A Look At The Financial Impact Of The $2M Miller Grove ISD Bond Proposal
Miller Grove area residents are being asked to consider approving in the May 4 Miller Grove Independent School District bond election a tax increase to fund a new Multipurpose Center.
The new facility would house a new elementary gymnasium, fine arts facility to include a UIL-compliant stage, concessions and kitchen area, and restrooms. The new MGISD facility would also have space for future expansion of the facility to include classrooms, weight room and locker rooms.
What does that mean for tax-payers?
“If the bonds are authorized, the estimated total tax rate of the District is expected to be $1.46 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation, representing the sum of (i) the most recently adopted tax rate for operations and maintenance, which is $1.17 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation, plus (ii) the estimated tax rate for voted debt obligations of the District, including the bonds, which is estimated to be $0.29 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation,” the Notice of Ballot Election states.
Basically, that means tax payers will pay an additional 14 cents in I&S property tax per $100 property value, raising the I&S tax rate to $0.29, the highest rate the district can set it at and still receive a 40 percent state contribution, according to Johnson.
Because MGISD is considered by the state to be a “property poor” school district, the district is also eligible to receive supplemental funding from the state to apply to bond debts.“The taxes raised through the district’s bond tax rate are matched with state funds,” at a 40 percent state-60 percent district rate.
This will not change the tax on homesteads for MGISD residents who have filed for the “65 and over” homestead exemption; their rate homestead value is frozen, and would only be adjusted if the owner made major renovations or additions to the homestead property. This exemption must be requested through Hopkins County Appraisal District.
If the bond sells, the expected homestead tax on a $40,000 homestead would increase $36 yearly or $4.67 monthly. The homestead tax rate on a $60,000 property would increase $84 annually or $7 per month. A Homestead valued at $80,000 would increase $112 per year, or about $9.33 per month. The tax rate on a $100,000 home would increase $140 per year or about $11.67 per month.
For more information about the bond election and proposed project, visit the MGISD website or contact the MGISD administration at (903) 459-3288.
Miller Grove ISD Holding $2M Bond Election For Multipurpose Center
Residents within the boundary of Miller Grove Independent School District are asked to go to the pole next week to consider approving a $2 million bond election “for the construction, acquisition, renovation and equipment of school buildings in the district.”
Miller Grove ISD Board of Trustees officially called for the election on Feb. 11. Early voting by personal appearance began last week, and will resume from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, April 29-30. Voting will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day, Saturday, May 4. The high school gymnasium serves as the polling site for all voting in the MGISD bond election.
“The bond proposal is the result of ongoing communication between the community and school for the purpose of addressing existing Miller Grove ISD facilities and new facility construction. Projects will address the safety of our students, compliance with accessibility, and other physical facility aspects,” district officials posted as a Message from the District.
The bond will allow the district to construct a new Multipurpose Center in place of the old gymnasium, which is used primarily for elementary physical education classes and Little Dribblers, according to MGISD Superintendent Steve Johnson.
Funding permitting, the Multipurpose Center would include a new elementary gymnasium, UIL-compliant state for the fine arts students, concessions and kitchen area, restrooms.
This would be utilized primarily by the elementary PE classes, but would also include a stage for the drama department to use to prepare for competitions and community performances, and could even potentially serve as a site for graduations and other community events.
Having a designated stage at the school would be a huge help to the high school and junior high drama classes, who currently have to be transported to other schools such as Paris Junior College in order to practice on a stage of approved UIL standards prior to competition, according to Johnson.
Space and funding provided, there would also be room for future expansion of classes as well as weight and locker room.
This would allow all of the elementary area to be covered, so students could walk to all sections used by those grade, regardless the weather, safely. The facility could also potentially be utilized by the community in the future as well, according to Johnson.
If approved, the elementary students would most-likely have to walk down to the secondary gym until the new multi-function center could be constructed, with students bused from one end of campus to the other in the event or heavy rain and cold weather, until the project is complete, according to the superintendent.
Ideally, the new MGISD Multipurpose Center would accessible to another project the district is undertaking – construction of an 8-lane illuminated UIL-sanctioned track, 90 feet from the north side of the baseball field. Funding from the maintenance and operations portion of school tax collections will be utilized to fund this project, made possible in part to a land donation.
Johnson said the district would eventually like to see the center finished out with a concessions area and restrooms accessible from the track.
A new multipurpose center would also better accommodate the population growth at the elementary level. The district has experienced a 43.6 percent growth over the last 15 years, a 44.6 percent increase in elementary population in the last 6 years, with increases in each of those years except 2016. Overall, MGISD currently has 326 students enrolled in classes.
For more information about the bond election and proposed project, visit the MGISD website or contact the MGISD administration at (903) 459-3288.
