Registration Ongoing for Local HSU Softball Camp
Triple Play Sports Fastpitch and East Texas Heat Academy are proud to partner with Hardin Simmons University to bring a softball camp to Coleman Park in Sulphur Springs. The camp will be held on July 23, 2020 and those interested can register online at HSUsoftballcamps.com. There will be two sessions: K-5 from 9am-12pm and Grades 6-8 from 2pm-5pm. The cost is $50 per participant.
Location: Coleman Park – 679 Gossett Ln. Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
What to Bring
Campers need to bring both cleats and turfs and all other playing equipment
COVID Policy
We ask that if campers were recently exposed to COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19, they do not attend camp. If a camper is sick and cannot attend camp, a full refund will be rewarded. We will do our best to distance the campers during the sessions when it is outside the rules of the sport. If camp is cancelled due to COVID-19, all campers will be refunded.
July 20-24 Meal A Day Menu
Although the Senior Citizens Center continues to be closed due to COVID-19, Meal A Day volunteers continue to work five days a week preparing and delivering meals to shut-in elderly in the community. The July 20-24, 2020, Meal A Day menu for includes:
Monday – Beef Spaghetti, Garlic Sticks and English Peas
Tuesday – Ham and Pineapple, Potato Salad, Broccoli with Cheese Sauce and a Roll
Wednesday – Chicken Spectacular, Pickled Beets and a Roll
Thursday – Beef Tostada Casserole, Refried Beans, Salsa and Tossed Salad
Friday – Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potatoes and Pepper Gravy, Normandy Vegetables and a Roll
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.
COVID-19 Update: 4 New Cases In Hopkins County
July 18 Marks 10th Consecutive Day Of New COVID-19 Cases For Hopkins County
At 5 p.m. Saturday, July 18, Hopkins County Emergency Management officials reported 4 new positive COVID-19 cases.
There were also one resident in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs on July 18 who has tested positive for COVID-19. One other individual who was in CMFHSS COVID-19 unit Friday night had been transferred to a Tyler medical facility Saturday, Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley reported.
Overall, that’s 118 total positive COVID-19 cases reported in Hopkins County since March. Of those, 66 have recovered, leaving 52 cases still active.
July 18th is the 10th consecutive day in which new COVID-19 patients have been reported for Hopkins County, and at least the 13th day this month that new cases have been reported.
“We encourage wearing masks and social distancing, just like we’ve been doing, and staying as clean as possible,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said Saturday.
3 Jailed In Hopkins County On Felony Warrants
Three people were jailed in Hopkins County on felony warrants July 16-17, according to arrest and jail reports.
Arkansas Man Jailed On 3 Warrants
Charles Creal was held in Bowie County jail on three Hopkins County warrants. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Elijah Fite took custody of the 39-year-old Flippin, Arkansas man and transported him to Hopkins County jail.
Creal was booked at 5:30 p.m. July 16 on possession of 200 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence warrants. The offenses are alleged to have occurred on July 7, 2020.
The Arkansas man was released from Hopkins County jail Saturday, July 18, on $40,000 bond on the controlled substance charge, and $30,000 bond each on the tampering with evidence and evading arrest charges, according to jail reports.
Gladewater Woman In Custody On Parole Warrant
A 43-year-old Gladewater woman was taken into custody at 4:10 p.m. July 17, 2020, and transported by HCSO Deputy Bobby Osornio to the Hopkins County jail. Samantha Deanne Lee was booked at 5:44 p.m. on the violation of parole warrant.
The arrest marks the second time Lee was jailed for violation of parole. She was also arrested May 5, 2019 on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, have a prohibited substance in a correctional or civic community facility, possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance and possession or delivery of a drug paraphernalia. She was then served with a violation of parole warrant. She remained in Hopkins County jail that time from May 5-Nov. 8, 2019, according to jail reports.
Lee remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday on the violation of parole warrant she was booked in on July 17, according to jail reports.
Greenville Teen Jailed On Probation Warrant
An 18-year-old Greenville resident was taken into custody at 5 p.m. July 17, 2020 at Teen Challenge in DeSoto, TX.
Clarence Ofield III was transported by deputy Fite to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, where he was booked on a warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for an April 2019 engaging in organized criminal activity charge, according to arrest reports. Ofield remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday, July 18.
July 17 marked the second time in less than a year he has been booked into the county jail for violating probation on the April 2019 charge. He was booked into Hopkins County jail Oct. 20, 2019 for evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle, evading arrest or detention and failure to maintain financial responsibility. Ofield was served with a warrant for violating probation on the April 2019 criminal activity charge and remained in custody on those charges until Feb. 24, according to jail reports.
