Genealogist Ari Wilkins to Speak at Local Genealogy Society on September 19
Members and guests are welcome to attend the program ‘Finding the Last Slave Owner’ by Ari Wilkins during the Hopkins County Genealogical Society meeting set for Thursday September 19, 2019 at 7 pm. The Genealogical library is located inside the Sulphur Springs Public Library at 611 North Davis Street.
Hopkins County Hospital District Board Of Directors Agenda for Sept. 17, 2019
Hopkins County Hospital District
Called Meeting of Board of Directors
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
Notice is hereby given that a Called Meeting of the Board of Directors of Hopkins County Hospital District will be held on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 6:00 pm in the Plaza Conference Room of the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic at 113 Airport Road, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
AGENDA
- Call to Order
- Invocation
- Public Forum
- Review and Approve Tax Rate for Fiscal Year Ending 09-30-20
- Review and Approve Budget for Fiscal Year Ending 09-30-20
- Review and Approve Conveyance of “Struck off” Tax Sale Properties To the City of Sulphur Springs
- Review and Approve First Amendment to Agreement for Tax Abatement For Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
- Review and Approve Financial Statements for Ten Months Ended 07-31-19 and Eleven Months Ended 08-31-19
a. Financial Statements for Ten Months Ended 07-31-19 and
Eleven Months Ended 08-31-19
b. EMS Update and Review - Consent Agenda
a. Nursing Home Reports
b. Review and Approve Minutes of Regular Meeting of 08-09-19 - Update for CHHA by Paul Harvey, President/CEO
- Executive Session
a. Review Minutes of Executive Session for Regular Meeting of 08-09-19
b. The Board will meet in closed session either with its attorney pursuant to Section 551.071, or without its attorney pursuant to Sections 551.085 and 551.074 of the Texas Government Code to discuss Personnel Matters Related to the Management Organization of the District.
c. The Board will meet in closed session either with its attorney pursuant to Section 551.071, or without its attorney pursuant to Sections 551.085 and 551.074, of the Texas Government Code to discuss Real Estate Matters. - Return to Regular Session
a. Approve Minutes of Executive Session for Regular Meeting of 08-09-19
b. Consider and Approve, if needed, Personnel Matters related to the Management Organization of the District including the designation
of CEO and CFO positions.
c. Consider and approve, if needed, certain Real Estate Matters including authorizing negotiations related to the sale or lease of property. - Adjourn
2019 Colorblind Ministries Awards Reflect ‘Fruit of Spirit’ in Community Leaders
Colorblind Ministries founder and Pastor C.J. Duffey and his wife Cathey launched the Fruit of the Spirit Awards in 2016, and held the fourth annual ceremony on Saturday September 14, 2019 in the cafeteria of Sulphur Springs High School. Members of the community were selected for the honors in a spirit of love, fellowship, service and recognition, having shown the ‘fruits of the spirit’ as defined in the Bible at Galatians 5:22, 23. Recipients who were not able to attend include Kurt and Connie Cheatham of Hopkins County Food Locker for Outstanding Community Support, Dr. Lauara Kosub for Goodness Award, Pastor LaVelle Hendricks for Joy Award and The Rotary Club for Outstanding Community Support.
Program speaker was Everson Walls, a four-time Pro-Bowl player for the Dallas Cowboys, also with a stellar career with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns as well as his college team at Grambling State. Giving back to the community and lending a helping hand holds an enduring importance to Everson, as a tribute to the assistance he received from an insightful coach at Berkner High School in Dallas. Today, Everson serves as a TV personality and commentator for various national sports talk shows and is involved with character development for young students. The Walls family attends Hamilton Park Baptist Church in Richardson and resides in Dallas. Uplifting music for the event was provided by The Chaffers; Kenya Duffey Chaffer and her husband Charles Chaffer. A banquet meal was provided by Duffey’s BBQ.
In most cases, presenters are former recipients of the award they present.
Everson Walls helped present the awards for Self Control and Meekness. Deacon JD and Deaconess Gloria Franklin of Morning Chapel Baptist Church were honored with the Self Control Award.
Pastor DK and Joyce Young of Greater Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church receive the Meekness Award, presented by Everson Walls and the Duffeys
Buddy and Ina Gore of Psalms 100 Invite Public to Southern Gospel Music Association Concert in Paris, Texas September 20, 21
A Southern Gospel Music Celebration is planned at the Paris, Texas Civic Center with Jeff and Sheri Easter and over 25 more artists and groups performing on two nights. The concerts will be held on Friday September 20 at 6pm and on Saturday September 21 at 6pm. Admission is free with a love offering taken. Buddy and Ina Gore of Hopkins County are the founders of Psalms 100, a gospel music group which holds membership is a number of Southern Gospel music associations. The location is 2025 South Collegiate Drive in Paris. For information, phone 903-495-3954.
