Former Lady Cat Kamryn Wimberly Will Be Continuing Her Soccer Career At Erskine College
After playing soccer for two years at Paris Junior College and graduating this spring, former Lady Cat Kamryn Wimberly will continue her soccer career at Division II Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina.
Wimberly says PJC showed a lot of improvement last year over her first year there.
The 2017 Sulphur Springs High School grad says Erskine College has a good soccer program. While at PJC, Wimberly says she visited Erskine and got to play with members of The Fleet. She says she will continue to play positions she is familiar with at Erskine, center back or holding midfielder.
No Lady Cat fan can forget Wimberly’s winning penalty kick in two straight playoff games. She says she still has the touch if Erskine needs her. Wimberly says she will never forget those moments.
This week, Wimberly has been helping coach youngsters at soccer camp. She says she loves teaching a sport she loves. Wimberly says she doesn’t remember being as skilled as a youngster as the kids she is working with this week.
Insurance Agent Accused of Pocketing Premiums Sentenced Wednesday
June 26, 2019 – Kristi Lynn Hooten, the local insurance agent accused of pocketing people’s premiums in 2017, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison on the theft charge, pay fees to her victims and a fee in a related law suit, according to the district attorney. However, Hooten will likely will serve less than 6 months in prison.
“She was sentenced to 10 years in the penitentiary. However, the judge indicated that he would likely bring her back to Hopkins County before the expiration of 180 days in order to place her on probation. This is what is referred to as ‘shock’ probation,” 8th Judicial District Attorney Will Ramsay explained.
Once on probation, Hooten will be required to pay approximately $42,000 to victims of her crime as well as reimbursement for a settlement in a related law suit. Further, she will have a $10,000 fine, according to Ramsay.
Hooten was arrested Nov. 8, 2017, following a lengthy investigation by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office.
Hooten, an insurance agent who operated Connect Insurance Agency, was accused of selling insurance, creating auto insurance cards but was not providing the auto insurance coverage. Instead, she was reported to have been keeping the insurance premiums for herself.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigator Wade Sheets, following Hooten’s arrest in 2017, said the sheriff’s office was contacted by a local resident who’d been given the run around when trying to file an insurance claim. Hooten was accused of using legitimate companies and policy numbers that looked normal to scam customers. The insurance cards looked like a typical auto insurance card, but if verified by law enforcement would have returned “verify manually,” which indicates it was not on file with the state, Sheets told KSST following Hooten’s arrest in 2017.
Former JP Clerk Sentenced
Former part-time Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace clerk Lettie Delores Mosquedo-Jasso was sentenced Tuesday on five cases of tampering with a government record.
The 32-year-old was sentenced to 270 days confinement in a state jail on one case. On the four remaining cases, she was sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication. She was also assessed a $6,000 fine on one of the probation cases. She will be required to serve time in a state jail, then be on probation once she is released, according to District Attorney Will Ramsay.
The charges resulted from a regular internal office audit of court records in the justice of the peace court. After discrepancies and a complaint from an individual, the cases were turned over to the Texas Ranger. Warrants were issued in July 2018 for her arrest. She was taken into custody in another state in August 2018, and transferred to Hopkins County jail.
Three of the offenses occurred in July of 2018, and one each in May and June of 2018, according to court records.
Mosquedo-Jasso turned herself in at 4:55 p.m. June 26 at the county jail to begin serving her time.
1 Arrested On US Marshals Indictment, 2 Others On Unrelated Felony Warrants
Local authorities made a number of warrant arrests on Tuesday, including at least three people sought on outstanding felony charges.
Special Crimes Unit Lt. Mark Estes and Sgt. Joe Scott arrested Jason Craig Williams, 32, of Sulphur Springs at his Houston Street residence at 1:45 p.m. June 25 on a US Marshals indictment for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule II substance, according to arrest reports.
Williams was released to the US Marshals Service Wednesday morning, June 26, according to jail reports.
Carolyn Jean Noble, 51, of Sulphur Springs was located at her Hinnant Street residence at 4:48 p.m. June 25 and taken into custody by Sulphur Springs Police Officer Adrian Pruitt on a warrant for violation of probation, which she was on for manufacture or delivery of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
According to jail reports, Noble was also served with a cruelty to non-livestock animals warrant. She remained in the county jail Wednesday morning, June 26. She was held on the probation charge; bond on the animal cruelty charge was set at $2,000, according to jail reports.
Deputy Richard Brantley picked up Shawnda Jean Bellamy, 37, of Clarksville at 11:18 a.m. from Titus County jail, where she was being held on a Hopkins County warrant, the deputy noted in arrest reports.
