Tira News May 18, 2018
By Jan Vaughn
Regina Payton visited with her mother Martha Payton this past week. She arrived on Wednesday afternoon. Martha reports, “We decided to try our skill at power washing the house, screens, windows and lawn furniture, which was easier than expected. Brad Payton came on Thursday afternoon with a beautiful bouquet of red roses for Mother’s Day, so naturally we put him to work also. By the time evening arrived we decided to drive to Cooper to the Dairy Queen for a hamburger supper. Brad returned home on Friday evening after a very nice visit. Regina and I drove to Longview on Saturday to visit my sister and brother from Pittsburg. We let Luby’s cook our lunch on Saturday. We had a wonderful visit and, as always, the drive to east Texas is always nice. Everyone returned home safely.”
Dacy and Destri treated their mother, Yvonne Weir, to lunch at the Smoky Rose in Dallas on Friday, May 4th, and then they then attended a Cinco de Mayo festival at Nico’s (Destri’s son’s) day care. Yvonne comments, “It was fun, but Nico refused to wear the mustache or sombrero.” Yvonne spent the night with Destri and Eben Friday night.
Wesley Weir went bowling with My Heroes on Saturday and played Bright Star Baseball on Monday night. Yvonne adds, “It was a great night for baseball.”
Kim & Lee Beck are proud to announce that Madeleine Beck graduated with her Bachelors of Science degree from Texas Christian University on Saturday. Go Hornfrogs!
The annual Aiguier Cemetery Association meeting will be held on Sunday, June 3rd, on the cemetery grounds. A covered dish lunch will be shared at noon, followed by the business meeting.
Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden Joslin spent the night with us on Friday. We enjoyed being outside watching the boys play.
Our granddaughter, Jaidyn Joslin, was baptized at Posey Baptist Church on Sunday. There to celebrate her decision, were her parents, Tiffany Vaughn and Malcolm Joslin, her brothers, Kenden and Morgan Joslin and Morgan’s fiancée Allison, her uncle, Delayne Vaughn, and Chip and myself, along with her church family. After the service we returned to our house for Mother’s Day lunch, which Chip prepared. Also, Chip, Delayne, and I visited Grace Vaughn for Mother’s Day.
Landon, Laiken, Rylan, Brailon and Slaiden celebrated Mother’s Day with Laiken’s family and they enjoyed swimming that 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].
Know your weeds: Nettles By Mario Villarino
As I was conducting a visit earlier in the week, I noticed the flowering of nettles in the pastures of this new landowner. There are several species of horse nettle, all of which have star-shaped blossoms with prominent petals, flat or turned backward, and yellow stamens. Almost all of them are prickly. Flowers of the various species are blue, purple, yellow, or white.
White horse nettle gets its name from its covering of silvery hairs, among which are the nettle-like prickles. It grows 1-3 feet tall. The leaves are 2-4 inches long, with wavy edges. Flowers are violet-purple or white, about 3/4 inch across, with 5 petal-like lobes that are joined at the base, forming a triangular shape at the tip of each lobe. All of them have the prominent, bright yellow stamens that distinguish all the horse nettles.
The yellow fruits resemble small tomatoes and remain on the plant for months. The lavender, star-shaped flowers with yellow centers are beautifully set off by the silvery foliage, and large patches of the plant in full bloom are striking.
However, the plant is an aggressive, poisonous weed, spreading steadily from deep rootstocks; in a few states it is classified as a noxious weed. The genus name, from the Latin solamen (quieting), alludes to the narcotic properties of many species.
This species is also known as Bullnettle. While generally unpalatable to cattle, this plant can cause serious problems in situations such as overgrazing or feeding large concentrations of the plant in hay.
According to Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension’s “Plants of Texas Rangelands Virtual Herbarium,” silverleaf nightshade, another nettle common in our area, can be poisonous to horses, sheep, goats, cattle and humans. It can be identified by its characteristic silver color, which is caused by the numerous fine hairs along its stem, and violet, bluish or white flowers. It also produces yellow fruits beginning in May and ending in October.
