McDearmont Named to Downtown Revitalization Board; Council Approves Items on Agenda
Dr. Scott McDearmont was named to the Downtown Revitalization Board Tuesday night during the Sulphur Springs City Council August meeting. The council also approved all items on their agenda. Among the items a resolution supporting BEF Foods application for an Enterprise Zone Project that will add additional equipment for a Macaroni and Cheese line. The council extended the case management contract and collections contract with GHS, a local company.
Property located at 792 Wildcat Way will be rezoned from Single Family to Heavy Commercial. According to a sign at the location, Landmark Storage will build additional storage units including climate controlled units. Properties on Jefferson Street and College Street were rezoned to single family to fit the traditional zoning in the areas where they are located.
Council also approved the second and final reading for ordinances regarding Combination Tax and Surplus Revenue Certificates of Obligation and General Obligation Refunding Bond Series 2017.
EDC, Saputo, Clayton Homes Partner with Teachers
Monday, August 7, 2017, at noon the Economic Development Corporation will honor two industries and teachers involved in a partnership that allowed the teachers to do job shadowing that will facilitate writing curriculum focused on skilled needed to work in those industries.
The industries, Saputo Dairy Foods and Clayton Homes, have enjoyed having the teachers and working with them in the project according to Roger Feagley, EDC Executive. The teachers received a stipend from the EDC during the project and an additional $250 will be awarded to the one that develops the best classroom lesson plan.
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report August 1, 2017
LOCUST STREET – This project is nearly completed. Tomorrow Westbrook Concrete Contractors will make the final pour. All that we lack after that is a little clean-up. I expect this project to be completed by next month’s meeting.
MOORE STREET – Utility work is completed on Moore Street. The water main, sewer main and gas main have all been replaced. The concrete contractor, Highway 19 Construction LLC, is about to begin soil stabilization and concrete construction.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Work continues at the wastewater treatment plant. The concrete work for the three large primary clarifiers is completed and they are now being filled with water to ensure that they don’t leak.
CLAIMS – We did not have any liability claims in July, but we did have one workers’ compensation claim for an employee who injured his back. We expect him to return to work in about a week.
Also, a Freightliner towing a trailer struck the covering for the fuel system at the service center (1313 N. Hillcrest) causing structural damage. We have submitted a claim to the trucking carrier for damages and loss of use.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director, Peter Karstens will not present a year-to-date summary of revenues and expenditures since this is the first day of August, and we have not had enough time to compile the year to date financial results.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Conducted 15 building inspections, 11 electrical inspections, 9 plumbing inspections, 2 mechanical inspections, and issued 14 building permits.
- Patched 638 potholes.
- Made 14 major street repairs following utility repairs.
- Replaced 48 faded stop signs.
- Repaired light beacon at the Municipal Airport.
- Treated wastewater effluent to a total suspended solids rating of 1.01 mg/L.
- Repaired 9 broken water mains.
- Replaced 14 water meters.
- Replaced 3 fire hydrants and repaired 1.
- Unstopped 19 sewer mains.
- Repaired 11 sewer mains.
- Washed 89,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Inspected and tested several segments of sewer main.
- Inspected Lake Sulphur Springs’ dam.
- Flushed 36 dead-end water mains.
- Repaired several items at the water treatment plant and the wastewater treatment plant.
- Responded to 138 fire/rescue calls including 1 structure fire and 1 county fire.
- Issued 3 tall grass citations and issued 54 notices.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 82 fire hydrants.
- Sold 1,715 gallons of AvGas and 5,001 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Began top-dressing the soccer fields.
- Hosted two Dixie softball tournaments.
- Sprayed for army worms at Coleman Park.
- Checked our 3,726 books and 497 eBooks from the Library.
- Made 55 arrests, wrote 652 traffic citations, responded to 38 accidents, and recorded 58 offenses.
- Made 3 felony arrests on the special crimes unit.
- Achieved a 34% adoption rate at the animal shelter.
- Responded to 177 animal control calls.
Damage to Jail Cell Adds to Inmate’s Woes
A 20-year old inmate in Hopkins County Jail that had been arrested and incarcerated for a misdemeanor Failure to Identify Giving a False/Fictitious Information determined to redecorate Violence Cell 1 wall and door. He tore rubber paneling from the wall and threw the pieces into the hall and down the drain in the cell.
Estimated cost for the damage is $5,000. After having been read his Miranda warning, he admitted to the damage.
Lazarus Amos Jehu Meeks, 20, of Sulphur Springs is charged with Criminal Mischief-$2,500 to $30,000, a state jail felony.
Hopkins County SweeTees are World Series Champs!
The Hopkins County SweeTees are now Dixie Softball World Champs! The 5 and 6-year-olds defeated the Louisiana State team 22-21 in the Championship finals on Tuesday August 1, 2017. The team actually went undefeated in District, State and National tournaments, making them a perfect 14-0.
According to Betty Sapaugh, Treasurer of the Hopkins County Girls Softball Association, a celebration is planned on Thursday August 3 at Coleman Park Field One, so everyone can meet the girls and coaches. A proclamation by Hopkins County Judge Newsom will be made at 4:30pm at the field, prior to the celebration.
