Wildcats Tennis Coach Discusses Busy Two Weeks Leading In To Start of School
Like Lady Cats volleyball, team tennis has remained busy through the month of August.
Believe it or not, Sulphur Springs, with last Saturday’s contest versus Kaufman, team tennis has passed the halfway point on their fall season.
Coach Tony Martinez, head coach for tennis in Sulphur Springs, spoke on his team’s month as their fall season keeps chugging along.
Prior to the start of school, team tennis were scheduled to play four contests in six days leading up to the start of school. In fact, they played three matches in as many days.
On Tuesday, Aug. 9 Sulphur Springs headed to Tyler taking on Bullard, but team tennis could not dethrone a tough program that features a talented girls team.
Coach Martinez’s team lost a tough match in a tiebreaker, yet still managed some good wins from Ella Sand, Brody Emmert, and sophomores Iain Westland and Malachi Negrete.
Sophomores Westland and Negrete won some big matches for Sulphur Springs, allowing team tennis to trail slightly after doubles.
Coach Martinez applauded his squad for their competitive nature, saying there is never match that his players are out of.
The next day team tennis headed back on the road, this time to Denison. Sulphur Springs won the contest just south of the Red River for their first win on the season. Coach Martinez loved what he saw from his squad that day.
“Everybody played well. We’re very happy with the results,” the team tennis coach said.
Not only did the Wildcats win their contest at Denison, they returned home and the next day hosted Greenville at the Tennis Center, winning their second straight contest.
Coach Martinez said he was thrilled his team could not only win two straight contests in as many days, but that they were able to do so while the coaching staff continues to play with different combinations of players as the team approached the halfway point on the season.
An 0-3 start followed by two straight wins gave team tennis a respectable 2-3 record after a busy two weeks to start their season.
His team’s resiliency and competitive nature have the coaching staff pleased with the team’s results.
A match in Longview against Pine Tree on Monday, Aug. 15 was postponed and later cancelled due to rain.
With that, Sulphur Springs had just a contest at home against Kaufman until they took a week off prepping for the second half of the fall season.
The Lions played Texas High that morning, taking eight matches against the Tigers. Seeing that, Coach Martinez knew his kids were in for a tough fight.
Sulphur Springs lost a number of matches, some of which had the Wildcats on the wrong side of tiebreakers.
Even so, the team tennis coach knew that contest was good for his team. Coach Martinez believes Kaufman is a team that the Wildcats could play in Bi-District or area after the conclusion of the regular season.
The coach commended Kaufman for their tough play, a vocal squad who perhaps caught the Wildcats off-guard with their desire to cheer on their teammates.
“We did a good job on supporting our players but Kaufman is one of these top teams out here in East Texas that they’re constantly yelling, constantly cheering… and it’s all positive. There’s nothing wrong with that… I admire it, I respect it, but [it made our players realize] we gotta be the same way,” Coach Martinez said Monday following the loss.
Team tennis takes the week off prior to their next contest, Thursday, Sept. 8 in Wills Point. The first contest in the month of September for Sulphur Springs tennis begins that day at 4 P.M.
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.
Fall Semester at Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Begins August 29
Advisor and Counselor Elizabeth Joslin is helping returning student Rudy Murillo of Sulphur Springs complete his paperwork to begin the fall semester, which begins August 29.
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.
Tailgate Time: Spirit Rally and Tour Of CHRISTUS Mobile Athletic Training Room Planned Aug. 26
It’s Tailgate Time!
By Jennifer Heitman, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Please join us for a spirit rally and tour of the CHRISTUS Mobile Athletic Training Room (MATR) before the Sulphur Springs Wildcat Football team’s first home game, this Friday, August 26, at 6:30 p.m. We will be set up on the Northeast side of Gerald Prim stadium. CHRISTUS Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute proudly supports SSISD and surrounding schools by offering athletic injury care for all sports athletes under the direction of Orthopedic Surgeon, Christopher Meltsakos, MD.
