Dinner Bell for July 23, 2025
DINNER BELL, First United Methodist Church
SPONSOR: Texas Heritage National Bank
The doors to Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church will open at 11:00 a.m. Meal service begins at 11:30 a.m. and doors will close at 12:45 p.m. Please come join us to share fellowship and a meal.
Texas Heritage National Bank (the 141st largest bank in Texas) is “Large enough to meet your needs yet small enough to care.” It was chartered as The Bank of Daingerfield in 1889 but converted to a National charter in 1892 becoming the National Bank of Daingerfield. It has operated continuously since its inception weathering both the Great Depression and the bank crisis of the 1980’s.
It’s headquarters is in Daingerfield, the fourth oldest town in Texas. Sulphur Springs became a branch in 2009. Other locations include Omaha, Ore City, Gilmer, Farmers Branch and Austin. This privately held bank provides commercial banking services ca tering to agriculture, the commercial and real estate industries, businesses and individuals.
The Dinner Bell Feeding Ministry is pleased to have Texas Heritage National Bank as its partner in feeding those who need a meal in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County..
We plan to continue inside dining every Wednesday with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
- Chicken pot pie
- Bacon infused green beans
- Garden salad
- Coconut icebox cake
The Dinner Bell Ministry
First United Methodist Church
Take care of YOURSELF by following safe health practices.
Wear masks where required! Wash your hands often!
Get inoculated and boosted
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH !!!
Speeding Doesn’t Save Time, it Costs Lives
July 17, 2025 – TxDOT working with law enforcement to encourage people to slow down
PARIS – Whether it’s catching a fish or smoking a brisket, Texans know the importance of patience. So, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is reminding drivers to use that patience behind the wheel and drive like a Texan: Kind. Courteous. Safe.
Speed contributed to nearly 160,000 traffic crashes in Texas in 2024, resulting in 1,467 deaths. That is 35% of all traffic crash fatalities in the state, making speed the number one contributing factor in crashes.
“Speeding is not an accident, it’s a choice,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. “When you choose to drive even just a little over the speed limit, you’re not only risking your own life, you’re risking the lives of every other person on the road with you and that’s not being a good Texan.”
- The number of traffic crashes in the Paris District in 2024 that involved speeding totaled 1,704. These crashes resulted in 46 deaths and 175 serious injuries.
Law enforcement to focus on speeders
To help prevent deadly, speed-related crashes, TxDOT is launching its Be Safe. Drive Smart. campaign that features country singer-songwriter Parker McCollum calling on his fellow Texans to slow down and be safe.
The campaign runs alongside a special speed law enforcement period. From July 18 through Aug. 3, officers across Texas will focus extra attention on motorists who are driving too fast, reminding them to slow down and match their speed to road conditions.
Safe driving means more than just following the speed limit
Drivers should follow these tips to stay safe and avoid a ticket:
- Match your speed to road conditions.
- Slow down and allow for more distance to stop when traffic is heavy, roads are slick or road construction is ahead.
- Watch for road signs alerting you of reduced speed limits.
- Remember that traffic fines double if you speed in a school zone or a work zone when workers are present.
The Be Safe. Drive Smart. campaign is an important part of TxDOT’s Drive like a Texan: Kind. Courteous. Safe. initiative. Drive like a Texan is about embracing the pride, camaraderie and responsibility of being a Texan on the road. By making thoughtful choices, we can all help keep each other safe. Learn more at DriveLikeATexan.com.
The Latest on Roundup From Master Gardener David Wall
July 17, 2025 – Most of you are aware that Roundup has a very checkered career in farming and gardening. The chief ingredient, glyphosate, is a very weak pathogen, but when combined with other Roundup ingredients some of which were even more toxic than glyphosate, its toxicity rises several hundred percent. Due to its extensive use as a herbicide and desiccating agent, we all probably have Roundup in our systems. Then, there’s the fact that it can cause cancer. OK, officially, it might cause cancer, but it’s a parallel to cigarettes. Cigarettes and cancer were first nationally publicized around 1954. How long did it take to get that fact documented to the public?
Based on over 175,000 victims with cancer caused by Roundup and billions of dollars paid out in claims, Bayer announced that it would stop selling Roundup. Well, if you look in stores that sell herbicides, you’ll still find Roundup on the shelves. So, what changed? Actually, it’s quite simple. Bayer just removed glyphosate. The problem with this is the substance that replaced glyphosate is even more toxic.
The “new” Roundup contains a product called diquat. This product is 200 times more toxic than glyphosate, and while able to pass on a cascade of health problems, the long-term effect of while, while catastrophic is yet to be measured.
There are some fairly new products containing glyphosate that doesn’t appear to be so devastating. They’re usually listed as containing 100% glyphosate, although that’s misleading. They contain 40 some-odd percent glyphosate and 50 some-odd percent of inactive ingredients. Roundup has numerous ingredients that are more dangerous than glyphosate and lasts seemingly forever in the soil. The new products are for spraying, and glyphosate by itself becomes inactive when coming in contact with soil. Simply request a product where glyphosate is the ONLY active ingredient.
Funding Found for AMTRAK Heartland Flyer
July 17, 2025 – Funding has been secured to continue operations of the Heartland Flyer, the Amtrak route connecting Fort Worth, Texas, to Oklahoma City, ensuring service will continue without interruption through the next fiscal year. This crucial investment not only safeguards the existing passenger rail line but also lays the groundwork for a potential northward expansion into Kansas.
