Celebrate New Year's Safely, By Observing Traffic And Other Laws
As you prepare to celebrate the New Year with friends and family, those planning to be out on the road are reminded to drive carefully, courteously and lawfully.
Those who plan to consume alcoholic beverages are reminded to either stay at their celebratory location or designate a drive who has not consumed beverages to get you home or call for Uber or other driving service.
Many AAA clubs offer safe ride services for members and non-members as well. The Holiday Tow-to-Go Program is statewide and ends Thursday, 1/2 at 6 a.m. Texas motorists must call (800) 222-4357 or (800-AAA-HELP) for a tow up to 10 miles for free, where applicable, if provided by your road service.
Choosing to drink and drive can be costly both financially through fines, jail time, bonds and legal fees, medical expenses, insurance and car repairs as well as potentially loss of life from vehicle or accident related crashes.
“December 31. New Year’s Eve. A day to reminisce, celebrate, and to look forward to what the New Year holds. New Year’s Eve is also a day that holds many opportunities for tragedy. If you decide to engage in alcohol use, please remember to reserve a designated driver. Keep an eye on the people you are celebrating with. If someone appears to be intoxicated, do not be afraid to speak up and offer a solution to an ultimate catastrophe,” Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Brad Cummings stated.
The Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers and other law enforcement will continue to have increased enforcement New Year’s Eve in an effort to increase safety on Texas roads. Troopers will be on the lookout for intoxicated drivers, speeders, seat belt violators and other dangerous drivers.
“The holiday season gives us many reasons to celebrate with friends and family, and it’s up to every one of us to make sure that we do so responsibly, including driving without distractions and obeying traffic laws as we travel,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “Troopers will be on the lookout for anyone violating the law and will remove dangerous drivers from our roadways — all in an effort to protect the public during the holidays.”
Cummings also reminds drivers the dangers of distracted driving. This can take many forms, including eating while driving, changing the radio, paying more attention to passengers than the road, or taking focus from the road to attend to phones and other electronic devices while at the wheel.
“Distracted and impaired driving are two things that are avoidable while operating a motor vehicle. That text, phone call, etc. can wait until you come to a complete stop. Having to call for help in the event you’ve become intoxicated does not diminish your dignity. In fact, it enhances it,” Cummings said.
1 Injured In Highway 19 North Crash Monday Evening
Traffic on State Highway 19 north of Sulphur Springs was interrupted for an hour Monday evening due to a two-vehicle crash. Northbound traffic backed for about a mile at one point while emergency responders worked at the crash site.
Emergency dispatchers were first alerted at 4:43 p.m. Dec. 30 that two vehicles had crashed on State Highway 19 north near County Road 4764, with one car resting in the ditch and one in the roadway. The road was reportedly blocked with one possible entrapment, according to dispatch reports.
Hopkins County and North Hopkins firefighters, sheriff’s deputies and EMS were dispatched. Officials found two vehicles, one overturned, near the roadside park. Officials reported no one had to be cut out of the car, but one occupant was assisted out of wrecked vehicle. That motorist was transported by ambulance to the hospital for treatment of what were thought to be serious but non life-threatening injuries. Another motorist was reportedly check at the crash site but not transported, according to emergency officials.
As emergency crews worked at the crash site, traffic through the area was limited. Northbound traffic on SH 19 north had a line backed up past the bridges south of the roadside park at about 5:30 p.m., while southbound traffic was slow going for a mile on either side of the crash site.
Firefighters cleared the crash site at 5:34 p.m. and law enforcement remained on scene until 6 p.m., according to sheriff’s reports.
Firefighters Responded To Reports of 2 Blazes Early Tuesday Morning
Local firefighters were called on in the cool early morning hours Tuesday to reports of two structure fires.
Hopkins County firefighters were dispatched at 1:03 a.m. Dec. 31 to County Road 1174, where a resident reported waking up to a smokey house. The resident suspected the source of the smoke to be an electrical box. No flames or sparks were seen, according to dispatch reports.
Electrical wiring in a heater was reported to be the source of the smoke. Damage was limited to a heating unit, according to county fire reports.
Sulphur Springs firefighters also were dispatched at 2 a.m. New Year’s Eve to a fire in the 1000 block of North Davis Street. Hopkins County firefighters were requested for mutual aid, according to reports. The blaze was reportedly quickly knocked down by Sulphur Springs firefighters. No additional information about that call was available later Tuesday morning.
Sulphur Springs Woman Sentenced On Controlled Substance Charge
A 47-year-old Sulphur Springs woman has been assessed time in a substance abuse felony punishment facility, according to arrest and jail reports.
Cathy Sue Pichardo was slated to appear in court Monday morning to enter a guilty plea on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone.
She was taken into custody in district court Monday by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas Marney, after being sentenced to a SAFPF commitment on the controlled substance charge. Marney transported Pichardo to the county jail, where she is being held pending transfer to a substance abuse felony punishment facility, according to arrest and jail reports.
Pichardo had at least two prior controlled substance and three prior marijuana possession charges on her record at the time of her arrest August 15, 2019 for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone and evading arrest or detention in a vehicle, according to jail reports.
