Cemetery, Residential Disturbances Result In 2 Misdemeanor Arrests
Two men were reportedly arrested on misdemeanor charges following reports of disturbances Tuesday.
A 39-year-old Rockwall man’s unruly behavior in front of Brashear Cemetery caught the attention of others in the area, who reported him to the sheriff’s office around lunch time Nov. 26.
The first call county dispatchers received was for suspicious activity, specifically a report of a guy “yelling and throwing stuff out of a truck” at Brashear Cemetery at 11:57 a.m. Tuesday. A second caller a minute later reported a guy was not only yelling and throwing things out of the truck but was also throwing his arms up in the air, which also was considered suspicious activity at Brashear Cemetery, according to sheriff’s reports.
In arrest reports, Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies reported a call of ” a male laying on the ground in front of the Brashear Cemetery” by a red Ford F-150 pickup. On contact with the 39-year-old Rockwall man they located, they obtained permission to search the truck, where they alleged finding drug paraphernalia.
Consequently, deputies reportedly took the man into custody at 12:15 p.m. for possession of drug paraphernalia. The Rockwall man spent the night in jail and was released from custody on the charge Wednesday morning, Nov. 27, according to jail reports.
A 26-year-old Sulphur Springs man was jailed Tuesday night for his disorderly conduct.
Sulphur Springs police were dispatched shortly after 8 p.m. Nov. 26 to the 400 block of Sheffield Street, in response to a disturbance complaint. Upon arrival, officers reported finding a man “acting erratic” in the road in front of the Sheffield Street residence, not the address listed on reports as his home address. The man was allegedly shouting profanity and not calming down.
Police rewarded his conduct with an escort to the county jail, where he spent the night on the disorderly conduct-language charge; he was released from jail Thursday morning, Nov. 27, according to arrest and jail reports.
Black Oak Cemetery Will Join in Wreaths Across America on December 14
A nationwide movement to pay homage to deceased veterans has come to Hopkins County. Last December, the first Wreaths Across America event in Sulphur Springs was organized by Dena Loyd and held at City Cemetery with a ceremony and a laying of over 500 wreaths on headstones of veterans buried there. The 2019 observance will be held on the same day across the nation, at 11am, and in Hopkins County at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery as well as at Black Oak Cemetery. Loretta Scott of Pickton is a board member of the Black Oak Cemetery and was very impressed when she attended the 2018 tribute in town. Through her efforts, Black Oak Cemetery is now recognized by the Wreaths Across America organization as Texas Cemetery # 0733.
According to Loretta, “there are 23 wreaths still needed to cover the 71 veterans graves at Black Oak. For this first year, our delegation plans to attend the ceremony at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery on Saturday December 14, then return to Black Oak to lay the wreaths there. If you would like to help complete the number of wreaths for Black Oak, please go online to wreathsacrossamerica.org and make your donation by December 4, 2019. If you donate $15, one wreath will be sent. If you donate $30, three wreaths will be sent to us, through the generosity of the organization. Or you can mail a check to the address you will find online. Please note the ID number of the Black Oak Cemetery on your order, that’s TX0733. The wreaths will be shipped to Sulphur Springs one day prior to the ceremony and sorted for distribution. This is an opportunity to help complete the number of wreaths needed”.
The Co-ordinator for Hopkins County’s role in the national event is Dena Loyd. You are invited to attend the public ceremony on Saturday December 14 at 11am, and afterwards, you will be welcome to join others in placing the wreaths and speaking aloud the name of those who served our country during their lifetimes. Families are encouraged to bring their children. The mission of the annual event is ‘Remember, Honor, and Teach’.
Free Photography Showing at City Hall on Saturday November 30 at 1:30 pm
P H O T O G R A P H Y E X H I B I T R E C E P T I O N
A Photography Exhibit featuring local submissions to the World Wide Photo Walk and other original photographs will be open to the public on Saturday November 30, 2019 at 1:30 pm inside Sulphur Springs City Hall on North Davis Street, downtown. Admission is free, everybody is welcome! Bring friends and family!
This exhibit is the combined results from the World Wide Photo Walk & the 5 Year Marathon Photo Contest
Sponsored by the Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance and Casa Regis – Center for culture and contemporary art, Italy
Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Campus Welding Shop
Colton Nolen, right, works on his TIG welding skills while Welding Instructor John Plemons, left, and student Brennan Newell observe during a recent class at the Paris Junior College -Sulphur Springs Center Welding Shop. To inquire about welding or other workforce education programs, call the campus at 903-885-1232.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
IT Resources, Security Systems, Fire Alarm Agreements Receive Commissioners’ Approval
Hopkins County Commissioners during their regular meeting this week approved a information technology resources agreement, security system proposals for the county’s two new district buildings, a monitoring system and printer/copier lease contract.
Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement between Sulphur Springs Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and Hopkins County for access to a hosted secure facility with information technology resources and NET Data Systems and government software. Sheriff Lewis Tatum said it’s his understanding that the entities involved have had an ongoing agreement; this would renew or continue that.
Also approved were security/access control systems proposals with Firetrol Protection Systems for Hopkins County Courtroom Building and the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the annual fire alarm monitoring system agreement with Firetrol for the DA’s offices and Courthouse Annex Building.
“In a previous court we approved a fire alarm system and thought we approved security access as well because they were supposed to do both systems. They started on both systems, then, we realized we had put through fire alarm and did not put through the security and access. It was two separate contracts. So we need to pass this contract that they are installing over there,” Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook explained.
“We’ve got three different proposals that we’re going through. The first two have already been installed. The last one is the monitoring,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley asked if the systems were satisfactorily installed.
Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley reported the system is up and going. He and Sulphur Springs Fire Chief David James would be conducting a final evaluate of the system to verify it meets requirements. He said anything discussed during a previous work session that had yet to be achieved would be checked to ensure those items had been addressed.
“They are already monitoring it. This is a contract to monitor it, with the price is very good, comparative,” Endsley told the court.
“The monitoring costs us $480,” Newsom said.
“Which is a great savings to what our former monitoring services to do other county buildings. That same monitoring has averaged about $800 to $1,000 a year. So that’s a great saving to us,” Endsley said.
“So we’re not approving the paying, making the payments, but the contracts themselves?” asked Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker.
“That is correct,” affirmed Aulsbrook.
When Barker asked about any work not being fulfilled, Aulsbrooks noted the county would not be making payment on contracts until they are fulfilled.
Newsom noted this was supposed to be a technology update; the process has not gone as smoothly as anticipated. The county is “ironing out the rough patches right now” to get to the desired outcome.
Meet Shelbi Cooper, Nurse Practitioner for Dr. Arneke’s Office, 115 Medical Circle (Morning Show Interview Added)
A career in the medical field had always been attractive to her as she grew up in Rains County, and fifteen years ago, Shelbi Cooper had achieved that milestone. She was working as a Registered Nurse in a major hospital in Dallas. But she wanted something more, and found it, with a specialty degree earned at Texas Women’s University as a Nurse Practitioner/Internal Medicine. For the past twelve years, Shelbi has been working as an NP at Tyler’s Mother Frances Hospital, for a time at an Urgent Care clinic in Sulphur Springs, and most recently at an Internal Medicine clinic in Winnsboro. But when she heard that Dr. Arneke of Sulphur Springs was looking for an NP to share his office, she responded immediately and one month ago, she was hired. Today, Shelbi appeared on the KSST Good Morning Show to say she is looking forward to getting to know everyone and to serving the needs of the Hopkins County community.
“As you may know, Dr. Arnecke’s office has been closed to new patients for several years. However now, the practice is accepting new patients with myself and Dr. Arneke seeing patients”, stated Shelbi. “More and more so now, rural communities are experiencing a short supply of doctors. Nurse Practitioners can become like a primary physician, as they work in an established practice under a supervising physician. We can treat, prescribe and diagnose as well as supervise a patient’s continuing care. So, along with Dr. Arnecke. I can now see patients age 18 and older Mondays through Thursdays for conditions like chronic disease, diabetes, hypertension and congestive heart failure. I can also see patients for acute care, like sinus, bronchitis, the flu and allergies, as well as give joint injections for arthritis and other causes of pain. Additionally, I will be seeing some of Dr. Arnecke’s patients who reside at Carriage House Manor”. Shelbi resides in Sulphur Springs with her husband Derek Cooper and their two small children. She hopes her work will become an asset to the community.
Below is her interview on The Good Morning Show with Enola Gay.
End of year schedule for the PJC – Sulphur Springs Center
The Paris Junior College – Sulphur Springs Center is currently conducting registration for two sessions, the three-week Winter Mini-Term and the Spring 2020 semester.
The college will close for the Thanksgiving Holiday Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 27-29, and reopen on Monday, Dec. 2. Fall semester final examinations week begins Dec. 9 and Fall Commencement will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, in the Hunt Center in Paris.
The Winter Mini-Term starts on Monday, Dec. 16. The classes are all online and are all part of the State Academic Core Curriculum, which will transfer to any four-year public university in Texas.
Winter break commences on Dec. 18, and PJC will reopen Jan. 2, 2020, continuing registration for the Spring semester. All locations will be open on Saturday, Jan. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon to register students.
In addition to regular registration at all locations, special one-and-done registration days will be held at the PJC-Greenville Center on Tuesday, Jan. 7 and the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center on Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and in Paris on Thursday, Jan. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Some of the programs starting in the Spring 2020 semester include accounting; computer support technician; cybersecurity; emergency medical services; entrepreneurship; heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technology; mechatronics; medical records coding; office technology; radiology technology; surgical technology; and welding. These programs take from one to four semesters to complete, and more are available.
