Sulphur Springs Man Jailed On 2nd Controlled Substance Charge In Less Than A Week
August 1, 2019 – A suspicious person complaint Wednesday morning lead police to a Sulphur Springs man who allegedly had methamphetamine and pills in his pockets, marking the second time the man has been arrested on a controlled substance charge in less than a week.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Adrian Pruitt reported finding what appeared to be a man sleeping in a red Audi upon arrival at 7:10 a.m. in the 1200 block of South Hillcrest Drive, where a suspicious person had been reported. Pruitt woke the man up and, while talking to him, patted him down; a crystal-like substance the officer believed to be methamphetamine was found in a piece of a Latex glove and several pills were found in a plastic bag in his pockets.
Consequently, 32-year-old Sean Lee Cain was arrested for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and taken to jail; the car was impounded and towed from the location. Cain remained in the county jail Thursday morning on the charge.
Wednesday marks the second time Cain has been booked into the county jail in the last week. He was first arrested on Friday, July 26, for unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance. He was released from jail on $2,000 each for both charges on July 27.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Cumby ISD Back to School Activities Include Back 2 School Bash, Meet The Trojans & Teachers, New Student Registration
Cumby ISD administrators and trustees have been working hard this summer in readiness for the new school year. Below are a few of the upcoming activities students and parents will want to put on their calendars too.
First Day of School
New teachers will start reporting on Aug. 7, with all staff returning from Aug. 8-9 and Aug. 12-14 for development days.
Students will report for their first day of classes on Thursday, Aug. 15. Elementary students will begin classes at 7:55 a.m. and high school students at 8:05 a.m. starting Aug. 15. Dismissal will be at 3:30 p.m. for elementary and 3:40 p.m. for high school students, daily.
New Student Registration
Registration for any new student who will be attending Cumby ISD next year but has yet to register is currently ongoing in the school office, or at the annual Back to School Bash (see below). Parents may visit the school office during normal school hours Monday-Friday, Aug. 5 until school starts. The district is accepting transfer students from 3-year-old pre-kindergarten students through 12th graders.
The following items should be bought to registration to complete the enrollment process:
- Proof of district residency, such as a utility bill or tax statement with the family name and physical address printed the document
- Up-to-date immunization records
- Birth certificate
- Social Security card
- Any school records available from the child’s previous school if a transfer student are also helpful (the district will also request official documents from the previous district as needed).
Back to School Bash
The annual Cumby Back to School Bash will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 10, at Cumby City Park, and will feature various activities for CISD families and community to participate in. New to the district students can also register for classes at the designated school table. Community organizations, including local churches will be involved.
Hot dogs, chips, cookies and drinks will be provided for CISD students and their families. Healthy snacks will also be offered. Kona ice will be on site as well.
A Pack the Bus event will be hosted. Community members who are able are asked to bring school supplies to donate to help out less fortunate students.
A health fair will include free hair cuts; and free dental, vision and other health screenings. Bring shot records to get immunizations. Information to help economically disadvantaged families with services such as the food pantry will be available.
Carter Blood Care is also partnering with the City of Cumby to host a blood drive from 9 to noon on the Carter BloodCare bus. Contact Renee Seely at 903-456-3171 for more information. Community members are encouraged to “#GiveForLife and get a patriotic shirt that shows you care for your neighborhood and your nation.”
There will be bike raffle and other goodies given out at the back to school event. Booths will feature face painting, photo booth and games. Information about P31 can also be obtained at the Back 2 School Bash.
Meet the Trojans & Teachers Night
Community members are invited to Cumby school gym at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, for Meet the Trojan Night, a time when students participating in this year’s sporting and related activities will be introduced. Afterward, students and parents will be invited to adjourn to the school to meet each child’s teacher. School supplies may be dropped off as designated for the students at that time. School supply lists are available on the Cumby ISD website and Facebook page.
Dual Credit Enrollment Reminders
Incoming high school students who are or plan to enroll in dual credit classes for the fall, need to check with Paris Junior College to ensure that they are registered! Students should have received a tuition statement in their MyPJC account. Tuition must be paid or arrangements made through PJC by Aug. 8 or the class will be dropped. Students must clear any balances from prior semesters in order to registered for the fall semester.
If the students has not passed the TSI section required for admission into the course, the student needs to do so as well. Stop by the high school for testing. Direct questions to Mrs. Megan Petty at [email protected].
Tira News For July 31, 2019
By Jan Vaughn
Recently, Debra Wood and her sister, Barbara Cockrum, returned from a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. They met Barbara’s daughter, Stephanie; son-in-law John; and grandson Brock at their timeshare in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where they toured the mountain and picnicked near a beautiful river in the mountain range. They also visited Pigeon Forge, with all the shops.
On Tuesday, they attended the Pirates Voyage dinner theater, where they were served a delicious meal and were entertained by diving Pirates and live animals.
While John and Brock played golf in the nearby mountains on Wednesday, the girls enjoyed a day of shopping at various Christmas stores and the nearby outlet mall.