FREE Athletic Injury Clinic
FREE Saturday Athletic Injury Clinic for student athletes is back this month! The athletic injury clinic will be held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., on August 27 through November 12. Student athletes in Hopkins County from 7th grade to college age will be able to get a free exam and x-ray to determine a plan of care to treat their injury. The clinic will be held at our CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Orthopedics, Medical Building 5, at 103B Medical Circle in Sulphur Springs. For more information about our Sports Medicine program, or Orthopedic services, please call 903.885.6688.
Beat the Heat Challenge!
In the month of August, Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab patients participated in a “Beat the Heat” challenge: walk five miles or go 10,000 steps on the NUstep. Several students have completed the challenge: Charli Romanant, Yvonne Parker, and Perry Johnson. We are proud of their dedication. Stay tuned for more to come!
Our Hearts Are Here For Yours
Advanced Heart Care and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Health System have delivered heart care in Northeast Texas for over 40 years. Together, we will continue providing leading-edge heart care to the communities in which we serve. Available right here in Sulphur Springs hospital is our team of heart specialists at Advanced Heart Care made up of Cardiologists and Electrophysiologists, our state-of-the-art Cath lab, Pulmonary Medicine, Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and Heart Attack Care 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. We look forward to helping you take an active role in your heart health with our team approach for your care. For more information on the Cardiology group, and their capabilities to see patients in person or via telemedicine, go to www.advancedheartcare.com.
COVID Vaccine Clinic Open This Week
Net Health COVID Vaccine clinic is open this week (August 22- 26) offering Adult and Pediatric vaccines and boosters at the clinic on 100 Medical Circle in Sulphur Springs. They will be here every 3 weeks, for the following dates: September 19 – 23, and October 17 – 21. You may walk in from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. No appointment is necessary.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Burn Ban Lifted For Hopkins County
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and Fire Marshal Andy Endsley issued an order Tuesday morning which officially lifted the burn ban for Hopkins County, following several days of with appreciable rain which moved the county from very high/severe fire danger range to very low fire danger range on drought and predictive indexes.
The Hopkins County burn ban was enacted by Hopkins County County Commissioners Court on July 11, 2022, as drought conditions spread across the area, worsening, resulting in rapidly spreading fires across dead grass and vegetation. Sulphur Springs received only 0.53 of an inch of rain during the entire month of July, when temperatures peaked at 106 on July 20, 2022, and the monthly average temperature was 99.9 degrees. All outdoor burning, except cooking in a covered grill was banned. Those welding in construction trades were required to file paperwork notifying county officials when and where they would be working, and have a spotter and take precautions should a spark ignite. No burning was allowed in a trash barrel even with a covered grill was allowed during the ban.
From 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, Sulphur Springs received just over 5 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service and NOAA. With 30-60% chances of rain predicted every day for the next 9 days, the threat of serious fire danger is down to low, and likely to stay in the low fire danger range. The clouds and potential rain are also expected to keep temperatures below 90 degrees for the next 10 days for the first time in about 2 months.
The amount of rainfall has made travel on some low roads difficult, especially those near creeks, lakes and rivers. Some school official reported buses having difficulties Monday morning getting down some county roads to reach students due to the water on roads.
Those traveling are reminded to be caution when approaching roads with water on them, especially those near bodies of water — including roads across and around Cooper Lake State Park and the Sulphur Sulphur River.
When traveling on wet roads, motorists should adjust speed appropriately in order to avoid hydroplaning off the roadway, potentially into higher water or vegetation.
Local officers responded to calls in which vehicles were reported to have slid off of State Highway 154 south near Restlawn Cemetery in a tree at 12:33 p.m. Monday (no one was reported to have sustained major personal injuries), Interstate 30 west at mile marker 119 at 7:21 a.m. Monday, hydroplaned into a guardrail on I-30 west at mile marker 119 at 2:29 p.m. Sunday and a rollover on I-30 west at mile marker 125 at 5:05 p.m. Sunday.
County Road 2329 in Como was reported to be washed out at 9:41 a.m. Monday. A tree also was reported to have fallen on a power line on County Road 4763, knocking out the power just before 5 p.m. Sunday, and debris had to be removed from State Highway 11 east at FM 2560 at 2:08 a.m. Monday.
