Soil PH Levels By Mario Villarino
April 7, 2023 – Having trouble with your lawn or flower bed not producing the way you’d like? The problem may be with your soil, which has to provide all the elements plants need for normal growth. A soil test can tell you whether your soil is making those elements available to your plants, and now is the time to have your soil analyzed. It takes 3-6 months to neutralize the soil after a lime application.
The most crucial measurement is pH level, which is a measurement of the soil’s hydrogen (acid forming) ion activity. East Texas soils tend to have a lower pH, meaning they are generally more acidic; areas with less rainfall usually have higher pH levels and alkaline soil. It’s important to know your soil’s pH level because it can affect your plants’ ability to take up and use the elements it needs.
Soil pH can be altered with fertilizers and soil conditioners; however, you should know what kind of plants you want to grow so you’ll know what pH is best for them. For instance, azaleas and camellias like a low pH.
Soil test kits can be picked up from the Hopkins County Extension Office. A detailed report addressing specific elements in your soil can be obtained through Texas A&M University. The soil testing kit from the County Extension Office has information and addresses for ordering those tests; they cost $10-$15 each, depending on how detailed you want the test to be.
Tamez Back in Hopkins County Jail
April 7, 2023 – Hopkins County Deputies traveled to the Webb County jail this week to collect David Tamez Jr. Tamez was indicted by a Hopkins County Grand Jury in 2018. His three outstanding Hopkins County warrants including:
- Bail Jumping
- Money Laundering
- Possession of Controlled Substance > 4 grams
Tamez, age 32, is currently in Hopkins County jail. His current bond totals $95,000.
Tamez was in the Webb County Jail serving time for a variety of charges including:
- Aggravated Kidnapping
- Aggravated Robbery
- Burglary of a Habitation
- And Theft of Property >$1500
Those charges stem from a 2015 kidnapping of a woman in south Laredo, TX. Tamez and an accomplice initially engaged in a home invasion type robbery. During that offence the female victim was tied up, removed from her home and placed in her own Toyota vehicle. The pair then kidnapped the victim and drove her and her vehicle into Mexico. The victims eyes were covered during the trip.
The woman was apparently released by the two, She returned to family who then notified Law Enforcement.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Lady Cats Golf Secures District Championship
Coach Whitney Spigener and Lady Cats golf have won the District 15-4A Championship.
It is the first time in at least a decade that the women’s golf program has secured a district title.
Split over two days over as many weeks, Sulphur Springs competed admirably throughout.
“They came out and played hard,” the golf coach said Thursday morning during an interview. “They were still disappointed with how they played, but that’s just a testament to the expectations they’ve put on themselves.”
Lady Cats golf finished almost 170 stroked ahead of the next closest team at the 15-4A tournament.
After day one, Sulphur Springs was 87 strokes ahead of second-place Paris.
“They killed it,” Coach Spigener said following the team’s outing.
The Lady Cats did as well as they did in spite of tough conditions. Sulphur Springs had to weather through slow-play over the two-day tourney. Coach Spigener also said Mount Pleasant C.C. had rolling greens, something else the Lady Cats had to battle through.
Allison Thomas had the biggest outing of all, shooting 85 and 87 in the two round tourney for a total of 172. The sophomore’s efforts won her an individual district championship.
Coach Spigener said in a testament to the tough playing conditions that Thomas shot only one over on the back-9.
“All of her strokes came from that front side,” the Lady Cats golf coach said.
Freshman Evey Birdsong got second in the district tourney, shooting 180. A stroke later, McKenna Meskimen finished with 181, a third place finish for the sophomore.
Mykylie Meador shot 183 over the two rounds. Kenzie Posey came up a stroke behind Meador at 184.
Sulphur Springs first through fifth player finished just 12 strokes apart.
Lady Cats golf finished with 707 as a team, an average of just over 350 for each round.
“Those numbers are looking good,” Coach Spigener said, “[but] we still need to get a little bit off coming into Regionals to fight for that Regional championship, but they’re totally capable of doing that.”
Sulphur Springs winning a district title achieves another goal for Lady Cats golf. Coach Spigener said the team’s goal had to be winning the championship, so that her athletes would then be paired up with other district champs at the Regional competition in just under two weeks.
