Kyle Man Jailed On Felony DWI Charge Following Crash
A 57-year-old Kyle, Texas man was arrested on a felony driving while intoxicated charge after allegedly driving his pickup in the ditch Monday evening.
Emergency dispatchers were first alerted at 6:18 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, of a possible vehicle crash on State Highway 11 east. The caller reportedly heard a loud engine revving and stepped out of the garage to check it out. The resident reported seeing a truck in the ditch. The resident reported riding an ATV toward the road to see if the vehicle had damaged their fence, according to sheriff’s and arrest reports.
While talking with the driver of the Dodge Ram 1500, deputies alleged he claimed he was trying to go home to Quitman after grocery shopping in Sulphur Springs. When asked to perform standard field sobriety tests so the officer could be sure he was OK to drive, the man allegedly admitted he’d consumed some alcoholic beverages earlier in the day.
The Kyle man allegedly refused to perform standard field sobriety tests. He also refused to provide either a breath or blood sample for testing, so deputies obtained a warrant requiring a blood draw; the sample was taken at the hospital and the man was jailed, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies Drew Fisher and Lance Burdick alleged in arrest reports.
Thomas Gary Falcon remained in the county jail Tuesday morning, Oct. 22, on the DWI, third or more offense, charge. Bond was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
Beth Wisenbaker and Committee of SSHS Class of 1969 Plans 50th Reunion Celebration on October 26
Beth Brady and 156 other Seniors graduated in May 1969 from Sulphur Springs High School, located back then on the site of today’s Sulphur Springs Elementary School and formerly Sulphur Springs Middle School. Plans for the 2019 reunion set for Saturday October 26 are twofold. There is a gathering for stew at 11am on the Hopkins County Stew Contest grounds under the Class of 1969 tent, set up across from Central Baptist Church and near the Skateboard Park area. There will also be a casual dinner at Whimsey, 300 Connally Street, at 6pm that same evening. Reservations for the dinner can still be made, but Beth wants everyone to know that if you were a high school student back then and were friends of someone in Class of 1969, you are also invited to stop by and share some memories. Your presence will make the 50th Class Reunion all the more special! If you’d like to contact Beth to reserve seats, call 903-348-1614, or email her at [email protected].
Beth visited the KSST Good Morning Show with Enola Gay on October 22, 2019 to share Reunion plans with listeners. She gave a nod to committee members Sheila Jacobs Moore, Pam White, Linda Potts, Susan Payne, Diane Davis Collins, Vicky Minty and Linda Charles Blount for helping plan the event. “We hope class members who attend the Reunion will bring their old annual or Cat’s Paw class yearbooks, because they are so much fun to look at. And getting them signed by friends at the 50th Reunion would make them even more special! Wear your class ring, if you still have it. And wear your letter jacket, or if it no longer fits, just bring it along with other memorabilia that was part of the fun of going to school here”.
Enola asked Beth about some of her best high school memories. She reminisced, “my car in high school was a 1964 Comet station wagon with a standard shift. It did have air conditioning, which was rare then! One girl drove an Edsel. Nobody had a Mustang that I remember, they were so new! Mostly, we were glad to have anything with wheels! Some of the teachers I remember were Wayne Galyean who taught English and then became an administrator; also Durann Ardis and Rex Wileman were teachers then and are still active in the community. I’m sure I’m leaving someone out! Journalism was taught by Blanche Lewis, who has passed away. She influenced me a lot, as I was on the Cat’s Tale newspaper staff. I was in band and wanted to try out for Drum Major but I was already involved in lots of other clubs and organizations. I told Band Director Mr. Wileman that I was willing to pare down some of my other involvements in case he was interested in me for Drum Major, so that he would know I would do a good job and be devoted. His reply to me was one I’ve always remembered. He said, ‘No, don’t get out of anything. It’s always the really involved people who can seem to find time to give for new things which interest them’. So I tried out for Drum Major and got it. We Seniors on the line could go to Kilgore Rangerettes summer camp and try-outs, and so I did. It was a 2-week camp and the first time I’d been away from home. One day I called Mom and said I was ready to come home. Even though she advised me to stay for the tryouts at least, I didn’t stay. I already knew I was going to marry Donnie Wisenbaker and spend my life with him. And that’s what I did. We got engaged that summer. I had met Donnie at Quitman Lake when I was a Freshman and he was a Senior at SSHS. The first time I saw him, he was driving a ski boat with his feet! That, and his good looks caught my attention. And we’ve had fun ever since”.
