Como-Pickton Schools May be Looking For a New Superintendent
July 11, 2025 – An agenda for a Special Meeting of the CPCISD Board of Trustees has been posted for Monday, July 14, 2025 starting at 6:00pm. The top agenda item listed under the heading of Human Resources pertains to “Discussion and possible action of Superintendent‘s voluntary resignation”. Board members are planning an Executive Session as well where they may discuss matters with their legal counsel as well as discussion on the possibilty of appointing an interim superintendent. After adjourning from the Executive Session, board members may indeed appoint an interim superintendent as they return to that agenda item to close out the regular portion of their meeting.
The Special Meeting of the Como-Pickton Consolidated Indepenent School District is planned for Monday, July 14, 2025 starting at 6:00pm and will be held at the C-P Admin Conference Room, 13017 Texas Highway 11 East, Como, Texas 75431.
Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson Talked with John Mark Dempsey About an Upcoming Program on Bees on This Second Cup Of Coffee
July 10, 2025 – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Hopkins County Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson had A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey recently. On this episode, John Mark and Ronnie chatted about Earth Kind Gardening, the benefit of planting marigolds in your garden, a program the Master Gardeners are going to have July 17, 2025, at 6:30pm at the AgriLife Extension Office about bees, and so much more. Be sure to take a look at this segment of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey and see what you will learn!
A Cold Case Murder has Been Solved
July 10, 2025 – A cold case murder has been solved after nearly 30 years according to an announcement from the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office.
A statement from the Sheriff’s Office says: “After nearly three decades, a major development has been made in the 1996 murder of Geraldine Blackmon. On Tuesday, 71-year-old William Doyle Magness of Midlothian, Texas, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the cold case.”
Working with the Texas Rangers, Hopkins County Sheriff’s investigators executed a search warrant at Magness’s residence on Tuesday. During the warrant service, an arrest warrant for murder was also served, and Magness was taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the jail on s charge of murder. His bond is set at $1 million.
The sheriff’s office says the arrest is the result of a comprehensive re-investigation of the 1996 homicide, including re-interviewing of witnesses, conducting extensive forensic analysis, and the critical discovery of new ballistic evidence. A gun barrel recovered from Magness’s residence in 2025 was positively matched to the bullet collected from the 1996 crime scene, providing the crucial link needed to move the case forward.
Sheriff Lewis Tatum praised the dedication of the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office investigators Shea Shaw and Chris Baumann. And he thanks Texas Rangers Warren Williamson and David Stewart for their partnership and expert support.
Sheriff Tatum also thanks Constable Dennis Findley, who worked the case during his tenure at the Sheriff’s Office, and Cherry Rice, the original lead investigator assigned to the case in 1996.
“Without the hard work and dedication of Mrs. Rice in the original investigation, this case would have never been solved,” Tatum stated. “Her determination ensured that evidence and documentation were preserved for all these years, which proved instrumental in bringing us to this point.”
The arrest of Magness marks a significant step toward achieving justice for Geraldine Blackmon and offers long-overdue answers to her family and the Hopkins County community.
This remains an ongoing investigation, and no additional details will be released at this time.
Sulphur Springs Family’s Worst Fears were Confirmed on Monday
July 10, 2025 – A Sulphur Springs family’s worst fears were confirmed on Monday when their parents were found dead as a result of the catastrophic flooding in Central Texas.
James and Cindy Rushing had traveled to the Hill Country for the Fourth of July holiday with a camper pulled by a pickup truck.
They did not say exactly where they were camping, but that they were located along the Guadalupe River near Fredericksburg.
Cell phone records indicate the Rushing’s camped at the HRT Texas Hill Country Campground.
The devastating flash flood hit Kerr County and the surrounding area about 4 a.m. Friday morning, as more than a foot of rain fells in a very short time.
K-E-T-K television in Tyler reports that Tamra Blasius, the Rushings’ daughter, says: “Our hearts are broken, and our family is devastated by the loss of both of our parents. There are no words for this kind of pain, but we are clinging to one another and to the love and prayers so many of you have sent our way.”
Tamra continued: “Thank you — deeply — for every message, every prayer, and every kind gesture during this unimaginable time. Please continue to keep our family in your prayers as we walk through the days ahead.”
Old Saltillo Cemetery Annual Meeting and Memorial Service to be Held July 20th
July 10, 2025 -OLD SALTILLO CEMETERY ANNUAL MEETING/MEMORIAL SERVICE
SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2025 – 10:30 A.M.
Members of the Board of Directors of the Old Saltillo Cemetery Association have been making plans for the 2025 Memorial Day Program/Annual Business Meeting. As tradition, the program will be held on the third Sunday, July 20th from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon at the beautifully renovated and air-conditioned Old Saltillo United Methodist Church, located on 664 CR 3357, directly across the road from the cemetery. The program will begin with congregational singing let by Steve Conley and accompanied by pianists, Lynda Davidson. Rev. Dan Hoke will give the invocation. A patriotic recognition of the veterans will be led by Lucas Dennis with all of the youth in attendance assisting.
