Kid’s Safe Saturday by Johanna Hicks
Kids’ Safe Saturday Just Days Away!
Kids’ Safe Saturday, a popular event for families, is rapidly approaching, and I wanted to remind everyone of the date, time, and place. The event has been scheduled for Saturday, April 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Buford Park in Sulphur Springs. Games, prizes, hot dogs, and lots of give-away items will be provided free of charge.
When you arrive, check in at the pavilion to receive a game card for each child. The event will feature exhibits on safety topics, and each exhibitor will have a game or activity, along with small prizes relating to their topic. Exhibitors will initial the game card and when all spaces have been initialed, children will return the game card to the pavilion to be placed in a drawing for major prizes.
Each exhibitor will provide information about safety issues relating to water safety, sun safety, stranger danger, accidental poisoning, immunizations, and much more. The event is sponsored by various agencies, including Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Department of State Health Service, Sulphur Springs Police, Sulphur Springs Fire Department, Hopkins County Memorial Hospital, and many more.
Come join in on the fun – it’s free, it’s fun, and it’s informative!
Twogether in Texas Marriage Education Workshop
The Twogether in Texas Marriage Education workshop is a great tool for engaged couples to equip themselves with skills that will be useful throughout marriage. Married couples who would like a refresher are also welcome to attend! This workshop is recognized by the state of Texas, and a portion of the marriage license fee will be waived for couples who complete the workshop. Here are the details:
- Date: Saturday, May 9
- Place: Hopkins County Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston, Sulphur Springs
- Time: 8:30 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free!
Topics covered will be marriage expectations, communication, conflict resolution, money management, and goals & dreams. This workshop will include group discussions, videos, instructor-led activities, and more. At the end of the workshop, I will present couples with a completion certificate to take to the county clerk’s office to receive a $60 savings on the marriage license. The certificate is valid for one year.
Sulphur Springs Country Club will provide lunch, and Idzy Bitzy Bakery will provide refreshments. My office will provide coffee, water, and morning snacks. As of this writing, four couples have signed up to participate.
Please call my office, 903-885-3443, to be added to the list. We simply need your name and phone number. Couples will receive a reminder phone call a few days prior to the workshop.
Closing Thought
Our visions begin with our desires – Audre Lorde
Celebration Plaza Hosts TDA Workshop
The Texas Downtown Association (TDA) is hosting a workshop in downtown Sulphur Springs on April 23rd. The workshop will bring downtown professionals from around the region and state to learn more about the Celebration District and Celebration Plaza. Strategies used in redevelopment will also be explored.
The daylong workshop will include a tour of downtown and an hour-long discussion regarding Code Enforcement strategies and downtown properties. On the following day, the association board will have their quarterly meeting above the Bayou Jack’s Restaurant.
Shane Shepard explains, “We were featured at the last 2014 TDA State Conference in Granbury, as a community that is doing downtown right. They are interested in us.” He continues, “If all goes well, we hope to be a contender for a future statewide, multiday downtown conference.”
Chamber Connection by Meredith Caddell
Chamber Connection
April 9, 2015 by Meredith Caddell
Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament—Come out for the FUN!!
This Friday we will be having a wonderful time at the beautifully renovated Sulphur Springs Country Club! If you would like more information, please call 903-885-6515. There are several morning tee times remaining, so get your forms in NOW. We will have lots of contest holes, hole in one chances plus much more! If you would like to volunteer to work the golf tournament, we would love to have you!!!
Everyone at the golf tournament will have the chance to win BIG Prizes! A Dodge Ram Truck from Sulphur Springs Dodge, A Kubota from Farm Country, $5000 from The Communications Coaching Group, plus lots of other prizes!
Want to have a chance to win $250,000??? You might get that chance at the Golf Tournament!!!
Baucom Insurance will be hosting a hole-in-one contest on hole #9 that will award $250,000 on the spot for the first hole in one! Baucom Insurance will be doing this as a fundraiser for Heart of Hope. Each golfer may purchase a $10 raffle ticket. All tickets will be put together and 5 tickets will be drawn. Those 5 golfers will head out to the #9 tee box and have one shot at a Hole in One! We will have the shoot out at 1:00pm!
3rd Annual Tanner Higgins Warrior Run, Saturday, April 11th at Cooper Lake State Park
Make plans now to participate in the Tanner Higgins Warrior Run, Saturday, April 11th at Cooper Lake State Park. They wil have a 5 Mile Warrior Run and a 1 Mile Grunt Run! Registration is $25-50. You may register at www.tannerstonehiggins.com. T-shirts are on a first come first served basis. Non-runners 13 years and older will have a $5 park entry fee.
