UPRA Rodeo Finals Coming to Sulphur Springs Nov. 17-19 at Civic Center
According to Jerry Hill, President of the United Professional Rodeo Association and a NE Texas businessman, the finals of UPRA will again be held in Sulphur Springs at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. The finals bring the top 15 cowboys and cowgirls from the circuit to compete with the roughest bulls and broncs for top prize money and amazing rodeo action. Listen to KSST to win tickets to attend!
Cumby FFA Broadcast Team Takes First Place at Texas A and M Commerce Invitational
During the Collegiate FFA Invitational Leadership Development Event on October 31, 2017 at Texas A and M in Commerce, more than twenty teams with 250 eighth-grade through Sr. students from Texas Areas 5 and 6 attended practice competitions. There were nine different areas of the contest including two Greenhand categories, Job Interview, Agricultural Issues, Senior Skills, Ag Advocacy and Public Relations. FFA Broadcasting was one of the categories and drew contest teams from Lake Worth, Chapel Hill, Honey Grove, Mabank, Sam Rayburn, Rockwall, Henderson, Wylie, Cooper and Cumby. Judges were Enola Gay from KSST Radio in Sulphur Springs, Texas and Mrs. Burt, Ag sponsor from the Roxton ISD. Cumby FFA took top honors in the FFA Broadcasting Category, followed by the Wylie and Sam Rayburn FFA Chapters.
In FFA Radio Broadcasting competition, a team of three members presents an informational radio program covering one or more agricultural subjects that is current in nature and local in content. The contest assumes that the chapter has a regularly scheduled non-commercial radio program each month over a local radio station.
The team is set up in a room adjoining the judges and their 6-8 minute scripted program is heard over a speaker. Judges score the teams using criteria on local relevance and impact, continuity, effectiveness, pronunciation and volume, interaction between speakers and ability to hold audience interest. After all the teams were heard, scores were compared and analyzed by Contest Superintendents Jeff Gatlin and Nathan Burt then turned over to the Invitational Superintendent for rankings.
In an LDE or Leadership Development Event, the focus is on creating situations for members to demonstrate their abilities in public speaking, decision making, communication and knowledge of agriculture and the FFA organization. Teams and individuals events are used to reinforce what is taught in Agriculture Science classrooms.
The Cumby FFA Broadcast team is made up of Lacey Jacobs, Dayton Wood and Jayla Dominio. Next the team advances to District competition at Marshall on Friday November 3, 2017.
Cumby FFA Broadcast Team Lacey Jacobs, Dayton Wood and Jayla Dominio
Chamber Connection November 2, 2017
Thank you to all who attended the 48th Annual Hopkins County Stew Contest! I’m still not warm, but I’m still smiling. We enjoyed delicious stew, COLD weather, and great memories. Those who participated weathered the cold and spent the day with family and friends huddled around fires and eating yummy beef and chicken stew. I love that we live in a small town that welcomes an event of this size, allows us to think of our big dreams, and execute them. Thank you to our sponsors, our cooks, and our volunteers for a wonderful, wonderful Hopkins County tradition! See you next year for the 49th Annual Stew Contest on Saturday, October 27th, 2018!
Lezley Brown
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
One thing I need to mention, though. We had a stew pot with a holder taken from the Stew Contest grounds. The holder said Spokes for Hope, and it was taken from a location near the street at site 73. If you accidentally picked this up by mistake, or know someone who might have, please call the Chamber as soon as you can at (903) 885-6515. These pots are very special to those who cook in them, and we would like to get it returned. Additionally, the East Texas Physical Therapy tent was taken from the Stew Grounds as well. If you picked this up for them, or know someone who did, also please let us know. We are trying diligently to get everything missing to its home where it belongs.
Chamber of Commerce hosts a Customer Service Lunch + Learn
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Lunch + Learn on Wednesday, November 15th from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. This Lunch + Learn will focus on Customer Service initiatives including defining “customer” and “customer service”, understanding eight effective communication skills that your employees need to know (and use consistently), understanding (and avoiding) 11 barriers to effective communication, and developing and maintaining good customer service standards within your business. Speaker is Thomas Montgomery, MHA, MBA who is a National Director of Community Outreach & Education. Please make reservations by calling the Chamber (903) 885-6515. Reservations must be made by November 10th. Lunch will be provided. Admission is $10 for Chamber Members and $25 for non-Chamber members. Please join us for this educational session about customer service as the holiday season rounds the corner!
