Overly Rich Soil
By David Wall, Mount Pleasant Master Gardener
10+ years ago, I wrote articles on gardens’ ideal soil organic percentages being 5%. An interesting aspect is an awful lot of organic material doesn’t raise the overall percentage very much. Getting up to 5% can take several years. Finally, anything over 5% is a wasted effort. There was also an article that too much fertilizer could result in excess vegetable plant growth at the expense of fruit.
Well, it’s finally hit home. I’ve got three raised bed gardens, 9’ X 17’, 11’ X 23’, and 4’ X 38’. All started with a mixture of firewood, leaves, mulch, top soil and compost. Initial compost pH was 7.5 which was offset by the other raised bed contents. Several years ago, I switched to compost having a pH of 5.5 – 6.5. Compaction lowers the bed level, so every year, each garden takes on 1-2” of new compost, thus
further enriching the soil.
All have done well from day one except for a few bone head moves, such as watering corn with a hose which knocked off all the pollen and resulted in no corn!
Well, last year I noticed some unusual aspects in these gardens, okra, for example. We’re all used to 8’ tall plants which, toward end-of-season, require bending the plant over to reach the pods. 8’ is fine, but last year, okra plants were over 10’ tall. Fortunately, fruit production was good.
This year, I’ve already had to prune tomato plant tips due to excessive growth. Fruit production varies from very light to very heavy. Purple hull pea pants have multiple 6’+ runners. As a result, I’ve had to prune virtually every runner to force fruit production, which is running from almost non-existent to extremely well.
If this is the overly rich soil result, I think I’ll keep it!!!
Hopson Back in Hopkins County Jail to Face Credit Card Abuse Charges
June 29, 2023 – MICAH ISIAH HOPSON, age 22 of Sulphur Springs, was contacted by Sulphur Springs Police this week. A record check found active warrants for his arrest.
HOPSON was an employee at a local farm and home store in Sulphur Springs. Earlier this year, video surveillance verified Hopson was going through a fellow employees belongings and taking pictures of their credit cards. When confronted by Police, Hopson allegedly confessed to using the cards several times.
A Hopkins County Grand Jury found sufficient evidence to proceed, and indicted Hopson in June of 2023.
Hopson is faceing 2 counts of:
32.31 CREDIT CARD OR DEBIT CARD ABUSE
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Center For Women Entrepreneurs Announces Texas Rural Woman Grant Awardees
The Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership’s Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) at Texas Woman’s University has selected 35 woman-owned businesses to receive $10,000 awards through its Texas Rural Woman Grant program. The program supports economic development activity in rural Texas by enabling rural, woman-owned small businesses to undertake new and innovative projects.
The awardees include:
Mette Hansen, The Flower Pot, Perryton
Victoria Fletcher, Muddy Boot Cattle Company LLC, Hubbard
Amber Ross, Raven Aerial Solutions, LLC, Granbury
Christina Isbell, Haskell Funeral Home, Inc., Haskell
Mindy Myers, The Bohemian Shepherdess, LLC, Cumby
Bertha Griego, Beacon’s R.V. Park & Marina, LLC, Rockport
Diana Perry, Di-Hard Fitness Studio, LLC., Rockdale
Kate Thayer, Eve’s Garden Bed and Breakfast, Marathon
Anne Calaway, Front Street Books LLC, Alpine
Jolie Estes, Broadmoor Farm, Paris
Jessica Moore, Ready, Set, Shine! Pediatric Therapy, Hart
Emma Morales, Poole Oh, Charlie, Lockney
Maegan Balog, Kickbox Leasing, LLC, Bowie
Shonda Folsom, The Folsom Law Firm, PLLC, Big Spring
Stephanie Falkner, Bloom ‘N’ Sprout San, Saba
Jennifer Been, JBeen Properties, LLC, Dalhart
Crystal Melton, Top Shelf Industries, Tulia
Stacy Robles-Boil, Faith Fitness Gym, Sweetwater
Cheri Whatley, Walleck Rusty Hook Winery, Port Lavaca
Paula Duwe, Schumann’s Inc, Eden
Marnie Long, M Design Studio, Inc., Rockport
Shani Shofner, Rocky Oaks Ranch Construction, Eldorado
Amy Thornhill, The Studio on Main, Lamesa
Devin Sisk, Devin Sisk Photography, Muleshoe
Amy Horn, Rockin A Design, Dalhart
Tamara Hood, Circle S Pest Control Inc, Burnet
Melissa Rusek, Texas One Stop of La Grange, La Grange
Susan Jolliff, Brady Dental Group, P. A., Brady
Lisa Owens, Ready to GLO’ Skincare, Rockdale
Angelita Ponce, Aguilar Doggie Do’s Dog Parlor, Three Rivers
Catina (Tina) Souder, Rolling Plains Counseling & Wellness Center, Wellington
Linsey A. Taylor, Ahart Real Estate, Graham
Shannon Horta, Innovative Office Systems, Lufkin
Savanna Smith, Munch-oes Bakery LLC, El Campo
DeAnna McDearmont, One Soul Yoga, Sulphur Springs
Grant applications were received from across Texas for this first-time grant program aimed specifically at helping rural, woman-owned businesses throughout the state.
