Cooking, Marriage, 4-H Camp: Agrilife in Hopkins County
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]
“Cooking Through the Seasons”
Excitement is building for the 2016 “Cooking Through the Seasons.” There is still time to register, but the deadline is drawing to a close soon! For those reading about it for the first time, here are the details:
- What: “Cooking Through the Seasons” – a morning of cooking demonstrations, tablescape ideas, gadget demonstrations, and more. Our own local celebrity, Chef Lyndsay Caldwell, will be our featured chef, demonstrating knife skills using recipes with fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein foods. Kim Sellers, Registered Dietitian will share information about one of the main questions she receives – healthy vs. unhealthy fats. Denita Young, Rains County Extension agent, will show wonderful ways to dress up your table for every season of the year. Angie Monk, Wood County Extension Agent, will demonstrate baking for the holidays, featuring whole wheat flour recipes. I will bring out some of my favorite kitchen gadgets – some you might already be familiar with, and some that are brand new to you!
- When: Friday, May 20, 2016
- Time: registration begins at 9:00 a.m., program starts at 9:30 a.m. We will be done by 11:30 a.m. or 12:00 noon.
- Where: ROC – Recreation Outreach Center, 115 Putman Street, Sulphur Springs
- Cost: $15, due with registration form
- How to sign up: drop by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office in Sulphur Springs, Emory, or Quitman, or go to: http://hopkins.agrilife.org and click on ‘publications’ to print off the registration form. Or you may call my office at 903-885-3443 and we’ll mail the form to you.
- What you’ll receive: in addition to watching the great demonstrations, each attendee will receive a gift bag full of great items, including full-color recipe cards for six complete menus. Each menu has a main dish, side dish, and dessert, for a total of 18 recipe cards. You can mix and match the recipes to come up with a variety of menus. We’ll also have some great door prizes and refreshments.
- Vendors: We have room for more vendors, so anyone interested in setting up should contact my office at 903-885-3443 for more information.
Give this as a gift to your mother or Grandmother for Mother’s Day! Make this a girls’ morning out and make plans to attend!
Twogether in Texas Marriage Education Workshop
Here is another opportunity from which many people could benefit! The Twogether in Texas Marriage Education workshop is open to anyone interested in attending, but engaged couples reap a double benefit because they will receive a certificate at the conclusion of the workshop to save $60 upon applying for a marriage license!
The next workshop for Twogether in Texas is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Hopkins County office of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 1200-B W. Houston, Sulphur Springs. There is no charge for the workshop, but I do need couples to call ahead of time so adequate preparations can be made for lunch, refreshments, and materials. Did I mention that lunch and refreshments will be provided?
Topics covered are: Marriage Expectations, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Money Management, and Goals & Dreams. This is a super workshop – partly video, partly group interaction, and lots of fun! Call my office at 903-885-3443 to sign up or for more information.
Multi-County 4-H Camp
“Can You Hear Me Now?” is the theme of the 2016 Multi-county 4-H Camp. Hopkins County typically has one of the largest group in attendance at this camp, held at Lakeview Baptist Conference Center in Lone Star, Texas. Dates are July 11 – 13, and registration forms are available at the Extension Office. Workshop sessions will include Robotics, Ropes Course, Cooking, Archery, Junior Master Gardeners, and Healthy Lifestyles.
The cost per camper is $115 which includes lodging, meals, t-shirt, insurance, and tons of fun! Paddle boating, canoeing, swimming, ping pong, foosball, shopping in the gift shop or snack shack, and meeting new friends are all part of the fun.
Campers are asked to leave their cell phones at home so everyone can disconnect and enjoy all the opportunities the camp has to offer. Extension agents and adult sponsors will serve as chaperones and session leaders, as well as points of contact for parents. A camp nurse will be available to dispense any medication the camper requires, and fully trained staff will see that the camp operations run smoothly. The dining hall overlooks a beautiful lake, and the food is delicious!
Deadline to register is May 27. Forms are available at the Extension Office. 4-H members may bring guests, but everyone must fill out the registration form. A letter will be sent to those who register outlining what to bring, what to leave at home, and carpooling details.
