Special Court, Plat, Fire Department Donations, Easement, Bridge Improvements Discussed
A special court, final plat, fire department donations, road easement and bridge improvements were discussed and approved by Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning.
Easement
Jason Lacomfora asked the county to grant an easement for property located on Airline Drive, located just west of Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport. He noted that he’d first contacted city staff about obtaining the easement. He said he was advised while the road is in the city, it’s part of a swap program with the county, so the request would need to be made to the county.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price said he wasn’t knowledgeable about that, so he contacted city officials as well. Unfortunately, Price said, he never got a response back to the query.
“He asked me for permission that he didn’t need any permits to build down there. I agreed he did not,” Price said. “I think he’s got plans for 12 acres which didn’t fall within our plat. So I granted him the right to do what he wanted to do within the law. So I make a motion that we accept that.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley seconded the motion to grant an easement for property located on Airline Drive. The motion receive unanimous approval of the Commissioners Court.
Road/Bridge Improvements
The Commissioners Court put on record four Texas Department of Transportation bridge projects, which will mean one road is a step closer to reopening and 3 other bridges will be replaced, making it easier for residents living on the other side of them to cross them during wet weather.
The county receives credit for other road repairs which are applied toward the county’s funding portion of the project. One bridge to be repaired is on Pipeline Road (South Loop 301) at Town Branch, with cooperation of the city and county. That is a big step toward getting Pipeline Road reopened, Bartley said. The project has been on TxDOT’s bridge plan for several years, and soon will be replaced. Officials are slated to advertise for bids next month, the Precinct 3 Commissioner noted.
“That’s a big step to getting that road reopened. That portion of our city, our area is growing tremendously in our industrial park. There are a lot of workers out there in that area. Should one of them need some hospital assistance, Pipeline Road would be a shortcut to the hospital for not only these workers but anyone on the that side of town,” Bartley said. “There has been several steps already to get that road constructed. We’ve been working with the city. We’ve got their support. “
The commissioner said while Pipeline Road is not one of the roads he as a precinct commissioner is responsible for maintaining, he will do whatever he can to get it open for the good of the citizens in the county.
One other of the roads on the bridge project list also is located within Precinct 3 on a road not traveled as much. Located east of Sulphur Bluff by an oil field, County Road 3545 at Mitchell Creek Tributary also is slated for bridge improvement. That road goes across a dam on a small lake that’s infested with beavers.
“They’re going to replace a cattle guard and put in some kind of drainage structure to help improve drainage,” Bartley said, adding, “So, that’s just how different [TxDOT] projects can be. TxDOT does mark their own bridges for our county roads if they need one that’s a certain size that needs replaced, they put it on their program and they incur the cost so it’s a tremendous help to the county.”
“There is a matching fund that we pay to TxDOT for our support of the drainage issues in our precincts. So that’s how we work very closely with TxDOT,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker noted.
A bridge on County Road 1180 in Birch Creek also is targeted to be replaced. Eight families live past the bridge on CR 1180. When there’s a lot of water runoff from Birch Creek, the road floods and the eight families are unable to leave their homes. Precinct 1 has in the past made preparations to go across this flooded bridge, which is dangerous, to bring people out to the hospital.
“I got involved four years ago, I’ve been working this four years. TxDOT is going to be letting the contract on County Road 1180 across Birch Creek next month. So, this has been a big feather in our hat to get this done over the last 4-5 years,” Barker said.
Commissioner Price said County Road 4767 at North Caney Creek Tributary is a small dead-end road that serves 2 people along the half-mile stretch from the bridge.
“It was already in the books when I came into office. We’ve done a match program on it also, so we are ready to go,” Price said.
Price made a motion, which was seconded by Bartley, to put on record and approved the proposed plans of improvement for SL 301/Pipeline Road at Town Branch, CR 4767 at North Caney Creek Tributary, CR 3545 at Mitchell Creek Tributary and CR 1180 at Birch Creek.
