Look Up This Weekend for Hot Air Balloons As Part of Dairy Festival!
David Black, Dairy Festival Balloon Committee Chairman and 15-year ballooning enthusiast
David Black jumped aboard the Dairy Festival Board about the same year that hot air ballooning became a permanent feature of the Festival. Since that time, he has flown or crewed for dozens of balloon pilots from all over the United States. During the early years, David even traveled to popular balloon festivals around the country to find out what made them fun, safe and attractive to pilots. Today, the Invitational balloon event during the Hopkins County Dairy Festival incorporates the best practices and ideas, while preserving a down-home dairy country personality. Two of the highlights for balloon pilots who travel here is participating in the cow-milking contest and riding in the Dairy Festival Parade!
This year, there are 32 hot air balloons expected to participate. The FAA-certified pilots will have three opportunities to fly and two major “tether and glow” events for the public. Of course, all balloon flights are subject to weather, and scheduled flights are always “weather permitting”. And as at most balloon events, the designated “Balloon Meister” consults with his Safety Officer and a DFW weatherman at dawn to help him make pre-flight weather decisions about the morning’s scheduled flights. The Hopkins County balloon event is known for it’s attention to safety. “There are two yearly balloon events I wouldn’t miss: Albequerque and Sulphur Springs” is a compliment David has heard more than once from pilots.
Most of the balloon events will take place June 8-10, 2018 in the field behind Shannon Oaks Church, located along I-30 on East Shannon Road in Sulphur Springs. The “tether and glow” on Saturday evening June 9 will also include the State Championship Homemade Ice Cream Freeze-Off at 5:30 pm and live music. All the balloons will be participating in the glow, including two huge “shape” balloons depicting a lady bug and a Spiderman pig. The “competition” part of the Invitational event will take place early Saturday morning as a “Hare and Hound Chase”. Pilots in the air will attempt to hit a target on the ground by dropping a weighted bag, then fly on to the next target on the course.
There is a need this year for additional local crew members. If you would like to volunteer as a ground crew member for balloon flights this weekend, contact David Black at 903-439-4384.
Brownies Found by Hopkins County Deputy in Vehicle Trunk Leads to Arrest of California Woman
A 66-year old California woman and her boyfriend were not consistent in their story told a Hopkins County Deputy, who stopped them for speeding at the 130-mile marker on I-30 Wednesday afternoon. Their brownies found in a tub in the trunk of the vehicle may have been part of the cause for their nervousness and inconsistencies detected by the deputy.
Robin Lynn Hotmer
The pair were traveling from California to Ohio according to their story. They denied consent to search their vehicle but a K-9 deployed in an open air sniff alerted on the vehicle. In the trunk was a large clear tub. In the tub were brownies believed to contain THC. After being read her Miranda rights, Robin Lynn Hotmer, 66, of Placentia, California, said the brownies contained marijuana within the brownies. Marijuana was also found in the vehicle.
Hotmer is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2 more than 400-grams.
Arkansas Man Wanted in Dallas Arrested in Hopkins County
A traffic stop by a Hopkins County deputy at the 134-mile marker on I-30 resulted in the arrest of Brandon Haynes, 36, of Monticello, Arkansas. Haynes was wanted on charges in Dallas County. During the arrest, marijuana was found in the console of his vehicle and a handgun was found in a suitcase in the trunk of the 2011 Impala he was driving.
Haynes, a convicted felon claimed ownership of the weapon. He is in Hopkins County Jail held on the Dallas County charges and for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
Hearts of Life Animal Rescue Presents Abby for Adoption
Abby is a lab mix and is approximately 8 years old. She’s a very happy, obedient and loving girl! She could easily be deemed the class clown! She loves to use her dog house for her stage and she does not want a mess in her kennel floor! Are you the family she’s been waiting for?Chamber Connection June 7, 2018
The 2018 Ice Cream Freeze-off is here! We are currently in need of sponsors of the Ice Cream Freeze-off, and people to make homemade ice cream in the contest. There is no charge to enter the ice cream contest, so please consider being a part this year! The Ice Cream Freeze-off will be held on Saturday, June 9th, at 5:30 p.m. on the REAR lawn of Shannon Oaks Church. We are moving the Ice Cream to the back of Shannon Oaks so that once the Ice Cream is over, the hot air balloons will get fired up all in the exact same place. Make plans to be a part of the Ice Cream Freeze-off then watch 30 hot air balloons glow and take flight. It’s going to be a great day!!! We’d love to have you join us!!! To sign up to sponsor or to make ice cream, call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515. We’ll get you all set up for the big event!
