Aviation History: VC-137C 85-6973 (SAM 973)
SAM 973 entered active service in Aug. 1985, when the Air Force acquired the aircraft from the United States Customs Service. The aircraft was originally built in March 1969 at the Boeing Company, in Seattle. It was constructed as a Boeing 707-396C, serial number 20043. The aircraft was built with a large cargo door on the left side of the fuselage and began service as a cargo/passenger transport. An Austrian leasing company operated...
Traffic Stop on I-30 Nets 28 Pounds of Marijuana
On January 26th, 2018 at approximately 3:30 a.m., a vehicle bearing Arizona License Plate was traveling East on Interstate Highway 30 in the left lane. The vehicle was stopped for Disregarding Official Device for traveling in the left lane without passing another vehicle. A sign at each I-30 entrance into Hopkins County instructs drivers to proceed in the right lane and use the left lane for passing only. A traffic stop was conducted...
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Solves Multiple Burglaries; Three Arrested
January 24, 2018 – Following a month long investigation, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigator Dennis Findley and deputies have arrested three individuals for burglary of a building in Miller Grove, theft at LaPooch Pet Resort, burglary of a habitation, and thefts in Rains County and Bowie County. A warrant for the arrest of Ashlee Swilling, 29, of Cumby, Nathan Allen Martin, 30, of Conway, Arkansas, and Robert Stephens, 39, led...
Basketball: Wildcats, Lady Cats Continue to Dominate District Play
Wildcats Basketball 62, Pine Tree 41 The #7-ranked Wildcats depended on big second and third quarters to defeat Pine Tree on the road, 62-41 Tuesday night. The Wildcats led only 9-8 after the first quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Pirates 16-6 in the second quarter and they led at the half, 25-14. The Wildcats outpointed Pine Tree 19-6 in the third to lead 44-20 after three quarters. Pine Tree outscored the Wildcats 21-18 in the...
Hopkins County Has Been Repaid for Seized Cattle Expenses
Hopkins County will be reimbursed for all county expenses for the care and management of hundreds of head of malnourished cattle seized by the SPCA of Texas and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office. Hopkins County Attorney Dusty Rabe said the check received by the county Monday for the auction cattle was for $257,667.45 which will cover the county expense of $254,721. SPCA will receive the remainder and will be owed an additional...
Valor and Professional Response to Crisis Situation in Sulphur Springs Remembered at the Death of Texas Ranger Danny Rhea
[Editor’s note: As News Director at the time of the action of Texas Ranger Danny Rhea and having know him on a professional level, Rhea was a man of honor who epitomized the legend of the Texas Rangers. Danny Rhea, retired Texas Ranger, died January 20, 2018 in San Angelo, Texas after a lengthy illness. Ranger Rhea was assigned to the Sulphur Springs area where his valorous and professional response in a crisis situation earned...
Aviation History: The Future Air Force One
The Air Force awarded a contract modification to Boeing on Aug. 4, 2017, to purchase two commercial 747-8 aircraft for future modification to replace the two aging VC-25A Presidential support aircraft. The two 747-8 jets are built and have been in storage at the Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) in Victorville, California. The decision to purchase ready-made commercial airliners instead of custom-built aircraft is part of...
Wildcats, Lady Cats Defeat Hallsville
Wildcats Basketball 48, Hallsville 33 The #8 ranked Wildcats’ basketball team completed the first half of district play unbeaten as they won at Hallsville, 48-33 Friday night. The Wildcats led 25-14 at the half and increased their lead to 40-22 after three quarters. Hallsville cut into the margin some in the fourth quarter but still came up 15 points short. Keaston Willis led the Wildcats with 16 points. Godsgift Ezedinma scored...
80 Indictments Handed Up by Hopkins County Grand Jury in January
A Hopkins County Grand Jury handed up 80 indictments Wednesday. Sixty-eight (68) have been arrested. Those arrested and indicted include: Gavin Heath Gilbert was indicted for Murder and on four counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Gilbert, 17, was been charged with one count of Murder and four counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Gilbert is in Hopkins County Jail being held on a $2-million bond for murder...
NETBIO Logs Another Good Sale Despite Cold Weather
Despite the freezing temperature, the January Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization’s (NETBIO) Pre-Conditioned Calf and Yearling Sale held Wednesday at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission attracted a good crowd of buyers, sellers and visitors — and a lot of good cattle. Consigners shipped 5,387 head of calves and yearlings to the sale, and 27 buyers of those cattle paid an average of $859.46 per head. “The cattle held up...
