Hopkins County Genealogical Society Next Meeting May 16th
May 10, 2024 – At the next Monthly meeting of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society, Ken Hanushek will be the special guest. Hanushek was born in Cleveland, OH, but raised in Pittsburg, PA. He has a BA in History from Grove City College, PA, a MS in Political Science from Auburn University, AL and a MS in History from Texas A&M, Commerce, TX. Ken is a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel. He was on the history faculty of Northeast Texas Community College for 16 years, on the history faculty at PJC, full time, for 7 years and still teaches part-time at PJC Sulphur Springs Tech Center. Ken is married and has 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren. In addition he is an accompanist for the Northeast Texas Choral Society and the organist at the Presbyterian church in Sulphur Springs, Tx.
Ken’s topic will be “The Relationship Between Sam Houston and Andrew Jackson.” Join the Hopkins County Genealogical Society for a fun and interesting presentation. If you cannot join in person, The Genealogical Society will also be offering the program via Zoom. Below is the information for joining virtually: You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: May 16, 2024 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting
The meeting will be held in person on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the genealogy library at 611 N. Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas, at 7:00 p.m. or it is also available via Zoom.
Attempted Theft of High Value Sports Car Results in Arrest of Two Suspects
May 10, 2024 – The investigation continues into the matter of an attempted car theft of a white Porsche from a County Road 4760 residence.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a concerned neighbor shortly before midnight Thursday. The caller reported suspicious activity occurring at the location. Upon arrival, sheriff’s deputies made contact with two individuals attempting to jump start a Porsche at the residence. Both subjects were placed into custody and read a Miranda warning. Neither suspect wanted to speak with deputies. What appeared to be brand-new bolt cutters were found in the suspect’s vehicle, and the lock that secured the front gate appeared to be recently cut to gain entry to the property. The Porsche had been removed from the garage and deputies found the vehicle with the keys in the ignition.
Deputies had been called to the residence earlier in the evening, with a report of a deceased person. As the Porsche was registered to the recently deceased, and neither suspect resided at that residence. Both subjects were placed under arrest. Shannon Nicole Struss aka ‘Nikki Nicole’ age 41, of Flower Mound, and Jeremy Malcom Record, age 53, of Lewisville were transported to the Hopkins County Jail on multiple charges including Burglary of a Habitation, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and Possession of a Criminal Instrument.
Bond for Shannon Nicole Struss aka ‘Nikki Nicole’ and Jeremy Malcom Record was set at $55,000 each.
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 High School Theatre Will Perform Final Show of the Year Friday
May 9, 2024 – Sulphur Springs High School Theatre will perform their final show of the year this Friday, May 10th, at 7pm in the SSHS Auditorium.
Directed by senior Talley Brown (who also acts in the production), and featuring many of the graduating seniors: Caroline Prickette, Addison Bradley, Oliver Falter, and Kaela Gardner—supported by Aiden Woodard, Aspen Mayhew, and Emma Boatman, Hallelujah Girls is a hilarious and heartwarming show. In this Southern comedy, a group of lively women in Eden Falls, Georgia, gather at SPA-DEE-DAH!, an old church turned day spa, to shake up their lives. They confront personal challenges including lost romance, family troubles, and stagnant marriages. Amidst unexpected arrivals, marriage proposals, and rivalries, the women unite to pursue their dreams, resulting in a hilarious and uplifting tale of friendship and empowerment.
This fun and funny show is free! Come support these talented students as they take their final bows on the SSHS stage.
The Big Move in Progress
May 9, 2024 – The colossal task of moving the furniture, supplies and personnel from the old Senior Center to the brand new Senior Citizen Activity Center has began.
City Employees with furniture dollies were hard at work Thursday morning and director Dawna Prior was directing traffic. There was an exercise class going on, and volunteers from Meal-A-Day were prepping food for future meals. It was a busy place.
