New Beginnings 2020 Women's Conference Will be Held January 18th
El Paso Man To Sentenced On Controlled Substance Charge
A 20-year-old El Paso man was taken into custody at 11 a.m. Jan. 7 at Hopkins County Courthouse after being assessed punishment on a controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Caleb Evan Ashley was scheduled to appear in district court Tuesday, Jan. 7, during the 9 a.m. session for a sentencing hearing on a Jan. 12, 2019 manufacture or delivery of more than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
Ashley was one of three El Paso residents arrested near mile marker 130 on Interstate 30 on the charge Jan. 12, 2019. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers had stopped their vehicle for a traffic violation, and found four black tape and cellophane wrapped bundles of suspected heroin in an aftermarket compartment in the battery, DPS official alleged in arrest reports. Overall, the suspected heroin weighed 4.45 kilograms. He remained in Hopkins County jail until April 28, 2019.
He was sentenced Jan. 7 to a commitment in an Intermediate Sanctioned Facility, according to arrest and jail reports.
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javi Aguayo Likes How His Team Rallied Twice to Earn 2-2 Tie
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javier Aguayo said North Lamar surprised us all with how good they were as the Lady Cats and Pantherettes battled to a 2-2 tie at Gerald Prim Stadium Tuesday night (January 7). It was the season opener for the Lady Cats. Coach Aguayo called North Lamar a tough opponent and he said he was impressed with how speedy their top three forwards were. One of them got loose and scored a goal about 3:30 into the first half. Coach Aguayo said the Lady Cats played well and came back. Vanessa Lara scored the equalizer after a corner kick. Coach Aguayo said he thought it made a difference that North Lamar had already played four tournament games this past weekend. Three of the four games were played against highly ranked teams. North Lamar also took a 2-1 lead in the second half with about 20 minutes left. Coach Aguayo and Assistant Coach Kristov Martinez both encouraged the Lady Cats to not hang their heads and to keep battling. The Lady Cats again got the tying goal, this one from Katelyn Robinson after a nice assist from Rebekah Stanley. Coach Aguayo admitted he wanted his team to score a winning goal late in the match but he said the ball just would not go into the net. Coach Aguayo said he liked renewing the old rivalry with North Lamar. The two team played spirited games against each other as district opponents years ago. The Lady Cats begin play in a three day Pine Tree tournament that starts Thursday. Weather permitting, the Lady Cats are scheduled to play Jacksonville, Cleburne and host Pine Tree.
Lady Cats Basketball Team Uses Mainly Five Players to Eke by Sherman on the Road Tuesday Night
Lady Cats Basketball Coach Brittney Tisdell admits the end of the Sherman game Tuesday evening (January 7) had her a bit confused. Sherman hit a late three and their gym went nuts according to her. She said she was confused because even with the good three pointer, the Lady Cats still took a one point win. They had a four point lead before the shot. Coach Tisdell even checked with the refs to make sure a foul wasn’t also called on the shot that could have led to a tying free throw. A Sherman assistant coach later told her the Lady Bearcats were confused with what the score was before the successful three. They thought they had won. The Lady Cats won, 42-41. They only suited out 7 players and Coach Tisdell mainly stuck with five players for the majority of the game. It was the Lady Cats second straight game without freshman Kenzie Willis, who has an ankle injury. Plus freshman Serenity Lewis has developed a bone bruise on a foot that kept her out. Coach Tisdell said her five players had to step up. She said they survived. Fouls almost created a problem but Kate Womack was able to play almost the entire fourth quarter with 4 fouls. Coach Tisdell noted the contribution made by sophomore Addy Lamb. She said Lamb has scored in just about every game she has played but she said her defensive play is the reason she was promoted to the varsity. Next for the Lady Cats is the start of district play. Friday in the main gym at Sulphur Springs High School, the Lady Cats play host to Royse Cty, the #14 ranked team in Class 5A. Game time at 6:15 p.m., right before the Wildcats non-district game against McKinney North that starts at 7:30 p.m.
Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta Pleased With How Sherman Game Went Tuesday Night
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta said his team did a really good job coming out focused and with purpose against Sherman on the road Tuesday night (January 7). The #4 ranked Wildcats won, 81-40. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats were physical and were able to get the ball to spots on the floor where they wanted it to go. He said this made the Wildcats hard for Sherman to guard. Coach Cipoletta called it one of the best offensive games his Wildcats have had since he’s been head coach here. He added the Wildcats moved the ball around, made proper reads and only had two or three turnovers in the game. Coach Cipoletta said senior Day Day Hall was outstanding in the game. He scored 27 points. Coach Cipoletta said he has had to urge Day Day to be more aggressive offensively in some games but he said he did not have to do that Tuesday night. With point guard Lamodrick Johnson out with a turned ankle, there were more minutes for sophomore Caleb Alexander and he responded. Coach Cipoletta said Alexander scored 11 second quarter points. Grayson McClure scored 12 points. The Wildcats, now 17-6 for the season, play host to McKinney North Friday at 7:30 p.m. right after the Lady Cats district opening game with Royse City that starts at 6:15 p.m.
Mount Pleasant Man Jailed On Hopkins County Warrant
A 31-year-old Mount Pleasant man as held in Titus County jail on a Hopkins County warrant. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was alerted Joe Anthony Gotcher was taken in custody at Titus County jail.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Elijah Fite traveled to Mount Pleasant, took the man into custody at 9:12 a.m. Jan. 7 and transported him to Hopkins County jail, where he was held for surety off bond on a failure in sex offender duty to register for life/annually, according to arrest reports.
Gotcher remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday on the charge. Bond on the charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Pair Arrested Following Alleged Theft At Main Street Store
A shoplifting complaint on Main Street resulted in two arrests Tuesday afternoon, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs Police were dispatched shortly after 1:30 p.m. Jan. 7 to the 400 block of Main Street, where a theft was reported. Upon arrival, officers contacted a 48-year-old Sulphur Springs woman who allegedly admitted to taking six bags of Corn Nuts. She allegedly passed all points of sale without paying for the items, Sulphur Springs Police Officer Cameron Robinson alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, the woman was jailed for theft of property valued at less than $100, a charge enhanced to a Class B misdemeanor due to a previous conviction, according to arrest reports.
The woman was going to release her vehicle to Tracy Alan Groves, 25, of Sulphur Springs. However, a records check showed Groves to be wanted on a Rockwall County motion to revoke on a possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports. Consequently, Groves was jailed on the charge.
The 48-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was released from jail Wednesday; bond was set at $1,000 on the theft charge. Groves was held for Rockwall authorities on the 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.
Sulphur Springs City Manager's Report For January 2020
Below is the City Manager’s Report reported by Marc Maxwell Jan. 7, to Sulphur Springs City Council.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
Construction is complete with the exception of sowing grass seed which is ongoing. For all intents and purposes this project is complete. Budget for the project was $18,800,000. We expect total expenditures on the project to come in at $18,400,000. This project is finishing on-time and under-budget.
GRAY’S BUILDING
We have a set of plans for the Gray’s building. We will now have a professional estimator produce a probable cost for the project.
WOODBRIDGE
The Capital Construction Division is currently repairing a drainage/street issue in the Woodbridge addition. The Woodbridge Homeowners association is paying $46,125 to replace the drainage structure between the two ponds. Reconstruction of the concrete street between the two ponds is the city’s responsibility. That should cost approximately $55,000 including construction of the temporary road. We may also do some additional reconstruction in Woodbridge while we have the benefit of a temporary road.
BELLVIEW STREET
The Bellview project has begun. Installation of sewer mains is complete. Installation of water mains will not begin until we finish at Woodbridge.
CONNALLY STREET
The actual street is completed, and open to the public. The Capital Construction Division will finish construction of sidewalks, driveway approaches and cross-street connections within 60 days.
CLAIMS
We received one liability claim in December for damages to a vehicle allegedly caused by a pothole. We submitted a claim to TML and the claim was denied. We had two workers compensation claims in December. One was fairly serious. A wastewater treatment plant employee was injured when a sealed bucket containing chlorine and wastewater exploded in his face. He suffered burns and scratches to his eyes and was transported by air to the Parkland burn unit. Thankfully none of the injuries were permanent and the employee returned to full duty after 11 days. I have directed the Utilities Director to increase safety training.
