A “Happy Thanksgiving” Potluck for All at the Seniors Center
On Wednesday November 17, 2021, Karon Weatherman held a Thanksgiving-themed Potluck Lunch at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center. Those who attended the festive event brought a side dish as well as a dessert to add to the spread. From these photos, it looks like everyone was thankful for the good time and great eats at Karon’s holiday event! From the Director and staff of volunteers at the Seniors Center and Meal-a-Day, everyone is wished a plentiful and Happy Thanksgiving!
Cinch United Finals Brings Kids Events, Great Rodeo Talent and NFR Qualifiers
The Cinch United Finals Rodeo, staged each Fall in Sulphur Springs, Texas, represents the 147 rodeos held within the UPRA circuit across 7 states during 2021. Texas rodeo talent makes up a good portion of the Finals qualifiers, and there’s a good many from the local area as well! These men and women qualified to compete in the Cinch UFR by placing well in rodeos held in their hometown or county. They and the other top qualifiers are competing for titles plus cash and prizes of more than $200,000 during the three nights of rodeo action. As a spectator, you will see bareback, steer wrestling, ranch bronc riding, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, saddle bronc, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding events.
Congratulations to the local and area talent who have qualified for the Cinch UFR. They include:
Barrel Racing – Kenzi Pogue of Emory, McKenzie Mayes of Scroggins, and Emily Taylor of Emory.
Breakaway Roping – Kerstin Freeman of Cooper.
Bull Riding – Cameron Foster of Mount Vernon.
Ranch Bronc – Canyon Conley of Ladonia.
Saddle Bronc – Andrew Harris of Commerce.
Steer Wrestling — Garrett Fields of Quitman and Chase Pope of Winnsboro.
Awards will be given out following the Saturday night performance in Sulphur Springs.
Many among top Texas talent coming to the Cinch UFR have rodeo bloodlines. That includes National Finals Rodeo qualifiers Stephenville’s J.J. Hampton in Women’s Breakaway Roping, and her nephew, 26-year-old Marty Yates in Calf Roping, both whom are wrapping up an incredible year.
Marty’s late father, Marty Sr., was a Texas state rodeo champion in high school, and competed for Tarleton State University — which offers a scholarship in his name. Marty’s mother, Angie, also compete in rodeo, as did his late uncle J.W. “Row” Yates, who won the 1994 Texas high school team roping championship with the legendary Trevor Brazile. And Marty’s aunt, J.J. Hampton, has fashioned an incredible career as a 17-time Women’s Professional Rodeo Association champion.
See this rodeo talent and much more this weekend at the UPRA’s annual Cinch Finals Rodeo set to run Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 18-20, at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. The competition starts nightly at 7 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now at the Civic Center box office and Circle E Western Store.
47 Inducted Into Geral Kennedy Chapter Of National Technical Honor Society
Sulphur Springs High School National Technical Honor Society, Geral Kennedy Chapter, recognized 79 students this week during the annual induction ceremony.
2021-2022 SSHS Geral Kennedy Chapter of the National Technical Honor Society along with advisor Debbie Stribling 
Chapter President 
Chapter Secretary 
Chapter Vice-President 
Chapter Treasurer 
Candle Ceremony 
Chapter Advisor Debbie Stribling 
SSHS Director oof College and Career Readiness Jenny Arledge 
Receiving 
Inductees taking the NTHS pledge
Forty-seven new members were inducted into the SSHS Geral Kennedy Chapter of the NTHS, which honors student achievement and leadership, promotes educational excellence, award scholarships, and enhances career opportunities members. Lighting candles to symbolize and describing the importance of these character traits were NTHS President Cable Glenn, Vice President Emily Dick, Secretary Litzy Chacon and Treasurer Jessica Yanez.
Individuals under consideration as candidates for NTHS regularly exhibit the characteristics which have been observed by his/her instructor(s) including:
- a desire to pursue a career in his/her course of study,
- scholastic achievement,
- honesty,
- dependability,
- responsibility,
- high quality task performance and pride in work performed,
- cooperation and ability to work well with others,
- interest in learning,
- initiative,
- leadership, and
- citizenship.
