Texas Most Wanted Fugitive Seth Altman Arrested
Altman is responsible to the most recent, early morning, Blue Alert.
Altman was arrested without incident by Fort Worth police Friday near 1300 E. Lancaster Ave in Fort Worth.
On Oct. 3 for 33-year-old Seth Altman, police said he shot the chief of police multiple times in the Texas Pandhandle town of Memphis.
Memphis Chief of Police Rex Plant and another officer were serving an arrest warrant for burglary when police say Altman shot Plant. Altman was on the run and considered “armed and dangerous” when the Blue Alert was issued multiple times starting early in the morning on Oct. 4.
Altman topped the state’s Most Wanted list and Gov. Greg Abbott announced a $10,00 reward for information leading to his arrest and capture.
On Oct. 16 the Blue Alert was discontinued. The Texas Department of Public Safety said there is a warrant for Altman’s arrest for a charge of attempted capital murder of a peace officer.
Police provided no other information about how they found Altman, but said the arrest was thanks to “collaborative efforts of the FWPD and additional law enforcement agencies.”
Altman is currently in custody of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office.
Suspects Sought in Recent Burglaries
October 28, 2024 – Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office took to social media as they seek information on a suspected vehicle involved in recent burglaries. Sheriff Tatum made an appeal last week for residents to be more diligent in their efforts of locking their vehicles after removing valuables when parked as a rise in reported car burglaries has been reported in surrounding counties. Suspected thieves struck the Sulphur Bluff and Dike areas over the weekend and a possible vehicle was spotted that may be involved. Sheriff Tatum reports his office is looking for a black 3/4 ton pickup with cab lights and oversized wheels and tires. Anyone seeing a vehicle fitting that description should call 9-1-1 immediately and should consider the suspects in the vehicle to be armed and dangerous.
Paris District Road Report for Week of October 28, 2024
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district for the week starting Oct. 28, 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:
The annual crack seal contract to place sealant in the pavement cracks on roadways in Grayson County will begin on November 4th. The following roadways will receive a crack seal: Spur 316 from SH 289 to FM 120, FM 120 in Denison from Houston Avenue to FM 1753, US 69 in Denison from Houston Avenue SH 56, FM 1417 from FM 691 to US 82, US 82 from FM 901 to FM 1417, US 82 frontage roads from FM 1417 to FM 1417, SH 56 from US 82 to SH 289, Spur 129 from US 377 to SH 56, FM 1417 from SH 56 to SH 11, SH 289 in Gunter from Kerfoot Road to Elm Street, FS 121 from FM 121 to the Denton County line, SH 5 in Van Alstyne from Redden Road to the Collin County line, SH 56 from SH 11 to FM 1417, SH 11 from SH 56 to FM 697, FM 902 in Tom Bean from SH 11 to King Street. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
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.
There will be a left lane closure on northbound US 75 at Iron Ore Creek on the night of November 5, 2024, in order for crews to set bridge beams. The closure is expected to begin at 9:00 pm on Tuesday night and the roadway will be reopened to two lanes by 5:00 am.
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 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.
US 75, at the US 82 intersection. Watch for occasional lane closures 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 completing the remaining work at the intersection. Watch for lane closures on the US 82 main lanes between FM 131 and SH 91 as crews complete the median barrier work.
FM 697, at Choctaw Slough Creek. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews work to perform bridge repairs. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
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.
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. The week of October 28th, crews will be moving the lane closures from the bridges at Elba and Deaver creeks to the bridge at Mustang Creek and the overpass at FM 901.
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.
Spur 503 main lanes, from SH 91 to US 69. Watch for daytime lane closures on the Spur 503 main lanes as maintenance crews blade level the roadway with hotmix. Motorists should expect delays as traffic will be reduced to one lane in the work zone.
FM 901, from US 377 to US 82. Watch for daytime lane closures on the Spur 503 main lanes as maintenance crews blade level the roadway with hotmix. Motorists should expect delays as traffic will be reduced to one lane in the work zone.
Fannin County:
The annual crack seal contract to place sealant in the pavement cracks on roadways in Fannin County will begin on November 11th. The following roadways will receive a crack seal: FM 2029 from FM 273 to FM 1396, FM 100 from FM 273 to FM 2216, FM 2216 from FM 100 to the Lamar County line, FM 1752 from US 82 to FM 898, SH 78 from US 82 to SH 56, Loop 205 from 9th Street to SH 56, SH 34 from SH 56 to FM 64, SH 11 from US 69 to the Hunt County line, FM 896 from Business SH 121 to US 69, FM 815 from Business US 69 to SH 78, US 69 from FM 896 to FM 272, and FM 1553 from SH 78 to SH 78. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
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 daytime 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 56, from SH 78 to FM 1396. 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.
