Chamber Connection July 2nd, 2015 – by Meredith Caddell
The Chamber of Commerce will be closed Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day!
- S. Public Library to the Rescue. Summer Reading Program Theme “ Every Hero has a Story”
Research is clear that children who don’t read during the summer can lose up to three months of reading progress. Sustained summer learning opportunities lead to higher graduation rates, better preparation for college, and positive effects on children’s self-esteem, confidence and motivation. Every Hero has a Story theme covers the values that make a superhero really super: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Pick up a calendar at the library or check the website www.sslibrary.org. Storytime is Tuesday 10am and Thursday 6pm. We will have a Brett Roberts’ magic show and end the summer with a huge Community Read in called Hero-town from 6-8p.m. July 30 with food and local heroes. Don’t miss the wonderful activities.
Thank you to everyone who attended the Mike Pribble Memorial Plaque Dedication
The Mike Pribble Rodeo was a staple for families in Hopkins County and surrounding areas over the 4th of July weekend for over 40 years. Thousands of visitors made their way to Sulphur Springs to participate in the parade and Grand Entry of this 4-5 day event. Memories of Mike Pribble standing on his head and roping 8 horses as they ran by and him doing the Texas Skip up and down the entire length of the rodeo arena fill the minds of many residents of this community. As his granddaughter, I am privileged to get to thank everyone who made this possible. The unveiling of the beautiful bronze plaque that will grace the front of the Equine Pavilion so that his memory will live on for generations to come.. A Special thank you to Enola Gay, Charles Helm, Adam Teer, the County Commissioners and County Judge Robert Newsom for their diligence in making this dream for my family become a reality.
SHOT & Shadow Ranch Clinic & Competition, Friday, July 17th & Saturday, July 18th@ Civic Center
The Stock Horse of Texas Association (SHOT) will be presenting a clinic and competition, Friday & Saturday July 17th & 18th at the Civic CenterImprove your and your horse’s skills in: Ranch horse pleasure, working cow horse, reining & ranch trail in a low-stress, friendly environment. Coggins will be checked on site at entry. Up in Smoke BBQ will be there both days! Awesome Eats for just $6. For clinic and competition forms and registration pleas go to www.stockhorsetexas.org. For more information, please call Marion at 214-604-8005. All proceeds benefit Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center.
Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center will host Dinner & a Movie–Civic Center, July 17th at 6:30.
If you would like to see a faith-based movie that was filmed right here in Hopkins County, then make plans to attend the showing of Steps of Faith, Friday, July 17th. Doors open at 6:15 for RSVPs. Dinner starts at 6:30 with the movie beginning at 7:00pm. Space is limited so please call ahead at 903-345-0766. They will also be raffling off a Savage 270 M/111 Rifle with 3x9x40 Bushnell scope, Harris bi-pod and Black Browning strap. Its $10 per ticket or 3 for $20. Tickets may be purchased at NE TX Farmers Co-op or by calling Marion Cox at 214-604-8005.
Hot August Night, Saturday, August 15th-Civic Center Grounds…Featuring The Afters & Hawk Nelson
The Way Radio Group and Sulphur Springs Dodge present Hot August Night, Saturday, August 15th at the Civic Center Grounds. The Hopkins County Volunteer Fire Departments, 9th Annual BBQ Cook-Off begins at 1pm. Food Service Begins at 5pm and the Concert featuring The Afters & Hawk Nelson begins at 7pm. You may get your tickets at itickets.com.
The Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome our newest members to the Chamber. They are:
North Texas Power Shopper-4043 Tracy Lane, Greenville, TX. 803-983-3325- Jeff Schollmeyer, Owner, Marketing & Advertising Shopper
Joe’s German Restaurant, 575 County Road 3647,SS, 903-439-8226. Joe Boesel /Christine Zaehler, Owners. This is the first German Restaurant in Sulphur Springs. Grand Opening will be in July..
2 Loops Boutique, 202 Main Street, SS, 903-335-3405, Chanda Peters, Owner, Clothing Boutique
Cedar Canyon Events, LLC , 7435 Tx State Hwy. 154 S., 903-885-4300, Mandy Kennedy/ Jennifer Massey, Owners, Event Center
That’s all for now…have a GREAT week!
Merideth Caddell
‘Declaration of Independence’ Reading Today
Thursday July 2, 2015 at 1:30 pm, everyone gather at the steps of Sulphur Springs Court House for a reading of the ‘Declaration Of Independence‘. More story and photos soon to come.