The applicant must be classified as a junior or senior with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5. The candidate must have been enrolled and/or have completed a minimum of three Career & Technical Education courses, and be a current member of a Career & Technical Student Organization, NTHS Advisor Debbie Stribling noted.
Inducted into the SSHS Geral Kennedy Chapter of NTHS on Nov. 15, 2021, were:
- Jayla Abron
- Carolos Alba
- Lithzy Alvarez
- Jack Bain
- Brylee Brock
- Mattie Bridges
- Luke Caton
- Matthew Clarke
- Alexander Cooper
- Catherine De La Rosa
- Daniel Elam
- Andres Flores
- Jonah Foster
- Kinley Friddle
- Colbie Glenn
- Martha Gonzalez
- Makayla Grinnan
- Cole Haney
- Jadyn Harper
- Zoe Haywood
- Laney Hurst
- Jillian Jumper
- Chloe Kerns
- Mali Maeker
- Kamilah Martinez
- Trentin McKinney
- Mykylie Meador
- Kirsten Miesse
- Matthew Mitchell
- Natalie Negrete
- Lausen Ost
- Ella Ray
- Alfredo Renteria
- Jose Manuel Rodriguez
- Mattye Schmidt
- Brooklynn Shackelford
- Brooklynn Shelton
- Imani Smith
- Robert Lynn Smith III
- Emily Soto
- Rebekah Stanley
- Isabelle Thesing
- Briley Vie
- Addisyn Wall
- Merrin Williams
- Olivia Worth
- Khira Young
Organization President Glenn lead the new inductees in the pledge of membership to the National Technical Honor Society.
Returning members recognized by SSHS Director of College and Career Readiness Jenny Arledge for continued achievement and leadership, and educational excellence included:
- Alaisha Alvarado
- Emily Atkinson
- Beau Bankston
- Alex Botello
- Bailee Burnett
- Claire Bybee
- Addison Caddell
- Litzy Chacon
- Fernando Chimal
- Emily Dick
- Alex Flecker
- Jaslyn Galvan
- Priscilla Gaspar
- Cable Glenn
- Mayra Gudino
- Peyton Hammack
- Juan Hernandez
- Baylie Large
- Madison Martin
- Carter Owen
- Macy Pepys
- Ashley Rodriguez
- Aidyn Rogers
- Paige Seagraves
- Jacob Semler
- Kaitlyn Tiemeyer
- Michelle Tijerin
- Jadyn Van Winkle
- Joel Villarino
- Tyler Warner
- Jessica Yanez
- Emily Zarco
Afterward, Community members were invited to enjoy juice and cookies courtesy of SSHS Culinary Arts students and senior National Honor Society members.
Walk Across Texas, Walk & Talk Wrap Up This Week
By Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County, [email protected]
Walk Across Texas is an 8-week walking program developed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension with the main goal of increasing the habit of intentional steps. Teams of up to 8 can participate as they aim for the goal of reaching 832 miles (the distance from Beaumont to El Paso). Team members log their miles and report them to the WAT on-line platform. During the eight-week campaign, every team member received an update on miles logged for each team, as well as a delicious recipe.
Eight teams participated in the Fall 2021 Walk Across Texas event, and the total miles logged were 7,883.44. Team captains were Pat Connally, Jacquelyn Martin, Eddie Northcutt, Julie Smalley, Alina Sanders, Cindy Joslin, Robert Newsom, and Lewis Tatum. Even though this is not a competition, the top three participants logging the most miles were: Max Martin – 455.18 miles, Cindy Joslin – 419.99 miles, and Samantha Dean – 416.29 miles. The top three teams were Max’s Marvels, 1,387.44 miles; Trekkin’ Teachers, 1, 273.5 miles; and Justice League, 1,238.63 miles.
A map showing a network of miles equaling 7,883 miles is on display at the Extension Office.
Walk & Talk
Walk & Talk is an 8-week walking program with two purposes – education on increasing fruits and vegetables in the diet, and increasing intentional steps. Three Head Start teams participated in the 2021 Fall event, held at the ROC. Participants achieved 2,633.44 miles.
