4 Members Of Sulphur Springs City Council Resign
Four members of Sulphur Springs City Council had submitted letters of resignation, effective immediately, as of Monday morning.
Mayor Norman Sanders submitted his resignation on Thursday. Erica Armstrong, Jeff Sanderson and Jimmy Lucas sent resignation emails Monday. All resignations are effective immediately, the city manager confirmed Monday.
KSST contacted Erica Armstrong, Jimmy Lucas, Norman Sanders and Jeff Sanderson Monday. All four confirmed their resignation but declined to comment.
Sanders, Armstrong and Lucas were elected in 2018, and Sanderson was elected in 2019.
The city attorney is reportedly in the process of researching to see what steps the city will need to take regarding the four empty seats on the council.
County To Cease Providing Trash Dumpsters For Public
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning announced the county will soon cease providing dumpsters at county barns for the public to use.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker noted that the county spent $37,881 last year on trash dumpsters provided for constituents
“This is a service that we have been providing for the constituents. This started out as a five year program grant that paid for the dumping of dumpsters and since is gradually getting worse, if that’s the right word. More and more people are bringing their trash. My particular precinct barn has turned into a trash dump,” Barker said.
The Precinct 1 Commissioner said at his barn people who bring trash will be given a list that contains a list of all eight curbside trash companies that operate in Precinct 1, and encouraging them to contact them to attain trash pick up service.
Barker said his intent is for the county to try to offer spring and fall clean up dates during which county residents would be allowed to bring unwanted items for disposal.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley emphasized intent to host both a fall and spring clean up event, which should be put on the county website. He said he’s been asked about dump sites, that he found information regarding the precinct location on the web.
Bartley said his precinct employees have spent many hours picking up trash that should have been dedicated to road work. This will allow him to better utilize the available work force for their primary work goals.
Barker said ceasing offering a public trash dumpster year round should also cut down on the amount of time each commissioner spends answer calls from people wanting to know the hours the dumpster site is open or asking to schedule to dump trash.
Barker said the county is not in the trash business, but it is in the road business. This will allow each precinct’s 6-7 employees to focus on road repairs.
The commissioner unanimously agreed to the cessation of providing public trash dumpsters at all county barns effective Feb. 1, 2020. The service will continue to be offered until then, however, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom noted.
'Christmas Market on Main' a Success for Local Small Biz and Cavanaugh/Reed Fund
More than 25 Christmas vendors spread their tables and displays out on Main Street during Saturday’s second annual ‘Christmas Market on Main”! The event not only boosted foot traffic in the downtown Sulphur Springs shopping district, but shoppers from other towns got to know our merchant shops and eateries even better. Professional photos with Santa was another draw for families in the Christmas spirit. And although the morning started out chilly, people were already milling early and making selections on Main Street and beyond it’s borders.
The Main Street merchant team of Marlene DeYong and Katy Moss Steelman, owners of Marlene’s Sass and Class and of Simply Spoiled hatched the plan, contacted the vendors and did the footwork and promotion of the event. In a gesture of love and concern, the two women also wanted to be part of fundraising for the Cavanaugh/Reed families following the tragic loss and injury suffered by those families back in October 2019. So they invited all the Main Street merchants to pitch in, and they did, with the fundraising effort amounting to a total of $1,265.00.
‘Christmas Market on Main’ vendors offered Chrismas ornaments, jewelry, holiday fashions, customized clothing, handmade soaps and lotions, jams and relishes, pillows, repurposed suitcases, hand painted signs and more. One local artisan offered scented loofah bath sponges which fuel her savings for her annual mission trip to Haiti! Another crafty local vendor designs interesting “christmas vintage’ decorations from re-purposed and salvaged household items we probably all have on hand. Also during the morning, a line formed with individuals and families who wanted ‘Christmas moments with Santa’ by Photographer Rocky Hoops. And anybody who wanted to sit down for coffee, cocoa or a delicious meal found it among the various eateries and coffee shops downtown!
SSISD Bands Offer Christmas Concert Dec. 10; Auction Will Help Fund Orlando Trip
Sulphur Springs ISD Bands will perform a Christmas concert is Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Sulphur Springs High School Auditorium. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will feature “Sounds of the Season” performed by the SSISD Jazz, Middle School and High School Band programs.
Admission is free to all. However, a silent auction to help fund the band’s planned spring performance trip to Orlando will also be held beginning at 6 p.m. that night in the foyer of the SSHS Auditorium.
“We have lots of great items to bid on, including a weekend at a Lake House on Lake Bob Sandlin and the privilege of conducting the high school band on the final piece of the concert, complete with your very own golden baton,” said SSISD Director of Bands Spencer Emmert.
This will follow the Region Try-outs for ninth graders in Mount Pleasant Monday.
See the Fine Arts calendar on the district website for additional information about the “Sights and Sounds of the Season” performances and activities this month.
Sulphur Springs Man Accused Of Stabbing Stepfather During Argument
A 31-year-old Sulphur Springs man was accused Sunday evening of stabbing his stepfather with a knife during an argument, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 5:09 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 to County Road 1136, where a man was alleged to have stabbed his former stepfather’s hand with a knife. While responding, officials were told the suspect had locked himself inside the residence, according to arrest reports.
