Getting Back To Family
By Johanna Hicks, Extension Agent, Family and Community Health Agent, Hopkins County,
I have often said that strong marriages make strong families and strong families make strong communities. We must remember that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. Somewhere along the way, Americans have lost the idea of putting emphasis on strong relationships. The violence, confusion, misbehaviors, and lack of respect have caused major problems in schools and communities. Teachers are exhausted at the end of the day because many students are disrespectful and often belligerent. Law enforcement officials are being stretched to the breaking point, and families are crumbling.
There is not an easy solution, but a stepping-stone to helping improve the chaos is to start with the home. Parents should teach their children right from wrong, respect for authority, and responsibility, all while setting a good example. Being a parent is simultaneously one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences that we will ever have. There will be many joys and frustrations because children don’t come with an instruction manual. We all make mistakes when it comes to parenting, but learning from those mistakes is crucial.
The foundation for children’s successful development is established early in life. From birth, children interact with others in a variety of contexts that shape who they are as individuals. Parents, caregivers, teachers, peers, extended family, community, media, heredity, and environment all influence a child’s growth and development. However, parents serve as the primary influence in their lives. Take them to church, play with them, teach them about good character, and most of all, love them.
For teens, sports and after-school activities are back in full swing and this is a busy time of year! One of the best ways to communicate with your teen is through food. It can be stressful for families to figure out how to plan, prepare, and eat meals together, but family time is so important. One particular manufacturer of dinner napkins had a brilliant idea. Printed on each napkin is a discussion starter for mealtime. These include: “What was your favorite thing about today?” “If you could make a difference for someone, what would you do?”, etc. Conversations with your children and teens will lead to better understanding of their feelings, fears, and needs.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has put together some suggestions to make preparing and eating family meals easier:
- Spend some time on the weekend planning out meals for the week. Use quick, simple recipes that won’t take up valuable family time.
- Schedules don’t align for dinner? Try having breakfast together instead. Enjoy your morning coffee with the kids as they eat breakfast instead of drinking it at work.
- When you can be home together, turn off the TV, move away from devices, and spend time focused on conversations.
Keep in mind what works for some families might not work for others. Whether it is leftovers eaten together on the couch or a formal, cooked meal, it all counts! The research is clear that preparing and eating meals together can improve family connections, communications, and create lasting memories. A little extra planning may be worth a lot in the long run!
49th Annual Christmas Joys
This is a popular event! Scheduled for Monday, November 7, the program will feature presentations on gift-giving, decorating, crafts, recipes, and more for the holidays. As of this writing, the 1:30 session is FULL, but several seats remain for the 5:30 p.m. session. If you are interested in attending, please call the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443. We must have a name and phone number for each seat reserved. The cost is $5 payable at the door. Children under 10 are free. Those attending will receive a swag bag and a booklet of all the recipes and instructions for things demonstrated.
Closing Thought
Having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world. – Andy Rooney
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent at the Hopkins County Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B West Houston St., Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
TDI Notice For Consumers With FedNat Insurance Policies
FedNat, a Florida insurance company licensed in Texas, was ordered by a Florida court to end its operations. FedNat policies, except for federal flood policies, will be cancelled effective 12:01 a.m. October 27, 2022, unless otherwise terminated prior to that date.
There are about 3,700 FedNat Insurance policyholders in Texas. Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) recommends those who have a policy with FedNat Insurance to contact their insurance agent as soon as possible to arrange for alternate coverage.
The Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association (TPCIGA) will refund Texas FedNat policyholders’ unearned premium (premium paid for the period after the policy is canceled).
TPCIGA will be responsible for paying claims for unearned premium. Texas customers/policyholders don’t have to file their own claim. The Receiver will notify TPCIGA of the policyholder’s unearned premium claim.
TPCIGA was created by the Texas Legislature to pay property and casualty claims if an insurance company fails. This includes refunding unearned premium payments to policyholders. Learn more about TPCIGA on their About Us webpage.
