Texas Tarantula Season Has Begun
June 8, 2023- Every summer, thousands of tarantulas wander across Texas in what is now known as an annual tarantula “migration.”
Beginnining in May and lasting through July, the large arachnids, mostly males, actively search for female to mate with.
“One of the most spectacular spider events in Texas occurs for a few weeks each summer when male tarantulas actively wander apparently seeking females,” a Texas A&M field guide said. “This phenomenon is not well understood and may be related to migration more than mating.”
After mating, female tarantulas can lay anywhere from 100 to 1,000 eggs in a web made like a hammock. Eggs will hatch anywhere from 45-60 days.
It’s easy to spot a Texas tarantula due to its large size — usually about 1.5 inches long, the National Park Service said. The giant spiders also have a dark brown head-thorax and legs as well as a brown-black abdomen. There are 14 species of tarantula found throughout Texas, though it takes an expert to differentiate them.
The arachnids are more common in grasslands and semi-open areas, living in underground burrows, natural cavities under logs or stones, space under loose bark of tree trucks and old rodent burrows. Shelters used by these arachnids may have a few lines of silk on the ground in front of the shelter to help detect any passing pray.
Although they are nor harmful to humans, a bite from this 8 legged creature can still be quite painful, this is due to their sharp fangs. Any venom that may be injected is not dangerous. Tarantulas also defend themselves by releasing hairs found on their abdomen, which can cause irritation if the hairs come in contact with eyes or skin.
Governor Abbott Appoints Jackson To Public Utility Commission Of Texas
June 8, 2023- Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Kathleen Jackson to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) for a term set to expire on September 1, 2027. The PUC regulates the state’s electric, water, wastewater, and telecommunications utility industries, implements respective legislation, and offers customer assistance in resolving consumer complaints.
Kathleen Jackson of Beaumont is a board member of the Texas Water Development Board, where she has served since 2014. She is a registered Professional Engineer and former chairman of the Southeast Texas Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. She is a member of the Environmental Flows Advisory Group and Texas Farm Bureau and a board member and former president of the Lamar Institute of Technology Foundation. She is former president of the American Cancer Society of North Jefferson County, a former board member of Junior Achievement of the Golden Triangle, and a former member of the Lower Neches Valley Authority Board of Directors and the Texas Water Conservation Association. Additionally, she has participated on the Sabine and Neches Rivers Bay and Estuary Environmental Flows Assessment Program Stakeholders Committee. Jackson received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University.
Texas Comptroller Certifies New $321.3 Billion State Spending Plan, Sends To Abbott’s Desk
June 8, 2023- The $321.3 Billion spending plan that Texas lawmakers have approved for the next two years is balanced and on its way to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk after it was certified Wednesday by the state’s chief financial officer, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
Before Abbott can review the budget that will direct the state’s spending for the next two years, the comptroller had to certify that the 1,115-page plan doesn’t spend more money than the state expects to bring in. Passing a balanced budget is the only task the Texas Constitution requires of lawmakers during their regular session every two years.
A number of constitutional amendments to be decided by voters will ultimately determine how much money is left in state coffers at the end of the two-year cycle — including a $1.5 billion effort to expand broadband, a $1 billion Texas Water Fund to pay for infrastructure and potentially a homestead exemption if lawmakers agree on a property tax-relief plan.
With the certification from Hegar for the budget Wednesday now makes it eligible for Abbots review.
Abbott has until June 18 to remove any spending lines that he doesn’t support from the budget. His line-item veto powers apply only to the budget. If the Legislature is still in session when that veto authority is exercised, the Legislature can override those decisions with a two-thirds majority vote.
They can replace vetoed spending by passing a new funding Bill for those items should the governor call for a special session. Because a veto only subtracts line items from the budget and doesn’t add any new spending, Abbott’s vetoes — if he makes any — won’t affect the comptroller’s certification.
The General Appropriations Act for 2024-25 was passed in the final 48 hours of the 88th Legislature’s 140-day regular session, which adjourned May 29.
The 2024-25 budget allocates some $144 billion in state tax money — including half of the surplus — toward tax cuts, improving mental health access, pay raises for state employees, border security, state parks expansions and the state’s energy grid, plus infrastructure for broadband and water.
The budget has no new money for employees who retired from state agencies. It offers no funding for the state’s sweltering prisons. It sets aside $4 billion that could be used to increase teacher pay and school funding, but budget writers agreed to release the money only if a Bill creating a private school voucher program was passed. That Bill failed during the regular session in May but is likely to be taken up in a special session expected later this year.
