Chamber Connection – May 28, 2024
By Butch Burney
You can be a Stewper Hero by turning in the winning logo for this year’s 55th Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival
The theme for this year’s 55th Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival is Stewper Heroes and the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is looking for just that right logo.
The person who submits the winning logo will receive a Stewper-size package that includes four stew tickets, four T-shirts featuring the logo, one quart ticket and one coveted parking pass.
Logo submissions can be made on our website, HopkinsChamber.org, or emailed to [email protected].
The deadline for submissions is midnight June 7.
This year’s stew festival is Saturday, Oct. 26, at Buford Park.
Patriot Sporting Challenge
The Patriot Sporting Challenge is an annual sporting event that raises funds for local charities Folds of Honor and Heroes Ranch.
The event includes a live auction, with up to $100,000 in prizes including ATV, guns, trips and so much more.
Look on the Chamber’s social media account or go to PatriotSportingChallenge.org. for the auction link. You don’t have to be a part of the challenge itself to bid on auction items.
Cocktails and Conversation
The Chamber’s next Cocktails and Conversation networking event is set for 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Signature Solar on Bill Bradford Road.
There is no charge for the informal event, and ou don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend the Cocktails and Conversation event. It is open to everyone, and a prime time to make friends and contacts.
There will also be a Cocktails and Conversation, hosted by Heritage Home Health and Hospice, at the Chamber office on Thursday, June 20.
Give Back for Zachariah Walker
Corner Grubhouse will be hosting a Give Back event for Zachariah Walker, who was diagnosed with RMS at age 17. Their Bingo fundraiser will begin at 6:30 p.m., along with a silent auction, an 10 percent of all sales that day (excluding alcohol) will be donated to Zach. Tickets are $60 and include10 games of Bingo.
The fundraisers will be hosted on Thursday, May 30.
Wishes Charity Golf Tournament
Heritage Home Health and Hospice is sponsoring the inaugural Wishes Charity Golf Tournament, with drinks, music and food, on Friday, June 7, at Sulphur Springs Country Club.
The shotgun start for the four-person teams is 1:30 p.m. Registration is $500 and includes two golf carts, four meal tickets and range balls.
Proceeds will be used to grant wishes for Heritage’s hospice patients.
For more information, contact Stacy White at 918-471-7397, Cindy Mills at 903-474-1027, Mia Herrera at 903-588-0636 or Tommy Dixon at 903-278-9921.
Hopkins County Dairy Festival
The schedule of events for the Hopkins County Dairy Festival includes opening ceremonies ribbon cutting on the downtown plaza at noon on Friday, June 7, and hot air balloon rally and glow, 6-9 p.m. that evening at Shannon Oaks Church.
On Saturday, June 8, there will be a hot air balloon rally and flight at 5:30 a.m.; junior dairy show at the Civic Center starting at 9 a.m.; parade at 10 a.m.; cow patty Bingo at 2 p.m. on the Civic Center grounds; milking contest at 3 p.m.; ice cream freeze-off at 5 p.m. at Shannon Oaks Church; and hot air balloon rally at 6 p.m. at the church.
A carnival will be set up at the Civic center from June 12-15; and the Dairy Festival Queen coronation pageant at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center Auditorium.
Juneteenth Freedom Celebration
The Juneteeth celebration at Pacific Park will include a marathon run at 7 a.m., a parade at 11 a.m. and a Freedom Market starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 15.
On Sunday, June 16, there will be a celebration of Gospel and the market will continue.
Celebration Market
The Celebration Market season has opened!. The market will be hosted in downtown Sulphur Springs every Saturday through mid-September. Support local vendors and downtown businesses, while enjoying special musical entertainment.
Ribbon Cutting
There will be a ribbon cutting to officially open the new pickleball courts at Coleman Park, a joint project by the city and the Sulphur Springs Leadership class of 2023-24. The ribbon cutting will be at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4. Everyone is invited.
The Dairy Festival will host a ribbon cutting on the downtown Plaza at noon on Friday, June 7. Everyone is invited to the event.
Paris District Road Report for Week of May 27, 2024
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district for the week starting May 27, 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: Seat belt and car seat guidelines
Seat belt safety guidelines
- Texas requires drivers and all passengers to wear seat belts.
