Redeeming Zoe Seeks Donations to Fight Human Trafficking
“Photos for Freedom” provides area residents an opportunity to become involved in an effort to fight human trafficking. The event is set for Celebration Plaza April 14 & 15. (See accompanying photo.)
Redeeming Zoe is a faith-based 501 c-3 dedicated to giving hope and a future in Jesus Christ to at-risk and exploited children in the Philippines. CEO, Hillary Evans, and Marketing Director, Becca Haskell, founded Redeeming Zoe in 2016.
Both graduates of Texas A&M University-Commerce worked with an orphanage in the Philippines for a year. That experience opened their eyes to the epidemic of human trafficking. They saw, first hand, girls being trafficked by boat and children having to meet certain quotas for their pimps as they sold snacks on the streets. They could not sit back and do nothing.
Over the last year, they have been gathering research and meeting with other organizations on what the best way to approach this fight would look like. Over the next five years, Redeeming Zoe will make efforts to plant a community center in Cebu City, Philippines. Their focus will consist of reaching the community, strengthening the family and saving children from the devastation of child exploitation. As exploitation increases, it is becoming more available and profitable online.
Hillary and Becca are dedicated to putting programs in place that bring value to the families in the Philippines. They are currently in the process of raising funds. In April they will be hosting an event called “Photos for Freedom”. There will be two photographers on site and an informational table with t-shirts for sell as well.
Based out of Sulphur Springs Texas, Hillary and Becca will be moving to Cebu City Philippines. They are available for speaking engagements at events, churches, schools, and other venues as they raise funds for their efforts to fight child exploitation.
Harris Named Interim Fire Chief at North Hopkins
In a press release issued Wednesday night, March 15, 2017, the North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department announced a change in administration. The press release was issued one week following the departure of Craig “Moose” Morgan as Fire Chief. According to the release Morgan is no longer associated with the department. The announcement follows a change in management at The Way Radio Group where Morgan was listed as President. Bobby Harris, a member of the NHVFD and also a partner in The Way Radio Group, has been named Interim Fire Chief.
The release reads, “The North Hopkins Fire Department has had a change in its administration. As of 03/08/2017 Craig “Moose” Morgan is no longer the Fire Chief or associated with NHFD. The Interim Fire Chief is Bobby Harris. There have been no other changes in this organization. NHFD will continue to provide excellent emergency care and services to the citizens of our Fire District. Thank you for your continued support.”
The Way Radio Group, in a press release recently, stated they will continue to provide Christian music through one station they operate and will be changing the format of another. They will continue their events scheduled as well.
Extremely High Levels of Meth Found in 1-Yr and 3-Yr Old Children
When a one year old and three year old tested positive for methamphetamine and tested to have extremely high levels of meth in their system, Child Protective Services removed the children from the care of parents and the Special Crimes Unit secured warrants for two arrests.
Kayla Marie Letney, 27, (picture not available) and Rustin Yates Russell, 40, who live on Highway 11 East near Winnsboro, were arrested on warrants for Injury to Child with Intent Bodily Injury. Letney is being held on a total of $100,000 in bonds and Russel is also in Hopkins County Jail being held on a total of $100,000 in bonds.
He Threw “Joint” Out the Window
When Jacob William Jordan, 37, of Sulphur Springs threw something out the window of his vehicle at 12:19 a.m. Thursday morning, the Hopkins County Deputy that was following him decided to investigate. A traffic stop was initiated and, when asked, Jordan said he threw a “joint” out the window.
The deputy, astutely noting that “joint” is slang for marijuana, observed a green leafy substance all over the driver’s lap. Jordan was asked to exit the vehicle and was arrested.
On the way to jail, Jordan began trying to strangle himself with the seatbelt. The deputy stopped and waited on another deputy to drive to the jail while the first deputy sat in the back seat with Jordan. At the jail, the jail staff found a clear plastic baggy of green leafy substance inside his clothing.
Jordan is charged with Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair, a Felony 3.