There is a soft date for events to begin at the new building, June 1st. Meal-A-Day will not yet be cooking in the new building on that date. Meal-A-Day is a separate entity from the Senior Center. One issue is that the newly installed walk-in freezer and refrigerators are not quite working as they should. Additionally, racks will need to be assembled and setup in the dry storage area. And because MAD partners with the North Texas Food Bank, the facility needs to be inspected by the food bank, before food can be stored there. Once approved, only then can MAD start their move.
The MAD menu in the next few weeks might seem a little chaotic. MAD is working to minimize the amount of food that needs to be moved to the new building. For example there will be a few soup days, even though it’s not really soup weather.
If you would like to see if you qualify for the $2 delivered meal, contact Meal-A-Day at 903 885 1661.
Student Found in Possession of Prohibited Item
May 8th, 2024 – SSHS parents received this letter Wednesday morning. Inside are details about a weapon found on campus.
Zamora Back in Hopkins County Jail
May 8th, 2024 – A 25 year-old local man was arrested and charged with INTERFERENCE WITH RAILROAD PROPERTY after an encounter with a local woman. The event took place around 8AM on Tuesday.
Around 8AM a local woman saw Amario Feliciano Zamora standing in the driveway of her rural home. Sheriff’s Deputies were called out on the report of a suspicious person. Deputies met with the female caller who advised the suspect was then walking along the railroad track behind a treeline adjacent to her home. She reported he was holding a unknown black object in his hand.
Zamora was located on the railway and was arrested without incident.
Zamora reported his city residence as Odessa, TX. A public records check found his current address to be in Sulphur Springs. The distance from the site of his arrest to Sulphur Springs is roughly 18 miles.
This is not the first time Zamora has been in Jail.
In January of 2024, Zamora was arrested and charged with CRIMINAL MISCHIEF in Titus County.
In December of 2023 Zamora was arrested after an off duty police officer witnessed him attempt to steal merchandise from a Sulphur Springs convenience store.
In 2018 he was arrested after he used a pipe to break into a building in Sulphur Springs. Once captured, he was found with stolen liquid medication. See that story here. He was indicted by a Hopkins County Grand Jury on the charge.
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 City Manager’s Report for April 2024
CLAIMS – We had one minor workers’ compensation claim and no liability claims in April.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – We have applied for a $250,000 grant from the General Land Office
to help pay for the plan. They require an amendment to our Financial Management Policy
before they approve the grant. The amendment is on the agenda.
COLLEGE STREET – We are on the home stretch. I still think we will have the street open by June 01.
HOLIDAY DRIVE – Capital Construction Division crews are installing the sewer main now. They have
installed 850’ of sewer so far. After sewer they will install sub-surface drainage. This is a complete
reconstruction project, like College Street. After Holiday Drive we will need to start installing water
and sewer at Thermo.
WATER FILTER REHABILITATION – All of the filters have been rehabilitated except filter #6. This $3.2 million project is funded by The American Rescue Plan Act (covid money).
STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN (SIP) – Following is the list of streets to be repaved in the 2024 Street Improvement Program.
Street Between Length
League Asphalt Repairs 1000
League Connally to KCS Rail 1200
W.A. MLK to end 2223
Cranford Robertson to Beasley 1287
S. Moore Bellview to Tate 449
Oak Gilmer to College 3446
Pollard Mulberry to end 211
N. Davis Glover to Airport 1728
Kirtley Bellview to Nicholson 412
Ninth Woodlawn to VanSickle 845
Carter Bill Bradford to Whitworth 2000
Henderson Craig to League 449
Melony Azalea to end 1215
Jennings Jefferson to College 929
Beckworth Whitworth to Beckham 690
Sharon W. Industrial to W. Pampa 803
Spence Lemon to Carter 639
Weaver Jackson to Teer 2877
Shook Weaver to Jefferson 536
Jacobs Houston to Bonner 848
Total 23787
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will present the usual report of revenues and expenditures. Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Checked out 3,745 items from the library plus 964 eBooks.
- Repaired op-lights on Hopkins County Veterans Memorial wall.
- Replaced GFI plugs on downtown light poles.