Each week, a brief nutrition lesson was presented, usually accompanied by a recipe demonstration or recipe sampling. Incentive items included cutting boards, MyPlate inflatable balls, MyPlate flying discs, and others. After the nutrition segment, participants proceeded to the indoor walking track to get in a few laps before wrapping up the sessions.
Nov. 24 Blood Drive Will Bolster Severely Low Blood Supplies
By Holly Ragan, MS, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Awards
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs was awarded an ‘A’ in the fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. This is the hospital’s fifth consecutive ‘A’ safety grade.
Carter BloodCare Blood Drive: The current blood shortage is the severely low
Carter BloodCare is hosting a blood drive in the CBC bus at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs in the front parking lot on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Call or text (800) 366-2834 or visit their website at www.carterbloodcare.org. As a thank you, donors will receive a long-sleeved shirt.
Flu Shots: Do not Delay, Get Yours Today
Flu shots are available at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, 105 Medical Plaza. We welcome walk-ins or by appointment; to schedule call 903.885.3181.
Thank you for your patience
With a spike in COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County, please expect “longer than usual” wait times in the Emergency Department. Rest assured we are doing everything we can to provide high quality care in a timely manner. Thank you in advance for allowing us to provide for your healthcare needs, while extending grace to our staff.
COVID Vaccine Clinics
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs offers a COVID Vaccine Clinic every Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the main lobby of the hospital until further notice. The available vaccines include Moderna (2-doses, ages 18 and older) and Pfizer (2-doses, ages 12 and older) and Johnson & Johnson (1-dose, ages 18 and older). *** This includes all three brands of boosters for fully vaccinated people. Appointments not required, but parent/guardian must accompany anyone 17 and younger.
Hospital Visitation
Please note the following guidelines:
- Visitors must acquire masks themselves prior to entering our facility; cloth masks are acceptable. Masks must cover both the nose and the mouth. Visitors must remain masked during their time in the hospital.
- Minor-age visitors must be accompanied by an adult, be free of symptoms and able to comply with masking and hygiene expectations throughout the visit.
- Emergency Department entrance open 24/7
- Main Entrance open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
- Gift Shop open.
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Types of Visitors:
- COVID receiving aerosol treatments: via tele-visitation only;
- COVID not receiving aerosol treatments: 1 Essential support person for the duration of hospital stay – Essential support person will be given a visible wrist band for identification purposes;
- ICU/ER: 1 Essential support person only;
- All other patients may have 1 Essential support person and 1 visitor (up to 2 persons in room at a time)
- Types of Visitors:
Services
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care – Sulphur Springs
**PLEASE NOTE – due to limited staffing, the Urgent Care may be forced to change its hours without notice… We recommend calling prior to your arrival to check the status of availability. We apologize for the inconvenience.**
The CHRISTUS Urgent Care Hours of Operation is as follows:
- In-Person Care Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. -5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, Closed
- Virtual Visit Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- To schedule a virtual visit, please visit urgentcare.christushealth.org, then select your location and click “Virtual Visit.”
The Urgent Care is located at 1339 South Broadway St., and the phone number to call is 903.951.1001.
Urology
Did you know we can take care of almost all of your medical specialty needs right here in Sulphur Springs? Just one of many is our Urologist Dr. Loren Ost, and his Nurse Practitioner Leah Irving. Dr. Ost and Leah see patients who have concerns of the urinary system in both male and females, as well as the reproductive organs of the male. They are located at 113 Airport Road, Suite 300, and may be reached by calling 903.885.1770.
Dermatology
Dermatology & Skin Cancer Surgery Center is now practicing in Sulphur Springs and accepting patients under the care of Roxanne Swafford, FNP. She is seeing patients at 1228 Church St., Suite D. To schedule your appointment, call 903.689.7272. You may also schedule online at www.mdbarrows.com.
# # #
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Chamber Connection: Small Businesses In Sulphur Springs To Participate In Pink Friday, Nov. 19
By Butch Burney
I’m excited to let you know that we have begun work on the 2022 Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Directory. We distribute over 7,000 of these directories to visitors, relocation hopefuls, and even hometown heroes who are interested in learning more about our local businesses. They include historical information as well all things to the see and do in Hopkins County. The best part is, they include an alphabetical and categorical listing of your business. LeeAnn Peugh, with Echo Publishing, will be contacting you in the next few weeks to see if you are interested in placing an ad in the directory.
