Decatur Woman Caught Driving Stolen Pickup
A Decatur woman was caught driving a stolen pickup through Sulphur Springs early Thursday morning, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Communications Operators notified Officers Dustin Green and Zachary Davis of a report regarding a stolen pickup. Green reported seeing a Chevrolet Silverado with the license plate number given traveling on North Hilcrest Drive (Loop 301) and stopped the truck.
Upon contact, the driver was identified as Nichelle Vining. The Decatur woman was taken into custody at 4:03 a.m. Thursday, following further investigation and taken to jail on an unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charge. At the jail, it was learned the woman is actually Sharlyne Kay Vining, who goes by Shell and Nichelle.
Consequently, she was charged not only on the felony stolen vehicle charge but also on a failure to identify by giving false information charge, and a records check showed the Decatur woman to also be wanted in Palo Pinto County on a warrant for failure to appear on a resisting arrest or transport charge. She remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday afternoon, March 31, 2022, on all three charges, according to jail reports.
The vehicle was reportedly stolen around 3:22 a.m. March 31, 2022, from the 300 block of East Industrial Drive, according to arrest reports.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
Flowering, Potted, Hangings Baskets, Packs Offered At Sulphur Springs FFA Plant Sale
A variety of flowering, bedding, potted and hanging plants and vegetables will be available at the Sulphur Springs FFA Plant Sale this Saturday at the high school.
The SSFFA Plant Sale has become an annual tradition to not only provide the students with opportunities to maintain and grow plants but to provide lush greens, topped with red, yellow, pink, orange and purple flowers, ferns, vegetables and flowers the community can purchase to brighten up their homes, workspaces, event venues or decorative occasion. The funds raised will go back into the program to help fund future learning opportunities.
In addition to the FFA students, the plants to be sold have been tended by Lindsey Arthur’s six floral design classes, advanced floral design and practicum courses. Students have harvested flowers such as dahlias, some of which were incorporated earlier in the year into monthly flower arrangements teachers were able to subscribe to. Students tended, cut, designed and delivered an arrangement to subscribes each month.
The sale will offer flowering hanging baskets filled with brilliant spring flowers for $15 and baskets of ferns for $20. Small succulents are offered for $3 and large succulents for $5. Four-packs of vegetables or strawberries will available for $5 a pack. Some flowers are available for $3 per four-pack, great for adding to lawn or patio gardens. The students even offer 10-inch terracotta flowering pots for $15 each.
Additionally, at least 25 flowers, grasses, spices and other decorative plants will be offered in a variety of sizes, some requiring more attention than others. Just look for the colored dot, which corresponds with the price for each.
Caibrachoa, double impatient (which are quite impressive), geraniums, lantana, petunias, sunpatients, sweet potato vine, rosemary, begonias, celosia (in several colors), coleus (some more green and others just the opposite with bright color outlined in green), dusty Millers (which look icy in their almost snowflake like appearance), marigolds, pansies, petunias, snapdragons, stock, vincas, pamas grass, lavender, lemon grass, airplane plant, cordyline and moss rose will be available as long as supplies last. Prices for these include $3, $5, $15 and $20.
Students are busy Thursday making sure the best plants are prepped, properly labeled and tagged for Saturday’s plant sale.
The Sulphur Springs FFA Plant Sale will run from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sulphur Springs High School Greenhouse. Enter the high school complex using the driveway on the far right. Continue past the band practice field and turn left in front of the Multi Purpose Building. Then, continue to the end of the driveway, where colorful flora should be visible at the end of the shop building.
Self-Attestation Of Sex Marker To Be Offered Soon For Social Security Number Records
The Social Security Administration announced a new policy change which will allow people to self-select their sex marker on their Social Security number record, likely beginning in the fall of 2022.
The announced was made by Acting Commissioner of Social Security Kilolo Kijakazi Thursday morning, March 31, 2022.
“The Social Security Administration is committed to reducing barriers and ensuring the fair treatment of the LGBTQ+ community by updating our procedures for Social Security number records,” said Acting Commissioner Kijakazi. “This policy change will allow people to self-select their sex in our records without needing to provide documentation of their sex designation.”
According to the SSN press release, people who update their sex marker in Social Security’s records will need to apply for a replacement card. They will still need to show a current document to prove their identity, but they will no longer need to provide medical or legal documentation of their sex designation once the policy change becomes effective. SSN cards do not include sex markers.
