Fall Festival Cover Girl Dinner and Introductions; A Video Presentation of Channel 18 News
Videography by Doug Haston… Scenes from the Cover Girl Queen’s Dinner and introductions to each of the contestants.
The reigning 2015-2016 Cover Girl, Aleigh Bessonett, a Senior at Miller Grove high school, is the daughter of Bill and Cherrie Bessonett. As a Lady Hornet, Aleigh participates in Cross Country, Basketball and Track. She is involved in National Honor Society,and 4-H, and is a member of the Brashear Baptist Youth Group. Aleigh would like to attend college to become a Social Worker or a Physical Therapist. Aleigh’s mother Cherrie George Bessonett, was the 1985 Cover Girl winner. Aleigh and Cherrie are the first Mother – Daughter Cover Girl winners in the history of the contest.
Contestants for Cover Girl this year are:
Jessica Smithers, a Junior at Sulphur Springs High School, is the daughter of Cheyenne and Lisa Smithers. Jessica plays Softball and is involved in FFA. She works after school and on weekends at Little Caesars Pizza. Jessica plans to go to college after graduation. Her window is located at Celebration Antiques located on Connally St.
Maddie Peavler, the daughter of Amber and Ken Sharp, and Tim Peavler, is a Junior at Yantis High School. She is the FFA Vice-President and on the Show Team , a Cheerleader, plays on the tennis team, and competes in UIL Feature Writing. She also works at the Brookshires in Emory. Maddie plans to go to college to become a dentist or dental hygienist. She would love to go to Texas A&M University, but Baylor has a great Dental Program. Maddie’s window is located on the square at Brumley’s Uniforms.
Demi Weatherford,is a Junior at Miller Grove High School and is the daughter of Amanda May. She plays volley ball, basketball and track, and is involved in her church, National Honor Society, Yearbook Staff, and FFA, where she is an Officer. She is also a Sunday school teacher. Demi plans to attend college. Her window is at Korr’s Health Food Store, located in the Spring Village Shopping Center.
Cami Froneberger, the daughter of Andrew and Jennifer Froneberger, is a Junior at Miller Grove High School. She is involved with her youth group and volunteers at the Hopkins County Heritage Museum and Park. Cami plans to go to Texas A&M University to pursue a degree to become a Veterinarian. Her window is located at Flowerland Florist located on Gilmer St.
Equine West Nile Increasing in East Texas
As of this time, the Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an increase in Equine West Nile cases this year. Currently they are reporting 38 horses in the state of Texas infected, compared to 25 in 2014, and 31 in 2015. Many of these horses are residents of East Texas.
Hopkins, Franklin, Hunt, Lamar, and Wood Counties have reported Equine West Nile cases. The Health Services says it is important to vaccinate for West Nile every year.
Accident Slows I-30 Traffic Near 114 Mile Marker
An accident at the 114 mile marker on westbound Interstate 30 between Brashear and Cumby Thursday morning slowed traffic through the mid-morning hours. The accident involved an18-wheeler rear-ended by a small SUV. 
DPS and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies closed one lane of traffic to allow Emergency Medical Services to respond. There are no known injuries as of 11 a.m. Thursday.
Chamber Connection October 6, 2016
The Chamber is crazy busy right now preparing for the Stew Contest on Saturday, October 22nd. Just a reminder, the deadline for entry into the contest is Friday, October 7th at 5:00 p.m. All cooks signed up for the 47th Annual Stew Cook-off will need to attend the Cooks Meeting on Tuesday, October 11th at 6 p.m. at the Southwest Dairy Museum. Cooks will receive their grocery reimbursement check from the Chamber, their goodie bags, and a list of rules and regulations for the Stew Cook-off. Please make plans to be there!!! T-shirts will be available for purchase that night. Call the Chamber for additional information, (903) 885-6515.
Fall Festival is selling tickets for the October 22nd Hometown Sounds Concert featuring Hannah Kirby
Tickets went on sale Thursday, September 1st for the Hannah Kirby and Mansion Family Hometown Sounds Concert on October 22nd. Tickets are on sale online at www.outhousetickets.com and cost $17.50 each. The concert will be held that evening in the SSISD Auditorium.
ETX Phone Repair hosted their ribbon cutting at noon on Friday, September 30th Everyone had a great time at the Ribbon Cutting Celebration for ETX Phone Repair, located at 1007 Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs, on Friday, September 30th at noon. Guests enjoyed a free meal and got to meet ETX Phone Repair’s mascot. ETX Phone Repair offers a new service to Hopkins county. They fix electronics including screen repair and replacement, broken chargers and wires, and overall technical difficulties. They are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
ETX Phone Repair hosted their ribbon cutting at noon on Friday, September 30th
Everyone had a great time at the Ribbon Cutting Celebration for ETX Phone Repair, located at 1007 Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs, on Friday, September 30th at noon. Guests enjoyed a free meal and got to meet ETX Phone Repair’s mascot. ETX Phone Repair offers a new service to Hopkins county. They fix electronics including screen repair and replacement, broken chargers and wires, and overall technical difficulties. Make sure to try them out the next time technology issues come your way!