The SweeTees won the State Championship at Coleman Park during July as Sulphur Springs hosted the State Championship tournament, then continued their winning streak at Nationals in Alexandria, Louisiana. Two other Hopkins County teams, the Ponytails and the Debs, also won State Championships and advanced to World Series play. The Hopkins County Darlings and the Angels were defeated at the District level.
Sweetees team members are: Kylee Harrison, Shaelee Davis, Ayla Oud, Sarah Pickering, Chloe Johnson, Ramsey Ragan, Peyton Taylor, Maggie Thompson, Presley Hunt, Mya Underwood, Georgia Bradford and Allyson Dykes. Coaches are Ladaruis Harrison, Andy Taylor and Geoff Thompson, and Head Coach is Tanner Ragan.
ReachOut Events at the Hopkins County Community Chest
Fridays from 12pm -3pm
For more information contact the Hopkins County Community Chest and Christian Alliance, 217 Linda Drive, or call: 903-885-3452.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Recognizing Good Bugs vs Bad Bugs in the Garden By Mario Villarino
The good, the bad and the ugly: recognizing good bugs vs bad bugs in the garden.
Insects in the garden can be a potential challenge for the gardener. In one hand, too many bad bugs can create serious problems to the plants and in the other hand, some bugs are beneficial because they feed out of other insects, helping controlling their numbers. Some good bugs are however, quite ugly and scary.
The “assassin bugs” are an example of scary-ugly bunch of bugs that are really good bugs. According to Dr. Mike Merchant, Extension entomologist from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Assassin bugs (family Reduviidae) are predatory insects that are of great benefit to gardeners. They are proficient at capturing and feeding on a wide variety of prey including other bugs, bees, flies, and caterpillars. Prey are captured with a quick stab of the assassin bug’s long mouthparts. After being immobilized by a paralyzing toxin, the prey’s body fluids are then drawn through the assassin bug’s soda straw-like mouthparts. Most species of assassin bugs are gray to black or brownish in color, though some are brightly colored.
Zelus is a common genus with several species in Texas. The milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes, is the most distinctive species. At least one species of Zelushas been reported as a household invader in the fall and winter. Ambush bugs are a type of assassin bug that lie in wait for their prey on flowers. Some of these species are colored to blend in perfectly with their flower hiding places.
The wheel bug is the largest of the 150 or so species of assassin bugs known from North America. Adult wheel bugs are gray and approximately 3 cm (1 ¼ inches) long. Its name comes from the distinctive, cog-like crest arising from the top of the thorax, or middle section, of the wheel bug’s body (see photo). Wheel bugs will attack larger insects like grasshoppers and larger caterpillars.
Although most assassin bugs are highly beneficial, the cone nosed bug, or kissing bug, is parasitic on humans and other mammals. Cone nosed bugs have the same elongated head as the wheel bug, but can be distinguished from wheel bugs by their lack of a crest and by their orange and black markings where the abdomen extends laterally past the folding wings.
Some assassin bugs, most notably the wheel bug, will bite if picked up and handled carelessly. The bite of the wheel bug is immediately and intensely painful. Persons who are bitten should wash and apply antiseptic to the site of the bite. Oral analgesics, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, may be useful to reduce the pain. Treatment by a physician is not usually needed, though Caladryl® or topical corticosteroids may help reduce swelling or itching at the site of the bite. As with any insect sting or bite, the victim should seek medical attention immediately if there is any sign of anaphylactic reaction, such as generalized swelling, itching, hives or difficulty breathing.
Immature assassin bugs are sometimes brightly colored, perhaps to warn that they bite. Because assassin bugs are predatory insects, and beneficial for the garden, control is not recommended. Assassin bugs, including wheel bugs, are generally not very abundant and do not require insecticidal sprays.
Additional publications, and help with other questions about garden insects or other pest problems, can be obtained by contacting the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or emailing me at [email protected].
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Winnsboro Police Report July 24-30, 2017
Winnsboro Police arrested three, issued 85 citations, 78 warnings, and responded to 202 calls during the July 24-30, 2017 report period.
Nathaniel Carroll, 23, of Winnsboro was arrested July 24th on a Hopkins County warrant.
Richard Bailey, 40, of Winnsboro was arrested on July 24th for Possession of a Controlled Substance less more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams.
Stephanie Wilson, 23, of Winnsboro was arrested on July 30th on an Eastland County warrant.
Wildcats Football Camp Underway
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens said all he needed was a tent to have a three-ring circus in and around the Multipurpose Building Tuesday morning. The three-day Wildcats Football Camp began Tuesday for boys entering the third through the eighth grade from 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. Coach Owens would have liked to have seen more boys attend.
There was also a session for SSISD boys only who will be entering the ninth grade from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. 38 ninth graders to be were present but Coach Owens was wondering where another 20 of them were.
Meanwhile The Edge conditioning program continued Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. After weightlifting inside, The Edge moved outside with seniors running agility drills. Wildcats football coaches were busy with the camp sessions. The young kids got fundamentals. Ninth graders got an organized practice like they will see during upcoming workouts.
The camps and The Edge will continue through Thursday morning.
