Counterfeit Money Complaint Results In 2 Misdemeanor Arrests
A complaint of counterfeit money being passed at an Industrial Drive business Wednesday night resulted in a Sulphur Springs man and woman being arrested on one misdemeanor charge each.
Sulphur Springs police conducted a search in reference to the report of a counterfeit $100. A search of the 48-year-old Sulphur Springs man allegedly revealed less than 2 ounces of marijuana in his possession. Consequently, he was arrested at 9:12 p.m. June 5 on a Class B misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge, police noted in arrest reports.
Officers contacted a 39-year-old woman identified as a person involved in the call. The woman was reportedly shouting profanity, and wouldn’t stop, even after being warned by police to cease using such language in public. Consequently, she was arrested for disorderly conduct, according to arrest reports.
The man remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning; his bond was set at $1,000 on the marijuana charge. The woman was released from jail Thursday morning, according to jail reports.
60th Annual Dairy Festival Parade is Saturday June 8 as Part of Local Dairying Pride
“I’ve watched Dairy Festival Parades all my life, and try to never miss one!” offered David Watson in an interview on the KSST Good Morning Show on June 6, 2019. “In fact, as a kid growing up on Connally Street, I got to watch it twice because a time or two, the parade passed by our house going east toward the square, and again coming back in to Buford Park!”. David is the Parade Committee Chairman of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board of Directors. He is excited about this year’s return of the Budweiser Clydedales and a first-time appearance of the 1st Cavalry Division Marching Band in the parade lineup. This year’s Parade Marshall is Lynda Hager and the SSHS Drum Line will keep everyone in step. “With over 100 floats already entered, including the nine custom-built contestant floats, the Queen’s float and colorful commercial entries, this parade is worthy of the title of 60th Anniversary Parade. Also, watch for former Dairy Festival Queens who will make a Parade appearance on June 8, 2019 and be recognized at the Queen’s Pageant and Coronation on Saturday June 15, 2019.
Watson asked everyone to be aware of a change in the Parade route. “We will step off from Buford Park at 10am, then turn left onto League and travel to Houston Street. Turning right, the Parade will proceed east on Houston Street, then turn right onto Church Street, traveling past the Post Office and entering the square beside the Hopkins County Courthouse. From there, we resume the usual parade route heading south on Gilmer Street, to disperse at the intersection of Gilmer and Lee Streets. There will be plenty of good spots along the route to watch the parade!”. Watson stated that Connally Street is undergoing improvements as part of the Cross Town Trail project construction, thus the change in the 2019 parade route.
The visiting Clydesdale 8-horse hitch and crew make up the West Coast team, now headquartered at Ft. Collins. Two mascot dalmatians also travel with the horses. You can visit them in their stalls at the Hopkins County Civic Center between 8am and 7pm this week. Clydesdales began to be used in the beer company’s promotions in 1933.
Here’s a few interesting side notes on local parade history. This year’s 60th anniversary theme “Over the Mooon in Dairyland” was selected to remember the first walk on the moon by man in 1969. Also, viewers of Cable Channel 18 TV will catch playbacks of archived Dairy Festival Parades from as far back as 1979, made possible through a collection of memorabilia belonging to Lynda Hager. Also, keep an eye out for the lofty sleigh-like vintage Queen’s Float, used by each winner as a local tradition. If you can’t attend the Dairy Festival Parade on Saturday June 8 at 10am, you can listen to the live broadcast on KSST Radio 1230 AM, and see it in playback on Channel 18 TV, ksstradio.com and on our Youtube channel at a later date.
Pickton Pair Accused of Possessing Heroin, Methamphetamine
June 6, 2019 – Cameron Lynn Bain, 25, and Rebecca Mae Matlock, 22, both of Pickton, were arrested at Brashear Post Office early Wednesday morning on two possession of controlled substance charges.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Chaney, while patrolling around 12:30 a.m. June 5 in Brashear, reported seeing vehicles parked at Brashear Post Office, which he found suspicious for that time of night, so he went to investigate, according to arrest reports.
