CEA Mario Villarino had a Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey to Chat About Honey Bees
On this interesting episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Texas A&M AgriLife Hopkins County Extension Agent Mario Villarino. The topic of their conversation was honey bees. They chatted about how they swarm, the problems a hive can produce if a swarm moves into your home, what you can do if you find a swarm on your home, how important honey bees are, and so much more. Be sure to give this segment a viewing and see what you learn about honey bees!
Learn What Your Library has Planned for Summer 2025 on This Second Cup Of Coffee
On this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, Hope Cain, Sulphur Springs Public Library Director, dropped by to share with John Mark what the library has in store for the Summer. The two chatted about the Summer Reading Program which kicks off June 5th at 5pm with an event that includes a petting zoo. John Mark and Hope also talked about the next legal advise clinic Lone Star Legal Aid offers at the Sulphur Springs Public Library July 21st. Hope Cain shared that Storytime with the kids will be held Tuesdays, beginning at 10am, in June and July this Summer. The two went into detail on these and other exciting activities planned for the Sulphur Springs Public Library this Summer. Be sure to check it out!
Sulphur Springs High School Choir won Many Honors at the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest
May 29, 2025 – The Sulphur Springs High School Choir won many honors at the Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest in Austin over Memorial Day weekend.
Earning “Superior” (Division 1) ratings, the highest possible recognition were Nathan Bilyeu, Juan Hernandez, and Celeste McCoy
Earning “Excellent” (Division 2) ratings for their outstanding solo performances were Tabitha Cumming, Sara Ferguson, Caitlin Foster, Elizabeth Friddle, Kaisy Garcia Hidalgo, Stella Huddleston, Mallory Peel, Hitomi Simmons, Karisma Stegient, Logan Stegient, and Bailee Wilkerson.
Sulphur Springs Ladycats Softball Team Has Earned Numerous Post-Season District Honors
May 29, 2025 – The Sulphur Springs Ladycats softball team, which won a regional championship and advanced to the state semi-finals, has earned numerous post-season district honors
Head Coach David Carillo and his staff have been named the Coaching Staff of the Year in District 14-4A.
Named the Most Valuable Player is pitcher Hannah Speed.
The offensive MVP:is Gracie Thompson
The co-defensive MVP: is catcher Bayler Boatman
Named as First Team All-District are infielders Abbey Goldsmith and Emerson Thompson and outfielders Claire Thompson and K.K. Montgomery
Named as Second Team All-District players are Shaelee Friddle
Allison Frazier and Brailie Blevins
Receiving Honorable Mention are Peyton Taylor and Emily Adamson
Named to the Academic All- District team area;-Shaelee Friddle, Presley Smith, Peyton Taylor, Allison Frazier, Hannah Speed, Claire Thompson, Emerson Thompson, Abbey Goldsmith and Mattie Dixon.
Dinner Bell for June 4, 2025
DINNER BELL, First United Methodist Church
SPONSOR: Christus Health
The doors to Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church will open at 11:00 a.m. Meal service begins at 11:30 a.m. and doors will close at 12:45 p.m. Please come join us to share fellowship and a meal.
Coryn Young, Queen, Hopkins County Dairy Festival, and her Court of eight lovely young ladies will greet and serve at the Dinner Bell on Wednesday June 4. All the beautiful contestants will be seniors in schools in Hopkins County during the 2025-2026 year.
It was only fitting that a pageant and queen contest be established in 1959 to honor the industry that “put Hopkins County on the map!” Not only will the contestants be judged on talent, but also beauty and poise, and in interview with the judges. They must also milk a cow (that will not be judged!).
“Udder the Big Top” is the theme of the 2025 two-week celebration with hot air balloons; beginning on June 6, the parade on June 7, and the Coronation Pageant on June 14 in the Civic Center auditorium.
Christus Health is the Community Partner for June 4 for Dinner Bell. This healthcare institution can trace its roots to 1866 and the founding of St. Mary’s Hospital in Galveston. Dinner Bell is privileged to have this wonderful healthcare facility as a Commu nity Partner numerous times yearly dating back to 2017. We plan to continue inside dining every Wednesday with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
MENU:
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Tarragon Brown Sugar Carrots
- Garden Salad
- Buttered French Bread Slices
- Toasted Nut Spice Cake
The Dinner Bell Ministry
First United Methodist Church
Take care of YOURSELF by following safe health practices as flu and COVID are lurking in our midst! Wear masks where required! Wash your hands often! Get inoculated and boosted
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH !!!
Local Railroad Hopeful Senate Bill 2366 Becomes Law
May 28, 2025 – The clock is ticking for Senate Bill 2366 and other hopeful legislation at the State level, as the regular session of the 89th Texas Legislature will come to a close on Friday, June 2nd. SB2366, authored by Texas Senator Bryan Hughes, would establish a grant program for short-line railroads. The North East Texas Connector runs from Greenville to Winfield, dissecting Sulphur Springs and making stops at the new Transload Center near Loop 301. If SB2366 passes, short-line railroads including NETC could apply for grants to cover costs up to 90% of approved projects such as replacing short line railroad tracks or bridges, improving rail capacity, or restoring railway service.
