Tumbleweed Smith Induction into Radio Hall of Fame
November 4, 2025 – Tumbleweed Smith of Big Spring is one of 20 radio broadcasters to be inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was held at the Broadcast Museum in Kilgore on Saturday November 1. The 20 inductees were among 230 nominees for the honor. Smith is the only small-town broadcaster to receive the award. The criteria for judging is based on a broadcaster’s accomplishments both in and outside of broadcasting. Tumbleweed is producer of the daily syndicated radio program; THE SOUND OF TEXAS that has been on numerous Texas radio stations since 1969. During that time he has produced more than 14,000 programs. KSST is honored to include The Sound of Texas in our daily programming.
Renewables Are Doing Some Heavy Lifting When It Comes to the Texas Grid
November 4, 2025 – Texas is relying more heavily on renewable energy to meet its record-breaking electricity demand, as new data shows wind and solar power now provide nearly 40 percent of the state’s total generation. The growth comes as Texas’ booming economy and expanding data center industry drive electricity consumption to historic highs.
Solar power has seen the fastest gains, producing roughly 50 percent more energy in 2025 compared to last year and nearly four times as much as in 2021. This surge is helping to offset the state’s reliance on natural gas, which still supplies about 43 percent of overall demand. Wind power remains a vital contributor, particularly during evening and overnight hours when solar production fades.
Analysts say the shift is both economic and practical. With Texas continuing to attract energy-intensive industries—such as hyperscale data centers, electric vehicle manufacturing, and semiconductor production—developers are turning to renewable sources that can be deployed quickly and at competitive prices.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the state’s grid, reports that hundreds of large-scale renewable and storage projects are seeking interconnection. Yet experts warn that continued demand growth could soon outpace new generation capacity.
While Texas remains a leader in renewable energy, the rapid expansion of power-hungry industries will test whether the state can maintain both affordability and reliability as it transitions toward a cleaner, more diversified grid.
Governor Abbott Announces $10,000 Reward In Shooting Of Jacksonville Police Officer
November 3, 2025 | Austin, Texas | Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Bobby Michael Dennis, who is wanted for his involvement in the shooting of a Jacksonville police officer and K-9 who were wounded. Yesterday, warrants were issued by the Jacksonville Police Department for Dennis’ arrest for Aggravated Assault Against a Public Servant and Interference with a Police Service Animal. The Texas Department of Public Safety has added Dennis to their 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List.
“Attacks on our men and women in uniform must stop,” said Governor Abbott. “Our law enforcement officers who selflessly risk their lives every day to serve and protect must know they will always have the full support of the State of Texas. Anyone with information relating to this heinous crime is strongly urged to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online. Texas is a law-and-order state, and the dangerous criminal who attacked a Jacksonville Police Officer and their K-9 will experience the full weight of justice brought against him.”
The suspect, Bobby Michael Dennis, 64, is described as a Black male, approximately 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 152 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.
To be eligible for the cash rewards, tipsters must provide information using one of the following methods:
- Call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477)
- Submit a web tip through the Texas 10 Most Wanted website
- Submit a tip online
All tips are guaranteed anonymous by law regardless of how they are submitted, and tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name. Fugitives should be considered armed and dangerous. Texans should never try to apprehend a fugitive.
Fun Reflections on the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s Gala
November 3, 2025 – Sulphur Springs, TX – The 20th Gala offered by the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation is slated for January 24, 2026. The night will feature all the excitement of auctions, contests, and dancing, all for the purpose of raising money to invest in Hopkins County healthcare.
Since 2006 the Gala has been an incredibly fun event to which the public is invited to participate. One person who is an expert on fun and serves as a Board member for the Foundation is Don Sapaugh – a man of many talents. He is a banker by day; auctioneer when needed; and arbiter of fun.
Sapaugh shared a bit about some of his favorite fun Gala moments through the years. The first one deals with his good friend, John Sellers. John and Craig Roberts always lead the heads and tails game, with John tossing the coin to determine if heads or tails won. Often, John’s coin soars above the decorations floating over the dance floors. Sometimes the coin is even known to get caught in a fabric swag, which happened in 2022. The crowd and John’s reactions to these unexpected moments can be amusing.
Other enjoyable Gala moments experienced by Sapaugh include listening to Johnny Lee perform live at the 2014 Gala, dancing to some of the latest songs such as the Whip and Nae Nae, and participating in the chaos of the live auction each year.