April 14, 2015 – 4th “Sip & See” History Tour of Dr. Bill & Lydia Bryant’s home on College St., 6-7:30p.m. Hear the history of this 100 year old home and all about the “famous rock” with tour guide, John Sellers! $20 Donation at the door benefiting the Health Care Foundation; call to RSVP, 903-438-4799. Refreshments will be served by Plain & Fancy and Idzi Bitsy Bakery.
Latson’s Office Solutions Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting, Thursday, April 16th from 4-6pm
Don’t miss the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new location of Latson’s Office Solutions, 1329 Industrial Drive West (Westbound Service Road between League & Hwy 19). The event will take place from 4-6pm with vendor giveaways along with awesome Door Prizes, including 4 Rangers Tickets, $100 Gift Certificate and an Office Chair! Stop by on your way home from work and congratulate Mike and Mallory Horne and their staff on a beautiful new location!!!
Dentistry from the Heart, Friday, April 17th!
April 17th, Sulphur Springs area dentists, oral surgeons, dental hygienists, dental assistants, dental office assistants, area businesses and volunteer support are all coming together to bring dental care to those in need, right here in our community. Every year, individual dentists and practices across the country donate their time and resources to host this event! We are very fortunate to have our local dentists do this in Hopkins County. For more information you may visit www.dentistryfromtheheart.org. We will include the details as we receive them!
History by Foot with John Sellers, Saturday, April 18th
Don’t miss the 9th Semi-Annual History By Foot with John Sellers. Join them for a walking tour of downtown Sulphur Springs and discover the history of some of our historical buildings and landmarks and learn what events took place where! The tour will begin by the flagpole in the center of the Celebration Plaza (square). They will stroll down Main Street to Water Oak then down Water Oak to Connally and then back to the square. Highlights include the stockade, the springs and the old Coca Cola Bottling Plant and other historic landmarks on Main and Connally . We will take another look at the stockade from the north side, Williams Hotel and other businesses. The golf cart will be available for those of you who have trouble walking. Join them for a fun and learning experience. Tour is $10 and will begin at 9:00am and 10:45am. Make your reservations at Alliance Bank or City National Bank or call 903-438-4831.
April 18th, Walgreens will host a garage sale with all proceeds benefitting Relay for Life.
Kids’ Safe Saturday-April 18th
This popular event will take place on Saturday, April 18, at Buford Park from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Kids’ Safe Saturday will provide exhibits, games, prizes, and food. Exhibits will include sun safety, water safety, stranger danger, and much more! Even though the event is targeted toward families with children ages 12 and under, make plans to bring your entire family!
Don’t miss the 2nd Annual Claws for a Cause Crawfish Boil, Saturday, April 25thSulphur Springs Rotary Club presents their 2nd Annual Claws for a Cause Crawfish Boil, downtown Sulphur Springs, Saturday April 25, 2015. Claws for a Cause is a fundraiser with all proceeds staying local. For all-you-can-eat-crawfish & fixin’s, live music and good times, plan on being on Main Street, April 25th! Buy Tickets NOW online. Print or save to your smartphone. http://outhousetickets.com/Venue/Claws_For_A_Cause/.
Midnight Riders hosts the 2nd Annual Illness Rally, May 2nd
The Midnight Riders will host a poker run, balloon toss, darts, slow race, weenie bite, tennis ball pickup, dunking booth, barrel race and more. They will have lots of great food and merchandise vendors, great games and lots of prizes. Entry for the rally is $15 for one person and $25 for two people. This year, the rally will benefit Trina Hill, a 47 year old wife and mother with cervical cancer. She is travelling back and for the Dallas for treatment. While she is undergoing treatment, she is unable to work and they are trying to help cover bills and travel expenses. The event will be held at Highwayman Ink, 1783 Hwy 19S. The rally begins at 10am. For more information, call 903-975-2726.
May 14, 2015 – 6th Music in the Gardens, 6-7p.m. – Join us as we STOP and enjoy God’s peaceful beauty while listening to music and visiting w/friends and family.
Twogether in Texas Marriage Education Workshop
The next session will be held on Saturday, May 9, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. at the Hopkins County Extension Office. The workshop is free and engaged couples will receive a certificate to save $60 upon applying for a marriage license. Topics covered will be marriage expectations, communication, conflict resolution, money management, and goals & dreams. Lunch and refreshments will be provided by local businesses. Please call 903-885-3443 to reserve seats.
Are you Divorced or Separated? Divorce Care can Help!!!
