Chamber Connection February 1, 2018
SAVE THE DATE!!!
It’s time for the 92nd Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet! “Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” dinner and community awards set in the roaring 1920’s will be held at the Hopkins County Civic Center on Thursday, February 15th at 6:30 p.m. Awards including Citizen of the Year, Woman of the Year, Caregiver of the Year, Community Pride Award, Agriculturist of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Educator of the Year will be presented to deserving citizens of Hopkins County. So please join us for a beautiful escape to the 1920’s in Hopkins County. Period dress is welcomed but not required. We look forward to seeing you there! Individual tickets are $30 and available at the Chamber of Commerce. Whole tables that seat 10 people are available for $500 and include visible labeling of your business and preferential seating. To make reservations, call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515 and talk to Vickie, Cathey, or Lezley. You are also welcomed to stop by at 300 Connally Street and make your reservations in person!
Etiquette by Emily is hosting a Meet and Greet for Dan Flynn
Etiquette by Emily is hosting a meet and greet for State Representative Dan Flynn on Monday, February 5th from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Coffee off the Square in Sulphur Springs. The public is invited to attend, meet Representative Flynn, and ask pertinent questions in an informal setting.
Southern Roots is hosting their ribbon cutting celebration
Southern Roots is hosting their ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, February 9th at noon. Southern Roots is located at 1217 S. Broadway, Suite Q, in Sulphur Springs. Please make plans to come by, enjoy snacks and fellowship, and welcome this new business to Hopkins County!
Twogether in Texas Marriage Education Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, February 10th
The next Twogether in Texas Marriage Education Workshop is scheduled for Saturday, February 10, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston Street, Sulphur Springs, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This free workshop will cover marriage expectations, communication, conflict resolution, money management, and goals & dreams. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Engaged couples who attend the workshop will be given a certificate to save $60 upon applying for a marriage license. Contact the Extension Office at 903-885-3443 to enroll.
2018 Chamber Banquet Will Recognize Excellence in Leadership during 2017
Lezley Brown, CEO of the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, is excited about the annual Membership Banquet on February 15, because besides the coveted awards that will be the focal point of the evening, it is planned to be a fun, enjoyable evening for the community.
Every Chamber of Commerce banquet has a theme, and this year’s selection is a “1920 Newsboy” theme complete with Roaring 20’s dress (optional) as well as a banquet meal themed from that era. The buffet will feature ham, chicken, garden-fresh vegetables and buttermilk pie. The evening will begin at 6:30pm.
Tickets are available at the Chamber office at 300 Connally Street or by e-mail at [email protected]. Individual ticket prices are $30, and tables seating 10 are available for your entire party, employees or club members at $500 per table.
The business strength that the Chamber brings all year through education and support of member merchants is celebrated during the Chamber Banquet. Plan to join merchant and individual members, ambassadors, board members and Chamber volunteers at this exciting event. Be there to find out who is honored with the title of Citizen of the Year, Woman of the Year, Educator of the Year, Large Business and Small Business of the Year, Agriculturist of the Year and Caregiver of the Year as well as numerous other community designations. Contact the Chamber for details at 903-885-6515.
Sheriff’s Office To Sell Royal Empress Trees; A Partnership with Texas Agri-Life Extension
With exotic light strong wood selling for $6-$10 per linear board foot, Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum sees this as an opportunity to provide income for the jail commissary. The Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Texas Agri-Life Extension office and, with the direction of the Sheriff and Dr. Mario Villarino, the root born trees will soon be placed in containers for sale in two to three months.
Tatum says the jail will not be selling vegetables this year so the trees will provide additional income to supplement the food, both vegetable and meat, produced on the county farm. The Royal Empress trees produce flowers that smell like lavender and seed pods which make them attractive to honey bees. This makes the tree a lovely addition to landscaping a property. The trees are also profitable for the owner who wishes to harvest the result. Each tree produces up to 200 l.b.f. of lumber in 7 years when harvested. The wood cures without warping in 60 days after harvesting.
The tree grows up to 15 feet per year and is drought-tolerant. They are also disease and insect resistant. Royal Empress trees reach maturity in less than five years and provide a fast shade. The tree produces from its root system but it will not take over a lawn like other trees of this species. It does produce large leaves that drop in the fall.
Dr. Villarino said a partnership with the regional council of governments in the past led to a beautification program that was successful and well received.
Expect these young trees, legally imported, to be available in three months. Contact the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office for more information.
Mary Bonham’s 90th Birthday Celebration
A 90th Birthday Celebration is scheduled to honor local citizen Mary Bonham. The celebration is planned for Sunday, February 11th, 2018 at the City Hall Council Room from 2-4pm. All of Mary’s friends, past and present, are encouraged to stop by and wish Ms. Mary a Happy Birthday!! Light refreshments will be served.
Expired Registration Leads to Greenville Woman Resisting Arrest; Possesses Illegal Narcotics
While observing another officer on traffic on the South Service Road, the Hopkins County Patrol Sergeant ran a check on a passing 2003 Hyunda Sonata and found it to have expired registration. That led to several charges for Brooke Michelle Avery, 37, of Greenville.
Avery was nervous when approached by the deputy and was evasive when asked what she was doing. Asked if she had anything illegal in the vehicle, she stated “No”. A consent to search the vehicle was requested and consent was denied. The female deputy asked Avery to exit the vehicle for a pat down search. Avery physically resisted the search. Handcuffed, the search was conducted and a long stem and a bulb commonly used for a meth pipe in her coat. She also had a marijuana pipe and a bag of suspected marijuana on her person. Avery continued to attempt to resist arrest. During a search of the vehicle, a baggy of crystal like substance believed to be meth was found.
