Update on Condition of SSMS Student at Children’s Medical Center
This update is in answer to a request from KSST News on the condition of 14-year-old Kaycee Ivey, who remains in Children’s Medical Center of Dallas following injuries sustained in the October 4 crash of a vehicle in which she was a passenger.
According to family member Roger Reed, Kaycee remains under care at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. Since her admission to the hospital and diagnosis of internal injuries, she has been kept in a medically-induced coma and on a breathing ventilator as injuries were being assessed and a plan of treatment put in place. The plan had included an MRI to be done on Thursday October 24, as well as removal of fluids from her abdomen. In preparation for this, over the past few days, she had been allowed to try to breathe on her own for short periods of time, and to regain consciousness for brief periods. Upon preparation for the MRI, anesthesia was administered, then her condition began to change, with complications from blood pressure dropping. She was placed in ICU and remained there for the remainder of the day on Thursday as medical teams worked to stabilize her. Plans for the MRI as well as fluid removal are now on hold as Kaycee remains on the breathing vent for the time being. The Ivey, Reed and Cavanaugh families continue to request prayer on behalf of Kaycee. “Keep lifting us up as we continue on this new venture of life. Please pray with us for Kaycee” was the message.
Nine-year-old Jacob Reed, who was also in the October 4 crash, was treated and observed at Children’s Medical Center for one week, then about two weeks ago, he was released from the hospital and allowed to go home, cleared of health issues arising from the crash. Jacob is a student at Lamar Primary School in Sulphur Springs. His and his father Brian Reed have been spending quality time together, and Jacob returned to class this week.
The mothers of each of the children, Sandy Reed and her sister Keesha Ivey, were killed in the October 4 crash, and funeral services were held on October 10. Both women were the daughters of Danny and Barbara Cavanaugh of Sulphur Springs. Numerous benefits and fundraisers have been planned on behalf of the Ivey, Reed and Cavanaugh families, including one at Shannon Oaks on Saturday November 2, 2019.
Wildcats And Greenville Football Rivalry to be on Display Friday At The Prim With A Lot On The Line
Tonight, Oct. 25, in the rain at Gerald Prim Stadium, a pretty good district football game should be taking place. The Greenville Lions will be coming to town to take on the Wildcats and there is a lot on the line for both teams.
The Lions have had a good season so far. They are 3-2 in district play and that’s good enough right now for fourth place and the final playoff spot. The Lions are 4-3 for the season.
The Wildcats are in a sixth place tie with a 1-4 district mark. They are 1-6 for the season. The only chance the Wildcats have of making the playoffs is to win all three of their remaining games and hope that is enough.
North Forney is also in the race, one game behind Greenville with a 2-3 district mark.
When the Wildcats and Lions get together, sparks usually fly. Mix in playoff implications and things should get real interesting. The Wildcats won last year at Greenville, 21-14 but the Lions were throwing into the end zone at the end trying to tie or win the game.
KSST Radio will bring you all the excitement of the Greenville and Sulphur Springs game. The game will also be videotaped for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable. After the game, the contest will also be posted to YouTube.
Lady Cats Look To Solidify Volleyball Playoff Position at Mount Pleasant Friday
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team is coming down the stretch as far as district play is concerned.
The Lady Cats are currently 3-5 in district play, which puts them in the fourth and final playoff spot with two games left to play. The Lady Cats are 21-16 for the season.
The Lady Cats play at Mount Pleasant on this Friday, Oct. 25, game day. The varsity plays first tonight at 5 p.m. with freshmen and JV games to follow.
The Lady Tigers are in sixth place with a 1-7 district record but they have a one game winning streak having bumped off Texas High on Tuesday night. Mount Pleasant is 14-21 for the season.
The Lady Cats are 1-2 in district play on Fridays on the road. They did win at Texas High but, had trouble in losses at Greenville and at Lindale. The Lady Cats are one game ahead of Texas High in the district standings.
The Lady Cats close out district play at home against Texas High next Tuesday on Senior Night.
2 Arrested For Shoplifting At Sulphur Springs Walmart
Two Sulphur Springs women, ages 20 and 17, were arrested on a misdemeanor theft charge each Thursday evening, Oct. 24, after allegedly being caught shoplifting at Walmart.
Walmart employees alleged the pair was seen shoplifting. Store personnel claimed the two young women passed all points of sale with more than $150 worth of merchandise they did not pay for, Sulphur Springs police alleged in arrest reports. Among the recovered merchandise were three consumable items and more than 25 other miscellaneous items, according to police reports.
The pair was contacted and taken into custody at 5:44 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at the South Broadway Street store by police for alleged theft of $100 worth or more but less than $750 worth or merchandise, according to arrest reports.
