Tira News December 1, 2017
by Jan Vaughn
Martha Payton was rather busy last week. She reports, “Brad Payton came on Tuesday for a couple of days. Regina Payton arrived Wednesday afternoon, so we had Thanksgiving dinner early since Brad had to return home on Wednesday night. Regina and I decided to enjoy a very leisurely day on Thursday, watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, then that afternoon the Dallas Cowboy game.” On Saturday Martha’s sister Ann Sullivan from Longview and brother B. C. Honzell from Pittsburg came for a visit. They enjoyed lunch together at Furr’s, then coffee and double pecan pie. Martha comments, “That dessert was rich! A very blessed time together.”
William and Joyce Dodd enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving lunch for their family on Thursday. Those attending included Michael McNiel, Tanja, Rob, Brad, Tanya, Trenton, and Matthew Dodd, Tiffany, Emery, Elliana, and Eadon McPherson, Maegan Shelton and her friend Matt, Alyssa, Gavin, and Ethan Shelton. Joyce says, “We had a house full, but we enjoyed being together. We almost had our whole family. We were missing our granddaughter, Mandi Owens, Stuart McPherson, who was hunting, and Trenton’s friend Melony, who had to work. Mary Helen Hillman visited us on Friday afternoon.”
Landon & Laiken Joslin and the kids, Dixie, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden, had Thanksgiving lunch and dinner with Laiken’s family on Thursday. Kenden and Jaidyn Joslin spent Thanksgiving Day with their dad, Malcolm, and his family. Morgan Joslin spent Thanksgiving Day with his friend, Allison Langston, and her family.
Liz Steinsiek hosted Thanksgiving lunch for a few family members and friends at her Tira cabin on Thursday. Guests included Harold, James, and Carol Cowley, Johnny and Cilla Hudson, Donna Gregory and her mother, Mary Barnett, and friend Don Horne, and Chip, Tiffany, and myself. We enjoyed a relaxing meal and visiting in the beautiful country setting.
Our son, Delayne Vaughn, arrived from Waco on Friday morning, and then Tiffany and her family, Kenden, Jaidyn, Morgan Joslin and friend Allison, Landon, Laiken, Dixie, Rylan, Brailon, Slaiden Joslin and, Chip’s mother, Linda and Grace Vaughn. joined us for Thanksgiving lunch. Delayne left to return home on Saturday morning, and then Chip and I took Dixie back to Beaumont. After dropping her off, we went to Piney Shores Resort on Lake Conroe. We spent the night there, had a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and then came back through Tyler and did some Christmas shopping and ate at Olive Garden.
Be sure you have the Tira Community Christmas Party on your calendar. 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.
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].
AgriLife: December Gardening
December is the month when shorter daylight hours and cold weather really begin to restrict the gardener’s outdoor activities. Winter gives you a great opportunity to catch up on reading your favorite gardening magazines and books. Here are a few tips and topics to occupy the gardener’s time this month. Here the recommendations for December according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension:
PLANTING
There’s still time to plant pansies. These colorful annuals will live through the winter and be spectacular next spring. They work especially well when mixed with bulbs. Chose bright and light colors if you’d like the bed to be seen from a distance.
Also, hardy trees and shrubs can be planted this month. Just take care to water them carefully, not letting them dry out, nor keeping the soil sopping wet.
If you are planning to create a new shrub, flower or rose bed for next spring, go ahead and prepare the soil now. Dig it up, remove the weeds, and work in leaves and compost. If you discover that the soil stays wet longer than it should, add more organic matter, sand and soil and create a raised bed to facilitate better drainage.
Remember those tulips and hyacinths you have chilling in the refrigerator? After 45 to 60 days of chilling, they can be set out in the landscape.
PRUNING
Don’t get too anxious to do major pruning. Most woody trees and shrubs can be safely pruned December through early March. But, if you can’t justify the removal of each branch or limb, put up your clippers and go spade the garden instead.
