ETCOG “Go Bus” May Expand Rural Transportation Services to Hopkins County
The East Texas Council of Governments, Director Of Transportation, Vince Huerta and Business Development Manager, Melissa Cure came to the Senior Citizens Center on Wednesday, May 8th to get input about transportation concerns from the citizens of Hopkins County. They are assessing the need to expand their operation to Hopkins County and the Surrounding Counties. They already have a 14 County area that they service. They are holding meetings in the surrounding counties to check out the needs in those counties as well. They would be able to Transport people to Doctors Appointments in other Cities. They are trying to work out a schedule on certain days of the week to take people to Tyler, Paris, Winnsboro, etc… That way multiple people can ride to the same destination at the same time and not have to make several trips. They will try to work with Clinics and the different Doctors in town to only schedule people’s doctor visits on certain days so they can have transportation available to take them to different cities. If you have any input that you would like to talk to them about please feel free to contact them at: www.GoBusTransit.com.
This will take time to get all of the Logistics set in place.
Chris Brown, Executive Director of Ark-Tex Council of Governments and Hopkins County Judge, Robert Newsom were at the meeting to answer any questions and to give their input on the Project.
We already have a great TRAX System in Hopkins County.
Everyone that needs a ride is welcome to call and request a ride. They need at least 24 Hours in advance notice but 48 would even be better. Fares are $ 1.00 for each ten miles and an additional $ 1.00 for each 10 miles after that. If you are 60 and over you can ride FREE if you fill out some paperwork. You must have the correct fare to ride. They only accept cash or check. The TRAX bus runs Monday – Friday 8:00 – 5:00. They are Handicap Accessible and are driven by trained drivers.
If you would like to ride the TRAX Bus please call (903) 885-2769 and wait for the prompt for Hopkins County.
Semester-Ending Hot Dog Lunch At PJC.
Paris Junior College Director of Student Life Kenneth Webb, left, was on the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus this week serving up hot dogs to students and faculty as they complete final exams at the end of the spring semester. Final day of classes is May 17. Registration is underway at the campus for summer and fall semesters. For more information call 903-885-1232.
Two Arrests for Winnsboro Police During the April 29-May 5, 2019 Report Period
Two arrests, two accidents, responding to 112 calls for service, issuing 16 citations and writing 27 warnings occupied the time of the Winnsboro Police Department during the April 29-May 5, 2019 report period.
Nathaniel Carroll, 25 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested
on 5/2/2019 on a Winnsboro Municipal Warrant.
Joseph Bearden, 26 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on
5/5/2019 on a Wood County Warrant.
On May 4th in the 600 Block of Autumn Dr a minor two vehicle accident resulted when one vehicle was backing down Autumn Dr. in reverse when the driver confused the pedals striking a car parked at 600 Autumn Dr. The parked car was unoccupied. The driver of the one car was unconscious
and was transported by ambulance to Christus Mother Francis in Winnsboro for treatment.
On April 29th in the 200 Block of East Coke at Walnut St. a two vehicle accident resulted when a vehicle traveling East on Coke Rd. struck another vehicle traveling South on Walnut St. Both units were proceeding through the traffic light at the intersection. The South bound vehicle came to rest in the east bound lane of Coke Rd. The East Bound vehicle came to rest striking a wood power line pole on East Coke Rd. Multiple occupants were taken to Christus Mother Francis Hospital in Winnsboro for treatment. The injuries, if any, are unknown at this time.
Tira News for May 8, 2019
BY JAN VAUGHN
Joyce Dodd reports, “Martha’s [Payton] brother donated several bags of groceries to our pantry this week. Georgia [Smith] also made another donation. We have some very faithful people helping us out. Blessings keep finding their way to our little pantry.” She added that Yvonne Weir donated canned meats and “angels” brought four bags of food. We always appreciate the contributions.
