Federal Grand Jury has Indicted a Sulphur Springs Woman in Connection to the Death of a Juvenile
July 1, 2025 – A federal grand jury has indicted a Sulphur Springs woman in connection to the death of a juvenile who overdosed on a drug called N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene.
Twenty-four-year old Diamon Leann Yates is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance resulting in death.
The case was the first instance of the drug being identified in Texas and the seventh in the U.S.
Because it was the first instance of the drug being used in Texas, it was not recognized under Texas law. So Hopkins County investigators sought the help of federal prosecutors.
According to a news release from Sheriff Lewis Tatum, the case has been investigated since July 17 of last year, when a female juvenile was found dead from an overdose. The news release says an investigation revealed the pills were purchased from Yates.
The sheriff’s office released the following statement:
“The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office extends its gratitude to all federal agencies involved for their invaluable collaboration and support in bringing this case to the federal level. This arrest underscores the commitment of the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office to combat the distribution of dangerous narcotics and seek justice for victims of overdose.”
6th Annual Foundation Handbag Bingo Title Sponsor Announced
July 1, 2025 – Sulphur Springs, TX – The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation is honored to announce that the Alliance Bank family of businesses (Alliance Bank, Alliance Bank Financial Services, and Galyean Insurance) is the title sponsor for August 7’s Designer Handbag Bingo. This is the second year the Alliance Bank group has been the title sponsor, following its first year as the title sponsor last year.
Alliance Bank has been supportive of the Foundation since the latter’s founding 28 years ago. The Alliance Bank trio of businesses recognize the importance of great local healthcare for its employees, customers, and the community it serves. The Foundation is proud to partner with them on increasing healthcare opportunities in the area. Proceeds from Designer Handbag Bingo will fund a free mammography clinic for uninsured Hopkins County women over the age of 40, to be held in October at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ Ruth & Jack Gillis Women’s Center.
Hopkins County Market President Jason Thompson commented, “Alliance Bank, Alliance Bank Financial Services, and Galyean Insurance are pleased to again serve as the Title Sponsor for Designer Handbag Bingo. We love to serve our community, and being able to make lifesaving screenings available for local women means a lot to us. We are happy to work with the Foundation to bring this clinic to fruition.”
“Thank you to our friends at Alliance Bank, Alliance Bank Financial Services, and Galyean Insurance for being our 2025 Designer Handbag Bingo title sponsor,” responded Pam Black, Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s board chair. “We are so thankful for their support as we serve Hopkins County. In particular, we appreciate the role they play in making the free mammography clinic a reality for local women.”
Designer Handbag Bingo sponsorships will go on sale on May 19, and tables will go on sale on June 23 until the event is sold out. Visit handbagbingo25.givesmart.com for all the details on the night.
The Foundation is an IRS 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit with the purpose of expanding local healthcare opportunities for the benefit of Hopkins County residents.
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Summer II Term Begins July 14 at Paris Junior College
July 1, 2025 – Summer II term begins July 14 at PJC
There is still time to register for the Summer II term at Paris Junior College. Classes begin on Monday, July 14, 2025 and it’s a good idea for students to come in ahead of time to sign up.
New students must apply to be admitted to PJC. Once admitted, they will see a student success coach or advisor and get registered for classes. Those interested in starting at PJC may email [email protected] or come by the Admissions Office in the Administration Building.
Returning students can go to the Advising and Counseling Office in the Alford Center or email [email protected].
Summer II term begins July 14 at the PJC-Greenville Center
There is still time to register for the Summer II term at the Paris Junior College – Greenville Center. Classes begin on Monday, July 14, 2025 and it’s a good idea for students to come in ahead of time to sign up.
New students must apply to be admitted to PJC. Once admitted, they will see a student success coach or advisor and get registered for classes. Those interested in starting at PJC may email [email protected] or stop by the Center at 6500 Monty Stratton Parkway in Greenville.
Returning students are welcome to come by the Center or email [email protected].
