Cancelled: Jury Duty For County Court
The jury panel summoned to appear at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 14, for County Court At Law with Judge Clay Harrison does not need to report. The jury panel has been cancelled, according to Hopkins County Clerk Tracy Smith.
This is only for Harrison’s court. The jury panel called to appear the same day and time in the 8th Judicial District Court with Judge Eddie Northcutt was still scheduled to proceed as of 3 p.m. Friday.
Clean Up Of Diesel Spill Near Miller Grove Nearing Completion
Efforts to clean up diesel spilled on October 3rd in the Miller Grove area at Turkey Creek are expected to wrap up in a few days, according to Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley.
A represenitave from the Environmental Protection Agency tells KSST News that virtually all of the diesel has been removed from the “dry creek”, and the surrounding area has no long lasting damage. KSST News was invited to tour the site, and did not see any residual fuel nor could even smell any diesel fumes. The effort observed proved to be a well orchestrated effort between Hopkins County agencies and the contractor tasked with the clean up effort, as well as state and federal agencies overseeing the cleanup.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said, “If not for the quick response of those employees of Precint 1, and the County Fire Department, the spill would have been a lot harder to clean up.” The first responders immediately went down stream of the dry Turkey Creek and built an earthen dam to contain the spill. This effort proved invaluable to the contactor tasked with the job of removing the spilled fuel.
According to EPA officials at the command center, 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 remediated.
Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Kristy Springfield has been on site to coordinate efforts along with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Sabine River Authority, US EPA, and Texas Parks and Wildlife. A remediation contractor has been in charge of the clean up and has had over 120 employees activated to help in the process. Any of the county employees or agencies that have been involved in the clean up will be able to submit invoices for their time and expenditures for full reimbursement from the contractor.
The diesel was spilled after a six inch pipe ruptured in a pipeline, causing diesel to run into Turkey Creek Thursday evening, Oct. 3. The pipeline had been under maintenance for two months, and ruptured when diesel was pumped into it. When the pipe ruptured, the pipeline was shut down and mitigation was started to contain the diesel, county officials reported Friday morning, Oct 4th.
As of Monday, 24,186 barrels of substance had been removed from the area. However, Hopkins County OEM officials report not all contain product, some are mostly water. An estimated 10,048 barrels were diesel. Most of the substance now being removed contain mostly water, the officials said.
Friday Game Day Features Wildcats Football At Home, Lady Cats Volleyball On The Road
The Wildcats Football Team will be attempting to win their second straight district football game Friday night, Oct. 11, at Gerald Prim Stadium.
To do so they will have to defeat one of the district’s best teams, the Ennis Lions.The Lions are 5-1 so far this season and they are a perfect 4-0 in district play. They are tied with Corsicana for first place in the district standings.
Meanwhile the Wildcats, 1-2 in district play and 1-4 overall, are in fifth place in the district standings. The Wildcats broke into the win column with a 32-13 win at Forney in a district game last Friday night.
Last year, the Wildcats won in impressive fashion at Ennis at Lion Memorial Stadium, 45-28.
The Lions are coached by Sam Harrell, who is in his second go round with the Lions. The legendary coach had to resign from Ennis several years ago due to the ravages of multiple sclerosis. During his first stint with Ennis, he won three state championships and took the Lions to the playoffs in 11 of 16 seasons there. After stem cell treatment in Panama, Coach Harrell made an incredible recovery and was able to get back into coaching. Last year, he was rehired by Ennis.
KSST will bring you Wildcats Football live Friday night from The Prim. The game will also be videotaped for replay at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team completes the first half of district play Friday at 5 p.m. at a tough place to get a win, the Texas High gym in Texarkana.
Both teams are 2-2 in district play and they are tied for third place in the district standings. The Lady Cats defeated the Lady Tigers early in the season at a Wills Point tournament, 2-0, by the score of 25-14 and 25-13, back on August 17. Lady Cats Coach Bailey Dorner expects the Lady Tigers to be a much improved team compared to the one she saw two months ago.
The Lady Cats season record is 20-13. Texas High is 11-22.
On Tuesday, the Lady Cats defeated Mount Pleasant at home 3-0 while Texas High lost at first place Lindale.
Sulphur Bluff Volleyball Splits Recent Games To Earn District’s #2 Playoff Seed
This has been a solid season for the Sulphur Bluff Lady Bears Volleyball Team. They are assured of a second place seed in their district for the playoffs.
Tuesday night, Oct. 8, the Lady Bears went on the road and gave district champ Avery all they wanted, before finally losing a hard fought 3-2 match. The Lady Bears won the first two sets, 25-19 and 25-13, before Avery rallied to win the last three, 25-20, 25-15 and 15-7.