The rates are affordable, and one of the best ways to represent your business. I hope you will consider this a wise investment with over 7,000 opportunities for business exposure. You may also contact the Chamber, and I will pass your information along to her.
Business After Hours
Our next Business After Hours networking event is scheduled at Money Law Firm-First American Title from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18. Come to their office at 1335 South Broadway to interact with other business men and women and for fall-themed refreshments and give-aways. There will even be a Christmas karaoke competition!
Pink Friday
Small businesses in Sulphur Springs will be participating in Pink Friday on Nov. 19, a day for customers to shop with their local businesses a week before Black Friday.
Black Friday is the largest shopping day of the year, but the sales and promotions from big box stores often overshadow the experiences that small businesses are focused on providing. The goal on November 19 is to celebrate the businesses that are the backbone of our local communities. Any small business can participate in Pink Friday.
Christmas Parade
The local Lions Club is hosting their 15th Annual Christmas Light Parade, presented by Carriage House Manor, on Friday, Dec. 3. Every entry must be decorated with working Christmas lights. The parade will begin at Buford Park, down Connally Street to the square, north on Church Street and west on Houston Street, ending at Gerald Prim Stadium.
The parade begins at 7 p.m.
Registration must be received by noon on Tuesday, Nov. 30. To register, pick up and entry form from any Lions Club member or at the Chamber, 110 Main St.
Categories for judging the entries are Large Business, Small Business and Non-Profit Organizations/Churches.
Blue Santa
Sign-ups are ongoing for the Blue Santa toy program for Hopkins County. Registration can be done online at CanHelpOnline.org. Documents needed for upload are proof of Hopkins County residency, birth certificate or proof of school enrollment for each child ages 1-14, proof of income or proof of SNAP, Medicaid, TANF or CHIPS.
Shanna Martin, the executive director CanHelp, said in just five days, more than 130 families have already registered. If you would like to donate toys or money, contact Tanner Crump or Angela Price at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. You can also message the Blue Santa/Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County Facebook page.
Miracles Made on Connally Street
Miracles Made on Connally Street is the name of the CASA Christmas Tree Raffle that will be conducted until Dec. 6. The raffle will be held Dec. 8, with all proceeds benefitting the children served by Lake Country CASA.
Tickets are $25 each and each tickets gives you a chance to win one of 12 small decorated Christmas trees.
For more information, call 903-885-1173 or visit CASA at 218 Connally St.
Turkey Trot
Make way for your holiday meals by participating in the 11th Annual Hopkins County Turkey Trot, benefiting Journey Road Ministries and Mothers Culture Club. It will be ran Thanksgiving Day morning, with a 5K and 10K each starting at 8 a.m. There will be a Kids Run Run at 7:30 a.m.
Entry fee for the 5K race is $30 and for the 10K race it’s $40. Register online at GetMeRegistered.com and search “Hopkins County Turkey Trot.” Early registration ends Nov. 10.
Business Highlight
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a member of the Chamber each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for Nov. 3, VR Social. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Ribbon Cuttings
- Masterpiece Ultrasound Boutique will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 468 Shannon Road West. Refreshments will be available. We hope you will join us for the event.
- Shoe Sensation will host a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at 9 a.m. They are located at 1402 Mockingbird Lane. Please welcome them to town.
- Good News! Christian Bookstore is celebrating 31 years in business and a new location, 1811 South Broadway. We will celebrate with them with a ribbon cutting at noon Friday, Nov. 19. Refreshments will be available, along with 31 percent off everything in the store!
G5 Cattle and Meats had a ribbon cutting at noon on Friday, Feb. 12 at their location, 3445 Interstate 30 West. They also hosted a grand opening event on Saturday, Feb. 13, that included local chefs, Wagyu tasting, giveaways, bounce house, corn hole and more.
Man Found Unconscious Last Week At Park Has Died, Autopsy Ordered
The man found unconscious last week at a Sulphur Springs park died at the hospital. An autopsy has been ordered in the case, according to police investigators.
Although police put out a release asking anyone who might have information about what happened to the man to contact Sulphur Springs Police Department or Crime Stoppers, officers received very little information.
