Chamber Connection for October 17
Chamber Connection – Oct. 17
By Butch Burney
It’s less than two weeks until the largest event in Hopkins County each year – the 54th Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, and tickets are available.
Tickets are $8 each for those 13 and over. Children 12 years and younger will eat free this year, thanks to Signature Solar’s sponsorship, but they still need a ticket.
Tickets can be purchased online at HopkinsChamber.org or at the Chamber office, 110 Main St. Tickets can also be purchased at our financial institutions which include Alliance Bank, City National Bank, First National Bank of East Texas, Guaranty Bank and Trust, Pilgrim Bank, Red River Credit Union, and Texas Heritage National Bank
T-shirts are now available at the Chamber office for just $25 in adult sizes S-XXL. We also have a limited supply of hoodies, tumblers, mugs and stickers.
The 54th Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, presented by Alliance Bank, has been able to keep its costs down because of our generous businesses in the community, and the cost just got even cheaper for some families.
Signature Solar and the Chamber announced that children 12 and under will eat free at the festival on Saturday, Oct. 28, due to Signature Solar’s generous sponsorship. Children will still need tickets, which can be obtained either online or via paper tickets.
One Church announced that they will sponsor the Fun Zone, which includes Gellyball, bounce houses and kids’ games. That means free fun for children, thanks to One Church’s generous sponsorship!
City National Bank will be sponsoring the Friday night festivities, Oct. 27, which will include our appetizer contest and concert by Dubb and the Luv Machines!
Thanks to all of our sponsors who make the stew festival affordable for families in Hopkins County. Follow the Chamber’s Instagram and Facebook accounts for spotlights on our sponsors and updates on the stew festival.
Help-A-Child Benefit
The 16th Annual Help-A-Child Benefit is set for Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Proceeds benefit the Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center and Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
Events start at 8 a.m. with the Ag Team Competition Build Off and continue with the Livestock Show at 9a.m., the Ag Mechanic Show and Silent Auctions at 11 a.m., and then at 11:30 a.m. will be chili and brisket ($10 all you can eat).
Cocktails and Conversation
Plan now to attend our next Cocktails and Conversation, the new name for our revamped Business After Hours, at Beauty Grace Lifestyle Shop on Connally Street. Cocktails and Conversation will be held the first Thursday of every month, from 5-6 p.m., and for November, Ana Velasco will welcome everyone to her shop.
This is a casual networking event and happy hour. You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend.
Fall Festival
The Fall Festival is coming in October.
The parade (from Buford Park to Brookshire’s) will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. Trade and vendor booths, a kids’ zone, creative art contest and craft show will all be conducted Friday, Oct. 27 to Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Civic Center.
Community Players
Main Street Theatre will present Bullets on Broadway, a murder mystery, four nights this month. The presentation by the Community Players will be 7 p.m. nightly Oct. 20 and 21.
Visit the CommunityPlayersInc.com for ticket information.
Heritage Square Car Show
The 17th Annual Heritage Car Show will go off on Saturday, Nov. 4, rain or shine, presented by the Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance. The show, which will be downtown, will have registration from 8 a.m. to noon that day or pre-registration online at sulphurspringsdba.com.
Vehicles must be model year 1993 or older to participate. Cash prizes will be awarded at 3 p.m.
For more information call 903-439-2664 or email [email protected].
Free Mammography Clinic
The available appointments for the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s Free Mammography Clinic are filling up. Only a few openings are still available. If you are an uninsured woman over 40 years of age that lives in Hopkins County, you are eligible for a free mammogram through this program.
The staff of the Ruth & Jack Gillis Women’s Center, a part of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, will be welcoming women to the clinic on three Saturdays in October: 14, 21, and 28.
If you miss out on the free clinic this year, it should be back again next year in October.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is a good time to schedule an annual mammogram. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life. The risk of breast cancer increases with age, so mammograms continue to be important, as is early detection.
If you are eligible for a free mammogram, call 903-438-4325 to schedule an appointment.
Ribbon Cuttings
Hopkins County Veterinary Clinic hosted a ribbon cutting Friday, Oct. 13, and an open house on Saturday at their wonderful new facility. [Photo attached]
101 Barbershop, at 101 Bill Bradford Road, will host a ribbon cutting for their one-year anniversary at noon on Friday, Oct. 20. Make plans to attend.
