Chamber Connection October 26, 2017
The 48th Annual Hopkins County Stew Contest will be held at Buford Park on Saturday, October 28th. Stew service will begin at 10:45 a.m., and quart sales begin at 11:30 a.m. Stew tickets are already on sale at all local banks and at the Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are All-You-Can-Eat Stew for $5.00 each. T-shirts will also be available for $10 each. The weather is forecasted to be beautiful, and we can’t wait to see you there! It finally time to Do The Stew!!!
Deer Lake Cabins Ranch Resort hosts a Fall Festival
Deer Lake Cabins Ranch Resort is hosting a Fall Festival on Thursday, October 26 and Friday, October 27, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It will also be held on Saturday, October 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person or $45 for the entire family, and children two and under are free. Activities include pony rides, craft stations, carnival games, and face painting. They will be serving beef chili and beef stew with all the fixings, popcorn, and apple cider. You can pick your perfect Jack-o-lantern from their pumpkin patch. Large pumpkins are $6 each. Deer Lake Cabins Resort is located at 1692 Panther Creek Pass in Mt. Vernon.
EDC and ATCOG announce the 2nd Annual Northeast Texas Rural Transportation Summit
Sulphur Springs EDC and the Ark-Tex Council of Governments announces the 2nd Annual Northeast Texas Rural Transportation Summit on Tuesday, October 31st at the Hopkins County Civic Center located at 1200 Houston Street in Sulphur Springs. Keynote Speaker is Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Panels will include local industry, major rail operators, short-line rail operators, and regional airport operators. For additional information call Roger Feagley at the EDC, (903) 439-0101.
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!
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!
Chili’s is now offering Delivery and Catering for the Holidays
Chili’s in Sulphur Springs is now offering delivery and catering for the holiday season. You can receive 10% off your delivered order with the coupon code CHAMBER. Chili’s will need 24-hour advanced notice for all orders. Just call (903) 885-5242 to place your order. Let Chili’s do the holiday cooking for you!
Fall Festival:
The Fall Festival has events scheduled all weekend! For a complete listing of events, visit their website at www.hopkinscountyfallfestival.com.
Northeast Texas Rural Transportation Summit; Registration; Schedule
Chris Brown, Executive Director of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments invites the public to attend and to preregister for the Northeast Texas Rural Transportation Summit at the Hopkins County Civic Center October 31st. He said, “One thing Northeast Texans have in common is the dependence on improved transportation for our rural area. Each city and county in the region has identified needed highway improvements such as safety concerns, increased capacity, maintenance or improved design to meet the changing needs in our region. It is important to understand how freight shipping by truck, rail and air play an important role, as well as where passenger rail opportunities may be needed.”
Brown noted that communication is vital in identifying our primary transportation needs. In an effort to help us meet the common goal of improving our region’s roadways, Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation is hosting the second annual Northeast Texas Rural Transportation Summit on Tuesday, October 31st, at the Hopkins County Civic Center, 1200 Houston St., in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Tickets to this invitation-only event are $25 and include admission plus a catered lunch. State Comptroller Glenn Hegar will be our keynote speaker; invited attendees and speakers include representatives from the Texas Department of Transportation, local elected officials and area business leaders.
During this event, those attending will have the opportunity to speak directly with TxDOT officials and participate in a panel discussion with various transportation providers. Working together in finding solutions to these challenges is the key to reaching our goal.
Ticket Prices: $25 per person Total Enclosed:
Name:
Business/Organization:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Email: Phone:
Please email completed information above to [email protected]. Checks made payable to SS EDC can be brought to the event:
Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County EDC, 1200 Enterprise Lane,
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
***Deadline to receive registration is Today***
Northeast Texas
Schedule for the Day:
Rural Transportation Summit
Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Morris, Rains, Red River, Titus, Upshur, Wood
9:00 – 9:30 Registration
9:30 – 10:15 Welcome and General Session:
Impact of Regional Airports – Airport Operators Panel:
Speakers Include representative from: Texarkana Regional Airport, Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport, *Tyler Pounds Regional Airport discussion on how our local and regional airports can impact on our business and industrial development
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:45- 11:45 Importance of Freight Rail: Short-line and Freight Rail operators
Panel: Speakers Include representatives from: Kansas City Southern (KCS), *Union Pacific (UP) *Genesee & Wyoming (G&S), and Northeast Texas Rail District hear how shipping by rail makes economic sense and how increased opportunity can add value to businesses in our region.