Summer II term begins July 14 at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center
There is still time to register for the Summer II term at the Paris Junior College – Sulphur Springs Center. Classes begin on Monday, July 14, 2025 and it’s a good idea for students to come in ahead of time to sign up.
New students must apply to be admitted to PJC. Once admitted, they will see a student success coach or advisor and get registered for classes. Those interested in starting at PJC may email [email protected] or stop by the Center at 1137 Loop 301 East in Sulphur Springs.
Returning students are welcome to come by the Center or email [email protected].
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.
Rylee George Wrangles College Rodeo Finals Championship for ETAMU
George is the fourth Lion in four consecutive years to win a national championship for East Texas A&M Rodeo.
COMMERCE, TX, July 1, 2025—East Texas A&M University cowgirl Rylee George joined the ranks of Lion champions after capturing a national title in the Breakaway Roping event at the 2025 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) held in Casper, Wyo.
George’s victory gives the Lion Rodeo program its fifth individual national championship in four years among four different riders.
Taking the Championship Crown
Five Lions qualified for the CNFR after finishing in the top three in their events in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southern Region standings. This year’s CNFR qualifiers included George, Jill White, Mayce Marek, Trace Harris and Garrett Freeman.
George and Harris finished the three qualifying rounds in the top 12, sending them to the rodeo’s championship final. Harris finished twelfth in the Steer Wrestling event.
George, who entered the final round of Breakaway Roping with a total time of 7.7 seconds across three attempts, roped the calf in 2.3 seconds to finish with a four-round total of 10 seconds flat. This was good enough to put her in a tie for first with Kate Eiland of Pearl River Community College. The championship was awarded to both riders.
Additionally, the American Quarter Horse Association named George’s horse, “Royce,” the Breakaway Roping Horse of the Year.
A Solid Finish for Lion Rodeo
Here’s how the rest of the Lion CNFR qualifiers fared:
- Freeman and team partner Teyton Barton of Northeast Texas Community College finished 19th in Team Roping.
- Marek finished 22nd in the overall standings for Goat Tying but boasted a round one victory with a time of six seconds.
- White finished 34th in Breakaway Roping but won round three with a time of 1.8 seconds, just a tenth of a second slower than the fastest time of the entire week.
In addition to individual success, the East Texas A&M Women’s team finished fourth in the overall standings with just three competitors, matching its highest-ever finish at the CNFR. This is also the team’s second-highest season finish after it finished first in the NIRA overall standings during the shortened 2020 season.
Head Rodeo Coach Dameon White applauded the team’s success during the 2024-25 season.
“I am super proud of each team and the way they competed throughout this year,” White said. “Everyone gave 110% and that is all we can ask for.”
The previous four CNFR National Champions for East Texas A&M Rodeo are as follows:
- 2025: Rylee George, Breakaway Roping
- 2024: Kaden Profili, Team Roping
- 2023: Kincade Henry, Tie Down Roping
- 2022: Bryana Lehrmann, Breakaway Roping and Women’s All-Around Champion
Learn more about Rodeo at East Texas A&M.
Texas A&M Forest Service Urges Caution During Fourth of July Holiday
July 1, 2025 – COLLEGE STATION, Texas— As Texans prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, Texas A&M Forest Service urges everyone to use caution with outdoor activities that could ignite a wildfire.
“Wildfire potential is not expected to be high across Texas this Fourth of July weekend,” said Luke Kanclerz, Predictive Services Department Head. “Widespread rainfall in May and early June has improved fuel conditions across much of the state. While small wildfires remain possible in the eastern half of Texas as hot, dry conditions settle in, any fires that do occur are expected to remain small and exhibit low resistance to control.”
Nearly 90 percent of wildfires in Texas are human-caused, and Independence Day consistently ranks among the top days for wildfire starts. Simple precautions can help prevent holiday celebrations from turning dangerous.
