Hicks: Youth Skills Camp Announcement
The Hopkins County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is providing the 2021 Youth Skills Camp for students going into grades 6 and 7 in the fall semester.
The camp will include hands-on, interactive sessions, and is free of charge. Topics and dates are:
Monday, July 19: Fun with Foods assisted by Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers. In this session, campers will learn to read a recipe, measure ingredients, learn about food safety and cross contamination, hand hygiene, and more.
Working in groups, campers will prepare an entire meal and enjoy consuming it!
Tuesday, July 20: Public Speaking/Impromptu Speaking will include group activities and creative thinking
Wednesday, July 21: Horticulture will be led by Hopkins County Master Gardeners.
This hands-on session will include nice give-aways.
To register, contact Johanna Hicks at the Hopkins County Extension Office, 903-885-3443.
Participation is limited to the first 15 students. All sessions will take place at the Hopkins County Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs.
City Awarded Grant to Help Construct Outdoor Fitness Court At Pacific Park
Stock Donated To Help Fund Senior Citizens Center Project
Sulphur Springs officials this week reported both good and bad news regarding the planned senior citizens center project, and good news regarding the Pacific Park project as well. While the bid for the pre-engineered metal frame for the new Senior Citizens building was much high than city officials had anticipated, the city also received a stock donation to help the project and has been awarded a grant to help pay for the additional of an outdoor fitness court at Pacific Park.
Senior Citizens Center Project
City Manager Marc Maxwell noted that while more than 20 requested packets the city only received one bid, and it was for more than a half of a million dollars, up from the quarter of a million dollars originally budgeted for the pre-engineered steel frame for the Senior Citizens Center. Continued rising costs of construction were cited as cause.
“The word that we are getting is that none of the steel supplies are willing to guarantee the price of the steel, so the contractors are adding a huge margin on it to cover themselves,” Maxwell said.
The city manager anticipates, in a future meeting, asking the City Council to reject the bid, then later again go out for bids for pre-engineer metal frame for the new facility to be constructed on Oak Avenue for senior citizens activities.
Maxwell also reported that a donor who wishes to remain anonymous has indicated a desire to give to the city a “considerable” stock, proceeds from which would be applied toward the senior citizens center construction effort. The donor wishes to contribute the stock instead of selling, then donating the proceeds because the donor would then incur tax liabilities.
“They just want to donate the stock. We have no way to receive it without an account. There’s some kind of prior relationship there with Craig Johnson of Edward Jones. So I would like authorization to open up an account to receive the stock . Once we receive it, we will immediately sell it and place the proceeds in our equity account. Our finance department will do all the other things,” Maxwell told the City Council during the regular July meeting held earlier this week.
The City Council authorized the city manager to open an Edward Jones account for the purpose of receiving the securities donation.
Pacific Park Project
While the voter approved funding allowed for construction of a new Grays Building and a Texas Parks & Wildlife grant will go toward additional renovations in the park, yet another grant has been approved to help fund an outdoor fitness court at Pacific Park as well.
Assistant City Manager Tory Niewiadomski noted that the outdoor fitness court is one of the things identified by the community a Parks and Recreation Open Space Master Plan was devised for improvements to city facilities. Niewiadomski and City Manager Marc Maxwell reached out to the National Fitness Campaign, a program offering grants of $25,000 to communities to help with this purpose.
The city’s park facilities were evaluated. With the considerable investment being made at Pacific Park, that was the area recommended for an outdoor fitness court. NFC looked at it and the city has has been awarded at $25,000 grant for construction of an outdoor fitness court in Pacific Park.
“This is an outdoor gym that offers free fitness opportunities to any residents and visitors and is fully accessible for all ages and abilities,” Niewiadomski said.
The National Fitness Campaign’s concept incorporates equipment for 7 movements (core, squat, push, lunge, pull agility and bend) that can be completed in 7 minutes, using the individual’s own body weight to get a “perfect workout.” The city officials played a short video from the 2021 NFC website about the purpose of the campaign and use of outdoor fitness courts.
Maxwell said he plans to approach 2-3 industries to see if they will partner with the city to provide $30,000-$35,000 each to help fund the fitness court.
Niewiadomski asked the City Council to agree to proceed so that funding can be budgeted for an outdoor fitness court can be budged in the 2021-22 calendar year.
The City Council approved Resolution No. 1245, adopting and allocating funds for an outdoor fitness court as part of the 2021 National Fitness Campaign.