During high school, Beth was a member of National Honor Society, Future Teachers of America, Science Club and Homecoming Court, and in the KSST Radio Workshop program. Following some years as a Western Outfitters retail merchant, she was elected as Hopkins County Commissioner Precinct One and served in that office for twenty years, a role that was a “first” for a woman in Hopkins County. Today, she stays busy with United Way and other interests in serving the County.
Wildcats Football Second Half Woes Subject For Coach Owens on Saturday Morning Coach’s Show
An unusual thing is happening to the Wildcats this season. In several games, they go into halftime still very much in a game only to see things unravel in the second half. In started in game one versus Frisco Wakeland. A 17-17 halftime score ends up Wakeland 53, Wildcats 17. On Friday (October 18), the Wildcats trailed Corsicana on the road by only 21-14 at the half. The Tigers outscore the Wildcats 20-0 in the second half. Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens says the situation has been a frustration all season. The second half last Friday started with what appeared to be another successful onside kick. A Wildcats offside penalty negated the play. Later the Wildcats found themselves with a first and goal on the Corsicana one yard line trailing 27-14 when they were hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that cost them 15 yards. They can not overcome it. Coach Owens says the Wildcats can’t overcome themselves. He says the game was so low on energy at times it felt like a scrimmage. He says it was as if the Wildcats did not want to be there. Coach Owens says Coach Hal Wasson of Corsicana suggested after the game that the Wildcats might be snake bit. Coach Owens says he is beginning to think so. He adds the Wildcats offense did not put points on the board and the Wildcats defense did not tackle well at all. Having said all of that, Coach Owens had this positive bit. The Wildcats have three district games to play. If they can win all three, they are very likely to make the playoffs with a 4-4 district record. Coach Owens figures the Wildcats will end up battling Greenville and North Forney for the last playoff spot. Running the table would mean victories over the Lions and Falcons. Therefore they would need 5 wins to top us. Greenville currently has 3 wins and North Forney 2 with 3 games left each. Coach Owens makes the case his Wildcats and their final three opponents are evenly matched. Big match up number one is Friday as Greenville comes to Gerald Prim Stadium. Coach Owens thinks highly of Royse City so he says he was shocked that Greenville only lost to the Bulldogs, 17-14 last Friday at Greenville. He says both teams will be fighting for a playoff spot Friday. The games between the two schools have been very spirited to say the least. Who can forget several years ago in Greenville when the two teams did not take part in the handshake line after a last second Wildcats win. Friday will be probably the last chance for the Wildcats to start a winning streak. As Coach Owens notes, if the Wildcats lose Friday they are done for the playoffs.
Lady Cats Volleyball Team Struggled on the Road Again Last Friday at Lindale
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Bailey Dorner acknowledges that her team has struggled on the road during district play. She says it has been especially obvious on Fridays. The trend continued last Friday (October 18) as the Lady Cats lost at Lindale, 3-0 by the score of 25-19, 25-19 and 25-15. Coach Dorner says her team just did not show up adding they struggled all the way around, couldn’t get things going and couldn’t get ahead. She concluded it was was not a great night for the Lady Cats. On the positive side, Coach Dorner says Brooklyn Burnside had a team season high three blocks. She says there were some good hustle plays from the back row and Czhela Moya had a pair of service aces. The Lady Cats have a rematch with Greenville Tuesday night at the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School. The Lady Cats lost to Greenville 3-1 at Greenville on a Friday on October 4. Coach Dorner says the Lady Cats are resilient and she hopes they will bounce back. She says if the Lady Cats play their best, they will give Greenville a run for their money. Greenville is tied for first place with Lindale with a 6-1 district mark. They are 24-13 for the season. The Lady Cats are 3-4 in district place and in fourth place. Their season mark is 21-15.