Chaney approached one vehicle that had two people in it on the south side of the parking lot first, obtaining their identifying information for a records check and did not at at that time observe any illegal activity, Chaney noted in arrest reports.
While dispatchers were conducting a records check, Chaney approached the other vehicle at the north exit, a Honda Accord. The deputy shined his flashlight into the car, which held two people as well. Chaney alleged he could see the driver with a syringe with dark liquid in it near his arm, as if he were about to use it.
The deputy ordered the driver to put the syringe down and for both the male driver and female passenger to get out of the car. The driver, identified in arrest reports as 25-year-old Cameron Lynn Bain of Pickton, reportedly had a syringe and a glasses case in his hand. He was instructed to put them on the patrol vehicle. Both occupants were secured in handcuffs and ordered to sit on the ground while the deputy conducted an investigation, Chaney reported.
Cumby Police Sgt. Ray Embro arrived to assist, staying with the vehicle’s occupants while the deputy examined the items. On inspection, the deputy noted the substance in the syringe appeared to be black tar heroin. A spoon with burn marks as well as new and used Q-tips, a bag containing suspected methamphetamine and a bag containing a dark tar-like substance believed to be heroin were allegedly found in the glasses case, Chaney alleged.
The deputy secured the items then began searching the car, with HCSO Deputy Lance Burdick arriving soon after to assist with the search.
Chaney reported finding a used syringe in the driver’s side door handle, a syringe in the passenger’s seat, where the woman had been sitting, and a bag of suspected methamphetamine in the passenger’s side floorboard, according to arrest reports. A bag of suspected methamphetamine was found in the purse of the passenger, identified in arrest reports as 22-year-old Rebecca Mae Matlock of Pickton. A bag of suspected methamphetamine and a bag with a dark, tar-like substance believed to be heroin were also found a make-up container in Matlock’s make-up bag, the deputy alleged in arrest reports.
The pair was taken at 1:24 a.m. June 5 by Burdick to the sheriff’s office and their car was towed. The suspected contraband was taken to the sheriff’s office and weighed. The tar-like substance and dark substance found in the syringe field-tested positive as heroin. The four bags with the crystal-like substance field-tested positive as methamphetamine, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, both Matlock and Bain were booked into the county jail about 4:15 a.m. Wednesday on two possession of a controlled substance charges each, according to arrest reports.
Both remained in the county jail Thursday morning. Bain’s bond was set at $5,000 each on the possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge. Matlock’s bond was set at $5,000 each on two possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty rGoup 1 controlled substance charges, 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.
Man Found Sleeping In Truck Arrested On Controlled Substance Charge
A man found sleeping in a Dodge 2500 pickup parked in front of a Sulphur Springs residence at 7 a.m. Wednesday ended up in jail on a controlled substance charge, Sulphur Springs Police Officer Adrian Pruitt alleged in arrest reports.
Pruitt reported the man to appear extremely nervous when contacted on W.A. Street at Beckham Street, which was not his residence. The man, identified in arrest reports as 26-year-old Martin Lee Contreras of Sulphur Springs, allegedly admitted to having a small bag of marijuana in his front pocket.
As Pruitt continued to investigate, Contreras allegedly admitted there was suspected methamphetamine in the truck and a bag with a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine was retrieved. A search yielded another bag with suspected methamphetamine, Pruitt alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, Contreras was arrested for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. A drug-free zone enhancement was added due to the man’s proximity to Pacific Park when found in possession of the alleged controlled substance, making the charge a third-degree felony, according to arrest reports.
Contreras remained in the county jail Thursday morning. His bond was set at $10,000 on the controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Chamber Connection- June 6, 2019
Opening Ceremonies Ribbon Cutting for the Dairy Festival
The Dairy Festival officially kicks off with a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, June 7, at noon on Celebration Plaza. Make plans to be there and celebrate the start of the Dairy Festival!
