Wildcats Baseball Lose District Opener; Host Mt Pleasant Friday
The Wildcats’ baseball team opened district play with a 3-0 loss at Texas High Tuesday night. The Tigers scored all three of their runs in the fifth inning off of Wildcats ace Tyler Follis. They put together a single, two doubles and two stolen bases along with a Wildcat error and two walks.
The Wildcats best scoring opportunity also occurred in the fifth inning. Heston Golightly doubled and moved to third on a ground ball but he was stranded at third.
The Wildcats are 0-1 in district play and 3-6-1 for the season. The Wildcats will try and bounce back Friday night at 7 p.m. at Eagle Stadium as they will play host to rival Mt. Pleasant.
Business History Month: Northeast Texas Farmers Cooperative
In 1939, Farmers Cooperative Gin Association of Sulphur Springs was founded by the State of Texas. This local agricultural cooperative was charged by its founding members/patrons to serve the predominant Cotton Industry of Hopkins County and Northeast Texas. With a governance structure of a 5-man board of directors and a 100% local ownership, the “Co-op”, as it became generically known, assisted in the evolution of production agriculture in Northeast Texas.
In the 1940’s, the agriculture industry in Northeast Texas began to grow and diversify. The dairy industry was an up and coming way of life. Animal agriculture would quickly outgrow row-crop agriculture, as the climate for growing good grasses became an advantage. The Co-op recognized these changes and assisted local producers by investing in a feed mill, supply store, and fertilizer blending plant. Serving rural and agriculture needs is indeed what a local agricultural co-op is all about, and these changes and investments helped the Co-op to grow in it’s ability to serve producers and the community, as well.
1970 saw the opening of the new, large Farm & Ranch Center and headquarters on Jackson Street. While Hopkins County had become a predominately dairy industry by this time, farming was still a way of life for several people in Northeast Texas. The Co-op recognized these needs of producers and purchased a grain elevator and farm supply store in Hunt County in 1972. This elevator, with a capacity of 1.3 million bushels of grain, provided a market for local farmers and a source for grain to be used in dairy feed manufacturing. Wheat was marketed for farmers for export, while corn, sorghum, and soybeans were purchased to supply dairies in a seven county area. The elevator allowed the Co-op to store grains for the local marketplace until it was needed.
As the decade of the 80’s rolled in, the members and board realized the geographical swath the Cooperative served and changed the name of the association to Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op to reflect the geographical needs of agricultural and rural people. In the early 80’s, the dairies in this area had grown to exceed 300,000 cows. To keep up with our local agricultural needs, the Coop members built a new monolithic concrete feed mill at the Jackson St. location in 1982. State of the art computer controlled mixing and pelleting facilities enabled Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op to serve approximately 50% of the local mixed feed market. In 1984, the Co-op added a feed mixing and pelleting plant to it’s Hunt County facility. This plant is still fully utilized to meet the bagged feed needs of members/patrons thru the Co-op’s 3 Farm and Ranch Centers and some 40 dealers throughout North and East Texas. Sabine Valley Feeds are the brand these feeds are marketed under.
The early 1990’s saw the Sulphur Springs feed mill expand with the construction of a Commodity Mixing Facility adjacent to the feed mill. This facility would allow the Co-op to mix grains, proteins, and roughage into a total ration for livestock.
This decade, the Co-op has seen a contraction, then a restart of expansion based entirely on the premise that the cooperative is here to serve member/patron needs. The construction of a mineral plant alongside the existing feed mill, the sale of the Hunt County elevator, a comprehensive renovation of the Sulphur Springs Bulk Feed Mill, and the addition of the Canton Farm & Ranch Center have solidified the Co-op’s footprint in so many rural, agricultural people’s daily lives.
Today, Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op proudly employs over 90 employees in their three locations. over 90,000 tons of feed is now produced annually to help generate over $41 million is sales through it’s two feed mills, three Farm & Ranch Centers, and 2 bulk fertilizer plants. Agricultural needs of people are actively served in 12 counties in East/Northeast Texas.
Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op membership stands at over 6,000 agricultural members. Members must be classified as an agricultural producers per Chapter 52 of the Texas Agricultural Code. Of course, the Agricultural Cooperative form of business is open to all people, member or non-member, who may choose to do business with their Cooperative.
