Commissioners Vote To Modify Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. Abatement
Hopkins County Commissioners Court on Monday voted to modify an Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. abatement by 10 percent, to match a reduction in staffing.
According to Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Executive Director Roger Feagley, the abatement to the county was $28,000, with requirements that the company maintain 147 employees. The company, however, now has a 125. The loss can be attributed to attrition, positions not being filled when people quit. However, there are plans for the company to work on building that number back, with five jobs to be added this year.
Four years still remain on the five year agreement.
One city resident, Jay Julian, who says he also owns property in the county, asked the commissioners to revoke the abatement completely, with those tax dollars to be used to benefit citizens. He said granting the modification would set a bad precedent.
The court voted unanimously, with all members present in accord, to modify Ocean Spray Cranberries’ abatement by 10 percent as requested. Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting.
Bank Depository
In other business, the commissioners court approved Auditor Shannah Walker’s recommendation that the county select Alliance Bank as depository of public funds for Hopkins County. City National Bank and Guaranty Bank and Trust also submitted bid. Walker, County Treasurer Danny Davis, Judge Robert Newsom and some court members met with representatives from the banks. Alliance Bank was the only one to turn in all documents.
“They’re offering variable interest rates of the Treasury dual rate plus 0.25 percent. So what they are paying us today would 2.32 percent. It’s a great rate. We’ve always been happy with the rate that they’ve honored. They’ve offered positive pay, which was something that we’ve wanted to implement to service at no cost, and they’ve also $20 million collateral on our funds that are put there,” Walker said.
Grant Topics
Also approved at Monday’s meeting were the following grant matters:
- an agreement between Hopkins County and GrantWorks for grant management services for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program;
- a resolution authorizing the Commissioners Court to Submit an application to Texas Department Of Agriculture for funding through Texas Community Development Block Grant Program, known as TxCDBG, for 2018 disaster funding;
- and designation of the county judge to act as the county’s executive officer and authorized representative in all matters pertaining to the application to Texas Department of Agriculture for funding through TxCDBG for 2018 Disaster Funding.
Payroll, Utilities Disbursement
The court approved an order for disbursement of salaries and utility expenses in accordance with Senate Bill 354 of the 86th Legislative Session.
Walker explained SB 354 would allow county officials to process payroll and pay utilities without having to bring both before the court each before doing so each time.
Heritage Park Will Host Reilly Springs Jamboree for Two Indoor Shows on June 15
The historic Reilly Springs Jamboree is coming to town! Heritage Park’s beautiful new Winniford House will be the setting for two lively country and gospel talent performances on the evening of Saturday June 15, 2019. Tickets are $10 per person in advance or at the door, with the first show at 6 pm and repeated at 8 pm to feature Roger Reed, the Jamboree band and guest performers. Children 10 and under are admitted free for the family-friendly classic country entertainment. A full kitchen/concession is offered inside Winniford House, a multi-purpose venue that seats 100 persons and provides a cool, comfortable indoor facility for weddings, reunions and other local events.
The Reilly Springs Jamboree began in 1956 inside the Reilly Springs Schoolhouse, now Community Center. That was immediately after the Reilly Springs school district had consolidated with Sulphur Springs. Local residents Bob and Joe Attlesey, also known as The Shelton Brothers, were a duo with widespread recognition through the Louisiana Hayride, recordings for Decca records, and Dallas TV appearances. And between gigs back home, the brothers would often host early-morning broadcasts on KSST from the Reilly Springs Store and put on Opry-like stage shows in the old schoolhouse. Soon, they had their Nashville connections on the appearance schedule, and audiences would flock in from surrounding counties on Saturday nights to see the likes of Johnny Cash, George Jones, Johnny Horton, June Carter and dozens of other popular country musicians on the old schoolhouse stage. The Reilly Springs Jamboree’s height of popularity began to wane in the mid-1960’s after television began to capture the attention of Americans.
