CBP Officers Make Huge Bologna and Prescription Drug Bust at Presidio Port
No matter how your feel about the most dubious of lunch meats, Mexican bologna fetches a premium price north of the border. Estimates for it’s value range at around 10 to 20x markup once it reaches the US.
September 26, 2024 – PRESIDIO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Presidio port of entry seized 748 pounds Mexican bologna September 23, 2024. The prohibited meat was in a vehicle that arrived from Mexico. CBP officers also discovered more than 280 boxes of undeclared prescription medications while searching that same vehicle.
“We stress that it is important that travelers educate themselves on what products are allowed to be legally entered from abroad. And even if they believe an item is allowed travelers should still declare all items they are transporting to the U.S. to avoid fines and penalties,” said CBP Presidio Port Director Benito Reyes, Jr. “The concern with pork products is that they have the potential to introduce foreign animal diseases that can have devastating effects to the U.S. economy and to our agriculture industry.”
The seizure was made at 4 p.m. when a 43-year-old female, U.S. citizen driving a 2023 GMC Yukon arrived from Mexico. The driver declared a cooked meal during the primary inspection. CBP agriculture specialists initiated a secondary exam during which they removed several suitcases from the vehicle. The suitcases seemed heavier than normal. The agriculture specialists opened one suitcase and found numerous rolls of Mexican bologna inside. A total of 40 rolls were found in the suitcases.
Mexican bologna is a prohibited product because it is made from pork and has the potential for introducing foreign animal diseases to the U.S. pork industry.
CBP agriculture specialists continued their exam and located hundreds of boxes of undeclared medication hidden inside various panels of the vehicle including Tramadol, which is a schedule IV controlled substance. Other medications removed from the vehicle included Fentermina, Alprazolam, Clonazapam, Diazapam, Farmapram, Ampigran, Sulfamethoxazole and more.
The driver was issued a $1,000 civil penalty and the bologna was seized and destroyed by CBP agriculture specialists per USDA regulations. The medication was seized. CBP officers also seized the conveyance and more than $7,600 in concealed currency.
CBP has been entrusted with enforcing hundreds of laws for 40 other government agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These agencies require that unsafe items are not allowed to enter the United States. CBP officers are always at ports of entry and assume the responsibility of protecting America from all threats.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Homeland Security are partners in the effort to protect American agriculture against the introduction of pests and diseases at our nation’s ports of entry. Undeclared prohibited agriculture items will be confiscated and can result in the issuance of a civil penalty for failure to declare.
Ad Campaign Could Help Expand Popular TxDOT Roadside Service Known as HERO
September 27, 2024 – By Laura Butterbrodt
AUSTIN, TX — Revenue from ads could help expand the popular TxDOT program known as HERO that helps people stranded on roadsides throughout the state.
The Texas Transportation Commission approved a new program today that will help provide additional funding to Safety Service Patrols, known in some parts of Texas as HERO or Highway Emergency Response Operator.
Safety Service Patrols, which are currently funded entirely by local TxDOT districts, can help people on the roadside in multiple ways, including changing a tire, filling up gas and helping protect and clear crash scenes in cooperation with first responders.
For Amanda Florence, the San Antonio HERO program wasn’t even a program she was aware of until it came to her daughter’s aid this summer. Florence’s daughter, Jaylyn, was driving on I-10 and didn’t quite make it to a gas station before her car ran out of fuel. A friend suggested she call HERO, and an operator promptly came to help the young woman.
“He didn’t make her feel bad for running out of gas,” Florence said. “He told her it was going to be OK and he was there to help her. I don’t recommend breaking down on the highway, but I highly recommend the TxDOT HERO program. Five stars.”
The new funding initiative — the Acknowledgement Program — will allow companies or organizations outside TxDOT to donate to Safety Service Patrols. In exchange, donors can be acknowledged for their donations by having their name, logo or image placed on the back of a Safety Service Patrol truck.
The donations will help offset some program costs, which could result in program expansion. Safety Service Patrol responders are contracted workers. For some TxDOT districts that don’t currently have a Safety Service Patrol, donation funds could potentially garner enough funds to create a program.
Mandi Hernandez, manager of the San Antonio HERO program, said the program is invaluable in the communities it serves. The teams are committed to supporting and protecting the driving public, no matter the challenge.