- Treated wastewater to a daily average total suspended solids reading of 0.36 mg/L.
- Hauled 596 tons of sludge to the landfill.
- Repaired 8 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 15 water meters.
- Unstopped 71 sewer mains.
- Repaired 1 fire hydrant.
- Repaired 8 sewer mains.
- Washed 98,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Flushed 37 dead-end water mains.
- Sold 3,466 gallons of AvGas and 6,600 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Accommodated 1,415 takeoffs or landings at the airport.
- Accommodated 28 aircraft at the airport for the solar eclipse as opposed to 178 reservation requests and 74 paid reservations.
- Power washed sidewalks on Main Street.
- Scalped rye grass areas downtown in preparation for transition to Bermuda.
- Changed banners downtown.
- Power washed the pavilion at Imagination Mountain.
- Conducted 52 building inspections, 24 electrical inspections, 14 plumbing inspections, and 8 mechanical inspections.
- Issued 28 building permits and 47 trade permits.
- Repaired 267 potholes.
- Made 10 major street repairs following utility cuts.
- Cleaned out storm drainage catch basins 3 times.
- Began demolition of 802 Jefferson.
- Accommodated 1,274 vehicles at spring clean-up for a total of 2,660 cubic yards sent to the landfill plus a small mountain of green waste which will be burned later.
- Responded to 248 animal control calls and achieved an adoption rate of 78%.
- Made 2 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Responded to 2,375 calls for police service.
- Responded to 15 accidents, wrote 566 traffic citations, recorded 36 offences, made 39 arrests in the Patrol Division.
- Responded to 200 calls for fire/rescue including 5 structure fires, 1 vehicle fire and 7 grass fires.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 80 fire hydrants.
OSHA Urges First Responders, Recovery Crews, Public to Protect Themselves from Hazards After Recent Tornados and Floods
May 7, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds first responders, recovery workers and people living in areas of Oklahoma and Texas hit by recent storms including flooding and tornados, to be vigilant amid hazards associated with storms including, power loss, structural damage, fallen trees and storm debris.
Storm recovery hazards may involve dangers related to restoring electricity and communications, removing debris, repairing water damage, fixing, or replacing roofs and trimming trees. Only allow people with proper training, equipment, and experience to handle recovery and cleanup.
OSHA offers Emergency Preparedness and Response resources including information on flood and tornado preparedness, response, and safety tips to assist employers and workers.
Emergency Preparedness and Response | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
People involved in response and recovery efforts may call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education, and assistance. Learn more about OSHA.
CHRISTUS Health Recognizes Stroke Month
Know the signs of a stroke
May 7, 2024 – (EAST TEXAS) – May is National Stroke Awareness Month and CHRISTUS Health is encouraging people to know the signs of a stroke, which affects nearly 800,000 Americans each year.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke and that every 3 minutes and 14 seconds, someone dies of stroke.
“Your readiness to spot the stroke warning signs and call 911 could save a life or make the difference between a full recovery and long-term disability,” said Kala Anders, stroke program coordinator at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs and Winnsboro.
A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
Anders said that, generally, if a stroke patient receives treatment within three or four hours of the first symptoms, major long-term disabilities can be reduced or eliminated.
“The quicker the better,” she says.
The easiest way to recognize symptoms is the acronym: B.E.F.A.S.T.
B: Balance – Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
E: Eyes – Is there sudden blurred or double vision?
F: Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
A: Arm – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T: Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately, as time is very important.
If you are a stroke survivor, you are at a higher risk of having another stroke, as nearly 200,000 strokes are in people who have had a previous stroke, Anders said.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity and diabetes are leading causes of stroke, with one in three U.S. adults having at least one of these conditions or habits.
People with atrial fibrillation (a-fib) are prone to suffer more serious strokes than those with other underlying factors.
“Life after a stroke can be broken down into thirds,” Anders said. “A third of people will live with a disability after a stroke, a third will live a normal life and a third, unfortunately, die from a stroke. This is why it is so imperative to follow preventative measures, to hopefully reduce your risk of a stroke.”