Divorce Care is a weekly seminar and support group that will help you heal from the hurt. It’s a warm, caring environment led by people who understand what you are going through. You will learn practical information that will help you deal with the challenges of divorce. Best of all, you will gain hope for the future. They meet every Sunday from 9:30-10:30 at First United Methodist Church. For more information, please call Shelia Lunsford at 682-557-2702
We would like to welcome the newest members of the Chamber of Commerce
Aluf Plastics, 1212 Elm Street, 845-365-2200, Jason Doss, Manager—Manufacturing
Downtown Dental, 226 Main Street, Dr. Kajuri Ramchand, Dentist
Canyon Sickles, Individual
That’s all for now…have a GREAT week!
City Council Opposes SB 1158
Representatives of Hopkins County Commissioners Court and a candidate for Place 3 on the council addressed the Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday night during their regular April session. However their request for support of Texas Senate Bill 1158, which is somewhere under a stack of bills in the Senate Finance Committee, were rebuffed not only by a six to one vote of the council but also by the statements of city staff including City Manager Marc Maxwell and City Finance Director Peter Karsten and all but one of the members of council supporting opposition to the bill.
County Judge Robert Newsom, Commissioners Beth Wisenbaker and Wade Bartley, and Charles Oxford, candidate for Place 3 on the council opposing incumbent Oscar Aguilar, spoke in favor of the council supporting 1158 and allowing county residents to vote on the sales tax increase that could be as low as one eighth or reach as high as one half cent increase. Newsom pointed out that the increase in sales tax would be devoted to paying for the new jail construction while offsetting a seven cent property tax increase. Wisenbaker pled for the opportunity for county citizens to vote on the issue should the Texas legislature approve the bill. Bartley and Oxford said they supported the idea of 1158 and though it would relieve property owners while sharing the cost of the new jail construction with all in the county. All four stated that when the cost of the jail construction was paid, the sales tax would end.
City Manager Maxwell presented the staff report in opposition to the bill. Maxwell pointed out that the bill (1158) states that after excess indebtedness is paid, the excess revenue can be used for any purpose for which county general revenue may be used. He also pointed out that after the initial reduction in property tax, there was no limit on the rate of increase that could be made to the property tax. Maxwell cited, with the help of photo copy of the resolution and a chart of tax increase, an April, 1987 vote in which county commissioners promoted and the county adopted a one half cent sales tax to reduce property taxes but that in following years the property tax increase. Maxwell said voters are not substituting one tax for another. Instead, both the increased sales tax and eventual increased property tax and are imposed.
Maxwell also pointed out that with increased sales tax came the loss of jobs, retail sales, and population. He used research with the city of Texarkana. Texarkana is located in both Arkansas and in Texas. The portion of the city in Miller County Arkansas has a 10% sales tax while the segment of the city in Texas has only an 8.25% sales tax. Maxwell said all auto dealers except a couple of mom and pop used car dealers, all major retail, and the larger population are on the Texas side of the city. He pointed out that if Sulphur Springs wants a Starbucks, a Target, and other major retailers, being the highest sales tax city and county in the state will not see those retailers moving here.
Major industry will not choose a city and county with higher taxes. He stated that higher sales tax undermines growth.
Councilman Craig Johnson raised the question of a dollar for dollar decrease in property taxes with the use of a designated sales tax. Johnson said asked where would the county find money for their operations budget for county services including the operation of the jail. He so questioned if people outside the county would shop here when they became aware of the higher tax rate.
Clay Walker questioned if those building houses would purchase their building materials outside the county? He stated that not only would the county lose the increased tax but also the normal tax that they would make from the sale of items in the county.
Kayla Price, who would eventually vote against the city opposing the bill, asked if the city should wait until the state legislature approved 1158. Price said she thought that at this time residents should be given the opportunity to vote for or against the increase in sales tax. Price said opposing the tax and not supporting the bill to give citizens the right to vote were two separate things, in her opinion.
Council person Emily Glass agreed that these were two separate items and thought citizens should have the right to vote but when council person John Sellers said the vote to oppose the bill would not prevent people from voting if the bill was passed by the legislature but rather the council’s vote expressed the idea of the city regarding their opposition to the increase in sales tax found in the bill, Glass agreed to vote in favor of opposing the bill.
Johnson’s motion to approve opposition to Texas Senate Bill 1158 was second by Oscar Aguilar.
Thursday morning, City Manager Maxwell spoke with KSST News.
City Questioned Why Arresting Officers Not on Administrative Leave
“Why are the three arresting officers still on duty while an investigation of the death of Chance Ross is being conducted?” This was the question asked by his brother, Chad Ross Tuesday night April 7th during the regular session of the Sulphur Springs City Council.