Chamber Connection March 16, 2017
We loved the Spring Fever Bike Rally!!! Saturday, March 11th was the Hopkins County Spring Fever Bike Rally. We had a wonderful day in some very chilly temperatures, but we had cyclists come from all over to see our beautiful Hopkins County scenery! Thank you to our very appreciated sponsors: The Bookworm Box, Lowe’s, Oncor, Alliance Bank, Grocery Supply, CBJ, City of Sulphur Springs, Farmers Electric Cooperative, City National Bank, A&S Air Conditioning, Saputo, Atmos Energy, Interstate Body Shop, Connally Street General Store, Scott McDearmont, M.D., Professional Land Title Company, Kelly’s Tax Service, Hampton Inn, BobcatTexas.com, Super Handy, Rotary Club of S.S., Family Life Church, The Way Radio, Journey Baptist Church, Teen Court, Davis Street Baptist Church, Debra Huffman of Nations Lending, Juvenile Probation, and First United Methodist Church Ignite, Splash Kingdom Water Park, City National Bank, Farmer’s Electric Cooperative, City of Sulphur Springs, Sulphur Springs Police Department, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, Divide Baptist Church, Miller Grove School, Cumby First Baptist Church, Peerless Baptist Church, Brashear Baptist Church, Hopkins County EMS, Brian Toliver Ford, Jay Hodge Chevrolet, Sulphur Springs Dodge, Walgreen’s, Wal-Mart, Fix & Feed.
H & R Block is hosting a Block Party on Saturday, March 18th from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
H & R Block, along with other local businesses, is hosting a Block Party to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 18th from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. They are located at 1402 Mockingbird Lane in Sulphur Springs. They will have some fun events for the kiddos, a giveaway, a local nonprofit adoption event. Make plans to stop by and check it out!
Marlene’s Sass & Class is hosting a Grand Opening in her new location on Wednesday, March 22nd
Please join us as we welcome Marelene’s Sass & Class to 212 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. She will host the opening of her new location on Wednesday, March 22nd at noon. Stop by and check out the new store!
Hopkins Place Senior Living is hosting at Blood Drive on Friday, March 24th from 10 a.m. to 3 pm.
Hopkins Place Senior Living is hosting a Celebration of Life Carter Blood Drive on Friday, March 24th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. They are located at 890 Camp Street in Sulphur Springs. For more information, call Shelly Scheckel at (903) 926-6688.
The Largest Exhibitor Expo for Hopkins County is Returning on Saturday, April 1st
The 2nd Annual Home & Outdoor Expo will be held on Saturday, April 1st from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. The Home & Outdoor Expo is presented by The Way Radio Group and Jay Hodge Chevrolet. Vendors and guests are welcomed.
| Hunt County Regional is offering March Mobile Mammography Coach in Sulphur Springs
Hunt County Regional Hospital is offering the Tubby Adkisson Memorial Mobile Mammography Coach on March 23rd 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. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is offering Parenting Connections Classes Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is offering “Parenting Connections”, a 4-lesson series on Child Growth & Development, Parent-Child Communication, Positive Discipline, and Developing Your Child’s Self-Esteem. The series (2 lessons per session) will be held on Thursday, March 23 and Thursday, March 30, 6:00 p.m., at the Hopkins County Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston, Sulphur Springs. Please call 903-885-3443 to enroll. FBC will host at 55+ Health Fair on Tuesday, April 4th at the ROC from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs is hosting a 55+ Health Fair on Tuesday, April 4th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Roc, 115 Putman Street in Sulphur Springs. The 55+ Health Fair will have free health screenings and including cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, body composition, and blood oxygen. They will also have information about pre-need counseling, home health, medical equipment, chiropractic, and pharmacy information as well as deaf and hard of hearing equipment demonstrations. Door prizes will be given away at 12:00 noon. For more information please call Fred Lewis at (903) 885-0646. Cross County Cowboy Church hosts Scroggins Family Benefit on Saturday, April 8th Cross Country Cowboy Church, located at 1515 TX Hwy 19 in Sulphur Springs, will host a benefit for the Scroggins Family. Jason Scroggins was first diagnosed with brain cancer on January 18, 2013. He beat that battle but has been diagnosed again. The benefit for this family will include stew and chili by donation only starting at 4 p.m., silent auction starting at 3:00 p.m., live auction starting at 5:30 p.m., and horseshoes with a sign up at noon. To make donations, please contact Angela at (214) 755-0994, Tori at (903) 440-2588, or Richard at (469) 644-2425. |
Wesley United Methodist Church will host Free AARP Tax Aid on Saturdays until April 8th
Wesley United Methodist Church will host free AARP Tax Aide starting this Saturday, February 4th, from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. They will complete your taxes for free every Saturday and Tuesday until April 8th. Each tax preparation day will last from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wesley United Methodist Church is located at 614 Texas Street in Sulphur Springs.
