What Is 4-H All About by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
To prepare youth to meet the challenges of childhood, adolescence and adulthood, through a coordinated, long-term, progressive series of educational experiences that enhance life skills and develop social, emotional, physical and cognitive competencies. 4-H is also a community of young people and their families across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H is about having fun, learning, exploring and discovering. In 4-H, young people make new friends, develop new skills, become leaders and help shape their communities. More than 65,000 Texas youth are enrolled members of 4-H community clubs in Texas. Another 850,000 Texas youth get involved in 4-H through special educational opportunities at school, in after school programs, or at neighborhood or youth centers. These youth live in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural communities. 4-H gives them a chance to pursue their own interests – from photography to computers, from building rockets to raising sheep. A list of 4-H projects is available online. They go places – to camp, to state and national conferences. They learn to be leaders and active citizens. In 4-H clubs, they serve as officers and learn to conduct meetings, handle club funds, and facilitate group decision-making. In a growing number of communities, 4-H youth serve as youth representatives in municipal or county government or as members of Teen Courts. They give back to their communities. 4-H members get involved in volunteer projects to protect the environment, mentor younger children and help people who are less fortunate. 4-H at the county level operates in local clubs, were social interaction between 4-H members enhance learning and promotes social skills. In Hopkins County, all the office staff is involved in 4-H. From learning how to make a cloth project, cook a recipe, prepare and deliver a speech to how to heal an animal patient, 4-H has the structure and resources to provide opportunities for our youth to grow. The first step to get involved is to get enrolled on-line at www.4honline.com (starting August 15, 2020) .
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].
Former Sulphur Springs Trooper Making DPS History As One Of First Female Ranger Captains
August 11, 2020 – Three Texas Rangers, including a Ranger who began her DPS career in Sulphur Springs, are making history with their promotions to the rank of captain, according to Texas Department of Public Safety.
Wende Wakeman, who began her career as a DPS Trooper in Sulphur Springs, and Melba Saenz are the first two female Ranger captains in DPS history. James Thomas is the first-known Ranger in modern history to hold a doctorate degree, DPS reported Aug. 18.
“These three talented, dedicated professionals have excelled in positions throughout their DPS careers and have exhibited tremendous commitment to the people of Texas and our law enforcement partners,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “I have the utmost confidence they will continue to make the department proud in their new roles within the Rangers.”
The promotions of Wakeman and Thomas are effective Sept. 1, and both will be stationed at Austin headquarters. Saenz was promoted May 15; her duty station is Edinburg. All three held the rank of lieutenant prior to their promotions, according to DPS.
Ranger Capt. Wende Wakeman first joined DPS in 1998. She was a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper in Sulphur Springs and New Caney, before being promoted to narcotics sergeant in 2003. In 2008, Wakeman joined the Texas Rangers in Conroe. In 2014, she was promoted to lieutenant and was stationed in Laredo, marking the first time in agency history that a woman was promoted to the rank of Ranger lieutenant. She transferred to Huntsville in 2015, where she has served until this most recent promotion.
Wakeman is a graduate of the National Forensics Academy, the International Association of Chiefs of Police Women’s Leadership Institute and the DPS Command College. She has also completed the FBI Leadership Trilogy and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University.
Wakeman’s duties in Austin will include helping oversee specialized law enforcement teams within the Rangers.
Ranger Capt. James Thomas graduated from the DPS Academy in 2002 and worked as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper in Anahuac, Bryan, Madisonville, Mont Belvieu and Baytown. In 2011, he was promoted to Special Agent within the Criminal Investigations Division in Houston, where he served in the gang unit. In 2013, Thomas was appointed as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal with the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force in Houston. In 2015, he joined the Texas Rangers in El Paso. Three years later, he was promoted to lieutenant and was stationed in Waco.
In addition to his service with DPS, Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Lamar University, a master’s degree in behavioral science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Lamar University.
