MG, Yantis Thespians To Perform OAP At Bi-District Contest Friday At SSHS Auditorium
Thespians from two local school districts will be among the competitors in the Bi-District One Act Play contest Sulphur Springs ISD is slated to host Friday in the SSHS Auditorium at the Civic Center.
Both Yantis and Miller Grove‘s plays were selected to advance from district to bi-district competition, and are to be among the plays performed March 18. The Yantis Owls will lead things off at 10 a.m. with their rendition of “Mr. Flannery’s Ocean. Miller Grove is slated to be the fifth of six schools performing back-to-back Friday morning.
The schedule starting at 10 a.m. Friday, as reported by MGISD, will be as follows, by play and school:
- Performance #1 — Mr. Flannery’s Ocean, Yantis
- Performance #2 — Her Senior Year, Ector
- Performance #3 — Voices, Union Hill
- Performance #4 — To See the Stars, Avery
- Performance #5 — Dear Papa, Miller Grove
- Performance #6 — Shipwrecked, Savoy
MGISD reports said while there will be no admission charge for audience members, those planning to view either play are asked to please be in the auditorium before performances start. In order not to distract from the performances, the audience is not to enter during mid-performance.
Como-Pickton Students Advance To Bi-District With OAP Performance
The Como-Pickton Eagles represented the district well in the One Act Play contest last week. Not only did the play advance from District to Bi-District Competition, but six students received individual recognition for their contributions to the play.
Receiving All-Star Cast accolades were Makayla Hall, Baylee Bowen and Danica Wiggins. Dana Baxley and Sam Tapley received Honorable Mention All-Star Cast recognition as well. Sandra Tran won the Tech Award at the March12 OAP competition.
The students will present the play again for judging at the Bi-District OAP contest in Lindale on Saturday, March 19.
Four Teams in Action For Tuesday Game Day
Both soccer teams, baseball and softball are all on deck on Tuesday, Mar. 15.
Soccer wraps up their regular seasons today and baseball, softball take on Mount Pleasant.
Baseball tees off their district-opening contest at home against the Tigers.
Sulphur Springs had a tough time in tourney season, taking on stiff competition across 5A and 6A, going 3-7 over three weekends. The Wildcats enter district season with a 3-8 overall record.
They look to get back in the win column on Tuesday when they host Mount Pleasant to tee off district play.
Coach Jerrod Hammack and his team tee off their district season at home against Mount Pleasant at Wildcat Park on Tuesday, Mar. 15 at 7 P.M.
Like baseball, softball takes on the Lady Tigers, but in Mount Pleasant.
Sulphur Springs won their first two district games, at home versus Hallsville 3-1 last Wednesday and on the road 2-0 in Longview Saturday.
The two district-opening wins gives softball an 11-1-2 record (2-0 district).
Coach David Carrillo & Co. have another tough test ahead of them Tuesday when they travel to Mount Pleasant to take on the Lady Tigers (2-0).
Winning on the road Tuesday would make Sulphur Springs the lone undefeated team in 15-5A through the first quarter of district play.
That game tees off in Mount Pleasant Tuesday, Mar. 15 at 6 P.M.
Soccer takes on Hallsville, with the men at home for Senior night and the women on the road.
The Lady Cats wrap up their season tonight on the road when they travel to Hallsville.
Coach Javier Aguayo’s squad were eliminated from postseason contention at the beginning of March, and have played for pride ever since.
Injuries plagued Sulphur Springs, with seven starters out this season due to various ailments and injuries.
Women’s soccer heads into their final game of the season sporting a 5-15-2 record (2-9 district).
Sulphur Springs kicks off their final game of the season in Hallsville on Tuesday, Mar. 15 at 7:15 P.M.
The men’s side also finish off their district season, but at home against the Bobcats. Coach Alexi Upton’s squad look to cap off their regular season with a huge win over Hallsville.
Sulphur Springs (6-5) clenched a playoff spot last Tuesday in their 6-2 road win over Pine Tree, giving the Wildcats at least the 4 seed come playoffs.
