Wildcat Tennis Spring Season Opens With Strong Performance Against Mt Pleasant
The Wildcats Tennis Team opened their spring season with a strong performance against Mt. Pleasant Tuesday in a dual meet at the Wildcats Tennis Center. Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez said the Wildcats won ten of fourteen matches against the Tigers in cold weather. Coach Martinez was especially proud of five freshmen boys players who he said looked like they belonged on the varsity. Coach Martinez has reconfigured his boys doubles teams mixing in some of the freshmen and he said he saw improvement in the play of the boys’ doubles teams. Coach Martinez added boys singles veterans Jesse Allen and Andrew Sant also played well. The Wildcats varsity will play next in a Hallsville tournament that gets underway at 8 a.m. Friday.
Bright Star Baseball Registration Opens
Sign up has begun for Bright Star Baseball, a league for physically challenged youth. Spring season is set to begin Monday, March 28. Players (boys/girls ages 5-18) and buddies, those who assist players on the field (6th grade or above), can register online at www.brightstarbaseball.com
There is no fee to play! Games are held on Monday nights @ 6pm at Buford Park.
Saltillo Sets Homecoming
Saltillo Homecoming Court consist of 8 Seniors and 3 Duchesses. Pic 7 Sitting L to R: Jr. Duchess – Ana Gallagos, Sophomore Duchess – Jordan Sustaire & Freshman Duchess – Lindsay Butler;
Standing Senior Nominees L to R – Jacie Thompson, Kortne Wilson, Malori Hogue, Haylee Clover, Paula Boekhorst, Kendall Hayley, Mason McGill & Katy Perea.
Kid’s Trout Fishing Day, February 6th
boys fishing river fly
Rainbow trout in Hopkins County? Yes, thanks for Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries in Athens which will be stocking trout next week in Peavine Pinion Pool at Buford Park. Kyle Verner and Dale Thompson, members of the Hopkins County Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation and other volunteers host the annual Kids Trout Fishing Day every spring.
This year’s Larry Buster Memorial event is set for Saturday Feb 6 between 10am until 2pm. Bring the kids, a rod and reel or fishing pole if you have them, and enjoy a free fishing day. Fishing bait as well as hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided free. Adults actively helping a child fish are exempt from fishing license only during those hours. A number of local organizations and individuals are helping preserve fishing, boating and hunting sports for future generations.
PJC-Sulphur Springs Campus Offers Associate of Applied Science Degree
Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center welding student Caitlin Kimberlin is shown working on a project in the welding center on the PJC-Sulphur Springs campus. Caitlin, a second semester pipe welding student, is working toward an Associate of Applied Science Degree in welding technology.
Chamber Connection January 28, 2016 by Meredith Caddell
Chamber Connection
January 28, 2016 by Meredith Caddell
Saddle Up & Save the Date…2/18 is the 90th Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet
Dust off your boots and put on your jeans for a rip-roarin’ good time at the 90th Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet/Annual Membership Meeting! This is a great night to enjoy a delicious meal and congratulate the deserving recipients of the many awards! Tickets are $25 with seating on a first come/first served basis. If you would like to reserve a table for 10, you may do so for $300. Please call the Chamber at 903-885-6515 to make reservations.
Biggest Loser Community Challenge begins February 29th…Register NOW!!!
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is so excited to announce our partnership with NBC’s The Biggest Loser Community Challenge! This is a national wellness initiative designed to help employees become healthier. This company vs company competition invites teams of four to join an eight-week, online health & wellness community challenge. The challenge is for companies of all sizes (no limit to the amount of teams you can sign up!) and people of all fitness levels. It is truly designed to get our community moving, eating better and having fun!
This company vs company competition invites teams of four to join an eight-week, online health & wellness community challenge. The challenge is for companies of all sizes (no limit to the amount of teams you can sign up!) and people of all fitness levels. It is designed to get our community moving, eating better and having fun!
Business are encouraged to register teams of employees to represent their company in the challenge. For only $100 for a team of four, this exciting wellness offering is an affordable and fun way to kick start the new year for employees.