Sapaugh shared more thoughts on the Gala, “The Gala has been a lot of fun over the past 19 years, and it will continue to be a wonderful experience. What is the most fun is the fact that the Gala raises money for local healthcare. That money has funded some of the most important medical equipment in our county….equipment that saves and improves lives. That is what really brings me joy from the Gala.”
The 2026 Gala is chaired by a committee of the Foundation Board of Directors, on which Sapaugh volunteered. He has been an active participant in the Gala since its inception.
Don’t miss the fun at A Celebration of Twenty Years Gala. Get your tickets now at Gala2026.GiveSmart.com.
The Foundation is an IRS 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization led by a board of fifteen Hopkins County residents.
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Mystery solved! The year 2016 was the height of the Whip and Nae Nae dance craze. Don is showing how it is done.
In all seriousness, please join the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation on January 24, 2026, for the 20th annual Gala raising money for new medical equipment for the surgical wing expansion at CHRISTUS Mother Frances – Sulphur Springs. Sponsorships and tickets are available at Gala2026.GiveSmart.com.
To get your tickets or sponsor the 2026 Gala, visit Gala2026.GiveSmart.com or call the Foundation at 903-438-4799.
Attempts by Citizen Group to Add Items to City Council Agenda Rebuffed
November 3, 2025 – A group of Sulphur Springs residents is calling for greater transparency after city officials refused to place a citizen-led discussion item about the proposed MSB/Thermo Matrix Reserve hyperscale data center project on the City Council’s agenda.
According to correspondence shared with KSST, the city secretary and city attorney denied the formal request, stating that “no action will be taken” — effectively blocking the matter from being heard as an official agenda item. Concerned citizens say this decision silences public discussion about one of the largest economic developments in the city’s history.
“This denial isn’t about one person — it’s about every citizen’s right to ask questions and expect transparency,” said one resident leading the effort. “When the city admits it doesn’t even know what cooling method will be used and says that’s ‘up to the end user,’ it raises real concerns about oversight.”
Residents say they’ve been relegated to the council’s Visitors and Public Forum period, where comments are heard but not answered. They argue that this limits public participation and accountability.
Questions remain about the project’s water use, environmental impact, tax abatements, and decision-making in executive sessions. The citizen group plans to pursue the issue through Texas Open Records Act requests and possible complaints to the Texas Ethics Commission.
“We simply want open discussion and transparency,” the group stated. “If the city can refuse to place inconvenient topics on the agenda, what else might it choose to hide?”
Sulphur Springs is a home-rule city, meaning it governs by a locally adopted charter rather than just general laws. The City Charter grants the city broad authority to pass ordinances and manage its affairs “as necessary, requisite or proper for the management of its local affairs.”
Because Sulphur Springs City charter doesn’t appear to mandate a citizen’s right to agenda inclusion, and because city procedure places agenda control with officials, the council’s refusal is likely legal under Texas law—so long as it adheres to Open Meetings Act and properly posts notices for items they do choose to consider.
ETAMU Honoring Our Nation’s Heroes at 35th Annual Veterans Vigil
November 3, 2025 – Students, faculty and community members unite to honor veterans during this 35-year tradition of gratitude.
COMMERCE, TX, November 3, 2025—One of East Texas A&M University’s longest-running traditions returns this fall with the 35th installment of the Veterans Vigil. Scheduled for Wednesday, November 12 in the Rayburn Student Center at East Texas A&M, this free event is open to the public.
Schedule of events
The program will begin with a reception at 10 a.m. and an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on the second floor of Rayburn Student Center. The ceremony will include musical performances by the East Texas A&M Chorale and Band members, poem readings by alumni Dona Cassel and Don Dollins, and color guard duties by the Princeton High School Navy JROTC.
Additionally, Army Specialist Training Program Unit 4813 will present a memorial scholarship to Bianca Santiago, a U.S. Army veteran and current student at East Texas A&M University.
The opening ceremony will conclude with the lighting of the vigil flame in the crossroads outside the student center. East Texas A&M employee and U.S. Air Force veteran Howard Pierson will light the Vigil Flame.
The public is invited to return at 4:30 p.m. for closing ceremonies and the extinguishing of the flame. The Hunt County Veterans Honor Guard will also perform a 21-gun salute.
This year’s guest speaker
The opening ceremony will feature special guest speaker Dr. Fred Fuentes, East Texas A&M alum and executive director of DFW outreach, and U.S. Army Veteran.