Sept. 17 Hospital District Board To Consider Tax Rate, Budget, Organization
Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors have called a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday Sept. 17 to discuss a number of items during their regular session and at least two during executive session.
Budget and Tax Rate
The hospital district board are slated to review and approve the tax rate and budget for the fiscal year which will end on Sept. 30, 2020.
HCHD CEO Ron Folwell in May reported the district to be “doing fairly well” financially. During a June meeting of HCHD Board of Directors the Hopkins County EMS building was reported to have maintenance issues which need serious repair, and likely will be factors in the upcoming budget process.
“The building, it’s OK, but it’s starting to fall apart. It’s got a lot of things wrong with it. It’s been there quite a while,” Folwell said.
Director of Hopkins County EMS Services Brent Smith, at that meeting, said based on current maintenance and building issues, he does not anticipate the EMS building lasting another 2 years “without having major issues.” He then outlined the many issues facing the facility.
Folwell asked the board at the June meeting to discuss the possibility of replacing the building instead of making the extensive repairs.
Smith suggested a piece of property owned by the hospital district, located on the opposite side of Memorial Gardens facing Airport Road, would be an ideal location for a new EMS station. That would allow the EMS facility to remain centrally located near the hospital, he proposed.
“I really think that’s something we need to address in our upcoming budget, whether we find something existing or build something,” HCHD Board President Kerry Law said, and asked Smith to consult with officials who have more recently constructed similar facilities regarding costs, to get an idea how much one would run.
Repairs needed at 
the Hopkins County EMS 
building by the hospital
Struck Off Property
The Hospital District Board too will be asked to review and consider approving “conveyance of ‘struck off’ tax sale properties to the city of Sulphur Springs.
HCHD is expected to consider “conveying” properties on Oak Avenue, where an abandoned nursing home sits north of the railroad tracks, to the city for a new senior citizens activities center and parking lot. Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees agreed to “strike off” the property to the city during their August meeting. Hopkins County Commissioners Court on July 1 agreed to sign over their ownership to the city.
Tax Abatement
The Sept. 17 HCHD agenda also calls for the board members to reveiw and consider approving a “first amendment to agreement for tax abatement for Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.”
Sulphur Springs City Council in June voted to revoke a tax incentive granted to Ocean Spray Cranberries for $5 million in improvements. The company reportedly failed to meet the terms of the abatement, which were to maintain its labor force and a minimum payroll of $1.8 million. More than a dozen jobs were reported to have been lost since the incentive was granted, reportedly due to efficiency of operations. The company had requested a reduction in the abatement proportionate to the reduction in labor. The city revoke it.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court opted not to revoke, but to modify an Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. abatement by 10 percent, to match a reduction in staffing. At that time the loss was attributed to attrition, positions not being filled when people quit. However, it was reported that the company plans to work on building that number back, with five jobs to be added this year. Four years still remain on the five year agreement.
Additional items, reports
The board is also slated to review and consider approving financial statements for the 10 months ending July 31, 2019 and 11 months ending Aug. 31, 2019.
An EMS update and review will also be given during that time.
Submitted for approval under one motion as the consent agenda are nursing home reports and minutes from the Aug. 9 HCHD Board meeting.
To conclude the regular portion of the meeting, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs President/CEO is scheduled to give an update on “CHHA.”
Executive session
The hospital board is then scheduled to go into executive session where they are to review meetings from the Aug. 9 executive session; then to discuss personnel matters related to the management organization of the district, potentially designation of CEO and CFO positions, and real estate matters, including negotiation to the sale and lease of property. The board may consult with the HCHD’s attorney on the latter two items.
After the closed session, the board is to reconvene in open session to take action on items pushed forward from the executive session. Items listed for possible consideration include approval of the Aug. 9 executive session minutes; personnel matters related to the management organization of the district including the designation of CEO and CFO positions; and certain real estate matters including authorizing negotiations to the sale or lease of property, according to the agenda.
The Hospital District Board meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 in the Plaza Conference Room of CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, 113 Airport Road in Sulphur Springs.
SSISD Receives $1.035 Million In Additional State Aid From 6 Years Worth Of Property Value Studies, Appeals
Sulphur Springs Independent School District is contracting with a legal firm to see if additional state funding through property value studies and appeals.
