Season Tickets for Wildcats Five Home Games Go on Sale August 1
Wildcat Season Ticket holders are receiving letters this week regarding renewal for the 2016 season. The first letter, stating that there are only four (4) home games and the ticket packet is $40 is incorrect. A second letter is in the mail with the correct information.
Five home games will be played at Prim Stadium this season. Home games are scheduled against Whitehouse (homecoming), Marshall, Mt Pleasant and Hallsville. One out of state game is scheduled in Orlando, Florida against Seminole Ridge. The Wildcats will also travel to Paris, Pine Tree, Texas High and Greenville.
Tickets will go on sale for renewal Monday, August 1 and Tuesday, August 2. These days are open only to 2015 Season Ticket Holders who wish to renew their tickets. On Wednesday, August 3, those who have already renewed their tickets may upgrade their seating arrangements, based on the number of available seats. All remaining seats will go on sale to the general public on Thursday and Friday, August 4 and 5. Sales will be conducted from 8:45 a.m. until noon and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. each day. The sales office will be closed from noon until 1 p.m. for lunch each day.
Tickets will be sold in the High School Media Center and Library. Patrons are asked to use the Connally Street entrance on the east side of the high school.
Ticket holders who are unable to pick up their own tickets may designate an agent to pick the tickets up for them, but tickets must be paid for with the ticket holder’s check made out to SSHS or SSISD and accompanied by a letter of authorization from the ticket holder.
Highway 11 Update
A few weeks ago Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court approved $142,000 to be contributed to the potential claim of right of way to eliminate the first major curve on Highway 11 West (joining Sulphur Springs and Commerce). This fund was created to support construction of a new and wider roadway over the next few months. The plans for this new roadway will reroute traffic south of several existing homes in the area and is supposed to eliminate what many consider to be a dangerous “blind” curve. Kayla Price-Mitchell, co-owner of the Professional Land Title Company and a current resident on highway 11 stated in an interview with KSST that “the curve has been there my whole life, and it’s kind of sharp if people are traveling fast and not following the speed limit. I’ve never had a problem [on that road]…The curve needs work, but the answer that TxDOT has proposed is very expensive, they could just widen the road or increase the shoulder space…Traffic [on highway 11] has been declining since 2000 and it seems incongruent to spend that much when the [street] problems in the city are worse, and when it will cost taxpayers more money [to eliminate the curve]…[If they widened the shoulders] they can spend less money to save the curve and have the same benefit.”
Between the red lines indicates where the new road is planned.
If proposed plans continue, Highway 11 West will have a new section of roadway built from the intersection of Highway 11 and Highway 19 (Houston street and Hillcrest drive) to the west side of the White Oak Creek bridges where it will rejoin the existing roadway. Tim McAlvay, Public Information Officer at TxDOT spoke to KSST about the plans. “[Tx DOT] is still acquiring right of way from the landowners…[The updated highway will be] 3.5 miles, with 12 ft driving lanes and 10ft shoulders and the building is estimated to take about a year. The plan is to finish gaining right of way by the fall, then the project will be bid on by contractors, awarded to the lowest bidder, where the winner will then schedule times to build…It’s a lengthy process, but it’s done with taxpayer’s money [and we want to finish as soon as we can]…As for roads around Sulphur Springs, [Tx DOT] only does state highways.” McAlvay stressed the difference between “right of way” and “eminent domain”. “Right of way is a stretch of property of specified dimensions needed to expand the road, while Eminent Domain comes into play when a landowner doesn’t want to sell, and is typically a last resort, [that] allows the state of Texas to offer a set and fair price for the land.”
To read the previous article about this story click here.
CANHelp Annual Pack The Bus School Supply Drive
CANHelp is gearing up for our annual PACK THE BUS School Supply drive (this will be our 6th official year) benefiting needy families in Hopkins County. We continue to serve 200-300 families each year and last year was our biggest year to date. We were able to give each child a backpack filled with almost all supplies needed to start the school year. Any supplies or monetary donations we had left over, we also donated to local schools.
Shanna Martin, M.A.
