Dinner Bell for April 24th, 2024
Alliance Bank, its Board of Directors and shareholders, officers, employees and account holders, has supported the Dinner Bell feeding ministry many times yearly since 2016.
Chartered on June 13, 1927 as Sulphur Springs State Bank, the name was changed to Alliance Bank as it began operations beyond Hopkins County in October of 1996. Presently it operates locations in the six different counties of Hopkins, Hunt (Greenville, Commerce, Wolfe City), Franklin, Collin (McKinney, Plano), Rockwall and Tarrant.
The Dinner Bell appreciates the continued support of this great banking institution.
GRAB and GO with a meal from the distribution area under the covered driveway (porte cochere) on the Northeast corner of the First United Methodist Church campus starting around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
MENU
Pulled Pork on a Cornbread Square
Jalapeno Potato Salad
Seasoned Pinto Beans
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF BY FOLLOWING SAFE HEALTH PRACTICES AS FLU AND COVID ARE STILL IN OUR MIDST! WEAR MASKS WHERE REQUIRED! WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! GET INOCULATED AND BOOSTED!
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH!!!
Brand New Bois D’Arc Lake Opens in Fannin County
April 18, 2024 – The first new major reservoir in almost 30 years is now open almost a one-hour drive from Hopkins County. Bois D’Arc Lake is located 10 miles northeast of Bonham, not far from U.S. Highway 82. The 26-square mile lake is just slightly smaller than Cooper Lake and already has three boat ramps open to the public. Boating, Hunting, & Fishing Info (including Boat Ramp information)
Bois d’Arc Lake in Fannin County is a critical new source of water for one of the fastest growing regions in the country. It provides up to 82 million gallons per day for the over two million residents and businesses served by North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). In addition, the lake is an ideal spot for fishing, boating, waterfowl hunting, picnicking and other outdoor activities. The $1.6 billion project began pumping water to the water district in March 2023, and remains 92.3% full.
The lake is named after the Bois d’Arc [pronounced bō-ˌdä(r)k] tree, which commonly grows in this area and whose name honors the local area and history.
Find out more at the Bois D’Arc Lake website.
Phone Line Troubles at City of Sulphur Springs
April 18, 2024 – Although AT&T cell towers seem to be having severe trouble currently in Sulphur Springs, there is also wide-spread trouble with Frontier landlines and internet access across the city as well. Frontier is unable to give KSST News any information on what is causing the trouble or when regular service might be restored.
Regular 911 service seems to be working okay, but now the City of Sulphur Springs has several Non-Emergency numbers that are not working. The City as released some Temporary Phone numbers for non-emergency services across several departments including Municipal Court, Community Development, and non-emergency police department contacts. The Business Office which handles water, sewer, trash, and taxes also has been issued a temporary phone number.
Jazz on the Square 2024
The SSISD Jazz Band will be performing on Celebration Plaza April 18th, 2024. The music kicks-off at 7pm.
This Thursday evening concert will be a crowd pleaser. This marks the fourth year for this event.
Meet Sulphur Springs High School’s 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
April 17, 2024 – As part of KSST’s Salute to Excellence, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sulphur Springs High School’s 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian. At a reception hosted by Sulphur Springs High School, held in the high school’s library on April 16, 2024, the 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian were announced and honored.
With a GPA of 4.575, Alexis Marie Villarino, age 17, daughter of Leah Larsen and Mario Villarino, has earned the title of SSHS 2024 Valedictorian. Alexis Marie Villarino is leaning toward attending Texas A&M College Station, but she has also looked at Texas Tech and Brown University. Her future career plans include an awarding job in Architecture.
Alexis Marie Villarino’s Honors and Activities include:
- Being a National Merit Finalist
- SSHS Band
- Holding the position of Vice President in 4-H
- UIL Academics (State Champion in film, literary criticism, Latino Historical Essay, and Ready writing)
- Being a Hispanic and Small School Scholar
- NHS
- Key Club
- Student Council
- Two Part Time Jobs (Dutch Bros Coffee and First Presbyterian Church)
Also recognized and honored at this reception, with a GPA of 4.568, was Asia Chen. Chen has earned the title of SSHS 2024 Salutatorian. Asia Chen is 18 years old and is the daughter of Jennifer Jiang and Su Chen. Asia is undecided on a school choice at present, but is looking at MIT and Stanford. Her future career plans involve earning a job in the challenging field of Anesthesiologist.