Final Plat
A final plat for Rios Estates was also approved Monday, July 11, 2022, by Hopkins County Commissioners Court. County Clerk Tracy Smith noted this was simply the final version of the preliminary plat the Court approved at a previous court meeting. The request, Smith during the June 27 court session, is for simple plat, sectioning one lot into two lots.
There had initially been some confusion as to the location for the request due to the road numbers listed on the initial proposal, FM 2653 and County Road 4112 were listed, but do not intersect. After getting clarity on that, the court approved the initial preliminary plat for Rios Estates on June 27. Then, on Monday, July 11, 2022, the Commissioners Court gave final approval to the final plat for Rios Estates as presented.
Fire Department Donations
Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley noted that Hopkins County Fire department has received a $1,000 donation from Wood County Electric Coop. He said the check had been delivered to the County Treasurer and requested that it be applied to HCFD’s operations line in the budget to be applied to things like the cost of new fire hoses.
Endsley also noted that HCFD was donating a 20 x 32-foot portable building to Dike Volunteer Fire Department. HCFD has had the building almost since the department’s inception 20 years ago. When HCFD moved from Weaver Drive to the current intermodal facility on Texas Street, the building was moved as well. HCFD has now outgrown the portable building.
“We are needing to go up in size because we’ve got a few things that are coming in our way through grants that we have to house in a bigger location behind the fire station, so that building was taken down by sheriff’s office by the trustees, David Ray and Bobby Woodward. We are very appreciative of it,” Marshal Endsley said.
Dike VFD, however, is hoping to purchase an engine in the near future and will need a facility to house it. Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley put down a pad for Dike VFD at no cost to Dike VFD, then the trustees were utilized in Dike to put the building up on the new pad.
“We’re going to donate that over to the Dike Fire Department with the stipulation that if they ever do decide to move on in a different direction or add on to the building, that building will be used at another department for a substation or whatever they might need it for,” Endsley said.
County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook noted the building will be removed from the HCFD inventory and insurance, which will mean Dike will need to insure it if the structure is to be insured moving forward.
“This is going to be a benefit to the community because Engie, the solar farm company, agreed to donate $30,000 to the fire department for the purchase a fire apparatus and this will be a structure to protect that vehicle. Once that’s in place — and I don’t know all the process — then we can apply for a different ISO rating, to get it lowered and will be able to lower insurance rates for everyone’s personal buildings in that area. It’s going to be a benefit to everybody out there and we’re going to have extra protection out there in the county,” Commissioner Bartley noted.
County Judge Robert Newsom noted that county officials have worked with fire departments to help several areas lower ISO ratings, which typically means lower insurance rates for everyone within a 5 mile driving radius.
With the exception of Sulphur Bluff VFD which is still rebuilding from the fire which destroyed the department’s station and most apparatus, Dike is the last VFD in the county that does not have a fire engine. Once the department gets one and outfits it for service, they can request state insurance representatives grade the district. Paperwork to start that process has already been started. Being graded with an engine should improve homeowners and property insurance costs for all within 5 road miles of Dike fire station, according to Endsley.
Special Court
Hopkins County Commissioners Court also was asked to approve a resolution for a special court, which would begin operations on Jan. 2, 2023. In accordance with Chapter 121 of Texas Government Code, the special court is being established as a special drug court, at the request of the District Attorney’s Office.
Essentially, this would provide first time controlled substance and alcohol offenders a chance to turn their lives around, Newsom explained. Basically, it would be an intervention step to try to reduce recidivism, to try to offer help for those who accused of crimes involving controlled substances, before they become deeply addicted to the illegal substances and end up with multiple arrests on their record, the county judge explained.
The drug court is a program several other court systems across the state already have in place. The program would be headed by Jody Cox with the District Attorney’s Office, according to Newsom.