Executive Director
CANHelp & 2-1-1 Texas North East Region
www.canhelponline.org
www.facebook.com/211canhelp
www.twitter.com/canhelp
IP # 54750
Phone: (903) 885-9797 ext. 1
Fax: (903) 439-2270
The Life Of The Sloth!
Sloths are the adorable and lethargic animals living in treetops, they depend on the health and survival of Central and South American tropical forests. They spend much of their lives in the canopy, snoozing and remaining hidden from predators. The animals live solitary lives and travel from tree to tree using canopy vines. Located in places such as Brazil and Panama, this strange and wonderful animal need healthy forests to survive.
The first question you can ask is why are sloths so slow? Well, Sloths have an extremely low metabolic rate, which means they move at a sluggish pace through the trees. Sloths move slowly because of their herbivorous diet, slow metabolism and small muscle mass. Sloths are able to move fast, but they have to burn an enormous amount of energy in order to do so. The sloth diet lacks fats and proteins, which are important sources of energy and nutrition. On average, sloths travel 41 yards per day, which is less than half the length of a football field!
Female sloths give birth to one baby a year after a gestation period of six months. The baby sticks with the mother for about six months, clinging to its mom’s belly as she moves through the trees. This is an important bonding period that helps the offspring learn and develop. When the sloth leaves its mom after about six months, it adopts part of its mother’s range, continuing to communicate with the parent through calls.
They move so slowly, algae and fungi have enough time to grow on their long hair, as they hang from the trees. Instead of washing the algae away, sloths use it to feed their young and it also doubles up as an effective green camouflage for the tree-dwelling creatures.
Sloths snooze for about 15 hours per day. That leaves only nine hours to lumber through the trees. They maintain a low body temperature of about 30-34 degrees Celsius, and move in and out of shade to regulate their body temperature. Sloths eat on leaves, twigs and buds of plants. Because the animals don’t have incisors (the teeth that help chew foods), they trim down leaves by smacking their firm lips together. A low metabolic rate means sloths can survive on relatively little food; it takes days for them to process what other animals can digest in a matter of hours.
Surprisingly, sloths are great swimmers. They will sometimes drop down from their treetop perches into water and use their extended arms to propel through the water. Sloths spend most of their time up in the trees, coming down only one time per week to relieve themselves. The trees provide a natural protection from predators such as jaguars and eagles; it’s safer for sloths to remain motionless and camouflaged off the ground. They will, however, venture down sometimes to find more food or a mate.
96 Baggies of Marijuana in the Auto Leads to Delivery Charge
Daniel Scott Stewart, 28, of Brashear was arrested Wednesday following a traffic violation that caused law enforcement to note his nervous actions while being interviewed. The officer asked Stewart to exit the vehicle. When he did, marijuana residue was noted on the driver’s seat. Stewart said a large amount of marijuana was in the center console. Deputies located two glass jars containing 96 individual baggies with marijuana.
Stewart is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Delivery of Marijuana under five (5) pounds, a state jail felony. He is being held on a $15,000 bond.
Chamber Connection July 14
How can a week be so beautiful and so hard at the same time? I’ve watched and read about events occurring all over the world and right down the road from us in Dallas. Some images and stories made me sick to my stomach, and others brought involuntary tears to my eyes witnessing such sweet kindness. Throughout this week I’ve reminded myself of all the things I am thankful for without fail. I’m thankful for my family, my friends, my support system, and this place I love and call home. I hope that you, too, have been able to meditate and find peace in the things for which you are thankful. I believe, that in the end, love will heal broken hearts. The Chamber is here to support and love Hopkins County, and we send our love to Dallas, too. So, the Chamber Connection this week will update you on things to come for the next week. Please plan to join us in these events for fun and fellowship in a time where those two things are needed and appreciated.
Wesley United Methodist Church selling t-shirts and bracelets for Team Eisley
Wesley United Methodist Church is selling t-shirts and snap bracelets to help raise medical funds for Eisley Henderson. Eisley is the daughter of Timmy and Magan Henderson. The t-shirts and bracelets are now available at Wesley. They will also be sold on Saturdays at the Celebration Market. Cost of the t-shirt is $20, and the bracelets are $5.
Main Street Theatre will present August: Osage County July 7th – July 17th.
