Hopkins County Court Meets Monday
Monday, November 28 at 9 a.m. in the first floor courtroom of the Hopkins County Courthouse, county commissioners will consider approving the recommendations of the selection committee for the award of contracts for administration to Amazing Grants and engineering services to Hayes Engineering, Inc. for the county’s anticipated 2017/2018 Texas County Bridge grant.
County Extension agents will be present at commissioners’ court to present an extension interpretation. Hopkins County Precinct 1 and Miller Grove Cemetery Association will enter into an agreement if approved.
The court will consider Precinct 1 employees returning to a five day work week and work eight (8) hours each day. They had been working a four day, 10-hour work week.
The court will consider appointments to the 2017/2018 term of service for the county historical commission. The court will also approve a proclamation for Civil Air Patrol Week.
Immediately following the court session, work sessions with the civic center manager; hold a discussion on environmental operations, meet with Tom Glosup regarding the Courthouse Roof, and meet with Tim Kelty to discuss transportation in Hopkins County. A budget work session will conclude the series.
Stolen Lexus and Identifying Information Lead to Arrest
November 26, 2016 – When officers responded to the 600 block of Church Street at 3:22 p.m. Friday afternoon, they found a stolen vehicle and Jake Adam Blount, 22, of Longview who had taken the vehicle along with identifying information of the Sulphur Springs resident/owner of the Lexus.
Jake Adam Blount
While the officers were at the location, Blount walked up but when he saw them, he immediately tried to leave the area. Sulphur Springs police officers stopped him and patted him down for security. Blount gave consent to search his pockets. There the officer found the Lexus key fob, two credit cards, and a black wallet containing another credit card and the driver’s license of the vehicle owner.
Blount admitted to taking methamphetamine and possibly Xanax. He was taken into custody and EMS was called. He was transported to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital—Sulphur Springs ER. From there, he was taken to Hopkins County jail.
Blount is charged with Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle and Fraud Use/Possession of Identifying Information, Number of Items less than 5. He had been in Hopkins County jail May, 2016 until July 7, 2016 for Evading Arrest Detention and Violation of Parole.
High Speed, Resisting Arrest, Garland Man Jailed
Desmond Steven-Demario Watts, 31, of Garland was traveling at 88 mph in a 75 mph zone on I-30 when he was stopped by Cumby Police Thursday.
As the officer approached the vehicle the strong smell of marijuana was noted. Watts as asked numerous times to exit the vehicle but he refused. As the officer attempted to assist by opening the door, Watts locked the driver-side door. He did eventually open the door but refused to exit the vehicle. The officer deployed his taser.
With the arrest completed, a probable cause search of the vehicle found a plastic container with a large baggie of marijuana, a small clear plastic bag of marijuana, and a clear plastic baggie of methamphetamine.
Watts is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, under 1-gram, Resisting Arrest Search or Transport, and Possession of Marijuana.
Post-Thanksgiving Hours For Local Banks
Going to the bank on this post-Thanksgiving Friday? If so, Alliance Bank is closing all locations at 3 p.m. today, City National Bank is closing their lobby at 4 p.m. and all drive thru locations at 5 p.m. Guaranty Bank and Trust will be open regular hours today. Saturday City National and Guaranty Bank and Trust will be open during normal drive-thru morning hours.
An Apple A Day
AN APPLE A DAY On their final class day Tuesday before Thanksgiving holidays, students at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus stepped up to a caramel apple bar where they enjoyed apple slices dunked in caramel and topped with sweets of their choice. Taking advantage of this special treat were, from left, students Karol Williams, Agustin Cuevas and Mattie Poteet.
Tira News
by Jan Vaughn
We want to express our sympathy to the family of Fay Burns, mother of Linda Petty of Tira. She passed away on Sunday, November 20th and was buried on Wednesday. Please be in prayer for the family.
We also want to be in prayer for the family of Bobby McDonald. He was so good to cover the news in our county and the surrounding area. I appreciate him including the Tira News on his Front Porch News Website. He will be missed. I always appreciate the News Telegram, Cooper Review, and KSST Radio including our news, too.
Robert, Yvonne, Wesley, Dustin, and Natalie Weir and Natalie’s niece, Maria, went to six Flags on Wednesday. Yvonne commented that it was crowded, but they had fun. Wesley spen Thanksgiving Day with his friend Sarah, in Plano. She adds, “We are celebrating Thanksgiving on Friday with our whole family.”
Kim and Lee Beck had his mom, Sue Beck, from Sulphur Springs, over for Thanksgiving. Daughter, Maddie Beck, came in from Grapevine to join them. Kim says, “Great time for all.”
Floyd and Martha Payton want to thank the Tira Council and community for the “wonderful meal provided to the Payton family” during their time of sorrow.
Landon, Laiken, and Rylan Joslin went to pick up Dixie, Rylan’s sister, and bring her to Tira for a few days. They all spent Friday evening through Saturday morning at Piney Shores Resort on Lake Conroe, where they enjoyed playing mini-golf and board games. Chip and I kept Brailon and Slaiden Joslin, while they were gone. They enjoyed getting to play on their riding toys, and not having to be in their car seats for the long trip.
We began our Thanksgiving celebration on Monday evening with hamburgers, hot dogs, and homemade ice cream, while Dixie was here. Landon, Laiken, and the kids, plus Tiffany, Kenden, Jaidyn, Morgan and his friend, Alexis, were here. Our granddaughter, Jaidyn, rode with Chip and me to take Dixie home to Sour Lake (near Beaumont) on Wednesday. Our son, Delayne, arrived from Waco on Thursday evening. Tiffany was with us, too, and we celebrated Thanksgiving with grilled steaks. Kenden and Jaidyn were with their dad, Malcolm, and his family on Thanksgiving Day. Our whole family will be gathering to celebrate with turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings today (Friday).
