Jacoby Smith Keeps it Country on Reilly Springs Jamboree Saturday July 15
Meet Jacoby Smith. This Sulphur Springs man leads a local country music band called “Moonlight Twang” which formed in 2013 but whose road was a rough and winding one until last year. Now, Moonlight Twang is once again entertaining audiences from Sulphur Springs to the Metroplex and into Oklahoma in addition to a string of private engagements. To promote their Jamboree appearance on Saturday July 15 at 7pm, Jacoby guested on the KSST Good Morning Show and shared his story.
Moonlight Twang L to R: Mark Reed, Brandon Reed, Jacoby Smith, Eric Rhodes and Brian Reed
Being a young black country music fan, Jacoby wasn’t sure where he fit in at first. He admits that back in high school he had a pretty good sound system in his car and liked to listen to loud music of many kinds. But at about age 21, his tastes began to switch to country music and he’d find himself turning the volume down in his home neighborhood because he didn’t know how he might be perceived! In time, he became comfortable with who he is and that included being a country music singer.
About four years ago, he wanted to form his own band. So with high school friends Brandon and Brian Reed and their dad Mark Reed, Jacoby began to work on a catalog of standard country tunes for local gigs. At this time, Jacoby’s young son Braden, who had been diagnosed with leukemia at age 2, began to require aggressive chemo treatments as an adolescent. About the same time, Brian’s son Micah was diagnosed with cancer and embarked on a series of aggressive treatments involving long hospital stays. Jacoby’s father-in-law, local entertainer Larry Massey, passed away in 2015 following a lengthy illness and within a few months, his mother-in-law also passed away. Later that same year, Micah Reed lost his battle with childhood cancer at age 12, leaving the entire circle of family and friends devastated. Jacoby admits it was his faith in God, planted by his mom and grandmother who always took him to church, along with a respect for the gift of life that brought him through until once again, he felt the desire to sing. He’d always sensed that the traditional songs of Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and others spoke to the sorrows and joys of common people, and it was this music that kept him grounded.
By late 2016, he and the Reed family had reassembled the band with Brandon on lead guitar and bookings, Brian on bass, Mark on steel guitar and Jonathan McGraw as drummer with Eric Rhodes as alternate drummer. In 2017, Moonlight Twang is now turning out a tight, totally country sound. In Jacoby’s life, with Braden in remission and active, healthy 5- and 8-year-olds, he and his wife Victoria are keeping very busy. His career as an all-around commercial artist allows him to create murals and signs and perform interior design and wood working. But it’s singing country music with his band “Moonlight Twang” that’s his favorite creative outlet! Catch their concert at the Reilly Springs Jamboree on Saturday July 15 at 7 pm.
Video of Tampering with Evidence Enhances Arrest Charges
A traffic violation and drug paraphernalia was a misdemeanor offense but when the video in the patrol car noted Todd Ray Parnell, 45, of Sulphur Springs taking an item out of his pants and placing it inside his mouth the charge became a felony 3, tampering with evidence.
Parnell was nervous when stopped by Sulphur Springs police but did give consent to search his vehicle. During the search a marijuana roach was located and he was arrested. He later removed a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine from his boot before being booked into jail. However, it was the video of the attempt to tamper with evidence that created the felony charge.
Todd Ray Parnell
Parnell is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Tamper Fabricate Evidence ($10,000 bond).
Cumby Police Arrest Two on Felony 1 Charges
Cumby Police Chief arrested three females for a Felony 1 charge of Manufacture Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2 more than 4-grams but less than 400-grams.
KING,ERICA LANAE
A traffic stop on I-30 westbound at 11:30 p.m. Thursday night took some time to accomplish. The driver of the 2013 Charger was driving in the left lane and not passing and after switching lanes, drove on the improved shoulder. The driver finally stopped between the 110 and 109-mile markers. The odor of marijuana led to asking the driver and passengers to exit the vehicle.