Both remained in the county jail late Friday morning in lieu of $1,000 bond on the misdemeanor theft charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Man Accused Of Assaulting Sister
A 24-year-old rural Sulphur Springs resident was jailed early Friday morning after allegedly assaulting his sister during a disturbance at his residence.
Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies were reportedly dispatched to a verbal disturbance at 12:17 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, to the County Road 3504 residence. Dispatchers had received a 911 call in which no one spoke directly to dispatchers, but a male and female could be heard yelling at each other in the background, according to communications and arrest reports. The dispatcher advised hearing what sounded like some type of fight taking place, according to arrest reports.
Upon arrival at the address, deputies reported being greeted in the front yard by a female. She claimed to have been assaulted by her brother, the 24-year-old Sulphur Springs man, deputies alleged in arrest reports. The deputies observed a small scratch on the woman’s right arm and another small scratch on her right ankle and along with a small spot of blood; she claimed she couldn’t put weight on her right ankle, deputies noted in arrest reports.
Consequently, the 24-year-old man at the residence was arrested at 12:58 a.m. Oct. 25, on a Class A misdemeanor family violence assault causing bodily injury charge. He was released from jail later Friday morning, Oct. 25, on $2,000 bond, according to jail reports.
Jail reports also show Friday was not the man’s first time to be arrested for assault. He was jailed Aug. 17, 2018, for assault causing bodily injury, according to the jail records.
Future of Houston-Rosemont Street Site, Building Discussed By Commissioners Court, County Officials
Hopkins County Commissioners Court moved their work session Thursday from the courthouse to a county building on Rosemont Street at Houston Street, to inspect the condition of the structure and discuss potential proposals to replace it.
The structure, which had a hole in the roof, was purchased by the county prior to the construction of and move into the new Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center, District Court, Clerk and Attorney buildings. It was used to store items during the transition and continues to house some county property.
One corner of the building has been re-purposed and outfitted with a cooler to hang meat prior to it being processed and used to for inmates meals at the county jail, according to Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum.
County officials have been in discussions recently about what to do with the building. They’ve considered the cost to renovate it versus the cost to tear it down and put a new building on the site, as well as what the building could be used for in the future.
Meanwhile, the condition of the building continues to deteriorate with oak framing on one side of the building rotting and falling onto items stored there, Judge Robert Newsom and Tatum pointed out.
Commissioners had requested bids to build a new structure on the site. However, after further discussions, they opted to discuss the matter further. Companies interested in the project were invited to meet inside the facility Thursday to tour it and discuss potential proposals.
Trouble areas were apparent as daylight could be seen through holes in the roofing, into which rain dripped Thursday afternoon. The woodworking on one half of the structure shows serious water and age damage, with parts of some boards rotted out.
Tatum proposed using inmate labor and county precinct equipment to tear down the current building, leaving only the concrete foundation on which a new structure can be constructed.
Last week, county resources and inmates were used to tear down and remove debris from a smaller building located next to it in two days.
“I believe we can take the building apart in two weeks using trusties’ labor,” Tatum said.
Commissioners in two precincts have reportedly expressed interest in reusing any salvageable building part, including oak boards and metal sheets.
Tatum said he’d like to see the proposed new building used to work on county vehicles. Use for inmate training programs and storage were also discussed.
The judge and sheriff said they’d be open to the possibility of working with an educational institution with a recognize training facility, such as Paris Junior College, for educational programs for inmates at the facility.
Tatum said offering training for inmates can help provide skills those individuals can use when released from custody, with a goal of providing a means for former inmates to support themselves and their families, and hopefully reduce the recurrence of individuals returning to jail.
Already, Tatum said numerous inmates are working in the community, including with precinct road crews, learning valuable work skills, which can and already have for some, translate to jobs for those released from custody.
Officials have been in contact with Texas WorkForce regarding potential grants which would help with inmate training and education, according to the judge.
“There are $150,000 in grant funding for Northeast Texas, and we want to be sure Hopkins County takes full advantage of opportunities such as this for potential funding,” Newsom said.
Tatum has proposed instead of using funds raised through tax dollars, using funds coming into the county for housing inmates from other counties and transport services, to pay for all or part of construction of a new county building.
Discussed is putting a 60-foot by 75-foot building on the existing 80- x 75-foot concrete pad, with a 22 foot awning on the south side. Tatum said he’d like the front of the new building to be turned facing Rosemont Street, opposite from the current building. County vehicles could be driven in from two sides for work, and big trucks could enter from the other side to be worked on in-house, the sheriff said.