A small group of the Horn family gathered at the Tira Community Center for a reunion on Saturday, May 4. Everyone enjoyed visiting, looking at family photos, bidding on silent auction items, and, of course, the delicious pot-luck lunch. Those attending included Doug Burkham, Dorreice Shuptrine, Doug and Gae Lou Haley, Betty Sue Johnson, June Vessel, Mitzi Doran, Sandra Ellison, Diane Wilcher, Jimmy and Janie Lewis, Elizabeth Steinsiek, Jaidyn Joslin, Chip and myself. We hope to have a bigger group next year on the first Saturday in May.
Our great-grandsons, Rylan, Brailon and Slaiden, came over for a while on Saturday evening. Our daughter and granddaughter, Jaidyn, came for a visit, too. Jaidyn and the boys always enjoy playing on their riding toys. Brailon and Slaiden were particularly interested in playing with the frogs that they and their daddy, Landon, found. They, reluctantly, released them back into the pond before returning home.
Tiffany Vaughn spent Thursday evening Saturday morning in Malvern, Arkansas. She picked Jaidyn up from the reunion on Saturday and they went to watch Brailon Joslin, son of Landon and Laiken Joslin, play t-ball in Commerce. Brailon’s family enjoyed cheering him on, and then going out to lunch together.
The Aiguier Cemetery Association meeting and homecoming will be held on Sunday, June 2. Watch for details to come soon.
Also, mark your calendar for the Tira Homecoming, which will be held on Sunday, July 7.
Chip’s sister, Linda Ellen Vaughn, had lunch with us on Sunday, along with Tiffany and Jaidyn. Chip and I attended the North East Texas Choral Society’s “Stage and Screen” concert that afternoon. The choir and musicians did a wonderful job of presenting the familiar TV, Broadway and movie themes, under the direction of Carol Allen.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
High waters from floods will drive snakes and rodents into areas they may not venture normally. By Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
High waters from floods will drive snakes and rodents into areas they may not venture normally, such as homes and storage buildings. According to Mississippi State University’s Extension Service anytime a building has been flooded, people should enter it with extra caution. Snakes and mice or rats are just like people; they will seek shelter from a storm. “If they are in flowing water and encounter a tree or structure, they’ll likely climb up for a dry spot. If they find a house, they may go up to an open area under the eaves.” When flood waters recede, urged extreme caution inside closets, on bookcases, under furniture or any place elusive creatures might hide. There may be an increase in snakes and rodents outside homes near piles of debris, around stalled automobiles, near or inside outbuildings or any area that offers shelter. “If a snake is in a house, homeowners can get glue boards that they can put down on top of sheets to catch the snake. After capturing a snake on a glue board, roll up the sheet to carry the snake outside for release. Vegetable oil will counteract the adhesive. In some areas, animal control officers may be available to assist. If homeowners are controlling rodents in the home, snakes will not remain for long. They will leave in search of other food. “Flood conditions can cause new infestations of insects, rodents, snakes and other pests that can cause health problems for humans and livestock,” “Use flashlights to inspect closets, basements, storage areas, bins and shelves with extra caution. It’s as important to avoid rat bites as you would want to avoid snake bites.” Snakes can only strike within two-thirds the length of their body, so a 3-foot snake could reach up to 2 feet away. A person who is bitten should try to look for characteristics to determine the type of snake it is. Venomous snakes will leave two distinct puncture wounds, and nonvenomous snakes may leave marks more like scratches.”Victims of venomous snake bites should try to get to the hospital as soon as possible. If you are not close to a hospital, wrap a constricting band between the bite area and the heart to slow down, but not stop, the blood flow. Do not apply a tight tourniquet, In general, it’s better not to waste time with first aid; just head to the hospital. Rodents can be eliminated by trapping or poisoning. The anticoagulant poisons (warfarin, pival, fumarin and diphacinone) require at least four days of successive feeding before the rats begin to die. Rats will continue to die for two weeks or longer after consuming bait..”Insects such as flies and mosquitoes can multiply at alarming rates after torrential rains, so people should be aggressive in removing standing puddles and containers filled with water. Appropriately dispose of garbage and animal carcasses. Repair or replace screens, windows, doors and vents as soon as possible.” For more information on this or any other agricultural or natural resources topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
The Tenth Annual “Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic” Pageant is June 1
Karon Weatherman, Director of the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, has a soft place in her heart for the local senior population, and she fully demonstrates that daily. Along with providing a pleasant location for fellowship, recreation and nutritious hand-prepared lunches, Weatherman has also created numerous public events to honor Hopkins County’s most seasoned residents. The most glamorous is the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic” Pageant. How and when did this successful pageant begin? Nine years ago at the request of Peggy Wagner, then Director of the Ms. Texas Senior Classic Pageant, Karon put out a call for local ladies over age 60 who would volunteer to help her celebrate the “changing face of aging” by appearing in a beauty pageant. From that first year, lovely and talented senior women have stepped forward “out of their comfort zone” to perform talent, express their philosophy of life and appear in evening gown competition before an audience. Karon also treats the contestants to an “afternoon tea” prior to the pageant where they can meet and visit with one another as well as participate in a full rehearsal.
