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Fish, Hike and Attend Multiple Programs during April at Cooper Lake State Park
Cooper, TX— What better place to experience the spring than Cooper Lake State Park. Across both park units, as perfect temperatures prevail, a total of 17 programs focused on family fun and learning about our natural world will be presented. Attend and learn about a wide variety of plants and animals common to this part of Texas through multiple programs and so much more! Bring each fun and learning packed Saturday to a fitting conclusion with your family and friends relaxing around a campfire at the park! The flickering light and warmth of a campfire will lift your spirit and reconnect you to feelings shared by past generations. There is no better place to share a story or eat a meal!
Bring a picnic and enjoy the day-use area on a warm spring afternoon. Fish from the bank, off our pier, fishing wall, or rent a kayak and try your luck along the shoreline. Fish attractors have been placed around the Doctor’s Creek floating fishing pier and the fishing wall at South Sulphur to help increase fishing success. Crappie, bluegill, bass, and catfish are commonly caught at both park units. Hike our trails or just relax under a giant Post Oak tree or camp at one of our tree canopied campsites, recharging your soul!
Park entrance fees are $5 for adults with kids 12 and under always free. Senior Texans 65 or older will only pay $3 to enter the park daily with a Bluebonnet Pass. Unlimited park entrances for you and everyone in your vehicle can be accomplished with the purchase of a Texas State Park Annual Pass for $70 which is good for over 12 months. All programs are free with paid entrance fees. For more information on this or other events and programs at Cooper Lake State Park, please visit and friend our Facebook pages (Cooper Lake State Park – South Sulphur 903-945-5256 and Cooper Lake State Park – Doctor’s Creek (903) 395-3100).
Doctor’s Creek Unit (Northside of Cooper Lake – Delta County)
Apr 12 – 9 pm – Celestial & Star Stories: Starry Eyed & Star-crossed
Apr 13 – 3 pm – Wild Woods Walk: Nature Hike
Apr 14 – 11 am – Birds, Butterflies & Beyond: Sound Bound
Apr 20 – 8 pm – Absolutely Amazing Arthropods: Night Hike!
Apr 21 – 11 am – Birds, Butterflies & Beyond: Eggs Act
Apr 27 – 5 pm – Plogging in the Park: Pick Trash, Not Flowers
Apr 28 – 3 pm – Birds, Butterflies & Beyond: Pollinator vs Terminator
South Sulphur Unit (Southside of Cooper Lake – Hopkins County)
Apr 13 – 11 am – Dutch Oven Cookin’: Aprons for April
Apr 13 – 6 pm – Skins, Skulls & Scat: Brainiac or Bonehead
Apr 14 – 3 pm – Buds, Blossoms & Bounty: Dye Section
Apr 20 – 2 pm – Read with a Ranger!
Apr 20 – 5 pm – Tell Tale Signs: Storybook Hike
Apr 20 – 6:30 pm – Historic Music in the Park!
Apr 21 – 3 pm – Buds, Blossoms & Bounty: That Earthy Smell
Apr 27 – 11 am – Buds, Blossoms & Bounty: Sonnets for Bluebonnets
Apr 27 – 3 pm – Absolutely Amazing Arthropods: Night Hike!
Apr 28 – 2 pm – Fame, Fortune & Fossils: Gracious Cretaceous
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month in America. This month-long initiative, first celebrated in 1983 after a presidential proclamation, is a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect. The initiative encourages individuals and communities to support children and families. The United States federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act defines child abuse and neglect as, at a minimum, “any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation.” Also “an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”
In Fiscal Year 2018, there were over 783 abused and neglected children in DFPS custody from Gregg, Rusk and Upshur Counties. While East Texas CASA served over 467 children in our community by training volunteer advocates to be the voice for these children, we were not able to help every child in these counties. It costs approximately $1,425 to serve each child, and East Texas CASA is committed to providing a voice for every child in our community.
There are many things you can do to protect children and play a role in building strong families in communities. First and foremost, anyone who suspects abuse or neglect of a child has a social responsibility to report it. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, reports can be made anonymously to the Department of Family & Protective Service’s 24-hour Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 or the Texas Abuse Hotline Website. You can also educate yourself about child abuse and neglect, donate to social service agencies that work with children and parents or volunteer to serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Please join us on Friday, April 5, in wearing blue, the official color of prevention, to show support for children.
On Mondays at 10:30 am, Health4U class is a free program through the Paris-Lamar County Health District focusing on helping build healthier communities through educating adults on healthy living. At the Paris-Lamar County Health District 400 W. Sherman St. in Paris. For more information call Jessica Crawford (903) 785-4561. http://www.parislamarhealth.com
April Story Times at Paris Library, Baby & Toddler Story Time baby Toddler Tuesdays at 10:30 for Ages 0 – two years. Tale Time with Tracy story time Wednesdays at 10:30 am. Regular Wednesday story time continues throughout the whole year for three and five-year-olds.
There will be a karaoke contest benefitting Autism Awareness at the Holiday Inn Express in Paris Tuesday (Apr 23) from 5:30-7:30 pm. First place prize is $100. Call 903-785-0088 to sign up. There is food, drinks, and a wine tasting by Paris Vineyards. They are also raffling a Texas quilt and a 42 inch TV.
Need to learn how to become more confident during an interview?
Join Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas on Wednesday (Apr 24) at the Franklin County Public Library, in Mt Vernon, between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm, for career and employment guidance aimed to help you land that next job. The library is located at 100 Main Street East, Mt Vernon. Stop by the library to visit with our staff and let us help answer your job search questions.
This message brought to you by Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas.
Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Relay Texas TDD: 800-735-2989 (Voice) 711.
The Landowners Educational Series is for anyone wanting to learn more about managing their land. Topics include pasture utilization, pasture management and establishment, pond management, tree/forest management, nuisance animal control, and agriculture law. All programs will be at the Franklin County Airport off of Highway 37, just north of Mount Vernon.
The Friday (Apr 26) program will begin at 1:00 pm and be on pond management. A representative from the Noble Foundation will be speaking on pond health, weed control, fish health, establishing ponds and water testing. We can offer one-hour CEU credit for pesticide applicator license holders. No additional charge for CEU.