Bicyclist stopped, Jailed On Warrant, Controlled Substance Charge
A 34-year-old Sulphur Springs man stopped for not having a headlight on his bicycle ended up in jail on a controlled substance charge and a traffic warrant.
Sulphur Springs Police Sgt. Matt Glenn reported stopping the bicyclist at 10:53 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of Garrison Street for the bike headlight violation. Upon identifying the man as John David McGee Jr., a records check was conducted using that information. McGee was found to be wanted on an outstanding speeding charge. He was taken into custody and the bicycle was taken to the sheriff’s office.
Glenn reported finding a clear bag containing suspected methamphetamine in a patrol vehicle, where McGee had been seated on the way to jail. The substance weighed 0.64 grams, Glenn alleged in arrest reports.
McGee was jailed May 12 on the speeding warrant as well as possession of 1 gram or more but less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone, the latter enhancement added because the man was within 1,000 feet of a school when stopped, making it a drug-free zone, according to arrest reports.
He remained in the county jail late Monday morning on the charges; bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
Dinner Bell Menu For May 15th, 2019
City National Bank is the Community Partner.
We are having an INDOOR PICNIC!
Ham Slices
Frito Corn Salad
Marinated Black Eyed Pea Salad
Deviled Eggs
Fresh Fruit Melange
The weather has been dreary of late. Let’s picnic indoors–there will be no ants to bother us! Same time (11:45 a.m.) Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church). Promises of delicious food and good visiting. Join us.
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
Relay For Life Supporters Pack The ROC Friday
Relay For Life Tri Counties-Texas wrapped up late Friday night with more than $40,000 raised online and during the annual American Cancer Society benefit and awareness event.
Committee members shortly after midnight were still collecting funds, but said early estimates were for more than $40,000 collected for RFL, and counting. Donations can be made year round, and teams who wish to continue fundraising online and otherwise can do so until August to have the funds count toward this year’s event total. Anyone who wishes to contribute to help RFL Tri Counties-Texas to help meet or exceed this year’s $50,000 goal can do so on the event webpage.
The RFL Committee on Thursday made the decision to move the event from outside on the downtown square inside The ROC, due to predictions of wet, cooler weather Friday.
The main event room was packed to watch the parade of cancer survivors make the first lap, then another joined by their caregivers, at 7 p.m. Friday. Each survivor was presented a purple flower, donated by a local florist, as they made the first couple of laps around the “track.” At 3 p.m. Friday, approximately 120 survivors had registered for RFL, pickup up their signature purple shirts to wear for the occasion, and several more registered just prior to the event, committee members reported at the conclusion of this year’s RFL.
Community members jammed the room afterward, partaking of the games and foods made available by teams for donations to benefit ACS for programs that help area cancer battlers as well as to help fund research for a cure. Overall, 22 teams participated in the May 10 RFL.
Teams and community members lapping for RFL took to the stairs to walk the path on the second floor, which spans the entire room. Another room on the the other side of the building served as a dining area for people to sit down, fellowship and enjoy the snacks purchased from teams.
This year also, RFL encouraged teams to bring canned goods, which were used to anchor the luminary which lined the track path and stage in the event room in honor and memory of cancer survivors and battlers.
A “castle” area off the dining room was set up for cancer survivors. Various local businesses and agency donated items for survivors to take home as souvenirs and food was provided free in that area to survivors as well.
Relay for Life concluded by midnight, with a number of teams, businesses and individuals recognized for their outstanding efforts this year. Awards and recipients included:
- Loud and Proud Team Spirit Award– Sulphur Springs Elementary School
- Best T-shirt Design — Saltillo
- Best Spirit Stick — Alliance Bank
- Best Campsite Award — Flowserve
- Shine Bright Luminaria Award — Saltillo
- Team Heart of Relay Award — Unidos
- You Are Heart of Relay — CHRISTUS
- Hope Endures Survivor Winner — Rachel Draper
- Making that Money Award — Alliance Bank
- Courage Award — Sandy Reed
- Rookie of the Year — Vicky
Wildcats Baseball Season Over At Area
Wildcats Baseball Team’s Season Ends With Pitchers’ Duel Loss to Joshua Saturday
The Wildcats’ baseball team saw their season come to an end as they lost 3-1 to Joshua in the decisive third game of their Area series at Rockwall Saturday afternoon. Pacen Edwards deserved a better fate for the Wildcats taking the pitching loss despite allowing one earned run and three hits over six innings. Edwards struck out five and walked two. Joshua got a well pitched game from junior Zach Peters who won the pitchers’ duel going seven innings allowing one run and four hits while striking out 13 and walking one. The Owls scored first getting two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Their first two runners in the inning got on on errors. The second one was controversial. On a ball hit to third baseman Will Sims, he threw to first where first baseman Jaxon Chaney stretched and appeared to catch the ball with his foot on the bag before coming off the bag. The first base umpire, just feet from the play, ruled it an out. Joshua appealed to the home plate umpire, who observing the play from 90-feet away, overruled the first base umpire. The extra base runner made a difference. The next Owls’ hitter singled driving home a run. The Owls’ second run came home as the Wildcats turned a double play from second to short to first. Joshua added an insurance run in the bottom of the six to go up 3-0. They had a single, fielder’s choice and an RBI triple. The Wildcats scored their lone run in the top of the seventh. Kamren Harrison opened the inning with a double. Jase Thompson’s one out triple drove in Harrison. The Wildcats end the season with an 18-12 record.
