Chamber Connection May 31, 2018
Chamber Connection-May 31st
We all scream for ICE CREAM!!!! The 2018 Ice Cream Freeze-off is almost 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!
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!
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. The Summer Reading Program Kickoff will be held on Thursday, May 31st from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with Ewe Pet Petting Zoo, Dairy Queen face painting, summer reading challenge sign ups, food and music! 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 3p.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.
Jesus is my SuperHero 5K Run
Our Savior Lutheran Church is hosting the Jesus is my SuperHero 5K Run on Saturday, June 2nd on Celebration Plaza in Sulphur Springs. Register at www.oursaviorsstx.org or at Fieldhouse Sports located 101 Bill Bradford Road in Sulphur Springs. This event is a fundraiser for the OSLC Youth Group. Entry fee is $30. For more information, contact (903) 885-5787 or (903) 243-4716.
The Northeast Texas Alliance will host workforce seminar
On June 6th the Northeast Texas Alliance is holding a regional government seminar to discuss workforce issues. Workforce readiness and preparation are the current buzz words and major points of discussion not only for new business recruitment but also business retention and expansion. The luncheon speaker will be TWC Commissioner Julian Alvarez, with additional speakers including Texas State Senator Brian Hughes. The seminar is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and will include lunch. It will be located at the Mt Pleasant Civic Center in Mt Pleasant, Texas. Cost for the program is $23.00 each. The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is encouraging participation in this program by encouraging attendance of our businesses, community leaders, and citizens. Call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515 to order your tickets.
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.
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
SSISD Personnel Changes Approved by Board Wednesday
Following an Executive Meeting conducted Wednesday during a special session of the Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees, personnel changes were approved. Personnel changes include:
Resignations
Sarah Graham Transitional 1st Grade Teacher Former ECLC
Ellie Gomez Grade 4 Math Teacher SS Elementary
Laura Smith Grade 4 ELAR Teacher SS Elementary
Tony Henry PE Teacher/Coach Middle School
New Personnel
Brandi Caddell Grade 4 Math & Science Teacher SS Elementary
Jessica Hendricks SpEd Aide SS Elementary
Michelle Barron Grade 7 English Teacher Middle School
Brittany Laza Band Director Middle School
Emalee Tate Conrad CTE Audio/Visual Production Teacher High School
Brandon DeLorge Government Teacher/Coach High School
Personnel Changes New position/campus Former position/campus
Lucia Hickman Pre-K Aide/Douglas ECLC SpEd Aide/Travis
Renee Johnson Grade 5 Bilingual/SS Elem. Grade 3 Bilingual/Travis
Abigail Godina Grade 3 Bilingual/Travis Grade 5 Bilingual/SS Elem.
Elizabeth Bialecki Asst. Band Dir./High School Band Director/Middle School
Jarret Wilson Asst. Principal/High School Tech Specialist/High School
SSISD Board Names Former ECLC Campus: Barbara Bush Primary School
Barbara Bush Primary School was approved as the new name for the former ECLC campus located on Hillcrest Drive in Sulphur Springs. The SSISD Board approved the name during a special session Wednesday. They also approved the lease of laptops for students at a cost of $175 per unit.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Lamb presented the new name for the campus. The Early Childhood Education classes will be moved to the Douglas Campus to free the Bush campus for first and second grade students and future growth for those grades. In naming the campus, Lamb stated that the Texas Hero theme, used in the names of other school campuses, was considered. However, with the death of Mrs. Bush, former First Lady, wife of President George H W Bush, the campus name will carry the memory of her passion for literacy and education. He stated that names of community members and those in other places were also considered. Local social groups, teachers, and others were a part of the conversation in campus name choice.
The board voted unanimously to approve the Bush name.
Meeting Ms. Hopkins County Senior…Contestants 3,4 and 5
This is the second of four reports on the interesting women competing for the title of 2018 Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic. The contestants represent women age 60 and older who live, work and volunteer in Hopkins County. Reports are taken from interviews between the ten contestants and Enola Gay on the KSST Morning Show during the week of May 29-June 1, 2018. The public is invited to attend the Pageant on Saturday June 9 at 6 pm in the banquet hall of the Civic Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
2018 Contestants Linda Barrett, Valerie Ross and Venda Wright
Linda Barrett is rather new to Sulphur Springs, and she was urged by her aunt Beth Barrett to enter the Pageant. Linda has much to give to others through her volunteer work at Seniors Center activities and at nursing homes she visits. During her at-home hours, she often writes and mails letters of encouragement to friends and others she meets. She also enjoys playing Bingo and Bunco with friends. Linda graduated from the University of Texas and her career was in HR. Her talent presentation will be a reading of an inspirational letter taken from Guideposts for Living. This 63-year-old feels that caring about others is an important aspect for happiness.
Valerie Ross is also a newcomer to Hopkins County, moving here from the Corsicana area about 5 years ago. Valerie definitely “stepped out of her comfort zone” when she first entered the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant in 2015. Though shy, her first talent presentation was a demonstration of a sewing project. Last year, she sang a war-era song in honor of her grandfather. For this pageant, the 63-year-old plans to do a Roaring 20’s skit and dance! Valerie loves sewing, gardening and crafts. She has conducted a Crafts class at Rock Creek Health and Rehab in Sulphur Springs, and feels that hands-on sharing is a worthwhile way to volunteer your skills and time to others.
