Extension’s “Walk Across Texas” Shows Results By Johanna Hicks
Extension’s “Walk Across Texas” Shows Results
Fall is definitely a busy time of year! And what better incentive is there to acquire some physical activity than cooler weather? Most people who aren’t able to run, lift weights, or participate in strenuous activity can walk. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s program, “Walk Across Texas,” is making an impact in Hopkins County! This is an initiative to encourage individuals to build a habit of regular walking.
Walk Across Texas is currently going through some revisions to make it even better! However, the impact is impressive for individuals who have participated in 2018. Here’s a brief overview:
· Number of Hopkins County teams: 19
· Number of participants: 147
· Total miles logged: 15,210.81
· Economic impact: $107,165 (based on health care cost savings and ability to avoid or delay diabetes if regular physical activity continues)
I want to invite parents who have students at Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center to participate in the upcoming “Walk & Talk” series, which is a spin-off of Walk Across Texas. We’ll meet each week in the cafeteria for a brief food demonstration, program, or hands-on activity, then proceed outdoors (weather permitting) to walk together. Each session will last about an hour (includes program and walking), so it won’t interfere with other activities. Each week, miles will be logged, and at the wrap-up in late November, every participant will be recognized and prizes awarded to the top walker and team. Incentive items which correspond with the topic will be given each week. If you do not receive a flyer, ask for one from the school. This will be a great way to get in shape for the upcoming holidays, and form a healthy habit for yourself and your family!
Other groups, organizations, churches, and businesses who would like information on starting a team may contact our office and we’ll be glad to provide you with information!
National 4-H Week Rapidly Approaching
Each year, the nation’s largest youth organization celebrates the importance of YOUth during National 4-H Week. The week of October 7-13 has been designated as the time to celebrate –H and promote involvement. Hopkins County will kick off the celebration on Monday, October 1, with a reading of the proclamation by Judge Robert Newsom on the courthouse steps at 4:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and Extension staff, 4-H members, and leaders will be on hand to answer questions and distribute information about our local 4-H program. Registration information will also be available for any youth grades 3 thru 12.
Also starting on November 1, 4-H members may register entries for the 4-H Project Show at the Extension Office. Entry categories are: crafts, holiday corner, art, needlework, clothing, decorated accessories, general sewing, jewelry, woodworking, leather crafts, scrapbooks, metal work, baked goods, food preservation, horticulture, photography, and poetry. Age divisions are: Clover Kids (ages 5-7), Juniors (grades 3-5), Intermediates (grades 6-8), and Seniors (grades 9-12). Entries will be judged on Friday, October 5 and on display to the public during National 4-H Week, October 7-13, at the Extension Office.
Another event taking place during National 4-H Week is the annual fall 4-H Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply, Inc. The campaign runs October 3-14. A 4-H exhibit will be set up in the store, and 4-H members will be on hand to answer questions and assist shoppers in carrying out their purchases. Shoppers are encouraged to donate an extra dollar at check-out, with a portion of the proceeds going to our Hopkins County 4-H program. This is a national endeavor, and we always appreciate the opportunity to participate in the Paper Clover Campaign and the support of the local Tractor Supply.
Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest
I hope you read about the 2018 Hopkins County Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest and the Arts & Crafts Show. These are two of the highlights of the Fall Festival, but I might be partial because I’m in charge of both of them! Calls have been coming in about both events, so there seems to be a lot of interest. Both events will take place Friday and Saturday, October 26 and 27, at the Sulphur Springs High School.
The Creative Arts contest provides the opportunity to enter items for judging (think State Fair of Texas on a smaller scale). There are 14 entry categories and 4 age groups, so there are plenty of opportunities for all! The Arts & Crafts Show allows individuals to sell their hand-made items to the public. This is a great chance to do some early Christmas shopping for that one-of-a-kind item. As of this writing, a few indoor spaces remain for anyone wishing to sell their items. Spaces under the outside covered walkway are also available. Contact our office at 903-885-3443 for more information, or go to the Hopkins County Fall Festival website to download forms. Several other Fall Festival activities will be taking place that same weekend, so don’t miss out on the fun!