Next, greetings will be made by Dr. Trapper Pace. After that, the Annual Business Meeting will be held which consists of a report on the activities taken and work performed for the care of the cemetery during the past year, a financial report, and the election of three members for three-year terms to the Board of Directors.
Each year, a special memorial tribute to those interred in the Old Saltillo Cemetery in the preceding twelve months is conducted. Special music by will be presented by Steve Conley and Lynda Davidson. This year, Kelli McAfee Traver assisted by Ginny Agee Doyle will make the presentation to recognize the loved ones that have been interred in the Old Saltillo Cemetery this past year. Members of the family of each person buried in the cemetery during this past year are encouraged to attend and participate in the honoring of their loved ones.
An outstanding program has been planned. The speaker this year is Will Ramsay, Hopkins County District Attorney.
After the benediction given by Constance McGill, lunch will be served in the air-conditioned Kirby Memorial Center. Everyone is asked to bring the usual full meal with ample portions to be shared with others. The food will be arranged in buffet style with cups, plates, napkins, eating utensils, and water and iced tea being furnished. Seating will be available inside Kirby Memorial Center but for those who still prefer Memorial Day lunch outdoors, space is available under the shade of the church’s large oak trees. Please bring lawn chairs and card tables so that you can enjoy the lunch and fellowship after the service.
Time will be provided at lunch and later during the afternoon for visiting – renewing old acquaintances and making new friends. Please make plans to attend the service to be held on the Third Sunday in July.
Members of the Board of Directors of the Old Saltillo Cemetery Association are Randy Agee, Ryan Agee, Lou Briley Daniel, Vivian Dennis-Monzingo, Sara Wardrup, Kathy Whitten Patterson, Kelli McAfee Trave, Shane Thedford, and Lucas Dennis.
SID MILLER ADDRESSES FALSE CLAIMS REGARDING CLOUD SEEDING AND WEATHER MODIFICATION
July 10, 2025 – “There has been a lot of misinformation flying around lately, so let me clarify: the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has absolutely no connection to cloud seeding or any form of weather modification.
Since the passage of Senate Bill 1303 in 2011, TDA has had no legal authority, responsibilities, or involvement in any weather modification programs. That authority was transferred out of our hands more than a decade ago.
As an eighth-generation farmer and rancher, I know what it’s like to watch the sky during a drought, hoping for rain. When Texas experiences a dry spell, I don’t depend on artificial weather manipulation; I turn to my faith. I kneel and pray, just as many farmers, ranchers, and rural communities do.
Let’s put an end to the conspiracy theories and stop blaming others. Our priority should be the recovery efforts in the Texas Hill Country, as we stand in solidarity with our fellow Texans.”
Governor Abbott Announces Special Session Agenda
July 10, 2025 | Austin, Texas | Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation identifying 18 agenda items for the upcoming Special Session that begins at 12:00 PM on Monday, July 21.
“We delivered on historic legislation in the 89th Regular Legislative Session that will benefit Texans for generations to come,” said Governor Abbott. “There is more work to be done, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country. We must ensure better preparation for such events in the future.”
The Special Session agenda items include:
FLOOD WARNING SYSTEMS: Legislation to improve early warning systems and other preparedness infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas.
FLOOD EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS: Legislation to strengthen emergency communications and other response infrastructure in flood-prone areas throughout Texas.
RELIEF FUNDING FOR HILL COUNTRY FLOODS: Legislation to provide relief funding for response to and recovery from the storms which began in early July 2025, including local match funding for jurisdictions eligible for FEMA public assistance.
NATURAL DISASTER PREPARATION & RECOVERY: Legislation to evaluate and streamline rules and regulations to speed preparedness for and recovery from natural disasters.
ELIMINATE STAAR TEST: Legislation to eliminate the STAAR test and replace it with effective tools to assess student progress and ensure school district accountability.
CUT PROPERTY TAXES: Legislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property taxes.
PROTECT CHILDREN FROM THC: Legislation making it a crime to provide hemp-derived products to children under 21 years of age.
REGULATE HEMP-DERIVED PRODUCTS : Legislation to comprehensively regulate hemp-derived products, including limiting potency, restricting synthetically modified compounds, and establishing enforcement mechanisms, all without banning a lawful agricultural commodity.
PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN: Legislation further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion.
BAN TAXPAYER-FUNDED LOBBYING: Legislation prohibiting taxpayer-funded lobbying, including the use of tax dollars to hire lobbyists and payment of tax dollars to associations that lobby the Legislature.
PROTECT HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 1278 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that protects victims of human trafficking from criminal liability for non-violent acts closely tied to their own victimization.
POLICE PERSONNEL RECORDS: Legislation that protects law enforcement officers from public disclosure of unsubstantiated complaints in personnel files.
PROTECT WOMEN’S SPACES: Legislation protecting women’s privacy in sex-segregated spaces.
ATTORNEY GENERAL ELECTION POWERS: Legislation proposing a constitutional amendment allowing the Attorney General to prosecute state election crimes.
