Both Eighth Grade A and B Football Teams Continue Rolling, Start Season 4-0
The Middle School Wildcats continue their winning streak and remain undefeated for the season with 4-0 starts for both A and B teams.
The Middle School Wildcats traveled to Mount Pleasant and faced the Tigers with both teams emerging victorious.
The eighth grade A-team beat Mount Pleasant 21-6.
On offense, quarterback Gage Gideon threw for 100 yards passing and threw for 2 passing touchdowns. Coach Flores said Gage did a great job of staying in the pocket while passing and delivered some great balls to our his wide outs.
Wide receivers Jaxson Haire and Ryan Karr continue to impress.
Haire has been explosive all season at the wide receiver position and delivered another great game with 1 receiving touchdown and ended up with 120 yards receiving for the game. The middle school coach said Karr did an excellent job of run blocking but still managed to get a receiving TD.
Running back Keyshaun John ran the ball hard and finished with 80 yards rushing, with 60 of them coming on a single house call.
Coach Flores said Aiden Godbolt, Jeffery Stevenson, Dallin Horton, Lucas Shirley, Anthony Solis, Michael Walker, Trey Pannel, Vincient Johnson, Kase Temples, and Aiden Mcarroll did a great job of executing the blocking scheme on Offense and getting in the backfield defensively.
On defense, Alex McCormick, Julian Clayton, Matthew Jeter, Corbin Argenbright, Braxton Espinoza, Gio Ibarra, and Creed Whisenhunt did a great job of tackling and swarming to the football.
The eighth grade B-team also beat the Tigers, dispatching Mount Pleasant 38-6. RB Logan Lowrance ended up with a rushing and receiving touchdown.
WR Ben Lovelady had a great game and finished with 2 receiving Touchdowns and did well blocking at the Wr position helping the offense running game.
QB Issiac Ray had a rushing and passing touchdown each. Quarterback Deuce Timmons also had a good game throwing for 2 passing touchdowns and played well defensively, Coach Flores said.
The middle school Wildcats football coach said TJ Abron, Blaine Allen, Jermiah Robinson, Bryson Reyes, Aiden Koon, Kendrick Harris, Marcos Ramirez, and Jacolby Arceneaux, did a great job of blocking on the offense, and putting pressure on the Mount Pleasant offense for the game.
On defense TJ Bolden, Za Godbolt, Cazden Holton, Aiden Chester, Preston Nottingham, Mack Barrett, did a great job of making plays defensively.
Next up, the Sulphur Springs Middle School Wildcats will Host Texas High here at Gerald Prim Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 12.
C Team will get the action underway next Tuesday at 4:30 P.M. with intramural action, followed by the B-team and A-team taking on the Tigers at 5:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. respectively.
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.
Alliance Bank Chairman/CEO Tom Sellers Elected Chairman Of The Nation’s Largest State Community Banking Association
AUSTIN, Texas—The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) is proud to announce that Tom Sellers, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Sulphur Springs-based Alliance Bank, has been elected chairman of the IBAT board of directors for 2021-22. He officially accepted this position during the association’s 47th annual convention held September 18-21 in Austin.
With a banking career that spans more than 42 years, Sellers has served Sulphur Springs and the surrounding community at Alliance Bank for 33 years. Prior to his time at Alliance Bank, he was a county supervisor at the Farmers Home Administration and vice president and senior leading officer at the Federal Land Bank at Tyler. Sellers has selflessly given to the community banking industry for years, serving as chairman of the IBAT Education Foundation, as well as being a member of the IBAT board and executive committee. He is also on the federal delegate board for the Independent Community Bankers of America.
Sellers is extremely active in his community as well, currently serving as president of the Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corp., a board member for CHRISTUS Hopkins Health Alliance and stewardship chair for First United Methodist Church. Previously, he was president of the Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees and served on the boards of the Texas Tech University Alumni Association, Rotary Club of Sulphur Springs and NETSEO Trails Council for the Boy Scouts of America.