Hallsville (5-6) enters Tuesday’s Senior Night contest at the Prim a full game behind the Wildcats but still a lock for the postseason. A win over Sulphur Springs Tuesday would propel the Bobcats to 3rd place.
Coach Upton’s team enters Tuesday’s regular season finale sporting a 7-14-2 record.
Men’s soccer hope to win their Senior Night contest Tuesday, giving the Wildcats the third seed entering the playoffs.
The duel for No. 3 kicks off at Wildcat stadium tonight at 7:15 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Sulphur Springs Wildcat Bands Have Had A Productive Month So Far
The Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat Band has had a productive month so far, participating in two concerts and two different group competitions.
Wildcat Band members had the privilege of performing with Northeast Texas Symphony Orchestra as they provided a Children’s Concert for area school children. And, from all accounts, they did a great job.
The bands also scheduled a pre-UIL concert March 7 in the Auditorium to get ready for the big event.
On March 10, 2022, the Wind Ensemble received straight ones at UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest, and came home with the sweepstakes trophy, band instructors report.
On Saturday, March 12, the Wildcat Winter guard brought home third place in their classification at contest in Grand Prairie, scoring less than 1 point from first place.
2021 Marks Second Deadliest Year on Texas Roads
NEWS RELEASE
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(512) 463-8700
2021 MARKS SECOND DEADLIEST YEAR ON TEXAS ROADS
TxDOT issues urgent call to drivers to help reverse deadly trend
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March 14, 2022
AUSTIN – When friends and coworkers heard there was a crash nearby, they tried to call tow truck driver Isaac Simmons for an update. They never heard back.
“You don’t realize how much somebody impacts your life until they’re gone,” Simmons’ friend Nathan Bryant said. “He was ripped away from us violently and it’s not right.”
Isaac Simmons was killed on the side of the road in May, 2021 while responding to a stalled vehicle. He was one of more than 4,480 people killed on Texas roads in 2021, making it the second deadliest year since TxDOT began tracking fatalities in 1940. Sadly, 1981 was the deadliest year with 4,701 fatalities.
The increase in fatalities in Texas last year reflects a deadly trend nationwide. An estimated 20,160 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the first half of 2021, up 18.4% over 2020. In Texas, traffic fatalities were up 15 percent from 2020-2021.
Recognizing roadway safety is a shared responsibility between all of us – the public, engineers and law enforcement – Transportation Commissioner Laura Ryan is pleading with Texans to do their part.
“Driver behavior is one of the causes, but also one of the most important solutions,” Ryan said. “This is not blame. These are facts. We all have a role. TxDOT can do more, and we accept that responsibility. The driving public can do more. For instance, in 2021, a total of 1,522 people were killed because of speed, and a total of 1,219 people were killed because they were not wearing a seat belt. These were decisions made by people that could have potentially saved 2,741 lives.”
At this year’s annual Texas Transportation Forum, University of Texas psychology professor Dr. Art Markman told TxDOT leaders and transportation stakeholders that pressures from COVID are adding to disastrous outcomes on our roadways.
“We have to remind people that they are part of a community,” Markman said. “We have to start considering everyone as part of our community. If we don’t do that, there are going to be all sorts of negative consequences, and those are going to include negative consequences on the road.”
In addition to funding traffic safety campaigns and grant funds to law enforcement, TxDOT is working with researchers to deploy and study new roadway design features that are proven to save lives. The agency is using crash data to pinpoint areas where drivers are more prone to crash and will be focused on improvements in those areas and sharing that data with the public.
With increased focus on engineering, enforcement and on the critical role drivers play in road safety, Ryan and TxDOT leaders believe we can end the streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways.
“But make no mistake: this is an urgent call to action for all of us behind the wheel,” Ryan said. “We can do better. We should do better. We must do better – for ourselves, our loved ones and our larger community of fellow Texans. Not a single death on our roadways is acceptable. Let’s end this streak.”
EndTheStreakTX is a broad social media and word-of-mouth effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while behind the wheel, like wearing a seat belt, driving the speed limit, never texting and driving and never driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Nov. 7, 2000 was the last deathless day on Texas roadways. #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak of daily deaths.