Wildcat Golf Season Ends
Wildcats Golfers Don’t Qualify For State But Coach is Proud of Their Solid Scores at Regional
Wildcats Golf Coach Chris Owens said he was real proud of his team as some players had personal bests and other showed consistency on a big stage, at the Region II Golf Tournament Wednesday and Thursday (April 24-25) at Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club. Then there was the weather on Wednesday that Coach Owens said was better suited for water polo than golf. Still through rain and mud, the Wildcats got in 9 holes. They wrapped up with a grueling 27 holes on Thursday. The Wildcats did not qualify for state but finished sixth among sixteen teams. The team’s two day score was 624. They shot 313 over the first 18 holes and 311 over the second 18. Senior Carter Lewis shot 74 and 71 for a total of 145, good for twelfth place in the tourney. Coach Owens noted that Lewis has had a good career here and he wished him well playing at UT Tyler. Colton Bench shot 82 and 79 for 161. Senior Andrew Escobar shot 78 and 81 for 159. Coach Owens called both Bench and Escobar consistent. He said an improving Kip Childress shot 83 and 80 for a 163 total. Sophomore Grant Mohesky shot his best round ever, a 79, and added an 81 for a total of 160. Coach Owens said the sixth place finish was the Wildcats best regional showing in five or six years.
Hopkins County Records
Posted Week of April 26, 2019
Applications for Marriage Licenses
- Jimmy Dale Taylor and Leanne Dulude
- Andrew Craig McLarry and Melissa Dawn Pickle
- Kushal Aryal and Alyssa Joyce McLarry-Arden
- Darrel Glenn Pierce and Elizabeth Kate Hamrick
- Kerry Louis Bailey and Tammy Yvette Timmons
- Robert Edward McKnight and Crystal Mechelle Harrell
- Bobby Hue Jones and Nita Marie Barrett
- Jovany Lopez and Veronica Ramirez Resendiz
- Bradley Jackson Worsham and Raegan Michelle Fields
- Michael Joseph Stout and Miranda Marie Garris
- Thorne Spencere Pickens and Taylor Lynn Archer
- Peyton Max Coke and Kasey Nicole Thomas
- Joshua Lee Alexander and Terra Dene Coffman
- James Louis Schlager and Teri Elizabeth Triplett
- Brandon Reid Black and Kristina Marie Losiewicz
Land Deed Transactions
- Javier Sanchez, Jose S. Sanchez, Mercedes Sanchez, Reina Sanchez also known as Reyna Sanchez attorney, to Cherly Feick and Kurt Adam Feick; tract in the William Lewis survey
- Miramontes Properties LLC to Jay W. Ferguson; tract in the Elizabeth Melton survey
- State of Texas and Texa Veterans Land Board to Walker Construction Inc.; tract in the SR Cherry survey
- Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB Trustee for RMAC Trust Series 2015 – 5T to Flacks Shacks LLC; tract in the E. Melton survey
- The Ranchers at Red Ridge LLC to Claudia M. King and Terry L. King; tract in the S. Waggoner survey
- TTTT Limited and TTTTX Limited to Bonnie Gay Powers; tract in the Country Club Estates
- Robert Blackwell and Stephanie Blackwell to Bethaney Haas and Jessica Haas; tract in the Mary Ann Bowlin survey
- Holly Boykin known as Holley Wasilowski, and William Wasilowski to Francisco De Santiago and Tapia Raymundo De Santiago; tract in the G. Procello survey
- Dana D. Self to Michael Biron Brashier and Shirlene Brashier; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Debora Clements to Brittny Caughron and William Kaleb Caughron; tract in the WW Langham survey
- Josh B. Boatman and Lauren Tye Ragan to Deanne Ragan and Truman Ragan; tract in the Winney Jewell survey
- John E. McSheffery and Laura J. McSheffery to John Edward McSheffery II and Meagan L. McSheffery; tract in the Lake Highlands Addition
- Open Sky Land Company LLC to Joshua Harris; tract in the Daniel Draper survey
- Doyle S. Seaton to Open Sky Land Company LLC; tract in the Daniel Draper survey
- Nikki Seaton to Doyle S. Seaton; tract in the Daniel Draper survey
- Wayne Cooper to Mark Hill Construction; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
- Dolores M. Wright and Kenneth R. Wright to Miriam Salazar and Jesus Munoz Valenzuela; tract in the James Webb survey
- Mildred Gardner Crawford to Larry Kirk Barney and Lorraine Elfriede Pace; tract in the Ira Stephenson survey
- Faith Dawn Francis, Frankie Samuel Francis, Onna Janeen Francis, Richard James Francis, James Haskell Gill Jr., Twilo Jo Gill, Gina Catherine Gill Hicks independent executive, and Michael Lee Hicks to Christopher L. Hills and Sharon E. Hill; tract in the Nacogdoches University survey