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: SH 37, from BU 37 to FM 71. Crews will be performing repairs and resurfacing the existing roadway. Watch for traffic shifts and slow moving traffic.
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: Bridge at Timber Creek. Crews will begin installing detour for Timber Creek Bridge in preparation for replacement of the existing bridge.
Hopkins County: FM 1870, at IH 30. Crews will begin resurfacing the bridge deck. Traffic will be detoured during resurfacing operations.
Hopkins County: FM 2653, at IH 30. Crews will begin resurfacing the bridge deck. Traffic will be detoured during resurfacing operations.
Hopkins County: SH 19, Railroad Crossing on N Hillcrest. Crews will begin placing advance notice signs for railroad replanking to take place November 8 through 12.
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.
CR 26320 at Morrison Creek. Watch for temporary lane closures 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
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. The roadway is now reopened. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews replace existing bridge structure.
FM 1184 at Robertson Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
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. The roadway is now reopened. Watch for temporary lane closures 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 is currently widening shoulders and performing ditch grading in the area. Temporary seeding operations have begun on segments of the project. Culvert and Safety End treatments are being installed along the project and excavation and road widening is in progress. Shoulder embankment work will be ongoing. 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 reclamation work and subgrade widening along with placing GEOGRID in the next mile. 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 currently has paving operations and sidewalk operations ongoing. The contractor is placing sidewalk and backfilling curb in the area. Site Grading work is ongoing. Paving operations are in progress in areas north of FM 35. Railroad coordination is underway near FM 2642 and SH 66, work will begin soon in this area. 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 stripe and permanent seeding has been placed. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
FM 512, From SH 34 to FM 118. The contractor has placed barricades and workzone traffic signs. The contractor has begun repair work on base and subgrade failures. The contractor has begun replacing culverts and bridge structures. The first 1.5 miles of reclamation work is underway. 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. Columns are being constructed at FM 1903 and FM 1570 along with the placing of backfill for retaining walls 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. FM 1565 ramp configuration will change this week please be advised of new WB exit location. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
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 performing overlay from FM 118 to FM 2874, overlay FM 816, and edging work on SH 11 between SH 24 and SH 224.
Rains County MNT will continue to address pavement issues SH 19 south and north.
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Dinner Bell for October 30, 2024
The doors to Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church will open at 11:00 a.m. Meal service begins at 11:30 a.m. and doors will close at 12:45 p.m. Please come join us to share fellowship and a meal.
Alliance Bank was chartered as Sulphur Springs State Bank on June 13, 1927. The bank turned a profit that year and has done so every year since then, 97 continual years! The bank building at Main and Gilmer was destroyed by fire in 1934, causing the Bank to move to its present location on the North side of the square.
In 1937, the Carnation Milk Plant opened and began buying Grade A Milk. The bank arranged attractive loans to cotton farmers to purchase dairy cows to sell milk to the plant. This started a relationship between the Bank and the Dairy Industry that continued for many years.
Sulphur Springs State Bank began serving Greenville and Hunt County in July 1990. With moving East, West and into the Metroplex, the Bank officially changed its name to Alliance Bank in October, 1996. In addition to banking Alliance Bank owns and operates Galyean Insurance Agency and a brokerage company, Alliance Financial Services. Innovative banking products that meet the varied needs of the communities it serves has kept its customers and added new ones to a bank with local people they can trust.
The Dinner Bell Feeding Ministry began its association with Alliance Bank on March 1, 2017, which continues today with four appearances yearly. For this relationship, the Dinner Bell is extremely thankful.
The Dinner Bell Feeding Ministry has been blessed with a Partnership with City National Bank since June 8, 2016. For a number of years the bank has supplied financial support and personnel to serve meals on a quarterly basis. We plan to continue inside dining every Wednesday with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Christ mas and New Years Day.
MENU:
Chicken Hashbrown Casserole
Arkansas Green Beans
Garden Salad
Buttered Bread Slices
Apple Crisp
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 !!!
Meal-A-Day Menu for Oct. 28 Through Nov 1, 2024
Here is the menu for Meal-A-Day for October 28th through November 1st 2024.