Sellers received a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education from Texas Tech University and is a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. He and his wife, Pam, have two grown children and two grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys being with his grandchildren and watching Texas Tech University sports.
IBAT’s 2021-22 elected officers are Chairman Tom Sellers of Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs, Chairman-Elect K. Kyle Irwin of Western Bank in Gruver, Secretary-Treasurer Christopher Doyle of Texas First Bank in Texas City, Immediate Past Chairman Brad Tidwell of VeraBank, N.A. in Henderson, IBAT Education Foundation Chairman Hazem Ahmed of Independent Financial in Houston and IBAT Leadership Division Chairman Justin Steinbach of Frost Bank in Dallas. New additions to the IBAT board include John David “J.D.” Baker of Llano National Bank, Thom Canfield of Mason Bank, Mike Fernandez of Texas National Bank in Abilene, Tracy Harris of National Bank & Trust in La Grange, Sloan Kuehl of First National Bank of Central Texas in Waco and Reed Williams of Brady National Bank.
About the Independent Bankers Association of Texas
Formed in 1974, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) represents Texas community banks. The Austin-based group is the largest state community banking organization in the nation, with membership comprised of more than 4,600 banks and branches in 700 Texas communities. Providing safe and responsible financial services to all Texans, IBAT member bank assets range in size from $26 million to $44 billion with combined assets statewide of nearly $193 billion. IBAT member banks are committed to supporting and investing in their local communities.
Statewide Banking Organization Honors Alliance Bank With 2021 Best Of Community Banking Award
Independent Bankers Association Of Texas Recognizes Sulphur Springs-Based Community Bank For Its Video Marketing
SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas—The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT)—the largest state community banking association in the nation—recently honored Alliance Bank with a Best of Community Banking (BOCB) Award. The bank, based in Sulphur Springs, Texas, received a Community Spirit/Gold Eagle BOCB Award for its marketing initiatives. Alliance Bank received the honor on September 20 during IBAT’s 2021 Convention in Austin, Texas.
In an atmosphere of vanishing traditional advertising platforms, Alliance Bank sought to target its marketing and drive non-traditional advertising mediums, recognizing the immense potential impact of video-based content. Kicking off a series of video-based campaigns tied to community involvement, the bank developed progressive and cascading marketing campaigns that have spanned 12 months to date.
The first wave of marketing combined market acquisition and expansion, community involvement, sports highlight reel sponsorship and market PSAs. The second wave kicked off with a Facebook/ Instagram/ Twitter fan drive and advertising campaigns. It tapped advertising impressions previously unrealized at an extremely low cost per impression. The third wave included an aggressive and technologically forward-thinking approach to drive product adoption using multiple social media platforms. The fourth and final wave will be a historical series of videos highlighting the customer’s journey with Alliance Bank.
IBAT has celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of Texas community banks with the BOCB Award since 1991. Community banks play a critical role in their local communities. The Best of Community Banking competition is designed to honor these banks for their commitment to helping their customers, neighbors, employees and community. BOCB Awards recognize community banks throughout the state for their innovation, creativity and success in fulfilling a specific community or internal need. Each submission receives a Gold Eagle, Silver Eagle or Bronze Eagle award in one of six categories: bank culture, community service, financial literacy, marketing, architectural design and—new this year—pandemic response.
“This past year has been challenging across the globe as we continue to fight the pandemic,” says Christopher Williston, IBAT president and CEO. “But community bankers have been truly inspiring during these difficult days by processing a majority (57.5 percent) of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for small businesses and helping their communities when they were needed most. This year’s BOCB Award recipients were particularly inspiring in their efforts to meet the challenges brought on by the pandemic, and this recognition is only a small token of our immense pride in Texas community banks to better the lives of those around them. I sincerely congratulate all of the 2021 BOCB Award recipients.”
All of the 2021 Best of Community Banking Awards submissions can be viewed by clicking here.
About the Independent Bankers Association of Texas
Formed in 1974, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) represents Texas community banks. The Austin-based group is the largest state community banking organization in the nation, with membership comprised of more than 4,600 banks and branches in 700 Texas communities.