- Ensure seatbelt fits snugly across the hips, not over the stomach.
- Ensure shoulder belt goes over the shoulder and across the center of the chest.
- Never tuck the shoulder belt underneath your arm or behind your back.
- Learn more about Texas seat belt laws.
Car seat safety guidelines
- Children must be secured in the appropriate car or booster seat.
- Birth to two years old: All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are two years old, or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their safety seat’s manufacturer.
- Over two years old: Any child two or older who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for a car seat, should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer. This also applies to any child younger than two years who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit of their seat.
- Ages four to eight years old: Children whose weight or height exceeds the limit for a forward-facing car seat should switch to a belt-positioning booster seat. These children should remain in a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they reach four feet and nine inches in height and are between eight and 12 years of age.
- Check car seat labels for exceptions and additional guidance.
- For additional guidance on finding and installing car seats, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Learn more about Texas car seat laws.
Free car seat checks
TxDOT offers free car seat checks at its 25 district offices across the state. Find the nearest location at Save Me With a Seat.
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:
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.
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. This work has an anticipated completion date of early August 2024. 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.
Watch for lane closures on eastbound and westbound Spur 503 while crews build temporary detour pavement sections.
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 lane shifts on the northbound and southbound US 75 main lanes between SH 91 and FM 1417 as crews work on building new main lanes, bridges, and retaining walls. Watch for lane closures on the frontage roads between FM 1417 and SH 91.
US 75, at the US 82 intersection. Watch for lane closures and lane shifts 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 construction of the new frontage road lanes and bridges.
US 82, from the Cooke County line to FM 901. Watch for daytime lane closures on the US eastbound and westbound main lanes as crews work on a pavement overlay project that will begin on June 3rd.
FM 1417, from US 82 to SH 56. A reduced speed limit of 45 mph has been set for this construction project. 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.
US 82, from SH 91 to FM 1417 in Sherman. Watch for a lane closure on westbound US 82 between Texoma Parkway and Loy Lake Road as workers install a center median concrete barrier to help prevent crossover head-on collisions. Watch for daytime lane closures on eastbound US 82 between Frisco Road and FM 1417 as workers install a center median concrete barrier.
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.
Park Road 20 in Eisenhower State Park. Watch for occasional daytime lane closures within Eisenhower State Park as workers perform the final punch list work on this project to overlay the roadways within the Park. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers 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 westbound US 82 lanes at Harris Creek and on the eastbound lanes at Post Oak Creek. On this project, the contractor is also installing a center median concrete traffic barrier between FM 1417 and FM 131. Motorists should expect lane closures while this work is underway.
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.
FM 901, from SH 56 to FM 902. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews perform base repairs and blade leveling on the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 120, from Center Avenue to Carpenter’s Bluff Road. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews perform blade leveling on the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
FM 902, from US 377 to SH 289. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews perform base repairs and blade leveling on the roadway. Motorists should expect delays as flaggers and pilot cars direct traffic through the work zone.
Fannin County:
FM 1753, at the Brushy Creek Bridge. FM 1753 at the Brushy Creek Bridge will be closed to through traffic beginning June 10 as crews remove and replace the bridge structure and roadway approaches. During the closure, traffic is asked to use FM 2645, FM 898, US 82, and FM 1752 as the detour route.
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. During the project there will be road closures at the Cottonwood Creek bridge and the Sandy Creek bridge as the contractor replaces the existing bridge. Message boards will be placed in advance of the road closures to alert local traffic of the upcoming closure.
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 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.
FM 2554, from FM 273 to CR 2125. Watch for daytime lane closures as maintenance crews perform blade leveling on the roadway. 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 US 67 to FM 71. Watch for shoulder closures and construction vehicles entering the roadway as crews perform tree trimming operations.
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: IH 30. Watch for nighttime lane closures as crews perform repairs to concrete pavement.
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.
Loop 286, from US 271 North going west to FM 79. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures, lane shifts, crossing closures and merging traffic while crews place a bonded concrete surface and perform asphalt paving operations.
