Texas A&M Forest Service pins Newest law Enforcement Officer
September 9, 2025 – COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Troy Poe, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Coordinator, was sworn in as a Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement additional duty officer today.
As an additional duty officer, Poe will assist in investigating Texas wildfires, predominantly in South Texas.
Poe will also continue his full-time role as a Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Coordinator in Beeville, Texas, coordinating response to wildfire and all-hazard events with local, state and federal partners and serving in a unified command.
“With over 12 years of experience in law enforcement and investigations, Officer Poe will be a valuable asset to our department by supporting local communities in wildfire investigations,” said Connor Murnane, Texas A&M Forest Service Chief Law Enforcement Officer. “The coordinated effort between our officers and local officials is critical to protecting the natural resources, landowners and citizens of Texas.”
The Law Enforcement department is comprised of 11 officers and investigators, including Poe—all licensed peace officers by the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement and approved by the Texas A&M System Board of Regents.
For over 110 years, the department has investigated the cause of wildfires throughout the state. In 1977, the department also assumed the responsibility of investigating timber theft cases and carrying out justice under the Texas Natural Resources Code.
Following wildfires, local law enforcement and investigators initiate investigations but often request assistance from Texas A&M Forest Service Law Enforcement officers.
During the cause and origin investigation of a wildfire, investigators examine contributing factors such as weather conditions, vegetative fuel consumption, as well as macro and micro burn pattern indicators. Grass stems, scorching patterns on tree bark and ash color are all indicators that allow investigators to determine the origin of a fire. Based on the totality of the circumstances and evidence, investigators will conduct a criminal investigation into the cause of the fire and any potential arson suspects.
In 2025, the department has recovered over $131,000 for landowners who were victims of timber theft and investigated 84 wildfires.
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Hopkins County Genealogical Society September Monthly Meeting to be Held on the 18th
September 9, 2025 – Former Air Force One Navigator to Share Memories of 9/11
Join us Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Hopkins County Genealogical Society Research Library for a program by Retired Lt. Col. Everett DeWolfe. He was the Navigator for Air Force One on 9/11 and will be talking about his experiences that day. Lt. Col. DeWolfe spent 28 years in the Air Force with twelve of them being on the crew of Air Force One. Lt. Col. DeWolfe was the first and only navigator to serve as the operations officer of the 1st Airlift Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, whose mission was to fly our nation’s leaders worldwide. Before joining the crew of Air Force One he spent eight years flying our nation’s leaders from the Vice-President on down. His passengers included Vice-Presidents George H. W. Bush, Don Quayle and Al Gore. He also flew Secretaries of State George Shultz, James Baker, Lawrence Eagelburger, Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell. Lt. Col. DeWolfe joined the crew of Air Force One in October of 1993 and served as instructor and evaluator navigator until he retired in April of 2005. After retiring from the Air Force, DeWolfe worked for L3 Communications (now L3Harris) until he retired in 2020.
Mr. DeWolfe has shared his story with several other groups in our area this year, many of whom charged an admission fee. We are so fortunate to have him speak to us only a week after the 24th anniversary of the events that had profound consequences across the globe, and his presentation is free to society members, non-members and the general public. We hope to see you there!
If you cannot join us in-person, we invite you to join us via Zoom.
When: Sep 18, 2025 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/KFWKxv9-Rbu6Uq-qVjmKjQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
New Beginnings Healing & Deliverance Ministries to Hold Lunch Plate Fundraiser September 12, 2025
September 9, 2025 – New Beginnings Healing and Deliverance Ministries announces their Lunch Plate fundraiser being held Friday, September 12, 2025. The event begins at 11:00am. They ask that you please place your order by Thursday, September 11th. Call or text 903-458-3685. Cost is $13 a plate. Each plate consists of meat loaf, beans, cabbage, corn bread, and dessert. The address is 717 East Jefferson Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas, 75482. Local delivery is available.
Behavior of Unsupervised Teens at the State Fair of Texas Contributes to End of Free Admission
September 8, 2025 – For decades, the State Fair of Texas has offered free admission tickets to students across the Dallas area. But starting in 2025, that tradition will change. High school students will no longer receive free admission, a move that fair officials say is aimed at improving both safety and operations.
In recent years, disturbances caused by unsupervised groups of high school-aged students have drawn increased attention. Fair organizers, in coordination with the City of Dallas and the Dallas Police Department, noted that these incidents required additional security and contributed to a less family-friendly environment. Combined with rising operational costs, the fair decided to scale back its free ticket program.