The nine contestants for the 2019 crown are: Jan Massey, Nancy Bolton, Valerie Ross, Majel Reddick, Linda Pickle Hill, Marjean Allen, Pam George, Jan Gray and Elizabeth Wilburn. Former “queens” Ina Gore, Patsy Crist, Lavonne Elam and Stella Bagley will also appear. Returning emcees are Enola Gay Mathews and Chuck Roy. Following the competition, the judges scores will determine two runners-up, the talent, congeniality and evening gown winners. A new honor, the Memorial Leadership Award, will be given in honor of the late Clydene Fielden, Ms. Sr. Classic 2014. Finally, reigning Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Mary Ivey will crown the new ‘queen’ who earns the right to advance to the Ms. Texas Senior Classic Pageant this summer.
The event will begin at 6 pm on Saturday June 1, 2019 in the Banquet hall of the Hopkins County Civic Center. Admission is free to the public, and attendance is encouraged to show support for the contestants and to enjoy the variety of talent. There will plenty of photo opportunities for families of contestants, and videotaping is also permitted.
Wednesday Morning Crash Results In 1 Death
A 57-year-old Sulphur Springs man reportedly died as a result of a crash in the intersection at South Broadway Street at Wildcat Way Wednesday morning.
According to Sulphur Springs Police Interim Chief Jason Ricketson, authorities were notified at 8:08 a.m. May 8 of a crash involving a sport utility vehicle and an 18-wheeler in the South Broadway Street-Wildcat Way intersection.
The crash is still under investigation. Initial reports were that the 18-wheeler was southbound and the SUV was northbound. The vehicles collided in the intersection.
The truck driver was not injured in the crash. Both the 57-year-old Sulphur Springs male passenger and 49-year-old Sulphur Springs woman in the SUV were transported to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs. The passenger died later Wednesday morning at the hospital. The woman has remained in the hospital, where she was reported to be in stable condition, Ricketson reported shortly before noon.
No names are being released at this time as the family of those involved is still being notified, according to Ricketson.
City Council Approves Architect for Grays Building Design, Tables Abatement Issue
Sulphur Springs City Council approved all items proposed on Tuesday night’s agenda, except one. The council considered, but opted not to take action Tuesday night, regarding a tax abatement, the terms of which have not been fully met.
The Economic Development Corporation notified the city by letter that, during a review of tax abatement certifications, Ocean Spray Cranberries was found to not be in compliance with the terms of the agreement, with fewer than the required jobs on the payroll for 2018,. The abatement, for 2018-22, was contingent on the company maintaining its labor force of 143 employees. The company had a labor reduction of 13 employees, City Manager Marc Maxwell told council members at their regular May meeting Tuesday night.
City Finance Director Lesa Smith reported the company also had an earlier abatement, for 2016-2020.
“They both have the same requirements of 143 jobs and a payroll of $8.1 million each year,” Smith said.
“The decision before you is: do you wish to cancel the abatement due to noncompliance, do you wish to modify the requirements or do you want to do some type of pro rata percentage?” Maxwell said.
The council could opt to hold the company to 130 employees, opt to reduce the abatement by the percent of job loss, or say there is no agreement because the terms were not met, Maxwell said.