Rains, Como-Pickton Teams Take Top Honors In SSHS BBQ Build Off, Cooking Honors Won By Bland
Top honors in the Sulphur Springs High School BBQ Build Off Friday went to Rains High School ag students for their smoker and to Bland High School in the cooking contest.
Rains team accepts their first place awards at the SSHS BBQ Build Off. 
The Rains ISD team with their first place barbecue smoker at SSHS BBQ Build Off.
The annual contest featured teams of three and four students from nine different high schools, including Sulphur Springs, Miller Grove, Rivercrest, Lone Oak and Commerce school district. Students demonstrated and honed their skills to construct a barbecue smoker, using the same materials provided by SSHS and their own tools and abilities, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Two teams also brought an additional member, who cooked meat to be judged on site Friday.
Two of the Bland team members with their project; Bland won the cooking contest at the SSHS BBQ Build Off. 
The Como-Pickton team with their second place smoker at the SSHS BBQ Build Off
Three community members served as judges, evaluating each barbecue smoker based on a form. Teams were awarded 50 points for complete their smoker, 10 for how it acts, 10 for condition, 15 points for welding quality, 15 for fit and form and potential 20 more points for any extra efforts and features they put into the smoker.
Shortly before 3 p.m., SSHS agriculture teacher John Luper commended all of the teams for their efforts. He announced the Bland team as the winner of the cooking contest. Honors in the build-off went to Rains County as the overall winners. Earning second place honors was the Como-Pickton team and third place went to the Greenville team. The judges also commended Commerce’s team members were for their perseverance in sticking with the project even after taking the worst of the morning’s rain.
The Greenville team accept their third place prizes 
The Greenville team with their third place project.
Winners received a welding bag with a variety of tools and other useful welding items. Each team also got to take home their project.
The Rivercest Team with their project 
The Commerce team with their project 
The Lone Oak team with their project 
The SSHS team with their project 
The Miller Grove team with their project
SSPD: Disturbance Involving Teen Reportedly Ends With Misdemeanor Assault Charge
A disturbance with a teen Friday afternoon resulted in a 27-year-old Shreveport, Louisiana man being arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs police reportedly responded during the noon hour Friday to a disturbance report on North Jackson Street.
The Shreveport man was alleged to have been involved in a disturbance with his 15-year-old cousin. One cousin hit the other, causing a fight, police reports alleged. The Shreveport man then is accused of grabbing the cousin in a headlock. The cousins reportedly were separated to end the fight. The 15-year-old suffered minor scrapes around the neck, police alleged in arrest reports.
The Shreveport man was reported to be “very uncooperative with officers and threatened to physically move an officer” in order to re-enter the Jackson Street residence, according to arrest reports.
When told he was under arrest, the Shreveport man allegedly began to pull away from the officer, who then reported using minimal force with his hands to control the man to the ground, where he was placed into handcuffs and taken to jail, the officer alleged in the arrest report.
When given an opportunity to tell his side of the story, the man reportedly refused to speak, police noted in arrest reports. The Shreveport man was charged with the Class A misdemeanor offense family violence assault causing bodily injury, according to arrest and jail reports. His bond was set at $2,000 on the charge Saturday, according to jail reports.
Man Jailed For Allegedly Choking His Girlfriend During Altercation
May 11, 2019 – Police arrested a 39-year-old Sulphur Springs man for allegedly choking his girlfriend during an altercation Friday.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Brandon Murphy reported responding to a disturbance reported in the 600 block of Houston Street. Upon arrival, officers reported seeing James Wesley Whitworth on his front porch, yelling at bystanders. Whitworth was detained and placed into handcuffs “due to his agitation,” while police investigated further,.
