Road Work Begins At Woodbridge Crossing
Work is under way to repair the road into Woodbridge Crossing, where drainage issues have been identified. The project is a collaborative effort, with the homeowners association contracting with the city to do the work on Woodbridge Drive, according to city officials.
The road has three pipes under the street spanning from the pond one side to the pond on the other side of the street. At least part of the drainage mechanism has collapsed, according to the city manager.
The ponds on both sides of the road are being drained, to allow work crews to assess damages and determined what additional work is needed. The culverts are targeted to be replaced, according to the city community development director.
The road into the housing addition will be impassable while repair work is being done, so a temporary road is to be built by the city, according to the city officials.
The work is expected to take a while, with Valentine’s Day targeted as a completion date for the work, but depending on weather and extent of work could take longer, according to the city manager.
Wildcats Soccer Team Continues Play With Pair of Games Friday in Frisco Tournament
The Wildcats Soccer Team, 0-0-1 for the season, has two more games Friday (January 3) in Frisco ISD’s Dr. Pink Varsity Tournament. The Wildcats play El Paso Eastlake at 2 p.m. Friday at Toyota Field #11 in Frisco and then meet Amarillo Caprock at 6 p.m. Friday at the Ford Center in Frisco. Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton noted the Ford Center is where the Dallas Cowboys practice. The Wildcats play a fourth tournament game Saturday at 11 a.m. at Toyota Field #16 in Frisco against McKinney North. Thursday the Wildcats battled to a 1-1 tie with El Paso Montwood. Angel Andino scored the first goal of the season for the Wildcats. Coach Upton said it was a great first game. He said the Rams were a talented, very skilled team and were a fast, athletic group. Coach Upton said Montwood is a Class 6A team that had an 18-5-2 record last year.
Tira News For Jan. 3, 2020
By Jan Vaughn
Yvonne Weir reported that the Weir family had their Christmas get-together on Christmas Eve. She adds, “Mike was working, but we had the pleasure of having his mom come with Dacy. Destri and Eben came on Sunday and spent the night. Everly enjoyed the paper and everyone seemed happy with their gifts. It was a beautiful day and we spent time outside. We shot a few fireworks before everyone left. Also, Sarah and Lucas visited on Sunday.”
Joyce Dodd shared her good news: “Kanyen Paul Dodd announces that his mom, Melony Huffman, and his dad, Trenton Dodd, were beyond excited when he entered this world Monday night, January 30, at 9:46 p.m., weighing in at 5 pounds and 11 ounces. He is 19 inches long and the best little end-of-year gift he could have given all of his family. Grandparents are Tina and Charlie Williams, Brad and Tanya Dodd, and Robert and Kristi Hooten. Great-grandparents are Clifford and Wynell Belz, William and Joyce Dodd, Darlinda Williams, Travis and Terisa Hooten, and John David and Jewel Jetton.”
Kenden Joslin turned 18 on Friday, December 27, and was treated to a birthday meal at Red Lobster in Greenville that evening. Celebrating with him were his dad, Malcolm Joslin, and his friend, Melinda; his girlfriend Emma Hall; and Chip and myself.
Our great-grandchildren, Dixie, Rylan, Brailon and Slaiden, visited with us on Saturday, December 28, before Dixie had to return to her home near Beaumont on Sunday.
Chip and I left after church and Sunday school on the 29th and went to Branson for a few days. We enjoyed the shows and sights at Silver Dollar City. They had decorated with over 6 million lights! We saw Christmas shows on Monday and more shows on New Year’s Day. We came back through Tulsa and celebrated a late Christmas with him on Thursday.
Tiffany Gilbert and Jaidyn Joslin, our daughter and great-granddaughter, celebrated the New Year with ice skating in Hot Springs.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Man Injured In Fall At Construction Site
A man was reportedly injured Thursday afternoon in a fall at a FM 2081 construction site.
Emergency dispatchers were contacted at 2 p.m. by a caller who reported a worker had fallen off of a house. Arbala Volunteer Fire Department and emergency medical services were dispatched to the FM 2081 location. A medical helicopter was reportedly put on standby as a precaution.
The man was reportedly working at a construction site on FM 2081, framing a new house. He reportedly fell an estimated 12-15 feet from the framing to the ground. His head sustaining a large laceration. He was alert and able to speak with first responders upon their arrival on scene, according to fire reports.
Due to the nature of the injury, medics requested the helicopter to fly the man to an area trauma center to be checked out as a precaution, according to emergency reports.
Update: Man Injured In Tractor Crash Released From Hospital
The 59-year-old Sulphur Springs man sent to a Tyler hospital for injuries sustained following a tractor and vehicle collision New Year’s Eve has been released from the hospital, according to police reports.
The 59-year-old Sulphur Springs man was reportedly driving a tractor with required placards just before 5 p.m. Dec. 31, north on South Hillcrest Drive approaching the bridge when he was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by a Sulphur Springs woman. The contact caused the tractor to go to the right, causing the man to fall off. The tractor continued to the curb, returned to Hillcrest Drive where it made a half loop before resting in the ditch, according to police reports.
The woman and a small child in a child seat in the vehicle reportedly sustained bruising from the seat belt, but were reported to have no apparent serious injuries, according to police reports. She was issued citations and released. The tractor operator was transported to a Tyler hospital, where he was treated for injuries, which reportedly included a head injury, according to reports
The 59-year-old Sulphur Springs man was released from the hospital on Jan. 2, according to Sulphur Springs Police Cpl. Terry Miller.
