Voter Registration Drive to be held September 17th and 18th
September 10, 2024 – Columbia Lodge #81 will have a Voters Registration Drive on September 17th, 2024, and September 18th, 2024. The event will be held at the H. W. Grays Building at Pacific Park in Sulphur Springs, Texas. You can come register to vote between 10:00am and 4:00pm, both days, if your not already registered to vote.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Teams with the Drug Enforcement Administration for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
September 10, 2024 – [SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX] – On Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration will host DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at locations across the country. DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs.
For more than a decade, the event has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction.
Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at close to 5,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.
What: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
When: Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Who: Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office/Posse
Where: Atwoods, 817 Gilmer St., Sulphur Springs, Tx. 75482
In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed 8,950 tons of medication from circulation since its inception.
Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
September 11, 2024; Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance
September 10, 2024 – Patriot Day and National Day of Remembrance will be recognized by the Marine Corp League on Celebration Plaza on Wednesday at 11AM.
Hopkins County Marine Corps League Detachment 1357 will perform a flag ceremony, and read a proclamation signed by the President of the United States.
To observe this day with service, find opportunities to volunteer in your community at americorps.gov/911-day.
Governor Abbott Sends Letter To President Biden, Vice President Harris On Fight To Secure Fronton Island
September 10, 2024 – Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris condemning their continued attempts to undercut Texas’ efforts to secure the border to keep our state and our nation safe.
“For years, the cartels were ‘running rampant’ in Fronton Island’s ‘thick vegetation’ and ‘bullet-pocked structures’ along the river to stage illegal entries, surveil state and federal law enforcement, stash weapons, plant explosives, evade apprehension, and engage in open warfare against rival cartels and against state and federal officers,” reads the letter.
“As Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of this State, I determined that Texas could not ignore an ongoing invasion of its sovereign territory. Instead, on October 5, 2023, Texas responded to this threat by moving a ‘heavily armed invasion force’ onto Fronton Island to secure it against the transnational criminal cartels. I will not cede state land to transnational criminal cartels smuggling people, weapons, and drugs. Nor will I sit idly by as these threats endanger Texas law enforcement and Texas communities.”
The Biden-Harris Administration—through its appointee to the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission—recently demanded that Texas return Fronton Island to its prior condition. Texas will not comply with President Biden and Vice President Harris’ open border policies that endanger Texans and Americans.
For more information on this issue, click here.
Meet the new Supervisor of Cooper Lake State Park in this Episode of A Second Cup of Coffee
The new Supervisor for Cooper Lake State Park, Aaron Mabe, stopped by the KSST studios to have a Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey. Aaron Mabe shares some information about himself and where he has worked in the past. John Mark and Aaron also chat about a Veterans Suicide Awareness event coming up, they chat about Christmas, and much more. Be sure to check out the video and learn about the new Supervisor, Aaron Mabe!
A Look Back at a Hollywood Star
In this episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Peter “Pastor Pete” McNabb, Senior Pastor of Sulphur Springs First United Methodist Church. Pastor Pete just happens to be the nephew of Hollywood Starlet Martha Hyer Wallis. The two discuss First United Methodist Church, what the Church is doing in September, and, or course, Martha Hyer. Catch a glimpse of some Hollywood History with this episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee!
Hopkins County Genealogical Society Library to be Open September 14th
September 9, 2024 – The Hopkins County Genealogical Society announces that their library will be open Saturday, September 14th, 2024, from 9:30am to 1:00pm. The library will be open for “all your research needs.” The Hopkins County Genealogical Society hopes “you will join us!”
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Offers Valuable Resources for fall Gardening by Mario Villarino
September 9, 2024 – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offers valuable resources for fall gardening, helping both novice and experienced gardeners make the most of the cooler season. Fall is an ideal time to plant a wide variety of crops in Texas and similar climates due to milder temperatures, reduced pests, and favorable growing conditions. By leveraging AgriLife Extension’s knowledge and guidelines, gardeners can plan and cultivate productive fall gardens that thrive well into winter.