Providing safe and responsible financial services to all Texans, IBAT member bank assets range in size from $26 million to $44 billion with combined assets statewide of nearly $193 billion. IBAT member banks are committed to supporting and investing in their local communities.
— Submitted by Neil Ferguson, Editor and Graphic Designer for the Independent Bankers Association of Texas
Wildcats, Lady Cats Cross Country Travel Light to Mount Pleasant, Enjoying Second-to-Last Tune-Up Before District Meet
Wildcats cross country Coach Ross Hicks said his team’s outing went well last Saturday in Mount Pleasant at the Titus County Fair Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 2.
The Lady Cats only went up against a handful of schools last Saturday, which included Pine Tree, Mount Pleasant, Marshall, and (Paris) Trinity Christian Academy.
They managed to have a decent outing, as Coach Ross Hicks said that his team travelled light in that they did not have their full varsity squad, but that does not mean those who went did not perform well.
The cross country coach said that for most years, the course at Titus County Fair Invitational tended to be the district meet for teams from District 15-5A.
That is not the case this year, but since the team runs the course twice a year, they were all too ready to be back on familiar ground in Mount Pleasant.
Coach Ross Hicks called it a beautiful day to run, and thanks to the course being one the shorter ones his program will run all year, it resulted in some personal best times.
In a field of 21 spots, the Lady Cats had two runners finish in the top-15.
The women’s team were lead by sophomore Haylee Schultz, who continues to have an impressive season.
Coach Hicks said that Schultz had her best time of the year, and on top of that she surpassed her time from last year’s meet in Mount Pleasant.
Schultz finished second in the small field, crossing the line with a time of just over 20 minutes.
Junior Rebekah Stanley was the other Lady Cat who placed in the top-20, medaling at spot number 12. The cross country coach said Stanley ran her second best time of the year.
A few JV runners stepped up and did well at the Titus County Fair Invitational, Coach Hicks said.
The men’s team, like the women, did not have their full arsenal at their disposal. The Wildcats’ first and third runners were out; Alex Flecker was out and Jose Mejia was out as well.
Both are expected to be back running with the team when they travel to Lindale for their final regular-season meet before district.
Evan Patrick lead the way in Mount Pleasant as he was able to crack the top-10 at seventh. The senior had a time of 17:03.10.
Young gun freshman Cristobal Torres got the final medalling spot at 15th, crossing the line at 18:01.80.
Other runners that made the top-30 for the Wildcats were freshman Candelario Monsivais at 23rd, sophomore Erick Osornio following at 24th and junior Hector Hernandez who made it in at 25th.
Senior Jonathan Scott placed 28th.
And while Coach Ross Hicks was happy with how his thin teams performed in Mount Pleasant, he hopes his squad is back at full strength for Thursday’s meet in Lindale.
The Lindale Eagle Invitational is set to have a bit later start on Thursday when the 5A and 6A women’s varsity runners get the action underway for Coach Ross Hicks and his program at 8:30 A.M.
The Eagle Invitational is the final regular season meet for Coach Hicks and his cross country runners.
The meet for teams in district 15-5A is set to take place in Hallsville a week from tomorrow, on Thursday, Oct. 14 at HHS.
But before they can shift their entire focus to what should be a hotly contested district meet a week from tomorrow, they first have to get through the Lindale Eagle Invitational which is tomorrow at 8:30 A.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS! Yellow Ribbon Campaign’ Heralds Local Visit by THE WALL THAT HEALS
A Yellow Ribbon Campaign has been launched in anticipation of THE WALL THAT HEALS Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and Mobile Education Center coming to Sulphur Springs November 4-7, 2021. In support of this ‘welcome home’ event for our nation’s Vietnam-era veterans, the Yellow Ribbon Campaign was created so that companies and individuals could show visible support as the event date nears. Anyone who wishes to have a share in sponsoring TWTH by way of the Yellow Ribbon Campaign is encouraged to contact event organizer Mandy Kennedy at 903-243-2206 or see sponsorship forms below.
