Brightstar Republican Women to Hold Next Meeting August 13th
August 1, 2024 – The Brightstar Republican Women organization will hold their next meeting Tuesday, August 13th, 2024, beginning at 6:00pm. The event will be held at 1230 Broadway Street in Sulphur Springs, Texas. This month’s program is about promoting Hispanic voter involvement. All republican women are invited to attend. For more information, please call Beth Wisenbaker at 903-348-1614.
Raised VS Ground-based Garden Beds From Master Gardener David Wall
August 1, 2024 – This year’s literature seems overloaded with opinions as to whether raised bed gardens or ground-based gardens are the better choice. SO, what goes into the preferred choice.
If you have high quality soil, either choice is fine. Raised beds usually have high quality soil. On the other hand, the cost for that soil in a raised bed can be expensive, along with the cost of whatever frame you choose.
Uneven ground increases frame costs when they have to be elevated on one or two sides. Then, there’s the cost over time as frames deteriorate. Even on level ground, there’s the cost of the frame whether rocks, concrete blocks, metal or wood. By the way, treated wood has been acceptable since 2003.
Weeds are usually more of a problem with ground-based gardens, at least at first. BUT, weeds will eventually be a factor in raised beds unless you sink a “barrier” up to 12” below ground. I have one raised bed 18” tall, and that didn’t slow down Bermuda grass at all!
Due to the elevation of raised beds, planting, weeding, watering, and picking are usually much easier, particularly if you’re old like me! Also, soils get warmer faster in raised beds, giving you a longer growing season. Watering, however, usually has to be done much more often, up to and including daily in hot summers. Mulching helps decrease weeds, improve soil moisture, and works well in either bed.
For you, the differences are not all that much. In my old age (!) I’ve gone totally raised beds with treated wood, concrete blocks, and filled with pure compost which are used to raise produce for the needy. With 940 sq. ft., those 7 gardens have to date this season produced over 9K vegetables for the Safety (Battered women’s Shelter) Crisis Center.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Final Victory, Forcing Biden to Continue Border Wall Construction
August 1, 2024 – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a major victory stopping the Biden administration’s attempt to unlawfully redirect statutorily obliged funds away from border wall construction in direct violation of federal law. After losing the case in federal court, the Biden Administration declined to appeal, forfeiting any further claims. The Biden Administration was directed by the court to continue border wall construction using the funding that Congress appropriated for the purpose.
At the urging of President Donald Trump, Congress dedicated roughly $1.4 billion to the construction of walls and barriers along the southern border in order to reduce the number of aliens entering the country in 2019 and 2020. Immediately upon taking office, President Joseph Biden issued an unlawful executive order stopping border wall construction and directing the Department of Homeland Security to devise a way to redirect the funds.
Texas sued under the Administrative Procedure Act to stop this scheme, arguing that Biden violated the Consolidated Appropriations Act and asking the court to require the Biden Administration to follow the law and use the appropriated money for the purpose Congress directed. Earlier this year, a federal district court granted a permanent injunction to end the Administration’s effort to illegally defund the border wall. The Biden Administration allowed the sixty-day appeal window to expire on July 29, 2024, and the permanent injunction remains in place.
“This is a final victory against Biden’s attempt to defund the border wall. His Administration illegally sought to prevent the construction of the border wall and illegally attempted to repurpose the money allocated for American safety and sovereignty, working instead to keep the border open,” said Attorney General Paxton. “I sued and won to stop their unlawful scheme. Now, the Administration has thrown in the towel by declining to appeal their defeat and will be legally required to build the wall.”
To read the final order, click here.
2024-2025 Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program Nomination
Jill Dutton
State Representative, District 2
PRESS RELEASE
August 1, 2024
The Office of State Representative Jill Dutton is accepting applications for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program (TASSP) from students residing in House District 2.
TASSP aims to foster participation in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs at state civilian colleges by awarding eligible students with an annual conditional scholarship. Each state representative may appoint one student to receive this scholarship.
To be eligible for nomination, students must meet two of the following criteria, as specified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board:
- On track to graduate or have graduated high school and completed the curriculum
requirements of the Distinguished Level of Achievement Plan or the Interactional
Baccalaureate (IB) Program - High school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Achieved a college readiness score on the SAT (1070) of ACT (23)
- Ranked in the top one-third of the prospective high school graduating class
- Nominees must fulfill additional application requirements provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to receive the scholarship.
