Dinner Bell for December 25, 2024
DINNER BELL, First United Methodist Church
The Angel of the Lord told the Shepherds living in the fields, “I am bringing you news of great joy for all the people. Un to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. From Luke 2: 10-11.
This Christmas message has been repeated for over two thousand years. May it bring joy, peace, and comfort to you and your families.
Merry Christmas from The Dinner Bell at the First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs, Texas. There will be no meal service on December25, 2024.
See you on January 8, 2025!
MENU:
We plan to continue inside dining every Wednesday with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christ mas and New Years Day.
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 !!!
Governor Abbott Announces Over $500 Million In Public Safety Grants
December 18, 2024 – Austin, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that his Public Safety Office (PSO) will administer over $500 million in grant funding for a variety of public safety programs and services in Texas, including victims services, anti-human trafficking efforts, border security, and law enforcement support. This grant funding is made possible through a combination of federal and state dollars.
“Ensuring the safety and security of Texans is our top priority in Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “These public safety grants will provide critical funding to strengthen Texas agencies and organizations as they work to secure the border, prevent human trafficking, ensure justice for victims, and protect Texans from dangerous criminals and violence. With this $500 million in grant funding, we will continue to build a safer Texas for all.”
The grants recently released include, but are not limited to, funding for the following:
- Body-Worn Camera: 98 awards totaling $4.6 million to equip peace officers with body-worn camera systems to document investigative activities.
- Border Fire Zone: 22 awards totaling $3.1 million to assist professional fire departments in the border region with the acquisition of specialized equipment and medical supplies to support emergency services associated with the execution of activities that deter crime in the border region.
- Bullet Resistant Shields: 100 awards totaling $4.9 million to equip peace officers with bullet resistant shields.
- Bullet Resistant Vests: 113 awards totaling $1.8 million to provide peace officers with rifle-resistant body armor to prevent loss of life during tactical and emergency response operations.
- Crime Stoppers Assistance: 33 awards totaling $364,000 to strategically support, expand, and fund local certified Texas Crime Stoppers organizations that help protect Texas communities.
- District Attorney Forensic Evidence Testing: Five awards totaling $519,000 to reimburse district attorney offices for costs associated with the forensic analysis of physical evidence.
- Homeland Security: 316 awards totaling $56.5 million to help prevent terrorism and prepare for the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to the security of Texas and its citizens. These projects fund equipment, planning, training, exercises, and other activities for local, regional, and state-level agencies and strengthen core capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Goal.
- Human Trafficking: 46 awards totaling $24.8 million for short- and long-term residential services, advocacy, and case management for survivors of human trafficking in Texas, as well as innovative projects that prevent, investigate, and prosecute the commercial sexual exploitation of people in Texas.
- Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforces: Three awards totaling $900,000 for projects that develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children that encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education.
- Justice Assistance: 231 awards totaling $15.3 million to promote public safety, reduce crime, and improve the criminal justice system. The projects funded support personnel, equipment, supplies, training, technical assistance, and information systems for criminal justice purposes.
- Juvenile Justice and Truancy Prevention: 111 awards totaling $8 million to prevent violence in and around schools and to improve the juvenile justice system by providing mental health services, truancy prevention, and intervention through community-based and school programs.
- Local Border Security (Border Star): 74 awards totaling $5.5 million to provide for overtime and operating costs that support an increased law enforcement presence to detect, deter, and disrupt drug, human, and other trafficking along the Texas-Mexico border.
- Non-Profit Security Enhancement: 224 awards totaling $30.4 million for projects that support physical security enhancements and other security activities to nonprofit organizations, including synagogues, churches, and other religious organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack based on the nonprofit organization’s ideology, beliefs, or mission.
- Operation Lone Star: 87 awards totaling $55.7 million for projects that enhance interagency border security operations supporting Operation Lone Star including facilitation of directed actions to deter and interdict criminal activity.
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement: Five awards totaling $1.7 million for projects that improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science or medical examiners services, as well as projects seeking to address emerging forensic science. Specific funding has been reserved for projects that support responses to the opioid epidemic.