Thomas’ duties in Austin will include supervising the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative and the Forensic Artists program.
Ranger Capt. Melba Saenz joined DPS in 2003 after serving as a police officer in Mission and with the McAllen Independent School District. She was stationed as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper in McAllen for several years before joining the Texas Rangers in 2008 in Laredo. In 2015, Saenz was promoted to lieutenant in Edinburg, where she managed three Joint Operations Intelligence Centers (JOICs) and field operations for the Drawbridge Program in South Texas.
In May 2020, Saenz was promoted to captain and remains stationed in Edinburg, where she is now managing six JOICs from El Paso to the Rio Grande Valley, while continuing to manage the field operations for the Drawbridge Program.
Saenz was recognized by the FBI for a joint aggravated kidnapping investigation and the recovery of a 5-year-old child, and by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for a high-profile joint corruption investigation in South Texas. She is also a graduate of the DPS Leadership Development School and DPS Leadership College.
Cumby, Sulphur Springs To Hold City Council Elections
Both Cumby and Sulphur Springs are scheduled to hold City Council elections on Nov. 3, each to fill two seats on the council.
City of Cumby
The City of Cumby had called for a special election in May to fill the open seats on the council. However, state election officials contacted city officials in April regarding the Cumby special election. All candidates for Places 1 and 2 in the May 2 election were contacted in April, and all agreed due to the COVID-19 situation postponing the election until November was best for all. Because the Cumby City Council Election was a special election, it was canceled in April instead of postponed.
The council on June 9 again called for a Special Election on Nov. 3 to fill the 2 alderman seats and to select a mayor.
At the close of filing on Aug 17 incumbent Doug Simmerman was the only candidate who had filed for mayor, but two candidates each filed for Places 1 and 2 – the same as had filed in February for the May election.
Candidates for Alderman Place 1 include Sheryl Lackey and Wayne Mobley, and candidates for Alderman Place 2 include Audri Mayo and Amber Hardy.
City Of Sulphur Springs
The City of Sulphur Springs was also scheduled in May to hold a general election for 2 places on the council and special election for 4 places on the City Council Election to replace council members who resigned in December.
On March 3, the City Council cancelled the General Election due to the absence of contested races. On March 18, Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation authorizing political subdivisions that would otherwise hold elections on May 2, 2020, to move their general elections for 2020 to Nov. 3, 2020, due to public health and safety concerns related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The City Council officially postponed the election in April and this summer adopt a revised order calling for the election on Nov. 3 instead of May 2.
“By postponing the election date, the City is preserving all candidate filings and ballot order actions that have already taken place. This postponement does not have the effect of reopening candidate filings,” the resolution officially postponing the election stated.
The City Council at the regular Aug. 4 meeting issued a notice for the election to be held Nov. 3, with early voting by personal appearance to be conducted at The ROC, 115 Putman St. in Sulphur Springs.
Place 1 has four candidates: Jay W. Julian, Mark Bradley, Vanessa Diosdado and Justin M. Brown.
Place 5 has two candidates: Ricardo Chavarria and Gary Spraggins.
Harold Nash Sr., appointed in December to fill the vacant Place 2 seat on the City Council, was the only candidate to file for Place 2. Oscar Aguilar was the only candidate filing for Place 3. Both have been administered the oath of office for those seats.
Meal a Day Needs Cooks! Can You Volunteer?
During the weeks of Summer and COVID-19, volunteer help in the Meal a Day Kitchen has dwindled. The currently small cooking staff is carrying a load meant for more workers. The demand calls for 5 cooks per day, and on some days, there are only 2 or 3 cooks for that day’s shift. Thus, the cooking staff and and Director Karon Weatherman are seeking some additional help. Here are the current needs, based on a 5-day week.