“At HERO, we often embrace the mantra that each day brings the unexpected,” Hernandez said. “Whether it’s handling a major incident or assisting with something as routine as a tire change or fuel delivery, our commitment to serving the community remains steadfast.”
HERO offers its services without cost to motorists. By addressing common roadside issues onsite, the program helps prevent stranded drivers from becoming vulnerable to traffic crashes.
The teams also help quickly clear roadside incidents to minimize the risk of secondary crashes and traffic congestion. This includes towing vehicles to safer locations off of highways or frontage roads, and also supporting first responders by blocking crash scenes and redirecting traffic away from the scene.
The response of a Safety Service Patrol can sometimes be a critical intervention. Hernandez once responded to a vehicle pulled to the side of the road, assuming it would be a simple fuel issue.
“As I approached, I discovered a gentleman slumped over the steering wheel with the car still in drive and his foot on the brake,” Hernandez said. “In that critical moment, I immediately called for emergency assistance, shifted the carinto park, and began performing CPR. What started as a routine call had transformed into a life-or-death situation.”
Thanks to Hernandez’s quick response and decision-making, the man’s life was saved.
“This experience underscored the vital role we play, often in ways we cannot foresee.” Hernandez said. “It’s a powerful reminder that our work goes beyond the surface of roadside assistance. Each day, our dedication to safety and service holds the potential to make a profound difference.”
She said every HERO operator has a story of their own about being in the right place at the right time.
“It’s these moments that affirm our commitment to keeping our city safe,” Hernandez said.
Paxton Vows to Fight Unlawful Firearms Bans in the Future
September 27, 2024 – With recent show down with the State Fair of Texas and City of Dallas over legal firearms carried on public property, Attorney General Ken Paxton vows to continue his fight.
His lawsuit was rejected by a judge, and the Texas State Fair opened Friday long before his appeal process could complete.
Paxton will continue to defend Texans’ right to lawfully carry a firearm on land owned or leased by governmental entities following a ruling by the Texas Supreme Court that allows the City of Dallas to assist the State Fair of Texas to enforce a firearms ban while litigation continues.
On September 25, Attorney General Paxton filed a petition for a writ of mandamus in the Texas Supreme Court, asking it grant relief after the Fifteenth Court of Appeals refused to stop the unlawful firearms ban. Now, the Supreme Court has allowed the City of Dallas to help enforce the ban while the lawsuit proceeds.
“Texans have a right to lawfully carry and the City of Dallas has no authority to contract their rights away to a private entity,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This case is not over. I will continue to fight this on the merits to uphold Texans’ ability to defend themselves, which is protected by State law. While Texas clearly prohibits this type of gun ban, I will be working with the Legislature this session to protect law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights on public property.”
Dinner Bell Returns to Onsite Serving and Eating October 2, 2024
Christus Health was founded on January 28, 1999, with the merger of Houston’s Sisters of Charity Health Care System and San Antonio’s Incarnate Word Health System; however, its story extends back to 1866, with the founding of St. Mary’s Hospital in Galveston, Texas by the Sisters of Charity.
In 2016 Christus merged with Trinity Mother Frances Hospital and Clinics (itself a product of a merger of two Catholic based systems) giving it a major presence in East Texas.
Facing a deadly cholera epidemic in 1866 the Catholic Bishop of Texas wrote to contacts in France for help. Three women of the new Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word sailed for Galveston and established Charity Infirmary (renamed St. Mary’s Infirmary).
In 1869 Cholera ravaged San Antonio and three sisters from Galveston came to that town to establish Santa Rosa Hospital. In 1937, 16 sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth order of Chicago arrived in Tyler to establish Mother Frances Hospital, opening its doors early to aid the victims of the New London tragedy that occurred on March 18 in nearby Rusk County.
In July, 2016, the Hopkins County Hospital District and Christus Health formed an alliance in which Christus became the leasing entity of the hospital building, its employees, and the medical services of the hospital.
At Christus Health helping improve the health and well being of the communities it serves with the underlying core values of Compassion, Excellence, Dignity, Integrity, and Stewardship. Under its umbrella are 63 hospitals in the U.S., Mexico, Columbia and Chile, employing 45,000 associates.
