Crimestoppers Looking For Murder Suspects
October 20, 2023 – The Red River County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding Keari McCain, 28, Quentence Doolittle, 23, and Jack Galbert, 29, who are all wanted for murder.
The Red River County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding three men wanted for murder. Red River County shared fliers from the Lamar County Crimestoppers describing murder suspects Keari McCain, 28, Quentence Doolittle, 23, and Jack Galbert, 29. Harvest Hines, III, 26, a fourth wanted man, has been captured. Anyone with information that leads to the arrest of any men can anonymously contact Lamar County and Red River County Crimestoppers for a cash reward of up to $1,000 at 903-785-TIPS or 903-427-TIPS.
Celina ISD Wins Ag Mechanic Build-Off
October 20, 2023 – The students of Celina ISD won the 2023 Help-A-Child Welding Competition this year.
The student team from Cumby ISD placed 8th over all, just behind Sulphur Springs ISD.
Twenty four schools entered 36 teams this year. Due to continued demand, Help-A-Child was forced to set the limit at 36 total teams. “This event, and Help-A-Child is getting bigger every year. And that helps more kids.” said Michael Bowen Como Picton FFA Advisor. “It’s great to see these student, helping area children through Help-A-Child.”
The top 3 entries will be actioned off on Saturday, and the proceeds will go to Help-A-Child efforts.
Help-A-Child kicks off early Saturday morning at the Civic Center.
Texas A&M University-Commerce Is Growing
October 19, 2023 – As of today, Fall 2023 enrollment stands at 11,983 students, which is a 7% increase in overall enrollment compared to the same time last year. This represents one of the highest enrollment percentage increases in The Texas A&M University System. The biggest enrollment jump was among first-time freshmen, with a remarkable 22.1% increase over last year.
What’s fueling this upward trend? According to Nechell Bonds, Vice President for Enrollment Management, it’s the university’s dedication to providing high quality educational opportunities that prepare our students for success, including those from low-income and first-generation backgrounds.
Bonds explained that the university makes an exceptional education accessible through affordable tuition, generous scholarships, comprehensive advising and support services, flexible online programs, and other innovative solutions.
“We will continue to offer high-demand, high-quality degree programs while keeping higher education within reach for all families,” Bonds said.
Bonds also mentioned that Fall 2024 application numbers are already up 15% from pre-pandemic levels. She encourages students to submit their applications by the December 1 priority deadline as the university predicts continued record growth.
A&M-Commerce President Mark Rudin emphasized that rising enrollment numbers reflect the university’s commitment to the students it serves.
“We don’t just talk about transforming lives; we live by those words,” Rudin stated. “Our growing enrollment numbers reflect our dedication to meeting students’ needs and demonstrate that we are, without a doubt, a destination institution in Northeast Texas and beyond.”
ERCOT Already Planning For Potential Winter Problems
October 19, 2023 – As we enjoy the cooler temperatures of fall, it reminds us that winter is soon coming. Earler this week, the agency that manages the state’s electric grid came together to talk about it and so much more. After a record-breaking summer, there will be much to prepare the grid for ahead of the winter.
ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas told the organization’s board the Public Utilities Commission they have sent out a request to purchase enough back-up power for 600,000 homes an hour (3,000 megawatts per hour). They hope to have this deal completed by December when winter cold brings power complications.
In short, the amount of power generated in Texas is not keeping up with the state’s population and industrial growth, per Vegas.
“To build a power plant, you start the concept today and in two to four to five years depending on the type of power plant you’ll have something come online,” he said.
The types of power planted needed, per Vegas, are known as dispatchable power, the more traditional power plants like natural gas plants that can be turned on by humans and do not rely on the sun or the wind. Voters will weigh in this November on whether the state should put $10 billion towards encouraging plant construction.
It signals to the market and to the public that we have a potential problem this winter because the market has not provided the level of dispatchable resources that Texas needs,” said ERCOT Board member Bill Flores.
In the summer, the power grid’s most vulnerable time is when Texans return home from work and begin using their appliances, around 7 or 8 pm. In the winter, the grid will be most vulnerable in the mid-morning when it’s still dark outside – eliminating solar power as a resource – and Texans are beginning to wake up to use energy before they go to work.
