City Council Early Voting Continues; 346 Votes Cast Through Thursday
A 12-hour day for early voting and 122 took advantage of the opportunity to cast early votes in the Sulphur Springs City Council election. The total votes cast in early voting stand at 346 going into Friday. Places 1, 2, and 3 are on the ballot and each Place has two candidates.
Early voting continues through May 1st in the second floor Conference Room at City Hall 201 North Davis Street. A handicap ramp and elevator are available to access the voting area. Hours for early voting are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Early voting will not be available this weekend.
Election Day, Saturday May 5th, voting will be between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Although the names of two candidates, who have withdrawn from the race, remain on the ballot, any vote cast for either candidate will not be counted according to a state law passed in the last legislative session.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies, Posse Observe National Drug Take Back Day Saturday
Saturday is National Drug Take Back Day and Hopkins County Deputies will be in the parking lot at Atwoods, 817 Gilmer Street, to take back any prescription medications you may have in your home that you wish to discard. Deputies and Sheriff’s Posse members will be at the location from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This is the 15th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. The discarded medications will be taken to Tyler Monday for disposal.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, the usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
DPS Troopers Foundation Plans Bass Tournament on May 12 on Lake Fork
DPS Senior Trooper Joe Hogue now works in an administrative position in the Tyler, Texas headquarters, but you may remember him from the seven years he was assigned to the Interstate 30 corridor in Hopkins and Franklin Counties as a Trooper and Canine Unit handler. Joe is one of 4,200 members of the Department of Public Safety Officers Association (DPSOA) which, since 1977, has advocated on behalf of Troopers, Agents, Rangers, Officers, Communication Personnel and Forensic Scientists of the Texas Department of Public Safety. It is one of the largest organizations representing commissioned law enforcement officers in Texas who daily pledge their lives to protect Texans across the state. A non-profit branch of the Association, the DPS Trooper’s Foundation (DPSTF), conducts fundraising efforts to increase moneys for financial assistance for emergency need, survivor benefits at death, education and training programs and scholarships for qualifying family members. An example of funds disbursed recently was during 2017’s Hurricane Harvey for numerous Foundation members in need of emergency assistance. This Spring, the Foundation has planned a Bass Fishing Tournament on Lake Fork, Texas. The tournament is set for the weekend of May 11 and 12, 2018 and two-person teams are being sought as well as business and corporate sponsorship, donations and vendors. Find full details at dpstf.org, on social media at DPSTF Team Bass Fishing Tournament and on flyers posted at Lake Fork area marinas, or you may contact Tournament Chairman Michael Sparks at 432-634-0151.
Lady Cats Win First in Best-of-Three in Bi-District: Game 2 at Lady Cat Park Friday
The Lady Cats’ softball team batted around in two innings and collected fifteen hits in a 15-4 ten-run rule victory over Lovejoy Thursday (April 26) at Lovejoy that gave the Lady Cats a 1-0 lead in a best two out of three bi-district series. Game two is Friday at 7 p.m. at Lady Cat Park.
Things did not start out all that well for the Lady Cats as they left the bases loaded in the first inning without scoring a run. Lovejoy then took a 1-0 lead without getting a hit. A Lovejoy sacrifice fly scored the run after a walk, sacrifice bunt and Lady Cat throwing error. The Lady Cats evened the score with a run in the top of the second. The Lady Cats loaded the bases again in the second on a Macee Hollins walk, an Alyssa Abron single and a Kelsey Wallace walk. Hollins then scored on a wild pitch.
The Lady Cats batted around in the top of the third scoring five runs on only two hits and a Lovejoy error. Brinklee Driver opened the inning with a double that one-hopped the wall in left center field. Nylah Lindley ran for Driver and stole a run for the Lady Cats scoring from third as a ball got away from a Lady Leopards’ fielder. Hollins drove in a run when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Landri Bell hit a big double that drove in two runs. The Lady Cats led 6-1 after the top of the third. Lovejoy answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third. They used a walk, two singles, a sacrifice fly and a two-RBI double to plate the runs and cut the Lady Cats lead to 6-4 after three innings. The Lady Cats scored a run in the top of the fourth to go up 7-4. Driver hit another double, Alli Fite singled and Lovejoy committed an error in the inning.
The Lady Cats put the game away with an eight run and seven hit inning in the top of the fifth. Hollins walked, Bell singled and Abron had an RBI single. Wallace was hit by a pitch. Sadie Stroud had an RBI single. Kate Womack drove in two runs with a single. Sierra Smith walked. Hollins drove home a run with a single. Bell singled. Abron’s single scored two runs. When the Lady Cats got Lovejoy out in the bottom of the fifth, the game was called due to the ten run rule.