Members own $2,546,000 of preferred stock earned through doing business with their Co-op. Since, 2006 $724,277 from patronage dividends and stock retirement has been returned to member stockholders. 100% local ownership assures that the money helps the local economy. The governance structure centers on the membership. The members elect a 9-member board of directors who set policy and direction for the Co-op. Currently 4 of the 9 members of the board are Hopkins County producers. Hunt, Kaufman, Upshur, Camp, and Van Zandt Counties are also represented in the current board make-up. Harold Bryant, of the Gafford Chapel area in Hopkins County, serves as the President of the Board.
Wildcats Soccer Defeat Texas High; Face Final Game Showdown for Playoff Berth
The Wildcats’ soccer team took care of Texas High 2-0 Tuesday night at home on Senior Night setting up a big playoff determining match Friday night at Hallsville. The Wildcats got on the scoreboard once in each half.
In the first half, the Tigers knocked the ball into their own goal after Wildcat Branden Diosdado sent it toward the net. The Wildcats led 1-0 at the 13:54 mark of the first half.
In the second half, Tanner Ramirez stationed himself in front of the net on a throw in and put the ball into the net when it came to him.
The Wildcats honored five seniors on Senior Night. Each played extensive minutes and all played well. The five are keeper Dakota Scalcup, defender Tanner Ramirez, midfielder Ronald Arellano, forward Mark Maddox and forward Scott Galarza. All five left the game with less than 2 minutes left to play and the crowd roared. They continued to roar moments later when backup goalkeeper Rafael Lopez preserved the shutout with a good save.
The Wildcats improved their district record to 8-4-1 and the season record to 13-9-2. The Wildcats and Hallsville both jumped over Longview into a third place tie after play Tuesday night. The showdown at Hallsville is Friday night at 7 p.m.
Lady Cats Soccer Claw Way to Third Place in District with Tuesday Win
The Lady Cats’ soccer team may have punched their ticket to the playoffs with an impressive 2-1 win at Texas High Tuesday night. The game was scoreless at the half but the Lady Cats outscored the Lady Tigers 2-1 in the second half.
With one game to go, the Lady Cats jumped over the Lady Tigers into third place in the district standings. They will wrap up the district campaign with a home match against second place Hallsville Friday night at 7 p.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium. It’s also Senior Night and the Lady Cats will honor three seniors: back up goalkeeper Jasmine Ramirez, defender Mary McMillan and forward Emily Moran.
The Lady Cats are now 7-4-2 in district play and 16-5-2 for the season.
Lady Cats Softball 3-0 in District Following Win Over Texas High
The Lady Cats’ softball team improved their district record to 3-0 with an 8-4 victory over Texas High at Lady Cat Park Tuesday night. The Lady Cats exploded for five runs in the first inning and then held on for the win.
Sarah Womack got the pitching win giving up four runs, some of them unearned. As part of the five run first inning, Lady Cat Sadie Stroud hit a two-run homer. Lady Cats Coach David Carrillo added that Hannah Crowson also had a good night hitting.
The Lady Cats may face their toughest test in district so far when they travel to Mt. Pleasant Friday night.
Farmers Co-op Sets Spring Expo for March 24
Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op Spring Expo and members meeting will be an all-day event concluding with a hamburger supper Thursday night March 24 at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs. Other Expos and member meetings will be conducted as well in Greenville on March 21, Canton on March 22, and Clarksville on March 29.
During the day in Sulphur Springs, vendors will be present at the Co-op to speak with customers regarding various products available for the farm and ranch. KSST Radio will also be present doing live interviews with various vendors, Co-op personel and others.
At the evening meeting a number of prizes will be given away including a Vet Gun, valued at $226 and HLS 125lb fly buster tub valued at $83.50.
During Thursday night’s meeting, General Manager Brad Johns will speak along with Matt Stokes, Brad Fain, Steve Freeman, David Holt, and Donnie Peters. Stokes will address the myths of electric fencing. Fain will discuss with proper handling of vaccine schedules. Holt and Freeman will discuss bulk feed. Peters will talk about getting more out of your fertilizer. Special purchase prices will also be available on some products.
Wisconsin Students Spring Break Leads to Shadow Ranch
College students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in an organization called “Students Today, Leaders Forever”, have selected Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding School as a work project for one day on their work tour through Texas during Spring Break Week. Students will paint, mow, clean barns, and do some ground training and exercise of the therapy horses. Other cities on their tour include St Louis, Memphis, Hot Springs, Waco, and Austin.