Even with sweeping spots one through five at the district championship, the Lady Cats golf coach said all her players came off the green playing what-if; each athlete knew what they had to do to improve upon their efforts.
Coach Spigener said each player knows what they have to do to get prepared for the Regional championship.
Next up, Lady Cats golf heads to Van Zandt C.C. for the Region 1 & 2 championship for 4A.
That takes place Monday and Tuesday, Apr. 17-18.
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.
Ray Back in Hopkins County Jail
April 6, 2023 – Joshua Lee Ray is back in Hopkins County Jail for violation of parole and failure to register as a sex offender. A records check shows Ray was convicted in 2004 and required to register for life. The original violation occurred in Indiana, and involved a 15 year-old victim.
This is not the first time Ray has been arrested for failure to register. Ray was arrested in 2008 and 2009 for failure to register.
This is not the first time Ray has been in Hopkins County Jail. Ray, a Cumby resident who also goes by the alias Johanna Marie Ray, was arrested in Hopkins County in 2022. He was charged with Burglary of a Habitation. See that story here.
Ray is in Hopkins County Jail, bail has not been set.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Meal A Day And Senior Citizen Center Calendar April 10-14, 2023
Volunteers prepare meals at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center and deliver them five days a week to Meal A Day program recipients in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. The Meal A Day Menu for the week of March 27-31, 2023 includes:
Monday, April 10- BBQ Rope Sausage, Coleslaw and Baked Beans
Tuesday, April 11- Fried Rice, Egg Roll and Asian Cucumber Salad
Wednesday, April 12- Baked Frito Pie, Carrots and Coleslaw
Thursday, April 13- Chimichurri Chicken Drums, Roasted Veggies and Fennel Salad
Friday, April 14- Cheeseburger, Veggie Blend and Chips
Bill To Ban Paper License Tags Passes Texas House
April 6, 2023- Texas House Of Representatives has passed a Bill Wednesday that would eliminate paper temporary license plates throughout Texas. With the passing of the Bill, paper licenses plates would be replaced by metal plates to battle the increasing problems with fraudulent paper tags often sold illegally online.
Dallas Democrat Sen. Royce West and Fort Worth Republican Rep. Craig Goldman have filed similar bills to combat the problem. Senate Bill 2567 and House Bill 718 are theses Bills. Fort Worth Republican Rep. Craig Goldman has stated that the plate change would not occur until 2 years after approval. This would allow time for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and dealerships across the state to adjust to the change.
Robert Braziel, CEO of legislative affairs for the Texas Automobile Dealers Association, said he hopes the Bill will eventually include some alternative option to hard plates for when they are not in stock.
Just last year Texas Department Of Transportation made changes to their Paper Temporary Tags. See Original Story Here:
Some Features of the Previous Tag Designs Included
- Texas flag watermark.
- Enhanced depiction of tag expiration date, vehicle year and make, and name of issuing dealer.
- Identification of the specific type of tag issued.
- Font selection and size that maximize readability of primary components.
- Active and passive security features identifiable by law enforcement.
- Numerous pieces of embedded data and text, linked to law enforcement databases, that can be created only by internal TxDMV computer systems.
However despite the changes made to the tags, fraudsters still managed to copy the tag and create fakes within hours of its release.
Energy Department Moves Forward With Light Blub Ban
April 5, 2023- Beginning in August, Americans will no longer be able to purchase most incandescent lightbulbs, as LED lights are going to take over the lighting industry. LED lights are set to be the only purchasable lights across the nation, as an official ban on incandescent lightbulbs will be in full effect, in a move to more energy efficient alternatives.
Incandescent lightbulbs have been providing light in American homes since the 1880s, when Thomas Edison patented the bulbs. However, now that the nation is becoming a more energy-efficient society LED lights have become the norm.
The federal government’s warnings started in January and have been getting progressively more aggressive as they want to make sure Americans don’t go back in time. The government announced a ban on the manufacturing and selling of incandescent bulbs, saying it will help Americans save money and help the environment.
Halogen bulbs and compact fluorescent lights (CFL) will also be banned because of their mercury content.
Stated by the Department Of Energy, LED lights use 75% less energy than incandescent lights and last roughly 25 times longer.
Starting in July, the US DOE will make manufacturing or selling most incandescent light bulbs illegal.
