What Do 4-H, Diabetes, and Marriage Education Have in Common?
What Do 4-H, Diabetes, and Marriage Education Have in Common? While in the check-out line at Wal-Mart with food items and plastic utensils in tow, the cashier commented that I must be getting ready for a party of some sort. When explaining that I worked for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and was preparing for another session of Kids’ Cam p: Fun, Food, Fitness, she responded that she had never heard of Extension. Wow! To me, it’s...
Highway 11 Update
A few weeks ago Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court approved $142,000 to be contributed to the potential claim of right of way to eliminate the first major curve on Highway 11 West (joining Sulphur Springs and Commerce). This fund was created to support construction of a new and wider roadway over the next few months. The plans for this new roadway will reroute traffic south of several existing homes in the area and is supposed...
Agrilife: Bees and Food Production
As I wrote this segment, temperatures in Hopkins County are steadily maintained in the upper 90’s. Our landscapes and agricultural fields suffer the consequences of high temperatures. Wild flowers and late summer crops in gardens are producing their last crop for the season. Insects and pollinators are working intensively. When referring to honey bees, Dr. Mike Merchant, extension urban entomologist with Texas A&M AgriLife wrote:...
Arson Ruled Out as Cause of House Fire
Arson has been ruled out as the cause of a house fire on County Road 3528 near Weaver in Hopkins County Tuesday, June 29th . The investigation began when an arson dog made a hit on an area in the house that was a total loss. County Fire Marshall Mark Matthews led the investigation. During the investigation, lab tests proved that the combination of carpet and other items that were burned in the area that alerted the arson dog had...
Agrilife: Dealing With Heat Stress
Many Texans work under hot, humid conditions. Summer heat is a particular hazard to agricultural producers who work long hours under the sun. However, other people working in hot yards, gardens, kitchens or industry jobs are also exposed to these conditions. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, a hot work environment can impair safety and health. Both workers and their employers are responsible for taking steps to prevent...
Hillcrest Drive/State Highway 19 Closed at KCS Railroad July 9-10
PARIS – Texas Department of Transportation officials today announced that a portion of State Highway 19 in Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County will be closed for a brief time in July. The closure will occur so crews can rebuild the KCS railroad cross that crosses State Highway 19 approximately 1,000 feet north of the intersection of SH 19 (Hillcrest Drive) and BU 67 (Main Street). The road will be closed around this intersection from 2...
Heat Advisory in Effect for Area
Hopkins County and all of Northeast and North Central Texas are under a heat advisory until 8 p.m. Monday, July 4th. Temperatures each afternoon will range between 95 and 100 degrees with heat index values between 104 and 108 today and Monday. Heat exhaustion or heat stroke can quickly occur to anyone working or participating in outdoor activies. A heat advisory means that afternoon heat index values are expected to meet or exceed 105...
New Paris Junior College Taxing District?
Paris Junior College currently serves a five county area and has one of the smallest taxing districts in the state of Texas. The area Paris Junior College serves is approximately 3,848 square miles while their taxing district is approximately 44 square miles. Only 1.14% of Paris Junior College’s service area pays taxes in support of the college. PJC has two satellite campuses, one in Sulphur Springs and one in Greenville, in...
Rifle, Jewelry Recovered; Hinson Confesses; Two Additional Suspects Sought
A trip to Emory Wednesday paid dividends as Hopkins County Criminal Investigator Dennis Findley recovered a Browning high powered rifle and scope, located additional rings, necklaces, charm pendants and heard the confession Kenneth Hinson to burglarizing a residence. He also garnered the names of two additional suspects in the case. Items already recovered from the burglary in the Arbala area prior to yesterday included three items, a...
Dealing with Heat During the Summer in Your Garden
With record high temperatures, recently gardens are facing tremendous challenges. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, before you plant any new plants this summer, be sure that your beds are in good shape. Add several inches of organic matter, such as shredded pine bark, peat or rice hulls, to your beds to help the soil absorb and store water. Raised beds are a must for drought resistant plants since they cannot tolerate...
