Area Schools Athletic Realigned for Next Two Seasons
Here are the new districts for Hopkins County and area schools for the next two years beginning new school year fall 2018.
Miller Grove and Yantis are in Class A District 23 in Region 3 with Dodd City, Ector, Fruitvale, Fannindel, Roxton and Savoy. Saltillo and Sulphur Bluff are in Class A District 24 in Region 3 with Avery, Avinger, Bloomburg and Union Hill.
For Cumby, in football, they are in Class 2A Division II District 9 in Region 3 with Campbell, Era, Muenster and Tioga. For other sports, Cumby is in Class 2A District 14 in Region 2 with Campbell, Como-Pickton, Martin’s Mill, Quinlan Boles and North Hopkins.
Como-Pickton, in football, is in Class 2A, Division I, District 6 in Region 2 with Rivercrest, Honey Grove, Quinlan Boles and Wolfe City.
Mount Vernon, in football is in Class 3A, Division I in District 7 in Region 2 with Atlanta, Hooks, Hughes Springs, Jefferson, New Boston and Redwater.
Winnsboro, for football in in Class 3A in Division I, District 8 with Gladewater, Gladewater Sabine, Mineola, West Rusk, Tatum and White Oak.
In other sports, Mount Vernon and Winnsboro are in Class 3A, District 13 in Region 2 with Commerce, Cooper, Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill, Paris Chisum, and Prairiland.
Hopkins County Freedom Ball To Benefit Local Veterans Memorial
As the first of its kind in Hopkins County, the Freedom Ball will honor and celebrate military Veterans during an evening of dinner and dancing. The Freedom Ball, at the Cedar Canyon Event Center at 6:00 pm on Saturday April 7, 2018, is a black-tie event with military uniform optional. Emcees Carrie Nuckols and John Sellers will introduce members of the Memorial Committee who will review their mission of engraving additional veterans names on the wall and present the vital importance of the preservation and maintaining of the Veterans Memorial that has become a destination for hundreds of visitors to Sulphur Springs every year.
Funds raised by the Freedom Ball will provide money for verifying and etching names on the memorial wall for the remaining 1000-1500 veterans not sponsored as well as to begin a perpetual fund contribution for maintenance/repairs of the memorial and kiosk. The event is set to breathe new life and interest into the Veterans Memorial.
Tickets are available for a $100 donation. The ticket price includes a catered meal and music for dancing. Music will be provided by the Kelley Fletcher Orchestra and by the Monty Tipps and Main Street Band. Valet parking will be provided. There are sponsorships available for Veterans in need of assistance to attend the Ball. Contact the Freedom Ball committee at hcfreedomball.com, Facebook or [email protected] or call the Freedom Ball Committee Chair Danny Davis, Veterans Service Officer, 903-439-1065. 
New District Alignment for Wildcat Football; Basketball, Volleyball in Different District as Well
Sulphur Springs Wildcats will be making new travel plans for the 2018-2019 football season and volleyball and basketball plans will be changed but not match football. Texas UIL alignments have been announced and the Wildcats will be in 5A Division II with Corsicana, Ennis, Forney, Greenville, Kaufman, North Forney, Royse City, and Terrell.
The former district will now be District 9 including Hallsville, Jacksonville, Lindale, Longview Pine Tree, Mt Pleasant, Nacogdoches, and Whitehouse.
Now, basketball for Wildcats and Lady Cats as well as volleyball will be in District 15 with Greenville, Royce City, Lindale, Mt Pleasant, and Texas High.
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.