She was transported and booked into the Hopkins County jail for bond forfeiture on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
Bellamy remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning. Her bond was set at $10,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
City To Open Site Saturday To Help Residents Get Rid of Debris From Recent Storm
Sulphur Springs residents will have one more opportunity to get rid of debris from last week’s storms.
The city will once again offer a site for disposal of limbs and debris for city residents. The area where the annual spring clean-up is held will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Saturday, June 29.
City officials caution those planing to dump big limbs and trees to bring help with them for unloading as the city will be unable to staff the site, as is done for spring clean-up, due to ongoing projects.
Seventh Year for MADD ‘Walk to Remember’ in Sulphur Springs
When the crowds gather and the walkers take to the track on September 28, 2019 at Shannon Oaks Church, it will represent the seventh consecutive year for the MADD walk in Sulphur Springs. The regional office of MADD, or Mothers Against Drunk and Drugged Driving, was seeking a community to host the annual Walk Like Madd event. They found their home and a lot of support in Sulphur Springs. Becky Hicks, Walk Like Madd coordinator for this region, feels that her personal involvement in the cause to stop drunk and drugged driving drives her to spearhead the Walk as well as speak out all year round. In fact, Becky was in downtown Sulphur Springs on Wednesday June 26, 2019 raising money for September’s Walk Like Madd event, and explained the need for more awareness.
“There are more than 1,000 deaths on Texas roadways involving drunk or drugged driving every year. These car crashes can be prevented, and these deaths are 100% preventable. During the Walk, we will once again display dozens of pairs of shoes inside the walking track area. The Shoe Display is very moving and really gets your attention. There will be shoes and boots of every size and type, representing the men, women and children killed in car crashes due to drunk or drugged driving. Every pair of shoes represents a person who lost their life in a DWI or drug-related car crash. This is one way that we can remember them, and become more deeply aware of the victims who lost their lives unnecessarily. We especially thank our presenting sponsor, Jay Hodge Chevrolet, for their involvement in this year’s event”.
The 2019 Walk Like Madd family event will begin at 6pm with Kids Zone Fun and Education on the parking lot of Shannon Oaks Church in Sulphur Springs. Officers from the Sulphur Springs Police Department and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office will relate safety reminders and fire department personnel will bring fire trucks for tours. Clowns, balloons and face painting will also add to the Kids Zone activities. Becky added, “we are excited because the popular ‘Heroes, Cops and Kids’ team from the Metroplex will be coming to our event. They will be in superhero costume to entertain and inform all evening”. Following announcements from the stage, the Walk will begin at 7pm. The public is encouraged to come out, walk , and show support. Food and music will be part of the lively atmosphere. To find out more, visit walklikemadd.org/northeasttexas
Woman Accused Of Hiding Cocaine In Walking Cast
A 31-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was arrested after cocaine was found concealed in her walking cast.
Deputies reportedly stopped the woman at 10:53 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, for not signaling a lane change at the Industrial Drive and South Broadway Street intersection.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Patterson reported smelling a marijuana odor emitting from the Hyundai sedan while talking to the driver, identified as Lacey Michelle Blevins. She allegedly admitted there had been marijuana in the car recently. A probable cause search of the car revealed narcotics and drug paraphernalia in a camouflage bag under her seat, according to arrest reports.
Blevins was taken into custody and to the county jail, where she allegedly attempted to discard a syringe, which she had hidden on her. HCSO Sgt. Shea Shaw found the cap to the syringe in the seat of his vehicle, Patterson alleged in arrest reports.
While being processed into jail, Blevins was also allegedly found to be in possession of a baggy with less than 1 gram of a substance that field-tested positive as cocaine inside of her walking cast. She was charged with possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and tampering with evidence, according to arrest reports.
Blevins remained in Hopkins County jail late Wednesday morning, June 26. Bond was set at $10,000 on the tampering with evidence charge and $5,000 on the controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Police Seek Help With Criminal Mischief Cases
Sulphur Springs Police are asking for help with several criminal mischief cases reported over the weekend in town.
Representatives at several businesses between June 22 and June 24 reported windows shot out with a BB gun, at least three of which were along Interstate 30 near the South Broadway Street bridge, according to police reports.
An employee at Mattress Heaven/Kennedy Commercial reported finding one of the front windows had been shattered some time after the business closed at 7 p.m.
A tempered glass store front window in the same shopping center also reported just after 10 a.m. Saturday, June 22, to be damaged; a T-Mobile employee told police there were two impact sites with a small hole and a blow out in the glass, suspected to be from a BB or pellet gun at the West Shannon Road business. T-Mobile closed at 8:30 p.m. the night before, the store employees told police.
Just before 7 a.m. Sunday, an employee at Wendy’s reported one of the front windows of the East Industrial Drive business appeared to be shot with a BB gun. That business closed at 12 a.m. June 23.
Police have posted a photo, taken from a surveillance video, of a light colored car at one of the locations.