Closing Thought
If you can read this, thank a teacher – Bill Gates
Warm-season Perennial Grasses By Mario Villarino
Warm-season perennial grasses dominate most of the pastures in East Texas, but climatic conditions allow for use of cool-season annual grasses and legumes, either overseeded or in prepared seedbeds, in the fall for winter and spring grazing. Reasons for use of cool-season annual forages include extending the grazing period and improved animal performance due to their high nutritive value.
Although cool-season annual forages can be expensive to plant and grow, they can be a less costly substitute for energy and protein supplements purchased off the ranch. Annual ryegrass, a high-yielding, nutritious grass, is the most widely grown cool-season annual forage in the southern and southeastern USA. It is adapted to most soils and tolerant of wet, poorly drained soils.
Ryegrass is very responsive to N fertilization with the peak growth occurring during the spring. Ryegrass produces forage that is high in nutritive value, and thus, provides excellent animal performance. Ryegrass also tolerates close grazing, although if repeatedly grazed too closely, growing animal performance will be reduced.
When overseeded on warm-season grasses, producers must be prepared to utilize the rapid spring growth, otherwise it will significantly delay the subsequent warm-season grass growth. Pure stands of ryegrass should be seeded from 25 to 30 lb/acre.
There are several varieties of ryegrass adapted to East Texas. The 3-year average forage yield results of the ryegrass variety trial conducted at the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center-Overton TX in production yields (highest to lowest) in Lb of dry matter per acre under Annual fertilization 244 lbs./ac. of N, 131 lbs./ ac. of P2O5 and 131 lbs. ac of K2O were: Jumbo, Prine, Marshall, Ed, Jackson, Brigadier, TAM 90, Passeral Plus, Gulf, WD-40 and Ribeye (according to J. Vendramini, G.W. Evers, and L. Redmon).
Seed prices are strongly related to availability and demand and seed growers rely on temperature and rain to maintain and produce a seed crop. Price fluctuations are expected year after year. 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].
Wildcats Host Terrell for Homecoming: Parking, History, Terrell Coach
Parking at Prim
The Sulphur Springs ISD has put out an advisory noting that parking at the Homecoming football game Friday (September 14) night at Gerald Prim Stadium might be difficult. They said in addition to the football game there is also a rodeo in town. The Texas High School Rodeo Association is having a Region IV Rodeo at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. The Sulphur Springs ISD said they want to make sure that everyone is parked in a parking spot. They encourage people to use parking lots provided on each side of the stadium. They said there is additional parking at the high school.
A Little History: Terrell vs. Sulphur Springs
The Wildcats play Terrell for Homecoming Friday at Gerald Prim Stadium and it’s been awhile since the two teams got together for a game that counts. The last one was in 2005. The last three match ups were in bi-district playoff action. In the first, then Wildcats Coach Dwayne McMeans got a 13-10 win over the Tigers in 1998. In the second and the third, former Wildcats Coach Brad Turner met Terrell in bi-district in 2004 and 2005. The Wildcats won in 2004, 38-34 and then lost in 2005 to Terrell, 34-17 in Coach Turner’s last game as head coach here. Current Wildcats Coach Greg Owens has scrimmaged Terrell some but he has not met the Tigers for a real game since he has been Wildcats head coach. Since 1956, the Wildcats hold an 11-10 advantage over the Tigers. Other former Wildcats’ coaches to face Terrell include James Cameron, Don Poe, Clifton Thomas, Jim Dobson, John Dobson, Paul Jones and Bob Pyle, way back in 1956.