“We have had a contract with Linebarger since 2013 and this is where they take the Comptroller’s values and look at what they are compared to the county’s. When the Comptroller’s is a lot higher, they’ll just use that or appeal it for us. It’s always to our advantage to get it lowered,” SSISD Business Manger Sherry McGraw said.
According to a report from Robby Harbuck, director of property value study appeals division of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP of Tyler, the 2018 property value study resulted in a reduction of $29,404,109 from the Comptroller’s 2018 preliminary property value study estimate.
During the six year SSISD has contracted with the attorneys at law, the firm’s property value studies and appeals to the Comptroller’s office have resulted in total value reductions of $96,386,493, and roughly $1,035,000 in additional state aid for SSISD, according to the information provided by Harbuck.
Linebarger as part of the contract agrees to absorb all of the upfront “costs of preparing and presenting the administrative appeal, audit and prosecuting any judicial appeal, including expenses, if any, for appraisers or other consultants.” SSISD then pays the firm a fee equal to 10 percent of any additional state aid the district qualifies for as a result of the appeal or audit.
The rewnewed contract will remain in effect continuously moving forward, or until the district opts to end it, McGraw told SSISD Board of Trustees at their Sept. 9 board meeting.
Also approved by SSISD trustees at their September meeting was a small revision to the district student activities travel policy and two staff changes.
Trustees approved Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams’ proposal that FMG local policy regarding student travel activities expand the number of days a student can be absent from school for school-sponsored travel from two to three days. The request was made to allow the SSHS band students ample time for travel on a field trip to Disney in Florida, where they will have an opportunity to perform.
“When they weighed the cost and opportunity, performances that they’ll do and the clinic that they’ll have, it’s too expensive to fly. It cuts into the length of the trip. It makes it not as worthwhile if they can’t have that extra day,” said Williams, when proposing the idea to trustees.
Increasing the number of days students are allowed to be absent from school for school-sponsored travel from two to three would not only improve the band trip in May, but allow administrators to approve other similar school-related enrichment trips in the future, Williams said.
“I’m not opposed to the change, but in the event that we have something like this, can we make a one-time waiver for a set trip, like to Disney World?” asked SSISD Board of Trustees Vice President Robert Cody.
Williams said the timing of the band trip in May would only overlap “some AP testing,” but wouldn’t otherwise interfere with testing.
“We have a workaround for that, so kids who would take those AP test will be able to take it. We believe it’s a worthwhile rich opportunity for those kids,” Williams said.
Ramsay Announces Intention To Run For Third Term As 8th Judicial District Attorney
Will Ramsay has announced his intention to seek re-election as the District Attorney of the 8th Judicial District. Ramsay, a Republican, has held the post since he took the oath of office on Jan. 1, 2013.
The 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office serves Delta, Franklin and Hopkins counties.
“Being entrusted, over the last two terms, to serve the people of these three counties as District Attorney is one of the great blessings of my life,” Ramsay stated.
“We have worked diligently to serve and protect the peaceful and law-abiding citizens of the 8th Judicial District. Our goal has always been to ensure that the dangerous people are removed from our communities so that these counties can continue to be places where folks desire to live and raise their families. I believe, through hard work and persistence, we are accomplishing this objective,” he stated.
The first day for candidates to file for place on their party’s March 3, 2020 Primary Election ballot will be Saturday, Nov. 9. The deadline for candidates to file candidacy is Monday, Dec. 9.
Midlothian Man Jailed In Ellis County On Felony Hopkins County Warrant
A 49-year-old Midlothian man was in custody Friday in Ellis County jail on a felony Hopkins County warrant. Officials from the other county notified Hopkins County sheriff’s officials that Brian Lynn McPike was in custody on the charge.
Transport Deputy Melvin Jackson traveled to Ellis County, where he took McPike into custody at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, and transported him to Hopkins County jail, where he was held on the violation of probation warrant, according to arrest reports.
McPike remained in the county jail on the charge Saturday morning, Sept. 14, 2019. The charge alleges violation of probation, which he was on for an April 27, 2018, possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to and jail arrest reports.
The original controlled substance charge stems from a traffic stop by deputies at Pilot Travel Center last April for reckless driving. A search of McPike’s truck revealed several baggies of suspected methamphetamine in the cab as well as other drug paraphernalia, resulting in McPike’s arrest on a controlled substance charge, deputies alleged in April 2018 arrest reports. McPike was released from jail on $5,000 bond on the controlled substance charge April 28, 2018, and indicted on the charge during the August 2018 grand jury session, according to jail and court reports.