They are asking anyone with information about the criminal mischief or vehicle to contact either SSPD Detective Jason Reneau at the police department at 903-885-7602 or Crime Stoppers at 903-885-2020.
Maintenance Needs For 3 Facilities Identified at June Hospital District Meeting
Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors on Monday discussed three areas in need of improvement: the EMS building, Memorial Gardens and the roof of a Church Street building.
Church Street Roof Repairs
The roof of a chiropractic clinic in the 500 block of Church Street was reported to have sustained significant hail damage from recent storms and needs to be replaced.
HCHD CEO Ron Folwell reported the roof was not currently leaking, but that there had been some damages sustained within from a previous problem
The building is being rented for $1,000 a month. Hospital officials said they are about 98 percent sure insurance will cover the costs of a new roof to replace the old one, estimated to be about 35 years old. Of course, the deductible too would have to be paid.
Attorney Tommy Allison reminded the hospital board of directors to keep in mind there is a statute of limitations, which requires insurance claims be filed within a certain span of time. He recommended the matter be turned over to the insurance company, then if approved, seek bids for the project.
The board followed the recommendation, opting to contact the insurance company, then when/if approved, seek bids for repairs. If needed a lunch meeting for HCHD board could be scheduled prior to the regular August meeting if needed for the project to move forward.
Memorial Gardens Maintenance
Folwell too reported Memorial Gardens are in need of significant work, especially the large fountain which is in need of some significant work and some landscaping related to the runoff of water. When it floods, water from the parking lot overflows into the fountain.
The estimate for the project is just over $20,000. The Health Care Foundation has $10,000 set aside for this project, Folwell said.
Smith said he’d talked to the Health Care Foundation Executive Director Meredith Caddell, who noted the funding is from Sulphur Springs Adult Leadership. The funds had actually been designated for the city of Sulphur Springs for a big digital sign. The city declined the sign, so the money has been designated to the foundation to fix the water fall. That would fix the waterfall, Smith said, but infrastructure is another piece of the garden maintenance request. The water needs to be rerouted, to prevent the pump from continuing to burn up.
That would make the hospital district’s cost $10,180. The garden is used for many public events, including weddings, so officials would like to get it back into shape for use, Folwell told board members.
Paul Harvey, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs CEO, said he’d talked to Caddell to talk to City Manager Marc Maxwell about the issue, to see if some of that could potentially be city work.
The proposal was made to designate up to $10,180, to approve the Leadership Class funding for the project, see if the city will help to cover some of the trenching.
Board member Chris Brown asked if there’d been any bids sought to compare prices.
Harvey reported Caddell had tried to get other bids, but MS Landscaping was the only only one she’d had success with. Board president Kerry Law said he knew of only one other service in town that performs that type of work,.
Allison said to be in compliance with state laws, he thought bid process was required.
The board opted, instead of waiting for the August meeting, to go ahead and seek bids for the project, posting the process in the usual manner and time requirements, authorizing up to $10,180 for the project, and going with someone else only if they present a lower bid. Any acceptable bid would have to come from a business that meets industry standards, including having workers compensation. The project would get under way before the August meeting if a bid is favorable at or below the specified price and meeting all requirements.
EMS Building Needs
HCHD board CEO Ron Folwell told hospital district board the EMS building has been experiencing maintenance issues which need serious repairs, and asked the board to discuss the possibility of replacing it instead.
“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.
Brent Smith, director of EMS services, reported in the last storm the underpinning on the south wall of the EMS building was blown down. The upper southeast corner of the building has a dark sport that looks like it’s been burned. Smith said it has not burned, but there is a substance on it and a gap where it is coming apart, allowing water to enter the building. The stucco along that wall is coming off and the wood behind it is deteriorating.
Smith explained the building is made of four module trailers put together. The section between the trailer housing the director’s office, crew and communications areas is separating and beginning to pull apart. So far, there’s no leak, but the area is pulling apart, Smith told the board.
The building pulling apart from the foundation, where its deteriorating along the concrete. The underpinning on the north wall is pulling away. On that wall, stucco has come off, baring the wood, which has become rotten, Smith reported.
One window sill is in bad condition, and while not currently allowing water in, left unattended it will likely become a problem in the very near future, Smith said.
The whole piece along and under the back door is rotted needs to be replaced, according to Smith.
The west corner wall where utilities such as a fiber line and electricity come into the building, and where the breaker boxes for the EMS facility are located, is starting to take on water, Smith told the board.
Superficial stucco is coming off across the back. A section of board that holds up the structural ending is splintered, almost like you’re trying to attach cardboard. If you touch it, it’s falling apart. When the storm came through, it didn’t take much to blow that piece of press plywood down; that area is exposed. The EMS director said he is currently working to get that repaired.
