Pesticide Private Applicator License Training
| Pesticide Private Applicator License Training August 14, 2019 |
| A private pesticide applicator is someone who uses or supervises the use of restricted-use or state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides to produce an agricultural commodity on personally owned property, rented property, property owned by his or her employer, property under his or her general control, or the property of another person if applied without compensation, other than the trading of personal services between producers of agricultural commodities. STEPS TO BECOMING A PRIVATE PESTICIDE APPLICATOR Step 1: Attend a Private Pesticide Applicator training session FIRST: Contact your county Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office- Hopkins County at 903-885-3443 for training opportunities. Step 2: Upon completion of the training, a Training Verification form (D-1411) will be provided to the applicant. Applicants should keep the yellow copy for their records. The white copy (original) should be mailed to TDA with the Private Pesticide Applicator license application form( PA-400P). Step 3: The applicant needs to obtain a hard copy of the Private Pesticide Applicator license application form (PA-400P) from TDA. (Website:www.TexasAgriculture.gov or Phone: 1-800-835-5832 or 512-463-7622). Step 4: Submit the completed Private Pesticide Applicator application form, license fee of $100, and the white(original) copy of the Training Verification form to TDA for processing. Step 5: When the license application is accepted, TDA will send the applicant a letter in the mail with their account number. This account number is the number the applicator will use to register and schedule the private applicator exam with PSI Step 6: Applicants can go to PSIexams.com or call 1-800-733-9267 to schedule an exam at one of 22 locations around the state. The private applicator will pay $64 per exam. If the applicant fails the first attempt, there is a 24 hour waiting period to take a repeat exam. PSI will provide a confirmation number and testing location information. Step 7: Upon completion of the exam, the center will provide test results immediately. A passing grade is 70%. Step 8: PSI will send exam scores to TDA daily. If all licensing criteria are met, TDA will issue the license. Important: If an applicant has any questions about licensing or categories, please contact TDA at 1-800-835-5832or 512-463-7622. |
Update: Two Women Stopped In Cumby In Stolen Vehicle
Brittany Rennea White 
Misha Michelle Price
Two women were arrested Tuesday afternoon at the rest stop just off Interstate 30 in Cumby for unauthorized use of the vehicle they were traveling, a Mazda that’d been reported to Oklahoma City authorities as stolen. One of the woman also was found to be wanted in Montgomery County for theft as well. The 6-month-old in the car with them, determined to be the child of one of the women, was placed into the custody of Child Protective Services, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hunt County Officer Kenneth Peters, while working routine patrol on Interstate 30, reportedly got a hit using a license plate reader on the car, designating it as having been stolen. Peters continued to follow the car, alerting Hopkins County officers as the vehicle was nearing that area. The eastbound car stopped at the rest stop in Cumby and parked. Peters and a Cumby police unit approached the car, with Hopkins County sheriff’s officers soon arriving to assist, according to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigator Dennis Findley.
The officers reported there were two females and an infant in the car. The vehicle was confirmed to have been reported by an individual to Oklahoma City authorities as stolen. A weapon was reported to have been in the vehicle when it was stolen. Officials reported finding a small gun in the vehicle at the roadside, according to the investigator.
The driver, identified as 27-year-old Brittany Rennea White, was taken into custody at 4:40 p.m. by Sgt. Kelly Wiser and day shift patrol deputies, while the passenger, identified in arrest reports as 25-year-old Misha Michelle Price of Oklahoma City, was taken into custody by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Brantley. Both women were transported to the jail for further investigation and later charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, according to arrest reports.
HCSO Investigator Dennis Findley transported the infant to the sheriff’s office, where the child was released into the custody of Child Protective Services personnel, who launched their own investigation to determine whether one of the women in the car was in fact the mother of the child as she claimed. The woman was later found to be the mother of the child. CPS took custody of the child, according to sheriff’s officials.
The vehicle was taken to the sheriff’s office by a HCSO investigator, where it was more thoroughly searched by sheriff’s officers. A small amount of a substance believed to be methamphetamine was located in the vehicle. The vehicle’s owner was contacted; it’s being held until the owner can arrive from Oklahoma to claim it.
White also was discovered to be wanted in Montgomery County for theft. The Montgomery County warrant was also added to her charge.
Both White and Price remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning, July 24. Bond was set at $5,000 on the unauthorized use of a vehicle charge, according to jail reports.
