“Updated with Video” Improvements Being Made to Lamar Street
City of Sulphur Springs crews are busy with improvements to Lamar Street. Improvements include upgrade of sewage and water, replacing sections of the curb and sidewalk and repaving of the road. City Manager Mark Maxwell gives us a progress report.
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Ladycats Soccer Wins Against Marshall
The Ladycats Soccer team won their district opener at Marshall 3-1 Tuesday night. The Ladycats were coming in after a slow start in the season, resulting in coach Deleon changing the Ladycat’s routine, which hasn’t been done in over five years. Esmeralda Sanchez scored two out of the three scores for the Ladycats Tuesday night. The Ladycats will play against Mt Pleasant on Friday night. I talked with Ladycats soccer coach Jesus Deleon.
“Updated with Video” Jesse Castro Signs with Trinity University
Lady Cats’ senior volleyball player Jessye Castro will be headed to Trinity in San Antonio to play college volleyball. Jessye said Trinity was one of the first schools she visited and she said she knew right away it was where she wanted to go. About two years ago, Jessye played both basketball and volleyball but made a commitment to focus only on volleyball. She also began to play club ball. Lady Cats Coach Allison Irvin said Jessye was a blocks and ace leader for the team in district play and near the top in kills. Jessye said Trinity coaches see her as a strong player who will have a key role with the team in the future. Jessye is the daughter of Mario and Fran Castro.
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TxDOT Urges Football Fans To Make a Sober Ride Part Of Their Super Bowl Sunday Game Plan
AUSTIN — With Super Bowl party plans nearing the goal line, the Texas Department of Transportation reminds football fans to drive sober or not at all.
“The Super Bowl is the biggest game of the year and a great time for a party, but it’s no excuse to be irresponsible and kill yourself or someone else,” said TxDOT Executive Director LtGen Joe Weber, USMC (Ret). “If your festivities include drinking, it’s your responsibility to plan ahead for a sober ride. Don’t put yourself and others at risk.”
On Super Bowl Sunday 2014, there were 128 DUI alcohol-related traffic crashes in Texas resulting in eight fatalities and 12 serious injuries. Those crashes marked a 14-percent increase compared with 2013.
In 2014, there were more than 3,450 fatalities on Texas roadways. Of those fatalities, more than 1,035 involved alcohol. As impaired driving continues to be a major – and often tragic – problem in Texas, TxDOT remains vigilant in its efforts to remind drivers of the severe consequences of taking the wheel while under the influence. Drivers arrested for DWI can face jail time and up to $17,000 in court costs and legal fees.
As part of its annual Football Impaired Driving Campaign, TxDOT toured the state in the Fan Van — a giant football on wheels — to encourage fans to have a game plan for a sober ride. The van made appearances at more than a dozen college football tailgate parties, bars and restaurants during football season, and encouraged fans to make a sober-ride pledge. Those who make a sober ride pledge by Feb. 1 have a chance to win a trip to pro football’s Big Game in the San Francisco area on Feb. 7, 2016. Details and information about various ways to pledge can be found at TexasGamePlan.com.
Public transportation, taxis and ride-sharing services are other alternatives to driving impaired and causing a crash. Visit SoberRides.org for more sober-ride options and do your part to keep Texas roads safe.
For more information, contact TxDOT Media Relations at [email protected] or (512) 463-8700.
Seaworld & Aquatica San Antonio Giving Free Admission To Preschoolers, Qualifying K-12 Teachers
SAN ANTONIO, TX (Jan. 29, 2015) – SeaWorld is deepening its commitment to early and primary education by offering free Fun Cards to both SeaWorld and Aquatica to preschool children and qualified K-12 Texas teachers. While the park had previously offered free admission to these groups to SeaWorld before, this is the first time that the programs are being extended to both parks.
This marks the fifth consecutive year that SeaWorld San Antonio has provided free admission to all active, employed and certified school instructors in grades K-12 in the state of Texas. More than 300,000 Texas teachers qualify for this program, which now includes unlimited admission to Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark, through Sept. 7, 2015. Teachers can register for their two-park Fun Card at www.SeaWorldParks.com/TeacherPass through May 31, 2015.
“This gift is intended to inspire teachers, whether it’s visiting Penguin Encounter to prepare for a classroom session on environmental issues in the southern hemisphere or inspiring students to care for marine life at a beluga whale educational show,” said Dan Decker, SeaWorld & Aquatica Park President. The Teacher Study Pass gives teachers the unique opportunity to use their SeaWorld & Aquatica visits to help enhance their curriculum.”
The Preschool Pass is made available to an estimated two million children living in Texas, and it also allows unlimited admission to both SeaWorld & Aquatica San Antonio now through Sept. 7, 2015. The Pass makes it possible for children to make early connections to the natural world, learning about whales, dolphins, sea lions, tropical fish and many other ocean species. The pass is valid immediately so that kids can take advantage of “Wild Days” in February, which will feature amazing land animals from around the world and dynamic presentations from youth animal ambassador Bindi Iriwn and wildlife expert Jack Hanna, as well as the “Just for Kids!” festival in April. Parents can register their little ones, ages 3 to 5 years old, for a Preschool Pass at www.SeaWorldParks.com/Preschool through May 31 and must show a valid form of identification (copy of a certified birth certificate or travel passport) at any SeaWorld ticket window, as well as verification of Texas residency for the parent/guardian.
“Our free Preschool Pass enables young children to see and get close to fascinating marine mammals,” Decker said. “It’s not only creating a lasting memory, but also jumpstarting their path to learning about marine life.”
