Heat Advisory for Hopkins County Area Until 7 p.m.
National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Hopkins County and the surrounding area until 7 p.m. Saturday, June 2, 2018. Temperatures will range from 97 to 104 and afternoon heat indices will range from 105 to 110 degrees. The hottest temperatures thus far this year will precede an expected cold front. Humid conditions combined with hot temperatures are the cause of the high heat indices.
Showers and thunderstorms are possible later this afternoon and evening.
The very hot conditions will increase the risk of heat related illnesses especially for young children, the elderly, and those with heart conditions. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing and drink plenty of water. Either reschedule activities or take frequent breaks.
SS Soccer Association Hosts British Soccer Camp
The Sulphur Springs Soccer Association is pleased to announce a year of partnership with Challenger Sports, providers of the USA’s most popular soccer camp, to host the week long British Soccer camp during the week of 18 to 22 June 2018.
The camp will run Monday through Friday and each child will be coached by a member of Challenger’s British coaching staff flown to the USA exclusively to work on these programs. Challenger will hold over 4,000 British Soccer Camps this summer and will coach over 150,000 players between the ages of 3 and 18, as well as completing FREE coach education clinics for over 40,000 parents and coaches.
Challenger’s British Soccer Camp is more than a week of drills and skills. In addition to taking part in a daily regime of foot skill development (through the 1,000 touches curriculum), technical and tactical practices and daily ‘World Cup’ tournament style plays, each child will be treated to a rich cultural experience and lessons on respect, responsibility, integrity, leadership and sportsmanship. Challenger’s custom built camps focus on individual player development and are delivered by a team of passionate coaching staff handpicked to coach your player!
Each camper will receive a FREE camp T-shirt, soccer ball, soccer poster, individual skills performance evaluation, use of the new iChallenge app and free access to an educational soccer website. In addition, any child who signs up online before 4 May will receive a genuine British Soccer replica Jersey valued at $39.
For further information please visit www.challengersports.com
City Council Agenda Set for Tuesday, June 5th Session
Sulphur Springs City Council will meet in regular session June 5th at 7 p.m. in the Council Room, 201 North Davis Street.
The agenda includes:
- Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag, Texas Flag, and invocation.
- Oaths of Office will be given to Councilwoman elect Erica Armstrong, Councilman elect Jimmy D. Lucas, Councilman elect Norman Sanders, and appointed Councilman Doug Moore.
- Discussion/action on selection of Mayor Pro Tem.
- Discussion/action on selection of Mayor.
- Presentations, proclamations, and announcements.
- (A) Kidney Cancer Awareness
- Manager’s report will include a status report of capital improvements, wastewater treatment plant operations, accidents and claims for the month, and a review of expenditures and revenues.
- Discussion/action on Consent Agenda.
- Discussion/action on public hearing for second and final reading of Ordinance No. 2724 for a request by the Hopkins County Hospital District to rezone Lots 3, 4, and 5 of Block 409-1 from Multi-Family (MF) to Professional Office (PO).
- Discussion/action on the Capital Improvement Plan for 2019 – 2023.
- Discussion/action on bids and award of contract for piping and fittings for the Cantex Capital Improvement Project.
- Discussion/action on bids and award of contract for boring at Highway 11 East and Cantex.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1150 authorizing the city to establish an account in its name with TexPool Prime for the purpose of investing local funds.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1151 amending resolution No. 1147 supporting the Texas Capital Fund application.
- Discussion/action on board and commission appointments for the (1) Economic Development Corporation, (2) Zoning Board of Adjustment, (3) Airport Advisory Board, (4) Sulphur River Municipal Water District Board, (5) Library Board, (6) Board of Tourism and Promotion, (7) Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals, (8) Planning and Zoning Commission, (9) ARK-TEX Council of Governments, (10) Revolving Loan Fund Committee, and (11) Downtown Revitalization Board.
- Discussion/action on changes to personnel policy regarding the Police Department.