Manufacturers who violate the ban could face a maximum penalty of $542 per illicit bulb. While the ban will be in effect soon, customers can still buy what is left of incandescent lights that are still being sold in stores. The majority of household type incandescent bulbs will fall under the ban, as those bulbs will not meet the new standard of how much light they put out (lumens) versus the amount of energy they use to produce that light. The new threshold will be 45 lumens per watt.
The DOE hasn’t totally banned all incandescent lights, just the ones most commonly used in homes and that are not energy efficient.
Softball, Baseball & Track All in Action Thursday
Thursday prior to easter weekend is a busy one, with three teams in action.
Starting off with track and field, both teams are right here in town hosting the Wildcat Invitational.
Most recently both squads went off to Winona for only their third competition of the spring season, and Sulphur Springs did well.
Both teams got season-high finishes:
They look to match if not better their efforts from last week when they host their own meet in Sulphur Springs.
That gets underway at the track field Thursday, Apr. 6 at 4 P.M.
Also on deck Thursday are baseball and softball.
Starting off with Lady Cat softball, who play in their second-to-last home game on the year.
Coach David Carrillo’s squad is breezing through their district schedule. Through six games, Sulphur Springs stands as the lone undefeated team in 15-4A at 6-0.
A win Thursday puts them just three away from a second-straight perfect district season.
They most recently played Tuesday, in Paris. The Lady Cats blew out Paris on their home field 14-1, completing the sweep of the opposing Lady Cats.
Coach Carrillo’s squad looks to do the same Thursday when Pittsburg comes to Lady Cat Park.
That game tees off in Sulphur Springs Thursday, Apr. 6 at 6 P.M.
Thursday’s contest with the Lady Pirates will be broadcasted onto KSST 1230 AM. The game will also be live-streamed onto KSST Radio’s Youtube channel.
Wildcats baseball is the last team up on Thursday, Apr. 6 but they travel to North Lamar.
Sulphur Springs picked up a crucial win over Paris on Tuesday, Apr. 4.
Winning 3-1 over the other Wildcats, Coach Jerrod Hammock’s squad keeps their postseason hopes alive. The Tuesday home victory brings the baseball team’s district record to 2-6, tied with Pittsburg for fourth place.
Sulphur Springs is now 6-10 on the year.
They have another tough test ahead of them Thursday when they must travel to Paris to play at #3 North Lamar (4-4).
The Panthers are 0-2 on the month after falling to both frontrunners PG and LE in back-to-back contests. They look to get back to their winning ways Thursday when Wildcats baseball comes to town for another district duel.
That game tees off in Paris Thursday, Apr. 6 at 7 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.
Hopkins County Records – April 5th
Land Deed Transactions
Rosario Mejia to Rigo Mejia; tract M A Bowlin survey
William Chase Munster to William Chase Munster Trustee and The Park Ridge Trust
Jackie R Berry to Wesley Harrison; tract in the S Coy survey
Antonio Correa-Salas and Samuel Correa-Salas to Elizabeth Gandara; tract in the Robertson survey
Patricia Sue Coleman to Patrick Allen Coleman; tract M A Bowlin
David Owens and Emma Owens to Kevin M Vanspeybroeck and Paige Vanspeybroeck; tract in the John S Bowen survey
Kevin M Vanspeybroeck and Paige Vanspeybroeck to Jana Dodd; tract in the John S Bowen survey
Linda Lincoln and Robert E Lincoln to Surendra kongurootu, Kiran Kumar Mandadapu, Satish Orugunta and Amrita Yamavarapu; tact in the Ocela Barb survey
Timothy K Hoper and 3310 LLC to Adriaan Van Der Jagt; tract in the W B Stout survey
Sarah Frances Mcdougald to Kory Harper; tract M A Bowlin survey
Billy Wayne Edwards SR Estate and Marian Ellies IND EXEC to Marian Ellis; tract M A Bowlin survey