Delta County Enacts Burn Ban This Week
October 25, 2024 – As of October 25, 2024, Delta County, Texas is under an outdoor burning ban in unincorporated areas.
This order follows an expired 90 day burn ban set in August. According to the current ban, it will be in effect for 7 days. A reevaluation will conducted after the initial period.
A copy of the full order is available here.
Texas Oyster Season Opens November 1
October 25, 2024 – AUSTIN— Storms and flooding that hurt oyster production on Texas coasts will lead to a limited opening of commercial and recreational public oyster harvest areas during the upcoming season, Nov. 1-April 30.
Due to sampling surveys that identified oyster reefs with low abundances of market-sized oysters, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will open 10 of 28 shellfish harvest areas to fishing at the beginning of this season.
“Oysters form an important habitat that provides many ecosystem services as well as a fisheries resources, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is working hard to balance the protection and restoration of wild oysters with the needs of the commercial oyster industry,” said TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. “The department is increasing restoration efforts, closely monitoring reefs and taking prompt action if overfishing occurs and streamlining programs, like cultivated oyster mariculture. For this year, our sampling data shows that wild oysters are still at low abundances and struggling.”
Prior to the start of the season, TPWD conducted targeted sampling in each oyster area to assess the abundance of market-sized oysters. The areas that met the opening threshold abundance are set to open for the upcoming oyster harvest season on Nov. 1.
TPWD also considered the need to distribute commercial oyster fleets over larger geographical areas to prevent over harvest. To accomplish this in the 2024-2025 season, the department will open three additional harvest areas that contain reefs with relatively high abundance of market-sized oysters, along with reefs of lower abundance. These areas do not meet the traditional abundance metrics to open, but because there are reefs with enough market-sized oysters to support harvest and a need to distribute the fleet across a broader geographical area, the department has opened these areas and will monitor them closely for signs of over harvest. The remaining shellfish harvest areas that do not meet previously stated metrics of market-sized oyster populations will be closed at the start of the season and be closely monitored in-season, should they meet the threshold for opening.
Galveston Bay has historically been a large source of commercial oyster harvest. However, oyster populations in Galveston Bay currently present low oyster abundance, as reflected in TPWD’s sampling data.
“We had hoped for better oyster abundance numbers that would’ve allowed for more areas to be open this season,” said Robin Riechers, director of TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division. “Unfortunately, tropical storm Alberto and Hurricane Beryl caused high amounts of freshwater inflow into the Galveston Bay system, which resulted in considerable oyster mortality in Texas’ bays. We will continue to pursue oyster restoration efforts to hopefully allow our wild oyster population abundances the chance to increase in both for commercial purposes as well as for the numerous ecological benefits oysters provide.”
Oysters benefit the environment in various ways, including:
- Providing essential habitat for fish and invertebrates
- Protecting against erosion by buffering wave action and storm surge
- Enhancing water quality by serving as a filter for water in the bays
Closing areas to harvest helps preserve and replenish these ecosystem services. To facilitate reef recovery, TPWD will continue to sample open shellfish harvest areas and close zones that drop below recommended metrics.
A map showing the shellfish harvest areas can be found on the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) website. The list below does not reflect harvest area closures for public health. Please visit the DSHS website for the latest information.
Texas Parks and Wildlife code allows for the emergency closure of reefs to oyster harvest when evidence shows they are being overworked. These closings are based on samples collected by TPWD showing low catch rates of legal-sized, harvestable oysters.
Of the 28 shellfish harvest areas along the Texas coast, 10 will be open at the start of the public oyster season.
The following shellfish harvesting areas will be open to public harvest beginning Nov. 1:
Galveston Bay
TX- 2
TX- 4
TX- 8
Matagorda Bay
TX- 19
TX- 20
San Antonio Bay
TX- 26
Aransas Bay
TX- 29
TX- 30
Corpus Christi Bay
TX- 33
Laguna Madre Bay
TX- 34
Note that TX areas 2, 4, 8, 33, and 34 were not sampled as these areas typically have minimal to no harvest. By default, all TX areas not sampled prior to the season will open Nov. 1.