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.
Garland Man Accused Of Choking, Elbowing Woman
Sulphur Springs Police arrested a 54-year-old Garland man accused of choking and elbowing a woman Friday night.
Officers responded at 10:46 p.m. July 17 to a physical disturbance in the 1300 block of Lemon Drive. Upon arrival, police contacted a female who had a scratch and redness on her neck and around one eye, supporting the allegation that the man inside the residence had briefly choked her and elbowed her in the right eye.
Police contacted the man. When told to come out of a bathroom, police allege he was uncooperative, so they “assisted the subject out of the bathroom and onto the ground, where he was placed into double locking handcuffs,” police alleged in arrest reports. The 54-year-old Garland man was arrested at 11:52 p.m. July 17 and booked into booked into Hopkins County jail at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18, on a Class A misdemeanor assault causing bodily injury to a family member charge, according to arrest reports.
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.
Paris District Road Report for the Week of July 20, 2020
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of July 20, 2020. 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.
Sherman Area (Fannin, Grayson Counties)
Contacts: Sherman Area Office (903) 892-6529; Grayson Co. Maintenance (903) 893-8831; Fannin Co. Maintenance (903) 583-7566.
US 75, Grayson County: from FM 1417 to SH 91 (Texoma Parkway). Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts on northbound and southbound US 75 between Center Street and FM 1417 as crews work on building new main lanes and the new South Travis Street Bridge. Watch for lane closures on the frontage roads between Park Street and North Travis Street as crews work on building detours and installing drainage structures. A reduced speed limit of 60 mph has been set for this construction project.
The pedestrian bridge near Pecan Street is closed for pedestrian traffic. The east side over the frontage road has been removed. The remaining pedestrian bridge will not need to be removed at this time, but will be removed later in the project. Pedestrians wishing to cross US 75 are advised to cross at the Houston Street signalized intersection.
FM 1417, Grayson County: from US 82 to SH 56. Watch for lane shifts and shoulder closures between US 82 and SH 56 while crews are working to construct a portion of the new Sand Creek bridge. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures as crews are performing utility work. A reduced speed limit of 45 mph has been set for this construction project.
FM 1417, Grayson County: at the OB Groner / West Travis Street intersection. Watch for occasional lane closures as crews work on installing flashing beacons at the intersection.
FM 691, Grayson County: from FM 131/Loy Lake Road to US 75. Watch for lane closures as workers install signals at the FM 131 intersection. The intersection of FM 691 with FM 131/Loy Lake Road has been converted to a four-way stop intersection and will become a signalized intersection at the conclusion of the construction project.
FM 121, Grayson County: from Jim Jones Road to FM 3356. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to widen the roadway to provide a detour section. The ultimate roadway will be a five-lane section at the conclusion of the project.
US 377, Grayson County: Willis Bridge at the Oklahoma State line. Watch for occasional lane closures on the existing bridge as workers pour concrete for the new bridge structure.
US 75 Ramp Reversal in Denison, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 main lanes and frontage road between Spur 503 and FM 691. Watch for a lane closure on the southbound US 75 frontage road as well as the westbound Spur 503 ramp while construction crews work on building the new southbound US 75 entrance ramp. A new traffic pattern has been implemented where westbound Spur 503 will be shifted to the southbound US 75 frontage road and will travel through the FM 691 intersection and then enter southbound US 75 using the on-ramp after FM 691. The new FM 691 exit ramp is now open to access FM 691.
US 75 Slope Repair at Randell Lake Road, on the southbound US 75 frontage road between SH 91 and Randell Lake Road, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 frontage road between SH 91 and Randell Lake Road. The southbound frontage road and Randell Lake exit ramp are closed due to a slope failure. Crews are working to construct the new pavement section.
US 75 debris pickup, Grayson County: from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch for mobile lane closures as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the daytime.
US 82 & US 69, Grayson County: from FM 131 to FM 1897 on US 82, and from SH 56 to US 75 on US 69. Watch for temporary daytime lane closures and shoulder closures as workers install safety treatments on fixed objects.
FM 120, Grayson County: from FM 131 to US 75. Watch for nighttime and daytime lane closures as workers repair the concrete pavement.
SH 56 (Lamar St.), Grayson County: from Binkley Park Drive to Tolbert Avenue. Watch for daytime lane closures as workers perform erosion repair work at the bridge over Sand Creek.
SH 289, Grayson County: between FM 121 and US 82. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on performing base repairs.
US 69, Grayson County: between SH 56 and SH 11. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews work on performing base repairs.