Walkers reportedly found the male, identified by police only as a 37-year-old Sulphur Springs man, around 6 a.m. Nov. 8, 2021. The man was reported to 911 operators as unconscious but breathing at the Coleman Park boat ramp area next to his truck. EMS transported the man to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs. Later, he was transferred to a Tyler hospital, where he remained for several days. Police were notified over the weekend that the man had passed away, according to Sulphur Springs Police Lt. Rusty Stillwagoner.
According to police, “the male suffered blunt force trauma to his head.” SSPD investigators and the Texas Ranger responded at the location. An investigation was launched. A request for anyone with information regarding the incident has resulted in very little additional information.
Stillwagoner said Wednesday an autopsy has been ordered at Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences. The investigation is ongoing, pending results of the autopsy.
If anyone has information about this incident, they are asked contact SSPD Lt. Rusty Stillwagoner at 903-885-6438 or Crime Stoppers at 903-885-2020. Tips to Crime Stoppers are handled in such a way that the caller’s identity remains confidential.
Wildcats Basketball Wins Home Opener Versus Paris, 63-49
The men’s basketball team had a good showing Tuesday, Nov. 17 at home when they took on a formidable foe in the Paris Wildcats.
Sulphur Springs won their home opener Tuesday 63-49 thanks to even scoring from the Wildcats and a late run that propelled them to victory.
“It feels good [to win the home opener],” Coach Brandon Shaver said, admitting that Tuesday’s win did not play out perhaps the way they were hoping, but lamented that they will take the win regardless.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 19-9 lead after one, and while they were outscored in the second 16-13, Sulphur Springs made it a 32-25 halftime lead thanks to a buzzer-beating three from Malachi Myles.
“We kind of settled [for shots] in the first half” Coach Shaver said, but added that his squad “found a groove in the second [half].”
Coach Shaver’s team had a big third quarter from Caleb Alexander who finished the game with 14 points. Alexander also hit a buzzer-beater at the conclusion of the third, practically from mid-court, to put the game at 50-38 heading in to the final quarter.
Even though Paris kept it close for the final three quarters, a late scoring run from Sulphur Springs propelled them to a 63-49 win over the visiting Paris Wildcats.
The Wildcats basketball coach said Tuesday was a great test for his team, and said his team is resilient. When Paris pulled the game within striking distance Coach Shaver said his squad took their run, took their punch and were able to get right back at them.
The win gives the men’s basketball team a 2-0 record to start their season.
Next up, Sulphur Springs was originally scheduled to travel to Palestine on Friday for their third regular season game at 6:30 P.M. but that game has since been cancelled.
Coach Shaver said after Tuesday’s win over Paris he was still trying to find a replacement for Palestine, and once the men’s basketball coach sends an update regarding Friday, it will be posted right here on ksstradio.com
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.
Rodeo Royalty! Meet the Four 2021 Miss UPRA Contestants!
There are four contestants for the title of Miss Upra Rodeo 2021/22. You will be seeing this rodeo royalty soon when the Cinch Finals Rodeo comes to town November 18-20 at the Hopkins County Civic Center! This preview will let you know a little about each young lady. Their first assignment is to meet and assist the youngsters at the Handicap-able Rodeo on Thursday morning, November 18. That afternoon, the Horsemanship portion of their competition will be held in the Civic Center arena. They will also be presented to the audience on the first two nights of rodeo. One contestant will be selected as Miss UPRA, with the crowning during the Friday night performance at 7pm. Then, Miss UPRA will begin a year of travel and appearances at Cinch rodeos held around a 7-state region as the 2022 season gets underway.
Bring the family and enjoy the American tradition of rodeo with a Texas flavor. Tickets to the rodeo may be purchased at Circle E Western Store in Sulphur Springs, and at the Civic Center box office. Or you might be a lucky winner of a free ticket! Listening to the KSST Good Morning Show on KSST 1230AM or Young Country KRVA FM 107.1, or streaming at ksstradio.com.