Monday – We have 2 Cooks, we need 3 more
Tuesday – We have 4 Cooks, we need 1 more
Wednesday – We have 2 Cooks, we need 3 more
Thursday – We have 4 Cooks, we need 1 more
Friday – We have 3 Cooks, we need 2 More
If you’d like to volunteer, call the Seniors Center at 903-885-1661.
According to Karon, two regular Cooks are out with surgeries (one volunteers on WednesdayThursday and the other one volunteers on Friday) and these two cooks will hopefully be back soon. “It is hard on the cooks when even one person is out of pocket. I have to call other volunteers in to fill in for them, or I go in and take a shift myself. We are reaching out for some help at Meal-a-Day. Our kitchen is spacious and well-equipped, the camaraderie is good among our cooks, and what we do is a real help to others.”
Cooks come in at 7:00 AM on their assigned day and are usually done by 11:00 am or before. Some of them stay and help prep stuff or make desserts for the next day. It is gratifying work because the shut-in seniors who receive the meals are truly in need, and are appreciative for the nutritious and delicious meals delivered to them at their door. If you can help by being a volunteer cook, please contact Karon at 903-885-1661. Meal a Day is prepared and delivered from the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, 150 MLK Drive in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Good Start to 2020 Reported by County, Area School Supts
In a round of phone calls to school districts in and around Hopkins County on August 18, there was an overall positive response about the first days back at school from the Superintendent’s offices we spoke to today.
Cumby ISD reports 88% in-class and 12% at-home attendance since school started on August 13, with about 400 students enrolled. According to Cindy Mannon in the Superintendent’s office, “we’ve had a wonderfully encouraging start to the year. Everyone is following directions, wearing their masks and no complaints from students about their temperature having to be taken through the day!”
Lori Agee in the Superintendent’s office at Mt. Vernon ISD says “We’ve had a great start to the school year!” She reports about 12% virtual learners and the rest participating in face-to-face instruction among the 1,502 students from Pre-K through 12th grade. Superintendent is Dr. Jason McCullough who started out as a teacher at Mt. Vernon some 20 years ago, and spent a number of years employed at Region 8 before taking the Supt. post at Mt. Vernon two years ago.
Rains ISD Superintendent is Jennifer Johnson. From her office, we learned that of the 1,704 students enrolled, 16% are Virtual Learning students and 74% opted for classroom learning. Johnson stated “since school opened on August 13, everything is running smoothly. Rains students and parents are co-operating with the rules and restrictions, and students age 10 and older wearing masks as required.”
Among the last school districts to open are Sulphur Bluff ISD on August 18 and North Hopkins ISD on August 19, 2020.
Sulphur Springs ISD begins classes on September 1, 2020. The final week of August will have SSHS students coming in to the high school for schedule and learning device pick-up between 8am and 4pm. Virtual Academy students should come in on Monday August 24 or Tuesday August 25. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors have two days, Tuesday August 25 or Wednesday August 26. Freshmen are asked to come in Thursday August 27 or Friday August 28. Each will need to pay a $10 device fee, and they are asked to bring back any school devices they may still have from the Spring semester.
3 School Districts Plan For Nov. 3 Trustees Elections
2 Districts Will Likely Be Able To Cancel Nov. 3 School Board Elections; School Board At 1 District Will Have To Fill Open Seat
At the close of candidate filing Monday, only two Hopkins County school districts had more candidates than trustee seats up for election on Nov. 3. One district had one fewer candidate than seats to be filled with a Nov. 3 trustees election. One district postponed the trustees election from May until Nov. 3.
Cumby ISD
The only two people to apply for candidacy on the Nov. 3 Cumby ISD Board of Trustees Election were incumbents Marsha Krotky and Kenny Campbell. They will continue to serve another full term on the school board.
Cumby ISD anticipates being able to cancel their election, provided the district receives no write-in candidates by the Aug. 21 deadline.
Miller Grove ISD
Five candidates filed for a place on the Nov. 3 ballot for Miller Grove ISD Board of Trustees.