A probable cause search resulted in locating a plastic trash bag containing a large amount of K-2, synthetic cannabinoids that are a class of chemicals that are different from the cannabinoids found in cannabis but which also bind to cannabinoid receptors.
Jasmine Sharae Carrington
Arrested at the scene and transported to Hopkins County Jail were Jasmine Sharae Carrington, 24, Erica Lanae King, 27, of Clovis, New Mexico (picture not available) and Edmeeshia Louise Swanson, 29, of Lubbock, Texas. They are each held on a $30,000 bond.
SWANSON, EDMEESHIA LOUISE 2017
Edmeeshia Louise Swanson
Special Tactics and Weapons Used in Arrest of County Man for Aggravated Assault
EMMONS,TEDDY RAY
Thursday afternoon Hopkins County Deputies responded to a disturbance on FM 900. When they arrived they found that Teddy Ray Emmons, 58, had used a weapon during the commission of a family confrontation. During the confrontation between Emmons and deputies, he ran into and barricaded himself with a weapon inside a shop building. The S.W.A.T. team was called.
The SWAT team and negotiators worked with him for an hour. However, no sustained contact was initiated. Using special tactics and weapons, the SWAT team was able to get Emmons to exit the building and obey verbal commands given once he was outside, according to Sheriff’s Investigator Corley Weatherford.
Emmons was charged with Deadly Conduct Discharge Firearm ($50,000 bond) and Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon ($100,000 bond).
Summer Gardening 101 By Mario Villarino
As we move into our hot gardening season, the increase of temperatures begins to show in both the garden and the gardener. As I was conducting one of our outdoor summer camps session earlier this week, the impact of the high temperatures in us the instructors and our participants was terrible. A similar effect can be expected in our livestock and plants during this time of the year. Because both July and August are in the top of the temperature scale as far as the garden is concerned, I decided to share with you the recommendations of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for July and August so you can prepare and take time during this hot gardening time of the year:
· By August many fall vegetable seeds and even small plants may be set out for later production. Be careful to give extra water, and a little shade, to these young plants while they are becoming established. The result will be excellent cool season garden produce.
· Trim off faded flowers on crape myrtles and vitex to encourage later re-bloom.
· Evaluate the volume of water delivered from lawn sprinklers to ensure healthy, stress-free grass during the heat of the summer. One thorough watering which will deliver one inch of water at a time is better than several more shallow sessions. The amount of water available through flower bed sprinklers may be checked by placing several shallow pans among shrubs or flowers.
· Caladiums require plenty of water at this time of year if they are to remain lush and active until fall. Fertilize with 21-0-0 at the rate of one-third to one-half pound per 100 square feet of bed area, and water thoroughly.
· Prune out dead or diseased wood from trees and shrubs. Hold off on major pruning from now until midwinter. Severe pruning at this time will only stimulate tender new growth prior to frost.
· Sow seeds of snapdragons, dianthus, pansies, calendulas, and other cool-season flowers in flats, or in well-prepared areas of the garden, for planting outside during mid-to-late fall.
· Plant bluebonnet and other spring wildflowers. They must germinate in late summer or early fall, develop good root systems, and be ready to grow in spring when the weather warms. Plant seed in well-prepared soil, one-half inch deep, and water thoroughly.
· Picking flowers frequently encourages most annuals and perennials to flower even more abundantly.
· Pick okra, peas and peppers often to maintain production.
· It is time to divide spring-flowering perennials, such as iris, Shasta daisy, oxeye, gaillardia, cannas, day lilies, violets, liriope, and ajuga.
· Make your selections and place orders for spring-flowering bulbs now so that they will arrive in time for planting in October and November.
· Don’t allow plants with green fruit or berries to suffer from lack of moisture.
· A late-summer pruning of rosebushes can be beneficial. Prune out dead canes and any weak, brushy growth. Cut back tall, vigorous bushes to about 30 inches. After pruning, apply fertilizer, and water thoroughly. If a preventive disease-control program has been maintained, your rose bushes should be ready to provide an excellent crop of flowers this fall.
