Cumby City Council To Canvass Nov. 5 Election, Select Mayor Pro Tem At Special Nov. 18 Meeting
A special meeting of Cumby City Council has been called for tonight to canvass results of the Nov. 5 City Council Election.
According to election information released by the county clerk’s office Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 140 ballots were cast in the City of Cumby’s election.
On the ballot was the mayoral race between Douglas Simmerman, mayor pro tem, and Ryan Horne. The race was close, with Simmerman receiving 51.08 percent of the votes to Horne’s 48.92 percent.
In early voting, Horne lead with 61.9 percent, or 13 of the 21 ballots cast for mayor. However, on election Day, Simmerman pulled ahead, with 63 votes to Horne’s 55 votes, enough for Simmerman to edge ahead overall with 71 votes to Horne’s 68 votes.
Uncontested on the ballot were Guy Butler for Alderman Place 3, Betty McCarter for Alderman Place 4 and Julie Morris for Alderman Place 5. Butler received 90 votes, 16 cast during early voting and 74 on Election Day. McCarter received 74 votes, 18 during early voting and 56 on Election Day. Morris received 59 votes, eight during early voting and 51 on Election Day, according to the Nov. 5 Election Night returns.
In addition to canvassing the election, Cumby City Council is slated to select one of its members to serve as the mayor pro tem.
The special called meeting is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at City Hall, 100 East Main St. in Cumby.
Brashear Man Accused Threatening Family Member While In Hopkins County Jail
A 53-year-old Brashear man has been accused of making a terroristic threat toward a family member while in custody at Hopkins County jail, according to arrest reports.
The Brashear man has been in the county jail since his arrest on Oct. 26 on a violation of parole warrant and a charge of terroristic threat to a family or household member, according to jail reports.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, the man reportedly had a contact visit with his elderly father. During their conversation, the Brashear man allegedly “made comments when he got out of prison he was going to come back and cut his father and brothers’ heads off,” sheriff’s deputies noted in arrest reports.
The Brashear man was charged Sunday morning, Nov. 17, with an additional Class A misdemeanor terroristic threat of a family or household member. Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies also served the man with a a criminal trespass warning, which would prohibit him from entering his father’s property if released from custody, according to sheriff’s reports.
He was held in the county jail Monday morning, Nov. 18, on the violation of parole charge; his bond on the first terroristic threat charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
Longview Man Accused Of Having Penalty Group 2 Controlled Substance
A Longview man was arrested early Sunday morning after state troopers reportedly found four different kinds of pills, including what was suspected to be Ecstasy or another Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, in his vehicle.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Warren Williamson reported stopping a beige Toyota Sequoia at 12:57 a.m. Nov. 17, after observing the sport utility vehicle being driven in the left lane when prohibited on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 131.
Williamson alleged the driver, identified in arrest reports as 42-year-old Adrian Dimitri Jones of Longview, appeared to him to be nervous to the point he was “shaking heavily.”
While talking to Jones, Williamson reported smelling a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage emitting from the vehicle. Jones claimed to have consumed alcohol in the vehicle the previous night with friends, but said he was unsure if there were any open containers left behind in the vehicle, thus, giving probable cause for a search, the trooper alleged in arrest reports.
An open bottle of vodka was reportedly found in the passenger’s side floorboard, concealed by two jackets, within Jones’ reach. The trooper alleged he found a second bottle with no lid was found under the front passenger seat, and a black backpack on the front passenger’s seat.
Inside the backpack, Williamson alleged finding a digital scale and a clear bag with numerous smaller clear plastic bags similar to those commonly used to package, conceal, contain and distribute narcotics.
“I then located a pill bottle that i could tell contained some substance, but the bottle did not sound like it normally would had it contained pills as the label stated,” Williamson alleged in arrest reports.
When he opened the bottle, Williamson reported seeing numerous pills in a cellophane-like packaging. On closer inspect, the trooper alleged, five of the pills appeared to him to be homemade, although similar in shape, colors and designs to those he’d found in the past that were identified as Ecstasy or methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA). Thus, Williamson took Jones into custody for possession of a controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
At the jail, the pills were reportedly weighed and further examined by officials. The five pills Williamson suspected to be a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance weighed 1.14 grams, the trooper alleged in arrest reports. Among the other pills were three pills weighing 0.51 grams, with markings identifying them as Tramadol hydrochloride, a narcotic-like pain reliever; six tablets weighing 1.3 grams, whose markings identified them as Meloxicam, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; three tablets weighing 2.04 grams whose markings identify them as methocarbamol, a muscle relaxer; and three white, egg-shaped tablets weighing 0.3 grams with unidentifiable markings, according to reports.