In that match, Alley Collett had 8 service points, 2 kills and 32 assists. Jada Wade had 1 service point and 4 kills. Cierra Johnson had 6 service points, 3 kills and 12 digs. Tori Raine had 16 service points, 8 kills and 8 digs. Skylar Stanley had 7 kills and a season high 6 blocks. Hannah Byrd had 3 service points. Ann Dorner had 3 service points, 8 kills, an assist, 14 digs and numerous passes to target. Dalena di Donato had 10 service points, 6 kills and 9 digs. Angel Brown had 20 digs.
Last Friday, the Lady Bears won on the road at Maud, 3-1 by the score of 25-14, 22-25, 25-22 and 25-23. Alley Collett had 10 service points, 2 kills and 23 assists. Jada Wade had 4 service points and 3 kills. C.J. Johnson had 3 service points, 2 kills and 9 digs. Toru Raine had 9 service points, 2 kills, 3 assists and 1 block. Skylar Stanley had 7 kills and 2 blocks. Hannah Byrd had 11 service points. Ann Dorner had 7 service points and 11 kills. Dalena di Donato had 7 service points and 4 kills. Angel Brown had 3 service points and 10 digs.
100 bags of Schwan’s Brand Garlic Herb Shrimp Recalled Due to Undeclared Milk, Soy
Fisherman’s Pride Processors Inc. of Vernon, California, is recalling 100 bags of Schwan’s Brand “Garlic Herb Shrimp” with date code 4A924608xx-B1 due to undeclared milk and soy. People who have allergic or sensitivity to milk or soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if the recalled product is consumed.
The recalled product is packed in white polyethylene bag with red graphic (picture of shrimp) and imprinted with Schwan’s Brand and “Garlic Herb Shrimp” Net Wt. 16oz (1 lb) 453g. On the reverse side of packaging, code #567 on the top left corner and UPC code 052008 and Product Identification code 4A924608xx-B1 are located. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that Schwan’s Garlic Herb Shrimp #567 was found in cases labeled Schwan’s Shrimp Scampi #530. Subsequent investigation found packaging of Schwan’s Garlic Herb Shrimp #567 was used to package Schwan’s Shrimp Scampi #530.
Schwan’s may have distributed the recalled product to the lower 48 States through Schwan’s home delivery network. The recalled product was not sold in retail stores.
To date, there have been no reported injuries or illness.
Consumers who have purchased the Schwan’s “Garlic Herb Shrimp”#567 Product Identification code 4A924608xx-B1 product are urged to return it to Schwan’s for a full refund.
Consumers with questions may contact Fisherman’s Pride Processors, Inc., at 1-844-417-9933 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST.
2 Women Jailed On Warrants
Tara Renee Moss, 40, Midlothian was arrested at 2:20 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, at Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office by Sgt. Shea Shaw and Deputy N. Marney for bond forfeiture on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest and jail reports.
Moss remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, Oct. 11, in lieu of $10,000 bond on the charge, according to jail reports.
Wanda Denise McDaniels, 55, of Sulphur Springs turned herself in at the sheriff’s office at 2:37 p.m. Oct. 10 on a warrant for violation of probation, which she was on for manufacture or delivery of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug free zone, according to reports.
Deputies Marney and Shaw escorted McDaniels into the county jail, where she was booked and remained Friday morning, Oct. 11, according to arrest and jail reports.
2 Arrested On Wildcat Way Thursday Evening
Two men were arrested about an hour apart Thursday evening at two different location on Wildcat Way, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy N. Marney and Sgt. Shea Shaw arrested 56-year-old Michael Keith Rhodes of Sulphur Springs at 5:04 p.m. at the intersection of Hillcrest Drive and Wildcat Way for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
Rhodes was stopped for an improper lane change. One of the deputies recognized Rhodes as someone he’d arrested previously for narcotics arrest; Rhodes admitted to being on probation for that previous charge, Marney and Shea alleged in arrest reports.
When Rhodes refused to let the deputies search the Dodge 3500 he was driving, the deputies reportedly called for Sulphur Springs Police Officer Buddy Williams to bring his canine partner to the location. The dog gave a positive alert on the vehicle, which was considered probable cause for a search, according to arrest reports.
A plastic bag with a crystal-like substance was found in Rhode’s wallet on the driver’s seat. The substance later field tested positive as methamphetamine and weighed 0.7 grams, resulting in Rhodes arrest on the charge, according to jail reports.
Rhodes remained in Hopkins County jail on the controlled substance charge Friday morning, Oct. 11. His bond was set at $5,000, according to jail reports.