US 271, from LP 286 to Oklahoma State Line. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures and traffic merges while crews resurface the pavement and perform bridge maintenance.
CR 26320 at Morrison Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour 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
CR 16300 at Little Sandy Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
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.
SH 24, Lamar & Delta Counties: from the FM 64 intersection to 1,540 feet east of FM 198. Watch for temporary lane closures and lane shifts while crews resurface the roadway and perform bridge rail upgrades.
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. Watch for temporary roadway closure and detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
FM 2675, from Lamar County line to FM 128. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews rehabilitate the existing pavement and improve drainage structures.
SH 19 at South Sulphur and South Sulphur Relief. Watch for temporary shoulder closures while crews perform bridge maintenance.
Red River County:
CR 2127 at Scatter Creek. Watch for temporary roadway closure and a detour while crews replace existing bridge structure.
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.
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 34, from FM 1570 to FM 2101. The contractor has set barricades and work zone signs. The contractor has completed the flexible pavement repair on the main lanes and shoulders. The contractor is working on placing HMA overlay on the North Bound lanes; this operation will continue for the next several days. The contractor will then begin mill and overlay work to improve ride condition this week. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
SH 11, from FM 2655 to SH 24. This project will add shoulders and replace drainage structures. The contractor has set barricades and has begun some prep right of way work in the area. SW3P devices will be installed soon. The contractor is waiting on soil conditions to dry out. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
SH 11, from Culver Street to Live Oak. The contractor has placed work zone signs and barricades. The contractor has been working on signals at various locations and performing concrete median work and placing signal drill shafts on University Street and signal box controller pads at various locations. Fencing installation and grate work is ongoing. Final striping and signal work is underway, barrels and barricades have been removed to open lanes. Oncor is working to supply power to the signal lights. 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 been working on cross culverts and culvert extensions on the project and placing flexbase and placing geogrid at various locations. Driveways are ongoing and are being completed by section of work. Contractor is waiting on dryer soil conditions. 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. Excavation work for the detour is ongoing. The contractor has shifted traffic to the west to begin removal of asphalt, concrete and some existing driveways. Placement of storm sewer will continue along FM 2642 north of I-30 towards SH 66 with embankment and excavation work. The contractor was placing and repairing pavement due to potholes and base failures on FM 2642. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
FM 2649, from I-30 to FM 1567. The contractors has set barricades and work zone traffic signs. Cross culvert work is complete. The contractor has begun work on the final section of roadway, this work will begin with sugbgrade widening and treating the subgrade and vegetation establishment. Driveway pipes were being installed along with striping for the completed section. Grading and seeding will be completed soon. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
Shelby Avenue and Bledsoe Creek Bridge: The contractor has set barricades and work zone signs at both locations. The contractor has completed placing beams and poured the concrete deck on Shelby Avenue and Bledsoe Creek and has placed concrete railing and installed riprap at Bledsoe Creek. Final clean up. 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 westbound I-30 main lanes have been realigned to detour paving around the existing westbound I-30 main lane bridge over FM 1570. This detour will remain in place until the new FM 1570 overpass is constructed. During the realignment, all I-30 westbound traffic will be reduced to one lane and diverted to the frontage road from Exit 89 (FM 1570) to FM 1903. The westbound frontage road at FM 1903 is one-way only along with the frontage roads along the project corridor. Traffic on FM 1903 from north of I-30 will have to turn right on the westbound frontage road and travel to State Highway 36 in order access I-30 east. The contractor plans to place more barriers and perform main lane widening and drainage work in the area. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones when traveling in this area.
I-30 Intersection Improvements from CR2511 to FM 1565: Work has begun converting the frontage roads to a one-way configuration. The contractor has begun prep right of way work and will begin setting barrier and low-profile barricades soon. 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 and finishing up seal coat prep work. Crews will work on FM 1532 performing base repair work. Rains County crews worked on FM 2795 performing edge work, spot base repair on FM 3274, and addressed complaints on various roadways. Please be aware of workers and watch for work zones in the areas.
