What’s Up with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension? By Johanna Hicks
What’s Up with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension?
School is back up and in full swing, so that means that 4-H is gearing up for the new year, as well. Our office has received several phone calls in the past few days, so I wanted to share the 4-H enrollment information again. The 4-H year is from September 1 to August 31, and we have lots of events and activities for youth coming up in the next few months. But first, here’s enrollment information:
1) Registration is accessible on the 4-H Connect on-line system at: http://texas.4honline.com. Existing members simply update information for the new year. New members will need to set up a family profile and follow the on-screen instructions.
2) The fee is $20, which covers the entire year, and allows members to participate in all 4-H activities. Fee goes up to $25 after October 31.
3) 4-H Clubs available for membership are: Arbala Harvest (meets 3rd Monday of each month at the Arbala Community Center, 6:00 p.m.); Dike (meets 1stSaturday of each month at the Dike Community Center, 10:00 a.m.); Infinity (meets 2nd Monday at the Extension Office, 6:00 p.m.); Miller Grove (meets 1stTuesday of each month at the Miller Grove School, 3:30 p.m.); and 4-H Paws (school-based club at Sulphur Springs Elementary School, 3rd Thursday of each month, 3:15 p.m.)
If you need assistance with registration, we have a computer set up in our office for enrollment purposes. We will be glad to assist you!
So, what events are coming soon for 4-H members and guests? A very popular project among Hopkins County 4-H’ers and statewide is the foods & nutrition project. I’ll be hosting “Spoonfuls” at the 4-H Foods Fun Day, Saturday, September 24, 1:00 p.m. at the Extension Office. I’m asking interested youth to please call our office to RSVP so adequate preparations can be made – 903-885-3443.
Here’s a list of other upcoming opportunities (both 4-H and non-4-H):
- National 4-H Week kick-off: Monday, October 3, 4:30 p.m., County Courthouse steps – join us for a proclamation reading by Judge Newsom! Everybody is invited to join us – not just 4-H families!
- County 4-H Council meeting: Monday, October 3, 5:30 p.m. (following 4-H week kick-off), Extension Office. We will be boxing up school supplies to send to Louisiana as a community service project, as well as discussing upcoming 4-H events.
- 4-H Project Show: 4-H members are encouraged to enter items for judging, October 3-6. They will be judged on October 7, and on display to the public at the Extension Office on October 10 and 11. (4-H’ers are encouraged to enter the same items in the upcoming Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest!)
- Ag-in-the-Classroom: if you have a student in 4th grade in Hopkins, Delta, Franklin, or Rains Counties, their schools have received an invitation to this popular annual event, October 4 and 5 at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Our Extension staff is looking forward to seeing approximately 1,000 4th graders and their teachers!
- “One Day 4-H”: Saturday, October 8. Our 4-H’ers will be traveling to Cooper Lake South Sulphur Unit to work on the butterfly garden that they prepared last year. Those wishing to carpool will meet at the Extension Office between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. Interested 4-H’ers need to RSVP by September 20.
- Regional Childcare conference: Saturday, October 8, Hopkins County Civic Center. Our planning committee has some great speakers lined up. Daycare facilities, church childcare facilities, and home daycare facilities are welcome to attend. If you do not receive registration information, but would like to participate, please contact my office.
- Senior Citizen’s expo: Tuesday, October 11, League Street Church of Christ, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon – be sure to drop by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension exhibit!
- Homeowners’ Septic System Maintenance Training: Friday, October 14, Extension Office – call for times.
- Fall Festival Creative Arts entries accepted: Thursday, October 20, 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., and Friday, October 21, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., at the High School Conference Center. Or bring to the Extension Office Monday thru Wednesday, October 17 thru 19, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Items judged Friday, October 21 and on display to public that afternoon and until 1:30 on Saturday, October 22. Best of Show winner pictures will be made at 1:30 on Saturday. Items may be picked up between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
- Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show: vendors move in Friday, October 21 at 7:30 a.m. and open to public from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm., and Saturday, October 22from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Walk & Talk series: selected dates in October, November, and ending December 6th, ECLC Parent Center, 8:30 a.m. Call Extension Office for details.
