Hopkins County Genealogical Society to Hold Next Lunch & Learn September 25th
September 22, 2024 – The Fourth Wednesday Lunch & Learn will be held this coming Wednesday, September 25, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 611 North Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Tx. The Hopkins County Genealogical Society invites anyone who wants to learn more about doing genealogical research to come on in. Bring your sack lunch, salad or drive-through meal and your tablet or laptop, if you wish.
Last month we viewed a presentation by Amy Crow Johnson of Generations Connections, entitled “Understanding Land Records – Using Land Records Effectively.” We learned a lot about land deeds and other legal land documents and how to apply them to our genealogical research.
However, the past few weeks we have been consistently asked questions about creating and managing a family tree on familysearch.org, which is the website that allows you to do that for free. Plus there appears to be some confusion about how to interpret the Generation Genealogy Fan Chart. So this month we are going to see a virtual presentation on how to create a family tree and how to read a fan chart. We are particularly excited about this month’s lessons because they answer so many of our questions about our family trees.
We hope you will take the time to join us!
Paris District Road Report for Week of September 23, 2024
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district for the week starting Sept. 23, 2024. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Safety Message: Impaired driving and penalties – DUI & DWI
Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can risk your life and the lives of others, and it can send you to jail. If you are under 21, it is illegal for you to drive with any detectable amount of alcohol in your system.
When am I legally intoxicated?
You are legally intoxicated in Texas when your blood alcohol concentration reaches 0.08 percent, but you are breaking the law as soon as drugs or alcohol affect your driving — or flying or boating — ability.
What are the penalties for a DWI?
First offense
- Up to a $2,000 fine.
- Up to 180 days in jail upon conviction with three mandatory days.
- Loss of driver license up to a year.
Second offense
- Up to a $4,000 fine.
- One month to a year in jail upon conviction.
- Loss of driver license up to two years.
Third offense
- A $10,000 fine.
- Two to 10 years in prison.
- Loss of driver license up to two years.
These fines do not include a state fine of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 assessed upon sentencing.
Impaired driving with a child passenger
- You will be charged with child endangerment if you’re driving impaired with children under 15.
- You will be additionally fined up to $10,000.
- You could be put in jail for up to two years.
- You will lose your driver’s license for another 180 days.
Driving with an open container
Carrying an open container of alcohol in your vehicle, even if you’re not impaired, is illegal. Learn more about Texas open container laws.
Sherman Area (Fannin, Grayson Counties)
Contacts: Sherman Area Office (903) 892-6529; Grayson Co. Maintenance (903) 893-8831; Fannin Co. Maintenance (903) 583-7566.
Grayson County:
US 75, from US 82 to North Loy Lake Road. This project will rebuild and widen the US 75 mainlanes from four lanes to six lanes as well as reconstruct the entrance and exit ramps on US 75. The project will also reconstruct bridges at FM 691, Iron Ore Creek and Spur 503, and add U-turn bridges at Loy Lake Road in Sherman and Spur 503 in Denison. A reduced speed limit of 65 mph on the US 75 mainlanes has been set for this construction project. Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts on the mainlanes of US 75 as well as frontage road lane closures within the project.
The U-turn lanes for the US 75 frontage roads at FM 691 are closed to traffic to allow crews to work on constructing the middle portion of the new US 75 bridge over FM 691. During this closure traffic wishing to make a U-turn at the intersection is asked to turn left onto FM 691 and make another left at the next signal light.
The exit ramp from northbound US 75 to North Loy Lake Road in Denison is closed permanently. Travelers who wish to access North Loy Lake Road from northbound US 75 will detour up to Crawford Street, make a U-turn at the Crawford Street intersection, and head south on the frontage road to reach North Loy Lake Road.
The entrance ramp on the southbound frontage road onto US 75, north of Spur 503 and south of Loy Lake Road, is permanently closed. This closure is part of the reconstruction of US 75 from US 82 to Loy Lake Road in Denison. Motorists who wish to travel south on US 75 from its intersection with Loy Lake Road are advised to note this change. A detour is in place requiring traffic to continue on the southbound frontage road, around Spur 503, to the entrance ramp for US 75 southbound located north of the FM 691 intersection. Signs will alert travelers and guide them along this detour route.