Bailey Haggerty earned the pitching win allowing six hits and three earned runs over five innings. She walked two and struck out three. Abron drove in three runs and went 3 for 5. Driver and Bell were both 3 for 4. Hollins reached base all four times she batted and scored four runs.
The Lady Cats are now 25-5 for the season.
Tira News April 27th, 2018
By Jan Vaughn
Regina Payton is spending a few days with her mother, Martha Payton. They are beginning to think about the 80th annual Tira Homecoming, which will be coming up on Sunday, July 1 st . Mark your calendars and watch for details closer to the event date. Dustin Weir visited his parents, Robert and Yvonne Weir last weekend. He arrived on Friday evening and worked most of the day Saturday on his boat and trailer, and then
pulled it home.
Wesley bowled with My Heroes on Saturday. Yvonne reports, “We went to Mesquite to pick out a suit for the special prom he will be attending there on the 19th of May.” She adds, “Watch out for fire ants! They invaded my greenhouse.” Kim and Lee Beck traveled this past weekend to San Antonio to attend the 102nd Fiesta Oyster Bake at St. Mary’s Law School with son and daughter-in- law, Jackson and Courtney Dailey. Kim says, “Music, great food, sombreros and fireworks made for a fantastic weekend!”
Chip and I took his mother, Grace Vaughn, to the Clara Bridges 90+ Banquet at the ROC in Sulphur Springs on Saturday. Lori Vaughn and Lana and Chrissy Hall met us there. We enjoyed a delicious meal and a wonderful program. The honorees each received a framed certificate.
Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden Joslin spent Saturday night with their Gimmee, Tiffany, and aunt, Jaidyn, and attended church at Posey with them. They all came to our house for lunch on Sunday and the kids had fun playing outside before returning home. Chip and I enjoyed sharing a meal and playing games with Diana and WilliamMcCauley on last Thursday evening.
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].
Tips for the garden: Air layering By Mario Villarino
With a gardening season starting to get in full motion, practical techniques to work on the garden are very useful. A method to preserved on the Texas A&M AgriLife archives by Everett E. Janne (deceased) know as air layering describes a very interesting method to propagate hardwood plants that have overgrown its site. Air layering is a useful method of producing roots on the stem of indoor landscape plants that have become “leggy” through the loss of their lower foliage.
This method, believed to have been developed centuries ago by the Chinese, has been used successfully as a mean of propagating some of the more difficult-to-root plants. Because it required excessive care and patience, air layering was used only by the highly trained plantsman. The procedure was to wound the stem or branch of a plant and enclose the wounded stem with moist sphagnum moss or similar rooting medium until roots develop from the wounded area.
Success was dependent upon the ability of the propagator to keep the rooting medium moist until the roots were formed and large enough to support the new plant. Only since the development of polyethylene film has air layering become a practical method of propagation for the home gardener and amateur horticulturist.Air layering seldom is used on plants that root easily by other less complicated methods, but it is useful for rooting ornamental plants such as ornamental figs, dieffenbachia, croton and others of a herbaceous nature.
Woody plants frequently propagated in this manner include magnolia, holly, camelia, azalea and many of the fruit and nut bearing plants such as citrus, apple, pears and pecans. For optimum rooting make air layers in the spring on shoots produced during the previous season or in mid-summer on mature shoots from the current season’s growth. On woody plants, stems of pencil size or larger are best. The stem may be much thicker on the more herbaceous plants.
Steps for making a successful air layer:
a) Method of wounding woody plants such as magnolia, gardenia, rose, fig and similar plants. With a sharp knife, make two parallel cuts about 1 1/2 inches apart around the stem and through the bark and cambium layer. Connect the two parallel cuts with one long cut and remove the ring of bark, leaving the inner woody tissue exposed.
b) Method of wounding plants having less woody stems in preparation for air layering. This method usually is used on foliage plants such as the rubber plant, (Ficus benjamini and Ficus elastica) and the dieffenbachia. With a sharp knife, make a long upward cut from 1 1/2 to 2 inches long, almost to the center of the stem. Insert a wood sliver, toothpick or twisted piece of sphagnum moss into the wound to hold it open and prevent cut tissue from reuniting. At this point, the wounded area may be dusted with one of the commercial rooting compounds to speed up the rooting process. Such compounds, however, do not insure root production on difficult-to-root varieties.
c) Apply a handful of damp sphagnum moss so that it envelopes the wounded portion of the stem. Tying the moss in place with string helps keep it in position while completing the process. The sphagnum moss should be soaked several hours to insure that it is thoroughly moist. Squeeze out surplus water before using, since excessive moisture will result in decay and deterioration of the plant tissue.