- Pesticide Applicator’s Training: Wednesday, November 2, Hopkins County Civic Center. Call Extension Office for details.
- Annual “Christmas Joys – Christmas Blessings” program: Monday, November 7, 1:30 p.m. repeated at 5:30 p.m., Southwest Dairy Museum. Must call Extension Office to reserve a seat! (1:30 session is almost full, so don’t delay!)
- Annual Extension Leadership Banquet: Thursday, November 10, 6:00 p.m., League Street Church of Christ. All Extension committees, Master Wellness volunteers, Youth Board, Leadership Advisory Board, and stakeholders are invited to attend. More information coming, but save the date!
Well, that’s all I have room to list for now, but as you can see, there is much going on with your Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service! Watch next week for information on an upcoming Regional EarthKind Living Conference, to take place in Sulphur Springs on November 18th. You don’t want to miss this!!
Closing Thought
“Stress does not build character, but it reveals character” – 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]
PJC Drama Department Announces Fall Productions
Paris Junior College Department of Drama announces is fall play production schedule that includes a year-ending Christmas classic.“Our students can’t wait to see audience reactions to this year’s productions,” said Drama Instructor Will Walker. “We’re very excited about the new season.”
The first show of the new season, “The Giver,” is a modern classic adapted for the stage by Eric Coble and directed by PJC Drama Instructor Robyn R. Huizinga. The play is based on Lois Lowry’s Newberry Award-winning novel of the same name. “The Giver” follows Jonas as he begins an unforgettable journey of discovery beginning on his twelfth birthday when he becomes The Receiver of Memory, a title of honor in his community. Learning his perfect society is not what it seems to be, he is suddenly faced with a choice of what to do with his newfound knowledge in a place where choice no longer exists. Show dates and times are Oct. 6-8 at 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 9 at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $15, and the show will be performed free for invited local middle schools.
The PJC Drama and Music departments will collaborate to present “Scrooge, The Musical,” a Christmas classic the whole family will enjoy in the coming holiday season. Written and composed by renowned writer-composer-lyricist Leslie Bricusse in 1970, this festive musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel is a tale that has charmed generations with its story of repentance, giving, and the magic of the Christmas spirit. “Scrooge, The Musical” will be directed by PJC Drama Instructor Will Walker with musical direction by PJC Music Instructor Dr. Michael Holderer. Show dates and times are Dec. 1-3 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 3-4 at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $15.
SSHS Team Tennis Opens District with Loss
The Wildcats’ team tennis squad opened district play with an 18-1 loss at Hallsville Tuesday afternoon. Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez thought his team had a chance to win after he checked out play at the beginning of the match. It was not to be. Coach Martinez said his players didn’t execute their strokes and didn’t bring enough effort to he match ups. He added the players appeared to be scared. Many youngsters were playing their very first district match. The bottom line was there were too many miscues and errors for the Wildcats. Coach Martinez now plans to go back to the basics with the players to help them improve their serves and ground strokes. Blaine Flemens picked up the lone point for the Wildcats when his opponent had to retire from their match due to heat exhaustion. The Wildcats are now 0-1 in district play and 2-2 for the season. They will play their second district match at Marshall next Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Oncor Makes Donation To Meal-A-Day
Larry Willis, Oncor Area Manager presented a Donation to Meal A Day Cooks Mary Morris, Jim Turner, Joni Hughes, Debbie Wisniewski, and Maggie Thomas.
City Council Approve First Reading of Ordinances; Approve Bond Issue
Sulphur Springs City Council passed all items on their agenda Tuesday night during their September session. most of the items were first reading of ordinances that focused on the budget. A Food and Food Establishment ordinance was also passed for second reading.
The council did pass the second and final reading of Ordinance 2686, an ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of City of Sulphur Springs Texas Combination Tax and Surplus Revenue Certificates of Obligation. The bonds will provide $18-million for a rework of the city’s waste water treatment plant. The bond interest rate is 1.218% and including origination fee will be only 1.38%. Payments for 25 years will be $745,000 per year with no interest paid for the first 3-years and only $3.6 million in interest over the life of the bond issue.