Candidates vying for the four full-term at-large seats on the Miller Grove school board election include incumbent Clark L. May, Ryan Claston, Mike Hasten, Cole W. Middleton and Lee Roy Stracener.
The drawing for places on the ballot is expected to be conducted Monday.
North Hopkins ISD
At North Hopkins ISD three candidates vie for two seats on the school board.
Incumbents David James and Brian Lewis are challenged by Jackie Boles Jr. for the two at-large full-term seats to be determined in the Nov. 3 NHISD Board of Trustees Election.
Saltillo ISD
Saltillo ISD will also likely be able to cancel the Nov. 3, 2020, trustees election.
The three incumbents were the only candidates to file for three seats on the school board. Mark Sustaire will continue to serve in Place 1, Chad Neal in Place 3 and Randy Johnson in Place 5 until November 202, unless challenged by a write-in candidate. The deadline to file as a write-in candidate is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.
Sulphur Bluff ISD
Sulphur Bluff ISD had only three candidates candidacy in the Nov. 3 trustees election. There are three seats expiring.
Incumbents Donnie Powers, Terry Goldsmith and Chris Bassham all filed to seek another four-year term on the school board. Incumbent John Vance opted not to seek another term on the school board, leaving the fourth slot still to be filled at the close of filing Monday, Aug. 17.
Unless the district gets a write-in candidate before the close of that period Friday, SBISD will meet to determine what to do about the fourth seat. Typically, when fewer candidates sign up than trustees seats up for election, the school board is left with the task of appointing/selecting a candidate to fill the seat.
Yantis ISD
Yantis ISD will also hold a Nov. 3 trustees election. The district was scheduled to hold an election in May, but had to postpone the election until November due to COVID-19.
When candidate filing closed in February, incumbents Jennifer McKeever and Melissa Stephens were challenged by Teresa Starrett and Jennifer Larkin for their seats on the school board. These four candidates will appear on the YISD Nov. 3 ballot.
The two seats on YISD Board of Trustees are full-term and will go to the two candidates receiving the most votes.
Welcome to the New 4-H Year
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County
Texas has more than 55,000 youth involved in the 4-H experience each year, and the enrollment process for the 2020/2021 year is now open. We have been receiving calls from families who are interested in registering their youth.
First, here’s a little information about 4-H:
4-H is a national organization which helps young people develop life-long knowledge and skills to become engaged citizens. 4-H is truly a model of the “learning by doing” teaching concept. It reaches people in their own communities with delivery methods suitable to their needs. 4-H also helps to provide opportunities for families and communities to develop stronger bonds. The 4-H program is a voluntary, non-formal, educational program offered to all youth regardless of race, color, national origin, residence, or handicap.
The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program is conducted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, which is a part of the Texas A&M University System. County and district 4-H programs are directed by Extension staff that also provides training and support to volunteers who work with 4-H members. The Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program serves youth in all 254 counties in Texas. Young people in 4-H learn about citizenship, leadership, foods and nutrition, healthy lifestyles, veterinary science, shooting sports, horticulture, agriculture, and other subjects.
The four “H’s” are explained in the organization’s pledge:
I pledge
My Head to clearer thinking,
My Heart to greater loyalty,
My Hands to larger service and
My Health to better living for
My club, my community,
My country and my world.
Who are 4-H members?
You might hear that 4-H is for kids who live on farms. Not true! There are 4-H clubs all over the country with members who have never seen a cow or a chicken!
Today’s 4-H’ers are boys and girls between third and 12th grades.
How much does it cost?
4-H has a participation costs of $25 (before Nov. 1 of each year) to $30 (November 1st and after) to join. Some projects might cost something to get started— like, if you want to do photography, you’ll need a camera and money to get pictures developed.