Revenues and Expenditures
Finance Director Lesa Smith will give a yearto-date report of revenues and expenditures. Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Responded to 178 calls for Animal Control.
- Achieved an adoption rate of 59% at the Animal Shelter.
- Made 4 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Responded to 55 accidents, recorded 51 offenses, wrote 559 citations, and made 64 arrests on the Patrol Division.
- Removed underbrush in Coleman Park along Reservoir Street.
- Removed leaves from athletic fields at Coleman Park.
- Checked out 2,328 items from the Municipal Library and an additional 750 eBooks.
- Assisted 831 computer users at the library.
- Installed crosswalk lighting at the post office and Alliance Bank.
- Achieved a monthly average total suspended solids reading of .51 mg/L at the wastewater treatment plant, our lowest reading ever!
- Repaired 15 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 14 water meters.
- Repaired 2 out-of-service fire hydrants, and installed a new one.
- Unstopped 29 sewer mains.
- Repaired 2 sewer mains.
- Shut down Cooper Lake raw water pumps while the North Texas Municipal Water District tested their electrical controls.
- Flushed 36 dead end water mains.
- Treated 132 million gallons of potable water.
- Made 4 street repairs following utility repairs.
- Installed speed limit signs on Connally Street.
- Placed and removed barriers for the Lions Club Christmas Parade.
- Hauled street sweeper spoils to the landfill.
- Responded to 187 fire/rescue calls including 4 structure fires, 2 vehicle fires and 13 grass fires.
- Conducted 40 fire inspections and reviewed 40 pre-fire plans.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 70 fire hydrants.
- Conducted 36 building inspections, 26 electrical inspections, 23 plumbing inspections, 5 mechanical inspections and issued 19 building permits.
- Sold 2,277 gallons of AvGas and 10,813 Gallons of JetA.
- Assisted local organizations with planning the Lions Club Christmas Parade and the Main Street Christmas Market.
City Council Puts Curfew Ordinance On Hold
Sulphur Springs City Council during the regular Jan. 7 meeting postponed a vote on a proposed curfew for minors ordinance.
City Attorney Jim McLeroy Tuesday night told the council that Ordinance No. 2762 would amend the Code of Ordinances with the addition of an article establishing curfew hours for unaccompanied minors.
McLeroy proposed establishing a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays and from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekends for unaccompanied minors age. There would be exceptions. The attorney noted one had already been suggested to him involving youth who are legitimate customers at food restaurants after 10 p.m., which can be added
“Just for the audience, a minor is under 17?” Councilman Doug Moore asked.
“Yes,” McLeroy affirmed.
Councilman Freddie Taylor asked what happens if a minor does not leave a downtown business if asked to do so by the store owner. McLeroy said the owner currently has the option to call the police.
McLeroy said while the ordinance would not solve the issue of minors being dropped off and allowed to remain downtown from 10 p.m. to midnight, potentially becoming a nuisance, it would give officers another tool to use when encountering youth behaving in such a manner. The threat of a potential ticket also could serve as a deterrent for youth being out, fighting or being a nuisance.
Moore asked that action on the proposed curfew ordinance be tabled until the next council meeting, to allow some thought to be give to the matter.
The motion to postpone the issue received unanimous approval. The ordinance would need to be approved on two readings by the council at successive meetings.
Aimee Huppert, during the public forum portion of the meeting, in response to the curfew proposal suggested establishing a teen center to provide a safe place and acceptable activities to interest and engage youth in. That would allow them to be sociable and involved in the community. She suggested perhaps one of the empty buildings on or around downtown could be converted for that purpose.
Huppert too asked for a sign for her street, Glover Avenue, to discourage people from hanging out in cars at the end of the road and behaving in a manner inappropriate for children.
Mayor John Sellers told Huppert the curfew ordinance would be on the next regular council agenda if she wished to speak again on the matter.
In addition to Huppert, public forum speakers included six men who asked the City Council to offer the city manager a contract and Bryan Slaton, who introduced himself to the council as a candidate for Texas House of Representatives, District 2.