The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public show hosted by professionals. If you plan to set off your own fireworks, please follow these safety tips:
- Before you celebrate, always check with local government officials for any burn bans or other restrictions. Be sure to comply with all restrictions.
- Read and follow all warnings and instruction labels on fireworks.
- Use fireworks only under close adult supervision and in safe areas away from structures, dry grass and brush.
- Keep a hose, bucket of water and wet towels nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.
- Dispose of used fireworks in a bucket of water.
- Never ignite fireworks in a container, especially a glass or metal container.
To help prevent wildfires during hot and dry conditions, follow these additional tips:
- Avoid parking and idling in tall, dry grass. Catalytic converters can get hot enough to ignite the grass under a vehicle.
- Ensure chains and other metal parts aren’t dragging from your vehicle—they throw sparks.
- Avoid placing your grill near flammable vegetation or materials, never leave your grill unattended, and ensure coals are completely extinguished when you are done.
Note: Burn bans and fireworks restrictions are determined by county government. Texas A&M Forest Service does not determine, set or lift these restrictions.
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Church of the Nazarene to Hold Vacation Bible School July 16th Through the 18th
July 1, 2025 – Be prepared to experience the jaw-dropping beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, the arid temperature of outback afternoons, the architectural marvels of Australia’s modern cities, and the fascinating eucalyptus forest, home of the koalas.
At Zoomerang, the newest Answers VBS, you’ll marvel at the unforgettable wildlife, culture, and beauty of Australia while exploring the wonder and value of life, from the lives of preborn babies to eternal life in the kingdom of God.
USDA Announces Phased Reopening of Southern Border for Livestock Trade
July 1, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a phased reopening of five key southern ports for livestock trade, following positive evaluations of Mexico’s response to the New World Screwworm outbreak. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) determined that Mexican authorities have effectively controlled the pest, clearing the way for a cautious resumption of cross-border animal movements.
The reopening begins July 7 at Douglas, Arizona, and will continue with additional ports reopening each week: Columbus, New Mexico on July 14; Santa Teresa, New Mexico on July 21; Del Rio, Texas on August 18; and Laredo, Texas on September 15.
“The phased approach allows USDA to closely monitor conditions after each reopening to ensure there are no adverse effects to U.S. agriculture,” the agency said in a statement.
The New World Screwworm, a parasitic fly that can devastate livestock populations, prompted temporary closures earlier this year to prevent its spread into the U.S. APHIS experts have since confirmed that eradication and surveillance efforts by Mexico’s agriculture officials were successful and aligned with international standards.
Each reopened port will undergo continued monitoring, and the USDA will reassess after each phase to verify that the risk remains minimal.
The reopening is expected to restore critical livestock trade routes that support ranchers, exporters, and border economies. The USDA emphasized that it remains committed to both trade and animal health, ensuring that economic activity can resume without jeopardizing biosecurity.
Producers and transporters are advised to stay updated with USDA guidelines and coordinate with APHIS field offices as operations resume. The agency will provide further updates if conditions change or additional safeguards are needed.
This careful return to livestock trade marks a major step in supporting agricultural resilience while maintaining strict animal health protections.
This and That for July 2025 From Master Gardener David Wall
July 1, 2025 – Clip, store and hang on to this for use in 2026. Unless you’re eating organic bread, you’re consuming glyphosate, the key ingredient in roundup. While wheat may not be GMO ready, roundup will probably be sprayed on the crop to ensure the entire crop dies at the same time.
Water used in soaking beans can be used as fertilizer. The water used in soaking onions can be a useful pesticide and as a nutrient solution for plants. Sugar dissolved in water makes a great rooting agent.
Agriculture baking soda is a natural fungicide and insecticide. Mix one spoon of it with 500 grams (17 fluid ounces) of water. Spray the solution to wet vegetable leaves once a week for three weeks and forget about vegetable pests.
For a great rooting agent or root stimulant, mix 20 grams of brown sugar, 100 grams rice vinegar and 4 gallons of water. Pour on the plant surface weekly for four weeks.