11 Texas Wineries Featured At Main Street Uncorked
Downtown remained busy Saturday with patrons visiting Main Street Uncorked, a wine tasting event in which allowed participants to sample the flavors available from nearly a dozen different Texas wineries and shop or eat downtown.
Music from live band played and many congregated at tables placed near the stage, for people to relax in the pleasantly cooler fall temperatures. Booths offered treats, candles, clothing, honey and other items as well. A few even enjoyed a stroll with family, friends and even a few four-legged pals.
A $15 charge was asked to sample the wines between 1 and 8 p.m. Oct. 19, and to vote by 6 p.m. for their favorite. The fee provided a souvenir glass and bag, while raising funds for a C.A.R.E. Center.
The Community Ability Recreation Energy Center will be a facility dedicated to providing innovative, inclusive programs and community partnerships to serve individuals with any level of disability across the spectrum of human needs.
Wildcat Band Has Nice Warm Up Contest Saturday For Upcoming Area Contest
The Wildcat Band warmed up for the big Area UIL Contest coming up this Saturday with a fine showing this past Saturday (October 19) at the Texas A&M-Commerce NETEX Marching Invitational. Wildcat Band Director Spencer Emmert said the event featured much stronger competition this year as 6A bands were invited. He said that is a positive thing for his band. Emmert said out of 20-25 bands, the Wildcats’ made it into the top ten to qualify for the finals. Emmert was also thrilled that the Wildcat Band received the first ever Lion Heart Award for Sportsmanship and Character. He called it a great testament to his band. For the finals, Emmert said he told the band they were going to have to step up. He said all the other finals’ bands would. The Wildcat Band finished 7th and Emmert said he was happy with that. He said all the bands ahead of the Wildcats were powerhouses of state contest caliber. Emmert said the band received good comments from judges that would be worked on before Saturday’s Area UIL event at Mesquite Memorial Stadium. For all the bands that qualified for Area, one of every five will earn a trip to state.
Investigation, 4 Arrests Expected to Clear Over A Dozen Burglary, Theft Cases
Sulphur Springs police anticipate clearing more than a dozen rimes reported over the last 6 weeks by the end of the week, and filing additional charges against four teens taken into custody in the last four days.
The investigation came to a head with the arrest of 17-year-old Chanin Arwon Holiness Thursday; and Jumierquai Davison, Clarence Ofield III and Kelley Waterhouse Jr. early Sunday morning, according to Sulphur Springs Police Sgt. Detective Brian Shurtleff.
Police got their first big break in these cases after obtaining surveillance footage from a vehicle burglary and posted it on their social media site. Through continued investigation and interviews with informants, the officers were able to identify suspect vehicles. They continued working leads, which lead to Holiness being taken into custody at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at Sulphur Springs Alternative School on an unauthorized use of motor vehicle warrant, the police investigator reports.
Police continued working leads. After a brief vehicle pursuit, then foot pursuit, patrol officers took Davison, Ofield and Waterhouse into custody just before 1 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 20.
During interviews, the trio confessed to involvement in other offenses, Shurtleff alleged Monday. Police anticipate filing additional charges naming the four in various offenses they admitted to or that police otherwise received information they were involved in, according to the police detective.
Overall, police anticipate clearing at least 10 vehicle burglaries, three vehicle thefts and the burglary of a convenience store in the 200 block of College Street, where a fire extinguisher was thrown through the door and tobacco products were stolen.
Two of the teens, Shurtleff said, were implicated in most of these cases. He anticipates more cases being closed and sent to the district attorney’s office for further action by the end of the week.