Dinner Bell for May 29th, 2024
The Rotary Club was organized in 1925 and will celebrate it’s one hundredth anniversary next year. “Service Above Self” is its motto and that is what the Rotary Club does! From its Christmas parties which includes lunch, meeting Santa and a gift that delights the youngest students in the local schools that date prior to 1960 to present day scholarships and financial gifts to local charities, the Rotary Club gives and gives!
The 9th Annual “Claws For A Cause” held on April 27 featured Louisiana style crawfish, shrimp and crab with corn, potatoes and sausage. This culinary delight of the South fund raiser gives much back to the community. It is a fun night to fund worthy local charity endeavors and also gives scholarships to help students cover college financial needs.
The Dinner Bell Feeding Ministry has been blessed each year since 2015 with Rotarians grilling hamburgers for the star item on the menu the last Wednesday of May. For their “Service Above Self” the Dinner Bell is extremely grateful!!!
GRAB and GO with a meal from the distribution area under the covered driveway (porte cochere) on the Northeast corner of the First United Methodist Church campus starting around 10:30 on Wednesday.
MENU
Grilled Hamburgers
Lettuce, Tomatoes, Pickles and Onions
Bags of Potato Chips
Baked Beans
Sopapilla Cheesecake
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF BY FOLLOWING SAFE HEALTH PRACTICES. WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN. WEAR MASKS WHERE REQUIRED. GET INOCULATED AND BOOSTED!
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH!!!
Used Wind Turbine Blades Pileup in Texas
May 24, 2024 – When a wind turbine reaches the end of its life cycle, roughly 85% of its components — including the steel tower, copper wire and gearing — can be recycled. Turbine blades, however, have proven to be a bigger challenge.
Made primarily from fiberglass, these blades lack the metals and minerals that attract recyclers. They are also coated with epoxy resins (made from oil) that make them particularly difficult to crush. As a result, most retired turbine blades end up incinerated or in landfills.
To deal with this challenge, the world’s biggest turbine makers are stepping up efforts to create recyclable blades. But perfecting that technology, and implementing it, will take years. In the meantime, turbines installed in the early aughts are starting to reach the end of their lifespan. In Europe alone, roughly 25,000 metric tons of wind turbine blades will be phased out each year by 2025, according to some estimates.
That’s where the startups come in.
“We’re delaying the disposal,” says Angela Nagle, a former Intel engineer who in 2022 co-founded Ireland-based BladeBridge to convert decommissioned turbine blades into pedestrian bridges. Although the upcycled bridges will eventually reach the end of their lifecycle, too, Nagle says they buy the technology some time. “It’s delaying the problem to see if somebody else can find a third life solution,” she says.
BladeBridge is one of a handful of companies turning old wind turbine blades into new products. Whether park benches, bike racks or playgrounds, these upcycled goods aren’t always cost competitive — at least not yet. But the early adopters are making progress that’s needed to prevent the clean-energy transition from developing environmental downsides of its own. The prices for these objects can be as high as $10,000.
The U.S. currently has very little regulation regarding the disposal of wind turbine blades. Adding to the problem is the fact that blades have gotten longer during the last 30 years, as wind technology has advanced, creating longer blades and shorter turbine towers for better energy production.
Send the Blades to Sweetwater Texas
In Sweetwater Texas, two “graveyards” for retired turbine blades have appeared in recent years. Hundreds of the football field-sized blades have been cut into thirds and laid out in pastures. The sawed edges of the blades stacked on top of each other and spread out over a 10-acre field can be seen just off Highway 70, south of Sweetwater. Another blade graveyard stretches across an industrial field across from the city’s only graveyard off of Interstate 20. Click here to see a Google Earth satellite view of the blades.
Texas A&M Forest Service Encourages Wildfire Preparedness ahead of Summer
May 23, 2024 – COLLEGE STATION, Texas — As Memorial Day unofficially kicks off summer this weekend, Texans should prepare for wildfires.
The potential for wildfire activity will be limited to the Trans Pecos and western High Plains regions of the state this weekend. Hot and dry conditions will dry vegetation in these areas and elevated fire weather may support the ignition of small wildfires.
“Though recent rains have helped decrease wildfire potential across most of the state, we encourage everyone to be careful with outdoor activities this holiday and throughout the summer,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. “It only takes a few dry, windy days for wildfire potential to increase.”
