Fight Between Brothers Results In Teen’s Arrest
A physical altercation between brothers reportedly ended with an 18-year-old in custody Sunday night for assault.
A Woodbridge Drive resident complained about 6:45 p.m. July 21 of sons fighting again, according to reports. Upon arrival, Sulphur Springs policemen reported finding the 18-year-old resident had assaulted another family member, reportedly a younger brother, by striking the individual multiple times in the face with a closed fist, causing pain, Sulphur Springs Police Officer Brandon Murphy alleged police reports.
The family member allegedly assaulted had observable multiple red marks and abrasions on the face and chest, consistent with an assault. Officers discerned the teen to have been the aggressor in the physical altercation and consequently took him into custody on a Class A misdemeanor family violence assault causing bodily injury charge, according to arrest reports.
The 18-year-old remained in the county jail Monday morning. Bond on the misdemeanor assault charge was set at $2,000, according to jail reports.
Arkansas Woman Jailed For Marijuana Possession
An obscured license plate lead to a traffic stop and eventually a 28-year-old Bryant, Arkansas woman’s arrested for marijuana possession Sunday afternoon.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Rebekah Saathoff stopped a Lexus just before 5 p.m. July 21, at mile marker 134 on Interstate 30 west for the license plate violation. As the trooper approached the sport utility vehicle from the passenger’s side, the woman inside reportedly rolled down the window, giving the DPS officer a whiff of marijuana odor.
Saathoff asked the woman to step out of the car for further interviewing regarding the stop. The woman complied and the trooper told her she smelled the marijuana. The Arkansas woman was reportedly honest, admitting she had some in the vehicle and even where it could be found.
The trooper located it and took the woman into custody for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana; the vehicle was impounded, according to arrest reports.
Simply Sulphur Springs App Give- Away
Have you heard about the give- aways on the Simply Sulphur Springs app?
The Simply Sulphur Springs app is your one stop for all things Sulphur Springs. You can find listings such as “where to eat” and information about local professionals in your area. You can even pay your city water bill or report road issues and water leaks on the app.
By becoming an app user you will also have access to exclusive deals and give- aways only available through the app. Today on the Simply Sulphur Springs app KSST is hosting an app scavenger hunt. Lucky winners will receive FREE tickets to the Crayola Experience in Plano, TX (https://www.crayolaexperience.com/plano).
There are many unique deals coming your way on the Simply Sulphur Springs app. You can receive 2 for $5 floats at The Sweet Grind, discounts at the Whimsy Boutique grand opening, 10% off at The Magic Scoop, free Rangers tickets and so much more. Search “Simply Sulphur Springs” in your app store today, so you won’t miss out on our special offers.
Man Allegedly Sustains Bloody Eye, Injuries During Altercation With Stepson
A 21-year-old was arrested Sunday morning for the alleged assault of his stepfather at their Peach Street residence.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Tyler Francis reported being dispatched at about 9:40 a.m. July 21 to the Peach Street address, where a disturbance had been reported. Francis alleged, in arrest reports, the man’s stepfather had redness, swelling and blood coming out of his right eye.
After further investigation, police determined the 21-year-old stepson to have been the aggressor in the disturbance, resulting in his arrest at 10:08 a.m. Sunday on the Class A misdemeanor family violence assault charge, according to arrest reports.
The 21-year-old Sulphur Springs man remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning, July 21. Bond was set at $2,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
18-year-old Accused Of Trying To Sell Marijuana On Square, Running From Police
A 18-year-old man was accused of trying to sell marijuana on the square allegedly tried to elude officers when contacted Saturday evening.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Chad Norris was reportedly contacted about 8:20 p.m. July 20 by officer Tony Crouse, who was working on the square. Crouse alleged he was contacted by citizens who claimed a person asking if they wanted to buy marijuana had approached them.
Norris and Crouse contacted the suspect to investigate the claim. Crouse reportedly obtained permission to search the man’s backpack and instructed the man to sit on a bench in the 100 block of Main Street while he did so, according to arrest reports.
Norris assumed when the Sulphur Springs teen kicked off his house shoes that he was getting ready to run. Proving the officer’s suspicion to be correct, the man “jumped up and began running away,” the officer alleged in arrest reports.