The Heartland Flyer has long served as a vital regional connector, offering affordable, environmentally friendly transportation across the southern plains. The new funding—provided through a mix of state and federal contributions—will support daily service, ongoing maintenance, and operational staffing. With financial stability in place, planners and transportation officials are now eyeing a long-anticipated extension of the line to Wichita, Kansas, and possibly onward to Newton, which would link the Flyer to Amtrak’s national Southwest Chief route.
Advocates argue the expansion would strengthen regional economies, increase tourism, and provide rural communities with greater access to urban centers. It would also position the Heartland Flyer as a more significant player in the U.S. rail network.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Announces Investigation into Food Company Mars for Deceptive and Illegal Practices
July 17, 2025 – Attorney General Ken Paxton is announcing an investigation into Mars, Incorporated (“Mars”), which makes M&M’s and Skittles, for deceptive trade practices that violate Texas consumers’ rights.
In 2016, Mars publicly pledged to “remove all artificial colors from its human food products.” The company later chose not to remove the toxic dyes from products sold in the U.S. but did remove artificial colors from its products distributed in Europe.
Mars also falsely claimed that “artificial colors pose no known risks to human health or safety,” which could not be further from the truth as these dyes have been linked to a number of negative health outcomes, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism, and even cancer. Attorney General Paxton has issued a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) to obtain documents from Mars as part of the investigation.
“Mars must remove toxic artificial dyes from its U.S. food products not only to honor its public commitment and ensure that it stays on the right side of the law, but also because it’s the right thing to do,” said Attorney General Paxton. “It’s clear that the movement to remove artificial colorings from our food supply is making incredible progress, and it’s time for Mars to follow the lead of other companies like Nestle and Hershey by removing synthetic dyes from its products. For the health of Texans and all Americans, Mars must fulfill its 2016 pledge to get rid of these toxic ingredients.”
Attorney General Paxton has been a nationwide leader in fighting alongside Secretary Kennedy and President Trump to help Americans get healthier by holding accountable big food companies who violate the law and deceive consumers about their ingredients. For example, General Mills recently announced that it would remove toxic artificial dyes from its products following an investigation by Attorney General Paxton.
Milky Tap Water is Nothing to Worry About
July 16, 2025 – Milky or cloudy tap water—often described as hazy, soapy, or foamy—is usually caused by harmless air bubbles, not dangerous contaminants. This common occurrence, known as aeration, happens when air becomes trapped in the water supply and forms tiny bubbles that give the water a white or cloudy appearance.
KSST has received some questions about water quality, especially in Precinct 4. Recent repairs to large diameter water lines have trapped air in the system.
Aeration can occur for several reasons, including pumping from wells, routine plumbing repairs, or temperature fluctuations in the water lines. Cold water, for example, can hold more air than warm water. When it warms up in household pipes or at the tap, the air is released as bubbles, similar to what happens when opening a carbonated drink.
Importantly, these bubbles are not a health risk. The cloudiness is purely cosmetic and should dissipate within a few minutes if the water is left to stand in a glass. As the bubbles rise and escape into the air, the water will clear from the bottom up.
To confirm it’s just air, fill a glass and watch it settle. If the cloudiness clears from the bottom, it’s safe. However, if the water remains cloudy or develops an odor or discoloration, it may signal a different issue and should be reported to your local water utility.
Learn What’s up at Cooper Lake State Park on this Episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee
July 15, 2025 – Aron Maib, Supervisor of Cooper Lake State Park, dropped by to have a chat with John Mark Dempsey. Aron and John Mark chatted about fishing at Cooper Lake, the park’s want for volunteers, and events coming up at the park. On July 18, 2025, Cooper Lake State Park will host a program on Amphibians, and a program on Nature Journaling. Also, on this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark and Aron discussed the Fishing With A Ranger event taking place July 19th, 2025, and the “Become A Junior Ranger” event being held on July 26th, 2025. Check out this segment and learn about these events, and so much more!
Local Corvette Club Revs Up CanHelp for Back-To-School
July 15, 2025 – Several members of the Sulphur Springs Corvette Club motored on over to the CanHelp office to drop off a $1,000 check to help out CanHelp’s “Back to School” Fair. This year’s fair will be held Thursday, August 7th from 4pm to 6pm at The ROC located at 115 Putman St. in Sulphur Springs.
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees Approved Employee pay and Compensation Increases
July 15, 2025 – The Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees has approved employee pay and compensation increases for the 2025-26 school year.
Teachers and librarians with two years or less experience will receive a pay hike off $3,000.. Teachers with 3-5 years of experience will get an additional $4,000.. And teachers with five or more years of experience will receive a pay boost of $8,000. The starting pay for teachers will be $53,275 per year.
A statement on the Sulphur Springs ISD Facebook page says: “This investment reflects the commitment to valuing and supporting the incredible staff who make a difference in the lives of students every day.”
Learn About Watering on this Episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey
July 14, 2025 – On this educational episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark had a chat with Hopkins County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson. The main topic of their conversation on this segment was “watering.” Ronnie gave pointers on watering. Factors to consider while watering. The two discussed watering your lawn, flowers, and gardens. Watering is very important for your plants during this hot time of the year so watch this episode and learn maybe what you can do to improve your watering routine.
