Jury Takes Eight Minutes to Decide Custody of Cattle
It took eight minutes for a Hopkins County Court at Law six person jury to determine custody of the hundreds of head of malnourished cattle seized by Hopkins County Deputies and the SPCA of Texas on December 4-6, 2017. The cattle found on 2700 acres in the County will be sold at auction and not returned to George Lawrence Bergin, 61, of Sulphur Springs. Bergin is charged with Cruelty to Livestock-Fail to Provide, a state jail felony....
SSISD Board Hears Reports; Announces Dates for May Board Election
Superintendent of Sulphur Springs School Michael Lamb informed school board members Monday night during their January meeting that the Lady Cat Softball Complex and the Wildcat Baseball Complex would have basic features available when the season starts around February 1 of this year. He said there would be a place to park, a place for fans to sit, and restrooms. These will be finished in the next three weeks. Wiring for lights should...
Smith Announces Candidacy for Republican Nomination for County Clerk
Tracy Orr Smith has announced her candidacy as a Republican nominee for Hopkins County Clerk in the March 6 Republican Primary Election. Smith is a longtime resident of Hopkins County and current chief deputy county clerk. “I started with Hopkins County in September of 1995,” She said. “The opportunity arose with Debbie Shirley who had recently been elected county clerk, and I have worked for Debbie for 21 years. As chief deputy clerk...
Kougher Hearing Began Monday in District Court
Monday morning January 8, 2018, in a hearing before Judge Eddie Northcutt in Eighth Judicial District Court, Bradley Curtis Kougher, 41, is on trial for one count of a January 1, 2010 Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child Under 6-years of age, a Felony 1; a June 1, 2009 Sexual Performance by a Child under 14-years of age, a Felony 1; a May 1, 2009 Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact, a Felony 2; and a July 1, 2009 Attempted Sexual...
Commissioners’ Court Tables New Courtroom Construction, New Voting Machine Purchase
In a 3-2 vote Hopkins County Commissioners’ Court tabled two agenda items that would have allowed the start of building a new 100 seat courtroom attached to the Hopkins County Jail. Although the money is available, commissioners questioned the cost of building the one building versus any savings that would come from building both the courtroom and a building to house the District Attorney and District Clerk offices. The commissioners’...
Appeal of Custody of Cattle Settlement Underway
An employee of the SPCA testified Monday morning in Hopkins County Court at Law that during his investigation, he observed cattle, owned by George Bergin of Sulphur Springs, on more than one location and each location looked the same. Testimony continues in the appeal of a settlement made in Justice of the Peace Court regarding the custody of several hundred head of cattle owned by Bergin. The appeal is being heard in the Justice of...
Dinner Bell Menu For January 10, 2018
Dinner Bell Menu for January 10, 2018 Amanda and Jarred Pickett this week’s Community Partner. Happy New Year from The Dinner Bell Ministry of The First United Methodist Church. New Year’s Day Stew Green Chili Cheese Cornbread Muffins Green Salad Do Nothing Cake Pineapple and Mandarin Orange Dessert (low sugar dessert) Same time (11:45 a.m.). Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church). Served at...
Bergin’s Motions Question Jurisdiction, Evidence Obtained, and Texas Health and Safety Code vs Civil Procedure
In three motions filed before the Hopkins County Court at Law by Attorney Chad Cable on behalf of George Lawrence Bergin and his desire to regain custody of hundreds of head of cattle seized by the SPCA of Texas and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies, Bergin through his attorney states that the court denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss on account of the courts complete abrogation of the rules of civil procedure, requests that the...