The northbound US 75 frontage road is closed to thru traffic north of FM 691 in order to replace the frontage road bridge over Iron Ore Creek. Work for the construction of the new US 75 northbound frontage road Iron Ore Creek bridge and northbound frontage road pavement is currently in progress. Motorists traveling along the northbound frontage road will take the northbound entrance ramp north of FM 691 and take exit 66 to access eastbound Spur 503. Local traffic wishing to return to FM 691 is asked to use Pool Road.
The westbound Spur 503 ramp to northbound US 75 is closed to traffic. A temporary detour is in place to divert this traffic onto the frontage road. Traffic will exit Spur 503 onto the frontage road using the new detour, continue along the Spur 503 frontage road which runs into the US 75 frontage road to the Loy Lake Road intersection. Traffic can continue along the frontage road through Loy Lake Road and then take the next entrance ramp to northbound US 75.
US 75, from FM 1417 to SH 91 (Texoma Parkway). A reduced speed limit of 60 mph on the US 75 mainlanes has been set on the mainlanes for this construction project. Watch for shoulder closures and occasional nighttime lane closures on the northbound and southbound US 75 main lanes between SH 91 and FM 1417 as crews work on completing the remaining work on this project. Watch for lane closures on the frontage roads between FM 1417 and SH 91.
As the US 75 project continues to move into the final stages there will be nightly lane closures on both north- and southbound lanes as construction crews perform pavement marking and sign installation. Drivers should expect delays.
US 75, at the US 82 intersection. Watch for lane closures and lane shifts for the frontage roads on the northbound and southbound US 75 frontage road lanes between South Loy Lake Road and Lamberth Street, as well as on the eastbound and westbound US 82 frontage road lanes between FM 131 and Loy Lake Road while crews work on construction of the new frontage road lanes and bridges.
SH 5, in Van Alstyne from Williams Way to Blassingame Avenue. Watch for daytime lane closures on SH 5 as crews work to install a shared use bicycle and pedestrian trail. The trail will follow along SH 5 from the existing trail at Williams Way to Blassingame Avenue, then along Tolson Avenue, then along Main Street where it will connect with Van Alstyne Parkway. Motorists should expect delays during the daytime work hours as flaggers direct traffic through the work zone.
US 82, from SH 91 to the Fannin County Line. Watch for daytime lane closures on the US 82 eastbound and westbound main lanes as crews work to perform pavement repairs, milling, and an overlay on the surface. Motorists should expect delays during the daytime work hours when lane closures are present.
US 377, from US 82 to the Oklahoma State line. Watch for daytime lane closures on US 377 as crews work to perform pavement repairs, milling, and an overlay on the surface. Motorists should expect delays during the daytime work hours as pilot cars and flaggers direct traffic through the work zone.
US 82, from the Cooke County line to FM 901. Watch for daytime lane closures on the US 82 eastbound and westbound main lanes as crews work to backfill the overlay and place striping and rumble strips on the surface. Motorists should expect delays during the daytime work hours when lane closures are present.
FM 1417, from US 82 to SH 56. Travelers are advised that intermittent temporary daily lane closures will be required for both northbound and southbound FM 1417 while the contractor completes the remaining work.
FM 121, from Main Street in Van Alstyne to SH 160. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and widen the roadway to an overall width of 26 feet. Motorists should expect delays as signals and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
US 82, from the Cooke County line to FM 131 in Sherman. Watch for lane closures as workers replace the bridge railing and guardrail approaches at each bridge structure and install median barrier. During construction, bridge travel will be reduced to one lane while crews replace the bridge railing. Currently, the contractor is working on the eastbound and westbound US 82 lanes at Elba Creek, and the eastbound and westbound US 82 lanes at Deaver Creek.
US 75 full depth concrete repair, from the Collin County line to the Oklahoma State line. Crews will be working on US 75 each week from Sunday night through Friday morning during the overnight period. Lane closures will be present at night for crews to replace failed concrete sections. Lane closures will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night and should be reopened to traffic by 6 a.m. This work will extend from the Collin-Grayson County line to the Oklahoma State line.
US 75 debris pickup, from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch for mobile lane closures as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday during the nighttime.
