Early Voting Begins Feb. 18 in Party Primary Elections
Early voting begins Tuesday, Feb. 18 in the March 3 Primary Election and continues through Friday, Feb. 28. Voting will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 18-22, Feb. 24, Feb. 26 and Feb. 28. Voting will be conducted from noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 23, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 25 and 27.
All early voting in Hopkins County will conducted in the Justice of the Peace #2 Courtroom at the Hopkins County Tax Office/Justice of the Peace Offices, 128 Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs.
The last day to accept applications for ballots by mail is Feb. 21. Election Day voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the 12 voting center locations throughout the county.

Hopkins County, Judicial Districts
Only one race for a county office is contested, that for Precinct 2 Constable. Charles Humphries and John Brian Beadle are both seeing the Republican nomination; Bill Allan opted not to seek election to another term as Constable, Precinct 2.
Unchallenged in the Republican Primary in their bids for reelection at the county level are incumbents:
- Precinct 1 Constable Norman Colyer,
- Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley,
- Precinct 1 County Commissioner Mickey Barker,
- County Tax Assessor-Collector Debbie Pogue Mitchell,
- County Sheriff Lewis Tatum, and
- County Attorney Dustanna Hyde Rabe.
No Democrats filed for these elections, according to Texas Secretary of State’s Ballot Certification Reports.
Eighth Judicial District Attorney Will Ramsay, 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt and 62nd Judicial District Judge Will Biard are unchallenged in the Republican Primary for reelection. No Democrats filed for the party nomination for these offices, according to the SOS reports.
State, United States
Incumbent Dan Flynn is challenged in his bid for reelection as District 2 State Representative by Bryan Slaton and Dwayne “Doc” Collins. The candidate receiving the Republican nomination on March 3 will face Bill Brannon, unchallenged for the Democratic Party nomination, in November.
The District 9 seat on the State Board of Education is also on the March 3 primary ballot. Keven M. Ellis is seeking the Republican nomination and Brenda Davis is seeking the Democratic nomination.
Incumbent John Ratcliffe is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. District 4 Representative. He will face Russell Foster, the lone Democratic Party candidate for the District 4 seat later this year.
The U.S. Senator nomination is heavily contested, with four Republicans challenging incumbent John Cornyn for the party nomination and a dozen Democrats seeking their party’s nomination. Candidates for U.S. Senator include, by party:
- Republican
- Virgil Bierschwale,
- Mark Yancey,
- John Cornyn (incumbent)
- Dwayne Stovall and
- John Anthony Castro.
- Democrat

The most contested is the race for president/vice president. There are eight Republican candidates and 17 Democratic candidates, according to ballot certification reports provided by the Democratic and Republican Parties of Texas to Texas Secretary of State’s Office


Seeking the Republican nomination for Railroad Commissioner are James “Jim” Wright and Ryan Sitton. Seeking the Democratic nomination for Railroad Commissioner are Kelly Stone, Roberto R. “Beto” Alonzo, Mark Watson and Chrysta Castaneda.
Voters too will be asked to consider nominations for Supreme and Appeals Courts as well. Candidates include by place and party:
Chief Justice, Supreme Court
- Democrat
- Amy Clark Meachum
- Jerry Zimmerer
- Republican
- Nathan Hetcht, Republican
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6 – Unexpired Term
- Democrat
- Kathy Cheng
- Larry Praeger
- Republican
- Jane Bland
Justice, Supreme Court Place 7
- Democrat
- Staci Williams
- Brandy Voss
- Repubican
- Jeff Boyd
Justice, Supreme Court Place 8
- Democrat
- Peter Kelly
- Gisela D. Triana
- Republican
- Brett Busby
Judge, Court Of Criminal Appeals, Place 3
- Democrat
- William Pieratt Demond
- Elizabeth Davis Frizell
- Dan Wood
- Republican
- Gina Parker
- Bert Richardson
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4
- Democrat
- Steven Miears
- Tina Clinton
- Republican
- Kevin Patrick Yeary
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9
- Democrat
- Brandon Birmingham
- Republican
- David Newell
Justice, 6th Court of Appeals District, Place 3
- Republican
- Ralph K. Burgess
Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization Will Host Another NETBIO Sale
Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission/NETBIO
Public Information Services
The Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization, in cooperation with the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission, will host another NETBIO sale Wednesday, Feb. 19.
This sale is the newest addition to the NETBIO annual sale schedule. It will begin on 1 p.m. but come early and look over the cattle and enjoy a meal in the Market Center restaurant before the sale.
Producers have consigned nearly 3,000 head of pre-conditioned cattle to the sale.
Like all the NETBIO sales, this sale will be broadcast on the Internet and the Sulphur Springs Livestock Auction will be accepting bids at LMA Auctions.com.
Internet buyers should register in advance in order to bid. For more information, call 903-885-2455 or visit the SSLC Web Site at www.sslivestockauctions.com.