To register, go to http://texas.4honline.com and follow the on-screen instructions. New members will need to set up a family profile. Returning members do not need to set up a new profile – simply review and update the information. Be sure the e-mail address you submit is accurate because this is one way you will receive information. If you have questions, feel free to contact the Hopkins County office of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at 903-885-3443. We’ll be glad to assist!
3 Hopkins County Residents Ask Commissioners Court To Reconsider Proposed County Tax Rate
Three Hopkins County residents addressed Hopkins County Commissioners Court regarding the proposed county tax rate during a public hearing held Monday morning at Hopkins County Courthouse.
Proposed Tax Rate
At the Aug. 10 Commissioners Court meeting, Tax Assessor/Collector Debbie Pogue Mitchell recommended the county keep the same tax rate of $0.624892, which is above the effective rate of $0.577457 but below the rollback rate of $0.62556.
“We have challenges this year in a new way of figuring the new tax rate. That is, Senate Bill 2 changed everything,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said when opening the public hearing for the proposed tax rate on Aug. 17.
“At this time, we are proposing the rate $0.624892,” said Tax Assessor Collector Debbie Mitchell. “We are below the voter-approval rate. I would like to ask that we reschedule another public hearing on September the 8th at 9 a.m.,” Mitchell said Monday.
The effective rate or no-new revenue rate is the tax rate that would be required to raise the same amount in taxes as county property taxes collected in the current year. Formerly the rollback rate, the voter-approval rate is a figure set by the state, an amount of increase in tax roll growth under which the county must remain. The template used to determine the calculation is more complicated than in past years, requiring several additional steps.
“They’ve changed. They didn’t update our calendars and not all of our worksheets until very late in the game. The people that do my programming are still making changes to the program,” Mitchell said.
A Hopkins County tax rate of $0.624892, according to the proposed budget posted on the county website, should generate an additional $752,789 in revenue from property taxes in the coming year, compared to the current tax year, including $272,117 in tax revenue from new property added to the tax roll this year. That means although the tax rate will remain the same, some taxpayers will pay more in taxes due to increased appraisal values.
Public Hearing
Jerry Lamb, a resident of Precinct 1, asked the Commissioners Court to consider what that proposed rate would mean for residents, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s beginning to affect all aspects of our life, and eventually it’s going to work it’s way into Hopkins County. I never have been believing the numbers they put out as far as people infected. I believe it’s greater than what they’re posting for our area,” Lamb said. “This virus is affecting jobs, lost revenue, lost tax revenue. Some people are unable to pay their mortgages. Some people are having their cars repossessed. It hasn’t affect our area greatly. Before it’s over, I’m afraid it will because they don’t have a vaccine for it.”
Lamb said the proposed tax rate is higher than the the no-new revenue tax rate, so that means increases in property taxes for the 2020 tax year for property owners.
“I think it’s time for everybody to take a step back and try to do more with less. It’s great if you can give everybody a 2 percent pay raise. That’d be just fantastic. But what about the people that are going to get slapped with the increased tax rate on their properties? A lot of people out here are on fixed incomes and every dollar that you take out of their pocket, that’s a dollar they don’t have for something else,” Lamb said.
Mr. Lamb noted that hundreds of acres around him have changed hands in recent years. Property taxes have increased dramatically for the people who live in that area compared to what it was before the change in ownership. That, Lamb said, means the revenue is coming in for the county.
“It’d be great if you retain all of your employees. Sometimes, someone has to be sacrificed for the greater good of all. Nobody wants to see anybody lose their job. But, I really expect you to come forward and do more with less, and it can be done,” Lamb said.
He said he understands the hardship of cutting back. In his last job, Lamb said he was asked to reduce expenses by 3 percent across the board. The next year was worse and he was required to make a 5 percent reduction.
“It can be done. I hope that you all will reconsider before you just add this to the people that are trying to make ends meet,” Lamb concluded.
“You said a tax increase, the county tax rate has not been increased,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley pointed out.
“It is increasing overall. We’re raising more money, even though our tax rate is not going up,” Mitchell said.
