Teen Reportedly Injured In County Road 4712 ATV Crash
A 16-year-old was reportedly injured and flown from the crash site to an area trauma center for treatment Monday evening.
Hopkins County emergency dispatchers at 6:18 p.m. Monday were notified of an ATV crash with injuries on County Road 4712. Hopkins County and Cumby firefighters, and sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the location, according to reports.
A 16-year-old was reportedly found trapped beneath a crashed ATV. Once the vehicle was moved, a medical helicopter was reportedly landed near the crash site. The teen was flown to an area trauma center, for what were reported to be possible life-threatening injuries. Another person at the crash site was reported to have sustained less serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, according to sheriff’s reports.
No additional information was available regarding the crash, including information regarding the two injured, mid morning Tuesday.
Merger Of North Hopkins, South Sulphur VFDs Receives Approval Of Commissioners
A handshake between North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bobby Harris and South Sulphur VFD Chief Jim Rich marked what Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom called a “historic moment” in county history.
The two departments have agreed, with approval of Hopkins County Commissioner Court, to merge their departments to better maximize the resources of both departments.
There are still several details to work out in regard to the combining of the two stations, including some financial matters. The new North Hopkins-South Sulphur VFD plans to add a substation in the near future to house part of the apparatus and give the area a second station from which department members can more quickly respond to calls in the north and western portions of Hopkins County as needed. The court appointed Harris as chief of the newly combined department.
The combined department and additional station should also help lower ISO ratings, which should mean lower insurance rates for many residents within 5 miles of each station.
“Bobby and I have a good working relationship, which makes this possible with the tight funds and available volunteers,” said Rich.
“This is for the residents. Jim and I want to help our community. If we do our part together, we can pool our resources in the community and pool different resources,” said Harris.
That spirit of cooperation and potential for more efficient and productive use of resources were the motivating factors for the commissioners court to unanimously passed a resolution in favor of the combining of departments, according to Newsom.
Wildcats Varsity And JV Football Teams Begin Practice Monday Evening
The Wildcats Varsity and JV Football Teams will have their first practice of the season Monday evening, August 12, at the Multipurpose Building.
After several meetings, the teams were expected to take the field, either indoors or out, beginning at around 6 p.m. Practice is expected to go until around 9 p.m.
The Wildcats are starting a week later than some because they had spring football practice. Because of spring ball, they lose not only a week of practice, but also one scrimmage. The Wildcats lone scrimmage will take place Thursday, Aug. 22, at Liberty-Eylau in Texarkana. The Leopards are coached by Klint King, son of former Wildcats Head Football Coach Chuck King.
The Wildcats are expected to go several days without pads before putting on pads and getting in some contact.
The Wildcats were 6-4 last season including a bi-district loss to Frisco. They were 5-3 in district play and finished as the district’s #3 seed.
The Wildcats return 19 lettermen, including four offensive and four defensive starters. The Wildcats lost 35 seniors off last year’s team.
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Bailey Dorner Was Generally Pleased With Her Team At First Tournament of Season
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Bailey Dorner said the Lady Cats played tough teams and looked good against them during the Garland ISD Volleyball Tournament this past Friday and Saturday, Aug. 8-9.
Coach Dorner said she would be tweaking some things in practice but he added her team had an overall good weekend and stepped up their play.
The Lady Cats went 1-2 in pool play Friday defeating Kilgore while losing to Rowlett and Wylie East. Coach Dorner said she would have liked her team to do better in pool play losses. She said some minor mistakes kept the Lady Cats from winning the two close pool games they lost.
Saturday, playing in the Challenger Bracket of third and fourth place pool teams, the Lady Cats defeated Richardson Berkner, Carrollton Newman Smith and Denton Braswell, all 2-0, to advance to the Challenger Championship Game. The out of gas Lady Cats lost to Carrollton Ranchview, 2-0.
Coach Dorner agreed that the Lady Cats were tired and worn out in their fourth game of the day that started with an 8 a.m. game Saturday. She said her team is still working on getting into shape this early in the season.
Coach Dorner liked the play of junior Sadie Washburn, who she said is healthy and who shows up ready to work at practice. Net player Brooklyn Burnside, a sophomore, also had a very good day Saturday. Coach Dorner called her not only athletic but also smart.
Coach Dorner also mentioned the play of senior Sydney Washburn who made some good blocks at the net; libero Czhela Moya, who Coach Dorner said was all over the place; and setter Peyton Hammack, who Coach Dorner said did a good job setting the ball all weekend.
The Lady Cats travel to McKinney North for a Tuesday evening match at 6 p.m. JV and freshman matches get underway at 5 p.m.