Attention Media: If you’d like to download portions of interviews with Commissioner Laura Ryan, Dr. Art Markman and Nathan Bryant, click here. For downloadable video, click here.
For media inquiries, contact TxDOT Media Relations at [email protected] or (512) 463-8700.
The information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3). This information was received and processed by the department as of Jan. 21, 2022 and does change daily.
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Native Grasses, Forbs Can Help Cattle Producers, Rural Landowners Reduce Operational Costs
By Mario Villarino, Texas AgriLife Extension Office, Hopkins County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, [email protected]
Many cattle producers and other rural landowners are looking for ways to reduce the amount of money and labor invested in their operations. It can be costly to grow bermudagrass because it requires regular fertilization to produce high quality forage and hay.
Many warm-season native grasses and forbs produce enough forage, with adequate protein, to meet the needs of livestock without expensive fertilization. Little bluestem, Indian-grass, switchgrass and others are considered excellent forage for livestock and hay production.
The native bunchgrasses make ideal habitat for wildlife that depend on these plants for food, cover and nesting. The bare ground between bunchgrasses makes excellent travel and feeding areas for grassland birds and also allows a variety of native forbs to germinate and grow.
Many landowners are also interested in enhancing wildlife habitat on their properties. The Texas Property Tax Code now allows landowners to retain their agricultural tax valuation if they manage and/or restore their land for wildlife habitat, and this includes the restoration of native grasses. This tax incentive may extend to owners of smaller tracts that are often created when large ranches are sold and subdivided, but there are different acreage minimums in different regions of the state.
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].
10 People Arrested On Controlled Substance And Marijuana Charges
At least 10 people were arrested on controlled substance and marijuana charges in the past 4 days. Including a Brashear man accused of crashing a vehicle into a parked car; a Gainesville pair alleged to have marijuana, methamphetamine, ammunition and two pistols when stopped near a day care; five people found in possession of two bags of meth when stopped on I-30; four men and a woman caught with contraband on I-30; and a Sulphur Springs woman who reportedly arrived at the courthouse with pills for which she had not been issued a prescription, according to arrest reports.
West Industrial Drive Traffic Stop
Sulphur Springs Police Officers Dustin Green and Thad Cook reported stopping a Nissan Altima at 9:40 p.m. Sunday, March 13, 2022, on West Industrial Drive for a traffic violation. Upon contact with the driver and passenger, identified as Sebastian Cain Page and Fabian Chandler Ruiz, Green reported smelling a strong marijuana odor emitting rom the car and observed contraband in plain view in the car.
Thus, police had the 21-year-old Gainesville men exit the vehicle and detained them in handcuffs while officials conducted a probable cause search of the car. Police reported two loaded firearms, suspected marijuana, a glass pipe with a crystal-like substance in it, two boxes of ammunition among the items discovered.
Before transporting him to jail, police asked Page if he had any other contraband on him. He denied having any. While being dressed out in the jail, however, he was found to have two baggies of a crystal-like substance which weighed 0.6 gram. The suspected marijuana and packaging weighed 12 ounces, Green alleged in arrest reports.
Page was booked into Hopkins County jail just after 1 a.m. Monday, March 14, 2022, on possession of 4 ounces or more but less than 5 pounds of marijuana, prohibited substance in a correctional facility, possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Ruiz was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of 4 ounces or more but less than 5 pounds of marijuana. Drug-free zone enhancements were added to the marijuana charges due to the car’s proximity to a day care at the time of the traffic stop, according to jail reports.
Page and Ruiz remained in Hopkins County jail Monday evening. Page’s bonds were set at $10,000 per charge on the felony marijuana and prohibited substance charges and a $5,000 bond on the felony controlled substance charge. Ruiz’s bonds totaled $20,000 – $10,000 each on the marijuana and firearm charges, according to jail reports.
Interstate 30 West Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Elijah Fite reported stopping a Dodge Avenger at 4:10 p.m. Sunday, March 13, 2022, on Interstate 30 west near mile marker for a traffic violation. Deputies Kevin Lester and Dan Turrentine assisted.
