Sulphur Springs, Greenville Men Jailed On Warrants
Two men were jailed after turning themselves in to authorities on outstanding warrants.
Jeremy Edward Johnson, 35, of Greenville turned himself in at 12:50 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, and was escorted by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Davis into the county jail, where he was held on a warrant for theft of property valued at $30,000-$150,000.
He remained in the county jail late Tuesday morning, according to jail reports.
A Sulphur springs man, 17, turned himself in at 8:15 p.m. Dec. 2, in the sheriff’s office lobby on a misdemeanor warrant. A deputy escorted him into the county jail, where he was booked for bond forfeiture on a March 8 evading arrest or detention charge.
The teen remained in the county jail Tuesday morning, Dec. 3. His bond new was set at $5,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Man Arrested On A Firearm Charge
A 42-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested early Tuesday morning on a felony weapon charge, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Cpl. Chris Rosamond reported officers were made aware of a FBI warrant for Matthew Lavon Payne’s arrest. Rosamond reported contact was made with occupants of a Chevrolet High Country pickup at 5:41 a.m. Dec. 3, on Main Street. Payne was a passenger in the truck, according to arrest reports.
KSST later received information that the FBI may have been involved in the arrest. All inquires regarding the case were referred to the FBI. Late Tuesday afternoon the FBI Dallas Division’s public affairs office confirmed the FBI arrested Matthew Payne.
Payne was booked into Hopkins County jail, where he remained late Tuesday, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, according to arrest reports. He remained in the county jail Tuesday evening on the FBI charge, according to jail reports.
4 Teens Accused Of Stealing Firearms, ATV While Skipping School
James Wesley Whitworth II 
DiaShawn Jerome Godbolt
Four teens caught skipping school Monday afternoon were taken into custody later Dec. 2 on a felony engaging in criminal activity charge in connection with thefts of firearms and an ATV.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford credited Cpl. Todd Evans for his work, which lead to the arrests and location of stolen property.
According to dispatch reports, deputies first responded to County Road 2341 around 9:30 a.m. Dec. 2,where a “side-by-side” was reported to have been stolen overnight Sunday.
While in the area during the noon hour investigating, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Cpl. Todd Evans encountered a group of teens alleged to have been shooting long guns at house in the area. The entire group was reportedly determined to have been skipping school. Evans secured the guns, which at that time he believed to belong to one youth’s grandfather, notified the youngsters’ parents and returned them to school, the deputy noted in arrest reports.
Later, around 4:30 p.m., deputies received reports of a burglary in the area of County Road 2337, according to sheriff’s and arrest reports.
Three guns matching the description of those Evans earlier had seen the teens with earlier were reported to have been stolenn, , HCSO Cpl. Evans, Chief Investigator Corley Weatheford, and Patrol Sgt. Scott Davis and Sgt. Tanner Steward noted in arrest reports.
The youth were located and interviewed by officials; most confessed to involvement in the thefts, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Deputies recovered the guns, which had reportedly been thrown in various road ditches in the area. Deputies also located the side-by-side, which had been hidden in the woods near County Road 2310, according to arrest and sheriff’s reports.
Overall, four individuals were reported to have been involved. All were arrested on an engaging in organized criminal activity charge. Two youth — James Wesley Whitworth II and Diashawn Jerome Godbolt, both 17, of Sulphur Springs — were transported to the county jail on the third-degree felony charge. The two others were released to juvenile authorities, according to Weatherford.
Whitworth and Godbolt remained in the county jail Tuesday morning, Dec. 3; bond on the engaging in organized criminal activity charge was set at $30,000, according to jail reports.
A Merry Christmas Starts with the Lions Club Lighted Christmas Parade Friday December 6 at 7 pm
December 3, 2019 – Be along the parade route this Friday evening to watch the most fabulous lighted floats go by, see the marching bands and hear the Christmas music in the air! Of course, everyone can attend the Lions Club Christmas Parade free of charge! The title sponsor is Carriage House Manor, with numerous other sponsors helping provide the annual public festivity.
According to Garrett Glass of the Lions Club, this year’s parade route is a little different! Staging and lineup begins at 5:30 pm at Buford Park, and the parade will step off at 7 pm. From Buford Park it will head north a short distance to Houston Street, then travel east to Church, making a right turn onto Church, then traveling south to Celebration Plaza. After the parade crosses the square, it will continue south on Gilmer for a short distance, ending at the Tapp Funeral Home parking lot. Glass also reminded listeners that the Downtown Business Alliance Tree Lighting with Santa and Mrs. Claus is Friday night around 5:30 pm, the Decorated Christmas Tree Contest is also Friday night on Celebration Plaza, and the City of Sulphur Springs will also host the White Tigers for the community that same night!