Nine out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans and are preventable. As we head into summer, keep the following tips in mind to help prevent wildfires:
- Always check with local officials for burn bans and other outdoor burning restrictions. Pay attention to local guidelines regarding open fires, campfires and outdoor activities that may pose a fire hazard.
- Never leave your grill unattended. Wind gusts may blow embers into dry vegetation, potentially starting a wildfire.
- Ensure your grill is kept clean of excess grease to prevent flare-ups.
- Place your grill in an open space away from tall or dry grass, shrubs, woodpiles or other flammable materials. Also avoid placing your grill underneath a tree or on a wooden patio deck.
- After you are finished grilling, allow time for the coals in your grill to completely cool. Smoldering coals may reignite and release embers, which may be blown into nearby vegetation.
- If you are pulling a boat or camper, make sure the tow chains are properly connected and not dragging on the roadway creating sparks.
- Park in designated spaces and avoid driving over and parking on dry grass — the heat from your vehicle can easily ignite the grass.
For more information about protecting your home, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/ProtectYourHome/
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CHRISTUS to Expand Cardiology Services in Sulphur Springs
May 23, 2024 – CHRISTUS to expand cardiology services in Sulphur Springs, creating Heart and Vascular Institute
(SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas) – CHRISTUS Health is expanding its world-class cardiology program to the greater Hopkins County community with the creation of the CHRISTUS Heart & Vascular Institute – Sulphur Springs.
On June 3, CHRISTUS Heart & Vascular Institute cardiologists will start seeing patients at the newly formed clinic on the campus of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, with access to the hospital emergency room, non-invasive cardiovascular services, and the cardiac cath lab.
“This is a major step forward for us in our efforts to expand our high-quality cardiology services for our community,” said Paul Harvey, president of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. “Our community deserves to have excellent heart care close to home, and we are committed to providing that.”
CHRISTUS will hold a blessing ceremony for the new clinic, located at 100 Medical Drive in Sulphur Springs, on Monday, June 3 at 11 a.m. with a community grand opening event to follow in the summer.
The CHRISTUS Heart & Vascular Institute – Sulphur Springs will work in close coordination with the teams at the CHRISTUS Heart & Vascular Institute and Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital in Tyler, which has earned the National Distinction of Excellence as a HeartCARE Center four times from the American College of Cardiology, has earned a Comprehensive Cardiac Care Center certification from the American Heart Association and the Joint Commission, while maintaining a top-ranked heart surgery program as designated by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
The institute will be part of the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic team that currently employs more than 100 cardiologists, electrophysiologists, surgeons, and advanced practice clinicians in the Northeast Texas region.
“We remain steadfast in our mission of extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and are blessed to provide Sulphur Springs and the surrounding areas the cardiovascular care they deserve,” said Deb Chelette, vice president of cardiovascular services, CHRISTUS Northeast Texas. “Residents in Northeast Texas are accustomed to receiving innovative, quality heart care from CHRISTUS and we are looking forward to making more strides in cardiovascular care to ensure that your heart is in good health.”
Dr. Fagg Sanford, Chair of the CHRISTUS Heart and Vascular Institute – Tyler added, “The CHRISTUS Heart and Vascular Institute brings accessible, seamless, and highest quality heart and vascular care to Sulphur Springs, integrating the new CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Cardiology – Sulphur Springs and the well-established CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs with the entire Northeast Texas CHRISTUS team. The power of this integrated model of dedicated clinicians and highest quality hospitals, linked by the common Epic electronic medical record, can’t be overstated”.
New and existing patients can call (903) 438-8330 to schedule an appointment.
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Apex Clean Energy Wind Farm Map
May 23, 2024 – Apex Clean Energy met this week with the Hopkins County Commissioners and County Judge Robert Newsom. During that meeting, APEX layed out their plan for a Wind Energy Plant in Hopkins County.
A map of all the property APEX needs for their project was displayed at the meeting. KSST was unable to get a copy of the map, however a photo of the map was taken. From that photo an approximation of the land required has been created.
