PJC Sulphur Springs News
CUTTING EDGE
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center welding student Adrian Banuelos of Birthright, left, is cutting a piece of metal as part of his structural welding class project. Welding Instructor John Plemons is giving him some guidance during the process.
Sulphur Springs City Council Agrees To Amend Luminant Agreement Regarding FM 1870 Overpass
Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday night approved an amendment to the development agreement inked with Luminant in October of 2018, assuming Luminant’s obligations regarding the FM 1870 overpass and indemnifying Luminant.
The City of Sulphur Springs has a development agreement with Luminant regarding the Thermo Mine to close out conditions for the transfer of property to the city. The last condition before the transfer can occur is for Luminant to be released of all liabilities and obligations regarding the FM 1870 overpass with TxDOT, Sulphur Springs Community Development Director Niewiadomski explained during the council’s October meeting.
To accomplish this, the city has been working with TxDOT to fully integrate the bridge onto their system and leave the bridge in place. TxDOT, Niewiadomski reported, has indicated $100,000 in repairs would be adequate for them to perform maintenance and take it onto their system and be responsible for future maintenance.
The city in turn will need to execute agreement with TxDOT and pay $100,000 to remove the liability and obligations regarding the FM 1870 overpass. Once the terms of the agreement are finalized by TxDOT and executed, the city can close out conditions with Luminant and take possession of the property, according to the city official’s report.
Sulphur Springs City Council at their Oct. 1 meeting approved the resolution with TxDOT. Tuesday night, Nov. 6, the council approved an amendment to the development agreement with Luminant, assuming Luminant’s obligations regarding overpass and indemnifying Luminant.
Rollover Crash On I-30 West Of Sulphur Springs Results In Methamphetamine Arrest
A 55-year-old Como woman was arrested on a controlled substance charge following a one-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 30 Tuesday night, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies; EMS; Hopkins County, Cumby and Brinker firefighters; and Cumby police were dispatched at 9:20 p.m. Nov. 5 to a crash in which a vehicle reportedly rolled over into the median, landing on its top, near mile marker 114 on Interstate 30 east. Initially, two people were reported to be trapped in the vehicle
Upon arrival, officials reported seeing an orange Dodge Avenger upside down in the median between the eastbound and westbound lanes of traffic on I-30. The woman was reportedly seated and was reluctant to exit the car, but eventually did get out with her purse. She allegedly told the officers her wallet was inside the car. Officers, in arrest reports noted multiple wallets visible throughout the vehicle.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Davis and Deputies Zack Horne and Nick Marney alleged one of the officers saw a clear broken glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine with a white, crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine resting in the door ledge and window, visible from the rear passengers side of the car.
The 55-year-old Como woman, identified in arrest reports as Gayle Lynn Walker, reportedly refused medical treatment from EMS personnel and was placed into custody.
Deputies then searched for the woman’s wallet inside the car. The deputies allegedly found a chewing tobacco can with her name scratched onto the side of it and a small amount of marijuana inside of it, a first-aid box containing suspected methamphetamine residue and a small mint can with a folded dollar bill with suspected methamphetamine on it, two small bags of suspected marijuana and additional baggies of suspected methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia, according to arrest reports.
Walker was transported to jail. The substance field-tested positive as meth and weighed over 8 grams, resulting in Walker’s arrest for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Walker was released from jail Wednesday morning, Nov. 6. Her bond was set at $25,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
Pep Rally and Youth Super Bowl This Week
All three Sulphur Springs Youth Football and Cheer teams advance to the Youth Super Bowl held on Saturday November 9th, 2019. The public is invited to attend the game and cheer these kids on. The game starts at 10AM at Lindale Eagles Stadium.
Participants range from grades 1st to 6th.
A pep rally is planned for Friday 6PM at Sulphur Springs High School Track. Everyone is invited to come out and show support.