Public comment, proclamations, and announcements, item 12 on the Council agenda, was moved to the fourth item for their consideration. The council provided center stage to Chad Ross, brother of the late Chance Ross. Chance Ross died while in custody of Sulphur Springs’ city police and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies. He was incarcerated after having been tased repeatedly by officers during his arrest. Texas Ranger John Nance is currently investigating the cause of death, actions of the officers, and awaiting the result of an autopsy.
Chad Ross stated that the family had viewed video of his brother being brought into jail without a shirt and having burn marks on his shoulders that seemed to have been the result of his having been tased. Ross said his brother was handcuffed and escorted by three Sulphur Springs officers and that three county officers assisted those officers in stripping his brother of his pants and placing him in a cell.
City Manager Marc Maxwell and Mayor Freddie Taylor responded to Ross stating that the council could not respond while the investigation was being conducted. However, Maxwell assured the Ross family that he would meet with Chief of Police Jay Sanders Wednesday to discuss the matter of the arresting officers being on active duty at this time.
Following Ross, a letter addressed to the council was handed to them and read. The letter, citing incidents of unreasonable and excessive force violating civil rights of individuals by police officers in other places asked that the city place the arresting officers on administrative leave pending the outcome of the arrest.
House Democrats Push Minimum Wage Hike
Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune – April 7, 2015
Claudia Colon, single mother of a 4-year-old son, cleans between 35 and 40 guest rooms a day at an Austin hotel. She makes $8.25 an hour, or $330 a week.
“Can you imagine what it feels like to have a full-time job and not have enough money to take care of your children?” Colon, her testimony translated from Spanish, asked members of the House Business and Industry Committee on Tuesday as they considered a package of bills to increase the minimum wage.
Though Colon makes a dollar more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, she is among the millions of Texans whose wages could rise under measures proposed by a handful of House Democrats.
In a back-and-forth of statistics, Democrats on the committee lauded the bills, saying they would improve living standards for low-income Texans and reduce the number of people receiving public assistance. Some Republicans, however, were skeptical and worried about the impact on small businesses.
The minimum wage would go up to $10.10 an hour under proposals by state Reps. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio. A separate measure by Martinez Fischer would ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment setting the minimum wage at $10.10.
“We deal with constituent cases on a regular basis of folks who come in for assistance just to pay basic light bills, money for gas to get to work and take their kids to school,” Lucio told the committee. “These are working folks. They aren’t trying to skirt the system in any way.”
Among states, Texas has the highest number of minimum wage workers, with 223,000 people making $7.25 an hour in 2013. Citing a report by the liberal Center for Public Policy Priorities, Martinez Fischer told the committee that one in four workers — or 2.4 million Texans — would get a raise under the minimum wage proposals.
That figure was challenged by Republicans. State Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, said the state would gain little from a wage hike, because 50 percent of minimum wage workers are under 25, probably don’t have dependents or are likely students. Citing their own figures, the Democratic authors disputed this claim, pointing to data showing a majority of minimum wage workers are 25 or older, with many of them supporting households with children.
Later, Rinaldi seemed to question the idea of a minimum wage altogether, saying it seemed like “government telling me I’m not free to work unless I do it at a wage that it approves.”
State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, expressed concerns about the impact on small businesses that may have to cut employees to pay higher, state-mandated wages.
“I think the concern that people like me have is that if you foist that on the small businessman, they’re going to have to shoulder that because the state told them to do so,” Villalba said.
A proposal from Democratic state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon of San Antonio would increase the wage incrementally, raising it to $8.75 in 2016 and $10.10 in 2017, and exempt small businesses with fewer than 26 employees.
“What most of us want to do is to give people the ability to have money in their bank accounts to take care of their families,” McClendon told the committee.
Another measure by state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, would raise the minimum wage to $8.25 beginning in 2016. Democratic state Rep. Roland Gutierrez’s bill would raise it to $10.
Interest groups were split over the proposals, with organizations like the Texas AFL-CIO in support while the Texas chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business declared its opposition.
It’s unclear whether the proposals will make it out of the committee, which is made up of three Democrats and four Republicans.
The other Republicans on the committee did not comment on the minimum wage measures. Committee chairman René Oliveira, D-Brownsville, said he approved of Martinez Fischer’s proposal of leaving a wage increase up to Texas voters.
“Taking it to the people is something a lot of us always campaign about,” Oliveira said during the hearing.
No action was taken on the bills Tuesday, and they were left pending in committee.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/07/house-democrats-push-raising-minimum-wage/.