The toxin present in this plant is solanine. All parts of the plant are toxic, including the fruit, at all stages of maturity. Particular emphasis should be made to limit the intake of ripe fruit as the highest amounts of toxin are present there. It is important to note that toxicity is not lost upon drying, such as cutting off the plant for haying.An animal can begin to be poisoned by eating as little as 0.1 to 0.3 percent of their body weight in nightshade. For a 1,400-pound cow, that is 1.4 to 4.2 pounds of nightshade.
Solanine poisoning causes several effects on the animal. This glycoalkaloid can cause incoordination, excessive salivation, loud and labored breathing, trembling, nasal discharge, severe gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea and progressive weakness or paralysis, according to the Veterinary Medicine Library from the University of Illinois. In the most extreme cases, death can occur suddenly or in three to four days. Symptoms resulting from low doses of poisoning usually persist during this time frame as well.
There are several products approve for use during nettle control, the vast majority requiring to spray the plants during flowering, hence the importance of detecting the plants during this stage (flowering).
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please call the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Are You Ready for the Whipped Challenge and Other Upcoming Events? By Johanna Hicks
Are You Ready for the Whipped Challenge?
The buzz is building and plans are in full swing as we prepare for the 2018 Hopkins County Dairy Festival “Whipped” Challenge. Businesses, civic clubs, churches, schools, and organizations are encouraged to enter a team. So, what is the “Whipped Challenge?” If you have ever watched the popular show called “Chopped” on the Food Network, we are patterning our event after that program – with a dairy twist, of course! Here’s how it works:
1) The contest will take place on the front grounds of the Hopkins County Civic Center, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, TX on Saturday, June 16, 2018. Check-in begins at the gazebo at 9:30 a.m. Orientation begins at 10:00 a.m., and the contest starts at 10:15 a.m.
2) Participation will be limited to the first eight teams (4 members per team). Teams are requested to bring their own knives for chopping and slicing ingredients. After registering, teams will be directed to a food preparation station. There will be a set of ingredients at each station, but no recipe. The ingredients will represent a dish from one of the following: appetizer, main dish, dessert.
3) Preparation: each team will be provided with a set of ingredients reflective of the assigned category, and will create a single dish (not a full meal) using the ingredients.
- Teams are challenged to be creative by developing their own recipe with provided ingredients.
- Team must incorporate each ingredient into the dish. However, teams may determine the exact amount of each ingredient to use.
- Teams will have access to an equipment table and “pantry” of additional ingredients that may be used to compliment or garnish the dish.
- Each dish must contain at least 2 dairy products, provided in the pantry.
- Round 1: Eight teams will prepare a snack/appetizer (20 minutes), after which two teams will be “whipped.” Round 2: Six teams will prepare a main dish (40 minutes). Three teams will be eliminated. Round 3: The three remaining teams will prepare a dessert (20 minutes). One team will be named “Whipped” champion. Prizes will be awarded.Note: times include planning, preparation, and plating.
4) Presentation: When time is called, each team will step away from their preparation station and take the completed dish to the judges’ area. The following pertains to team presentations:
- All team members will participate in the presentation.
- A maximum of 3 minutes will be allowed for each team’s presentation, which may include questions from judges. Note:teams should follow food safety practices since judges will taste dishes. All participants will receive a gift bag, and prizes will be awarded in increasing amounts with each round.
5) Cost to enter is $40 per team. Team applications are due by May 31 and may be returned to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs. Checks should be made out to Hopkins County Dairy Festival. Applications are available at the Extension Office – 1200 W. Houston, and on the Extension website at http://hopkins.agrilife.org, (click on publications). Copies are also available at the Southwest Dairy Museum and will soon be posted on the Dairy Festival website.
So, gather your co-workers, fellow civic club members, and friends, and join the fun! Remember, the deadline to enter is May 31 (or until the first 8 teams have entered), so don’t be a procrastinator! If you have questions, please call my office at 903-885-3443, and I’ll be glad to help you.