With the large amount of rainfall experienced across the region, the county officials issued the order around 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, officially lifting all burning restrictions for Hopkins County.
Proposed $81.5 Million Bond Would Fund New Travis Campus; Bowie, SSHS Additions
10 New Buses; Updates At Bush, SSES Also Included In Nov. 8, 2022 SSISD Bond Proposal
The $81.5 million bond election called for Nov. 8 by Sulphur Springs ISD includes some of the same proposals outlined in the $93 million bond proposal which failed on May 7, but some notable differences, according to a press release distributed by SSISD Superintendent’s Office Monday afternoon, Aug. 22, 2022.
Several projects in the prior plan, according to school administrators, are being postponed due to inflation. The district, however, would take advantage of “potential improved bond capacity” if the bond passes in November.
The $81.5 million SSISD bond election called for Nov. 8 still calls for a new campus for Travis Primary, but the notice did not specify where the new campus would be located or approximate cost. In the May 7, 2022, bond election, officials and the building improvement committee proposed updates at SSES, as well as constructing a new campus to serve elementary students on the site of what currently serves as a track at the far end of the SSES campus. The spring bond proposal allocated $35 million for the new Travis Primary Campus.
The Nov. 8 bond proposal calls for 8 additional classrooms, additional cafeteria space to accommodate campus needs, as well as improved pick-up and drop-off areas at Bowie Primary. During community meetings for the prior May 7 bond election, officials reported the campus was one of the few that has room to expand out further onto the property across or near the current playground and open field often used by community leagues for sports activities. The campus was allocated $6,000 for improvement on the May bond proposal.
Under the Nov. 8 bond plan, security would be updated by reconfiguring the entrance and front office area at Sulphur Springs Elementary; the building would also get a new roof and upgrades as needed. The prior plan allocated $3 million to SSES for renovations.
On the Nov. 8, 2022 election ballot, as proposed, will be improved parking and upgrades to Barbara Bush Primary, including an improved intercom system. Previously, the district had allocated $1 million to Bush Primary for improvements.
The $81.5 million bond proposal includes upgraded security at Sulphur Springs High School, which would be achieved by creating new front office space; SSHS has also been tabbed in the Nov. 8 election for additions to fine arts spaces, a new roof, as well as painting and parking upgrades as needed. The prior May 7 bond proposal allocated $10 million in renovations at SSHS, as well as a $12 million CTE Center (to house culinary arts, auto shop, health science technology, construction trades and robotics programs) and $12.5 million for fine arts.
As proposed in the Nov. 8 election, the district would finance 10 buses over 5 years, which is half the number proposed in the spring, when costs were projected at $2 million for buses.
Also listed separately in the spring bond proposal as capital improvements across the district was $9 million for roofing and HVAC work. In the fall bond proposal which voters will determine on Nov. 8, roofing work is included in plans listed for SSES and SSHS.
Among the items proposed on the May 7 ballot that the Nov. 8 proposal does not include were $2 million in renovations at Douglass ECLC and $500,000 in renovations to Austin Academic Center/DAEP.
The bond would add 1 cent per $100 property value to SSISD taxes. That would go onto the I&S indebtedness side of the tax rate. The district on Monday, prior to calling for the Nov. 8 bond election, also approved a tax rate of $1.1651 per $100 property valuation. The tax rate is composed of two parts, the maintenance and operations tax rate or M&O tax rate, which is used for salaries and daily operations. The second part of the tax rate is the issuance and sinking or I&S which is the amount levied to pay of bonded indebtedness.
The M&O tax rate passed by the school board on Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, for tax year 2022-2023 was set at $0.85460, which is actually a 1.7 cent ($0.017) per $100 property valuation decrease in the M&O tax rate, in accordance with the state set formula. The I&S tax rate adopted Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, was $0.3105 per $100 property valuation. Should the Nov. 8 $81.5 million bond proposal pass, that 1 cent would be added to the I&S tax, increasing it to $0.3205 per $100 valuation, which would still be a $0.007 per $100 property valuation decrease in the overall tax rate, Superintendent Michael Lamb explained Monday, when presenting the scaled back bond proposal to the school board for consideration.
