2023 USA Pickleball National Championships Coming To North Texas
March 15, 2023- North Texas will be the home to the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships this November. The tournament will be held from Nov. 4 to Nov. 12 at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch.
The organizers of the event say that the event will be the largest-ever pickleball tournament, with over 3,500 amateur and professional players. The winner of the pro event will win a $150,000 prize, the largest in the history of the tournament.
The fans will have ‘Pickleball boulevard’ full of interactive activities and plenty of food and drinks inspired by Texas. There will be live musical performances every night. More organizers expect more than 25,000 people to attend the event.
Fore more information on the upcoming pickleball game click: Pickleball upcoming games
Texas Rent Relief Accepting New Applications For Limited Time Texas Rent Relief
March 15, 2023 – The Texas Rent Relief (TRR) program has $96 million dollars remaining to help Texans affected by the pandemic. TRR has reopened the Application portal to accept new applications for rent and utility assistance as of March 14 and will continue accepting them until March 28 11:59 pm CT.
How to apply:
- Visit TexasRentRelief.com to review eligibility details and required documents.
- Collect all documents and paperwork ahead of time to help make the application process smoother.
- As of March 14, submit your application online or over the phone by calling the TRR call center at 833-9TX-RENT (833-989-7368).
- Keep an eye out for communication from the program in case we need more information to process your application.
First-time TRR applicants may be eligible for up to 18 months of rent and utility bill assistance, this includes past due payments or a combination of past and future payments. Returning applicants who have not received the maximum allowed 18 months of assistance for rent and/or utility bills can submit an Additional Funding Request by their existing online user account.
Limited Funds are available. Applications will be processed in the order they are received, prioritizing those facing evictions.
If you are facing eviction, it is encouraged you to seek legal assistance, go to your eviction hearing and stay in communication with your landlord and the court. Visit https://texaslawhelp.org/eviction-referral or call 855-270-7655 for help understanding your options and seeking free or low-cost legal assistance.
Sulphur Springs Cars And Coffee
March 15, 2023- The First Baptist Church Parking lot will again be hosting Cars & Coffee on March 25 at 9am. All Cars are welcome to the event, no matter the make or model. This event as always is a come and go event. The event will be from 9 am to 12 pm.
Cars & Coffee Sulphur Springs is a monthly event held on the last Saturday of each month.
9 Million AT&T Customers Affected In Data Breach
March 15, 2023- Service provider AT&T has announced a recent data breach within their system exposing Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) of nearly 9 million customers. The CPNI holds information such as first names, wireless account numbers, wireless phone numbers and even email addresses.
An AT&T spokesperson said, “A small percentage of impacted customers also had exposure of rate plan name, past due amount, monthly payment amount, various monthly charges and/or minutes used. The information was several years old.”
Law enforcement has been notified by AT&T of the data breach, however no personal user information was given during the report. AT&T only reported that a breach had occurred within their systems as required by Federal Trade Commission.
How to protect your data
AT&T is urging people to make a CPNI Restriction Request, which would turn off CPNI data sharing on their accounts and reduce the risk of having their information exposed in the future should AT&T use it again for third-party vendor marketing purposes.
Have good anti-virus software installed on all of your devices. Using antivirus software is the best way to protect yourself from data breaches on your devices. This will also alert you about phishing emails or ransomware scams.
Using Identity theft protection will help allow you to know when your personal information has been used. Identity theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number, phone number, and email address, and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account.
Chamber Connection – March 15
We still have a few morning tee times for the 34th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament, set for April 7 at the Sulphur Springs Country Club, but they are going fast.
Like last year, the registration fee for a six-person scramble team is $750, with the morning tee time at 8 a.m. The afternoon slots are already full. Registration includes 12 mulligans, six meal tickets, and three carts.
Check out our registration form online at hopkinschamber.org or drop by the office at 110 Main St. to get in on the action.