Timely Advice of How to Stick It to Stickers
October 16. 2023 – Grassbur (field sandbur, sandbur, grass bur, sticker weed, etc.) is a troublesome, nasty grass weed species that affects desirable grass forage quantity and quality. Although young plants are often utilized as a grazing forage, seed capsules can penetrate animal tissues, causing pain and sometimes infection. More importantly, it has a negative effect on hay quality and substantially reduces forage value. There are many different grassbur species in Texas, although one of the more common is field sandbur, Cenchrus spinifex. Regardless, most are easily recognized in the mature stage of growth when the pernicious seed heads become apparent.
What you may interpret as the seed is a seed “capsule” that usually contains one to three seeds. This capsule provides a nice environment for the seed to soak up moisture from the soil and hold it until the seed has received the other stimulants (warm temperatures, light, etc.) necessary for germination. This is also what makes it more survivable than some other grass species in sandy soils that are more prone to dry out. Typical germination will occur when soil temperature rises above 52 degrees Fahrenheit or drops back below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. We often think of the grassbur species as being warm-season annual plants. However, many of these are classified as perennials, which can survive from one year to the next. Although foliage may get “burned” off by freezing temperatures in the fall or winter, sometimes these plants may survive and come back from the roots the following spring. These plants might be more difficult to eradicate since they have already developed a substantial root system the previous year. Whenever you have a weak stand of annual or perennial grass forage, grassbur will take advantage of this space and flourish. Therefore, one of the best cultural control measures is to keep your forage grass stands dense and healthy with proper management.
The most important consideration for control is recognition in the early stages of growth. The leaves on young seedling plants are usually hairless, while the sheaths surrounding the stem may have hairs along the margins. The sheaths will generally become pubescent (with hairs) as the plant matures. A narrow-fringed membranous ligule is present with hairs on the fringe. The stems are somewhat flattened and often purplish colored at the base. Tillers are produced on the plants early, which add to the competitiveness of this weed. These perennialized plants can be identified in the winter by cutting the crown of the plant open. The presence of green tissue when the foliage is dormant indicates the plant is a perennial (Fig. 5). When you are doubtful about seedling identification, you can dig up young plants and you will often find the bur attached to the seedling. Whether perennials are present or not, the foundation of grassbur control is using a preemergence herbicide. In areas where only annual grassbur is observed, indaziflam (Rezilon) at 0.039 to 0.065 pounds of active ingredient (ai) per acre (3 to 5 ounces of product/acre) or pendimethalin (Prowl H2O) at 2 to 4 pounds of ai per acre (2.1 to 4.2 quarts of product/acre) can be applied during forage dormancy and before spring grassbur germination, typically mid- February (South and Central Texas) to mid-March (North Texas). Excellent results can be obtained by indaziflam if it is properly incorporated by at least 0.25 inches to 0.5 inches of rainfall or irrigation within 3 weeks of application. Good results can be obtained from pendimethalin if it is properly incorporated by at least 0.5 inches to 0.75 inches of rainfall or irrigation within 7 days of application.For the best control of annual grassbur, a split application program is recommended.
To address summer and/or fall season germination, a second application of indaziflam at 0.039 pounds of ai per acre (3 ounces of product/acre) or pendimethalin at 2 pounds of ai per acre (2.1 ounces of product/ acre) will be necessary during the mid-growing season following a haying or grazing event. It is important to note that the maximum annual application rate for indaziflam is 0.078 pounds of ai per acre (6 ounces of product/acre). For pendimethalin, it is 4 pounds of ai per acre (4.2 quarts of product/acre). If germinated seedlings or perennialized plants are present, the approach is to use one of three products that are labeled for postemergence control, meaning the product must be sprayed onto an emerged grassbur plant. Nicosulfuron + metsulfuron-methyl (Pastora) is one such product that must be applied to small grassbur plants (1.5 inches tall or across) at rates of 1.0 to 1.5 ounces per acre. It is only labeled for use on bermudagrass, so applying it on any other type of pasture or hayfield is illegal and could cause severe injury. There are no grazing or haying restrictions associated with the use of Pastora.