REDISTRICTING: Legislation that provides a revised congressional redistricting plan in light of constitutional concerns raised by the U.S. Department of Justice.
TITLE THEFT & DEED FRAUD: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 648 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that provides strengthened protections against title theft and deed fraud.
WATER PROJECT INCENTIVES: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 1253 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, that authorizes political subdivisions to reduce impact fees for builders who include water conservation and efficiency measures.
STATE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT: Legislation, similar to Senate Bill No. 2878 from the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, relating to the operation and administration of the Judicial Department of state government.
Dinner Bell for July 16, 2025
DINNER BELL, First United Methodist Church
SPONSOR: Christus Health
The doors to Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church will open at 11:00 a.m. Meal service begins at 11:30 a.m. and doors will close at 12:45 p.m. Please come join us to share fellowship and a meal.
Christus Health can trace its history to 1866 with the founding of St. Mary’s Hospital in Galveston, Texas, by the sisters of Charity. In 2016 Christus merged with Trinity Mother Frances hospital and Clinics (itself a product of a merger of two catholic based systems) in Tyler, Texas, and formed an alliance with Hopkins County Hospital District in which Christus became the leasing entity of the hospital building, its employes, and the medical services of the hospital.
The goal of Christus Health is to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves with the underlying core values of Compassion, Excellence, Dignity, Integrity, and Stewardship. Under its umbrella are 63 hospitals in the United States, Mexico, Columbia, and Chile, employing 45,000 associates.
Christus Mother Frances is a partner with Dinner Bell six times yearly. The relationship to feed those needing a meal in Sulphur Springs and its vicinity dates back to 2017. Thank you Christus Health!
Thank you to the Sulphur Springs News Telegram staff who will be with us and help serve!
We plan to continue inside dining every Wednesday with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christ mas and New Years Day.
- Mexican Lasagna
- Mexican Street Corn
- Garden Salad with a Mexican flair
- Snickerdoodles
The Dinner Bell Ministry
First United Methodist Church
Take care of YOURSELF by following safe health practices as flu and COVID are lurking in our midst! Wear masks where required! Wash your hands often! Get inoculated and boosted
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH !!!
Earth Kind Gardening By Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson
July 8, 2025 – The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension has developed the EarthKind program to teach and inform gardeners about gardening practices that are environmentally friendly. Simply explained, the EarthKind system starts with a complete and totally organic plan, and then uses a gradual step-by-step increase in the use of non-organic practices if the need or situation demands.
Many gardeners, both new and experienced, want to grow things organically, and being 100% organic is a wonderful goal. However, organic gardening is not a “plant it and forget it” endeavor. Successful organic gardening requires timely application of products and/or maintenance, and sometimes waiting a day can be disastrous. Organic practices are designed to prohibit or minimize problems in the garden, and when a problem arises, if not treated quickly, the plant suffers. Organic products use chemicals and fertilizers that are designed to be less toxic than non-organic products in order to be more friendly to our environment. The EarthKind program teaches gardeners to have success with the how, when, what, and why of organic gardening.
One example of the EarthKind approach is the treatment of insect infestations. Before insect pests are present, it is helpful to place “sacrificial” plants among or close to the desirable plants that will attract the insects, with the idea the insects will feed on them rather than the desirable plant. For example, marigolds are a diversion plant when growing tomatoes, and planting lemon grass in the garden can help repel some invaders.
Before using strong chemical pesticides, hand-picking the pests can be helpful. Squash bugs can be somewhat controlled by hand-picking, along with using simple traps. Depending on your plant and the pest to be controlled, spraying your desirable plants with a mixture of water, baking soda, and vinegar can help control many insect pests.
The EarthKind system does provide for the use of non-organic chemicals, but only after all the organic solutions have been tried. EarthKind gardening also includes information on planning, pest management, composting, fertilization, watering, and many other topics of interest to gardeners. Explore the websites and have a happy, EarthKind garden!!
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/training/
Sunflowers By Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson
July 8, 2025 – Is there any plant better suited to represent summer than the sunflower? These magnificent giants with their large, colorful flowers defy the heat and bring smiles to everyone who sees them.
An extremely hardy plant, sunflowers have been around in the USA for over a thousand years, back to the time of the Cahokia mound builders in the St.Louis area. Sunflowers are the only native major field crop grown today, and commercial crop acreage averages 2 million acres a year.
As a food crop, sunflower demand exploded in the 1970s, due to European demand for sunflower oil. Sunflower seeds contain 40-45% of their weight in oil. This oil is the largest market for sunflowers in the world.
In addition to being a human food source (sunflower seeds, sunflower oil), sunflowers have many other uses. Their flowers feed pollinators, the seeds feed song birds, the seed hulls are used as silage, and the plant’s deep taproot can help improve tight soils.
Sunflowers grow in many types of soils, but they do best in coarse, moisture-limited soil, and are fairly easy to grow in Hopkins County. In the spring, plant the seeds 1 inch deep in lightly tilled soil, and enjoy a gorgeous, majestic display of color all summer long!
