Video: Dairy Festival Hot Air Balloon Weekend
KSST/Channel 18’s Doug Haston captures the weekend at the 2017 Dairy Festival Hot Air Balloon Rally. From the media morning to the final glow, a collection of interviews, sights, and sounds presented as only he can…
Danna’s and The Florist Moving Locations
Danna’s and The Florist are moving to a new location! Danna’s Southern Style and The Florist are celebrating 20 wonderful years of service which all started out in 1997. Danna Bain, and Debbie Allison, a member of Danna’s staff and former SSISD teacher, sat down with KSST to talk about the move. Danna first opened her business on Industrial Drive which began because of her love of antiques and gift items and Sulphur Springs was her mother’s hometown. Also Sulphur Springs was said to be “The fastest growing little town east of Dallas!”
In 2004 she expanded by opening the Florist shop at 438 Gilmer street. In 2011, She moved the Florist to the gift shop location on Industrial Drive to better serve her customers and the community. As the years passed and her businesses continued to grow, she opened “The Event Center” on Gilmer Street. This facility offered space to rent and hold special events as well as allow customers a place to rent items for weddings, showers, parties, etc.
Additionally every Saturday on the square with the Weekly Markets, Customers know to find Danna’s tent which will be set up with different displays such as candles and their mud pie dish collections.
With her 27 years of experience in Canton and a love and knowledge of vintage items, Danna embarked on her long time dream of creating the Bi-annual Flea Market Swap Meet to be held at the Hopkins County Civic Center in November and April. With this newest endeavor, Danna expects vendors and friends that she has made to be visiting Sulphur Springs from locations throughout Texas and the United States. It’s like a mini Canton. Local vendors can lease or buy a spot to showcase their specialties and interests. Local vendors are encouraged to get creative with their booths by displaying anything from: specialty-knitting, homemade crafts, woodwork, metal work, or even garage sale items. Check with Danna’s about renting a booth if you are interested. Danna suggest having a theme for your booth. Her booth will be the Buffalo Girls. Allison stated: “Buffalo stands for strength, lasting over the years, fierceness, fearlessness, and hard work.” 
The Buffalo Girls will have matching t-shirts and the creed on the back that Danna’s store lives by. 
“Buffalo Girls, Stand your ground, have a tough hide, keep moving on, wide open spaces, have a strong spirit, roam wild and free, let the chips fall where they may.” The metal buffalo in front of Danna’s new store location will also serve as the Flea Market mascot. 
“After much prayer and preparation Danna’s is moving back home to 438 Gilmer Street.” “[It’s] a main artery to the downtown district and “the heartbeat of the city” Danna wants her friends and customers to know that they can still expect that down home atmosphere and now they can find everything they need in one place.” Allison said.”We’ll be keeping our best lines and bringing in new items of vintage quilts and eclectic “junque” because that’s where Danna’s heart is. We hope that our friends, family, customers, and visitors will find this new location much more acceptable and convenient.” Danna’s new location will combine the gift shop , florist, and rental center. The Event Center can no longer be rented for events because it now houses everything you might need to rent for special occasions. “Whether it be for a huge wedding or gathering or small intimate dinner, We’ll have everything there for you to shop from. We can help you select exactly what you will need to make your day one to remember.”
In looking back over the past 20 years “I have so many special memories. The first one that comes to my mind was the time that out store flooded on Industrial Drive. What a mess-and it was crazy! But our friends and customers came to our rescue and continued to shop with us. Also it was a blessing when our customers and visitors became repeat customers and soon became like family.” Danna said. ” I’m thankful for the patronage of my Sulphur Springs and Canton Customers and the loyalty of my friends. They have helped to make all of my dreams come true. We are looking forward to the many memorable events that are yet to come. Please come by and be a part of Danna’s next 20 years and experience the many exciting future events. We are elated to see the return of our current customers and always welcome new visitors of Sulphur Springs.”