In February, the agency issued guidance instructing employees to accept evidence documents that contain non-binary identifiers for original SSN and replacement SSN card applications, and other updates to the agency’s internal SSN records. The agency is exploring possible future policy and systems updates to support an “X” sex designation for the SSN card application process, according to the SSA statement.
Wanted Sulphur Springs Man Found Sleeping In Store Parking Lot
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chris Baumann reported seeing a vehicle parked in a South Broadway Street parking lot away from other vehicles. Noting it looked like one he knew a wanted Sulphur Springs man drives, he ran the license plate and confirmed it to be registered to the 49-year-old.
Baumann contacted the person sleeping inside of the vehicle. He then asked him to step out, confirmed the warrant was still active and took Marcos Steven Mehlhoff into custody at 12:28 a.m. March 30, 2022.
Mehlhoff was booked into the county jail at 1 a.m. Wednesday on the warrant for violation probation on an indecency with a child by exposure charge. He was held in the county jail later Wednesday without bond on the charge, according to jail reports. The offense, Baumann noted in arrest reports, is alleged to have occurred Tuesday morning, March 29, 2022.
Mehlhoff was first arrested July 10, 2019 on a warrant for the indecency with a child charge. Police launched an investigation into the allegation after Child Protective Services received a report of suspected sexual abuse of an elementary-aged child who is not a member of Mehlhoff’s family. Mehlhoff was identified as the suspect, the warrant was obtained and Mehhoff was arrested, Sulphur Springs police detectives reported following the Sulphur Springs man’s arrest in 2019. Mehlhoff remained there until his release Aug. 28, 2019.
The 49-year-old was indicted in October 2019 on the charge, according to court records. He returned to Hopkins County jail on Sept. 15, 2020 to serve a commitment for the indecency charge; he remained there until Jan. 31, 2022, jail records 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.
That Silk Weaving On Your Favorite Tree Is A Bagworm Infestation, Not Ornamentation
The small, silk weaving that resembles a Christmas tree ornament on your favorite tree or shrub is not decoration but an insect infestation on the trees.
These bags protect the caterpillars, or larvae, pupae, female adults and eggs of bagworms (Order Lepidoptera Family Psychidae). Bagworms attack trees and shrubs including evergreens such as arborvitae, cedars, cypress, junipers, pines and spruce and broadleaved plants such as apple, basswood, black locust, boxelder, elm, honey locust, Indian hawthorn, maple, various oaks, persimmon, sumac, sycamore, wild cherry and willow. Although bagworms are not abundant every year, once a plant is infested the insect becomes a persistent problem unless controlled.
Texas has several species of bagworms, each species’ slightly different habits and life cycles affect the timing of control measures. Infestations, which may not be noticed at first, can defoliate trees and shrubs, and kill these plants if left unchecked.
The bagworm (T. ephemeraeformis) is found on most evergreens lives in East-Central Texas, from the Oklahoma state line to the Gulf Coast. This species has one generation per year. Eggs are laid in the fall and hatch in the spring. Caterpillars grow throughout the summer and pupate in August or September. After a 3-week pupal period, the adult moths emerge. After mating, the females deposit their eggs and die.
Birds, insect parasites and insect predators are natural enemies of bagworms. Bird predation and insect parasitism can help keep bagworm outbreaks brief. However, natural enemies can’t prevent the bagworms from damaging plants.
Handpicking bagworms off the plants is the cheapest way to control them, particularly in the winter months. Pick off all of the bags and destroy or discard them. Eggs in bags thrown on the ground will hatch in the spring and develop into larvae that could re-infest the plants.
If handpicking isn’t practical or safe, use insecticide spray. Apply insecticide as soon as bagworm eggs have hatched or while the larvae are small and feeding. Determine the right time for treatment by collecting bags in late winter and keeping them in a container out of sunlight. Once the caterpillars hatch from the bags in the container, apply insecticide to plants. Chemical control is not as effective when the caterpillars close their bags to molt or pupate. In most areas, insecticides applied in April, May and June are effective.
Use insecticides containing acephate (Orthene®), Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, carbaryl (Sevin®), pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyXuthrin, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, etc.), spinosad, azadirachtin, neem oil, malathion, pyrethrins or insecticidal soap. Use spray equipment that gives complete coverage of all foliage. Hire a professional exterminator if you do not have adequate equipment.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Submitted by Dr. Mario Villarino, DVM, Texas AgriLife Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, for Hopkins County, [email protected]
Sulphur Bluff ISD Pre-K Roundup Scheduled April 27
Sulphur Bluff ISD Pre-K Roundup For the 2022-2023 school year will be held from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at the school.