Shurtleff said in addition to clearing numerous cases the investigation has also resulted in recovery of many of the items reported stolen, including a couple of different guns and the three stolen vehicles. While man items have been accounted for, there are still some items that have.
In most of these vehicle burglary and theft cases, vehicles were left unlocked, providing easy access to personal belongings and in some case keys in the vehicles.
This marks at least the second time this year that Davison, Waterhouse and Ofield have been arrested in connection to a rash of vehicle burglaries and a vehicle theft. They were among five youth charged in April in connection with the cases. They allegedly took items from unlocked vehicles the weekend of April 13-14, police said following their arrests in April.
Shurtleff said the cases should serve as reminders to drivers to lock their vehicles when they go inside, and to not leave valuables in vehicles, including keys.
Meal a Day Inside the Seniors Center Is Supported by Volunteers, Donations
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is in the spotlight right now, as Early Voting has begun for a Bond Election which would allow for the construction of a new, larger Senior Citizens Center on property already owned by the City. The Meal-a Day operation is also a major part of the daily usage of the Seniors Center. Here is some information about the Meal-a-Day program.
According to Karon Weatherman, Director of the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, the Meal A Day Program has been operating there since 1981. Staff for cooks, clean-up crew and delivery drivers is provided entirely by volunteers, which rotates weekdays. Every week, at least 60 volunteers are on hand at the Center from 7 am until around 12 noon as cooks, preparation, clean-up and delivery drivers. Some volunteers serve 3 days per week, and some 2 days per week. Meals for over 3,000 persons are prepared every month, or an average of 164 meals delivered per day, and around 30 walk-outs per day, or meals picked up by seniors at the Center. Meals cost $2 each. Karon and her office volunteer staff cares for the ordering and stocking of foods and supplies, as well as decorating and setting up seating for the various meetings and events held at the Seniors Center outside of Meal a Day hours. “We’re busting at the seams now. We really need more pantry and storage room. And with the small public space we currently have, we can only hold one event at a time. It would be great to have separate space for those who come for exercise, for crafts or for educational programs as well as for lunch”.
Recently, the Meal a Day program was in jeopardy of having to close on Wednesdays and Thursdays due to lack of kitchen volunteers. After a plea for help went out, volunteers came forward which will keep the Meal-a-Day operating “for now” according to Karon. “It’s always true that our volunteer list needs to include more alternates and substitutes, as back-up for the regular volunteers. This is an area where you could be added to the list to “fill in” when needed, such as when a regular volunteer takes a vacation week or needs to be out for personal reasons. And as our regulars can tell you, the volunteers are blessed way more than the shut-ins who receive the meals are. The cooks prepare attractive, nutritious and delicious meals, but cooks dont always see the effect on the people at the homes we deliver to. But the drivers do! Getting these meals helps shut-ins stay independent longer, and they are appreciative for that. Plus, a brief but caring visit and a friendly smile from our drivers when they bring the meal to the door and place it in their hands really brightens the day for many shut-ins we serve. Some days, we are the only real person they may see.”
Karon is thrilled about the prospect for a new Seniors Center. She had started a Building Fund on her own last year that is still being added to. As of today, the Building Fund total is $82,810.71, gathered from individuals and organizations in the community who want to help make a new Center a reality. If the Bond passed, this fund will be used for seating and furnishings. Donations continue to come in, like the most recent of $300 from the Junior Waverly Club.
An election is underway now for Hopkins County voters to show their support for construction on land that already belongs to the city, at no cost to voters. Likewise, voters can show support for needed improvements to Pacific Park, at no cost to voters. According to a staunch supporter of economic development in Hopkins County, the industries and companies attracted to our county through economic development are governed by people who seek a strong and positive community as a home for their business. They also seek a city which would make a well-rounded home for their administrators and employees, and that means looking at schools, churches, city and county government, and a low crime rate, as well as parks and care facilities for their families, which today are often multi-generational.