At 6:09 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, Sulphur Springs Police Officer Adrian Pruitt arrested Kendall Okeith Willis, 21, of Dallas in the 700 block of Wildcat Way on three Dallas County warrants for violation of probation, which he was on for a possession of 5 pounds or more but less than 50 pounds of marijuana and two manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charges, according to police and jail reports.
Officers were dispatched to a report of a suspicious person at the Wildcat Way apartment complex. Upon arrival, they spotted the man sitting on a staircase. On contact, the officer alleged he determined the man to have been smoking marijuana. A records check showed the warrants, resulting in the man’s arrest, Pruitt alleged in arrest reports.
Willis remained in the county jail Friday morning on all three violation of probation charges as well as a warrant for unauthorized absence from a community corrections facility; bond on the latter charge was set at $5,000, according to jail reports.
Gun Reported Stolen In Houston Found During Hopkins County Traffic Stop
A traffic stop on State Highway 11 Thursday evening resulted in location of a firearm that’d been reported to Houston authorities as stolen and one arrest.
Texas Department of Public Safety trooper stopped a Toyota Scion around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, on SH 11 for following too close behind another vehicle. On contact, the driver identified himself as 32-year-old Ismael Gregorio Ramirez of Como.
The trooper alleged he could see in plain view an open container and what looked like another container of beer in a black plastic sack in the charge. However, when handed the sack, the trooper reported finding not alcohol but a gun inside. A records check by DPS communications operators revealed the gun had been reported to authorities in Houston as stolen, the trooper alleged in arrest reports.
Both he and the passenger were placed into custody as a safety precaution. When the gun was confirmed stolen, Gregorio-Ramirez was taken to jail for no driver’s license and theft of a firearm, according to arrest reports.
Gregorio-Ramirez remained in the county jail Friday morning, Oct. 11. His bond was set at $5,000, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Man Sentenced To 18 Years On Felony DWI Charge
Justin Karl Roderick, 61, of Sulphur Springs man was sentenced Thursday afternoon to 18 years in Texas Department of Criminal Justice for driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, according to arrest reports.
The charge stems from a May 1 traffic stop. Roderick was reportedly seen drinking while driving. He was stopped on Hillcrest Drive and allegedly admitted to having an open beer in the vehicle, and that he had several beers prior to the officer contacting him, police alleged in the May 1 arrest reports. Roderick also had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, exhibited six of six clues on horizontal gaze nystagmus tests and was found be be intoxicated on a breath test, police alleged in arrest reports.
Roderick man was scheduled to plead guilty in court on the DWI, third or more offense charge at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10. He was taken into custody at the courthouse and booked at 6 p.m. into the county jail to serve an 18-year commitment in TDCJ on the charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
According to jail reports, Roderick’s arrest May 1 marked the third time he was jailed locally for driving while intoxicated, third or more offense. Jail records show Roderick had multiple prior DWI arrests, starting in 1992. He was booked into the county jail for DWI five times between Aug. 1, 1992 and March 30, 1993, according to the jail reports. He was booked into jail Aug. 7, 1995; March 18, 2013; and May 1, 2019, for DWI, third or more offense, jail records state.
Lady Cats, Wildcats Cross Country Qualify for Regional Meet at District Wednesday
The Lady Cats Cross Country Team finished second and the Wildcats third as both teams qualified for the Regional Meet at the District Meet Wednesday (October 9) in Mount Pleasant. The Lady Cats were just 16 points behind Mount Pleasant. The Wildcats came in behind Mount Pleasant and Royse City, just 3 points behind the Bulldogs. The Lady Cats were led by senior Sydney Washburn who finished third overall while running her best time on the Mount Pleasant course. Freshman Laney Hurst was fourth in the race and ran a personal best. Junior Maurie Flecker also finished in the top ten. Next for the Lady Cats was freshman Mattie Bridges, then junior Kenia Herrera, freshman Makayla Jimmerson and senior Ashley Noe. The Lady Cats JV won district. For the Wildcats, they were led by senior Christian Palomino who finished eighth in the race. Sophomore Jose Mejia was tenth. Camden Fuller was thirteenth overall. All three earned top fifteen medals. Sophomore Evan Patrick was just out of the medals at sixteenth although an official gave him a medal and then took it away. Sulphur Springs Coach Ross Hicks said that would inspire Patrick to earn a medal next year. All four top Wildcats ran personal best times. Next for the Wildcats were sophomore Alex Flecker, senior Chase Berry and senior Ricardo Torres. The Wildcats JV also won district. The Wildcats and Lady Cats will compete at the Regional Meet on October 28 at the Jesse Owens Sports Complex in Dallas.