The full-day prekindergarten program for district students is designed to provide a solid foundation of school success among 4-year-olds prior to entering the regular public school program. The SBISD pre-k program goal is to reduce the probability of school failure for at-risk children. The program stresses intensive language development in preparation for kindergarten.
To be eligible for enrollment in a pre-kindergarten class, a child must be four years of age on Sept. 1 of the current school year. Students who are three years of age on Sept. 1 will be accepted if space permits. Applicants must meet at least one of the following state program eligibility requirements:
| Household Size | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $25,142 | $2,096 | $484 |
| 2 | $33,874 | $2,823 | $652 |
| 3 | $42,606 | $3,551 | $820 |
| 4 | $51,338 | $4,279 | $988 |
| 5 | $60,070 | $5,006 | $1,156 |
| 6 | $68,802 | $5,734 | $1,324 |
| 7 | $77,534 | $6,462 | $1,492 |
| 8 | $86,266 | $7,189 | $1,659 |
National Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Program; chart
will change when new application become available)
- Be educationally disadvantaged (eligible to participate in the National Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Program), determined by completing the pre-qualification application and attaching proof of income.
- Be Unable to speak and comprehend the English language. Student must be tested and qualify as limited English proficient.
- Be homeless
- Be the child of an active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or a reserved component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active duty by proper authority.
- Be the child of a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the state military forces or reserve component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while serving on active duty.
- Be a child who has ever been in the conservatorship (foster care) of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) following an adversary hearing.
The following must accompany the application qualification packet:
- Student’s birth certificate
- Student’s Social Security card
- Student’s up-to-date immunization (shot) records
- Proof of residency such as a current utility statement, lease agreement or tax statement;
- And proof of income eligiblity, if qualifying based on income.
The child’s parent/guardian should be prepared to produce a driver’s license or photo I.D.
Attending PreK Roundup does not guarantee your student will be enrolled for PreK in the upcoming school year. When a child has been approved for pre-k, the parent/guardian will then need to complete the Ascender online enrollment forms.
Pre-k students who have completed applications requirements by July 1 will be accepted to the elementary campus in the following priority admission order:
- 4-year-old students who reside within the district.
- 4-year-old students who attended SBISD during the prior school year (2021-2022)
- 4-year-old siblings of students currently enrolled in SBISD and children of employees.
SBISD will notify the family by July 1, 2020 of the student’s placement. For questions or assistance, please call 903-945-2460, or email [email protected].
Students applying after July 1 will be placed as space is available. Three-year-old students who qualify and out-of-district transfer students will be accepted, if space permits. Available openings may not be known until after the start of school.
Four-year-old students within each category will be admitted according to date of application. Three-year-old students will be admitted according to age, with older students being placed first. For example, students with birthdays in September or October will be placed before those in November and December.
Only students attending Pre-K in their home attendance zone may qualify for bus transportation.
A student should be toilet trained to enter the program unless qualified for IDEA, and will be subject to the same attendance requirements as all SBISD students.
When students are not able to attend class, parents should call the school office and report the absence. A written excuse from the parent is required upon the student’s return to class.
Per state law, a student must be in attendance for at least 90% of the days the class is offered to obtain credit of the class. Student appeals on absenteeism may be made to the campus attendance committee.
An application can be found and downloaded from the SBISD website under the Elementary School tab or the Facebook link. For any additional questions, concerns, information or assistance, call 903-945-2460 or email Sulphur Bluff Elementary Principal Amy Daniel at [email protected].
Stress Awareness Month
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County, [email protected]
April is Stress Awareness Month. You may be thinking, “I’m totally aware of stress!” These are tough days. Everyone from young children to older adults experience stress at some point. Stress can result from issues with work, school, family, or finances. Not only does it affect our mood, but our health as well. Muscle or body aches, inadequate sleep, and unintended changes in how much we eat can be caused by stress.
However, once you identify signs of stress, you can learn coping skills and, in time, strengthen your resiliency to stress. Julie Tijerina, Extension Program Specialist, states that teens and young children do not yet have the coping skills needed to help them ease their stressors, but children will often react to stress in the same manner as the adults around them. She suggests these simple tips to reduce stress:
- Breathing exercises: hold your breath for 4 seconds and release for 4 seconds. Do this for four to 5 minutes.
- Sitting meditation: sit comfortably in a chair, back straight, feet flat on the floor, and hand in lap. Breathe through the nose focusing on movement of breath in and out of your lungs.
- Walking meditation: Find a quiet place 10-20 feet in length. Walk slowly. Pay attention to the movements needed to keep balance. Walk a length, turn around and repeat.