Other Upcoming Events
- Kids’ Camp: By now, Sulphur Springs Schools which house grades 1 thru 4 have received registration information for “Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness.” If you child is interested in attending, tell them to ask their school teacher or principal. This will be the 8th annual Kids’ Camp, and we are so excited to bring fun activities to keep your child’s mind active! Dates of the camp are June 11 thru 29, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The location will be the auxiliary gym at Sulphur Springs Middle School. On Mondays and Wednesdays, we’ll focus on nutrition, hands-on cooking, physical activity including Walk Across Texas and team games, water and sun safety, fire safety (our local fire safety clowns will be visiting!), weather safety/first aid, simple money management, and more. Friday sessions will be led by the Master Gardeners. The final Friday of camp will be our celebration – prizes for the kids who log the most miles, t-shirt distribution, water slides, bounce houses, and of course, delicious snacks.
The cost of the camp is only $10 per child, because we don’t want the cost to be a hindrance from this excellence camp experience. The deadline to register is May 31, and participation is limited to the first 40 youth. Registration must be brought to the Extension Office – not the classroom teacher. Forms are available at the 1st thru 4th grade campuses, or may be picked up at the Extension Office – 1200 W. Houston.
- One Health Round Table: Each spring, our Extension Leadership team (Extension Leadership Advisory Board, Program Area Committees, Master Volunteers, and Community Volunteers) provides feedback on programming ideas for the community. The topic which received the most response was the area of health as well as its correlation between animals and humans. Two dates have been set for a round table series of discussions, so put these on your calendar!
Friday, July 6, will feature immunizations – flu, pneumonia, shingles, etc. and the appropriate ages and times to receive these immunizations. Also on board is a speaker who will discuss rabies, Zika, and other vector-borne diseases that can be spread to humans, and their treatment procedures. Friday, July 13, will feature the topic of animal health. Both sessions will take place at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office. Watch for more information to come, but please save the dates!
- Multi-county 4-H Camp: The registration deadline is May 31 for students in grades 3 thru 12. Hopkins County typically takes the largest group to this camp and they all return home with great experiences to share! Even though it is targeted toward 4-H members, you do not have to be a 4-H member to attend. The camp will take place July 9-11 at Lakeview Baptist Conference Center in Lone Star. I will be chaperoning, along with at least two other leaders from Hopkins County. We will meet at the Extension Office to carpool. Students may be picked up at 10:00 a.m. on July 11 at the camp facility. Registration forms are available at the Extension Office, which includes a list of things to bring, schedule, workshops, and more.
- Skills Camp: By now, the Sulphur Springs 5th and 6th grade campuses have received the registration brochures for Skills Camp. This camp will take place Monday thru Thursday, July 16-19, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, at our Extension Office, with the exception of Wednesday, which will be held at the ROC. Workshops are woodworking, upcycling, photography, ceramics, and outdoor cooking. The cost is $15 and registration is limited to the first 14 youth. Ask your school teacher or principal for registration information, or come by the Extension Office.
Closing Thought
Everyone is a genius at least once a year. The real geniuses simply have their bright ideas closer together – Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
Video Presentation: SSISD Honor Student Breakfast 2018
Sulphur Springs ISD Honor Students, their parents and favorite teacher attended the annual honor student breakfast for the Class of 2018. The Thursday morning, May 17th event was conducted in the Civic Center.
This video presentation of the Honor Student Breakfast is a Salute to Excellence of KSST and A & S Air Conditioning, Alliance Bank, Century 21 Hometown, Galyean Insurance, Grocery Supply Company, The Pawn Shop, Westley Assisted Living, Brian Toliver Lincoln , Northeast Texas Farmers Coop, Guarany Bank and Trust, Nor Tex Tractor & Powersports, Texas Heritage National Bank, and Farm Country Incorporated.
Blacklands Railroad Opens Transloading and Storage Terminal in Nevada
According to Progressive Railroads, a Blacklands Railroad subsidiary has opened a transloading and storage terminal at the Northern Nevada Railport and Logistics Center in Fernley, Nevada, the Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) announced Wednesday, May 16, 2018.
The subsidiary, Black Gold Rail Terminals: Northern Nevada, will help the short line meet its intermodal, logistics and distribution needs in a cost-effective manner, according to an NNDA press release.
