2022 Dairy Festival Parade To Be Held Saturday, But Parade Route Shorter This Year
The 2022 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade will be held this Saturday, but those planning to attend should be aware, the parade route will be shorter this year.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. this Saturday, June 11, 2022, at Buford Park, depart down Connally Street, turn at Celebration Plaza onto Gilmer Street, then end at Kyle Street. That’s a few blocks shy of the usual route, which in the past has ended on Broadway at Lee Street. If in doubt, just look for the Parade Route signs leading from downtown to Kyle Street.
In addition to 2019 Dairy Festival Queen Rachel Bramlett and this year’s 12 pageant contestants, the 2022 moving salute to the dairy industry is also slated to feature other local royalty. Dignitaries and civic groups also typically participate.
In keeping with the theme of this dairy heritage festival, four anniversary queens have also been invited to participate — those celebrating 60th, 40th, 25th and 10th anniversaries.
And, if anyone wants to help celebrate the dairy industry by participating in the parade this Saturday, Parade Coordinator David Watson said while they’ve had quite a bit of interest already, they can handle more entries.
Those participating in the parade, especially commercial entries, are asked to recognize the dairy industry by on their conveyance, vehicle or other submission. That can include writing and signs, banners, and decorations, someone dressed up as cow, or the annual them “Ice Scream For Dairyland.”
The goal of the parade and festival is to honor the dairy industry which has and continues to have an important role in our local agricultural community, while having a good yet safe time for spectators and participants. It’s also preferred three wheelers not be entered in the parade unless by an organized commercial type group.
Parade entries will begin lining up at the Buford Park starting at 9 a.m. June 11. Those interested who have not already should plan to follow the signs as they enter the park to the check in area; look for one at either end of the park, the north entrance by the field and the south entrance by the skate park. These participants will pick up a form to participate as well as receive needed information, then get in line.
4 Teams Log Over 2,400 Miles During 4-Week Walk Through Texas History Program
Four teams consisting of eight members each logged over 2,400 miles during the 4-week Walk Through Texas History Program this spring.
Walk Through Texas History is a four-week program designed to help Texans establish the habit of regular physical activity while learning the rich history of Texas. Each adult team may include up to 8 team members, all working together to reach designated goals while following along legendary historical paths created by fellow Texans.
Each team captain was encouraged to recruit up to seven friends, coworkers and family members to participate in logging their steps daily, either with a pedometer or by using another personal health tracking device. Extension staff, mothers and daughters, friends, retired Hopkins and Rains County educators, a 4-H member and her mom, husband and wife were among the 2022 WTTH participants.
If using a pedometer, 2,250 steps were considered a mile, and 20 minutes of continuous movement or exercise also counted as a mile.
There was no registration cost, and participants received a weekly e-mail with updates on team mileages, plus a seasonal recipe from Extension.
Hicks, of Johanna’s Gems team, said participants had fun and some were very competitive, striving each week to match or exceed the three other teams totals over the next 7 days.
Each participant received recognition for meeting their goals, and the top team, and top three individuals recognized for logging the most miles and, total team and local program miles then were announced during a special wrap up celebration. The miles were then marked on a Texas map using historical markers to show how far the WTTH participants together could have walked to.
Overall, the four teams logged a total of 2,455 miles, each exceeding the projected goal of 416 collective team miles set for the the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Master Wellness Volunteer-hosted event, conducted May 2-27, 2022.
The overall top walker was Max Martin of the Hopkins/Rains Walkie Talkies with 203 miles logged, second was Linda Hodge of Movers & Shakers team with 164.7 miles.
The top team was the Scene-agers, who collectively logged 748.4 miles last month. Individually, Burnside logged 130 miles, third overall; Anthonia Maddin, 118.3 miles; Joan Brennan, 109.7 miles; Patsy Neal, 92.1 miles; Betty McAfee, 74 miles; Andria Segedy, 68 miles; and Carmen Kelley 54.4 miles.
In second was the Movers & Shakers team with 611.5 miles logged. Anjeanee Hohenberger logged 90.4 miles, Lisa Sadler, 74.3 miles; Linda Hodge, 164.7 miles; Patricia Connally, 63 miles; Shirley Evans, 60.2 miles; Gail Boles, 50.5 miles; and Liz Steinsiek, 48.1 miles.
Johanna’s Gems and Hopkins/Rains Walkie Talkies’ tallies were much closer.
