Hopkins County Republican Party To Host 2022 Presidents’ Day Candidate Forum At Civic Center
Hopkins County Republican Party will host a 2022 Presidents’ Day Candidate Forum, “Take America Back,” Monday, Feb. 21, 2022 at Hopkins County Civic Center, 1200 Houston St., Sulphur Springs.
The Presidents’ Day Forum will begin at 6 p.m. and is expected to continue until about 9 p.m. The serving line will open at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $15, but there’s limited seating available so those planning to attend are encouraged to them through Eventbrite as soon as possible to secure a seat.
The guest speaker will be Tom Basile, host of America Right Now ad Wake Up America Weekend. Among the candidates slated to speak at Monday night’s forum are by office they are seeking:
Court of Criminal Appeals Place 5 Judge
- Clint Morgan
Railroad Commissioner
- Dawayne Tipton
Commissioner of General Land Office
- Ben Armenta
- Jon Spiers
Texas House of Representatives, District 2
- Bryan Slaton
- Clyde Bostick
US Congressional House, District 4
- Pat Fallon
- John Harper
- Dan Thomas
Texas Attorney General
- Eva Guzman
- Louie Gohmert
- George P. Bush
A live auction will be held with at least 6 big ticket items to be sold, including a wooden rocking horse; an antique quilt; a 2-hour helicopter hog hunt; a 2-person night thermal hunt; a 2-man guided duck hunt; and a guided sand bass or crappie fishing trip. Payment for auction items may be cash, personal check or credit card.
SKYWARN: Free Virtual Severe Weather Training Offered Tonight For Hopkins, Rockwall Counties
In readiness for the 2022 season, the National Weather Service will be conducting a free, virtual severe weather training class for Hopkins County from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, February 17, 2022.
Officially called the SKYWARN Storm Spotter Class, the program will be held in partnership with Sulphur Springs Police Department. The Hopkins County severe weather program is one of several training sessions the Fort Worth National Weather Service Office will conduct between January and March 2022. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth provides forecasts, warnings, and weather services for 46 counties in North and Central Texas.
Tonight’s free virtual class is targeted toward people in Hopkins and Rockwall Counties, but anyone with an interest in severe weather, established storm spotters, and/or anyone who wants to learn more about the severe weather threats in North and Central Texas and how to be prepared.
This class is part of a regional severe weather preparedness campaign. To register for this annual online class or to view the full schedule of classes offered across the region will be conducted visit https://www.weather.gov/fwd/skywarnmap.
The Feb. 17, 2022 program will feature an in-depth review and study of the various threats posed by severe thunderstorms, as well as thunderstorm characteristics and features associated with severe and non-severe storms. Additionally, the program highlights severe weather safety, and to report severe weather information to the National Weather Service Fort Worth Office and local public safety officials.
“By participating in this training session, you will gain a better understanding of Texas’ severe weather season,” says Tom Bradshaw, Meteorologist-in-Charge of the NWS Fort Worth Office. “Waiting until storms are on your doorstep is not the time to start thinking about severe weather preparedness. We hope you attend these free classes to learn more about the severe storms that impact the region every year.”
For more information on severe weather, visit https://weather.gov/fortworth, the NWS Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/NWSDallasFortWorth, or on Twitter at @NWSFortWorth.
2 Days Left To File Candidacy For Municipal, School and Hospital District May 7 Elections
So Far No Candidates Are Challenged In May 7 Sulphur Springs and Yantis ISD Board, Sulphur Springs City Council Elections
With only 2 days left to file, and so far only as many candidates are reported to have filed so far as places on May 7, 2022 Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees, Yantis ISD Board of Trustees, Sulphur Springs City Council and Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors Elections. The filing deadline is the close of business on Feb. 18 for these elections.
If the elections continue to have no contested races, then the officials on each should be able to cancel the elections, which would be a financial savings for each taxing entity.
Candidate filing for two seats on the May 7 Cumby City Council ballot, however, is ongoing. Applications for this election will continue to be accepted for a little over two weeks after filing in the other elections closes because it is a Special Election.