Upon contact the five occupants were identified as 24-year-old Carlos Cordova-Segovia, 18-year-old Star Herrera-Mungia , 29-year-old Freddy Victorio-Herrera, 22-year-old Enoc Ventura-De La Cruz and 22-year-old Gabriel Ventura-De La Cruz.
Cordova-Segovia and Herrera-Mungia listed a Fort Worth address. The three other men reportedly told deputies they do not know their address. All except Herrera-Mungia were reported to to have been born in Mexico, according to arrest reports.
Fite reported smelling a marijuana odor emitting from the red car. A probable cause search of the car and contents allegedly revealed two clear baggies of suspected methamphetamine. All five occupants were taken into custody and transported to jail for further investigation, Fite alleged in arrest reports.
After being read their rights, all five not only denied ownership of the contraband but claimed they had no knowledge of the suspected methamphetamine at all, Fite alleged in arrest reports. The substance field tested positive as meth and weighed 2 grams, including packaging, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
All five were booked into jail around 7:30 p.m. Sunday on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to arrest and jail reports. All five remained in Hopkins County jail Monday evening in lieu of $10,000 bond on the felony controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
College Street Traffic Stop
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Dustin Green reported stopping a Lincoln MKZ at 2:57 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2022, on College Street for a traffic violation. Upon contact with the driver, identified in arrest reports as Laura Marie Cook, Green noted the 38-year-old Como woman to be extremely nervous, perhaps because of the crystal-like substance he noticed lying on the driver’s side floorboard.
(HCSO jail photo)
Green had Cook exit the red sedan. She agreed to let him search the car. Green reported finding a black bag with a glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and two plastic baggies containing a crystal-like substance on the driver’s seat.
Cook was taken into custody at 3:10 p.m. Saturday. After her car was inventories then towed from the location, Cook was transported to Hopkins County jail. The substance in the baggies weighed 5.4 grams, resulting in Cook being booked into Hopkins County jail at 4:54 p.m. March 12, 2022, on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a suspected Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Cook, who jail reports show to also be known by Laura Shaw, was released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, March 13, 2022, on a $20,000 bond on the felony controlled substance charge.
Lee Street DWI Crash
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Thad Cook reported hearing a loud noise at 11:06 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2022, while patrolling and soon discovered a crash that had apparently just occurred. A Chrysler 200 had crashed into a parked car on Lee Street. The driver of the Chrysler was identified as 27-year-old Edgar Campos of Brashear.
Officer Cook reported seeing open alcohol containers and a bag containing a green leafy substance he believed to be marijuana in plain view in the vehicle Campos had been driving. Campos admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages, but refused to perform standard field sobriety tests. Believing based on is interactions with Campos that the Brashear man failed to possess the minimum mental and physical faculties to safely operate a vehicle in Texas, Cook placed Campos under arrest at 11:34 p.m. Friday.
Campos then refused to provide a breath sample for analysis. The car was impounded. Campos was transported to the sheriff’s office to be held while officer sought a warrant requiring a blood sample from Campos. The 27-year-old then was transported to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, where a blood specimen was taken per the search warrant signed by a judge.
Campos was transported to Hopkins County jail. The suspected marijuana weighed 4.87 ounces. A records check show the Brashear man to have two prior DWI convictions – one for an Oct. 6, 2012 DWI with open container arrest and another for a Nov. 22, 2014, DWI with open container charge. An outstanding warrant for driving while license invalid was also discovered, according to jail and arrest reports.
Thus, Campos was booked into the county jail at 2:22 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2022, on a third or more driving while intoxicated charge, possession of marijuana and a warrant for driving while license invalid. He was released from Hopkins County jail later Saturday, March 12, 2022, on a $10,000 bond on the third-degree felony DWI-third or more offense charge and a $5,000 bond on the felony possession of 4 ounces or more but less than 5 pounds of marijuana charge, according to jail reports.
Courthouse Arrest
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Josh Davis requested for Deputy Aaron Chaney to respond at Hopkins County Courthouse to assist with an arrest. Upon arrival, Chaney contacted Davis and Courtney Louise Bunch at 8:59 a.m. Thursday, March 10, 2022.