Contributing to the 548.9 miles logged by Johanna’s Gems were Tammy Jones, 92 miles; Rylie Carroll, 85 miles; Troy Young, 81 miles; Mary Ballard 72.4 miles; Jay Hicks, 68 miles; Johanna Hicks, 64.5 miles; Barbara Sanders, 48 miles; and Hillary Young, 38 miles.
Contributing to Hopkins/Rains Walkie Talkies’ 547.1 miles were Max Martin 2203 miles; Jacqueline Martin 94.2 miles; Marilyn Powers, 56 miles; Jim Williams, 50.1 miles; Rebecca Hathcoat, 50 miles; Nancy Moore, 42.3 miles; Barbara Williams, 26.5 miles; and Nancy Krantz, 24 miles.
Hopkins County United Way 2022-2023 Campaign Chair, Theme, Goal Announced
The Hopkins County United Way 2022-2023 campaign chair, theme, goal and dates for the 2022 kickoff lunches were announced, and the budget and allocations committee recognized this week.
Kristy Moseley, who served as the 2021-2022 campaign chair and will this year serve as HCUW president, introduced Emily Glass as the chairperson for the 2022-2023 fundraising campaign and and new board member.
“I think we are all excited about this, especially me, because she’s going to do a phenomenal job,” Moseley said, then to Glass added, “We are just all looking forward to how this year goes for you, and we are all here to help you in any way that we can.”
“Thank you, I am excited to get to serve in this capacity with y’all,” said Glass, a proud Hopkins County native, Sulphur Bluff graduate and third generation A&M-Commerce Lion. (She earned both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from TAMUC.)
She believes that “we are not entitled to a great community,” that “you have to invest in your community, give back to it.” She said she is always seeking out different opportunities to do that.
Glass’s community involvement also currently includes serving as president of the Dial Study Club and finance chair at Wesley United Methodist Church. She has also served on Sulphur Springs City Council as well.
Her husband is also involved with with the community as a member of the Lions Club and Knights of Columbus with his church. She said she strives to instill in their three children the importance of giving back to their community.
As chairperson for the 2022-2023 HCUW fundraising campaign, Glass said she has “very high expectations” but is “very excited about this year.”
“I think that we have an amazing community, a very strong community. This year’s theme is ‘A History of Helping,’ because I think that we do have such a strong history of helping here in Hopkins County. To just get to be a small part of that is a blessing. We have a fantastic Budget and Allocations Committee,” Glass said.
The Budget and Allocation Committee members include David Burns, Ashely Crump, Tommy Harrison, Charlotte Henderson, Mike Horne, Lindsey Johnson, as well as Glass and Moseley.
The Hopkins County native has been involved with United Way for a number of years, as a campaign worker and member of the budget and allocations committee too.
“It was a really eye-opening experience,” Glass said of her two years on the HCUW Budget and Allocation Committee. “I think sometimes, being in a small town, we don’t always see the need, and take things for granted that we do have a great town. We have a great community, but there’s still a lot of needs here that need to be filled. Getting to learn about those in a really deep, eye-opening way is very meaningful to me and lead me to want to serve for United Way in more ways going forward.”
This year’s HCUW campaign goal is set at $150,000, and the theme is “A History of Helping.” The workers kickoff luncheon is scheduled to be held Sept. 21 at the Southwest Dairy Museum, and the lead donor luncheon will be Sept. 28.
“In keeping with the theme of ‘History of Helping,’ I’ve secured John Sellers as the keynote speaker of the lead donor luncheon; he’s going to share about the history of United Way, specifically here at Hopkins County, and just really emphasis some of the major points of United Way and impact it has in this community,” Glass said. “
“It’s going to be great. We are all looking forward to it,” Moseley said.
Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Center Testing Center Prep
GETTING STARTED
Testing Center Proctor Cathey Martin helps Student Christian Huff of Sulphur Springs get started through the testing program at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus. For information about enrolling in classes at Paris Junior College, call 903-885-1232.
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.
City Manager’s Report – June 2022
Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell presented the following report to the City Council during the regular monthly council meeting on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
CLAIMS
We had one minor workers compensation claim in May. We did not have any liability claims in May.
SENIOR CITIZENS BUILDING
The contract with Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) is not ready for signature yet. I expect to sign this month. After that we can go out for bids on the building.
PACIFIC PARK
The splash pad is nearly complete. We have hired a contractor to install a special surface on the concrete.
The Capital Construction Division in installing a concrete walking path around the park.
The basketball pavilion is later on the agenda to let the contract for construction.