The Center for Women Entrepreneurs is a program of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University. The institute is dedicated to preparing more women to take on successful roles in business and public service. Its three specialized centers ensure women have the education to establish careers as successful executives, the skills for building entrepreneurial businesses and the framework needed to run for public office.
2023 CANHelp Hopkins County Back To School Fair
CANHelp is very excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 Hopkins County Back to School Fair. For six years, our annual back to school fair has been a one-stop destination to prepare students and entire families for the start of school. The number of people we serve each year continues to grow and we anticipate providing for even more in 2022.
This year’s event will again be an indoor/outdoor event that will provide students and families with FREE backpacks and school supplies as well as other FREE services such as haircuts, school physicals, dental and vision exams, vaccinations and health check ups. There will be a ton activities for everyone to HAVE FUN and get ready for the upcoming school year.
This event will be held Thursday, July 27, 2023 from 3pm-6pm at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
To register for backpacks and school supplies or to become a sponsor, vendor, or volunteer, please visit the links below to learn more.
Questions? Email [email protected].
How To Spot A Bagworm By Mario Villarino
The small, silk weaving that resembles a Christmas tree ornament on your favorite tree or shrub is not decoration. These bags protect the caterpillars, or larvae, pupae, female adults and eggs of bagworms (Order Lepidoptera Family Psychidae) Bagworms attack trees and shrubs including: evergreens such as arborvitae, cedars, cypress, junipers, pines and spruce broadleaved plants such as apple, basswood, black locust, boxelder, elm, honey locust, Indian hawthorn, maple, various oaks, persimmon, sumac, sycamore, wild cherry and willow.
Although bagworms are not abundant every year, once a plant is infested the insect becomes a persistent problem unless controlled. Texas has several species of bagworms. Each species’ is slightly different habits and life cycles affect the timing of control measures. Infestations, which may not be noticed at first, can defoliate trees and shrubs, and kill these plants if left unchecked. Eggs are laid in the fall and hatch in the spring. Caterpillars grow throughout the summer and pupate in August or September. After a 3-week pupal period, the adult moths emerge. After mating, the females deposit their eggs and die.
Birds, insect parasites and insect predators are natural enemies of bagworms. Bird predation and insect parasitism can help keep bagworm outbreaks brief. However, natural enemies often can’t prevent the bagworms from damaging plants. Handpicking bagworms off the plants is the cheapest way to control them, particularly in the winter months. Pick off all of the bags and destroy or discard them. Eggs in bags thrown on the ground will hatch in the spring and develop into larvae that could reinfest the plants.
If handpicking isn’t practical or safe, use insecticide spray. Apply insecticide soon after bagworm eggs have hatched or while the larvae are small and feeding. Determine the right time for treatment by collecting bags in late winter and keeping them in a container out of sunlight. Once the caterpillars hatch from the bags in the container, apply insecticide to plants.
Chemical control is not as effective when the caterpillars close their bags to molt or pupate. In most areas, insecticides applied in April, May and June are effective. Use insecticides containing acephate (Orthene®), Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, carbaryl (Sevin®), pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, etc.), spinosad, azadirachtin, neem oil, malathion, pyrethrins or insecticidal soap. Use spray equipment that gives complete coverage of all foliage. Hire a professional exterminator if you do not have adequate equipment. For more information on these or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Individual Tickets For Designer Handbag Bingo Slated For Sale
Starting Saturday, July 1 individual tickets for Designer Handbag Bingo will be available for sale for $55 at the website listed below. There are very few individual tickets available and are not expected to last long, so those wishing to participate in the fundraiser should get tickets as soon as possible on that date.
Please note that scammers on Facebook are offering tickets for sale. These people do not have tickets. Each party is being block and reported. Any tickets returned will be sold through the link listed below.
Designer Handbag Bingo Tickets include a packet of bingo cards which are for the ten rounds of regular play, a drink ticket, and an entry card for door prizes.
Also available for purchase are additional complete game packets, extra game cards, cards for the bonus rounds, and tickets for the mystery designer handbag raffle.