Closing Thought
Happy Mothers’ Day! “If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been.” – Robert Brault
A 529 Plan Can Help With College Expenses
Craig S Johnson, Edward Jones Financial Advisor
We’re at the end of another school year. If you have younger kids, you might be thinking about summer camps and other activities. But in the not-too-distant future, your children will be facing a bigger transition as they head off to college. Will you be financially prepared for that day?
A college education is a good investment – college graduates earn, on average, $1 million more over their lifetimes than high school graduates, according to a study by Georgetown University – but a bachelor’s degree doesn’t come cheap. For the 2015–2016 school year, the average expense – tuition, fees, room and board – was $19,548 at a public four-year school and $43,921 at a four-year private school, according to the College Board. And by the time your children are ready for college, these costs may be considerably higher, because inflation is alive and well in the higher education arena.
Your children may be eligible for some types of financial aid and scholarships. But even so, you may want to consider some college-savings vehicles – and one of the most popular is a 529 plan.
A 529 plan offers a variety of benefits, including the following:
- High contribution limits – A 529 plan won’t limit your contributions based on your income. In all likelihood, you can contribute as much as you want to a 529 plan, as many states have contribution limits of $300,000 and up. And you can give up to $14,000 ($28,000 for a married couple filing jointly) per year, per child, without incurring any gift taxes.
- Tax advantages – Your earnings can accumulate tax free, provided they are used for qualified higher education expenses. (529 plan distributions not used for qualified expenses may be subject to federal and state income tax, and a 10% IRS penalty on the earnings.) Furthermore, your 529 plan contributions may be eligible for a state tax deduction or credit if you participate in your own state’s plan. But 529 plans vary, so check with your tax advisor regarding deductibility.
- Freedom to invest in any state’s plan. – You can invest in a 529 plan from any state – but that doesn’t mean your child has to go to school there. You could live in one state, invest in a second state’s plan, and send your student to school in a third state, if you choose.
- Money can be used for virtually any program – Upon graduating high school, not all kids are interested in, or prepared for, a traditional four-year college. But you can use your 529 plan to help pay for qualified expenses at a variety of educational institutions, including two-year community colleges and trade schools.
Of course, a 529 plan does have considerations you will need to think about before opening an account. For example, your 529 plan assets can affect your child’s needs-based financial aid, but it might not doom it. As long as the 529 assets are under your control, they typically will be assessed at a maximum rate of 5.64% in determining your family’s expected contribution under the federal financial aid formula, as opposed to the usual 20% rate for assets held in the student’s name.
In any case, though, a 529 plan is worth considering. But don’t wait too long – as you well know, your kids seem to grow up in the blink of an eye.
Animal of the Week: Libby
Libby
Libby is a two year old female Labrador with some bloodhound DNA. She is a loving and playful dog, but she does have some issues following the rules. “She likes to run, she likes to play, but she doesn’t listen,” Animal Shelter Officer Barbi Blanch said. “If she gets off the leash, she will run and good luck catching her.”
Libby had been previously adopted for several months before her former owners returned her to the Animal Shelter because they could not handle her. She has been improving, however, during her time with her current foster home. She is now housebroken and the Shelter and Foster have worked to better train her. “She’s learning, but she needs somebody that has experience in dog training,” foster owner Sharon Harris said. “She’s very strong, and she wouldn’t hurt a kid, but small kids would not be recommended. She’s needs room. She loves the country, she loves all dogs, she loves all cats, she loves all people, but she needs somebody with a little bit of training on Lab/Hound mixes.”
She is spayed and up to date on all current shots and medicines. She has been involved in every off-site adoption since September and will be involved in any upcoming off-sites until she is adopted.
FFA Project Show Auction Results
The Sulphur Springs High School Future Farmers of America held an auction on Saturday April 30 at the Arena of the Hopkins County Civic Center. Fourty-four (44) projects were sold by SSHS FFA members, and the Sulphur Springs chapter surpassed last year’s sales by an impressive amount.
Alex Robinson sponsored by J&J Meat Market sold a Drum Grill with T-Shirt and BEEF Decal to L. Looney of CNB for $40.80.
The Agricultural Mechanics Class sponsored by Sonic sold a Horshoe Cross and 10 Sonic Burgers to Abron for $60.00.
The Agricultural Mechanics Class sold a Feed Bunk to Abron for $150.00.