Another postemergence treatment is glyphosate (Roundup WeatherMax, a 4.5-pound glyphosate acid product), which is labeled for use on bermudagrass hayfields immediately after the first hay cutting at a rate of 0.39 pounds of acid equivalent (ae) (11-ounce product) per acre. This application also will control many annual grasses other than grassbur. Some stunting of perennial forage grasses will occur if a broadcast application is made when plants are not dormant. Higher application rates may be used for hard-to-control weeds; however, higher rates will cause a stand reduction in the forage species. It is important to treat as soon as possible after the first hay cutting for two reasons. First, there will be less crop injury since there will be less bermudagrass leaf area to take up the herbicide. Second, the product must contact the grassbur plants while they are small; this is less likely to happen if the bermudagrass has regrown and is covering the grassbur. A maximum of 2.25 pounds of ae (2 quarts) per acre per year can be applied with no grazing restrictions.
The third postemergence product should be used with caution. The active ingredient, imazapic (Panoramic, Plateau, Impose), will stunt bermudagrass growth for a period of at least 30 days. Some varieties, such as Jiggs and World Feeder, are more prone to injury than others. It is labeled for use in most perennial grass species, including native rangeland. When used while haying, the same suggestions for glyphosate apply to imazapic regarding the timing of application. It is an excellent herbicide, with both preemergent and postemergent activity, and is only recommended where controlling grassbur is more important than forage growth. It is relatively inexpensive and has a wide weed control spectrum. There are no grazing restrictions, but a 7-day haying restriction applies when using imazapic. Always refer to product labels for specific information on recommended use patterns and other details.
You must keep hay fields scouted in the fall for grassbur presence to identify those areas where you might apply a preemergence, preventative herbicide in late winter or early spring, as described above. In the spring and throughout the summer, you should again scout the fields for early detection of grassbur and get postemergence treatments applied in a timely manner. No matter what the case, if you have had grassbur in the past, it is likely you will have it for years to come. However, a consistent weed management program can significantly reduce the grassbur pressure over time. Again, proper forage management will be the first step in grassbur control.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Mt Pleasant ISD Flag Corp Teacher Arrested
October 16, 2023 – Mt Pleasant ISD Flag Corp teacher CRISTIAN GOMEZ was arrested over the weekend. Gomez, age 30, is charged with:
SEX ASLT OF CHILD
It is unclear at his time if the child alleging the attack is in any way related to his work at the school district.
Gomez was arrested by a Texas Ranger around 5:30PM at a Taqueria in Winfield Tx.
Gomez bonded out the morning after his arrest on $40,000.
Due to Rain – Cancelled – THE NATIONAL DRUG TAKE BACK DAY OCTOBER 28, 2023
HOPKINS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE/HOPKINS COUNTY SHERIFF’S POSSE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEA ANNOUNCE
THE NATIONAL DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
EVENT DATE : SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023
TIME : 10 AM – 2 PM
PLACE : ATWOOD’S (PARKING LOT)
817 GILMER ST.
SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX. 75482
The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety and national security threat. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.
DEA and HOPKINS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE is committed to making our communities safer and healthier. We can do this by reducing overdoses and overdose deaths. While the community does its part to turn in unneeded medications and remove them from potential harm, we are doing our part to further reduce drug-related violence.
Intravenous solutions, injectable items, and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.
New CT Scanner at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs
October 15, 2023 – Sulphur Springs, TX – Healthcare and community members gathered on Thursday, October 12 to celebrate the unveiling of the new CT Scanner at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. The event marks the culmination of the two-year project which required a room to be specially lined and renovated to accommodate the new equipment.
The scanner was purchased by CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs and the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation.
The day was marked with comments from Foundation Chair Maleta Reynolds and CMF-SS Chief Nursing Officer Anitha Sanderson. A blessing of the equipment was provided by Fr. Justin Wylie, manager of pastoral care, which also involved Andy Navarro, vice president of mission integration at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances, and Sister Rose Marikudi, member of the Sisters of the Mother of Mount Carmel.
During Reynold’s comments, she mentioned the benefit the community receives due to the Hopkins County Hospital District, CMF-SS, and the Foundation working together to provide the best local healthcare for citizens.