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch – Keynote Speaker, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar: Transportation funding and the outlook for Prop 1 and Prop 7 funds.
1:15 – 2:00 Freight Shipping perspective from our Local Industry Leaders:
Speakers include: *Kimberly Clark, Lowe’s Distribution, Grocery Supply, Custom Commodities and Red River Army Depot Panel to discuss the assets and needs for industry in our region
2:00 – 3:00 Assets and Opportunities in transportation for Northeast Texas:
Presented by the Northeast Texas and East Texas Rural Transportation Planning Orginizations (ATCOG & ETCOG) Interactive exercise to show strong assets and areas for opportunity to help attract business and industry to Northeast Texas.
Community Chest Wins North Texas Food Bank “Excellence in Innovation” Award for REACHOut Program
Community Chest Director Judy Moore, center, accepting the 2017 Excellence in Innovation Award for Community Chest at a North Texas Food Bank regionall conference.
As Executive Director of Community Chest, Judy Moore is always trying to come up with better ways to assist the needs of the low-income population in Hopkins County. While studying a 2016 list of Community Chest clients, she noticed that most had in-town Sulphur Springs addresses. She developed an idea to offer the services of Community Chest to the outlying areas of Hopkins County to see how it was accepted. It has turned out to be quite successful in it’s initial goal, as well as garnering attention on the national level. The REACHOut began as a way to reach people who need help with rent, utilities, food, etc who might not have transportation to come to the Linda Drive location. Initial efforts were hindered by lack of cell phone service and Wifi.
Now, however, the weekly effort operates out of a “mobile facility” with a regular schedule in four corners of Hopkins County which can offer every service the Linda Drive office does. The REACHOut Mobile facility is a cargo trailer which was purchased and custom-outfitted as an intake office and food pantry. On Fridays, Judy and Jeanette Walling, office manager, travel to the assigned locations. After a few months of the program, about 40 REACHOut families are receiving services of Community Chest and North Texas Food Bank.
REACHOut Schedule: Fridays from 12pm -3pm.
Councelors travel to ReachOut sites to provide the same services offered at the main office to low income households in our community sites are as follows:
1st Friday of each month –
Arbala Community Center
On the corner of FM 1567 @ FM 2081 Arbala Texas 75433
2nd Friday of each month –
Como United Methodist Church
309 Lynch Street Como Texas 75431
3rd Friday of each month –
Peerless Assembly of God- Bunkhouse
422 FM Spur 71 peerless Texas 75482
4th Friday of each month –
Sulphur Bluff United Methodist Church
FM 71 @ FM 69 North Sulphur Bluff Texas 75481
Services include:
– Help with bills: TXU and FEC for Counties: Delta, Lamar, Franklin, Titus and Hopkins Counties. All other eletric companies Hopkins County only.
Other services for Hopkins County Only:
– Bi-weekly Food program for Hopkins County Clients.
-Eye Exams only.
-Dental Exams only.
-Rx Vouchers.
-Gas Vouchers for Dr. Appointments 50 miles or farther than Sulphur Springs.
-Water bill in Hopkins County Only.
-Natural Gas bill in Hopkins County only.
Refferals to ask about:
-In MY Closet
-Phil’s Friends
-Prayers & Squares
For more information contact the Hopkins County Community Chest and Christian Alliance, 217 Linda Drive, or call: 903-885-3452.
More about the North Texas Food Bank:
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit hunger-relief organization and a four star Charity Navigator charity. Each day, NTFB provides access to 190,000 meals for hungry children, seniors and families through a network of more than 1,000 programs and 200 Partner Agencies.
In fiscal year 2016, NTFB provided access to some 70 million nutritious meals.* While we are making steady progress toward closing the hunger gap, much work remains to be done to reach NTFB’s 10-year goal of providing 92 million nutritious meals annually by 2025. In order to achieve this milestone, NTFB has developed a three-pillar strategy of community engagement, network expansion, and client visibility.
Today we are 21 million meals shy of our 10-year meals output goal, but with the support of the North Texas community, donors, businesses and faith communities, we are on track to provide 92 million nutritious meals to our hungry neighbors annually by 2025.