· It is not too late to set out another planting of many warm-season annuals, such as marigolds, zinnias, and periwinkles. They will require extra attention for the first few weeks, but should provide you with color during late September, October, and November.
· Establish a new compost pile to accommodate the fall leaf accumulation.
For more information on this or any other educational topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email 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
Hopkins County 4-H’ers Bring Home Awards By Johanna Hicks
Hopkins County 4-H’ers Bring Home Awards
Summer is a busy time around the Hopkins County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office! Our summer has included the Hopkins County Dairy Festival and Dairy Show; three-week Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness; District 4-H Record Book contest; three-day Multi-County 4-H Camp; 4-H Montana Exchange trip fund-raisers; and preparation for the 4-day Skills Camp…and I’m tired! However, I love my job and my husband knows that I thrive on staying busy!
My co-worker, Mario and I, recently returned from Multi-County 4-H Camp, held at Lakeview Baptist Conference Center and Camp, in Lone Star. I led the “Fun with Food” workshops. This included a hands-on activity in which campers made and named their own snack mix. MyPlate Jeopardy was also used to provide a little friendly competition while reinforcing nutrition information, kitchen safety, and fight bac (bacteria/food safety). Mario, along with his wife, led the Archery workshops, where campers learned the correct techniques for holding a bow and arrow, aiming, shooting a target, archery terminology, and safety. Other sessions included Ropes course, Nature (campers made a walking stick from bamboo stalks), Healthy Lifestyles (team games), and STEM (campers used simple robots and drones to accomplish a given task). Free-time was also included for campers to swim, kayak, hike, fish, play ping-pong, visit the snack shack or gift shop, or simply hang out with other campers.
Hopkins County was represented by 17 youth and adults at this camp, including my college intern. 4-H members, in addition to Hopkins County, included Hunt, Camp, Cass, Kaufman, Bowie, Upshur, and Wood Counties. Our 4-H’ers came home with numerous awards that were given on the last day of camp:
- Braden Lennon – “Fish Hook Award”
- Joel Villarino – Healthy Lifestyles team award
- Honesty Bridges – STEM team award and Jeopardy team award
- Jacy Barnett – team skit award and Team competition awards
- Maddie Holt – Healthy Lifestyles team award
- Trinity Sickles – STEM team award
- Elida Miller – MyPlate Jeopardy Team award
- Aspen Mayhew, Emily Everett, and Alexis Villarino did an awesome job on team work and in workshops!
Hopkins County 4-H members Geoffrey Stewart and Cade Goldsmith attended Ultra 4-H Leadership Lab. This camp is for 4-H members ages 14 and up and focuses on leadership. Many activities, including team work and speeches from District 4-H Council officers, took place.
Congratulations to each of these 4-H members for being part of camp week!
Diabetes 1st Step: Live Healthy, be Hopeful
Texas AM& AgriLife Extension Service is offering a free online, self-paced course on the basics of diabetes self-management. This would be particularly beneficial for people who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, or for those who want to learn more about diabetes self-care. To register for the free online course, go to: https://extensiononline.tamu.edu/courses/health.php From there, just follow the onscreen instructions. For more information, call our office at 903-885-3443.
Closing Thought
Motivation will almost always beat mere talent – anonymous
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
Tira News July 14, 2017
Mark your calendars for an ice cream social at the Tira Community Center on Saturday, July 29th, at 4:00 p.m. Come visit with neighbors, enjoy a sweet treat, and let the kids play on the playground.
Robert, Yvonne, and Wesley Weir went to Galveston last Thursday and stayed in “an almost beachside” house on Crystal Beach, with Malorie Padrones and her family and another couple. Yvonne says, “Besides enjoying the beach, the three of us went out on the bay fishing and went to Moody Aquarium. Wes loved the penguins and the ferry.”
