Meal A Day Looking for In-Town Monday Driver
The Meal A Day program is in need of an individual to volunteer a couple of hours of time on Monday morning to deliver meals to elderly individuals in the community.
“If you think that delivering meals would be just jumping in and out of a car on a hot or cold day, now is your chance to find out that it is not,” said Karon Weatherman, program director.
Delivering Meal A Day food to shut-ins is a fun, rewarding experience.
“Senior citizens just light up when you go to their door. You might be the only person that they see all day. They will touch you with their smiles of appreciation. You are there to make a difference in their lives, but they end up touching yours more. It will give you a warm fuzzy feeling to know that you have made their day and that you have let them remain independent and in their homes a little longer,” Weatherman said.
Anyone interested in volunteering a few hours of their time for Meal A Day, especially as a Monday driver, is encouraged to contact Karon Weatherman at 903-885-1661 or 903-243-3255.
Cooper Woman Found Parked on North Hopkins ISD Baseball Field
Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies reported finding a 61-year-old Cooper woman standing beside her parked car on the North Hopkins ISD baseball field Sunday evening.
Sheriff’s deputies and the campus police officer responded on FM 71 west to a report of a suspicious person at the school. Deputy Zack Horne reported a woman standing beside a black Ford Mustang, which was parked on the ball field around 7:40 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3.
The woman allegedly claimed no knowledge of how she go to the ball field and told the deputy she thought it was Thursday. The woman also allegedly showed signs of intoxication and admitted she’d recently used methamphetamine. Brantley alleged in arrest reports. Supporting that claim was her displaying of bruxism, which is the involuntary grinding of her teeth, Brantley alleged.
Believing the woman to be a danger to herself and others, Brantley arrested the woman for public intoxication, according to arrest reports. She had been released from the county jail by 1:40 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, according to jail reports.
Cumby Man Accused of Assaulting Paramedic
A 69-year-old Cumby man was jailed Sunday evening for allegedly assaulting a paramedic and having a small quantity of marijuana, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police responded just before 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, to a complaint of an intoxicated person. A probable cause search allegedly revealed 6.6 ounces of suspected marijuana in the center console of a Chevrolet Traverse in the 1400 block of College Street.
Emergency Medical Services personnel were contacted to transport the a 69-year-old Cumby man to the emergency room for medical clearance. After he was cleared, officers approached him to place him into handcuffs, Lt. Eddie Moon and Officer Zach Brown alleged in arrest reports.
The man, identified in arrest reports at William Frank Peterson, allegedly resisted by jerking his arms away, remaining stiff armed and telling officers he was about to punch them. Peterson reportedly refused to comply with officers’ demands and was was secured into handcuffs using “the least amount of force.” When police attempted to assist the man into the patrol unit, he allegedly intentionally kicked a paramedic in the leg, causing him to stumble backwards. Once in the patrol vehicle, he continued to resist, police alleged in arrest reports.
Peterson was arrested at 7:11 p.m. Nov. 3 for possession of 4 ounces or more but less than 5 pounds of marijuana; resisting arrest, search or transport; and assault on a public servant. He remained in the county jail Monday morning, Nov. 4, in lieu of $10,000 bond on the assault charge, $5,000 bond on the marijuana charge and $2,000 bond on resisting charge, according to jail reports.
Success from “Benefit of Love” for Reed/Cavanaugh/Ivey Families, Plus Good Reports on Kaycee
It was held on Saturday November 2, 2019, a cool and windy day, on the grounds of Shannon Oaks Church, and according to one organizer, “the outpouring of love went over and above what we expected, yet from Hopkins County folks, that wasn’t surprising!”. In planning for the ‘Benefit of Love’ event, a team of volunteer organizers, which included Vicki Pickel, Victoria Smith, Vicky Miller and Jan Massey, had reached out for donations of food, items for a silent auction and monetary donations. Again, Hopkins County provided an outpouring of participation which was generous and loving. By Monday, at least $12,000 in donations had been documented, with 100% of funds to be used towards mounting expenses faced by the families affected by a fatal crash on October 5, 2019, which left two in the family dead and two of their children hospitalized. According to Vicki Pickel, “we can’t stress enough how generous everyone has been. The cost of the benefit was 0$, not one cent, thanks to everyone’s pitching in to help. Everyone is owed a big thank you!”