The following shellfish harvesting areas will be closed to public harvest beginning Nov. 1:
Galveston Bay
TX- 1
TX- 3
TX- 5
TX- 6
TX- 7
TX — 9
Matagorda Bay
TX-11
TX- 12
TX- 14
TX- 15
TX- 16
TX- 18
TX- 21
San Antonio Bay
TX- 24
TX- 25
TX- 27
Aransas Bay
TX- 28 *Note TX-28 was closed by the TPW Commission Nov. 8, 2022
TX- 32
For All Souls’ Day, CBP’s Laredo Field Office Reminds Public of Prohibited Agricultural Items
October 25, 2024 – LAREDO, Texas — As the U.S.-Mexico border community observes the All Souls’ Day (Día de los Muertos) holiday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials representing Laredo Field Office ports of entry are advising the traveling public that certain agricultural items used in holiday decorations are prohibited from entry to the U.S. and can carry harmful pests and disease, such as the citrus greening disease. Also, CBP would like to remind the public of prohibited fruits that tend to be brought by travelers during this holiday period.
“As All Souls’ Day draws near, CBP agriculture specialists at South Texas ports of entry tend to see an increase in travelers bringing agricultural items from Mexico to decorate altares to honor their departed loved ones and want to remind them not to bring in prohibited citrus and floral arrangement fillers,” said Director, Field Operations Donald Kusser, Laredo Field Office. “Our CBP agriculture specialists conduct agricultural examinations every day, and their work is critical in preventing plant pests and diseases not known to exist in the U.S. from establishing themselves and inflicting ecological and economic harm on American agriculture.”
During Allhallowtide season, which encompasses the three days of Halloween (Oct. 31) All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Día de los Muertos in Spanish) (Nov. 2) many border community families celebrate Día de los Muertos by constructing altares (altars) to commemorate the lives of loved ones that have passed on. A common type of ornamental greenery known as murraya or orange jasmine is often used in the construction of altares. Murraya is a host plant for the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, an insect that can carry citrus greening disease and is therefore prohibited from entry into the U.S.
Citrus greening, also known as “huanglongbing,” is a disease caused by a bacterium that can infect most citrus varieties and some ornamental plants (such as orange jasmine); this disease was first detected in the U.S. in 2005 in the state of Florida, Miami-Dade County. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the disease has seriously affected citrus production in India, Asia, Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and Africa.
Citrus fruit that is prohibited from personal importation includes the following: oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, sour oranges and sweet limes. Other popular fruits that also are prohibited include guavas, mangoes, peaches and pomegranates.
Failure to declare prohibited agricultural items also can result in fines. Penalties for personal importations of undeclared, prohibited agricultural items, depending on the severity of the violation, can run as high as $500 and up to more than $250,000 for commercial importations.
The traveling public can learn more about bringing food items into the U.S. For more information regarding prohibited fruits, vegetables, prepared foods and other items, please consult CBP’s Know Before You Go guide.
Please also see detailed information about USDA guidelines for entering the U.S. while traveling with agricultural products from another country.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Takes Action After Biden-Harris Administration Selectively Targets Elon Musk’s Voter Registration Drives
October 25, 2024 – Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) request with the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to investigate the federal agency’s intimidation of businessman Elon Musk over his voter registration program that performs outreach to supporters of First and Second Amendment rights.
Musk’s super PAC has launched programs to encourage eligible American citizens to register to vote in various states. Reports surfaced that DOJ threatened Musk over the organization’s activities after Democrat politicians called the program “deeply concerning.” Attorney General Paxton filed a FOIA request for DOJ documents pertaining to actions against Musk and the super PAC.
At the same time, however, the Biden-Harris Administration has refused to cooperate with Attorney General Paxton’s efforts to ensure that noncitizens have not illegally registered to vote in Texas, and the Administration is openly hostile toward States with election integrity initiatives to prevent noncitizens from illegally voting.
On October 22, Attorney General Paxton sued the Administration for refusing to comply with federal law requiring them to assist States in verifying the citizenship status of potentially ineligible people registered to vote.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has egregiously weaponized the justice system against political opponents for the past four years,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Now, DOJ is selectively targeting Elon Musk’s voter registration drive while actively undermining States’ efforts to secure elections against noncitizen voters and potential fraud. At every turn, the federal government has become adversarial to States as we work to protect fair elections and the rule of law in this country.”
Learn how to Deal With Feral Hogs on this Episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee
On this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Hopkins County Agent Mario Villarino-Gutierrez. The two chatted about the current drought, how to deal with Feral Hogs, the current status of hay, and much more. Check out this episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee below and see what you learn.