FM 1753, Grayson and Fannin County: from FM 1897 to SH 78. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 898, Fannin County: from the Grayson County line to SH 121. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 2815, Fannin County: from FM 1629 to SH 11. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1743, Fannin County: from SH 56 to FM 1550. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
US 82, Fannin County: from SH 121 to the Lamar County Line. Watch for slow moving construction equipment as crews work on widening US 82 from a two lane roadway to a four lane divided section. Weather permitting, on July 22 crews will perform a traffic switch on the eastern end of the project. Crews will move westbound US 82 traffic to the new westbound mainlanes at the Fannin and Lamar County line, where they will remain for approximately 10 miles. Eastbound traffic will remain in their current lane. Drivers who frequent this roadway are advised that all driveways, county roads and farm-to-market roads approaching the new westbound main lanes on US 82 will have a full stop before crossing over to the median.
County Road 2250, Fannin County: at Coffee Mill Creek. County Road 2250 is closed in order for crews to remove the existing bridge and build a new bridge. Traffic on CR 2250 will need to use an alternate route during construction.
County Road 4250, Fannin County: at Freeman Creek. County Road 4250 is closed in order for crews to remove the existing bridge and build a new bridge. Traffic on CR 4250 will need to use an alternate route during construction.
FM 896, Fannin County, from Business SH 121 to the us 69: Watch for daytime lane closures as crews perform bridge repairs to the bridge over Valley Creek.
SH 78, Fannin County: from the Collin County line to FM 896: Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to perform base repairs to the roadway.
FM 981, Fannin County: from US 69 to SH 78. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to perform base repairs to the roadway.
FM 274, Fannin County: from FM 1753 to SH 78. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to blade level the roadway.
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.
SH 11, Hopkins County: From SH 19 to White Oak Creek. Traffic will be shifted to the new roadway while the existing section is being repaired. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays.
SH 11, Hopkins County: From 1.5 miles east of FM 3134 to 0.82 miles east of FM 2653. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews perform striping operations.
IH 30, Hopkins & Franklin Counties: From Titus County Line to Hunt County Line. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews upgrade metal beam guard fence.
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.
BU 271D, Red River County: from US 271 to State Spur 38 (Bogata). Watch for temporary lane closures while crews install new end treatments on drainage structures.
SH 37, Red River County: from US 271 (Bogata) to Franklin County Line. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews mill existing pavement and place new hot mix.
US 82, Red River County: from FM 1159 to Bowie County Line. Traffic is shifted to the south side of existing roadway between FM 44 and FM 1699 while crews perform pavement widening work on the north side.
FM 195, Red River County: from FM 410 N to SH 37. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews upgrade metal beam guard fence and complete cross culvert extensions at 2 locations.
SH 37 safety upgrades, Red River County: from the Texas-Oklahoma state line south to the Red River-Franklin County line. Watch for temporary traffic signals at bridge locations while crews upgrade bridge rail from Clarksville to Bogata.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903)455-2303; Rains Co. Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
SH 66, Hunt County: from near FM 6 to near FM 2642. A project to widen the pavement, install continuous left-turn lanes, and safety-treat fixed objects is underway. The contractor is patching, striping the road and backfilling pavement edges. Please be aware of lane closures, and watch for work zones and workers in this area.
FM 2194, Hunt County: between Merit and FM 903. This project will widen the shoulders and apply safety treatments to fixed objects. The contractor is currently working on driveways, mailboxes and turn-outs. Please be careful when traveling in this area.
SPUR 264, Hunt County: in Quinlan. Sidewalk improvement project. The contractor is currently seeding and watering, sidewalk construction is complete. Please be careful when traveling in the area and watch out for workers.
FM 1566, Hunt County: from FM 272 near Celeste to State Highway 34. Project barricades and signs have been set, and construction on culverts will follow. Detours are required to complete this work. Please be careful when traveling in this area and watch out for workers.
Hunt County mowing contractors are working at various locations in Hunt County.
Hunt County maintenance crews are applying seal coating on FM 1532 and fog seal on FM 903; watch for lane closures, work zones and workers along this roadway. Please be careful when traveling in these areas, watch out for workers and maintain a safe distance from these work crews.
Debris and litter operations are ongoing throughout multiple parts of the county. Please be careful when traveling, and watch out for workers.
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2020 Cattleman’s Classic & Ribeye Roundup Cancelled
Numerous annual events this spring and summer have been canceled due to novel coronavirus 2019. Announcements were made over the last week that two additional local events, the Ms. Hopkins County Senior pageant and Hopkins County Dairy Festival, which had been postponed in June have now been cancelled as well. With local positive COVID-19 case numbers increasing daily, fall events are now beginning to be affected as well. One of COVID-19’s the latest casualties is the annual NETBIO Cattleman’s Classic and Ribeye Roundup.