Terrell Tiger Head Football Coach Mike Shields
The Terrell Head Football Coach is Mike Sheilds. He is in his fifth year as Tigers’ head coach. He came to Terrell from Red Oak. Coach Shields said the Tigers were real young last year with a freshman and lots of sophomores. A lot of the Tigers return this year one year older. They do have another freshman on the varsity and he is the largest of the Tigers, nose guard Keithian Alexander. He’s 6-2 and 320. Coach Shields said Alexander is still 14 years old. He turns 15 next month. Coach Shields said the Tigers don’t have many seniors. He has changed the Tigers’ offense to the Flex Bone, an option offense. He said he wished he had another non-district game so his quarterback could get a few more reads before district play. Like Sulphur Springs, Terrell’s game last week against Paris was canceled. They played a quarter before the game was delayed and then canceled. The Tigers’ offense is led by Micah Skinner, a senior. He played some quarterback last year. Perhaps the best of the Tigers’ offensive lineman is right guard Malik Griffin, a junior and a three year starter. He has received a college offer from Texas State. Coach Shields also likes his fullback, junior Jequavious Morris. He feels if they can get Morris into the secondary, he has the speed to go to the house. Top receivers for the Tigers are expected to be Semaj Willis and J.T. Richardson. On defense, the Tigers have the aforementioned big guy at nose guard Keithian Alexander. Coach Shields said other than him, the Tigers don’t have much size. He hopes to make up for it on defense with athleticism and speed and by using blitzes. All four of Terrell’s linebackers are back. Last year they were three sophomores and a freshman. Now they are three juniors and a sophomore. Concerning the Wildcats, Coach Shields said quarterback D’Corian Young looks hard to stop. He said Terrell can’t let the big Wildcats offensive linemen get a hold of them. He said the Wildcats have two good running backs but he added he was mainly worried about the quarterback. Coach Sheilds called the Wildcats defense good, sound and well coached. He especially likes outside linebackers Kylan Wade and D.Q. Pitts. Coach Shields said he also likes the inside linebackers. Like any coach, Coach Shields is hoping to get off on the right foot with a district opening win. I can assure you, Coach Owens feels the same way.
Sicard Sentenced to 15 Years
Justin Blaine Sicard, 28, of Winnsboro was sentenced to 15 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Thursday morning in Eighth Judicial District Court. Sicard accepted a plea agreement presented by Assistant District Attorney Clay Harrison. Sicard faced one count of Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams in a Drug Free Zone and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams.
His first arrest took place in April of this year when the Special Crimes Unit initiated a traffic stop in the 300 block of Oak Avenue and the driver of the 2004 Saab was visibly nervous. A pat down of Sicard located a zipper pouch containing 9.8-grams of suspected methamphetamine. He was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams and for a warrant for driving the wrong way on a one-way roadway at that time. Sicard confessed to the possession and to selling meth. His second charged of Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams was added the next day while he was in custody for the first charge.
King & Brown Enterprises Faith-Based Movie ‘The Golden Voices’ to Premiere in Sulphur Springs Sept. 22
September 13, 2018 – Eric A. King and Kerry Wright are inviting everyone to view “The Golden Voices : When Music is Your Only Hope” at the premiere screening in Sulphur Springs, Texas on Saturday September 22, 2018 at 7pm at Shannon Oaks Church. Prior to the red-carpet event, the audience will be treated to musical entertainment by local youth. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 per child at Shannon Oaks Church, or reservations made by calling King at 903-348-0404. Adult admission includes a DVD copy of the film. Eric King is an actor, award-winning producer and partner in King and Brown Enterprises. Wright is Executive Producer of the film.
King, who is also President of Poorchild Films,has teamed up again with director M. Legend Brown to release a movie of faith, love and triumph. “The Golden Voices” is the 5th in a series of movies created for Christian family entertainment, and all have premiered first “at home” in Sulphur Springs and Terrell, Texas. (see movie Trailer below) Their first feature film, released in 2012, was “Hiding in Plain Sight” which addresses homelessness and was filmed largely in inner Dallas, ‘Steps of Faith” filmed in 2014 on Sulphur Springs and Northeast Texas ranches, also “A Man Called Jon” (2015) and “A Heart That Forgives”(2016). In addition to the newest release “The Golden Voices”, King and Brown have four more projects they are working on for future release.
