Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report
Date: March 3, 2020
To: City Council
From: City Manager Marc Maxwell
Subject: Manager’s Report
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT — We are having problems with the blowers, serious problems. Two of the three blowers developed vibration problems and have now become inoperable. There have been some vibration issues since installation last August.
Recently the issues became bad enough to render the units inoperable. One of the units is still operating, but there are signs of vibration with it as well. I have instructed Utilities Director James Jordan to locate a portable blower just in case we need it. I have instructed the City Attorney to file claims on the contractor’s (Gracon Construction) surety bonds.
GRAYS’ BUILDING – We had an estimator figure the cost of the building. As it is designed the cost will be about $1,000,000. We are trying to get that down to about $850,000. We can do the site work ourselves and make a few minor design changes and I think we’ll be there. In about 30 days we should be ready to either send it out to bid or to solicit qualifications for a construction manager at risk.
WOODBRIDGE – We still need to remove the temporary street, but the drainage/street project is completed.
BELLVIEW STREET – The Capital Construction Division has returned to Bellview, and water main construction is underway.
CONNALLY STREET – The sidewalk on the north side of the street is almost
completed. We focused on the north side first because that side is funded by a TxDOT grant and we need to finish soon. We will begin on the south sidewalk next.
S.H. 11 WIDENING (LIFT STATION) – This project is nearly completed. We
replaced a lift station and sewer main along S.H. 11. TxDOT paid for almost all of it.
The next phase of the S.H. 11 project will require the relocation of a sewer force-main and a water main. The city will bear much of the cost on the next phase.
CLAIMS – A Water and Sewer Division employee was struck by a very high pressure sewer main cleaning hose causing lacerations to his chest. This had the potential to be quite serious, but fortunately it looks like he will be returning to duty soon.
Also, a Parks and Recreation employee backed into another vehicle causing damage to it.The claim has been submitted to TML.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will not give a year-to-date report of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Removed a mop head from the Cantex lift station.
- Replaced a chemical controller on the fountain pump.
- Replaced lights at the senior center.
- Passed a TCEQ inspection of the wastewater treatment plant with no findings!
- Repaired 7 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 10 water meters.
- Unstopped 27 sewer mains.
- Repaired 4 sewer mains.
- Washed 80,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Flushed 36 dead end water mains.
- Opened Sulphur Springs Flood Gates 12 times due to rain.
- Treated 124 million gallons of potable water.
- Responded to 167 fire/rescue calls including 0 structure fires 4 grass fires, and 1 vehicle fire.
- Performed 34 fire inspections.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 78 fire hydrants.
- Began removing outfield fence at Pacific Park.
- Mowed Coleman Dam.
- Made 7 major street repairs following utility repairs.
- Repaired 270 potholes.
- Closed Gilmer Street for Kansas City Southern railroad to make a repair.
- Installed 850 feet of water main on Bellview.
- Conducted 15 building inspections, 15 electrical inspections, 23 plumbing inspections, 2 mechanical inspections and issued 20 building permits.
- Sold 2,727 gallons of AvGas and 6,566 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Checked out 2,754 items from the library and an additional 719 eBooks.
- Responded to 150 animal control calls and achieved a 91% adoption rate.
- Responded to 2,993 calls for police, recorded 55 offenses, wrote 540 traffic citations, made 69 arrests and responded to 45 accidents in the patrol division.
- Made 8 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
SSHS Wildcat Theatre’s OAP Advances To Bi-District UIL Competition
The Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat Theatre’s production of “Emma’s Child” advanced from UIL One Act Play District competition Tuesday to Bi-District with an excellent performance, according to Lesha Woodard, Director of Theatre.
Four members of the theatre group also earned individual awards for their outstanding contributions to the production.
Rachel Bramlett and Anthony Arroyo were awarded All-Star Cast. Chase Berry was awarded Honorable Mention All-Star Cast. Anayeli De La Cruz, stage manager for the production, was awarded Outstanding Crew Member.
Emma’s Child focuses on Jean and Henry Farrell, played by seniors Rachel Bramlett and Chase Berry. The Farrells, after years of unsuccessfully attempting to have a baby of their own, decide to adopt. Emma, portrayed by sophomore AllieGrace Woodard, is the birth mother who approves of the Farrells to adopt her child.
Then, they begin awaiting the birth of their child. When the time arrives, it is not a happy occasion, however, as baby boy Robin is born hydrocephalic and will not live long. Jean falls for this child anyway; the attention she pays to Robin not only threatens to tear her marriage apart, but causes trouble at the hospital as well. Her best friend Franny, played by junior Rorie Young, and some loving nurses, portrayed by juniors Anthony Arroyo and Hannah Shultz, help Jean as she deals with the ensuing problems.