“Updated” Burglar Broke Down, Busted
Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies found a vehicle reported stolen abandoned at County Road 1110 and County Road 1171. It had been taken from a County Road 1112 residence. Then a man drove up and told deputies his father’s truck had been stolen from a residence at County Road 1110 and County Road 1218. The description of the truck matched one that had been found on County Road 1100 East at FM 2653. A man seen near the second abandoned vehicle was questioned and he said he had borrowed the truck. He later admitted he had stolen it. The man said he had also taken the first vehicle but it broke down on him so then he took the truck. The suspect was arrested just before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Terrell Allen Bell III, a 28-year old Sulphur Springs man, has been charged with two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and two counts of burglary of a habitation. He is being held in Hopkins County jail on bonds totaling $70,000.
“Updated” Collin County Man in Hopkins County Jail For Local Burglary
Ethan Reilly Will, 18, is in Hopkins County Jail following his arrest in Collin County. Will was arrested in connection with a break-in in Collin County but has been tied to a number of items taken in a recent Hopkins County burglary at a residence on State Highway 11. More arrests are possible. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum said a saddle and several firearms were recovered which led to the arrest. He stated that serial numbers on the items provided by the owner enabled the find. Other arrests are expected to follow.
Tatum encourages local residents to record the serial numbers on valuable items and place those numbers in a safe place away from the items.
Will is being held in Hopkins County jail on a $10,000 bond.
Pet Safety in the Heat
It’s summertime, and pet owners should be aware of the dangers summer heat can bring. Taking a few simple precautions can make summertime living better for your pets. Please take these few tips to consideration.
If you and your best friend will be spending time outdoors, make sure that you watch your dog closely for signs of overheating and heat stroke. Many people don’t even realize that their dog is overheating. That long, happy tongue is letting you know your dog is HOT! Heat stroke is a very real danger for your dog and will cause nausea, loss of consciousness, brain damage, and possibly death.
Make sure your dog has access to a shady place to cool off, with plenty of fresh water to keep him cool and hydrated. Some dogs are at more risk for heat related illness than others, such as dogs with flat faces and short noses, older dogs, puppies, and dogs with a health condition. When outside with your dog, and temperatures really sore put a few ice cubes in the water bowl.
Never leave your pet in a closed vehicle on a hot day. Even with the windows cracked, the inside of a car can heat up to 120 degrees in a matter of minutes. Leaving the air conditioning on is no guarantee that your dog will be safe. Leave your dog home on hot days, or find alternate ways to run your errands.
Short summer clips not a good idea. Many owners like to give their pets short cuts during the hot months. That doesn’t necessarily ensure a cooler body temperature and could cause your pet to become sunburned. Keeping your pets well-groomed is important, but a very short clip isn’t a good idea.
At my household we have 4 Boxers. They are short-haired and have short noses, they also get hot very quickly. Last summer was very hot, we had an idea on keeping the dogs cooled off. We got a small children’s wading pool and filled it up with water, and also turned on a rotating sprinkler. The dogs enjoyed the cool water on their skin. They would even play in the pool. Also there was plenty of shade in the yard for them. It is always a good thing to make sure your pet has a great time outside, but always remember your pets safety in the heat.
Story and Photos by Molly Clegg, HS Intern
Celebration City Reaching Capacity; Population Increasing
In the past year, Sulphur Springs has seen a rise in community events, activity, and renovation. There has also been a rise in population as well with many apartment complexes in the city reaching capacity. The few complexes left in town that have space left are leasing rapidly, with most vacancies lasting shorter than a month. West Oaks Village Apartments leased out five apartments within the month of May alone. Also full are Meadow View, Lincoln Place, and Timber Creek. Several complexes, such as The Corners and Quail Ridge have had to make waiting lists for people wishing to rent apartments in town. The most logical guess as to what could be causing this escalation is in Celebration City itself. Many Apartment Complex Managers have noted that the past year has witnessed a rise in population that has not been seen before in previous years. Overall, the past year has seen the biggest amount of change, given the impressive speed at which Sulphur Springs has been rewriting its identity as the Celebration City.
According to Realtor Carrie Nuckolls, Many people who move into Sulphur Springs recently locate here from out of state as well as from the Dallas Metroplex area. Those from out of state are mainly from California and the northern states. The primary reason for their move has been value–both in price and in lifestyle. Many people enjoy the small-town feel and love the friendly atmosphere and good churches. Property value has helped to draw people in as well. Those who locate here usually move into established neighborhoods or out in the country wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of busy cities in favor of a more peaceful residence. Overall, people enjoy the town identity and how Sulphur Springs has made good on its name as the Celebration City. The downtown area has garnered a large amount of approval from people out of town who also enjoy what Sulphur Springs has done with its renovations. All in all, due to the downtown area and community involvement, both people and businesses choose Sulphur Springs over other areas.