We are also accepting goody bag items for the golfers. We need those by noon on Friday, March 31. And we are taking raffle items, so if your business wants to promote itself, goody bag items and raffle prizes are a great way to do it.
Freedom Ball
This year’s Hopkins County Freedom Ball is going to be bigger and better than ever! Come help celebrate our local heroes at the Hopkins County Civic Center on May 20.
This years theme is “Top Gun” and Jason Walden & The Alibis will be providing the music for the evening.
Tickets are $125 each, and 200 tickets are set aside for veterans and their wingman each — first come, first serve. So, get your tickets now.
For tickets, contact Danny Davis at 903-438-4003.
DIY Wedding Expo
The East Texas DIY Wedding Expo, hosted by Frosted Whimsy, is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. March 18 at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Vendors spots are available, starting at $150 Email [email protected] for more information.
Health Fair
A 55+ Health Fair is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at The ROC at First Baptist Church. There will be blood pressure checks, blood sugar checks, preneed counseling, hospital equipment, information on hospice and home health as well as assisted living, Medicare and Medicaid.
For more information, contact Karon Weatherman at 903-243-3255.
Health Care Foundation Gala
The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation Lights of Life Gala has sponsorships and individual tickets for sale for the premiere event of the season that includes dining, dancing, live and silent auctions and games. All money raised goes to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs.
Go online to LOLGala2023.GiveSmart.com to purchase tickets or to sponsor.
Lunch and Learn
The Chamber will host its spring Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, April 18, from 11:30-1 p.m. The program will be a roundtable discussion on marketing, both conventional and social media. The seminar will be informational and practical to help business marketers increase their profile by doing it themselves. The cost is $25 for Chamber members and $30 for nonmembers.
Call 903-885-6515 or email [email protected] to sign up.
Ribbon Cuttings
Budding Botanicals hosted a ribbon cutting for their CBD-infused products business on Tuesday, March 7. Check them out on Facebook.
Simply Styling, a boutique for plus sizes, hosted a ribbon cutting at 325 South Davis Street on
Friday, March 10. Go by for clothing, jewelry and accessories.
Four Teams in Action Tuesday
Tuesday, Mar. 14 is a busy one for Sulphur Springs, as four teams are in action.
Starting off with Wildcats Soccer, hosting Senior Night on Tuesday, Mar. 14. at Gerald Prim Stadium.
Coach Alexi Upton’s squad hopes to send their season off with a bang, as they play in their final regular season contest. Sulphur Springs is 10-1, tied for first with Paris heading into both squads’ final district contest. A big win over North Lamar could go a big way towards a potential district title, or even co-champs.
They look to put it on the Panthers in Tuesday’s senior night contest, as doing so could bring home the first district championship for Wildcats soccer since 2013.
Tuesday’s festivity-filled contest with the Panthers will be broadcasted into KSST 1230 AM.
It will also be live-streamed onto KSST Radio’s YouTube channel.
Also finishing up their district season on Tuesday, Mar. 14 is Lady Cats soccer, in Paris taking on North Lamar.
Sulphur Springs picked up another big win on Friday, Mar. 10, shellacking Pittsburg 6-0. That win Friday puts Coach Adriana Brena’s team one win closer to a perfect district season.
Lady Cats soccer already clinched the 15-4A district championship, doing so last Friday with their win in Pittsburg. Friday’s 6-0 beat down of the Lady Pirates put Sulphur Springs two games over the competition with only one game to go, securing the outright District Championship.
It’s the first in program history. They look to close out their first undefeated District season Tuesday, Mar. 14 when they take on North Lamar on their home turf.
That game kicks off in Paris Tuesday at 7 P.M.
Wildcats baseball starts their district season Tuesday, in Texarkana at Liberty Eylau. Sulphur Springs looks to get the real test off on the right foot, beginning a long 18-game district season starting Tuesday.
Coach Jerrod Hammack and his squad are 4-4 heading into their district season.
They tip off 15-4A play Tuesday, Mar. 14 in Texarkana at 7:30 P.M.