Lady Cats Volleyball Continues Busy Two Weeks, Playing Four or More Contests
Sulphur Springs fans for the second straight week have plenty of opportunities to see her varsity volleyball team, as Coach Bailey Dorner’s squad plays in their final tournament of the fall season, along with a non-district match on the road Tuesday.
The conclusion of this week could see volleyball wrapping up their busiest time of the year, where they play a dozen games over the course of 10 days.
Last week saw Sulphur Springs playing seven games in five days.
Coach Dorner’s team picked up some impressive wins on Thursday to begin the Wills Point tournament, sweeping both Mesquite (25-13, 25-19) and Brook Hill (25-17, 25-18).
Sulphur Springs ended Thursday though with a hard-fought loss to Sanger, which saw the Lady Cats fall in set one 25-19 before tying the match up after a tight 25-23 victory in set two. Sanger would go on to win set three though and thus the match, ending a 2-1 first day for volleyball in the Wills point tournament.
Friday had Coach Dorner’s team traveling again, this time to Commerce, for a non-district game sandwiched between their second tournament. Sulphur Springs came back to win in five sets, 3-2.
The Lady Cats quickly found themselves trailing in Commerce down two sets. The Lady Tigers won both by only a two-point margin, 25-23 and 27-25.
Sulphur Springs, rallying from down 2-0, won two straight sets in impressive fashion (25-17, 25-18) to set up a winner-takes-all fifth set, one which the Lady Cats also won 15-10 to complete the comeback win.
Saturday, returning to the Wills Point tournament, Coach Dorner’s volleyball team was playing in the championship bracket.
The Lady Cats fell in two straight contests, first to Ranchview after falling in sets one and three, then getting swept by Rains to end their time in Wills Point.
Sulphur Springs went 2-3 over the two day tournament, their second of three on the fall season. Including their win over Commerce and a home loss to Greenville, a 3-4 week brings volleyball’s season record to 9-5.
The final tournament for Coach Dorner’s squad in Edgewood is played Thursday and Saturday, Aug. 25 & 27.
Before that though, the Lady Cats look to snap their two-game losing streak Tuesday when they travel to Quinlan to take on Ford HS.
That game begins Tuesday, Aug. 23 at 6 P.M.
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.
Sulphur Springs ISD Trustees Call For $81.5 Million Bond Election
Maintenance Portion Of Tax Rate Is 1.7 Cents Lower; Bond Would Increase Debt Service Part Of Tax Rate 1 Cent
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees Monday morning called for an $81.5 million bond election to be held on Nov. 8, approved budget amendments, a tax rate that is 1.7 cents lower on the maintenance, for the upcoming tax year as well as a balanced budget.
The school board first approved a total tax rate of $1.1651 per $100 property valuation, that includes a maintenance and operations (M&O) rate of $0.85460 and an issuance and sinking rate (I&S or the amount raised to cover district indebtedness also called debt service portion of the tax rate) of $0.3105. The M&O rate is set by the state the state, and is 1.7-cent lower for the 2022-2023 tax year than the 2021-2022 tax year, but the I&S tax rate is not impacted by the state compression.
If approved, the bond would pay for facilities improvements and be paid back over 30 years using the 1 cent per $100 property valuation collected on the debt service potion of the tax rate. Overall, that’d still be a decrease in the overall tax rate of 0.7 of a cent.
“We’ve had different conversations since our last bond to get to this place where we’ve trimmed it down. As you realize inflation has taken its toll. when you look at some things and the prices go up, but we’ve trimmed some things out. As far as the bond goes, there’s just buildings we fell like we have to have to move forward,” SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb said. “We feel like we’ve listened and heard from our community based on what we tried in May, and this one I feel like is much more palatable.”
