Tira News August 11, 2017
by Jan Vaughn
A time of remembrance for Floyd and Teresa Benefield will be held at the Tira Community Center on Sunday, August 13th, at 2:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served by friends of the Tira community. Please be in prayer for the family.
Teachers, administrators, and staff of the North Hopkins Independent School District returned for the new school year on Tuesday, August 8th, and were treated to a wonderful meal and great door prizes at the Peerless Baptist Church. Interim pastor, Kent Pate, shared words of encouragement with the group. Everyone at North Hopkins is very appreciative of their hospitality. Students return to school on Monday, August 21st.
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].
Beef Tips (From Beef Cattle Short Course in TAMU) By Mario Villarino
This week I got the chance of attend and participate at the TAMU Beef Short Course in College Station. This year, the program attracted more than 2200 attendees and must of the session I participate were very well attended. The major topics that attracted my interest were on the Animal Health track. For those who have not attended this yearly event, the set-up of the lectures is divided in topics of interest, and the sessions are conducted concurrent. A participant can attend any session offered but must decide ahead since the sessions are conducted live and chances are that due to scheduling a participant could miss a lecture if attention is not provided to the program. This year several producers from Hopkins County came to the program and I got the chance to spend time with some of them. It is also possible to miss participants due to the size and number of concurrent session. During the event, just because you do not see somebody, does not mean that they were not there!
Trichomoniasis Control Program: Changes are proposed to the Texas Animal Health Commission Working Group related to diagnostic, bull testing and the possibility of including females into the testing protocols. As on today, those are just suggestions after years of program implementation. The working group will discuss and evaluate those suggestions and probably make changes in the future.
Tick Fever Program: According to the Texas Animal Health Commission, the fever tick problem continues in the south part of Texas. There is a report of at least one outbreak already outside of the permanent quarantine zone. Some of the challenges of the program include cattle smuggled from Mexico, exotic hoofstock keeping the ticks and financial resources to maintain treatment in affected areas.
Warts in cattle: A common concern for cattle ranchers in Texas are warts or also known as papillomatosis. According to producers from central Texas, the problem is severe. I am not aware for us having a big number of cases of cattle warts and the few ones I know related to cattle overcrowding.
I will continue to share some of the information collected on the beef short course in the next few weeks to come.
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Small Changes Can Have Big Lifetime Results By Johanna Hicks
Small Changes Can Have Big Lifetime Results
During my recent Texas Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences state conference in Round Rock, our opening session speaker provided some great information that we, as Extension Family & Consumer Sciences agents, have been teaching. It’s always good to know that the same messages are being shared across the state. Roberta Anding, clinical and sports dietitian for Baylor College of Medicine Corporate Programs Department of Orthopedic Surgery, is passionate about helping individuals understand that their choices can greatly influence well-being, and she shared the following information.
The title of her presentation was “Health 401K – Making Deposits in Your Wellness Bank.” Wellness is something that should be sustainable. When it comes to diets, if it sounds too good to be true, it is! She indicated that small changes can have big lifetime results. For example, switching from whole milk to skim milk can save 25,000 calories per year. Switching from a 12-ounce soda to a diet soda can save 54,000 calories per year. Note, we’re not necessarily advocating diet soda, but the calorie savings are dramatic. Of course the best beverage choice is water to quench thirst. Adding one more fruit or vegetable per day adds 1,825 grams of fiber per year.
So, the whole goal is to make deposits into your Health 401K, rather than withdrawals! Taste and convenience seem to be the two driving forces behind food choices. Research indicates that whatever size plate we use, we will fill it and consume 92% to 100% of what’s on the plate. So, the key is to limit the plate size as an effective tool to limit caloric intake. Check the size of the dinner plate you use at home. A 9-inch plate is the maximum recommended size.
Another key to remember is that protein has the biggest impact on satiety. You need protein at each meal, whether plant or animal-based. At any given meal, eat the protein food first. You will feel more satisfied. Eating a high-protein breakfast has benefits that last throughout the day – better appetite control, better satiety, and reduction of evening snacking. When it comes to protein, lean is still best. Lean = loin when it comes to beef and pork.
Physical activity also plays an important role in your health. Thirty to sixty minutes of physical activity per day is recommended. Anding also said that everybody needs strength training twice a week, as well. As we age, we lose muscle at an increasing rate. Simply using one to three pounds weights for upper body strength training can have good results. Ten thousands steps per day (approximately 5 miles) are needed. Unfortunately, the average American gets about 5,500 steps per day. Consider 10,000 steps as your WD-40 – it makes everything on the inside work better.
So, work on making deposits in your Health 401K just as you do your financial 401K!