Her Honors and Activities include:
- UIL Academics (Calculator Applications, Editorial Writing, Math, and Science)
- Marching Band/Wind Ensemble
- Being a National Merit Scholarship Finalist
- And an AFA Chapter 416 Essay Contest Winner
Both Alexis Marie Villarino and Asia Chen represent the Sulphur Springs High School Class of 2024 exceptionally well and will no doubt excel in whatever career path they choose. KSST wishes these two young women nothing but the best in their journeys.
Chamber Connection April 16, 2024
April 16, 2024 – Chamber Connection – Butch Burney
You can both shop and pay homage to the earth this Saturday, April 20.
The Spring Market on Main is set for Saturday, as is Earth Day, sponsored by The Plant Niche, so please come out and shop with our vendors and local merchants.
The Earth Day program will last from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include live music from Jason Waldon and the Alibis, along with vendors, speakers, DIY terrariums, free trees and family fun.
We have the best small businesses and restaurants around, and you won’t be disappointed by what they have to offer.
Make plans to enjoy the day downtown on April 20.
Chamber Golf Tournament
Registration is now open for the 35th Annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, which is set for Friday, May 3. Teams can register online at the Chamber website: HopkinsChamber.org, or we can email you the registration form.
All of the afternoon spots are taken, but there are still a handful of slots available in the morning flight. The cost for a team of six is $750, which includes three carts and six lunches.
There are also sponsorships available for interactive holes and contests, including sponsorships for the hole-in-one contests!
Claws for a Cause
The Rotary Club’s Claws for a Cause seafood boil, sponsored by Signature Solar, is set for Saturday, April 27, at Celebration Plaza. In addition to crawfish, the boil will include shrimp and snow crab.
Individual tickets are $40, and can be purchased by scanning the QR code on posters around town. There are also tables of eight available for $500, and other sponsorship opportunities. Gates open at 5 p.m. Beverages will be available for purchase.
There will be live music from 80s Gadgets as well.
For more information, contact Chaney Johnson at 903-439-7929 or any Rotary Club member.
Solar Eclipse Art Exhibit
The Hopkins County Infinity 4-H Club is coordinating a Solar Eclipse Art Exhibit with age divisions separated in 7-under, 8-12, 13-18 and 19 and over.
The art is currently on display and will continue through April 19 in the Extension Office classroom.
For more information, contact Lisa Sprague at 903-885-3443 or Johanna Hicks at 903-243-0425.
Wishes Charity Golf Tournament
Heritage Home Health and Hospice is sponsoring the inaugural Wishes Charity Golf Tournament, with drinks, music and food, on Friday, June 7, at Sulphur Springs Country Club.
The shotgun start for the four-person teams is 1:30 p.m. Registration is $500 and includes two golf carts, four meal tickets and range balls.
Proceeds will be used to grant wishes for Heritage’s hospice patients.
For more information, contact Stacy White at 918-471-7397, Cindy Mills at 903-474-1027, Mia Herrera at 903-588-0636 or Tommy Dixon at 903-278-9921.
Dutch Oven Cooking Class
The John Chester Dutch Oven Cooking Class is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 20, at Heritage Park. Cost is $20 per person. For a reservation, call Rick Wilson at 903-335-2752.
Manly Bingo
Sponsorships and tickets are available for the first Manly Bingo, a fundraiser for the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation, set for Thursday, April 18, at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Email [email protected] for more information.
Ribbon Cutting
Southern Charm Soft Wash will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Friday, April 19, at the Chamber office at 110 Main St. Everyone is invited to attend.
26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
HOPKINS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE / SHERIFF’S POSSE
In conjunction with the DEA announce the following:
The 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
DATE: Saturday, April 27, 2024
LOCATION: ATWOOD’S parking lot
817 Gilmer St.
Sulphur Springs, Tx. 75482
The event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Here are some examples of accepted drugs:
- Prescription Medications: Any unused or expired prescription drugs, including pain relievers, antibiotics, and other medications prescribed by a doctor.
- Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications: Non-prescription drugs like aspirin, antacids, cough syrup, and allergy medications.