According to an ERCOT analysis, they predict this December there’s a 4.3% chance of a controlled power outage every day around 8 AM. That chance goes up to 14.4% if there are similar conditions to last year’s December cold snap.
While the summer might feel like a distant memory, just a little over a month ago the metroplex was pushing 110 degrees in early September.
The cloud cover could impact the solar generation in the state, which ERCOT said the grid has become more reliant on than in the past. Solar helped get the state through high-demand days this summer but it might not be as helpful this winter, which is why natural gas storage and completed plant maintenance in time for winter is key.
Social Security Beneficiaries To Get Raise in 2024
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2024
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 71 million Americans will increase 3.2 percent in 2024.
The 3.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 66 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2024. Increased payments to approximately 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 29, 2023. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits)
Read more about the Social Security Cost-of-Living adjustment for 2024.
The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $168,600.
The earnings limit for workers who are younger than “full” retirement age (see Full Retirement Age Chart) will increase to $22,320. (We deduct $1 from benefits for each $2 earned over $22,320.)
The earnings limit for people reaching their “full” retirement age in 2024 will increase to $59,520. (We deduct $1 from benefits for each $3 earned over $59,520 until the month the worker turns “full” retirement age.)
There is no limit on earnings for workers who are “full” retirement age or older for the entire year.
Read more about the COLA, tax, benefit and earning amounts for 2024.
Medicare Information
Information about Medicare changes for 2024 will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, their new 2024 benefit amount will be available in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.
Your COLA Notice
In December 2023, Social Security COLA notices will be available online to most beneficiaries in the Message Center of their my Social Security account.
This is a secure, convenient way to receive COLA notices online and save the message for later. You can also opt out of receiving notices by mail that are available online. Be sure to choose your preferred way to receive courtesy notifications so you won’t miss your secure, convenient online COLA notice.
Remember, our services are free of charge. No government agency or reputable company will solicit your personal information or request advanced fees for services in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. Avoid falling victim to fraudulent calls and internet “phishing” schemes by not revealing personal information, selecting malicious links, or opening malicious attachments. You can learn more about the ways we protect your personal information and my Social Security account here.
More Traffic Signals Coming to Hillcrest Near I-30
October 18, 2023 – Crews have been working quickly to erect new traffic signals on the West Loop in Sulphur Springs. The new lights on State Highway 11/State Highway 19 are at the intersection of Hillcrest Drive and the entrance to the new truckstop north of I-30.
The truck stop is nearing completion, and it’s two entrances will soon be connected to local streets. One of those entrances are at the new signals, and the other is on the north service road near the entrance to Coleman park at Gossett Lane.
They will also control traffic to and from the Woodbridge Crossing entrance. No word on when they will activate, but be cautious in the area until drivers get accustomed to the addition.
The 17th Annual Heritage Square Car Show will be Held November 4th
The 17th Annual Heritage Square Car Show will be held November 4th, 2023, Downtown Sulphur Springs! The event is presented by the Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance. Judged Awards include The Nolan Cason Memorial Award, Best of Show, Best Foreign Car, Best Original Restored, Mayor’s Pick, Best Tri 5, and so many more!
Vehicles must be 1993 or older to participate. Registration takes place 8:00am to Noon. Awards will be announced at 3:00pm. First fifty entries receive one t-shirt and a dash plaque. Pre-Registration price is $30, $40 on the day of the event.
Don’t miss out on all the fun! See you there! For more details, call 903-439-2664.
Outstanding SSISD Middle School Students
October 17, 2023 – The 6th grade Spotlight Award Winners for the 1st 9 weeks are: Patrick Fleener, Jewell Tilson, Jolie McCoy, Cooper Desmet, Adalberto Gonzalez and Angel Vargas. These achievers all attend Sulphur Springs Middle School.
7th grade Spotlight Award Winners from Sulphur Springs Middle School are:
8th grade Spotlight Awards winners at Sulphur Springs Middle School for the 1st nine weeks are:
KSST is proud to celebrate all academic achievements, especially here in Hopkins County Texas.
Proposition 1 Protects Texas Family Farmers and Ranchers
By Russell Boening
Texas Farm Bureau President
October 16, 2023 – Proposition 1 on the Nov. 7 statewide ballot is a monumental opportunity for Texas farmers and ranchers and for Texas agriculture.