Lamb said some of the needs still exist, but they were removed from the $93 million bond proposal which included construction of a new elementary campus as well as CTE at the classroom and improvements throughout the district. The first bond proposal was voted down by district residents 54.47% (1,191 votes) to 44.51% (956 votes) on May 7, 2022.
“We are just trying to bite as much of this apple as we can at a time and get down the road, this being 81.5 million dollars; its supposed to have a 1 cent tax impact,” Lamb said.
So essentially, while the overall tax rate decreased $0.017, if the new proposed $81.5 million bond is approved by voters during the Nov. 8, 2022, election, it would increase the I&S tax by $0.01 to $0.3205. That’d still be a reduction of $0.007 in the overall tax rate, Lamb noted, when presenting the $81.5 million proposal to the school board for consideration.
Travis and other elementary campuses would all receive upgrades with the bond money. The front of Sulphur Springs Elementary would undergo safety improvements and front entrance of Sulphur Springs High School security improvements, Lamb said.
All of the matters proposed were approved by unanimous approval of the six board members present at the Monday morning meeting; John Prickette was not in attendance.
The district was expected to post a release later in the day Monday with additional information regarding the bond proposal.
Meal A Day Menu – Aug. 22-26, 2022
Volunteers prepare meals at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center and deliver them five days a week to Meal A Day program recipients in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. The Meal A Day Menu for the week of Aug. 22-26, 2022 includes:
- Monday – Beef Spaghetti, English Peas and Garlic Toast.
- Tuesday – Apricot Glazed Chicken Breast On a Bed of Rice, Normandy Vegetables and a Roll.
- Wednesday – Chicken Fried Steak Fingers, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Green Beans.
- Thursday – Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Broccoli and a Roll.
- Friday – Cheese Burgers, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Baked Beans and Chips.
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
Commissioners Court Approves OGM Lease, Election Equipment Upgrades, Printer Donation
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved a 1.2-acre oil, gas and mineral lease; funding for election equipment upgrades, a donation, printer donation, copier lease agreement, services agreement during a special court session.
OGM Lease
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley reported only one bidder was present on the square the week before when oil, gas and mineral rights to a 1.2-acre parcel of land were auctioned off from the courthouse steps. The starting bid was $250 and the inground rights for the three-year lease were sold for $450 to Pinkston Energy Co., LLC.
When asked by Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker if that will disrupt the cemetery, Bartley said leasing it will most definitely not.
The revenue raised from the lease will go into the general fund, and if oil is found, the county would get more funding from it, according to County Judge Robert Newsom.
The rest of the Commissioners Court agreed to move forward with the lease to Pinkston Energy.
Election Equipment Updates
The Commissioners Court approved a budget amendment, accepting the $313,370.82 in grant funding awarded to the County Clerk’s Office for audible grant funding. The funding will be moved from a grant revenue line into an elections equipment line within the clerk’s budget to pay for required conversion of voting equipment to meet mandated requirements for audible voting equipment. The funding will pay for the conversion, leaving on a few things like training and software maintenance that the county will be responsible for.
“So, basically, you will still vote electronically, but a piece of paper will come out and the voter will take that piece of paper and put it into a slot for it to be counted. So, we have a double count now,” Newsom said. “I didn’t realize it was going to cost $300,000, but the state paid for it.”
“Yes, if you got in on the first part of grant money, you got 100%. We got in on it,” County Clerk Tracy Smith said.
Printer Donation
The Commissioners Court also agreed to donate a printer to Heritage Outreach Ministries.
The printer in question was taken out of the County Treasurer’s Office because it would not meet the constant demands of the office, County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook said.
“It’s just constantly jamming and messing up. He prints 300-400 pages a day so it wouldn’t work for his office. We reached out to Kaybro and they said it was pretty much too old for repairs. That we should dispose of it,” Aulsbrook said. “It’s being disposed of. He’s got a new printer.”