The mission of Sulphur Springs Youth Football and Cheer is to provide a rewarding experience for youth that will extend into everyday lives. It is our goal to instill in our youth a sense of community and promote qualities such as:
- TEAMWORK
- COMMITMENT
- LEADERSHIP
- RESPONSIBILITY
- INTEGRITY
- SPORTSMANSHIP
- RESPECT
- PERSEVERANCE
- SCHOLARSHIP
CJAA Texas Jet Blast Pilots Arrive Today
CJAA Pilots are expected to begin arriving at the Sulphur Springs Airport Wednesday afternoon. KSLR was chosen at the site for the 2019 ‘Jet Blast’ a fly in and training opportunity for jet aircraft pilots from across the country.
Due to weather conditions around the United States some aircraft may be delayed. Sulphur Springs Airport and Tourism Director Joey Baker said, “No one has cancelled reservations at local hotels.” Baker went on to say that, “There may be some delays in the activities, but nothing is cancelled at this time.”
These local businesses helped make the ‘Jet Blast’ a success:
- The Southwest Dairy Museum donated ice cream treats
- Alliance Bank provided a freezer for the ice cream
- Lucky Donut provided a weeks worth of donuts and pastries
- Fix and Feed provided bottled water
- Famer’s Electric COOP provided bottled water
- Saputo provided coffee creamers
- Ocean Spray provided juice
The airport terminal building is always open to the public. The public is invited to come to the terminal building to watch activities. However the public will not be able to venture into Aircraft Operating Areas.
A mix of activities will be happening around Hopkins County. Some will be on the ground at KSLR, and some will be at altitude. The ‘Jet Blast’ is not necessarily a public event. It is an opportunity for jet pilots to gain skills and certifications. There will be aerobatics preformed over KSLR, but there will not be a public airshow.
Lady Cats Volleyball Team Springs Huge Upset In Bi-District, Wins 3-0 Over Hallsville
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team, playing some of their best volleyball this year, shocked district champion Hallsville, 3-0 in a bi-district match at Tyler Junior College Tuesday night, Nov. 5.
With a roster that featured lots of youth and playoff inexperience, the Lady Cats came out of the gate with laser focus and took charge of the match. The result was a stunning set one win, 25-8.
Only senior Erika VanBenthem had ever been in a playoff game. The 12-member Lady Cats roster included five juniors and three sophomores. Equally amazing was that after getting Hallsville’s attention in set one, the Lady Cats were able to continue to come out on top.
Only in set two did the Lady Cats swoon a little, due in most part to some faulty serving. After leading by as many as seven points in the set at 19-12, the Lady Cats saw Hallsville rally back to within one point at 24-23. A Hallsville serve into the net gave the Lady Cats the set two win, 25-23.
In set three, the Lady Cats again built a solid lead that grew to seven points on several occasions. Hallsville was only able to get within three and the Lady Cats closed out set three, 25-20 and won the match.
Lady Cat Sadie Washburn led the Lady Cats in kills and digs getting 13 kills and 12 digs, VanBenthem had 5 kills. Peyton Hammack had 22 assists.
Lady Cats Coach Bailey Dorner said she thought the match was the Lady Cats second best of the season, behind only the Lady Cats strong showing in their district opener, a dominating 3-0 win over Royse City at home.
Coach Dorner said the Lady Cats played well and served well. She was pleased that when the Lady Cats did swoon in the second set, they still fought back to win.
Coach Dorner said the Lady Cats had implemented some changes in practice recently that they used successfully against Paris last Friday. The changes also seemed to work Tuesday night as the ball just never seemed to hit the floor in the bi-district match on the Lady Cats side. The Lady Cats improved their season record to 24-17.
The Lady Cats will now face Forney in an Area match. UIL rules require the Area game to be played either this Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Details have now been worked out. The match will take place Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. at Canton.
Forney, now 29-9 for the season, defeated Joshua Tuesday, 3-0 with set scores of 25-22, 25-17 and 25-23. Forney was the runner up team in District 13-5A finishing behind North Forney.