Eligible students should submit their resume and a cover better detailing their motivation for Participating in TASSP to [email protected] by 5:00 PM by August 16, 2024.
Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please feel free to contact my office via email at [email protected] or by phone at (903) 263-0395. Thank you for your dedication to the students of Texas and your ongoing support in enhancing higher education.
State Representative, District 2
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Renews Comanche Peak Licenses
July 31, 2024 – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating licenses of Comanche
Peak Units 1 and 2 for an additional 20 years.
Comanche Peak Units 1 and 2 are pressurized-water reactors about 40 miles southwest of
Fort Worth, Texas. Unit 1’s operating license will now expire Feb. 8, 2050, and Unit 2’s on Feb.
2, 2053.
The NRC’s review of the application proceeded on two tracks. A safety evaluation report
was issued in March, and a final supplemental environmental impact statement was issued in
April. These documents, as well as other information regarding the Comanche Peak license
renewal application, are available on the NRC website, which also contains information about
the license renewal process.
Texas Sales Tax Holiday is Aug. 9-11, Marks 25th Year
(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9-11. This will be the 25th year of Texas’ oldest sales tax holiday.
State law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The dates of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.
“For a quarter of a century, Texans have saved more than $1.8 billion on everything from blue jeans to ballpoint pens in preparation for the back-to-school bell,” said Hegar of the sales tax holiday weekend, an annual event since 1999. “As the father of three, I know firsthand how these expenses add up over the years, and this weekend is the perfect time for folks to save some of their hard-earned cash on items they need.”
The Comptroller’s office estimates that shoppers will save $143.4 million in state and local sales tax during this year’s sales tax holiday.
Apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax free are listed on the Comptroller’s website at TexasTaxHoliday.org.
During the annual sales tax holiday, qualifying items can be purchased tax free in person or by any other means including over the internet, by telephone, or by mail. Purchases are exempt when either:
- the item is both delivered to, and paid for by, the customer during the exemption period; or
- the customer orders and pays for the item, and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period ends.
Chamber Connection – July 30, 2024
By Butch Burney
The anticipation has been growing and now it is time for the actual preparation. We are looking forward to a fantastic 55th Annual Hopkins County Stew Contest on Oct. 26, and it’s time for stew cooks to start registering.
Registration for last year’s cooks are going out in the mail and email this week, so be looking for it in your mailbox and inbox. You can also register online at HopkinsChamber.org/stewcooks.
We are keeping the registration fee the same as in past years at $100 per stew site, with the sponsor asked to provide $150 to each cooking team for ingredients.
If you have been a Stew Cook in the past, we look forward to seeing you again and tasting your delicious stew. If you have won the contest in the past, you are eligible to enter the Super Stew competition.
Each returning stew team will have the option of keeping their 2023 site. These sites will be reserved until Monday, September 30, and then on Tuesday, October 1, the “unclaimed” stew sites will be open to “new cooks” and to returning cooks who would like a new site location. After Sept. 30, all sites will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. As in 2023, we will have sites open on both the north and the south side of Connally Street, where we will have a serving tent and market vendors.
We will have a Stewcomers meeting at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15 for any new cooks or those who are thinking about entering. You can get all the information you need to start planning for the largest annual single-day event in Hopkins County.
If you need more information, call the Chamber at 903-885-6515 or email [email protected].
The theme for this year’s stew contest is Stewper Heroes, and we would love for you to participate and be a Stewper Hero!
Adult Leadership
Even if you think you know Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County, you are sure to learn a lot through Leadership Sulphur Springs, which is back on this year, with applications online!
The leadership class is for Hopkins County men and women who want to learn and become more invested in their local community. It’s an intensive nine-month program that immerses the participants in the business and government of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County.
The tentative dates for this year’s program are attached to the application, which can be accessed at HopkinsChamber.org.
You can also have an application mailed to you by emailing me at [email protected]. The deadline is Aug. 9, so get your information in as soon as possible.
The registration fee is $500 and that covers the cost of the food, drinks, transportation, etc. for the year.
Cocktails and Conversation
Join us for our main networking monthly event when Heritage Home Health and Hospice hosts our Cocktails and Conversation on Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Chamber office.
You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend. It is free to everyone, and a prime time to make friends and contacts.
Please make plans to attend to enjoy some cocktails, snacks and great conversation.
Designer Handbag Bingo
The Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation’s extremely popular Designer Handbag Bingo event is coming Aug. 8, and tickets will go quickly.
