Wildcats Soccer Player Manuel Esparza Signs With Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Wildcats Soccer player Manuel Esparza, the son of Liliana Sanchez, signed a letter of intent to play college soccer at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie Tuesday morning. Esparza says he filled out a recruiting profile that drew the attention of SAGU coaches. After a visit, a deal was struck. Esparza says the Waxahachie campus is beautiful and has a good atmosphere. Esparza says the coaches told him they like his strength and height and his ability to see things on the field before they happen. Esparza, plays as a center back defender for the Wildcats, and he says SAGU is also looking for him to play that position. Esparza says he is currently undecided about what he will major in at SAGU. He says he has played soccer most of his life and he adds he likes playing defense. Esparza says he hopes the Wildcats can win a district championship and advance to the regional tournament this season. Wildcats Coach Alexi Upton calls Esparza a good kid with talent and a hard worker. Coach Upton says after Esparza did not play a lot his junior year, he has worked hard to improve himself. He says getting a scholarship is all Esparza’s doing. Esparza is Coach Upton’s first college signee and the second year coach says he expects quite a few more.
Wildcats Basketball Home Opener Features Game With Pleasant Grove Hawks Tuesday Night
The #5 ranked Wildcats Basketball Team has their home opener for the season on this Tuesday game day (November 19) at the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High as they take on the Pleasant Grove Hawks. There will be a JV game at 5 p.m. with the varsity game to follow at around 6:30 p.m. The Hawks come in 0-1 for the season after a loss to Class 6A Longview, 82-59 on Saturday. The Wildcats are 1-0 after their overtime win over Decatur, 73-71 Saturday at the Cowtown Showdown in North Crowley. Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta notes Pleasant Grove almost went to the State Tournament last year. The Hawks lost by four points to eventual state champ, Faith Family Academy of Oak Cliff. He says the Hawks are athletic adding they have a big kid inside. Coach Cipoletta says they like to press all over the court and double team. He says the Hawks like things as chaotic and fast as possible. Coach Cipoletta says the Wildcats will need to play under control and take care of the basketball. KSST Radio will bring you Wildcats and Pleasant Grove basketball tonight including live video and audio streaming. The game will be posted to You Tube and will also be videotaped for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Special Use Permit For Houston Street Tattoo Studio On Zoning Commission, Board Agendas This Week
Sulphur Springs’ Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals are slated Tuesday night to consider two items, a front yard setback variance on Church Street and a special use permit for a tattoo studio on Houston Street.
The board will be asked tonight to consider a variance to a front yard setback to construct a covered porch on property located at 804 Church St.
The Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night recommended a special use permit be issued to allow a tattoo studio to set up operations at 201 Houston St., Suit 4, provided the business agrees to the same provisions outlined in a previous special use permit issued for a tattoo studio elsewhere in town. The business would need to agree to certain hours of operation and limited loitering. Three complaints within the same year would send the permit back to the city, where the permit could then be revoked, Sulphur Springs Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski.
The city sent letters addresses for 16 properties around the proposed site. they received no response in favor of the business, but did receive two letters opposed to it, including one from the county. In the past, similar types of requests had been denied, except for one tattoo business on West Industrial Drive, according to Niewiadomski.
“I tip my hat to the city staff. I understand their recommendation against. There’s been some precedent again. I ask you to look at this from a different perspective. We require a special use permit. This is to regulate placement of tattoo shops, and other things as well, not to prohibit,” City Manager Marc Maxwell said.
Property owner Ben Spraggins said he had contacted the others leasing the building. They were in favor of the business, not against it, including the church. He had letters from three of the four occupants noting their favor of the tattoo parlor being located on the premises.
Spraggins pointed out that many of businesses in the area are 24-hour businesses, including a bail bond business, the sheriff’s office and the co-operative and their feed mill business. He noted all have traffic at various hours. The area was light commercial prior to the construction of the multifamily units about 20 years ago or more.
“It’s already an industrial, commercial area. I feel Legacy 13 will be a good addition to the neighborhood,” Spraggins said.
Robert Cote said he is trying to move his tattoo studio to the Houston Street location due to the State Highway 19 south property he’s currently operating out just outside of town is being sold. He assured his staff is top notch, and subject to drug testing; one of his staff leads music at church. He said his business is not a typical tattoo shop. He does business all over, traveling in an 18-wheeler to conventions, and his time is typically reserved at least 1-2 weeks in advance in the studio. He said his pricing, upwards of $100 per hour, typically weeds out any riffraff. His hours are typically Tuesday-Thursday from 2 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to midnight.
Cote said he’d be willing to meet their conditions, even if it means adjusting his hours a little bit.