Election Results
Hopkins County voters have had their say, and were in favor of one local proposition, against another, decided school trustees in North Hopkins ISD, their choice for mayor in Cumby, preferences for a utility versus water district for Lake Fork and weighed in on proposed Constitutional Amendments as well.
Results of the Nov. 5 elections in Hopkins County are listed below. Elections that include more than 1 district and state-wide election results will be reported as they become available. All elections are unofficial until canvassed.
City of Cumby Mayor
Cumby residents who cast early ballots were nearly 62 percent in favor of Ryan Horne. However, when Election Day tallies were in, Simmerman pushed ahead for a narrow victory, taking 50.08 percent of the vote.
- Doug Simmerman — 8 early; 71 total
- Ryan Horne — 13 early; 68 total.
Cumby ISD Bond
In the early ballots, 60 percent of voters were in favor of the bond for school improvements and 40 percent voted against it. However, once Election Day totals were in, the bond was defeated 202 to 192 votes.
- For — 30 early, Hopkins County; 183 Hopkins County, 9 Hunt County Election Day.
- Against — 20 early, 192 Election Day Hopkins County, 10 Hunt County Election Day
Lake Fork Special Utility District
Hopkins County voting in the Lake Fork Special Utility District was light, with less than a dozen ballots cast, with more for than against the change from a water supply to a utility district.
District Change
- For — 9
- Against — 2
Director, 1 year term
- Mickey Delamar –5
- Quin H Martson Jr. — 3
- Ken Stribley — 2
Director, 2 year term
- Gary Watson — 5
- Jerry McCord — 2
Director, 3 year term
- Keith Gilbreath — 4
- Robert Fisher — 4
North Hopkins ISD
In early voting Vicki Hillis Ferrell lead, with Charlie Vaughn and Sherry Smiddy following in second and third. Election Day tallies had Vaughn, Smiddy and Ferrell receiving the most votes in the North Hopkins ISD board of Trustees election for the three at-large seats on the school board.
- Charlie Vaughn — 31 early; 120 total
- O. Ellis Dicus — 20 early; 78 total
- Robert McPherson — 24 early; 99 total
- Justin Holland — 25 early; 76 total
- Sherry Smiddy — 28 early; 110 total
- Vicki Hillis Ferrell — 41 early; 108 total
- Andy Kendall — 8 early; 47 total
Sulphur Springs Proposition A
More than 76 percent of absentee and early voters were in favor of the Proposition which would help fund costs improvements for Pacific Park and a new Senior Citizens Center. Election Day tallies were almost 78 percent for and 22 percent against. Overall, the proposition passed 77.49 percent to 22.51 percent to allow up to $200,000 per year in Economic Development funds collected to be used to cover costs of improvements at Pacific Park and to build a new activity center for senior citizens.