Hospital District Board
Candidate filing for two seats on the May 7 hospital district board ballot at the HCHD Headquarters/EMS Station at 1321 North Davis Street in Sulphur Springs through Friday. Currently, serving in those seats are Kerry Law and Joe Bob Burgin.
In order to be eligible to serve on the HCHD Board of Directors, the candidate must live within Hopkins County Hospital District, be a registered voter, and be able to pass a background check with no felony convictions.
Yantis ISD
Both incumbents have now filed candidacy, seeking reelection to another full term on Yantis ISD Board of Trustees. April Johnson filed earlier in the filing period and Jeff Quinn was reported Tuesday to have filed candidacy as well in the May 7 Yantis ISD Board of Trustees Election.
Incumbent April Johnson, currently serves as president of the school board. She was first elected to the school board in May 2017, then again in May 2019.
Jeff Quinn has served from May 2015 to May 2018. After 1 year off the board, he returned to the school board in May 2019 and is finishing out the term.
Both seats on YISD school board are for a full three-year term; trustees are elected at large, so the two candidates receiving the most votes in the election will be elected to the board – if an election is required. If the election draws only as many or fewer candidates as seats on the baord, the board can cancel the election.
Candidates may file applications with Kristi Beech in the YISD Administration Office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday- Friday through Feb. 18, 2022.
Sulphur Springs ISD
Sulphur Springs ISD called for two elections on May 7, the regular election for three full-term at-large spots on the school board and a special bond election.
All three incumbents — Craig Roberts, Leesa Toliver, John Prickette — filed candidate applications when filing opened in January seeking reelection to their seats on Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees. The incumbents had drawn no challengers for the three at-large full-term seats on the school board.
Craig Roberts was elected to the board in 2019, and selected by the board members in 2020 to serve as vice president. Roberts is a regional chairman of Guaranty Bank & Trust in Sulphur Springs.
Leesa Toliver Leesa Toliver has served on the school board since 2013. She previously served as Secretary, Vice President, and President and is a TASB Master Trustee. She is a retired SSISD administrator. She currently actively volunteers in the community.
John Prickette was appointed to the school board in 2012 to carry out the unexpired term of resigned board member, Foy Williams, and has continued to be reelected to the board since 2013. He previously served as vice president and president of the school board. Prickette is vice president of sales and marketing for Grocery Supply Company in Sulphur Springs.
Candidate filing for a place on the May 7, 2022 Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees Election ballot will continue from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday Feb. 18, 2022, in SSISD Tax Office, located inside SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St.
SSISD also on Monday called for a Feb. 14, called for a bond election. Voters will be asked to consider approving a $93 million bond to be applied toward district facilities needs identified by a long range facilities planning committee. The election will be held May 7, 2022, in conjunction with the election of three trustees to SSISD board, if one is necessary. The $93 million bond would increase the school district ad valorem tax rate by about 10-cents. Residents who have homestead or other exemptions will still receive those according to the current tax regulations, even if the bond passes.
Sulphur Springs City Council
Incumbent Gary Spraggins was the only candidate reported to have filed for Place 5 and Tommy Harrison the only candidate so far for Place 4 on Sulphur Springs City Council.
Spraggins, a salesman, was elected on Nov. 3, 2020 election to Place 5 seat for one year. Then, in 2021, he was elected to the final year of the unexpired term for Place 5. He is now seeking re-election to a full term on the council.
Harrison, a retired Department of Defense Army civilian, filed candidacy on Feb. 8 for Place 4 on the council. Harrison has been serving on the Sulphur Springs Planning & Zoning Commission.
Freddie Taylor currently serves in Place 4 on the City Council, a position he has held for more than 5 terms. He has not filed candidacy for reelection.
Candidate filing for both three-year term seats on the May 7 City Council Election ballot will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building (City Hall), 201 North Davis St.
Cumby City Council
The City of Cumby also is accepting applications for Alderman Place 1 and Alderman Place 2 on the City Council on the May 7 Special Election ballot. As of the last report earlier this week, Cumby Interim City Secretary Betty Jo Hardman reported the city had received no completed applications for candidacy to fill the vacancies and complete the two-year terms ending in November 2022.