Some of the right reasons for pruning include removing dead or winter-killed or diseased or insect-injured wood, as well as branches broken by wind or wild kids. Avoid severe pruning if possible. Never leave stubs, long or short, which do not heal properly and invite the entry of insects and disease.
Plants which bloom in early spring, like azaleas, forsythia and spirea, should be pruned after they flower, while those that bloom later in the spring and summer can be pruned during wintertime. Roses are pruned in mid-February except spring-only bloomers which are cut back after spring flowering.
One pruning practice that needs to be changed is how crapemyrtles are pruned. Every winter crape myrtles are severely cut back to short stubs resulting in ugly plants. Although there is disagreement among landscapers on whether or not to prune back crapemyrtles, scientific research indicates that early winter pruning of crapemyrtles can result in significant freeze damage.
In my opinion, it is better to leave crapemyrtles unpruned altogether. If you just cannot tolerate those seed capsules (which add winter interest to the landscape), then delay pruning until late February or early March, and remove no larger than pencil-sized twigs. Resist the urge to cut them back hard.
MISCELLANEOUS
If it continues to be dry this month, occasionally water the lawn, shrubs and small trees to help prevent winter damage.
Winter is a good time to browse plant catalogs, visit nurseries and study your landscape to make improvements or additions. If you are not a do-it-yourselfer, get professional advice on landscape design. An attractive landscape around the house not only beautifies but also adds to the value of the property – an increase anywhere between 5 to 15 percent of the sales price.
Don’t let fallen leaves remain on the lawn all winter. Either mow them back into the lawn, collect them to be used as a weed suppressing and water conserving mulch, or compost them for use next spring and summer to improve the soil. Leaves left on the lawn can cause disease problems if a thick layer keeps the grass too wet and dark.
What does the vegetable patch look like now? Remove dead vegetation and weeds to prevent a build up of diseases, weeds and insects. Order seeds now for spring vegetables so you will have them in plenty of time for starting early transplants or sowing directly into the garden in early spring.
Most fall-planted vegetables if you haven’t experienced a really hard freeze yet. Many cool season, fall crops, like lettuce and spinach, have shallow root systems. So, be sure to frequently apply water to keep the soil slightly moist to keep the plants healthy and growing. Between the rows and around the plants in the garden is a good place to use leaves to help conserve soil moisture and control weeds.
Order seeds now for spring vegetables and flowers so you will have them in plenty of time to start early transplants or sow them in early spring.
Goldfinches, tufted titmouse, black-capped chickadees, and other birds will be showing up at feeders. Remember to provide both food and fresh water for birds this winter. You can attract just as many birds with a bird bath as with food, especially during dry spells. If you put out a variety of seeds, like sunflower, thistle, safflower, and millet, plus suet, you will draw a diversity of birds. Once you begin putting out bird food, continue feeding them through the spring time.
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Wildcats Defense Stymies Garland Lakeview Centennial
The Wildcats’ basketball team used their rugged defense to stymie Garland Lakeview Centennial in a 53-36 win in the Curtis Culwell Invitational at Garland Naaman Forest Gym Thursday afternoon. The Wildcats allowed the Patriots only six first quarter points and four second quarter points.
The Wildcats led 29-10 at the half. Victor Iwuakor provided a lot of the offense for the Wildcats scoring 23 points. Keaston Willis added 11 points. Michael Jefferson had 8 points, Godsgift Ezedinma 6 points, Bryson Lynn 3 points and Xavier Cork 2 points.
The Wildcats, ranked #13 in the state, improved their season record to 6-0. The Wildcats now play Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Curtis Culwell Center against the winner of a Richardson J.J. Pearce and Garland game.
Lady Cats Defeat Gilmer, Emory Rains in Winnsboro Hoopfest
The Lady Cats’ basketball team took two wins in the Winnsboro Hoopfest Thursday. The Lady Cats defeated Gilmer, 46-34 in the high school gym and topped Emory Rains, 52-42 in the junior high gym.