Junior Haylee Fletcher and sophomores Emilie Gotcher, Caleb Talmage, and Lucy Braddy round out the cast.
Rounding out the troop are as Technical Stage Manager is sophomore Brandon Williams and the technical team consisting of senior Alex Walker; junior Gregg English; sophomore Heather Horne; and freshmen Danielle Verlander, Ricardo Chavarria, Markida Hood and Khira Young.
SSHS Wildcat Theatre students will perform next at Bi-District competition on March 26 in Whitehouse.
(Courtesy SSHS Wildcat Theatre Department)
Tira News — March 4, 2020
By Jan Vaughn
The Tira City Council meeting, which was scheduled for March 2, 2020, had to be cancelled, due to several members being unable to attend. It will be rescheduled, but the date has not been determined, yet.
Robert Henson, Tira Volunteer firefighter, did routine maintenance on the Tira fire trucks over the weekend. We appreciate the service that the volunteer firefighters provide for our community.
Linda Ellen Vaughn, Chip’s sister, came from Dallas on Thursday evening and stayed at our house with Chip’s mother, Grace, through the weekend.
Chip and I went to visit our son, Delayne Vaughn, in Waco on Friday. We met him and had a delicious lunch at Ninfa’s Mexican Restaurant, and then Chip did some updates and repairs on his house, while Delayne was at work
that afternoon. The next day, Chip worked a while longer, and then we went out for a wonderful Cajun meal.
That afternoon, Chip and I drove back to Rockwall and did a little shopping. We stayed at The Harbor Saturday night and had dinner by the lake at the Rodeo Goat. They have a great variety of burgers. In spite of the wind on Sunday, we enjoyed strolling along the walkways by the lake that morning, before returning home by way of Greenville, where we had lunch.
It was a wonderful weekend get-away!
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]
Wildcats Track Team Finishes Second, Scores 120 Points, at Sulphur Springs Meet Last Friday
The Wildcats Track Team scored 120 points and finished in second place at the annual Sulphur Springs Meet at the high school track last Friday (February 28). Competing with the Wildcats were athletics from Athens, Lindale, North Lamar, Paris and Commerce along with a thrower from Rivercrest. This year the weather was pleasant. Wildcats Track Coach Matt Young remembers temperatures near the freezing mark at last year’s meet. Coach Young said Friday night results this year included, in the shot put, Ryan Hammonds with a toss of 47-feet 5-inches to finish first. Coach Young said that was what Hammonds was throwing at the end of last season when he qualified for the regional meet. Raydon McCormack got fifth in the shot throwing in the mid-42’s, according to Coach Young. Caden Eaton was third in the triple jump with a leap of 41-feet 9-inches. Eaton also finished in third place in the long jump. Coach Young said soon coming to compete in field events will be football and basketball player Bull Turner and JV athlete Jermaine Cleveland. In the high jump, Weston Fields cleared 5-feet 10-inches for a new personal record and took third place. Devin Franklin also cleared 5-feet 6-inches. In the 3200-meter run, Christian Palomino took first and Jose Mejia also placed in the top six. Coach Young said Palomino had a busy night. After running the 3200, Palomino left the track to play soccer for the Wildcats at Prim Stadium. He then returned to the track and talked his way into the the 4×400-meter relay race where he ran with Ricardo Torres. Kyle Snell and Nabian Ramirez. Coach Young said the Wildcats 4×100-meter relay team was trying to stretch out marks and experienced some troubles with hand offs that led to a third place finish. Nabian Ramirez ran the 800-meter run in a time of 2-minutes, 3-seconds. Coach Young said that’s a good time for this time of year. Camden Fuller also placed in the top six in the 800. Landon Fields got a fifth place finish in the 110-meter hurdles. Caden Eaton was third in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.3 seconds. Kaden Wallace ran an 11.5. The Wildcats 4×200-meter relay team was second. The team consists of Ricardo Torres, Nabian Ramirez, Bryson Lacy and Kaden Wallace. Ricardo Torres was second in the 400-meter run with a time of 52-seconds. Bryson Lacy finished fifth in the 200-meter dash. Camden Fuller and Jose Mejia both placed in the 1600-meter run. The Wildcats and Lady Cats will compete at a Royse City meet Thursday.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack Notes That His Team is Depending on Pitching So Far
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack said his team’s 3-1 win over North Lamar in their regular season opener at Wildcat Park Monday night (March 2) was not pretty. He said his team did not swing the bats well. The Wildcats were only credited with 2 hits. Coach Hammack said the Panthers’ pitcher threw hard but he added he was wild. Coach Hammack said the result was a lot of swings and misses and seven base of balls. The Wildcats loaded the bases three times. Coach Hammack said the Wildcats scratched out three runs despite not being able to get a big hit. Pitching again came to the rescue for the Wildcats this season. Monday Austin Crouse tossed a gem going the first five innings without allowing a run. Hayden Hurst came in for two innings to finish the game allowing only an unearned run. Coach Hammack said he thought the Panther runner who scored their run was initially out on a close play at first. He said Wildcats’ hitter need to learn to make adjustments