Aggravated Robbery Reported Saturday At Sulphur Springs Motel
An aggravated robbery was reported to have occurred after 10 p.m. Saturday in a motel room in the 1500 block of East Shannon Road. No one was injured, but a weapon was reportedly displayed during the robbery, according to police reports.
A 69-year-old man staying at the motel reportedly had money stolen from him in his room. According to Suphur Springs police reports, a man entered the 69-year-old’s motel room through an open door.
When, the motel guest rose off his bed and walked toward a table where the intruder was standing, the intruder allegedly displayed a handgun and demanded money. The 69-year-old reportedly gave him the cash he had and the intruder demanded more. The older man indicated he didn’t have any more money and the man finally left, according to police reports.
The suspect was described as a skinny white male, possibly Hispanic, with stubble, possibly a mustache. The suspect was reported to have been wearing a dark colored shirt with stripes, “like plaid,” and dark colored pants, possibly jeans.
Officers searched the area at the time of the alleged robbery, but did not immediately locate anyone fitting that description. As of Monday morning, no one had been arrested for robbery in connection with the case, according to police.
SSISD Trustees Approve Teacher Pay Scale Increase For 2nd Year
Sulphur Springs Independent School District trustees during a special meeting Monday morning adopted a pay increase for teachers, which would increase the starting teacher’s pay by $5,000, an approximate 12 percent compensation increase over last year’s pay scale.
“SSISD’s main goal is to educate kids to their fullest potential and this raise directly impacts the success of our students. Our employees are very important to our district, they are the heart and soul of what we are about. The passage of House Bill 3 by the Texas Legislature, combined with our local efforts to compensate staff, have made this significant raise possible. We’re thankful to our local legislators for supporting school finance reform,” said SSISD Assistant Superintendent Rusty Harden in a press release announcing the new pay scale.
The raise marks at least the second consecutive year SSISD trustees have increased the teacher pay scale.
Last summer, both teacher and teacher’s aide pay scales increased. Teachers’ starting salary was raised in June 2018 to $40,000 in SSISD, with pay increases beginning after the first year instead of the third year, and increasing by $100 per year for the first five years, and $200 per year for the next two years. Teachers beginning at year nine during the 2018-19 school year saw an increase of $500 each year for three years. The increase rose to $800 per year from year 12 through year 18. Salaries at year 30 were then increased to $54,950 in the 2018-19 school year.
During a special 8 a.m. meeting Monday morning, school trustees again approved a pay increase, this time for teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians for the new school year, which begins in August.
The starting pay this year for teacher was raised to $45,000. Teachers’ pay would then increase by 100 for the next five years. Starting in year 9, the rate would increase by $200 for three years, then increase by $500 in year 9 to $46,600 and continuing annually for three years. Then, in year 12, the rate would increase by $800 to $48,400, and continue to increase by $800 through year 18. The amount of annual increase would then drop off starting in year 19, but would still include an annual step up in pay through $60,000 for teachers in year 30. Those with a master’s degree or doctorate would receive additional compensation for attaining the certification.
Teachers’ aides in June 2018 were also given a pay increase.
“The board is also currently looking at other staff raises for the upcoming school year. Recommendation for other staff raises will be considered with the approval of the budget in August,” Harden stated.
Greenview Cemetery Memorial Day Sunday July 7
The annual Memorial Day at Greenview Cemetery is set for Sunday July 7 with services beginning at 10:45 am. Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom will be guest speaker. Greenview Church and Cemetery are located on CR 1168 just off FM 1567 West in the southwest part of Hopkins County. Take Highway 19 South and turn west at the Miller Grove exit onto FM 1567 West.
Winners Circle at Summer 42 Tournament at Srs. Center
42 is a popular game in Texas, across the nation and all over the world, actually. And guess what? The game originated in Texas, and since 2011, is the ‘official State domino game of Texas’.
Karon Weather,director of the Sulphur Springs Seniors Center, set the date of the tournament for Saturday June 29, 2019 and 30 teams registered to play. Four people; two teams of two persons each, make up a game of 42. The top four places were recognized at the tournament.
1st Place – Calvin Bain and Paul Bennett
2nd Place – Steve Fox and John Perkins
3rd Place – Bill Eason and Ernest Young
4th Place – Nevil Solomon and Marlene Gore
42 is a domino game first developed by a couple of young teens in response to the general disapproval of card-playing games held by many Protestants of that time. Also known as Texas 42, the trick-taking game is played with a standard set of double six dominoes. 42 is often referred to as the “national game of Texas”. Tournaments are held in many towns, and the State Championship tournament is held annually in Hallettsville, Texas on the first Saturday of March each year. In 2011, the State legislature designated it the official State Domino Game of Texas.
A Request From the City and Luminant Mining Company, Engineering Service Providers On Monday Commissioners’ Agendas
Hopkins County Commissioners Court has a full schedule Monday morning, which includes two work sessions in addition to their regular 9 a.m. meeting.
