Noise, Material Inside, Maintenance Of Panels Among Residents’ Concerns Regarding Planned Dike Solar Farm
A few Dike residents expressed to Hopkins County Commissioners Monday morning their displeasure and concerns regarding the planned Dike solar facility, Hopkins Energy LLC, in their community Monday morning
Michele Barnes said she and her husband moved 18 months ago from the Houston area to Dike, were they enjoy their country life, away from the cities and towns, where they are able to see the stars at night and watch a family of deer cross the field next to her property at dusk and twilight. She said she now wonders, if by approving a request for tax incentives for a solar farm to be constructed in the Dike area, the Commissioners Court has changed that for her, if there will even be any animals in the area after the solar farm is put into operation in Dike.
She contends that solar panels have not been around long enough for people to see if there would be any potential long-term effects to the area surrounding the solar farm.
“After doing just a little bit of research, the biggest risk to any environment is the maintenance of the solar panels. These panels are made of harmful materials that are contained in the panels, but if not properly maintained, this lead and cadmium can seep into the ground and affect our water supply. What assurances are the Dike residents to receive from you our commissioners that you will not let this happen to us? Will you be paying for the health costs of the Dike residents when exposed to these harmful toxins? Will you reimburse the farmers for the loss of their wildlife or their animals they are raising due to the exposure of these toxins?” Barnes asked.
Barnes questioned what if any systems the Commissioners Court has put into place to ensure that the panels installed in Dike are not harmful, to ensure the company doesn’t use “inferior product materials” which would make leaks more likely. She asked if the county would be performing random water and soil testing to be sure no leakage occurs or if the company responsible for the planned Dike solar farm will provide samples, with results reported to the Commissioners Court.
“What assurances do Dike residents have that a panel fire will not occur and cause extensive damage to our area? What protocols have been put into place by you, the Commissioners, to the solar company that these panels will be disposed of properly and quickly so as not to damage the land and surrounding wildlife and water supply?” Barnes asked, then requested a private meeting with each commissioner to discuss here concerns and their plan to ensure their constituents are safe.
County Judge Robert Newsom asked if any of the commissioners would like to respond, and noted a meeting is being organized regarding the planned Dike solar farm.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley said county officials have been in contact with representatives of the company to hold a meeting to address community concerns regarding the planned Dike solar farm, Hopkins Energy LLC. A venue in the Dike area is being sought that can handle a large crowd with proper distancing observed due to COVID-19. As soon as that decision is made, Bartley said, he will let everyone know about it so those who wish to may attend.
Michael Pickens, the officials spokesperson for Save Dike from Solar, said he had also spoken to the same gentleman from the French power plant company that he believed Bartley had spoken to.
Pickens said the community would not be OK with having people file in one at a time to talk to the company representative. A group setting such as an auditorium is needed for the meeting.
“I just want to make sure everybody understands what’s going in. It’s not a solar farm. It’s a power plant. It’s a solar industrial power plant complex,” Pickens said.
He said the company representative he talked to told him that there will be 80 inverters that make 80 decibels a piece, and “the noise would be roughly like a major highway going through Dike.” There also will be two substations, which he described as “massive buildings the size of office buildings” across the fence from two residents’ properties. He said as he understands it, the operation will be a “massive power
“I just want to make that very clear. This is not a couple hundred acres of panels and grass fields — It’s a massive power plant operation,” Pickens said.
Andrew Froneberger, who says he’s lived in the area for 25 years and married into a family who has lived in Hopkins County for generations. He said he is “personally ashamed of the Commissioners Court for allowing this to happen and ashamed of the school districts for what seems to appear to me as a get rich quick scheme because of the taxes it’s going to generate.” The Dike resident expressed concern for the quality of life in Dike if the area does have the kind of noise issues Pickens described.
“I didn’t work all my life to buy a piece of property to have it disrupted, because I’m 15 miles from Sulphur Springs, the property that I bought. I don’t want it disrupted by bringing the city to the country. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to bring this power plant into place,” Froneberger said. “For one, it does not generate local jobs. The construction is not local jobs. It is all out of state construction. I know from a guy that I work with, they are building one north of Wolfe City; all the construction is either out of Kansas or Nebraska or somewhere, all the guys that are building that. So I’m just real disappointed that we have come to this situation where we are having to fight for to maintain our way of life that we’ve worked all of our life to have.”
Sports: SSHS Odds And Ends On Monday, Feb. 8
Some schedule changes were announced Monday, February 8, by Sulphur Springs Athletic Director Greg Owens. He announced that a Lady Cats Softball Team scrimmage at Royse City has been moved up from Tuesday to Monday, February 8, due to weather concerns. Play begins Monday at 5 p.m. with a JV scrimmage to be followed by the Varsity scrimmage.
