Man’s Repeated Calls To Dairy Queen Result In Arrest
A 61-year-old Sulphur Springs man ended up in jail Wednesday for telephone harassment, after he refused to stop calling Dairy Queen, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs police contacted him at his residence Wednesday afternoon, after receiving complaints that he was constantly calling Dairy Queen from his phone. The officer alleged when he asked him to stop calling the business, the man refused.
When he left the residence, the officer went to Dairy Queen. The man was reportedly still calling the business. The officer alleged when he answered the phone and the man identified himself. The officer had the call on speaker and used his body camera to record while speaking with the man on the phone, according to arrest reports..
Police then returned to the man’s residence and took him into custody for telephone harassment, the officer alleged in arrest reports.
The 61-year-old remained in the county jail on the harassment charge Thursday morning, Oct. 3. Bond was set at $1,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
Follow the SSISD Wildcat Marching Band
Please make plans to follow the SSISD Wildcat Band to the UIL State Marching Band Contest in San Antonio. Let’s cheer them on!!!
- Contest Dates:
- Oct 5 – Mesquite; Performance: 4:30
- Oct 12 – Royce City; Performance: 2:45
- Oct 15 UIL Region – Mt. Pleasant Performance: 4:15
- Oct 19 – Commerce; Performance: TBA
- Oct 26 UIL Area – Mesquite; if they qualify
The State Marching Band Contest will be held at the Alamodome in San Antonio November 4, 5, & 6 2019.
Pickton School Alumni Reunion Set for October 19 at Pickton Community Center
Paula Altenbaumer grew up near the Pine Forest community and went to school at the old Pickton School, located in southeastern Hopkins County. Paula and other alumni of the Pickton School plan a School Reunion on Saturday October 19, 2019 starting at 10 am inside the Pickton Community Center. A covered dish or pot luck lunch is to be spread at 12 noon. There will be plenty of time to renew friendships, and all former students and school personnel are invited.
Paula attended first through eighth grades at the Pickton School. During her early years, the school held all the students, grades 1-12. In 1965, Paul began school at Como-Pickton High School as a freshman, because consolidation of the two high schools had been decided during the summer of 1965 before the opening day of school. The lower grades remained at the Pickton School until 1974 when the school finally closed down. So, Paula graduated from Como-Pickton High School in 1969, and also will share with the Pickton Class of 1969 when it is honored at the Reunion. Many will be honored similarly who started out as Pickton Hornets and later became Como-Pickton Eagles during their High School years. Additionally, the Reunion will honor members of the classes of 1949 and 1959.
Paula especially remembers teacher Pauline Haydon who put in more than 30 years at the school, and her husband Mr. Haydon who was a bus driver. Sharing of memories of the old school days will be a highlight of the Reunion. Realizing that there are many others like herself who have not forgotten their original school, classmates and teachers, Paula hopes they will come and enjoy the Reunion and find out ways in which they might lend support to the preservation of it’s memories. All that remains on the school grounds is the cafetorium which now serves as the Pickton Community Center. Originally, the Pickton School had no cafeteria and students brought their lunches from home. The original school was built as a WPA project years prior to the cafetorium,, and is no longer standing on the site.
One of Paula’s hobbies is portraying colorful Hopkins County women of history. She sends out a special invitation to anyone who enjoys local history and tradition for the Indian Summer Day in Heritage Park this Saturday October 5, 2019. Maintained by the Hopkins County Historical Society, Heritage Park and Museum will welcome visitors from 8 am til 2 pm. They can tour the many restored buildings, see demonstrations of primitive skills like Dutch Oven cooking and blacksmithing, and take part in interesting activities for children and all ages. A plate of Dutch-Oven lunch will be $5, serving as a fundraiser for the Park. Banjo music will be supplied by Bob Haydon, and dulcimer music will also be going on through the day. Displays will include quilts, leather goods, Indian artifacts and a train depot. Look for Paula dressed as one of Hopkins County’s pioneer women! Cost to enter Heritage Park and Museum at 468 Jackson Street during Indian Summer Day is only $3, with children under age 6 free. If you share an interest in history or primitive skills and traditions, contact Hopkins County Historical Society President Rick Wilson at 903-335-2752.
Flags to Half Staff Sunday October 6th, 2019
On Sunday, October 6, 2019, in accordance with Public Law 107-51, the flags of the United States will be flown at half-staff at all Federal office buildings in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.