Texas Senate Passes Controversial Bill Defining Gender by Biology
May 28, 2025 – In a late-night session, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 229 on a 20-11 party-line vote, advancing legislation that legally defines “man” and “woman” based strictly on reproductive anatomy. The bill had already cleared the House and now heads to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for final approval.
House Bill 229, dubbed the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” defines a woman as an individual whose reproductive system is developed to produce ova and a man as someone whose reproductive system is developed to fertilize ova. These definitions would be mandated across all Texas state statutes, potentially affecting areas ranging from official identification to access to public facilities.
Authored by Rep. Ellen Troxclair and carried in the Senate by Sen. Mayes Middleton, the bill’s supporters say it aims to protect single-sex spaces—such as bathrooms, locker rooms, and prisons—and ensure fairness in athletic competitions. Proponents argue it prevents abuse by individuals they claim exploit gender identity laws.
“Your birth sex is your birth sex, period,” Middleton said.
However, critics warn the bill could have sweeping negative impacts on transgender and intersex individuals, potentially forcing them to be legally recognized only by the sex assigned at birth, regardless of gender identity or medical transition status. Civil rights groups have vowed to challenge the law if enacted.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Announces Arrest of Two Illegal Aliens in Connection with the Death of a Woman on Lake Grapevine
May 28, 2025 – Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced the arrest of an illegal alien suspected of killing a woman kayaking on Lake Grapevine over the weekend and another illegal alien who helped her flee the scene of the crime.
On Sunday, Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez—an illegal alien from Venezuela—struck and killed an 18-year-old woman, Ava Moore, on Lake Grapevine with a jet ski. The suspect then fled the scene with a male illegal alien, subsequently committing a hit-and-run after striking another vehicle. Attorney General Paxton’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit tracked down and arrested the illegal aliens connected to the crimes, working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Grapevine Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“Ava Moore’s senseless death was caused by an illegal alien who should have never been in our country in the first place. My heart breaks for Ava’s family and friends, and my prayers are with them as they face this tragedy,” said Attorney General Paxton. “My office will continue to work with local, state, and national law enforcement partners to secure justice for Ava.”
Save Your Pennies Now More Than Ever
May 27, 2025 – The U.S. Mint confirmed that it will officially cease production of the penny, marking the end of a coin that has circulated in American commerce for over 160 years. The Mint has placed its final order of penny blanks, signaling the closure of an era for the smallest denomination in U.S. currency.
The name Penny (or Penney) as a surname comes from the Old English word “penig,” referring to a coin, specifically a silver penny. This coin was a significant unit of currency in England for a long time.
The decision comes amid growing financial and technological pressures. “For every penny that the United States government prints, we’re actually losing money,” a Mint official said. It currently costs the federal government nearly two cents to produce a single penny—double its face value—leading to annual losses in the tens of millions. The growing shift toward a cashless economy has also played a key role in the decision, as Americans increasingly rely on credit cards, debit cards, and digital payment platforms, rendering coins like the penny obsolete in daily transactions.
President Donald Trump voiced his support for the move earlier this year, calling the penny “wasteful” on his Truth Social platform. In early May, Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) introduced bipartisan legislation to formally end the coin’s production.
While the penny has long held symbolic value in American culture—featuring the image of President Abraham Lincoln since 1909—its practical use has waned. Businesses and consumers alike have expressed growing indifference to its absence, and rounding policies for cash transactions are already in place in other countries that have phased out their lowest-denomination coins.
The U.S. Mint said existing pennies will remain legal tender indefinitely. However, collectors and history enthusiasts may rush to preserve these final editions, knowing the iconic coin has officially reached its end. The move reflects a broader trend toward modernizing and streamlining America’s monetary system in the digital age.
Accused Jet Ski Hit-And-Run Suspect Arrested; Confirmed as Illegal Alien
May 27, 2025 – Daikerlyn Alejandra Gonzalez Gonzalez has been arrested in connection with the death of Ava Moore, according to a statement released by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Gonzalez, originally from Venezuela, was taken into custody along with a male accomplice who allegedly assisted her in fleeing the scene. Both individuals are reported to be in the United States illegally, as confirmed by Paxton’s office.
18-year-old Ava Moore, a member of the 2029 US Air Force Academy, was hit and killed while kayaking on Grapevine Lake over Memorial Day weekend.
The arrest comes following an investigation into Moore’s death, which has drawn significant attention due to the suspects’ immigration status. Attorney General Paxton emphasized the need for stronger enforcement of immigration laws to prevent similar tragedies, calling the case an example of the dangers posed by unsecured borders and lack of federal oversight.
“This heartbreaking case is another reminder of the consequences of our broken immigration system,” Paxton said in a statement. “Texans deserve to be safe in their communities.”
Authorities have not yet released the full details surrounding Moore’s death, but the case continues to develop. Both Gonzalez and the unnamed male suspect are being held pending further legal proceedings. The Attorney General’s Office has pledged to pursue justice fully in the case and to continue cooperating with local and federal law enforcement to ensure public safety.
