SCU, CPS Investigation Results In Warrant Arrest
A 45-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested at 1:16 p.m. Tuesday on an abandoning or endangering a child charge following an investigation by Special Crimes Unit investigators and Child Protective Services officials, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Adrian Pruitt along with SCU investigators were aware of the warrant for Patrick Mondrell Hood’s arrest. Pruitt contacted him by phone and the man agreed to meet with officers at the police department, Pruitt noted in arrest reports.
Upon arrival, SCU officers informed Hood of the joint investigation with CPS; Hood was taken into custody on the warrant and transported to jail by Pruitt, according to arrest reports. Hood remained in the county jail Wednesday morning, according to jail reports.
Greenville Woman Jailed For Possessing Marijuana, Methamphetamine
Virginia Lynn Chapman was arrested after admitting the marijuana and methamphetamine found in a vehicle during a traffic stop was hers.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Rebekah Saathoff stopped a vehicle Tuesday afternoon on State Highway 11 west for speeding. The passenger rolled down the window as the trooper approached the car on that side. The highway patrol reported smelling a marijuana odor.
Saathoff asked the driver to step out to talk to her. The trooper said when asked if she’d been smoking marijuana in the car, the driver said she hadn’t. When asked if there was marijuana in the vehicle, the woman claimed she didn’t know, but if there was it was the passenger’s as she’d picked up the vehicle from her mom’s residence; her mom does not smoke marijuana so if there was weed in the car it’d belong to the passenger, according to arrest reports.
When she had the passenger step out, the man denied smoking marijuana in the vehicle, but admitted to having a weed pipe in his possession, the trooper alleged in arrest reports. The male reportedly denied knowledge of any marijuana in the vehicle.
The trooper alleged a plastic pill bottle containing marijuana as well as a pipe with marijuana residue and another pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue were found in the console.
Chapman then allegedly claimed the contraband as hers and was arrested for possession of less that 2 ounces of marijuana and less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports. Chapman remained in the county jail Wednesday morning, July 10. Bond was set at $5,000 on the controlled substance charge and $1,000 on the marijuana charge, according to jail reports.
Downtown Business Alliance Plans ‘Brick Street Market’ to Coincide with ‘Quilt Show’
Bringing business to local merchants is part of the vision of the Downtown Business Alliance. Knowing that the Bright Star Quilt Guild’s two-day ‘Quilt Show’ at The Roc brings a volume of visitors to Sulphur Springs annually, DBA members have designed an attraction to further enhance ‘shopping local’! Brick Street Market, an outdoor vintage market, is set for Saturday September 21, 2019 and designed to also draw visitors to our downtown restaurants, boutiques and shops as well as to the Celebration Plaza area. Everyone, including we who live here, will love this one-day event! Here are some highlights of the July DBA meeting hosted on July 9, 2019 at Hope Smith Interior Designs.
Judy Heilman, chairman of the Brick Street Market committee, reported that 57 vendors have already signed up, and that maximum vendor capacity is 65. If you want to claim space for a vendor booth of antique or vintage items, register quickly… remaining 10×10 spaces are $35. This year there will be lots of giveaways and prizes, and the first 100 shoppers who register at the Hospitality table will get a goodie bag of items. There’s a new Ole Bicycle Decorating Contest for individuals and business owners with a $100 cash prize. Also new is a cash prize for Best of Show Vendor Space Decor. Judy added, “start watching for signs around town and posters on windows of businesses announcing Brick Street Market, and tell your friends!”.
DBA member Danna Bain gave a report on the Highway 11 Treasure Trails and Buffalo Girls Flea Market set for October 11-13 in Winnsboro and in Sulphur Springs. Whether in town or along the Hwy 11 roadway east through the country, this is an excellent opportunity for downtown merchants to take merchandise ‘to the people’ who will be attending and shopping at these popular Fall retail events. Contact her at Danna’s Florist, 438 Gilmer Street.
During the monthly DBA meeting, newly elected President Jason Tulley thanked everyone who has assisted him so far in his new role. Outgoing president Billie Ruth Standbridge also received his appreciative thanks for her excellent organizational skills while in office. Jason also reminded members that another big downtown event, the Heritage Square Antique Car Show, is coming up on Saturday November 2 and that members as well as volunteer will be needed to help in various capacities. There are numerous interesting and beneficial annual events put on by the DBA.
If you are interested in attending a meeting or becoming a member, meetings of the Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance are held
on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 pm at Hope Smith Interiors,115 Gilmer Street, downtown Sulphur Springs, TX. Visit sulphurspringsdba.com.