Several local churches will assist the group of 40 arriving in Sulphur Springs Monday night, March 21. Dinner and lodging will be provided by Shannon Oaks, First Baptist, and Saint James. Lunch on the day of work will be provided by First United Methodist and Community Bible Fellowship.
Shadow Ranch, located on just off State Highway 11 East, Country Road 2321 in the Martin Springs, is a therapeutic riding school offering a special therapy for persons who are immobilized victims of injury or birth defects. Also victims of abuse and sexual assault are also served. Currently individuals from 5-years of age to 70 are participating in the therapy.
TxDOT Closes I-10 Tuesday Morning Due to Flooding
TxDot logo
TxDOT announced that I-10 is closed as of Tuesday morning due to flooding. For those traveling to Louisiana, I-20 is now the route to take.
Earlier TxDOT in Beaumont had stated that TxDOT was expected to close I-10 between Texas and Louisiana around 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, March 15. Many state highways, farm roads, as well as some county roads are closed in Southeast Texas due to flooding or washout. Any interstate travel between Texas and Louisiana should utilize I-20 according to the state transportation agency. Spring Break travel for some will be affected.
On Monday, TxDOT issued a warning that I-10 closure was being considered. “Flooding from excessive rainfall along the Texas-Louisiana state line has resulted in the states of Texas and Louisiana considering closure of Interstate 10 near the state line as early as Tuesday morning. If that becomes necessary, it will significantly impact east-west traffic in that area and beyond the region.”
For more information: www.DriveTexas.org and follow @TxDOT on Twitter and TxDOT on Faceb
Business History Month: Good News Bookstore
In 1974 Thee Christian Bookstore, originally known as Words of Life Bookstore, was opened by Harlan Harred, Mark Miller, and Bill Watts at 319 Main Street. The three were Christian businessmen who saw the need for a Christian bookstore in the city of Sulphur Springs and began pulling their money together to make it happen. The store was nonprofit and the men had one paid employee, their store manager, Bobbie Galligher. In 1976, Gena Jordan became one of many volunteers the bookstore had, along with her future husband, Garry Jordan. In the early stages of the store Garry had helped install the wall paneling in the original store and Gena was a store clerk.
In 1990, Garry and Gena, along with their three children: Jeremy age 12, Joshua age 8, and Laura age 5, bought the existing Thee Christian Bookstore. The Jordan’s explained that the Lord put it on their heart to buy the bookstore and provided the financial means, so the family did. On the sign of the bookstore, below the name of their store, the scripture “Distributing to the necessity of the saints,” Romans 12:13 is present, a scripture God provided to the Jordan’s before they even realized they would be owners of a Christian bookstore.
In 1994, the bookstore was moved to Windsor Plaza Shopping Center on Gilmer Street. In October of 2003, the shopping center suffered a fire and their section of the building received extensive smoke and structural damage. In spite of the setback, the Jordan’s moved their smoke damaged product into a large sales tent in the parking lot while the building was being torn down. They remained in that tent for 8 months and in August of 2004, they moved back into their rebuilt building. Soon after, Good News! Bookstore in Mount Pleasant, Texas spoke with the family about purchasing their store. After praying heavily on the issue, the Jordan’s purchased Good News! in September of 2004. They then changed the name of Thee Christian Bookstore to Good News! and kept both the Mount Pleasant and Sulphur Springs locations. In 2010, they closed their Mount Pleasant location and in 2011 they combined inventory from both stores and moved into a 6,000 sq. ft. building in the Factory Stores of America Mall in Sulphur Springs.
The Jordan’s have been in business for almost 26 years and are still currently located in the Factory Stores of America Mall in Sulphur Springs. They have a wide variety of books, bibles, home décor and Christian music. Good News! can be contacted at 903-885-6946, goodnewsrom.com, [email protected], or found on Facebook at Good News! Christian Bookstore.
Lady Cats Win Monday at Marshall; Host Texas High in First District Home Game Tuesday
The Lady Cats’ softball team improved their district record to 2-0 with a solid 14-3 win at Marshall Monday afternoon. The game, originally scheduled for last Friday evening, was moved to Marshall after hard rain fell on Lady Cat Park last week. When the teams meet again, that game will be scheduled for Lady Cat Park on April 5.
The Lady Cats also improved their season record to 18-2. They have won ten games in a row. The Lady Cats won’t have long to celebrate the Marshall win. They will play Texas High at Lady Cat Park Tuesday night at 6 p.m. It will be the district opener for the Lady Cats.