Man Transferred From Colorado On Hopkins County Warrant
A 44-year-old man was transferred from a Colorado correctional facility on a Hopkins County warrant Wednesday, just prior to his release, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office received notification that Javier Perez Garcia was scheduled to be release on July 8, 2021, from the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility. His release would have came after serving time on two sentences, one which carried a four-year sentence and one with a one-year sentence. Garcia, who was listed as Javier Perezgarcia in the CDC, was sentenced on the Colorado charges on Feb. 4, 2019, according to the Colorado Department of Corrections website.
HCSO Deputy Steve Huffman traveled to the correctional facility in Weld County, Colorado, which is located in far north central Colorado, and took Garcia into custody at the CTCF at 7 a.m. July 7, 2021. Huffman then transported the Longmont, Colorado (located in Weld and Bounder counties) resident to Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas. He was booked into jail at 10:21 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for indecency with a child by sexual contact. The transport deputy noted Garcia to be very cooperative, showing respect in all instances during the transfer and booking process.
Garcia was initially arrested on a warrant for the indecency charge on July 6, 2015; he remained in Hopkins County jail until Jan. 7, 2016, and had a Homeland Security hold placed on him at that time by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Garcia was held on the Hopkins County charge without bond on Thursday, July 8, 2021.
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.
Paris SBDC Holding Seven Management / Leadership Training Sessions
The Paris Small Business Development Center is holding a seven-session online training on management and leadership from Lorna Kibbey Leadership Solutions.
The sessions, running from July 12 through August 23 each Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., are designed to help businesses struggling with employee retention, hiring, and attracting employees. Paris SBDC invited Lorna Kibbey Leadership Solutions to mentor local business owners on navigating the changes in the workplace.
The sessions are: Leading in Times of Change; The People Side of Leading; Delegation: How to Do it Right; Understanding Motivation: The Secret to Motivating Others; The New Rules of Time Management; Right Person, Right Time; and Leading a Team in a Virtual World.
Participants are encouraged to bring up their workplace management issues and engage with during the question and answer session.
Kibbey is author of “Becoming A Better Boss.” She has first‐hand experience in dealing with the most difficult situations managers face, having served as a leader and manager for more than 24 years in the public sector. Lorna earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of South Florida and her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from the University of Cincinnati. An active member in the National Speaker’s Association, she served as the 2019-20 Dean of the Florida Speaker’s Association speaker academy. She currently serves Florida State University as an adjunct instructor for the state’s Certified Public Manager Program.
Registration is online at https://bit.ly/36llZdi. The first 20 individuals to register for the July 12 session and attend online will be eligible to receive one free copy of the book, “Becoming A Better Boss.” Arrangements for picking up the book or for questions email Becky Cornelius at [email protected], or call 903-782-0224.
This session is provided by CARES Act funding to deliver services and webinars to small businesses in support of business recovery.
Paris SBDC is a partnership program with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of Texas, and Paris Junior College. Advising services are offered by the Paris SBDC without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sex, or disability. Special provisions will be made for limited English-speaking individuals and those with disabilities. Those interested may contact the Paris SBDC at 903-782-0224. Paris SBDC is partially funded under CARES Act Cooperative agreement #SBAHQ20C0059 by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBDC is committed to helping our clients that have been affected by COVID-19. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law and provides funds to SBDC’s to provide expanded services and resources due to the pandemic.
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.
Lady Cats Soccer Continues to Go Well as Edge Wraps Up Next Week
Another day, another week, and its business as usual for the Lady Cats soccer program.
Coach Javier Aguayo’s squad earlier today finished up their fifth week of the Edge, so with only one week remaining in the summer strength and conditioning program, KSST went out to Gerald Prim stadium on Thursday, July 8, to see if the Lady Cats soccer program were set to finish the Edge on track.
Unfortunately, Coach Aguayo has been rehabbing his leg, forcing the Lady Cats soccer coach to be away from the team the last two days.
It was no matter, though, as Coach Salvador Mejia, or Coach Sal, JVB coach of the Wildcats soccer program and second assistant to Coach Alexi Upton, has ran the Edge the past few days as both teams have combined for a portion of this week for practice.
Even though last weekend was a holiday weekend, Steven Moreno, head assistant coach of the Lady Cats soccer program, had plenty of compliments to dish out to KSST regarding his team’s progress.
Coach Moreno said even with the holiday weekend, it was good to have a lot of kids come back and give the Edge their all as the summer strength and conditioning program draws to a close.
He reiterated what Coach Aguayo said a few weeks ago, in that the incoming junior class will be instrumental to the Lady Cats success come fall.