2 Jailed On Felony Warrants
Two people were booked into the county jail Thursday afternoon on unrelated felony warrants, according to arrest and jail reports.
Bridgett Lashelle Bowen, 25, of Sulphur Springs was taken into custody at 7:49 p.m. Jan. 2 at Shady Lake RV Park on a warrant for violation of probation-possession of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Drew Fisher alleged in arrest reports.
Officers, aware of the warrant, contacted the woman at the RV park, served it and took her to jail on the charge, according to arrest reports.
Jan. 2 marked the second time in less than a month that Bowen was jailed on local charges. Bowen was also arrested Dec. 19 for injury to a child, for allegedly bruising her 18-month-old while disciplining the child with a wooden spoon, officers alleged in reports at the time of her arrest. Bowen was released from jail Dec. 20 on a $20,000 bond on the injury to a child charge, according to jail reports.
Bowen remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, Jan. 3, on the violation of probation charge, according to jail reports.
Elias Moreno, 46, of Hargill was reportedly taken into custody at 4:16 p.m. Jan. 2, by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Elijah Fite at Hidalgo County jail on three Hopkins County warrants.
Fite transported Moreno to Hopkins County jail, where Moreno was booked at 2:16 a.m. Jan. 3 on three warrants for violation of probation, which he was on for money laundering and two possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charges, according to arrest reports.
Moreno remained in the county jail late Friday morning on all three charges, according to jail reports.
Wildcats Soccer Opens Regular Season With 1-1 Tie Against El Paso Montwood In Frisco Tourney
The Wildcats Soccer Team opened the regular season at the prestigious Frisco ISD’s Dr. Pink Varsity Soccer Tournament with a 1-1 tie against the El Paso Montwood Rams Thursday afternoon, January 2, on Toyota Field #9.
The Wildcats will play two games on Friday. They play El Paso Eastlake at 2 p.m. Friday at Toyota Field #11 and then meet Amarillo Caprock at 6 p.m. Friday at the Ford Center in Frisco.
The Wildcats play a fourth game Saturday at 11 a.m. at Toyota Field #16 against McKinney North.
Senior Center Within $1,600 Of Fundraising Goal For New Furnishings
Although city residents voted for funding to be used to help construct a new senior citizens activity center, there’s still quite a bit of work to be done before construction can begin.
Asbestos abatement and demolition of the existing structure on the future Oak Avenue site, and hiring an architect to design the building are among the steps still to be taken. Sight and survey work are needed before those things occur as well, according to Sulphur Springs Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski.
While city officials are overseeing those efforts, the Senior Citizens Center Director of Programs and Marketing Karon Weatherman and other community members are busy continuing to raise funds to help pay for furnishings for the new facility, once it is built.
Weatherman explained fundraising has been ongoing for a while. Initially, the plan was to trying to raise $1 million to construct a new building. The city during the last election asked voters to approve using up to $200,000 per year to help repay a bond note to apply toward construction of a new Senior Citizens Center and improvements at Pacific Park.
When voters approved the proposal, the fundraising goal shifted from collecting money for building construction to raising funds for furniture and other items needed inside the new structure.
A fundraising goal of $100,000 was set for that part of the project. As of Thursday, the center fund was only $1,589.29 shy of the goal. This will allow tables, chairs, desks and shelving to be installed, possibly new stoves and refrigeration for the Meal A Day program and events.
Weatherman said some furniture such as the round tables inside the current center could potentially be salvaged but new chairs are already needed. The ones in the facility are aging, with cushions that are worn out and can’t be easily replaced due to their construction.
Donations may be made at the Senior Citizens Center, 150 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Don Julian's List of Top SSHS Sports Stories for 2019
Below is a recap of Don Julian’s list of Top 16 SSHS Sports Stories for 2019. Click on each link to find out why Don Julian selected these as his top stories for 2019.
#16 Lady Cats Soccer makes the playoffs.
#15 Wildcats Team Tennis makes the playoffs.
#14 Lady Cats Basketball makes the playoffs.
#13 Wildcats Soccer makes the playoffs and gives Jacksonville a scare in bi-district.
#12 Lady Cats Golfer Mariam Tran qualifies for the Regional Golf Tournament.
#11 Wildcats and Lady Cats Cross Country runners both qualify for the Regional Meet.
#10 The Wildcats Golf Team qualifies for the Regional Tournament.
#9 Seven Wildcats and six Lady Cats qualify for the Regional Track Meet.
#6 Numerous Wildcats and Lady Cats sign letters of intent to compete in college sports.
#5 Lady Cats Volleyball makes it to Area round tying best finish by a Lady Cats Volleyball Team.
#4 Wildcats Baseball Team sweeps Hallsville in bi-district making it to Area.
Here’s to even more highlights in 2020.
Woman Reportedly Held For ICE Following Traffic Stop
A 52-year-old woman was jailed early Thursday morning on a hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, according to arrest and jail reports.
The woman, identified by an El Salvador ID card but reported to have been living in Emory, was in a 2009 Cadillac stopped just before 4 a.m. Jan. 2 on State Highway 19 south at County Road 1106 for a traffic violation, a deputy alleged in arrest reports
A records check revealed the woman to be sought by ICE for failure to appear for removal, according to arrest reports. Communications operators at the sheriff’s office contacted ICE personnel, then transferred the call to the deputy’s phone. After speaking with the ICE personnel, the woman was reportedly transported to Hopkins County jail, to be picked up at a later date by ICE personnel, a deputy alleged in arrest reports.
