Chamber Connection: October 20th
Chamber Connection-October 20th
The 47th Annual Hopkins County Stew Contest will be held at Buford Park on Saturday, October 22nd. Stew service will begin at 10:45 a.m. Quart sales begin at 11:30 a.m., and the “Drive-Thru Stew” line will open at 12:30 p.m. Stew tickets are already on sale at all local banks and at the Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are All-You-Can-Eat Stew for $5.00 each. T-shirts will also be available for $10 each. The weather is forecasted to be beautiful, and we can’t wait to see you there! It finally time to Do The Stew!!!
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.
The Fall Festival will host a Rodeo Concert & Dance on Saturday, October 22nd at 7:30 p.m.
The Fall Festival will be hosting a Rodeo Concert and Dance in the Civic Center Arena of Saturday, October 22nd at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature Ed Burleson. Tickets are available at the door for $3. For more information, and a complete list of all the Fall Festival Activities this weekend, please visit www.hopkinscountyfallfestival.com.
Summit Dental hosted their Open House Celebration on Thursday, October 13th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Summit Dental hosted an 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. Welcome to Sulphur Springs Dr. Elizabeth Jaynes.
CBJ hosted a Ribbon Cutting and Business After Hours on Thursday, October 13th at 5:30 p.m.
CBJ Embroidery & Screen Printing host a Business After Hours and Ribbon Cutting to celebrate the opening of their new location at 321 Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs. They were eager to show all the guests their brand-new embroidery machines and how screen printing works. Their facility and set-up is so impressive, and the staff is friendly and eager to help you with your embroidery and screen printing needs.
Brian Toliver Ford hosted a Ground Breaking Ceremony on Friday, October 14th at noon
Brian Toliver Ford hosted a Ground Breaking Ceremony for their new dealership on Friday, October 14th at noon. They are beginning construction on their new dealership with an anticipated completion date of early Summer.
Cross Country Cowboy Church to host 7th Annual Fall Ranch Rodeo on Saturday, October 29th at 7 p.m.
Cross Country Cowboy Church is hosting their 7th Annual Fall Ranch Rodeo on Saturday, October 29th at 7 p.m. at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Tickets are $5, and the first 500 ticket holders receive a free meal of hamburger or hot dog, fries, and a drink. Kids four and under may enter for free. There is fun for the whole family including free kid scrambles, wild cow milkin’s, and a team bucket race. There is a $600 entry fee to be a contestant in the rodeo. Proceeds benefit local residents fighting cancer through the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation. Contact Rowdy France for more information, (903) 243-2524.
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!
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.
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.
New members to the Chamber:
Welcome to our two new members of the Chamber of Commerce! We are happy to welcome Frontier Communications at 121 Shannon Road in Sulphur Springs, and Palmer Event Rentals at 313 Main Street in Sulphur Springs.
I hope you all have a great weekend, and don’t forget to Do The Stew 2016!
–Lezley
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
KSST will “Do the Stew!”
The KSST gang will be cooking stew at Site # 2, so come by and see us! Although KSST hasn’t always entered as cooks, our connection with the World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest goes back more than a few years. Clovis “Peavine” Pinion, an original KSST employee, had his own recipe for the traditional dish and recently, we found a copy of it in our archives. We are not certain if Peavine ever won the stew contest, but he was renowned as an excellent cook both in the kitchen and at the hunting camp. We’ll share his recipe with you here for comparison with your own winning recipe. It’s a home-size recipe, can be prepared on the kitchen stove or outdoors in a stew pot, and yields about 4 gallons. You’ll find a delicious variation in Dollie Kelley’s stew pot! Stop by and see us!
Peavine’s Recipe for Real Hopkins County Stew
Two Enter Pleas in Eighth Judicial District Court Wednesday
October 19, 2016 – Two men were sentenced to three years following plea bargain agreements Wednesday.
Roger Petrea, Jr., plead guilty Wednesday morning in Eighth Judicial District Court to Injury to a Child with intent bodily injury and received a three year term in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Petrea, 29, were arrested Tuesday, June 14, 2016 on a warrant at the Child Protective Services office in Sulphur Springs. Special Crimes Investigators assisted CPS with an investigation involving a one year old child that tested positive for high levels of methamphetamine. CPS had received information regarding drug use in a trailer park in Como shortly after the 1st of June.
Peter Weir accepted a plea agreement for three years in TDCJ for Bail Jumping and Failure to Appear and Burglary of a Habitation. The Bail Jumping charge dates back to April 14, 2016. The Burgalry of a Habitation dates from May 24th when Hopkins County deputies investigated a report of a suspicious vehicle outside a residence along I-30 East. As deputies approached, they saw a man and woman coming out of a residence. They were captured on a camera entering the home and taking items.
Wildcats’ Team Tennis Season Ends; CANHelp Benefit Next
The Wildcats’ team tennis squad ended the season on a high note as they defeated Pine Tree on the road, 11-8. Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez said the team prevailed despite some circumstances. The Wildcats top boy and girl player were unavailable due to illness. One player was with the band at their UIL contest. Anoher varsity girl was also unavilable.
Coach Martinez said doubles specialist Tyler Stout played his first singles match in a couple of years and won the tenth match that assured the Wildcats of the win. Freshman Jonah Kirkpatrick then won his singles match for the eleventh Wildcats’ point. Coach Martinez said the win excited the squad.
Spring play is next for Wildcats’ tennis. Coach Martinez added his CANHelp benefit tennis tournament will be taking place Saturday, November 5 at the Wildcats Tennis Complex. Entry fee is a new or gently worn coat. All sizes are needed. Coach Martinez said the tournament last year raised $3,000 and 150 to 175 coats and blankets were donated. He expects entrees from Greenville, Mt. Pleasant, Paris and Tyler.