In addition, a Lady Cats Golf tournament that was scheduled on Wednesday hosted by Bullard at Emerald Bay has been moved up to Tuesday, February 9.
With the Wildcats Basketball Team nailing down second place in the district race with their 74-68 win at home Friday over Texas High, next for them will be a bi-district game with the #3 seed in district 16-5A next week. On the Saturday morning, February 6, Coaches Show on KSST Radio and Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable, Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta said things are less than clear over in District 16-5A. That district still has games taking place this week.
The Lady Cats Basketball Team now has firm information concerning their bi-district playoff game. The Lady Cats will meet Nacogdoches Friday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m. at Athens. The Lady Dragons are the #4 seed in District 16-5A after losing to Lufkin Friday night on the road. The Lady Dragons finished district play with a 4-6 record and Max Preps has them with an 8-14 season record. The Lady Cats will play a warm up game Monday night, February 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Caddo Mills. The Lady Cats are tri-champs of District 15-5A with a 9-3 district mark. They earned the #1 seed in the playoffs due to their head to head competition with Hallsville and Mount Pleasant.
Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez announced changes to a planned tournament at Mount Pleasant originally scheduled for later this week. The varsity competition is now scheduled to take place Monday, February 8, while the JV tournament has been moved up to Tuesday. The Wildcats’ varsity got in their second tournament of the year Friday at Kilgore. Coach Martinez said there were 15 other teams there including some highly regarded Class 4A programs. Jeauxleigh Cantu took first in girls singles and senior Harleigh Stegient was fourth in girls singles. Coach Martinez said the girls doubles team of Mykylie Meador and Trynity Luckett also played well. He called it a very productive day and he added he liked what he saw.
The Wildcats Baseball Team will have their first scrimmage of the season at Sherman Monday night, February 8. Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack has also consolidated his players into just two teams instead of three. There will continue to be a JV Royal squad along with the Varsity. The JV Gold Team schedule has been canceled. At Sherman, the Wildcats JV Royal Team will scrimmage at 4:30 p.m. The Wildcats Varsity will then scrimmage at 6:30 p.m.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Sulphur Bluff VFD Received Community Builder Award
Sulphur Bluff VFD received a Community Builder Award from Sulphur Bluff Masonic Lodge No. 246, presented by Wade Bartley during the public forum portion of the Feb. 8 Hopkins County Commissioners Court meeting.
The award recognized outstanding non-Masons who have distinguished themselves through their service to the community; to local, state and national governments; to the church or to humanity, and may be found in service clubs, through public school systems, religious activities and office in military or patriotic organizations, through all sorts of volunteer work, Bartley noted.
“They do a lot of things you don’t see. They are out there protecting no only just their neighbors but the county as a whole. They’re there to serve everyone. They do it without any fanfare and they don’t expect any recognition. They just go out there and they help take care of their neighbors, and that is what this is all about,” Bartley noted. “The volunteer fire department has gone through many changes since 1975, and today, they’re still there serving their community members, their neighbors, to help save their property, lives or whatever the need there may be. So, it is with great pleasure that I get to present this Community Builder award to Sulphur Bluff fire department for distinguished service and contribution to the community of Sulphur Bluff and Hopkins County.”
Bartley presented the award, on behalf of Masonic Lodge No. 246 and the Grand Lodge of Texas, to Sulphur Bluff VFD Chief Chris Bassham, and extended thanks and appreciation to him and all the members of SBVFD for all of their help.
Sulphur Bluff Volunteer Fire Department has a heritage of providing fire protection in Hopkins County following a disastrous fire at the Sulphur Bluff School gym. Over a dozen community members gathered in 1974 to begin organizing the department to provide fire protection for Hopkins County. Some of those citizens and/or family members continued to serve a volunteers for the department. Sulphur Bluff VFD was founded in late 1975 as one of the first Volunteer Fire Departments to serve Hopkins County;
T.L. Sanderson supported these efforts by lending a 1968 Chevy milk truck to serve in hauling water to the site where volunteers operated with buckets and water-soaked feed sacks.
In 1976, with revenue sharing money and the assembly of units in Wichita Falls, Sulphur Bluff received the first of five fire trucks purchased as 1976 one-ton chassis by Hopkins County through Price Ford Sales of Sulphur Springs. In their efforts to generate revenue toward the purchase of land and construction of the Sulphur Bluff Volunteer Fire Department facility, the volunteer firemen hauled a 1976 half-ton pickup truck to area events throughout northeast Texas to sell tickets. As of 2020, SBVFD had 13 members supporting six fire apparatus who continue to serve and protect the Sulphur Bluff community and Hopkins County.