Davis advised Bunch entered the courthouse, where all people entering the courthouse are subject to search. Davis located 2 1/2 blue bars of suspected to be Xanax or Alprazolam during a search of her wallet. She told Davis she didn’t have a prescription for the pills, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
Chaney took possession on the alleged contraband and placed the 33-year-old Sulphur Springs woman into handcuffs and transported her to jail. After releasing Bunch to jail staff, Davis logged the evidence; the bars weighed approximately 0.65 gram. Because of the courthouse’s proximity to a church day care the location is a drug-free zone. Thus, Bunch was booked into Hopkins County jail at 10:40 a.m. March 10 on a possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance in a drug-free zone. She was also served with a warrant for bond revocation on a theft of property valued at $100 or more but less than $750 charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
She was released from Hopkins County jail Friday, March 11, 2022, on a $2,000 bond on the controlled substance charge and $3,000 on the June 10, 2021, theft charge, according to jail 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.
Helping Ukraine: CHRISTUS Is Accepting Donations To Assist In Kharkiv, Ukraine
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS® Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro| Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Helping Ukraine
In light of the news of the attacks on Ukraine, we would like to extend an opportunity to aid the community of Kharkiv (a city in northeast Ukraine). One of the hospital associates has a spouse who is from this city, and their family is still there. The hospital has been able to send some medical supplies.
In addition, and thanks to the generosity of many others, we have been able to set up a fund through our Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation to raise money and send it directly to aid this city. To donate to this effort, go to Online Giving (christushealth.org) and select ‘Helping Ukraine’ in the dropdown box (Under “Designation” on the form).
Events
Local Fitness Court – Grand Opening
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs is a proud supporter of the new local Outdoor Fitness Court located in Pacific Park. Due to the threat of inclement weather, this event was postponed. Please stay tuned for the new date!
Community Health Day
In partnership with CHRISTUS Health, Columbia Lodge #81 held a Community Health Day event on Saturday, March 12, 2022 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the HW Grays Building at Pacific Park. The event was free to all, and included 6 physician speakers and free lab work, as well as a complimentary breakfast. The turnout was great for the first year, and we look forward to making this an annual event. A special thank you to Bryan Vaughn and the Columbia Lodge members for volunteering and organizing a great event.
Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation Lights of Life Gala 2022
The Lights of Life Gala is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, 2022, from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight at the Civic Center. This year’s theme, “Under the Big Top,” reflects our desire for some fun and frivolity after a long season of hardship. The gala promises to be another dazzling evening of fine dining, dancing and bidding on amazing live and silent auction items.
This year’s Lights of Life Gala chairs are fourth generation Hopkins County natives, sisters Markeda Fisher and Kayla Price Mitchell.
Shannon Barker, Foundation Executive Director shared “I am thrilled to be working with Markeda and Kayla. When they arrived as the bearded ladies to reveal the theme, Under the Big Top, I knew we were in good hands! They keep everyone laughing, but also have the experience and relationships to ensure a successful event. Their impressive history and dedication to Hopkins County is evidenced by their past and present community involvement. We are thankful they feel the Healthcare Foundation is a worthy cause to invest their efforts in.”
For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please call the Foundation office at 903-438-4799.
**UPDATED – COVID Vaccine Clinics
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs will no longer offer the COVID Vaccine Clinic every Friday morning.
However, as of the week of March 7-11, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily, Net Health will be back offering Pediatric and Adult COVID vaccines. This vaccine clinic is located at the MMU tents behind the hospital. No appointment is necessary. Subsequently, Net Health will continue to come every four weeks until September to provide COVID vaccines.
Hospital Visitation
Please note the following guidelines:
- Visitors must acquire masks themselves prior to entering our facility; cloth masks are acceptable. Masks must cover both the nose and the mouth. Visitors must remain masked during their time in the hospital.
- An adult must accompany minor-age visitors, be free of symptoms, and able to comply with masking and hygiene expectations throughout the visit.