Under the new policy, only Pre-K through 8th grade students and teachers will receive complimentary admission. High schoolers can still attend, but they’ll need to purchase tickets. To soften the impact, the fair is offering a discounted $12 ticket for students in grades 9–12, valid Monday through Thursday, when crowds are smaller.
Organizers stress that the fair remains committed to welcoming young people but that parental supervision and safety concerns must take priority.
COMMISSIONER MILLER ACTIVATES EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO PROTECT TEXAS COTTON AND ORNAMENTAL INDUSTRIES FROM NEW INVASIVE PEST
September 9, 2025 – AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) announced immediate action in response to detections of the cotton jassid, also known as the two-spotted leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula), on hibiscus plants shipped into Texas from Costa Farms Nursery and its subsidiaries in Florida.
The cotton jassid is an invasive pest that feeds on a wide range of host plants, including cotton, okra, eggplant, sunflower, hibiscus, and several weeds. Heavy infestations cause leaf curling, yellowing, and plant decline, leading to major economic losses if left unchecked.
“The two-spotted leafhopper, or cotton jassid, poses a significant threat to Texas agriculture, particularly to our cotton growers. Our response is risk-based, science-driven, and coordinated with industry. We will do what it takes to defend Texas farmers, ranchers, and the multibillion-dollar cotton industry that stands as a pillar of our economy. To safeguard this industry, we are acting quickly, decisively, and with all our resources to prevent this pest from gaining a foothold in our state.”
In response, Commissioner Sid Miller and TDA have ordered the detection and destruction of infested hibiscus and any other plants belonging to the cotton family originating from these nurseries. Effective immediately, Costa Farms and its subsidiaries are suspended from shipping hibiscus or any other known host plants of the cotton jassid into Texas. TDA Regional inspectors are also conducting statewide market inspections at retail locations to remove and destroy affected plants from store shelves.
TDA is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, cotton producer organizations, and the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association to assess the extent of the threat. Outreach and education materials on the cotton jassid are being distributed to growers, retailers, and the public to help identify and report suspected infestations.
Timeline of Spread in the U.S. and Territories
- April 2023 – Puerto Rico: First detection in the Western Hemisphere, found on cotton and later on eggplant and wild cotton.
- November 2024 – Florida: First U.S. detection in Miami-Dade County on okra, later spreading across the state.
- July 2025 – Georgia: First detection in Seminole County; as of August 29, confirmed in 57 counties.
- July/August 2025 – Alabama: First detection in Henry County; confirmed in 17 counties by August 28.
- August 2025 – South Carolina: First detection in Charleston County; now widely distributed across the lower half of the state.
- August 2025 – Texas: Detected on retail hibiscus in multiple locations, including College Station, McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Victoria, Cedar Park, Waco, El Paso, and Longview.
Anyone who has recently purchased hibiscus or other cotton family plants from a retail store is encouraged to carefully inspect their plants for signs of infestation. If infestation is suspected, contact TDA at 1(800) TELL TDA or any of TDA’s Regional Offices (TDA Locations).
Senior Center COOR Dawna Pryor Dropped by KSST for a Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey
September 8, 2025 – Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Activity Center Coordinator, Dawna Pryor, dropped by the KSST studios for A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey. Dawna and John Mark chatted about what’s up at the Senior Citizens Activity Center. They discussed the different card games played at the Center, the Senior Center 2025 Olympics coming up September 12, 2025, the Center’s 2025 Stew and Soup Cook Off being held October 3rd, 2025, and so much more! Be sure to check out this interesting episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee and find out why you need to drop by your Senior Center!
Texas School Nurses Hesitating to Provide Basic First Aid Amid New “Parental Bill of Rights”
A new Texas law, known informally as the “Parental Bill of Rights” (Senate Bill 12), mandates that schools obtain written parental consent before administering any non-emergency health-related services, including basic first aid like Band-Aids or ice packs.
This requirement has left many school nurses confused and anxious. In some districts, nurses report being told not to provide even the simplest care—such as applying a bandage—unless explicit permission is on file. That means students with minor cuts must wait for a parent to arrive before receiving treatment.