Turkey Talk: Some Essential Factors To Consider Before Buying For The Holidays
By Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County, [email protected]
Every year around this time, I receive phone calls from individuals about selecting the correct size turkey, thawing, and cooking. This holiday season, the challenge of selecting and cooking a holiday turkey is further complicated by difficulties with the food supply chain. According the Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist, a drop in production from last year is driving up the cost of turkey. He indicated that turkey numbers and pounds produced are at their lowest number since 2015, causing price per pound to increase.
With this in mind, there are some essential factors to consider before purchasing that Thanksgiving turkey. Whether fresh or frozen, there is not really a difference in taste. And, because it’s federally prohibited to introduce hormones to turkeys and chickens, consumers shouldn’t be swayed by packaging that says the turkey is hormone-free. The thing to keep in mind is to check the packaging for any rips, tears, holes or leakage as this may indicate it was handled roughly when transported or stocked.
Determining the size of the turkey is not really complicated. The general rule is to buy 1 to 1.5 pounds of turkey per person. Time is another factor. Thawing a turkey typically takes 24 hours for each 4 to 5 pounds, so begin the thawing process in plenty of time. Be sure to thaw in the refrigerator in the original packaging – not at room temperature. For faster thawing, submerge the turkey in a cold water bath, changing the water every 30 minutes until thawed. Defrosting a turkey in this manner requires about half-hour per pound.
If you don’t have time to thaw the turkey, then buying a fresh one may be the better option. It is best to cook a fresh turkey within a day or two of purchase to be sure it is at its best quality and safety. A turkey breast can be a good option for people with less time to prepare a whole turkey. Estimate about a half to three-quarters of a pound per person.
Whatever you select, make sure your refrigerator can accommodate the size of turkey you plan to cook. Store on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator so that the moisture from the thawing bird doesn’t drip on other foods and possibly cross-contaminate them. Another important consideration is the size of the oven opening and depth. There should be adequate room for the turkey and any items you’ll need to remove it, such as oven gloves.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension doesn’t recommend filling the cavity of the bird with the stuffing, as it can be difficult to bring everything to the proper internal temperature. However, if you feel you must stuff the bird, check the internal temperature of the stuffing as well as the turkey meat before you serve it. And by all means, be sure to remove the giblet packet from inside the cavity before cooking the turkey.
For cooking, 13-15 minutes per pound is a good rule of thumb. Rinsing the bird before cooking is not necessary. Place a foil tent over the top of the turkey to keep it from burning. Preheat the oven to 325-350ᵒ and place the prepared turkey on the oven’s lowest rack level. Allow the turkey to cook at least one hour before opening the oven to baste, and then baste approximately every 20-30 minutes. For the last half-hour or so, remove the foil and raise the oven temperature to 425ᵒ. Odessa Keenan, AgriLife Extension specialist, suggests smearing some melted butter or oil over the top of the turkey to help crisp the skin and give it a rich, brown color.
A food thermometer is the most important item when cooking a holiday turkey. The internal temperature of the turkey should be 165ᵒin the thickest part of the breast and thigh. Again, if stuffed, also check the temperature of the stuffing.
Deep-frying a turkey is another option that many people choose. Be sure to do this outdoors and away from the house. Wear heat-resistant gloves and have flour or a fire extinguisher handy in case of a flame. Again, be sure the turkey is completely thawed. Heat the oil to 250-275ᵒ, then slowly put the bird into the fryer. Raise the cooking temperature to 325-250ᵒ. Some oils smoke at a higher temperature, so select one that is suitable for high temperatures.
A 30-quart fryer will accommodate a 10-12 pound bird, but usually not more than 14 pounds. Use a dry rub to season it. Deep-fried turkey takes about 3-4 minutes per pound. Check the thickest part of the thigh and breast to ensure the internal temperature is at least 165. When ready, slowly remove the fried turkey and set it on a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack to let excess oil drip off. Place foil over the bird and let it rest about 15-20 minutes before carving.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving or Christmas turkey, but most importantly, keep your food at safe temperatures so you CAN enjoy your holidays.
Closing Thought
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” – Cynthia Ozick
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent for Hopkins County, by mail at P.O. Box 518, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; at Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Office at 1200-B West Houston St., Sulphur Springs; by phone at 903-885-3443; or by sending an email to her at [email protected].