In the mean time, Aulsbrook noted, Heritage Outreach Ministries reached out to the county officials to see if they might have a printer available that they could have or use. Since it was being disposed of, and legally, the county is allowed to donate it to charity, Treasurer Danny Davis recommended it go to Heritage Outreach Ministries. Officials at the charitable organization are aware of the problems experienced with the machine and indicated they have the money to get it fixed. It should be OK for their intended use, which would be notably less than in the treasurer’s office.
LED Light Conversion
A loan to be paid back in the money saved from converting the jail, Civic Center and Adult Probation Office to LED lighting. A study has already been conducted for the project, Tom Glosup told the commissioners and judge at the special 11 a.m. Commissioners Court meeting held Aug. 15, 2022.
After evaluating the three facilities, E3 Business Development Manger Jason Brinkley said he anticipates the county will save $130,000 over the 15-year period of the loan with one plan option, another would see inhouse replacement of 25-50% of the 42 existing wall vacancy sensors in the jail that have already gone out at a cheaper rate than hiring someone else to replace them as part of the project.
Glosup said the loan would be paid back over 11.5 years at a 2% rate, meeting the requirements that the project outlast the 15-year loan/project. The project would cost about $306,000, paid over 11.5 years, with the utility saving in that 11.5 years predicted to be $130,000, not counting the 3.5 remaining years of the 15-year project, which should provide additional saving to the county.
“It’s a great program. It’s one of those programs that seemed too good to be true, so we did research, and it’s exactly as they describe it. There shouldn’t be any hitches in the get-along and y’all should see a reduction in electric bills,” said Beth Wisenbaker, local grants coordinator.
Wisenbaker pointed out that the saving should actually by the end of the project period result in even more saving than projected, because it’s figured on today’s utility costs. Most likely in the future, those rates will be higher, resulting in a bigger savings.
“So that’s basically $8,700 yearly in savings at today’s rates?” Barker asked and was assured that is correct.
This is the same type of conversion recently performed at the Courthouse Annex, Courthouse and AgriLife Extension Building, thanks to a $75,000 grant, which required a 20% match from the county, according to Glosup.
The court approved to the services agreement with E3 Entegral Solutions, Inc., for the LED lighting conversion for the three county buildings via the loan savings program.
The priority for the grant/loan program is Aug. 31, with a second round of funding opening up in late fall or December.. The process is expected to take about 90, including 60 before the county will find out if the application is approved, then maybe another 30 days to get all of the lights and materials needed for the conversion.
Public Forum
During public forum, Steve Payton with Daisy Daze RV Park LLC said he was in attendance because he has 15 acres he’s looking to develop for RVs, etc. When he began planning the project, he said he was under the impression that there were no restrictions, then notices that the court has included on recent work session agendas discuss on short term rental communities, RV parks and tiny homes.
He was invited to stay for the work session and discussion regarding the new requirements, and potentially provide input into the topic, ideas and answer related questions they may have regarding the topic.
Michele Barnes also spoke during public forum at the Aug. 15, 2022, Commissioners Court meeting. She commended Commissioner Barker for standing up and questioning items on the agenda. She said it’s the first time she’s seen a commissioner do that. She said she was impressed by it, just as she was impressed when he took his oath of office his comments. While he had nothing prepared, he noted he was looking forward to serving the people first.
Other Items
The court approved as proposed an updated contract with DataMax for lease of a printer/copier for the 8th Judicial District Court, Hopkins County Administration and Hopkins County Clerk’s Offices.
The Commissioners Court went into executive session to discuss personnel items related to the sheriff’s office. The county auditor, human resources director, court and chief deputy participated in the closed meeting, which was slated to include discussion but no action.
After reconvening, the Court then adjourned to a work session.
Upcoming Meetings
Hopkins County Commissioners Court is slated to meet next at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 22. Topics on the regular court agenda include holding a public hearing for, then considering establishment of a reinvestment zone for, by and between the county and Pine Forest Hybrid, LLC, as well as an expansion of the solar project.
The Department of Motor Vehicle optional fees for calendar year 2023, acknowledge a constable for completing 20 hours of training in civil process, public hearings on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 and the proposed tax rate, then adopt a tax rate, receive reports from county offices and put on record the advance funding agreement with the State of Texas to replace off-system bridges on Timber Creek at the tributary of Horse Pen Creek.