In the Gilmer game, the Lady Cats outscored the Lady Buckeyes in every quarter. Kaylee Jefferson and Autumn Tanton both scored 14 points. Sadavia Porter added 12 points. Imani Taylor and Danielle Godbolt both scored three points. Taylor, Godbolt and Jefferson all had a three point basket. Tanton grabbed 12 rebounds and Jefferson had 10. The Lady Cats had 20 steals with Porter getting 8 of them.
In the Rains game, the Lady Cats jumped out to an 18-7 first quarter lead and led 28-16 at the half. Rains cut into the lead in the third quarter but still trailed 42-34. The Lady Cats outscored Rains 10-8 in the fourth quarter to take the 52-42 win. Sadavia Porter had 21 points. Autumn Tanton added 14 and Kaylee Jefferson had 12. Te’Arria Rose scored 3 points and Imani Taylor had 2. Porter hit 2 three-point baskets and Rose and Jefferson had one apiece. Jefferson had a team high 8 rebounds and 5 steals.
The #18 state ranked Lady Cats improved their season record to 6-1. The Lady Cats will play Texas High Friday at 10:40 a.m. in the Winnsboro High School Gym in the tournament’s Gold Bracket.
Chamber Connection November 30, 2017
The Sulphur Springs Hopkins County EDC and the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce are hosting their annual Economic Outlook Conference at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center on Wednesday, December 6th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We are so excited to welcome Mr. Richard Froeschle, current Labor Market Economist, as our keynote speaker at the 2017 Economic Outlook Conference. Mr. Froeschle will present Hopkins County the economic outlook for Northeast Texas for 2018. Sponsorships of the conference and tickets are available. Lunch will be provided. For further information, please call the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515.
I’m excited to let you know that we have begun work on the 2018 Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Directory. We distribute over 7,000 of these directories to visitors, relocation hopefuls, and even home town heroes who are interested in learning more about our local businesses. They include historical information as well all things to the see and do in Hopkins County. The best part is, they include an alphabetical and categorical listing of your business. Echo Publishing creates this book for us. LeeAnn Peugh, with Echo Publishing, will be contacting you in the next few weeks to see if you are interested in placing an ad in the directory. The rates are affordable, and one of the best ways to represent your business. We redesigned the 2017 directory to look more like a beautiful magazine, and 2018 will follow suit. I hope you will consider this a wise investment with over 7,000 opportunities for business exposure. You may also contact the Chamber, and I will pass your information along to her. I’m proud to produce this book telling all about the place we love. I hope you will join me in the journey!
Health Care Foundation lights the tree!
Hopkins County Health Care Foundation is hosting the Lights of Life Tree Lighting Thursday night, November 30th at 6 p.m. in the Gardens at Christus. They will have cookies, hot cocoa, Christmas carols and even Santa! The SSHS Jazz Bank will play and the K-2nd graders from Water Oak Elementary School will sing. The physician choir will also perform. It will be a wonderful evening and a great way to get you in the Christmas Spirit.
CASA hosts their annual Cookie Walk
CASA is hosting their annual Cookie Walk on Friday, December 1st, from 9 a.m. to noon at First United Methodist Church Family Life Center. Cookies are sold for $5.00 a pound. Go by there and load up on Christmas cookies while supporting our local CASA!
Lion’s Club will host the 10th Annual Christmas Parade on Friday, December 1st at 6:30 p.m.
The Lion’s Club is hosting the 10th Annual Christmas Parade presented by Carriage House Manor on Friday, December 1st at 6:30 p.m. The parade begins at Buford Park and goes East on Connally Street to the square. It turns left onto Church Street and left on Houston Street to end in the Gerald Prim Stadium parking lot. Line-up begins at 3:00 p.m. on December 1st. You may pick up registration forms and rules at the Chamber of Commerce. The entry fee is one toy, to be donated to the Blue Santa Program. Charitable cash donations also accepted, and checks should be made payable to the Sulphur Springs Lions Club. Registration forms must be received by noon on Tuesday, November 28.