Jones was booked into the county jail Sunday for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of the suspected Penalty Group 2 controlled substance. The suspected narcotics were packaged to be submitted to the DPS Crime Lab in Tyler for further determination, Williamson noted in arrest reports.
Jones remained in the county jail Monday morning, Nov. 18. His bond was set at $10,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
‘History By Foot’ Tour is a Long-Running Tradition of Downtown Business Alliance
On Saturday, local historian John Sellers led a group of more than 25 persons interested in learning more about the history of downtown Sulphur Springs. This is the 18th walking history tour he has organized for the Downtown Business Alliance since 2011. After the initial stop at the Hopkins County Courthouse, Sellers led the group northward to points of interest on Church Street and Houston Street. The tour concluded with a peek inside a downtown apartment currently being renovated by Sellers and his wife Kim, which overlooks the square and offers “the best view of the Courthouse” of anywhere downtown! The DBA tours are usually held twice per year, in the Spring and in the Fall, for a fee of $10 per participant. Proceeds are used by DBA toward expenses for the many events it sponsors year round, including the Christmas Tree Lighting and Visit with Santa coming up on Friday December 6. The final DBA event of the year will be the “Ladies Night Out” festive shopping event at downtown merchant shops on December 19, 2019 from 5:30 til 7:30 pm.
Hopkins County Democrats Meet Tuesday November 19 at 6pm at Pizza Inn
Robert Suson of the Hopkins County Democrats invites you to attend a meeting Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 6:00 PM at PIZZA INN in Sulphur Springs, 320 Mockingbird Lane.
Please pass the word to friends and fellow Democrats. There will be recognition for person bringing the most guests!”
For more information, phone Bob Suson at 903-439-0342
For some interesting history, in 2010, the Democratic Party adopted a new logo, a capitol letter D inside a blue circle. The better-known “Democratic Donkey” was actually a mascot, not a logo, but stood stubbornly for over 150 years as a symbol of the party. The donkey represented Democratic values in political cartoons for decades, as has the elephant for the Republican party. Now, despite the re-branding with the new national logo, many state and local Democratic parties still use the donkey in their campaign material.
H.C. Genealogical Society Monthly Meeting Nov. 21
HOPKINS COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MEETING
WHEN: Thursday, November 21, 2019 @ 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: HCGS Library, 611 N. Davis St., Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
WHAT: Kenneth Sivard Presents, “How The Civil War Affected the Choctaw Nation & Texas’ Involvement In It”
Kenny Sivard is a 7th generation resident of McCurtain County, OK. Currently he is the president of the McCurtain County Historical Society and serves on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Historical Society, and the board of directors of the Friends of Honey Springs Historic Battlefield. Kenny was formerly a history writer for the Oklahoma Edge Magazine and has written history articles for the McCurtain Gazette newspaper for over ten years. He makes his home in Idabel, Oklahoma, with his wife, Marvelle, and their four children. Please join us and bring a friend!
H.C. Republican Party Will Meet Tuesday Nov 19 at ROC
According to local party chair Donnie Wisenbaker, a special speaker will attend the meeting of the Hopkins County Republican Party on Tuesday November 19, 2019 at The Roc at 6 pm. Damara Fondren is East Texas Regional Director for the Republican
Party of Texas’ Volunteer Engagement Project. She was born and raised in Southeast Texas, is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a
bachelors in Political Science and is also a campaign veteran, having
previously been a staff member for Governor Greg Abbott’s campaign.
Ms. Fondren is coming to recap on the 2018 election, discuss important
strategies pertaining to the 2020 election developed by strategists
such as Karl Rove, and Steve Munisteri, and how you can get involved
to help keep Texas Red.
Candidates in the contested race for Precinct # 2 Constable will also
be speaking.
The public is invited.
Time: 6:00 pm
Where: ROC, 300 Gilmer, Sulphur Springs TX
Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2019
SSISD Fine Arts Department Reports Fine Fall, Planning For Sights, Sounds of Season
Fall is a busy time for the Fine Arts Departments at Sulphur Springs Independent School District, with multiple band and choir contests, group performances and various other activities.