Avery is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1; Resist Arrest Search/Transport; Expired Registration (since March, 2016); and Fail to Maintain Financial Responsibility.
PJC-Sulphur Springs: Medical Aide Program Orientation and Information Meeting February 5
Anyone interested in attending the Medication Aide vocational program at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center is invited to attend an orientation and information meeting that will be held on the campus Monday, Feb. 5 at 5 p.m.
This meeting is being held to discuss starting dates and times for the class that will begin soon on campus. Instructors are interested in making the class available and convenient to all prospective students. The meeting will be held in Room 115 of the Sulphur Springs Center, which is located at 1137 Loop 301 East.
Hudgins Nets Hat Trick In Lady Cats Soccer Home Opener
The Lady Cats’ soccer team won their regular season home opener at new Gerald Prim Stadium, 3-0 over Tyler Chapel Hill Tuesday evening. It was a really big night for Lady Cat Keeley Hudgins, who scored all three Lady Cat goals for a hat trick. Taylor Robinson and Gracie Boyer had assists.
Boyer’s occurred as she deflected a Maleena Zirretta crossing pass to Hudgins who scored the goal.
The Lady Cats improved their season record to 8 wins, 2 losses and 3 ties. The Tuesday game was the Lady Cats’ last one before district play begins. The Lady Cats open district play at Pine Tree Friday at 7 p.m.
Photo from Tournament Win
Wildcats, Lady Cats District Sweep Derailed by Texas High
Texas High 76, Wildcats Basketball 67
The #7 ranked Wildcats’ basketball express, rolling all season long, was derailed Tuesday evening as the Wildcats lost at Texas High, 76-67. Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta said the Tigers just outplayed the Wildcats from the opening tip off. Godsgift Ezedinma led the Wildcats with 22 points. Keaston Willis scored 16. Victor Iwuakor had 14 points. Day Day Hall scored 6, Michael Jefferson had 3 and Dedric Godbolt and Grayson McClure scored 2 points each. The loss was a costly one for the Wildcats. They fall into a virtual tie for first place with Mount Pleasant with one district loss apiece. The Wildcats have a bye Friday while Mount Pleasant hosts Texas High. The Wildcats-Mount Pleasant rematch comes upnext Tuesday in Wildcats Gym. The Wildcats got a big win in Mount Pleasant, 57-54 back on January 12. The Wildcats are now 8-1 in district play. Their season record is now 25-4. The Texas High loss was the Wildcats’ first this season against a Class 5A team. The Wildcats other three losses were all to state ranked Class 6A teams.
Texas High 68, Lady Cats Basketball 37
The #9 ranked Lady Cats’ basketball team picked a real bad time to have an off night. The Texas High Lady Tigers put on a tenacious press that forced the Lady Cats to turn the ball over time and time again. Early the Lady Cats hung in there and they trailed only 15-12 after the first quarter. In the second quarter with point guard Sadavia Porter on the bench strapped with foul trouble, the Lady Tigers build a 12 point lead. Still the Lady Cats fought back and they trailed only 27-24 at half time. The Lady Cats scored the first three points of the third quarter and the game was tied 27-27. The Lady Cats then suffered a game altering scoring drought. Texas High went on a 20-0 run to make it 47-27. The game only got worse from that point. Both the Lady Cats and Lady Tigers now have one district loss. Mount Pleasant is lurking with two district losses. The Lady Cats have a bye Friday while Mount Pleasant plays at Texas High. The Lady Cats conclude district play as they have their rematch with Mount Pleasant next Tuesday at Mount Pleasant. The Lady Cats defeated Mount Pleasant at home, 68-33 on January 12. Against Texas High, Kaylee Jefferson led the Lady Cats with 19 points. Imani Taylor scored 8 points. Porter and Autumn Tanton had 5 points apiece. The stats for the Lady Cats were bleak. They shot only 31% from the field including 0 for 3 from three point range. They did manage 60% from the free point line making 15 of 25 charity tosses. The Lady Cats had only 7 assists, just 4 deflections and only 5 steals. They had 32 turnovers. The Lady Cats did have 37 rebounds with Jefferson getting 18 and Danielle Godbolt 12. Tuesday night’s loss occurred on Senior Night for the Lady Cats. Before the Texas High game, the Lady Cats recognized three seniors: Taylor, Jamia Hall and Jefferson. The Lady Cats are now 10-1 in district play and 24-4 for the season.
North Hopkins Homecoming Reveal
The results are in, and a new king and queen have been crowned. The North Hopkins homecoming was held Friday January 26, 2018 where the Panthers defended there home court against the Dallas Gateway Gators. The junior varsity boys went into overtime winning the game with a final score of 24-23 and the varsity girls won their game 69-5. The varsity boys game had every fighting Panther fan on their feet with a close game that rolled into double overtime. The varsity boys played hard and took home a win in the last few seconds of the game scoring 50-48.
2018 Homecoming Queen Niza Garcia and Homecoming King Angel Aguilar
The excitement continued with the presentation of the homecoming court after the game with the queen from the previous year, Victoria Wilburn, presenting the crowns. Out of four candidates Niza Garcia was crowned homecoming queen and Angel Aguilar was crowned North Hopkins first homecoming king.