Dustin, Wesley, and Yvonne Weir and Maria (Dustin & Natalie’s niece) drove to South Dakota to visit Yvonne’s home place. They left on June 12th and returned on June 22nd. They enjoyed being at the Hall ranch, as well as the cabin at Shadehill Lake. On the way home they visited Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse statue, and enjoyed seeing the landscapes of the Badlands.
Our daughter, Tiffany Vaughn, and grandchildren, Kenden and Jaidyn Joslin, and I took a mini vacation last weekend and picked up Tiffany’s granddaughter, Dixie, in Kountze, on Friday afternoon. We drove back to Piney Shores Resort on Lake Conroe and spent the evening swimming and enjoying the beautiful sunset. We stayed up late playing games in the lodge, and then slept late on Saturday. We drove to Jacksonville and went to the Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari, where we all enjoyed seeing the animals up close and getting to feed them. We stopped in Tyler for a delicious meal at the Texas Roadhouse on the way home. Dixie is spending a few days with Landon, Laiken, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden.
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].
Intersection Change at Arbala Road and Texas Street to Improve Safety
PARIS – Texas Department of Transportation officials today announced that construction to improve the safety of the traveling public and emergency response personnel in Hopkins County will begin July 17, 2017. TxDOT will remove the merge lane that enables traffic traveling north on Arbala Road to merge onto Texas Street. Instead, traffic will continue a short way along Arbala Road to its intersection with Texas Street before turning right onto Texas Street. The pavement at this intersection will be widened moderately to accommodate this change in the traffic flow, TxDOT officials said.
The intent of this project is to provide safer ingress and egress for emergency response personnel and their vehicles when leaving and returning to the Hopkins County Fire Department on Texas Street, near its intersection with Arbala Road. The City of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County have both passed resolutions supporting the change in traffic flow. TxDOT officials anticipate completion of this project on July 26, weather permitting.
Those who must travel in this area are asked to pay special attention to all signs and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Family VBS at Shannon Oaks Church is July 17-21
Josh Whitlock, Children’s Minister at Shannon Oaks Church
Children’s minister Josh Whitlock visited during the KSST Good Morning Show to announce an exciting family concept for Vacation Bible School coming to Shannon Oaks Church during July 17-21. Each evening, classes will be held between 5 and 8 pm for children ages 3 through 5th grade AND their parents! Members of the Senior Adult classes will also volunteer during the classes. Instead of dividing the family during Bible School, bringing families together for instruction is part of an effort by Shannon Oaks to unite the generations and to empower the parents to teach and develop their children’s spiritual lives. Games, crafts, team building, water games and small group times are planned. “Small group time” will involve pairing a key leader of the church with a family. During this portion, there will be at least one activity that is parent-led, providing another teaching skill for parents to use in their family time at home.
Pre-registered youngsters will receive a Splash Kingdom pass, T-shirt and dinner each evening at 5:45 pm.
Children’s Minister Josh Whitlock and Youth/Worship Minister Jonathan McGraw along with Pastor Eric Godwin invite the public to enjoy Vacation Bible School and regular services at Shannon Oaks Church, as well as these summer programs coming up: Mommy Daughter Cupcake Wars on Saturday July 29 from 10 am til noon, and Family Water Games on Saturday August 19 from 10 am til noon. All activities are free!
Register and find out more at shannonoakschurch.com or on Facebook.
Chamber Connection July 13, 2017
Guess what time it is???? It’s time to turn in your t-shirt designs for the 48th Annual Stew Contest!!! The Chamber will be accepting submitted designs from Monday, July 17th through Monday, July 31st. The submitted entries will be voted on by the Chamber Board of Directors, and the winner will be announced on August 10th. If your design wins the t-shirt contest, it will be used on all shirts, hoodies, and marketing for the 48th Annual Stew Contest! Email your designs to [email protected]. We can’t wait to see the entries!!!!