Coach Dorner said by playing tough teams early, her team would be better prepared for district games later.
Officials Proposing No Change To County Tax Rate
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning gave approval for the county tax rate to remain the same, at the recommendation of Tax Assessor/Collector Debbie Pogue Mitchell.
She reported officials from her office and those of the appraisal district and auditor’s office met last week to go over tax rolls. Work proceeded to calculate a tax rate to propose to commissioners court.
Recent legislative changes regarding tax caps will impact school districts this year but won’t affect cities and counties until next year. However, she recommended local officials began looking at the matter to being preparations in order to be ready for it in the next budget cycle.
Mitchell recommended the county keep the same tax rate of $0.624892, which is above the effective rate of $0.577457 but below the rollback rate of $0.62556.
That, according to the proposed budget posted on the county website, should generate an additional $752,789 in revenue from property taxes in the coming year, compared to the current tax year, including $272,117 in tax revenue from new property added to the tax roll this year.
As required, two public hearings must be conducted by the county before the tax rate can be formally adopted because the proposed tax rate, the same as in the last couple of years, is above the effective rate.
Public hearings are to be held during the regular meeting of Hopkins County Commissioners Court at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26; and during a special called meeting at 9 a.m. Sept. 3.
Judge Robert Newsom said that should allow the county to approve the rate and have the budget ready for a vote by Sept. 9.
District Clerk’s Technology Fund
Also during Monday’s court session, a public hearing was held. District Clerk Cheryl Fulcher asked the commissioners to consider a plan for the District Clerk’s Technology Fund.
In 2009, Fulcher explained, Senate Bill 1685 set the a $10 technology fee district clerks would collect as part of regular court fees to apply toward preservation and restoration of the office’s records. That fee was to drop to decrease to $5, however, the current legislative session changed that to allow district clerks to charge a tehnology fund fee up to $10.
That has be reflected in the county budget when it’s approved. Commissioners gave approval for a $10 fee to be charged
Interlocal contract with Lubbock County
In other financial matters, the commissioners court also Monday approved an agreement with Lubbock County, pursuant to the Fair Defense Act in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and Texas Government Code.
“That is our capital murder insurance protection,” said Newsom.
The amount to be paid per year has gone down, according to the county auditor.
Line item transfers
Line item transfers approved for the district clerk and county attorney’s offices included:
- District clerk — $1,426 to be moved from the district clerk’s office equipment fund to the schools and training fund so the clerk can attend a conference in September.
- County Attorney — moving $4,468.40 from the county contingency fund to the county attorney ‘s office. When the county attorney’s office sustained heavy damages due to the building flooding, repairs and new computers were paid for out of the operating budget, leaving a deficit in that fund. Moving that amount from the contingency fund would help off set the deficit in that fund and provide enough funding for the county attorney’s office to make needed purchases, according to the county auditor.
Paris District Road Report for the Week of August 12, 2019
Paris — Here’s a look at work planned in the district during the week of Aug. 12, 2019. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Sherman Area (Fannin, Grayson Counties)
Contacts: Sherman Area Office (903) 892-6529; Grayson Co. Maintenance (903) 893-8831; Fannin Co. Maintenance (903) 583-7566.
US 82, Grayson County: from FM 901 in Sadler to FM 1417 in Sherman. Watch for daytime lane closures as crews work to mill and then pave the eastbound and westbound lanes with a new hot mix asphalt surface.
FM 691, Grayson County: from FM 131/Loy Lake Rd. to US 75. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers continue widening FM 691 to an ultimate five-lane roadway. The intersection of FM 691 with FM 131/Loy Lake Road has been converted to a four-way stop intersection and will become a signalized intersection at the conclusion of the construction project.
US 377, Grayson County: Willis Bridge at the Oklahoma State line. Watch for occasional one lane closures on the existing bridge as workers pour concrete for the new bridge structure.
US 75 Ramp Reversal in Denison, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 main lanes and frontage road between FM 120 and Crawford Street. Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts as workers work on constructing the retaining walls and new exit ramp for this project. The southbound US 75 exit ramp for Crawford Street is closed and traffic wishing to use this exit should use the FM 120 (Morton Street) exit.
US 75 Ramp Reversal in Denison, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 main lanes and frontage road between Spur 503 and FM 691. Watch for daytime lane closures on the southbound US 75 mainlanes and frontage roads while crews place portable traffic barrier and begin work on building temporary ramps.
US 75 Ramp Reversal in Sherman, Grayson County: on the northbound US 75 main lanes and frontage road between Choctaw Creek and FM 1417. Watch for shoulder closures and lane shifts on the main lanes and a left lane closure on the frontage road as workers work on constructing the new entrance ramp.