Sulphur Springs Man Jailed On Felony DWI Charge
A 36-year-old Sulphur Springs man was jailed early Sunday morning on a felony DWI charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Cpl. Silas Whaley responded in the 100 block of East Shannon Road to a report of a suspected drunk driver at 1:54 a.m. Sunday, June 10, 2022. The officer was given a vehicle license plate number and told the person in question appeared to have passed out in the driver’s seat, behind the wheel of a truck.
Upon arrival at the fast food restaurant, Whaley located the silver Chevrolet Silverado in question and contacted the man in the driver’s seat. The officer in arrest reports said he detected an alcoholic beverage odor emitting from the 36-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s breath. Joshua Cruz also had bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech, leading the officer to believe the man likely was intoxicated, according to arrest reports.
Cruz reportedly agreed to perform standard field sobriety tests. Upon completion of the tests, Whaley determined Cruz had operated the truck in a public place while intoxicated. As a result, Cruz was taken into custody at 2:06 a.m. July 10, 2022, and transported to jail. When the Sulphur Springs man agreed to a blood specimen for testing, the blood sample was drawn for analysis at the hospital emergency room.
Cruz was returned to jail, where he was booked in at 3:34 a.m. July 10, 2022, for third or more driving while intoxicated charge. He was released later Sunday, July 10, on a $10,000 bond on the felony DWI charge, according to jail reports.
Jail records show Cruz has twice before been booked into Hopkins County jail on DWI charges, on June 7, 2018, and again on March 2, 2019.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
PCP Found During Traffic Stop
Woman Jailed On Controlled Substance Warrant
An out-of-state pair was jailed after PCP was founding in their possession during a routine traffic stop early Monday morning. A Sulphur Springs woman was arrested Saturday on a controlled substance warrant, according to arrest reports.
PCP Arrests
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Drew Fisher reported stopping John Davis Fowler at 1:43 a.m. July 11, 2022, on the south Interstate service road at FM 275 for failure to drive a Cadillac ATS in a single lane. Upon contact, Fisher noted the 41-year-old Hugo, Oklahoma man who’d been driving appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance. Fowler had slurred speech and appeared confused, Fisher reported.
Fisher and Sgt. Tanner Steward continued investigating, conducting standard field sobriety tests and detaining Fowler. Deputies later located a small vial that contained what was believed to be PCP liquid on the ground beside Fowler, Fisher alleged in arrest reports.
Fowler reportedly gave deputies permission to search the car. They found a vial containing suspected PCP in the seat of passenger, 42-year-old Shawn Antwan Lewis of Bakersfield, California, according to arrest reports.
Fowler and Lewis were taken into custody at 2:06 a.m. July 11, 2022, and transported to jail, where each was booked in for just before 4 a.m. July 11, 2022, for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, the suspected PCP.
Deputies were unable to weigh the liquid alone, so the final weight of the suspected PCP will be determined during lab analysis, Fisher noted in arrest reports.
Both men remained in Hopkins County jail later Monday, July 11, 2022.
Warrant Arrest
HCSO Deputy Isaac Foley reported seeing Linda Ann Miears, a woman he knew had outstanding warrants, at 9:40 p.m. Saturday, July 9, 2022, operating a Hyundai SUV on Gilmer Street. So, he initiated at traffic stop in the 800 block of Gilmer Street.
Foley reported taking the 57-year-old Sulphur Springs woman into custody and transported her to Hopkins County jail. Miears was booked in on possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair warrants. The offenses, Foley alleged in arrest reports, occurred on May 27, 2022, on Connally Street at Garrison Street.
Miears — who jail records show is also known by Linda Burrows Miears, Linda Ann Miears Burrows, Linda Ann Burrows Miears and Linda Ann Ann Miers — remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, July 11, 2022. Her bonds totaled $30,000 — $15,000 per charge.
Sgt. Tanner Steward was credited with assisting with the arrest.