King & Brown Enterprises, LLC was founded in 2012 by Eric King and Michael Brown. There new company was born after their mother company, Poorchild Films, saw amazing success with short films and the owners wanted to expand to feature length films. Poorchild Films is now a division of King & Brown Enterprises, LLC and will continue to support and develop young and upcoming filmmakers. KBE will allow King and Brown to focus on telling yet untold stories a longer format that will not only entertain.
KBE wants to leave a footprint on the world through their motion pictures. King & Brown Enterprises, LLC is a Dallas based company and is in its infant stage of development and has promised to continue to bring to it’s audience a unique brand of storytelling for years to come.
Synopsis: The prestigious “Golden Voices Competition” is to be held this year at Terrell Christian College (TCC), but there’s one problem TCC does not have a choir. Georgia Mae Jackson (Irma P. Hall) who is the head of the music department has been challenged by the Assistant Dean Vickie Wilson (Tonea Stewart), to put a choir together in one month or lose her job.
Georgia’s back goes out so she tricks her granddaughter, Sidney Nicole Taylor (Nikki Dixon) into taking over the choir for her. Sidney turns the college upside down when she hires a fallen, bad boy, R&B singer, Jax Rebel (Mario Mims), to help her with the choir. Dean Wilson finds out about Isaac’s sorted past and threatens to fire Georgia if they don’t win the competition. Will, Sidney and Jax be able to save Georgia’s job?
https://youtu.be/m7CFO5QvM5k
PJC-Sulphur Springs: Coffee and Crafts
COFFEE/CRAFTS
Students at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center enjoy an extra-curricular activity called “coffee and crafts.” The event provides free coffee and an artist canvas board for each student participating. Above PJC Student Activities Coordinator Taylor Cooper looks on as Alexis Foster of Sulphur Springs, left, and Laura Willets of Yantis begin their paintings.
Hearts of Life Presents Joe for Adoption
Joe is approximately 4 months old and is believed to be a Treeing Walker Coonhound. Joe is very smart and very playful. His adoption fee is $100.00 which includes all previous vetting, neuter & rabies shot.
If you would like to meet him or have any questions, please call Hearts of Life Animal Rescue at 903-439-5019, email [email protected], www.facebook.com/heartsoflife
Baggie of Meth Found in Woman’s Mouth
A Sulphur Springs Woman attempted to hide a clear baggie containing Methamphetamine in her mouth during an arrest early Thursday morning.
A Hopkins County Deputy observed a vehicle parked on County Road 4703 with no lights on. With consent to search the vehicle, the deputy found two glass pipes commonly used to smoke meth in the backseat inside a purse. Two individuals in the vehicle were transported to Hopkins County Jail for the misdemeanor offense. However, at the jail the baggie of meth was found in the mouth of Shurita Chamaine Givens, 43, of Sulphur Springs.
Givens is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram, Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Morgan Sentenced to 25 Years in TDJC for Burglary of a Habitation
Amber Michelle Morgan, 36, was sentenced yesterday to 25 years TDCJ for Burglary of a Habitation. She was on parole for burglary of a habitation at the time she committed new burglaries. Because of her prior prison sentence, the punishment range in this case was enhanced from 2 to 20 years in prison to 5 years to life. According to Assistant District Attorney Clay Harrison, if Morgan commits another felony in the future, she will be a habitual offender with a range of 25-life.
In March of this year, Lamar and Delta County Law Enforcement requested the assistance of Hopkins County Investigators and Deputies in an arrest and recovery of stolen property that solved two separate burglaries in those counties. All of the stolen property was recovered including guns, computers, and law enforcement also located methamphetamine, according to Hopkins County Investigator Dennis Findley. Findley stated that local law enforcement went to a residence on CR 3568 where they found the stolen property, meth, and Morgan, 36, along with Heidi Wosotowsky. A Mossberg rifle was found under Morgan’s bed. The methamphetamine was located during the execution of a search warrant. Morgan is a convicted Felon and was on Parole for Burglary of a Habitation.
Wosotowsky was sentenced in July, 2018, to 15 years in prison.