COLLEGE STREET
Highway 19 Construction (the contractor) has begun work on the concrete road. He’s off to a rough start. We’ve had to refocus him on the contract specifications. I think he is on the same page with us now.
ONCOR RATE INCREASE
Oncor has filed their rate case. There is a related action item later on the agenda.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
Finance Director Lesa Smith will present a report of year-to-date revenues and expenditures.
STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Texana Land has begun their work on the Street Improvement Program. The following streets will be paved:
Miscellaneous
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Checked out 2,981 items from the library plus 660 eBooks.
- Responded to 206 fire/rescue calls including 4 structure fires and 1 vehicle fire.
- Removed 2 fallen trees from city streets.
- Patched 355 potholes.
- Made significant street repairs following 14 water/sewer repairs and 1 Atmos repair.
- Poured concrete paths at Pacific Park.
- Poured concrete parking area for food truck at Pacific Park.
- Installed benches and Picnic tables at Pacific Park.
- Responded to 204 calls for animal control.
- Achieved a 66% adoption rate at the animal shelter.
- Made 2 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Responded to 35 accidents, wrote 577 citations, recorded 45 offences, made 19 arrests and responded to 2,330 calls in the Patrol Division.
- Sold 2.617 gallons of AvGas and 15,700 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Installed electrical conduit for light poles at Pacific Park.
- Performed preventative maintenance on several air conditioning units throughout the city.
- Underwent an annual inspection at the wastewater treatment plant – passed with flying colors.
- Treated effluent to a daily average total suspended solids count of .13 mg/L.
- Performed preventative maintenance on several items throughout the wastewater treatment plant.
- Repaired 9 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 10 water meters.
- Unstopped 28 sewer mains.
- Repaired 3 sewer mains.
- Conducted 61 building inspections, 20 electrical inspections, 18 plumbing inspections, 5 mechanical inspections and issued 31 building permits
Opening Ceremony For Dairy Festival Slated Friday
The Hopkins County Dairy Festival will officially kick off this weekend with balloons, a parade, dairy show, and milking contests.
The Opening Ceremony begins at noon on Celebration Plaza and will include a ribbon cutting. However, the Hot Air Balloons Rally and Glows will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Shannon Oaks Church, weather permitting.
The festival will kick into high gears Saturday, June 11, with another Hot Air Balloon Rally and Flight from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at Shannon Oaks Church.
Two events begin at 10 a.m., the Dairy Festival Parade and the Junior Dairy Show. The parade will feature a variety of conveyances decorated in this year’s festival theme, “Ice Scream for Dairyland.” All 12 of this year’s pageant contestants will be featured on floats, along with 2019 Dairy Festival Queen Rachel Bramlett.
Typically, the queen registered to compete as a high school junior, and fulfills her duties the next year while still in high school. Bramlett was slated to help crown a new queen in 2020, but the festival has been canceled for the past 2 years due to COVID-19. Bramlett has been away at college, but has graciously returned to Sulphur Springs to represent the Dairy Festival when possible at events that have taken place since 2019.
This year, the Dairy Festival Board has made the decision to shorten the parade by about 5 blocks. In the past the parade entries have lined up around Buford Park, then departed down Connally Street, turning onto Gilmer Street at the square, then continued south to South Broadway Street at Lee Street. This year, the parade will be same until it reaches Gilmer Street at Kyle Street (between the grocery store and car wash on the west), then will turn at Kyle to return to the park.
Also starting at 10 a.m. will be the Junior Dairy Show. This will take place in the Civic Center Arena and feature entries entries by areas students.
Immediately following the Dairy Show at 3 p.m. June 11 will be the Milking Contest in the Civic Center Arena. This will include at least two rounds of competition. The Pageant contestants will each compete to see which can fill their bucket the most by hand milking a cow; points will be awarded for participation in this events and the winner will be recognized. The contestants parents will then square off in a round of milking as well. (Balloon contestants have in the past competed in this event but were not scheduled to do so this year.)
The schedule posted for this year also includes at 2 p.m. June 11 a Dial Club Cow Patty Bingo at the Civic Center.
The Dairy Festival will then culminate with the Dairy Festival Coronation Pageant June 18, 2022. One of the girls will be selected at the 2022 queen. The pageant starts at 7 p.m. in the Civic Center Auditorium. In addition to parade and milking, the contestants also are tasked with selling tickets and are judged on a judges’ interview, evening gown and talent contests as well, Tickets for the event area available from any pageant contestant.