The “Benefit of Love” event was held from 11 am til 3 pm and included a stew and chili meal cooked on-site and sold to-go and by the meal at $10 each. It was prepared by a number of seasoned cooking teams who came out to set up their camps and prepare stew. Others donated use of their canopies for the cooksites. Much of the meats for the stew was donated by local businesses. All paper goods for serving were donated, and the Bake Sale grew to large proportions, doing double duty by providing delicious desserts for everyone as well as bringing in additional donations of money for the families. T-shirt sales were also brisk, with the initial cost of the T-shirts having been donated by friends of the families. Member of Hopkins County law enforcement came out to assist with parking and traffic, and they also cooked and sold pulled pork sandwiches by donation. Even live music was donated by Dub and the Love Machine Band”.
The Silent Auction was also a success. Already logging at least 100 items by Friday including dozens of gift cards, the auction took on more size on Saturday as additional auction items came in. These included a Dutch Oven Party for 8, a handmade Fire Pit, two quilts, an electric recliner, a bicycle with child carrier, and numerous handmade wood items from students of the SSISD Ag Department. The auction was conducted Chinese-style, with tickets purchased at $1 or $5 increments.
Some encouraging news reports about Kaycee Ivey also came out of the weekend of the Benefit. Excerpts from these reports come from Barbara and Danny Cavanaugh, grandparents of the 14-year-old who remains in Children’s Hospital in Dallas following critical injuries in the wreck.
On Sunday: It’s official! Kaycee is losing the (breathing) vent tube today. She will still have assistance breathing, but not with a tube in her throat. Kaycee will wear a mask similar to cpap that people use for sleep apnea. Xray of lungs doesn’t look great, but I think the devil is messing with us. Blood count is better, Kaycee is waking up more as she is communicating more with us. Please continue to support with your prayers.
On Monday: The overnight nurse reported that Kaycee slept better last night than she has since she has been here…. Hardly any fever last night. Going to remove 2 (of 4) drains today as they are no longer needed. Kaycee will be getting occupational therapy and physical therapy today so I expect her to sit on the side of the bed (like yesterday). We’re believing for more improvement today. Thanks for the prayers and thanks for loving our family.
Mount Vernon Woman Allegedly Arrested In Sulphur Springs With Prescription Medication
A 60-year-old Mount Vernon Woman was arrested Saturday night after police found her in possession of a prescription medication she did not have a prescription for, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Lt. Eddie Moon and Officer Justin Findley reported stopping a Cadillac CTS at 9:24 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 126 for a muffler violation.
he front passenger was observed on approach to have a brown case that appeared to the officer to be digital scales, the officers alleged in arrest reports. When he returned to ask her about it, the items was missing. The woman was alleged to have concealed it in her purse. When asked about the case, the woman allegedly handed it over, trying to shake the contents out of it as she did so. Inside the case, the officer reported finding four 40 mg oxymorphone tablets, a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. She did not have a doctor’s prescription to have the pills, resulting in her arrest for less than 1 gram of the substance.
Debra Kay McClelland, 60, of Mount Vernon was arrested Nov. 2 for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. She was released from the county jail Sunday on $5,000 bond on the charge, according to jail reports.
Cookeville Man Arrested In Como For Theft At Sulphur Springs Walmart, Possessing Methamphetamine
A Cookeville man was allegedly caught with merchandise reported to have been stolen from Walmart in Sulphur Springs as well as suspected methamphetamine, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Shea Shaw reported spotting a silver Pontiac Grand AM at Joe Bob’s in Como at 4:23 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2; the car matched the description of one in which a shoplifting suspect allegedly left Sulphur Springs Walmart in a short time before. The suspect was accused of taking a curling iron, a make-up bag and cologne from the store without paying for it, Shaw and Deputy Thomas Patterson alleged in arrest reports.