- For — 257 early, 652 Election Day; 909 total
- Against — 80 early, 184 Election Day; 264 total
Constitutional Amendments
While most counties had reported by late Tuesday night, results from a few counties were still coming in from counties across the state into the wee hours Wednesday morning in the Texas Constitutional Amendments election. As of 6:45 a.m. Nov. 6, election results for 253 of the 254 counties in Texas had been reported, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Proposition 1
(Allows an individual to serve in more than one office as municipal judge)
- For — 1,486 Hopkins County; 615,774 Texas (99% of counties reporting)
- Against — 2,055 Hopkins County; 1,140,466 Texas (99% reporting)
Proposition 2
(Allows issuance of up to $200 million additional bonds to provide financial assistance for development of projects in economically distressed areas)
- For — 2,164 Hopkins County; 1,135,825 Texas total (99% reporting)
- Against — 1,316 Hopkins County; 610,170 Texas (99% reporting)
Proposition 3
(exempts from ad valorem tax a portion of the appraised value of certain property damaged by a disaster)
- For — 3,027 Hopkins County; 1,483,378 Texas (99% reporting)
- Against — 466 Hopkins County; 263,302 Texas (99% reporting)
Proposition 4
(prevents individual income tax from being imposed in Texas)
- For — 3,091 Hopkins County; 1,318,373 Texas (99% reporting)
- Against — 463 Hopkins County; 440,341 Texas (99% reporting)
Proposition 5
(dedicates existing sales and use tax on sporting good to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Historical Commission, without having to raise taxes)
- For — 3,209 Hopkins County; 1,545,482 Texas (99% reporting)
- Against — 337 Hopkins County; 210,615 (99% reporting)
Proposition 6
(allows up to a $3 billion bond increase for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas)
- For — 2,160 Hopkins County; 1,104,303 Texas (99% reporting)
- Against — 636, Hopkins County; 737,735 Texas (99% reporting)
Proposition 7
(allows increased distributions to the available school fund)
- For — 2,635 Hopkins County; 1,282,818 Texas (99% reporting)
- Against — 862 Hopkins County; 461,314 Texas (99% reporting)
Proposition 8
(allows creation of a flood infrastructure fund to help finance drainage, flood mitigation and flood control projects)
- For — 2,492 Hopkins County; 1,343,689 Texas (99% reporting)
- Against — 960 Hopkins County; 404,973 Texas (99% reporting)
Proposition 9
(exempts from ad valorem tax precious metal held in a precious metal depository in the state)
- For — 1,961 Hopkins County; 874,369 Texas (99% reporting)
- Against — 1,383 Hopkins County; 816,511 Texas (99% reporting)
Proposition 10
(allows transfer of law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances)
- For — 3,312 Hopkins County; 1,650,834 Texas (99% reporting)
- Against — 179 Hopkins County; 104,717 Texas (99% reporting)
Election Results 2019: Early Voting
2019 – Hopkins County Early and Absentee Voting Election Results are listed below. Elections that include more than one district or county , or are state-wide will reflect only Hopkins County results, not final tallies.
City of Cumby Mayor
Cumby residents who cast early ballots were nearly 62 percent in favor of Horne.
- Doug Simmerman — 8
- Ryan Horne — 13
Cumby ISD Bond
In the early ballots, 60 percent of voters were in favor of the bond for school improvements and 40 percent voted against it.
- For — 30 Hopkins County; 0 Hunt County
- Against — 20 Hopkins County; 0 Hunt County
Lake Fork Special Utility District
District Change
- For — 1
- Against — 1
Director, 1 year term
- Mickey Delamar –0
- Quin H Martson Jr. — 1
- Ken Stribley — 0
Director, 2 year term
- Gary Watson — 0
- Jerry McCord — 1
Director, 3 year term
- Keith Gilbreath — 0
- Robert Fisher — 1
North Hopkins ISD
Vicki Hillis Ferrell leads, with Sherry Smiddy and Justin Holland in second and third for the three at-large seats on the school board in early voting.
- Charlie Vaughn — 31
- O. Ellis Dicus — 20
- Robert McPherson — 24
- Justin Holland — 25
- Sherry Smiddy — 28
- Vicki Hillis Ferrell — 41
- Andy Kendall — 8
Sulphur Springs Proposition A
More than 76 percent of absentee and early voters were in favor of the Proposition which would help fund improvements for Pacific Park and a new Senior Citizens Center.
- For — 257
- Against — 80
Constitutional Amendments
Proposition 1
- For — 410
- Against — 509
Proposition 2
- For — 576
- Against — 330
Proposition 3
- For — 780
- Against — 131
Proposition 4
- For — 781
- Against 138
Proposition 5
- For — 844
- Against — 81
Proposition 6
- For — 560
- Against — 341
Proposition 7
- For — 678
- Against — 229
Proposition 8
- For — 661
- Against — 248
Proposition 9
- For — 519
- Against — 370
Proposition 10
- For — 856
- Against — 54