Christus Mother Frances is a partner with Dinner Bell six times yearly. The relationship to feed those needing a meal in Sulphur Springs and its vicinity dates back to 2017.
The doors to the kitchen of the First United Methodist Church will reopen at 11:00 a.m., for meal service beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. Please come join us, along with personnel from Christus Mother Frances Hospital, to share a meal.
We plan to continue inside dining every Wednesday with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
The Fellowship Hall at First UMC will open at 11:00 a.m. and close at 12:45 p.m. each Wednesday. Parking is available at the church parking lots.
MENU:
Hamburger Steak with Brown Onion Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Bacon Infused Green Beans
Garden Salad
Buttered French Bread Slices
Lou’s Pineapple Cape
Take care of YOURSELF by following safe health practices as flu and COVID are lurking in our midst! Wear masks where required! Wash your hands often! Get inoculated and boosted
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH !!!
Free Mammogram Appointments Are Going Fast
September 26, 2024 – Sulphur Springs, TX –
The free mammography clinic sponsored by the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation only has 6 appointments left. Uninsured Hopkins County women over 40 are eligible to take advantage of this program.
The free mammograms will be conducted at the Jack & Ruth Gillis Women’s Center at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. The Gillis Women’s Center staff can be reached at 903-438-4325 to make an appointment.
Proceeds of the 5th Annual Designer Handbag Bingo and donations from local women are being used to fund this lifesaving clinic that is now in its fifth year.
Early detection of breast cancer is key to a positive outcome. Women are encouraged to not skip a year for this reason. One year can make all the difference.
The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation was founded in 1997 to promote Hopkins County healthcare opportunities. The Foundation is an IRS 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Funds raised by the Foundation are used to benefit Hopkins County citizens.
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Avoiding Aggressive Bees This Fall! From Master Gardener David Wall
September 26, 2024 – As the cooler weather this fall encourages us to spend more time outside, there will be the annual problem of what we consider to be aggressive bees of all types, yellow jackets, and both red and black wasps.
So, what can we do to keep the aggressive pests away from us, especially if we’re hypo-allergic? First, why are they aggressive? Basically, food supplies are getting scarce, and the colony is at its highest number. Also, cooler temperatures make their food searches more difficult. This simple combination means that if you’re eating food outside, they are going to go for the food! Actually, just the smell of food will set them off, so if you’re just close to a food supply, you’re in “the war zone!!!” Then, there’s the aspect that cooler temperatures have them looking for a nice warm place to spend their time! This means they’ll be around your house looking for any entrance to warmer temperatures. Hunger and cooler temperatures add up to highly potential problems. On top of this, the drought just exacerbates the problem.
You can use an organic repellent spray around where food is placed, and perhaps a spray or two on your clothing. If none are available, make a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. The critters don’t like the smell of either option!
You can get the same effect by peeling a cucumber and spreading the slices in small dishes around the table and/or wiping them on your clothing. Some even wipe them on their beverage glasses!
Loud, bright colored clothing will attract the critters, and this includes tablecloth colors! If you’re spending time outdoors, avoid such clothing. Browns and blacks are considered the best colors.
Finally, avoid attractants such as colognes and perfumes, and keep covers on food.
Chamber Connection – September 25, 2024
By Butch Burney
Stew merch is here! Stew merch is here!
Whether you’re in the market for a Stew T-shirt, hoodie, mug, tumbler, sticker, towel or other merchandise for the 55th Annual Hopkins County Stew Contest, sponsored by Alliance Bank, you can find it at the Chamber of Commerce.
Stop by the Chamber office and get your gear for the Stew Contest on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Buford Park.
Tickets
Tickets are available at all of the local banks and credit unions as well as the Chamber of Commerce office at 110 Main Street and online at Hopkins Chamber.org.
Tickets are $8 each for those 13 and older and free for children 12 and under, thanks to sponsorship from Signature Solar.
Sponsorships Available
Do you want to get your company’s name in front of 7,000 people, and help promote the largest single-day annual event in Hopkins County?
If so, there are still a handful of sponsorships available for the Stew Contest at Buford Park.
With your sponsorship, we will put your banner up at the park, announce your company’s name from the stage as well as signs/banners with sponsors’ names on them. We have sponsorships from $100 to $500 remaining.
If you would like more information, email [email protected] or call 903-885-6515.