“We’ve had a busy few weeks in the Fine Arts Department and December will be an exciting and very busy time,” said SSISD Fine Arts Coordinator Cindy Welch.
The high school advanced art students have been, using different mediums such as colored pencils, graphite and acrylics, to produce “some marvelous pieces.”
The music department was busy with school Veteran’s Programs and playing for community events.
The Sulphur Springs High School Choir and band trumpeters Nathan Braddy and Triston Stewart performed at the Veteran’s Ceremony downtown.
The high school band and and choir also provided music at the High School Veteran’s Program.
The jazz band performed at the Region 8 School Board Dinner.
Barbara Bush Primary and Travis Primary had some patriotic programs on Nov. 11 as well.
The Addams Family was a hit for the SSHS Theatre Department, reportedly and lots of fun to. The group also hosted a stew pot at the Stew Contest.
Welch reports the Middle School Band and Choir also “did a great job both making and hosting” the Region 4 Texas Music Educators Association Middle School Try-outs. Twenty-six students made the choir and 26 students made the band.
After completing a great season on the field, the Blue Blazes have been serving in the community for the Stew Contest and the Hearts of Hope Banquet. They also provided some “awesome treats” to the staff on Halloween as part of their ongoing High Five Project and are preparing for the Christmas Parade and try-outs.
Strings didn’t have any specific events the past few weeks but they are gearing up for their region clinic/concert the first weekend of December, their Christmas Concert and Solo/Ensemble Contest.
And, these are just a few of the many experiences the fine arts students have gain over the last month.
To finish out November, Bowie Primary third graders are scheduled to present a program at 9 a.m. and 6:3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, and members of the High School Freshman Band will participate in the Region Band Try-outs Thursday, Nov. 21, at Pine Tree.
December promises plenty of activity for SSISD Fine Arts students as well, including Choir Pre-Area event, primary programs, participation in the Christmas Parade, Christmas concerts, One Act Play Auditions and theater arts performances, to name a few.
“Look out for our Sights and Sounds of the Season calendar, coming soon,” Welch said.
To keep up with the Fine Arts Department and many activities scheduled for December or any month, check out the department’s calendar on the SSISD website.
Lady Cats Basketball Team Takes Silver Bracket Consolation Game at Bells Tournament Saturday
The Lady Cats Basketball Team won a defensive struggle, 32-22 Saturday (November 16) over Whitesboro to capture the Silver Bracket Consolation Final Game at the Bells Invitational Tournament. Points were hard to come by, especially during the first three quarters. The Lady Cats led the Lady Bearcats, 5-3 after the first quarter, 9-5 at the half and 17-10 after three quarters. The Lady Cats outscored Whitesboro, 15-12 in the fourth quarter to wrap up the game. Sophomore Hannah Cordell led the Lady Cats with 10 points. Freshman Addisyn Wall added 6 points. Junior Nylah Lindley and senior Colbria Harrison both scored 4 points. Freshman Kenzie Willis had 3 points. Junior Dalanee Myles and freshman Serenity Lewis had 2 points apiece. Senior Kate Womack had 1 point. The Lady Cats ended up winning two games and losing two during the three-day tournament. The Lady Cats season record improved to 2-4. The Lady Cats play next at Paris Friday evening at 5:45 p.m.
Wildcats Basketball Team Opens the Regular Season With Two Point Win in Overtime
Last Year’s Wildcats’ Basketball Team had the knack of winning lots of close games down the stretch. They started the 2019-2020 season in the same way. The Wildcats, ranked #5 in Class 5A, battled Decatur, ranked #7 in Class 4A, into overtime before eking out a 73-71 win Saturday (November 16) in the Cowtown Showdown at North Crowley. The Wildcats got a huge game from senior Sadaidriene Day Day Hall, a IUPUI commit, who scored 31 points to lead the Wildcats and had 16 rebounds and 7 blocks. Senior Cameron Kahn, a Dallas Baptist commit, scored 18 points with 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Junior Boo Wilkerson added 16 points, which included 4 made three point shots in 6 attempts. Junior point guard Lamodrick Johnson had 5 points. Sophomore Justin Haire scored 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Senior Grayson McClure had 1 point. This is the third year in a row that the Wildcats have opened the season with a win at the Cowtown Showdown. The 1-0 Wildcats have their home opener Tuesday night in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs taking on Pleasant Grove.