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.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report —July 3-10, 2022
Winnsboro Police Department each week provides a media report with information about department activity. WPD activity for the week of July 3-10, 2022, included:
Arrests
- Ed Lugo, 38 years of age, of Tulsa, OK., was arrested on July 3, 2022, on Possession of less than 2 ounces of Marijuana, Possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1/1-B Controlled Substance, and Possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 Controlled Substance charges.
- Dustin Cook, 38 years of age, of Quinlan, was arrested on July 4, 2022, on Van Zandt County warrants for Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon, Unlawful Restraint Exposed-Serious bodily injury, and Assault of a Family or Household Member that Impeded Breath, and a Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole warrant.
- Jeffery Merchant,35 years of age, of Terrell, was arrested on July 4, 2022, on a Wood County Warrant for Release of Surety Bond – Interfere with Public Duties.
- Juan Castillo, 24 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on July 4, 2022, on 6 Class C Winnsboro Municipal Court warrants.
- Miranda Collins, 36 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on July 7, 2022, on Criminal Trespass and Evading Arrest charges.
- Remington Hanes, 31 years of age, of Scroggins, was arrested on July 10, 2022, driving while license invalid with previous convictions.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 137 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 25 citations and 26 warnings during this reporting period.
Reinvestment Zones Established For D6 Inc. Extension, 1 Potential New Business
The establishment of reinvestment zones by Sulphur Springs City Council advanced two businesses one step closer to construction in Sulphur Springs. Ashoka Steel Mill is considering two locations on which to locate a new branch of the business, and Sulphur Springs is one of the two. D6 Inc. LLC plans to expand its current location, then in stages relocate its corporate headquarters from Portland to Sulphur Springs.
Establishing reinvestment zones does not commit the city to any tax incentives, but does allow certain taxing entities to consider granting tax incentives for businesses located within them.
Ashoka Steel Mills
The City Council first considered on second and final reading Ordinance No. 2805, creating a reinvestment zone for Ashoka Steel Mills, a business the Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation has been recruiting for development in Hopkins County.
Ashoka Steel Mills anticipates asking for incentives from Hopkins County, the City of Sulphur Springs, Sulphur Springs ISD and Hopkins County Hospital District as well, which Ashoka indicated would be determining factors in whether or not the business will open a sizeable facility in Sulphur Springs — which could be among two of the company’s first manufacturing facility in the US. Tulsa, Oklahoma is also in the running to for a new Ashoka facility.
Ashoka has already submitted an application to SSISD asking for an agreement for a tax incentive. SSISD’s attorneys have reviewed the documents and submitted them to the Texas Comptroller’s office. If approved by the Comptroller, then SSISD could consider approving the application from Ashoka Steel Mills LLC. for appraised value limitation on qualified property .
The City of Sulphur Springs was asked to consider approving Ordinance No. 2805, establishing the reinvestment zone, required for Ashoka to apply to Hopkins County Hospital District for a tax abatement.
The company is looking to make a $265 million investment, which would create over 300 jobs, would be a boost to the local economy, the school board was told April 11, 2022. Talent would be mostly local, with a few experts in from Italy and Germany to help during the construction period and potentially with training of technicians and engineers.
The Ashoka Steel Mill would be located in the center of the City of Sulphur Springs’ property which previously housed a coal mine. It would initially occupy about 250 acres, with a 150 acre expansion later, out of the total 4,857-acre former Thermo/Luminant mine property, officials were told Monday.
The proposed electric arc furnace steel mill would produce 350,000 tons of rebar annually. The facility, according to documentation in the application, would use an electric arc to heat metals instead of a blast furnace. The mill estimates 402,500 tons of scrap metal from local areas would be used to produce the rebar; the steel recycling, according to the application, would reduce carbon emissions. The scrap metal would be brought in mainly by rail, amounting to an estimated 8,000 railcars a year, and about 40 trucks.
The appraised value limitation requested for Ashoka Steel Mill LLC would limit the amount of property value considered when the business’ SSISD maintenance and operations taxes are figured for 10 years. The minimum required qualified investment for project for SSISD to consider the application is $30 million. That’s the amount of appraised value limitation for which Ashoka Steel is applying, according to the applications received by SSISD and submitted to Texas Comptroller’s Office for consideration for Chapter 313 agreement.