- Carolyn Kay Voss and Jerry Don Voss to Bryan Brunson; tract in the E. Voss survey
- Loretta Wells to Alan Screws and Kim Screws; tract in the Meadowviw Addition
- Cornerstone Family Homes Inc. to Chadwick S. Hale and Gina J. Hale; tract in the Jose Y’Barbo survey
- Martha Jane Payton, Randall B. Sorensen and Kenneth Owen Sorensen to Laura Cornett Ruth and Michael Harold Ruth
- Jesus Olivo to Lillia De Santiago and Raymundo De Santiago Tapia; tract in the M.A. Bowlin survey
- Geneva Richards, Sarrah Geneva French Richards to Jerry Wayne French; tract in the John Burden survey
- Wayne E. Hinton Jr. independent executor and trustee, Charlotte Jones known as Kay Hinton Nelson, Sharon Faye Hinton Smith and Rita nell Hinton Wright to Wayne E. Hinton Jr; tract in the Frances Wilson survey
- Charlotte Jones known as Charlotte Kay Hinton Nelson, Sharon Faye Hinton Smith and Wayne E. Hinton Jr. independently, as independent executor, successor trustee and trustee for the Wayne Hinton Testamentary Trusts Estate and Dorothy Nell Reed Hinton Esate to Rita Wright; tract in the Nacogdoches University survey
- Dorothy Nell Reed Hinton Estate, Wayne E. Hinton Jr. Independent executor, to Rita Nell Hinton Wright; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Sharon Faye Hinton Smith and Rita Nell Hinton Wright to Wayne E. Hinton Jr., independently and as independent executor, successor trustee and trustee for the Wayne Hinton Testamentary Trusts, Dorothy Nell Reed Hinton Estate to Charlotte Nelson; tract in the Nacogdoches University survey
- The Ranches at River Ridge LLC to Angela Moran and Patrick Moran; tract in the AJ Butts survey
- G and A Chiala Revocable Family Trust and Mary Alice Chiala Trustee to Mary Alice Chiala Trustee, Her Successors of hte Survivors Trust
- D. Julia Howard, Jacob Mylon Wallace, Randy Wallace, Robert Timothy Wallace and Derek Webb to Julia Wallace Bailey also known as Julie Wallace Bailey; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Billy M. Burwell and Carla S. Burwell to Adam M. Burwell and Jacob P. Burwell; tract in the William B. Hodges survey
Divorces Confirmed Final
- Jessica M. Rincon Cafarelli Joey L. Cafarelli
- Megan Alicia Belz Cory Layne Belz
- Richard Wayne Bursby Tina Carol Bursby
- Jessica Renee Holcomb Johnathan Holcomb
- Candace Lynn Orsburn Billy Jack Orsburn
- Ashley Shire Booth and David Aaron Booth
Chamber Connection: April 26, 2019
Our schedule for the week
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital—Sulphur Springs are partnering to present a panel discussion called The Process of Care for Your Aging Parents on Thursday, May 2, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. This night is designed so attendees can hear the panel discussion and are able to then walk through booths to collect information and ask individualized questions. Reservations are free to the public but VERY limited in availability. Dinner is provided. To register for attendance, please sign up at the following link, https://howtocareforagingparents.eventbrite.com.
Your company may also participate by renting a booth so that you may distribute information and marketing materials about services you offer for this specific topic. This is a unique opportunity to meet, interact with, and explain services your business offers on the topic of aging parents directly to family members who are dealing with or preparing to deal with this soon. To register for booth space, please call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515. We only have a couple of spots remaining.
Chick-fil-A Hosts their Ribbon Cutting Celebration
Please join us for the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening for Chick-fil-A on Thursday, May 2, at 9 a.m. Let’s welcome Chick-fil-A to Hopkins County!
Other opportunities
Sulphur Springs Youth Orchestra concert
Sulphur Springs Youth Orchestra is holding a Spring Hoedown on Friday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. at Shannon Oaks Church. That is tonight, so make plans to watch the concert!
Lil’ 4’s Hosting an Anniversary Bash
Lil’ 4’s is hosting Anniversary Bash Saturday from noon until 6 p.m. at Pacific Park. Go by and enjoy the celebration!
Rotary hosts Claws for a Cause
The Rotary Club is hosting the 6th Annual Claws for a Cause on Saturday, April 27, on Celebration Plaza, downtown Sulphur Springs. Tickets are $30 for all-you-can-eat crawfish with all the fixin’s. Proceeds will benefit local charities and scholarships.