Student Looks To Future with Summer Classes and Dual Credit Classes Next School Year
EARLY START: Sulphur Springs High School junior Daisyia Wies, left, is getting an early start on her college career as she registers for summer classes at PJC-Sulphur Springs Center. Wies, who plans to enter a pre-med program, will be enrolled in dual credit classes at PJC in the fall. Assisting Daisyia are her mom, Brenda, and PJC-Sulphur Springs Center advisor Carey Gable.
Natalie and Avery…Dairy Fest Queen Contestants
Dairy Festival Contestant #5 Natalie Cruz and Contestant #1 Allie Avery
Contestant #1 Allie Avery is the daughter of Anthony and Tenny Tanton and the late Stan Avery. In the talent competition, she will play a piano instrumental to “A Tale as Old as Time” from Beauty and the Beast. For evening gown competition, she will be wearing a royal blue and white gown with a train. Allie has studied piano since childhood and been involved in her church youth praise team. Allis is “Wally the Wildcat” football mascot. Also in high school,she studies floral design/horticulture, is on the Student Council and is Junior Class officer. Allie also takes part in Key Club, BPA, FFA, Dare to Dream and is head Pledge in Hi King Klub. After high school, Allie plans to attend college and major in Business and in Engineering.
Contestant #5 is Natalie Cruz, daughter of Curtis and Kathy Wright. On pageant night, she will play piano and sing an original song called “Made of Glass”. Her evening wear will be a royal blue ball gown. Music is part of her life with seven years of school band on bass clarinet, plus private lessons in piano, guitar and ukulele. In school, she is ranked in top 3% of her class, and acquired 15 college credits during her Junior year. She is state-ranked as a Texas Music Educators Association Scholar. Natalie is also state-ranked in UIL Editorial Writing and state-ranked in BPA Leadership. She is a 3-year member of the Wildcat Color Guard. She is in French Club and in Student Council is Parliamentarian of the Senior Class for 2018. She has studied Tae Kwondo and was a Girl Scout. She is a member of First Baptist Church and has volunteered for numerous mission trips. She is also a Young Eagle and is pursuing her private pilot’s license. She also hopes to pursue a career in the nursing field following college at Baylor University.
Next, we will interview Jaci and Marissa, then spend some time chatting with reigning Queen Sadie Evans about her year representing Hopkins County, before she crowns a new Queen on pageant night. Listen to KSST and Channel 18 TV at 8:15am this week!
Alliance Bank Celebrated 90th Birthday
On Tuesday, June 13th, Alliance Bank employees celebrated the bank’s 90th birthday with Happy Birthday donuts. Alliance Bank is celebrating all month long with fun events and activities for the community and valued customers.
For more information on Alliance Bank’s 90th birthday click here.
Also be sure to tune in on June 21st to KSST’s Morning Show with Enola Gay, and special guest Tom Sellers to find out more about all of the exciting events planned.
Parking Lot at Prim, Head Start Vehicle, Instructional Materials Among Action Items Approved by SSISD Board
In action items, the Sulphur Springs ISD Board approved a $751,420 bid for a concrete parking lot on the east side of Prim Stadium, the purchase of a vehicle for Head Start, and other items Tuesday night during the June meeting.
The parking lot will be built in the location once occupied by Eagle Stadium. The baseball stadium is being rebuilt on the west side of school property at the high school near Lady Cat Park and the tennis complex. Anchor Concrete won the bid for the parking lot. Work is set to begin in the next two weeks.
Head Start will purchase a vehicle using funds that were already in the budget. The $22,000 needed for the purchase will be moved from Personnel line item to Equipment line item. The board also approved a funding request for a one time cost of living allowance of over $12,000 to increase salaries for head start. The COLA request will be submitted and is expected to be approved by federal agencies.
Mike Horne was appointed to the Hopkins County Tax Appraisal Board on behalf of the school district.
In other action, Student accident insurance will remain with the current company and Languages other than English Instructional Materials were adopted for implementation in the new school year. The materials for the high school French and Spanish classes were approved as recommended.