On Thursday night, the group went to the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud, where they enjoyed the show and a “delicious meal of fried chicken, pulled pork and all the fixins.” The “Hatfields & McCoys” entertained the audience with singing and clogging.
This was Debra’s first visit to the Great Smoky Mountains and she is ready to go back. The rest of the group had been there several times and enjoyed the mountains once again. It was a great trip for Debra to end her summer vacation, as she begins her 30th year in education and her 24th year at North Hopkins.
Joyce Dodd reports that the “angels” donated five bags of groceries for the Tira Food Pantry. She added that a $25 contribution was received for the cause. We are always grateful for help with the pantry needs.
Our great-grandchildren, Dixie, Rylan, Brailon and Slaiden visited with us on Friday evening. Dixie was returning to her home in Sour Lake on Saturday, after spending three weeks with Landon, Laiken, and the boys.
Chip went to the car show in Sulphur Springs on Saturday morning. That evening Jim and Sandra Vaughn, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, came by for a visit. On Sunday, Chip’s mother and sister, Grace and Linda Ellen Vaughn, joined us for lunch.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Sulphur Springs Man Jailed For 2nd Time In A Week
George Edward Stribling’s arrest by police on a parole warrant Tuesday afternoon marked the second time the 55-year-old Sulphur Springs man has been booked into Hopkins County jail this week.
Stribling was first arrested on July 26 for possession of drug paraphernalia. He spent the night in the county jail and was released Saturday on the charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Sean Hoffman was reportedly contacted Tuesday to help serve Stribling with the warrant. Hoffman located Stribling at his Moore Street residence and took him into custody at 3:19 p.m. July 30, on the violation of parole warrant, according to arrest reports. Stribling remained in the county jail Wednesday, July 31, on the charge, according to jail reports.
Cumby ISD School Board, Facilities Committee Hosting Aug. 8 Community Meeting
Cumby Independent School District have been looking at way to fund facilities improvements. One option being considered is a bond election, which would provide funding for additional renovations to better address safety and security at the elementary campus, specifically moving classrooms out of the portable buildings.
Cumby ISD trustees are considering calling for a bond election to update facilities, but would still like additional community input regarding the matter. Thus, the CISD school board and Facilities Committee are hosting a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, in the high school library to discuss the possible bond election. Community members are asked to voice their input and concerns for facilities improvements and a potential bond election, and help prioritize needs during this meeting.
“Nothing is final. This will be a community-wide meeting. We invite everyone to attend, ask questions and discuss fundamentals,” said Cumby ISD Superintendent Shelly Slaughter.
In order to get a bond election on the Nov. 5 election ballot, the official order calling for an election would have to be approved by Aug. 19. The school board likely will be asked to consider calling for a bond election at their next meeting on Aug. 15.
Filing for the fall school board election continues through Aug. 19. Applications are currently available and can be returned from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday through, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 19 in Cumby ISD Central Administration Builiding, 303 Sayle St. in Cumby.
All three seats to be determined in the election are full three-year seats on the school board. Currently, Jason Hudson, Tony Aguilar and Jody Jarvis are serving in those positions.
Season Ticket Holders Seek Upgrades on Wednesday of Season Ticket Week
Some people were lined up outside Sulphur Springs High School Wednesday morning waiting for season ticket sales to resume at 8:15 a.m. The first person in line arrived at 4 a.m. Wednesday during season ticket week is always a very big day as season ticket holders who have renewed their tickets Monday or Tuesday may seek upgrades. They had some tickets to choose from. Lynette King with the season ticket sales team said 90% of season tickets were renewed Monday and Tuesday. That left 10% for those seeking upgrades. Ms. King said those showing up Wednesday morning mostly got tickets that they wanted. She added there were still some good tickets left when I talked to her around 11 a.m. Wednesday. She said there were still some chair back seats in Section C and a few in Sections D and E. Tickets are still available in rail back seats in Section B. Chair back seats are $50 for the five-game package and the rail back seats are $40. Tickets left after Wednesday will go on sale for the general public Thursday and Friday. Season ticket sales are taking place at the high school Media Center or Library Wednesday until 5:30 p.m., Thursday from 8:15 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m. until noon.
Community’s Friendliness, EDC Cited As Factors In Attracting My Perfect Pet Owner To Sulphur Springs
A gathering of about three dozen local officials, business representatives and community members joined Karen Neola at 49 Pioneer Parkway Monday morning to welcome her to Sulphur Springs and officially break ground on the site where she is expected in less than a year to begin production of her gourmet pet food products for pets.
Neola started My Perfect Pet after two of her dogs became severely ill 12 1/2 years ago, then lost Hunter. This was followed 2 months later by one of the largest pet food recalls in history.
The California business woman said she didn’t set out intending to start a business. She didn’t trust packaged pet food anymore, and wanted to make sure her babies were safe by controlling her pets food, by making it herself.
She said she decided if she was going to make it, it’d have to be perfect, like her pets, hence the company name My Perfect Pet. She began doing research to make sure pets dietary needs, appetites and pallets are met. In fact, she says she is still very dedicated to educating people about the various needs of their pets so that their diet is safe and healthy.