Divorce Care at FUMC will resume beginning October 5th
Divorce Care is a weekly seminar and support group that will help you heal from the hurt of divorce or separation. It’s a warm, caring environment led by people who understand what you are going through. You will learn practical information that will help you deal with the challenges of being divorced. Best of all, you will gain hope, healing, and help for your future. Divorce Care Meets every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 beginning on October 5th at the First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs in the Open Door Sunday School Classroom. This is found in the basement of the main building. There is childcare if needed. They will meet for 14 weeks with one week of a special session entitled “Surviving the Holidays”. This is scheduled for November 16th. Contact information is Tom Young at [email protected], (903) 413-1673 or Debbie Young at [email protected]; (903) 243-1235.
The HC Fall Festival is hosting their Business After Hours on Thursday, October 6th from 5-6:30 p.m.
The Hopkins County Fall Festival will be holding their Business After Hours Mixer and Ribbon Cutting Celebration on Thursday, October 6th from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at City Hall in Sulphur Springs. There will be finger foods, desserts, beer, wine and door prizes. For more information, visit www.hopkinscountyfallfestival.com.
The Senior Citizens Center will host a Walk to Remember on Thursday, October 6th at 6 p.m.
The Senior Citizens Center will host a Walk to Remember benefiting Terrific Tuesdays on Thursday, October 6th at 6 p.m. The Walk will be held at The Gardens at Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs. The goal is to pause and remember friends and loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, Senility, and Stroke. There is a $20 registration fee that includes a t-shirt. Sponsor booths with information and goodies will be in attendance. For more information, contact Karon Weatherman at (903) 885-1661. Terrific Tuesdays meets each Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2p.m. at First United Methodist Church.
NETBIO’s Cattleman’s Classic and Ribeye Roundup is slated for Friday, October 7th beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Get ready for the 2nd Annual Cook-off and Dinner presented by NETBIO on Celebration Plaza on Friday, October 7th. The steak dinner tickets are $25 each and include a steak, baked potato, salad, and dessert. The free concert begins at 3:30 p.m. with Matt Dunn. Sarah Hobbs follows at 5:30 p.m., and Jake Hooker & The Outsiders will perform at 8:00 p.m. For additional information, visit www.facebook.com/ribeyeroundup. This is such a fun AND delicious event!
Sulphur Springs Health & Rehab will host a Chili & Stew Fundraiser for Jan Hawkins on Friday, Oct. 7th
Sulphur Springs Health & Rehab will hold a stew and chili fundraising benefit for Jan Hawkins on Friday, October 7th from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held in the courtyard of SS Health & Rehab, 411 Airport Road. In addition to stew and chili, there will be a silent auction and a bake sale. Donations are appreciated.
P-31 Fitness will host a free class and Ribbon Cutting on Saturday, October 8th at 8 a.m.
P-31 Fitness will host their ribbon cutting celebration followed by a free class to all who would like to participate. Krista Morrill, current owner of P-31 Fitness, invited Rachel Curtis, the founder of P-31 Fitness, to lead the class! This is a great opportunity for anyone who is curious to try P-31 to come give it a whirl. The ribbon cutting will begin at 8 a.m., and the hour long class will immediately follow. P-31 meets at The ROC gym in Sulphur Springs, 116 Oak Avenue.
The 9th Annual Help-A-Child Tractor Pull and Cook-off will be held Saturday, October 8th at 9 a.m.
Help-A-Child will host their 9th Annual Tractor Pull with a Chili and Brisket Cook-off on Saturday, October 8th beginning at 9 a.m. at the Hopkins County Civic Center. The Antique Tractor Pull and Show will begin at 9 a.m. There is no admission fee, but donations will be accepted for the charities. The Chili Cook-off begins at 11:30 a.m. with all you can eat chili and Dutch Oven cobbler for $5. There will be a Live Public Auction at noon, and the Brisket Cook-off begins at 3 p.m. The winners of the Brisket Cook-off will be announced at 5 p.m. The Stone Groove Band will play at 5 p.m. featuring Sadie Evans, the 2016 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen. Finally, the Hot-Rod Garden Tractor Pull will be held at 6 p.m. Tickets for that are $10 and will be sold at the door beginning at 4 p.m. The Help-A-Child benefit is conducted by the Sulphur Bluff Masonic Lodge #246, the Sulphur Springs Masonic Lodge #221, the Hopkins Masonic Lodge #180, and the Delta Masonic Lodge #1240.