Cumby ISD Board Extended Superintendent’s Contract
At a special called board meeting held by the Cumby ISD Board of Trustees on January 30, the committee took action on Superintendent Shelly Slaughter’s employment contract. With a vote of 6-0, the Cumby ISD board extended Mrs. Slaughter’s contract by another year, making the total agreement for five years.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to extend Mrs. Slaughter’s contract. With the pandemic, all schools have faced challenges and Mrs. Slaughter along with the CISD faculty and staff have done a tremendous job providing quality instruction both on campus and remotely. Mrs. Slaughter is also leading the charge with the Lone Star Governance program that is approved by Education Commissioner Mike Morath of the Texas Education Agency,” Cumby ISD Board of Trustees President Jason Hudson said on behalf of the CISD school board.
Hudson explained that the purpose of Lone Star Governance is to provide coaching and support, through a continuous-improvement framework, for school governing teams that choose and commit to intensively focus on the objective to improve student outcomes. TEA has approved about six school districts across the state of Texas to participate in this specialized cohort program.
Cumby ISD has also been approved as a Collegiate Edu Nation program for the 2020-21 school year. This Early College Program provides students the opportunity to earn their associate degree prior to high school graduation, thanks to the long-standing partnership between CISD and Paris Junior College, Hudson noted.
“Mrs. Slaughter has been influential in the design process of preparing this model so that our students can better plan for the next level of education or workforce,” Hudson stated.
The school offers the Texas Success Initiative test on-site at the school for students starting their eighth grade year and offers a program to help students be successful with skills needed for the college entrance test , according to the superintendent.
Cumby ISD is the only P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) and EduNation school in Region 8, school officials noted. Edunation joins all learning needs into one advanced platform giving students, teachers and parents tools for a simpler and more connected learning experience across all grade levels.
The school also utilizes an AVID program to provide strategies for career readiness starting at the seventh grade level. These plans will allow the district to better meets components of House Bill 3 which shift more emphasis toward college, career and military readiness for high school graduates, according to the superintendent. Partnering with area businesses and industries will help provide students for the local job market, not only providing information about jobs in the area, but giving them marketable skills to be successful in those areas through hands-on learning in internships. The school is planning an upcoming P-TECH Advisory meeting later this month, and invites businesses, industries and schools of higher education to participate and learn more about partnering with the school to help students complete high school with industry certifications or an Associate’s Degree.
“These are exciting times for the Cumby community and we look forward to working with Mrs. Slaughter for many years to come,” Hudson said.
Slaughter began her career at Cumby ISD in 2004 as the elementary principal. She served in this role for 8 years, then moved to Cumby High School as principal. She served 1 year at the High School, then, became district superintendent. She is currently in her eighth year as superintendent and her 17th year of service to Cumby ISD.
Slaughter also has served on the board of Texas Council of Women School Executives for about 10 years and currently is president elect for the organization.
Community Input Desired for TexasSpeaks Assessment
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
TexasSpeaks is being conducted in County and across the State of Texas to allow the citizens
of Texas to provide their input on the assets and issues in their communities. The local branch
of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has a rich history of providing educational
programs that address the most critical issues in the county, and invites your participation in the
TexasSpeaks process.
The Extension Service highly values the opinions shared through the TexasSpeaks community
assessment. The expectation is that the assessment will take about 10 minutes.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is a statewide network of professional educators,
trained volunteers, and county offices. It reaches into every Texas county to address local
priority needs and to extend the latest research to the people of Texas. Some of the major
efforts are in mitigating drought impacts; conserving water use in homes, landscapes, and
production agriculture; improving emergency management; enhancing food security; and
protecting human health through education about diet, exercise, and disease prevention and
management.
You can provide your input by going to the following tx.ag/texasspeaks or by scanning the QR
code below.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the County Extension office at (903-348-4906) or email me at [email protected]
Thank you very much for your involvement in this process!
Lady Cats Soccer Team Makes One Goal Enough In 1-0 Win Over Texas High At Home Friday
The Lady Cats Soccer Team scored a goal and then managed to shut out Texas High 1-0 Friday night, February 5, at Gerald Prim Stadium. It was the first outright win in district play this season for the Lady Cats.
In three games, they now have a win, a shootout win and a loss. Texas High suffered their first district loss after getting two wins at home. The Lady Cats improved their season record to 7-5-4.
The Lady Cats travel to Marshall on Tuesday. The Lady Mavs are 0-2 in district play with losses at Pine Tree, 4-0 and at Texas High, 13-0.
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.
Woman Attempts To Evade Police In A Vehicle
A 21-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was arrested Sunday night after attempting to evade police in a vehicle.
Sulphur Springs Police Sgt. Josh Shufeldt reported seeing a white Infiniti traveling east at a high rate of speed in the 1100 block of Main Street at around 9:15 p.m. Feb. 7. He confirmed the speed on radar, according to arrest reports.