Friday night, the NETBIO Board of Directors and CCRR Team announced the annual event, scheduled every year in October, has been cancelled “due to the uncertainty surrounding the next few months.”
The NETBIO Board and CCRR Team, on the event Facebook page, noted that the decision was made by unanimous vote based on the following factors:
First and foremost, the directors feel that it is their responsibility to protect the health of Hopkins County. Our beautiful county has been incredibly blessed to have only a limited number of Covid-19 cases and we want to protect that. NETBIO is an organization that promotes following industry recommendations and national quality guidelines and health protocols for the beef they produce. The board felt they should apply the same high standards in this case and do their part to practice due diligence for the health benefits of our community.
Secondly, the economic impact of the last few months on our local businesses has not gone unnoticed. These local businesses are the life of our county and have been the BEST partners for the CCRR. Without them, this event never happens! We want to do our part to support them thru this tumultuous time and we can do that best by helping them cut their expenses.
The NETBIO Board and CCRR Team members extend thanks to all who have supported them over the past 5 years, and pledged to make the vent “bigger than ever” when it returns on Oct. 2, 2021. The event hosts concluded the announcement by encouraging everyone to “support your local businesses, support your beef growers and support each other” in the meantime.
Hopkins County COVID-19 July 17 Testing Update: 1,573 Tested, 1,362 Negative, 104 Pending
A new record was set over the last week for number of new positive COVID-19 cases, with 26 new cases reported as of the regular Hopkins County COVID-19 testing report prepared by Hopkins County Hospital District COO/EMS Director Brent Smith at 10:30 a.m. July 17.
However, as was the case 1 week ago, that number, had increased within a few hours of the July 17 report, with the announcement of additional cases by Hopkins County Emergency Management Team. Two additional cases were announced after the testing report on July 10, which covered 8 days. Seven additional new positive COVID-19 cases were reported July 17, which increases the total number of new cases reported over the last 7 days to 33.
That brought the overall cumulative total of cases reported in Hopkins County since March to 107 at 10:30 a.m., then to 114 at 5 p.m. Friday, July 17.
July has been a whopper of a month for COVID-19 in Hopkins County, with nearly half of the cumulative positive COVID-19 cases reported in July, and there are still 14 days left in the month.
July 17th was the 9th consecutive day in which new COVID-19 cases have been reported for Hopkins County, and at least the 12th day so far this month that new cases have been reported.
July 10-17 also marked the third straight testing report period and fourth overall in which new COVID-19 case totals reach double digits were recorded:
- 13 cases from June 3 to June 10,
- 7 cases from June 24 to July 2,
- 16 cases from July 2-10, and
- 26 cases from July 10-17 (plus 7 cases reported at 5 p.m. July 17).
While cases increased significantly over the last 7 days, so did the numbers of people tested and negative test results. An additional 312 test results were negative for COVID-19. That’s 1,362 of the overall 1,573 COVID-19 tests conducted since March with negative results, compared to 107 (144 counting the 7 announced late Friday) positive tests.
Also, 15 Hopkins County residents are reported to have recovered from COVID-19 over the last 7 days. That includes one day this week in which 14 Hopkins County resident were reported to have recovered from COVID-19, based on CDC guidelines which have been verified by the Local Health Authority. That brings the total of Hopkins County residents who have recovered from COVID-19 to 66. That left 48 active cases of COVDI-19 in Hopkins County at 5 p.m. Friday, July 17.
Another 61 Hopkins County residents were screened and their samples were sent for testing over the last 7 days, for a total of 1,573 tests reported by the “majority of health care partners in Hopkins County” to have been conducted over the past 124 days.
That leaves 104 test results pending as of 10:30 a.m. July 17, which is 277 fewer pending cases than last week when several were awaiting results of free testing conducted that Wednesday, according to the information presented in Smith’s July 17 testing report.
There have still been no deaths of Hopkins County residents due to COVID-19 during the pandemic, according to the data and local emergency management officials.
On each of four occasions a death has been reported for Hopkins County on Texas Department of State Health Services/Texas Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 dashboard, but all four were challenged by local officials and subtracted from Hopkins County’s tallies. A June 20 COVID-19 death report was challenged by the Local Health Authority and attributed to an underlying health condition and a second on June 21 was found to be a duplicate of the first report; the two others were errors on the part of the state, the HCEMT has reported. At least twice, the state also erroneously assigned new cases to Hopkins County, according to HCEMT and the DSHS/HHS data reports.