- Project Safe Neighborhoods: 22 awards totaling $1.2 million for projects designed to create and foster safer neighborhoods through a sustained reduction in violent crime, including, but not limited to, addressing criminal gangs and felonious possession and use of firearms.
- Residential Substance Abuse Treatment: Six awards totaling $3.1 million for projects that provide residential substance abuse treatment within local correctional and detention facilities.
- SAFE Ready Facilities: 41 awards totaling $4.4 million to assist medical care facilities throughout Texas with necessary training, equipment, and supplies to achieve and maintain Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE)-Ready designation as defined in Chapter 323 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
- Serving Victims of Crime and Addressing Violence Against Women: 509 awards totaling $194.9 million to provide services directly to victims of crime to speed their recovery and aid them through the criminal justice process, as well as projects that promote a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to improve the justice system’s response to violent crimes against women.
- Sexual Assault Evidence Testing: Two awards totaling $456,000 to reimburse local law enforcement agencies for costs associated with the forensic analysis of physical evidence in relation to sexual assault or other sex offenses.
- Specialty Courts: 80 awards totaling $12.2 million to support judicially supervised treatment, intensive case management, and other services to assist participants with substance abuse or mental health challenges move toward a healthier lifestyle, reduce the number of repeat offenses, and address congestion in the court system.
- State Crisis Intervention Program: 50 awards totaling $13.3 million to support the prevention, intervention, and reduction of crime and violence and provide essential services to at-risk populations within Texas communities.
- State Cybersecurity Program: 125 awards totaling $8.1 million to address imminent cybersecurity threats to local information systems including implementing investments that support local governments with managing and reducing systemic cyber risk.
- Statewide Emergency Radio Infrastructure: 16 awards totaling $23.1 million to support state and regional efforts to improve or sustain interoperable emergency radio infrastructure.
- Texas Anti-Gang Centers: 9 awards totaling $30.2 million for projects that support regional, multidisciplinary approaches to combat gang violence through the coordination of gang prevention, intervention, and suppression activities.
The Governor’s Public Safety Office administers numerous state and federal grant programs in coordination with state-level and regional partner agencies, including the 24 regional Councils of Governments in Texas and the Urban Area Working Groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Entities interested in seeking funds to support their public safety initiatives during the next grant cycle (FY 2026) should reach out to their local COG to learn about region specific timelines and requirements.
“International Migrants Day” Being Pushed Throughout Mexico on Television and Social Media.
The U.S. Border Patrol is warning migrants the border remains closed to illegal entries.
December 19, 2024 – EAGLE PASS—Two illegal aliens told Texas National Guard soldiers that the reported “International Migrants Day” crossing rumors were being pushed all throughout Mexico via television and social media. When questioned by Texas National Guardsmen about their age, they said that they were 30 years old and 27 years old, respectively. They were part of a 1,000-person caravan that splintered into various smaller groups to reach the border.
The foreign nationals also said that the “International Migrants Day” crossing period actually spans more than one day. For example, one timeline they gave was that it will run between December 18th and 24th.
A Texas National Guard soldier reported that the illegal aliens believed that they would not be apprehended by Mexican immigration authorities or the US Border Patrol.
The Texas National Guardsmen turned the two men away and Texas Scorecard last saw them walking up the riverside looking for an opening in the fencing.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Moves to Stop Biden Administration from Auctioning Off Border Wall Sections for Pennies on the Dollar
December 18, 2024 – Attorney General Ken Paxton took action following reports that the Biden Administration is illegally selling segments of the border wall at the United States-Mexico border.
Recent reports suggested the Biden Administration may be auctioning off up to half a mile per day of border wall sections for a mere fraction of the original purchase cost. In some cases, the government is allegedly listing entire wall panel sections for sale at a starting bid of just $5.
In May 2024, Attorney General Paxton secured a final victory to force the Biden Administration to spend statutorily obligated funds on border wall construction after the federal government attempted to illegally redirect the money. If the sections of the wall that are being sold were purchased with the funds that must be used to secure the border, then the Biden Administration would be in violation of the federal court order. President-Elect Donald Trump has called for the outgoing government to immediately halt the sale of any materials. Attorney General Paxton has now filed a motion with the court to intervene and prevent any sections of the wall from being sold illegally.