This year’s contestants include: Allison Peckham, Ashland Hooten, Colbie Glenn, Jocelyn Yanez, Olivia Worth, Sallee Spraggins, Miley Fisher, Khira Young, Vanessa Wayne, Jayden Holly and Brooklynn Shackelford.
2022 DAIRY FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Friday, June 10
- 12 p.m. Opening Ceremonies Ribbon Cutting at Celebration Plaza
- 6 p.m. Hot Air Balloon and Glow at Shannon Oaks
Saturday, June 11
- 6 a.m. Hot Air Balloons and Flight at Shannon Oaks
- 10 a.m. Parade (From Buford Park to Connally, Gilmer and Kyle Street)
- 10 a.m. Jr. Dairy Show at Civic Center
- 2 p.m. Dial Club Cow Patty Bingo at Civic Center
- 3 p.m. Contestant and Parent Milking Contest at Civic Center Arena
- 6 p.m. Hot Air Balloon Rally and Glow at Shannon Oaks
Saturday, June 18
7 p.m. Coronation Pageant at SSISD Auditorium
Thanks Councilman Freddie Taylor, For 18 Years Of Service
Freddie Taylor was recognized Tuesday night for 18 years of dedicated service to the City of Sulphur Springs as the Place 4 City Councilman. Taylor opted this year not to seek another term in office.
He was toasted during a reception at City Hall by city staff, fellow council and community members during the come and go reception Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Three different types of cake, chicken legs, meatballs, and chicken strips, water and tea were among the items served at the event.
City officials presented Taylor with custom artwork by Mike Elliott, featuring a drawing of Taylor, the front and Council Chambers of the renovated City Hall, Celebration Square, and the new HW Grays Building.
“As Mayor of Sulphur Springs, it has been and honor and privilege to serve with you. I’ve been with you for 11 years. You had served 7 years before that. You are making me the senior member,” Sulphur Springs Mayor John Sellers said. “It’s been a great ride. You’ve been a wonderful colleague. You’ve been through a lot of times. There were times when it was just kind of you and me. You were always by my side and I hope you feel I was by your side. You have done a wonderful job for this city. You have been a great representative for this city. You are going to be sorely missed.”
Taylor offered thanks first to God for the opportunities he has given Taylor and his family in Sulphur Springs. He and his family first arrived in Sulphur Springs in 2000. He is thankful Rev. Hendricks for inspiring him to serve. He said he began serving on the city Council in 2004 and Carolyn Thomas on the school board that same year.
“That was direct from Pastor Hendricks. He challenged me to do it. I had no idea and no agenda. I am so thankful that I did not have a set agenda coming on here. My agenda was to learn and to serve,” Taylor said.
The most tenure city councilman said joining Texas Association of Black City Council Members also allowed him to learn a whole lot of things that he wouldn’t have otherwise known. The organization assisted the Taylor family in scholarships, doing a golf tournament.
“For this city here, I am so thankful to be here and to be part of a fraternity of city council members. There’s no greater platform to serve our community than to be on City Council. Eighteen years- I just thank God for that,” Taylor added.
He too extended appreciation to his wife, Rita, who he said was not only there with him and supporting him every day, but served as his campaign manager, treasurer and advisor — guiding him. Without his wife, Taylor said, there would have been no 18 years of service on the City Council. She pointed out in the beginning how good it would be for their 3-year-old and all of their children to see him in the position of City Councilman. That little girl is now 21 and has seen her dad serve as she’s grown up.
He said it continued what his parents taught him, to be part of the community. In Alabama, his mentor Mr. Jarmon was the first Black City Councilman in Ozark, Alabama. While great, he never thought he’d serve on a City Council until Pastor Hendricks brought it to his attention.
“Being on the City Council, the secretaries – I’ve been through 2 of them: Sharon and Gale, my favorite city secretary in the whole wide world. At the same time Gale had a great boss, and we had to fight for him. I tell you if I had to do it all over again, I’d do it all over again, because he is the right man for the job. Sulphur Springs has truly prospered because of this. I am truly thankful to be able to call him my friend and to be able to call all of my City Council members,” Taylor said.
He expressed appreciation to Tommy Harrison for stepping up to the plate to serve in Place 4, when he could have just as easily stayed in the community.
“It takes a special person to stay on the City Council,” Taylor said. “You deal with this and you deal with that that, but it is so very satisfying when you can pass the ordinances that are going to make your community great. That’s what we have, a great community — from all of our department heads on down, everybody that works every day countless, doing the things that we ask them to do as City Council members. They do it and do it happily. I am so glad to be a part of that, to be a part of a city that is done like that.”