Realities of Hunger in North Texas
Some 835,000 people in NTFB’s 13-county service area are food insecure – 1 in 6 people
One in every four kids in North Texas is food insecure – almost 295,000 children
95 percent of households served by NTFB have an annual household income of $30,000 or less
In North Texas, 1 in 6 food-insecure households is home to a veteran
There is a strong correlation between hunger and health, with one in three client households affected by diabetes – and 60 percent with unpaid medical bills
Eliminating Food Insecurity in North Texas
NTFB distributed 23 million pounds of fresh produce to those in need last year, in addition to 7 million pounds of meats and other high protein foods
NTFB distributed weekend backpacks to 12,000 chronically hungry elementary students at more than 380 schools through the Food 4 Kids program
NTFB is active in the community, teaching low-income families how to prepare nutritious meals on a budget through Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters program
Time, Talent and Treasure Make a Difference
When you donate $1 to NTFB you are helping to provide access to 3 meals for those in need
94 percent of every dollar donated goes directly toward fulfilling our mission
Last year, nearly 1,000 community organizations and businesses hosted canned food drives, collecting more than 500,000 pounds of non-perishable foods
An estimated 32,000 volunteers – at our Southwest Dallas warehouse, and at community events like the State Fair of Texas – gave their time, talent and treasure to the NTFB last year
* About 39 percent of meals are provided through the federal government’s SNAP program
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Meets in Special Session Friday
Hopkins County Commissioners Court meets Friday in special session in the first floor courtroom of the county courthouse at 11 a.m. Friday, October 27, 2017. Shortly after the open of the session, the commissioners will convene in Executive Session to discuss legal issues and pending litigation.
Following the executive session, the court will reconvene the opening session to consider action on any items discussed in executive session and to consider other business matters regarding grants, donations, contracts, personnel matters, disposal of assets or resolutions and proclamations.
Over the next few weeks, County Commissioners will be exploring setting weight limits on country roadways and means of enforcing those limits. They are also pursuing contracting with only one garbage disposal company for trash pickup to limit damage to county roadways.
Hopkins County United Way Over 50% of Goal; Give Back Event at Muddy Jake’s
Official donations to Hopkins County United Way counted Tuesday day totaled $53,915.40 making the grand total thus far into the campaign $94,550.40. The local campaign is now over half-way to their goal of $175,000.
The next campaign meeting is Tuesday, October 31 at 9:30 at the Texas AgriLife Extension office. The final campaign meeting is Wednesday, November 8 at 9:30 a.m. when workers hope to wrap up the Campaign and distribute thank you letters.
A Give Back event at Muddy Jake’s is set for Wed., Nov. 1, all day. HCUW will receive 10% of sales for the day.
Wildcat Football Head Coach Owens Calls Mt Pleasant “Scrappy”
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens said the Wildcats had a good bye week last week. He called it the most productive that he can recall. Coach Owens praised the players’ attitudes. He said they got to work on fundamentals and conditioning. Coach Owens said he hoped it would help during the last three weeks of the season. He said the Wildcats need to win all their remaining games to make the playoffs.
Coach Owens said the team had their backs up against the wall. He said the team did control their own destiny. Coach Owens said Mount Pleasant has their own scenario. It includes winning their last two games plus they will need some help. He said Mount Pleasant would come out swinging Friday night.
Coach Owens scouted the Tigers last Friday and he called them scrappy. He said they have some dangerous speed. Coach Owens said he was impressed with the Tigers’ defensive backs and their defensive ends. He said on offense, the Tigers prefer to run. They use multiple formations as they try to get the ball in the hands of their play makers. Coach Owens said the Tigers have a big left handed quarterback. He said with their freshman running back injured and not expected to play, he looks for more running from the big quarterback. Coach Owens said the Tigers offensive line is not as large as it has been the last few years. He said Dorian Glinton, now a receiver who had success running against the Wildcats last year, may be moved back to running back with the injury to their top back.
Coach Owens said the key to the game for the Wildcats is to protect the ball.