Sanderson shared the need for the new CT Scanner, which is the second one in use at CMF-SS. She said that it had been estimated prior to purchase that the new CT scanner would be used at least 7 times a day. Currently, it is averaging 9 times per day. And the need is expected to continue to increase.
To find out more about the Foundation or how to donate, contact the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation, an IRS 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization, at 903-438-4799.
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Paris District Road Report for week of October 16, 2023
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district for the week starting Oct. 16, 2023. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Sherman Area (Fannin, Grayson Counties)
Contacts: Sherman Area Office (903) 892-6529; Grayson Co. Maintenance (903) 893-8831; Fannin Co. Maintenance (903) 583-7566.
Grayson County: US 75, from FM 1417 to SH 91 (Texoma Parkway). Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts on the northbound and southbound US 75 main lanes between SH 91 and FM 1417 as crews work on building new main lanes, bridges, and retaining walls. Watch for lane closures on the frontage roads between FM 1417 and SH 91. A reduced speed limit of 60 mph on the US 75 mainlanes has been set on the mainlanes for this construction project.
Mainlane traffic has been switched from the old mainlanes to the existing frontage roads to allow for construction of the new mainlanes and bridges between South Travis Street and Center Street. During this operation, northbound US 75 mainlane traffic will shift onto the existing frontage road approximately one-half mile north of South Travis Street and transition back to the existing mainlanes at Middleton Street. Southbound US 75 mainlane traffic will shift onto the existing frontage road approximately one-half mile north of Park Avenue and transition back to existing mainlanes approximately one-half mile north of South Travis Street. This operation will allow for reconstruction of the proposed US 75 mainlanes and bridges at Post Oak Creek. During this phase, US 75 frontage road traffic will be reduced to a single travel lane while US 75 mainlane traffic will maintain two travel lanes. Both mainlane and frontage road traffic will be separated by concrete barriers.
All eastbound and westbound lanes of Park Avenue under US 75 are closed to traffic. This closure is necessary to allow for construction of the new overpass at Park Avenue. To detour, eastbound Park Avenue traffic will continue on the southbound US 75 frontage road, turn left on South Travis Street, and turn left on the northbound US 75 frontage road to return to Park Avenue. Westbound traffic will turn right on the northbound US 75 frontage road, turn left on Center Street, and turn left on the southbound US 75 frontage road to return to Park Avenue.
US 75, at the US 82 intersection. Watch for lane closures and lane shifts for the frontage roads on the northbound and southbound US 75 frontage road lanes between South Loy Lake Road and Lamberth Street as well as on the eastbound and westbound US 82 frontage road lanes between FM 131 and Loy Lake Road while crews work on construction of new frontage road lanes.
The eastbound entrance ramp to US 82 at the US 75 intersection is closed to traffic. This ramp serves as the entrance ramp to eastbound US 82 at US 75. This closure is needed to complete the construction of the US 82 eastbound frontage road and new entrance ramp. Motorists are advised to use the eastbound frontage road and continue east through the Loy Lake intersection and use the eastbound entrance ramp from Loy Lake Road to gain access to US 82.
FM 1417, from US 82 to SH 56. Watch for lane shifts and shoulder closures between US 82 and SH 56 while crews construct the new roadway pavement. The ultimate roadway will be a four-lane divided section with turn lanes. A reduced speed limit of 45 mph has been set for this construction project.
FM 121, from Main Street in Van Alstyne to SH 160. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and widen the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as signals and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
SH 11, from FM 697 in Sherman to US 69 in Whitewright. Watch for daytime lane closures as workers replace guardrails, backfill the pavement, and seed the project. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
Park Road 20 in Eisenhower State Park. Watch for daytime lane closures within Eisenhower State Park as workers perform base repairs on the roadway and then overlay the roadway with a hot-mix surface. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
US 82, from the Cooke County line to FM 131 in Sherman. Watch for lane closures as workers replace the bridge railing and guardrail approaches at each bridge structure and install median barrier. During construction, the bridge location will be reduced to one lane while crews replace the bridge railing. Currently, the contractor is working on the westbound US 82 lanes at Harris Creek and on the eastbound lanes at Post Oak Creek. On this project, the contractor is also installing a center median concrete traffic barrier between FM 1417 and FM 131. Motorists should expect lane closures and occasional lane closures while this work is ongoing.