We are continuing to register stew cooks as well.
Stew Cook Registration
Stew cooks – new and returning – can register online at HopkinsChamber.org/stewcooks, or in person at the Chamber office, 110 Main St.
We are keeping the registration fee the same as in past years at $100 per stew site, with the sponsor asked to provide $150 to each cooking team for ingredients.
If you have been a Stew Cook in the past, we look forward to seeing you again and tasting your delicious stew. If you have won the contest in the past, you are eligible to enter the Super Stew competition.
Each returning stew team will have the option of keeping their 2023 site. These sites will be reserved until Monday, September 30, and then on Tuesday, October 1, the “unclaimed” stew sites will be open to “new cooks” and to returning cooks who would like a new site location. After Sept. 30, all sites will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. As in 2023, we will have sites open on both the north and the south side of Connally Street, where we will have a serving tent and market vendors.
Coffee and Conversation
Join us for our main networking monthly event when Chad’s Media hosts our Coffee and Conversation on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 530 North Davis Street, starting at 7:30 a.m.
You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend. It is free to everyone, and a prime time to make friends and contacts.
Please make plans to attend to enjoy some coffee, breakfast snacks and great conversation.
Ribeye Roundup
The Cattleman’s Classic & Ribeye Roundup returns to Celebration Plaza in Sulphur Springs on October 5th. The event features a steak cook-off which will include an expected 40-plus cook teams, educational trade show, live music and more!
What’s new for the public?
•Reduced ticket price of $20
•Bite-sized steak tasting instead of a full steak meal. Now the public has the opportunity to try multiple cook team steaks vs. picking only one steak.
•Festival style that includes live music throughout the day.
•Public service will begin at 1pm and end at 4pm.
Main Street Uncorked
Main Street Uncorked 2024 is an annual wine and music festival in beautiful downtown Sulphur Springs. Enjoy wine from some of the best Texas wineries, shop local vendors and enjoy talented musical artists.
The event starts at 1 pm and runs until 7 pm. We have two great bands lined up for entertainment throughout the day.
Tickets include participation in the wine tasting event, a souvenir glass and an insulated wine bag. Advanced tickets purchased online are $10 each (visit their Facebook page). Tickets sold at the event will be $15 each.
Help a Child
The annual Help a Child Benefit is set for Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Hopkins County Civic Center to support children in need. All proceeds go to help the children of Northeast Texas.
The big ticket item this year will include a 2024 Kubota RTV-X 4×4 diesel and bumper pull trailer. Check their Facebook page to find out locations to purchase tickets.
The event includes food, music, and live events.
Market on Main
Join downtown Sulphur Springs for music, food, shopping and fun fall festivities during Autumn Market on Main on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What to expect:
•A wide array of artisanal crafts
•Delicious food vendors
•Live music to set the mood
•Family-friendly activities
•And so much more!
Quilt Show
The Lone Star Heritage Quilt Show is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21 at the ROC on Putman Street. Numerous projects will be on display, and one special quilt will be up for raffle during the event.
One Soul Yoga’s 5th Birthday Celebration
One Soul Yoga is beyond excited to celebrate their 5th birthday with you! Join them for a week-long celebration filled with specials, giveaways, special classes and a birthday celebration sound bath experience. They will have a different special each day during that week including free classes, bring-a-friend free, pop-up classes, discounts on passes and merchandise and more.
The Birthday Celebration schedule includes:
9/22 Bring a Friend Free/BOGO for Restorative at 6 pm
9/23: Yin on the Wall Pop-Up Class at 6 pm
9/24 $5 Drop-ins for all classes (at the door)
9/25 Birthday Sound Bath Celebration at 8 pm
9/26 Soul Closet Merchandise Sale (in person)
9/27 Pass Discounts
9/28 Free Saturday Flow class at 9 am
One Soul Yoga & Wellness Center is a local, women-owned yoga studio welcoming all levels and all genders–no matter where you are on your journey. Get more information or sign up at www.onesoulyogastudio.com. Questions? Email [email protected].
Mammography Coach
Hunt Regional Healthcare’s Tubby Adkisson Mobile Mammography Coach will be at the Spring Village Shopping Center in Sulphur Springs on Sept. 26.