With the number of cases continuing to increase, Smith and members of the HCEMT urge residents to continue practicing social distancing and proper hand washing. Residents are reminded that masks or other covering for the nose and mouth are required for everyone while in public or when the 6 foot social distance cannot be observed, according to Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order 29.
Paris Junior College Athletes and Baseball Team Receive National Academic Honors
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center
Public Information Services
PJC athletes and baseball team receive national academic honors
Paris Junior College athletes earned both individual and team academic honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association. Despite the difficulties this year from the COVID-19 pandemic, 9,555 student-athletes from around the nation achieved a 3.60 GPA or higher.
Team-wide honors came to the PJC baseball team with a 3.8 GPA, an improvement over last year’s GPA of 3.53. Again, PJC baseball was second only to Daytona State College nationally, which led all baseball teams with a 3.85 GPA.
This year a total of 43 individual PJC athletes from six teams were honored, up from 28 last year.
“It is a proud day for PJC,” said Dr. Pam Anglin, PJC President. “To have this many Academic All-Americans signifies the strength of our Athletic Department in developing the student-athlete and each of these athletes are to be commended for their dedication and hard work.”
PJC athletes named to the NJCAA All-Academic First Team (4.00 GPA) include:
• Baseball: freshman Drake Boggan, Lewisville; sophomore Sam Creed, Arlington; sophomore Caleb Dubois, Bridge City; sophomore Kyle Hogwood, Forney; freshman Hayden Johnson, Conroe; sophomore Zach Norris, Paris; freshman Evan Schroeder, Brenham; sophomore Grayson Tatrow, Mansfield; and freshman Junior Torres, Irving.
• Men’s Basketball: freshman Starlin Hamilton, Flint, Mich., and sophomore Romello Wilbert, The Woodlands.
• Men’s Soccer: freshman Alessandro Felizzola, Houston, and sophomore Eduardo Flores, Houston.
• Softball: sophomore Abbie Clevenger, Jacksonville; sophomore Rachael Gray, Ovilla; sophomore Allison Wilson, Center.
• Women’s Basketball: freshman Skye Watts, Lovelady.
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Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Dallisgrass Intoxication in Cattle by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
Earlier on the week I got an interesting question related to Dallisgrass and its uses after seed headed. According to North Carolina Extension, Dallisgrass poisoning (also known as Dallisgrass staggers) occurs several days after cattle ingest a significant amount of dallisgrass seedheads infected with an “ergot-like” fungus called Claviceps paspali. The seedheads typically are infected with the fungus in the fall, as the seedheads age. Rather than flat looking seeds on the heads, the infected heads have gray to black swellings that have a sticky sap material on them. Some observers say it looks like little popcorn. Usually not all the herd is affected, and it appears that it occurs when some animals develop a preference for the tips of the seedhead. The infected seedheads contain three primary toxins, paspalinine, and paspalitrem A and B, which are tremorgenic alkaloids. The affected animals show neurological symptoms, including trembling of the major muscles and the head, jerky uncoordinated movements, and they also are spooky and sometimes aggressive. The animals will startle and run, and often will fall in unusual positions. In bad cases the animals will go down,and may stay down for several days. Convulsions and death can occur in extreme cases. The symptoms are somewhat like grass tetany, and this is often misdiagnosed, but they don’t show the sudden death characteristic of grass tetany, and don’t immediately respond to treatment for grass tetany. There is no treatment for the malady, except to get the cattle off the affected grass, and provide them with high quality forage. If possible they should be put in a field with no ponds, steep slopes, etc. as they commonly stumble around and end up injuring or drowning themselves. Usually cattle can completely recover from the poisoning. Toxicity usually is reported on farms with rank dallisgrass seedheads and the fungus present. In many cases producers had stayed off the pastures hoping to let the grass get a little more growth on it, and as a result the seedheads got old. In other cases, there are only a few cattle in large pastures, so the Dallisgrass grew faster than the cattle could consume it. Rarely do we get a report of a case were there deaths of the affected cattle. It also seems that in many cases the younger cows are affected, which suggests that cows may learn to avoid eating too much of the seedheads after getting too much (cattle are known to learn to avoid poisonous plants in this way). By rotational grazing the grass after seedheads emerge but before the fungus grows on them the problem can be avoided, because cattle will readily eat the immature seedheads unlike some other grasses we are used to. If the seedheads do become infected, clipping them off at about 12″ before grazing should help prevent the problem. Hay with high amounts of seedhead can also be a problem, so feeding Dallisgrass hay along with other hay is advised, especially if infected seedheads are present.
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].