Twogether in Texas Marriage Education Workshop
This workshop is only two weeks away, and we still have room for more couples! Marriage Expectations, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Money Management, and Goals and Dreams are the topics to be covered, and engaged couples will receive a certificate to save $60 upon applying for a marriage license.
The workshop is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200-B West Houston Street, Sulphur Springs. We’ll start at 8:30 a.m. and end around 3:30 p.m. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and perhaps the best part is that this is a free workshop! This is a funk informative workshop that includes, videos, couple interaction, and group activities. That’s a win-win situation. Please call the Extension Office at 903-885-3443 to reserve seats.
Closing Thought
You can’t do a good job if your job is all you do.
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]
Video Interview: A Shining Star: Amanda Thompson Brandenburg
Amanda Thompson Brandenburg admits she was bitten by the theater bug early in life, during a First Baptist Church children’s play where she sang publicly for the first time. During her growing-up years in Sulphur Springs, she was onstage as often as she could be in school productions, children’s summer workshops and local community theater. In college and away from home, she stayed close to her roots and in recent years she and her husband moved to her hometown to raise their twin sons.
During 2017, Amanda is very engaged, playing a number of real-life roles including Mom, President of her own production company Shining Star Productions and professional actress with the Repertory Company Theater in Dallas.
Amanda sits down with Enola Gay in the Channel 18 studio to tell us about her journey.
Celebrity Movie Calendar Fundraiser Features Local Talent to Help Sr’s Center
Karon Weatherman displays the first copy of the Hopkins County Senior Celebrity Movie Calendar. This fundraising calendar was the idea of one of the seniors who attends the Center’s activities. It was created to help fund a new, larger Senior Citizen’s Center in Sulphur Springs. The full-color 24-month calendar for 2018/2019 includes twenty-four movie poster photos featuring local senior citizens you may know. Cost is $20 per calendar, and they will make great Christmas gifts. For information, phone 903-885-1661 or visit the Sr’s Center at 150 MLK Drive in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Karon’s visit to the Good Morning Show also revealed plans for more events for seniors….
42 Tournament on Saturday August 19 starting at 10am. A pizza lunch will be provided. Cost to enter is $10 person through August 11, then $25 per team of two. At the Sr’s Center, 150 MLK Drive
Senior Olympics on Thursday August 24 at The Roc, downtown Sulphur Springs. 1K at 9:30am, other events start at 10am. Free for anyone age 50 through 80-plus. Wheelchairs and walkers OK.
The Volunteer Fair on Thursday September 14 at Sr’s Center. This event will attract volunteers to help your organization. Booth space available at $15.
Chamber Connection August 10,2017
I’m so excited about the upcoming 2nd Annual Chamber of Commerce Photography Contest! Let me review the basics. Anyone of any age can enter as we have a children’s category. The picture must be newer than January 1, 2015, and must have been taken in Hopkins County. The contest will be open from August 1st to August 31st. There are seven categories you may enter: Natural World, Travel, People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children’s Category. Only digital images are accepted (no prints). To submit your photograph, email the picture to [email protected]. Rules and releases will be available on the Chamber of Commerce website. I cannot wait to see your beautiful photos!
Just so you know… the Hopkins county Stew Contest is peering around the corner! Every year, the Chamber allows a non-profit organization to sell drinks at the Stew Cook-off. There are several rules and regulations to follow, but if you are interested in placing your organization’s name in the hat, please call the Chamber. You will be asked to come in and sign an understanding agreement in regards to rules and expectations. Deadline for volunteers is August 26th. Once we have all our volunteers in place, we will literally pick one out of a hat and award drink sales to that organization. Please call if you have any questions.
Shining Star Productions presents Beauty and the Beast August 11-13
Shining Star Productions presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, August 11-13, at the SSISD Auditorium.
Tickets are $10.00 in advance and may be purchased at the S. S. Public Library, Alliance Bank, and The Sewing Queens. Tickets will be $12.00 at the door and are required for ages 2 & up. Performances are Friday, August 11 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, August 13 at 2:00 p.m. There will be a special performance on Saturday, August 12 at 2:00 p.m. featuring the Jr. Cast. Don’t miss this production!
The 11th Annual Hot August Night BBQ Cook-off will be held on Saturday, August 12th
The whole weekend is scheduled to be full of Hot August Nights! Come watch firefighters from across the country compete in the Firefighter Combat Challenge at the Hopkins County Civic Center grounds on Friday, August 11th and Saturday, August 12th. The challenge is free for all to watch. The BBQ cook-off food service will begin at 4 p.m., and winners will be announced at 5 p.m. Proceeds from the BBQ cook-off support the Hopkins county Volunteer firemen.