People living in another state can find their state’s guaranty association by going to the National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Funds’ website.
To help protect Texas coastal insurance consumers, TDI issued an emergency rule earlier this year that removes certain barriers to getting wind and hail coverage through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA).
About 1,000 FedNat Insurance policyholders live in either TWIA’s Designated Catastrophe Area or Harris County, TDI reported Sept. 28, 2022.
Additional Resources From TDI
- FAQ for all FedNat policyholders
- Guidance for FedNat Insurance policyholders who live along the Texas coast
- Emergency rule adoption order (PDF)
- TWIA overview (PDF)
- What you need to know about windstorm inspections
Additional questions on this topic may be directed to TDI at 1-800-252-3439. Contact the Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association by phone at 512-345-9335 or toll-free 800-856-0298; fax at 512-345-9341; by email at [email protected]; or mail to TPCIGA, 9120 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78758.
Meet & Greet Rally Hosted For Mike Collier, Democratic Candidate For Lt. Governor
A meet and greet rally was hosted Tuesday at Sulphur Springs Country Club for Mike Collier, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
Democrats from Hopkins and surrounding counties attended, including Wood, Hunt, Lamar, Titus, Rains and Rockwall counties.
One woman from Hunt County brought to the Sept. 27, 2022 rally a pooch she introducted as ” the official canine mascot of Hunt County Democratic Party.” She said “Bitty” met Beto O’Rourke at the 2022 Texas State Democratic Convention and gave his approval, wholeheartedly endorsing the state candidate. She offered buttons promoting “Bitty for Beto — Beto For All,” in English and Spanish for a $5 donation, which serve to not only spread awareness for the candidate but also the Hunt County Democratic Party.
Bill Brannon introduced notable past and present dignitaries and guests, including former Congressman Jim Chapman and former State Rep. Mark Homer. Sulphur Springs High School graduate Kendall Scudder, Vice Chair for Finance of the Texas Democratic Party, also was present.
“We are living in perilous times. We are living in dangerous times in America. We are living are living in a country that we can literally say without exaggerating that democracy is absolutely on the line, and it’s on the line in 44 days,” Chapman said, referring to the Nov. 8 election.
The former congressman said there are people that don’t believe the last election was conducted properly and, thus, don’t believe Biden was rightfully elected. Chapman said if the more than 200 on ballots around the state who believe that way are elected in 2022 and 2024, “it won’t matter how we vote, because they’re going to go the other direction as long as the other direction is putting a Republican in office.”
“You don’t have to go very far into the weeds to see how real it is, how dangerous it is and how we have to be so careful and work so hard to protect what 246 years ago our founding Fathers did when they created the Constitution,” Chapman said. “It’s serious. It’s not just about getting someone who lines up with someone else on our particular issues. It’s about whether we’re going to maintain American Democracy or not. That’s how serious it is.”
Chapman said Texas is fortunate to have Mike Collier as a Democratic candidate who will go up against those opposed to those values, and emphasized the important need to get everyone out to vote.
He thanked everyone for attending and Brannon for all he’s done, concluding encouraging all to roll up their sleeves to help get their candidates to the finish line.
Former State Representative Mark Homer noted a change in Texas in 2003, when the majority of elected officials in the House were Republican. He said even then, people like Bill Ratliff tried to work together in the House. As things progressed, Homer said, things got “a little meaner, a little uglier, further separated.” He said while 2010 at the time was one of the worst moments of his life because he was not reelected to office, it turned out to be “probably one of the best things that ever happened to me.” He wondered at people who had previously supported him suddenly changing political parties to no longer identify as Democrats but as Republicans. He said it’s a sad state of affairs that some candidates are no longer out to just beat their opponent in office but to destroy them. That, Homer said, is a sad state of what the country has become.