Inspiring Conservation Through Education
SeaWorld – through fun and affordable educational programs – has helped schools, teachers, children and adults explore the ocean environment and all its inhabitants. There are countless informal teaching experiences inside the parks including educators, show and exhibit narrations, and interpretive and interactive graphics.
The parks also host a large animal database online at SeaWorld.org that features more than 4,000 pages of zoological, ecological and conservation-minded material, including species reference sources, classroom curriculum, career information and environmentally focused family activities.
The Lights of Life Gala Success
On Saturday, January 24, the Great Gatsby Gala was held at the Civic Center from 6 p.m. to 12 in the morning. The goal of the Gala was to raise $250,000 to purchase three telemedicine machines and three flex coils for an MRI machine for the Hopkins County Memorial Hospital and to also purchase an EMS first response vehicle. The Gala was hosted by the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation. Special thanks was shown to Brian and Leesa Toliver, Chairpersons of the Hopkins County Memorial Hospital Foundation Gala who both spoke that night. The Gala was a major success with over 550 people attending. The total amount of money raised that night far exceeded the expectations of the foundation and hospital board members. The precise amount of money raised is yet to be determined.
Brian and Leesa Toliver
WORK BEGINS JAN. 30 ON FM 71 IN FRANKLIN COUNTY
PARIS – Motorists who travel on FM 71 in Franklin County from State Highway 37 to the Titus County line should pay extra attention to road conditions and watch for work crews beginning Jan. 30.
That is the date for contractor AK Gillis Inc. to begin rehabilitating this roadway in accordance with a recent road improvement contract. After meeting with the contractor, TxDOT officials granted 198 days to complete this project at a cost of more than $3 million.
The contractor will widen and reconstruct the subgrade of the roadway; add new base to the roadway bed and apply a cement treatment; reconstruct the roadway surface; extend and safety treat drainage structures; perform a two-course surface treatment and reinstall pavement markings. The work should be completed by September 2015, TxDOT officials said.
Work crews will begin setting barricades and construction signs on Jan. 30. Motorists traveling in this area may encounter temporary lane closures while the contractor performs spot base repairs and blade patching. Drivers are encouraged to obey all traffic controls that they encounter. Flaggers will be working to alert drivers to road conditions and guide travelers through the area safely.
For more information, contact [email protected] or (903) 737-9213.
NETLA Show Coming Up in February
The annual NETLA Junior Market Show and Sale is coming up in late February. Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Agent Dr. Mario Villarino was a guest on KSST’s Good Morning Show with Enola Gay Wednesday morning and he talked about the important task of validating students’ projects.
Enola also talked with Sulphur Springs Middle School 8th Grader Brianna Sales who will be showing a steer in this year’s NETLA Show.
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New Charges Filed Against Hollis Sartin
40-year old Hollis Blaine Sartin of Pickton now faces an additional charge after he reportedly entered Wal-Mart with a pistol last Friday night causing evacuation of the store. I talked with Sulphur Springs Police Detective Sgt. David Gilmore Wednesday morning.
Sartin was charged with terroristic threat before JP B.J. Teer Wednesday and bond was set at $35,000. Monday JP Teer set a $75,000 bond for Sartin on a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in connection with a truck theft from Hope, Arkansas.
Texas State-Fish Art Contest Seeks Entries
ATHENS–The Texas State-Fish Art Contest, headquartered at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC), reminds Texas teachers and students that the deadline for entries in the 2015 State-Fish Art Contest is March 31, 2015.
The contest is open to any student in public, private or home schools in grades K-12. Students must draw or paint any recognized state fish and write an essay about it. Complete contest details and entry forms can be found at www.tpwd.texas.gov/fishart.
The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) provides funds for prizes for first-, second- and third-place Texas winners in each of the four grade-level divisions. First place in grades 10–12 wins $1,000; second place $750; third place $500. Prizes in the K–3, 4–6 and 7–9 grade levels are $100 for first; $75 for second; $50 for third. Student art from the Texas contest is featured on TTBC tickets. The next TTBC will take place on Lake Fork in May 2015.
Additional support for the Texas contest is provided by the William E. Armentrout Foundation, FishFlops™ and Friends of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.
The Texas State-Fish Art Contest is part of Wildlife Forever’s State-Fish Art Contest. The TTBC also provides a travel allowance for Texas first-place winners to attend the national awards ceremony, which will be held August 21—22, 2015, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Wildlife Forever chooses one outstanding piece of artwork each year for the Art of Conservation Award, and a commemorative stamp featuring the artwork is produced for sale. Proceeds from sales of the stamp are used to fund conservation projects.
Educators who wish to have their students enter the contest can download the free “State-Fish Art Contest Lesson Plan” at www.statefishart.com. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes lessons and activities, a species identification section profiling each state fish, a glossary and student worksheets.
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Located in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Wildlife Forever is a non-profit multi-species conservation organization dedicated to conserving America’s wildlife heritage. Working at the grassroots level, Wildlife Forever has funded conservation projects in all 50 states, committing millions of dollars to “on-the-ground” efforts. Wildlife Forever supports habitat restoration and enhancement, land acquisition, research and management of fish and wildlife populations. www.wildlifeforever.org.
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On the Net:
Texas State-Fish Art Contest Rules and Entry Form: http://tpwd.texas.gov/fishart
Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest: http://www.statefishart.com
TTBC: http://www. toyotatexasbassclassic.com/