The Planning and Zoning Commission gave its recommendation for the special permit request to be forwarded to the Planning and Board of Adjustments and Appeals during their regular meeting at 5:30 this evening, Nov. 19, at City Hall, 201 North Davis St.
Niewiadomski and Maxwell also asked the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday to start considering possibly allowing accessory dwelling units — this could be a potential answer to future housing and infrastructure needs. These could include single person or smaller housing on the same property as an existing home or structure, and could include what are referred to as granny flats, in-law’s suites, guest housing or garage apartments. The last 50 years of so, those have not been allowed. However, this could provide additional housing on a smaller scale.
Niewiadomski referred to a presentation he gave during the regular October City Council meeting regarding housing and infrastructure needs, and noted he’d plan to present that to the Planning and Zoning Commission at an upcoming meeting as well.
‘Thankful and Grateful’ Shopping Event at Lou Nell Fashions on Thurs Nov. 21
Carrie Crowson and her staff at Lou Nell Fashions are truly thankful and grateful for the year of loyal business by local customers as well as shoppers from other towns who return for beautiful styles season after season. Owning a full-service ladies wear store gives Carrie a chance to not only get acquainted with customers on a first-name basis and to offer friendly, personal service, but also to exercise the talents she honed for a Fashion Merchandising degree in college. Throughout the year, Carrie stays on top of the latest trends, shops at Dallas Market each year, and markets both her businesses, Lou Nell’s in Sulphur Springs and C.C. and Company in Greenville, with daily facebook posts that are fresh and informative. And 30-plus year old Lou Nell Fashions is truly a family-owned business with a history! A few years ago, Carrie and her husband Larry ‘inherited’ the business from Billy and Nell Crowson, who had opened Lou Nell’s to serve local ladies from the original location at 122 Lee Street in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
For visitors to the shop on Thursday November 21, there will be refreshments, hourly door prize drawings and storewide discounts!
Sulphur Springs Man Sentenced To Life In Prison
Terence Ramon Beachem, 47, of Sulphur Springs was sentenced by 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt Tuesday morning to life in prison.
Beachem was on 10 years deferred adjudication probation for an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon when he was arrested Aug. 28, 2019, for allegedly invading his ex-girlfriend’s home, where he attempted to gag and take her from the residence.
As he was taking her from the home, she reportedly screamed, catching others’ attention. When he tried to cover her mouth, she allegedly bit the tip of his finger off then fled. Authorities chased him from near Interstate 30 to Helm Lane, where he allegedly crashed the vehicle he was in and forced his way into another residence before being apprehended.
Beachem was on deferred adjudication probation for allegedly ramming the vehicle of a person with whom he was in an argument, causing damage to the other vehicle and city property in the downtown area on Aug. 12, 2018.
Based on the recent allegations, a motion was filed to “proceed to adjudication” or revoke his probation on the prior aggravated assault charge, according to the district attorney’s office. A hearing was held Monday and Tuesday regarding that motion.
Because Beachem has an extensive criminal history which includes previous time served in the penitentiary, if his probation was violated on the adjudicated charge, he faced a punishment range of 25 years to life in prison.
After hearing all the evidence and considering the man’s extensive criminal record, which dated back to November of 1989, Northcutt sentenced Beachem to life in the penitentiary.
“Sadly, Mr. Beachem has demonstrated over his entire adult life that he is unable to live peacefully in society. There comes a point when we must ensure that no law-abiding citizen is ever threatened by him again,” Will Ramsay, 8th Judicial District Attorney, said following the verdict Tuesday morning.
The district attorney also expressed thanks to the “brave survivor in this case for testifying in front of the man who savagely attacked her” and appreciation to the judge.
“Judge Northcutt considered all the horrendous evidence in this case and the defendant’s 30-year resumé of crime to reach a just verdict of life in the penitentiary. I appreciate his commitment to sending a statement and keeping the community safe,” Ramsay said.
ATM Stolen From Pilot Travel Center In Sulphur Springs Early Nov. 19
Police Seeking Public’s Help With Case
The front entrance at Pilot Travel Center was damaged by a van and an ATM was stolen early Tuesday morning by three people in a van, according to Sulphur Springs police.
The “smash and grab” was reported to have occurred around 3 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, while the business was open.
A light colored van pulled into the front of the store. No one was injured, but the front entrance doors and wall of the Hillcrest Drive business were damaged. At least three masked individuals, thought to be males, then allegedly proceeded to load the ATM into the back of the van and drove away, Sulphur Springs Police Detective Brian Shurtleff reported late Tuesday morning.
A short time later, authorities located the van they believe to have been used to smash the glass and haul the ATM away. The van appeared to have been abandoned on Rockdale Road, sans ATM. A records check using the vehicle ID information showed it to have been reported stolen out of Dallas, according to Shurtleff.