Late registration will be held on Monday, Jan. 13, the first day of class for the Spring semester. For information on registration, call the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center at 903-885-1232.
Disturbance Complaint Results In Intoxication Arrest
A complaint regarding a Jefferson Street disturbance Monday night resulted in a 42-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s arrest for being intoxicated in public, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs police were dispatched at 10:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25, to the 900 block of Jefferson Street, in response to a 911 call. Upon arrival at the location, the homeowner told police the man had entered the residence without permission, causing a disturbance, police alleged in arrest reports.
Officials reported, upon contact with the man, they found him to be “intoxicated to the point he was danger to himself and others, resulting in his arrest for public intoxication.
The man was released from the county jail on the charge Tuesday morning, Nov. 26, according to jail reports.
The 42-year-old Sulphur Springs man was the second police arrested Monday for PI. A 63-year-old Sulphur Springs man was reportedly arrested in an unrelated incident Monday morning for being intoxicated at a Church Street business.
Police were dispatched at 10:32 a.m. Nov. 25 to a report of the man possibly intoxicated at the pharmacy. Upon arrival, police reportedly contacted the man. He was alleged to have glassy, red bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and an alcohol odor emitted from his breath. When asked to stand up, the man appeared to the officer to be unsteady on his feet, police alleged in arrest reports.
The 63-year-old was jailed Nov. 25 for public intoxication, and released from jail Tuesday morning, Nov. 26, according to arrest and jail reports.
Monday marked the third time this month and fourth time this year the 63-year-old man has been jailed locally on alcohol related charges. He was also arrested Aug. 28 and Nov. 23 for public intoxication; and Nov. 5 on an open container warrant, according to jail reports.
Man Sentenced To 3 Years For Felony DWI
A 42-year-old Sulphur Springs man was taken into custody at Hopkins County Courthouse and is to serve three years in prison for a felony DWI charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
Timmy Lynn Clark was scheduled for a pretrial appearance in district court at 9 a.m. Nov. 25 for an Aug. 4 third or more driving while intoxicated charge, according to Monday’s 8th Judicial District Court docket.
Clark was reportedly stopped Aug. 4 for a traffic violation and alcohol was smelled on him. He allegedly admitted to consuming eight beers. He showed six clues of intoxication during horizontal gaze nystagmus testing and refused to perform standard field sobriety tests. A records check reportedly showed Clark to have three prior DWI arrests, resulting in the DWI charge being enhanced to a felony, sheriff’s deputies alleged in Clark’s August arrest reports.
Jail reports show Clark was arrested in 2010 on a third or more DWI charge and sentenced to one year in a substance abuse felony punishment facility for third or more DWI in 2013.
Clark was indicted during the Oct. 3 grand jury session for the August 2019 third or more DWI offense, according to court reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Brantley took Clark into custody at at 11:53 a.m. Monday, Nov. 25, at the courthouse on a DWI, third or more offense charge, according to arrest and jail reports. He has been sentenced to serve three years in Texas Department of Criminal Justice on the charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Man Accused Of Trying To Conceal Methamphetamine
A 25-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s unruly behavior and attempt to conceal what was believed to be a controlled substance from police resulted in his arrest on two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge, officers alleged in arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Adrian Pruitt reported stopping Brandon Ray Timmons around 2 p.m. on Maxwell Street at Ardis Street. Pruitt alleged Timmons became argumentative.
When he attempted to pat Timmons down, Pruitt alleged in arrest reports, he noticed Timmons was clenching a plastic bag in on hand. Timmons failed to comply after being ordered several times to release the bag and began to physically resist the officer, according to Pruitt. Thus, the officer “used the least amount of force necessary” and took the man “to the ground.”
Pruitt reported being able to gain control of the man and put him into handcuffs despite the fact that Timmons continued to resist Pruitt’s efforts. Timmons allegedly threw as he was being placed into custody.
Other officers arrived. Timmons was placed into a patrol vehicle and the bag was recovered. The bag allegedly contained suspected methamphetamine. Timmons was transported to jail, where the suspected meth weighed 1.1 gram.
Timmons was booked for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and for resisting arrest, search or transport. He remained in the county jail Tuesday morning, Nov. 26, in lieu of $10,000 bond on the controlled substance charge, $10,000 bond on the tampering with evidence charge and $2,000 bond on the resisting arrest charge.
According to jail reports, Monday marked the second time this month and seventh time this year Timmons has been booked into the county jail. Timmons was arrested Nov. 5 for not taking care of a June 28 public intoxication charge. Timmons was also arrested Jan. 19 on a possession of marijuana charge and theft warrant; June 17 and Aug. 2 for failure to maintain financial responsibility and no driver’s license warrants; and Sept. 2 for theft and criminal trespass charges and a theft warrant, according to jail reports.