Kasen Price sold Saw Horses to R.A.C.E for 135.00.
John Hogan sold Standing Longhorn .22 caliber targets to M. Johnson for $50.00.
Kye Johnson sold a Hay Ring to Micheal Williams for $135.00.
Jake Couch and Kody Bowen sold a Dog House to Truman Ragan for $100.00.
Tristan McCormack and Jase Kirkpatrick sold a Deer Feeder to Rick Patrick for $250.00.
The Agricultural Mechanics Class sold a Trailer Smoker to Micheal Williams for $75.00.
Kaden Moore and Jake Masters sold a Hog Trap to B. Massey for $125.00.
Dakota Kane and Hunter Freeman sold a Bumper Dumper to J. Holland for $40.00.
Kris Nottingham and Hunter Stonaker sold a Picnic Table to CNB for $400.00.
K.J. Abron, Dustin Crabtree, and Arian Jabonetta sold a Table to Abron to $175.00.
Tyler McKinney and Kris Nottingham sold a Hay Ring to Micheal Williams for $120.00.
Morgan Mayers sold a Horseshoe Boot Rack to Abron for $30.00.
Kyle Dodd, Tyler Armstrong, Conner Nix, and Brandon Kelly sponsored by Bodacious BBQ sold a Rolling Smoker with BBQ Sauce and pickles to Micheal Williams for $300.00.
Norris English and Kyle Alexander sold a Toilet Paper Holder toB. Maddox for $5.00.
John Hogan sponsored by Price Pawn Shop sold a Pair of .22 Walking Targets and a box of .22 ammo to M. Johnson for $35.00.
Drake Smith sold a Wildlife Lamp to Big Smith’s BBQ for $10.00.
Caleb Lewis, Brody Blackmon, and Kade Brown sold a Picnic Table to Price Pawn Shop for $400.00.
Spencer Brewer sold a Hog Loading Chute to Brewer for $320.00.
Matt Thorn sold a Coffee Table to Throne for $110.00.
Cameron Davis and Ronaldo Areellano sold a Hay Silver Ring with Rood to W. Parker for $165.00.Mark Maddox sold a A&M Rocking Bench to S. Carter for $300.00.
Dusty Merrell, Marissa Greenway, and Karlee Adams sold a Plow Disc Fire Pit to K. Adams for $75.00.
Tyler Young and Brenton Burnside sold a Hay Ring to W. Parker for $110.00.
The Agricultural Mechanics Class sold a Picnic Table to Price Pawn Shop for $380.00.
Tristan Fairchild and Dalon Irby sold a Fishing Rod Holder to Price Pawn Shop for $90.00.
The Agricultural Shop sold a A/C 21Damp Crackerbox Welder to Murray for $100.00.
Jesus Abrego, Javier Gonzalez, Jairo Aranda, and Justin Bryant sold a Rectangle Grill to Bettis Enterprise for $210.00.
Dee Dugan and Jaxon Reneau sold a Horseshoe Cross Coat Hanger to Greenway for $30.00.
Josh Couch and Hanah Irby sponsored by Fix & Feed and Lowes sold a Wooden Swing Frame and Porch Swing to Abron for $175.00.
The Agricultural Mechanics Class sponsored by Chili’s sold a Redneck Golf Set aand 3 $35 coupons to Holland for $65.00.
Norris English and Kyle Alexander sold a Toilet Paper Holder to Maddox for $5.00.
Tyler McKinney and Layton Pace sold a Horseshoe Fire Pit to Pace for $85.00.
The Agricultural Mechanics Class sold a Hay Ring to Maddox for $110.00.
Jared Johns sold a Picnic Table to Farm Bear for $325.00.
Kody Bowen sold a Table to Abron for $50.00.
Drake Smith sold an Anchor Lamp to Ed Moore for $90.00.
Kyle Gammill and Logan Merrell sold a Firewood Rack to Kyle Gammill for $130.00.
Sam Gillibreath sold a Metal Swing to Nor Tex Tractor for $675.00.
Drake Smith sold a Bowhunter Clock Face to Walt Gamus $50.00.
Norris English and Kyle Alexander sold a Toilet Paper Holder to Matt Johnson $10.00.
Drake Smith sold a Fish Coathanger to W. Gamus for $55.00.