FM 901, from US 377 to US 82. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews blade level the roadway with hotmix. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 901, from SH 56 to FM 902. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews place a fog seal on the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 3133, from SH 5 to the Collin County Line. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews place a fog seal on the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 2729, from FM 121 to FM 922. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews place a fog seal on the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
Fannin County:
FM 2645, from FM 898 to FM 1753. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and widen the roadway to an overall width of 26 feet. Motorists should expect delays as signals and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 274, from SH 78 to FM 1753. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and widen the roadway to an overall width of 26 feet. Motorists should expect delays as signals and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
SH 121 overpass at US 69. The SH 121 overpass at US 69 is closed to thru traffic while crews perform bridge repairs. All traffic will be required to take the exit for US 69 and then will be able to take the next entrance ramp back onto SH 121. A temporary signal is in place to control traffic on SH 121 and US 69 during this closure. Motorists should expect delays as signals control traffic through the construction zone.
CR 4020 at Caney Creek. CR 4020 at Caney Creek is closed to through traffic to allow for replacement of the bridge. During the closure traffic is asked to use CR 4025 as a detour.
FM 68, from SH 78 to FM 271. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and widen the roadway to an overall width of 28 feet. Motorists should expect delays as signals and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
SH 78, from US 82 to the Oklahoma State line. Watch for daytime shoulder closures and occasional lane closures as workers install sloped-end treatments on drainage structures and replace bridge rail and guardrail.
FM 100, from SH 56 to FM 2216. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and widen the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as signals and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 271, from SH 78 to FM 68. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to rehabilitate and widen the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as signals and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
SH 78, from SH 56 to FM 271. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews perform bridge repairs. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
SH 121, from SH 11 to US 69. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews perform bridge repairs. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
Sulphur Springs Area (Hopkins, Franklin Counties):
Contacts: Sulphur Springs Area Office (903) 885-9514; Franklin Co. Maintenance (903) 537-4976; Hopkins Co. Maintenance (903) 885-4031.
Franklin County: IH 30, Truck Parking Area. Crews will be constructing concrete paving on the new eastbound truck parking area.
Hopkins County: SH 19, from I-30 to Rains County Line. Watch for crews performing road rehabilitation operations and traffic shifts in the work areas.
Hopkins County: I-30, at FM 269. Crews will be performing tree trimming and tree removal operations on the westbound and eastbound side.
Paris Area (Delta, Lamar, Red River Counties)
Contacts: Paris Area Office (903) 784-1357; Delta Co. Maintenance (903) 395-2139; Lamar Co. Maintenance (903) 785-4468; Red River Co. Maintenance (903) 427-3561.
Lamar County:
Loop 286, from FM 1497 around the north loop to FM 1507. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures and traffic merges while crews improve guardrail and drainage structures and perform bridge maintenance.
US 271, from LP 286 to Oklahoma State Line. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures and traffic merges while crews resurface the pavement and perform bridge maintenance.
CR 26320 at Morrison Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
FM 1497, from FM 1184 to FM 3426. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures
CR 16300 at Little Sandy Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
US 82 / Lamar Avenue, from 33rd street to 42nd street in Paris. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures in the nighttime hours while crews improve signals, install a raised center median, and resurface the roadway.
FM 38 at West Fork of Sanders Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
SH 24, Lamar & Delta Counties: from the FM 64 intersection to 1,540 feet east of FM 198. Watch for temporary lane closures and lane shifts while crews resurface the roadway and perform bridge rail upgrades.
SH 19/24, Lamar & Delta Counties: from LP 286 intersection to SH 19 . Watch for temporary lane closures and lane shifts while crews resurface the roadway, perform bridge rail upgrades, and bridge maintenance.
US 271, Lamar & Red River Counties: from FM 196 North to SH 37. Watch for temporary shoulder closures and trucks entering and exiting the highway as crews remove tree and brush from within right of way.
US 82, Lamar & Red River Counties: from State Loop 286 in Paris to Bowie County Line in Red River County. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews improve drainage structures.
Delta County:
FM 2068 at East Fork of Jernigan Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
SH 24, at Doctor’s Creek. Watch for temporary shoulder closures and trucks entering and exiting the highway as crews perform bridge maintenance on the northbound structure.