Mary Watkins to Dustin Edward Weaver
Annie Johnson IND Admin and Robert Johnson Estate to Annie Johnson; tract in the Winnie Jewell survey
James Bell and Lynnette Lee Bell to Janet Kay Jetton and Ricky Glyn Jetton; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
Kyle E Williams and Maysi Williams to Colten Ryan Williams; tract in the John Clayton survey
April Jenkins and Thomas Jenkins to Black Jack Estates LLC
City Cemetery Society Sulphur Springs to James M Morgan; tract in the Sunset South Block survey
City Cemetery Society Sulphur Springs to James M Morgan ; tract in the Sunset South Block survey
Martin Luis Dominguez Chairez and Melina Maritza Gutierrez Gomez to Maria Del Rosario Gutierrez; tract in the Antonio Lazarine survey
Wesley Michael Lyday to Daniel Parker; tract in the Urbane Alexander survey
Maria Rosa Martinez Saldivar to Lorett Koepke; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
Leslie Metten and Todd Metten to Kelly Pope and Ryan Pope; tract in the Neil Ard survey
Adrien Borel to Jane Keese and Larry Alwyn Keese; tract in the Nacogdoches Univ survey
Def INC to Fatmir Cosic and Indira Cosic; tract M A Bowlin
Kourtney Fox and Kyle Fox to Jennifer Lee Helal and Sameh Helal; tract in the John Binion survey
Anna Carpenter and Layton Carpenter to Nady Chantal Gomez and Prisma De Santiago; tract M A Bowlin
Betty Lindsey to Jase Franklin Kirkpatrick; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
Marion Hughes JR and Mitzi Gail Hughes to Shannah Aulsbrook and Stanley Aulsbrook; tract M A Bowlin
Ann Hubbard and Ronald A Hubbard to Kyle Ricard Hubbard; tract in the J W Hatchell survey
Ann Hubbard and Ronald A Hubbard to Bree Ann Young; tract in the J W Hatchell survey
Ann Hubbard and Ronald A Hubbard to Mitchell Alan Hubbard Special Needs Trust; tract in the j W Hatchell survey
My Portfolio LLC to Hammbone Real Estate and Cattle Company; tract in the G C Roberts survey
Virginia Rice Carothers 2000 trust to JTE Energy LLC
Barbara A Bradley to Brook Lake Properties LLC; tract in the Francis Wilson survey
Christina L Price and Joseph W Price to Thomas Mckay and Kimberly L Price; tract in the W M Lewis survey
Jason P Lacomfora and Jennifer Jill Lacomfora to Johnny P Moseley; tract in the E Melton survey
David Amerson, Roger Bennett Amerson, Roger G Amerson and Shirley Amerson to Auctus Holdings LLC; tract in the J G Procello survey
High Point Estates, James L Master IV Estates, Nina Monique Masters, Nina Monique Masters IND EXEC and Mike Moore to Kevin Keene and Paula Keene; tract in the Santos Coy survey
Kevin R Gibbs and Stacy Gibbs to Jimmy F Foley JR; tract in the J A C McFall survey
Cleveland Williams to Carla June Gremillion, Cathy Diana Jarnagin, Carol Ann Lester and Cleve Edgar Williams; tract M A Bowlin survey
Connie Watson to Jamie Hornbuckle; tract in the M Y’Barbo survey
GLENNA D Bulloch Living Trust, Kaylyn Moss Co Trustee, Sherrie B Prisbrey Co Trustee to DK Moss Holdings LLC; tract in the S Norris survey
Antony Champagne and Petunia Golden LLC to Jeremy Buck Martin and Stephanie Cheree Martin; tract in the Jose Zunega survey
Brent Chaney to D’Anne Chaney; tract in the Santos Coy survey
W D Vallaster to Cynthia F Coffey
Betty Hunt and Daniel Hunt to Shawn Mosley and Joanne Yarley; tract in the Williams Cannon survey
Alyssa Spradling and Shaun Spradling to Cecilia Olivarez Toenniges and Craig Arthur Toenniges; tract in the Santos Coy survey
Debra Mclane and Tracy Mclane to Philip Clayton Weatherly and Sarah Elizabeth Weatherly; tract in the Huan Palvadore
Alfredo Estrada Lopez to Tina Gilliam Mcintire; tract M A Bowlin survey
Brian Showalter and Laura Showalter to John Showalter; tract in the Juan Palvadore survey
Gary Wayne Claborn and Alfred Lee Jacobs JR to Jay Price and Susannah Price; tract in the John Turner survey