Help Blue Santa Build His Float
Christmas Light Parade spectators are encouraged to bring a toy or financial donation to the parade for the Blue Santa program and can be turned in either at the Hopkins County Courthouse before the parade, or during the parade to the Blue Santa trailer. The Blue Santa program is a partnership between the Hopkins County Law Enforcement Association and the Sulphur Springs Law Enforcement Association to provide Christmas gifts and financial support to needy families during the Christmas season. Thank you for your generosity to this worthwhile program.
Heritage Park will host Christmas in the Park on Saturday, December 2nd at 5:30 p.m.
The Hopkins County Historical Society presents Christmas in the Park on Saturday, December 2, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $3.00, and children under seven are free. Visit with Santa, see the light displays, listen to live music, enjoy hot cocoa, old-fashioned cider, coffee and cookies, and begin your Christmas shopping in the Country Store.
The Alcove2 hosts a wine and food pairing event
The Alcove2 has teamed up with Los Pinos Winery to offer a wine & food pairing event at The Alcove2 on Monday, December 4th. They have chosen three amazing wines for the night. Each wine will be paired with a full course made by their chef. They will offer two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts for each guest to choose from. All food is paired perfectly with the designated wine for that course. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased at The Alcove2 in advance. Tickets are limited, so stop by and grab yours today!
The Reilly Springs Jamboree is hosting a special dance
The Reilly Springs Jamboree is not having their regular third Saturday Jamboree. Instead, they are hosting a special Christmas Jamboree Dance on Saturday, December 9th, at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center located at 150 Martin Luther King Drive in Sulphur Springs. Admission is $10 per person or by donation. Make plans to go by, listen to some music, enjoy refreshments and be on your way OR stay for the entire evening and dance the night away to favorite country/western music performed by some of the best country musicians in the area, including recording artists Don Woods Jr. and Shanna Carter. What a wonderful way to enjoy some country music and support the fundraising efforts of the Senior Citizen Center at the same time!
Chamber Announcement:
We have an announcement regarding stew t-shirts. We have a few of the Come and Taste It t-shirts left unpurchased in each size at the Chamber. We’d like to clear these out, so we are selling them for $8.00 each. If you missed purchasing your shirts on Stew Contest day, give us a call at the Chamber! We’ll get your order ready where you can just pop in and grab them. Call quickly before they are all gone! (903) 885-6515.
Ribbon cuttings:
Centric Healthcare hosted their ribbon cutting on Wednesday, November 29th
Centric Healthcare hosted their ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, November 29th at noon at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. Centric Healthcare recently branched into Hopkins County and is excited about offering home health and hospice needs.
Pet Photos With Santa Benefits Hearts of Life
Pet photos with Santa at PetSense in Sulphur Springs will benefit Hearts of Life Animal Rescue. Cost of the photo is a donation with $10 as the suggested donation. According to Hearts of Life even if you do not have a pet, you can have your picture made with Santa for a donation. Hearts of Life Animal Rescue provides opportunities to adopt a pet as well.
SSISD Trustee Participates in Leadership Program
(Austin) –Leesa Toliver, trustee from Sulphur Springs ISD joined 30 other school board members from across Texas November 15-18 at the second session of the Leadership TASB class of 2018. Selected by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), the group is participating in a yearlong education leadership study program. These trustees represent school districts of all sizes, with student populations of 184 to 83,270, and reflect a similar range of property wealth.
Participants who complete all required elements of the study will graduate next year by earning Master Trustee status. This is the highest designation recognized by TASB.
Meeting in Odessa, the trustees heard featured speaker Lloyd B. Potter, PhD, Texas state demographer, whose presentation focused on current trends in the Texas population and how demographic shifts impact Texas school districts. Also during the session, the class visited Ector County ISD schools and learned how the district is implementing interventions to assist campuses with low academic performance ratings.