It is with great honor and pride that the Hopkins County Veterans Memorial in partnership with the Sulphur Springs I.S.D. and City of Sulphur Springs will host THE WALL THAT HEALS on November 4-7, 2021 at the Sulphur Springs High School Track.
The three-quarter sized replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., along with a Mobile Education Center, will arrive in Sulphur Springs on Tues., Nov. 2nd escorted by Patriot Guard Riders, Law Enforcement, and Fire Department Personnel, and will be welcomed by Citizens participating in a Yellow Ribbon & Banner Campaign.
This year 2021 has been nationally designated as the year to “Welcome Home America’s Vietnam Veterans”. We are hopeful that you will help us do this very thing – in the way only Hopkins County, Texas can!
Anyone who wishes to have a share in sponsoring TWTH by way of the Yellow Ribbon Campaign is encouraged to contact event organizer Mandy Kennedy at 903-243-2206 or see sponsorship forms below.
COMMUNITY SPONSOR FORM
PREMIUM SPONSOR FORM
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report – Oct. 5, 2021
Marc Maxwell presented the following monthly city manager’s report to Sulphur Springs City Council during their regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021.
COVID-19 RESPONSE –The Delta variant wave of COVID-19 seems to have peaked. The number of active cases in Hopkins County decreased 36% since our last meeting with 240 active cases as of October 3. There are 18 patients in the COVID unit at the hospital Monday (and 15 Tuesday), down 7 from last month.
SENIOR CITIZENS BUILDING – We are waiting for the steel market to normalize.
SAPUTO SEWER MAIN – This project is nearing completion. The contractor hired to bore under Interstate 30 has equipment and materials on site, but he has not begun boring yet. This is the last segment of the project. I should be able to report completion at our next meeting.
This $750,000 sewer project is funded entirely by a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture. The new main will supplement an older undersized main. The path of the new main begins at Saputo and continues under the interstate. It then continues South for 3,500 feet before connecting to an existing trunk line. The new main has a 15-inch inch diameter. This grant is made possible because of a $50 million plant upgrade at Saputo and their cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture. Without their cooperation this project would not have been possible.
COLLEGE STREET – Work has begun on the project. The Capital Construction Division is installing new sewer main in the 200 block of College Street.
CLAIMS – We did not have any workers compensation claims or liability claims in September. We did have one liability claim for a broken window. The claimant states that a city mower threw a rock into their automotive window. A claim has been submitted to TML.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will present a report of revenues and expenditures.
RUNWAY/TAXIWAY REHAB – This $1.9 million project is in progress. 90% of the project cost is covered by a TxDOT grant. The project is approximately 75% complete, and we expect the contractor to finish by mid-November.
All the concrete and asphalt surfaces on the operations side are being completely rehabilitated and the ramp is being significantly enlarged.
STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM – One additional street segment was paved in September, Texas from Lee to Industrial. Two segments remain: League from Bellview to Pampa, and Lee from Davis to Broadway. The contractor, Texana Land and Asphalt, plans to be completed by Thanksgiving Day. The following highlighted streets have been completed:
Miscellaneous
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Repaired 244 potholes.
- Replaced various street signs and warning signs.
- Hauled street sweeping spoils to the landfill.
- Made 3 extensive street repairs following utility repairs.
- Conducted 12 building inspections, 8 electrical inspections,15 plumbing inspections, 3 mechanical inspections and issued 18 building permits
- Responded to 272 fire/rescue calls, including 2 structure fires and a vehicle fire.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 68 fire hydrants.
- Performed 14 fire inspections.
- Responded to 196 animal control calls while achieving a 76% adoption rate.
- Made 8 felony arrests in the Special Crimes division.
- Responded to 27 accidents, wrote 476 citations, recorded 35 offences and made 41 arrests in the Patrol Division.
- Treated Wastewater to a monthly average total suspended solids reading of .86 mg/L.
- Performed preventative maintenance on several items at the water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant.
- Repaired 11 water main ruptures.