In observance of this day the Hopkins County Marine Corps League will lower all flags to Half Staff at the Veterans Memorial and around the community @0800 hrs (8AM) . The flags will be returned to full staff @1700 hrs (5PM) the same day.
Semper Fidelis.
Derb Goodman
And the Hopkins County Marine Corps League
Salute to the Battling Boys of Benghazi
Chamber Connection for Oct. 3, 2019
By Lezley Brown, CEO/president, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
The deadline for entry into the World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest is Friday, October 4th at 5 p.m. All cooks signed up for the 50th Annual Stew Cook-off will need to pick up their stew goody bags on Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce (110 Main Street). Cooks will receive their grocery reimbursement from the Chamber, their goody bags, and a list of rules and regulations for the Stew Cook-off. First time cooks will have a brief orientation meeting at the Chamber at 6 p.m. that day as well. Please make plans to be there! T-shirts will be available for purchase that night. Call the Chamber for additional information at (903) 885-6515.
I have some more very exciting news! The Chamber of Commerce is currently selling our 2019 Hopkins County Christmas ornament. This ornament is the second of our series and features our beautiful Buford Park, the 50th Anniversary Stew Contest, and beautiful oak trees under a starry sky. It is dated with the year, made with 24 karat gold, shatterproof, and VERY limited in number. They are quite beautiful and the perfect addition to a rare collection. They are $40 each and literally flying out the door. If you would like to purchase one, please call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515, or come by soon.
The Chamber is excited to announce our vendor call for the Stew Fest Market! The Chamber is currently accepting vendors for the Stew Fest Market, which will be located on the south side of Buford Park during Friday night and Saturday Stew Contest activities. This is a great opportunity to sell goods or to promote your business to 7,000 people who attend the Stew Contest annually. Vendors may rent booth space to sell goods or distribute information about their business. Booths will be assigned on a first-paid basis. Access to electricity is not guaranteed. Generators are permitted. Desserts may be sold, but no other food or drinks may be distributed. Vendors who are interested in purchasing booth space, call the Chamber of Commerce at (903) 885-6515.
Texafied JamFest schedules a ribbon cutting
Texafied JamFest is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, Oct. 3 at noon at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. Come by to learn all about the upcoming Texafied JamFest!
Workforce Solutions will host its annual LEAP Conference on Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting its annual LEAP (Learning Endorsements and Professions) Youth Expo on Friday, Oct. 4. This event is very much like a job fair except that it is geared to educate eighth graders and help guide them as they make their endorsement selections heading into high school. Workforce Solutions is seeking a wide variety of companies and businesses to attend the LEAP Youth Expo to describe your business and expose eighth graders to all career avenues after graduation. Since students now choose their high school endorsements while in eighth grade, the Expo is perfect for them. Over the past two years, they’ve had difficulty getting a veterinarian, doctor, dentist, orthodontist, pilot, author, artist, musician, architect, and sports/personal trainer. Please consider attending this Expo and taking visuals and information to give away. They will be so thankful to have you there! Please call Bart Spivy at (903)794-9490, ext. 513, with any questions.
DBA hosts Worldwide Photo Walk
Our Sulphur Springs DBA is hosting the Worldwide Photo Walk on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. All interested participants should meet at Whimsy, located at 300 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs, that morning. To RSVP, email [email protected].
Dutch Oven Cook-off and Indian Summer Days are scheduled Saturday, Oct. 5
Hopkins County Heritage Park will host Indian Summer Days with the John Chester Dutch Oven Cook-off on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entry fee to the Indian Summer Days is $3.00 per person and includes food and fun for the whole family! While there, you may purchase an all you can eat plate for $5 to the Dutch Oven Cook-off. To enter the Dutch Oven Cook-off, call Rick Wilson at (903) 885-9692.
NETBIO hosts the Cattleman’s Classic Ribeye Roundup
NETBIO hosts the Cattleman’s Classic Ribeye Roundup and Steak Cookoff on Saturday, Oct. 5. Dinner is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and concert will follow featuring country music artist Mike Ryan. You don’t want to miss this!
Danna’s Buffalo Girls’ Flea Market Style/Swap
Join us for a ribbon cutting celebration at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, for Danna and the Buffalo Girls. Danna’s Buffalo Girls’ will be having a flea market style/swap event Oct. 10, 11, 12 and 13 at 20670 State Highway 11 east in Winnsboro. The Highway 11 Treasure Trails, a garage sale stretching from Linden to Sulphur Springs, will be held in conjunction with the Flea Market that same weekend. Visit www.dannasfleamarketstyle.com or call 903-439-7091 for more information.