Red River County:
FM 2120, from FM 2573 to SH 37. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
FM 1487, from FM 910 to FM 412. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
Northeast Texas Trail, Clarksville, Texas. Watch for trucks and equipment entering and exiting streets and highways while crews construct the off-system trail.
Northeast Texas Trail, from BU 82J to Annona East City Limits. Watch for trucks and equipment entering and exiting streets and highways while crews construct the off-system trail.
BU 82 J at East Langford Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews perform bridge maintenance operations.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903) 455-2303; Rains Co. Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
Hunt County:
SH 11, from FM 2655 to SH 24. This project will add shoulders and replace drainage structures. The contractor has set barricades and has begun some prep right of way work and has begun road widening and ditch grading in the area. The contractor has placed SW3P devices and prepped the right of way. Culvert and Safety End treatment are being installed on the project and excavation and road widening is in progress. Shoulder embankment work is ongoing. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
SH 11, from Culver Street to Live Oak. Final punch list items are underway. Oncor has supplied power to the signal lights and the signals are in testing phase. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
FM 1563, from SH 50 to SH 2655: This is a 2.7-mile rehabilitation project that will widen the existing roadway. The contractor has set work zone signs and barricades. The contractor has completed cross culverts and culvert extensions and will be placing riprap soon. The contractor has sealed and shouldered up the first mile of the project and has placed flex base and placing geogrid at various locations. Contractor is currently performing reclaim work and subgrade widening along with placing GEOGRID. Driveways are ongoing and are being completed by section of work. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
FM 2642, from FM 35 to SH 66: The contractor has set work zone signs and barricades. The contractor has been working on the placement of storm sewer and culverts will continue along FM 2642 north of I-30 towards SH 66 with embankment and excavation work. Nighttime operations are currently being used for several cross-culvert locations. The contractor is placing geogrid and flex base on FM 2642 near Royse City high school moving north. The contractor placed barrier and crash cushions on FM35. Paving operations are in progress in areas north of FM 35 Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
FM 2649, from I-30 to FM 1567. The contractor has set barricades and work zone traffic signs. Cross culvert work is complete. The contractor has completed placing GR4 seal course on the final section of roadway. The contractor is also backfilling turnouts, driveways, and roadway edges. Roadway strip and permanent seeding will be placed today and through the weekend. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
I-30 intersection improvements from Monte Stratton to FM 1903. The contractor has set barricades and advance warning signs. The contractor has begun excavation at FM 1903 (West side) and working on placing wire wall at FM 1903 (East side) and soil nail walls at FM 1903.The contractor is also placing embankment & Wire walls east of 1570.along with Form work for Bent #3 Cap at FM 1570.Pipe/Inlets work for drainage FM 1570 is ongoing. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
I-30 Improvements from CR2511 to FM 36: The contractor is currently grading and placing embankment between the frontage roads and mainlanes. Continuing grading EB between 1565 and FM36.The contractor will be placing hot mix for shoulder rehab at night and Milling at night along WB and EB for shoulder rehab. Grading at FM 1565 intersection and embanking along WBML 2511 area. Underpass at FM 1565 will be closed for a few weeks to install Culvert from north frontage to south frontage.
Hunt and Rains Counties Hunt County and Rains maintenance crews will be performing pothole repair work throughout Hunt and Rains County. Hunt County MNT will be overlaying FM 118 and US 69 and IH 30 FR near SH 34. Rains County MNT will continue to perform seal prep and patch on FM 513 from US 69 to IH30 and perform culvert work on FM 1564.
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Child and Adult CARE Food Program Extends Access
Program sponsors serve nutritious meals and snacks for childcare and adult day care participants
AUSTIN- Today, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller encouraged Texans to explore the benefits of accessing nutritious meals in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers this federally funded program operating at approximately 13,000 sites in Texas, including adult day care centers, childcare centers, home-based day cares and afterschool programs. TDA and these partners are working to promote healthy lifestyles by ensuring eligible children and adults can enjoy nutritious free or reduced-price meals and snacks in CACFP.