- Unstopped 17 sewer mains.
- Replaced 13 water meters.
- Washed 75,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Treated 174 million gallons of potable water.
- Flushed 36 dead end water mains.
- Pressure washed sidewalks on Connally and Main Streets.
- Checked out 3,139 items from the library plus 817 e-Books.
Lady Cats Volleyball Goes 2-0 During Two Game Home Stand
The Lady Cats volleyball team fought hard until the finish, sweeping the Mount Pleasant Lady Tigers at home on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
The win gives Coach Bailey Dorner’s squad a 2-0 record during their two game home stand.
Sulphur Springs persevered all the way to the finish, even though Mount Pleasant never gave up.
Coach Bailey Dorner’s team rode the momentum created by seniors Brooklynn Burnside and libero Parris Pickett (19 digs, two aces in the victory over the Lady Tigers) all the way to a tight 25-22 set one win.
Burnside finished with 19 kills, two aces and one dig and block in the victory over the Lady Tigers.
“Brooklyn is extremely coachable,” the Lady Cats head coach said about the senior. “She will constantly take feedback, and improves from game-to-game, even from year-to-year.”
Coach Dorner said Burnside is excited and loves to play the game of volleyball and is super fun to watch play.
Set two proved to be more of the same, as even though Mount Pleasant lead early in the second, and proved to make things interesting late by going on a 7-1 scoring run that put the Lady Tigers within one at 20-19, Sulphur Springs pulled away scoring five straight to take a big 25-19 set two win over Mount Pleasant.
The second set saw scoring from offensive aficionado Burnside as well as Myssiah Dugan, Peyton Hammock and Kaslyn Hurley.
The aforementioned Lady Cats have “got some athleticism [and have] some fire about them,” Coach Dorner said.
The head volleyball coach said all her athletes have been great and have been playing really well and as a team.
Even though the visiting Lady Tigers built up a quick lead early in set three at 7-2, realizing a sweep was upon them, Sulphur Springs never relented, tying it up nine times with the final one coming at 18-18.
From there, it was all Lady Cats all the time as even though Mount Pleasant Coach Melody Herron called a time out as Sulphur Springs scored three straight to go up 21-18, it did not matter as the Lady Cats scored four more after the fact to end the match on a 7-0 run.
Sulphur Springs scoring 10 of the game’s final 13 points en route to a 25-18 set three, 3-0 sweep of the Lady Tigers.
“In that third set we tend to get comfortable,” Coach Dorner said about her team taking 2-0 leads over opponents. “We typically tend to struggle serving right out of a timeout, but it was good to see them do something that doesn’t happen a lot,” the Lady Cats coach said.
The sweep over Mount Pleasant is the second victory and sweep for the Lady Cats over the Lady Tigers this season, giving Sulphur Springs a clean sweep over Mount Pleasant on the season.
The win gives the Lady Cats volleyball team a 19-12 overall record (5-2 district).
Next up, Coach Dorner and her program will be back on the road for two straight games in their toughest stretch of the season; on Friday Sulphur Springs will be in Texarkana taking on Texas High (7-0 district), the number one team in District 15-5A, and next Tuesday they will be in Marshall taking on the Lady Mavs (5-2).
Friday’s match-up will be at 4:30 P.M beginning with the varsity teams followed by JV and freshmen.
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.
Chamber Issues Final Call For Cooks To Register For Stew Contest
By Butch Burney
This is the last chance for stew cooks to get their registration forms in for the 52nd Annual World Championship Hopkins County Stew Contest, sponsored by Alliance Bank, Alliance Bank Financial Services and Galyean Insurance. The contest will be Saturday, Oct. 23, at Buford Park.
We have almost 140 pots of stew already registered, but we have room for more, if you get your registration in soon.
Come by the chamber office or send us an email and we will get the registration form to you. We are expecting a big turnout for this year’s event, so be sure and get your spot. Our cooks’ meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m.
We will have the north and south sides of the park open for cooking, along with a vendor market. We are expecting a fully open stew.
