Prickette’s 1985 “Cabbage Patch” float won Sweepstakes award
Traditionally, designated themes set the mood for the parade entries and the stage decor for Pageant night. Once upon a time, the Pageant was truly an almost-royal coronation. Before moving into the Civic Center auditorium, the Pageant was held on the football field or in the rodeo arena. where pulling up at a platform, the candidate would dismount the float and then be seated with the other candidates.
Pageants were held on the football field and in the Civic Center arena with full court and elaborate sets
Typically, June weather is parade-perfect in Hopkins County, but Lynda recalls one year in which rains actually ruined the meticulously-prepared floats. The entries that year were so impressive with elaborate frames stuffed with several colors of tissue paper, but they became a sad sight after a drenching en route to the Parade site! Another memory-making parade involved the landing of a helicopter in Buford Park treacherously close to the floats staged there prior to the start of the parade. One gorgeous float was completely covered with sheets of cotton batting loosely attached to the chicken wire frame. Needless to say, the wind rush from the helicopter totally denuded the float! Not to be outdone, volunteers quickly collected and re-attached the cotton, and the float entered the parade on schedule! And speaking of extravagant float entries, as a candidate Miss Chancellor rode atop an airplane float built to scale by her dad, and pulled by a number of white-uniformed young men along the entire parade route!
1985 Queen Lee Ann Carpenter Oliver with her dad Robert Carpenter as Kermit the Frog
Gena Chancellor’s 1972 entry had “Our American Heritage” theme
Today’s Dairy Festival Queen’s float carries on a royal tradition. Brought out of storage, it is spruced up for each new year. The reigning Queen sits atop a throne, waving to admiring crowds for her final time upon her float pulled by a dealership-new pickup truck.. Lynda recalls, “Prior to 1972, the Queen’s float had an elevated stage with a decorated canopy under which the Queen stood. That year, the late Gene Chancellor, a former pharmacist, designed the pattern that is still used today, with the Queen seated on a throne atop an elevated platform. Her position is one of the highest in the parade! The float carrying 1972 Queen Gina Chancellor was blue and silver, constructed by a crew of volunteers including Sydnie Burgin, Carolyn Keys Stewart and Susie Chancellor. In recent years, it was re-worked in gold and white.
Queen Jaci Reed on 2017 newly styled Queen’s float
In it’s almost 60 year history, the Dairy Festival Parade has consistently set a high standard for it’s contestants in talent, creativity and quality! It was this signature standard of quality that attracted Patricia Chase to the Dairy Festival volunteer pool. She recollects that as a newcomer watching a Dairy Festival parade, she was deeply impressed by this small town which had become her new home. Drawn by the proud farming heritage of Hopkins County, Patricia and her husband Pat Chase moved to a farm in 1984, making it their home to work in and raise their daughters. She got right into the community, first teaching in the SSISD and later employed by Region 8 Service Center, as well as teaching the Teen girls Sunday School class at FBC. One day while grocery shopping, she overheard two women talking about the Miss Sulphur Springs Pageant needing additional board members. Before leaving the store, she approached one of them to say she might like to volunteer. Bringing modeling and pageant experience, Patricia made an able coach and adviser for dozens of Miss Sulphur Springs hopefuls from all over the region, many of whom had competed in pageants since childhood and entertained dreams of advancing to the Miss Texas Pageant. Fast forward a couple of years when Patricia attended her first Dairy Festival Queen’s Pageant. So impressed was she by the pride and polish of the field of 17-year-olds that she indicated her interest in joining the Festival. That was about 30 years ago, and now, with a career total of over 250 teen girls, most without prior experience in modeling, she has found her niche instilling confidence, poise and presentation in their first appearance in a formal setting.
What does Patricia strive to teach the Dairy Festival contestants? She explains, “In group and one-on-one sessions, I tutor them in speaking clearly and confidently, in how to shake hands, smile and meet sponsors and judges eye to eye, how to stand up straight and proud, and how to walk out on a stage to be admired and photographed. The basic training incorporates a code of polite behavior and helps facilitate their ‘coming out’ or debut into society as an adult.” A collection of thank-you notes and letters from former Queen’s contestants are among the treasures of her life here in Hopkins County. Patricia’s ongoing involvement as a Dairy Festival board member is a point of pride, and has allowed her to use her talents for the benefit of others.