Upon arrival, Deputy Lance Burdick reported seeing what appeared to be a victim, a man with several lacerations to his hand and forearm. The deputy attempted to contact with Jeffery Marcus Sackett, but the 31-year-old did not comply, Burdick alleged in arrest reports. A short time later other deputies and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers arrived on scene to assist. Deputies again attempted to make contact with Sackett, who came to the front door and exited with his hands in the air. Sackett was taken into custody, Burdick alleged in arrest reports.
Upon further investigation, deputies learned Sackett and his stepfather lived together, despite the other man asking Sackett multiple times to move out, Burdick reported. The pair was alleged to have been arguing when Sackett pulled a knife on the other man and attempted to stab him. The other man then allegedly grabbed a baseball bat to defend himself, striking Sackett several times. Photos and statements were taken from the other man, a witness and Sackett.
Sackett was taken to jail, where he was booked for aggravated assault of a family or household member with a deadly weapon. He remained in the county jail Monday morning, according to jail reports.
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 ISD Board To Consider 2 New CTE Courses, Annual Audit
School trustees to hold monthly meeting during lunch Monday
Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees will still hold the monthly meeting on its usual day and place, the second Monday of the month. The meeting will take place in the board room of SSISD Administration Building. However, the board meeting will convene at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9, instead of the usual monthly 6 p.m. meeting scheduled earlier than usual.
A representative from Rutherford, Taylor and Company PC is scheduled to present for trustees’ approval the Annual Financial and Compliance Report for fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2019.
Sulphur Springs High School Director of College & Career Readiness/Career & Technical Education Director Jenny Arledge is scheduled to present for board consideration two innovative courses for two different CTE programs of study that will be offered to SSISD students. Those proposed programs are advanced floral design and emergency medical technician-basic.
Trustees too will be asked to approve a resolution to appoint a SSISD representative to served on the Hopkins County Appraisal District Board of Directors from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2021.
The board is expected to hear at least four administrative and informational reports, including information from Lisa Robinson regarding the Education Performance of Bilingual/ESL Program students for 2018-19, a presentation by Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams regarding Texas Association of School Boards Localized Manual Update 114, and elementary and secondary campus highlights from Assistant Superintendents Williams and Kristin Monk.
Commissioners Court To Recognize Miller Grove, Saltillo Cross Country Teams
Hopkins County Commissioners Court is scheduled Monday to recognize two groups of youth for their athletic achievements during their regular court session, which begins Monday at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom on the first floor of Hopkins County Courthouse.
In addition to the proclamations for the Miller Grove Girls and Boys and Saltillo Boys Cross Country teams, the court will be asked to consider approving the fire protection agreement with the volunteer fire departments. Resolutions and agreements regarding FEMA Hazardous Mitigation Grant Projects are also slated to be presented for approval by the commissioners court.
A request to construct an electric power distribution facility across County Road 1165, southeast of State Highway 11 has also been submitted for consideration.
An announcement too is expected to be made Monday morning regarding public dumpsters at county barns.
Immediately following the regular court meeting, the commissioners will move to the Meeting Room on the third floor of the courthouse, to begin a work session.
In addition to the routine updates regarding building maintenance, and departmental updates from the fire chief, sheriff and Civic Center manager, representatives from Freese and Nichols, Inc. are scheduled to meet with the court Monday during the work session as well
5 Hopkins County Residents Jailed On Felony Warrants
December 8, 2019 – At least five people were jailed locally overnight Friday on felony warrants.
Elmer Junior Crosby III, 25, of Sulphur Springs was taken into custody at 11 a.m. Dec. 6, at Polunsky Unit by Deputy Elijah Fite and transported to the county jail, where he was held warrants for manufacture or delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone and family violence assault causing bodily injury, according to arrest reports.
Crosby remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday; his bond was set at $40,000 on the controlled substance charge and $5,000 on the assault charge, according to jail reports.
Cody Earl Lee, 22, of Cumby was taken into custody by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tanner Steward and Deputy Chris Baumann at 1:34 p.m. Dec. 6 at his residence. Lee was transported to jail, where he held on a warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Thea Colynn Patterson, 18, of Sulphur Springs was taken into custody at 1:38 p.m. Dec. 6 by Sulphur Springs Police Officers Victor Reyna and Nick Floyd at the adult probation office, where they took her into custody on a warrant for violation of probation, which she was on for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair. The officers transported her to jail on the charge, according to arrest reports.
Justin Scott Sewell, 26, of Como was transported at 2 p.m. Dec. 6, by Deputy Elijah Fite from Luther Unit to Hopkins County jail, where he was held on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance warrant, according to jail reports. He remained in jail Saturday, according to jail reports.
Shelby Jo Williamson, 33, of Sulphur Springs was taken into custody at her residence at 4:07 p.m. Dec. 6, HCSO Sgt. Tanner Steward and SSPD Officer Nick Floyd, for surety off bond on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports. Williamson remained in the county jail Saturday; her new bond was set at $20,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
