No Coal Ash Buried or Deposited in Lakes at Thermo Mine
Although a local newspaper said property being donated to the City of Sulphur Springs could threaten groundwater in the area due to coal ash dumps, City Manager Marc Maxwell has been assured by Luminant Mining that there are no dumps at the Thermo Mine site. He also notes that the dumpsites for the coal ash are downstream from Hopkins County. All coal mined at the Thermo site was transported to Monticello power plant southwest of Mt...
City Receives Gift of 4,900 Acres; Luminant Coal Mine To Become City Property
The City of Sulphur Springs will begin planning the use of a 4,900 acre gift and public input will be invited. Luminant will give the coal mine located southeast of the city to become city property. The idea for the gift was birthed when the late Roy Pelton wanted to a championship dog trials event held locally but there was not enough land area available. Pelton and the city contacted Troy Sellers with Luminant but he stated the...
Workforce Solutions Board Rapid Response Team to Assess Skills of Laid Off Mine Workers
According to Roger Feagley, Executive Director of Sulphur Springs Economic Development, a rapid response team, empowered by the state through Northeast Texas Workforce Solutions Board, will assess the skills of workers displaced by the closing of the Luminent Mining operations at its Monticello Mines. The Solutions Board works within a nine county area which includes the locations of the three mines that will be closed permanently....
Solar, Wind, and Carbon, OH MY!!
August 29, 2024 – Hopkins County residents have been inundated with the promise (or threat) of green energy projects needing thousands of acres in different parts of the county. Many solar plant projects already have been approved, built, and operating, but more solar companies are leasing land and asking for tax abatements. The green energy projects keep expanding and now include wind (huge windmills), Carbon Capture (C02...
State Representative Jill Dutton Helps Secure a $25MM Proposed Investment for Short Line Railroad in Texas
August 23, 2024 – Northeast Texas is one of the fastest growing regions in Texas and freight by rail will play an essential role to our economy, job growth, and transportation safety. The NETEX Rural Rail Transportation District is a multi-county District, enabled by the Texas Legislature, which includes Titus, Franklin, Hopkins, Delta, Hunt, and Collin counties. The NETEX rail currently carries 1,800 – 2,000 cars per...
New Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone Ordinance Gains Approval on First Reading
March 7, 2024 – The Sulphur Springs City Council approved on first reading Ordinance 2853 designating a certain area within the City of Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas as a tax increment financing reinvestment zone. This area will be known as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Two, City of Sulphur Springs, Texas. This zone contains 4,333 acres and is also known as the Old Thermo Mine Area. The intention of the...
Kenneth Howard Cupp
Kenneth Howard Cupp, age 76 of Mount Vernon, Texas passed away in Sulphur Springs, Texas on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. with Bro. Pepper Puryear officiating at First Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, Texas. Interment will be at Cypress Cemetery where Military Honors and Masonic rites will be conducted. Kenneth was born September 21, 1946, in Albuquerque, New Mexico to...
Commissioners Court Appoints 2 To Civic Center Board, members of Regional SART Team
Hopkins County Commissioners Court appointed 2 to the Civic Center Board, approved SART Team recommendations, and noted that an agricultural lease had been re-signed. Also during the regular court meeting Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, Fire Marshal Andy Endsley gave an update about a public health nuisance abatement case. At the recommendation of Hopkins County Regional Civic Center Manager Lonnie Fox, Hopkins County Commissioners Court...
County, Hospital District Approve Tax Abatements For Ashoka Steel Mills
Negotiations Ongoing With City Regarding Land Acquisition The county and hospital district this week approved tax abatements for Ashoka Steel Mills, LLC, clearing two more steps for the company to invest $245 million in construct of its first plant in the United States on the city-owned old coal mine property on FM 1870 in Sulphur Springs. Ashoka Steel Mills Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Executive...
City Of Sulphur Springs Reaches Land Sale Agreement With Ashoka Steel Mill LLC
A land sale agreement was struck between the city and Ashoka Steel Mills LLC for development of 250-acres out of the total 4,857-acre former Thermo/Luminant mine property Tuesday. The deal marks commitment of Ashoka to invest a minimum of $300 million into business and creation of 315 additional jobs in Sulphur Springs. According to Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Roger Feagley, this...