“Essentially, Ron and I were talking and I kinda wanted to throw this out there, whether to put a committee together or look at some ideas about what housing [for EMS] looks like in a year or two down the road. I’m concerned because the building seems to be deteriorating quicker over time. We fix in pieces. We did some stuff. We do something to it every year. It’s like chasing a tail, you’re in a circle. I just need to put it on the radar that we need to do something in the next 2-3 year time frame,” Smith said.
Smith said, based on current maintenance and building issues, he does not anticipate the EMS building lasting another 2 years “without having major issues.”
He 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.
When asked about flooding on the property, Smith said the location he has in mind is up pretty high; he hasn’t seen water from rains rise that high. He said water from the lot across Airport Road to a church across the street was under water. However, Smith said he did not see water in the lot during the most recent rainstorm. The bottom near the creek by the nursing home floods, but he doesn’t think it comes up as far as the lot where he suggested an EMS station be located
“So, I think there’s room. There’s options there,” Smith said.
“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 said.
The building was only constructed to last 5 years, then the facility would relocate elsewhere. It’s been utilized more than twice that time, Smith pointed out.
HCHD Board member Chris Brown asked Paul Harvey, CHRISTUS Mother Francis Hospital Sulphur Springs CEO Paul Harvey if the hospital is full space-wise. Harvey affirmed except for some space on the second floor, the hospital is full.
“Maybe for our August meeting we can bring it back up for discussion. Everyone who wants to have some input, have some ideas, that would be a great time to go and put some thought into what size you have now, and if we’re going to build something, build something that can be added on to,” Law said.
Smith said he’d bring some ideas to the board, which could be considered at a later meeting.
Law asked Smith to consult with officials who have more recently constructed similar facilities regarding costs, to get an idea how much one would run.
Harvey said he’d be glad to speak with them regarding costs, as CHRISTUS recently had a project for which they discussed construction costs.
Ark-Tex Council Of Governments Board Of Directors June 27 Agenda
AGENDA ARK-TEX COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JUNE 27, 2019 MEETING
The Board of Directors of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 27, 2019, at the Franklin County Law Enforcement Center, 208 Hwy 37, Mt. Vernon, Texas, hosted by Scott Lee, Judge, Franklin County. Lunch will also be provided immediately following the meeting.
Item 1. Call to order.
Item 2. Invocation.
Item 3. Self-introductions.
Item 4. Approve the minutes as submitted of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments Board of Directors Meeting held Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Roxton, Texas.
Review and Comment
Item 5. Review and comment on an Environmental Assessment to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for proposed Federal Operating Permit and Acid Rain Permit by Luminant Generation Company, LLC, to authorize continued operation of the Lamar Power Plant located at 3205 FM 137, Paris, Lamar County, Texas. (To be presented by staff member Paul Prange)
Regular Business
Item 6. Review and consider annual approval of the Investment Policy that establishes procedures to be followed in investing funds for ATCOG. (To be presented by staff member Melinda Tickle)
Item 7. Review and consider approval of the proposed Salary Schedule for ATCOG for fiscal year ending September 30, 2020. (To be presented by staff member Melinda Tickle)
Item 8. Review and consider approval of Texas Municipal League (TML) Health Rerate and Benefit Verification Form to continue providing insurance benefits for Plan Year 2019-2020. (To be presented by staff member Leslie McBride)
Item 9. Review and consider approval of the ATCOG Information Security Policy. (To be presented by staff member Mary Beth Rudel)
Item 10. Review and consider approval of revisions to the ATCOG Policies and Procedures Manual. (To be presented by staff member Mary Beth Rudel)
Item 11. Review and consider approval of revisions to the ATCOG Procurement Policy and Procedures Manual. (To be presented by staff member Mary Beth Rudel)
Item 12. Review and discuss proposed Indirect and Benefit Rates for fiscal year ending September 30, 2020 (To be presented by Executive Director)
Item 13. Review and consider approval of the PHA Certifications of Compliance with the PHA Plans and related regulations regarding the 5-year and annual plan for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2019. (To be presented by staff member Mae Lewis)
Item 14. Review and consider authorizing the Executive Director, as the ATCOG Authorized Official, to submit an application to the Texas Homeless Network for 2019 Emergency Solutions Grant Program Funds. (To be presented by staff member Mary Beth Rudel)
Item 15. Review and consider approval of proposed Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) Implementation Plan for the ATCOG Region. (To be presented by Executive Director Chris Brown)
Other Business
Item 16. Executive Director Report (For information only; to be presented by Executive Director Chris Brown)
a) Program Updates/Statistics
Announcements
The next Executive Committee Meeting will be held Thursday, July 25, 2019, at 10 a.m., at the Titus County Extension Office, Mt. Pleasant, Texas.