d) Using a sheet of polyethylene film approximately 6″ X 12″ or 8″ X 12″, depending upon the size of the plant stem, wrap the ball of sphagnum moss using the butchers fold (see insert) to secure a tight seal where the two ends of the sheet are joined.
e) Draw the upper end of the film snugly around stem making sure that none of the moss is exposed. Fasten securely with electricians tape, taking care that the tape extends beyond the film and adheres to the stem. Repeat the procedure on the lower end, again making sure there is a snug fit. Moisture must not escape and excess moisture must not enter when watering or syringing the plants. Support the plant with stake or splint to prevent breakage at the wounded area.
f) After the new roots have penetrated the moss ball and are visible on all sides, the rooted branch may be removed from the parent plant. The rooting time will vary with plant variety as well as the season in which it is performed.
g) Remove the newly rooted plant from the parent plant with a sharp knife or pruning shears, making the cut just below the ball of moss and roots. (Not illustrated) Carefully remove the polyethylene film. Without disturbing the roots or removing the ball of moss, plant in a container using a good potting mixture or plant in a well-prepared soil bed.
h) Placing a polyethylene tent over the newly potted plant for 4 to 8 days until the root system is well established is helpful as it will aid in preventing excessive loss of moisture. Keep the plant under a light shade and avoid direct sunlight until the new root system is well developed.
Many plants are lost in the final stage of the process because the root system is not sufficiently developed to sustain the top portion of the new plant. By utilizing the plastic tent illustrated in figure 8 or by keeping the new plant in a humid environment, it is possible to develop a good root system on rather large cuttings. Once the plant is well established, it is best to harden off the foliage by gradually exposing it to normal atmosphere. This can be done by cutting a few holes every few days in the plastic tent to reduce the humidity until it is similar to the external atmosphere.
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
Bone up on the Health of Your Bones By Johanna Hicks
Bone up on the Health of Your Bones
The month of May is nearly upon us, and all across the nation, Osteoporosis Prevention Month will be recognized. Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease,” because bone loss occurs without symptoms. The first sign may be a fracture due to weakened bones. A sudden strain or bump can break a bone.
Osteoporosis is a major health threat for estimated 44 million (55%) of people 50 years and older, and an additional 34 million have low bone mass, placing them at risk. Approximately 10 million people are estimated to have the disease. But hold on, there’s more! One in 2 women and one in 4 men over 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture.
Both men and women need enough calcium to build maximum bone mass during their early years. Bones are living organs. Calcium is deposited and withdrawn from bones daily. By the age of 22, 90% of bone mass has been developed, and the body still adds bone mass to about the age of 30. It is important to build up a healthy bone “account” while young and continue to make deposits with age. Take the following risk assessment to see if you are at risk of developing osteoporosis:
Do you:
– Eat or drink less than 2 milk products servings daily?
– Smoke cigarettes or drink alcoholic beverages?
– Exercise less than 30 or more minutes daily?
– Have a family history of the disease?
– Starve as “thin is in?”
Are you:
– Female?
– Small boned?
– Aging?
– Drinking more than 1 or 2 caffeine-containing drinks daily?
If you answered ‘yes’, then you are at risk. It isn’t uncommon for women to get a bit shorter as they age. If shrinkage happens gradually over three or four decades, there’s no need to worry, but if you suddenly lose an inch and a half in height, you should be concerned. It could be due to a vertebral fracture and can indicate osteoporosis.
The good news is that osteoporosis is preventable for most people. Remember to start building healthy bones while young. Healthy food choices and lifestyle are important for BOTH men and women. Attaining adequate calcium and Vitamin D are essential for strong bones. The major source is the dairy food group. Other calcium-containing foods include canned fish (sardines with the bones), deep leafy greens, and calcium fortified juice. Sources of Vitamin D are fortified milk, some fortified grains/cereals, cold saltwater fish (salmon, halibut, herring, tuna, oysters, shrimp), some calcium and vitamin/mineral supplements, and the sun. Vitamin D is manufactured in your skin following direct exposure to sun. The amount varies with tie of day, season, and skin pigmentation. Ten to fifteen minutes exposure o hands, arms and face 2 to 3 times per week may be sufficient. Clothing, sunscreen, window glass and pollution reduce amount the produced.
Three to four 8-ounce servings of low-fat dairy everyday will provide the calcium and Vitamin D needed. If you are lactose-intolerant, eat hard cheese, yogurt, canned salmon, broccoli, and legumes. You can also try fortified foods, such as orange juice. If you don’t get enough calcium in your diet, your doctor may suggest taking supplements that have 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of the nutrient.