- Before a test or other stressful event: Do neck and shoulder rolls, squeeze and relax hands and fingers, or do some simple stretches.
- Other steps that can be taken to help cope with stress include:
- Healthy eating
- Exercising
- Taking time to relax
- Practicing mindfulness
- Getting restful sleep
I might add one more tip – turn off the news on television, computer apps, and phone. That tends to be a source of stress for many. We might not be able to change what is going on overseas, our country’s borders, or even in our own neighborhood, but we can pray and take a stand on what it right.
Be Well, Live Well Healthy Aging Series
There is still time to sign up for this 4-session series, to be held April 11, 14, 18, and 21. Sessions will begin at 10 a.m. and last approximately one hour. There is no charge to attend, but I do need to make preparations, so please contact the Extension Office at 903-885-3443 to sign up. Great topics, great give-away items, and great fellowship, along with some tasty refreshments are all part of the program series.
Closing Thought
Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.
– Tommy, age 6
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent, at the Hopkins County Extension Office at P.O. Box 518, 1200-B West Houston St., Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
What to do with Tires?
Spring is here, and ‘Spring Cleanup’ is coming soon. By ‘Spring Cleanup’ we mean the annual chance for residents of Hopkins County to take certain waste materials to locations in Hopkins County for disposal. Neither the City or County cleanup events will accept tires. So… what to do?
Landfill
KSST also contact the local Republic Landfill in Campbell, TX. They will not accept any tires under any circumstances.
Tire Recycling Center
There are at least two tire grinders in Texas. The closest is in Dallas. They will accept car and light truck tires and charge $2.75 each. They ship the crumbs off to other facilities for re-use. If you have a large quantity of tires, they will come to you and load them. Most of the tires left at tire shops end up here.
My old man’s spare tires were only actually tires in the academic sense. They were round and had once been made of rubber.
Ralphie
Here is our suggestion.
KSST contacted several tire shops in Sulphur Springs, and they will accept tires starting at only $3 each. That rate is for car and light truck tires only. Rates increase for semi and bus tires, and tractor tires are quoted on site.
So once you have decided to haul a load of old junk tires to your favorite tire shop, be sure to call first and make sure they have room.
Additional information from the State of Texas can be viewed here.
Agreement For D6, Contracts For Legal Research, Construction Of Trusty Housing Facility Approved
A 381 agreement was approved for D6, Inc., along with contracts for legal research resources and construction of a trusty housing facility, and other items this week.
381 Agreement
Hopkins County Commissioners Court at their regular meeting this week approved a 381 agreement for D6, Inc., providing a tax incentive for the company to relocate its corporate headquarters from Oregon to Sulphur Springs, Texas and expand their manufacturing presence in the state.
The business opened a Sulphur Springs plant at the end of 2020, in the facility known locally as the old Coca-Cola plant, with plans to expand within 18-months. D6 received tax incentives at that time for the expansion and addition to the facility at that time.
D6 is an advanced design-to-shelf packaging manufacturer, using recycled plastics, and when the pandemic began shifted to making face shields and masks. The latest project will expand the business’ manufacturing presence in the state, building the first fully closed-loop recycling site for single-use PET clamshells in Sulphur Springs,
The business plans to add another 66,000 square feet to their holdings in Sulphur Springs with the move south of I-30 near the current location. The move was announced last October by Governor Greg Abbott, who noted the project is a $27 million capital investment to bring a “world-class recycling operation” that is expected to create 231 new jobs to town. A Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $1,432,200 has been extended to D6, and the company has been offered a $6,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus, Abbott announced Oct. 15, 2021.
“This is a big company and amazingly wants to settle in Sulphur Springs, which will bring some good jobs for our citizens,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said at the March 28, 2022 Commissioners Court meeting. “This is a successful business. We are excited to have them here.”
Trusty Housing Facility
The Commissioners Court also agreed to a contract with Sedalco for the construction of a new trusty housing facility on county-owned property just across from the current jail facility. County officials anticipate spending $4.5 million of the $7 million allocated to Hopkins County in American Rescue Plan funding to construct a building to house male inmates who have been designated as trusties, and as such go out into the community to work daily, including on precinct crews, at schools, the Civic Center and other locations.
The trusty facility would better segregate the inmate trusties from the general inmate population at Hopkins County jail when they return from their work details. The county officials contend the measure should help reduce potential spread of COVID or other infectious illnesses from trusties who are out in the public or working alongside those who are around others in public, where they could be potentially exposed to illnesses.