Choosing the Right Crops : One of the key aspects of successful fall gardening is selecting appropriate crops. Many cool-season vegetables perform best when planted in the fall. Leafy greens such as spinach, lettuce, and kale are popular choices due to their ability to tolerate cooler temperatures. Root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets are also well-suited for fall planting. Additionally, certain brassicas like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage can thrive in cooler weather. The AgriLife Extension provides recommended planting dates for different regions of Texas, ensuring that crops are planted at optimal times to avoid frost damage and maximize yields.
Soil Preparation and Planting: Before planting, it’s crucial to prepare the soil. AgriLife Extension recommends testing soil quality to determine its pH and nutrient content, which helps in deciding whether amendments such as compost or fertilizers are necessary. Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with organic matter will give plants the best chance to establish healthy roots. Proper spacing is also essential, as overcrowding can lead to competition for nutrients, water, and sunlight, weakening plant growth.
Irrigation and Mulching: Fall gardens, while generally cooler and less prone to extreme heat, still require consistent moisture. The AgriLife Extension advises using drip irrigation or soaker hoses to ensure water reaches the root zone efficiently. To conserve soil moisture and suppress weed growth, mulching with organic materials like straw or leaves is recommended. Mulch also helps regulate soil temperature as nights grow cooler.
Pest Management: Although pest pressure tends to decrease in the fall, some pests like aphids and cabbage loopers may still pose a threat to garden crops. AgriLife Extension encourages integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, including regular monitoring of plants, using beneficial insects, and employing organic pest control methods to minimize pesticide use.
With AgriLife Extension’s expert guidance, gardeners can enjoy a productive fall harvest by choosing suitable crops, preparing soil properly, maintaining moisture levels, and managing pests. Fall gardening not only provides fresh, homegrown produce but also extends the growing season for gardeners in Texas. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
SEN. CRUZ RELEASES STATEMENT ON NICARAGUA’S RELEASE OF 135 POLITICAL PRISONERS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released the following statement after the United States secured the freedom of 135 political prisoners on humanitarian grounds, including 13 individuals affiliated with Texas-based religious organization Mountain Gateway. These political prisoners were being wrongly detained by Nicaraguan authorities.
In a statement, Sen. Cruz said, “Today, we celebrate a significant victory for freedom as over one hundred political prisoners have been released from the oppressive control of Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime. I am particularly grateful for the release of members from Texas’s Mountain Gateway community, who were unjustly targeted and detained for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights. As we welcome these Americans back home, our nation’s joint efforts with Guatemala will ensure that the freed political prisoners in Nicaragua receive the support of a just democratic society to rebuild their lives. I stand in unwavering solidarity with the Nicaraguan people, who deserve to have their voices heard and respected in peace.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues Travis County Over Illegal Use of Taxpayer Funds to Hire Partisan Organization to Identify Potentially Unregistered Voters
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Travis County Commissioners Court to stop the unlawful appropriation of taxpayer money. Travis County, where the City of Austin is located, hired a partisan third-party organization to identify potentially unregistered voters without statutory authority.
In August 2024, the Travis County Commissioners Court hired a third-party vendor with taxpayer funds to operate a program that would identify residents who were unregistered to vote. The company, Civic Government Solutions, is a subsidiary of a known partisan organization and was contracted to provide services that Travis County is not authorized by Texas law to perform. The program will create confusion, potentially facilitate fraud, and undermine public trust in the election process.
“Travis County has blatantly violated Texas law by paying partisan actors to conduct unlawful identification efforts to track down people who are not registered to vote,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Programs like this invite fraud and reduce public trust in our elections. We will stop them and any other county considering such programs.”
Attorney General Paxton recently sued Bexar County over a program that would send mass mailout to unregistered individuals, potentially to those ineligible to vote, and sent a letter to Harris County warning against passing a voter registration mailout resolution.