The purpose of the Downtown Business Alliance is to develop and maintain a working partnership with city and county governments as well as other advisory boards dedicated to the revitalization of Downtown Sulphur Springs, to provide support for all merchants and property owners and to encourage community pride in the Downtown Area, to recreate the charm and relaxed atmosphere of yesteryear, allowing our local citizens and visitors an enjoyable and diverse place to shop, dine and conduct business.
Como Man Arrested After Crashing Pickup Into Como Residence
A 23-year-old Como man was taken into custody after allegedly eluded troopers and crashed his truck into a Como house, which he then tried to hide behind, according to arrest reports.
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday noticed as he passed a Ford F250 pickup, the driver was not wearing a safety belt. As the trooper turned around to make a traffic stop, the truck turned on to FM 69 north and continued at a high rate of speed to Jefferies Street in Como. The truck left the road at a high rate of speed, crossed into a front yard and struck a house, the DPS officer alleged in arrest reports.
The driver then bailed out of the truck and attempted to hide behind the residence. DPS took the Como man into custody and had the truck towed. A records check showed the man’s license to be and to have been suspended multiple times for multiple convictions, the highway patrolman noted in arrest reports.
The 23-year-old was arrested July 9 for fleeing or eluding a police officer and driving while license invalid with previous convictions. He remained in the county jail July 10; bond was set at $1,000 each per misdemeanor charge, according to jail reports.
Man Accused Of Choking Assault Of Wife While She Was Holding Their Child
Juan Ines Peralta, 27, of Sulphur Springs was arrested for allegedly choking, throwing to the ground and dragging his wife, who was holding their child.
Sulphur Springs Police were dispatched about 10 a.m. Tuesday to the 500 block of Plano Street, to a disturbance in which a woman could be heard screaming for help, according to reports. Upon arrival, Sgt. Brandon Mayes spoke with a man and a woman identified as his wife, reportedly involve in the disturbance.
Officers were told Peralta grabbed his wife around the throat, making it hard for her to breath. When she attempted to leave, he allegedly chased her outside, grabbed her in the street and dragged her back onto the property and dropping her onto the ground. He then was accused of dragging her into the garage, dropping her, shutting the door. The woman had red marks on her neck, where the man was alleged to have squeezed it, as well as marks on her foot, allegedly from being dragged, Mayes alleged in arrest reports.
The wife alleged she was holding their young child in her arms, trying not prevent her from being hurt. The child had a mark on her leg, allegedly also resulting from the disturbance.
Peralta was taken into custody at 10:16 a.m. July 9 for family violence assault that impeded breathing or circulation and injury to a child, according to arrest reports. He remained in the county jail Wednesday morning, July 10. His bond was set at $25,000 on the assault charge and $10,000 on the injury to a child charge, according to jail reports.
Camp Brave Heart Helps Kids Deal with Grief, Loss
Cypress Basin Hospice Chaplain Mark Davenport explained this summer’s Camp Brave Heart during Wednesday’s KSST Good Morning Show. The two-day camp is designed for children who have experienced grief or loss. It is free, and will be offered in Sulphur Springs on July 18 and 19 at First United Methodist Church. Contact cbhospice.org to find out more. There are also camps in Paris and Mt Pleasant this summer.
“Finding Missing Pieces” is the theme of this year’s camp for boys and girls ages 6-13 who have experienced the death or loss of a loved one or close friend. The safe and enriching environment focuses on the various ways they may be feeling sadness or loss, and allows them to connect with other children who may be experiencing similar feelings. God’s love for them is stressed throughout the camp. Besides educational sessions, there will crafts, games, songs and fun activities throughout the day-long sessions, scheduled from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm on Thursday July 18 and Friday July 19. Registration can be done by calling 903-577-1510.
Mark Davenport Chaplain
Leesburg Man Accused Of Possessing Stolen Prescription Medication, Using Urine For Drug Test
A 26-year-old Leesburg man was arrested after he was found in possession of prescription medication he allegedly stolen from a family member and urine which he admitted he’d used to pass a drug test for work.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Shea Shaw reported stopping a Honda Civic on State Highway 11 east in Pickton after noticing the car did not have a front license plate. On contact with the driver and sole occupant, identified in arrest reports as Matthew Christopher Jaeger of Leesburg, Shaw noted him to appear nervous. Jaeger allegedly attributed it to the fact that he was driving while his license was invalid an agreed to let officers search the car.
Shaw reported finding a container of urine, which the man allegedly admitted to using to pass a drug test for work. Also located in the car were 10 Alprazolam pills weighing 2.4 grams, ranitidine hydrochloride and a number of items of drug paraphernalia.
Alprazolam is a medication used to treat anxiety disorders, panic disorders, and anxiety caused by depression. Ranitidine hydrocholoride, typically Zantac, is a histamine-2 receptor blocker used for treating and preventing ulcers in the duodenum and stomach, and for treating heartburn, erosive esophagitis and Zollinger Ellison syndrome.