Rock Creek Health & Rehab to hold a bake sale
Rock Creek Health & Rehab is hosting a bake sale to help raise money for some new activities ideas for the facility and its guests. Please go by 1414 College Street in Sulphur Springs on June 8th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to buy some baked goods and help support Rock Creek Health and Rehab. If you are interested in donating an item to the sale, call Jennifer Scroggins, Activity Directory, (903) 439-0107.
Opening Ceremonies Ribbon Cutting for the Dairy Festival is scheduled for Friday, June 8th at noon
The Dairy Festival officially kicks off with a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, June 8th at noon on Celebration Plaza. Make plans to be there and celebrate the start of the Dairy Festival!
Here is the full schedule for the upcoming Dairy Festival:
Wednesday through Saturday, June 6–9
Carnival on the Civic Center Grounds
Friday, June 8th
Hot Air Balloon Media Flight, 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. (weather permitting), at Shannon Oaks Church
Hot Air Balloon Rally and Glow, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (weather permitting), at Shannon Oaks Church
Saturday, June 9th
Hot Air Balloon Rally and Flight, 6:30 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. (weather permitting), at Shannon Oaks Church
Dairy Festival Parade, 10:00 a.m., Leaves from Burford Park
Jr. Dairy Show, 10:00 a.m. at Civic Center Arena
Milking Contest for Candidates, Parents, and Balloon Pilots, 3 p.m. at Civic Center Arena
TX Championship Ice Cream Freeze Off, 5:30 p.m. at Shannon Oaks Church
Hot Air Balloon Rally & Glow, 6:00 p.m. (weather permitting), at Shannon Oaks Church
Saturday. June 16th
Whipped Challenge, 9:30 a.m. at Civic Center Grounds
Coronation Pageant, 7:00 p.m. at Civic Center Auditorium
Sulphur Springs Public Library presents their Summer Reading Program for June and July
The Sulphur Springs Library is hosting a summer reading program called Fun with Mary Poppins Reading Program 2018. Story time will be each Tuesday at 10 a.m. in June and July (except for July 10 and 17). Watch for special guest appearances along with fun, stories and great prizes. Minecraft is back every Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. beginning June 1 and ending July 27. Thursday, June 21st at 6 p.m. is a special Mary Poppins Story time event, and Friday, June 22nd at 3 p.m., don’t miss the Bubble Show with Brett Roberts. Then, Thursday, June 28th, at 11 a.m. the library will welcome Will Parker with a very musical story time. The library is happy to answer any questions, please call (903) 885-4926, or you can visit www.sslibrary.org.
Express Employment Professionals planning a ribbon cutting celebration
Express Employment Professionals is hosting their ribbon cutting celebration on Tuesday, June 12th at noon. They are located at 204 Shannon Road West in Sulphur Springs. Come on by and celebrate, learn, and network with us and Express Employment Professionals.
Heart of Hope is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration
Heart of Hope, located at 407 S. Davis Street in Sulphur Springs, is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, June 13th at noon. Please make plans to attend the ribbon cutting to learn more about Heart of Hope and the benefits they offer Hopkins County.
AgriLife Extension offers Rebalancing Work & Life Webinar
The Military Families Learning Network (MFLN) is providing a free monthly webinar in partnership with USDA, U.S. Department of Defense, and Extension. The June 13th webinar will take place at 10:00 a.m. To sign up, go to: https://learn.extension.org/events/3261. To join the webinar, use the ‘event location’ link designated for each webinar and follow directions within the site. The MFLN offers both continuing education credit (CE) and certificates of completion for webinars. For more information, call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office – Hopkins County – at 903-885-3443.
AFLAC hosting ribbon cutting celebration
Leann Oliver and Sheila Askins with AFLAC are hosting a ribbon cutting celebration at the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, June 20th at noon. The Chamber is located at 300 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs. Please make plans to come by and network with these business professionals at the Chamber.
Workforce Solutions is hosting a Career & Community Resource Expo on June 28th
Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting a Career & Community Resources Expo at the ROC, 120 Oak Street in Sulphur Springs, on Tuesday, June 28th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are accepting vendors on a first come first served basis with a deadline for vendors of June 16th. Exhibitor space is free of charge but limited. For additional information, please call Workforce Solutions at (903) 885-7556 x 414.
Lezley Brown
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
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!