Brown sugar is almost an unknown in vegetable gardens, but the literature suggests that 500 grams is the equivalent of two bags of fertilizer. Used improperly, and it does no good and may actually harm your vegetables. For a best use, mix 50 grams of brown sugar with 50 grams of liquid urea, 100 grams of rice vinegar, and four liters of water. Stir well and let ferment for 24 hours. Then spray on plant foliage.
For a great fertilizer to use on beans, mix a beer 50/50 with water, throw in a small handful of brown sugar, and pour on the plant base. Beer is a great soil stimulator, although I’m afraid to sue it full strength. So, I delete 50/50
Give your aloe plants a shot in the arm periodically by watering with a coke – Yes, the soft drink cola!
Cruz and Cornyn Want Space Shuttle Back in Texas
June 30, 2025 – Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are making a renewed push to bring the Space Shuttle Discovery to Houston by embedding their initiative—the “Bring the Space Shuttle Home Act”—into the sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill” now advancing through the U.S. Senate. The legislation, a key part of President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, includes broad tax cuts, infrastructure investments, and nearly $10 billion in new NASA funding.
The shuttle provision, added by the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee chaired by Cruz, allocates $85 million toward relocating Discovery from the Smithsonian’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia to Space Center Houston, the official visitor center for NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The bill directs “no less than $5 million” toward transport costs and the remainder toward constructing a new facility to house the orbiter in Texas.
Sen. Cornyn touted the measure during a June 20 press conference, calling it a chance to right a historical wrong after Houston was bypassed for a shuttle display in 2011. “It would be nice if there were more to go around,” Cornyn said, “but since there are only four, we are going to get the one that we should have gotten back in 2010.”
“The White House has nothing to do with it,” Obama said in 2011. During an interview Obama further emphasized that politics did not influence the decision-making process after it was implied that the orbiters had been awarded to states that were critical for his re-election.
The effort is not without complications. Previous cost estimates for moving a shuttle have ranged from $28.8 million to upwards of $300 million. The Smithsonian has warned Congress that the true price tag could exceed $200 million—far more than the $85 million currently proposed.
To avoid running afoul of Senate rules that prohibit earmarks, the bill avoids directly naming Discovery, the Smithsonian, or Space Center Houston. Instead, it vaguely authorizes relocating a “space vehicle” to a NASA center involved in the Commercial Crew program, with a display mandated within that center’s metropolitan area—effectively narrowing options to Houston.
If passed, the legislation would require the NASA Administrator to designate the spacecraft within 30 days and complete the transfer within 18 months. The House, which passed its own version of the “Big Beautiful Bill” in May, must still agree to the Senate’s language. Texas Rep. Randy Weber has pledged to support the shuttle’s move in the House version.
The political effort signals growing confidence among Texas lawmakers that their long-held goal of hosting a shuttle could finally be realized—pending Senate approval and the challenging logistics of relocating one of America’s most iconic spacecraft.
Are You A Texas Electric Cooperative Member? You Could Win Gulf Shrimp
June 30, 2025 – Texas Gulf shrimp are harvested from the pristine waters of the Gulf of Mexico and its coastal bay systems. Their reputation for premium quality is derived from a natural, robust flavor prized by good cooks and renowned chefs alike.
In fact, top Texas chefs are fortunate to have the Gulf of Mexico and its bounty in their own backyard. They consistently choose wild-caught Gulf shrimp in their kitchens, because they are deliciously sweet, complement any occasion and offer an array of flavor in every bite!
Wild shrimp also have a unique, briny (oceanlike) flavor because of their healthy, natural diet. This is just another way Texas Gulf shrimp set themselves apart from other available species. These tantalizing flavor compounds are particularly apparent in brown shrimp.
Two lucky winners will each receive a 5-pound package of wild-caught shrimp shipped directly from the Texas Gulf Coast. The contest is open through August 31, 2025. Enter today for your chance to win!
