Tira News By Jan Vaughn
Tira News
By Jan Vaughn
The North Hopkins Fall Carnival is tonight, Friday, October 23rd, from 6:00 to 8:00. There will be lots of games, prizes, food, and fun! Pizza and burgers will be available, and following the carnival, at 8:00 p.m., the Junior Class invites everyone to come to the school cafeteria and play Bingo. A volleyball game will be going on, too. Make plans to come out and support the students.
Sherry Smiddy reports that Cross Spur Cowboy Church is having Trunk or Treat at their arena on October 28th from 6:00 to 8:00. There will be games, hot dogs, and fun! Also, folks are welcome to decorate their trunks or trucks and bring treats.
I guess it was a slow week in Tira. I didn’t hear of anything going on. I hope to have lots to report next time.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Jan Vaughn
903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Chamber Connection
Chamber Connection
October 22, 2015 by Meredith Caddell
Stew Contest is ON!!! Saturday, October 24th!!!
The 46th Annual World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest will take place as planned, Saturday, October 24th at 10:45am. After many conversations with stew cooks, discussions with the City of Sulphur Springs and questions from out-of-town visitors, the decision was made this morning to move forward with the stew contest.
We have all been praying for rain and we are finally getting it. We are going to be grateful that our farmers, ranchers, lakes and pools are getting rain. Fortunately, the grounds at Buford Park are sandy and the water drains off fairly quickly. Another benefit of Buford Park is that we have sidewalks so guests to the contest will not have to walk in the wet, muddy areas.
If for some reason, it is pouring rain, we are going to try to accommodate everyone who is craving stew. We will offer for the stew cooks to fill quarts with their stew and we will open Connally Street up at 12:00 to the public…not to park…but to drive through and purchase a quart of stew. We are also going to have a large tent that will have tables and chairs set up if you still want to come out and enjoy the event!
2015 Sulphur Springs Annual Corvette Show-Saturday, October 24th
Sulphur Springs Corvette Club is proud to announce it’s corvette only show being held at Celebration Plaza (downtown) in Sulphur Springs on October 24th 8:00am – 2:30pm (rain or shine). The corvette show is organized and conducted by the Sulphur Springs Corvette Club. The 2014 Corvette Classic was a huge success with 162 outstanding cars parked all over Celebration Plaza. Let’s fill the square with vettes and make this the best show yet.
Hopkins County Fall Festival will be held through the 25th. The Fall Festival will continue Thursday, October 22nd, Friday, October 23th and Saturday, October 24th full of exhibits, arts and crafts, creative arts show, events, games and concerts. For more information on Fall Festival Activities visit www.hopkinscountyfallfestival.com
Thank you to everyone who attended the ribbon cutting for Everything Unique
Carrie & Steve Nuckolls welcomed everyone to their beautifully, newly renovated store, Everything Unique! Guests were treated to wonderful food, drinks and fabulous shopping! If you haven’t been in the store lately, NOW is the time to stop by. With Christmas right around the corner, they can take care of all of your gift-giving needs. They have a huge selection of home décor items, Christmas decorations, artwork, household items, jewelry, purses and MUCH more! They also have a fabulous staff that can help with all of your home interior design needs. They are located at 124 Main Street in Beautiful Downtown Sulphur Springs. They are open Monday – Saturday 10am-5pm. For more information, please call 903-885-7016.
Please join us for the Ribbon Cutting for B.T. Medical, Wednesday, October 28th
Please stop by B.T. Medical, located at 201 Linda Drive as we host their ribbon cutting. You will be amazed at all of the equipment and services they provide. The ribbon cutting will be at Noon.
Hopkins Place to celebrate all Veterans with special guest speaker Derek Jameson, October 29th
With Veteran’s Day quickly approaching, Hopkins Place would like to celebrate ALL Veterans with a special guest speaker, Derek Jameson. The event will take place Thursday, October 29th from 6:00-7:00pm. For more information or to RSVP, please call Sherrie at 903-439-1202.
Hamilton Bake Sale at Sulphur Springs First United Methodist Church Friday, October 30th
The lovely ladies of the Hamilton Bible Class would like to invite you to pick up some delicious treats, Friday morning beginning at 8am, October 30 in Fellowship Hall at FUMC. They always have yummy cakes, jellies, pies, cookies and TONS more! For more information, please call 903-885-2185.
Harvest Festival, stew & chili supper Saturday, October 31st at First United Methodist Church.
Don’t miss the annual First United Methodist Church’s Harvest Festival, Saturday, October 31st. The evening begins at 4:30-7:00 with the stew and chili supper. The movie night for children begins at 6:00 (pre-registration is required). The live and silent auction begins at 7:00. For more information please call 903-885-2185.
Scream on the Square, October 31st on Main Street from 1-5pm.
Come downtown to trick-or-treat at every business. They will have a costume contest, games, prizes and more. Select businesses will be offering special discounts. They will also be showing the Nightmare before Christmas on the square at 8pm.