Northeast Texas Choral Society is holding auditions on Saturday, August 12th
Northeast Texas Choral Society is holding open auditions on Saturday, August 12th from 10:00 a.m. until noon. The auditions will be held in First United Methodist Church’s Choir Room (upstairs from the fellowship hall), 301 Church Street in Sulphur Springs. The Choral Society is celebrating its 20th year, so come out and be a part of the Choral Society!
Century 21 First Group is hosting an Ice Cream Social on Saturday, August 12th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Century 21 First Group is hosting an Ice Cream Social on Saturday, August 12th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Come socialize while enjoying free ice cream, and register for the $100 local gift card giveaway! The Ice Cream Social will be held at 210 Connally Street.
Hopkins Place Senior Living is hosting a Canine Fashion Show on August 15th at 6:30 p.m.
Hopkins Place Senior Living is hosting a Canine Fashion Show on Tuesday, August 15th, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you are a dog lover, you won’t want to miss this! You may also enter YOUR dog to compete in the show! Show up by 6:00 p.m. and enter your pup on the runway. Entry fee is 10 pounds of dog food. Hopkins Place is located at 890 Camp Street in Sulphur Springs.
Reilly Springs Jamboree presents Hanah & Hailee on August 19th at 7 p.m.
The Reilly Springs Community Center presents Hanah & Hailee, Country Duo, on Saturday, August 19th at 7 p.m. Admission is $10.00 per person, and you will surely get your money’s worth. The Jamboree is held at the Reilly Springs Community Center, 109 CR 1439, in Sulphur Springs. Come and enjoy some real country music!
Texas AgriLife Extension Office is hosting many classes this month, and here they are:
Course: Pesticide Applicator Certification for Private Applicators. The Texas Department of Agriculture requires users of insecticides and herbicides to obtain and maintain a private applicator license.
Location: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200-B Houston Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas
Date and Time: August 16, 10:00-2:00
Cost: $25.00, which includes lunch.
RSVP to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office at 903-885-3443.
Note: No testing will be conducted on this day. Contact the Texas Department of Agriculture for exam arrangements. Teaching materials and rules and regulations for sale ($40.00) at the Hopkins County Extension Office.
Course: Cooking Well with Diabetes. Attend this series of four fun-filled, interactive classes packed with research-based information and delicious diabetes-friendly recipes.
Location: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200-B Houston Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas
Dates: Series of 4 classes, September 12, 14, 19 and 24
Times: 1:30 p.m. OR 6:00 p.m. (choice)
Cost: $25, payable at the first session
Call 903-885-3443 to reserve your space or if you need additional information.
Course: Free Marriage Education Workshop. This informative workshop is offered to married couples, engaged couples, and seriously-dating couples. Come and discuss ways to improve communication skills, marriage expectations, conflict resolution, money management, and more!
Location: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200-B Houston Street, Sulphur Springs, Texas
Date and Time: August 26, 2017, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
There is no cost, and lunch is provided
Facilitator: Johanna Hicks
RSVP to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office at 903-885-3443
Note: Engaged couples who complete this workshop will receive a gift certificate to save $60 upon applying for a marriage license!
Hunt County Regional is hosting the Mobile Mammography Coach on August 24th
Hunt County Regional Hospital is bringing the Tubby Adkisson Memorial Mobile Mammography Coach to town on August 24th, to the Spring Village Shopping Center in Sulphur Springs. Most insurance accepted, including Medicare and Medicaid. They can assist 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 ext. 21. To schedule individual screening mammograms, please call (903) 408-5010. Appointments and pre-registration are requested.
The Hopkins County Fall Festival presents Emerald City Band on Friday, August 25th
The Emerald City Band will be performing on Friday, August 25th, at the Hopkins County Civic Center Arena. The general admission to the concert is free. For VIP ticket information, call (903)243-1925 or email [email protected].
Ribbon Cuttings:
Workforce Solutions of N.E. Texas Ribbon Cutting
Workforce Solutions of N.E. Texas has moved to a new facility and hosted their ribbon cutting on Tuesday, August 8 at 12:00 noon. Their new location, 1513 Houston Street in Sulphur Springs, is a larger space than they had previously which will allow them to offer additional services to those in Hopkins County.
Have a wonderful weekend!
–Lezley
Former Escapee Ebey Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison in Plea Bargain Agreement
Barney Dwayne Ebey has been sentenced to 50 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice following a plea bargain agreement in Eighth Judicial District Court Thursday. Ebey had escaped from a work group at Hopkins County Civic Center in June of this year. Ebey was in court for a pretrial hearing for Engage in Organizied Criminal Activity, a Felony 2.
Ebey escaped from a work group at Hopkins County Civic Center last week. He was located 12 hours later near Athens, Texas when he was tracked by dogs from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Ebey has been in a Tyler hospital where he had been under observation after being transferred from a Henderson County hospital due to medical reasons.