However, over the next 30 years, a number of local bands, including those of Larry Neal and Monty Tipps kept it’s history alive with occasional appearances. Memorabilia and recordings of the original shows fascinated KSST’s Enola Gay, whose Morning Show listeners often called to share fond memories of ‘the Jamboree’. In the early 1990’s, Enola Gay and her husband Jerry Mathews began to toy with the idea of reviving the stage show. A ‘Jamboree Reunion’ was held in April 1995 to a standing room only audience in the ballroom of the Veterans of Foreign War, with many of the original members on the talent line-up including Charles Carter, lead guitarist for Tammy Wynette and originally of Hunt County. KSST carried the broadcast and Channel 18 TV recorded the event for playback. Thus, the Reilly Springs Jamboree was re-born, and soon moved back home to the original schoolhouse stage. Since 2006, Roger Reed and Enola Gay have partnered in producing monthly shows on the 3rd Saturday night, offering family-friendly country and gospel entertainment to new generations of fans.
Although the Jamboree’s permanent home is the Reilly Springs Community Center/Schoolhouse, the June 2019 performance will take place at Hopkins County Heritage Park at 416 Jackson Street, indoors in a new modern building. Heritage Park’s historical setting and the Jamboree’s rich 63-year history makes them a perfect pairing for the summer shows planned on Saturday June 15, 2019. Bring your Dad, your Mom and the kids and enjoy the flag-waving classic country music experience! For information phone 903-438-3568 or 903-348-7114, [email protected] or Facebook at the reilly springs jamboree
FREE Concert and Dance at Doctor’s Creek Unit of Cooper Lake State Park!
Kicking off the Summer with our FREE 1st Annual Concert and Dance at Cooper Lake State Park – Doctor’s Creek!
Cooper, TX— What better way to get into the summer frame of mind than a free concert and dance at Cooper Lake State Park – Doctor’s Creek? In an effort to reintroduce Cooper Lake State Park – Doctor’s Creek to our community and region, on Saturday, June 22, 8:00-11:00 p.m., Dubb and the Luv Machines will perform a mix of classic and new rock and country hits in the Lone Pine Parking Lot adjacent to the lake!
The concert is FREE plus all admission fees into the park will be waived for this fun-filled evening! The event is sponsored by Friends of Doctor’s Creek (501c3 nonprofit), and without their tireless work and funding, this would not have been possible! Their goal is to get everyone out to enjoy this beautiful park that they love and you will, too! Concessions such as chips, drinks, and ice cream bars will be available for a $1.00 donation each. General donations to Friends of Doctor’s Creek will also be thankfully accepted to continue this event and others in the future.
Concert goers will park at Lone Pine Boat Ramp Parking Lot. A part of the parking lot will be set up for lawn chairs that everyone will bring and for the dance area in front of the stage! Boaters may choose to watch the concert from the lake under the stars! The Delta County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a boat parade and contest on the same evening in conjunction with the concert. See their Facebook page for details.
Between 7:00pm and 8:00pm before the concert begins, the park will host an educational program on Mammals of Northeast Texas with a cool “skins, skulls and tracks display”! Come and enjoy this hands-on program before the music begins!
Mark your calendars, and don’t miss this wonderful way to welcome summer–the 1st Annual Summer Concert and Dance at Cooper Lake State Park – Doctor’s Creek on June 22nd from 8 to 11pm!
Central Baptist Church to Offer VBS Sports Camp
Central Baptist Church at 840 Connally Street next to Buford Park will invite local youngsters in Kindergarten through 5th grade to Mega Sports Camp Vacation Bible School June 17-20 from 6-8pm.
Register at atcentral.org or phone 903-885-3660.
State Warns Distracted Driving Still A Problen
Description: Texas Department of Transportation (R)
NEWS RELEASE
PARIS DISTRICT
Tim McAlavy
(903) 737-9213
[email protected]
STATE WARNS DISTRACTED DRIVING STILL A PROBLEM
TxDOT and AT&T It Can Wait join efforts again and use virtual reality to illustrate dangers of distracted driving
June 7, 2019
SAN ANTONIO – Approximately 1 in 5 crashes in Texas involves distracted driving, which continues to be a problem in the state, even after a state law banned texting and driving in 2017.
“Our message is no longer just a public safety suggestion to urge Texans to avoid distraction while operating a vehicle – it is to remind them of the law that now forbids such activity,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “One life lost is one too many and distracted driving is completely preventable.”
The statewide texting while driving ban could be helping a little. According to recent data, the number of crashes involving distracted driving in Texas decreased by 6% when comparing the 12-month periods before and after the statewide texting-while-driving ban took effect on Sept. 1, 2017. Then in 2018, TxDOT introduced the “Heads up, Texas” to address the new law with a new call to action.