Windmill Company Informs County of Intentions to Build Huge Wind Farm in Hopkins County
May 23, 2024 – Five employees of Apex Clean Energy met with county commissioners on this past Wednesday for a scheduled work session to inform the Hopkins County Court of their intentions to lease up to 14,000 acres in hopes to erect up to 100 giant windmills. Two major electricity transmission lines disect Hopkins County making the area appealing to wind farms to sell windmill-generated electicity onto the Texas power grid.
Mark Weaver, Apex Senior Land Manager, told the court his team has already secured several pieces of property so far, and hopes to get 10,000 acres secured to begin testing for viability of installation of between 50 and 100 of the huge windmills. The vast project area map shown to commissioners covers a wide swath of Hopkins County properties west of Hwy 19, but above and below Interstate 30. In reality, Apex hopes to lease enough space either in the northern or southern areas to build one wind farm to connect to the closest transmission line. During the discussion, Apex revealed that it would probably not be feasible to have two smaller wind farms connecting to both the northern and southern transmission lines.
During the meeting, Apex Development Manager Callie Chaplain, stated that the project would only move forward based on several criteria including: Apex leasing enough property from land owners, having a “road agreement” in place with Hopkins County, and receiving a sizeable tax abatement from the taxing authorities in which the wind farm would be placed. County Commissioners were very interested in the road agreement as Apex stated depending upon where each of the windmills would be placed, up to six over-sized, over-length 18-wheeler truck trips would have to be made down county roads and across county bridges to supply parts to build each windmill. Apex Clean Energy was involved in a lawsuit recently in Kansas as the Neosho County Court sued the conglomerate for failure to repair damaged roads known as “haul roads” after agreeing with the county that they would pay for the rebuilding of those roads.
Chaplain also stated that a tax abatement was key to getting the project moving forward as they hope to get relief from a large portion of the tax burden over the life of the project estimated to be 30 years. Another Apex employee explained the bulk of the tax abatement would last for the first 10 years of the project during the time of accelerated depreciation of the equipment. A schedule of the remaining expected tax revenue was promised to be produced at a later time by Apex on the request of the Hopkins County auditor.
Hopkins County Commissioner Mickey Barker was adamant about Apex Clean Energy “informing the public of their intentions of the project, not only to those landowners in the project area, but to other landowners outside the project.” Callie Chaplain stated that Apex Clean Energy often enters into contracts with non-participants of the project which she referred to as “Good Neighbor Contracts” to be able to place windmills closer to property lines than the regular set-back rules would allow. On average, Apex would have to stay 1200 feet away from a property line of a neighboring property that was not under contract, but with this “good neighbor contract” the company would be allowed to build up to the property line but still stay 1200 feet away from an occupied structure.
Meal-A-Day Closed on Monday
May 23, 2023 – The Senior Citizen Activity Center will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day. Meal-A-Day will also be closed.
Volunteers were busy Thursday morning making bags of food to send out to clients with Friday’s meal. The food is intended to help seniors during the holiday.
“It’s a balancing act, ” said Director Amanda Dietlin. “We want to send canned and non-perishable foods, but we also dont want to overload the volunteer drivers.”
Clients will receive a variety of foods, and without charge. MAD provides the bags as a public service on days when Senior Activity Center is closed.
Activites Start Tuesday May 28th, 2024
May 23, 2024 – Senior Citizen activities officially start at the new Senior Citizen Activity Center on Tuesday. Volunteers are working to move the last of the supplies from the old building on MLK to the new one at 301 Oak Ave. Heavier, and more bulky items have already made the trip. The City of Sulphur Springs has been working for the last few weeks to make the short move a huge success.
Meal-A-Day will begin setting up shelving in the dry storage area of the new building on Saturday. The climate controlled pantry will be a huge improvement. Issues with food spoiling due to intense summer heat will not longer be a concern.
Director Amanda Dietlin said, “Meal-A-Day is not in any hurry to move. We have several hoops to jump through with the Texas Food Bank, and the current facilities are working well. We want to make sure all our clients get those daily meals.”
Volunteer cooks and drivers will be notified by Meal-A-Day when the new facilities are ready. If could be several weeks before that happens.