Filing remains open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through March 7, 2022, at Cumby Municipal Building (City Hall), 100 East Main St., in Cumby. Alderman Place 1 was most currently held by Sheryl Lackey, who served as mayor pro tem as well. Amber Hardy Roberson formerly served as Place 2 Alderman.
Canning Foods Safely At Home
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County, [email protected]
Vegetable gardening is just around the corner. Many people have a green thumb, which means a bumper crop of produce! Canning foods at home can be a fun way to preserve an abundant harvest from your garden. However, if done incorrectly, home-canned foods can cause serious, even fatal, foodborne illness. Make sure the foods you preserve at home are safe for you and your family by following these recommendations:
- Start with a clean preparation area and the freshest foods possible. Check for nicks and cracks on jars. Make sure your equipment is clean and in good working order.
- Always use a pressure canner when canning low-acid foods. This includes most vegetables (except many tomato products), seafood, poultry, and meat.
- If using a pressure canner with a dial gauge, have it tested. In fact, check to make sure that gaskets (if present) are in good shape and that vents, safety valves, and edges of the lid are clean.
- Always use tested recipes that have up-do-date researched processing (canning) times. Sources of tested recipes include the National Center for Home Food Preservation, and companies that produce home canning supplies.
- Do not alter ingredients in tested recipes. Changing the ingredients in a tested recipe can make that recipe unsafe for home food preservation.
- When filling jars, always use the correct headspace. Having too little or too much headspace can affect how the lid seals and the quality of the final product.
- After jars have been processed, check the lids within 12 to 24 hours to make sure they are sealed. Food from jars that did not seal should be refrigerated and eaten in a coupe of days. You may also reprocess it within 24 hours.
- Label lids with name of the food and date the food was canned.
- Store canned foods in a dark, cool, and dry place. If the food is stored in a humid place, the moisture can cause the lids to rust, leading to spoilage. Periodically check the jars for signs of spoilage.
- For best quality, use home-canned foods within one year.
For more information, So Easy to Preserve from the University of Georgia Extension is a great resource for canning tips and recipes: http://www.uga.edu/setp/ . As mentioned earlier, the National Center for Home Food Preservation is an excellent resource for all things concerning home canning. http://www.ugs.edu/nchfp/ Our office (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Hopkins County) has numerous publications on canning fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, salsas, tomatoes, and tomato products. We can prepare a packet of food preservations materials and recipes for you. Drop by our office at 1200 West Houston St., Sulphur Springs, and we’ll be glad to assist you!
Closing Thought
I’ve learned that we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.
– Andy Rooney
Contact Extension Agent Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension by mail at P.O. Box 518, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; at the Hopkins County Extension Office, 1200-B West Houston St. in Sulphur Springs; by phone at 903-885-3443; or email at [email protected].
Hopkins County Seeking Funding For 2 Ventilation Fans For Fire Department
Hopkins County Commissioners Court this week gave the go-ahead to the fire marshal to apply for funding for two ventilation fans for the county fire department, renaming of a SH 11 west spur and taking it on a county road, accepted fire protection agreements from volunteer fire departments submitting them by the Feb. 3 deadline, and consolidated voting centers for May elections.
Voting Center Consolidation
Hopkins County Clerk Tracy Smith asked the Commissioners Court to consider approving consolidation of voting centers for the May 7. This would simply cut in half the number of voting centers available for Hopkins County residents to cast ballots at on Election Day.
The election is a special election counties would not ordinarily have. (Typically, only schools and municipalities hold elections in May). Texas Governor called the special election for voters to consider two propositions which, if approved, would change the state constitution, Smith explained to the court. All of the necessary steps were not reached in time for the November 2021 Election, so the special election was called.
Hopkins County will also be contracting with the City of Cumby, Winnsboro ISD, Yantis ISD and Sulphur Springs ISD, entities scheduled to hold elections in May as well. Overall, there will be 6 instead of 12 voting centers for the May 7, 2022, Election.