Main Street Theatre will present August: Osage County on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. There will be a matinee showing on Sunday, July 17th, at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at www.mainsttheatre.com or by phone at (903) 885-0107. Main Street Theatre is located at 227 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. Reviews for this show are fantastic!
Grand Opening Celebration for One Way Auto on Saturday, July 16th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
One Way Auto, located at 900 Gilmer Street, is hosting a Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, July 16th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be bounce houses throughout the day, and hot dogs and drinks available at noon. All cars will be open for inspection during the celebration. Go support this new Chamber member!
Fall Festival will hold Preliminary Competition for Battle of the Bands July 16th at 6 p.m.
It’s that time again… the Fall Festival’s Battle of the Bands Competition. The preliminary competition will be held on Celebration Plaza on Saturday, July 16th, at 6 p.m. For more information, call 903-243-1925. This is such a fun event. See if you can pick the winner!
Reilly Springs Jamboree featuring Monty Tipps on Saturday, July 16th at 7 p.m.
Monty Tipps will be featured at the Reilly Springs Jamboree on Saturday, July 16th at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 per adult. This is a family friendly atmosphere and promises to be a great night of entertainment. The Reilly Springs Community Center is located at 109 County Road 1439 in Sulphur Springs.
Affiliated Driving School, Tuesday, July 19th at the Senior Citizen’s Center
Karon Weatherman is offering an Affiliated Driving School at the Senior Citizen’s Center on Tuesday, July 19th. The class is good for ticket dismissal and/or 10% off of your liability insurance. The discount is good for three years. The cost of the class is $15.00 for Insurance Discount or $25 for Ticket Dismissal. Call 903-885-1661.
Schlotzsky’s will host a Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening on Wednesday, July 20th at 10 a.m.
Join the Chamber as we welcome Schlotzsky’s Café and Bakery to Hopkins County with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, July 20th at 10 a.m. Schlotzsky’s is located at 1050 Gilmer Street. Schlotzsky’s offers a variety of sandwiches, soups, pizza, and Cinnabon cinnamon rolls. Make sure to stop in for a treat!
Ribbon Cutting for Fox & Fig on Wednesday, July 20th at noon
Fox & Fig, a new store specializing in farmhouse, vintage, and unique décor and furniture, will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Wednesday, July 20th. They are located at 624 Main Street. Please come by at noon to attend the ribbon cutting and check out this beautiful new business! Fox & Fig’s official grand opening day is Saturday, July 30th.
Danna’s and The Florist will host a Trunk Show for Nikko Blu jewelry on July 21st from 6 – 8 p.m.
Nikko Blu jewelry will be featured at a Trunk Show on Thursday, July 21st at The Event, 438A Gilmer Street, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Trunk Show is hosted by Danna’s and The Florist. Bring a friend and enjoy mimosas, giveaways, and great company!
Cricket Wireless hosts a “Give Back Night” for Bryan Hosking on July 30th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
10% of all proceeds from Muddy Jakes on the night of Saturday, July 30th, will be given to Bryan Hosking to assist with medical expenses. Bryan was diagnosed with Leukemia, and Cricket Wireless saw a need and made something happen! Please plan to eat at Muddy Jake’s that night to support Cricket Wireless and Bryan Hosking.
Adult Leadership Class being offered for the Fall! Sign up Now!!!
Lynda Hager reported that she would be offering an Adult Leadership Class starting in August for anyone who is interested. The Adult Leadership Class is a community leadership development program sponsored by the Hopkins county Chamber of Commerce. The course was created in 1989 with the concept of offering leadership training and community involvement for emerging business and community leaders. Leadership Sulphur Springs is a nine-month session, with meetings held once a month. For more information, please call the Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515.
New members to the Chamber of Commerce:
We are happy to welcome Day’s Inn and Suites, 1521 Industrial Drive East, Sulphur Springs, TX, to the Chamber! This hotel is under new ownership and management and is excited to welcome you!
We also welcome One Way Auto, LLC at 900 Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs. One Way Auto specializes in used automobile sales. Go by during their Grand Opening Celebration and say hello!
We also welcome a new individual member to the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Chris Brown. Thank you, Chris Brown for joining and supporting our chamber!