Along with a separate sending Bill that put another $7 billion of surplus toward current-cycle needs — such as replacements for the state’s aging vehicle fleets, new park land acquisition, flood mitigation projects, school safety measures and mental health hospitals — the budget leaves $10 billion in projected revenue unspent for the next two years. the supplemental bill was certified and sent to the governor Monday.
That leaves the spending plan well below the constitutional requirement that lawmakers spend less than the $188 million available to them. And at a 10.5% increase in tax spending over the current cycle, the budget comes in well under the state’s constitutional and statutory caps on spending increases that state leaders set at 12.3%.
The House passed the budget 124-22. Senators approved it 29-2.
New Opportunity To Win A Designer Handbag
Sulphur Springs, TX – The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation and Jordan’s Place Pediatrics, PA are providing an additional opportunity to win a handbag this year at Designer Handbag Bingo. Tickets for the raffle of a mystery designer bag are being sold for $20 each. Only 350 tickets will be sold. The bag will be valued at approximately $2,000.
“So many people have wanted to attend this event and there is just no room to accommodate more players. By adding the mystery handbag raffle, more people will be able to join in the fun and have an opportunity to win a designer bag.” said Foundation Chair Maleta Reynolds. She added, “We are so appreciative of Dr. Sherri Barclay of Jordan’s Place Pediatrics, PA for sponsoring the mystery handbag!”
Designer Handbag Bingo will be held on Thursday, August 3. The raffle winner will be drawn during the event, and need not be present to win. If not attending, the winner may pick up the handbag locally the following day.
Tickets for the raffle are available now at handbagbingo23.givesmart.com. Tickets make a
great gift for loved ones or are a great way to say thank you to employees. Like tickets to the
event, raffle tickets are expected to go quickly.
The Foundation, now in its 26 th year of operation, is an IRS 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization. Its sole purpose is to improve healthcare offerings in Hopkins County. This event is a fundraiser for the Foundation with proceeds of the event being used by the Foundation for Hopkins County healthcare initiatives.
To sponsor or purchase raffle tickets go to handbagbingo23.givesmart.com and for more information, email [email protected] or call 903-438-4799.
Delta County Sheriff’s Update On Searching For Car And Driver Involved In Fatal Hit-And-Run
June 8, 2023- Delta County Sheriffs Office has posted a update on the currently ongoing search for the vehicle and driver of a Nissan Altima between the years of 2001-2005. The suspect is wanted for a fatal hit and run incident that occurred near 1800 block of FM 1532 just after 3:30am.
Delta County Sheriff has posted this regarding the update on the ongoing search:
“We have had a few leads come in but we are continuing to ask for the public’s help in this case. We are looking and expanding the search. Give us a call with information on any Nissan older car with fresh damage to the front bumper or left fender in the Delta County and surrounding areas. Your help in this investigation is greatly appreciated not only by the Sheriff’s office but by the family of this young man as well. If you were traveling in the area of FM 1532 on the morning of Monday June 5th, between the hours of midnight and 3am, we would like to hear from you as well. We are actively following every lead we get. If anyone has cameras in the area of FM 904, FM 1532 or Hwy 64, please reach out to us. We would like to see if we can obtain footage from that morning.”
If you have any information contact the delta County Sheriffs office at (903)395-2146
Reckless Driver Complaint Lands Man in Jail
June 8, 2023 – A Wednesday call to emergency services alerted Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies to a reckless driver on Highway 19 north of Sulphur Springs.
The caller stated a south bound GMC Sonoma was swerving all over the road. The caller was able to relay the licence plate information to dispatch. A Deputy was able to locate the pickup on West Loop 301 and verify the tag information. A traffic stop was initiated.
A strong odor of marijuana emitted from the vehicle as deputies approached. The sole occupant, Joshua Scott Morris, a 43 year-old resident of Sulphur Springs, was asked to exit the vehicle. A search of his person revealed and a yellow pill vial filled with Ecstasy tabs inside one pocket, and methamphetamine in another pocket.
While searching his vehicle, deputies found THC wax as well. Morris, who stated he works a “marijuana dispensary” located in Oklahoma, was arrested. His vehicle was impounded. His charges are enhanced because of the proximity to the Barbara Bush Primary School Zone. He is charged charged with:
1 481.115(D) POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
1 481.116(C) POSS CS PG 2 >= 1G < 4G
1 481.116(B) POSS CS PG 2 < 1G
This not the first time Morris has been in Hopkins County Jail. In 2015 he was arrested for a Christmas Day assault of his disabled mother. See that story here. His was indicted by a Grand Jury in 2016 for his crime.