If a proposal or bid is accepted in the next month, Newsom anticipates the structure would soon be torn down. Construction of the new building is anticipated to take less than 6 months, and would begin in the spring. That should see a new building completed within a year, according to Newsom.
Tatum said he’d like to see no center beams in the middle of the building, but an open area, brightly lit with LED lighting, providing room and light for work inside the new structure.
Newsom said the specifications call for the building to be constructed in a way that solar panels could be added in the future, to better self support it.
Newsom said the county saves approximately $1,500 a month on the electric bill thanks to the solar panels installed on Hopkins County jail. At that rate, the officials estimate savings from having solar panels on the Houston-Rosemont Street building would, over a period of time, make up the cost of a new building.
Newsom said the county is on the lookout for grants that would allow them to add solar panels to other county facilities in the future.
No decisions had been made regarding the site and a new building as Thursday’s meeting was only a work session. The matter is expected to be discussed again and presented for approval at an upcoming commissioners court meeting.
2019 City Cemetery Historic Tour
Costumed enactors will portray early residents whose lives helped shape Hopkins County and learn some local history.
Sunday – November 3rd – 2:00 to 4:00 pm
$10.00 per Person – Reserve your spot thru the HCGS Library by calling 903-885-8523 or in person at 611 N. Davis Street Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Golf cart available for anyone needing assistance
Sabine River Authority Awards $20,000 Community Assistance Program Grant To Hopkins County
Senator Bob Hall Recognizes County For Efforts In Oct. 3 Pipeline Rupture Response, Sends Congratulations On Grant
Hopkins County’s quick response to a pipeline rupture, spilling diesel fuel into Turkey Creek off County Road 1130 Oct. 3 caught the attention of Sabine River Authority of Texas’s Board members, who awarded the county a $20,000 Community Assistance Program Grant Thursday afternoon.
The check was presented by SRA Board members Jeanette Sterner, Jeff Jacobs and Janie Walenta, and staff members Troy Henry and Terry Wilson, to Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley, who also serves as the county’s emergency management coordinator, during Hopkins County Commissioners Court’s afternoon work session Thursday.
“When Troy [Henry, Sabine River Authority staff] called me, wanting to give us appreciation, it was very unexpected, but we are very grateful for it,” Endsley said.
Endsley noted when the county found out about the pipeline rupture it was already dark. The impacted areas was only 14.1 miles from the intake at Lake Fork for local drinking water, which is spread would have had a huge impact on the ecosystem.
Emergency management officials, including Hopkins County Fire Department and Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker and his staff, sprang into action. The county employees immediately went down stream of the dry Turkey Creek and built an earthen dam to contain the spill 1.7 miles down Turkey Creek, which was mostly dry aside from a few water pockets.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was heavily involved as well. The entire county pulled together, working along side numerous agencies, including SBA, and contractors to get the job done, Endsley noted.
EPA officials told KSST News that the quick response to contain the spill and remove the product so quickly, will result in no long term damage to the creek and surrounding environment. An area of soil around the pipeline leak will have to be replaced, but the creek itself will not have to be re-mediated.
While many agencies were involved in the cleanup and response effort to the pipeline rupture Oct. 3, SRA opted to present the $20,000 grant to Hopkins County to thank them for their quick and continued response, which limited exposure.
“We are here today to thank Hopkins County, chief and your guys, your employees who were out there in the guard throughout this process,” said Troy Henry, SRA staff.
Henry said it was fortunate the area received no rains and that diesel didn’t get into Lake Fork.
“It ended well. We’ve seen similar incidents in the past where it didn’t go so well. So, we can’t thank the chief and his guys, Kristy [Springfield, Hopkins County assistant emergency management coordinator], for the response, and not only the response, but hanging in there. You’re still monitoring things. We appreciate that,” Henry said Thursday.
Hopkins County had emergency management representatives from the fire department and sheriff’s office round the clock during the clean-up effort, with staff sleeping on a cot in a borrowed trailer. Endsley offered special thanks to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Communications Administrator David Ray.
“I’d also like to say a special thank you to you and Kristy …. also the sheriff’s department and sheriff’s posse,” Barker told Endsley, adding appreciation for all who helped in the community operation.
Henry said SRA Community Assistance Grants are typically awarded or water lines, water meters and waste water systems. However, they are also awarded for water conservation and water quality, and sometimes for special projects categorizes simply as “other.”
Typically, governmental entities, districts or non-profit, member-owned water supply corporations, or sewer service corporations within the Sabine River Basin of Texas apply for funding for water resource projects supporting SRA’s mission of conservation and reclamation.
Henry talked to SRA’s general manager about the situation that’d occurred in Hopkins County on and immediately after Oct. 3. They then discussed it with SRA’s Board of Directors.