When you attend the 2018 Queen’s Coronation, the culmination of several weeks of work by the contestants, you will be seated in the newly remodeled SSISD Auditorium in the Regional Civic Center for a spectacular pageant. Rehearsals are also held on the roomy stage so the girls can get the feel of the size and depth of the venue. Patricia recalled the “hot years” when the initial rehearsals were held without the convenience of stage lighting or air conditioning. Committee members brought floor lamps and fans to help keep everyone comfortable during practice. Additionally, individual sessions were scheduled so that Patricia could spend up to two hours with each girl on the modeling portion of her competition. After having studied a practice sheet, with Patricia’s help each contestant would practice standing correctly and would perfect “the walk”. Then, on Pageant night, while the Emcee introduces her, this 5-minute evening gown walk might seem much longer! Keeping her head erect and shoulders back, hips over knees, and stepping out confidently in high heels, she would move unhurriedly to one side of the stage, then cross to the other side, letting her smiling gaze sweep the audience using the venue’s lighted exit signs to measure the scope of her gaze. She would then advance down the runway to a composed stop with her confident gaze upon the judges, execute a practiced 4-point turn, then make her way to an assigned position on the stage where she would remain until all the presentations were completed. Patricia reminds her charges that an added feature on pageant night will be the appearance onstage of the “Little Kids”. Girls are coached to keep their poise but be watchful for the sometimes unpredictable enthusiasm of these little ones, ages 3-6, who will share the stage with them!
Patricia gets a little emotional talking about the impact this personal training can mean to a young lady stepping into adulthood. “I believe that the Festival’s high standard of beauty and ceremony is a bonus to every girl who aspires to wear the crown”. Reflecting on the entire Festival experience, she feels it truly is the opportunity of a lifetime, for besides learning interview skills, stage walking and correct posture, learning to take a talent performance from “okay” to “great!” and gaining confidence in public speaking and conveying their goals and accomplishments to adults, the girls receive much more. The fun of float building and cow milking, assisting with hot air ballooning, bonding with family and friends and making lifetime memories are built into the benefits package,
Both Lynda and Patricia treasure their experiences in planning the massive 50th anniversary Festival in 2009, and plan to continue their involvement into and beyond the 60th anniversary in 2019. They feel it represents a perfect partnership between our community and it’s young women.. The Festival’s well-earned tradition of success shows that, like milk, there’s something good here in Hopkins County that’s worth sharing!
Video Presentation: New City Council Members Receive Oath of Office Tuesday Night
Three newly elected and one newly appointed to the Sulphur Springs City Council were officially given the oath of office Tuesday night during the June regular session of the council. Receiving the oath are Erica Armstrong, Place 1; Jimmy Lucas, Place 2; Norman Sanders, Place 3; and Doug Moore, Place 6
Monuments, Flag Restored at Weaver Cemetery Thanks to Jail Inmates
All monuments at Weaver Cemetery have been reset and a new Flag flies over the scene after Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum dispatched inmates and staff to the cemetery Tuesday morning. In three (3) hours the monuments were secured back in place.
Tatum stated the strength of the inmates was supported by using a backhoe on the large monuments.
According to Tatum, County Criminal Investigators are securing a warrant for the arrest of an individual in connection to the damage found Monday at the cemetery. Approximately 65 monuments were overturned in the cemetery and the U. S. Flag burned at the Veterans’ Memorial the cemetery, according to Hopkins County Deputies.
Damage at Weaver Cemetery 2018: This monument has been restored to its proper placement, along with all other monuments in the cemetery.
Boards and Commission Appointments Made During the June 5th City Council Meeting
Sulphur Springs City Council made annual appointments to various boards and commissions in the city and appointed representatives to regional boards during their Tuesday night, June 5th, meeting. Those appointed include:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DOUG MOORE
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
MATT JOHNSON
BRAD BURGIN
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD
MARK MEADOWS
JERRY BREWER
KURT SEHNERT
SULPHUR RIVER MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
LINDA GALLIGHER
LIBRARY BOARD
SHARON BURNEY
KIM ROBERTS
BOARD OF TOURISM AND PROMOTION
LUCY McCORKLE
HARRY SINGH
BRADLEY EDGE
CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS
WAYNE COOPER
GARY STRIBLING
ALTERNATES: ZACK KING
CHARLES WESTBROOK
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
MIKE HORN
KELLY GRIMES
CRAIG ENGLISH
ARK-TEX COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
EMILY GLASS
JOHN SELLERS
ERICA ARMSTRONG
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION BOARD
PHYLLIS ROUNDTREE
ROBIN PATRICK
HELENA MARTINEZ
ZANE DARLING
REVOLVING LOAN FUND COMMITTEE
JEFF FISHER
EMILY GLASS
JIMMY D. LUCAS
JOHN SELLERS
MARC MAXWELL
City Manager’s Report June 5, 2018
City Manager Marc Maxwell highlighted the work of city crews and improvements being made in the city during his report to the Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday night in their June session.