Sulphur Springs City Council during the regular meeting on July 5, 2022, agreed on second and final hearing to establish a reinvestment zone for a period of 5 years, renewable for an additional 5 years.
D6 Inc., LLC
Sulphur Springs City Council also on July 5, 2022, approved on first reading Ordinance No. 2806, a reinvestment zone for D6 Inc., LLC, an advanced design-to-shelf packaging manufacturer, using recycled plastics.
The business began operations at the end of 2020 after purchasing the property known locally as the old Coca-Cola plant, after being granted a Chapter 380 economic development agreement from the City of Sulphur Springs, an agreement with Hopkins County and a tax abatement from Hopkins County Hospital District. The business had projected adding 25 jobs to the local economy but, thus far, has added over 70 jobs.
Now, the business is not only planning two further expansions, but will be relocating it’s corporate headquarters from Portland, Oregon to Sulphur Springs, Texas. In October of 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a $1,432,200 Texas Enterprise Fund grant and a $6,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus for D6 to help move its corporate headquarters from Portland, Oregon to Sulphur Springs, Texas.
When the pandemic began, D6 Inc. shifted to making face shields and masks. The latest project will expand the business’ manufacturing presence in the state, building the first fully closed-loop recycling site for single-use PET clamshells in Sulphur Springs.
Overall, the business is expected to expand the current operation by 300,000-square feet, with a 180,000-square-foot building to be constructed as soon as the business can get everything in line and another 120,000-square-foot building expansion in three years. The new buildings will be located on the Saputo (old We Pack) property just across from the current facility, on the 10 acres the EDC has near the railroad tracks, EDC officials reported in 2021.
D6 Inc. uses materials shredded at an LA plant and shipped in carloads along the railroad to be offloaded to make aluminum pans that can be thrown away after use, pie pans, Danish trays. They also make the clear plastic containers and packaging in which cut fruit and vegetables are packaged in for sale at Walmart. In addition to recycled aluminum and plastic, the business also uses recycles plastic bottle tops to make plastic pallets.
The business is approaching the relocation and expansion in three phases. D6 Inc. plans to build expand the current facility by 66,000 square feet, because the business has already outgrown the Coca-Cola facility.
SS-HC EDC Executive Director Roger Feagley told Hopkins County Commissioners Court on June 10, 2022, when presenting for consideration a 381 agreement for the 66,000-square foot expansion.
“They’re going to add the 66,000, which basically completely fills that lot up with buildings. With this building there, that completely fills that lot. This agreement most likely won’t see it to the end, because by the time they finish the 300,000 square foot building, it’s their intention right now to sell what they’ve got now. We’re trying to get them moving because they’re just falling over each other,” Feagley said at a previous meeting.
D6 Inc. plans to tackle the 300,000 square foot expansion in increments of about 100,000 square feet at a time. Engineers are currently working on plans for the 300,000 square foot building, but the agreements approved in the last 6 months are for the 66,000 square foot expansion.
From a Nurse Aide Class at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Campus
PRACTICING
Students in the nurse aide class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus are practicing clinical skills in lab exercises. Above Jadyn Carter, left, works on the hands of fellow student Emma Doolittle.
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.
Freda Mae’s Bridge Day at Northeast Texas Children’s Museum Approaches
100 Maple Street, Commerce, Texas 75428 . Telephone: (903) 886-6055
P R E S S R E L E A S E
F O R I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
Freda Mae’s Bridge Day
at Northeast Texas Children’s Museum
.
(July 7, 2022 Commerce, Texas) One of the most anticipated adult activities at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is Freda Mae’s Bridge Day to be held on Monday, August 22 at 1:30. The Bridge Day named for Freda Mae is a way for family and friends to honor her memory. It is also a day for friends to enjoy Bridge, dessert, and prizes. ” We have watched friendship grow each year around the Bridge table,” said Nancy McFarland, co-chair of the event. “We enjoy seeing returning friends and welcoming new participants each year.”