Eternity Creations is hosting a sweet 16 birthday party
Eternity Creations, located at 301 Gilmer Street, Suite 3, in Sulphur Springs, is hosting their Sweet 16 Birthday Party on Friday, Oct. 11, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by to wish Eternity Creations a happy birthday!
Barbara Bush Primary holds a 5K Fun Run
Barbara Bush Primary in Sulphur Springs is holding a Spooktacular 5K & Fun Run benefiting Barbara Bush PTO on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 5:40 p.m. Registration and packet pickup will begin at 5 p.m., the Fun Run will begin at 5:40 p.m., and the 5K will begin at 6 p.m. For entry information, call Barbara Bush Primary at (903) 439-6170.
Ribbon Cuttings
The Chamber of Commerce celebrated their big day with an open house and ribbon cutting celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at our new location, 110 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. Thank you to everyone who came by to see us. Stop by for a visit at the Chamber anytime!
CasaBlanca the Salon held its ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, Sept. 27, at noon. CasaBlanca is located at 215 A Main Street in Sulphur Springs.
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report For Oct. 1, 2019
Presented to the City Council by City Manager Marc Maxwell on Oct. 1, 2019
SUNSET STREET – This project is nearing completion. The Capital Construction Division is on the last segment of this street. You can see them setting forms for curb & gutter in the photo to the right. I expect them to finish in 3 weeks, as we will still need to tie-in some driveways.
CONNALLY STREET – The contractor, 5W Contracting, has finished about 1/3 of their work on Connally Street. At this rate they should finish in December. The Capital Construction Division will construct the intersections, while 5W will construct the street segments in between. After the street is done, the Capital Construction Division will construct sidewalks on both sides of the street. The sidewalk on the north side of the street is funded by a grant from TxDOT.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – The new aerators are working very well at the wastewater treatment plant. The contractor, Gracon, has refitted half of the old aerator basins with the new diffused-aeration systems. They will refit the remaining basins this month. Afterwards, all that remains is the reconstruction of the road, a few sidewalks and other miscellaneous items. This project will be finished in January. We are already seeing fantastic numbers out of the plant.
CLAIMS – We did not have any liability claims in September, but we did have one workers’ compensation claim for a broken finger. The water treatment plant employee was treated and released to work.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will not give a year-to-date report of revenues and expenditures since this is only the first day of the month, but she will present a variance report for the full year at the next regularly scheduled city council meeting.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
• Repaired Raintree lift station.
• Repaired the chlorine feed at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Repaired the fountain pump at the airport.
• Repaired the plaza fountain.
• Repaired one a/c unit at city hall.
• Received bids for roofs at the airport (storm damage).
• Shredded the easement for the sewer outfall line.
• Placed rip rap at treated sewer discharge in Rock Creek to prevent further washout.
• Treated wastewater to a daily average total suspended solids reading of .45 mg/L.
• Repaired 14 water main ruptures.
• Replaced 27 water meters.
• Unstopped 6 sewer mains.
• Repaired 2 sewer mains.
• Washed 78,000 feet of sewer mains.
• Flushed 36 dead end water mains.
• Treated 156 million gallons of potable water.
Sold 2,395 gallons of AvGas and 7,577 gallons of JetA fuel.
• Checked out 3,215 items from the library plus 807 eBooks.
• Conducted 35 building inspections, 23 electrical inspections, 16 plumbing inspections, 7 mechanical inspections and issued 24 building permits.
• Responded to 198 animal control calls and achieved an adoption rate of 60%.
• Made 5 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
• Responded to 2,698 police calls, made 81 arrests, recorded 85 offences, wrote 494 citations, and responded to 29 accidents in the Patrol Division.
• Responded to 212 fire/rescue calls including 1 structure fire and 6 grass fires.
• Conducted 50 fire inspections and reviewed 50 pre-fire plans.
• Performed preventative maintenance on 68 fire hydrants.
• Treated athletic fields for army worms.
• Prepared soccer fields for the season.
• Hosted a 36-team baseball tournament.
• Made 13 major street repairs following utility repairs.
• Patched 15 potholes.
• Installed signs at Mel Haven cemetery.
• Ordered pipe and parts for Bellview Street.