By doing so, the county would be meeting the “response to COVID pandemic for public health and the health of the general inmate population of the Hopkins County jail,” an allowable use under the ARP guidelines, county officials said.
Legal Research
Newsom too presented Monday for court approval a three-year contract with Lexis Nexis for legal research. This provides online research resources – essentially an inexhaustible law library available at their fingertips – for judges and prosecutors to use in the course of business when hearing and trying local cases. The amount will increase incrementally over the three years of the contract. The local judges approved the request. The Commissioners Court also approved the contract as presented during Monday’s regular court meeting.
Local Health Authority
The Commissioners Court also recognized Dr. I.L. Balkcom IV for 25 years service to Hopkins County as the Local Health Authority with a plaque. Hopkins County noted Balkcom’s move and establishment of operation in another county leaves an opening for a new Local Health Authority. Dr. Darrell Pierce was recommended for the job.
County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley said Pierce has agreed to fill the role, but that the process for that to happen was still in progress. He said if the Court approves of the recommendation, Pierce would be available April 11 to come to court to be sworn into the position. Pierce and Balkcom think a lot alike, which should make it easier for Pierce to step in and fill the role of LHA, Endlsey said. The term is a two-year appointment. The Commissioners Court members indicated they are in favor of appointing Pierce as LHA.
Land Division
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price submitted for the record a letter from him concerning land division in Precinct 4. He explained that a man made a request regarding some vacant lots on State Highway 11 in Ridgeway that do not fall under the county’s subdivision rules, but was checking to see if that would meet county approval. The property would have a private road through it. In a letter, it was noted the county would not be taking over that stretch or roadway, but did ask that the road be constructed at least 60 feet wide to allow emergency vehicles to safely travel and turn around.
“Whether he does it or not, it’s not in our rules and regulations, but we did ask him to,” Price said, explaining that it’s not uncommon for someone to build, then ask the county to take over the roadway. Doing so is expensive. The person making the request, in the correspondence made it clear they county would never be asked to consider taking in the road unless it is brought up to or above county standards.
A motion to accept the request was made by Price, seconded by Anglin and approved by the Commissioners Court on March 28, 2022.
Other Business
Hopkins County Extension Agents Mario Villarino and Johanna Hicks distributed handouts to the Commissioners Court, then gave updates on many successful activities that have occurred this quarters, as well as upcoming activities the local Extension office will be involved with in the near future.
The Extension Agents noted Cumby ISD reached out to Extension regarding a possible partnership; the agents met with faculty to discuss the school’s Edu-Nation initiative. Como-Pickton also contacted the office to exhibit and provide giveaways during the school’s health fair. Villarino introduced another agent who will be partnering with the Hopkins County office in development of a program. They’ve worked with DFW area entities on an educational plan for water conservation.
The Commissioners Court for the record reported receiving written reports from the offices of the constables, District Clerk, AgriLife Extension, Homeland Security-Environmental, Homeland Security-Law Enforcement, the fire department, justices of the peace, sheriff, tax assessor/collector and treasurer.
A request from Spectrum/Charter to construct and place a meter base pole or ground mount meter base on County Road 3524 was approved, at the recommendation of Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley.
Approximately 50 Venders, Agencies Will Offer Free Health Screenings, Information April 5 At 55+ Health Fair
A 55+ Health Fair will be held Tuesday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at First Baptist Church Sulphur Springs’ Recreational Outreach Center (The ROC), 115 Putman St.
“We will have lots of booths, giveaways and screenings that will be free for you to take advantage of,” said Karon Weatherman, Senior Citizens Center program and marketing director.
Among the free health screenings offered will be blood pressure, glucose and blood oxygen level checks. All together, there will be close to 50 vendors with tons of information about health related topics.
“We hope to see a BIG crowd there. Tell your friends and come get educated,” Weatherman said. “Don’t wait to learn about hospice, home health, nursing homes, medical equipment, hearing devices, assisted living, Medicare or Medicaid, physical therapy or even funeral homes until it is too late to make decisions on your own. Come learn what is out there and available for you NOW, when you can make your own choices.”
And to sweeten the day, every vendor will be bringing a $25 door prize, with drawings for those visiting the fair to have a chance at receiving. Door prizes are slated to be presented every 15 Minutes or so.
Can’t stay for the whole event, but interested in learning more about certain topics or visiting specific health booths? No problem, below is a rough diagram to help you locate the booths you’re most interested in.
For additional information about the 55+ Health Fair, contact Karon Weatherman at the Senior Citizens Center at 903-885-1661.