“The rate has not changed. It’s because property values have gone up. It’s caused the increase in the value on everybody’s property that’s caused the increase in the dollar amount,” Bartley said.
FM 1567 Daniel Bobay, who moved to Texas from California about a year ago, said he served on a school board during some of the worst economic times for the California city. The school “tightened the belt quite a bit” for quite a few years so as not to impose any additional burden on people who were out of work and struggling.
“It is very difficult to recover, I understand that. What I would encourage you to do is consider the burden on the people of your districts, the jobs that they’ve lost, the things that have happened to them over the last year, and maybe defer this tax increase to another time when, perhaps in that September meeting, the economic outlook looks a lot different for the people in this county. I appreciate your consideration,” Bobay told the court.
Keith Goodell, who also resides on County Road 1152, off of FM 1567, said he moved in February from Washington after retiring from the military. He has yet to obtain employment and is on a fixed income.
“They’ve just pretty much doubled my taxes, just on my property taxes alone, so pretty much twice what my mortgage is. I understand trying to get it lower,” Goodell told the court.
Goodell said there were not agricultural or other exemptions on the property previously, but he is trying to get that process started. He acknowledge that he missed the deadline of Jan. 1 to file for exemptions for his property. He said when he planned to apply for the Tax Relief Fund Act he was told the deadlines were April 30. He has been told he can request and get the necessary paperwork for property tax exemption Oct. 1 and get those in by Jan. 1, 2021, to potentially receive the exemptions.
He said he too is familiar with “do more with less,” particularly during the last 10 years of his 20 year Naval career.
“The money is there, like he’s saying. I’m paying it. I really am. I’m asking to tighten up the belts. I’m on a fixed income. I’ve been looking for work. It’s pretty difficult in this climate that it is,” Goodell said.
The Precinct 3 Commissioner pointed out that county taxpayers who do not live in a city pay county, school and hospital district taxes, which add up also.
“Of the county tax that you pay the county, about 6-and-a-quarters cents of every $100 goes to maintenance of county roads. We work on a tight budget. We understand your concerns. We have to work on a tight budget. Hopkins County’s been blessed the last 4-5 years because of the increase in property values because are willing to come into our state and pay more money for properties. That’s increasing the values of everybody’s. That’s blessed Hopkins County with additional revenue that we’ve been able to establish a better general fund, to put our county in a good healthy financial situation, but also be able, the last couple of years, to put more money back into our precincts to help build the roads back to a condition that they were in 10-12 years ago,” Bartley said.
He noted that 10-12 years ago finances in the county took a downturn. People had to be laid off. The county had to cut back on many things.
“We’ve blessed and we’ve been in a positive mode the last several years. We realized we have to tighten up in this next year. We are looking at financing may not be as good but Hopkins County is in a good financial position to be able to weather that storm, I think,” Bartley said.
Newsom affirmed the county did experience finance hardship around 2008-2009, and “got almost in financial trouble.” The county has recovered from that but is working toward “some other good things happening, including potential new businesses coming in which, hopefully, will provide additional jobs for county residents like the veteran.
The county has financial advisors, who “advised us to not raise it, definitely not raise it, but to leave it the same because next January we’ll know where we are.”
Typically, the county judge most Texans pay property taxes October-January, because penalties kick in Feb. 1. While most tax payments have come in on schedule this year, officials are concerned people will be “in a position where they won’t be able to pay as much.” The county’s financial advisors recommended keeping the rate the same, so as to have a little extra revenue this year, which could carry over to help when or if that occurs next year.
“The advice so far is don’t raise, don’t lower, leave it alone, the same as it’s been since we’ve got the new jail,” Newsom said. “We built the jail, what 5 years ago. We raised the tax rate through a bond approved by the voters at that time and haven’t raised it since. We don’t want to raise it. Right now, we are in a position where we have to watch out for the welfare.”
