Start Those Creative Juices Flowing!
Start Those Creative Juices Flowing!
School is back in session, the weather will soon be taking a turn from hot to cooler, trees will begin to turn colors, days will be shorter, and thoughts will turn to the Hopkins County Fall Festival and Stew Cook-off, scheduled to begin with the parade on October 17th, and running through Saturday, October 24th . One of the main attractions associated with the Fall Festival is the Arts & Crafts Show, where you can find one-of-a-kind hand-crafted items to purchase as Christmas gifts, birthday presents, or for yourself! Applications have been coming in, and it’s going to be a great show. If you are interested in having a space, be sure to call my office at 903-885-3443, or drop by 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, for a copy of the guidelines and the application. More on that later, but I want to focus on another event – The Creative Arts Contest.
Not to be confused with the Arts & Crafts Show, the Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest is an event to showcase your talents by entering items to be judged. Individuals entering the contest must be from Hopkins County (or be with a relative from Hopkins County). Participants may enter as many items as they wish as long as they are not entering more than one item in the same class. Entry fee of $1 is payable upon registering the items.
Registration will be held on Thursday, October 22, at the Sulphur Springs High School Conference Center, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. or Friday, October 23, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. No entries will be accepted after that time unless approved by the registration committee. If those registration times don’t work, you make bring items to the Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston, Monday, October 19th thru Wednesday, October 21st, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Our committee will transport items to the contest area. (Please don’t bring large items to the Extension Office – take them directly to the High School during regular registration hours.) Labels for each entry will be provided at registration. Due to space limitations, no professional entries are allowed.
Entries will be judged on Friday, October 23 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Each entry will be awarded a ribbon, with white meaning “good”, red meaning “better”, and blue meaning “best.” Best of Show rosette ribbons will be awarded to the top entry in each age category and division. Items will be on display to the public from approximately 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Pictures of Best of Show winners will be taken at 1:30 p.m. onSaturday, October 24, in the High School Conference Center.
There are 5 age categories: Children (ages 10 & under); Youth (ages 11-19); Adult (ages 20-69); Seasoned Texans (70 & above); and even a category for Nursing home and Assisted Living Residents.
Entry Divisions are:
- Clothing – classic, after-five, children’s wear, specialty, or wearable art
- Food preservation – canned vegetables, canned fruits, jams, preserves, butters, jellies, pickles, relish, pickled vegetables, dehydrated foods, miscellaneous
III. Bake Show – breads, cakes, pies, cookies, candies
- Decorated Cakes (will not be cut!)
- Handiwork – knitting, crochet, embroidery, needlepoint, sewn items, beadwork, beaded jewelry, other fabric/fiber work
- Holiday/Seasonal – Christmas, tablecloths, decorations (other than Christmas), wreath/door hanging, nativity scenes
VII. Creative Crafts – crafts (plastics, candles, leather, metal), ceramics, stained glass, painted household objects, miscellaneous
VIII. Art – oil, water color, pen & ink, rub-outs, pencil, acrylic, paper tole, crayon, spray paint art, miscellaneous
- Scrapbooks – seasonal, collective, memorabilia
- Photography – portrait, scenic, still life, animals, people, floral, architectural, grouping
- Quilts – hand quilted, machine quilted, combo quilted, baby quilts, quilted items
XII. Dolls – cloth dolls, doll costumes, open category
XIII. Horticulture – agriculture, cut flowers, potted plants, hanging baskets, succulents, dried, gourds, herbs
XIV. Woodworking – kits (children & youth), inlaid wood, mosaic wood art, furniture, wall hangings, wood carving, yard art, rustic art, birdhouses, toys, miscellaneous
The final division is for Nursing Home or Assisted Living Residents. Their options include holiday/seasonal items, quilts, plastic art, handmade accessories, needlework, leather craft, metal craft, wood craft, art, weaving, and miscellaneous.
The Family & Consumer Sciences Committee, Creative Arts Committee and Master Wellness Volunteers are looking forward to implementing this contest again this year! Start working on your entries now, or pull out something you have made during the past year and enter it in the contest. The more entries we have, the more fun visitors have viewing them!