The four members of the Commissioners Court present during the regular Feb. 14, 2022 meeting unanimously approved, on a motion by Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley and seconded by Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price, the request to consolidate to six voting centers in Hopkins County on May 7. Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker was unable to attend the meeting.
SH 11 Spur
Price noted that when state contractors built a bypass around the old S-curve on State Highway 11 west, straightening out the highway where numerous auto crashes have occurred in past years. The county was asked to take over the old part of SH 11 west, which is about 0.7 of a mile and has become a spur since the highway was moved to improve visibility and safety on that section of road west of Sulphur Springs.
The Precinct 4 Commissioner asked that the Commissioners Court agree to take on that spur, which would become County Road 4824. Bartley seconded the motion for that section of road, which Price estimates due to its construction should last longer than most county roads, to taken over by the county. The four member-court gave unanimous approval to the request.
Ventilation Fan Program
Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley asked the Commissioners Court to allow the fire department to take advantage of the annual Homeland Security grant funding period to apply for assistance in attaining two 20-inch positive and negative ventilation fans that are battery operated so no additional carbon monoxide will be introduced into burned or burning buildings by Hopkins County Fire Department. The fans could also be used by the combined city-county Special Response Team (known as SWAT) if agents are introduced into a structure, to clear the building so law enforcement officers can enter. The fans could be potentially place in explosive environments and used without igniting.
The grant would be a for $13,250, and would pay 100 percent of the cost for the two ventilation fans, with no matching funds or in-kind match required by the county. They are much more powerful that a standard 20-inch box fan; the batteries alone for the ventilation fans cost approximately $1,000 per fan.
Typically, the grant process takes about 1 year. For instance, last year, the county submitted application for thermal imaging cameras. The month after the devices were purchased by the county, the funding was reimbursed.
Endsley noted that while the grant selection process takes about a year, getting the fans if approved shouldn’t take long. They are currently in stock.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom expressed appreciation to both Endsley and County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook, who worked together on the grant application to ensure the application was completed if approved so that it could be submitted by the deadline.
Ark-Tex Council of Governments also assisted with grant preparation, Endsley noted, so other than staff labor involved in reading the required documents, there will be no cost to the county for fans, the fire marshal added.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin made a motion, which Price seconded, to approve the resolution for the Hopkins County Ventilation Fan Project. The request received unanimous approval of the court.
Fire Protection Agreements
Endsley reported fire protection agreements had been distributed to all of the volunteer fire departments in Hopkins County. The deadline for VFD officers to sign and return them was set for Feb. 5. These agreement stipulate what the VFDs agree to in exchange for certain funding and other benefits provided by the county. For instance, the court reimburses insurance costs, fuel costs, and provides a stipend to each VFD as agreed upon in the agreement to assist with operating expenses.
Over the last 2 years, the departments have each received air cylinders and last year also was afforded assistance of up to a certain amount of funding to be used to obtain tires for VFD trucks from vendor at a discounted rate.
The Commissioners Court had received only five returned fire protection agreements, one each from Arbala, Brinker, Dike, Pickton-Pine Forest and Saltillo VFDs. That means only half of the VFDs had returned a fire protection agreement by the deadline. Endsley said the deadline slipped up on him. County officials will be contacting the six other departments to try to get all agreements signed and returned by the next Commissioners Court meeting at hte end of the month.
All agreements submitted were accepted by the court during the regular Feb. 14, 2022 meeting.
Citizens Comments
During the citizens comments portion of the Valentine’s Day court session, Frank Brown addressed Bartley regarding the continued disrepair of the road leading to his residence. He reminded the Precinct 3 Commissioner of his visit to the court of Dec. 27 to express a need for rock on 1.7 miles of road. He noted Bartley’s road crew bladed the dirt on both sides of the road into the road but put no rock on the road. He said the winter storm made the road pure mud. He offered photos taken documenting the road conditions through the first of February. Approximatley 4-5 inches of oil dirt was spread on a road in the area, but not evenly, making it very difficult for him and other residents to drive the road to even go to the Post Office to get their mail regularly.