No charges had been filed at that time regarding the weapon and controlled substance allegedly found in the vehicle, but the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be filed at a later time, according to investigators.
2019 Wildcat Truck
A Special ‘Thank You’ to Jay Hodge Chevrolet for providing SS Athletics with the 2019 ‘Wildcat Truck’!
‘We are excited to team up with Jay Hodge Chevrolet this year. The Wildcat Truck provides us with transportation to various events, including pulling the football trailer to games. In return we hope to be a positive representation and marketing tool for Jay Hodge Chevrolet.’ – Coach Greg Owens
Sulphur Springs Public Library Last Summer Announcement For the Kids
The end of the 2019 summer reading program is near. We will have a costume contest during our last Story time Tuesday July 30 at 10:00am; kids should dress up as either a mermaid or a Pirate. Mandy Fiock Photography will be here for photos with Ariel for A $5 donation to Shining Star Productions. Photos will be held at 9:30- 10:00 am, (before story time) and again at 10:30- 11 am. Wednesday July 31th will be the LAST DAY to turn in reading logs.
Candidate Filing Now Open For 2 School Board Elections
At least two local school districts will be holding trustees elections this fall. Candidate filing for a place on the school board is now open in Cumby and North Hopkins school districts.
Cumby ISD
Cumby Independent School District will have three places to be determined in the Nov. 5 election. All three are full three-year seats on the board. Currently, Jason Hudson, Tony Aguilar and Jody Jarvis are serving in those positions.
Aguilar is seeking a fourth full-term on the board; he was first appointed in March of 2013, then was elected in 2013 and 2016. Jarvis has been reelected and served consecutively on the board since May of 2013. Hudson was first reelected to Cumby ISD Board of Trustees in May of 2001 and has continued to be reelected and served consecutively since them.
Candidates may file for a place on the ballot for the Cumby ISD Board of Trustees election during regular office hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Thursday, with filing extended from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, the final day of filing. Applications may be picked up in person and returned, either by mail or in person, to Cumby ISD Central Administration Office, 303 Sayle St. in Cumby.
North Hopkins ISD
North Hopkins ISD also will hold a Nov. 5 trustees election for three full three-year term seats on the school board. Currently, Charlie Vaughn and Vicki Ferrell finishing out a full term on the board. Robert McPherson was appointed to fill out the term of Jim Westbrook; that term ends this year and the seat is up for election in November as well.
Candidate filing is open and will continue through Aug. 19 for the NHISD Board of Trustees Election. Candidates may pick up applications at the main school office during business hours through Aug. 19, when closing ends at 5 p.m.
Sulphur Springs Man In Hopkins County Jail For Second Time In A Month
A 20-year-old Sulphur Springs man turned himself in early Tuesday morning on five violation of probation charges, marking the second time he has been in the county jail this month.
Eduardo Austin Delgado Torres surrendered himself at Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center at 12:08 a.m. July 23 and was walked by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Lester into the county jail, according to arrest reports.
Torres was held on five charges of violation of probation, which he was on for two possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance in a drug-free zone, possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a controlled substance, possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana and manufacture or delivery of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3/4 controlled substance, according to arrest and jail reports.
Tuesday marks the second time Torres has been booked into the county jail this month. He was arrested July 4 for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance and possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance.
The July 4 arrest followed an interstate traffic stop by troopers, who reported smelling a marijuana odor coming from Torres’ vehicle when talking to the 20-year-old Sulphur Springs man. Torres allegedly admitted to having a marijuana joint and THC edibles in his vehicle, and later to having Xanax and hydrocodone pills in his sock. All of the items were located, resulting in Torres’ arrest on three controlled substance charges, the trooper alleged in the July 4 arrest report.
Torres was released from the county jail July 5 on $25,000 on the Penalty Group 1 charge, $10,000 on the Penalty Group 2 charge and $2,000 on the Penalty Group 3 charge, according to jail reports.
He remained in the county late Tuesday morning July 23, on the violation of probation charges, according to jail reports.
Shadow Renaissance Festival is July 26-28 at Civic Center
Shadow Renaissance Festival is in its second year of raising funds for Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center. It is the goal of the 2019 RenFest to provide operational funding for the non-profit therapeutic center for a whole year. With the turnout of 3,500 people at the inaugural 2018 Festival, that seems a reachable goal. We talked with Kris Cobb, President of the non-profit and board members Triston Pullen and Kim Cobb during the KSST Good Morning Show.