Christmas Joys Annual Holiday Program
This serves as a “teaser” about the November 9th event sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Southwest Dairy Museum. Watch demonstrations, get great ideas on food as gifts, learn how to add festivity to your home, and sample some delicious dairy products. Sign-up is now underway for the 1:30 and 5:30programs. Both sessions are limited to 80 people each, and we always have a waiting list, so check your calendar and give us a call – 903-885-3443. More information will be forthcoming.
Closing thought
“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing” – unknown
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]
Another Near Quiet Week in Winnsboro
Winnsboro Police Department made four (4) arrests, investigated one accident, answered 160 calls for service, and issued 36 citations and 34 warnings during the week of August 24- 30.
On Tuesday, August 25, Alexis Gooch, 19, of Winnsboro was arrested for possession of less than 2 ounces of Marijuana.
Friday, August 28, Douglas Barrow, 35, was arrested when his probation was revoked.
Dustin Baer, 37, was arrested Sunday on a Hopkins County Warrant. Also Sunday, Luis Tiscareno, 38, was arrested for public intoxication.
The only accident for the week occurred on Friday when two vehicles were involved in a minor accident at Highway 37 and Highway 11. No injuries were reported.
Adoptable Animal of the Week: Lilly
Lilly is a two month old Labrador mix. She is suspected to be mixed with a Retriever or Shepard breed. Lilly was found two weeks ago on August 18th when Animal Control Officers were releasing a wild animal back into the countryside at Lake Sulphur Springs.
“We were actually releasing one of our own wildlife critters, and there she was running around someone’s truck and boat trailer,” Animal Shelter Officer Brandi Blanch said. “I think somebody dumped her, because she came running to us. She was like ‘PEOPLE’ and came running.”
The Shelter has ruled out the possibility that she may have been lost, as her story has been circulating on Facebook and no one has called in about a lost animal fitting her description. Lilly is an incredibly playful puppy, chasing the Shelter mascot Gracie around the office just to play with her. Lilly has only been able to play with Gracie, as Gracie is the only animal near her size that is able to safely play with Lilly. Due to Lilly’s assertive, playful nature, Lilly cannot play with the other recently born puppies.
“She just wants to play and for people to love her,” Shelter Officer Annie DeWolfe said. “Every time somebody comes, she sticks her nose through the cage and tries to lick people and whines for people. She just needs a new home.”
Lilly will be included in the Off-Site adoption this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tractor Supply. She has received her first round of puppy shots since arriving at the Shelter. Shelter Officers suspect Lilly will grow to a weight of about 40 to pounds, similar in size to Gracie, the mascot dog.
Watson Becomes Brewster County Auditor
Hopkins County Human Resources Director Treva Watson is leaving the county to become the first-ever Auditor in Brewster County in Alpine. Tuesday morning, Ms. Watson told KSST News Brewster County and Alpine, Texas are called the Gateway to Big Bend National Park. She grew up in Alpine, attended Sul Ross University there, and her brother and cousins live in the area now.
Watson served Hopkins County in the auditor’s office from 1992 until 2006, as County Treasurer for two terms, and most recently as Human Resources Director. She begins her new job September 8th. She has lived in the county 26 years. Prior to working in the auditor’s office, she worked in accounts receivable for Grocery Supply prior to working for the county.
Number of Cities Hit by Police Imposter Increases
Law enforcement agencies along I-30 from the east side of the Metroplex to Texarkana continue to investigate cases involving a man claiming to be a lawman and who is robbing people. The man first struck outside of a veterinarian’s clinic on the I-30 service road in Sulphur Springs back on June 20. The man was back at a city motel last Saturday at around 6 p.m.
A 66-year old Sulphur Springs’ man said the thief said he was a member of a drug task force and was investigating people at the motel. As the Sulphur Springs’ man was finding his ID inside his wallet the suspect grabbed the wallet and pushed the man onto a bed. The suspect left saying he was going to get a dog to help him search the room. The thief never returned.
Thefts involving the suspect was been reported in Garland, Rowlett, Rockwall, Royse City, Greenville, Sulphur Springs, Mt. Vernon, Mt. Pleasant, New Boston and Texarkana. Monday lawmen from several agencies met and compared notes.