The language on the ballot reads: “The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.”
More than 97% of our farms and ranches in Texas are family operations. Proposition 1 protects ALL farmers and ranchers. Large and small.
I am the fourth generation of my family to farm my family’s land near San Antonio. I work the same soil as did my grandfathers on both sides.
Proposition 1 will protect family farmers and ranchers from regulatory overreach of state agencies or local governments.
Local government overreach negatively impacts farmers and ranchers who provide “locally sourced” food products for consumers.
This overreach is not theoretical. It is real.
Here are a few examples of ordinances in cities and municipalities in Texas that exemplify the pressure agriculture faces from an increasingly urban state.
A city ordinance says no grass in the city limits is allowed to be over 12 inches. There are no exceptions for agriculture. So, the city found a farmer in the city in violation on both his hay field and his cattle pasture.
A farmer was harvesting corn in one city, and local police told him that it was illegal due to the dust.
A grower received citations from a city over hay bales on his property. He said he received citations of $250 each for 436 hay bales because of city ordinances.
If you can believe it, a city actually has an ordinance that bans the public mating of livestock.
To comply with the ordinance, family farmers and ranchers must build a structure that would prevent any public viewing of that activity.
These are just a few examples of what farmers and ranchers are dealing with at the local government level.
Proposition 1 protects the public from any real danger. It protects animal health and welfare. It protects crops from diseases and pests. And it protects water, fish and wildlife, trees, and other natural resources.
Texas continues to rapidly increase in population.
Texas has lost more than 2 million acres of farm and ranch land in the last quarter-century. Our farm and ranch legacy is at risk.
Proposition 1 maintains the legacy of agriculture in our state by protecting the right to farm and ranch.
It is critical that farmers and ranchers be able to grow food, fiber and fuel for our state and nation as more and more agricultural areas are impacted by development and population growth.
One out of seven jobs in Texas is related to the food and fiber system. Proposition 1 ensures the economic benefits of agriculture for our state continue, especially for rural communities and small family farms and ranches.
The election is Nov. 7. Early voting for the election begins on Oct. 23.
There are 14 constitutional amendments on the ballot.
Please join me in voting YES on Proposition 1!
Education Issues at the Forefront of Candidate Forum
All six of the Texas State Representative candidates for District 2 attended a Candidate Forum in Sulphur Springs last week. The Forum was sponsored and hosted by Hopkins-Rains Retired School Personnel and was focused only on education issues. This group is a local chapter of the statewide organization, Texas Retired Teachers Association. HRRSP and TRTA do not endorse candidates, but members wanted to hear how each candidate feels about education issues.
District 2 includes Hopkins, Hunt, and Van Zandt counties. There are about 25 independent school districts in the three counties. Current educators, retired educators and the general public were invited to attend the forum.
Since the Governor has focused on vouchers, or Education Savings Accounts, many of the questions were focused on that issue. Superintendents in the three counties have expressed concerns about vouchers because private schools don’t have the same levels of financial transparency and student academic accountability as public schools, as well as the likelihood that already insufficient funding for public schools will be transferred to private schools.
Two of the candidates, Heath Hyde and Kristen Washington, supported the superintendents and stated they were against vouchers. Both stated they are very concerned about private schools discriminating against special needs students, and Ms. Washington stated that vouchers will specifically target poor students. Candidates Jill Dutton, Doug Roszhart, and Krista Schild all support Education Savings Accounts, but believe the private schools should be held to the same level of financial accountability as public schools. Candidate Brent Money supports Education Savings Accounts and believes that the private schools will be held accountable by the parents.
All of the candidates agreed that the A-F school accountability system needs to be abolished. All of the candidates agreed that teachers should receive a pay raise, but Mr. Money and Ms. Schild think that current funding should be redistributed to pay for those raises.
A related education issue concerns Proposition 9 on the November 7 ballot. The moderator briefly explained that Proposition 9 will authorize a Cost of Living Adjustment for public school retirees. The public is generally not aware that most retired school employees do not receive Social Security and have not received a COLA in 20 years. The cost of living adjustment has already been funded and will NOT cost taxpayers any money if approved, so attendees were encouraged to “vote for Proposition 9.”
Submitted by Hopkins-Rains Retired School Personnel