“Texas families can rely on TDA’s CACFP partners to provide the essential nutrition that young children and older adults need to stay healthy and active,” Commissioner Miller said. “Each year, CACFP delivers around 200 million nutritious meals and snacks across Texas. I encourage families to take advantage of this valuable resource and support the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to ensure healthy food is available through CACFP.”
This October, schools and CACFP providers can take Commissioner Miller’s Farm Fresh Challenge and earn recognition for serving more Texas products and providing agricultural education opportunities. The Challenge helps CACFP sponsors and Texas school nutrition teams promote Farm Fresh practices and connections to Texas agriculture. For more information about the Challenge, visit SquareMeals.org/Farm Fresh Challenge and for more information about CACFP, visit SquareMeals.org/CACFP.
Benefits
CACFP meals are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and meet specific nutrition standards. Participants receive a balanced meal that can include Texas products.
At centers and day care homes that include meals as part of tuition, meals will be available to enrolled participants at no separate charge. Meals served at eligible at-risk afterschool programs are free to all participants in the program.
At centers and day care homes where meals are charged separately from tuition, the following groups automatically qualify for free meals:
- Children in households getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits; or who are enrolled in Early Head Start; Head Start or Even Start Programs; or who receive Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits automatically qualify for free meals through participating CACFP providers.
- Foster children placed with a caregiver by the state or courts are eligible for free meals. If you have foster children living with you and wish to apply for free meals for your foster child, contact your participating childcare center or day care home for assistance.
- Adults who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits, Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) automatically qualify for free meals.
The following groups may qualify for free or reduced-price meals depending on their eligibility information as indicated in their application:
- Children in households that do not receive any of the above assistance may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income. See the chart below for income eligibility guidelines.
- Parents or guardians who become unemployed may apply for free or reduced-price meals on behalf of their children at any time during the period of unemployment.
- Children and adults in households participating in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
- Adults who do not receive any of the above assistance may qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income. See the chart below for income eligibility guidelines.
Meals are made available without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Harris County to Stop New Unlawful “Guaranteed Income” Scheme
Paxton Says It Violates Texas Supreme Court’s Previous Ruling
September 20, 2024 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Harris County Commissioners Court for attempting to restart its unlawful “guaranteed income” program despite being ordered to halt all similar cash disbursements in a virtually identical case.
In April, Attorney General Paxton sued Harris County to stop an unlawful “guaranteed income” welfare scheme called “Uplift Harris” that sought to redistribute public money with “no strings attached” to 1,928 Harris County residents—including some classifications of noncitizens. The Texas Constitution explicitly rejects such programs and forbids “any county, city, town or other political corporation or subdivision of the State … to grant public money or thing of value in aid of, or to any individual.”
The Supreme Court of Texas stopped the unlawful program while litigation continued, noting “the State has raised serious doubts about the constitutionality of the Uplift Harris program, and this potential violation of the Texas Constitution could not be remedied or undone if payments were to commence while the underlying appeal proceeds.”
Following this, however, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted to enact a substantially similar welfare scheme—with significantly increased administrative costs—despite the clear direction from the Texas Supreme Court. Based on available public information, Harris County plans to simply re-enroll the same residents previously enrolled in the prior version of the unlawful program.
“Harris County acts as though the Texas Constitution does not apply to them and as though they do not have to abide by the Texas Supreme Court’s rulings,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Using public funds in this way directly violates the law. Harris County is willing to undermine the legal process out of apparent desperation to push this money into certain hands as quickly as possible.”
County Extension Agent Mario Villarino Visited with John Mark Dempsey on this Second Cup of Coffee
On this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, Texas A&M AgriLife County Extension Agent Mario Villarino-Gutierrez sat down and had a chat with John Mark. The two discussed army worms, 4-H, pesticides, and more. Be sure to check it out below.
Foreign Farmland Ownership From Master Gardener David Wall
September 19, 2024 – Foreign ownership of U.S. agriculture appears to be a two-fold problem. First there’s the ownership of companies processing agriculture products. For example, China owns Smithfield, our largest pork producer. Many pesticides are produced by foreign countries, and forcing them to comply with our regulations is difficult at best. Legislation is lacking, because Congress is loath to interfere for fear that any new law will hurt rather than help American farmers. Then, when considering legislation, congressional personnel are subject to strong lobbying. As a result, Congress seldom passes laws to help farmers over foreign interests.