- Pet Medications: If you have any unused pet medications, you can also bring them for disposal.
- Medication Patches and Ointments: These can be dropped off as well.
- Vitamins and Supplements: Unwanted vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products.
- Liquid Medications: Ensure that liquid medications are tightly sealed to prevent leaks.
- Nasal Sprays and Inhalers: These are accepted too.
Texas Rangers Time Delayed Wednesday 17th
April 16, 2024 – The Texas Rangers Broadcast for the game on Wednesday April 17th will be slightly delayed. KSST will join the Rangers already in progress at 12:56 PM.
Soil Testing is Crucial for Understanding the Health of Your Soil by Mario Villarino
April 15, 2024 – Soil testing is crucial for understanding the health and fertility of your soil. It involves collecting samples from different areas of your property and sending them to a lab for analysis. The results will provide information on nutrient levels, pH balance, organic matter content, and recommendations for any necessary amendments to improve soil quality and plant growth.
For soil testing through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, you’ll typically need to collect a soil sample and send it to their soil testing lab. You can find detailed instructions on their website or by contacting the Hopkins County Extension Office located at 1200B Houston Street in Sulphur Springs. We can provide information on how to collect the sample and where to send it for analysis.
Soil tests can be used to estimate the kinds and amounts of soil nutrients available to plants. They also can be used as aids in determining fertilizer needs. Properly conducted soil sampling and testing can be cost-effective indicators of the types and amounts of fertilizer and lime needed to improve crop yield.
The effects of adding a fertilizer often depend on the level of nutrients already present in the soil If a soil is very low in a particular nutrient, yield will probably be increased if that nutrient is added. By comparison, if the soil has high initial nutrient levels, fertilization will result in little, if any, increase in yield.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Sulphur Springs High School UIL Academic 15-4A Champs Excel in 2024
April 15, 2024 – UIL Academic Team Updates (District UIL Academics Highlights 2024)
April 5 & 10 – District 15-4A Academic Meet
The SSHS Wildcat UIL Academic Team competed Friday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 10 at the District 15-4A Academic Meet. The team won the District 15-4A championship with 823 points, garnering 63 individual medals, 5 first place teams, and 3 second place teams. SSHS students also earned the titles of District Journalism and Speech Champions. In all, 33 students qualified for region competition and 6 are alternates to region. Here is a list of our 2024 medalists. Congratulations to these hard-working competitors and coaches and thanks to the staff and administration of Sulphur Springs High School for your support.
Copy Editing (Madison Millsap & Gail Herman – Coaches) Jolene Reed – 1st Place (R) Abigail Bautista – 2nd Place(R) Payton Hooks – 3rd Place(R)
News Writing (Millsap & Herman – Coaches) Jolene Reed – 1st Place(R) Payton Hooks – 2nd Place(R) Dylan McKinney – 3rd Place (R)
Feature Writing (Millsap & Herman – Coaches) Jolene Reed – 1st Place(R) Payton Hooks – 2nd PlaceR Kolbie Moughon – 6th Place
Editorial Writing (Millsap & Herman – Coaches) Asia Chen – 1st Place(R) Anthony Small – 2nd PlaceR Jolene Reed – 3rd Place(R)
Headline Writing (Millsap & Herman – Coaches) Abigail Bautista – 1st Place(R) Betzy Chacon – 2nd PlaceR Jolene Reed – 3rd Place(R)
Journalism – 1st Place Team (Madison Millsap & Gail Herman – Coaches)
Ready Writing (Gail Herman – Coach) Anthony Small – 2nd Place(R) Alan Tellez – 3rd Place(R) Alexis Villarino – 4th Place(A)