Trinity Harvest Hosts Biker Sunday on October 9th at 10:30 a.m.
Trinity Harvest will host Biker Sunday on October 9th at 10:30 a.m. Biker Sunday will be a fun day with free food, biker games, and door prizes. Trinity Harvest is located at 1150 Shannon Road E in Sulphur Springs. For more information, visit www.thcog.org.
Fall Festival is holding their annual Golf Tourney on Monday, October 10th at noon
The Hopkins County Fall Festival will be holding their annual golf tournament on Monday, October 10th at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. Tee Off will be a noon, and you may register before the event. They are in need of additional teams!! Please call Tracy Dennis at (903) 243-1925 to register or email at [email protected] .
Tuesday, October 11th is the date for the 10th Annual Senior Citizens Expo
The Hopkins County Marketers Association is hosting the 10th Annual Senior Citizens Expo on Tuesday, October 11th from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at League Street Church of Christ, 1100 S. League Street in Sulphur Springs. There will be free health screenings and checks including cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, height/weight, body composition, and blood oxygen levels. Educational information will available on pre-need counseling, hospice, home health, durable medical equipment and insurance questions. Flu shots will also be available.
Texas A&M University – Commerce is hosting Rachel Cruz on Tuesday, October 11th at 5:30 p.m.
#1 Best Selling Author, Rachel Cruz, daughter of Dave Ramsey, will speak at Texas A&M University – Commerce in the Ferguson Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11th. The admission is free, and the first 300 attendees will receive a free copy of her new book, 7 Money Habits for Living the Life You Want.
The Chamber of Commerce will hold the 2016 Stew Cook Meeting on Tuesday, October 11th at 6 p.m.
All cooks signed up for the 47th Annual Stew Cook-off will need to attend the Cooks Meeting on Tuesday, October 11th at 6 p.m. at the Southwest Dairy Museum. Cooks will receive their grocery reimbursement check from the Chamber, their goodie bags, and a list of rules and regulations for the Stew Cook-off. Please make plans to be there!!! T-shirts will be available for purchase that night.
Christus Mother Francis Hospital welcomes new providers on Tuesday, October 11th at 5:30 p.m.
You are invited to come greet the newest providers at Christus Mother Francis Hospital in Sulphur Springs on Tuesday, October 11th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Plaza Conference Room located at 113 Airport Road. They are welcoming Dr. Tiffany Gebel, OB-GYN; Rose Campbell, CPNP-PC; Leah Irving, FNP-C; Jordan Potts, FNP-C. Light refreshments will be served.
Summit Dental will host their Ribbon Cutting Celebration on Thursday, October 13th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Summit Dental will hold a ribbon cutting and Open House celebration to welcome their new dentist, Elizabeth Jaynes, on Thursday, October 13th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. They are located at 422 Oak Avenue in Sulphur Springs. Please make plans to come by and network with our Chamber family at Summit Dental.
CBJ will host a Business After Hours on Thursday, October 13th at 5:30 p.m.
CBJ Embroidery & Screen Printing is hosting a Business After Hours and Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the opening of their new location at 321 Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs. They are inviting everyone to come by to see their newly remodeled building and to enjoy food and drinks. Please place this event on your calendar!
Pumpkins-on-the-Square has been cancelled but…
Pumpkins on the Square that was scheduled for Saturday, October 15th has been cancelled. However, the judging for the fall decorating contest will still be held on Friday, October 14th.
The Senior Citizens Center is honoring local Veterans during the month of November
Karon Weatherman from the Senior Citizens Center is planning to honor local veterans during the month of November. If you are a veteran and would like to have your photo on the wall at the Senior Citizens Center, please bring in or mail a photo of yourself in your military uniform. These photos will be returned in excellent condition. You may submit 5×7 photos, but nothing larger. The address to mail the photos is: Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, 150 Martin Luther King Blvd, Sulphur Springs, Texas, 75482. Photos need to be submitted by Friday, October 21st. The Senior Citizens Center is eager to say thank you to veterans for their service.
City Receives 2016 Texas Municipal League Excellence Award for City Spirit
During the Texas Municipal League 104th Annual Conference and Exhibition, at the Austin Convention Center on October 4-7, the City of Sulphur Springs was presented the 2016 Municipal Excellence Award in the City Spirit category for cities under 25,000 in population. The award recognizes the city for its downtown Celebration District.
City Manager Marc Maxwell said, “Everyone recognized what we already knew, we have a great downtown.” Maxwell and members of the city council are in Austin attending the annual Municipal League Conference.