Place 1 Councilwoman Erica Armstrong pointed out that Ocean Spray Cranberries representatives, in a response letter to the EDC regarding the matter, indicated they are trying to find a place for the employees whose jobs were lost
“In their request, they did ask us to consider reducing the percent of the abatement. I think that would be a fair option in that they are trying to fulfill,” Armstrong said.
Mayor John Sellers asked if there were any other precedents in the city regarding action taken when requirements of a tax abatement have not been met.
City Attorney Jim McLeroy said he can recall only one other time in the past when the city rescinded an abatement. In that instance, the company did not ask for modifications or other terms paid, but paid all of the taxes owed.
Place 6 Councilman Doug Moore said based on the amount the city would receive if a pro rata option were granted, “I’m not sure that’s the way to go.” He asked if the abatement could be suspended for a year, to be evaluated at the end of the year, with the abatement granted then only if all the terms were met.
“I haven’t looked at that, but I’m assuming we could modify it, yes,” McLeroy said.
Armstrong asked if the payroll requirement was met.
Smith said she wasn’t sure what their current payroll is.
McLeroy suggested tabling the item until EDC staff, who work directly with industries, can be consulted for a recommendation regarding the abatement.
Armstrong made a motion, seconded by Place 2 Councilman Jimmy Lucas, to table the matter pending a recommendation by the EDC. The motion passed.
In other business Tuesday night, Inceptive was approved to design and produce construction drawings for the H.W. Grays Building in Pacific Park, based on the recommendations of the selection committee, after the architecture firm’s qualifications were reviewed and rated.
The city council approved Ordinance 2744, and selling of a limited tax note for $445,000, with $9,000 going toward note costs and $436,000 toward equipment purchase costs. It will be financed through City National Bank at a 1.88 percent interest rate. The equipment was purchased out of the city’s fund balance, the bonds are now sold to reimburse the expenditure, Maxwell explained.
The city also is refinancing two existing bond notes. The previous average rate on the old bonds was 5.42 percent. The new rate is 2.78 percent, which will save the city approximately $50,000 a year in bond payments, city officials reported.
The city also approved Resolution 1167, which denies the distribution cost recovery factor to increase distribution rates for Oncor Electric Delivery. That’s a $29 million increase across the state, according to Maxwell. The resolution authorizes the city to join with the Steering Committee of Cities Served by Oncor to evaluate the filing, determine whether the filing complies with law, and if lawful, to determine further strategy, including a possible settlement, to pursue.
Smith reported “almost everything on the revenue side is tracking to budget” as of the end of the seventh month in the fiscal year.
“We are still up on sales tax. We are up 9.71 percent over this time last year. So, that around $217,000 up,” Smith said.
She included projects for the end of the year in her budget report to the council.
“There are a couple of budgets that look to be over, two of them significantly,” Smith reported.
She estimated the fire department will be $91,000 over budget this year and the police department will be $46,000 over budget. If that’s the case, the council will be asked at a later time to amend the budget to reflect the additional expenses.
“There are a couple of reasons I pinpointed my overages accounting for those two departments mainly. The main issue with fire department is they changed the minimum staff from five to six per 24-hour shift. It’s good news for the fire department, but it does have an impact on our budget. So, that’s one of the main reasons there,” Smith said.
The anticipated increase in spending in the police department could be due to the change from an 8-hour shift to a 12-hour shift, and having to pay the public safety director a salary while he was on leave and having to paying “a little bit extra for the increase in duties for the interim chief,” Smith said.
Public Safety Director James “Jay” Sanders was on administrative leave with pay from March 22 to May 3, while being investigated by Texas Commission on Law Enforcement for allegedly providing “false information to pay for a couple of people to go to academy.” The TCOLE investigation concluded on May 2, with Sanders surrendering his peace officer license, TCOLE spokeswoman Gretchen Grigsby said Tuesday. Sanders handed in his resignation to the city on May 3.
Sulphur Springs Police Capt. Jason Ricketson stepped up to serve as acting police chief when Sanders was placed on leave and continues to serve in that capacity. No timeline has been announced by city officials regarding when a permanent police chief and fire chief or public safety director will be appointed or selected. Tim Vaughn is serving as acting chief of Sulphur Springs Fire Department.