“You think I’m the only one complaining about you, but you forgot about that petition that I give you that has everybody’s signature on it from one end of 900 clear to 69. They can’t make it here like I can. I’m retired,” Brown told Bartley.
Bartley said he had anticipated returning to put rock on that road, but the weather prevented that occurring as soon as planed. As soon as conditions allow, the plan is to return on finish the work
Brown noted he has road equipment he could provide to perform the needed work, during the next dry stretch, if the county officials will produce and spread the rock. Oil dirt needs to be spread evenly over hte road.
“I figured, Wade needed all the help he can get. So, that’s my opinion. I’m not against you. I just don’t appreciate the work being done not proper. That’s all there is to it,” Brown said.
Bartley acknowledged that the Precinct 3 crew is under his supervision, and he is responsible for what they do. He too said if Brown has the equipment the assistance would be welcome. A dry stretch of day sis needed before the project can commence.
Executive, Work Sessions
Newsom at the conclusion of all other business during the court session, planned to enter into an executive session to discuss sensitive matters as allowed in 4-5 sections of Texas Government Code. He did not anticipate any decision anything from the closed session resulting in a vote. He said he would provide times for hte executive session to the County Clerk so they could be entered into the meeting minutes.
Newsom asked the sheriff, chief deputy, auditor and fire marshal to stay close while the closed session was held in the third floor meeting room. A work session was scheduled immediately following the executive session to discuss sheriff’s office and fire department operations, discuss building maintenance with Tom Glosup and conduct a budget work session.
Wildcats Basketball Beats Texas High and Claims 15-5A District Championship
Men’s basketball had a back-and-forth affair with Texas High Tuesday, Feb. 15 in Texarkana, but prevailed 62-53.
“It was tough,” Coach Brandon Shaver said Wednesday after the win.
The win over the Tigers completed the regular season for Sulphur Springs, capping off a 10-2 district record.
Combined with Mount Pleasant’s (9-3) big win over Hallsville (9-3), the Wildcats are officially undisputed district champions of 15-5A.
The district championship is the first for men’s basketball since the 2018-19 season, when the Wildcats went 30-9 and made a state tournament appearance.
“At half, I had gotten word that [the Tigers] were up pretty big,” the Wildcats coach said. After hearing the news that game was going in their favor, Coach Shaver did not want an update to potentially affect his team’s play in Texarkana.
The men’s basketball coach said during the opening stages of the final quarter he had gotten word that Mount Pleasant beat Hallsville, meaning all Sulphur Springs had to do was beat Texas High to finish the season as undisputed district champs.
With the victory well in hand, Coach Shaver called a timeout in the closing seconds of their 62-53 win over Texas High to inform his squad of the Mount Pleasant victory, clenching the district crown for the Wildcats.
“The fans were going crazy, our guys were going crazy, it was fun,” the men’s basketball coach said Wednesday.
The win over Texas High completes a 10-2 district season for the Wildcats, complete with a district championship.
Coach Shaver said is squad is a bit banged up so he does not anticipate holding a warm-up game for his squad.
Regardless of a warm-up game, men’s basketball enters the playoffs as the No. 1 seed from District 15-5A and are set to take on Huntsville next Tuesday in the Bi-District round of playoffs.
Start time and location have yet to be determined.
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.
Feb. 16 Chamber Connection: Golf Tournament, Patriot Sporting Challenge Coming Up In April
By Butch Burney
Get ready to tee it up for the 33rd Annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, coming to Sulphur Springs Country Club on Friday, April 8, 2022.
Last year, we had 35 teams participate in the fun day of golfing, and we hope to have more this year.
The tournament format is a six-person scramble, with the low net team putting their names on the trophy.
There are two tee times: 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The morning group is limited to 18 teams, while the afternoon group can have 25 teams maximum. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Register early to get your choice of tee times.
Registration is $750 per team, and that includes three carts, 12 mulligans, six meals, range balls, company banner on hole No. 1 and sponsor list recognition. There are also opportunities to contribute goody bag items, hole sponsorships and for interactive hole sponsorships.
To register, go to the Chamber website at HopkinsChamber.org or call the office at 903-885-6515.