The second problem is foreign farmland ownership. Such ownership doubled from 2009 to 2019 (latest data available), and now covers over 35 million acres (one source says 40M acres) of our farmland, an area nearly as big as the state of Iowa. Foreign countries own farmland in all 50 states, with Texas having the largest share, and Oklahoma with a smaller share. For whatever reason, the largest concern about foreign ownership is with China, although China only owns 191,652 acres, or ½ of one percent of the total foreign ownership. On the other hand, China has made land purchases adjacent to military facilities, raising national security concerns.
In 2019, 49% of foreign-owned land was forested, 25% was crop-land, 24% was pasture, and 2% was in non-agriculture use. Overall, foreign-owned lands don’t threaten our food security, although local problems can occur, such as when water supplies are at a premium, or when produce is sent to the home country instead of being available here.
Nation-wide, little to no oversight is in place to monitor foreign-owned lands, and penalties for misuse are virtually nonexistent. At the state level, only six states forbid foreign-owned land, and only a few have a cap on how much land can be foreign-owned.
Christus Health Will Offer Flu Shots September 24th at the Senior Citizens Activity Center
September 19, 2024 – Christus Health will provide free flu shots Tuesday, September 24, 2024. The flu shots will be available beginning at 11:00am. There will be a limited amount. First come first serve. Christus Health will be providing these flu shots at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Activity Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Texas Farm Credit Makes Biscuits
September 19, 2024 – Employees of Texas Farm Credit of Sulphur Springs and other area branches all gathered at the Senior Activity Center Wednesday morning to help Meal-A-Day.
Meal-A-Day receives fresh produce and other bulk item from the Texas Food Bank each week. Breaking those commodities down so they can be cooked and sent out takes some time and effort. These volunteers pitched in and:
- Peeled 100# of potatoes
- Chopped 30# of bell peppers
- Prepped 50# of carrots
- Baked about 210 savory and sweet drop biscuits (pictured)
- Bagged approximately 300 servings of candy and cookies for desserts
- And prepared watermelons (They worked so fast we lost count on how many were done)
Team Biscuit
Team Biscuit had a unique challenge to overcome. They improvised and developed a new recipe using commodities provided by the food bank. The results was a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy drop biscuit that paired well with the lentil soup cooked and sent out by Thursday Cooking team.
If you or your organization would like to volunteers at Meal-A-Day, call 903 885 1661.
If you would like to deliver meals to seniors in Hopkins County give Meal-A-Day a call at 903 885 1661.
Paxton Touts NCP Choices Program: Surpasses $1 Billion in Child Support Collections
September 19, 2024 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that an Office of the Attorney General Child Support program designed to support career development for noncustodial parents known as the NCP Choices Program has surpassed the $1 billion mark in child support collections from program participants. This milestone highlights the program’s effectiveness in assisting noncustodial parents (“NCP”) with fulfilling their child support obligations through career development and improved job opportunities.
The NCP Choices Program is a collaboration between the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division, the Texas Workforce Commission, and Child Support (IV-D) Courts. Since 2005, the program has benefited thousands of parents and their children across Texas.
The NCP Choices Program has transformed the lives of many Texas families. By helping noncustodial parents secure stable employment, the program ensures that children receive consistent financial support and that parents can achieve long-term economic stability. Through innovative programs such as NCP Choices, the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division works to ensure children receive the financial support they need and deserve.
“I am extremely proud of the success of our NCP Choices Program, which has helped so many Texas parents struggling with employment achieve greater financial stability for their families,” said Attorney General Paxton. “The NCP Choices Program underscores our commitment to ensuring that Texas children receive the support they need.”
For more information about the NCP Choices Program or to confirm eligibility requirements, click here or call (800) 252-8014.
When and How to Report Terroristic Threats in Schools
September 18, 2024 – Lake Country Crime Stoppers releases helpful information for students, parents, and school staff on how to identify and report terroristic threats to schools.
The information shared by Lake County Crime Stoppers details what could constitute a valid threat, reminding everyone that “no threat is a joke.” Those that would like to remain anonymous by reporting a threat can do so by calling 903-885-2020.