CANHelp prepares for their annual tennis tournament
CANHelp is preparing for their Fifth Annual Play It Forward Tennis Tournament and fundraiser which is scheduled on Saturday, May 4, at the Sulphur Springs High School Tennis Courts located at 1200 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs. Entry forms are available at CANHelp, 613 Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs, or online at www.canhelponline.org.
Workforce Solutions is hosting a Career & Community Resource Expo on May 7
Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting a Career & Community Resources Expo at the ROC, 120 Oak Street in Sulphur Springs, on Tuesday, May 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are accepting vendors on a first come first served basis with a deadline for vendors of April 30th. Exhibitor space is free of charge but limited. For additional information, please call Workforce Solutions at (903) 885-7556, ext. 414.
Ribbon Cuttings
Texas Farm Credit hosted a Business After Hours
Texas Farm Credit, located at 1305 Shannon Road East in Sulphur Springs, hosting their Business After Hours to celebrate their completed remodel on Thursday, April 18, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Texas Farm Credit specializes in agriculture loans.
Gypsy Salon hosted ribbon cutting and grand opening
Lady Cats’ Softball Dominates
Lady Cats Coach Carrillo Liked His Team’s Poise in Game One Win at Whitehouse
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo said his team came out relaxed and not feeling pressure Thursday night (April 25) as the Lady Cats defeated Whitehouse, 14-4 at Whitehouse. He said the Lady Cats took care of business and showed no panic even when the game was close early. Coach Carrillo said he wasn’t surprised his team handled first game playoff jitters since they are a veteran team with lots of experience. A highlight of the game was Sadie Stroud’s inside the park home run. Coach Carrillo said as he motioned for her to head home, she looked at him as if to say, “are you sure?”. Coach Carrillo took an aggressive approach when the Lady Cats got on base. He called a lot of steals and sent many runners home coming from second base. All of them scored. Coach Carrillo said the playoffs are a new season and he added there is no reason to hold things back. He said freshman Addison Caddell would pitch Friday night in game two of the series at Lady Cat Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Wildcats Baseball Coach Discusses Must Win
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack Discusses Playoff Scenarios
It’s truly a must win game as the Wildcats’ baseball team hosts Texas High at Wildcat Park Friday night (April 26) at 7 p.m. The Wildcats have won four straight district games to improve their district record to 6-8. They are tied for the fourth and last playoff spot with Royse City but the Bulldogs have the tiebreaker edge over the Wildcats. If the Wildcats win they are win, lose and they are out. Texas High is 10-4 and tied with Lindale for the district’s top spot. The Eagles have the tiebreaker edge over Texas High. Royse City also plays Mount Pleasant Friday night and Lindale plays Greenville. Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack said the Wildcats have come too far to stop now. He said as long as the Wildcats play as well as they can, he would live with the results. Coach Hammack is hoping the Wildcats are a team of destiny this year. He feels if you can get into the playoffs, anything can happen. Coach Hammack said he feels his team can play anyone in the region if they play their best. KSST Radio will have Wildcats Baseball Friday night live at 7 p.m. with live video streaming. The game will also be posted to YouTube. The game will also be videotaped for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable. On this Friday game day, it’s also day one of the two-day Region II Track Meet at UT Arlington. The Wildcats and Lady Cats’ track teams are both sending six athletes to the event this weekend.
Sulphur Springs Woman Sentenced To 6 Months In State Jail For Theft
Shaukiquia Tralynn Ford
Shaukiquia Tralynn Ford, 33, of Sulphur Springs was taken into custody April 25 in the Eighth Judicial District Court after being assessed a 6-month state jail commitment for theft of property valued at less than $2,500, with two or more prior convictions, which enhanced the charge to a felony offense, according to jail and court reports.
Ford was arrested July 2, 2018, by Sulphur Springs police for the alleged theft of items from VF Outlet Mall, and released on $2,000 bond the next day.
A store manager at the time of Ford’s arrest accused her of stealing from the store before, police reported. During questioning, the woman pulled a pair of pants out of her purse, inside of which she also admitted were other items she’d taken from the store but had not paid for, police alleged in the July 2018 arrest report.
Alabama Man Sentenced to 15 Years For Online Solicitation Of Minor
April 26, 2019 – Jacob Allan Piper, 21, of Boaz, Alabama was sentenced Thursday in the 8th Judicial District Court to a 15-year commitment in Texas Department of Criminal for online solicitation of a minor, according to court and jail reports.
Piper was reported Oct. 2 by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford to have been arrested in Marshall County, Alabama on warrants for online solicitation of a minor.
Weatherford, in October, alleged Piper had been in contact online with a minor locally but the solicitation had been reported to the sheriff’s office before any further contact between Piper and the victim took place.
Piper was jailed locally on an online solicitation of minor charge on Oct. 4, and released on $45,000 bond on Oct. 12, according to jail reports.
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.