A Hog Trap was sold to W. Parker for $120.00.
Spring Football Underway at SSHS
football
Shortly after 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Wildcats’ football team hit the practice field to begin something new around here lately, spring practice. Players separated into position groups for lots of fundamentals work. Late in practice, players got to mix it up a little as the offense and defense went at each other with plays near the goal line. Later the offense ran some plays attempting to move down the field against defenders.
After day one of 15, Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens pronounced it a good practice. He noted the weather was tremendous. Coach Owens called it like San Diego. Temperature was in the upper 70’s. He said the practice, which went about one hour and fifty minutes, may have been about 10-minutes too long noting that players seemed to lose some juice near the end. Mainly through Coach Owens stressed that the players were energized and really excited and they got plenty of reps. Coach Owens said players were rusty and some got discouraged because they were not perfect on the first day. He said some of the young kids came out wide-eyed but later settled down and some made some plays.
Coach Owens said the coaching staff would evaluate the practice to determine what needed to be emphasized Wednesday. He said what is great about spring practice is the ability to slow down and teach, teach, teach without worrying about a ball game coming up Friday. The Wildcats will be back at it at around 3:50 p.m. Wednesday and Friday and during the football athletic period on Thursday.
Streets, Parking, Sewers: City Manager’s Report for May
STREETS, WATER AND SEWER – Bill Bradford Road is progressing slowly but steadily. Utilities work continues from west to east. The road is closed to through traffic, but open to customers of the businesses located in the closed portion of the road, namely Village Pawn and Gun Shop and Sulphur Springs Floral Etc.
This $1.4 million project includes water and sewer utilities, underground drainage on the western end of the street and complete reconstruction of the street. Previously I reported that the street would be paved in asphalt with 500’ feet of concrete at both ends. Staff is presently evaluating whether to construct the entire street with concrete. We recently got a great bid on concrete on Rockdale Road, and the contractor who performed the work did a good job. We are going to bid the job both ways and bring it to the City Council at the June meeting.
EZ MART SEWER PROJECT – At a previous meeting, the city council approved a sewer project on Mockingbird Lane between Furr’s and EZ-Mart that would divert wastewater flow from three fast food restaurants and one apartment away from the Mockingbird sewer main and toward the trunk line that parallels South Town Branch. The new line would also carry flow from any new development south and east of Chili’s. We are nearing the end of this project, and Capital Construction Division crews are currently working behind Whataburger. We should have all of the sewer line installed by the end of the week. When this project is completed, we will move these crews over to Bill Bradford Road, and the pace of work will increase there.
DAVIS/TOMLINSON PARKING LOT – Conduit is installed for the Tesla charging station, and work is progressing from south to north.
JEFFERSON STREET PARKING LOT – This is a County project at the northeast corner of Jefferson and Rosemont Streets. The new lot will have 77 spaces. The County is constructing the lot in concrete and the City is installing lights and landscaping per our earlier agreement at the time the tax increment reinvestment zone was created. When the County opted into the zone, the City committed to beautification of the lot when it was built.
CLAIMS – We did not have any workers’ compensation claims, or liability claims in April.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Total suspended solids (TSS) came in at 7.74 mg/L, well within the limit of 15 mg/L.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Sold 1,300 gallons of AvGas and 3,187 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Began leveling the soccer fields.
- Sprayed for weeds in Coleman Park.
- Made repairs at Kids Kingdom.
- Repaired the boardwalk at Peavine Pinion Pond.
- Fertilized the athletic fields.
- Patched 284 potholes.
- Repaired 9 street cuts following utility repairs.
- Conducted spring clean-up.
- Cement-stabilized 2 spots on Como Street.
- Responded to 174 animal control calls and achieved an adoption rate of 29%.
- Made 78 arrests, responded to 42 accidents, recorded 73 offences and wrote 528 citations.
- Made 12 felony arrests in the special crimes unit.
- Responded to 122 fire/rescue calls including 2 structure fires and 4 water rescues.
- Conducted 72 fire inspections.
- Prepared 70 pre-fire plans.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 90 fire hydrants.
- Repaired runway lights at the airport.
- Installed two light poles at the wastewater treatment plant.
- Repaired water leak at the airport terminal.
- Performed preventative maintenance and repairs on the wastewater treatment plant lift station.