US 75 Slope Repair at Randell Lake Road, on the southbound US 75 frontage road between SH 91 and Randell Lake Road, Grayson County: on the southbound US 75 frontage road between SH 91 and Randell Lake Road. The southbound frontage road and Randell Lake exit ramp are closed due to a slope failure. Crews are working to lime treat the soils and place underdrains.
US 75 Full Depth concrete repair, Grayson County: crews will be working on US 75, weather permitting, each week from Sunday night thru Thursday night. Lane closures will be present during the nighttime only in order for crews to replace failed concrete locations. Lane closures begin at 7:30 p.m. and should be reopened to traffic by 6 a.m.
Southbound US 75 Frontage Road Full Depth Concrete Repair, Grayson County: crews will be working on the southbound US 75 frontage road between Lamberth Road and Center St. Right lane closures will be present during the daytime and nighttime in order for crews to replace failed concrete locations.
US 75 debris pickup, Grayson County: from Collin County line to Oklahoma State line. Watch for mobile operations as workers pick up debris from the roadway every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the day-time.
US 82 & US 69, Grayson County: from FM 131 to FM 1897 on US 82, and from SH 56 to US 75 on US 69. Watch for temporary day time lane closures and shoulder closures as workers install safety treatments on fixed objects.
US 377, Grayson County: from US 82 to end of FM 121. Watch for temporary day-time lane closures as maintenance crews work on blade leveling the roadway.
FM 121, Grayson County: from US 75 to US 377. Watch for day-time lane closures as maintenance crews work on base repairs and blade leveling the roadway.
FM 1417, Grayson County: from US 82 to SH 56. Watch for day-time lane closures as maintenance crews work on base repairs and blade leveling the roadway.
SH 11, Grayson and Fannin County: from US 69 to SH 121. Watch for traffic shifts and occasional one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1753, Grayson and Fannin County: from FM 1897 to SH 78. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway. FM 1753 between FM 274 and SH 78 has been reopened to traffic as the culvert replacement work is complete.
Paris District Wide Seal Coat. Crews will be placing a seal coat on the following roads in Fannin County this week: SH 34 from US 82 to the Hunt County line; and FM 64 from SH 34 to the Delta County line. Expect day-time lane closures on these roadways while crews are working.
US 82, Fannin County: from SH 121 to the Lamar County Line. Watch for slow moving construction equipment as crews work on widening US 82 from a two lane roadway to a four lane divided section. Watch for intermittent roadway closures on US 82 on August 14 in order for crews to place bridge beams at Bois D’arc Creek. Motorists should expect delays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. while this work is ongoing.
FM 1752, Fannin County: from US 82 to FM 898. Watch for temporary one-lane closures as workers rehab and widen the roadway.
FM 1553, Fannin County: from SH 78 in Bailey to SH 78 in Leonard. Watch for day-time lane closures as maintenance crews work on fog sealing the roadway.
FM 2990, Fannin County: from SH 34 to FM 1550. Watch for day-time closures as maintenance crews work on fog sealing the roadway.
FM 1550, Fannin County from SH 34 to FM 1743: Watch for temporary day-time lane closures as maintenance crews work on blade leveling the roadway.
Sulphur Springs Area (Hopkins, Franklin Counties):
Contacts: Sulphur Springs Area Office (903) 885-9514; Franklin Co. Maintenance (903) 537-4976; Hopkins Co. Maintenance (903) 885-4031.
SH 19, Hopkins County: At FM 71 in Birthright. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews perform surfacing operations
SH 11, Hopkins County: From SH 19 to White Oak Creek. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews begin performing dirt work activities; flaggers will direct traffic.
Paris Area (Delta, Lamar, Red River Counties)
Contacts: Paris Area Office (903) 784-1357; Delta Co. Maintenance (903) 395-2139; Lamar Co. Maintenance (903) 785-4468; Red River Co. Maintenance (903) 427-3561.
FM 195, Lamar County: from Spur 139 to 3.3 miles northeast. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews perform pavement resurfacing.
FM 1497, Lamar County: from FM 1184 to FM 196. Watch for temporary lane closures while crews perform flexible pavement structure repairs along this section of roadway.
US 271 (Loop 286), Lamar County: south of BU82H. Watch for lane closures north and southbound while crews remove existing crossover and extend the left turn lane at Dawn Dr. crossover.
BU 271B (Clarksville Street) at Collegiate Drive; US 82H (Lamar Street) at 20th Street; US 82 at FM 38, Lamar County: Watch for work zones as signal and flashing beacon work is performed.