Patriot Sporting Challenge
The 4th Annual Lake Fork Patriot Sporting Challenge will be the day after the Chamber Golf Tournament, so you can make it a whole sporting weekend.
The Patriot Sporting Challenge is a special one-day event benefiting the families of military heroes with a morning competition of shooting, golfing and fishing and an even celebration of patriotism.
Each four-person team competes in two of the sporting challenges (shooting, golfing and fishing), and they all come together that evening at the Hopkins County Civic Center for a dinner and address from keynote speaker Greg Stube, Green Beret. Following that, there will be a concert/dance by Cooper Wade and band.
All proceeds from the event go to the Folds of Honor, a nonprofit providing education scholarships to the children and spouses of those killed or disabled in action.
For more information, go to PatriotSportingChallenge.org, email [email protected] or text to 817-296-8985.
Chamber Directory
Work is continuing on the 2022 Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Directory. We distribute over 7,000 of these directories to visitors, relocation hopefuls, and even hometown heroes who are interested in learning more about our local businesses. They include historical information as well all things to the see and do in Hopkins County. The best part is, they include an alphabetical and categorical listing of your business. LeeAnn Peugh, with Echo Publishing, will be contacting you to see if you are interested in placing an ad in the directory.
The rates are affordable, and one of the best ways to represent your business. I hope you will consider this a wise investment with over 7,000 opportunities for business exposure. You may also contact the Chamber, and I will pass your information along to her.
Jury Sentences Mount Pleasant Man To 60 Years In Prison For The Aggravated Assault Of His Child’s Mother
A Hopkins County jury in the last week sentenced a 31-year-old Mount Pleasant man to 60 years in prison for the aggravated assault of his child’s mother with a deadly weapon, the SUV rammed into her car, according to court reports.
Michael Tareze Evans — who jail reports show is also known to use the aliases Michael Tarezz Evans, Mike Evans, Michael Martin, Michael Hope and Fish Terez — has been in Hopkins County jail since his arrest on July 16, 2021, held on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge. He was also served Jan. 11, 2022, with a warrant for violation of bond or a protective order two or more times within 12 months.
Evans was accused in 2021 of chasing the mother of his child around the square during the early morning hours of July 16, and of ramming the GMC Denali Yukon he was driving into the Nissan Altima she was driving several times. The suspect vehicle was spotted fleeing the area, stopped by Sulphur Springs Police on South Davis Street and taken into custody at 3:34 that morning, officers alleged in 2021 arrest reports.
The case was tried Feb. 7-8, 2022, by Assistant District Attorney Zach Blackmon, assisted by ADA Matt Harris. Evans was found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Tuesday by a Hopkins County jury.
Due to his prior criminal history, Evans faced 5-99 years or life in the penitentiary. Evidence was reportedly presented during the punishment phase of the trial showing that Evans was on federal and state parole for bank robbery, bank robbery, delivery of a controlled substance, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, according to Blackmon.
When the rendered a verdict sentencing Evans to 60 years of in prison on the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon conviction.
“By giving this sentence, this jury took a stand against domestic violence and repeat offenders terrorizing our community. They sent a strong message that this community takes criminal history and violent actions seriously and offenders will be properly punished for crimes committed in Hopkins County,” Blackmon stated.
Dallas Man Caught with Cache of Contraband
Meth Found In SUV Occupied By Sulphur Springs Pair
Three people were arrested on controlled substance charges following two Valentine’s Day traffic stops. A 38-year-old Dallas man was allegedly caught with a cache of contraband, including suspected methamphetamine, cocaine, prescription pain medications, anti-anxiety drugs, marijuana, a firearm and two unidentified substances; and a Sulphur Springs pair was caught with suspected meth during an unrelated traffic stop late Monday, according to arrest reports.
Traffic Stop At Mile Marker 120 On I-30 East
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Arturo Ugalde reported stopping a Chevrolet Equinox at 12:51 p.m. Feb. 14, 2022, on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 120 because the SUV’s registration was expired and it was being driven too close to another vehicle.