Glass gave a brief history of Lions Club International. Established in 1937, one of the most enduring Lions Club projects involves eyeglasses for persons who cannot afford them. Using special vision screening equipment, members of Lions Clubs can give vision screenings at schools, fairs and other public events, to target persons with vision impairments and who qualify for Lions Club assistance to receive needed prescription eye wear. “Beds of Hope” is another world-wide Lions Club project, making durable handmade wooden beds available to persons and families who need them. The Sulphur Springs Lions Club meets at noon each Tuesday at Pizza Inn in Sulphur Springs. If you are interested in becoming a member, you are welcome to attend the next meeting.
Blue Santa Toy Drive Today!!
Local law enforcement has a heart for helping needy families at Christmas time! Join them in the Blue Santa Drive going on today, Tuesday December 3, on the parking lot of Lowe’s, 7am til 7pm. Toys, bicycles, cash and checks are being taken at the collection site by law enforcement officers on “Blue Santa” duty! Toys for ages 1-16 are needed, bicycles of all sizes, and of course money to purchase more toys! More than 800 children are on the list to receive Blue Santa gifts, and each child gets more than one gift in the family’s bundle, so you can see a lot of toys are needed! Please get involved and be generous!
Another way that Blue Santa raises money for the toys is with a BBQ Lunch fundraiser. Today, get your CJ Duffey BBQ sandwich, chips, Little Debbie cake and water for a cost of $5. Just drive up at the Lowe’s parking lot for the lunch. Or call ahead to order. Orders of five lunches or more can be delivered to locations in town. Phone 903-348-1127.
Over 150 lunches went out on Monday, the first day of the drive, and more than $1800 in cash came in the drive-up donation lane at Lowe’s. Toys and bicycles are also needed today, the final day of the 2019 Blue Santa Toy Drive. Distribution Day is later this month, before Christmas.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Impacts on Child Health/Wellness
By Johanna Hicks
According to 2018 statistics, the total Hopkins County population is approximately 36,810 with 24.6 percent under the age of 18; 21.1 percent of children under the age of 17 live in poverty. The Community Health/Wellness Alliance, Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers, and the Family & Community Health Committee have been driving forces in addressing issues pertaining to nutrition physical activity and well-being.
“Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness”
“Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness” completed its 10th year in 2019. This three-week, nine-session summer camp is targeted toward Sulphur Springs students who had just completed grades 1-4. Three major topics were covered in the camp:
Nutrition
Six sessions focused on a food group and included a hands-on food preparation activity. Cereal snack mix, grape/berry parfait, chicken salad, moo-licious smoothies, black bean and rice salad, and banana pancakes were the hands-on recipes made by campers. We also discussed food safety, kitchen safety, and hand hygiene. Incentive items given to campers included milk cups, drinking bottles, soup mugs and MyPlate plates, along with a certificate of excellence for each food group.
Physical Activity
Six sessions also focused on physical activities. Dr. Angela Doddy implemented “Walk with a Doc” to promote asking questions while the group walked outside, played kickball, and other fun activities. Incentive items distributed were cool neck wraps. Minutes of physical activity were logged for six days as part of the Walk Across Texas initiative. Campers completed 804.65 miles. They also learned that they need 60 minutes of physical activity everyday.
Horticulture
The Hopkins County Master Gardeners conducted 3 sessions. They discussed the importance of plants to provide food and how they need sunlight, food, and water to grow. They also discussed how birds pollinate flowers, eat insects, and provide beauty. Each session provided a hands-on component.
Mini Sessions
Six 30-minute sessions included water safety, stranger danger, fire safety, visit from a police canine, yoga and bicycle safety. Each camper received a bike helmet and safety lights.
The final day of Kids’ Camp was held at Classic Lanes. Campers had unlimited bowling and access to laser tag. Each camper received a cute bag with all their camp activity sheets, awards and crafts projects.
Written evaluation indicated that campers planned to adopt the practices of eating breakfast every day, eating more fruits and vegetables, and drinking more water/less sweetened beverages. Eight-nine percent of the campers indicated that they would use Kids’ Camp recipes at home. Special thanks to the Sulphur Springs Blue Blazes for assisting with each camp session.