Accounting (Jamie VanWinkle – Coach) Holden Moss – 1st Place(R)
Calculator Applications (Gerald Grafton – Coach) Asia Chen – 1st Place(R) Barrett Thesing – 3rd Place(R) Katlyn Noe – 5th Place Briana Macedo – 6th Place TEAM – 1st Place(R)(Chen, Thesing, Noe, Macedo)
Computer Applications (Jill Crump – Coach) Makieya Boren – 1st Place(R)
Current Issues & Events (Madison Millsap – Coach) James “Mac” McCoy – 1st Place(R)Crawford Johnson – 2nd Place(R) Abigail Bautista – 3rd Place(R) Kolbie Moughon – 4th Place(A)Craig Draper – 5th Place TEAM – 1st Place(R)(McCoy, Johnson, Bautista, Moughon)
Literary Criticism (Gail Herman – Coach) Alexis Villarino – 1st Place(R) Kami White – 2nd Place(R) Alan Tellez – 3rd Place(R) Betzy Chacon – 4th Place(A) Dylan McKinney – 6th Place TEAM – 1st Place(R)(Villarino, White, Tellez, Chacon)
Mathematics (Gerald Grafton – Coach) Asia Chen – 2nd Place(R) Anthony Small – 5th Place TEAM – 2nd Place(A)(Chen, Small, A. Villarino, K. White)
Number Sense (Gerald Grafton – Coach) Katlyn Noe – 4th Place(A)
Science (Kristen Shelton – Coach) Asia Chen – 4th PlaceA Jessie Li – 6th Place TEAM – 2nd PlaceA(Chen, Li, C. Murillo, R. Offutt)
Social Studies (Madison Millsap – Coach) Grayson Wall – 1st Place(R) Davin Ly – 2nd Place(R) Julia Garcia-Ricker – 3rd Place(R) Crawford Johnson – 4th Place(A) Conner Curtis – 5th Place Cameron Davis – 6th Place TEAM – 1st Place(R)(Wall, Ly, Garcia-Ricker, Johnson)
Spelling & Vocabulary (Gail Herman – Coach) Abigail Bautista – 1st Place(R) Kami White – 2nd Place(R) Kale Burgin – 3rd Place(R) Celeste Hernandez – 4th Place(A) Laney Bankston – 5th Place Camila Hidalgo – 6th Place TEAM – 1st Place(R)(Bautista, White, Burgin, Hernandez)
Speech – 1st Place (Coaches: Trevor King, Jamie VanWinkle, Lesha Woodard)
Prose (Lesha Woodard – Coach) Tally Brown – 1st Place(R) Aiden Woodard – 2nd Place(R) Aspen Mayhew – 3rd Place(R)
Poetry (Lesha Woodard – Coach) Emma Boatman – 1st Place(R) Addison Bradley – 2nd Place(R) Nathan Bilyeu – 3rd Place(R)
Informative (Trevor King – Coach) Carolina Murillo-Barcenas – 2nd Place(R)
Persuasive (Trevor King – Coach) Jordan VanWinkle – 1st Place(R) Reese Offutt – 2nd Place(R)
(R) – Regional Qualifier, (A) – Alternate for Region
Previous Events Contributing to District Totals:
CX Debate (Offutt-Murillo) 2nd Place Team (Advanced to State CX)
ONE ACT PLAY District Champs (Advanced to Bi-district competition)
Upcoming dates:
April 26 – SSHS UIL @ Region 2 UIL Meet (TAMU – Commerce)
May 13 – 15 – SSHS UIL @ State UIL Academic Meet (UT – Austin)
In UIL 4A District 15 Academic Contest, overall school sweepstakes resulted in the following…
Sulphur Springs earned 823 points. Paris earned 268 points. Texarkana Pleasant Grove earned a total of 243 points. Paris North Lamar earned 178 points. Texarkana Liberty-Eylau collected 106 points, and Pittsburg earned 17 points. UIL Academic Event Scoring was 0.
Speech Team results included…
Sulphur Springs in first place with with a Team Score of 129, and 10 points. Texarkana Pleasant Grove in second place with a team score of 72, with 5 points. Paris North Lamar in third place with a team score of 64, with 0 points. In fourth place was Paris with a team score of 36, with 0 points. Texarkana Liberty-Eylau landed in fifth place with a score of 22, with 0 points.
UIL 4A District 15 Academic Contest Journalism team results looked like this.
First place went to Sulphur Springs with a Team Score of 179, with 10 points. Texarkana Liberty-Eylau landed in second place with a Team Score of 46, with 5 points. Texarkana Pleasant Grove was in third place with a Team Score of 42 and 0 points. Fourth place went to Paris with a Team Score of 8, with 0 points.
KSST would like to thank Sulphur Springs ISD Communications Coordinator Angela Grimes for this information. Way to go, Wildcats, and all students excelling in 2024!