As a part of Freda Mae’s Bridge Day, Bridge lessons will be taught at the Children’s Museum. Beginner Bridge Lessons will begin on July 19 at 1:30. These lessons will begin with the counting points, etc. for those who have not played before. Intermediate Bridge Lessons will begin on August 2 at 1:30. These lessons will give intermediate players who may not have played recently a chance to review before Freda Mae’s Bridge Day. Bridge lessons are included in the $25 ticket for Freda Mae’s Bridge Day.
Prizes will be a big part of the event as prizes will be given for High Score, Low Score, Deuce Prize, and random drawings from ticket holders. All attendees will receive party favors and dessert. Attendees may choose their table for the first round. “We hope both new and experienced Bridge players will join us for this event,” said Toni Deaton, co-chair.
Tickets may be purchased by coming to the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum or by calling the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055.
For additional information, contact:
Sharline Freeman, Executive Director
Northeast Texas Children’s Museum
100 Maple Street
Commerce, Texas 75428
Telephone: (903) 886-6055 or (903) 456-4789Email: [email protected]
When Life Gives Lemonade …
Mason and Colton Stillwagoner, sons of Russel and Crystal Stillwagoner, opened a lemonade stand on College Street Saturday to offer those passing by a refreshing treat while earning funds to help pay for things they are interested in. Mason indicated he’s saving any money to apply toward equipment or related costs of baseball, which he plans to start this fall. Colton said although he’s not certain exactly how he’d spend any funds he received, he told his mom he’d like to donate to help someone who is homeless.
Parasite Control Options For Goat Herds
By Dr. Mario Villarino, Texas AgriLife Extension Agent for Natural Resources and Agriculture, Hopkins County, [email protected]
As I started the working week, our hot and dry conditions intensified over the weekend. A “new” small ruminant producer came to the office to visit early about parasite control. He, new to goat ranching, took the initiative to educate himself about parasite control in his new goat herd. After visiting with him for few minutes, he shared the overwhelming different findings related to parasite control in goats on the internet.
According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, internal parasites such as roundworms and coccidia can occur during wet periods. Most flocks have some level of parasitic infection but symptoms from these infections really tend to show up during high rainfall as the amount of parasites build up and cause health issues.
The best control is preventive, but dewormers or anthelmintics can enhance control measures, especially when administered before the parasite’s eggs contaminate the pasture. Dewormers are drugs can be a powerful tool, but for long term-parasite management, dewormers cannot be the only preventative treatment. If using anthelmintic, treat only the animals that need treatment in order to reduce the chance of the parasites building up a resistance to the dewormer.
Producers can also conduct a fecal egg count reduction test to determine if the dewormer is working. This will alert the producer that it’s time to switch classes of dewormers in the event the current dewormer is losing its effectiveness. Using multiple classes of dewormers at the same time should be avoided unless advised by a veterinarian.
It is important to emphasized that grazing management is a huge part of parasite management, noting stocking rate, forage availability and other aspects of grazing management play heavily into avoiding or minimizing internal parasites.
There is also the aspect of genetic selection and looking for animals that are more resistant to these parasites. It is also good management to pay the most attention to those animals that are the most susceptible. Each property must develop its own parasite management plan. and no single program is appropriate for all operations, but plans should include good rotational grazing management, smart drenching and attention to genetic selection.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
90-Day Burn Ban Issued For Hopkins County
No Outdoor Burning — Not Even In Covered Barrel — Allowed At This Time
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning, at the request of Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley, issued a burn ban for Hopkins County. The ban is effective as of today, July 11, 2022, and will remain in effect for 90 days, unless Texas Forest Service or the county judge and fire marshal determine drought conditions no loner exist.