A search of the SUV revealed a cache of contraband, including several types of narcotics and controlled substances, a firearm and multiple plastic baggies of assorted sizes consistent with the sale of narcotics. Ugalde alleged in arrest that that the cache of contraband found in the SUV included:
- 92 grams of methamphetamine,
- 17 grams of cocaine,
- 50 grams of hydrocodone,
- 116 grams of suspected Ecstasy,
- 6 grams of Xanax,
- 0.4 gram of Oxycodone,
- approximately 3 ounces of marijuana,
- two other unidentified substances, and
- a Glock handgun in the SUV.
A records check revealed the 38-year-old Dallas man driving who’d been driving to have multiple prior felony convictions on his criminal history.
Ugalde placed Micheal Edward White under arrest and transported him to the Sulphur Springs highway patrol office for a follow up interview; the vehicle was released to a service for towing and storage. Afterward, White was transported to jail to be booked in for having the cache of contraband.
While being booked into the county jail, additional amounts of marijuana and Ecstasy were discovered to have been concealed on the Dallas man. The Dallas man was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of 2 ounces or more but less than 4 ounces of marijuana, having a prohibited substance or item in a correctional facility and manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1-B controlled substance for the other substance seized as part of the cache of contraband.
White, who jail records show is also known to use the aliases Walker Michael, Victor Orlando Smith Micheal Lynn White and Shelby Lynn Williams, remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 15, 2022. Bond was set at $50,000 on the manufacture or delivery charge, $20,000 each on the firearm and prohibited substance charges, and $2,000 on the marijuana charge.
Traffic Stop on the South Service Road At 122 Exit
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Isaac Foley spotted a GMC pickup at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, traveling north along the south I-30 access road at exit 122. He initiated a traffic stop because the truck’s high center-mounted brake light was out. The pickup stopped on the south service road at a gas station. Foley alleged the passenger in the truck displayed aggression toward law enforcement and kept reaching by his left side during the stop.
HCSO Sgt. Tanner Steward arrived to assist. Steward and stayed with the driver, identified in the arrest report as Brian Everett Gumpert, and driver, identified as Dana J. Brantley, while Foley relayed their information to communications operators for a records check. Foley alleged Gumpert again showed aggression.
When the deputy’s request to search the car was denied, both the 50-year-old Sulphur Springs woman and 53-year-old Sulphur Springs man were asked to exit the truck. Gumpert did so reluctantly, after initially refusing Foley alleged in arrest reports. Foley requested Deputy Drew Fisher respond at the location with his partner, K-9 Axe. The police dog conducted an open air sniff around the vehicle and gave a positive alert on the red truck.
A probable cause search of the vehicle then revealed a baggy containing a crystal-like substance the sheriff’s officers believed based on the their training to be methamphetamine between the passenger’s seat and center console. Brantley and Gumpert reportedly denied ownership of the substance which later field-tested positive for meth and weighed approximately 1.468 grams.
Consequently, both the Sulphur Springs woman and man were taken into custody at 12:40 a.m. Feb. 15, 2022, and transported to the county jail. Each was booked in around 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance charge.
Gumpert was released from jail later Tuesday on bond, while Brantley remained in the county jail Tuesday afternoon in lieu of the $10,000 bond set on the controlled substance charge.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – Feb. 7-13, 2022
Winnsboro Police Department provided the following media report for the week of Feb. 2-13, 2022:
Arrests
- Whalen Roach, 44 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 2-08-2022 on Wood County Warrants for Interference with Emergency Request for Assistance and Assault Family Violence Impeding Breathing with Previous Convictions.
- Justin Richardson, 37 years of age, of Como, was arrested on 2-09-2022 on Winnsboro Municipal Warrants for Speeding and Fail to Maintain Financial Responsibility.
- Gregorio Tapia Gonzales, 30 years of age, of Sulphur Springs, was arrested on
2-10-2022 for Tampering with Identification Numbers. - Moe- Anh Nguyen, 58 years of age, of Scroggins, was arrested on 2-12-2022 for DWI.
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 151 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 53 citations and 54 warnings during this reporting period.