Rates for residents will slightly increase—water rate will increase 2.25%, sewer rate 2.25%, and sanitation rate 2%. The tax rate will remain at .44 cents per $100 valuation.
The Food and Food establishments ordinance has been in the works for some time, according to City Manager Maxwell. The new ordinance will replace an ordinance that dates back to 1954. The new ordinance allows suspending or revoking the permit to be open for the establishment. The current establishment issue the city is focused on is not with a downtown dining district restaurant. Investigations using the state inspection work sheet that has been used for several years and the number and kinds of inspections will remain the same under the new ordinance.
The council approved the Economic Development Corporation Budget, awarded a contract for the replacement of the library roof, and approved the submission of a grant application to the Criminal Justice Division for body cameras and storage for the police department.
Items Recovered Quickly in Burglary of Building
David O’Neal Oxford, Jr, 42, of Sulphur Springs was arrested after his step-mother called Sulphur Springs Police and complained that Oxford had come on to her property on Vaughn Drive when she was gone and broke into the garage and stole items. Oxford was found at 927 Main Street with the items in his pickup. He admitted to the burglary.
Oxford is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Burglary of a Building, a State Jail Felony. His bond has been set at $5,000.
Renovation of State Highway 19 North begins September 12
PARIS – Texas Department of Transportation officials today said renovation work on State Highway 19 between Sulphur Springs and the Hopkins-Delta County line will begin Sept. 12.
Richard Drake Construction Company LLC is the contractor for this project. The target date for completion is Sept. 26, officials said.
The contractor will mill and remove the top one and one-quarter inch of the existing pavement surface, and then place one and one-quarter inch of Type F hot-mix asphalt concrete on the roadway. This work will require occasional temporary lane closures.
TxDOT officials asked drivers to remain alert and drive to road conditions when traveling on SH 19 north of Sulphur Springs while this construction project is underway. They should pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach work zones on the roadway. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems when driving.
K-9 Unit Discovers Methamphetamine
At 12:05 a.m. on FM 69 at CR 2426, a traffic stop found the female drive extremely nervous and the male passenger sweating profusely. Asked if contraband was in the vehicle, both answered there was not. The Hopkins County Deputy then asked consent to search and did not receive it.
He then called for Sulphur Springs Police K-9 Unit and the dog made a positive hit on the vehicle. In the center console of the vehicle was found a purple Crown Royal bag containing a clear crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Both were arrested at that time and asked if they had contraband on their person. Again, they denied having anything on them.
At Hopkins County Jail they were taken from the patrol unit into the receiving area. The female dropped a small vial containing clear crystal-like residue that field tested to be methamphetamine.
Stephen Paul Hawrylak, 48, of Texarkana and Karla Louise Weathers, 45, of Copperas Cove were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1, more than 1-gram and less than 4-grams and are being held in Hopkins County Jail on $10,000 bond each.
Lady Cats Dominate Royse City; Start District Friday at Hallsville
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team will be heading into district play Friday at Hallsville with lots of momentum. In their final non-district match Tuesday night at home, the Lady Cats dominated Royse City, 3-0. The score was 25-14, 25-17 and 25-15. It was the Lady Cats’ seventh straight win.
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness again got solid production from almost his entire lineup. In kills, Mieke VanBenthem and Kaylee Jefferson led the team with 10 apiece. Abbi Baier had 6, Autumn Tanton 5, Madi Vickery 3 and Rita Hill 2. Tori Moore provided 33 assists. In service aces, Baier had 6 and Jefferson 2. In digs, Anden Hammack had a team leading 16, Jefferson added 8 and Moore 5. The Lady Cats were active at the net and racked up lots of block assists. VanBenthem was credited with 4, Baier 3, Hill 2, Tanton 2 and Jefferson 1.
The Lady Cats improved their season record to 21-7. They open district play at Hallsville Friday at 4:30 p.m.