The Aug. 15, 2019, allegedly followed a brief pursuit in Sulphur Springs from Brinker Street to Jefferson Street, where the tires of the vehicle Pichardo was driving were spiked. Police alleged a bag of suspected marijuana and several bags of suspected methamphetamine were found in her possession, according to sheriff’s and police reports released following her arrest. She remained in the county jail on the controlled substance and evading arrest charge until Oct. 4, according to jail reports.
Pichardo previously was sentenced to probation on one controlled substance charge, and 6 months in a state jail for a controlled substance possession conviction; she served from Feb. 22 to Aug. 6, 2018, in the county jail on the latter, according to jail reports.
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.
Sulphur Springs Man Jailed For Parole Violation
A 55-year-old Sulphur Springs man was jailed Monday, Dec. 30, on a felony warrant, according to arrest and jail reports.
George Edward Stribling was taken into custody at 11:32 a.m. and escorted by Hopkins County Sheriffs Deputy Nicholas Marney into the county jail, where he was held on the parole violation warrant, according to arrest reports.
The arrest marks at least the fifth time Stribling has been jailed locally since 2000 for violation of parole and second time this year, according to jail reports. He was first arrested for violating parole in 2000, the again in 2011 and 2018, and on July 30 and Dec. 30 of this year, according to jail reports.
NETBIO Sale Coming Jan. 15
The Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization (NETBIO) is preparing for its next pre-conditioned calf and yearling sale, which will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020.
Over 5,000 head of cattle that have been weaned and raised through the NETBIO pre-conditioning program have been consigned to the sale.
The sale, held at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Market, will begin at 1 p.m. The cafe will be open, and the cattle will be penned for viewing, so come out early and make a day of it.
This auction will be broadcast on the Internet and the Sulphur Springs Livestock Auction will be accepting bids at LMA Auctions.com. Internet buyers should register in advance in order to bid.
The NETBIO Pre-Conditioned Stocker and Feeder Calf Sale gives producers a market to offer their pre-conditioned calves and yearlings in load lot quantities. NETBIO holds eight special pre-conditioned calf sales per year.
For more information about the NETBIO sales, call the Sulphur Springs Livestock office at 903-885-2455 or visit their Web Site at www.sslivestockauctions.com.
Don Julian's Top 16 SSHS Sports Stories For 2019 Continues With # 6-7
A review of the sports files recently produced a list of 16 top stories involving Wildcats and Lady Cats teams during 2019. The list began running Monday, Dec. 23, and will continue through the first day of the New Year, with additional . On Jan. 2, a story will provide the entire list of 16.
Don Julian #7 SSHS Sports Story for 2019: Accomplishments and More From Grads
#7 features some of the accomplishments and other news involving Wildcats and Lady Cats alums this season.
Former Wildcat quarterback and wide receiver Ryan Humphries had a big year at Sam Houston State. Humphries started the season as a return man and receiver but wound up as the starting quarterback.
Former Lady Cats volleyball player Rita Hill also had big news in mid-January. At a basketball game at Mount Pleasant, Hill told me she was wrapping up her classwork at Tyler Junior College and would be transferring to Stephen F. Austin to play volleyball for the Lady Lumberjacks.
Former Wildcats Basketball player Bradley Washington won a big playoff basketball game as the head coach at Pflugerville Connally.
Former Lady Cats Soccer player Kam Wimberly reported at Wildcats and Lady Cats Summer Camp that she would be continuing her soccer playing in college going from Paris Junior College to Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina.
Recently, former Wildcats football star and former assistant coach and defensive coordinator Triston Abron, now head coach at Paul Pewitt, took his Brahmas to the state Class 3A, Division II title game against Gunter. After a loss, Coach Abron is really wanting to return quickly to that title game.
Finally, perhaps the greatest Wildcat of the them all passed away this year. April 12 marked the passing of Forrest Gregg, NFL Hall of Famer and coach and much more. Gregg was 85.
Don Julian #6 SSHS Sports Story for 2019: Wildcats and Lady Cats Signing Letters of Intent
My #6 top story from SSHS in 2019 features all of the Wildcats and Lady Cats who signed letters of intent to continue their sports at colleges.
For Wildcats Basketball, Day Day Hall signed with Indiana University Purdue University University Indianapolis. Cameron Kahn signed to play at Dallas Baptist. At the end of last season, Keaston Willis signed with the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio and Xavier Cork signed with Western Carolina.
In football, after the end of the 2018 season, quarterback D’Corian Young signed with Trinity Valley Community College in Athens. Damiyon Dugan signed to play at Hardin Simmons in Abilene and Texas A&M-Commerce got signatures of receivers Landry Tyson and Austin Dodd. DQ Pitts and Jermond Bryant-Amos signed with RPA College in Arlington. Defensive lineman Jose Rodriguez signed with Louisiana College.
Wildcats Golfer Carter Lewis signed to play golf at UT Tyler
In baseball, pitcher and infielder Jaxon Chaney signed with Ouachita Baptist, where he’ll get to face former Wildcats teammate Kaden Argenbright, who signed with Henderson State.