All insurances accepted at Hunt Regional are also accepted at the mammography coach, including Medicaid and Medicare. For those not using insurance, reduced prepaid pricint of $200 for a 3D mammograph is available.
To schedule a screening for mammograms or bone density, call 903-408-5010.
Ribbon Cuttings
Little Ceasar’s Pizza will have a ribbon cutting at their location at 610 Gilmer St., at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3. Everyone is invited.
Paxton Takes on Sagebrush Lizard
September 24, 2024 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently announced that Texas will be suing the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Biden administration officials for declaring a rare lizard endangered earlier this year.
The dunes sagebrush lizard lives the southeastern part of New Mexico and west Texas. They rely on a species of oak to make their homes cooler. Shinnery oaks are only four or five feet high, but they provide food, shade and a breeding grounds the lizard and other species. Under the shade of these oak trees, the dunes sagebrush lizard buries itself in the cool, sand, avoiding predators and regulating its body temperature.
The shinnery oak groves have been sprayed with herbicides to make way for cattle grazing across the region. Data on the actual numbers of lizards left and whether or not they are indeed threatened is still coming in.
For 40 years biologist have sent warnings to the federal government that the lizard’s habitat is being threatened.
Paxton is concerned that putting the lizard on the protected list will scare of oil and gas producers and negatively affect the Texas economy. In a statement, Paxton said the listing of the lizard was a violation of the Endangered Species Act, adding that the Fish and Wildlife Service “failed to rely on the best scientific and commercial data” when declaring the lizard endangered and did not take into account conservation efforts already in place to protect the lizard.
Black Cricket Time is Near
September 24, 2024 – Black field crickets, also known as Gryllus assimilis, are a common pest in Texas, especially in late summer and fall. Here are some facts to know about these these pesky critters:
Black crickets are known to resurge when a summer drought is broken by heavy rainfall. They take this opportunity to swarm, find mates and lay eggs.
During the day, black field crickets hide underground, but come out at night to feed. They can enter homes through small cracks or holes to escape the cold.
They don’t have any venom or poison that can cause neurological damage or numbing like scorpions, and while they do have mouths that can chew and bite, they generally don’t bite people. They do however attract a multitude of other predators. The damage that isn’t done to humans is instead done to their property.
Black field crickets can lay up to 400 eggs at a time, which hatch in the spring and turn into adults in the fall.
Black field crickets can damage carpets, fabrics, and wood, and they can spread bacteria.
To get rid of black field crickets, you can:
- Apply insecticide bug spray in corners and along windowsills
- Place glue cricket traps in basements and kitchens
- Use dim lightbulbs for outdoor fixtures
- Maintain your yard regularly
- Seal all parts of your home
- Have a professional spray your home
Superintendent Steeber Addresses Latest Threat to SSISD
September 24, 2024 – Dr. Deana Steeber, Superintendent of Sulphur Springs ISD sent a letter to teachers, staff, and parents in the district outlining her displeasure with what has become a rash of threats to schools in the district. Over the past weekend, a 14 year old female student who attends SSMS was charged with a felony charge of making a terroristic threat through social media. Dr. Steeber stated in part that SSISD takes any and all threats against students or campuses to be serious and the district will “continue to advocate for those caught participating in this type of behavior to be prosecuted to the maximum extent allowed by law.”
Social media has recently been the avenue of choice for the recent threats and Dr. Steeber issued a warning to parents of how the parent’s knowledge of what their students are posting online is vitally important to the safety of all students. Dr. Steeber also encouraged parents and students to help report any threatening behavior they see or hear on social media to SSISD administration or SSISD law enforcement.
The latest letter to Wildcat families clarified that students that are caught making threats against the school district would, “will not step foot on their home campus for the remainder of the school year.” In addition the student would not be allowed to attend any other school events, including graduation ceremonies and other activites including any sports, fine arts, or extracurricular activites for the remainder of the school year.
Dr. Steeber also tried to calm the fears of students, parents, and SSISD staff as she closed out her letter with: “I think it is important to state again that we will not live in fear. We will be smat, cautious, and discerning with all information received. However, we will not allow those who seek to bring chaos and confusion to steal the joys of a normal and healthy school year from our students who are choosing to do right. We stand ready to make this behavior stop. We stand read to protect our students and staff using any means necessary.”
Dr. Steeber’s full letter is posted below.