Lady Cats Dominate MP; Ready for District Championship Game
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness said it seems every time his team steps on the court, they get little bit better. He had just watched the Lady Cats dominate Mount Pleasant, 3-0 on senior night Tuesday night in Wildcats Gym. Coach Maness said he was glad to see his team improving heading into the playoffs.
He said he knew his team would be hard to beat on senior night. Coach Maness said he had six seniors who wanted to leave the home court with a win. He said he figured the seniors would make everybody else rise to their level of intensity to get it done. Coach Maness said the whole team played great. He added he thought libero Maggie McGlamery had a real good match. She led the team with 13 digs. Coach Maness said Maggie seemed to be everywhere picking balls up. He said everybody did a good job of getting balls up and setting them up so that we could hit it.
Coach Maness said the next step for the Lady Cats would be to beat Texas High to get the district’s top seed in the playoffs. The district championship will also be on the line at the game Friday in Mount Pleasant. Coach Maness said the top seed would face Wylie East in bi-district and the number two seed would draw Forney.
Chamber Board Members Getting Ready to “Do the Stew!”
Kim Beck and Amber Gilbert, Chamber Board Members and Stew Committee members
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Board Members Kim Beck and Amber Gilbert will be on duty before daylight on “Stew Day” in Hopkins County, October 28, 2017. By that time, the stew grounds in Buford Park will house 165 different stew sites. A walk-through of the sites is always interesting because you meet new cooks and familiar, even famous ones, too. Winners of the Super-Stew contest in Beef and Chicken categories and Super-Campsite winners may be positioned side by side with first-year cooks on the stew grounds. You can get an early look-see starting Friday night as many cooking teams like to set up early and spend the night at their sites. And please don’t wait til noon on Saturday if you want a taste of Hopkins County Stew….it will probably be all gone by then!
Stew tickets are $5 each for all-you-can-eat Hopkins County Stew. Serving starts at 10:45am. At the ticket tables around the edges of the park, you’ll be supplied with a set-up of bowl, plate, spoon, cheese and crackers. Once you’ve gotten your set-up, you are free to roam the grounds. Will you choose beef or chicken stew? Will you go to a favorite site or try new ones? Will you dish up a bowl full or simply taste a few different selections before you decode on your favorite? That’s up to you! Meeting new people, enjoying the beautiful park and the sights, sounds and smells of the phenomenon of Hopkins County Stew will keep you ready for next year’s contest!
Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County EDC Receives Texas Economic Development Council’s 2017 Community Economic Development Award
The Texas Economic Development Council announced the recipients of its annual Community Economic Development Awards for 2017. The awards were presented at a special awards luncheon at the TEDC’s Annual Conference in Houston. Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County EDC received the CEDA award for communities with a population of 10,001 to 20,000.
Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County Economic Development receives Texas Economic Development Council’s Community Economic Development Award. Pictured from Sulphur Springs: Tom Sellers, Clay Walker, Marc Maxwell, Roger Feagley, Mitsi Y’Barbo, and Craig Roberts. Representing Plant Processing Equipment are Ken Reynaud, Joe Borg, and Josh Burnett. Presenting the award for TEDC are Fred Welch and Ray Dunlap.
Sulphur Springs was in competition with Anna, Athens, Bay City, Brenham, Brownwood, Converse, Forney, Hildalgo, Katy, and Waller County. Nominees were judged on five criteria: innovativeness, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measured objectives, and secondary benefits. The CEDA program recognizes exceptional contributions of TEDC member cities toward the economic vitality of their communities and the state of Texas through creativity, leadership, and partnership in the achievement of business retention, business recruitment and community improvement.
Fred Welch, 2017 Chair of the Texas Economic Development Council, said, “Each community nominated achieved excellence in economic development and substantially improved the economic base of their respective regions. The recipient communities in each population category were recognized for extraordinary accomplishments in meeting the criteria set forth in the nomination process.”
Other award recipients in their categories include: Population less than 10,000-Cisco; Population 20,001 to 50,000-Greenville; Population 50,001 to 100,000-Conroe; Population 100,001 to 250,000-Wichita Falls/City of Burkburnett; and Population 250,001 and above-San Antonio.
The TEDC provides information, education and legislative services to its members to foster the expansion of existing businesses, the location of new firms and the development of strategies that promote a positive business climate in Texas. With more than 830 members, the TEDC is the largest state economic development association in the nation.