Celebration Plaza’s Friday night movie will be Star Wars: The Force Awakens at 8 p.m. Saturday morning, Yoga on the Square will be offered from 9 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The Bookworm Box will host a book signing at 2 p.m. with Vannoy Fite signing her book, Essential Oils for Healing. The Celebration Market will be held on Celebration Plaza from 6-10 p.m. Battle of the Bands preliminary competition will be the entertainment.
So there you have it! That is all the information I have to give you. The beginning of the Battle of the Bands competition shows us all that fall is on its way. Hang in there!
–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
Agrilife: Bees and Food Production
As I wrote this segment, temperatures in Hopkins County are steadily maintained in the upper 90’s. Our landscapes and agricultural fields suffer the consequences of high temperatures. Wild flowers and late summer crops in gardens are producing their last crop for the season. Insects and pollinators are working intensively. When referring to honey bees, Dr. Mike Merchant, extension urban entomologist with Texas A&M AgriLife wrote: What could present a more peaceful, bucolic image than the scene of beekeepers tending their bee hives?
Beekeepers are traditionally seen as the gentlest of agriculturalists, not killing for food but merely reaping the labor of an industrious insect in exchange for nurture and protection. Yet there is little peaceful about the verbal and political battle swirling about beekeepers and honey bees at the moment. You may have seen the headlines in recent years proclaiming the doom of the honey bee. The domestic bee industry in the U.S. and in other countries around the world was hit hard in 2006 with puzzling bee and colony losses, since referred to as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). In a typical year beekeepers expect to lose 10-15% of their colonies to disease and various stresses.
Since CCD arrived, colony losses have averaged 30% each winter, a significant increase. Despite dire headlines warning of the doom of agriculture, according to one 2012 report, the costs of CCD to consumers so far seem to be minimal and honey bee colony losses have been compensated for effectively by beekeepers themselves. Nevertheless, something seems wrong with the world if bees are dying. Initially all sorts of crazy ideas were promoted about the cause of CCD, including radio waves from cell phone towers. Since then the theories have narrowed to other, more reasonable suspects. In the past few months some researchers and advocates have claimed that pesticides are the principle cause. And whenever pesticides are mentioned, the debate is sure to get lively.
The USDA, university researchers and EPA have been mostly united for several years in the position that CCD is the result of multiple causes including parasites, lack of nectar source diversity, diseases, and overworked bees. However some recent research on neonicotinoid insecticides has raised alarm bells for critics, and has even led to a temporary ban on this group of insecticides in Europe. The research in question includes laboratory studies with bees and field studies with bumblebees, thought to be more sensitive to insecticides than honey bees because of their smaller colony size. Regardless of the current dilemma related to the effect of insecticides in honey bees, there is no doubt of the importance of bees in food production. Pollination, either of consumable vegetables, ornamentals and wild flowers is carried away by honey bees and other pollinators. It is important to learn how to maintain, promote and care for our colonies either as professionals or amateur gardeners. One important method to teach and share information is thru associations.
With the help of interested bee keepers, we are promoting the organization of beekeepers in Hopkins County. People interested in beekeeping are invited to our beekeepers ice cream social July 21 at 6:30 PM at the Hopkins County Extension Office. We will have the opportunity to share with you current information in beekeeping and start off our beekeepers club. The beekeepers social is free and ice cream will be served.
For more information contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 at let us know you are coming!
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Repaving of SSHS Parking Lot Continues
Construction continues on the repaving of the Sulphur Springs High School student parking lot. The asphalt appears to be close to completion, only lacking the parking lines. There was debate from the Sulphur Springs Independent School District over whether or not the allow students to continue custom painting their purchased parking spaces. This debate was centered around the contrast of new paint jobs next to old paint that had not been painted over for several years, giving the parking lot a ragged and unkempt look. However, students will be allowed to continue painting their spaces, but the lot will be blacked over at the end of each year in order to maintain the lot’s appearance.