Speaking of stew, tickets are now available online, at the Chamber office and at local. The cost remains the same as in the past, $6 for all-you-can-eat stew and $10 for take-home quarts.
In addition, we have Stew+75482 tumblers at the office for $20, stew mugs for $15 and T-shirts will be available soon.
Business After Hours
Join us Tuesday, Oct. 12, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Chamber office for a Business After Hours mixer hosted by Neighbors of Sulphur Springs magazine. There will be refreshments to enjoy and business men and women to socialize with. You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend Business After Hours..
Wall That Heals
The Wall That Heals, the Vietnam Veterans replica memorial, will be in Sulphur Springs Nov. 4-7, at the Sulphur Springs High School track. The three-quarter sized replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., along with a Mobile Education Center, will arrive in Sulphur Springs on Tues., Nov. 2, escorted by Patriot Guard Riders, law enforcement, and fire department personnel, and will be welcomed by citizens participating in a Yellow Ribbon & Banner Campaign.
This year 2021 has been nationally designated as the year to “Welcome Home America’s Vietnam Veterans,” and organizers are hopeful that local citizens will help do that with the Yellow Ribbon & Banner Campaign.
Below are the links for Hopkins County to sponsor The Wall That Heals and participate in The Yellow Ribbon Campaign. For more information, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, see:
Facebook: The Wall That Heals, Sulphur Springs, TX
Main Street Uncorked
Main Street Uncorked Wine and Music Festival is set for 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, in downtown. There will be Texas wineries, local vendors and great music. Music will be by Matthew Fiock, Lincoln Goodman and Twisted Whisky.
Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com.
Help A Child Benefit
The annual Help-A-Child Benefit keeps getting bigger and better. The 14th annual event is set for Saturday, Oct. 16, and will feature a chili cook-off, auction, livestock show, brisket cookoff, Dutch oven cobbler and corn hole competition.
All money raised will go toward Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, foster families and Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center.
The livestock show starts at 9 a.m., followed by the ag mechanics show at 11 a.m. and chili, brisket and Dutch oven cobbler is served at 11:30 (for $10). The auction begins at 12:30 p.m. and corn hole competition at 1:30 p.m.
Call Wade Bartley at 903-348-1878 for more information.
Halloween Activities
Woods of the Dead, benefiting Operation Victor Echo Tango, is open every Friday and Saturday in October from dark to midnight at 2779 CR 2426 in Como.
The Second Annual Halloween Screamfest is hosted by VR Social, located at 317 Spring Street, from Oct. 25-31. The events will include an outdoor horror movie marathon, a ghost glow bike ride to Coleman Park, dead walking on the square, and a Halloween pet photo booth. The Screamfest benefits Let Love Live animal rescue sanctuary.
Ribbon Cutting
Chillax, located at 1707 South Broadway Suite 9, hosted a ribbon cutting Friday, Oct. 1. Please help us welcome them to the community.
CO323 Designs will host a ribbon cutting at noon Friday, Oct. 8, at their location, 309 Industrial Drive East. Please join us for that celebration.
Divorce Rates Drop as Pandemic Continues
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County
As Family & Community Health Extension Agent for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, an article recently caught my eye. I am a strong advocate for traditional marriage relationships. Strong marital relationships lead to strong families and strong families lead to strong communities. The article was part of an e-newsletter from National Association for Relationships & Marriage Education (NARME), and written by Bryan Salamone, lawyer. He stated that the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, divorce lawyers across the country saw an uptick in filings, with more couples feeling the strain of quarantine and deciding to call it quits. However, year-to-year data shows that fewer people are filing for divorce in 2021, suggesting that one side effect of the pandemic is a decrease in dissolved marriages.
There are a number of factors that may have contributed to the drop in divorces after the early-pandemic increase. The decline may be a reflection of the strength of the relationship that people had when the pandemic began. In an April 202 survey, nearly 30% of married couples said that the pandemic was driving them closer to divorce. They felt the strain of lock-downs, homeschooling, working from home and social distancing, leading them to want to get out of the marriage rather than spend a lockdown with their spouse.