“So now we have a legitimate, strong change to make a change back to full democratic beliefs, or at least start getting us back to toward the middle, where we can look at our opponent friends and say, “Hey, let’s work together.’ Compromise would be a good word again, and talk about it. That real, legitimate shot today is Mike Collier,” Homer said.
Homer said, to him, the first office that “has to change” is the lieutenant governor’s office. Electing Mike Collier would be a step in the right direction.
“So, I am here asking you as friends, as someone who supported me for 12 years… to find that effort and do the same for Mike Collier,” Homer said.
Homer said the vote in November is “the most important we’ll ever take” to “save our country.” He noted the vote is “that important,” and encouraged everyone to get their eligible young relatives to vote, to not take no for an answer when it comes to getting others to go vote.
Collier said he first ran for Comptroller 9 years ago, after learning the official was stepping down and no Democratic candidate came forward, none willing to risk their political career in running for an office the party did not think their candidate could be won. He was angry with the way taxes were allocated, with funding for public schools going down. So, he put his name in for the position, with no political career, so far, to lose. Bill Brannon drove down to talk to him, and despite his lack of lack or experience, backing and campaign funding, Brannon agreed to back him.
He was defeated in his bid for Comptroller 9 years ago, but said with 44 days left to go in the 2022 campaign for the lieutenant governor he is no where near running out of energy. He thanked Brannon for being a coach, mentor and friend every step of the way.
“I ran against Dan Patrick 4 years ago and came close. The reason for the rematch is we did really, really well in rural Texas because we had cross-over votes,” Collier said, noting that while overall Beto O’Rourke got more votes than him, in a rural Texas “which is dominated by Republican politics, he got more votes that O’Rourke. “The only way to explain that is Republicans crossing over to vote for me because they don’t like Dan Patrick and they know how important it is to have a lieutenant governor who believes in democracy. I believe we need those votes to win. I know we need to win. That’s the reason for the rematch.”
Collier said, about 6 weeks ago, three prominent Republicans crossed party lines to endorse him, and he believes “there will be others” who do so as well.
“What’s happening is, this campaign feels like it’s taking shape. It really is beginning to feel like a nonpartisan movement to change the politics in this state, which we must do. And, I am so honored to be at the center of this,” Collier said. “I can tell you, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
He said the very best part is that not one Republican who has said I’m going to help you, publicly or not, has has disagreed with any plank on my platform.” He feels the majority of the state will agree as well.
Collier said his platform is very simple: improve public education for all, lower property taxes and give more funding to schools. He said expanding Medicaid and healthcare, and fixing the power grid are also important.
It starts with public education, having great schools for all children, to full the moral obligation so that every young person receives the education be successful, Collier said. In order to have great public schools, teachers have to be excited about being teachers and the decisions they make. Talking to educators, they say smaller class sizes are needed to effectively teach children, special education support, counselors are needed, stop teaching to the test, paying teachers properly so they don’t regret their decision to become teachers, and retirement security for teachers, the Democratic candidate said.
“The hardest part is the money,” Collier said. “As a CPA, here’s the deal, if you’re paying property taxes because you own a home, you’re being ripped off. Your property taxes keep going up and up and up, and your money is not going into public education. The reason why taxes keep going up is state fiscal policy. The state puts in less, so you put more and you’re not getting more. It just isn’t right.”
Collier believes the solution is to “close the corporate loopholes” that prevent hte money from flowing into the treasury.
The Democratic lieutenant governor candidate said his platform also includes expanding Medicaid, which his sources are telling him Republican except his opponent are in favor of. He believes expanding that will help with the problem of small hospitals closing in small towns and rural Texas.
He believes in protecting health rights and said water issues, expanding broadband internet connectivity and transportation and infrastructure are also big issues in Texas that need to be addressed.
Tickets For 53rd Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival Now On Sale For $8 Each Or 4 For $28
By Butch Burney, CEO/President, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, [email protected]
Tickets for this year’s 53rd Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, sponsored by Alliance Bank, are on sale at the Chamber of Commerce office, local banks and online!