“With all due respect, if you can’t distinguish offering a Band-Aid or an ice pack from offering more serious medical and/or mental health services that should require parental involvement and consent, then maybe we need to be a lot more concerned than we already were.” – Jeff Leach
State lawmakers, including SB 12 authors Rep. Jeff Leach and Sen. Brandon Creighton, have expressed concern over this overcautious interpretation. In a letter, they urged the Texas Education Agency to provide clearer guidance and emphasized the need for “common sense” in handling minor medical needs. They argued that “children’s safety cannot be held hostage to paperwork delays”.
The Texas Education Agency is currently revising its guidance and plans to issue updated information to school districts soon, aiming to clarify how schools can balance legal requirements with day-to-day health care of students.
Your Sulphur Springs Wildcats Competed Against Greenville in Their Homecoming Game September 5th, 2025
September 8, 2025 – Kyler Vandelaar and Lucy McKenzie were crowned Homecoming Princesses and Emma Boatman was crowned the Wildcats 2025 Homecoming Queen in festivities held before the football game September 5th, 2025. After the celebration the Wildcats gave it their all and took on the Greenville Lions in a fierce Homecoming football competition. It was an exciting game and everyone was ready to keep the exciting competition going after a half-time break, but mother nature had other plans. At halftime the game was cancelled due to the threat of bad weather. Check out the exciting game below and find out who came out ahead in the end!
Governor Abbott Signs Texas Summer Camp Safety Bills Into Law
September 5, 2025 | Austin, Texas | Governor Greg Abbott recently signed House Bill 1 (the Youth CAMPER Act), Senate Bill 1 (the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act), and Senate Bill 3 at the Governor’s Mansion to enhance safety measures at Texas summer camps and better protect Texans from catastrophic flooding events.
“As camper parents, Cecilia and I know the powerful role that camps can play in the lives of our children,” said Governor Abbott. “We know the anxious anticipation to see your child again after dropping her off at camp. Every child who goes to camp should come home to their families, and no parent should ever have to outlive their child or endure this kind of loss. Today we are doing more than just changing campgrounds in Texas, we are changing the future for our children.”
The Governor was joined by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Senator Charles Perry, Representative Drew Darby, the Heaven’s 27 families, and other state officials.
During his remarks, Governor Abbott stressed the importance of the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act and the CAMPER Act, which together require camps to install and maintain emergency systems, train staff on evacuation procedures and establish a Youth Camp Safety team to ensure the safety of Texas children at camp. The Governor stressed the powerful role camps play in the lives of children and the profound impact they have on their upbringing. Following the event, The Governor and First Lady privately met with families to offer their continued support.
Additional photos of the event will be provided here when available.
House Bill 1 (Darby/Perry) the Youth Camp Alert, Mitigation, Preparedness, and Emergency Response (Youth CAMPER) Act, requires youth camps to adopt and annually update emergency plans, train staff, orient campers, notify parents of floodplain risks with signed acknowledgment, and share plans with local emergency services. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is authorized to enforce compliance through inspections, complaint investigations, and license suspension or denial.
Senate Bill 1 (Perry/Darby) known as the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, prohibits DSHS from licensing youth camps with cabins in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-designated floodplains (with limited exceptions), requires annual emergency training and planning, creates an online registry of licensed youth camps, and extends safety standards to campgrounds and recreational vehicle parks.
Senate Bill 3 (Bettencourt/Wilson) creates a grant program at the Office of the Governor to offer financial support to cities, counties, and other government entities for the installation of early-warning sirens in areas prone to flash-flooding.
Structure Fire Contained at North Hopkins ISD Field House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2025 – North Hopkins, TX – At approximately 16:01 hours on September 6, 2025, emergency crews responded to a structure fire at the Field House located on the campus of the North Hopkins Independent School District. Upon arrival, the building was reported by be fully engulfed in smoke with active fire present. Deputies from the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and multiple fire departments arrived on scene. Fortunately, no one was inside the building at the time of the incident. Fire crews were able to quickly contain the fire to a small section of the locker room area. The structure sustained medium fire damage to a corner of the building and light to medium smoke damage throughout. No damage was reported to any outlying equipment. The following agencies responded to the scene:
- Hopkins County Fire Department
- North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department
- Dike Volunteer Fire Department
- Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office
Brinker and Cumby Volunteer Fire Departments were dispatched but were disregarded prior to arrival. No injuries were reported, and the situation was brought under control without further incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
For more information, contact:
Andy Endsley
Hopkins County Fire Marshall
Hopkins County Fire Department