US 75 full depth concrete repair. Crews will be working on US 75 each week from Sunday night through Friday morning during the overnight period. Lane closures will be present at night for crews to replace failed concrete sections. Lane closures will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night and should be reopened to traffic by 6 a.m. This work will extend from the Collin-Grayson County line to the Oklahoma State line.
US 75 debris pickup, from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch for mobile lane closures as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday during the nighttime.
FM 902, from US 377 to SH 289. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews perform base repairs and blade level the roadway with hotmix. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 3133, from SH 5 to the Collin County line. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews blade level the roadway with hotmix. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
Fannin County: SH 78, from US 82 to the Oklahoma State line. Watch for daytime shoulder closures and occasional lane closures as workers install sloped end treatments on drainage structures and replace bridge rail and guardrail.
FM 100, from SH 56 to FM 2216. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and widen the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as signals and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 271, from SH 78 to FM 68. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and widen the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as signals and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
SH 34, from FM 64 to FM 1550. Watch for traffic shifts and traffic-signal-controlled lane closures as workers build the bridge approaches for the new SH 34 roadway at the future Lake Ralph Hall.
FM 1550, from SH 34 to CR 3544. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work on building the connection of the realigned FM 1550 to the existing roadway. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 2077, from SH 56 to FM 1550. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews blade level the roadway with hotmix. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
US 69, in Trenton from SH 121 to FM 981. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews perform road repairs. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
Sulphur Springs Area (Hopkins, Franklin Counties):
Contacts: Sulphur Springs Area Office (903) 885-9514; Franklin Co. Maintenance (903) 537-4976; Hopkins Co. Maintenance (903) 885-4031.
Franklin County: I-30, from SH 37 to County Road 3050. Watch for single lane closures and delays as crews perform pavement widening for truck parking area.
Spur 423, at I-30 N Frontage Road. Watch for single lane closures and delays as crews install traffic signal.
Hopkins County: FM 900, from I-30 to FM 3019. Watch for single lane closures and delays as crews begin road widening operations.
Paris Area (Delta, Lamar, Red River Counties)
Contacts: Paris Area Office (903) 784-1357; Delta Co. Maintenance (903) 395-2139; Lamar Co. Maintenance (903) 785-4468; Red River Co. Maintenance (903) 427-3561.
Lamar County: Loop 286, from FM 1497 around the north loop to FM 1507. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures and traffic merges while crews improve guardrail and drainage structures and perform bridge maintenance.
Loop 286, from US 271 North going west to FM 79. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures, lane shifts, crossing closures and merging traffic while crews place a bonded concrete surface and perform asphalt paving operations.
US 271, from LP 286 to Oklahoma State Line. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures and traffic merges while crews resurface the pavement and perform bridge maintenance.
FM 1507 (Jefferson Rd), from SH 19 to 0.8 MI North of Loop 286. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews install sidewalk.
CR 26320 at Morrison Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
FM 1497, from FM 1184 to FM 3426. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures
SH 24, Lamar & Delta Counties: from the FM 64 intersection to 1,540 feet east of FM 198. Watch for temporary lane closures and lane shifts while crews resurface the roadway and perform bridge rail upgrades.
Delta County: FM 64, from FM 128 to SH 1532. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
FM 2068 at East Fork of Jernigan Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
FM 2675, from Lamar County line to FM 128. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
Red River County: Cedar / Church Street (Clarksville, Texas), at the intersection of Cedar and Church Street. Watch for road closure while crews remove and replace the existing bridge.
FM 410, from US 82 to FM 3281. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews install sidewalk and improve drainage.
CR 2127 at Scatter Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903) 455-2303; Rains Co. Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
Hunt County: SH 11, from Culver Street to Live Oak. The contractor has placed work zone signs and barricades. The contractor has begun milling for overlay operations to begin this week. The contractor has placed hotmix for turn lanes and intersections, curb work and sod placement will begin soon. This project is a traffic calming project and pedestrian improvements on SH 11. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
FM 2642, from FM 35 to SH 66: The contractor has set work zone signs and barricades. Excavation work for the detour is ongoing. The contractor has been performing saw cutting edge lines of the existing roadway for detour tie ins. Crews worked on fine grading flex base. This contractor will perform detour work and begin backfilling soon. The contractor has begun demolition of median on the north end of I-30 intersection.