Health Care Foundation is hosting a Quarter Auction
The Health Care Foundation is hosting a Quarter Auction on Thursday November 2nd at 6 p.m. Bring your roll of quarters, buy a paddle for $10.00, and you are ready for a night of fun! Local vendors will be auctioning special items worth from $25.00 to $100.00. The vendors will have booths set up so that you can shop after the auction for early Christmas shopping – something for everyone. Food & wine are available for purchase. This is a fun and inexpensive way to get great stuff! For more information, call the Health Care Foundation at (903) 438-4799. Don’t miss this!
The Colonial Cowboy is hosting their Ribbon Cutting Celebration
The Colonial Cowboy is hosting their Ribbon Cutting Celebration on Friday, November 3rd, at noon. The Colonial Cowboy is located at 13673 Interstate 30 South in Saltillo. The Colonial Cowboy is a newly opened bed and breakfast in Hopkins County. Please make plans to join us!
Downtown Business Alliance hosts Car Show
The DBA is hosting their 12th Annual Heritage Square Car Show from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4. Vehicles must be 1987 or older to participate. Judged awards will be given in multiple categories, and cash prizes will be given to participants of $1,000, $500, $250, and $250. Awards will be presented at 3:00 p.m. For more information, call (903) 885-1236 or (903) 335-0487.
Branded Ranch Rodeo is scheduled for Saturday, November 11
Our local Cowboy Churches will host and endorse the Branded Ranch Rodeo & Salute the Veterans BBQ Feast at the Hopkins County Civic Center on Saturday, November 11th. Salute the veterans BBQ Feast starts at 1 p.m. and the Rodeo starts at 5 p.m. where you will enjoy sortin’, a calf scramble, wild cow milkin’, muggin’, and bronc riding. The Branded Ranch Rodeo is a non-profit organization that produces this rodeo and BBQ every year, and gives then proceeds to a worth-while organization. This year’s proceeds support Community Seeds. Fun for all!
Moo-La & Lone Star Milk Producers hosting Salute the Veterans Cook-off
Moo-La & Lone Star Milk Producers are hosting Salute the Veterans Cook-off on Saturday, November 11th starting at 8 a.m. at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center located at 1200 Houston Street in Sulphur Springs. There will be a live silent auction, live music, raffles, veterans give-a-ways, vendors and games. All-you-can-eat BBQ begins at 1:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids under 12, and free for veterans and children under 6. Proceeds will benefit Operation Victor Echo Tango. Head on out to the Civic Center that day to help honor our veterans.
SSHS Theatre Arts Presents Annual Fall Musical
The Sulphur Springs High School Drama Department is presenting The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as it’s annual fall musical this year. It’s being staged this weekend at the High School Auditorium. Performances will be on Thursday (November 2) and Saturday (November 4) at 7 p.m. each night and on Sunday (November 5) at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available from any student cast or crew member and at the door.
High School Director of Theatre Arts Lesha Woodard says some people think that the drama department is actually putting on a spelling bee. She says it’s actually a musical comedy and a very funny fairly new play. Ms. Woodard says it is about some middle school students at a spelling bee. Flashbacks provide information about the characters’ past. Ms. Woodard says she has a great group of students performing. She says there are ten major cast members along with a few chorus members.
The annual fall musical always features some adult cameos. Look for High School Principal Derek Driver, some other administrators as well as some students not in the drama department.
The annual fall musical is the major fundraiser for the drama department.
Wildcat Golf Plays Fall Tournaments
The Wildcats’ golf team shot a 323 and finished second at a rare fall golf tournament at Mount Pleasant Country Club Monday.
Wildcats Golf Coach Chris Owens said Colton Bench led the Wildcats with a 76. Carter Lewis shot, 77, Andrew Escobar and Kip Childress both shot 85 and Cameron Morris carded 90. Coach Owens said his team did okay but he added they still had a ways to go to contend for the district championship and make the regional tournament. He said he looks for the guys to improve with practice and more tournaments. Coach Owens said the weather was great Monday. He said it was a little cool in the morning but then warmed up into a beautiful afternoon that was great for golf.