He said often when at conferences and meetings with council members from other cities he’s heard of friction between members. He is grateful to return to Sulphur Springs, where the City Council works together.
Taylor said he’s confident, the positive work will continue. There will be times when hard decisions have to be made, possibly not always right away, but he expressed confidence that working together, the City Council will come to the right decision eventually. Through those tough times, you have to know who and what you are, and keep pushing forward, Taylor said.
Place 6 Councilman Doug Moore said while the occasion wasn’t a roast of Freddie Taylor, he did feel compelled to share his most vivid memory, a time when both Moore and Taylor attended a Texas Municipal League conference in Fort Worth. They were staying at the same hotel. Taylor got on a bus and made a circuit which in stead of his hotel ended up brining him back to the conference center. He then took a different bus, and realizing it wasn’t going where he wanted to go either, got off the bus and began walking north of Fort Worth. He quickly realized that wasn’t where he wanted to be long, and sped up his pace. He ended up walking back. When they left the meal later that night, Moore said he asked him if he was sure they were on the right bus back. They were, he made sure of it, the Place 6 Councilman said, but hasn’t let Taylor forget about it.
Taylor’s wife, some of his children and other family members, friends, current and past council and community members turned out to wish him well and express appreciation to him for his service.
Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board Recognizes Top Sponsors Of 2022
The Hopkins County Dairy Festival kicks into high gear this Friday with an opening ceremony and continues the next two Saturdays. The annual salute to the dairy industry wouldn’t be possible, however, without the generous support of local businesses and organizations. The DF Board took time this week to recognize some of this year’s top sponsors.
The DF has four levels of sponsorship, Festival Underwriters, Dairy Partners, Cream of the Crop and Premium.
Underwriting (top) sponsors for 2022 include Jay Hodge Chevrolet, The Propane Company, Load Trail, Saputo, Southwest Dairy Museum, iFocus, Nottingham Sulphur Springs Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Chad’s Media.
Cream of the Crop sponsors included Broadway Veterinary Hospital, CBJ Custom Embroidery, City National Bank, Chick-Fil-A, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs, Clarion Point, CPI Imaging, D-6 Inc., Grocery Supply Company, Guaranty Bank & Trust, Legacy Ag Credit, KSST Radio, Mayo Appliance Services, One Stop Sign Shop, Signature Solar, Star Country 95.9, Sulphur Springs News-Telegram, Texas Farm Credit, Travel Time RV/Hopkins County Minor Emergency Clinic and, West Oaks Funeral Home.
Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board and Queen Rachel Bramlett offer thanks to all of the sponsors and contributors to the the Dairy Festival, today and over the years, for their continued support.
SSPD Asking For Help Identifying Man In Connection With Vehicle Burglary
The Sulphur Springs Police Department investigators are requesting the public’s help identifying a male subject sought in connection with a June 3, 2022, vehicle burglary.
Several credit cards were to have been stolen during the burglary and used immediately afterward inside the Sulphur Springs Wal-Mart to purchase over $4,000 in gift cards, according to an SSPD release.
Anyone who has information on the identity of the male in these video screen-captures is asked to please contact Lt. Mark Estes at SSPD at 903 885-7602 or to anonymously report information to Crime Stoppers at 903 885-2020.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
Hospital District Accepting Landscaping Bids For New EMS Station & District Headquarters
Hopkins County Hospital District is another step closer to finishing out the new EMS station and district headquarters. The District is now accepting landscaping bids for the facility, being constructed across Airport Road from CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs and the current facility.
“Our intent is to get someone local if possible to do the landscaping. We are looking at getting a local company if possible to spend those dollars locally. It’s primary for the installation of plants and trees. This is not the annual maintenance contract,” said HCHD CEO/EMS Director Brent Smith.
The new facility is coming along well, with October as a projected move-in date. While some finishing out work is underway in the rest of the facility, the apparatus by remains to be completed. Crews are awaiting the arrival of metal framing, which is ordered. The steel materials could take as long as August to arrive, but could arrive as early as next month.
The list for landscaping, as described on Rees drawings, includes six different types of trees and more than a dozen different types of plants, various seasonal planters and edging.
Anyone interested in supplying plants and trees and doing the initial landscaping for the EMS/HCHD building can email Brent Smith directly at [email protected] to request a packet. Bids are due by noon Friday, June 24, 2022.