This year, tickets are $8 each or four tickets for $28. You can purchase them at Alliance Bank locations, City National Bank locations, Texas Heritage National Bank and Pilgrim Bank, or at the Chamber office, 110 Main St. You can also purchase them online at HopkinsChamber.org.
Quart tickets are $15 this year. They can only be purchased at the Chamber office or the day of the stew, which is Saturday, Oct. 22.
Stew Cook Registration
If you have cooked stew in the past or want to for the first time, now is the time to register for Stew Fest, presented by Alliance Bank. Friday night activities, hosted by Bob Evans Foods, will be going on the night before at Buford Park.
The Friday night festivities include the appetizer contest and a concert by Dubb and the Love Machines following the home football game.
To register for a cook site, go online to the Chamber’s website at HopkinsChamber.org/stewcooks, email [email protected] or call 903-885-6515. The cost to enter is $100 per stew pot, with $150 coming from the sponsor to pay for ingredients.
Volunteer Opportunity
If a person or group would like to volunteer to work in one of the service tents at the Stew Festival, please contact me at [email protected] or by calling 903-885-6515. Volunteers can help from 9 a.m. to about 12:15 p.m.
Ribeye Roundup
If you’re looking for a great steak, you don’t want to miss the Cattleman’s Classic and Ribeye Roundup on Saturday, Oct. 1, on the downtown plaza.
The event features a steak cook-off which will include an expected 40-plus cook teams, educational trade show, free Bobby Irwin concert and more.
You can also get a blue Ribeye Roundup T-shirt for just $14 at the Chamber of Commerce, 110 Main St. Come by to pick one up!
Main Street Uncorked
Main Street Uncorked Wine and Music Festival is ready to go from 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown. There will be wine samples from some of the best Texas wineries, local vendors and musical artists including Jeb Brooks Band and Twisted Whisky.
Tickets are available for $10 online at MainStreetUncorked2022.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $15 at the door.
Main Street Theatre
This weekend – Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1 – Main Street Theatre presents two one-night only shows. Advance tickets for both events are now available at CommunityPlayersInc.com for $15. Tickets at the door are $20.
On Friday, jazz vocalist Carolyn Jones will be in concert, accompanied by pianist Brad Williams. The show will include an evening of stories and standards.
On Saturday, Enola Gay sits down with Leah Conner to talk about the importance of live music and the work the Conner family is doing to help beat cancer by producing and organizing the Texafied Jamfest in Hopkins County.
A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to MD Anderson Cancer Center – Pediatric Cancer Research and Treatment.
Castillo-Zavala Sentenced On Manslaughter Charge
Jaime Antoni Castillo-Zavala was sentenced last week on a March 18, 2022 manslaughter charge, according to sheriff’s and court reports.
The 38-year-old man was sentenced Sept. 20 to 10 years in prison , a sentence that was suspended, and the Saltillo man was placed on 10 years of probation. Castillo-Zavala, however, will be required to serve 180 days in jail as a condition of that probation, according to Assistant District Attorney Zachary Blackmon.
Castillo-Zavala (who is also known by Jaime Zavala Soto, Jaime Zavala-Soto, Jaime Soto-Zavala, Jaime Savala Soto and Jaime Antonio Castillo-Zavala) was taken into custody Sept. 20 and held in jail until he was outfitted Sept. 26 with a SCRAM device to be worn to monitor alcohol consumption by analyzing sweat. He was released on furlough, giving him 30 days to get his affairs in order. After the 30 days, he will once again be place into custody to serve the remainder of the mandatory 180-day sentence, according to Blackmon.
After the 180 days in custody, Castillo-Zavala will be required to go to a substance abuse felony punishment facility (SAFPF) to complete a substance abuse rehabilitation program run by Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The incarceration rehab program is 6 months long, followed by a 3-month aftercare program, which can be as restrictive as a halfway house or as lenient as outpatient rehab. The aftercare would be determined by assessing the defendant’s situation during the 6 month program, according to the ADA.