Another important factor in strengthening bones is weight-bearing exercise. Even simple activities such as stair climbing, walking, and dancing can strengthen bones. Harvard researchers found that premenopausal women who have more visceral (belly) fat also had decreased bone mineral density. One theory explains that overweight people are more prone to vitamin D deficiency, since the fat-soluble vitamin can get trapped in fat tissue. Other research has shown that people with high levels of fat in their liver, muscles, and blood have more fat in their bone marrow, which can up the risk of fracture. Studies have found that while contracting slightly is natural, people who stayed active shrank less than those who were sedentary or stopped exercising in middle age.
There are some things to avoid: smoking, alcohol, more than 1 or two caffeinated drinks, and being too thin. My mother always said that aging is not for the faint of heart, so we need to take care of our bones. Talk to your doctor about your bone health. Being post-menopausal and certain medications can affect bone health. Bone density screenings can detect bone loss.
Remember that osteoporosis is a serious, debilitating disease, is affected by onset of menopause, is mostly preventable and treatable, and affects 8 million women in the USA. Fight back, live well, live strong, and live long!
Upcoming Event Reminders
– Twogether in Texas Marriage Education workshop: Saturday, May 12, 8:30 a.m., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs. Engaged couples who complete the workshop will be given a certificate to save $60 upon applying for a marriage license. Call 903-885-3443 to sign up. No cost. Lunch and refreshment provided.
– “Whipped” Challenge: Saturday, June 16, 9:30 check-in, Hopkins County Civic Center grounds. Limited to the first 8 teams (4 people per team). Deadline to submit registration is May 31. $40 per team. Call 903-885-3443 or go to http://hopkins.agrilife.org for registration and rules of play (click on ‘publications’)
Closing Thought
Time is free, but it is priceless. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back. Use it wisely!
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]
Former Local Radio Personality Enters Guilty Plea
Craig Thomas “Moose” Morgan plead guilty to Misappropriate Fiduciary/Financial Property more than $2,500 but less than $30,000, a Felony 3, in Eighth Judicial District Court Thursday afternoon. Morgan, former radio personality in the local market and chief of a volunteer fire department in the county, received two (2) years State Jail, probated for five (5) years and must pay $12,000 in restitution. He will serve 180 days in the county jail as a condition of probation.
Morgan will serve the 180 days of his sentence every weekend until completed. The weekend incarceration will allow him to work during the week enabling him to pay the restitution. His sentence begins Friday, April 27th.
Morgan was booked into Hopkins County Jail Monday afternoon, March 20, 2017 following a two week investigation that will be ongoing, according to local law enforcement. Morgan, former President and lead talent for The Way Radio Group and former Chief of the North Hopkins Fire Department, had been removed from management of the group by his partners and as chief by the Volunteer Fire Department. Morgan was best known as host of “Moose in the Morning” on Thunder Country FM in Sulphur Springs. Morgan was charged with a Felony 3 Theft and with Giving False Statement to Obtain Property or Credit, a State Jail Felony. According to Dr. Darrel Pierce, who became President of, the then, The Way Radio Group, the charges stem from Morgan’s mismanagement at the radio station. Dr. Pierce stated that much of the theft was found in the operations’ day to day financial discrepancies. Dr. Pierce said the group was then unsure of the exact amount taken from the radio stations that make up the radio group.
Although The Way Radio Group reorganized their LLC, redoing their FCC license, and changing the format of one of the two stations they operate in Sulphur Springs, they have now sold the two stations.
Harness Sentenced in Cattle Theft
“The main goal is to punish these guys but also allow them to provide restitution to the victims,” according to a statement by the District Attorney’s office. The statement was made in reference to the difference in penalties received by Landon Dee Harness and Lane Wesley Keller following their guilty pleas to Theft of Cattle and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.
Harness paid $5,000 in restitution Thursday, will spend every night in jail for 120 days and will be allowed work-release, which will cost him $15 per day following a plea bargain agreement made in Eighth Judicial District Court. According to the District Attorney’s office, if Harness goes anywhere other than work he will be in violation of probation. Harness faced two counts of Theft of Cattle and one count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.
Harness and Keller were arrested for Theft of Cattle less than $150,000 after they were apprehended by Cattlemen’s Special Ranger Tony Hurley and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigator Dennis Findley. Law enforcement used video from cameras located near the scene to identify the pair.
Keller was sentenced to 10 years in prison and two years state jail time on Tuesday of this week (see story here). Harness plea agreement is based on the DA’s office belief that Keller was the driving force in the theft and Harness was not.
