Day of Celebration for SSRDA and Cooper Lake Project

August 15^th was a day of recognition and excitement for the South Sulphur Regional Development Association as Federal, State and local officials signed off on the building of the Cultural Center complex at Cooper Lake. This was the last hurdle for the Association on the long awaited Amphitheatre project at the Cooper Lake site. To mark the occasion a ceremonial signing was held at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce in Sulphur Springs. Among the officials in attendance were Congressman Max Sandlin, State Representative Mark Homer, and Col. Gordon Wells of the Army Corps of Engineers.

SSRDA President E. Delbert Horton introduced the distinguished guests as the crowd gathered to hear their comments. Congressman Sandlin said, " This is a good example to show what we can do when state and local governments work together. The credit should go to the local areas; it seemed a huge hill to climb and I often wondered how did they do that, but it goes to show how important it is when you have a goal what you can get done." Sandlin added that Mark Homer, the State Representative, was significant in helping the project to reach this goal. Homer has been, according to the Congressman, helpful in working towards this goal from the very beginning.

State Rep. Homer said that he believed this project is an asset to the counties and the area of North East Texas because it offers an opportunity to "preserve our history of the area and provide for additional tourism development."

Col. Gordon Wells, the Commander of the Fort Worth District of Army Corps of Engineers, replied when asked what his thoughts on this project were that he felt privileged because this experience is rare for him, since he "rarely gets to work local governments and private organizations". Wells added that the Corps had responsibility for 29 lakes and reservoirs in Texas and "this project is a first for us". Col. Wells is expected to sign the original agreement at the CORPS offices Thursday in Fort Worth.

  The South Sulphur Regional Development Association has a sub-lease with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The Association, through the Department, will submit all plans for construction on the project. The Corps will construct roads and utilities for the project and SSRDA will be responsible for all other construction with the approval of TP&WD.

Left to Right: Col. Gordon Wells, Congressman Max Sandlin, and State Rep. Mark Homer.

In Back: Dr. E. Delbert Horton, President of South Sulphur Regional Development Assoc.

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