- Emergency Department entrance open 24/7
- Main Entrance open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
- Gift Shop open
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Types of Visitors:
- COVID receiving aerosol treatments: via tele-visitation only;
- COVID not receiving aerosol treatments: 1 Essential support person for the duration of hospital stay – Essential support person will be given a visible wrist band for identification purposes;
- ICU/ER: 1 Essential support person only;
- All other patients may have 1 Essential support person and 1 visitor (up to 2 persons in room at a time)
- Types of Visitors:
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – March 7-13, 2022
Winnsboro Police Department each week provides a media report with information about department activity for the last 7 days. WPD activity for the week of March 7-13, 2022 included:
Arrests
- Sarah Moses, 35 years of age, of Quitman, was arrested on 3-11-2022 on a Wood County Warrant for aggravated assault and a Comal County warrant for condition release violation on a driving while intoxicated enhanced.
- Javier Vazquez, 40 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 3-13-2022 for driving while intoxicated.
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 145 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 47 citations and 36 warnings during this reporting period.
Commissioners Agree To Abandon Portion Of CR 4746, Set County Clean Up Days, Approve 2 Plat Requests
Hopkins County Commissioners Court agreed to abandon a portion of County Road 4746, set the date and time for county clean up days and approved two plat requests during the regular court session Monday morning, March 14, 2022.’
CR 4746 Road Closure, Abandonment
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price explained that the section of County Road 4746 that a property owner has petition to have closed and abandoned by the county is a dead end dirt road that has only been bladed but otherwise not maintained. The person asking for the closure and abandonment owns both tracts of land on either side of the road.
Price noted that all of the other steps to close and abandon a road have been followed, including obtaining the number of signatures from other residents of the area indicating they would not be adversely affected by the change nor would to they disapprove the request. The person submitting the application for the change was planning to attend the court session, but was in Montana with his mother.
The Precinct 4 commissioner made the motion, which Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley seconded, that the Commissioners Court approve the request to close the segment of CR 4746 and abandon it to the property owner on either side of it. The court approved the request on a 4-0 vote; Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker continues to be out due to illness.
County Clean Up Days
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved April 29-30 as County Clean Up Days. County residents may bring personal household trash, brush and certain appliances to the county barn of their precinct. This will be the week following the City of Sulphur Springs’ Spring Clean Up Days, which are set from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 18-23.
County residents may dispose their items from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 29, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 30. No toxic or hazardous materials will be accepted. That means no tires, no shingles, no chemicals, no household hazardous wastes, no pesticides, no paint and no appliances containing Freon.
Commissioners plan to have some staff available to assist people when they arrive, but noted those bringing larger items to discard should be prepared to help off load them.
Also, any metal items donated during the Spring clean up days will be scrapped, with funds received again designated to benefit the county volunteer fire departments.
Typically, the commissioners recommend not pull up with gooseneck cattle trailers packed with items to be discarded due to difficulty getting them in and unloading.
The four county precinct barns will serve as collection sites for the Hopkins County Clean Up Days. The barns can be found at the following locations:
- Precinct 1 Barn – 5516 State Highway 19 south, Sulphur Springs
- Precinct 2 Barn – 12080 State Highway 11 east, Como
- Precinct 3 Barn – 583 County Road 3564, Dike
- Precinct 4 Barn – FM 2653, Cumby, 1.7 mile south of State Highway 11 west
May 7 Special Election
As is required County Judge Robert Newsom called for the May 7 Special Constitutional Amendment Election per the Governor’s Order. The Commissioners Court also approved the order for the election. The election for two propositions which could impact taxes will be held in conjunction with any school and municipal elections that may be called.
Sulphur Springs ISD is holding an election, asking district voters to cast ballots either for or against a $93 million bond for school improvements, including a new Travis elementary school, and a new career and technical center and fine arts additions at high school. The City of Sulphur Springs was able to cancel the City Council Election, and Sulphur Springs and Yantis school district canceled their trustees election because the candidates were unopposed by the seats each sought.