Tables of eight for the event are currently on sale, and individual tickets will be up for grabs on July 13.
The link to access sponsorship and ticket information is handbagbingo24.givesmart.com
Quilt Show
The Lone Star Heritage Quilt Show is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21 at the ROC on Putman Street. Numerous projects will be on display, and one special quilt will be up for raffle during the event.
If you’re interested in entering your own quilt project, those arrangements must be made by July 31. To request entry, email [email protected].
Ribbon Cutting
Cumby Collegiate ISD will host a ribbon cutting and open house at their new high school facility at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. Everyone is invited to attend and see the new building.
Dinner Bell for July 31, 2024
The Hopkins Rains Farm Bureau became a Partner with The Dinner Bell Feeding Ministry on February 17, 2016 during its promotion of “Farm Connection Week”. It has continued that relationship and has even added another date this year for Partnership. It also gave the ministry a member of the swine family purchased at the Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show to butcher and use for meat for several menus. Though the Farm Connection Week is no longer celebrated, the Farm Bureau will always champion its agricultural related clients.
The Farm Bureau is an insurance provider built by Texans for Texans in 1952. Its mission is to help its policy holders manage the financial risks of everyday life and successfully recover from insurance losses through prompt, professional services based on high ethical standards. As a unified voice of Texas agriculture, Texas Farm Bureau functions as a member of Farm Bureau, a national grassroots organization with members across America that focus on building strong, prosperous agricultural communities.
The relationship between The Dinner Bell Feeding Ministry and The Farm Bureau of Hopkins and Rains Counties highlights its commitment to agriculture and the good nourishing food farms provide for our neighbors who need a meal in Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County.
GRAB and GO with a meal from the distribution area under the covered driveway (porte cochere) on the Northeast corner of the First United Methodist Church campus starting around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
MENU
A Trio of Salads on a bed of lettuce
(Chicken, Tuna and Pimiento Cheese)
Frito Corn Salad
Crackers
Do Nothing Cake
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AS COVID AND FLU ARE STILL LURKING IN OUR MIDST! WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! WEAR MASKS WHERE REQUIRED! GET INOCULATED AND BOOSTED!!!
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH!!!
TxDOT celebrates ‘National Intern Day’
EL PASO — So much for lifeguarding or summer travel. Hundreds of young Texans are spending their summer at TxDOT, gaining experience, sharpening skills and building a future.
“This is my first job, and at 17, I believe this opportunity is an incredible starting point for someone my age,” said Isaiah Daniels.
Daniels, a Parkland High School student planning to attend Texas Tech, is a summer intern at the Anthony Texas Travel Information Center.
“The welcoming atmosphere at the TIC has made my transition into the workforce enjoyable,” he said. “This experience has helped me step out of my comfort zone, and I am truly thankful for the personal growth I’ve achieved here.”
Mya Zubia has gained similar skills interning as a mechanic in TxDOT’s El Paso office. She’s been working in the shop pursuing her passion working on TxDOT vehicles.
“To me it’s like home,” she said. “I like getting dirty, I like using my hands, fixing things. It’s like a puzzle. I like the excitement, the heavy work.”
Zubia grew up in a shop and recalls spending time with her “Tio,” or uncle, learning the trade. She will graduate in January from Western Technical College in El Paso as a diesel mechanic.
She aims to specialize in engines, transmissions, or hydraulics and wants to have a fleet of her own. Though she’s part of a male dominated industry, her experience at TxDOT has been positive.
“At first, I was more nervous, but everyone was so welcoming it calmed my nerves,” she said. “At other shops it was more of a challenge, especially working with an older generation.”
Zubia encourages other young women to pursue careers as mechanics.
“If this is really what you want to do, this is what you’re passionate about, then go for it and don’t let anyone stop you,” she said. “All that anxiety isn’t worth your career, especially if you love it.”
TxDOT’s Internship Program is designed for high school and college students seeking to be introduced to career opportunities and gain practical work experience in transportation-related fields and support occupations. Full and part-time positions are available year-round.
To qualify, students must be at least 16 years old, be eligible to work in the United States and be enrolled as a student at a high school, technical school, college, or university. Available positions can be found online at txdot.gov/careers.