A fundraiser for the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation, Designer Handbag Bingo will be held on Thursday, August 3. This annual sold out event is now in its 4th year and has raised approximately $88,000 to date.
A raffle for a mystery designer handbag valued at approximately $2,000 are also available online and anyone, attending the event or not, may purchase tickets. Tickets are $20 each and limited to 350. If not attending, the winner may pick up the handbag locally.
To learn more about the event, visit the Designer Handbag Bingo website at handbagbingo23.givesmart.com.
Last year, proceeds and donations from the event were used to fund the free mammography clinic for uninsured Hopkins County women over the age of 40. The Foundation is an IRS 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit that is now in its 26 th year of serving Hopkins County.
Texas Set To Receive $3.3 Billion In Federal Funds
Texas is set to receive more than $3.3 billon in Federal money, the most of any state, to help in the expansion of broadband availability statewide, the Biden Administration announced on Monday.
The money will be distributed from the $42.45 billion in the broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program as part of president Joe Biden’s 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funds aim to connect more than 8.5 million households and small businesses nationwide and nearly 2.8 million of those households without broadband are in Texas. Each state received at least $107 million.
Separately, the BEAD program includes more than $14 billion in funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which makes broadband service more affordable for eligible households nationwide, $2 billion for the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, and $2 billion for the Department of Agriculture’s Reconnect Program that provides loans and grants to build broadband infrastructure in eligible rural areas.
Texas and the other states can submit initial funding proposals from July 1 through Dec. 27. After the National Telecommunications and Information Administration approves proposals, which will occur on a rolling basis, states and territories will be able to access at least 20% of their funds. The Texas Broadband Development Office will allocate the funds, which will go to where the state and federal broadband maps indicate service is needed. However, service providers and local officials have disputed the accuracy of those maps.
The Biden administration has compared its investment in broadband to the 1936 Rural Electrification Act, which offered low-cost loans to help bring electricity to rural areas.
According to a statement, the Biden administration expects that all states and territories will now have the resources to connect everyone in the country by 2030.
A&M-Commerce’s Pearson Honored With TAMUS Veteran Support Award
COMMERCE, TX—A Texas A&M University-Commerce staff member was recently honored with an award celebrating his commitment to serving student veterans.
Dustin Pearson, veteran services manager at A&M-Commerce, received the 2022-23 Faculty/Staff Veteran Support Excellence Award from The Texas A&M University System.
The award is presented each year to an A&M System employee who directs the growth of student veterans, serves as an advocate for student veterans or veteran issues, and develops, implements or supports programs that enhance student veteran success.
In the Spring 2023 semester, more than 400 veterans were enrolled at A&M-Commerce. The total number of military-affiliated students—meaning veterans, active duty military, reservists, national guard, spouses and dependents—was 771.
A Hunt County native, Pearson served in the United States Army from 2003 to 2008. He originally served with the 2nd battalion, 9th infantry regiment in South Korea before joining the 101st Airborne/327th infantry regiment as an 11 Bravo Infantryman.
He served in Iraq, where he was wounded in combat in 2005. The recovery from his injuries lasted about six months. During his military service, he earned a Purple Heart, Air Assault Wings and Expert Infantry Badge.
Pearson initially struggled to find work after leaving the Army.
“At the time, there weren’t a lot of jobs for people coming out of the Army, especially infantrymen,” Pearson said. “I decided to apply myself academically and utilize my G.I. Bill to attend A&M-Commerce.”
He graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2012. After working a few jobs in the short term, he was hired at A&M-Commerce in 2015. He was drawn to the opportunity to help student veterans navigate college life.
“For me personally, there were some struggles as a student,” Pearson said. “It was not ideal to be a 30-year-old veteran when most of your classmates are traditional students right out of high school. There isn’t a whole lot in common to help you connect.”
He continued: “But I found camaraderie with other veterans at the university, and after graduating I found that I really wanted to be in a position to help veterans succeed in a university setting.”
While working at A&M-Commerce, Pearson also earned his Master of Social Work degree from the university in 2019.
Pearson stated that he was surprised, honored and humbled to be chosen for the A&M System award.
“It’s very humbling to be honored in such a way because I know there are a lot of people working in the A&M System that do a great service for veterans,” Pearson said. “I just have to say that I couldn’t do what I do to support our students without assistance from many other people on campus. It is a team effort.”
All recipients of this A&M System award receive a certificate and plaque, along with a $250 donation to the recipient’s local student veteran association or campus veteran services office to support a student veteran program or event.
Learn more about Veterans and Military Services at A&M-Commerce.