County officials are watching the financial situation “very carefully” at the moment, the county judge said. Newsom said the last unemployment report released about a month ago showed Hopkins County “had the best lowest unemployment rate just about in Northeast Texas.” Officials are waiting to see how Hopkins County ranks in the next unemployment report, which Newsom expects to be out later this week.
Another hearing regarding the county tax rate is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom, on the first floor of Hopkins County Courthouse, 118 Church St.
Tire Town’s Owner Mike Gilmer Up for 40th Year
Mike stated that he came to Sulphur Springs in 1981 when he was hired at a tire store, at that time located along Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs. “Tire Town was located across the street from the old Price Ford dealership, and very near Quicky Food Store. After that, the business was moved to the old Exxon station location, which was on the Interstate service road and right where Chick-Fil-A is now. We were there for many years but we outgrew it. We were happy when we made the move to Oak Avenue. This area of town has built up in recent years, and more retail spaces are eventually going to be developed along here. Sulphur Springs is growing”.
Enola asked Mike how long he had been a KSST advertiser. “I guess since about Year One. I began advertising in 1985 when I became sole owner of the business. KSST was the hometown station, carried Paul Harvey and the Wildcat games, and the entire county listened to it. My messages were heard by just about everyone during any given week, business was good and our location was excellent. Even today, I like to voice my own ads. In time, our tire shop location was sold and so we moved closer to downtown, where we are now. In 2021, I will have been in the tire business in Sulphur Springs for 40 years. This community has brought us many loyal customers. I’ve seen lots of changes in the automobile and tire industries. And yes, I am willing to sell the franchise and am actually seeking the right buyer. Sulphur Springs has been good to Bonnie and me, but I’d kind of like to try retirement before too long. I actually chose Sulphur Springs to move to, so I could fish. But I haven’t done much fishing yet!” Here’s a shout out to the good work being done by Tire Town and Mike Gilmer!
Aug. 17 Hopkins County COVID-19 Update: 6 New Cases, 27 Active Cases, 18 Recoveries
After a day with no case reports, Hopkins County Emergency Management officials at 5 p.m. Aug. 17 reported 6 additional Hopkins County residents have received positive COVID-19 test results and 18 residents have recovered from novel coronavirus 2019.
That brings the overall total since March to 220 positive COVID-19 cases and 193 recoveries for Hopkins County.
Aug. 17 marks the seventh time this month in which HCEM officials have reported more recoveries than new case counts — that’s every time recoveries were reported in August 2020. The 94 recoveries reported so far in August have helped offset the 68 new cases, dropping the total number of active case in Hopkins County to 27 cases.
Monday is the first time in over a month that there have been fewer than 30 active COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County. The last time there were less than 30 cases was on July 13, when HCEM reported 14 recoveries and two new cases, leaving only 23 active case.
Other good news reported on Aug. 17 is that the number of patients in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances-Sulphur Springs has also declined, from 7 cases on Aug. 13 and Aug. 15 to three on Monday, Aug. 17. None of those patients were reported to be on ventilators. However, HCEM officials said the report they received did not indicate whether the three patients are residents of Hopkins County or other counties.
Texas Department of State Health Services on Aug. 17 continues to show three COVID-19 deaths for Hopkins County, on July 17, July 23 and Aug. 2.
Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator/Fire Chief Andy Endsley said despite checking daily, neither he nor other regional officials have yet received official information about any COVID-19 deaths for Hopkins County.
There continued to be no residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 19 at any of the Sulphur Springs nursing homes and assisted living facilities through Aug. 3, the most recent data available from the state. Only one nursing home in Sulphur Springs has reported any positive cases among staff; three employees at Sulphur Springs Health & Rehab have tested positive for COVID-19 since the state began tracking these types of cases. There were no active cases at the facility as of Aug. 3, according to Texas Health and Human Services’s COVID-19 Case Counts for Nursing Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities.