Monk Tells Board Summer Programs Keeping SSISD Campuses Busy
Summer activities have made SSISD campuses busy places during June according to a report given by Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk to the Sulphur Springs School Board Tuesday night during their June meeting.
Monk stated that 120 are participating in the Happy Campers Summer Reading Program for students Grades in Kindergarten through 5th grade. The summer reading program takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. through July 18th at the Sulphur Springs Elementary School.
Also at the SSES campus, the YMCA program for children 4-12 years of age has near 70 enrolled. The YMCA program begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. Monday-Friday through August 4th. The cost for the YMCA program is $60. Monk told the board that last year they feared small numbers would end the program but the turn out this year is proving successful.
A 4-H Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness has 40 campers and a waiting list as well. The 4-H camp on the SSES campus is for students who have completed Grades 1-4. The camp is 9 a.m. until noon each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through June 30th. Cost for the 4-H camp is $10.
Happy Campers! #summerschool2.0 is for students completing Grades PK-2 and includes general education and ESL. Summer School is 8 a.m. until 2p.m. through July 18.
For all attending the programs at the SSES and those not attending but who need a meal, the Summer Child Nutrition Program provides breakfast and lunch for children ages 1-year through age 18. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. until 8:15 a.m. and lunch is served from 10:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The Summer Child Nutrition Program runs through July 27.
The STARR Blitz for 5th Grade students at Douglas School from 8 a.m. until noon each day, June 12-15 provides 19 Tutorials and June 20-21 will provide STAAR re-testing.
At the Middle School, the STARR Blitz for 8th Grade students provides Tutorials, June 12-15, and re-testing, June 20-21 from 7:45 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.
Another program at the Middle School is the STEM Camp for students completing grades 4-7. That event will feature teams that will program drones to do medical drops. Monk stated the school district had to register the drones with the FAA, which created a new wrinkle in school planning. Cost for the STEM Camp is $50 and is June 27-29.
Credit Recovery for high school students is June 5-July 19 at the Austin Academic Center from 8 a.m. until noon or 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. and EOC tutorials and testing for high school students takes place at the high school.
Amex becomes “Official” Hilton Credit Card Supplier
As many seasoned travelers know, obtaining extra “points” through a credit card sign-up is a great way to get a jump start on free travel or enjoy perks from a hotel chain. One recent development is with the Hilton brand of hotels and their agreement with American Express. Previously, Hilton had partnered with both Amex and Citibank, but have recently decided to end their relationship with Citibank at the end of 2017. This will cut the number of cards that you can apply for from four down to two. Of course, Amex may expand their offering in the future, but the Citibank cards that earn Hilton Honors Points, will no longer be available. As a Hilton Honors member, you can enjoy many perks by being loyal to the Hilton brands, which include Hampton Inn, DoubleTree, and many other properties. Below is a limited offer that will let new Amex Surpass cardholders easily earn 100,000 Honors points (redeemable at over 4,600 properties worldwide), after the cardholder meets the initial spending requirement. This Amex Surpass 100K offer will end 7/26/17 as the current offer. If you access the same offer through the American Express site the bonus is only 75,000 points. By having this credit card, you also enjoy instant “Gold” status which gives you free breakfast for many stays and other perks as well. This is a great bonus for folks that travel infrequently. You do not have to be a current Hilton Honors member to apply for this card. You must use the link by clicking on the ad below to get the higher sign-up bonus. After clicking on the link, be sure and read all of the Rates & Fees as well as the other Benefit information supplied by Amex.
Amex Surpass 100,000 point offer
Power Surge Provides Sheriff’s Office Problems
Hopkins County Sheriff’s office was the victim of a power surge Tuesday at 5 p.m. resulting in Wednesday problems for cameras in the building. The generator for the building was engaged and other than some computers and the cameras there were no personnel or jail concerns as a result of the surge.
The surge did affect the monitoring system for the sheriff’s office. Camera time lagged behind and the cameras on the parking lot were down for some time. The two cameras focused on the safe zone were down as a result of the surge.
Wednesday morning saw workers restoring all that was affected by the surge.