SP 302, from SH 34 to FM 499; from FM 499 to I-30; from US 69 to SH 34; from O’Neal Street to US 69. The contractor has placed work zone signs and barricades. Milling and paving operations have finished. Embankment and sidewalk work is completed. Striping of the spur has been completed. Contractor will begin seeding and vegetative watering soon. Utility work by others is ongoing in the area. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
FM 2649, from I-30 to FM 1567. Contractors have set barricades and work zone traffic signs. Cross culvert work is complete, reworking the roadway, widening and cement treatment to the subgrade, and reworking the roadway base material is ongoing. The contractor is on mile five of this eight-mile project and will continue widening and cement treating the subgrade. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
CR 1032, 1031 and 2132 bridge replacement project. The contractor has set barricades and advance warning signs. The contractor has reopened the CR 1032 and CR 2132 bridge. The contractor has begun work CR 1031. The contractor has placed the bridge deck and riprap. The detour will be removed soon. The contractor plans to reinstall the private fence, rework the side slopes and establish vegetation. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
Shelby Avenue Bridge: Greenville. The contractor has set barricades and work zone signage. The contractor has begun demolition of existing structure and will begin work on abutments. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
I-30 intersection improvements from Monte Stratton to FM 1903. The contractor has set barricades and advance warning signs. The contractor will be performing eastbound main lane widening and embankment placement. FEC and ATT utility work is ongoing in the area. The contractor plans to place more barrier and perform main lane widening work soon. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
Rains County: FM 2946, from FM 515 to FM 279. Contractors have set barricades and work zone traffic signs. The contractor is performing base repair work and widening work. Seal coat work and ditch work will be ongoing in this area. Please, be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
Maintenance crews for both Hunt and Rains Counties will be performing various sign and mailbox installations on various roads. Both sections have been working on bridge maintenance projects. Herbicide operations are ongoing throughout both counties.
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Texas A&M Forest Service Kicks off Fourth Annual Leadership Institute
October 15, 2023 – COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Forest Service Leadership Institute hosted the kick-off session for its fourth cohort Oct. 10 to 12 in The Woodlands, Texas. Institute founders strive to provide a transformative experience for participants, with aspirations of leaving a lasting effect on their ability to lead in daily environments.
The Leadership Institute offers a constructive and inspiring learning environment, enabling opportunities for personal growth by giving participants access to tools and speakers that will strengthen their leadership skills.
“We believe that by building the capacity of our partners through leadership training, we can help strengthen their organizations and help further the overall reach and mission of Texas A&M Forest Service,” said Hughes Simpson, Texas A&M Forest Service Forest Resource Development Chief Operating Officer.
This year’s class boasts a diverse group of 24 members from natural resource organizations across the state including presidents, assistant fire chiefs, program leaders and organization executive directors.
“The Texas A&M Forest Service Leadership Institute had great speakers that facilitated insightful reflection of our current leadership skills as well as how to improve and adapt our style to individuals on our teams and in our communities,” said Erin Herrin, Walsh Timber Company, LLC.
The vision for the institute is to establish a program that will rally existing and emerging leaders within the fields of natural resources and increase their capacity and ability to enact meaningful change throughout the state of Texas.
One key to success for the institute is including dynamic and engaging speakers. In this session, participants heard from Frank Keck about building a united team and foundations of leadership, Dr. John Daly about interpersonal leadership and Dr. Richard Grant about personality types.
“I find the best leaders are the most self-aware they know who they are and where they’re going,” said Keck, CoreBuild CEO. “Our goal is to really help leaders in different natural resource capacities to develop themselves, to invest in these leaders to make a better Texas.”
Through the leadership institute, Texas A&M Forest Service hopes to continue to grow and support local leaders while increasing the network of natural resource professionals across the state with each class.
Over the next several months, the class will participate in monthly lunch and learns, networking opportunities and course activities. The class will graduate from the institute in April, after a second three-day session, which will have a new lineup of speakers and leadership training.
To learn more about the Texas A&M Forest Service Leadership Institute, the speakers and how to participate, visit https://tfsleadershipinstitute.org.