TSCRA Hosts Ranch Gathering in Kaufman
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) will host a ranch gathering Tues., Sept. 8 at the Kaufman County Fairgrounds in Kaufman, Texas. The ranch gathering is free and open to the public.
TSCRA Special Ranger Troy McKinney will provide a law enforcement update and offer ranchers information on how they can keep their livestock and equipment safe and secure. Additionally, TSCRA staff will update cattle raisers on important legislative issues.
Please RSVP to 800-242-7820, ext. 192, or [email protected].
To get to the Kaufman County Fairgrounds from the intersection of US-175 and TX-34, head south on TX-34. After 1.1 miles, the fairgrounds will be on the left.
The ranch gathering is sponsored by Elanco Animal Health and Legacy Ag Credit. Anyone who joins TSCRA at the gathering will receive a free metal gate sign courtesy of Bayer Animal Health.
TSCRA is a 138-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 17,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.
Lights of Life Thursday September 17 at 6:30pm
Carrie Crowson, owner of Lou Nell’s Fashions, joins Lights of Life co-chairs in bringing a Style Show and Dinner to this year’s fundraising campaign. The fun food and fashion event will be held on Thursday September 17 at 6:30pm at First United Methodist Church fellowship Hall.
Tickets are $25, available at Lou Nell’s, 122 Lee St. in Sulphur Springs.
Left to Right: Donna Rudzik, Polly Swatsell, Carrie Crowson, Gloria Mitchell
Lights of Life events benefit the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation.
Welding Program Begins at PJC-Sulphur Springs Workforce Center
The first welding class in the Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Workforce Center, located at1137 East Loop 301, began Monday. Above, Instructor John Plemons was briefing the students on the program, including instruction
Walk Like MADD Fundraiser September 26
The Walk Like MADD event, a fundraiser for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, is coming up on September 26. Law enforcement groups participating should be motivated to get as many walkers as they can signed up. Between the Sulphur Springs Police Department and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, the one with fewer sign ups will be required to wear tutus during the walk. MADD Special Events Coordinator Kelli Martinez and Law Enforcement recruiter Sgt. Corley Weatherford with the Sheriff’s Office were guests on KSST’s Good Morning Show with Enola Gay Monday morning.
There are currenrly 90 walkers signed up. Kelli Martinez’s goal is 300 walkers.
Hunter Certification Education Available Online
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reminds Texans it’s time to get hunter education certification. To hunt legally in Texas, anyone born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must complete a hunter education training course or purchase a one-time ‘deferral’, good for one license year. Because the minimum age of certification is 9 years old, hunters under the age of 9 must be accompanied by a licensed hunter in the field. Hunters ages 9 through 16 must either complete hunter education courses or be accompanied while in the field. Deferral purchasers must also be ‘accompanied’ which means to be within normal voice control of a licensed hunter 17 years of age or older who has completed hunter education or who was born before Sept. 2, 1971. Hunters 17 and up must complete hunter education courses.
To make this process easier than ever, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department now offers the option of completing training courses completely online for Texas residents 17 years and older.
However, TPWD also offers three other convenient methods of getting certified: the basic, enhanced and advanced courses, which involve classroom and/or field time.
The basic hunter education course is designed for novice and young hunters ages 9 and above and requires six hours of classroom instruction. The enhanced hunter education course is a combination of an online home study program and up to five hours of field training. The advanced hunter education course requires more than six hours of instruction and includes more content than the basic and enhanced courses.
Each of the courses costs $15, and the passing grade for all courses is 75 percent.
Since mandatory hunter education first started in 1988, the number of hunting accidents and fatalities has declined to fewer than 3 per 100,000 hunters. Incidents involving those who had completed hunter education courses are only in the single digits each year.
To help improve hunter safety, choose from one of the many flexible options to get your hunter education certification now. For more information and to register for hunter education programs, visit http://www.tpwd.texas.gov/outdoor-learning/hunter-education.
The certification is valid for life and is honored in all other states and provinces.
Some federally controlled areas require all hunters using that site to have hunter education certification. In Texas, this includes Corps of Engineers property and most military reservations. Check with the specific area prior to going hunting.