Only meat approved safe for human consumption will do for her pets and the My Perfect Pet production, Neola said. Meat is cooked at the minimum FDA prescribed temperature for food safety. The vegetables are added raw and whole for added nutritional value, and no preservatives are added. The food is frozen into bars, shipped frozen and distributed for retail sale.
The process started in Neola’s own kitchen and grew into first a nonprofit, then transitioned into a business offering 10 different blends for dogs (including low glycemic and low phosphorus blends) and three blends for cats. Due to the costs of shipping frozen products across the country, Neola began looking for a more centralized location.
She admitted Sulphur Springs was one of several places she was considering. However, the Sulphur Springs location was chosen not only because of it’s more centralized position in Northeast Texas, but for a few other reasons as well.
Neola said the attentiveness of the Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation staff and board over the last 2 years as she’s been considering her options made a big impact. They not only were always ready to answer any question she had, but often followed up on visits and questions, remaining in regular contact with her.
She complimented Mike Minton and the folks at Midwest Regional Bank, who are helping provide the financing that make the Sulphur Springs My Perfect Pet location possible.
Neola too complimented the community, which has been very welcoming. She said she’d returned on more than one occasion, without alerting the EDC of her presence, to look around and meet people to get a true feel for the community. She complimented Sulphur Springs on being “so welcoming” to a Southern California visitor, noting what a “friendly community” it is, one she feels she and her four-legged “child” Sweetheart would feel comfortable calling home.
During her visits, Neola even met a few other business people from California who will be My Perfect Pet neighbor’s in the industrial park, and made a fast friend of another Southern California native who now calls Sulphur Springs home.
Adding to the welcoming at Wednesday’s groundbreaking were congratulations sent from three state elected officials to welcome her to Texas. Many in attendance wore blue t-shirts with the My Perfect Pet logo to show support for the business.
The EDC worked with Neola for about 2 years before Neola committed to growing her business in Sulphur Springs. The operation in California contains a maximum of 15 employees; the Sulphur Springs production is geared toward reaching that goal at least as well.
Once all of the necessary permits have been attained, construction will begin on the nearly 20,000 square foot building, which will include insulated concrete that won’t crack in the cool temperatures needed for freezers to store the gourmet pet food once it’s ready. The construction process is expected to take 7-9 months, which would put the start of production expected in spring 2020.
Currently, the closest retail outlets that offer My Perfect Pet products are in the Dallas area. However, orders for the gourmet pet food can be placed online at www.myperfectpetfood.com, and once the business is up and running, Neola says she hopes to be able to make it available in area retail outlets as well.
However, Neola says local resident can test the product for their pets by stopping at the EDC building on Industrial Drive in Sulphur Springs. Neola has provided some samples of the gourmet dog food products, which are being stored in a freezer at the EDC. Those whose pups like the food can purchase it at a special price while supplies last. She said she hopes to have some cat food samples available at the EDC in the future there as well.
Dixie World Series Game for Saturday August 2nd, 2019
Three age divisions of Dixie Softball, inc will have World Series playoffs at Coleman Park in Sulphur Springs, TX. Round 1 games involving our own Hopkins County Ballplayers are listed below.
Dixie Ponytails X-Play
HOPKINS COUNTY (HOST)
Team E
GAME 3
6:00 pm, Field 1
Team F
LOUISIANA
Dixie Debs
HOPKINS COUNTY (HOST)
Team A
GAME 1
9:00 am, Field 5
Team B
TEXAS
Dixie Angels X-Play
HOPKINS COUNTY (HOST)
Team I
GAME 5
To be announced.
Team J
NORTH CAROLINA
Fort Worth Woman Accused Of Having Forged Social Security, Texas ID Cards
A 25-year-old Fort Worth woman is accused of having forged Social Security and Texas ID cards when stopped by a deputy in Cumby early Tuesday morning. Both documents allegedly had her name on them, and the ID card had her address and date of birth too. However, the number on the Social Security card was fake and the number on the ID card was that of a person who died, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
The woman, identified in arrest reports as Maria Cristina Lopez-Castillo, was a passenger in a Cadillac coupe stopped by Chaney at 1:55 a.m. July 30 on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 112 for a traffic violation. When he approached the vehicle, Chaney reported smelling a marijuana odor in the car and saw suspected marijuana on the top of her legs.
The deputy had both occupants get out of the vehicle and conducted a probable cause search. Chaney reported finding a resealable cigar wrapper with a small amount of marijuana in it; a forged Social Security card with the woman’s name and a fake number in the console; and the Texas ID card with her name, date of birth and address on it in the driver’s side front pocket. A records check using the number on the ID card showed it belonged to a deceased person, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
The woman, identified as Lopez-Castillo was arrested for fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. The driver was issued a citation for the traffic violation and released, according to arrest reports.
Lopez-Castillo was released from Hopkins County jail Wednesday, July 31; her bond was set at $10,000 on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