A work session is slated to immediately follow the regular court session on Aug. 22. Fire department operations, revenues and expenditures and proposed improvements and repairs, Sulphur Springs Public Library and a budget work session all slated to be discussed during the work session.
Candidate Filing For Local Nov. 8, 2022, Elections Ends Monday
Candidate filing for local elections to be held this fall ends Monday afternoon, Aug. 22, 2022.
Filings include those for local political subdivisions such as city and school boards, as well as declaration of write-in candidacy for general, state and county offices. Aug. 22, 2022, is also the last day to order general elections and any special elections on a measure, according to Texas Secretary of State’s Office.
Currently, several rural school districts and at least one city council election are planned for November. However, in regular local elections being held in conjunction with the Uniform Election, the local government may cancel the election if only as many candidates sign up as there are places on each governing body. The names of candidates for special, state and county elections will still appear on the ballot in accordance with party selections determined in the spring.
The City of Cumby notes the deadline to file an application to be on the ballot in November is Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. Places on the ballot are for Alderman Places 1 and 2, and Mayor. Doug Simmerman has been serving as mayor, Amber Hardy as Place 1 Alderman and Katherine Flinn as Place 2 Alderman.
Each is for a 2-year term. Candidate applications are available and should be returned to the City Secretary by 5 p.m. Monday to get their names on the Nov. 8 Cumby City Council Election ballot.
Cumby ISD has three board of trustees seats up for election on Nov. 8. The seats are held by Jason Hudson, Jody Jarvis and Tony Aguilar.
According to school officials, only three individuals had filed candidacy for the three at-large seats, two incumbents and one newcomer as of Friday. Candidate filing will continue from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday in the Central Administration Building.
Miller Grove ISD has three at-large vacancies on the school board in November. As of last reporting from school personnel the district had not had more than three applications turned in.
Filing will continue from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, in the superintendent’s office, 7819 FM 275 South. Applications for a place on the MGISD Board of Trustees election ballot may be downloaded from the school website, mgisd.net, by clicking the ELECTIONS link on the main page, then click Application for place on a ballot in a general election.
North Hopkins ISD has three 3-year places open and 1 unexpired term open. Currently, Charlie Vaughn, Sherry Clair, and Vicki Ferrell hold the 3 year term positions, and Robert McPherson holds the unexpired term position. Earlier in the week, Superintendent Brian Lowe reported following had filed for candidacy: Charlie Vaughn, Sherry Clair, Robert McPherson, and Michael James.
Anyone interested in filing for candidacy in the Nov. 8, 2022, NHISD Board of Trustees Elections may see Shannon Pennington in the Administration building, Monday starting at 8 a.m. to obtain a candidate application. Filing will close at 5 p.m. Monday, August 22, 2022.
Saltillo ISD’s trustees election is a little different. Candidates file for specific places on the school board. The district has four places up for election, Place 2 that is currently held by Ryan Garmon, Place 4 held by Barry Brewer, Place 6 which is open, and Place 7 held by Chip Tully. The deadline to file candidacy for any of the four four-year places on the school board is 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, 2022.
Candidate applications are available at Saltillo ISD Administration Office, upon request by email by calling 903-537-2386. The application, forms, and instructions are also available online from the Secretary of State and State Ethics Commission websites.
Sulphur Bluff ISD is accepting applications for three full four-year term seats on the Nov. 8 trustees ballot. The filing deadline for a general election is 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. The deadline to file a declaration of write-in candidacy is 5 p.m. on the 74th day before election day.
Candidates may pick up an election packet or request one to be emailed to them from the SBISD Administration Office, 1027 CR 3550 Sulphur Bluff, calling (903) 945-2460.The application, forms, and instructions are also available online from the Secretary of State and State Ethics Commission websites. Ballots can be mailed to PO Box 30, Sulphur Bluff, TX 75481 or emailed/faxed to [email protected] 903-945-3440.