Venda Wright is possibly the youngest contestant, as she has just turned 60 years old. She said she couldn’t wait to become eligible to enter the Pageant! Venda has a busy life with her husband Terry Wright, her children and grandchildren. She also works in the community, cooking for fundraisers and for her church, Evening Chapel CME and for New Beginnings in Cooper, Texas where she volunteers. Homecooking is a big part of her life. As a child, she stood on a chair and learned by watching her grandmother and her mother. She always wanted to help, and gradually was given more and more opportunity to develop her skills in the kitchen. By the time she was 10 years old, she could bake a better cake than her mom! Today, she loves turning out country meals, cakes and pies prepared in the traditional ways, but always keeps an eye out for the best of newer recipes. Singing is also a big part of Venda’s life, and she will present an inspirational song during the talent portion of the Pageant.
Commissioners’ Court Approves New Courtroom, New Communication System for Inmates
A new courtroom will be built at the Law Enforcement Center/Jail with work starting sometime in the next two months. A contract for $390,453.76 for the construction was approved by Hopkins County Commissioners Court Wednesday morning, May 30th in a special session. The contract does not include the Audio Visual, fiber optics, and utilities for the building. The contractor for the work is Petty Homes and construction management will be performed by CRW Associates Inc. of Sulphur Springs.
Commissioners also approved a new communication system that will allow inmates to send and receive texts at a call/text station. The charges for texts will be 50-cents and Judge Robert Newsom said he anticipates the county will net as much or more income with the addition of texting.
Subcontractors for the construction of the courtroom will include Bar H Construction, foundation; Baxter Electric, Electrician; Brunson Plumbing; Pacheco Roofing; Chris Bramlett, framer; Bent Creek Customs, millwork; Sulphur River Trim Co., trim and finish; and Hector Ramirez, tile setter. The sewer cost will be $14 per foot which will include pipe, excavation equipment, and all drain connections. Water line cost will be determined by distance and meter site.
Two Arrested for Meth at Apartment Near Private School
Special Crimes Unit along with Sulphur Springs Patrol were at an apartment in the 500 block of Church Street seeking a wanted felon. The occupants of the residence seemed extremely nervous and consent was granted to search the residence. During the search a small bag containing suspected cocaine was located in the living room. Further search led to approximately 3.8-grams of suspected methamphetamine. The located of the possession was within 1000ft of Water Oak School on Davis Street.
Lewis
Arrested at the scene were Peggy Faye Lewis, 47, and Quintis Daniel Weatherall, 47. Both are charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams in a Drug Free Zone. Weatherall was also arrested on a warrant for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.
Weatherall
Both are in Hopkins County Jail. Each are held on a $15,000 bond.
Felony Warrant Arrest Leads to Additional Charges; Arrest of Second Individual
A tip to Crime Stoppers that a female wanted on a felony warrant could be located at 420 West Park Street in Sulphur Springs. A Hopkins County deputy arrested the female, Maegan Deleyn Strawn, 23, and then Angel Hernandez, Jr, 25, of Sulphur Springs, showed the deputy the room in which she was staying. After searching the room, a small case with a lock was found. The key was located and when opened, suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, and paraphernalia was located inside.
When deputies arrived at the scene, Hernandez was located attempting to exit the rear of the residence. He confirmed that Strawn was inside. Deputies waited until the homeowner arrived before entering the residence.
Hernandez is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams in a Drug Free Zone and Possession of Marijuana more than 2oz in a Drug Free Zone. His bond s total $32,000.
Strawn is in Hopkins County Jail held on Violation of Probation warrant and on the two above drug charges.
Sulphur Springs Man Found to Have Meth When Arrested on Warrants
May 30, 2018 – Samuel Colten Stidham, 30, of Sulphur Springs admitted that the contraband was his when he and others were stopped for a traffic violation Tuesday night, May 29, 2018, at 10:44 p.m. at College Street and Industrial Drive.
Samuel Colten Stidham
Stidham had appeared nervous during the stop and a records check was conducted. Stidham was wanted on one speeding warrant and one failure to maintain financial responsibility warrant. The suspected methamphetamine was found in a small pink plastic baggie in the vehicle.
He is in Hopkins County Jail Charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram. He is held on a $15,000 bond.
Children’s Museum Records High Spring Attendance
The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is transitioning from a successful spring to an activity-filled summer. A parking lot filled with school buses from as far as Texarkana, Linden, Denison, Dangerfield, Rockwall, Terrell, Princeton, and Hugo, Oklahoma, has been a part of the field trips for the last three months. High attendance peaked during Spring Break with over 1,200 visitors in 5 days. Visitors from 78 different communities came to the Children’s Museum during the week. Almost 8,000 visitors came to the Children’s Museum in March and April.
The new wind tunnel has also been very popular. Built by Jim Brown, children can watch a variety of items make the trip out of the wind tunnel.
