One Day Delay in I-30/State Highway 19/11 Overpass Change
Rain Delays affect more than baseball. Although the change was scheduled to take affect Thursday, the overpass at the intersection of Interstate Highway 30 and State Highways 19 and 11 will be delayed until Friday at 8 a.m. The pavement must be dry for the painting of traffic stripes that will note the change.
The current two-lane overpass, with a center left-turn lane and traffic signals at each end, will be striped to allow four lanes of traffic, two in each direction. The existing traffic signals will be programmed to function as flashing yellow lights for about 90 days following the change and will be removed in the future.
Dedicated right-turn lanes will provide access to SH 19 or SH 11 and frontage roads. Vehicles on the I-30 east-bound or west-bound service roads will be guided to SH 19 or SH 11 by traffic signs. The new traffic flow configuration is designed to reduce congestion at this highway interchange, TxDOT officials said.
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Donation to Meal A Day Program
Burgers and Fries made another donation of $ 2,275.00 to the Meal A Day Program. Shown in Photo: Karen Logan, Irene Ramierez, Beth Garcia, Jacky Garcia, Karon Weatherman, Director of the Meal A Day Program, and Christina Thomas
Monday Jury Panel Cancelled
The jury panel summoned to appear Monday, November 7th at 8:30 a.m. for Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Eddie Northcutt has been cancelled.
texas flag courthouse
Chamber Connection November 3rd
November. How is that even possible? As you read this article today we are exactly three weeks from Thanksgiving, and only six weeks from Christmas. The time is officially here to buy that turkey and get him into the freezer, and to begin that gift buying process. Every year we vow to slow a bit through the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. I hope this year, we are able to do so. Hopkins County will be a busy place throughout the holiday seasons, and I just can’t start early enough asking you to shop locally for gifts. We have such wonderful local businesses, so please shop locally this Christmas season and support our local economy. We are so thankful to have such perfect and unique places to shop!!
Janeen’s Country Cottage celebrates 25 years on Tuesday, November 8th
Janeen’s Country Cottage will host a ribbon cutting and open house at 630 N. Davis Street in Sulphur Springs on Tuesday, November 8th from noon to 2 p.m. to celebrate 25 years of business! Please make plans to come by the open house to congratulate Janeen and her staff, to eat some refreshments, and to visit with friends. What an exciting time for Janeen’s Country Cottage!
Northeast Texas Rural Transportation Summit is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th
To discuss our region’s transportation needs and how best to meet them, Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation along with the Ark-Tex Council of Governments is hosting a Transportation Summit on Wednesday, November 9th at the Hopkins county Civic Center. Tickets are $25 and include admission to the event and lunch. Local area officials and area TxDot representatives will meet to discuss our region’s long term transportation needs. For additional information, please contact the EDC at (903) 439-0101.
11th Semi-Annual History by Foot with John Sellers will be held on Saturday, November 12th at 9:30 a.m.
The Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance presents the 11th Semi-Annual History by Foot with John Sellers on Saturday, November 12th at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall in Sulphur Springs. This is a walking tour of downtown Sulphur Springs that will give the history of historical buildings, landmarks, and homes near downtown. The walk will start at City Hall and the cost is $10. Please make reservations by calling City National Bank at (903) 885-7523.
Hopkins County presents an Adopt-A Cop Celebration on Sunday, November 13th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Hopkins County proudly presents an Adopt-A-Cop event on Sunday, November 13th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Celebration Plaza in Sulphur Springs. Hamburgers, hotdogs and special music by the Tyler Lenius Band will be provided. This event is the time to celebrate the arrival of our officer’s new tactical vests which were provided by the community. Please make plans to join this event and celebrate in backing the blue.
AgriLife Extension is hosting the 2016 Earthkind Living Conference on Friday, November 18th
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is sponsoring the 2016 Earthkind Living Conference on Friday, November 18th at First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs. Registration is open from October 10th to November 10th with admission prices being $25. After November 10th, and on site, tickets will cost $35. This conference will introduce consumer, producers, and volunteers to Earth-Kind Living, a balanced system using university research proven techniques for quality living, environmental stewardship, and overall well-being. For more information and to register, visit https://agrilife.org/earthkindliving.
Divorce Care held weekly at First United Methodist Church at 6:00 p.m.
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.
New Chamber of Commerce members:
The Chamber is excited to welcome our two newest members! Welcome to Robinson Bennett Construction on Church Street Sulphur Springs and Phinesse Farms Winery on Main Street in Sulphur Springs. We are thankful for you!
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
DPS Traffic Stop Results in Arrest
Justin Pendergraft, 33, of Sumner, Texas was speeding on South Loop 301 when DPS Trooper King made the traffic stop. King noted that Pendergraft was noticeably shaking even though the temperature was 68. Trooper King also noted a knife just above Pendergraft’s head in the auto. Pendergraft was invited to step out of the auto and asked if he had anything illegal in the vehicle. With his head down, he replied, “Yes.”
Trooper King found a black pistol between the driver’s seat and console, which he considered within easy grasp of Pendergraft, when in the vehicle, and in the passenger’s seat, he found methamphetamine. It was also found that Pendergraft had been previously convicted of more than one felony.
Pendergraft is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram and with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. He is being held on a total of $25,000 in bonds.
Alliance Director for 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative to Speak at 161st Annual Rehoboth Baptist Association
Sunday evening at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church Sulphur Springs, the churches of Rehoboth Baptist Association will gather to celebrate another year of service to the seven county area served by the 54 churches. This is the 161st annual meeting for the organization.