The deputies reported seeing a man pumping gas into the car when they first spotted it. He had entered the passenger’s side of the car when they contacted him, and instructed both the man and his girlfriend to exit the car. When asked about the theft, both allegedly denied being involved, the deputies noted in arrest reports.
Both occupants, however, showed signs possible recent narcotic use. The woman allegedly agreed to let them search the car, then withdrew her consent shortly after doing so. A police canine was requested. One was brought to the location and the dog performed a sniff search around the car and alerted on the car. A probable cause search reportedly revealed all of the property reported to have been stolen as well as a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine and a syringe believed to have been sued to inject narcotics, Shaw and Patterson alleged in arrest reports.
Brian Dale Jones allegedly admitted to stealing the items from Walmart and claimed ownership of the methamphetamine. He claimed the his girlfriend was unaware of his actions. Both Jones and his girlfriend were issued criminal trespass warnings prohibiting them from returning to that Walmart, according to arrest reports.
Jones was taken to jail for theft of property with two or more previous convictions, which enhances the charge to a felony, as well as for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. The substance field-tested positive for meth and weighed 0.6 grams.
Jones remained in the county jail Monday morning. His bond was set at $5,000 per charge, according to jail reports.
Rack N Break Billiards, VFW Post 8560 And Sundance Pool Funds To Help Cavanaugh and Reed Families
Members of the Sulphur Springs Division of the American Pool Players Association donated their quarters from a night of league play, and the three host locations — Rack N Billiards, VFW Post 8560 and Sundance Bar –donated $100 each to benefit the Cavanaugh-Reed families. The total donated was $461.
Cumby Traffic Stop Nets Drug Paraphernalia, Methamphetamine, 2 Arrests
A Interstate 30 traffic stop in Cumby resulted in location of multiple “dime bags” with distinctive markings and methamphetamine as well as two arrests.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper William Gillentine reported seeing a westbound Oldsmobile Sedan cross the right flag line by more than a foot near the 111 mile marker and stopped it in the parking lot at Blackjack Package Store on the north I-30 service road around 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2.
The driver was reportedly standing at the front of the vehicle when the trooper talked to him. Gillentine stated he looked into the car and asked how much meth was in it. A 52-year-old Bonham man, Michael Pierre Cousin, allegedly admitted there was drug paraphernalia in a blue bag on the floorboard.
A blue bag with a methamphetamine pipe in it and a medium sized bag with about 30 clear “dime bags” with the distinctive markings of black eight ball emblems surrounded by sunshine were found during a search of the vehicle. Cousin was taken into custody for possession of drug paraphernalia.
A records check revealed the passenger in the vehicle had an outstanding warrant for her arrest on a driving while license invalid charge. The 33-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was taken into custody at 4:24 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, on the warrant and for possession of drug paraphernalia.
While being transported to jail, the woman alleged Cousin gave her a bag of meth to hide in her pants, and that she had a meth pipe in her bra. When asked how the officer would know it wasn’t her meth, she claimed it was in the same type of bags found in the car where a man had been sitting. She claimed the officer should have, on his patrol vehicle camera, the exchange.
Upon arrival at the jail, a female jailer searched the woman, and did reportedly find meth and a meth pipe in the woman’s possession. Cousin was also charged with possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. The woman, Jame Jo Evans, was later charged with possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. Cumby police officers were credited with assisting on the traffic stop.
Cousins remained in the county jail Monday morning, Nov. 4. His bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $30,000. Evans bond on the drug paraphernalia charge was set at $5,000.
