Chamber Connection – March 1
Spring seems like it may finally be here, so it’s time for the 34th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament, set for April 7 at the Sulphur Springs Country Club.
Like last year, the registration fee for a six-person scramble team is $750, with tee times at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. We have room for 25 afternoon teams and 18 morning teams on a first- come basis. Registration includes 12 mulligans, six meal tickets, and three carts.
We also have many sponsorship opportunities, so check out our registration form online at hopkinschamber.org or drop by the office at 110 Main St in Sulphur Springs.
Eclipse 2024
Don’t be caught in the dark when the April 8, 2024 eclipse happens! Everyone is invited to a press conference at 2 p.m. Monday, March 6, on the Courthouse steps as we talk about what is needed to prepare for the eclipse.
Sulphur Springs is ranked as the 8th best place in North America to watch the afternoon event. Let’s get ready!
Business After Hours
Our next Business After Hours will be from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, at the House of Sabo, 214 Main St.
You can enjoy small elevated bits and crafted cocktails at the mixer as well as meet the owners behind the House of Sabo and other local industry professionals.
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.
Free Movies
The Barn of Emory is presenting free movies from 7-9 p.m. each Friday. The Barn of Emory is located at 550 Rains County Road 3425 in Emory. Call 903-485-8222 for movie titles each week.
Yoga Open House
One Soul Yoga will have an Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at their facility at 1008 Main St. There will be free yoga classes and demos, discounts on passes and retail, and giveaways and refreshments.
Representative Slaton Files HB 2889 Providing Property Tax Relief to Families
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Yesterday, Representative Slaton filed HB 2889, which provides Texas families with property tax relief based on the size of their family. The bill will help promote couples getting married, staying married, and having or adopting children. A couple who marries and stays married would receive a ten-percent property tax credit. A family of four or more biological or adopted children would receive a forty-percent tax credit, and up to one hundred-percent credit for having ten children.
Representative Slaton said the following: “Supporting Texas means supporting Texas families. Strong families are the backbone and building blocks of society. We must support families by making it financially easier for them to have and raise children in a supportive and nurturing way.”
Many Studies have shown that children tend to have enhanced “wellbeing and development,”[1] and tend to avoid developmental, academic, and behavioral problems when raised by both parents in a stable marriage.[2] Falling birthrates also pose a potentially significant problem for the future as the age dependency ratio rises. Policies similar to HB 2889 have been implemented in nations such as Hungary[3] and Poland[4], where they have begun the process of reversing their declining birth rates, and are helping to foster thriving families.
Rep. Slaton continued: “With this bill, Texas will start saying to couples: ‘Get married, stay married, and be fruitful and multiply.’”
Department Of Public Safety License Fraud
Feb. 28, 2023- The Texas Department of Public Safety was tricked into shipping at least 3,000 Texas driver’s licenses to a Chinese organized crime group that targeted Asian Texans.
The criminal organization was then selling the licenses, obtained using the personal information of Texas drivers, to people in the country illegally, DPS Director Steve McCraw said.
The thieves used the state’s government portal, Texas.gov to fraud the DPS agency. DPS discovered the scheme back in December and has stated that they will be sending out letters of apology to all of the victims that were involved with this fraud. More victims are still being identified.
The criminal organization was not named by DPS at this moment. The organization was able to get a hold of the Texas driver’s licenses by pulling personal data on several individuals with Asian surnames from the “dark web” and other underground data-trading portals.
The info given to the organization from the dark web was then used to correctly answer any password security questions on the Texas.gov website. Stolen credit cards were used to purchase duplicate copies of active licenses. These replacement licenses cost $11 per license.
The license theft investigation spans roughly four separate states, also including fraudulent licenses duplicated from victims. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are also investigating the fraud in hopes of preventing more victims.
DPS declined to discuss specific details of the investigation, including whether arrests had been made in connection with the Texas thefts. However several subjects have been identified in this criminal enterprise.
The problem was first detected in December when a third-party Texas.gov payment vendor “alerted DPS to an increase in customers challenging credit card charges for online transactions”. The credit cards used to buy the fraudulent copies were also stolen, authorities said.
DPS was asked whether the fact that Asian Americans were being targeted would constitute a hate crime.
McCraw, without committing either way, said they appeared to be targeted because their names and photos would most closely resemble the people the syndicate would be selling the licenses to, according to what the agency’s investigation has uncovered so far.
Letters to the victims are set to go out later this week explaining that their licenses have been used fraudulently, the victims cases will be set as priority. Also, the department will send affected Texas Residents replacement licenses free of charge.
Paris Junior College Students Enjoy a Break
ENJOYING BREAK
Students at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus enjoy a short break between classes as they visit in the hallway with Secretary Dana Smock, left. Students in the group include Jessica Sisk, Alyssa Cockrum, Veronica Bussell, Liberty Gaunt and Jay Leitner.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Tommy Harris in Honor Of Black History Month
In light of Black History Month, we would like to commemorate a member of our community who embodies the spirit of excellence and positively influences the lives of those who live here in Sulphur Springs, Mr. Tommy Harrison. Mr. Harrison is an inspirational man who proudly served this country for 40 years before retiring from the US Department of Defense and returning here to Sulphur Springs five years ago. In that time he has become a very important member of our community. He sits as part of the city council and zoning board and is known for his humble, selfless, and kind spirit. He lives by the scripture “a man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24 KJV) And this is shown by Mr. Harrison’s hospitable actions towards others daily.