“Typically, we do these grants to the community,” Henry said. “This didn’t really fit into our formal category of grants, but this incident could have potentially impacted Lake Fork Reservoir.”
“We appreciate all the work you did. Our main function, when it was brought to us, we thought that we need to talk about this situation and give you some money to help offset some of these costs. It’s a $20,000 check. I know there’s a lot more to be spent than that, but hopefully this will assist you all in this project. That is what the Sabine River Authority is all about, is to help our water customers with projects that are helping the community and ultimately benefit everyone,” said Sabine River Authority Board member Jeanette Sterner.
David Montagne, SRA’s executive vice president and general manager, in a letter to the county, wrote, “the County’s project to acquire emergency management and environmental response equipment and supplies such as that needed for a response to a recent diesel spill in the East Fork of Turkey Creek, a tributary of Lake Fork Reservoir, is an initiative that SRA supports in its efforts to help provide services to assist citizens throughout the Basin.”
“These dollars can be used for the department, replenishing supplies, buying new equipment that you all may need to help in the future,” Henry said.
“This will be a great deal to Hopkins County emergency management,” Endsley said. “We are very grateful and very fortunate to get in there and do the things we did.”
“This is simply unexpected but special for Hopkins County, and we are appreciative. We are a county that’s on a budget and, of course, we went way over our budget because of all the work that went into this. This will really help us in the future help others. That’s what we do and what you do, so thank you once again,” said Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom
John Vick, district director for District 2 Senator Bob Hall, presented a certificate of congratulations from Hall’s to Endsley for the county for “your prompt and efficient response to the ruptured pipeline of petroleum into a Hopkins County creek and the gracious grant to assist the emergency management and first responder equipment and supplies.”
Hopkins County United Way 100 % Club Announced
Hopkins County United Way is almost halfway to its $165,000 campaign goal to benefit 20 local agencies. Campaign pledges to date total $71,366.26, reports HCUW Executive Secretary Susan Berning.
Businesses and organizations whose pledges and donations meet or exceed the goal for their group are recognized weekly as part of the HCUW 100% Club. Included among the 100 % Club for the week of Oct. 22 are:
- Alliance Bank Corporate
- Alliance Bank Employees
- AK Gillis
- Lou Nell’s
- Copy Products
- April Showers
- The Pawn Shop
- Pioneer Memorials
- Janeen’s Country Cottage
- Junior Waverly
- Farmers Insurance – John Berning Agency
- Ardis Dance
- Town Square Antiques
- Galyean Insurance
- Hampton House Jewelry
- Lee’s Hallmark
- Janitorial Supply
- Cross Motor Sales
- Ponders Mower and Saw
- Security Finance
- Sherwin Williams
- 4 Paws Pet Grooming
- Giles Insurance
- Feeders Supply
- Bodacious
- Mattison Insurance
- Century 21 First Group
- Advantage Copy Systems
- Tire Town
- Murray-Orwosky
- Tapp Funeral Home
- Highlander Training Center
- J. Brian Allen
- Johnson Law Firm
- Powers and Blount
- Frank Long
- Northwestern Mutual – Wesley Cooper
- Smith, McDowell, Ginn
- Hopkins County Fire, Andy Endsley
The next campaign workers report meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Texas AgriLife Extension office. The final report meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 6.
Sulphur Bluff Wins Volleyball Thriller at Home Over James Bowie, 3-2 Tuesday Night
The Sulphur Bluff Volleyball Team won a thriller at home Tuesday night (October 22) over James Bowie, 3-2. Lady Bears Coach Zandra Peyton said the Lady Bears used an old rotation in the first set to good effect winning set one, 26-24. She said they returned to their current rotation and won set two going away, 25-9. Coach Peyton said the Lady Bears then doubled their server errors and also had some hitting errors in a run that left the Lady Bears out of sync as they lost set three, 25-10. In the fourth set, the Lady Bears got off to a slow start and could not overcome it in a 25-18 loss. Coach Peyton said she moved her serving rotation around in set five to feature girls who had been serving well. Libero Angel Brown had a crucial five points in a row off of serve leading the Lady Bears to a decisive set five win, 15-11. For the Lady Bears, Alley Collett had 10 service points, 1 kill, 1 block and 31 assists. Jada Wade had 3 service points and 4 kills. Cierra Johnson had 6 service points and 2 kills. Tori Raine had 8 service points and 7 kills. Skylar Stanley had 10 kills and 3 blocks, Hannah Byrd had 4 service points. Ann Dorner had 10 service points, 4 kills and 2 assists. Dalena di Donato had 4 kills, Angel Brown had 6 service points and a kill. The Lady Bears play at Detroit Friday.