After the vehicle passed him, the officer turned around and activated his overhead lights in an attempt to stop it. The vehicle slowed, then turned south onto Craig Street, where it reportedly sped up again. The white vehicle stopped in the 400 block of Craig Street,.
The driver, identified in arrest reports as Celecia Nicole Jeffery, was arrested for reckless driving and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. She remained in Hopkins County jail mid-morning Monday, Feb. 8, 2021.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
Plans for Clara Bridges Banquet to Honor Local Seniors Age 90 and Older
Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center Director Karon Weatherman is reaching out to explain the purpose and importance of the Clara Bridges 90-Plus Banquet, held annually in the Springtime for the past sixteen years. Karon is planning for the Banquet can resume in 2021 and is asking fro help from the public.
Who is Clara Bridges and why do we have an Annual Clara Bridges 90+ Banquet?
In 2005 the Morning Chapel Baptist Church decided that they wanted to honor Clara Bridges who was the oldest member of their congregation at that time. Sister Clara Bridges was a Woman of Character, Knowledge, Loyalty, Wisdom and was a very Godly woman. Pastor Harold B. Nash and her church family officially designated her as the “Mother of the Church” on August 21, 2005.
The Church held a Banquet in her honor and invited everyone 90 years of age and older along with their friends and families to the Banquet. Sixteen years later, a Banquet is still held to honor every Senior Citizen in Hopkins County that has made it to the 90 Year Milestone.
The Banquet consists of a Luncheon, Musical Entertainment, A Special Speaker and Presentation of Awards for all the 90+ Seniors in the County. Special Awards are also presented to the Seniors who have made it to 100 Years of Age.
Last year was tough and the Banquet had to be postponed and then eventually canceled due to Covid-19. Hopefully this year we will be able to honor these precious members of our community. They deserve all the recognition that we can give them.
Since 2011 I have been compiling a list of names of all of the Senior Citizens in Hopkins County who have reached 90 Years of age. On my list right now I have 211 Hopkins County Senior Citizens that I know have made it to 90 or will be turning 90 in the year 2021.
I need your help finding other Seniors in our Community that I don’t know about. Please think about your family, friends, neighbors and church members who you think might need to be added to this list. Please email Karon Weatherman at [email protected] or phone meat (903) 885-1661. It will take me just a moment to check and see if their name is already on the list.
I am not sure if we will get to hold the Banquet in 2021 but I need to be ready by having all of the names and addresses so that invitations can go out to everyone. I don’t want to leave anyone out. Even if an honoree cannot attend the Banquet, they will be mailed or hand delivered a Certificate.
The Clara Bridges Banquet is made possible every year by wonderful sponsors and lots of volunteers. The Banquet is held at the ROC at 1st Baptist Church. Seniors are asked to bring their family and friends with them to the Banquet to celebrate. It is FREE to anyone who wants to attend. Please help me make this year’s Banquet Special!
Karon Weatherman, Program and Marketing Director
Senior Citizen’s Center 150 Martin Luther King Blvd
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
(903) 885-1661
CTE Month Feature 2: SSHS Graphic Design and Multimedia Arts Program
February is Career and Technical Education Month, a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. To help Sulphur Springs High School celebrate CTE Month, KSST’s high school interns have compiled short videos featuring a few of the CTE programs offered at SSHS. One will be featured each week during CTE Month.
Design and Multimedia Arts
KSST intern Jamie Cervantes interviewed Graphic Design I and Advanced Graphic Design teacher Megan Tingle in her classroom to learn more about the Design and Multimedia Arts program offered at SSHS.
These courses feature many hands-on projects which the students learn to take from concept to finished product, including creating graphic designs for t-shirts, logos, event posters and sticker production for actual clients in the community and social media. They are currently working on a print shop to be able to produce their designs.
Students are able to utilize the creative and creation skills they learn in the graphic design classes to aid them in other classes, to build portfolios and obtain internships. Tingle even has a team of students who create the yearbook each year.
Be sure to stay tuned to KSST Radio 1230, check out www.KSSTradio.com and the KSST social media accounts to ensure you don’t miss these weekly CTE features.
Feb. 8-12 Meal A Day Menu
Although the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center remains closed due to COVID-19, volunteers continue to work five days a week preparing and delivering meals to shut-in elderly in the community.
The Feb. 8-12 Meal A Day Menu includes:
Monday – Chili Dogs, Chips and Pickle Spear
Tuesday – Cheesy Beef and Potato Casserole, Corn and Normandy Vegetables
Wednesday – Chicken and Rice with Vegetables, Pickled Beets and Pinto Beans
Thursday – Manwich Sandwiches, Lettuce Tomatoes, Onions and Pickles, French Fries and Coleslaw
Friday – Chicken Spaghetti, English Peas, Garlic Toast and Tossed Salad
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