A native Texan, Fuentes served proudly in four military police operations in Latin America in the early 1990s, including Operation Safe Haven. Fuentes also worked as a USAID/Global Health Fellows Program Fellow with Mercy Corps International in Guatemala and Honduras, where he provided HIV/AIDS education and empowerment of post-conflict, rural indigenous youth.
Employed by East Texas A&M since 2008, he has held multiple roles on campus, including counselor in the university’s Counseling Center and assistant dean and director roles. Among his four college degrees is a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from East Texas A&M.
Additional Veterans Activities
Veterans are encouraged to take advantage of special offers on campus in the days leading up to the Veterans Vigil. From November 8 to 11, veterans receive a 10% discount at the campus bookstore located inside the Rayburn Student Center. Veterans are also invited to enjoy a free lunch at the university’s Lions Mane Cafeteria on November 11. Guests must present their Military ID, DD214, veteran’s card, or VFW or American Legion card to confirm their veteran status.
For more information about this year’s Veterans Vigil, contact the Office of Veteran and Military Services.
$4.6 Billion in Dept of Ag Contingency Funds Will Fund Roughly Half of November Snap Benefits
November 3, 2025 – The White House confirmed Monday that even with billions of dollars shifted within the government, funding will cover only about half of November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, leaving millions of Americans uncertain about their next meal.
42 million people use SNAP benefits, or about 1-in-8 people in America, and that the program cost taxpayers just over $100 billion last year.
Administration officials said at least $4 billion in additional funds would be needed to fully sustain food stamp payments for November. In a filing signed by Agriculture Department Under Secretary Patrick Penn, the administration said it considered diverting money from the USDA’s Section 32 funds, but determined that those reserves “must remain available to protect full operation of Child Nutrition Programs throughout the fiscal year.”
Nationwide, approximately 1.465 million non-citizens received SNAP benefits in FY 2022.
“Section 32 Child Nutrition Program funds are not a contingency fund for SNAP,” the filing stated, warning that tapping them would create “an unprecedented gap in Child Nutrition funding that Congress has never had to fill.”
Officials added that even with existing contingency funds, there will be no resources left for new SNAP applicants, emergency food assistance, or any cushion against a full program shutdown.
Thriving Fawns, Thriving Hunt: Texas Deer Numbers Stay Strong
Oct. 31, 2025 – AUSTIN — To hunters, springtime in Texas is often viewed as chasing turkeys through hot, humid weather, or hanging up the firearm for a fishing pole. For white-tailed deer, spring represents a time for growth: body growth, antler growth and population growth.
Texas began the growing season under widespread drought in March, but most of the state received much-needed rain in late spring. Where it rained, plant growth boosted antler development in bucks and allowed does to load up on calories for birth and nursing.
Rain came late to the Edwards Plateau and South Texas, but while summer rainfall helped lower temperatures and allowed for a late season green-up that benefited fawn survival, it was too late to greatly benefit antler development in those regions.
The general deer season kicks off Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 4, 2026, in the North Zone and through Jan. 18, 2026, in the South Zone, giving folks plenty of chances to go from field to table with their harvest.
Hunters taking advantage of Texas public hunting lands must have an Annual Public Hunting Permit. It’s also important for public land hunters to consult the Public Hunting Lands Map Booklet to review regulations that may apply to specific areas. The Texas Hunt & Fish app can be used to complete on-site registration electronically at a public hunting area.
Ecoregion Highlights
The Cross Timbers in North Texas has the second highest deer population in the state and will offer hunters plenty of opportunities to harvest mature bucks.
Despite what seems like lasting spring drought conditions, the Edwards Plateau is a great deer hunting region for those looking for quality animals. It consistently has the highest hunter success rates in Texas. The catastrophic Hill Country floods may have had local impacts on fawns near river and stream channels, but most deer were able to reach higher ground.
Post Oak Savannah hunters can expect a great season of chasing mature bucks thanks to good fawn survival in previous years.
In the Pineywoods, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists work with landowners and timber companies to restore and maintain quality deer habitat, which has helped sustain deer populations.
White-tailed deer population growth in the Rolling Plains in recent years has made the area a hotbed for mature bucks, and another great season is expected.
The South Texas Plains are known for mature bucks with above-average antlers. For hunters looking for a once-in-a-lifetime trophy, South Texas is often seen as the premier big buck destination.
