Christmas in the Park: A Must See For All
Christmas in the Park is at Heritage Park, 416 N. Jackson street. If you haven’t ventured out to check out Heritage Park mark your calendar for December 2nd. History, Snacks, Music, and Christmas combine to bring you a holiday experience like no other. Learn about printing presses, old fire engines, black smithing, and more. There are talented carolers, and in the old church building you can find amazing architecture and beautiful christmas music.
The park had many visitors on Nov. 25th and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Brenda and Ed Payne were manning the old post office. They’ve been working at the heritage museum for 20 years and enjoy reliving the past. Ed’s favorite part is the old tools in the shed house.
Bob McClure played classic christmas tunes on his dulcimer. He got started playing the dulcimer 18 years ago when he and his wife were at Mary of Puddin Hill and he said “That is such a beautiful sound, I have to know what that is!” He found the guy and has been playing ever since.
Ron Siebler was teaching people how to blacksmith. He used traditional coal to heat the steel and facinated the crowds while he twisted and hammered the metal. The kids excitedly watched as sparks flew after Ron had placed water on the anvil creating a “blacksmith’s firecracker”.
Long lines were outside the dog run house at the back of the property where Santa and his elf Michael were taking pictures with good boys and girls. There was hot cocoa, apple cider, coffee, cookies and popcorn available at each building. The general Store housed perfect Christmas gift items.
At only $3 per person and children 7 and under free this hometown event is completely worth the price.
Meal a Day Menu for November 27th-December 1st
Meal A Day Menu
November 27th – December 1st
Monday
Soft Chicken and Cheese Fajita Tacos
Lettuce, Tomato and Onions
Refried Beans
Salsa
Tuesday
Beef Stroganoff
English Peas
Garlic Bread
Wednesday
Cornish Game Hens
Garden Rice
Malibu Vegetables
Thursday
Mini Pepperoni and Cheese Pizzas
Garlic Sticks and Marinara Sauce
Tossed Salad
Friday
Tater Tot Casserole
Corn
Broccoli
Special Video Presentation: Choral Society Celebrates 20 Years-A Retrospective
A Doug Haston Documentary
Sellers to Address County Republicans Monday
Republican Party of Hopkins County November meeting will be held on Monday the 27th of November, at the Hopkins County Civic Center. The time will be 6:30 PM and we will try to limit the time of meeting to one hour.
The Honorable John Sellers, Mayor of Sulphur Springs, will be the guest speaker. Local and district candidates will also be speaking.
Prior to the meeting, a dinner from 5 p.m. until 6:30, sponsored by the Bryan Slaton campaign for State Representative District 2, is set for the civic center.
Donnie Wisenbaker, Chair of the Hopkins County Republican Party reminds members to be sure to come and meet the candidates so you can be an informed voter when you go to the polls in March of next year.
Registration for PJC-Sulphur Springs Campus Spring Welding Program
WELDING PROJECT Josh Newby of Sulphur Springs, a second semester pipe welding student at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center welding shop, is working on a project under the direction of Instructor John Plemons, left, and lab facilitator Xavier Plata, right. Registration for the spring welding program is now underway. Call 903-885-1232 for more information.
Local Retailers Enjoy Brisk Business In Preparation for “Small Business Saturday”
Many local retailers reported brisk business on Black Friday around Sulphur Springs, as they prepare for small business Saturday on November 25th. Gourmet Kitchen & Co, at 213 Main Street, was bustling with folks Friday afternoon, as there was increased foot traffic around the downtown area. Lou Nell’s Fashions, at 122 Lee Street, was also reporting increased activity on Friday. Both stores were hoping for an increase in sales on Saturday as customers turn out for Small Business Saturday which is a campaign by American Express to encourage shoppers to frequent the locally owned retailers.
A Brief History of Black Friday
By Savannah Owens
The day after Thanksgiving, commonly called Black Friday and regarded as the first day for many people’s Christmas shopping. The term was first used to describe a stockmarket crash in September of 1869.
The first instances of the term “Black Friday” being used to describe the day after thanksgiving was in 1950’s Phillidelphia. Police officers worked non-stop to try and regulate the massive shopping crowds, as well as keep shopliffters from getting away.
Then in the 1980’s “Black Friday” refers to when companies “go into the black” and make profits due to the huge influx of shopping. Companies that might spend the whole year “in the red” not making money focus their energy into the after Thanksgiving sales preparing for the early Christmas Shoppers.
Now days, “the one-day sales bonanza has morphed into a four-day event” including: Small Business Saturday/Sunday and Cyber Monday. Some stores even open as early as 5:00 or 6:00 pm Thanksgiving night, and many people are no strangers to waiting in lines outside to catch the best deals. For more on the history of Black Friday click here.
In Sulphur Springs, Walmart was packed Thanksgiving evening and again today with people purchasing their christmas gifts and finding good deals. Lowes has also promoted sales for their Black Friday events. Marlene’s Sass and Class Boutique will be open until 8:00 pm.
Are you planning on fighting the crowds for something special? KSST would love to hear from you!
Christmas in the Park Saturday
If you are ready to get into the Christmas spirit, and by the lights and decorations going up on homes across the city, many are, you can begin your celebration Saturday, November 25th with “Christmas in the Park” presented by the Hopkins County Historical Society in Heritage Park, 416 N. Jackson Street in Sulphur Springs.
The annual celebration with historical overtones includes a visit with Santa, light displays, live music, hot coca, old fashioned cider, coffee and cookies. Roasting marshmallows on an open fire, popcorn & roasted peanuts, and lots of door prizes are featured.
You can also begin your Christmas Shopping in the Country Store with all proceeds going to Heritage Park.
The park is open 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with admission $3 and free for children under 7.
NETX Choral Society Finalizes “Feast Of Favorites”
Tira News
by Jan Vaughn
The Tira Community Christmas Party will be coming up soon. It’s scheduled for Saturday, December 9th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center. We will gather to share a meal and time of visiting with our neighbors. Brisket will be provided and residents are asked to bring side dishes and/or desserts. We will be collecting canned goods for the Tira Food Pantry. Santa will be stopping by to visit with the kids. Make plans to come enjoy the food, fun, and fellowship.
The Tira City Council would like to express appreciation to the North Hopkins Elementary students for the canned goods. Tira Food Pantry was one of several organizations to benefit from the food drive at the school.
There will be a regular quarterly Tira City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 5th, at 6:00 p.m. Following the meeting, the group will decorate the Community Center for the Christmas party. The public is always welcome and encouraged to attend,
Blake Adams and Chelsea Houser were united in marriage on Saturday, November 18, 2017. The wedding was the first event to be held at the Shaw Cottages and Event Venue in Tira. Dona Shaw, Blake’s cousin, is the owner of the new business and everything went wonderfully under her direction.
Landon, Laiken, and Rylan Joslin went to Beaumont last weekend to pick up Dixie for the Thanksgiving holidays. They drove to Conroe on Friday night and stayed at Piney Shores Resort that night and the next day. On Saturday evening they went to the football game to watch Dixie (6) and the other little cheerleaders, and then they returned to the resort. They drove back to Tira on Sunday. Brailon and Slaiden spent Friday night and Saturday with Laiken’s aunt, Rhonda Harness, and family, and then stayed with us Saturday night and Sunday. Tiffany, Kenden, Jaidyn, and Chip’s mother, Grace, had lunch with us. Rylan and Dixie came to play for a while that afternoon.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
