Hopkins County Seeks Grant For Courthouse Roof Repair
Monday morning the Hopkins County Commissioners Court agreed to pursue a $250,000 grant from the Texas Historical Commission to fix the hail-damaged roof on the County Courthouse and to reinstall some leaky windows that were not put in correctly during restoration in 2003. The county will have to match the grant amount. County Judge Robert Newsom said the county has tried to secure the grant before but failed. He thinks Hopkins...
Tuesday Finds All County Inmates In New Jail
All 124 inmates in either the old county jail or in the Franklin County Jail were moved to the new Hopkins County Jail Monday evening. County Judge Robert Newsom stated verbal approval and later written approval was given Monday afternoon for the county to occupy the new facility. Texas Jail Standards Commission allowed the move after they received pictures of the inmate-visitor communication devices installed in the building. Sheriff...
Open House for Hopkins County’s New Jail is December 1
Despite light drizzle Friday morning, some in the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department were doing some moving from the old jail to the new County Jail facility. Some old desks, chairs and filing cabinets were being moved. New furniture has been ordered but has yet to arrive. Tuesday December 1 from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom has scheduled an open house for the new County Jail and the public is...
New County Jail Facility Passes State Inspection
Just before noon Friday, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom reported that the new County Jail had passed inspection from personnel from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. One item must be done before inmates can move in. The phones for a visitation system must be installed. That equipment installation has been delayed. Sheriff Butch Adams and Judge Newsom hope the installation can be done on Monday. Jail inspectors say the phones...
Thanksgiving and Christmas in the New Jail for Hopkins County Inmates
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom expects inmates to move into the new County Jail perhaps as early as November 20. That will cut off the drain on the county budget from housing overflow inmates in Franklin County that been going on for years. Judge Newsom has planned a December 1 Open House for the jail. It will include tours. The jail will be inspected by the Commission of Jail Standards November...
Burn Ban Lifted by Hopkins County Judge
Just in time for the Hopkins County Stew Contest, County Judge Robert Newsom has lifted the county burn ban. Rainfall Thursday night and Friday provided the basis of the judge’s decision signed at 4 p.m. Friday, October 23. Monday morning October 12, during Hopkins County Commissioners’ Court, the commissioners had agreed with County Judge Robert Newsom who had issued an emergency burn ban during the prior week. In a 4-0 vote,...
Chief Investigator Tatum Warns County Residents Regarding Unique Phone Scam
There seems to be an abundance of scam phone calls taking place in Hopkins County as we approach the holidays. A new twist to the scam is that the callers are seeking legitimacy by saying they are affiliated with county government. Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum said County Judge Robert Newsom has been receiving complaints from county citizens regarding phone calls in which the caller identifies themself as...
County Finds Financial Help for Capital Murder Case to Be Heard in 2016
Several years ago, fearful that a capital murder case featuring the death penalty could bankrupt the county, the Hopkins County Commissioners Court invested in a program that would help defray costs. Now with a capital case with the death penalty being considered expected sometime in the next year, the Hopkins County Commissioners Court is seeking financial help through the program. County Judge Robert Newsom says it is an interlocal...
Emergency Burn Ban Issued for Hopkins County
County Judge Robert Newsom has issued a burn ban for Hopkins County. In the Emergency Order issued, Newsom states that “…a state of disaster has been declared on the imminent threat of disaster from wildfire…” The ban is intended to impose “…controls on activities which tend to increase the likelihood of such fires…” The burn ban is for all unincorporated areas of the county for seven (7) days ending at midnight on October 15. In the...
County Judge, City Mayor Declare Constitution Week September 17-23
In honor of Constitution Week, which begins Thursday, September 17th, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and City of Sulphur Springs Mayor Kayla Price read and presented proclamations to Regent Barbara Cockrum and members of the Captain David Phillips Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution Thursday morning in the County Commissioners Courtroom. Judge Newsom thanked those present to honor the constitution. He called the...
