Enrollment For 4-H is Underway
Texas 4-H is like a club for kids and teens ages 5-18, and it’s BIG! It’s the largest youth development program in Texas with more than 550,000 youth each year. No matter where you live or what you like to do, Texas 4-H has something that lets you be a better you! You may think 4-H is only for your friends with animals, but it’s so much more! You can do activities like shooting sports, food science, healthy living, robotics, fashion, and photography. Look for 4-H clubs at your school, an after-school program, a community center, or even on base or through the reserves for military families. Texas 4-H is part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M System. Founded in 1908, 4-H is the largest youth development program in Texas, reaching more than 550,000 youth each year. In 4-H, the activities are organized by topics and called ‘projects.’ All 4-H members must be enrolled in at least one project. When you choose a project, you will learn everything there is to know about that topic. You will participate in various hands-on activities, learn new skills, do community service, or even make speeches about your project. How to choose your 4-H project:
- Select a project you like.
- Select a project that can be completed.
- Consider the money and time it will take. Can parents/guardians help?
- Consider the space and equipment that you have at home.
- A 4-H project should be fun, serve a purpose, and be worth the effort.
- Select only the number of projects you can complete.
- Contact your local county club to see which projects are offered where you live.
How to join 4-H
Join for $25 or less! Texas 4-H is for kids of almost any age – grades K-2 can be in Clover Kids. From 3rd-12th grades, you can be in 4-H. Your local county office will know what is available where you live. Call the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 and someone will contact you with more info!
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Join the Wildcats in Orlando for less than $400 each!!
Last minute travel deals can sometimes be very attractive. This is the case when I checked on a trip to Orlando for a client for next week. I found a package deal (airfare, hotel, and car) for $297 EACH (based on two in one room). Not only is it a direct American Airlines flight both ways, but four nights at a Disney resort AND an economy rental car for the duration. Check out the link here: Last Minute Disney Deal You can see that this is for Wednesday through Sunday, but it is NOT to travel with the team and DOES NOT INCLUDE any access to the Disney Parks, or meals, game tickets, etc. This is only a great deal for those that did not sign up with the tag-along package previously. Although the previous link is for a $297 per person rate, there are many other flight and hotel combinations for under $400 each. Find those here by entering your info: New Trip You can always click on the “Modify Search” option on the left on either screen to change your dates and preferences. You can book your entire trip through the website links provided, but as the game approaches, the sooner the better. As always, these deals don’t last long, and may not be available.
Tira News
By Jan Vaughn
The Tira City Council will meet on Tuesday, September 6th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center. Following a brief business meeting, Floyd Payton, former Tira Mayor, will be honored with a reception. Floyd resigned just before the last quarterly meeting, due to health issues. Please make plans to stop by and have some cake and punch and express your appreciation to Floyd for his dedicated service to the community.
Dakota Weir brought his brother, Dustin, to the Weir home on Saturday, August 13th. Yvonne and Wesley took him back to his home in Dallas that Sunday night, and they stayed with him until Tuesday. (Dustin is recovering from leg surgery.) Dustin’s wife, Natalie, was on a trip with her mom. While there, Wesley and Yvonne went to Six Flags and Chuck E. Cheese, and Brenda Allen and Yvonne went to a Christian concert on Saturday night.
The North Hopkins Alumni Committee met at the school on Monday to make plans for the 2016 School Homecoming. All former students and staff are encouraged to come to the event on October 8th. Registration and bingo will begin at 4:30 p.m., and then a barbecue meal will be served at 5:30, followed by a program. During the program, the Classes of 1966, 1976, and 1986 will be honored for their 50th, 40th, and 30th reunion. If you know individuals from these classes (or any other classes), please encourage them to attend. The Monday Night Jam band will provide musical entertainment. Several in the group are North Hopkins graduates. Tickets will be sold at the door, at a cost of $12.50 per person.
I took our grandson, Morgan Joslin, to Ruston, Louisiana on Wednesday, to get him all set for college at Louisiana Tech, where he will be pursuing a degree in Aviation. His classes begin on September 8th. His mom, Tiffany, had planned to go with us, but she stayed home, with Jaidyn, who was not feeling well.
Chip and I did a little shopping in Greenville on Saturday afternoon, and then enjoyed a delicious seafood meal at Red Lobster. On Sunday, Grace and Linda Ellen Vaughn came for a visit and had lunch with us.