Ice Cream Freeze-off at Shannon Oaks Church
The Ice Cream Freeze-off will be held on Saturday, June 8, at 5:30 p.m. on the rear lawn of Shannon Oaks, just before the hot air balloon launch and glow. Tickets will be $5 for all-you-can-eat-while-it-lasts. To register to compete in the Ice Cream or to sponsor this wonderful event, please contact Josh Whitlock at (903) 885- 6542, or visit their website at http://shannonoakschurch.com/whats-going-on/events. We all scream for ice cream!
It’s a special time of the year in Hopkins County as we gear up for the 2019 Hopkins County Dairy Festival. Listed below is the schedule of events for the entire festival!
Friday, June 7
- Hot Air Balloon Media Flight, 6 a.m. (weather permitting), at Shannon Oaks Church
- Opening Ceremonies Ribbon Cutting for Dairy Festival, noon, at Celebration Plaza
- Hot Air Balloon Rally and Glow, 6 p.m. (weather permitting), at Shannon Oaks Church
Saturday, June 8th
- Hot Air Balloon Rally and Flight, 6:30 a.m. (weather permitting), at Shannon Oaks Church
- Dairy Festival Parade, 10 a.m., Leaves from Buford Park, travels down Houston St.
- Jr. Dairy Show, 10 a.m. atCivic Center Arena
- Milking Contest for Candidates, Parents, and Balloon Pilots, 3 p.m. at Civic Center Arena
- Texas Championship Ice Cream Freeze Off, 5:30 p.m. at Shannon Oaks Church
- Hot Air Balloon Rally & Glow, 6 p.m. (weather permitting), at Shannon Oaks Church
Wednesday through Saturday, June 12–15
- Carnival on the Civic Center Grounds
Saturday, June 15
- Whipped Challenge, 9 a.m. at Heritage Park
- Coronation Pageant, 7 p.m. at SSISD Auditorium
Central Baptist Church hosts their VBS
Central Baptist Church, located at 840 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs, is hosting their Vacation Bible School called Sports Camp from June 17-20 from 6: p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information visit www.atcentral.org.
The Sweet Grind schedules ribbon cutting
The Sweet Grind has scheduled their ribbon cutting celebration on Tuesday, June 18 at noon. The Sweet Grind is located at 213 Main St. in Sulphur Springs. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend!
Chaffer’s Place presents their monthly concert
Chaffer’s Place, located at 410 Main Street in Sulphur Springs, is hosting a live concert called Back Through the Decades, A Musical Tribute to Good Music. Concert will be held on June 20th, and doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 pre-sale and $15 at the door. This includes dinner and a show! For more information call 470-848-2246 or visit www.ckproductions.info.
Hopkins County Emergency Management will participate in a Drill
Organizations from Hopkins County and surrounding areas will participate in a full-scale exercise on Friday, June 21st from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Emergency teams will be participating in fictional activities and are expressing to our community that these incidents are not real. The areas being used will be clearly marked. These are simple steps being taken so that Hopkins County will be well prepared. If you have any questions about the exercise, contact Kristy Springfield at [email protected].
Ribbon Cuttings
Clarion Pointe held their Business After Hours
Clarion Pointe, located at 411 Industrial Drive East in Sulphur Springs, held their Business After Hours and ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, May 30, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Over 200 people enjoyed networking, refreshments and tours of the remodeled facility.
Tira News For June 5, 2019
By Jan Vaughn
We want to express our sympathy to the family of John Hadley. He passed away on Monday, June 3. The funeral service will be at West Oaks Funeral Home on Saturday, June 8, at 2 p.m. No formal visitation is planned. Please be in prayer for the family.
Janie Lewis informed me that John Weatheread’s brother, Keith Weatheread, passed away. I don’t have details on services. Please remember the family in prayer.
The Tira City Council met on Monday, June 3, at the Tira Community Center. Several of the Tira Volunteer Firefighters were there, too. The council discussed upkeep and repairs on the Center. Shawn Martin, Tira Assistant Fire Chief, shared about recent equipment upgrades and recommended Tony Macy, former San Diego firefighter, for Captain, and Scot Norman, former Dallas firefighter, as Lieutenant, for the department. The council was unanimous in approving the recommendation. The group discussed the passing of former Mayor, John Hadley, and voted to purchase a memorial plaque to be displayed in memory of him.