According to Endsley, the index was issued due to the worsening dry conditions in the county, with no potential for significant rainfall in sight in the weather forecast for the foreseeable future. Texas Forest Service recommends establishing a burn ban when drought conditions reach 600 on the Keetch Byram Drought Index.
The KBDI, used to determining forest fire potential, is based on a daily water balance, where a drought factor is balanced with precipitation and soil moisture (assumed to have a maximum storage capacity of 8-inches) and is expressed in hundredths of an inch of soil moisture depletion.
The drought index ranges from 0 to 800, where a drought index of 0 represents no moisture depletion, and an index of 800 represents absolutely dry conditions. Presently, this index is derived from ground based estimates of temperature and precipitation derived from weather stations and interpolated manually by experts at Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) for counties across the state. Researchers at Texas A&M University are working with TAMFS to derive this index from AVHRR satellite data and NEXRAD radar rainfall within a GIS.
The drought index ranges from 0 to 800, where a drought index of 0 represents no moisture depletion, and an index of 800 represents absolutely dry conditions. Presently, the KBDI is derived from ground based estimates of temperature and precipitation derived from weather stations and interpolated manually by experts at Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) for counties across the state. Researchers at Texas A&M University work with TAMFS to derive the KBDI from AVHRR satellite data and NEXRAD radar rainfall within a GIS.
Each 100 represents an inch into the ground without moisture. Hopkins County is averaging in the 600s on the KBDI. As of Monday, July 11, 2022, the county’s overall average was 667, with a minimum rating of 559 in a streak in the lower northeastern part of the county and a maximum of 709 in the central and mid southwestern part of Hopkins County. That’s a 7-point increase, according to the Forest Service KBDI maps and data.
A ranking in the 600-800 range on KBDI is “often associated with more severe drought with increased wildfire occurrence. Intense, deep-burning fires with extreme intensities can be expected. Live
fuels can also be expected to burn actively at these levels,” according tot he KBDI “Real-time drought Assessment System of Texas A&M Forest Service.”
Endsley noted that while some areas in the county did experience scattered rainfall over the weekend, it was not enough to even begin replacing ground moisture nor too reduce fuel levels. He said the area in the last few weeks has reached temperatures high triple digit temperatures, and is predicted to potentially peak at 107-108 with the heat of July and August still to go, temperatures the area has not experienced this early since the 1800s, as far as he’s been able to determine.
Over the past 2 weeks, county firefighters have responded to a number of grass fires, including one that resulted in loss of a structure, farm equipment and other property. That fire is under investigation by the county, aided by the state fire marshal’s office.
The burn ban applies to all unincorporated areas of Hopkins County, and stipulates that “all outdoor burning is prohibited in all areas of the county for 90 days from the date of adoption of the order,” unless the forest service or county judge and fire marshal rules drought conditions no longer exist.
That means no burning, not even in a burn barrel with a cover over it, Endsley noted.
The exceptions to the burning regulation would be would if the burning is related to public health and safety authorized by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, including firefighter training; public utility, natural gas pipeline or mining practices; planting or harvesting of agricultural crops; or burns that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Natural Resources Code 153.048 which meets standard of Natural Resources Code 153.047; and commercial welding projects with plan of action on file.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom noted he typically is resistant to enacting a burn ban, especially if there is a chance of appreciable rain in the forecast, but with no rain forecast, it would be prudent to put one in place to protect citizens and property.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley made a motion to enact a burn ban. Place 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin seconded the motion, which received full approval of the court.
Hopkins County joins 195 Texas counties already under a burn ban Monday morning, including nearby Rains, Wood, Hunt and Delta Counties. In fact, only 57 Texas counties did not have a burn ban as of the start of the day Monday, July 11, 2022.
Endsley said county officers will likely start issuing warnings for any violation of the 90-day burn ban, but after an initial warning a citation will be issued. The order states that a violation of the 90-day burn ban is a Class C misdemeanor offense, punishable with a fine of up to $500.