Lady Cats volleyball players in 2018 Autumn Tanton and Lexi Whisenhunt both signed with Oklahoma Wesleyan. Tanton also found out early this year that she had earned All-State First Team honors.
Wildcats Soccer player Manuel Esparza signed with Southwestern Assembly of God University in Waxahachie.
Lady Cats Track athlete Abbi Beggs signed with Indiana Tech.
Texas Company Issues Recall Of Fresh Veggie Ramen Due To Eggs Packed With Noodles
A Texas company over the weekend issued a voluntary recalled of its Cece’s® Veggie Co. brand Fresh Veggie Ramen with Chicken Broth (11.5 oz, UPC 5228700653), because the separately packaged egg (branded Peckish) that is included in the product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
This is yet another company issuing a product recall because it contains hard-boiled egg products that may have been manufactured at Almart Foods’ Gainesville, Georgia plant.
On Dec. 18, 2019 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified Almark Foods that the company’s Hard-Boiled and Peeled eggs in pails manufactured at the Gainesville facility may be associated with a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has been linked to several reported illnesses and one reported death. A more recent FDA sample from the facility also matched the outbreak strain, suggesting the possibility that the strain may have remained present in the facility, according to Almark and FCA reports.
Almark expanded its recall last week to include all products packaged for the retail market manufactured at its Gainesville plant that remains within shelf life. This includes product with “Best If Used By” dates up through March 2, 2020. Almark has also temporarily suspended all production at its Gainesville plant.
That included hard-boiled and peeled eggs in pails, pillow packs, pouch packs, frozen diced eggs, and protein kit products distributed nationwide, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The affected product can be identified by viewing the printed “Best If Used By” date coding on the product package. If the “Best If Used By” code starts with the prefix “G”, the product was manufactured at the company’s Gainesville, Georgia facility and is subject to this recall. Products with the prefix “N” or “Y” are not subject to this recall. For Protein Kit products, consumers are advised to check the code on the actual egg package within the kit.
Customers who have purchased these products are urged to immediately discard and not consume the products. Customers with questions may contact Almark Foods’ Customer Helpline at (877) 546-0454 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
Related to the Almark Foods Recall, Reichel Foods Inc. at the end of last week issued a recall of Pro2Snax To The Max Granny Apples, Hard Boiled Egg, Cheddar, Cashew and Craisin; and Pro2Snax To The Max Gala Apples, Hard Boiled Egg, White Cheddar, Almond and Craisin. These items were distributed to retailers nationwide and may contain hard-boiled eggs supplied by Almark Foods.
Reichel Foods, Inc. has had no reported illnesses related to Pro2Snax to the Max products.
Consumers should discard the product immediately or return it to their point of purchase for a full refund. Customers with questions may contact Reichel Foods Inc. at (866) 372-2609, ext 233.
On Saturday, Veggie Noodle Co., LLC announced a voluntary recall of Cece’s® Veggie Co. brand Fresh Veggie Ramen with Chicken Broth (11.5 oz, UPC 5228700653), all expiration dates, sold at retail stores nationally, because of the Peckish egg sold with the noodle pack.
Veggie Noodle as of the last announcement had received no reports of illness associated with the recalled Fresh Veggie Ramen with Chicken Broth product, and reported no other Veggie Noodle/Cece’s products to be affected by the recall.
Texarkana Police Seek Information
The Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers are looking for information on Lindsey Brown. She is accused of the Fraudulent Use of Identifying Information in Sulphur Springs, TX.
Earlier this month, someone broke into a car in Detroit, Texas and stole a purse that had, among other things, the victim’s identification card and two checks inside it. A couple days later, a woman managed to use the lady’s ID to cash one of the checks in Texarkana and the other one in Sulphur Springs. The transactions were caught on video, and check cashing woman was later identified as Brown. It is unknown if Brown broke into the car, but it is known that she used the victim’s identification to cash the checks – thus the Fraudulent Use of Identifying Information charge.
If you know where we can find her, please give us a call at 903-798-3116 or Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers at 903-793-STOP.
This post originally posted on the Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers facebook page.
Lady Cats Basketball Team Plays at Gilmer Monday
School may be out, but the Lady Cats Basketball Team continues to play during the break.
Monday, Dec. 30, the Lady Cats travel to Gilmer to take on the Lady Buckeyes. There will be a JV contest at 2 p.m. The varsity game will follow at around 3:15 p.m.
The two teams have played some spirited games in an Edgewood tournament the past two seasons. Last season, the Lady Cats led Gilmer after three quarters by 7 points but then went scoreless during the fourth quarter to lose 41-33. In 2017, the Lady Cats had to go into overtime to defeat the Lady Buckeyes, 45-41. Kaylee Jefferson put the team on her back that day with Autumn Tanton sidelined with an ankle injury and SaDavia Porter having a rare off night shooting.
After the Gilmer contest, the Lady Cats return home to play Hugo, Oklahoma on Friday.