Sulphur Springs Public Library presents their Summer Reading Program for June and July
The Sulphur Springs Library is hosting a summer reading program called Knights and Princesses Summer Reading Program 2017. Every Tuesday at 3 p.m., they offer multiplayer Minecraft. Storytime for all ages will be held on Tuesday, July 18th and Tuesday, July 25th at 10:30 a.m. They will also have Storytime for the Ages on Thursday, July 20th at 6 p.m.
The Fall Festival is hosting a Splish Splash Water Bash on Saturday, July 15th
The Fall Festival is hosting a Splish Splash Water Bash on Saturday, July 15th on Celebration Plaza from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Kids 12 and under are free of charge, and age 13 and up will cost $5. Kids five and under must be accompanied by an adult. Drinks and snow cones will be for sale. Make plans to spend the afternoon enjoying a day of fun in the water!
The Reilly Springs Jamboree is hosting Jacoby Smith on Saturday, July 15th
Jacoby Smith and his band made up of Brandon, Brian and Mark Reed are all local musicians. Their band Moonlight Twang got started in 2013, then a series of personal tragedies occurred. In early 2017 the band reunited, and are thrilled to be back with real country music that all ages enjoy. See them Saturday July 15 at 7p.m. Hopkins County’s original music venue is smoke-and-alcohol-free family country and gospel entertainment, held each month on the third-Saturday night. Contact Enola Gay at 903-438-3568 or Roger Reed at 903-348-7114.
The Venue at 219 is hosting an Open House with its new owners on Thursday, July 20th at 5 p.m.
The Venue at 219, located at 219 Main Street in Sulphur Springs, is hosting an Open House and ribbon cutting celebration with its new owners on Thursday, July 20th from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Stop by for music, food, beverages, and to check out this wonderful venue!
The Texas Workforce Commission is hosting a Texas Business Conference on Friday, July 21
The Texas Workforce Commission is hosting a Texas Business Conference on Friday, July 21 at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens from 8:45 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. This conference provides information for employers, HR professionals, business owners, and anyone who manages employees. To register, call 512-463-6389 or visit www.texasworkforce.org/tbc.
Community Players presents The Lion King Jr. July 21-22
Community Players presents The Lion King Jr. on Friday, July 21st at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 22nd at 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 23rd at 2 p.m. All performances will be held at the Sulphur Springs High School Auditorium. Tickets are $15.00 at the door or available online at www.mstsulphursprings.com.
Etiquette by Emily is hosting a Business Etiquette Breakdown on Tuesday, July 25th
Etiquette by Emily is hosting Business Etiquette Breakdown on Tuesday, July 25th from 5:15 until 6:15 at The Oaks Bed & Breakfast. The course is being offered free of charge. This course will help you become more comfortable and confident in a business atmosphere with resume building, learning introductions and practical application with key community business leaders! Reserve your spot today by calling (903) 243-6222.
Hunt County Regional is offering July Mobile Mammography Coach in Sulphur Springs
Hunt County Regional Hospital is offering the Tubby Adkisson Memorial Mobile Mammography Coach on July 27th in the Spring Village Shopping Center in Sulphur Springs. All insurances accepted at Hunt Regional are also accepted for the Mobile Mammography Coach, including Medicare and Medicaid. They can also help with payment resources for uninsured/income-eligible women or those who choose to pay cash. For help with payment resources please call The Bridge Breast Network at (214) 821-3820 x 21. To schedule individual screening mammograms, please call (903) 408-5010. Appointments and pre-registration are requested.
Ribbon Cuttings:
ECHO Publishing is getting ready for their Grand Re-Opening on Wednesday, July 12th at noon
ECHO Publishing is hosting their Grand Re-Opening Celebration on Wednesday, July 12th at noon. ECHO is located at 401 on Church Street. Come on by and check out remodeling of ECHO and eat some wonderful BBQ. See you there!