“The Biden Administration cannot auction off sections of the border wall. If these reports are true, the Biden Administration is violating a federal court order,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Texas is going to court to prevent any border security materials from being unlawfully sold and to find out the truth about what the federal government may be doing to subvert border wall construction. President Trump has an overwhelming mandate from the American people to build the wall and I will do everything in my power to prevent any acts of sabotage by the outgoing administration.”
Sulphur Springs Emergency Sirens Will Be Tested December 18
December 18, 2024 – 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.
The Senior Citizens Activity Center Golden Agers Tree Still has six Names on it!
December 18, 2024 – Dawna Pryor with the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Activity Center reached out to KSST and asked us to put the word out that the Golden Agers Tree, as of December 17, 2024, still had six names on it. If you can, please help out this worthy cause and make sure none of our loving Senior Citizens go without presents this Christmas season! These Seniors are someone’s Grandparents, someone’s parents, someone’s Aunts and Uncles… Show them that they ARE important and that people care for them this Christmas. This is sure to put you on Santa’s Nice list if your not there already!
Sulphur Springs Trash Pickup Schedule for the Holidays
December 17, 2024 – Office of the Sulphur Springs,, Texas, Registered Municipal Clerk reached out to KSST with the following information.
Trash will be delayed on December 26, 2024 and December 27, 2024, as well as January 2, 2025 and January 3, 2025. If your normal day is Thursday, it will pick up on Friday, and Friday pick up will be on Saturday for both weeks.
Stay tuned for any further updates. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Mr. Christmas Recalls Wireless Decorative Tree Light Controllers Due to Fire Hazard
December 17, 2024 – This recall involves a decorative tree light controller that operates wirelessly to turn on holiday lights on a tree. The decorative controller contains two parts: a lever or a switch that can be pulled to turn the holiday lights on or off, and a separate white receiver that plugs into an outlet and into which the tree’s holiday lights are plugged.
The controller sold at Walmart and Cracker Barrel is shaped like a green, red and white peppermint candy with a candy cane on/off lever, and displays the words “Christmas Light Controller”. The controller sold at Target is sold under the Wondershop™ brand and is shaped like a square on/off switch box with green, red and white balls, and displays the words “Tree Lighting Switch”.
The white wireless receptacle that is plugged into an outlet contains the words “Mr. Christmas” and one of these three model numbers printed on the white receptacle: 39611, 39612 or 39630.
Consumers should immediately stop using this product and return it to their place of purchase to receive a full refund.
The firm has received 10 reports of overheating, including one report of a fire. No injuries have been reported.
These items sold at Walmart, Target and Cracker Barrel stores nationwide and online at Walmart.com, Target.com and CrackerBarrel.com from July 2024 through November 2024 for between $25 and $40.
You can find out more details by clicking here.
TPWD Closing Oyster Harvest Area in Lavaca Bay
December 17, 2024 – AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is closing TX-19 in Lavaca Bay to commercial and recreational oyster harvest beginning 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17. This closure is based on samples recently collected by TPWD showing a low abundance of legal-sized oysters.
TPWD has worked with the oyster industry to develop criteria for closing areas to harvest. The criteria include parameters for oysters when they fall below certain thresholds based on the abundance of oysters three inches or greater.
TPWD will continue to monitor all areas currently closed to harvest and will reopen them when they meet criteria thresholds.
A map showing oyster harvesting areas, as well as the most up-to-date status information on each area, can be found on the Texas Department of State Health Services website.
Pastor Pete sat Down With John Mark Dempsey to Chat About FUMC’s Christmas Plans
On this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Rev. Peter McNabb from Sulphur Springs, Texas, First United Methodist Church. The two talked about a number of topics such as the history of First United Methodist Church, Christmas and the Christmas season and the true meaning of Christmas, First United Methodist Church’s plans for Christmas, Blue Christmas event on December 18th for those who are feeling down and blue, and so much more. Watch this exciting episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee and learn what the First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs has in store for the community this Christmas season.