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].
Agrilife: Fall Festival Arts and Crafts Show
Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show
Among the many hats I wear, serving as the Hopkins County Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show coordinator is one of them. This year’s event is shaping up to be a good one! Sixteen craftsmen have already registered, and I look forward to many more. Among the items for sale, you will see hand-crafted cards and gift tags, homemade jams & jellies, glass flowers and bird feeders made from vintage glass, handcrafted jewelry, glitter tattoos, home-baked goods, garden items, Christmas decorations, fall and Halloween decorations, quilted items, pillows, dolls, children’s clothing, place mats and table runners, travel pillows and pillow cases, hand-crafted key chains and chunky necklaces, laser cut suede wraps, crocheted scarves, stuffed animals, decorative gourds, embroidered items, potato bakers, purses, and much more!
Here are the specifics of the Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show:
1) This event is for hand-made/hand-crafted items only. No commercially-made items will be accepted.
2) The application form is available at http://hopkins.agrilife.org. Click on ‘publications.’ You may also go to www.hopkinscountyfallfestival.com and click on ‘forms’ for the application. Another option is to drop by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston (next door to the Southwest Dairy Museum) to pick up a copy, or I can e-mail an application. The deadline to submit an application is October 7. See application for fee.
3) No questionable items may be sold – this is a family-friendly event!
4) You will need to supply your own tables, display equipment, and chairs.
5) Each exhibitor is limited to one double space or two single spaces. Pricing of items is at the exhibitors’ discretion.
6) Electrical outlets are limited. We will do our best to accommodate your need, if indicated on the application. You must provide your own extension cords and tape to secure them to the floor.
7) Most available spaces are located inside the cafeteria. Covered outdoor spaces are also available in a limited quantity. Others may wish to bring a canopy for the uncovered outdoor spaces.
8) The Arts & Crafts Show will be held in the Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria, north entrance walkway, and outdoor grassy area in front of the gym, facing Houston Street.
9) Set up hours are: Friday, October 21, 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. (might be able to get in a little earlier)
10) Arts & Crafts Show is open to public: Friday, October 21, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 22, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
11) Those wishing to exhibit one day only will be assigned an outdoor space.
12) A confirmation letter, including directions to the facility, unloading, and parking information will be sent to exhibitors upon receipt of the registration form and payment.
If you need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at 903-885-3443. Fall Festival wouldn’t be Fall Festival without this fun event, and I look forward to it every year!
2016 Annual Christmas Joys Program
Calls have already been coming in, and sign-up is now taking place for the 43rd annual Extension “Christmas Joys” Holiday program. The theme this year is “Christmas Blessings,” and I’m so excited to share some great ideas with you! My colleagues, Denita Young (Rains County), Melisa Rhodes (VanZandt County), and Sarah Latham (Hunt County) will also demonstrate some of their great ideas and recipes to jump-start the holiday season. Staff from the Southwest Dairy Museum will also tell about their products and gift crates. The event will take place on Monday, November 7, at the Southwest Dairy Museum, with two sessions being offered to accommodate the crowds – 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Both sessions will offer the same information, so choose the one that works best with your schedule!
You MUST call to reserve a seat. When you call, please give us your name and phone number. We must have a name for every seat reserved. The cost is only $5, which covers a booklet of all the demonstrations, recipes, goody bags, and door prizes. The Southwest Dairy Museum will have a vast array of their tasty cheeses, dip mixes, cider, and other dairy delights.
Seating is limited to 75 per session. A waiting list will be started when the sessions are full. As in past years, if you miss it, I will offer a mini session the following week.
Closing Thought
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we would grab ours back – Pete O.
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]
Game Day Thursday: Wildcat’s Team Tennis at Terrell; Volleyball in Tourney
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team and the Wildcats’ team tennis squad are expected to be on their respective courts on this Thursday game day.