The reunion of families Lewis, Joslin, Speaks, Braden, Parker, Hobgood, and King was held on Saturday, June 1, 2019. I don’t have details about their gathering, but they made a donation of $500 to the Tira Community Center and $500 to the Tira Volunteer Fire Department. The Tira City Council and volunteer firefighters want to express their appreciation to the family for their generous contribution.
Joyce Dodd reported that she received a $100 donation for the Tira Food Pantry.
The annual Tira Homecoming will be coming up on Sunday, July 7. The program will begin at 11 a.m. inside the Tira Methodist Church. We appreciate Danna Lewis volunteering to be in charge of the program and look forward to what she has lined out for the event. After the program, there will be a pot-luck lunch at the picnic tables on the grounds. Please plan on coming to share food, fellowship, and memories. Donations for the upkeep of the cemetery are always welcome and needed. Contributions may be given that day or mailed to the Tira Cemetery Association, c/o Jan Vaughn, 776 FM 1536, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. I want to express my appreciation to Regina Payton and her mother, Martha Payton, for preparing and mailing letters about the homecoming to the people in their database, on behalf of the Tira Cemetery Board. If you would like to be on the mailing list, please let me know and I will be sure they have your information.
There was a good group at the North Hopkins School Cafeteria on Sunday, June 2, for the Aiguier Cemetery Association meeting. Everyone enjoyed a delicious covered dish luncheon and visiting, and then there was a brief business meeting.
Perry and Tiffany (Vaughn) Gilbert returned to Tira after spending a few days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. They arrived in time to see Brailon Joslin play in his T-ball games on Saturday. They loaded up some things that afternoon for their move and spent the night with us. Jaidyn had been with us for the week. They all went to church and the Aiguier Cemetery lunch on Sunday, and then headed back to Malvern, Arkansas. Jaidyn left on Monday for church camp with Perry’s niece.
Grace and Linda Ellen Vaughn visited with us on Sunday afternoon.
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].
City Council Approves Tire Ordinance, Revokes Ocean Spray Tax Abatement
City officials gave approval on first reading Tuesday night an ordinance to provide regulation of tire businesses, and decided to revoke an existing Ocean Spray tax abatement.
Ordinance No. 2746 would amend Chapter 15 of Sulphur Springs Municipal Code, by adding Article VII, Sections 15-301 and 15-308, requiring tire businesses to cover used and scrap tires on the property, make sure they remain within a fence and will limit the number of scrap or old tires a business can have on its property.
The ordinance will be brought before the council again for second reading and final approval at a future meeting, with noted changes regarding number of tires allowable and the length of time the business has to remove scrap or old tires if found to be in violation of the ordinance.
Council members also opted to follow city staff’s recommendations that the tax abatement granted to Ocean Spray Cranberries for $5 million in improvements. The company failed to meet the terms of the abatement, which were to maintain its labor force of 143 and a minimum payroll of $1.8 million. Since that time, 13 jobs have been lost, reportedly due to efficiency of operations. The company had requested a reduction in the abatement proportionate to the reduction in labor.
The matter was first proposed at the May council meeting but was tabled pending consultation with the Economic Development Corporation officials for a recommendation. EDC Director Roger Feagley told city officials since they were not party to the contract it would not be appropriate for him to weigh in, city officials said.
Feagley did say all three options being considered were viable: canceling the abatement, modifying it to the number of regular employees, lowering the abatement to correspond with the number of employees. He cautioned them to consider that when companies update technology, it may mean jobs lost on the lower end, but five jobs added at a higher pay scale because they are for more skilled positions.
The city council voted to revoke the abatement altogether.
The council also during the meeting approved Resolution 1169 designating the finance director and city manager as signatories for the city, authorized to request funds under Tx CDBG 7218942 grant contract; and Resolution 1170 reaffirming policies previously adopted by the city to ensure compliance with federal rule and regulations regarding citizens participation and civil rights protections.