The assistant Lady Cats soccer coach said that having so many talented and gifted athletes is a big plus, but to have those same kids know what is expected of them and to mentor the younger students as they get their wings is huge.
To also have several underclassmen standouts return to this squad, and to be able to continue driving this team towards success, will also be pivotal to this team’s success.
Coach Aguayo said when we last spoke with him that it will take the organization and cooperation of so many talented pieces if the Lady Cats wish to make a run at the postseason in the winter.
Not only that, but Coach Moreno said that the incoming eighth grade class has shown promise with their abilities, so it is tough not to imagine the future of the Lady Cats soccer program is in good hands.
How will that shake out come fall and onwards? Only time will tell.
For now, Coach Aguayo, Coach Moreno and their Lady Cats will look to finish out next week strong when the Edge for the women’s soccer program concludes on Thursday, July 15.
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.
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report – July 2021
Sulphur Springs City Council received from City Manager Marc Maxwell the following monthly manager’s report during the July 7, 2021, council meeting:
COVID-19 Response
The number of active cases in Hopkins County decreased 58% since our last meeting with 16 active cases as of May 28th. There are 0 patients in the COVID unit at the hospital.
Grays Building
The building is sufficiently completed to rent out for events. Landscaping is in-process, and the 3 large roll-up doors are temporarily fitted with aluminum panels rather that the glass panels that will eventually be installed.
Claims
We received 1 minor workers compensation claim in June. A Police officer backed into a passenger car causing $3,653 of damages to the passenger car. A claim has been submitted to TML.
A local motorist submitted a claim for damages to their vehicle after they drove over an incomplete utility repair. TML denied the claim.
Senior Citizens Building
We received a single bid for the engineered metal frame for the building. We will discuss that in another agenda item.
Saputo Sewer Main
Construction is about 80% complete. 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 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
This will be the next reconstruction project after the Saputo Sewer Line Project.
Revenues And Expenditures
Finance Director Lesa Smith will present a report of revenues and expenditures.
Street Improvement Program
Texana Land and Asphalt began repaving the streets in this year’s Street Improvement Program (SIP) today. I expect them to finish by summer’s end. They began with Duckworth Street.
| Street | Segment | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | Davis to Brinker | 565 |
| Beckham | Oak to Elm | 3,379 |
| Duckworth | Mockingbird to Broadway | 1,250 |
| Gena | Cul de Sac to end | 1,130 |
| League | Bellview to Pampa | 3,131 |
| Lee | Davis to Broadway | 1,901 |
| N. Davis | Houston to Bonner | 675 |
| Patton | College to Weaver | 950 |
| Phyllis Ct. | College to Cul de Sac | 950 |
| Texas | Tate to Lee | 2,772 |
| Texas | Lee to Industrial | 1,188 |
| Woodbridge Crossing | Various | 500 |
| Total Linear Feet | 19,391 | |
| Total Miles | 3.67 | |
| Total Cost | $1,152,098 | |
| Street Maintenance Fee Revenue | $502,000 |
* Funding from street maintenance budget.
Miscellaneous
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Repaired 238 potholes.
- Removed fallen trees from city streets after storms.
- Installed 932 feet of 15-inch sewer main.
- Finished installing parking, sidewalks, and other concrete flat work at the Grays building.
- Installed plumbing fixtures in the Grays Building.
- Completed public safety training in the areas of driving, crime scene investigation, defensive tactics, and CPR.
- Responded to 210 animal control calls while achieving a 79% adoption rate.
- Made 4 felony arrests in the Special Crimes unit.
- Seized 1.5 pounds of marijuana and $14,444 in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Responded to 49 accidents, wrote 512 citations, made 49 arrests, and recorded 48 arrests in the Patrol Division.
- Responded to 2,408 calls for police service.
- Responded to 197 fire/rescue calls including 3 structure fires, 3 vehicle fires, and 2 grass fires.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 84 fire hydrants.
- Conducted 48 fire inspections and reviewed 48 pre-fire plans.
- Hosted a softball tournament and a baseball tournament.
- Served 3,649 meals to seniors.
- Checked out 3,735 items from the library plus 722 eBooks.
- Installed a generator on the Grays Building.
- Installed controls for irrigation system at Pacific Park.
- Filed a claim with Federal Signal for non-working tornado sirens.
- Performed preventative maintenance on many items at the wastewater treatment plant.
- Sent 275 tons of sludge to composting contractor and 400 tons to the landfill.
- Repaired 3 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 14 water meters.
- Unstopped 23 sewer mains.
- Saw another employee receive a Class D water License.