Recently Opened Truck Stop in Sulphur Springs Sold
CEFCO will change to Casey’s
July 26, 2024
The acquisition will expand Casey’s presence into the attractive Texas and southern markets, delivering accretive growth and creating value for shareholders, team members and guests
ANKENY, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Casey’s General Stores, Inc. (“Casey’s” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CASY), one of the leading convenience store chains in the United States, today announced an agreement to acquire Fikes Wholesale, Inc. (“Fikes”), owner of CEFCO Convenience Stores (“CEFCO”), in an all-cash transaction for $1.145 billion. The purchase price includes tax benefits valued at approximately $165 million for a net after-tax purchase price of $980 million.
Fikes Wholesale, Inc. and CEFCO Convenience Stores began as a single “filling station” in Cameron, Texas in 1952 and has grown to be a respected operator with stores in multiple states. Casey’s acquisition of Fikes will include 198 retail stores and a dealer network. The proposed transaction will increase Casey’s footprint to nearly 2,900 stores. The acquisition will bring 148 additional stores to Texas, which is a highly strategic market for Casey’s, as well as 50 stores in the southern states of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. In addition to the retail stores and dealer locations, the transaction includes a fuel terminal and a commissary to support the Texas stores.
“During our Investor Day presentation in June of 2023, we outlined our business strategy to achieve top-quintile EBITDA growth. One of the core pillars of the plan is to grow the number of units,” said Darren Rebelez, Board Chair, President and CEO of Casey’s. “This acquisition will allow Casey’s to accelerate our unit growth plan with high-quality assets that, along with our recent 22 store acquisition in northern Texas, will provide an expanded presence in Texas and allow us to continue to expand in the state and region.”
Raymond Smith, President of Fikes and CEFCO, highlighted the strategic alignment between the two convenience organizations. “The acquisition by Casey’s, especially given its reputation and shared values, is an exciting development for Fikes and our employees. I am happy that the CEFCO stores will join a top convenience retailer that will reinvest in the stores and eventually bring Casey’s pizza to many of our customers as well as provide professional opportunities for our employees. We believe Casey’s will be an excellent steward of the CEFCO experience that our loyal customers have come to expect.”
Rebelez added, “We expect the acquisition will create value for Casey’s shareholders in the near- and long-term and will be accretive to Casey’s EBITDA in the current fiscal year. Fikes is a well-run and well-respected company in our industry, and we look forward to welcoming the Fikes team to the Casey’s family. We could not be more excited about the future of our two organizations.”
The company plans to finance the transaction through balance sheet cash and bank financing. The net investment of $980 million represents an approximate multiple of 11 times CEFCO’s pro forma adjusted 2023 EBITDA. The Company expects to achieve approximately $45 million in annual run-rate synergies upon the completion of kitchen installations in the acquired stores.
The transaction is anticipated to close during the fourth quarter of calendar year 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. Casey’s was advised by BMO Capital Markets Corp. as financial advisor and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP as legal counsel, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton as antitrust legal counsel. Fikes was advised by BofA Securities as financial advisor and Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, P.C. as legal counsel.
Webcast Information
Casey’s will host a conference call to discuss the transaction at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, July 26th. A live webcast of the call will be available on Casey’s website on the Investor Relations page at https://investor.caseys.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, an audio replay will be available on the website for twelve months.
About Casey’s General Stores
Casey’s is a Fortune 500 company (Nasdaq: CASY) operating over 2,600 convenience stores. Founded more than 50 years ago, the company has grown to become the third-largest convenience store retailer and the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States. Casey’s provides freshly prepared foods, quality fuel and friendly service at its locations. Guests can enjoy pizza, donuts, other assorted bakery items, and a wide selection of beverages and snacks. Learn more and order online at www.caseys.com, or in the mobile app.
About Fikes Wholesale, Inc. and CEFCO Convenience Stores
Fikes Wholesale, Inc. and CEFCO Convenience Stores were founded as a family-owned and operated business in 1952. Today, they operate convenience stores in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas. Learn more at www.cefcostores.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including those related to the ability to consummate the transaction, the potential impact of consummation of the transaction on relationships with third parties, expectations for future periods, possible or assumed future results of operations, financial conditions, liquidity and related sources or needs, business and/or integration strategies, plans and synergies, supply chain, growth opportunities, and performance at the Company’s stores. There are a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from any results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the execution of the Company’s strategic plan, the integration and financial performance of acquired stores, wholesale fuel, inventory and ingredient costs, distribution challenges and disruptions, the impact and duration of the conflict in Ukraine or other geopolitical disruptions, as well as other risks, uncertainties and factors which are described in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the Company’s website. Any forward-looking statements contained in this communication represent our current views as of the date of this communication with respect to future events, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this communication whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