- Discussion/action on moving the City Council meeting scheduled for July 3rd to July 10th.
- Visitors and public forum.
- Adjourn.
Mary Poppins Pops in at Summer Reading Program Kickoff at Library
Mary Poppins (Kassidy Branch) and Bert (Josh Thompson) guested at Library kickoff event
In keeping with the theme of this summer’s Reading Program for Children at the Sulphur Springs Public Library, Mary Poppins (Kassidy Branch) appeared along with her escort Bert (Josh Thompson) for the opening day festivities. The local teens are cast members of Shining Star Production’s classic musical to be staged in the SSISD Auditorium later during July. Children attending Friday’s library kickoff event also got to pet farm animals, receive DQ face painting and ice cream coupons, and pick up their reading logs to get the reading fun started! If your family missed the kickoff event, you can still sign up at the return desk during library hours or get full details at sslibrary.com.
Organization of Highway 19N Coalition Seeks Safer Road for Daily Travel; TxDOT Plans Some Changes This Month, More Later
Highway 19N Coalition will have its first meeting June 19, 2018 at the North Hopkins School Cafeteria. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. According to organizers, they are seeking to unite the community to bring a safer road for the daily travel of residents in northern Hopkins County. The coalition will seek to define the dangers along the highway and seek a lower speed limit as well as other changes.
Organizers commend the efforts of Commissioner Precinct 4, Danny Evans. Evans term ends December 31st. In March, 2017, Evans served as a catalyst for conversation between the county and TxDOT regarding the roadway.
In May, TXDOT announced they had concluded a detailed speed study on State Highway 19, from Loop 301 in Sulphur Springs to State Highway 24 in Delta County. After reviewing the results of the study, TXDOT has proposed a speed reduction pending approval from the Texas Transportation Commission. This proposal is on the agenda for the June commission meeting. Following TTC approval, TXDOT will install new regulatory speed limit signs. The proposed speed limit reduction will lower the existing speed limit from 70 mph to 65 mph from Loop 301 to the Delta County line, and reduce the speed limit from 65 mph to 55 mph through Birthright. TXDOT also has two upcoming Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) projects on State Highway 19: The first project is set to let for bidding in May 2020. The project limits are from the Delta County line to SH 154 and will consist of extending and installing safety end treatments for cross drainage structures, upgrading bridge rail, and upgrading metal beam guard fence. The second project is set to let for bidding in August 2020. The project limits are from Loop 301 in Sulphur Springs to FM 1537 and will consist of extending drainage structures, upgrading bridge rail and metal beam guard fence, and installing a passing lane. 
Meeting Ms. Hopkins County Senior…Contestants 8,9,10
This is the final report on the ten contestants vying for the 2018 Ms. Hopkins County Senior title. The public is invited to attend the Pageant on Saturday June 9, 2018 at 6pm in the Civic Center banquet hall. Admission is free. Let’s meet our final three contestants, Linda Pickle-Hill, Jan Gray and Pam George.
Contestants L. to R. Linda Pickle-Hill, Jan Gray and Pam George.
Linda Pickle-Hill returns to the contestant line-up with a new last name, a new job and a new talent presentation. Linda will appear with her service dog Atticus in a prose presentation of “The Ragged Old Flag”. With a career in canine and equine training, she currently makes her living at a family dairy, on the “evening shift” with 180 bovine (cows!) because it’s conveniently close to home. Linda is a military Veteran of the USMC, her husband is Charles Hill, and she is the mother of two daughters.
Jan Gray grew up on a farm at Rocky Branch near Daingerfield, Texas. Her working career was in jail administration in Camp and Titus Counties. She recently re-retired from Goodwill! She met and married her husband when she was a student at Kilgore Jr. College, and she is the mother of two daughters as well as “Nana” to four grandchildren. This is her second bid for the Ms. Hopkins County title, and her talent presentation will be a reading with a timely message.