Wildcats Football Suffer Loss In Closest Game Yet
Wildcats End Up on Short End of Scoreboard as Terrell Wins 15-13 in District Opener
It just was not the Wildcats night Friday (September 13) as the Terrell Tigers found a way to squeeze by the Wildcats 15-13 in Terrell in the district opener for each team. Terrell got off to a good start covering 62 yards on their opening drive to score. The Tigers first play from scrimmage was a 54 yard completion from quarterback Trey Lunsford to tight end Khalid Johnson. Tigers back DeDe George ran the last two yards for a touchdown. The extra point kick failed due to a very high snap from center that even sailed over the kickers head. Terrell led 6-0 with 10:11 left in the first quarter. Later in the quarter the Wildcats answered with an 81 yard TD drive. Senior back Da’Korian “Choc” Sims scored the touchdown on a 7 yard run. Brandon Zavala’s kick was good and the Wildcats went ahead 7-6 with 4:33 left in the opening stanza. The teams exchanged interceptions and the score remained 7-6 Wildcats after the first quarter. Wildcats senior safety Chase Haney got the Wildcats pick. In the second quarter the Wildcats threw a second interception. Just before halftime, Terrell completed a long pass to put them in range for a long field goal try. Tigers’ kicker Christian Nunez drilled a 43-yard field goal between the uprights and Terrell moved back ahead 9-7 with just 11.9 second left in the second quarter. Terrell took the 9-7 lead into the halftime locker room. The Wildcats retook the lead just before the end of the third quarter. Again Sims got the touchdown, this time on a 9-yard run. The Wildcats extra point kick attempt was foiled by a bad snap. The Wildcats were back on top 13-9 with just 17.1 second left in the third period. Before the quarter was over, the Wildcats were successful with an onside kick and things looked good for the Wildcats heading into the fourth quarter. Little did they know that heartbreak awaited them in the fourth quarter. A Wildcats drive stalled and they lined up for a long field goal attempt. An errant snap eluded holder Campbell Cody and kicker Zavala picked up the ball to make the best of the busted play. Zavala was hit and he fumbled. Terrell’s Johnson picked up the fumble and raced 65 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point kick was blocked by the Wildcats but the Tigers were back in the lead, 15-13 with 8:35 left in the fourth quarter. It stayed that way and the Wildcats put on a final drive as they frantically tried to beat the clock. On fourth down with just second left, the Wildcats decided on a field goal attempt. Zavala’s kick went wide left and when a Terrell player ran into Zavala, it went uncalled. All Terrell had to do was take a knee killing the final second and a half on the clock. A Terrell team that won only a single game last year tasted victory in their third game this season. The Wildcats are 0-1 in district play and 0-3 for the season. They play Royse City next Friday at Gerald Prim Stadium on Homecoming.
DISTRICT SCORES
Terrell 15, Sulphur Springs 13
North Forney 57, Forney 10
Ennis 49, Kaufman 14
Corsicana 20, Greenville 7
Royse City bye
DISTRICT 8-5A DIV. II STANDINGS
Dist Season
North Forney 1-0 3-0
Ennis 1-0 2-1
Corsicana 1-0 2-1
Terrell 1-0 1-2
Royse City 0-0 2-0
Forney 0-1 1-2
Greenville 0-1 1-2
Sulphur Springs 0-1 0-3
Kaufman 0-1 0-3
Allan Will Not Seek Another Term As Constable
Precinct 2 Constable Bill Allan said Friday he does not plan to to seek another term in office.
“I have been part of Hopkins County law enforcement for around 20 years. I will be here until Jan. 1, 2021. Then, it will be 22 years. I’ve enjoyed my job and have been told I do make a difference,” Allan said. “I have about 1 year and four months left. I’ll continue to do my job the same as always.”
He said he’s tried and will continue to treat people with dignity and respect, and try to continue to make a difference in people’s lives. Sometimes, he said, that can be achieved simply by listening to people talk about their lives or offering help where appropriate.
Allan said being a constable is a complex job that takes about a year to fully learn.
“I will work with whoever gets this to make the transition as smooth as possible. I will work with them beforehand and answer any questions they may have afterward. I’ve enjoyed serving the people of Hopkins County, but I feel I’ve done my share. It’s time to get out and do other things I want to do,” Allan said.
While in office, Allan said he’s taken very little time off, about four weeks total in seven years, including one when his son died. He’s looking forward to being able to travel to see his family and more of the country. He is looking forward to having more time to fly his plane too.