Meanwhile, some couple grew closer during the pandemic. After weathering it for the first few months, they found themselves in a better place in their relationship a year later. In putting the world on pause, the pandemic afforded married couples the opportunity to focus more on what was and was not working in the marriage and to try to overcome the challenges together. I offer Twogether in Texas marriage education workshops from time to time.
The following advice is beneficial in growing stronger as a couple:
- Look for the good in your partner and give him/her a compliment
- Take time to listen to each other.
- Listen to understand – not to judge.
- When issues arise, avoid blaming each other and seek solutions.
- Give your relationships the same priority and attention you gave it when you were dating.
County-Wide 4-H Sponsored Food Drive
Every year during National 4-H Week, Hopkins County 4-H Clubs unite to provide a community service project. This year, they voted to implement a food drive during the entire month of October, with proceeds staying here in Hopkins County. We welcome donations of non-perishable food items. They may be brought to the Hopkins County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 West Houston St. (next door to the Southwest Dairy Museum), between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday. If you cannot make it during those hours, call us and we’ll work out a time – 903-885-3443.
We have already received five boxes of food and hope for many more!
Closing Thought
Personalities do not determine marital success – hearts do.
– Jeff McElroy
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B West Houston St, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
Happenings at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center
There’s fun and activities all year round for local senior citizens to take advantage of. Besides seasonal parties and birthday-of-the-month get-togethers, There’s exercise, educational fun and meeting new friends! We’d love for you to share in the fun at 150 MLK Drive!
The Tai Ji Quan class has started new session. If you come you will learn all the basic moves. Karen Moseley is a certified instructor. She will have you moving with the rest of the class in no time. Classes are Monday and Thursday from 10:45 – 11:45.
The Happy Scrappy Card Class is having a challenge. If you attend and bring a friend you will receive a nice prize. You will have so much fun learn to make greeting cards and meeting new friends. Class is every 1st Monday at 1:30.
BINGO is so much fun and keeps your mind sharp. We have guest callers ever Wednesday and Friday. Come early, get some coffee, visit with your friends or make some new ones. BINGO is every Wednesday and Friday at 9:30. Don’t miss out.
Rummikub is a Fun Game that will help keep your mind going. It just takes a few minutes to learn to play the game. We play Rummikub every Thursday (except the 4th) at 1:00.
BUNCO is a fast fun dice game. We have lots of laughs while playing the game. If you don’t know how to play we will teach you. If you can roll a dice then you can learn to play. It is fun and easy. Bunco is played on the 4th Thursday at 1:00 p.m.
Line Dancing is a good form of exercise. You get to exercise, learn some new dance moves, listen to some good music and have fun with some friends. Line Dancing is every Tuesday at 1:30.
Art and Painting Class is a great way to learn some new skills or hone some old ones. Vera Allen is a skilled artist that will have you painting in no time. You won’t believe what you could do. All the equipment is provided for you. Art and Painting Class is Every Tuesday at 10:00
Chair Yoga is a great way to Lower your blood pressure, Ease your stress, Helps you Sleep better, Get better balance, Ease your back pain and Builds your Bones Chair Yoga is Every Monday and Thursday from 11:45 – 12:45
Craft Workshop is a fun class to learn a new craft each month. Leslie Forshee will bring something new and exciting every month for you to have fun learning to do. Bring a Friend and Learn something new together. Craft Workshop is every 3rd Monday at 1:30
Shawls of Love is a group that meets and makes Shawls, Caps, Lap Blankets and other items for people with Cancer or that are on Hospice. If you like to knit or crochet please come see what it is all about. Stacey Wetzel with Sulphur Springs Imaging Center sees that every item is delivered to someone in need. Shawls of Love meets on the 4th Monday at 10:00 AM.
42 is a Domino game that is the “National Game of Texas” If you don’t know how to play they will teach you. You will get to show off your skills at a 42 Tournament that is held 3 times during the year. 42 is played every Wednesday at 12:30 and on the 1st Saturday of the month at 1:00