“Even though we’re a new Festival, we’ve got a ton of support in place for this to be a very successful event. There will be a full schedule of activities all three days, with several things going on at all times both inside and outside the Hopkins County Civic Center. All ages will enjoy this, and many will never have experienced a Renaissance Festival before, so we want them to get the full flavor. Come dressed in costume if you like, we encourage it! The kids will have a ton of fun and there’s things to interest everyone, from great food to Knight Fights to an Escape Artist to the Fae Follies to the 65 plus vendors set up in the Exhibit Hall. We’ve got a petting zoo, photos with unicorns, unicorn rides and even rare llama unicorns. The Faery Garden will be a great place for family photos or just to sit and spot tree faeries, earth faeries and even a ‘Fire’ Elemental Faery. And you can see and meet Renaissance Royalty. Actually, just our local Festival team now has 39 costumed cast members and they will be joined by amazingly costumed cast members from Scarborough and other Renaissance Fairs. It’s definitely not something you will want to miss!”
Food and beverage will be offered by local and non-local businesses,and will offer Greek gyros and pitas, ‘Dragons Toes’, homemade Tex Mex and favorite concession fare, along with four original flavors of ‘meade’, a type of beer prepared by a local winery. Some food vendors will be outside, and two food concessions will be located indoors in the Exhibit Hall.
The Knight Fights will be staged in an ongoing schedule during the three days, so anytime you arrive at Shadow RenFest, you will soon be able to catch one or more of the fights. According to Kris, “this is full-contact footed combat in heavy armor, using real swords and ‘boards’, or shields. Individual battles, chapter wars and even a ‘melee’ will be staged. The winner of the melee will be the last man standing”.
Hours of the 2019 Shadow Renaissance Festival in Sulphur Springs are:
Friday July 26 from 1 pm til 8 pm, Saturday July 27 from 10 am til 7 pm and Sunday July 28 from 11 am til 6 pm. Admission is $15 for ages 11 and up, $5 for ages 5-10 and free for children age 4 and younger. You can also get 3-day passes for adults.”Bring the whole family and spend all day, and help us support a Hopkins County non-profit organization. Find full details at shadowrenfest.com”
Mount Vernon Woman Arrested In Hopkins County On Felony DWI Charge
A 63-year-old Mount Vernon woman’s reckless driving caught the attention of other motorists who reported her to authorities; an equipment violation lead to a traffic stop. However, Jennifer Wilkes was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated, a charge enhanced to a felony due to at least three prior DWI convictions, according to arrest reports.
Wilkes was stopped about 7 p.m. July 22 on Interstate 30 at mile marker 115 by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Tanner Steward for a defective tail light on the Oldsmobile she was driving. Steward alleged signs of possible intoxication noticeable in the woman while talking to her.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Britain Marlow arrived to assist. Marlow reported an alcohol odor was detectable on her, and that she was unsteady on her feet and had numerous clues of intoxication during standard field sobriety tests. The woman also allegedly admitted to consuming three glasses of gin and soda earlier in the day. Based on those findings, the trooper placed the woman under arrest for DWI and the car was impounded, according to arrest reports.
A criminal history check revealed a previous conviction for third or more driving while intoxicated offense on March 20, 2015, in the 8th District Court. As a result, the DWI charge was enhanced to a third-degree felony offense, Marlow alleged in arrest reports.
The woman also reportedly agreed and provided a blood sample for testing and was jailed for DWI, third or more offense, according to arrest and jail reports.
Wilkes remained in the county jail Tuesday morning, July 23, on the charge; bond was set at $10,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
Shawls Of Love Create Gifts For Local Patients
Shawls of Love is a hard working group of individuals who crochet and knit items which are donated to hospitals, nursing homes and cancer centers for newborns, cancer and hospice patients.
The group meets at 10 a.m. the fourth Monday of each month at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center and brings the items they’ve made throughout the month for Stacey Wetzel with Sulphur Springs Imaging Center to take to the medical facilities for distribution.
These are some hard working ladies,” said Senior Citizens Center Programs and Marketing Director Karon Weatherman. “They do it all with LOVE. That is why this group of ladies is called ‘Shawls of Love.'”
The group welcomes new members; just show up at the monthly meeting; the next one will be Aug. 26.
“They will tell you if they are working on any special projects, give you patterns and yarn for you to use,” said Weatherman.