Realtor Joe Mack Gober also commented on the types of people moving in to the rural areas of Sulphur Springs. Most people who move to the country side are people who came here due to job transfers as more businesses come to Sulphur Springs. Also drawn to rural life are family focused, whether it be to raise a family, live closer to relatives, or retire near loved ones. However, the majority of growth has not been in the country, he stated. The population growth in the city and country has been evenly mixed. Those moving into the city are drawn by the homey environment combined with popular chain establishments allowing people to enjoy the small town life with familiar big city faces. Families that move into the city enjoy the downtown environment and how the community plays a part in the celebrations. People are not the only ones drawn to Sulphur Springs. Businesses, both small and large, are impressed by the local economy as well as our location in relation to larger cities such as Greenville, Dallas, Houston, and others. Sulphur Springs has gained the attention of businesses everywhere, due to the aggressive marketing tactics used to draw in business establishments.
“I think what could be causing [population growth] is a whole mix of stuff all the way from downtown to economic development,” Community Development Director Shane Shepard said. “It’s also a quality of life factor and the culture here is also friendly to both people and businesses. I think overall we just have a good synergy of things going on in this town.
“We want to be the community that Texans think about when they think about celebrations, whether it’s being at a wedding, or a concert, or a party downtown, to where when people come down to town at least 250 days out of the year, there will be a celebration going on in town,” Shepard said. “We had this guy named Roger Brooks come in from Seattle, Washington, and he goes all around the world helping cities find their new identity. So he came in and through a 3-4 week process, did some surveys in the community, and that’s what came out of it – the Celebration City.”
The most recognizable changes to happen in Sulphur Springs this past year has been the amount of restaurants and other retail businesses to move in to the downtown area. While more restaurants and retail businesses will continue to move in, Shepard has assured that other projects will be carried out in order to balance the economic presence downtown.
“What we are hoping to do is see more and more apartment development near the downtown area to help make this a sort of core neighborhood where you can live down here, work down here, eat down here, shop down here, and just have your entire life pretty much down here,” Shepard said. “But we are missing the apartments in the downtown area right now.”
More residential development is expected to begin out on Wildcat Way in 5-10 years. Upcoming projects expected to be completed within the next decade are a small scale river walk, additional second floor apartments around Celebration Plaza and other apartment complexes, more restaurants and the possibility of additional parking.
3rd Annual Music and Comedy Review a D.A.R.E. Fundraiser
The third annual Hopkins County Music and Comedy Review benefiting the Sheriff’s Department’s DARE program in rural schools is coming up Friday, July 24 in the Civic Center Banquet Hall. Tickets are $10 and will include a meal. Among entertainers will be Monty Tipps and Main Street, Brad Cummings, Dale the C, Cousin Cedric and special guest Stephen Pride, brother of Charley Pride.
Donation was given to APL (Animal Protection League)
Wednesday, July 1, 2015, a donation of 500 dollars was given to the Animal Protection league by the SS Corvette Club.
The Animal Protection League was formed in 1984 in the state of Texas as an animal rescue and adoption agency. In May 1996, the League was reorganized with an additional goal of operating a low cost spay/neuter and vaccination program located at 468 Shannon Rd W in Sulphur Springs, Texas. A low cost vaccination program offered to our communities. Every Wednesday the League offers vaccinations at a reduced cost to citizens pets in our communities. This helps to promote animal health as well as protecting the community from the deadly rabies virus. Donations are still being accepted.
Donation Given to Dinner Bell FUMC
The Dinner Bell at FUMC has been operating for 3 years and has served over 18,000 meals. Judy Gilreath tells us that they serve 120 meals each Wednesday. Although there is no charge for the meal, they gladly accept donations. Wednesday July 1, 2015, a big boost donation of 500 dollars was given to The Dinner Bell at FUMC by the Sulphur Springs Corvette Club. Pictured in the photo (l-r) Tim Gee, Nancy Rooks, Judy Gilreath, Roy McCasland, David Johnson, and Jerry Voss.
Wanna Go Fast? You can for 5001ft
The Sulphur Springs Airport will be hosting the Texas 1/2 Mile Shootout. This November 14th and 15th if you have $225, a helmet, a car (safety inspection required), and a need for speed… KSLR has your fix.
wannagofast.com coordinates events around the country. Full details are on the website, including a refund policy that prospective participants should review. This event could sell out.
Growing up I never had a Muscle car a Hot Rod or anything anyone would consider fast. But my friend did. We wore out several 351 Windsor engines running around our hometown. I don’t think we could have managed the entry fee for this event. I did some research and the caliber of the cars entering the Shoot Out are a far cry from the Mustang we patched together back in the 80’s.
May be just the opportunity to settle a friendly dispute between to motorheads. You could try out those new speed rated ‘Y’ tires, or that custom speedo that goes to 110 M.P.H. New Dodge v.s Classic Challenger? Ford v.s. Chevy?