Pam George is also a country girl, having grown up in Red River County. During college, she went to work for a large book wholesale company and made her career in an office position there. Later, she turned to caregiving which she loves doing today, because she is a born caregiver. Between her children and her husband’s children, they have a full house. Pam loves to sing but has chosen a comedy reading to present at this year’s pageant.
As part of pageant preparations, the ten contestants will be treated to a Tea on Friday June 8 prior to their rehearsal time. Karon Weatherman, director of the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, adopted the Senior Classic Pageant organization nine years ago, and it has become a popular venture for local ladies age 60 and older, some of whom have advanced to the Ms. Texas Senior Classic Pageant. The pageant showcases the values, talents and changing image of today’s Senior woman.
Woman Arrested for Taking Illegal Narcotics into County Jail
July 1, 2018 – Jennifer Ann Seely, 47, of Sulphur Springs, was observed on camera bringing items into the Hopkins County Jail that contained illegal narcotics.
An investigation at her residence on Pampa Street resulted in locating methamphetamine in her bedroom.
Seely is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Prohibited Substance in a Correctional Facility, a Felony 3, and with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram in a Drug Free Zone, a Felony 3.
Jennifer Ann Seely
Tira News: June 1st, 2018
By Jan Vaughn
Jorene Orr would like to inform the public that the first meeting for “Concerned Citizens Highway 19 North” will be held in the North Hopkins School Cafeteria on June 19th at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to come together to voice concerns on the “19th for 19”.
Sherry Smiddy received a box of meats for the Tira Food Pantry from an anonymous donor. We want to express our thanks for the generous contribution. Also, we appreciate the staff at North Hopkins ISD for contributing to the pantry.
North Hopkins School will offer free breakfast and lunch for kids 18 and under on Monday through Thursday during the month of June. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 8:00 and lunch will be from 11:30 to 12:00.
Joyce Dodd reports, “Alyssa Owens, our great-granddaughter, graduated with her 8th grade class at North Hopkins School on Friday night.” She adds, “On Saturday, our son, Michael McNiel, brought lunch to our house to celebrate a late Mother’s Day and early Father’s Day. After lunch, Michael and I met Rosemary Horn and Glenda Zumwalt at The Magic Scoop for ice cream before Michael returned home to Richardson.”
The Aiguier Cemetery Association Meeting is Sunday, June 3rd, at the North Hopkins School Cafeteria. A covered-dish lunch will be shared at noon, followed by the meeting.
The families of the late Robert (Bob) and Myrtle Lawrence met at the Tira Community Center for their annual reunion on the weekend of May 19th and 20th. Georgia Smith shares, “The group was small, but we had a big time!” She adds, “Time has taken it toll on all of us, so many were unable to come. We will continue to have it, but only for one day.” Those attending included Mary Rawson, Georgia and Troy Smith of Tira, Joyce Johnson of Mesquite, Gene and Ida Bratcher of Sulphur Springs, Charlene Lawrence of Fort Worth, Lori Lawrence and friend Donna of Arlington, Mark, Julie Sawyer, Darby, Addie and two friends, Ryan and Wes from Grapevine, E.C. Evans from West, Bryndal Williams, Jimmy and Helen Smith of Greenville, and Cody, Chandler, and Cooper Wilson of Forney. Also visiting were Murray and Diana Smith of Sulphur Springs.
Landon, Laiken, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden went to Mt. Enterprise on Saturday to pick up Dixie, so she can spend a couple of weeks with them. They went to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler before returning home. The kids stayed with us for a while on Saturday evening, while Landon and Laiken shopped in Paris. They enjoyed fishing and playing on the riding toys.
Chip and I attended a graduation party for or grandniece, Mattie Hall, at her sister, Tana’s, home on Friday evening. Tiffany came by for a while, before going to the 8th grade graduation at North Hopkins. We went to Mattie's graduation at North Hopkins on Saturday afternoon.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