Drink Provider, Renewal Of Legal Retainer Approved By SSISD Trustees
Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees during a special meeting this week approved a beverage provider contract and renewed membership in a legal retainer program.
Beverage Agreement
Coca-Cola Bottling Company will be the district’s beverage provider. The district-wide contract was up for renewal this year, so bids were sought. Coca-Cola was the only company to submit a bid which is comparable to the contract the district has had with the company for the past 5 years, reported SSISD Business Manager Sherry McGraw
SSISD had the option of contracting with the company for 5 or 7 years. An additional $5,000 upfront from Coca-Cola was cited as the prime advantage of a 7-year contract as opposed to a 5-year contract.
The contract is to start Oct. 1, 2019 and continues through Sept 30, 2026. It can be terminated at any time if the vendor ceases to meet the provisions of the contract and no resolution can be reached, according to McGraw.
Trustees during the Sept. 30 meeting agreed to finalize contract negotiations with Coca-Cola as the district’s beverage provider.
Legal Retainer
Trustees also approved renewing SSISD’s annual membership in Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Russo & Kyle, P.C., retainer program.
The $1,000 per year fee allows school officials to: consult with attorneys over the phone on a day-to-day general and special education matters for no additional fee, reduced rates for legal work, in-services, Walsh Gallegos products such as the web-based Code of Conduct; free subscriptions to the the business’ bi-monthly general education newsletter and monthly special education news letter; and email updates about developments in education law.
SSISD would be required to pay an hourly rate of $230 per hour for associates licensed for less than 1 year, $240 an hour for associates licensed 1-2 years, $295 for associates licensed for more than 2 years, or $315 per hour for shareholders for time spent on research, opinion letters, office visits, board meetings and other general work.
More in-depth work, including document review, contract negotiations, grievances, non-renewal, review of construction documents, litigation, administrative appeals, will be charged at the hourly retainer rates plus expenses.
Without the retainer membership, the per hour fees would be same for associates licensed for two or fewer years, then increases to $315 an hour for associates licensed for more than two years and to $335 an hour for shareholders for any work, including calls, office visits, litigation, research, opinion letters and hearings, according to information provided to the superintendent.
Planning, Goals Assessment
SSISD trustees also participated in a work session which featured a strategic planning presentation by Betty Burks. The school board, superintendent and core administrators too collaborated on district goals during the Sept. 30 meeting.
2 Arrested Tuesday On Hopkins County Warrants
Two men were jailed locally Tuesday on Hopkins County felony.
Elijah Ray Loera, 34, of Caddo Mills was picked up at 1:25 p.m. at Denton County jail and transported by Deputy Melvin Jackson to Hopkins County jail, according to arrest reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail Oct. 2 on the warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for a credit or debit card abuse charge, according to jail reports.
Robert Demond McKenzie, 37, of Winnsboro turned himself in at 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, where he was escorted by Deputy Kevin Lester into the jail, according to arrest reports. McKenzie remained in the county jail Oct. 2 on the parole violation warrant, according to jail reports.
Lindale Squeezes Past Lady Cats Volleyball Team, 3-1 at SSHS Tuesday Night (Updated With Photos)
In a match that seemed closer than the 3-1 score, the Lindale Lady Eagles won a big district game over the Lady Cats Volleyball Team at Sulphur Springs High School Tuesday (October 1) night. The Lady Cats won the first set, 25-22 only to see the Lady Eagles take the next three, 25-16, 31-29 and 25-23. Perhaps the key set was the seesaw third. Each team survived three set points before Lindale finally was able to win back to back points. The Lady Cats has a solid chance to even the match at 2 sets apiece in set four. The Lady Cats led down the stretch, 23-20 before the Lady Eagles took five straight points to wrap up the set and the match. The loss came despite a solid game, perhaps her best as a Lady Cat, by Paris Pickett. Pickett was effective serving and came up with a bunch of digs to keep plays alive. Pickett ended up with 8 digs, a total equaled by Sadie Washburn and Sydney Washburn. Sadie had a team high 20 kills. Sydney had 6 kills and had a pair of service aces. Erika VanBenthem had 5 kills. Brooklyn Burnside and Nylah Lindley had 3 kills apiece. Lindale improves to 2-0 in district play and they are 21-12 for the season. The Lady Cats are 1-1 in district play and 19-12 for the season. The Lady Cats play next at Greenville, 2-0 in district play, Friday at 5 p.m.
Photos provided by Sheri Looney.