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A&M-Commerce Professional Development Series Helps Employees Grow
May 7, 2024 – COMMERCE, TEXAS: This spring, Texas A&M University-Commerce embarked on the second semester of its transformative Investing in Us employee development program, which has met with high praise from faculty and staff across the university. The innovative program features eight-week courses designed to help employees learn, grow and thrive in their careers.
According to Dr. Carrie Klypchak, senior director of Academic Investment, while other universities offer various forms of professional development for employees, A&M-Commerce is unique in its delivery of credit-bearing, academic master classes taught by colleagues. Participants receive one credit hour for each course they complete.
Nearly 130 employees registered for the spring offerings, which covered topics from Adobe Creative Cloud to active learning and personal leadership.
Value of Employee Development
The Investing in Us series aims to utilize the university’s experiences and resources to help employees build on their talents and strengths to best serve A&M-Commerce students.
Several positive benefits are associated with employee development programs, including improved employee retention, increased engagement, boosted productivity and a stronger employer culture and brand.
Data from the Fall 2023 Investing in Us courses indicate that faculty noted a nearly 21% boost in their perception of the working and learning environment on campus, with administrators marking an 18% increase and staff notching nearly 10%. Additionally, all three groups showed improvement in self-actualization and leadership scores.
Basics of Creative Cloud and Us
George Swindell, instructor and program liaison for the College of Innovation and Design at A&M-Commerce, signed up for Basics of Creative Cloud and Us, a class covering several Adobe Creative Cloud applications. He commended instructor Cathy Li, manager of creative design in the Office of Marketing and Communications, for her thorough coverage and ability to relate the lessons to employees’ roles at the university.
“Cathy made the course feel like an open learning space. It felt less like a high-pressure classroom and more like a low-stakes workshop,” he said. “I can easily say this class helped me gain skills and confidence in the Adobe Creative Cloud applications. I have already used several things I learned in class to create materials for my colleagues and department.”
Promoting Active Learning and Us
Dr. Belinda Rudinger, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and Special Education, participated in the Promoting Active Learning and Us course. Taught by Dr. Theresa Sadler, College of Innovation and Design instructor, the course was offered in partnership with the Association of College and University Educators.
“As a newer faculty member, I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about teaching adult learners in higher education settings,” Rudinger said. “The class confirmed some strategies I had already put in place while offering multiple new options for active engagement. Best of all, everything was grounded in research on best practices!”
Personality, Strengths and Us
The Personality, Strengths and Us course taught by Jennifer Hudson, an instructor for the College of Innovation and Design, gave participants access to the Gallup CliftonStrengths Talent Assessment. After students completed the assessment, Hudson guided the class through exercises and discourse to understand and develop their natural strengths and to apply them to their personal and professional lives.
Maria Garcia-Hidalgo, an advisor in the College of Innovation and Design, said the course inspired her to pursue her doctorate.
“This was an eye-opening experience that reaffirmed my strengths and helped me discover how to grow them,” she said. “I love knowledge and learning. What better way to move forward than to further my education? I’m grateful to A&M-Commerce for investing in us.”
Other spring courses included Designing Us II, a follow-up course utilizing insights from Stanford University’s design thinking principles, and Leadership, Career and Us, which provided tenured associate professors with practical guidance for connecting personal leadership development with career goals.
More Investing Ahead
Klypchak said the next slate of Investing in Us courses will include more topics that help employees build on their strengths, talents and skills.
“We are excited to continue offering classes that help our faculty and staff serve our students and thrive in their careers,” Klypchak said. “Our university community’s eager participation in the Investing in Us series reinforces that we are a progressive university of lifelong learners.”
Due to overwhelming demand, a Zoom edition of the Personality, Strengths and Us course will be offered in early June. Registration for the fall classes will open in mid-June, including another offering just for alumni.
A&M-Commerce employees may register for the summer course and explore upcoming fall classes at the provost’s webpage.
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