at the plate. He said batters are typically behind pitchers early in any season and especially this one where the Wildcats have had a hard time getting on their field and three of four planned scrimmages were canceled. Coach Hammack said he has good pitching depth this year plus he also returns his district pitchers from last year. He said he has received good pitching performances this season from Jake Davis, Crouse and Hurst. Jaxon Chaney also tossed a shutout. Despite the lack of base hits, the Wildcats showed good discipline at the plate drawing those seven walks. The Wildcats play next in the Wylie East 2020 Raider Classic Thursday through Saturday. In pool play Thursday, the Wildcats will play Frisco Liberty and Dallas Lake Highlands. The tournament’s other pool is made up of Wylie East, Plano West and North Forney. Coach Hammack called all the teams playoff caliber.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Man Accused Of Aggravated Assault Incident Involving a Pistol And A Cell Phone
Sulphur Springs Police arrested a 23-year-old Sulphur Springs man just before midnight Tuesday for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was reportedly found in possession of a firearm allegedly displayed and a cell phone taken during an incident reported to have occurred at a rural residence, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s emergency dispatchers received two 911 calls from the same man. In one, a man at 7Star Truck Stop on West Shannon Road in Sulphur Springs 11:18 p.m. March 3 claimed someone stole his phone a gunpoint. The call was transferred to police. They were then contacted again within the minute on 911 again to speak to the same man reporting someone had stolen his cell phone with a gun and the offense was reported to have occurred at a rural County Road 1111 address, according to sheriff’s reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Zachary Brown reportedly responded to the call for service at 7Star truck stop, where the alleged victim of the CR 1111 incident was reported to be waiting for officers.
The alleged victim told Brown that the suspect, identified in arrest reports as Michael Jay Felts, had just used a pistol to hold him up and take his cell phone at the rural location. He reportedly told the officer the suspect was at the location.
Brown contacted Felts, who was in a Toyota Camry. Brown was reportedly told the cell phone in question was in his pants pocket. Brown retrieved a phone and secured Felts into handcuffs. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived to assist, according to arrest reports.
Felts allegedly told officers he did use a weapon against the victim. While Brown was speaking with Felts, Fisher reportedly located the firearm in question in the vehicle, where Felts had been sitting, the SSPD officer allege din arrest reports. Felts was taken to jail for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The phone was released to alleged victim, Brown reported.
Felts remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday afternoon; bond had yet to be set on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javier Aguayo Said Strong Half Leads to Win Over Lindale
In what seems to be a trend lately, the Lady Cats Soccer Team used a strong second half at Lindale to defeat the Lady Eagles, 4-0 Tuesday night (March 4). Lady Cats Coach Javier Aguayo said the Lady Cats dominated play in the first half but could not score against a Lady Eagles’ defense designed to be hard to score on. He said Lindale was keeping eight players back with only two attackers. Still Coach Aguayo said the Lady Cats did have a few chances to score but did not do so. The second half was a different story as the Lady Cats found the net four times for goals. He said after the half time talk, the Lady Cats figured out how to break the Lady Eagles’ defense. Haley Robinson scored three straight goals. Janine Yamaguchi assisted on the first two goals and freshman Rebekah Stanley got the assist on the third. Stanley scored the Lady Cats fourth goal on a rebound after a Yamaguchi shot. The Lady Cats are now 5-2 in district play and 9-8-1 for the season. Next the Lady Cats play at home against Mount Pleasant Friday night. Coach Aguayo said the Lady Cats are ready. He said the Lady Cats just need to play their game and play hard. Last year the Lady Cats defeated Mount Pleasant at home. The Lady Tigers won in the first half of district play at home back on February 18.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta Says He’s Proud of His Team After Close Playoff Loss
Seasons end so abruptly in the playoffs. An exciting Wildcats’ basketball season came to a conclusion Tuesday night (March 3) in a regional quarterfinal game at Rockwall Heath against #1 ranked Lancaster, 44-38. Sulphur Springs fans packed the stands on the home side and rose at the end of the game to gave their Wildcats one more standing ovation this season. Afterward many of the fans stayed around to congratulate Coach Clark Cipoletta and his players for another exciting season. Coach Cipoletta said his kids battled, followed the game plan and played hard and he added that’s all he could ask of them. He said Lancaster is really talented and he said you can’t take anything away from them. He said if a few plays here and there had gone the Wildcats way, the game could have had a different ending. Coach Cipoletta told his team after the game they should not let one loss define their incredible season or the incredible careers of their four seniors. He said sometime you come up short in life, adding he could not be more proud of his group. He said the Lancaster coaches were complimentary of the Wildcats players for the game they played. Coach Cipoletta said with Lancaster being so talented and so well coached, it made things difficult for the Wildcats. Still he said his team battled and did all that they could. Coach Cipoletta also called the Wildcats’ fans the best in the country and he said he appreciated them.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