As a result of that investigation, police determined Whitworth was an aggressor in a physical altercation. He was accused of intentionally and knowingly causing bodily injury to his girlfriend by choking her during the physical altercation. Murphy alleged injuries on the girlfriend supported the description given to police regarding the alleged assault.
Whitworth was taken to jail for assault of a family or household member that impeded breathing or circulation, a third-degree felony offense.
Whitworth violated his parole on the assault charge in November in 2023 and was arrested.
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.
Wildcats Baseball Team Has Winning Streak Snapped, Decisive Area Game Saturday
During the Wildcats’ eight game winning streak, good defense has been a big part of the story. Friday night, May 10, in game two of the Wildcats Area round series with Joshua, the Wildcats committed six errors that contributed greatly to a one-sided 13-2 loss.
The series is now tied at one game apiece. The deciding game takes place Saturday at noon at Rockwall.
Friday the Owls got off to a strong start using an error to score three runs in the top of the first inning. The Wildcats scored one in the bottom of the first but trailed 3-1.
Joshua scored three more times in the second inning to go up, 6-1.
The Wildcats were able to score a single run in the bottom of the third but still trailed 6-2.
The Owls scored four more runs in the fourth inning and three more in the sixth to wrap up the game.
Joshua only outhit the Wildcats 8-6. Joshua also had two errors compared with six for the Wildcats.
Jaxon Chaney took the loss for the Wildcats going three innings allowing three hits and six runs, all of them unearned due to errors. Chaney struck out three and walked three.
Jake Davis went 2/3 of an inning allowing two hits and four runs with all of them unearned. Davis struck out two and walked two.
Kamren Harrison finished up, pitching 2 1/3 innings allowing three hits, three runs with two strikeouts and two walks.
Kaden Argenbright and Chaney led the Wildcats with two hits apiece. Argenbright was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two doubles. Chaney was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI. Kolson Hale drove in a run was was 1 for 3 with a double. Austin Dodd was 1 for 3.
The Wildcats season record slips to 18-11.
200 Athletes Compete In 10th Annual Hopkins County Track and Field Meet
Friday’s early morning rain may have forced the 10th Annual Hopkins County Track and Field Meet inside, but it did nothing to dampen the excitement and enthusiasm of the 200 student athletes competing in the special sports day at Sulphur Springs High School Friday.
Students from Barbara Bush, Lamar and Travis Primary campuses, Sulphur Springs Elementary, Middle and High School in Sulphur Springs ISD were joined by student athletes from Clarksville, Commerce, Emory Rains schools and the Hopkins County Co-Op.
As they entered the Multipurpose Building Friday morning, students were greeted with cheers and applause from SSHS and SSMS cheerleaders, Key Club and SSMS Student Council members.
After checking in, the event kicked off with an opening ceremony, which featured a parade of athletes to music played by Sulphur Springs band students, presentation of flags by Sulphur Springs Boy Scouts, the pledge to the American flag lead by Ridge Browning, pledge to Texas flag lead by Riley Joslin, singing of the National Anthem by Morgan Deaton, opening remarks and invocation by SSISD administrators, Special Olympics Oath lead by Alyson Vaughn, and declaration of the competition open by SSISD Special Programs Specialist Rachel Kistler.
On the field, students were organized into groups to compete in a number of track and field events, including the 50 and 100 meter walk and dash, 10 meter dash, 25 meter walk, 10 and 25 meter assisted walk; and 10, 25 and 100 meter wheelchair events, as well as a tennis ball throw, javelin, softball throw, running long jump and standing long jump. Each student was paired with at least one Key Club, Student Council, Blue Blazes and cheerleaders , who also helped staff the events.
A special lunch was provided by Alliance Bank for each athlete, student volunteers, staff and others involved in the day’s activities.
Of course, the event would not be possible without sponsors’ contributions and the numerous volunteers, staff and others, recognized on the event t-shirt and program.
SaDavia Porter Finishes Sixth in State in Class 5A 100-Meter Dash
Lady Cat sprinter SaDavia Porter finished in sixth place in the Class 5A 100-meter dash at the State Track Meet Friday night. May 10, at Mike A. Myers Stadium at UT Austin. Porter ran in lane one. Out of the nine competitors in the event, Porter came in with the seventh best time.
She finished second at the Regional Track Meet at UT Arlington on April 27 to qualify for state. Porter won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Area Track Meet and at the District Meet.
She has signed a letter of intent to run track at UT-Arlington after graduation.