Coach Owens said the team would play their second and last fall tournament next Tuesday at Garden Valley in Lindale. He said that course is a little longer than Mount Pleasant and will present a challenge for his golfers.
November Events At Senior Citizen Center
A Flu Shot Clinic has been scheduled at the Center on Thursday, November 9th, from 10:00 – 11:30. If you haven’t had your flu shot, come by and get it. May Home Health Care will be administering the shots. Bring your Medicare Care Card if you have one. Stay safe this flu season by washing your hands often. Dr. Kosub said they are already seeing cases of the Flu coming in to the Clinic. She said everyone needs to WASH THEIR HANDS A LOT to keep the germs at bay.
Bunco has been moved to November 9th at 1:00pm because of Thanksgiving Day
Make your own wreaths with Rock Creek on Monday, November 20th 10:30 AM. Amber will be bringing stuff to make Christmas Wreaths this month.
On Monday, November 27th at 10:00 am help out with the Shawls of Love Group.
An Affiliated Drivers Training Class will be held at the Center on Thursday, November 30th from 10:00 – 4:00. This class is good for a ticket dismissal or 10% off of your liability insurance. The class is good for 3 years, and is fun and interesting and will keep you updated on all of the new traffic laws and refresh your memory on all the old ones. The cost is $15.00 for the discount on your liability insurance and $25.00 for a ticket dismissal. This class is open to ALL AGES. Pass the word to friends and family!
See the banners below for more detailed information.
Dinner Bell Sponsored by Super Handy
This week’s Dinner Bell was sponsored and served by cheery volunteers from Super Handy Convenience Stores. The meal included hamburger steak in a brown onion gravy, cheese grits, spicy roasted carrots, salad, yeast rolls, with assorted cookies and a sugar-free chocolate pudding for dessert.
Know Someone Who Needs Blue Santa this Christmas? It’s Time to Pitch In!!
Grownup wishes for their children to have a bright Christmas are as enduring as Santa Claus himself. In Hopkins County, that’s where Blue Santa comes in with the help of law enforcement agencies and other leaders in the community. Now, individuals are being invited to “pitch in” during the 2017 campaign. Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum with staffers Pinky Cooper and Lee Glenn shared more information during a KSST Morning Show interview with Enola Gay.
During late October, about three dozen blue barrels were placed at local retail shopping areas and convenience outlets in Sulphur Springs. Shoppers are invited to purchase new toys to “pitch in” the barrels. As the barrels fill up, members of city or county law enforcement will stop by and empty the barrels so that more toys can fit inside. Collections of toys in the barrels will continue through the first weekend in December. Next, a public Blue Santa Drive is planned for Monday and Tuesday December 4 and 5 on the parking lot of Lowe’s in Sulphur Springs. Both days, the collection site will be open from 6am til 7pm. You can “pitch in” by bringing toys and/or donations of money, so plan to purchase toys for children ages 0-16 or simply drop off a check. Blue Santa volunteers actually purchase and store toys all year round using funds from the campaign. In addition to serving as a collection site on Dec. 4 and 5, Lowe’s will host a fundraiser brisket lunch plate both days and hot dogs and cocoa for the after-school crowd.
Applications for Blue Santa assistance are available at CANHelp, 613 Gilmer Street, during business hours Monday through Friday. Distribution of toys for children of families who have applied will be done at First United Methodist Church by law enforcement and volunteer crews who will pitch in during the designated Distribution Day in December, to be announced.
Veterans Day Program at SSHS to Honor All Hopkins County Veterans and Current Military
Sulphur Springs High School will have a special Veterans Day program to honor our past and present military. All Hopkins County veterans, current service members, and their spouses are invited to a reception followed by a patriotic program on Friday, November 10, 2017. The reception will begin at 12 noon in the SSHS Library. The program will follow at 1:00 pm in the gymnasium with special performances by our SSHS Band and various guests.
Parking will be provided in the teacher’s parking lot and student’s parking lot. Please come join us in honoring our current and veteran military members.
For more information please contact Johna Burchfield at (903) 885-2158.