Cooper Drug Bust Leads to Arrests, Further Investigation
The Delta County Sheriff’s office conducted a drug bust on July 12, 2016 in Cooper, TX after eight weeks of undercover investigation. The investigation involved 15 undercover drug purchases at different addresses by an undercover commissioned officer during the last two weeks of the investigation before the arrests were made. Seven individuals were arrested with two still on the loose. Those arrested were Roy Edward Battle with felony delivery of a controlled substance and misdemeanor delivery of marijuana, Janie Natasha Crist with four counts of felony delivery of a controlled substance and one count of delivery of marijuana, Michael Darrell Johnson with misdemeanor delivery of marijuana, Anthony J. Pease with two counts felony delivery of a controlled substance, Andy James Soto with one felony delivery of marijuana and one misdemeanor delivery of marijuana, Kerena Renee Talley with one count of delivery of controlled substance, and Trey Odis Harmon with one count of delivery of a controlled substance.
Kerena Renee Talley
Outstanding warrants remain on Wyzer Ray Moore with one count felony delivery of a controlled substance, and Kerry Lee Jones with two counts of felony delivery of a controlled substance. “I am confident that we will catch these guys within the next week or two,” Delta County Sheriff Ricky Smith said.
Sheriff Smith believes that this bust was an isolated event and has not connection with any larger drug operation. According the Sheriff Smith it was mostly meth, which he described as “a plague on our nation,” was the primary illegal substance involved in the investigation. After the results of this investigation, Sheriff Smith is certain that it has helped substantially reduce the drug problem in Delta County.
Exercise Safety In Hot Weather
Exercise Safely in Hot Weather
Many people flock outside in warm weather to travel, jog, play basketball or do yard work, but when the mercury rises, “easy” exercise becomes a huge physical undertaking, and intense exercise can be deadly. If your body’s temperature regulation system is overtaxed, you’re at risk of developing a heat-related illness. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds us of what we need to do to protect yourself in extreme summer heat:
1) Keep an Eye on the Weather – When you combine exercise and warm (hot) weather, they increase your core body temperature. Even seasoned athletes need to exercise caution. Your body cools itself by sweating, but cooling down is harder in humid weather because perspiration doesn’t evaporate as quickly from your skin. Your heart rate rises as your body works hard to keep its cool. A workout that feels easy on a temperate day can be dangerously intense on a hot, humid afternoon. Respect your body and your own limitations. People who are overweight, the elderly, kids and those not accustomed to rigorous exercise should be extremely cautious in hot weather. Having just returned from Multi-county 4-H camp, we gave the participants a constant reminder to stay hydrated, and cool down often. Our camp facility was nice, but it has a LOT of hills!
2) Dress Appropriately – When out in the heat, what you wear matters. Light-colored, sweat-wicking clothing is best for hot weather; dark, heavy clothes can make you even hotter. Gear — such as protective padding or helmets — also traps heat and raises your body temperature. If you have to suit up, shorten your workout intensity and duration.
Take care of your skin. Choose water-resistant sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 or higher (the most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels), and apply it 30 minutes before going out. Reapply the sunscreen according to the package directions. Sunburn decreases your body’s ability to cool itself.
3) Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate – This is a point that I stress, not only with our 4-H’ers, but with my family. Make sure you drink enough fluids throughout the day to stay hydrated, and enjoy water-rich foods including crisp lettuce, watermelon, grapefruit, broccoli and yogurt. It’s surprisingly easy to lose a few pounds of water weight through sweating. Weigh yourself before and after working out, and replace each pound of weight loss with 3 cups of water. Water is a good choice because it moves quickly through your digestive track and into your tissues. If you’re sweating heavily or exercising for more than 60 minutes, sports drinks can help your body refuel and rehydrate more efficiently.
4) Know the Warning Signs: Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke – Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures, and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Signs of heat exhaustion include: heavy sweating, muscle cramps, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, dark urine, cool clammy skin. The pulse rate may be slow and weak. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke.
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. Body temperature may rise to 105°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. With heat stroke victims, look for the following symptoms: dry, hot skin (no sweating); rapid, weak pulse; confusion; body temperature of above 105°; seizures; unconsciousness.
So enjoy the outdoors, but play it safe when it comes to extreme heat and physical activity!
Closing Thought
It is more important to reach the people who count than to count the people you reach – anonymous
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]