Sulphur Springs Man Jailed On DWI Charge After Crash
A 45-year-old Sulphur Springs man reportedly didn’t get very far after ignoring other’s attempts to prevent him from driving drunk. He was allegedly found crawling in the grass near a wrecked sport utility vehicle, according to arrest reports.
A witnesses allegedly alerted police the man had left a Magnolia Street brewery “highly intoxicated,” despite people’s attempts to take his keys away from him to keep him from driving.
A Sulphur Springs police officer reported being contacted in the back parking lot of the police department, where he was parked. A “drive up complainant alleged the man had driven north on Magnolia Street in a gray Dodge SUV.

As the police officer turned onto Magnolia Street, he alleged seeing a gray Dodge SUV crashed at the intersection of Magnolia and Main streets, within a block of the business, and a man crawling in the grass near the crashed Dodge Durango, police alleged in arrest reports.
Police alleged the man was uncooperative, had trouble standing on his own and would not at that time identify himself when they spoke with him. A strong odor of an alcoholic beverage allegedly emitted from the man when he spoke. The man’s pants were reportedly unzipped and it appeared as if he’d urinated on himself, police noted in arrest reports.
Officers took the man into custody at 11:31 p.m. and transported him to the county jail, where he allegedly refused to provide a breath specimen. Consequently, officers sought and obtained a search warrant, requiring a blood draw for analysis. The warrant was allegedly executed at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital. Officers transported the 45-year-old Sulphur Springs man back to the county jail, where he was booked on a Class A misdemeanor second-offense driving while intoxicated charge, according to arrest reports.
The man remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning, Feb. 17. Bond on the DWI charge was set at $2,000, 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 Woman Jailed On Titus County Indecency With A Child By Sexual Contact Warrant
A 24-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was jailed Sunday on a Titus County warrant alleging indecency with a child by sexual contact, according to arrest reports.

While on a call at the hospital, officers contacted Breanna Nicole Stevenson. A records check by Sulphur Springs Police dispatchers reportedly revealed the warrant. Officers took Stevenson into custody at 11:48 a.m. Feb. 16 without incident on the Titus County warrant, Sulphur Springs Police Officer Sean Hoffman noted in arrest reports.
Stevenson remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning, Feb. 17. Bond was set at $100,000 on the indecency with a child by sexual contact charge, according to jail reports.
10 North Hopkins Senior, Junior Beta Qualify For Nationals
North Hopkins ISD was well represented this week at the Texas Beta convention. The school had 27 Junior Beta members and 47 Senior Beta members competing. Every competition had 20 or more participants. Some had more than 30 participants.
At the conclusion of the weekend, NHISD came home with 10 National Beta qualifiers. A few students advance in more than one event.

Kenna Lane served as a Beta representative at convention and helped pass out awards. She also is a National qualifier and Runner-up in Agriscience Division 1, 10th grade.

Chani Brandenburgh got second with her Division 1 Mixed Media and will be competing at Nationals in June.

Saul Miranda finished second in Onsite Painting Division II; he also is a National qualifier.
A North Hopkins Beta Club team won third place in the Two Dimensional Design with their banner, advancing them to nationals.

Liberty Weatherhead, Mariana Aguilar and Chani Brandenburgh are the new Texas State Freshman Problem Solving Champions. They too advance to Nationals.
Kennedi Erwin is a triple threat in the Junior Beta competitions. She brought home three National qualifying awards: first place in Drawing, second place in Banner and third place in Fiber Arts. She advances to nationals in all three. She also received Best of Show Division 2 Arts and Crafts with her drawing.

The North Hopkins Junior Beta members also came in second in Two Dimensional Design with their banner.

The Junior Quiz Bowl team consisting of Conner Hall, Jack Jackson, Kennedi Erwin and Harley Vaughn were in the top 8 out of over 30 Quiz Bowl teams and got to compete in the Quiz Bowl finals.
Many other NH Beta and Junior Beta Club members also participated in the competitions and represented NHISD well, school staff reported.

Cumby Students Place At National Beta Qualifying Competitions
Cumby ISD had three Senior Beta members and one Junior Beta member who placed in the state competitions and are headed to the national Beta competition this summer.

Emily McJohnston placed first in Drawing Division I. In addition to the Division I Drawing Championship Title, she also received brought home a Best In Show Division II award as well.

Skyler McJohnston placed second in Poetry Division I.

Mariana Ugalde won second in Spanish 9th Grade.
Jr. Beta Member Jenna Elmore placed third in Math 7th Grade.

3 From Sulphur Bluff ISD Advance To National Beta Convention
Sulphur Bluff ISD has three students advancing to the National BETA Convention in Fort Worth.
Ryan Vance placed first in speech, Kennedi Lambert placed first in 9th grade agri-science and Dakota Copeland places third in 10th grade agri-science.
According to the Beta website, SB High School’s Shane Johnson also placed 4th in 11gh grade social studies

Como-Pickton FCCLA Teams Advancing To State
The Como-Pickton FCCLA Competed in Waco at the Region III Leadership conference. The following teams are advancing to the State competition in April.

The second place Nutrition and Wellness project team of Presley Cummins and Carol Nabors.

The third place in Professional Presentations team of Kenlee Green, Jocelyn Perez and Jazmine Tapley.

Fifth place Diversity project in Focus on Children team of Jake Anderson, Mya Lewis and Gema Mercado.

Leslie Velasco, Diana Gallegos Kenlee Green and Jocelyn Perez served the REGION III as Members of the Connection Team.