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team is participating in a Tyler Lee sponsored tournament beginning Thursday. Lady Cats Coach Justin Maness said among their pool teams would be Elkhart and former district nemesis Longview. The Lady Lobos defeated the Lady Cats twice in district play last year. The Lady Cats come into the Tyler tournament on a strong roll. They have won eleven of their last twelve matches Coach Maness said the Tyler tournament would be a good final tournament for the Lady Cats before the start of district play due to the caliber of the competition. The tournament will wrap up Saturday. In between, the Lady Cats will play at Mineola on Friday night.
tennis
Meanwhile the Wildcats’ team tennis squad has to be hoping to catch a break from recent rainy weather as they are scheduled to play at Terrell at 4 p.m. this afternoon. The match was originally scheduled for one week ago but it was rained out. The Wildcats have had three other matches rained out and a fourth one was canceled when Whitehouse apparently overbooked matches earlier this season. The Wildcats are 1-1 for the season. They have not been able to play since August 11.
Sulphur Bluff High Students Register for Dual Credit Courses at PJC-Sulphur Springs
COLLEGE CREDIT: These Sulphur Bluff High School students came to on-campus registration at the Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center Wednesday to test and enroll in dual credit courses this fall. They were accompanied by Principal James Payne, left, and welcomed by PJC-Sulphur Springs Center secretary Iris Gutierrez. The students, from left, are Joe Forshee, Jacob Watts, Halley Fouse, Makenna Morgan and Dylan Flowers. The first day of fall classes is Aug. 29. Registration for fall continues through Aug. 30.
Upcoming Big Sale on Princess Cruises!
Get upgrades and free pre-paid gratuities if you book your next Princess Cruise at the right time. Princess Cruises is planning a Fall Promotion that will include room upgrades, free pre-paid gratuities and extra on-board credit. It looks like that this promotion will include ALL sailings, even those in Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Click here to inquire when this promotion starts in early September: [email protected] We will put you on our email list so that you can be the first to receive the discounts. We have cruised on Princess once (Alaska with land tour) and could not have been more impressed with the level of service, accommodations, and dining choices. We know die-hard Princess customers who are hard pressed to cruise on any other cruise line ! With 18 ships currently sailing, and more on the way, Princess has several itineraries to choose from for any area of the world. This upcoming special promotion should include just about every sailing (over 6 days) from Summer 2017 until Spring of 2018. If you can plan your trip during these times you should receive fantastic savings.
Chamber Connection
Chamber Connection-August 25th
This is the last week to purchase Speed Networking tickets! The Chamber of Commerce is hosting An Evening of Speed Networking! Because networking is just a fancy word for making friends! Our event will be held on Tuesday, August 30th, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cedar Canyon in Sulphur Springs. This is the perfect opportunity for local business owners to network with other business owners in a non-pressured environment, meet new people, promote and describe their businesses, and enjoy delicious food and beverages provided by Lyndsay’s Plates + Provisions. Many door prizes will be given away throughout the evening. There are limited spaces available, so tickets will be sold on a first come first serve basis. Tickets are $25, so call the Chamber of Commerce at (903)885-6515 to reserve your ticket right away! It’s going to be fantastic!
The deadline is quickly approaching to submit your entries into the first annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Photography Contest! Let me review the basics. Anyone of any age can enter as we have a children’s category. The picture must be newer than January 1, 2014, and must have been taken in Hopkins County. The contest will be open from August 1st to August 31st. There are seven categories you may enter: Natural World, Travel, People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children’s Category. Only digital images are accepted (no prints). To submit your photograph, email the picture to [email protected] Rules and releases are available on the Chamber of Commerce website. I cannot wait to see your beautiful photos!
Stew Cook-off updates:
Just a reminder, the Chamber allows one non-profit organization to sell drinks at the Stew Cook-off. There are several rules and regulations to follow, but if you are interested in placing your organization’s name in the hat, please call the Chamber. You will be asked to come in and sign an understanding agreement in regards to rules and expectations. Deadline for volunteers is Friday, August 26th. Once we have all of our volunteers in place, we will literally pick one out of a hat and award drink sales to that organization.
The Venue at Two Nineteen hosted its Ribbon Cutting Celebration Wednesday, August 24th at noon
We very much enjoyed the ribbon cutting celebration for The Venue at Two Nineteen on Main Street at noon. We have all watched this building with anticipation wondering how beautiful this venue would become, and it did not disappoint. This building serves as a downtown venue for commercial and personal gatherings such as showers, birthday parties, and family reunions.