Mayor Norman Sanders also proclaimed June Fair Housing Month. The Civil Rights Act 1968 prohibits discrimination in housing. Designating June as Fair Housing Month provides an “opportunity for all American to recognize that the complete success of the goal of equal housing opportunities can only be accomplished with the help and cooperation of all Americans,” Sanders read from the proclamation. He then urged “all citizens of this locality to become aware of and support the fair housing law.”
Sanders too invited community members to Celebration Plaza Saturday June 29, to the annual Independence Day Celebration.
“I’d like to see everyone up there. It’s always a lot of fun,” he said.
Mayor, City Boards, Other Appointments Announced
After Freddie Taylor, Doug Moore and Jeff Sanderson took the oath of office, the Sulphur Springs City Council elected Erica Armstrong mayor pro tem and Norman Sanders mayor.
John Sellers expressed appreciation to the many city staff, officials and citizens for their help during the last two years while he served as mayor, and offered a rose to his wife. Incoming mayor Norman Sanders too offered flowers and appreciation to his wife.
Sanders presented a symbolic gavel to Sellers as a token of appreciation to commemorate his service as mayor.
The council too approved appointments of individuals to 11 different city board and regional groups. Those include:
Economic Development
- Buck Booker
- Craig Roberts
Zoning Board Of Adjustment
- Jay Julian
- Kevin Mohl
- Kyle Robinson
- Alternates: Janet Martin
- James Litzler
Airport Advisory Board
- Dr. Charles Jones
- David Baucom
Sulphur River Municipal Water District
- Bob Russell
Library Board
- Carol Gee
- Michelle McGill Ivery
Board Of Tourism And Promotion
- Don Fausett
- Meredith Caddell
Construction Board Of Adjustment And Appeals
- Bobby Harris
- John Cooper
- Jeff Redding
Planning And Zoning Commission
- Chuck Sickles
- Tommy Harrison
Ark-Tex Council Of Governments
- John Sellers
- Erica Armstrong
- Jeff Sanderson
Downtown Revitalization Board
- Mike Elliott
- Tyler Law
Revolving Loan Fund Committee
- Jeff Fisher
- Erica Armstrong
- Jimmy D. Lucas
- John Sellers
- Marc Maxwell
Central Baptist Church – 2019 VBS Sports Camp
Central Baptist Church’s 2019 VBS Sports Camp will begin June 17th and run through June 20th, 6-8pm each night. Registration begins at 5:30pm each night. They will have FREE SHIRTS for the 1st 100 kids that attend.
Section Of Jackson Street Will Be Renamed In Honor Of J.D. Franklin
June 5, 2019 – Sulphur Springs City Council Monday night approved a request to rename a section of Jackson Street after a community leader.
J.D. Franklin Drive will stretch from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to College Street.
This section of Jackson Street, from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to College Street will be renamed J.D. Franklin Drive.
The designation is the vision of the Rev. Jason Lindley, to honor Franklin while he’s still living, according to Councilman Freddie Taylor. A petition was presented to residents, businesses and churches in the area, asking for their support for the renaming of Jackson Street in honor of J.D. Franklin. That was presented to city officials.
It honors 82-year-old resident J.D. Franklin, who served as the first African American City Commissioner of Sulphur Springs in 1975, and served on the city council until 1979. In 1978, elected as the first African American mayor of Sulphur Springs, notes Taylor
Franklin was a businessman, having his own lawn care service. He more recently came out of retirement and is employed with the Sulphur Springs Independent School District Maintenance Department.
Franklin is a 1956 graduate of Douglass High School. He married Gloria Nash in 1959. They have been married for 60 years and raised five children, who all attended college and received a bachelor’s degree and some master’s degrees as well.
He has been an active member of the Masonic Columbia Lodge #81 for more than 60 years. He too has been an active member of Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church for more than 55 years, and became a deacon in 1972.
“This man is worth his weight in gold,” said Taylor.
The resolution passed unanimously, to a standing clap of approval from the packed audience in City Hall Tuesday night.