Solar Power Proves Useful Amid Intense Heat Waves Across The State
As Texas is subjected to another sweltering heat wave, people have nervously watched the state’s power grid, in hopes it will hold up as tripe-digit days continue on. Under the blazing sun, the state has produced significant amounts of electricity from solar panels to help avoid shortfalls.
The heat has pushed demands for power to new records,, topping 81,000 megawatts on Tuesday, but the state’s grid operator as only requested that residents lower their power use one day during the heat wave, when electricity from wind and power plants that use coal, nuclear or natural gas fell short of their past output.
Solar power provided nearly 20% of the Texas power needs on Tuesday before demand reached a new high.
A so-called “heat dome” has settled over the state, meaning an area of high pressure sits above while the area bakes, Houston-based meteorologist Matt Lanza said. This means June hasn’t been very windy.
Some 16,800 megawatts of solar power could be produced on the state grid as of the end of May, compared with 2,600 in 2019, according to data from the grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.
Aaron Zubaty, chief executive officer of clean energy investment company Eolian, said solar power correlates with Texas’ hot, sunny days. But like any power source, solar has limits, it can’t produce power 24 hours a day.
The time with the most energy consumption is when people get home from work, turn their air conditioner up, turn on the tv, do laundry or cook. Most of these occurring as the sun is setting and solar power production drops.
Texas Rising Solar Infrastructure
Experts have predicted that Texas will add more large-scale solar power plants in the coming years than any other state. A recent Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie report forecasts that Texas will install enough infrastructure to produce nearly twice as much new solar power as California between 2024 and 2028.
This growth could catapult Texas closer to challenging California’s rank as the nation’s top solar producer. Texas is currently second.
Seven Tips To Stay Safe During The Summer Heat
AUSTIN— The dog days of summer have certainly arrived, and with the soaring temperatures Texas State Parks is sharing seven tips to help Texans enjoy time outdoors safely. Last year, 47 state parks reported 141 heat-related illnesses in humans and pets. Since January 1, 77 heat-related incidents have already been reported, compared to 64 reported by this time last year.
Here are the top seven heat hacks recommended for park visitors:
Hydrate– It’s important to drink at least 16 ounces of water every hour in the heat to replenish your body and prevent dehydration. Don’t forget to bring enough for your four-legged family members too.
Block the Rays– Apply a generous amount of sunscreen or sunblock before heading outdoors. Be sure to reapply every couple of hours, and after swimming or sweating.
Dress Smart– Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing; a hat, correct shoes, sunscreen and wet bandanas to keep you cool while in the sun. For pets, protect paws against blistering by hitting the trails during cooler times of the day when the ground isn’t hot or by putting booties on pets to help shield paws from the hot ground. Touch the pavement or ground with the back of your hand. If you cannot hold it there for five seconds, the surface is too hot for your dog’s paws.
Stay Salty– Food helps keep up energy and replace salt lost from sweating. Eating snacks such as jerky, granola, trail mix, tuna and dried fruit is a fantastic way to nourish your body while on the trails.
Buddy System– Two brains are better than one. It’s beneficial to have someone with you in hot conditions so you can look after each other on the trail. With high temperatures hitting Texas, heat-related illnesses are common and having a friend around to help recognize the early symptoms can save you from getting sick.
Plan Ahead– Study the map and have it with you, avoid relying on your phone for maps since service may be unavailable in back-country areas. Average hikers move at 2 miles per hour, so allow yourself plenty of time to avoid hiking in the heat of the day. Make sure to rest in a cool or shaded area to recover from the heat if necessary. It is also a good idea to let someone know your plan before you hit the trails and what time you should be back. That way, if you become lost, people know where to look.
Pup-Safety– Dogs are as susceptible to heat as their humans are, so it is good practice to ensure that you bring enough water and snacks for four-legged hiking buddies to last the entirety of the trip.
Additionally, visitors should heed notices posted at trailheads about site specific conditions before setting out for the day. Park staff are also a valuable resource for folks wanting to know about trail and forecasted conditions before starting their walk.
For more information about heat safety, visit the TPWD website.
Texas State Park reservations can be made by calling the Texas State Park Reservation Center at 512-389-8900 on weekdays during normal business hours. You can also reserve a campsite or day pass anytime online. Overnight reservations can be made up to five months in advance, and day passes can be reserved up to 30 days in advance. If your plans change, please modify or cancel your reservation as soon as possible to allow someone else to enjoy the park as we do expect parks to reach capacity limits.
Find a park in your area at http://texasstateparks.org/.
For infographics, visit the TPWD Flickr page.