“A Man Called Jon” Red Carpet Premiere on November 1st at Shannon Oaks.
The film, “A Man Called Jon”, was shot on location in Terrell, TX. We are hoping the city of Sulphur Springs will come out and support this film. They will be hosting the Red Carpet premiere on November 1, 2015 first screening at 3:00pm-5:00pm and another at 5:30pm-7:30pm at Shannon Oaks Church, 1113 E. Shannon Road, Sulphur Springs. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. They are hoping to pack it out to send a huge message to Hollywood. For tickets please call Eric King at 903-348-0404 or visit their website at www.kingandbrownenterprises.com.
20th Anniversary of the Lights of Life Campaign-Kickoff, Tuesday, November 3rd at 10am
Stop by the Memorial Hospital Lobby Tuesday morning, November 3rd at 10am for the kick off for the 20th Annual Lights of Life Campaign. If you would like to honor or memorialize someone special, you may donate $25 and a light will be placed on the Lights of Life Christmas tree located in The Gardens at Memorial. All donations are tax deductible and be will be used to help purchase Six LUCAS CPR devices for EMS which will provide them the tools and abilities they need to improve survival rates during cardiac arrest!
Load the Wagon & Saddle Up for St. Jude Trail Ride, Saturday, November 14th
Saddle up your horses and help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital fight cancer and other catastrophic diseases. The event will take place on Saturday, November 14th at Two J Ranch, 993 CR 2331 in Como. Gates will open at 7:00am, Saddle Up at 9:30 and Ride out at 10:00am. A free lunch will be provided, but remember…it is a fundraiser to help St. Jude’s Hospital, so donations will gladly be accepted. There will be horses and mule wagon rides available. There is a $10 minimum donation for you to ride your own horse. If you would like more information, please call Jean & Jim Murray at 903-488-3030 Sandy Billodeau @ 903-488-3311 or Jr. Gregg at 903-488-3685. Others assisting in this great event are Cathi & Jim Wright 903-488-4811 Don Meeks 903-488-3456, Mike Mund, T.W. Little, Daniel Walker, Carole Hatch and Jo Marie Neal, so any of them will be able to give you more information. If you have never participated in this event, it is spectacular and you should! Not only is it raising money for an amazing hospital, but to see the hundreds of people, loaded up in their wagons, heading out for the cause…it is absolutely incredible, so please try to attend!!
We would like to welcome our newest members to the Chamber of Commerce:
Magnolia Junction
211 Magnolia Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-243-1200
Mary Campbell
Antiques & Furniture Restoration
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
Vasquez Brother Arrested in October 11th Shooting
A second man has been charged in a shooting incident that took place October 11, 2015 on Ingram Street in Sulphur Springs. Michael Anthony Garcia, 28, brother of Jesse Luis Vasquez, the victim in the incident, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence, and a felon in possession of a fire arm, according to SSPD Chief Jay Sanders. Garcia turned himself in to Sulphur Springs Police this week. He was arrested Monday, October 19 and placed in Hopkins County Jail. At a magistrates hearing, he was placed under a total of $50,000 in bond for the three charges. He was released on bond Tuesday October 20.
Garcia fired his weapon at 19-year old Justin Joe McQueen, who has been charged with the murder of Vasquez and remains in Hopkins County Jail on a $1-million bond. When Garcia fired his weapon, he hit his brother in the arm instead of McQueen. Garcia’s shot did not kill his brother according to findings.
Vasquez, 25, was found in the 600 block of Ingram Street at 8:36 p.m. Sunday night October 11th. According to Chief Sanders, officers found Jesse Louis Vasquez laying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services rendered immediate aid and transported Vasquez to Hopkins County Memorial Hospital Emergency Room where he was pronounced dead by JP Teer.
Sanders stated that witnesses at the scene reported a white male having left the scene. During questioning, an individual who had arrived at the scene informed officers that a man was behind a building near Dairy Queen on Main Street and wanted to give himself up. Officers arrested Justin Joe McQueen. McQueen had injuries to his knees from jumping a fence. He was taken to HCMH ER where he was treated and released to Hopkins County Jail.
Weather Related Schedule Changes
This list will be updated Thursday – Saturday. Check back from time to time throughout the weekend.
Location/Date Changes and Cancelations Due to Rain:
- Wildcat football has been moved to Emory Rains Wildcat Stadium Friday night. Kick off remains at 7:30 p.m.
- In case of rain, the Class of 1975 reunion Friday night will be moved to the Danny Goggans’ Hanger at the Airport.
- Saf-T candle light vigil set for 6 p.m. Friday night on the square has been moved to the ROC of First Baptist Church
- Area Competition for the Wildcat Marching Band scheduled for Saturday at Mesquite Memorial Stadium has been rescheduled for Monday.
Jail Opening Delayed
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom is expected to get the bad news officially next week. Indications are the new Hopkins County Jail won’t be finished by November 13 afterall. It won’t be ready for inspection that day and a planned Open House and later transfer of prisoners won’t be happening November 14.