Activities included in his written report:
SUNSET STREET – We have designed the Sunset Street improvements. The project will include new water mains, new sewer mains and a new concrete street from Connally to Houston. The $275,000 CDBG grant is matched with $132,000 of city funding. We have submitted construction drawings for approval. Work will begin in the fall.
CANTEX FORCE MAIN – The bid for materials on this project is later on the agenda. This will be the final capital improvement project in the 2013-2017 C.I.P. It will replace 2,400 linear feet of aging sewer force main and 2,900 feet of gravity main. Currently the main passes through the middle of the hospital complex. This would be a nightmare if the main ever ruptures. The proposed route would go around the hospital complex rather than through it. One-third of the city’s sewage passes through this line.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – The work at the wastewater treatment plant is on schedule. The three primary clarifier basins have been constructed, and the effluent troughs are now finished as well. Other concrete structures adjacent to the clarifiers are finished. Now all of the pumps and associated pipe works and wiring are being constructed. I expect to bring the clarifiers online in early July, weather permitting.
CROSSTOWN TRAIL –The Capital Construction Division is constructing the approaches to the railroad crossing on the south end of Buford Park. KCS will construct the actual crossing later this month. This grant-funded project will connect Buford Park to Coleman Park as well as the high school/civic center complex with a concrete path. It will also replace the sidewalk on the north side of Connally Street.
CLAIMS – We did not have any workers compensation claims in May; however, one liability claim was submitted. An Atmos contractor struck and ruptured a water line in the 1300 block of Mockingbird Lane. As a result, debris entered the water service of a local restaurant causing $9,750 in damages. TML denied the claim since the damage was not caused by the city.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will give a year-to-date report of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Began top dressing the soccer fields (140 yards of dirt so far).
- Installed a drain on Soccer field #5.
- Began Adult softball league (Monday nights).
- Made repairs at Pacific Park restrooms.
- Turned off school zone lighting.
- Replaced library lighting with L.E.D. lighting.
- Passed a TCEQ inspection of the wastewater treatment plant with zero violations.
- Produced treated wastewater effluent to a daily average total suspended solids rating on 2.1 mg/L, our limit this time of year is 10 mg/L.
- Repaired air conditioners at city hall.
- Cleaned filters and final clarifiers at wastewater treatment plant.
- Repaired 3 water main breaks.
- Replaced 21 water meters.
- Unstopped 7 sewer mains.
- Repaired 15 sewer mains.
- Washed 80,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Made sewer taps for Saputo, Loves, and Back Story Brewery.
- Flushed 35 dead-end water mains.
- Repaired pump controls at Lake Sulphur Springs.
- Treated 150 million gallons of potable water.
- Conducted 43 building inspections, 22 electrical inspections, 31 plumbing inspections, 8 mechanical inspections and issued 20 building permits.
- Responded to 41 accidents, recorded 62 offences, made 69 arrests and wrote 462 citations.
- Made 7 felony arrests in the patrol division.
- Checked out 3,169 items from the library, plus 466 eBooks.
- Sold 2,275 gallons of AvGas and 11,630 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Responded to 178 fire/rescue calls including 1 structure fire.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 83 fire hydrants and reviewed/updated 54 pre-fire plans.
- Sent 41 weed notices (not tickets).
- Made 4 fire safety lectures to a combined audience of 1,900 people.
- Made 15 extensive street repairs following utility repairs.
- Repaired 3 drainage issues.
- Patched 374 potholes.
- Replaced 8 stop signs.
- Graded Pipeline Road and Wisenbaker Lane twice.
- Repaired the plaza fountain.
Mayor’s Proclamation: Kidney Health and Cancer Awareness Week June 4-8
Tuesday, June 5, 2018 during the Sulphur Springs City Council meeting, the week of June 4-8 was proclaimed Kidney Health and Cancer Awareness Week.
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, healthy kidneys are essential for regulating our bodies by removing fluids, waste and toxins. Kidneys release hormones that help regulate blood pressure, produce red blood cells and strengthen our bones; and
WHEREAS, the precise cause of kidney cancer is unknown, however the two main causes of kidney failure are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are responsible for more than seventy percent of all kidney failure cases. Therefore, kidney failure and disease can often be delayed or prevented; and
WHEREAS, the advances in diagnosis and procedures such as radiation and chemotherapy create opportunity for kidney cancer patients to live longer; and
WHEREAS, during Kidney Health and Cancer Awareness Week, we ask the residents of Sulphur Springs to raise awareness and encourage all patients with diabetes and hypertension to be screened regularly for kidney disease. If detected and caught early, the treatment is likely to be more effective.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John A. Sellers, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Sulphur Springs, Texas, do hereby proclaim June 4 – 8, 2018 as Kidney Health and Cancer Awareness throughout the City of Sulphur Springs and urge all citizens to support the cause of raising awareness of kidney health and cancer.