After Castillo-Zavala is released from SAFPF, Castillo-Zavala will have to complete 500 hours of community service. He also was fined $5,000, the ADA reported.
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.
Information About the Preparatory CDL Truck Driving Course at the Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center
PREPARATORY CDL COURSE
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Instructor Mike Minihan, standing, explains one of the topics to his students in the preparatory CDL truck driving class. The students are, from left, Ricardo Yanez, David Tilley and David Kemp. Back: Miranda Hodges and Fred Gilstrap. The class is part of the adult education program at the campus. Call 903-885-1232 for more information about the course.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Sulphur Springs Man Jailed On Building Burglary Charge
A Sulphur Springs man was jailed on a building burglary charge Monday morning, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Todd Evans and Deputy Aaron Chaney located a wanted man at his rural Sulphur Springs residence and took him into custody at 10 a.m. Sept. 26, 2022.
Gary Lee Gibson was transported to the county jail, where he was interviewed. He reportedly waived his rights and talked to authorities. The 47-year-old allegedly admitted to taking property from a farm behind Goodwill without the owner’s permission.
Gibson, who jail reports show is also known by Skeet, was booked into Hopkins County jail at 11:01 a.m. Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, on a burglary of a building warrant. He remained in jail Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in lieu of a $15,000 bond on the felony building burglary charge, according to jail records.
Monday was the second time in less than a year Gibson has been jailed in Hopkins County. He was booked in Dec. 14, 2021, for bond forfeiture on an April 23, 2021 theft of property with two or more previous convictions, according to HCSO jail reports.
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.
Men’s Golf Recovers, Has Solid Day Two In Fall Opener
Before September comes and goes, men’s golf begins a condensed yet action-packed fall season.
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23 & 24, has Coach Jeremy DeLorge and his Wildcats playing at Buffalo Creek in Rockwall.
At the invitational held last weekend, Sulphur Springs was the only 4A school.
Schools that men’s golf played were, starting with 6A teams Rockwall, (Rockwall) Heath and Sachse.
Last but certainly not least, 5A schools also playing with the Wildcats:
- Frisco
- (Frisco) Independence
- Lovejoy
- Argyle
The latter moved up to 5A this year, but not before winning the state championship in 4A last semester.
Against a slew of state winning, state-competing teams, the Wildcats, who now trot out three freshmen, were shocked at some of their competition. Two players taking on the Wildcats shot sub-70 day one.
Coach DeLorge said some of the competition for Sulphur Springs outdrove the Wildcat freshmen by 40-50 yards, sending a feeling of amazement and stun to his players.
“It was a very big eye-opener for them,” Coach DeLorge said.
Even so, the men’s golf coach prepped his guys as much as humanly possible. He told each player who they were facing, their talents and weaknesses, and what their opponents have achieved in varsity golf.
“I wanted to put the most pressure on them to see how they handled it,” Coach Jeremy DeLorge said. “Because if we can handle that kind of pressure this early in the year in the fall, by the time we get to spring, and District and Regionals, hopefully, and state, it’s gonna be another walk in the park. It’s just gonna be another tournament to these guys.”
Men’s golf shot 342 in Rockwall on day one, a total the men’s golf coach said may be the highest for his squad all year, but day two saw Sulphur Springs storming back.
The Wildcats shaved 23 strokes off their day one total to shoot 319.
That day two saw men’s golf hang with the best of the best in their competition, and such a rebound performance from his team, three of which are freshmen, has the Wildcats coach excited moving forward.
“We are very very happy with where we’re sitting,” Coach DeLorge said. “I’m super proud of my guys.”
The men’s golf coach said he loved the fire his guys displayed. He said his team has no desire to settle for anything less than greatness, and is eager to get back out there to hit the links.