The community Christmas party is coming up on Saturday, December 10th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Tira Community Center. Brisket will be provided. Residents should bring side dishes and desserts and come enjoy visiting with neighbors. Also, we will be collecting canned goods (preferably gallon-size) for the Meal-a-Day program in Sulphur Springs. There will be a brief Christmas program, following the meal, and then Santa is planning to stop by and visit with the children.
The Tira City Council will meet on Tuesday, December 6th, for their regular quarterly meeting. Afterward, they will be decorating the center for the Christmas party. The public is always welcome and encouraged to attend.
I hope that you are all enjoying the Thanksgiving holidays. I look forward to more reports for the next column.
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].
Extension Volunteers Recognized
Extension Recognizes Volunteers
Every November, our Extension staff recognizes our valuable team of committee members, Leadership Advisory Board, Youth Board, Master Volunteers, and affiliated committees. The Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers alone have contributed 353.85 hours of volunteer work during the first 10 months of 2016. Our Leadership Advisory Board and Youth Board met three times during the year, and our program area committees have met throughout the year to help plan and implement various Extension functions.
Recently, we held our annual Extension Leadership Banquet and had special guests, Judge Robert Newsom and his lovely granddaughter, Hannah (who happens to be very active in her county’s 4-H program), Senator Bob Hall’s staff member – Anna Holt, and guest speaker, Jeremy Dicken. We recognized the Outstanding Extension Supporter of the Year which was a difficult decision because so many of our volunteers were deserving! Recognized as the 2016 Extension Supporter of the Year went to Wendy Johnson for her contributions to Family & Consumer Sciences, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and 4-H endeavors. Johnson was first introduced to Extension when she attended a series of gardening programs. She later completed training for the Master Wellness Volunteer program, followed by completing the Master Gardener training, and she is now a very strong volunteer and Extension advocate.
Johnson has assisted with numerous events, such as “Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes” series, “Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness,” 4-H foods and clothing projects, Holiday Management program preparation, health fairs, event planning meetings, and committee meetings. Congratulations to Wendy Johnson!
Recipe Alterations & Portion Control – Timeless Help
Overeating is as much a holiday tradition as watching football, so Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts have some tips on how to alter holiday recipes and make better food choices for healthier eating. As we are winding down on the Thanksgiving holiday week, the following suggestions will help prepare for upcoming family gatherings associated with Christmas.
Substituting ingredients lower in calories and sugar can help make healthier holiday meals. Many times, the sugar, fat or sodium content of holiday recipes can be reduced without a noticeable difference in taste. In addition, there are several traditional holiday foods you can prepare in ways that don’t have a lot of extra fat or calories.
If a recipe calls for a cup of sugar, try using two-thirds of a cup instead. If reducing the fat content of a recipe is the goal, try using reduced-fat or nonfat cheese, milk, cream cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt or mayonnaise versus their higher-fat counterparts. Another recipe alteration is to substitute evaporated milk for cream. For mashed potatoes, try using defatted broth instead of butter. This can reduce both fat and calories.
Modifying recipes may not always produce the desired texture or taste, so it’s a good idea to try the recipe in advance before serving it to others. Remember processed foods typically have a higher sodium content, so people should be vigilant about checking food labels for sodium. If there’s a choice between regular and reduced-sodium ingredients, choose the item with reduced sodium.
Many traditional holiday foods can be healthy and nutritious, as long as they are thoughtfully prepared and not embellished in ways that detract from their nutritional value. If you’re cooking a turkey, leave the skin on to contain the flavor, but then remove it afterward to reduce the fat content. Baste your turkey in its own juice or use a defatted broth. And when steaming or roasting, use just a small amount of oil or cooking spray for the healthiest way to cook your vegetables.
Adding herbs and spices to a recipe can add unique flavors without adding extra sodium, fat or calories. For example, sweet potatoes contain beneficial phytonutrients and antioxidant properties, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. They’re a good source of fiber, are high in vitamins A and C and are a good source of manganese. They are also low in calories. A medium-size baked sweet potato only has about 100 calories, so a baked sweet potato with a little bit of brown sugar and cinnamon is a healthier option to one slathered in butter or cooked with a marshmallow topping.
Cranberries are loaded with phytonutrients and are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Adding them to salads and baked items such as muffins, cookies and pies can be a way to sneak in some added nutrition and flavor.
Even with healthier preparation, portion control is still key when it comes to holiday eating. The holidays provide more opportunities to eat at family and social gatherings. If you’re trying to avoid holiday weight gain, the key is to plan accordingly so you can keep your calorie intake in check… and don’t forget to engage in a reasonable amount of physical activity to help burn off those extra calories and relieve the stress that often accompanies the holiday season!
Closing Thought
Wisdom is the reward for listening over a lifetime – unknown
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]
Thanksgiving Day Fills Celebration Plaza for Benefit Run
Parking at Celebration Plaza was overflowing and hundreds of people were running in the 6th Annual Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day, 2016. The Kids Fun Run at 7:30 a.m. for ages 10 and under, the 5K Run/Walk and 10K Run at 8 a.m. filled the route with people of all ages who had paid a $5, $30 or $40 entry fee. Proceeds from the run benefit Eisley Henderson.
Failure to Appear Leads to Bigger Problems
November 24, 2016 – When a Hopkins County Deputy arrested Claston Wayne Bearden on two Justice of the Peace Court warrants, the deputy found several 22-caliber bullets in Bearden’s pants pockets. A quick records search at dispatch showed Bearden had been convicted of a felony. He and the Deputy went to Bearden’s residence where they found a .22-rifle.
Bearden is being held on a $10,000 bond for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and is also held on Violation of Promise to Appear and Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.