Past contestants of The Biggest Loser will guide teams through eight weekly challenges. Challengers will also receive weekly motivation and nutrition tips from trainer, Dolvett Quince. Participants will earn points for each minute of activity they engage in, as well as additional points for completing weekly tasks and logging additional challenge activities designed to improve nutrition and overall wellness. Each participant will have access to their own private wellness account and mobile app, where they will journal challenge activities, access weekly health guidance and keep their eye on friends and competitors on live leaderboards. The focus of the challenge is not on weight loss and all personal information, including weight, is completely private. WARNING: Side effects may include weight loss! Prize drawings will be made each week, with over 10,000 prizes to be won across the country, including trips to LA to see the Finale live! More information, registration and key dates can be found online at: www.biggestlosercommunity.com.
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is going to enhance this 8-week challenge! The winning team will receive $1000! Also, every week, the Chamber will offer a community-wide workout opportunity! 4 of those weeks will include an actual Biggest Loser Challenge! Winners on these dates will receive a prize. Register now!!! Healthy People. Healthy Companies. Healthy Communities!
A Super Bowl Appetizer Cooking Class Sat. 1/30, 1:30-2:30 @ Gourmet Kitchen & Co., 213 Main Street.
Chef Lyndsay Caldwell will teach you how to prepare easy, delicious Super Bowl appetizers that will keep your game day party guests happy regardless who wins. The class includes Lyndsay’s new signed cookbook, FEED MY SHEEP, which supports the local ministry, The Dinner Bell which feeds those in need in our community weekly. The Gourmet Kitchen & Co, is Sulphur Springs’ newest unique kitchen gourmet store specializing in gift baskets, vintage décor, a kitchen market and a specialty kitchen emporium with everything you’ll need to equip your kitchen to prepare fresh, tasty meals. Enrollment is limited to 12. The price is $32.50 a person and includes the cookbook that retails for $25.00. Call Sharon Hughes at 903-885-3282/214-693-3334.
Ribbon Cutting for Bon Worth, Wednesday, February 3rd at Noon
Please join us for the ribbon cutting of Bon Worth. BonWorth has been a nationally recognized retailer of quality women’s fashion for over 40 years. They have more than 160 retail stores located in 33 states and maintain an online presence through this website and on Facebook. The focus of their designers is style and comfort for their customers. They want to help you look your best wherever your lifestyle may take you and we want you to be comfortable getting there. BonWorth’s new line of fashion forward designs depicts a whole new attitude in style. They have combined today’s hottest trends with traditional BonWorth quality, value and comfort. Their new line includes coordinating collections and an abundance of mix and match separates in Misses and Petite sizes. They continue to introduce new colors, fabrics and accessories into the design process while also bringing back, season after season, long time customer favorites such as the uniquely BonWorth LeChute fabric. Please join us at noon on February 3rd for their ribbon cutting. They are located inside the VF Outlet Mall!
Mother’s Culture Club “A Night in New York City – 2016 Father/Daughter Dance, Sat., February 6.
The Mother’s Culture Club presents the annual 2015 Father-Daughter Dance, “A Night in New York City”, Saturday, February 6th, 2016 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Hopkins County Civic Center. There will be dancing, door prizes, refreshments and an ultimate photo artistry photograph. All proceeds benefit local children’s charities. Call Ashley Ortiz, 903-348-3518 to purchase tickets.
That’s all for now…have a GREAT week!
Meredith Caddell
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
*UPDATE* Another Arrest in November ATV Theft at Nor-Tex Tractor; As Many As 21 Potential Arrests To Come
Ricardo Saldivar, 34, Combine, TX
Yet another arrest has been made in connection with an organized crime ring that surfaced in Hopkins County last November. Ricardo Saldivar, 34, of Combine, Texas was arrested Wednesday on a warrant for engaging in organized criminal activity. He is now the fifth individual arrested in the case. Investigator Tony Hurley and Sulphur Springs Police Department Detective Rusty Stillwagoner arrested Saldivar in Seagoville, Texas and took him to the Seagoville Police Department where he was arraigned. Hurley and Stillwagoner then transported Saldivar to the Hopkins County Jail where bond was set at $100,000.
Sulphur Springs Police and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office are just scratching the surface of arrests in connection with the organized crime ring that is responsible for the theft of six all-terrain vehicles from Nor-Tex Tractor in Sulphur Springs. Potentially about 20-21 individuals from three states could be arrested before the case is closed, according to Investigator Hurley.