- Repaired 7 sewer mains.
- Flushed 36 dead-end water mains.
- Operated flood gates at lake Sulphur Springs.
- Sold 147 million gallons of potable water.
- Sold 3,189 gallons of AvGas and 13,026 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Accommodated 1,621 operations at the airport.
TWC Earmarks $9 Million For Initiative To End The Middle Skills Gap In Texas
AUSTIN –The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) earmarked funding for a comprehensive statewide strategy to end the middle skills gap in Texas. Due to technological advances in the workplace, employment demand has dramatically increased for individuals with middle skills, defined as workers with some education beyond high school but less than a four-year degree. TWC, the state agency charged with promoting and supporting the state’s workforce, will direct up to $9 million in grant funding for job creation, job preparedness, and job progression activities to help put more Texas workers on a path to a career in a rewarding middle skills job.
“The Texas economy is expanding and there are more than 800,000 jobs available for workers with the right skill set,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “Many of these jobs require very short-term training or education but can connect Texans to a lifetime of increased career potential and earnings.”
Eligible activities under the initiative include: a career pathways app for students and job seekers, one-on-one job coaching, training and certifications in high demand occupations, and a mobile credential tracker.
“Technological advances give us the opportunity to leverage talent and resources to address this gap in local communities across Texas, giving our workforce the tools they need to succeed,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “Expanding our TWC programs with special emphasis on middle skills ensures all job seekers in Texas have resources and opportunity for upward mobility.”
The Ending the Middle Skills Gap initiative builds on existing TWC programs and services, which are available to all Texans through https://www.twc.texas.gov/ or through 180 Workforce Solutions Centers around the state.
“Supporting initiatives to address the middle skills gap is critical for Texas employers and job seekers,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson. “Working with our partners to develop more career pathway opportunities helps all Texans, including transitioning foster youth and people with disabilities which ultimately assist in creating a more successful economy in Texas.”
The agency earmarked additional funding for virtual reality technology to support career exploration, short-term training for parents of children in TWC’s child care program, outreach efforts, training and certifications in advanced trades/manufacturing, expanding the adult early learning math call center, and providing remedial math assistance for applicants in the registered apprenticeship program. Furthermore, the agency will leverage new and existing programs to optimize participation of foster youth and people with disabilities. The agency will bring the package back for final approval.
The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8942 or visit www.texasworkforce.org. To receive notifications about TWC programs and services subscribe to our email updates.
Designer Handbag Bingo to Raise $ for Healthcare Foundation on August 12
Here’s a Fun-raiser by the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation! Plan to be there inside the Civic Center on Thursday August 12, 2021. Doors open at 5pm and rounds begin at 6pm. Play ten rounds of bingo for a chance at 20 designer handbags! Plus extra-game and bonus cards will be available! Get your friends together to make it even more fun…reserve a table for 8 for $300. Individual tickets are $30. Ticket includes a bingo packet and drink ticket. Order in advance or purchase at the door!
Designer Handbag Bingo Tickets are now available! Get your seat or, even better, a table with your friends, while they last!
We still have sponsor spots available if you’d like to help support the Foundation (see attached form).
You can purchase tickets, tables, extra game cards and bonus game cards here:
Designer Handbag Bingo | Powered By GiveSmart
Questions? Email [email protected]
Can’t wait to see you at this fun event!
2021 Old Saltillo Cemetery Memorial Day is July 18, also Historical Marker Dedication of Old Jefferson Road
OLD SALTILLO CEMETERY ASSOCIATION BUSINESS MEETING/MEMORIAL DAY
by Vivian Dennis Monzingo
Plans are being made for the Annual Old Saltillo Cemetery Association Business
Meeting/Memorial Day to be held at 10:30 a.m., July 18, 2021, in the Old Saltillo United Methodist Church, located at 664 County Road 3357, Saltillo, Texas.
The program will begin with congregational singing led by Steve Conley. After the
opening ceremony, a business meeting will follow that includes a formal report of the activities of the Board of Directors, the financial position of the Association, plans for the coming year, and the election of three Board of Director members for the 2021-2024 term.
Keeping with tradition, a Memorial Program eulogizing loved ones buried in the Old
Saltillo Cemetery will be conducted. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the 2020 annual
meeting was not held. Names to be honored will be all who have been buried in the Old Saltillo Cemetery from July 19, 2019 – July 18, 2021. Family members present are
asked to stand during the reading of a short verse and a star will be placed on a
painting in remembrance of the loved ones. Kelli McAfee Tarver, Ginnifer Agee Doyle, and their daughters will present the remembrance. A special musical presentation will be offered by Steve Conley.