Currently, Sulphur Springs, Texas-based Blacklands Railroad is investing $1 million for additional track and a locomotive, NNDA officials said. It is the first short line to establish a transloading and storage terminal in northern Nevada.
Located on Reno Highway, the terminal is served by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway Co. Rail service at the terminal is available five days a week.
“Establishing a Black Gold Rail Terminal in Fernley was a good fit as Northern Nevada’s logistics industry is quickly expanding to meet multimodal shipping and distribution needs of customers nationwide,” said Blacklands Railroad President Wayne Defebaugh.
NNDA President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Hooper said Blacklands Railroad marks the 100th company since 2010 that the authority has assisted with expansion or relocation.
Primary Runoff Early Voting Continues Through Friday
Early Voting in the May Primary Runoff election continues at a steady pace as 137 Republicans and 15 Democrats cast ballots Wednesday. Total votes for the first three days: Republicans 421; Democrats 29.
Early voting in the Primary Runoff Election continues 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. through Friday, May 18th. Early voting takes place at the Justice of the Peace Courtroom, 128 Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs. Tuesday, May 22 is Primary Runoff Election Day with voting places open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Hopkins County registered voters may cast ballots at any of the voting places on that day. Voting places will include the Lutheran Church on Texas Street, the Courthouse downtown, Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on Fuller Street, and League Street Church of Christ and Como-Pickton School on Highway 11 E. Republicans are voting for nominees for Hopkins County Treasurer and Commissioner Precinct 2. Since there are not Democrat challengers, those who receive the nomination will be the only ones for those offices on the ballot in November. Democrats are voting in state runoff races only.
The “9-1-1 Connection” and “Battle of the Badges” Burger Cookoff
Sulphur Springs Public Safety Director and Police Chief Jay Sanders and paramedics stopped by the KSST studios to invite everyone to a public event coming up Saturday May 19, 2018 from 10am til 2pm on the downtown Celebration Plaza. It’s a Public Safety Extravaganza by “The Team” which is made up of Sulphur Springs Police and Fire Departments along with Hopkins County Sheriff , Fire and EMS departments.
L. to R. Paramedic John Suits, EMT Lt. Tabitha Vaught and Public Safety Director Jay Sanders
Sanders stated “One Mission…One Team” is descriptive of the teamwork we enjoy in Hopkins County because of the eagerness of these departments to work together to serve, protect and educate the local population. At “The Connection” there will be plenty to see for all ages, including attractions for children. Expect to see a landing by an EMS helicopter, the “Smoke-House Simulator” walk-through demonstration of a house fire, a “Stop The Bleed” educational demonstration for civilians, an Ident-a-Kid fingerprinting booth, the 9-1-1 Dispatch booth with what to expect if you call 9-1-1, and “The FireHouse” water feature where kids spray water on a simulated fire. In addition to bounce houses and face-painting, you might also catch Batman strolling around downtown Sulphur Springs”.
Lt. Tabitha Vaught and Paramedic John Suits are trained EMS workers who described some of the vehicles and special equipment which will be displayed or demonstrated, including the AMBUS, a 20-person mass casualty evacuation bus. This bus had barely been delivered and outfitted last summer when called into duty to assist with Hurricane Harvey relief. Vaught, Suits and several other Hopkins County paramedics were assigned to a 10-day deployment to the coast at Rockport and other locations, using the vehicle to evacuate and transport hurricane victims from schools, nursing homes and shelters during the state-wide safety effort. And not every county or city owns an AMBUS or an MRAP vehicle. The MRAP armored personnel carrier is used by SWAT teams to get up-close in special situations for countering armed attacks, ambush or terrorist acts when an armored vehicle is the best tool for the safety of responding officers. According to Sanders, with these tools, local officials can respond to every type of situation that even larger cities might encounter. As Public Safety Director, he feels that Hopkins County residents are well-protected and well-served due to the teamwork apparent in the numerous departments. He mentioned a case in point: the recent 2018 crash on Highway 19 North involving an entire family whose vehicle overturned into a deep creek with high banks. Because of quality teamwork and multiple-victim equipment, four persons who were “dead at the scene” received quick EMS response and demonstrated pulse when evacuated to various hospitals. In fact, two of the children are now expected to make full recovery following rehabilitation.