Hurley told KSST News that the ring has basically been taking side-by-side utility vehicles “like Polaris Rangers” from various dealers in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. Thus far, 13 units have been recovered according to Hurley.
James Lindy Minter, 37, of Kemp, Texas, was arrested on Tuesday, January 26th at 1:20 p.m. at the Sulphur Springs Police Station. Minter was wanted on a warrant for engaging in organized crime, a 2nd degree felony. Minter was the fourth individual arrested in connection to the local theft. He is in Hopkins County jail on a $100,000 bond.
On Monday, January 25th, Darrell Wayne Waites was picked up at the Rapides Parish, Louisiana Jail and transported to Hopkins County Jail without incident. According to Hopkins County Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum, Waites was picked up on a warrant for Organized Criminal Activity. He was the third person to be arrested in connection to the case. Hopkins County Deputy Major Willis and Correctional Officer Charles Duke stated Waites was cooperative and posed no problems during the trip. His bond was set at $200,000. He has since made bond.
The first two arrested for the theft were arrested on January 6th. Joshua Christopher Terry, age 34, and Laronda Kaye Reed, 29, both of Kemp, Texas were arrested on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity. It was thought at that time that the defendants could be connected to similar thefts throughout Louisiana and Oklahoma. At that time, criminal investigators divulged information on two different thefts at Rock Power Sports in Bossier City, Louisiana and the business confirmed the property stolen.
Terry’s bond was set at $200,000 bond while bond for Reed was set at $30,000. Both are out on bail.
Animal of the Week: Buster Brown
Buster Brown is a 1-2 year old lab mix who was brought to the Animal Shelter December 28, 2015, after a woman found him living around her parents’ house.
“He was just a stray at her parents’ house and they brought him in because they didn’t want him bothering the parents,” Animal Shelter Officer Barbi Blanch said.
Buster Brown shows no signs of having been trained and he is still a puppy with room to grow. He is very friendly with his primary problem being jumping.
“When you get close enough, he wants to jump,” Officer Blanch said. “He wants to play — he’s a puppy. He just wants attention. He’s actually doing better about jumping because usually when I come to get him, he’s bouncing off the walls. He gets along great with other dogs. We’ve a couple of opportunities for a foster home, but nobody’s interested in adopting him yet.”
Buster Brown will not be involved in the off site adoption scheduled to take place this Saturday, January 30 at Tractor Supply from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The off site will consist primarily of puppies that have been recently vaccinated. Buster Brown and others will be at the Shelter Saturday which will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In other news, the Animal Shelter has recently been approved for 5 new outside kennels which will be built onto the side of the current building. TThe new kennels will be used to allow the puppies to receive sunshine without the risk of being stolen or escaping.
“They’ll be four by ten,” Officer Barbi said. “I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it’ll be a lot bigger than what we have in the Shelter. They get a little sunshine, and then they got back in for the evening. We’re very excited about it.”
Site of Future Kennels
Trinity Harvest Church Begins New Project
Trinity Harvest Church of God, 1150 Shannon Rd, has begun a new project within the past few months. Behind the existing building a Family Life Event Center is being constructed. The new building will contain a youth and children center, in addition to a fellowship hall. Once construction is finished the center will be available for community events as well. Weather permitting, the event center is predicted to be finished some time this year.
Donate Now to Hearts of Life Animal Shelter
Hearts of Life Animal Shelter is building additional space for dogs in their care. The new concrete floor and covered space will place under roof 20 additional 10 X 6 kennels for the dogs. KSST Radio presented the need for additional kennels during the local news cast Wednesday. Kennels are $100 each. Donations may be made at [email protected] or by calling KSST at 903-885-3111. During the news cast, donations were made to the project.
The Hearts of Life Foundation, an animal rescue and adoption center, began improvements include new drainage to divert flood water, as well as a new enclosed shelter for the animals in August.
“Whenever we got rain, the water would actually pool at our present barn where we have the dogs housed,” Deborah Balkcom of Hearts of Life said.
The improved drainage was completed in August and Hearts of Life is now completing the shelter for the animals. Currently, the animals are kept inside the barn or outside in kennels set up on the ground.
“Along with the actual building of the new shelter, we’re going to build exercise areas, which will all be done at the same time,” Balkcom said.
You can find Hearts of Life on Facebook by searching “Hearts of Life Animal Rescue”