The Old Saltillo Cemetery has received the very prestigious recognition by the Texas
Historical Commission with an Official Texas Historical Marker. A dedication ceremony will be the program for this year’s annual meeting. John Sellers, Chair of the County Historical Commission, will preside at the dedication. This is a very historic Hopkins County Cemetery. It received the Historic Designation in 2018 and the subject marker completes its story.
The Old Saltillo Cemetery originated as the burial place of a child who died near Saltillo in 1870s, while traveling the Jefferson Road with his family. His name and the burial plot are unknown. There were two marked burials in 1873, one in 1875, one in 1876, and two each in l878 and l879.
Beginning in the early 1930s, annual memorial services were held at the Old Saltillo
Methodist Church. Early each morning on the day of the Memorial service two or three men took their shotguns to the woods to hunt for squirrels. After they shot the squirrels, the men cleaned them, North of the church building they built a fire under a large pot already containing water. Into the pot they put the squirrel carcasses, stewed tomatoes, canned corn, potatoes, salt and pepper. By noon time the stew was ready to be eaten. The women of the community provided numerous dessert such as chess pie, chocolate pie, pineapple cake, German chocolate cake, butterscotch pie, banana pudding, and blackberry cobbler.
Until the early ‘60s the program was scheduled for the third Thursday in July. By that
time, the cotton crops had been” laid by.”
In order to raise money for the upkeep of the cemetery at Old Saltillo, men of the
community sold concessions during the noon hour and all afternoon. They sold soft
drinks, cooled in tubs of ice; candy bars; and even ice cream from canisters stacked in wash tubs filled with ice. In the afternoon children stood near the concession stand, located under the oak trees north of the church building, hoping that a generous adult would supply them with sodas and ice cream. After all, the money went for a good cause.
In the l940s and the 1950s the annual observance were an all-day event, but in more
recent years the celebration ends with the noon meal. Since 1960, the services are
held on the third Sunday in July.
On July 18, 2021, following the Unveiling of The Marker, lunch will be served in the air-conditioned Kirby Memorial Center. You are asked to bring some of your favorite dishes – enough to feed all in your party and share some with others. Lunch will be served immediately after the program in a buffet manner with all eating utensils, plates, iced drinks, and coffee provided. Seating in the serving area is limited; however, space is plentiful under the huge oak trees around the church. Feel free to bring lawn chairs, card tables, etc. to enjoy your lunch and fellowship with others in attendance. At 1:30 p.m., an unveiling ceremony will be held approximately one-half of a mile north of the church/cemetery on County Road 3357 to dedicate an Official Texas Historical Marker for the Old Jefferson Road.
Old Saltillo was just a camping ground with no name, in the 1840s, located where two old by-roads crossed at the edge of the prairie in the Eastern part of Hopkins County, about one-half mile from the Franklin County Line.
About 1842, the Jefferson Road, with right of way sixty feet wide, was cut and passed through the camping ground. The Jefferson Road ran from Fort Worth, Dallas and surrounding points to Jefferson, Texas’ principal river port at that time. The local branch of the Jefferson Road began at Mount Pleasant and went west to Old Tarrant, which at that time was the county seat of Hopkins County.
The Jefferson Road was everyone’s road. An occasional stagecoach would use the
road as an alternate, and at times a troop of Calvary would follow the road a piece.
Cattle were driven over the road to the market in Jefferson. Oxen trains could be seen plodding the road. Horse and mule drawn wagons were there too.
From one to three spans of mules were used, or from one to three yoke of oxen. The
trip took about eight or ten days with mules pulling the wagons from Old Saltillo to
Jefferson.
One favorite place to camp for the travelers was Twin Groceries. It was an excellent camping ground, and people going east would camp early in order to let their teams graze on the prairie. Those going west would travel late in order to do likewise. Today there are vestiges of the Old Jefferson Wagon Road. Its roadbed is still visible in places. When it was in use, they let trees grow at its edges to prevent erosion. For the most part its path is now on private property. Aerial photos and satellite images show the roadbed here and there. One can still find traces and fragments of the old stores’ foundations and chimney at Twin Groceries (Old Saltillo). Information in this message concerning the history of the Old Saltillo Cemetery and the Old Jefferson Road was taken from the application to the Texas Historical Commission. Sponsor Name: Montie G. Monzingo, dated 8/21/18. We hope that you will be able to attend part or all of the events schedule for Sunday, July 18, 2021.