Lady Cats softball plays Tuesday, but in their non-district contest. Coach David Carrillo’s team hopes to send their pre-district season off with a bang when they head to Bullard Tuesday.
The Lady Cats are 14-3 heading into their Tuesday contest at Bullard. They look to win their fifteenth in 18 games Tuesday in their final contest prior to the start of district play.
That game tees off at Bullard Tuesday, Mar. 14 at 6:30 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
17th Annual Lights Of Life Gala Sponsor GSC Enterprises
GSC Enterprises, Inc. and the McKenzie family are long-time supporters of the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation. Barbara McKenzie was even one of the visionaries who saw the need for such an organization. Continuing their support of the Foundation and Gala, GSC Enterprises, Inc. is a $20,000 Tiaras and Tumbleweeds sponsor for the 17th Annual Lights of Life Gala.
A&M-Commerce To Host Rural Mental Health Forum In Greenville
The Counseling Center and the Department of Health and Human Performance at Texas A&M University-Commerce are partnering to host a free rural mental health forum at Fletcher Warren Civic Center in Greenville, Texas, on March 21.
Dr. Nick Patras, executive director of the Counseling Center and Student Health Services at A&M-Commerce, said the event will provide space for community members, city and county officials, law enforcement officials, K-12 school administrators, agency employees, and community organizers to discuss multiple issues regarding rural mental health.
“We will explore the intersection of mental health needs in rural Northeast Texas and opportunities for A&M-Commerce to leverage its resources to address those needs,” Patras said. “Our goal is to create a coalition of regional partners to identify challenges and seek solutions.”
Breakfast and registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome address at 9 a.m. The keynote address will begin at 9:15 a.m., where Taylor Toynes, chief executive officer for the non-profit group ForOakCliff.org, will highlight the power of community organization.
Following the keynote, attendees will hear from a panel of subject experts who will discuss mental health concerns in rural communities.
Attendees will then participate in tabletop discussions to identify mental health needs and service demands from their unique perspectives. Each table will include a diverse range of individuals representing various stakeholder groups.
The forum will conclude at 3:30 p.m., after participants establish an action list and form a coalition to address the top mental health challenges facing Northeast Texas.
The inaugural rural mental health forum planning committee includes Shirley Weddle, charter president and co-founder of the Suicide Prevention and Brain Health Rotary eClub; Dr. Tony Dickensheets with Soldiers’ Angels; Amy Burton with Red River Valley Veterans Memorial; along with A&M-Commerce personnel Patras; Dr. Elizabeth Wachira, assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance; and Adam Metts, LPC-S, assistant director of training and supervision for the Counseling Center.
“As a regional center for mental health services and research, A&M-Commerce is committed to expanding its outreach to meet our community’s health needs,” said A&M-Commerce President Mark Rudin. “This forum will help us plan the path forward on this important journey.”
Learn more and register for the event at www.tamuc.edu/Rural-Mental-Health.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Approves Purchase Of New Equipment For The County
March 14, 2023- Commissioner’s Court was in session March 13 to discuss the approval of purchasing new equipment for the County. The items approved during the meeting are as follows:
- SKIDSTEER S SERIES For the Civic Center for $59,072.37
- New Holland B95D Backhoe for Precinct 4 for $106,000
- John Deere 6105 E Tractor w/ Tiger Side Boom for Precinct 3 for 159,736
The Hopkins County Commissioners Court had several bids for financing on select pieces of equipment, with the approved financing coming from City National Bank for a financing rate of 4.45%. The length of the financing was not given by Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook.
17th Annual Lights Of Life Gala Receives Sponsorship
The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation expresses a very warm thank you to Dr. Chris and Katie Gallagher and the Gallagher Family Foundation for their support of Hopkins County health care! The Gallagher Family Foundation is a $20,000 Tiaras and Tumbleweeds sponsor of the 17th Annual Lights of Life Gala. Tickets are available at https://LOLGala2023.givesmart.com