Lt. Vaught is a 5-year member of Hopkins County EMS, and formulator of the “The Connection” event. Paramedic Suits, who at one time was an ID Dog trainer, is a firemen and Fire Chief at Point, Texas. He joined Hopkins County EMS two years ago. Chief Sanders has been in law enforcement for 33 years, and will observe his 30-year anniversary with Sulphur Springs Police Department in July 2018. He added EMT to his credentials in 1999 and graduated Fire Academy in 2016.
This year’s public safety extravaganza has an added fun feature, the “Battle of the Badges” Burger Cook-off. The contest will take place on Saturday at noon, and Team members are invited to form teams and enter. Following judging, burgers will be available for those who attend the public event, along with hot dogs, Kona Ice, cold drinks and water, lots of giveaways and fun.
[gview file=”http://www.ksstradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/connection-brochure-2018.docx”]
SCU, SWAT Execute Warrant at College Street Residence
Casey Randle Griffith, 38, of Sulphur Springs, was arrested Wednesday following a Special Crimes Unit investigation in which methamphetamine was sold from Griffith’s College Street residence. During a search of the residence by SCU and the SWAT team, Griffin was found lying down in the front seat of a Dodge pickup. Inside the pickup, law enforcement found approximately 4.6 grams of methamphetamine.
As the officers continued to execute the search warrant, they located an additional quantity of meth weighing approximately 13.7 grams. A small quantity of Marijuana, two meth pipes, and other paraphernalia were also found.
Griffith is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Manufacture/Deliver Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams, a Felony 1, and with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams, a Felony 2. Griffith is being held on bonds totaling $100,000.
Producers Sell Over 6,000 Head of Cattle at May NETBIO Sale
Livestock producers from throughout Texas and some neighboring states converged on the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission Wednesday to market their cattle at the May Northeast Texas Beef Improvement pre-conditioned stocker and feeder calf sale.
A total of 291 sellers shipped in 6,203 head of calves and yearlings to the NETBIO sale. The demand was very good for all weights of cattle with 32 buyers paying an average of $797.19 per head.
“We had a lot of good cattle consigned to the sale and there was a lot of interest from the buyers — both those at the sale and a grand total of 2,374 head being purchased over the Internet,” said David Fowler, co-owner of the livestock commission. “Our member producers continue to do a great job of pre-conditioning and getting their cattle ready for this sale.”
TAKING BIDS NETBIO members offered 6,203 head of quality cattle at the May auction held Wednesday at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission. Auctioneer Joe Don Pogue is taking bids from buyers from throughout Texas and neighboring states.
Fowler said replacement heifers sold well, and feeder cattle went mostly to buyers in the Texas Panhandle and some went into Kansas.
“Overall it was a very good offering of cattle and our employees did a great job of taking care of the cattle and getting them through the sale ring for the buyers,” Fowler said.
RETIREMENT Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission co-owner Joe Don Pogue announced the upcoming retirement of office manager Kathy McGowen at the NETBIO Pre-conditioned Calf and Yearling Sale Wednesday. McGowen has worked for the Livestock Commission for 32 years and has handled NETBIO sale office business since its beginning in 1998.
Prior to the beginning of the auction, Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission co-owner and auctioneer Joe Don Pogue announced the retirement of office manager Kathy McGowen. She has worked for the Livestock Commission for 32 years and handled the office procedures for the NETBIO sale since its beginning in 1998. She and husband Robert will continue to help with the NETBIO sales.
The NETBIO Pre-Conditioned Stocker and Feeder Calf Sale gives its member-producers a market to offer their pre-conditioned calves and yearlings in load lot quantities. NETBIO holds eight pre-conditioned calf sales each year to accommodate the various weaning dates of its members.
The next sale will be held at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission on Wednesday, July 18. The weaning deadline for calves consigned to that sale is June 3 and the last date for booster shots will be June 18.
That sale will be followed by an early fall sale that will be held on September 19. For more details about NETBIO, call 903-885-2455.