Hopkins County Fall Festival is Hosting the Circus!
The Hopkins County Fall Festival is hosting the Kelly Miller Circus on Tuesday, March 21st at 4:30pm and 7:30pm, and Wednesday, March 22nd, at 7:30pm. The Big Top performances will be on the Civic Center grounds. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce!
Ribbon Cuttings:
Solar Nails & Spa hosted their Ribbon Cutting Celebration on Tuesday, March 14th at noon
Solar Nails and Spa, located at 1335 S. Broadway in Sulphur Springs, hosted their ribbon cutting on Tuesday, March 14th at noon. Their hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. They offer a wide variety of spa services for women, men, and children.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Lezley Brown
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
NETBIO Cattle Sale Sets Records; Begins Relief Fund for Wildfire Victims
The Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization continues to set records at its pre-conditioned calf and yearling sale.
At the NETBIO March sale held on Wednesday at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Auction, producers offered 7,269 head of calves and yearlings for sale. It was the largest March sale held since NETBIO began its producer program in 1998.
While the number of cattle set a record, it can also be noted that the price of cattle improved on sale day. “This sale gave us the best market prices we have had in a long time,” said market co-owner David Fowler.
Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission co-owner David Fowler and office manager Kathy McGowen visit before the NETBIO sale begins.
For the second sale in a row, producer participation set a new record as 312 producers consigned and shipped cattle to the sale. Fowler said more and more cattle producers are getting in the NETBIO pre-conditioning program, “and they are doing a good job of getting their cattle ready for the sale,” he said.
He pointed out that 39 buyers were on hand for the sale and added that most of the large feedlots had representatives here for the sale. In addition, a large number of buyers participated in the sale over the Internet.
Two young cattlemen, Connor O’Bryan, left, of Cooper, and Cade Goldsmith of Sulphur Springs look over the sale sheets before the auctioneer begins the NETBIO sale. They both had cattle consigned to the sale.
There was good interest in all classes of cattle, and replacements of good quality were snapped up in a hurry. Lightweight grazing cattle brought a big premium. Buyers paid an average of $786.10 per head for all cattle sold.
Before the sale began, Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission co-owner and auctioneer announced to the capacity crowd that NETBIO and Farm Bureau has joined forces to begin a relief fund for the ranchers and farmers in the Texas Panhandle who lost cattle, pastures, fences and in some cases barns and homes in the recent wildfires that burned thousands of acres.
“We want to raise funds so we can purchase and send fencing materials and other supplies to those who have suffered losses,” Pogue said. “We have learned that some of the victims of the fires are NETBIO members — cattle producers who have bought or sold their cattle at our sales.”
One producers selling cattle Wednesday donated the profits of one calf to help launch the relief fund. The calf brought $757.71 and they had add-ons of $320, for a total contribution of $1077.71.
Pogue said the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission is a collection point for donations, along with the Farm Bureau. Just make checks payable to the NETBIO Relief Fund.
Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op has joined NETBIO and the Farm Bureau in the relief effort and will make arrangements to ship the materials to the Panhandle when they are purchased.
The next NETBIO Pre-conditioned Calf and Yearling sale will be held on May 17 and Fowler encouraged producers that are getting cattle ready for that sale top get their consignment in now and pick up their tags to avoid a possible cutoff. Books have been closed early on the last two sales, which occurs when consignments reach 8,000 head.
The NETBIO Pre-Conditioned Stocker and Feeder Calf Sale gives producers a market to offer their pre-conditioned calves and yearlings in load lot quantities. NETBIO holds six pre-conditioned calf sales per year, which is the marketing arm for members of the organization.
Cowboys move cattle into the pens to prepare for the March NETBIO Pre-conditioned Calf and Yearling Sale held Wednesday at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission.
A & M Commerce Presents Three Day Tuba/Euphonium Event
COMMERCE, TX—Texas A&M University-Commerce is proud to host three internationally acclaimed tuba and euphonium artists for a three-day event that will take place March 20-22 in Finney Concert Hall.