He is also planning a Polar Bear tournament in January.
Wildcats Marching Band Scores UIL Division I Rating
The Wildcats’ marching band earned a first division score at UIL competition Tuesday at Mt. Pleasant. Band Director Charles McCauley said the band had their best performance of the year, especially playing music. He admitted that some issues remained to be solved in marching.
McCauley said it has taken some time for the band to get this year’s show together, especially the difficult ending. Despite mostly positive critiques from judges, McCauley said the band still has things to work on. They’ll get another chance at a contest this Saturday at Prariland. The band will perform at 2:45 p.m.
McCauley said the band had to overcome the heat at the contest in Mt. Pleasant. He said Tuesday’s contest was one of the hottest he had ever been a part of. It was 92 degrees when the band took the field at 4:30 p.m. McCauley said he allowed band members to put on their coats right before they performed. He also credited the band’s afternoon practices with getting them ready for the heat. Some other bands may have been impacted by the weather. McCauley said one band director told him his band just wilted and had no energy.
Because of a quirky old UIL rule, the Wildcats’ band will have no opportunity to advance to another round this year. They can only advance every other year. McCauley said the rule is very unfair. He said the band was the only group with such a rule. McCauley said could you imagine such a rule for sports teams or UIL Academic teams.
Wrong Month: City of Sulphur Springs to Re-Mail Water Bills
Residents are asked to examine their water bills recently received from the City of Sulphur Springs. The bills received in October are actually bill for January to February, 2016 usage and not up-to-date. A city employee told KSST News that a computer error had caused the printing and mailing of the incorrect bill.
The correct bill will be mailed to residents later this week.
Bi-Partisan Candidate’s Forum Held
PARTY CHAIRS TOMMY LONG AND DONNIE WISENBAKER
Approximately 75 Republicans and Democrats attended a bi-partisan Candidate’s Forum on Tuesday evening October 18, 2016 in the Fellowship Hall of League Street Church of Christ in Sulphur Springs. Republican party chair Donnie Wisenbaker and Democratic party chair Tommy Long welcomed the audience. Moderator was Dr. John Allen and timekeeper was Dr. Suzanne Bankston. On the schedule was a question and answer sessions for the audience with Precinct 3 candidates, to be followed by a presentation from PJC President Pam Anglin. At 6:20pm, following a coin toss, the first to speak was Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley, the Republican candidate for the office. His Democratic opponent Billy Emerson also answered the 5 prepared questions. Here is a brief overview.
- “SINCE I PAY A LOT OF TAXES EVERY YEAR, WHY CAN’T OUR COUNTY ROADS BE IN BETTER SHAPE?” Both candidates replied that maintaining county roads is challenging with the present demands on the budget.
- MR. EMERSON’S CAMPAIGN TRUCK HAS A SLOGAN THAT SAYS “THERE IS A DIFFERENCE”. CAN YOU EACH EXPLAIN WHAT YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR POSITIONS MAY BE?” Bartley explained that his experience in doing the job, his wife, children and grandchildren, his church attendance, and his contributions to the community through fundraising events display the difference he is proud to convey. Emerson answered that a different approach to doing the job of commissioner is the difference he would offer.
- “THE ISSUE OF THE NEW PARKING LOT ON JEFFERSON AT ROSEMONT STREET HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP IN THE NEWSPAPER. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW IT CAME INTO BEING AND WHAT IS YOUR POSITION?” Emerson replied that the parking lot is now completed, but it took time away from the work of county roads during the length of the project. Bartley stated that in 2007, an agreement to save funds from the sale of a downtown building (Fidelity Express) set the money aside for the parking lot. It was a partnership between the City of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County, and that $100,000 was saved through work done through this partnership. Also, he hoped the same sort of partnership could benefit the proposed Pipeline Road project.
- “CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT PORTION OF OUR TAXES GOES TO THE MAINTENANCE OF COUNTY ROADS?” Emerson gave a breakdown of how tax money is apportioned for purchases and for labor, saying that about half the almost $950,000 in tax revenue is split between the two types of expense. Bartley gave a breakdown of how an individual’s taxes are spent by the county. He used $313.70 as an example of an individual’s County Tax bill. He stated that 24% of the total goes to roads and bridges, so about $79 would go to the County Commissioners’ office to be split four ways, resulting in about $18 for each precinct to devote to road maintenance.
- “WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE RE-OPENING OF PIPELINE ROAD AND WHY?” Bartley stated that he feels that Pipeline Road could provide quicker access by EMS for the residents of the eastern part of the county, including persons as far out as Weaver. He stated that he has discovered possibilities of a grant through FEMA , as well as an offer from TxDot to put that road’s bridge back on it’s list to repair it at no cost to the county. Emerson stated that not all residents of Pipeline Road would like to have the road re-opened.
The Q & A session ended, followed by an intermission, while the audience awaited the arrival of Dr. Anglin who had presented a similar session in the community of Roxton. Upon the arrival of the PJC representatives, Dr. Anglin spoke to the audience about the tax rate proposal. Also speaking against the tax issue was a member of Texas Senator District 2 Bob Hall’s office, District Director Destin Semsky. Semsky told the audience that they have to pay taxes but no more taxes.
First Night of Cover Girl Contest–Video Presentation
by Doug Haston
Tuesday night was the first night of the Hopkins County Fall Festival Cover Girl Contest. The four contestants competed in cow milking, saddling a horse, calf scramble, and driving a tractor. Thursday the contestants will stack hay, cut up a chicken, and sowing in the rodeo arena at the civic center.
The new Cover Girl will be named Saturday during the performances in the civic center auditorium.