A&M-Commerce Students Shine at SAEA Quiz Bowl
| A&M-Commerce students shine at SAEA Quiz Bowl |
| COMMERCE, TX— Nine students from Texas A&M University-Commerce showed their smarts in economics at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association’s annual Quiz Bowl in Louisville, Kentucky, in February. The team, which consisted of members Shayna Cooper, Emily Jennings, Haley Marshall, Kelley Smith, Emma Lawson, Madison Oats, John Woodard, Parker Aguilar and Yves Kacou, are advised by Dr. Jose Lopez, associate professor of agribusiness at A&M-Commerce. The Quiz Bowl is an annual event where students are put into teams with universities from across the United States and play a Jeopardy-like game in which they answer questions from six categories: macroeconomics, microeconomics, finance, quantitative, policy and potpourri. A&M-Commerce’s agribusiness students have been participating in the SAEA’s annual Quiz Bowl since 2014. For the past seven years, Lion students have consistently placed at the competition. Dax Havrilak’s team won first place in 2014, Jaylen Wallace’s team finished second place in 2016, and Troy McDonald’s team finished third in 2018. This year, Haley Marshall led the way for A&M-Commerce students with her team’s third-place finish in the competition. Several A&M-Commerce students shared their experiences from the Quiz Bowl. “I always enjoy attending the SAEA Conference,” said team member Kelly Smith. “It’s an opportunity to reconnect and network with people and colleagues from all over the country who share a common interest in the field of agribusiness. The quiz bowl competition is also an awesome way to share our knowledge of the industry and build professional relationships with our competitors.” Team member Haley Marshall said Quiz Bowl is the highlight of her year. “Quiz bowl is my favorite experience of the year because it’s a great networking opportunity as well as a space to test what you know,” Marshall said. “Going to Quiz bowl connected me with great people and let me go to Churchill Downs, which is a dream of mine, and inspired me to finish my thesis on the racing industry,” she added. Dr. Lopez emphasized the many benefits of attending a national competition like Quiz Bowl. “It is very fulfilling to be able to take students to a national conference to participate in a Quiz Bowl contest, engage in experiential learning activities, and network with other students, faculty and professionals from all over the United States,” Lopez said. “Students get to appreciate and know what their discipline is all about outside their classroom. I am delighted to be able to do these types of activities for the students, and I hope that financial support will continue to be available. Students really enjoy and learn from these experiences.” (Photo Cutline: Students from Texas A&M University-Commerce participated in the 2020 Southern Agricultural Economics Association’s annual Quiz Bowl in February.) ### About Texas A&M University-Commerce: A&M-COMMERCE serves rural and metropolitan East Texas with distinction, consistently delivering on a promise that our founder, Professor William Leonidas Mayo, made more than a century ago: “No industrious, ambitious youth shall be denied an education if I can prevent it.” We are committed to our university’s mission: Educate. Discover. Achieve. Programs are delivered on-site at the Commerce campus as well as in Corsicana, Dallas, McKinney, Frisco and Mesquite. Many courses are also available online. Students may choose from more than 135-degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. A vibrant student life experience includes 14 NCAA Division II athletic teams, a thriving Greek system and more than 120 student organizations. About the A&M System: The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation with a budget of $4.69 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities and seven state agencies, the Texas A&M System educates more than 150,000 students and makes more than 22 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceeded $996 million in FY 2017 and helped drive the state’s economy. |
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report Feb. 24, 2020-March 01, 2020
Arrests
- Fernando E. Treminio, age 20, of Spring, TX was arrested on 2/27/20020 for Assault Causing Bodily Injury- Family Violence.
- Denny Mize, age 49, of Lindale, was arrested on 2/28/2020 for Possession of Controlled Substance PG1>=1G<4G and Van Zandt County SO warrant for Probation Violation- Child Neglect.
- Joseph Sabedra, age 29, of Leesburg, was arrested on 2/28/2020 on a Franklin County SO warrant for Injury to a Child.
- Asa Joslin Jr., age 36, of Leesburg, was arrested on 2/29/2020 on Winnsboro Municipal Court warrants – Fail to Maintain Financial Responsibility and Display Fictitious License Plate.
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 179 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 37 citations and 75 warnings during this reporting period.