A masterclass and lecture will take place Monday, March 20 at 4 p.m.; a Solo Recital will take place Tuesday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m.; and a Chamber Music Recital will take place on Wednesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. All events are free and open to the public.
The lineup includes Adams euphonium artists Fernando Deddos and Matthew van Emmerik and Principal Tubist with the Porto Alegre Symphony, Wilthon Matos.
“This is a rare opportunity to see some of the top tuba and euphonium players from around the world right here in our own backyard,” said Assistant Professor of Tuba/Euphonium, Dr. Jeff Baker. “The recitals will feature original compositions from Brazil and Australia. This will be an educational and enriching experience to say the least.”
Fernando Deddos is currently the euphonium/tuba professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande Norte State (Brazil). He recorded the very first euphonium album to come out of South America and has earned two Harvey Phillips Awards in Composition. His original works have been part of contemporary art and dance projects and his instrumental pieces have been performed or released by artists across the globe. In August of last year, he premiered his Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra, with Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra in southern Brazil.
Born in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia in 1978, Dr. Matthew van Emmerik started playing at age seven. He is the former Principal Euphonium of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force in London, U.K., and all Royal Australian Navy Bands. Four years ago, he became only the second Australian in history to win the Open Euphonium championship at the New Zealand Brass Band Championships, and in December of last year, he performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass in their annual CSO Brass concert.
Wilthon Matos began his musical studies at age 13. Through the 2010 Classical Music Circuit FUNARTE Prize, he was able to perform seven concerts at state capitals throughout the Brazilian countryside. He was also a co-creator of the South Brazilian Tuba and Euphonium Regional Conference, which was one of the first events of its kind in the country. Recently, he carried out the TUBA BRAZIL CONCERTS Project, the first solo tour of its kind in Brazil.
Arsonist Sentenced to 15 Years in TDCJ
In a contested hearing in Eighth Judicial District Court Wednesday afternoon, Eric Dale Bailey, guilty of a Felony 2 level Arson, was sentenced to 15 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Bailey was guilty of a Felony 2 Arson.
Bailey, 31, of Sulphur Springs was arrested for arson related to an early morning fire in the 900 block of Gilmer Street. At the time of the arson, Fire Investigator Aaron Kager told KSST News, Sulphur Springs fire investigators sought to determine the reason for an April 29, 2015 auto fire discovered at 2:03 a.m. behind what had been the location for Father and Son Auto on Gilmer Street. According to Kager, the fire was discovered when Sulphur Springs Firemen were returning to Fire Station 2 and noticed the blaze. They responded to the location. After putting out the fire, the Captain on duty discovered a few things that were abnormal regarding the fire and notified the City Fire Marshall. The scene of the fire was cleared at 3:55 a.m. on the 29th. After collecting video from nearby businesses, a vehicle was found to be leaving the scene shortly before the fire was discovered. Sulphur Springs Police Officer Amanda Weatherford located the vehicle and identified the suspect. After questioning, Bailey confessed to the fire.
He was an ex-employee of the now defunct Father and Son Auto business that was at the location. Baily is a registered sex offender and has been charged with forgery, drug possession, and possession of a fire arm by a felon in the past.
Commissioner Evans Catalyst for Work Session Focused on State Highway 19/154 North
Commissioner Precinct 4 Danny Evans is the catalyst for conversation between Hopkins County Commissioners and TxDOT regarding the dangers of driving State Highway 19/154 north of the city of Sulphur Springs. Evans told KSST News Wednesday that the number of accidents resulting in death seem to be increasing.
KSST has requested an accident report from January, 2011 to March 10th of this year regarding all types of accidents and results of such accidents on the stretch of the 19/154 highway between FM 1536 and FM 1537. Also, TxDOT officials will meet with county commissioners during a work session Tuesday, March 20th at 10 a.m. at the courthouse.
Evans says those who have to wait to make a left hand turn along the roadway are must vulnerable to accident. He named two specific accidents in the past three months that resulted in death. Evans travels that roadway often as well due to his work and as a private citizen. He noted the speed limit and the repaired roadway’s contribution to higher speeds. When Evans came into office, State Highway 11W faced many of the same issues.
He noted that 11-West is being reworked, even though it is taking 10 years to complete. He notes the Highway 19/154 problems will take time to improve. Studies made, funds appropriated, and work done take time, according to Evans. However, he thinks the planning and development of the plan needs to begin now.