Sulphur Springs Police are working to try to identify and locate the individuals involved in the smashing of the front door and theft of the ATM from the South Hillcrest Drive business.
Police urge anyone with information about this case to call Lake Country Crime Stoppers at 903-885-2020. Tips made to Crime Stoppers are handled in such a way that the caller’s identify remains anonymous.
Emergency Sirens to be Tested Today
Emergency Sirens will be tested in Sulphur Springs today (Tuesday, November 19, 2019), by the Sulphur Springs Emergency Management office. The test will be conducted at noon.
The test is to gauge the reliability of the emergency warning system and is conducted to find any potential flaws in the system. Recent tests have shown the emergency sires to be a ready source of warning in case of emergencies such as weather or other threats to safety.
NE Texas Choral Society Puts Polish on the ‘Hearts Come Home for Christmas’ Concert for Dec. 7, 8 in Civic Center
Here’s one lady whose joy in her craft never gets old, even after two decades of conducting. Choral Society Director Carol Allen reminisces, “this is the twenty-second Christmas Concert which the Choral Society has prepared. That’s amazing to me! The musical scores, the beauty of the voices, the enthusiasm of the singers, the quality of the accompaniment, all remain fresh and new to us each season, just as the message about the newborn King in Bethlehem. And Christmas Concert has an irresistible pull for our audiences! Many say ‘this is how I get my Christmas started!’ You will have only two opportunities to experience this holiday event, so be sure and get your tickets online, at any of the banks or from our singers, and be there!”
Besides the soprano, alto, tenor and bass singers who come from all walks of life, the music is supported by talented accompanists. Ken Hanushek and Denise Stewart are pianists, Deanna Spraggins plays keyboard and Paul Clark is percussionist, and each of these regular members attend rehearsal every Monday night of the 15 weeks of concert preparation. During the final weeks, additional accompanists also attend rehearsals. Ben Scarborough, Kelley Fletcher, Jeff Smith and Dave Kirkpatrick are members of a nine-piece orchestra which will add richness to the holiday performance. Also, a small children’s choir will join in two selections and the finale. Carol added, ‘the first half of the concert will tell the lighthearted stories of Christmas, about Santa Claus, the festive times and the customs of the holiday around the world. Then following intermission, get back in your seats for the concert’s second half, as it conveys the story of the birth of Christ, the light he brought into the world and the joy and peace his birth makes possible for all of mankind. We feel the audience will be spellbound, that you can hear a pin drop, as our singers and musicians interpret both beloved traditional and original new compositions of this most blessed time of year”.
At this concert, audiences will be treated to the vocal teamwork of Christie Springfield and Paul Clark, a comedic ensemble performance of “Please Come Home for Christmas” featuring Peggy Simmons, a marvelous duet by Marlon Chisom and Maryann Rawson, and the debut presentation of a choral composition written and performed by soprano choir member Vicki Smolek.
The ‘Hearts Come Home for Christmas’ concert on December 7 and 8 will be recorded for playback on Cable Channel 18 TV. Also, the upcoming Spring Concert to be staged in May 2020 will be an all-spiritual, all-sacred presentation sure to touch your heart!
HCSO: Mount Vernon Man Caught In With Stolen Weapon, Drug Paraphernalia
A 56-year-old Mount Vernon man is alleged to have swallowed a bag of suspected controlled substance to prevent officials, who were booking him into jail on a weapon charge, from getting it early Tuesday morning.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Lance Burdick reported stopping a Chevrolet Tahoe at 12:37 a.m. on Shannon Road at South Broadway Street in Sulphur Springs for a defective license plate light and expired registration. The driver was issued a verbal warnings for the traffic violation, but his trouble with the law did not end there, according to sheriff’s reports.
Upon contact with the driver, identified in arrest reports as Darrell Ray Richards, Burdick reported seeing a .22-caliber handgun on the console. Richards reportedly admitted he did not have a license to carry a handgun.
A criminal history check showed Richards to have multiple prior felony arrests. A records check on the firearm showed it had been entered as a stolen firearm. Thus, Richards was taken into custody for theft of a firearm and the vehicle was towed, Burdick alleged in arrest reports.
Richards’ actions upon arrival at the county jail earned him an additional tampering with physical evidence charge as well, Burdick alleged in arrest reports.
A jail employee reported finding a glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine in Richards’ pants. While conducting a more thorough search, the jailer alleged seeing a clear bag containing a white substance in Richards’ mouth. While the jailer was attempting to get the bag from Richards, the 56-year-old Mount Vernon man allegedly swallowed the bag. The glass pipe was secured as evidence and the residue on it field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Richards remained in the county jail Tuesday morning, Nov. 19, on the theft of a firearm and tampering with evidence charge, according to jail reports.