The 2019 campaign will kick off June 4 in San Antonio with the return of a 12-city, virtual reality experience tour in collaboration with AT&T It Can Wait to educate Texans about the dangers of driving while being distracted.
Other campaign activities include social media and audio and video/television PSAs.
The “Heads up, Texas” campaign is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX, a broader word-of-mouth and social media effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel. Since November 8, 2000, at least one person has died on Texas roadways every single day. #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths on our roadways.
For more information, contact [email protected] or (903) 737-9213.
The TxDOT information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3).This information was received and processed by the department as of February 27, 2019.
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Many From Area Graduate From PJC
Paris Junior College is pleased to release the certified roll of graduates from the spring graduation ceremony held Friday, May 17, 2019 at Noyes Stadium.
Area students receiving associate degrees:
• Campbell: Evelin Castillo, Colton Cummings
• Como: Marco Gonzalez
• Cumby: Candace Earp, Grant Earp, Brayden Freeman, Alyssa Hebert, Natalie White
• Dike: Lexi Overly
• Emory: Laura Garcia, Daniel Torres
• Pickton: Parker Cummings, Gladys Pulgarin
• Point: Garrett Shaw
• Saltillo: Sylvia Feijen
• Sulphur Bluff: Jaden Goldsmith
• Sulphur Springs: Kimberly Chisom, Carlos Delgado, Candice Jarrel, Justus Kelley, Emma Lane, Joshua McElvaine, Shakoja Mosley, Kendall Myles, Diana Ramirez, Ashley Rodriguez, Cassidy Seaney, Amy Sprague, Joshua Tucker, Christopher Walker, Kristy Williams, Kamryn Wimberley
• Wills Point: Savannah Clark, Jennifer Morrison
• Wolfe City: Skylar Cook, Chance Watson
Students from the area receiving certificates:
• Brashear: Diego Perez
• Campbell: Jeffrey Jones
• Celeste: Aubrey Coffey
• Commerce: Asael Hernandez, Mauro Hernandez
• Cooper: James Williams
• Cumby: Jacob Bova, Tyler Crumpton
• Dike: Taylor Josey, Tyler Kelley, Wesley Mcdonald
• Emory: Alyssa Hall, Karl Jansson, Thomas Wilson
• Lone Oak: Maria Davila
• Mount Vernon: Chase Hyman
• Sulphur Springs: Derek Anderson, Whitney Davis, Job Escobar, Javier Gonzalez, Ethan Hill, Marcus Hood, Bryan Luna, Jonathon Rininger
• Winnsboro: Cody Stephen
• Wolfe City: Shelby Greenway
• Yantis: Samuel Earle, Daylon Roberts, Rusty Wilkey
The Hopkins County Ice Cream Contest Winners Are…
Top honors in the Hopkins County Ice Cream Contest were awarded to Kim Dillard for her butter pecan ice cream. Dillard received a trophy and $100 check for having the first place Super Scoop entry. She also went home with the $250 Visa gift card.
Earning second place honors in the Super Scoop with a creamy strawberry ice cream was James Ross. He received a $50 check. Tonya Ross earned second place honors in the Big Dip Classic category with her creamy vanilla ice cream; she too received a $50 check.
The $75 prize and first place trophy in the Big Dip Classic category was awarded to Kim Bailey for her vanilla pudding ice cream. Bailey also earned first place honors in the Big Dip Fruit category with her strawberry ice cream, for which she received a trophy and $75 prize.
Second place honors and a $50 prize in the Big Dip Fruit category went to Chris Beach’s strawberry ice cream. Receiving the $25 third place prize i the Big Dip Fruit category was the team of Ryan and Valarie Feagley with their pineapple vanilla ice cream.
Kaylee Stone went home with a trophy, $75 check and first place bragging rights in the Big Dip Novelty category for her birthday cake ice cream. Joe Price won the $50 Big Dip Novelty prize with his second place snicker doodle ice cream. Jayden Askew won third place and $25 in the Big Dip Novelty category with a mean mint ice cream.
In the First Timers division, Sheila Funderburk won the first place trophy and $75 prize with her blackberry ice cream. First Timer Shiloh Childress won second place in the division with a salted caramel in Heath ice cream, for which he received a medal and $50 check. Nick Plunk’s Butterfinger ice cream won third place in the First Timers category, garnering a medal and $25.