Sedalco Construction Company is expected to tell the Judge and County Commissioners that the project will take an additional ten days to complete or by November 23. Getting furniture for the new facility is apparently taking longer than expected.
Fire Damages Home in Dike
Fire did some damage to a one story brick house on County Road 3506 in Dike Wednesday afternoon. The blaze was reported a few minutes before 2 p.m. First fire units reported flames showing as they arrived. Firefighters put the fire out. All those inside the house were able to get out safely. Firefighters stayed on the scene for over four hours.
Mt Vernon Tigers Seek Playoff Spot
The Mount Vernon Tigers roll into Daingerfield to take on the Blue Tigers, 7:30, Friday, October 23, 2015 in Daingerfield, Texas. After an impressive victory over longtime rival Winnsboro last week, Mount Vernon is looking toward a chance at the postseason.
Both teams bring a 2-5 season record into Friday’s game. However, Daingerfield boosts a 2-0 district record while Mount Vernon has a 1-1 record in district play.
Daingerfield is a good team with a wide receiver already committed to Baylor according to Coach Dickey Meeks.
Mount Vernon will be striving for their first play-off chance since 2005. A win over Daingerfield will place the purple Tigers in a prime spot for the play-offs.
2005 PJC Basketball Team To Be Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame
As part of the Paris Junior College 91st Homecoming, the 2005 NJCAA Men’s National Championship Team will be inducted into the PJC Athletic Hall of Fame.
“These young men – players, managers and coaches – brought great attention to our College during their ascent to the junior college basketball championship in 2005,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin.
After entering the national tournament in Hutchison, Kansas unranked and virtually unknown, the Dragons flew the Texas Flag proudly as they claimed their hardware in post-game celebrations. The ceremony is scheduled Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2:30 p.m. in the McLemore Student Center Ballroom. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the induction.
Head coach Bill Foy and assistant coach Brad Enright led the Dragons. Players to be honored include Roderick Earls, Alexander Starr, Michael Battle, Tyler Best, Bobby Joshua, Brian Burrell, Donnell Franklyn, Charles Stoker, Lamar Searight, Rickey Quarles, and managers Tyler Jack Easthouse and Patrick Thompson.
“Several of these young men are making plans to come home to PJC for this celebration and reunion,” said Dr. Anglin. “They live all over the United States, from Maryland to California and everywhere in between.”
The team finished their Cinderella season with a 28-9 record. The 2005 team’s photo will also be hung in the PJC Athletic Hall of Fame in the Hunt Center and be on display throughout homecoming basketball games on Saturday, November 14.
Homecoming events kick off with the Student Government Association Homecoming Parade at 4:00 p.m. on Nov. 12 and a pep rally at 5:15 p.m., both beginning at the Hunt Center. On Friday, Nov. 13 the President’s Reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the McLemore Student Center Ballroom.
Saturday, Nov. 14 at 10:00 a.m. the annual Alumni & Friends Association board meeting will take place in the McLemore Student Center Cafeteria. At 11:00 a.m. the doors open at the Love Civic Center for the Distinguished Alumni Luncheon that begins at 11:30 a.m.
For information or tickets ($20) to the Distinguished Alumni Luncheon, call 903-782-0276 or email [email protected].
Animal of the Week: Sylvester the Cat
Sylvester is a 1-2 year old black Domestic Short-Hair cat with a thin, white underside. He was found on Whitworth Street when Animal Shelter officers were responding to a call about a loose dog.
“A woman’s dog was running loose, so we were talking to her about her dog when he walked up and the cat started rubbing on everybody’s legs,” Animal Shelter Officer Barbi Blanch said. “He uses the litter box, he loves playing with the cat toys, and he loves attention, so he was probably someone’s house cat that they threw out when they moved off.”
Sylvester is up for adoption during the month of October only because of the addition of his white markings. The Animal Shelter does not have any solid black cats up for adoption during October due to the cases of animal abuse surrounding black cats during the Halloween month.
“A lot of people that ‘worship’, so to speak, the Devil use black cats as sacrifices, and there’s a lot of different cults that want to be mean to black cats,” Officer Blanch said. “Halloween seems to be the time that they use them during sacrifices. I worked in Dallas for 18 years and every Halloween we would take-in black cats and we have had cases where people have tortured black cats.”
Since working for the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter, Officer Blanch has yet to see any such cases of animal abuse in Hopkins County. However, she is still taking precautionary measures in putting Sylvester and other black cats up for adoption.
“Because he’s black and white, he is available,” Officer Blanch said. “But we will moniter whoever may decide to adopt him, because he is mostly black.”
Stew Contest Set-Up Begins
Concession trailers are in place throughout Buford Park as preparations for Friday’s Hopkins County Stew Contest have begun. The forecast for October 23 is for a 100% chance of rain, but the Stew Contest is still scheduled. A flash flood watch is in effect for the region for late Thursday night through late Saturday night.