Visitors have been excited about the new green KidSteam train and the Imagination Playground blue blocks. The new wind tunnel has also been very popular. Built by Jim Brown, children can watch a variety of items make the trip out of the wind tunnel. A bubble window built by staff member Elena Barton and James Cross has added another dimension to the Bubble Room.
Making the transition into summer, the Children’s Museum will offer a variety of activities for children. June 12-15 will be Animal Planet Week with visits from miniature horses, goats, llamas, and other animals. The following week will be Splat, Bang, Pop, Fizz Week with a fun and creative science activity each day. Little Artists with Lonnie Plunkett will be offered the week of June 26-29. Children may register for Little Artists for one or four days. July will include July 4th activities; Dino Week, Fairy Tale Week, Things that Fly Week, and Things on Wheels Week.
Highlighting the month of June will be Commerce Appreciation Day on June 22. The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum appreciates the support shown for the recent Silent Auction to benefit the Children’s Museum. Citizens of Commerce and their children will be offered half-price admission on that day from 9:30 to 4:30. The Kona Ice truck will be at the Children’s Museum from 11:00 to 2:00.
Madeline Sullivan will be remembered on June 21 with Madeline Sullivan Day. Madeline, a long-time supporter of the Children’s Museum, donated the Sullivan Dry River Bed to the Children’s Museum. A Master Gardener, Madeline will be remembered by Hunt County Master Gardeners in several ways. Pat Abramson will be here from 11:00 to 1:00 to help children make Plant People. Hunt County Master Gardeners will also distribute seeds for the children. A craft area will be available for children to create a butterfly.
For details for summer activities, call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055 or visit netxcm.com.
Meeting Ms. Hopkins County Senior…Contestants 1,2
This will be the first of four reports on the interesting women competing for the title of 2018 Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic. The contestants represent women age 60 and older who live, work and volunteer in Hopkins County. These reports are taken from interviews between the ten contestants and Enola Gay on the KSST Morning Show during the week of May 29-June 1, 2018. The public is invited to attend the Pageant on Saturday June 9 at 6 pm in the banquet hall of the Civic Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
2018 Contestants Mary Ivey and Judy Ann Moore with Ms. Hopkins/Ms. Texas Senior Classic 2017 Patsy Crist
Reigning Ms. Hopkins County Senior Patsy Crist joined Mary Ivey and Judy Ann Moore for the first of the week’s radio interviews. Let’s meet them.
Along with her husband Loyd, Mary Ivey is a volunteer for Meal a Day. The seniors along the route bring pleasure and purpose to her day, and Mary admits they do more for her than she does for them! She spent her working career with the Kellogg Cereal Company, and she and Loyd recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary. They have 2 sons and 2 grandchildren, all of whom live in Hopkins County. Once this couple retired, they began a string of exciting hobbies…from their first zipline ride across Royal Gorge, to a tour across the Grand Canyon by helicopter, and now enjoying white-water rafting anywhere there’s some rapids, most recently along the Snake River in Wyoming. The slim 70-year-old recalled that her zipline ride was quite slow, allowing her plenty of time to look down at everything and also gain some insight. She feels there is so much going on in our busy lives that we miss out by not slowing down! Now, she tries to “stop and smell the roses” during each day. Her dream vacation would be a trip to Hawaii. Her talent presentation will be a skit at the Pageant on June 9, 2018.
Judy Moore, age 68, lives at Tira, Texas and is currently Director of the Hopkins County Community Chest and Food Pantry in Sulphur Springs. Her job allows her to help an average of 1,000 clients with utility bills, food and transportation, as well as providing 11,000 meals per month through the Food Pantry. In 2017, she was recognized for her innovation of the Mobile Pantry and expanded outreach services to the communities of Como, Sulphur Bluff and Peerless. Judy is a military veteran who began her career as an Army nurse with service in Viet Nam. After retirement she joined the Air Force for a short stint, then went into the United States Marine Corps from which she also retired, totaling 37 years of military service. She is unmarried, the mother of 3 children and 5 grandchildren. She has a private pilot’s license and enjoys scuba diving. Her hobbies include woodcarving, which will be part of her talent presentation during the Pageant.
Patsy Crist of Cumby, Texas was crowned Ms. Hopkins County Senior in May 2017, then advanced to the Ms. Texas Senior Pageant in September 2017, which she also won. Patsy has been married to Gene Crist for 50 years and they have 2 children and 9 grandchildren. She enjoys kayaking at Beaver’s Bend and the State Parks, a hobby she began after age 60. She is a 15-year-member of the Red Hat Society, and is also part of a local Seniors entertainment group. During her tenure as Ms. Texas Senior, she wore her crown in the State Fair Parade in Dallas, the Rose Parade in Tyler and at events at Southfork. You will see her again during the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade and at the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Pageant Pageant on June 9 where she will present a song and soft shoe dance. Her winning talent in 2017 was “Lucy’s Vitameatavegamin” in costume. Patsy wants all local Senior citizens to know that they don’t have to just sit and stare at the TV but a multitude of friends and interesting, healthy activities is awaiting them at the Sulphur Springs Senior’s Center under direction of Karon Weatherman and her helpful, caring staff.