US 271 pavement repair, Lamar and Red River Counties: from Loop 286 in Paris southeastward to SH 37. Watch for work zones and drive safely through construction areas as final work is being performed.
FM 197, Lamar County: Watch for work zones and drive safely through construction areas as final work is being performed.
US 271 safety upgrades, Red River County: from FM 410 to the Red River-Titus County line. Watch for temporary lane and shoulder closures as final work is being performed.
SH 37 safety upgrades, Red River County: from the Texas-Oklahoma state line south to the Red River-Franklin County line. Watch for work zones as workers upgrade metal-beam guard fence, replace or extend new structures and install safety end treatments.
FM 2648 widening, Lamar County: Watch for work zones and drive safely through construction areas as final work is being performed.
Greenville Area (Hunt, Rains Counties)
Contacts: Greenville Area Office (903) 455-2363; Hunt Co. Maintenance (903)455-2303; Rains Co. Maintenance (903) 473-2682.
FM 2642 bridge/underpass project at I-30, Hunt County: from FM 1565 westward to the Hunt-Rockwall County line. FM 2642 through pass underneath I-30 is now open. Be cautious in this area and watch the signs. Please be aware of posted speed limits while traveling through this construction area. Traffic signals have been installed and are fully operational.
SH 34 and FM 816, Hunt County: from SH 276 south to the Hunt-Kaufman County line on SH 34, and from SH 34 to the Hunt-Fannin County line on FM 816. Workers are doing finishing work and establishing positive flow on ditches. Please be careful when traveling these roads.
SH 66, Hunt County: from near FM 6 to near FM 2642. A project consisting of widening pavement, installing continuous left turn lanes, and safety treating fixed objects is underway. Please be aware of lane closures and workers in this area.
Traffic Safety Notes:
Maintenance crews are working on hot-mix operations on SH 276. Please be cautious when traveling near our crews and obey the signs and flaggers.
Winnsboro Police Department Report for August 5-11, 2019
Arrests
Calum Foldenauer, age 22, of Pittsburg, was arrested on 08/08/2019 on a Hopkins County Warrant.
Johnny Harless, age 54, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 08/08/2019 for Possession of Controlled Substance PG1>=4G<200G.
Milton Figueroa Campos, age 33, of Pickton, was arrested on 08/09/2019 for Driving While Intoxicated with child under 15 years of age.
Accidents
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a 1 vehicle accident on 8/9/2019 in the 1000 Block of South Walnut.
Unit 1 was traveling south bound and drove off the roadway and hit a driveway ditch. Unit 1 went airborne and struck a telephone pole causing it to break in half, and a metal fence. The Driver was bleeding and injured on his left side of his face. The Driver was transported to Christus Mother Francis in Tyler.
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a 1 vehicle accident on 08/10/2019 in the 500 Block of Park Rd. No injuries reported.
Unit 1 was found on its top in the ditch in the 500 block of Park St. unattended. Wyatt’s wrecker took possession of the vehicle and it was released.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 155 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 29 citations and 47 warnings during this reporting period.
Emory Man Accused of Disorderly Conduct, Making Terroristic Threat
A 60-year-old Emory man was arrested during the noon hour Saturday at Starbucks after alarming patrons at two businesses by making “alarming” statements regarding the recent shooting at the El Paso Walmart, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs officers’ first contact with Allen Ray Stuart Saturday was at Walmart, where store management told police a person had been reported for “making comments to patrons regarding the recent incident that occurred at the El Paso Wal-Mart,” according to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson.
“These comments were alarming to patrons and Wal-Mart management was alerted,” Ricketson said.
Officers were unable at that time to speak with any of the patrons Stuart allegedly directed the comments to, however, according to the police chief.
At the request of store management, Stuart was issued a criminal trespass warning prohibiting him from returning to Walmart, Ricketson stated.
At 12:24 p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched a few blocks up the road to Starbucks, where a man had reportedly approached a patron and made comments in reference to Walmart. Upon arrival, officers contacted the complainant, who reportedly “feared for his safety as well as the safety of others due to the comments and actions made by” the man, identified in reports Stuart, according to Ricketson.
Stuart was alleged to have asked about El Paso and said mentioned something potentially happening at a Walmart store in another city, according to police reports.
Officers contacted Stuart again. He allegedly began using vulgar language and failed to stop when asked to cease such behavior and, thus, was taken into custody for his disorderly conduct, according to police. The vehicle he arrived in, a Ford F250 pickup was towed from the location at the request of store management, according to police reports.
Later, Stuart was also charged with terroristic threat, a third a degree felony, based on his statements, according to arrest and police reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail Monday. Bond on the terroristic threat charge was set at $150,000, according to jail reports.