Next though, Wildcat golf heads to Mount Pleasant for something of a district preview, as their district course, along with their district foes, will all be on display for the team.
The second of three fall competitions for men’s golf takes place at Mount Pleasant CC on Monday, October 10.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
5 Private Applicator CEUs Available Nov. 2
By Dr. Mario Villarino, Texas AgriLife Extension Office, Hopkins County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, [email protected]
Private applicator licenses and certificates are valid for five years, and the applicator must obtain 15 CEUs during that time to renew, including two credits in laws and regulations and two credits in integrated pest management (IPM).
To partially satisfy CEU requirements for private applicators, the Hopkins County Extension office has planned the 2022 Private Applicators CEUs for November 2, 2022, at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. The session starts at 9:30 a.m.
The topics to be covered during the day will be as follows:
- Laws and Regulations Update, by Janet Hurley, TAMU-Dallas. This session is an update of new regulations from state and federal agencies as pertain to pesticides use.
- Drift minimization by Spencer Colton, Corteva. Description of equipment and techniques useful to reduce pesticide drift.
- Friend or Foe: Forage Varieties that can Outcompete Weeds in Northeast Texas, by Dr. Vanessa Corriher, TAMU. Dr. Corriher will discuss forage varieties capable of outcompeting weeds in Northeast Texas.
- Using IPM to manage urban wildlife issues by Janet Hurley, TAMU-Dallas. This session will cover IPM tactics that farmers, ranchers and homeowners can use to keep wildlife like racoons, skunks, armadillos, rats and bats away from building structures like barns, storage sheds, etc., and
- The Battle Between Weeds and Drought: Re-Establishment of Pastures after Severe Drought, Dr. Vanessa Corriher, TAMU. Dr. Corriher will address the importance of weed control and pasture management after drought.
Five CEU will be granted to those attendees staying for the complete session. To register to the event contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 by October 16, 2022. The cost of the event is $30; lunch included.
Meet And Greet Hosted For Dan Patrick, Incumbent Republican Candidate For Lt. Gov.
Approximately 40-50 turned out Tuesday morning at Pioneer Café for a meet and greet with Dan Patrick, incumbent Republican candidate seeking reelection as lieutenant governor. Patrick rolled in around 8 a.m. Sept. 27, 2022, as part of a bus tour of the Northeast Texas area. He began his bus tour in late August and plans stops in 131 cities before he finishes up.
The incumbent made his way around the room, shaking hands and taking a moment to speak with those present, including several local elected and influential Republicans.
During his visit in Sulphur Springs, Patrick discussed briefly with local media the importance for all eligible Texans, especial rural Texans, to get out and vote. The election hinges on the vote from small towns. He asks citizens to vote Red, to prevent Teas from being changed to be like California. He is against the destruction of the oil and gas industry and for strengthened border security.
Early voting begins Oct. 24 and continues through Nov. 4, with Election Day on Nov. 8, 2022. The last day to register to vote in the November elections in Texas is Oct. 11.
Patrick was first elected as lieutenant governor of Texas in 2014, began serving in 2015, was re-elected in 2018 and seeks another term.
The Republican incumbent candidate encourages all Texans to get out and vote, especially small town and rural Texans on whom several elections could hinge. Before he was elected lieutenant governor, Patrick was twice elected to the Texas Senate, representing part of Houston and Northwest Harris County. DanPatrick.org also states the incumbent is a small-business man, a former radio host, television anchor, sportscaster, musician, Christian author and movie producer.
Patrick has been married to wife Jan, a former schoolteacher, for 47 years; they have one son, Ryan; one daughter, Shane; and seven grandchildren.
Patrick faces Libertarian challenger Shanna Steele and Democratic challenger Mike Collier for the office of lieutenant governor on Nov. 8, 2022, ballots. A rally was scheduled at noon Sept. 27, 2022, for Collier at Sulphur Springs Country Club.