The Alprazolam wasn’t prescribed to Jaeger and the other medication did not belong to him either. In fact, Shaw alleged in arrest reports, Jaeger admitted “he stolen the Alprazolam from a family member.
Consequently, Jaeger was arrested for possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance and possession of a false drug test or falsification of a false drug testing device. Jaeger was also charges with speeding and driving while license invalid. He remained in the county jail Wednesday morning, July 10, according to jail reports.
Budget Process Ongoing At SSISD, Additional Personnel Raises Still Being Considered
There’s still quite a bit of work to be done before Sulphur Springs Independent School District administrators present a substantially complete general budget for trustees to approve.
SSISD Business Manger Sherry McGraw presented trustees with an updated working draft of the 2019-2020 budget during their regular meeting Monday evening.
McGraw said the business office had received an updated template, but continue to receive from regional, state and federal officials updated formulas, which mean continued adjustments to the budget. House Bill 3 can be thanks for some of the continued fluctuations in the budget.
The district has estimated tax values, but those can still change until the certified values are in on the 25th. District officials are as best they can figuring estimates in revenues this year based on last year’s tax values. At present, there’s a potential $500,000 difference between the current tax values and estimated values. If with adjustment the values come in higher, the district can utilize those funds to offset any deficit areas in the budget.
As of Monday, the district was projected to receive $40,895,287 in total revenues. However, expenditures were estimated at $41,031,994, for a shortfall of about $136,707 once all portions of the overall budget — general operating, needy children fund, transportation, co-curricular and instructional materials allotment — are factored in.
Transportation is expected to cost $1.54 million, while co-curricular is expected to outpace revenues by $744,487.
McGraw said campus expense budgets are in but are still being reviewed, and certified tax values aren’t yet available, to name a few of the variables to be figured into the budget before it is ready for board consideration. There are also still a few staff changes to be factored in as well. Although all know positions yet to be filled have been factored in, there’s still each employee’s years of experience to be considered, as well as an additional pay scale for other employees other than teachers, counselors and nurses.
The budget also has to accommodate a new middle school CTE class, as well as include TRS, payroll, federal and local revenues and expenses.
School administrators had hoped to have the budget more substantially completed to present earlier for board approval, but have scheduled another budget work session for for July 18, with the budget anticipated to be submitted for approval at the regular Aug. 12 school board meeting. The July 18 meeting is expected to be a special noon session.
Superintendent Michael Lamb said the extra week should allow business officials and administrators to have a clearer picture of projected revenues. They are still working to incorporate pay raises for additional district personnel in the budget as well.
Food service, debt service and workers compensation portions of the budget will be designated separate from the general fund budget to be presented by mid August for board approval.
Lamb and McGraw were slated to attend a work session hosted Tuesday by Region VIII Education Service Center to help districts better understand HB 3 and ensure all specifications are met.
Teen To Serve Commitment For Criminal Activity Charge
Miklo Jose Vargas, 18, of Sulphur Springs turned himself in at the sheriff’s office at 5 p.m. July 8 to serve a commitment in an intermediate sanctioned facility on an engaging in organized criminal activity charge. He was escorted by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Lester into the jail and held on the first degree felony charge, according to arrest reports.
The first-degree felony offense is alleged to have occurred on Aug. 24, 2018. Sulphur Springs Police Lt. Pat Leber and Officer Jason Reneau reported seeing the man out walking on Aug. 25. Aware Vargas was wanted for engaging in organized criminal activity, specifically a building burglary, the pair detained and arrested him at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, police noted in the August arrest reports.
Vargas was released from jail on $50,000 bond on the charge the next day, according to jail reports. he was indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity in November 2018, according to court records.
July 8 marks the second time this year Vargas has been jailed locally. He was also arrested and released later March 24 for driving on the wrong side of the road and consumption of alcohol by a minor, according to jail reports.
Police Catch Sulphur Springs Man With Stolen Items
A Sulphur Springs man, 37, was allegedly caught early Tuesday morning with merchandise he was alleged to have just stolen from a store.
Police were dispatched to a gas station in the 1300 block of South League Street, where a theft was reported to have occurred just before 3:30 a.m. Police were given a description of the suspect, who reportedly walked toward a nearby apartment complex upon exiting the store.
Officers also watched a video of the suspect, a male wearing a black shirt and black shorts they alleged could be seen walking past all points of sale with multiple items taken from the store, the officers noted in arrest reports.
Police reported finding the 37-year-old man they believed to be the suspect in the middle of the apartment complex with items he’d allegedly stolen from the store. Consequently, the Sulphur Springs man was arrested at 2:45 a.m. July 9 on a misdemeanor theft charge, according to arrest reports. He was released from jail later July 9, according to jail reports.