Tiffany Marrs and Travis D Marrs to Breck Michael Barrett and Shalyndrea Rose Barrett; tract in the J G Procello survey
Betty Alene Ray to Kristi M Blair, Kim L Henson and Robert Kyle Ray; tract in the W B Payne survey
Dugan Morris, keegan Morris, Aspen K Randolph, Holli Ann Randolph, Steven Randolph Parent And Guardian Of and Wolfe Kendricks Randolph to Justin Jay Jones and Jennifer Nicole Skeen; tract in the Thomas Lee survey
Dugan Morris, keegan Morris, Aspen K Randolph, Holli Ann Randolph, Steven Randolph Parent And Guardian Of and Wolfe Kendricks Randolph to Justan Jerald Schweitzer; tract in the Thomas Lee survey
Larry C Blount to Lawanda Knight Kent; tract in the Agaton Caro survey
Demetria Grissom and Bonny Hodges to Jonathan D Turner; tract in the Daniel Halbrooks survey
Ashley Lober McKeever and Jacob Aaron McKeever to Deborah A McKeever and James R McKeever; tract in the Helena Nelson survey
Deborah A McKeever and James R McKeever to Ashley Lober McKeever and Jacob Aaron McKeever; tract in the Helena Nelson survey
Miguel A Trejo Hamez and Ana Karina Trejo to Silvia Trejo Gamez and Jose Juan Arellano Soria; tract in the John Polk survey
Marilyn Bishop, Marilyn Bishop IND Admin, Leah Francis, Russell Francis and Harold Eugene Haden Estate to Marilyn Bishop; tract in the Robert Lee Survey
Maria J Estrada to Aurora Estrada; tract in the J C Procello survey
Michelle R Jolly and Tommy D Jolly to Connie Huffstutler and Raymond Huffstutler; tract in the Daniel Fuller survey
Patsy L Christian to Travis Dee Bechtol; tract in the Jacob Webb survey
Sulphur Springs Container Property LLC to Crawford Land Investments LLC; tract in the B N Hampton survey
Laverne Crump and Rhonda Harry to Dustin Brent Harry; tract in the Nacogdoches Univ survey
Laverne Crump to Rhonda Harry; tract in the Nacogdoches Univ survey
Maria Ocha and Salvador Ochoa to Yesenia Ochoa; tract in the Amos Hall survey
Jessica Davis and Michael Davis to George Todd Hatfield and lori Mae Hatfield; tract in the B F Burkham survey
Caney Creek Investment Group LLC, Rowdy Crowson and Shawn Massey to Amanda Chaney and Joey Martin; tract in the Ruthy Matthews survey
Casey Ross and Patsy Ross to Brian Monk and Saundea Monk; tract in the Sarah Norris survey
Carol L Susat to Carol L Susat Trustee and The Carol L Susat Living Trust; tract in the R H Scott survey
Amanda Munoz, Edward Munoz and Shawn Answer Shaikh to Wesley Gutierrez
Terri Swanson to Cheslsea Nicole Crutsinger; tract in the Issac Burson survey
Terri Swanson to Crystal Leeanne Knotts; tract in the William Frampton survey
Aanshi Lodging LLC to Kara Hospitality LLC; tract in the Elizabeth Melton survey
Emile Gebel and Tiffany Sims Gebel to Gaab LLC; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
Lou Ann Sanders and Horace Eugene Walker to Area Wide Investments LLC
Santos Alfredo Cruz to William Johnathon Cory Cody and Ashleah Rose Funk-Clark; tract in the BLK 1 Woodcreek survey
Stephen King to Kenneth James Morgan; tract M A Bowlin survey
Marriage License Application
Jayden Lance Wallace and Lauren Danelle Jennings
Hunter Joseph Powell and Madison Mckensie Duncan
Judson Andrew Gregory II and Stacy Allene Gregory
Brandon Wayne Pehl and Chasity Jetalin Bosarge
Jeremy David Bennett and Ashley Lynn Smith
Hunt County Shooting Accident
April 5, 2023- Hunt County Dispatch received a call about a disturbance at a home on a private road in Quinlan. Deputies quickly responded to the scene and discovered that a man had accidently shot himself in the leg.
The same man also allegedly fired a weapon into the air. He was apparently frustrated that the party host had just announced the end of the celebration.
Currently the identity of the victim is unknown. The victim also allegedly threatened others at the party. He was taken by friends to the hospital and the incident remains under investigation.