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.
Hopkins County United Way Newest Board Members and 2023-2024 Board President
June 7, 2023- Hopkins County United Way introduced their newest board members during their meeting Wednesday. The new members are as follows: Jessica McInnis, KK McKenzie, Chelsea Mayes and Lyndsay Palmer.
Also during this meeting it was announced that the serving board president will be Emily Glass, serving 2023 through 2024. Campaign Co-Chairs for this year’s campaign are Jessica McInnis and KK McKenzie.
Members of the Budget and Allocation Committee were also named for the upcoming year. They are David Burns, Larry Crowson, Emily Glass, Mike Jumper, Jessica McInnis, KK McKenzie and Lyndsay Palmer.
PJC Coding Camp Spots Still Open In Sulphur Springs, Greenville
A robotics coding camp offered at Paris Junior College still has openings in the Greenville and Sulphur Springs free one-week camps. Made possible by the Texas Workforce Commission, the camps are for students entering the sixth, seventh, or eighth grades in the 2023-24 school year.
Openings are available in the June 26-30 and July 24-28 camps at the PJC- Sulphur Springs Center and the July 10-14 and July 31-August 4 camps at the PJC- Greenville Center. Applications must be received ten days before the first day of the selected camp. Important forms and the camp application may be found at https://www.parisjc.edu/downloads/coding-camp-flyer.pdf.
The Robotics Coding Camp will allow students to explore the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. By using a snap-together robotics system, students will be able to design, build and code an endless variety of robots; watch code come alive on a physical robot and apply key STEM skills. By familiarizing students with coding, programming sensors and automation, they hone critical computational thinking skills needed to succeed.
Enrollment is limited and priority is given to foster youth, students with disabilities, students from low income families, and students from populations underserved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Campers will work with Sphero Bolt robots and RVR+ programmable robots each camp day. They’ll be able to take the RVR+ robots home after the camp ends. Those may later be built upon and customized at the family’s discretion.
Camps are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students may be dropped off at 8:45 a.m. and picked up by 3:15 p.m. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance; parents or guardians will be notified if their child has been selected.
For questions or additional information, please contact 903-782-0447. The application may be emailed to [email protected], faxed to 903-782-0443, or dropped off at the PJC Continuing Education Department in Paris or at the PJC- Greenville or PJC-Sulphur Springs by the deadline of 10 days in advance of each camp’s start.
Couple Charged with Felony Possession
June 7, 2023 – A unemployed Texas couple, out for a drive near Coleman lake, are now in Hopkins County Jail.
A Hopkins County Deputy noticed a vehicle traveling east on Main Street in Sulphur Springs around 8 pm Tuesday. The vehicle did not display license plates. A traffic stop was initiated.
The driver, TIFFANY DAWN BOYKIN age 34 of Leonard, TX, advised the deputy that she did not have a driving license. The passenger, CHRISTOPHER RAY HARDMAN age 43 of Greenville, TX, advised his license was invalid.
A strong odor of marijuana wafted from the silver Dodge Journey. The driver indicated that there was a blunt inside the car. Additional deputies arrived on scene. The couple exited the vehicle and a probable cause search was conducted.
A backpack was located in the rear seat. Inside was over 5 grams of methamphetamine, a glass pipe and a bag of marijuana.
The couple were placed in handcuffs and read their rights. Neither claimed ownership of the drugs. Their SUV was impounded. They are both charged with:
1 481.115(D) POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
This is not the first time Boykins was been in jail. Boykin was in arrested in Hunt County just after Christmas last year and charged with possession of controlled substance. In 2019 she was arrested in Hunt County and charged with BURGLARY OF HABITATION; FUGITIVE OUT OF STATE.
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 Council Swears In New Member, John Sellers Reselected As Mayor
June 7, 2023- The Sulphur Springs City Council, during Tuesday’s meeting, has sworn in new member Tyler Law to position 6 as well as swearing in John Sellers to his position 7 for which he was reeelected. Both Law and Sellers then took their places on the council for the June regular meeting.
Also during this month’s meeting, council members voted on nominating a new mayor for the city of Sulphur Springs, The nominee selected was John Sellers. Council members voted unanimously to select Sellers as the Mayor of Sulphur Springs