- Made repairs on the wastewater treatment plant screens and presses.
- Repaired 4 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 10 water meters.
- Unstopped 30 sewer mains.
- Washed 72,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Flushed 36 dead-end water mains.
- Treated 115 million gallons of potable water.
- Checked out 2,506 items from the Library.
Facebook Impersonation Scam Lands Hopkins County Man In Jail
Sulphur Springs Police Detective Sergeant Lenwood “Bo” Fox went to a Como residence on Tuesday to serve a warrant for a man who was wanted for Impersonating a Public Servant. Ritchie Adam Trahan, 48, of Como was arrested after being read his Miranda rights and interviewed by Detective Fox. During the interview, Trahan confessed to representing himself as Detective Fox to his niece via Facebook on May, 1st. Trahan impersonated Fox and used the detective’s authority as an officer to induce his niece to not make accusations against him. Detective Fox transported Trahan to the Hopkins County Jail where he was booked without incident and placed on $10,000 bond for Impersonating a Public Servant which is a 3rd degree felony.
CVS Pharmacy Thief Confesses To Crime
May 4, 2016 – Jessica Michelle Durbin, 30, of Mount Vernon, Texas was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance Tuesday afternoon. Durbin, who was involved in a previous theft at CVS Pharmacy, located at 1101 Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs, was located by Special Crimes Unit investigators, read her Miranda rights and questioned.
Jessica Michelle Durbin
During the investigation, Durbin confessed to the theft and that stolen medications were hidden at her residence in Mount Vernon. SCU officers drove Durbin to her home and recovered all of the stolen medications. Sergeant Mark Estes found approximately 6 oxycodone pills which weighed in less than 1 gram, but fell within penalty group level 1. Durbin was then transported to the Hopkins County Jail where she now sits on $5,000 bond for a state felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance less than or equal to 1 gram.
City Council Names JPs as Municipal Judges, Agree to Atmos Rate Increase; Note Sales Tax Better than Expected
Sulphur Springs City Council began their May meeting with Mayor Kayla Price-Mitchell proclaiming May Motorcycle Safety Awareness month, Lupus Awareness Month, and Older Americans Month before voting on the variety of items on their May Agenda Tuesday night.
In a cost saving move, the city council approved utilizing the services of the Justices of the Peace for Hopkins County as Municipal and Associate Municipal Judges. The city will pay both judges $1,000 per month for their services. The amount was called “far below the salary we were paying” by one member of the council. Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 B. J. Teer will serve as Judge and Brad Cummings, JP Precinct 2, will serve as associate. City Councilman Craig Johnson stated that this could be the first of other sharing between city and county that could reap savings for both.
Council members approved with an amendment, the second and final reading of an ordinance limiting parking on both sides of Enterprise Lane. Although the ordinance called for a limit to two hours, the council approved an amendment that will allow no parking on the street. Council members discussed the fact that the street was being used for parking by those who were not allowed to smoke on their company grounds which is now a smoke free campus. Some employees were using the street for a break room and leaving trash and debris on the street. The litter was unappealing to neighboring offices.
Council also approved a plat combining eight lots into one at the Brian Toliver Ford location at 1040 Gilmer Street. The change will facilitate the rebuild of the auto dealership at that location. A zoning request for property at 520 South Davis Street from Multi-Family to Light Commercial was also approved when the property owner requested the change to allow for future use of the property that is adjacent to other property he owns that is zoned light commercial.
In an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation, the city will take back upkeep of a segment of Main Street from South Davis to T J Alley. The section of the street had been maintained by the state as part of the state highway designation. However, to allow parking along Main Street in that area, the city will need to maintain it.
An agreement with Atmos Energy Corporation regarding a negotiated rate increase was accepted by the council. City Attorney Jim McLeroy noted that the rate increase requests by Atmos were an every year occurrence. The Atmos representative agreed with McLeroy’s assessment. The rate increase will result in a $1.26 increase in the residential customer rate. A resolution regarding Oncor Delivery Company rates was removed from the agenda pending the possible sale of the bankrupt electric delivery service.
Although Sulphur Springs City sales tax had been expected to increase $50,000 for the first six month, City Council members were elated to hear that it had in fact increased $90,000 for the first six months of the budget year.