Other Leadership TASB sessions are scheduled for Galveston, March 1-3; El Paso, April 19-21; and Fort Worth, June 28-30. Each session has a unique theme that builds on the previous session and features nationally recognized experts in the fields of leadership development and education. Teams also work throughout the year on extended learning assignments between meetings. Created in 1993, Leadership TASB has more than 800 graduates to date.
TASB is a voluntary, nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local Texas school boards. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 5.3 million public school students.
Basketball Tournaments: Miller Grove; Wildcats in Garland; Lady Cats in Winnsboro
MILLER GROVE TOURNEY
Miller Grove is hosting a three-day boys invitational tournament that is underway Thursday and will continue through Saturday. Games start each day at 9:30 a.m. with the last game beginning at around 7:30 p.m. Nine teams are participating and each is expected to get in six games during the busy tournament. Tournament teams include CHESS, Trenton, White Oak, Sulphur Springs JV, Miller Grove, Boyd JV, Cooper, Ector and Saltillo.
WILDCATS IN GARLAND
The Wildcats’ basketball team, ranked #13 in the state and 5-0 so far this season, open play Thursday in the three-day Curtis Culwell Invitational in Garland. The Wildcats play Garland Lakeview Centennial Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the Garland Naaman Forest Gym. Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta called Lakeview Centennial very athletic and scrappy. He added they would try to put pressure on the Wildcats. Coach Cipoletta said one of the Lakeview Centennial players was an exceptional scorer. If the Wildcats win, they will play again Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Curtis Culwell Center against the winner of the Richardson J.J. Pearce and Garland game. If the Wildcats lose Thursday, they will play Friday at 11:30 a.m. in the Curtis Culwell Center against the loser of the J.J. Pearce and Garland game.
LADY CATS IN WINNSBORO
The Lady Cats’ basketball team will be hoping for some bounce back wins Thursday in the Winnsboro Hoopfest after suffering their first defeat of the season Tuesday night in Idabel, Oklahoma. The Lady Cats play two pool play games Thursday at the three-day Winnsboro Hoopfest. The Lady Cats take on Gilmer Thursday at 2:40 p.m. in the Winnsboro High School Gym. Later Thursday they have a rematch with Emory Rains at 5:20 p.m. in the Winnsboro Junior High Gym. The Lady Cats opened the regular season with a road win at Emory Rains back on November 11. The Lady Cats come into the tournament ranked #18 in the state and 4-1 so far this season.
Wildcats Named to All-District Team
The Wildcats’ football team was very well represented on the All-District Football Team selected by the district’s coaches and released Thursday by Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens.
Six Wildcats were named to the First Team All-District: senior wide receiver Simeon Taylor, senior offensive lineman Jesus Olivo, senior defensive lineman D’Idrec Dugan, senior inside linebacker K.J. Abron, sophomore outside linebacker Kylan Wade amd senior cornerback Terrell Turman.
Eleven Wildcats were selected to the Second Team All-District: senior quarterback Ryan Humphries, junior running back Colton Allen, senior fullback Logan Caton, junior wide receiver Austin Dodd, junior wide receiver Landry Tyson, senior defensive lineman Calvin Eckert, junior defensive lineman Jose Rodriguez, senior inside linebacker Jaxon Reneau, senior safety Sebastian Adams, junior cornerback Damiyon Dugan and junior punter Jermond Bryant-Amos.
Named Honorable Mention All-District were senior running back Searn Rodgers, senior offensive lineman Norris English, senior offensive lineman Ian Blanch, sophomore offensive lineman Jaxon Chaney, senior defensive lineman Vuk Susic, senior inside linebacker Vincent Morales, junior outside linebacker Cason Churchman, senior safety D.J. Abron and junior safety Austin Dodd.