Bakers Back Our Blue Silent Auction in August 26th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There will be a silent auction at Sulphur Springs City Hall on Friday, August 26th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with all proceeds going to Adopt-A-Cop in Sulphur Springs. This silent auction is a unique one, because you can bid on baked goods such as cakes and cookies. Event sponsored by Bakers Back Our Blue. Go by any time that day to make a purchase and Back Our Blue!!
First United Methodist Church will host Divorce Care every Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Divorce Care continues every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. through September 13th in the administration building at First United Methodist Church. All who are dealing with separation or divorce are invited to attend.
Lone Star Quilt Guild currently selling raffle tickets for the 17th Annual Quilt Show
The Lone Star Quilt Guild is currently selling raffle tickets for the 2016 Raffle Quilt called Autumn Stars. Autumn Stars was designed by Joy Gregory, made by guild members, and quilted by Debra Hager. Tickets are 1 for $1 or 6 for $5. The 17th Annual Quilt Show will be held September 16th and 17th at The ROC, First Baptist Church Outreach Center at 115 Putman Street in Sulphur Springs. We have tickets available here at the Chamber of Commerce, or you may purchase tickets from Quilt Guild members.
The Lights of Life Style Show is scheduled for Thursday, September 15th at 6:30 p.m.
The HC Health Care Foundation is hosting its annual Lights of Life Style Show on Thursday, September 15th at 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Entry fee is a $25 donation and there will be door prizes and a raffle. Dinner and Fashions will be provided by Lou Nells. For ticket information contact the Foundation office at (903)438-4799 or Lou Nell’s at (903)885-0664.
Workforce Solutions will host its annual LEAP Conference on September 23rd from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting its annual LEAP (Learning Endorsements and Professions) Youth Expo on Friday, September 23rd. This event is very much like a job fair except that it is geared to educate eighth graders and help guide them as they make their endorsement selections heading into high school. Workforce Solutions is seeking a wide variety of companies and businesses to attend the LEAP Youth Expo to describe your business and expose eighth graders to all career avenues after graduation. Since students now choose their high school endorsements while in eighth grade, the Expo is perfect for them. Please consider attending this Expo and taking visuals and information to give away. They will be so thankful to have you there! Please call Bart Spivy at (903)794-9490 ext. 513 with any questions.
Shadow Ranch will host their First Annual 5K Ranch Obstacle Run on September 24th
Shadow Ranch wants to see if you are in shape! They will host their first ever 5K Ranch Obstacle run on Saturday, September 24th with the first wave of participants heading out at 9 a.m. This 5K run/walk will involve ranch obstacles such as climbing hay bales, enduring water/mud obstacles, going under barbed wire fences, flipping tractor tires, opening and closing gates, rolling hay rings, and jumping and sprinting with wheel barrows. Early registration entry fees (before September 10th) are adults $20, kids (ages 8-15) $10. Registration fees from September 10th to September 23rd are adults $25, kids $15. Then, the day of the run registration fees are adults $30, kids $20. Online registration can be found on Shadow Ranch’s Facebook page along with waivers and paperwork. Sounds like a fun event!!!!
Celebration Plaza’s Friday night movie will be Pokemon 2000 at 8 p.m. Saturday morning, the 5th Annual Jace Jog will be held at Coleman Park at 8 a.m. Yoga on the Square will be offered from 9 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The Celebration Market will be held on Celebration Plaza from 6-10 p.m. and Thee Effinays will provide your entertainment starting at 6 p.m.
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
Ribbon Cuttings:
The Venue at two nineteen held their ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, August 24th at noon. This building is located at 219 Main Street in Sulphur Springs and serves as a downtown venue for commercial and personal gatherings that will hold up to 150 people. To reserve The Venue at two nineteen, contact Lalonna West at (903) 782-8788.
Tennessee Man Attempts to Evade Local Arrest
A traffic stop on I-30 resulted in an attempt to evade arrest that ended when Dana Lee Porter, 43, of Memphis, Tennessee drove across DPS spike strips.
Porter was stopped by local law enforcement for a traffic violation. When asked to step out of his vehicle, he immediately fled the scene in his vehicle. Officers pursued Porter to the Franklin County line where DPS was waiting with the spike strips.
Porter is in Hopkins County jail being held on a $50,000 bond for Evading Arrest Detention with a Vehicle and a $250,000 bond for a Shelby County Tennessee charge of Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver. His vehicle is impounded in Franklin County.