For a detailed white-tailed deer forecast by ecological region, visit the White-tailed Deer Management page on the TPWD website.
Good Habitat Management Creates Harvest Opportunities
For many landowners and hunters, deer management doesn’t begin when the season opens. Healthy deer rely on good habitat and herd management, as well as spring rains from Mother Nature. By properly managing the land throughout the year, landowners are setting the stage for a successful deer season.
Antler growth is directly related to rainfall between April and June, and the improved habitat that follows. This year, hunters should see slightly above-average to average antler quality for most of the state. The Edwards Plateau and South Texas should expect slightly below-average to average antler quality since they missed out on spring rain. The Pineywoods, portions of the Post Oak Savannah and Cross Timbers received timely spring rains and should see above-average antler quality.
Much-needed summer rain and mild weather helped more fawns survive this year. Ranches that manage deer populations through hunting and improving native habitat will see steady improvements over time.
Protecting Texas Wildlife
Texans enjoying the outdoors are the first line of defense in protecting wildlife, livestock and humans from diseases that could have devastating effects.
New World Screwworm
New World screwworms (NWS) are parasitic flies that lay eggs in open wounds or moist body parts, such as those located in the nostrils, eyes or mouths, of live warm-blooded animals. These eggs hatch into a type of parasitic larvae (maggots) that only feed on living tissue, while other species of fly larvae prefer dead or rotting tissue. NWS larvae burrow or “screw” into living tissue with sharp mouth hooks, giving them a screw-like appearance. Infested wounds quickly become infected and, if left untreated, will kill the animal.
If you see LIVE animals with maggots, report it to your local TPWD wildlife biologist. Early detection is key. Do not delay if you suspect an NWS infestation. Reporting is crucial to response efforts and the eradication of NWS.
For more information, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/screwworm.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Landowners and hunters play an important role in managing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and can reduce its impact by managing populations, properly discarding unused carcass parts, reporting sick deer and voluntarily testing.
Hunters are reminded to review the TPWD website and Outdoor Annual app to review this year’s season dates, bag limits and information about proper carcass disposal. Hunters following these regulations are allowed to debone carcasses to help prevent the accidental spread of wildlife diseases.
More information about carcass disposal regulations, voluntary sampling, check station dates and hours of operations can be found on TPWD’s CWD web page.
Your Sulphur Springs Wildcats Scared Up Quite a Game Halloween Night
November 2, 2025 – The Sulphur Springs High School Wildcats scared up quit the competition Halloween night at Gerald Prim Stadium in Sulphur Springs, Texas. The Lake Dallas Falcons came to Sulphur Springs, Texas October 31st, 2025, to play some football with the Wildcats. Below is KSST/Cable Channel 18’s coverage of this game. KSST’s Sports Director, John Mark Dempsey, called Play by Play, and the talented Tony Flippin provided Color Commentary. Be sure to check out this thrilling game! Go Wildcats!
Wood Ashes In Your Garden This Fall By Master Gardener David Wall
November 2, 2025 – As we move through the Fall season on the way to Winter, now is the time to non-fertilize/fertilize your garden for next Spring. Basically, this means that now is the time to put nutrients in your garden soil that will still be available next Spring without having to buy commercial fertilizers.
Some do this with cover crops, but I prefer using wood ashes. They work extremely well, cost nothing, and contains a host of nutrients. These are the same wood ashes from your fireplace or outdoor cooking site.
Most hardwood and pine wood ashes contain good amounts of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium plus a heap of trace elements, all of which in your vegetable or flower gardens. In other words, wood ashes provide numerous, much needed elements for strong vegetable growth and production.
Calcium makes up nearly 20% of the wood ash content and is needed for early plant development and cell structure. It’s also a major factor in preventing blossom end rot. Potassium makes up close to 5% of the wood ash content. It helps plants absorb water and aids in photosynthesis.
Although the remaining minerals and nutrients occur in lower concentration percentages, they certainly do their part to help in recharging your garden soil with energy as well.
Regarding how much to use, a good coating, roughly 10 pounds, or about 1.5 gallons per 1,000 square feet, is plenty. Piling on this alkali product could very well change the soil’s pH. Unless you have highly acidic soil, a good coating is sufficient. Be sure to wear gloves, goggles, and a dust mask for protection. After the ashes are down, wet them down by spraying with a hose to hold the ashes in place. After the ashes dry, use a garden rake to blend them into the soil.