In wake of the recent ice storm we experienced here in Sulphur Springs, Mr. Harrison was seen checking on the wellbeing of his neighbors as well as the community abroad. He made phone calls on behalf of those in need and stopped by the homes of others to see where he could offer his assistance. He also stands on the scripture “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Prov 27:17 KJV). He is recognized as a man that always has the thought in his mind of how he can be a service to others in his community and this city.
Tommy Harrison is a man who loves God, family, this city, and this country and we want to honor him and thank him for continuing to be a compassionate inspiration to this community and those around him.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital News Release Feb. 27, 2023
Sulphur Springs, Texas, February 27, 2023 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Healing Ministry of Jesus Christ.
New Primary Care Provider
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is excited to welcome Rebecca Couch, Nurse Practitioner, to our team of Primary Care providers. Rebecca is eager to treat new patients in the Sulphur Springs area. She is accepting new patients at 105 Medical Circle, (Medical Building 1). To schedule an appointment, please call 903.885.3181.
Digestive Issues? We can help.
At CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, we offer some of the latest treatment options for patients with gastrointestinal disorders. Our highly trained team, led by gastroenterologist Dr. Umair Sohail, provides screening, diagnosis and advanced treatments for a wide range of complex digestive disorders including: colonoscopy and colon cancer screening, heartburn and reflux, abdominal pain, nausea and ulcers, bowel issues, gallstones and pancreatitis. If you would like to schedule an appointment with our CHRISTUS GI team, talk to your primary care physician about a referral.
Hopkins County Health Care Foundation Lights of Life Gala
Tickets for the 2023 Lights of Life Gala tickets are now on sale. This year’s event will be on April 22, 2023 and include dinner, dancing, and live and silent auctions. For tickets, please visit the Gala website: LOLGala2023.givesmart.com. For more information, please contact the Foundation at [email protected] or 903.438.4799.
The CARE Unit: Inpatient Rehabilitation
We at CHRISTUS are proud of our comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program. We provide the highest quality care in order to improve the functional independence of those we serve. Listed are some of the specialties we treat: amputation, brain injury, bilateral knee/hip replacement, certain arthritic conditions, deconditioning, hip fracture, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, post back and cardiac surgery, spinal cord injury, and stroke. The Inpatient Rehab teams uses an interdisciplinary team approach for recovery with a goal to return the patient to a healthy, fulfilling and independent lifestyle.
Open 24/7, we provide around the clock nursing care, three hours of therapy per day, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and social work/discharge planning to return home. If you believe you or a family member may benefit from an inpatient rehab stay, please contact us at 903.438.4570 for more information.
Longview Police Looking For Missing Woman
Feb. 27, 2023 LONGVIEW, Texas – The Longview Police Department is asking for public assistance in location a missing woman.
Vanitra Odom, 46, is a 5-foot and 3-inch woman who weighs approximately 300 pounds with black hair and brown eyes and wears glasses, according to a release.
Police said she could be driving a silver Honda Accord with a license plate number of NKT6466.
Odom’s family believes she could be in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
If you have any information on Trinity’s whereabouts, please contact Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Approves Affordable Rental Housing
Feb. 27, 2023- Hopkins County Commissioners Court met today to discuss the proposed construction of affordable housing east of I-30 at Texas Street. The proposed housing plan will give approximately 1410 feet in total for each unit. Three buildings in total were proposed during the meeting. The Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved the proposed item. Additional details on the building were not available during the meeting.
NETLA Livestock Market Show Winners
Feb. 27, 2023- The NETLA Livestock Market was held last Saturday, several types of livestock were shown during the event from heifers to poultry. Students from all over North-East Texas showed up to participate in the event.
Steer
- Sr. Mika Gray – MGFFA
- Int. Lila Bettes – NHFFA
Lamb
- Sr. Reece Regan – HC4H
- Int. Ryan Regan – HC4H
- Jr. Kallie Mabe – MGFFA
Poultry
- Sr. Braxton Northcut – MGFFA
- Int. Kayson Logan – HC4H
- Jr. Avery Hinton – SSFFA
Swine
- Sr. Ashley Pace – NHFFA
- Int. Jenna Murray – CPFFA
- Jr. Serenity Albritton – CFFA
Goat
- Sr. Kennedi Lambert – SBFFA
- Int. Hattie Bland – NHFFA
- Jr. Olivia Kelly – MGFFA
Heifers
- Sr. Coen bell – SSFFA
- Int. Kurt Feick – HC4H
- Jr. Katie Alexander – MGFFA
Heifer Champions
Grand – Abbie Melton – MGFFA
Reserve – Coen Bell – SSFFA
Ag Mechanics
Grand – Wayne Hinton, Tate Bradford, Garrett Tubb, Jose Flores – SSFFA
Reserve – Cash Gamblin, Braddox Rawson – SSFFA
Showmanship – Cash Gamblin, Braddox Rawson – SSFFA
Sulphur Springs Emergency Sirens Will Be Tested February 27
February 27, 2023 – Emergency sirens will be tested in Sulphur Springs at noon today by the Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Office.
The test is to gauge the reliability of the emergency warning system and is conducted to find any potential flaws in the system so they can be corrected prior to a real emergency situation. The sirens could be sounded not only for weather warnings such as tornadoes, which are the most common in the area, but also in case of any emergency that could affect the safety and lives of citizens in Sulphur Springs.
Recent tests have shown the emergency sirens to be a ready source of warning in case of emergencies such as tornados or other threats to safety.
This will only be a test