Guest speakers for the event include Bob Billups,Alliance Director for the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative and Dr. Jimmy Pritchard pastor of First Baptist Church, Forney.
Billups has nearly 40 years of experience as a pastor and minister in Texas which equipped him with the relationship-building skills needed in his position with the Wilberforce Alliance. The mission of 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative seeks to create a world where religious freedom is recognized by nations across the globe as a fundamental human right. The organization seeks to defend the vulnerable and victimized, and to champion religious freedom and respect for the equal human dignity of persons of every faith. They mobilize faith-groups for advocacy of religious freedom policy reforms and protections globally as they equip through training and other resources and employ technical solutions. The organization is named for the 19th century British Parliamentarian William Wilberforce who identified the slave trade as the single greatest violation of human rights.
Dr. Pritchard began his ministry at FBC Forney in April, 1994 following pastorates in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. He is a former Trustee and Chairman of the IMB and past President of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. He served for 15 years with the Baptist World Alliance, and he is a former President of the Southwestern Seminary Alumni Association.
Rehoboth Baptist Association promotes cooperative efforts among churches and serves as a resource for education, referral, and support for local churches as they carry out their various ministry activities.
The evening activity will follow an afternoon business session at 4 p.m. The public is invited to attend the evening worship that will be broadcast on KSST and Suddenlink Cable Channel 2 Sunday evening at 6 p.m.
Alliance Bank Southtown Branch Open Thursday Following Wednesday Robbery
Sulphur Springs Police, the FBI, Texas Rangers, and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office continue to seek a 6 feet tall, heavy, white male that robbed Alliance Bank Southtown Branch Wednesday. He left the area in a white, four-door sedan.
Alliance Bank President Tom Sellers said all law enforcement agencies responded quickly with expert help as the investigation and search began. Southtown Branch was closed Wednesday afternoon but all other bank locations remained open. All Alliance Bank locations were open Thursday and observing normal hours.
Alliance Southtown Branch parking area and drive thru is entered on South Broadway and exits to Mockingbird. The man sought committed his crime in the lobby at the location.
PJC History Classes Review History of Elections
A LITTLE HISTORY With the general election at hand, it gives history teachers a perfect opportunity to review the history of voting in the United States and the importance of this freedom. Instructor David Larkin, above, talks about election procedures to his U.S. history class on the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus. For information about enrolling in classes at the campus, call 903-885-1232.
Acorn Crop Could Affect Deer Season
by Adam Russell, A & M Ag Education
OVERTON – A good crop of acorns and fewer mature deer could put the pressure on hunters in East Texas this deer season, said Dr. Billy Higginbotham, wildlife and fisheries specialist in Overton.
Higginbotham said hunters in the Pineywoods and Post Oak Savannah ecoregions in East Texas could face tougher hunting conditions due to a bumper acorn crop this year. Consumption of shelled corn and food plot crops decreases dramatically when acorns are available, which likely means hunters will have to adjust their strategies to harvest deer.
“Several different oak species are producing abundant crops of acorns this year, and hunters who hunt the early part of gun season over supplemental feeders or food plots could be in a very lonely spot when acorns are raining down on other parts of the property,” he said.
Higginbotham said hunters may need to hunt in or near stands of acorn-producing oaks. He recommends using portable or temporary hunting blinds for concealment in those areas.
Blinds should be set up downwind or crosswind from the feeding area, he said. Hunters should enter the area from a direction that does not result in scent drift into the feeding area.
“That may delay the opportunity to hunt those areas until the wind direction is favorable,” he said.
Compounding difficult conditions, the number of mature deer also will likely be lower this season compared to previous seasons, he said.
Higginbotham said the 2011 drought resulted in extremely low fawn crops. Deer typically enter prime antler maturity at age 5, which means hunters will likely see fewer mature bucks of that year class to harvest.
But antler restrictions in effect in East Texas counties have produced positive results for all hunters, he said.
“Fewer 1 1/2- and 2 1/2-year-old bucks are being harvested and the percentage of 3 1/2 and older bucks are showing up in deer populations,” he said. “This translates into better antler quality for our region.”
Higginbotham said East Texas hunters should expect the rut to be on schedule. Bucks typically begin rutting activity sometime during the first two weeks of November.
“Hunters who can locate does during that time period should expect bucks to follow,” he said. “In addition, once the rut kicks in hunters may encounter bucks anytime during the day as they actively seek and chase does.”
Higginbotham said hunters can aid wildlife management by collecting and sharing data regarding deer sightings and harvested deer. Hunters are encouraged to keep a tally of the number of does, bucks and fawns they see during the first two weeks of rifle season starting Nov. 5.
Hunters can also record harvest data on deer including the date, time and location, sex, antler measurements for bucks, lactation status of does and field dressed weights on all deer. Photos of all bucks harvested are also encouraged.
Harvest data can be compared to future hunting season’s data to determine if the deer population and habitat are in balance and trending toward the goals of hunters and landowners, he said.
“This is all valuable information that can be used to formulate future harvest recommendations,” Higginbotham said.
Sulphur Springs Police Are Seeking This Man For Robbery at Alliance Bank Southtown Branch
Sulphur Springs Police Department is looking for the individual who committed a robbery at a local bank Wednesday. The man is described as a white male 6 feet tall and heavy in weight.
A robbery Wednesday at the Alliance Bank Southtown Branch on South Broadway is under investigation by Sulphur Springs Police. No one was injured in the robbery. The Southtown Branch will be closed this afternoon. All other locations will be open.