The dogs had torn the rear section of Ebey’s pants away and bitten him on the buttocks. Ebey claimed to have had a heart attack from the chase.
He is now charged with an additional Escape While Arrested/Confined Felony. He is also charged with a March 23, 2017 Escape While Arrested/Confined Felony following his arrest for Engage in Organized Criminal Activity and two counts of Theft of Property less than $30,000.
According to Assistant District Attorney Clay Harrison, Ebey’s criminal record includes:
1. Convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, in Hunt County, Texas, on October 10, 2001, and sentenced to 10 years TDCJ after being revoked on probation.
2. Convicted of Escape in Kaufman County, Texas, on September 4, 2001, and sentenced to 4 years confinement, TDCJ.
3. Convicted of Failure to Identify – Fugitive from Justice in Kaufman County, Texas, on November 19, 2003, and sentenced to 30 days county jail.
4. Convicted of Theft – Second degree felony in Williamson County, Texas, on September 4, 2012, and sentenced to 3 years TDCJ.
5. Convicted of two counts of state jail felony theft in Henderson County, Texas, on May 20, 2013, and sentenced to 12 months confinement in state jail in both cases.
A Sneak Peek at the New AMBUS
By Savannah Owens
Brent Smith , EMS Director, and Jeff Sanderson, EMS team member, took KSST on a private tour of their new AMBUS, and KSST is sharing that with you!
“The bus is owned by the state. There are 13 of them allocated to each location by the State.” Sanderson expressed excitement at this big honor. The bus can be used in any disaster-type situation such as “hurricane deployments, and the human trafficking incident that happened [a few weeks ago].” There are state and regional deployment types. “This bus went to Paris when they had a big apartment fire.”
Cordless vital sign monitor
This AMBUS was set up for transporting 16 patients laying down, but you can convert it to fit 4-5 people sitting up on each seat. They have wheel-chair tie-downs, and 20 cordless vital sign monitors. “We carry everything that are on usual ambulances and more.” Sanderson assured.
“The bus is equipped with regional radios, and satellite communication.” Smith said. Which means the bus can talk to ambulances across Texas, and talk to San Antonio (Main Dispatch center) and the 12 other buses. “Every crew member has a hands free headset to communicate with each other. The driver and crew chief have [additional] access to the radios from their headsets.”
Infant carrier
Smith explained some of the features the bus contains. They have two cardiac defibrillators, a Lucas device (a cardiac chest compression machine), and a winch to help all types of patients onto the beds.”Each bed can have its own oxygen-we have 6 tanks underneath the bus.” They are the only bus in Texas that has an infant carrier. This bus can transport new born babies to elderly adults.
Typical staff plan for the bus includes: “one driver, a crew chief, and four clinicians-which can be paramedics or EMTs depending on the mission.” Smith described. The AMBUS is apart of an the State emergency task force; that assists in disaster and regional response.This bus is also part of the Emergency Medical Task Force (EMFT) and covers region 4, which is East Texas: “from Oklahoma to Trinity, and From Hopkins to the Louisiana state line.”
The idea for these ambulance-buses came from “post Hurricane Katrina. The state bought them for massive hurricane evacuations…It’s a better utilization of resources for the state [to be able to efficiently evacuate citizens and patients from disaster areas.” Smith explained.
This fully equipped AMBUS cost $650,000. Smith stated; “We’re proud to have the ambulance. It’s a great asset [for the community and region]. We are blessed to have it.”
To see the official press release click here.
Sulphur Springs Man Arrest for Burglary Leads to Narcotics Discovery
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigators and deputies served a search warrant for Burglary of a Building but found more than just items taken in the burglary that occurred on Highway 11W. The result of the search led to the arrested of Daren Lee Gibson, 48, of Sulphur Springs.
Having obtained a search warrant for items taken in the property, Hopkins County Investigators and Deputies searched the Gibson residence off Bill Bradford Road in Sulphur Springs.
Heroin
At the residence, investigators found items taken in the burglary along with a quantity of narcotics including heroin, over 2-grams of suspected methamphetamine, and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. An arrest warrant was obtained for Gibson, who is now in Hopkins county jail.
Hydraulic hoses and other items taken in the burglary were located at the residence. One item of paraphernalia found was a bolt that had been hollowed out and a screw in top attached.
Methamphetamine
Gibson was arrested on July 8, 2017 for two charges of possession of a controlled substance and bond was set at $30,000. He posted bond the following day. In May of this year and in February, 2016, he had been arrested on drug charges as well. Other arrests for burglary of a building and possession of narcotics were posted to his record in 2012.