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The Next Hopkins County Genealogical Society Meeting Will Feature a Talk by 1965 SSHS Graduate John Pearce
You don’t want to miss this one ! John Pearce is a 1965 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School, where he was honored as a football player on the Wildcat Wall of Honor in 1996. He attended A&M University on a football scholarship before transferring to and completing his playing career at East Texas State University in 1968. He went on to coach high school football until he began to serve as head football coach at Stephen F. Austin State University and Assistant football coach at UCLA and Rice Universities. His accomplishments are too numerous to mention here but you may peruse his complete history on WIKIPEDIA – John Pearce (American football).
In 2014 John became a published author with his book Ever Remember the Days 1913-14. He also is an historical researcher on his family and author in many areas including a self-published book, Sulphur Springs football’s Pride of the Blue and Gold. Pearce has numerous short stories published and has been called the official “Wildcat Historian” for Sulphur Springs High School football by the Sulphur Springs Daily News Telegram. His crowning authorship was a book titled A Private in the Texas Army following his dad’s war year experience published in 2022.
The subject of John’s talk will be “Never Never Never Quit.” He will bring his last book, A Private in the Texas Army, to sign and sell. Although he is out of Ever Remember the Days of 1913-14, we do have several copies at the library for sale. John’s book Pride of the Blue and Gold is also available upon order. This book is published for sale by the library and every cent we receive for it is donated by John to the library.
Please join us in person or via Zoom on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 7:00 P.M. (Central Time), 611 N. Davis, Sulphur Springs Texas. If you cannot join us in person, we invite you to join us via Zoom. Register here for the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsdOyuqDsvGdF117-DuFLYhukk2xKNlPFQ After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We are looking forward to this presentation and to seeing you in attendance!
Sulphur Springs Cross Country Competed in the District 15-4A Meet Wednesday
Sulphur Springs Cross Country competed in the District 15-4A meet October 11th at Pittsburgh High School! JV Boys got first place as a team! Gabe Mayo came in first place, while Sawyer Shutt came in second and Rafael Florez came in third.
Kannon Gibson came in fifth place, followed by Uriah Lee in sixth. Isaac Stanley came in ninth and Elrey Vargas came in tenth.
The Sulphur Springs Lady Cats JV Girls got third place as a team! Emily Rodriguez came in eighth place.
The Varsity Boys got second as a team and qualified for Regionals! Bryson Baxter came in at eighth place while Jaydon Conner came in tenth.
The Sulphur Springs Lady Cats Varsity Girls got second as a team and qualified for Regionals! Edith Martinez came in first place, Abbey Williams came in fourth, and Dylan McKinney came in eleventh!
Congratulations to our Wildcat Cross Country teams!
Keeping Bees Away From Food, Drinks & You! From Master Gardener David Wall
Yep, we’re well into the fall when outdoor festivities get interrupted with multiple types of bees, wasps, and other assorted characters. As their food supply dwindles in late summer and early fall, they begin
looking for alternative food sources. AND, it seems they are even more active than in the spring or early summer! Quick to recognize a good food source when they see it, your food and beverages become prime targets! As such, the question of the day becomes one of how to keep them away without endangering our own food with sprays and other chemicals.
Strangely, cucumber peels are a simple way to keep pests away. Acids found in cucumber peels are highly offensive to bees and wasps. So, the peels repel, leaving the rest of the cucumber to eat and enjoy! Just place peels around the exposed food as well as your plate! Put your drink on a small plate with a peel or two on it. With numerous friends present, a peel or two on the chair armrests will also work for humans!
Again, it’s the acid that works. A peel without a bit of cucumber on it dries out pretty fast. Once peels dry out, they lose their effect. So, leave some flesh on the peel. ¾” peels work very well. Also, you don’t
need an 18” peel. Cutting a slice, removing out the center leaving a ¾” peel and then quartering it is usually sufficient. We’ve been talking about bees and wasps, but the cucumber slices keep other flying insects away.
For total protection, plug in an electric fan (ceiling, stand up, or portable hand-held). Flying insects weigh next to nothing, and a fan breeze upsets their navigating accuracy. This is why placing a few fans
around your outdoor space quickly clear the space.