Skills Camp
Due to responses from parents whose children had aged-out of Kids’ Camp, a camp for older students was developed to provide learning experiences in a variety of workshops, thus keeping the kids off the couch and away from phones, computers, and video games. 2019 was the fifth year for this four-session camp.
Topics for Skills Camp included Photography, led by Isabel Reyna, Woodworking let by Dennis Sink and Harold Bryant, Baking led by Cindy Welch, and Pet Care let by Linda Hill. Campers were also treated to ice cream at the Southwest Dairy Museum. Take-home items included muffin pans, mini whisks, wooden spoons, measuring cups, hand-crafted wooden tote box which campers built, yard sticks, tape measures and tool aprons.
One hundred percent indicated learning something new and intent to adopt practices learned at camp. Special thanks to Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers for assisting with each session.
Dates for the 2020 Kids’ Camp and Skills Camp have been set, and plans will begin after the first of the year. Stay tuned for more impact reports from your Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service – Hopkins County!
Closing Thought
Make good choices – great things happen! — Nathan Harmon
Sulphur Springs City Council Dec. 3 Agenda
CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
DECEMBER 3, 2019 7 P.M.
An Executive Session will be held at 6PM in accordance with Texas Government Code, Title 5, Chapter 551.074, Personnel Matters specifically relating to the City Manager.
The regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 in the Council Room at 201 North Davis Street.
The following items will be discussed:
- Call to order.
- Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag, Texas Flag, and invocation.
- Presentations, proclamations, and announcements.
- Manager’s report will include a status report of capital improvements, wastewater treatment plant operations, accidents and claims for the month, and a review of expenditures, revenues, purchases, abatement orders, and a discussion of urban sprawl and development practices.
- Discussion/action on Consent Agenda.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1184 to determine the City does not propose to annex property or territory that is required to be in an annexation plan or required to offer a development agreement.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1185 to set date, times, and a place for public hearings on a proposed annexation of certain property.
- Discussion/action on Resolution No. 1186 appointment to the Hopkins County Appraisal District Board of Directors.
- Discussion/action on a motion to allow JetTribe Core Watercraft Company to hold a jet ski watercraft exhibition event at Coleman Lake.
- Discussion/action on board appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Discussion only regarding downtown parking.
- Visitors and public forum.
- Discussion/action on Executive Session item.
- Adjourn
Former Wildcats Soccer Assistant Javier Aguayo Begins Lady Cats Practices Monday
New Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javier Aguayo believes he has been given a great opportunity and he is excited about it. The Lady Cats begin workouts officially Monday (December 2). He says the Lady Cats will get a lot of conditioning work early. Several weeks ago Coach Aguayo and his assistant coach Kristov Martinez determined which girls would be on the varsity and which ones would be assigned to the JV. He says girls were notified last week. The Lady Cats graduated seven seniors off of last year’s team. The Lady Cats were fourth in district last year and lost a bi-district match to always tough Hallsville. Coach Aguayo says this year’s team features nine seniors and six of them were on varsity last year. Among returners are Ashley Noe, Jasmine Olivera and Lois Rocha. He says some young players will be mixed in. He expects two freshmen to start on the varsity and there will be some sophomores and juniors on the varsity as well. The Lady Cats have their first scrimmage on Thursday, December 12 against Class 4A power Kilgore at Gerald Prim Stadium. The Lady Cats open the regular season against North Lamar at home on Tuesday, January 7.
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton is Excited By First Day of Practice Monday
After the long off season, the Wildcats Soccer Team began practice Monday (December 2) officially. Coach Alexi Upton says the first three days of practice are big ones for Wildcats JV players trying to impress him so they can land a spot on the varsity. He says a ton of players will be trying out. Coach Upton says the Wildcats have done a good job working on their conditioning so that is not expected to be a big point of emphasis in early practices. He says mainly the team will be working to get better. Coach Upton says that will be important considering that the Wildcats play lots of ranked opponents. He says the team will work a lot on tactics and situational soccer. He says he is very optimistic about the potential of this year’s team. Coach Upton believes the Wildcats have the players to challenge Mount Pleasant like never before. Coach Upton is assisted by Coach Salvador Mejia. The Wildcats play their first scrimmage on Saturday, December 14 at Gerald Prim Stadium. The Wildcats will scrimmage Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill, Sabine and Mineola. They open the season on January 2 in the prestigious Frisco ISD Dr. Pink Varsity Soccer Tournament.