In the Little Dips category, first place was awarded to Addison Bowers; she received a trophy and $25 check for her banana ice cream. Mikah Wiblin’s go bananas-banana Nutella ice cream won second place honors in the Little Dips category, garnering a medal and $15 check. Third place in the Little Dips category was awarded to Emerson Godwin, who received a medal and $10 check for the maple brown crunch.
The event was not only once again held at but this year sponsored by Shannon Oaks Church. Hundreds filled the field behind the church to sample the cool confections entered in the contest. A few local businesses also provided ice cream and floats for those attending, while others offered games such as hula hoop fishing, a bean bag toss and balloons in addition to information about their services. Music was also provided throughout the afternoon and evening.
Many stayed to hear the 1st Calvary Division Band out of Fort Hood’s Lonestar Brass Band, while kids played in a sand pile and families awaited the start of the Hot Air Balloons Rally and Glow Saturday night.
PETA Protests Dairy Festival Ice-Cream Freeze Off
By Savannah Owens
PETA representatives were outside the Shannon Oaks church front lawn with signs protesting use of cow milk and encouraging veganism. However, the protests did not deter the hungry crowds.
The church has hosted the Ice-Cream Freeze off at their location for the past three years, but this is the first year the Freeze off was taken over from the Chamber of Commerce and run by Shannon Oaks church members. The church members handled everything from contestants, judges, and even staffing the event. The church members also built structures for the ice cream contestants to provide ease of serving to the public.
Community support was high, as many residents and visitors were out to try the delicious flavors including; Reeses Peanut Butter, Oreo Cookie, Butterfinger, Blackberry, Peaches and Cream, Chocolate Cherry, Fruity Pebbles, Strawberry, Butter Pecan, and of course classic Chocolate and Vanilla. The ice cream didn’t last long; most of the contestants had run out by 6:15pm.
Magic Scoop was out with free scoops of “Just Chocolate”, “Fresh Lemon Sorbet”, and “Banana Pudding” flavored ice cream.
DQ was also in attendance offering free coke floats and soft serve ice cream.
It was a fun outing, and while the warm weather kept the crowds to the shaded spots, there were many smiles and happy faces as people enjoyed sampling the many favorite ice-creams.
Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade
The Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade went off without a hitch, with local pageant royalty, elected officials, local businesses and even a few church groups in on the fun.
Among the entries helping show they are Over the Moon for Dairyland during the festival’s 60th anniversary were the contestants in this year’s Dairy Festival Queen’s Pageant and Coronation and the “little kids” who will be helping out at the pageant.
The parade also featured several large trucks, tractors, several fire trucks, and ambulance and other emergency services vehicles.
The Corvette and Jeep Clubs showed off their rides, some decorated to reflect the parade theme. The band percussion section played. The chase teams and crews for tonight’s Hot Air Balloon Rally and Glow participated as well.
Among the special guests were the Budweiser Clydesdales team and the Army’s 1st Calvary Division Band from Fort Hood.
Families lined the parade route in lawn chairs, with blankets, umbrellas, some sitting on the pavement, others at tables at local businesses and others standing to get a glimpse of the many conveyances in this year’s parade. Children collected handfuls and some even bags full of candy, treats and stuffed cows tossed and handed out along the parade route.
Black and white spots, milk and dairy products, and cows dotted many conveyances, others participating and attending the parade and festivities Saturday, June 8, showed their love of milk and support for the dairy industry by wearing t-shirts, handing out ice cream and dairy snacks.
Hopkins County Dairy Festival Celebrates 60 Years
Hopkins County is celebrating it’s 60th Dairy Festival Anniversary. This is a time honored tradition that brings many visitors to Sulphur Springs to celebrate and enjoy the festivities. This year’s theme is “Over the ‘Mooon’ in Dairyland”. The opening ceremony was yesterday at 12pm.
Schedule of today’s events:
Dairy Festival Parade at 10am
Hopkins County Jr. Dairy show at 10am
Bobby McDonald Milking Contest (held in the civic center arena) at 3pm
Ice Cream Freeze Off (at Shannon Oaks Church) at 5:30pm
Dairy Aires Hot Air Balloon Rally and Glow (Shannon Oaks Church) at 6pm
The fun continues! Keep your calendars marked for June 15th for the Whipped Cooking Contest (Heritage Park) at 9am and the Queen Coronation Pageant (SSISD Auditorium) at 7pm.