The video below, produced by
Less than ten years ago, the City of Sulphur Spring’s downtown district suffered from high vacancy rates. Today, the district has transformed into a bustling center of economic and social activity through thoughtful design, vision, and investment. To accomplish the transformation, the city hired experts to help re-brand the city and revive the downtown area. To encourage private investment, the city offered façade grants and installed three communal grease traps. Many retailers and restaurants have located in the downtown district and more are on the way. At the heart of the new downtown district is Celebration Plaza, which hosts numerous activities and events each year. The Sulphur Springs Celebration District redevelopment project has brought new life to the entire community—building community pride as well as attracting new residents and businesses.
The Texas Municipal League is a voluntary association of 1,150 Texas cities. Its primary objective is to serve the needs and advocate the interests of Texas cities. The City of Sulphur Springs is a member of the Texas Municipal League.
The video below, produced by KSST videographer Doug Haston, was submitted to show the dramatic changes made to the downtown area during the transition.
Joe Kenneth Weaver: A Celebration of Life
A celebration of the life of Joe Kenneth Weaver is planned for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 8, 2016 at Hideaway Lake Clubhouse, 101 Hideaway Ln Central, Hideaway, TX. Joe Weaver of Hideaway, TX passed away Oct 4, 2016 in a Tyler hospital after a brief illness.
Joe was born May 5, 1951 in Carnegie, OK to Jimmie Dean Weaver and Rhama Eudaley Weaver who proceeded him in death. He married Cathey Ann Talbert on Valentine’s Day in 1980 she survives. Joe graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University School of Pharmacy in 1974 and moved to Sulphur Springs for his first pharmacy job with True Quality Pharmacy. In 1976 Joe opened his first pharmacy in Sulphur Springs. Over the next 35 years Joe opened many more stores, with the help of his staff and business partners. Joe retired from the daily operations of Medicine Chest at the age of 60 to pursue his unbridled passion for golf. He had been on the course each of the three days prior to his illness. A world traveler, member of Mahoney Road, a Rock and Roll Band composed of an eclectic blend of Sulphur Springs musicians, his love of life and those around him was unquestioned.
Among comments on social media:
“He was my favorite coaches husband, he was my first boss as well back in 1984 when I went to work for Medicine Chest. I looked so forward to the days that he was the pharmacist on duty, we would laugh all day…”
He was “one of the most vibrant and fun loving people I have ever known…”
“He always had the most infectious smile and gave the biggest hugs.”
Joe lived life to the fullest from playing golf with Cat, Judder, and Jade to traveling around the world to see all the sights he learned of in all the books he read. Joe worked hard and played harder.
He is survived by his wife, Cathy, and also by sons, Judson Talbert Weaver of Sulphur Springs, Dr. Jade Weaver and Wendi of Breckenridge, CO. Two brothers Jimmie Dean Weaver and wife Brenda, John Paul Weaver and wife Kaye and two sisters Jayne Lee and husband Lynden, Dr. Jeanne Akin, Joanna Bogle and husband Richard also survive as well as a numerous nieces and nephews.
Cumby Lady Trojans 3-1 in District Play
The Cumby Lady Trojans’ volleyball team got a big district win at home Tuesday night. The Lady Trojans defeated the Lady Owls of Yantis, 3-0. Score was 25-10, 25-13 and 25-11. Cumby is now a solid 3-1 in district play and 9-12 for the season. Tuesday night, Ashley Hagood and Jayce Weatherbee scored 14 points each on serves. Weatherbee also led the team with 9 kills and 5 blocks. Sydney Spillers and Paige Seely led the team with 11 digs. Alysse Bullock had 15 assists.
The Lady Trojans play next on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Fruitvale.
KSST is Giving Away 2 Tickets to the Rangers!
KSST will be giving away two tickets to the ALS Game 2 on Friday October 7th, 2016. The winner will be picked during Afternoon Drive 4-6PM on Wednesday October 5th.
Game time is 12PM Central.
Rules: The tickets must be picked up from the KSST Studios on Friday October 7th. The tickets must NOT be resold!.
How to enter: Like KSST on Facebook, AND like this Post on Facebook.
Candy Box Contents Lead to Arrest
The large Whopper candy box in her purse did not hide the contents when Dana Michelle Delozier, 37, of Oklahoma gave consent to search to the law enforcement officer at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday morning on the parking lot of a convenience store in Birthright. She was a passenger in an auto stopped for a traffic violation.
Both driver and passenger appeared nervous encouraging the officer to ask permission to search the vehicle. In the Whooper box was found a clear glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine, a syringe, four hydrocodone, a small electronic scale. Delozier is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram and Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 3, less than 28-gram.