Early voting will continue to be conducted in the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace’s courtroom, located inside the Hopkins County Courthouse Annex Building at 128 G Jefferson St., April 25-May 3, 2022. With the election following from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 at six consolidates voting center instead of 12. They include:
- Voting Precinct 1 – 1 Sulphur Springs Middle School cafeteria, 835 Wildcat Way, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482;
- Voting Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Courtroom, 128 G Jefferson Street, Sulphur Springs;
- Voting Precinct 3 – Hopkins County Courthouse first floor courtroom, 118 Church Street, Sulphur Springs;
- Voting Precinct 4 – Hopkins County Civic Center, West Hall, 1200 Houston Street, Sulphur Springs;
- Voting Precinct 11 – Cumby Municipal Building meeting room, 100 East Main Street, Cumby; and
- Voting Precinct 1, Como-Pickton CISD art room, 13017 TX Hwy 11 East, Como.
(Art Room)
For information about the two Proposed Texas constitution amendments, click here. To read or download a copy of the Governor’s order, click here. Additional voter information may be found on the Voter Information link on the Hopkins County website, https://www.hopkinscountytx.org/.
Plat, Replat Requests
Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin noted that two property owners sold land, one piece to the other and have filed a motion to have it re-platted in Honeysuckle Estates, and recommended the court approve the request. Price seconded the motion which received approval of the Commissioners Court.
A preliminary plat for Oak Grove Subdivision too was submitted for court approval. Price said as he understands it, the planned subdivision is located in both Precinct 4 and Precinct 1, at the crossroads of the two. The Precinct 4 Commissioner said he has gone out to look at it, but didn’t think Barker has had the chance to do so. Price said he did not have any problem with the part in Precinct 4.
The preliminary plat appears to be in good order. Price and Fire Marshal Andy Endsley have conference with the developer via Zoom and neither had any issue at that time with the proposal.
County Clerk Tracy Smith said the request is preliminary. The applicants do have all of the required paperwork in.
Price made a motion to approve the preliminary plat for Oak Grove Subdivision. Anglin seconded the motion, which received full approval from the two other court members present as well.
Property Disposal
Sheriff Lewis Tatum noted that the department has had a hard time finding vehicles, and plan to trade out one of the criminal investigations division vehicles. He asked the Court to allow a check to be written out the seizure funds instead of the department budget.
“We are writing a check for $7,050 out of your seizure money so that it’s at no cost to the county. They are trading in a vehicle, and you had paid for the vehicle you are trading in also,” Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook said.
“Yes, we paid for it out of the seizure fund also,” Tatum affirmed.
“They are disposing of it though. It’s on county inventory, so they just need to put that in the record that they are getting rid of the vehicle,” Aulsbrook said. “It’s a 2020.”
Tatum noted that the vehicles are on a three-year replacement cycle. The department after considerable searching, has found a suitable vehicle. It will cost more than the department normally pays, but due to the shortage, Tatum said there’s really not much choice in that.
Aulsbrook noted that the Chief Deputy had ordered the vehicle a few months ago, but only received a call Monday morning notifying him that the vehicle was expected to be delivered today and the trade in collected.
Tatum said the department has two Explorers for K-9 units, but were unable to find any Tahoes. The Tahoe the department is purchasing for CID is not a police edition interceptor, just a normal Tahoe with 4-wheel drive. The two Fords used by the K-9 officers are interceptors.
Anglin made a motion, which Bartley seconded, and the two other court members approved, for disposal of the vehicle.
Other Business
The Como, Cumby, Miller Grove, North Hopkins/South Sulphur, Sulphur Bluff and Tira Volunteer Fire Department turned in to county officials agreements for the 2021-2022 year. They were submitted for the record. The five other departments had turned their contracts and they were submitted for the records at at a prior court meeting.
The court also voted unanimously to pay the bills, and approve revenues, expenses, payroll and financial statements as presented and approved the consent agenda, which included:
- Meeting minutes from Feb. 14 and March 4 court sessions;
- Spectrum/Charter’s request to construct and place meter base poles or ground mount meter bases on County Road 3404 and County Road 4760; and
- Oncor Electric’s request for a service order.
Dike resident Michele Barnes addressed the court during public forum regarding her displeasure that what she called a “legal loophole” was found and the case filed by Cynthia Martin was dismissed by a judge.