Lady Cats Basketball Scrimmage
Lady Cats Basketball Scrimmages Commerce, Saltillo and Emory Rains at Home Saturday
The Lady Cats Basketball Team had there first and only scrimmage of the season Saturday morning (November 2) at the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School. It was the first opportunity for Lady Cats second year Head Coach Brittney Tisdell to evaluate players in game situations. The Lady Cats JV scrimmaged Saltillo and Emory Rains and had an intrasquad game. The varsity played Commerce, Saltillo and Emory Rains. The Lady Cats varsity got by Commerce by one point but then dropped scrimmages against Saltillo and Emory Rains. Each game was 20 minutes long. Ten Lady Cats played for the varsity including Whitehouse move-in sophomore Hannah Cordell, senior Kate Womack, senior Colbria Harrison, senior Latavia Smith and freshman Kenzie Willis. Five of the varsity players also played with the JV: sophomore Jasmine Taylor, junior Dalanee Myles, freshman Addyson Wall, freshman Serenity Lewis and sophomore Baylie Large. Some of the Lady Cats played Saturday after only three days of practice after the end of their volleyball season. The Lady Cats open the regular season Saturday against Mineola in the Sulphur Springs Middle School Gym. A JV contest is scheduled for 9 a.m. with a varsity game beginning at around 10:15 a.m.
Hopkins County Voters To Cast Ballots In 6 Elections
Voting will be conducted in Hopkins County from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, for six different elections.
Registered Hopkins county voters may cast ballots Election Day at any of the designated voting centers throughout the county.
Additional voting information for all six election, including sample ballots can be found on the Hopkins County website.
Constitutional Amendments
All registered Texas voters who did not cast ballots in during the early voting period may vote their preferences on the 10 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, which will impact education, parks, taxes, cancer research, people in disaster areas, flood zones and even retired police dogs.
Voters are cautioned to read the proposals carefully as the wording on a few warrant a closer read. For instance, individuals opposed to a state income tax would be in support of Proposition 4, which prohibits such a tax from being imposed.
Most of these amendments either provide funding to expand, maintain or improve existing programs or projects or seek tax exemptions or measures to prevent officials from creating certain additional kinds of taxes.
For a look at each of the 10 proposed amendments, click here.
Cumby City Council
Voters who reside within the Cumby city limits will be asked to select either Doug Simmerman or Ryan Horne for mayor. Voters may also vote, if they choose, for the Place 3, Place 4 and Place 5 alderman; however, Guy Butler, Betty McCarter and Julie Morris are unchallenged for the alderman seats they are seeking on Cumby City Council.
Cumby ISD Bond
Cumby residents who live within the boundaries of Cumby ISD are asked to vote either for or against a $6.2 million bond for major improvements to the elementary campus, career and technology and agriculture buildings and moving the football field.
Because Cumby ISD is located in both Hopkins and Hunt counties, voters may cast ballots only at the designated voting locations within their home county. Cumby ISD voters who live in Hopkins County may cast early ballots in person at the voting center on Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs. Hunt County residents will cast early ballots in the Cumby ISD bond election at the Voter Administration Office, 2217 Washington St. in Greenville, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31. Election Day voting will be at the designated voting centers in Hunt County from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5.
More information about the Cumby bond election, including voting information, can be found on the Cumby ISD website.
Lake Fork Special Utility Distrtict
Hopkins County residents who live within Voting Precincts 1, 8 and 36 (south central Hopkins County) will also be asked to vote for or against the change dissolving Lake Fork Water Supply Corporation to form Lake Fork Special Utility District. These voters will also be asked to select their choices from the listed candidates to serve one-year, two-year and three-year terms as directors in the district.
North Hopkins ISD
Voters within North Hopkins ISD will be asked to cast ballots in the school board election. Voters will pick up to three of the seven candidates — incumbents Charlie Vaughn, Vicki Ferrell and Robert McPherson (appointed to fill out the term of Jim Westbrook which ends this year) — to serve as school trustees full terms on the board of trustees.
KSST asked each of the NHISD Board of Trustees candidates to provide a photo and answer the same questions about themselves to share with the voters. Click here for NHISD candidate profiles.
Sulphur Springs Proposition A
Sulphur Springs voters will be asked to vote either in favor or against Proposition A, which designates $200,000 per year for 20 years in Economic Development funding to go to Sulphur Springs Parks Department to pay off costs for construction and maintenance improvements at Pacific Park as well as toward a new Senior Citizens Center.