*Updated* Still No Movement on Bill
SB1158 is currently in the Finance Committee of the Texas State Senate. SB1158 would give the voters an opportunity to raise sales tax up to 1/2 cent for the primary purpose of paying down the bonds recently approved for the construction of the new jail. The Bill, sponsored by Texas Senator Bob Hall, was referred to the Finance committee for further review. The Finance Committee, which Senator Hall is not a member, has a very full plate this session while they consider literally hundreds of bills. After speaking with an aide of the Finance Committee, KSST News understands that SB1158 will not even be discussed in the next two upcoming meetings of the Finance Committee. That certainly does not mean that the Bill is dead, but makes the road a little longer for the Bill to gain any traction. Once the bill is approved in some form it would then go to The House and could get referred to committee there. If you need a refresher on how the process works, click on the link below.
The Finance Committee meets tomorrow at 9am. Keep checking back with KSST News as we track the status of SB1158.
The Texas State Senate Finance Committee releases it next agenda for a meeting on Thursday April 9th. Although Senator Hall has a bill to be discussed on that agenda, SB1158 still will not be discussed. It remains to be seen whether or not the Finance Committee will even consider discussing SB1158 in the future. So as of right now, SB1158 is stuck in committee. The wheels of government move ever so slowly….
Hannah Nails It
Hannah Kirby was the third performer in last night’s episode of “The Voice”. She sang a Carole King classic, “I Feel the Earth Move” and her performance was impeccable. Even her ex-coach Pharrell Williams said it was “entertainment”. Her own coach Blake Shelton said she was “possessed by the song”. He also called her singing “perfect”. The only way Hannah will advance is by the number of votes she receives from all of her fans. The voting opens at the end of the show. That is when everyone will need to vote by calling and texting. You can also “vote” through iTunes. Encourage everyone you know to call (877)553-3703 and you can do so up to 10 times per phone. Also, if you are a Sprint customer, text the number “3” to 8642 (up to 10 times also). Also, download the App for your smartphone or Vote Online at http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/vote
Click on this Link for online voting
Taylor Honored on National Mayor’s Day
Sulphur Springs Mayor Freddie Taylor was honored on National Mayor’s Day at an event at the Senior Citizens Civic Center that April 7, 2015. Taylor, who moved to Sulphur Springs from Pennsylvania in 2000, became a member of the city council in 2004 and served his first term as mayor soon after. Taylor is in his second term as mayor of the city. Mayor Taylor encourages residents to recognize the positive impact of service in our city, to thank those who serve, and to find ways to give back to our community.
“In 2004 I ran for city council and had a great time,” Mayor Taylor said. “I stayed on long enough that the council saw fit that I could be mayor. So they elected me to be the mayor.””I didn’t really have any set reason to want to be a mayor,” Mayor Freddie Taylor said. “But the opportunity presented itself and I’ve been mayor before, so I figured that since I enjoyed it so much the first time that I would enjoy it even more. The first time I did it, I wasn’t really sure about the mayor position and how to do it and perform, but the second time around I feel more comfortable in the position.”
Since he began his first term as mayor of Sulphur Springs, Mayor Taylor has managed to work with the city to carry out good changes for Sulphur Springs. His primary targets have been roads and sewage while keeping the tax rate down.
“I think the most important thing that we’ve done as a city council is that we have kept the tax rate low,” Mayor Taylor said. “Of all the things that you can do in the city, if you can keep the tax rate low and still do the things that we’ve done in this community, starting with the parks, downtown, and even some of the streets and plumbing… all some of our greatest accomplishments… That is one of the biggest things that we are able to do…”
Like any member of public office, the job is not without its complications. Mayor Taylor has faced challenges while in office, but has done his best to combat these challenges as effectively as possible.
“Prioritizing what needs to be done first is the main challenge,” Mayor Taylor said. “We hear from citizens on what they think and what they would like to see. So it’s just a matter of prioritizing what the citizens want and what the actual needs of the city are. A lot of times the people don’t see underground, see above, or see around. They aren’t privy to what we have, to see what needs to be done for the city. But sometimes they do, because the sewage is backed up in their house. the challenge is just balancing out what they see and what we see from a council standpoint.”
Mayor Taylor’s goal for the near future is to improve the roads and sewage of Sulphur Springs.
When asked by KSST news if he would seek another term, Taylor responded, “That I would have to check with my wife and the rest of the kids about. Not that being mayor takes me away from my family, but I’m pretty sure there is a good chance of it because I love what I’m doing as a mayor. We’ll just have to see.”