HCCC is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. in the third floor meeting room at Hopkins County Courthouse in order to open and grade potential engineering service providers for the Texas Hazardous Mitigation Program, then enter into a budget work session.
The court will then consider adopting a resolution designating an engineering service provider for the Texas Hazardous Mitigation Assistance Program Application and project-related engineering services.
A request from the City of Sulphur Springs and Luminant Mining Company LLC is also among the topics up for commissioners consideration during their regular 9 a.m. regular court session.
The regular agenda also calls for HCCC to consider the County Road Inventory for 835 miles of county-maintained road mileage for certified funding through Texas Department of Transportation and as well as appointment a representative to the local Workforce Development Board.
A county emergency management employee will be recognized for completing security training.
Immediately following the 9 a.m. regular court session, Hopkins County Commissioner Court is scheduled to return to the third floor meeting room for another work session.
The agenda for the later work session includes discussion with Tom Glosup about county building maintenance and construction projects, with the sheriff and county fire chief about operations and finances within their departments, Shameria Davis about health incentives and programs, a report from Andy Wright on the Upper Lake Fork Watershed, discussion for clarification of new subdivision regulations, and a budget work session.
Police Arrest Man Found Sleeping At Church For PI
A man found asleep outside St. James Catholic Church was jailed for public intoxication Friday afternoon.
Sulphur Springs police responded at 11:51 a.m. to a report of a suspicious person at the church. When officers arrived, they reported finding the man asleep outside the church.
Officers contacted the 25-year-old Sulphur Springs man, whom they noted appeared to be very disorderly. The man was also alleged to have glassy, red bloodshot eyes, had trouble balancing himself and showed several clues of intoxication on horizontal gaze nystagmus tests, police alleged in arrest rpeorts.
Believing the man to be a danger to himself and others, police reportedly took him into custody at 12:09 p.m. for PI, according to arrest reports.
2 Hopkins County Residents Jailed On Felony Warrants
June 29, 2019 – Deputies took two Hopkins County residents into custody Friday on unrelated felony warrants.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Alvin Jordan was made aware of a warrant for Jana Marie Kirtley’s arrest for violation of probation on a hindering apprehension or prosecution of a known felon charge. He learned the 53-year-old Sulphur Springs woman works at a Jackson Street nursing home, went there, served it at 8:15 a.m. June 28 and took her to jail on the charge, according to arrest reports.
Jose Enrique Alvarez, 21, of Como was taken into custody at the adult probation office at 1:40 p.m. Friday, June 28, by HCSO Sgt. Kelly Wiser on a warrant for violation of probation on a sexual assault of a child charge. He remained in the county jail Saturday morning.
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
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.
Winfield Man Arrested After Trying To Hide Methamphetamine In Shorts, Resisting Trooper
A 36-year-old Winfield man was arrested after trying to hide methamphetamine in his shorts during a traffic stop, then resisting when the state trooper attempted to arrest him, according to arrest reports.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Warren Williamson reportedly stopped a Toyota Tundra on Interstate 30 west at mile marker 117 for having an expired registration and no front license plate.
As Williamson approached the vehicle, he noted the driver and lone occupant concealing an unknown item in the front of his shorts. The highway patrolman had him step out of the pickup and attempted a frisk search of the man for weapons.
When Williamson told the man he was under arrest, the man allegedly “attempted to turn away from me and forcefully pulled away from me,” the trooper alleged in arrest reports. Consequently, the man was taken to the ground and placed under arrest.
The man was determined to have a glass pipe and a small clear bag containing a crystal-like substance Williamson identified from his experience in law enforcement as methamphetamine.
The man, identified in arrest reports as 36-year-old Bradley McQueen of Winfield, was reportedly cleared by medical staff and released to jail staff. He was booked into jail for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and resisting arrest, search or transport, according to arrest reports.
Deputies Richard Brantley and Patterson were also dispatched to assist at the location when DPS dispatchers requested assistance for Williamson, when dealing with the reportedly combative person.
HCSO: Sulphur Springs Man Jailed For Felony DWI After Nearly Hitting Patrol Vehicle
Joseph Andrew Newman, 31, of Sulphur Springs was arrested on a felony driving while intoxicated charge after he nearly crashing a Buick LaSabre into patrol officer’s vehicle, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Shea Shaw was contacted by another officer, who had reportedly stopped the car at 11:53 p.m. Newman was reported to have been driving and suspected to be intoxicated. Shaw was later advised the man had nearly wrecked into the other patrol unit on College Street. An officer reported stopping the man on South Broadway Street at Taco Bell. Upon contact, Shaw reported seeing three bottles on top of the car and smelling an alcoholic beverage odor emitting from Newman. Shaw administered field sobriety tests and noted the man showed multiple clues of intoxication.
Consequently, Newman was jailed for DWI, marking at least the third time he had been charged on the offense, which enhances the charge to a felony offense. He remained in the county jail Saturday morning, June 29. Bond was set at $10,000 on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