“My natural reaction was to grab and detain him due to this suspicious behavior and him being very cooperative to this point. I went after the arrested person and grabbed him by his shirt. Arrested person continued to use his force to try and pull away and break my hold on his shirt. Crouse was able to help get the arrested person to the ground. Arrested person would not comply and give us his hands while on the ground,” Norris alleged in arrest reports.
The officers did eventually got him into handcuffs. A search of the backpack revealed a pint-sized Mason-type jar containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
Consequently, the 18-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested on a Class A misdemeanor charges of possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana in a drug-free zone, due to the location of the arrest within 1,000 feet of The ROC, a drug-free zone, and for resisting arrest, search or transport.
He remained in the county jail Monday morning. His bond was set at $2,000 on both misdemeanor charges, according to jail reports.
Reilly Springs Jamboree Hosting Local Talent Monthly
Shows on the old schoolhouse stage are part of the colorful history of Reilly Springs, a small community in southeastern Hopkins County. The Reilly Springs Jamboree showcases country and gospel music performed by local talent and house band in a family friendly atmosphere which is smoke and alcohol free. Shows are scheduled on the third-Saturday night of each month. Josh Davis, an award-winning Elvis Tribute Artist, grew up in Hopkins County and was a featured guest on his ‘home stage’ during the July 20, 2019 Jamboree. Other musical guests were Miss Hanah Moore of Winnsboro, Miss Ameri Shaye of Ben Wheeler and Mike Shing of Sulphur Springs. The band included lead guitarist Gary Jones, bandleader and bass player Roger Reed and drummer Bill Langley. Special guest Dr. Juan Harrison shared entertaining stories from his new book “Mostly True Stories”. Enola Gay Mathews has produced shows at Reilly Springs since 1995. The Reilly Springs Kitchen serves attendees with burgers, cold drinks, concessions and homemade desserts. The next show is scheduled for Saturday August 17, 2019 starting at 6 pm. Admission is $10 per person.
Annual George Dorner 42 Tournament Brings Fun, Benefit to Sulphur Bluff UMC
The top three teams now have a year’s worth of bragging rights since they placed in the Sixth Annual George Dorner 42 Tournament. Spectators who crowded in to watch the intense but friendly competition also helped to raise money for the benefit. It was staged in the new Fellowship Hall of the United Methodist Church at Sulphur Bluff on FM 71 East to provide funds for new Bibles for Senior Sunday School Class members. A total of 31 two-person teams signed up to play, and an additional 30-40 persons came to watch and enjoy the fellowship and concessions. According to founder Patricia Dorner, it was successful with over $2,000 raised and priceless memories made. “All ages love this tournament from the youth to the senior population. Families get involved, and as you may know, we are known for wholesome community events, fellowship and good food at Sulphur Bluff. My late husband George played 42 and started this off. It was a ministry of his, and it is still a good way to demonstrate his kind of caring and unity in the community. Senior citizens who come to church will have access to new large-print study Bibles. This tournament blesses everybody who gets involved, and we have a lot of fun too. And, each player in the top three teams gets a metal trophy sign and a framed certificate”. New pastor at Sulphur Bluff United Methodist Church is Nick Lantz. There are 26 members in the Senior Sunday School class.Visitors are welcome in the spacious modern sanctuary located on FM 71 East in Sulphur Bluff, Texas.
Many teams return to play every year. 2019 Winners are:
First Place: Ernest Young and Bill Easton
Second Place: Jr. Hinton and Larry Fite (3-year 2nd Place record holders!)
Third Place: Bob Bain and Blake Bain
Mount Vernon Man Slips Ankle Monitor, Arrested On Parole Warrant
A 35-year-old Mount Vernon man Saturday evening was reportedly arrested by Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies in Sulphur Springs sans his required ankle monitor.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators received a report about 6:15 p.m. July 20 that Adam Joshua Hodges had left Franklin County and in the area of Duckworth Street in Sulphur Springs without his ankle monitor, as required, and was wanted, according to arrest and sheriff’s reports. They were told the man had reportedly left the area of a disturbance, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
HCSO Cpl. Todd Evans and Deputy Jackson, in arrest reports, reported Hodges was stopped in Jeep Grand Cherokee in the area of Brittany Square Apartments on Duckworth Street. A records check showed the man was indeed wanted to Austin parole board. Consequently, Hodges was taken into custody and jailed on the violation of parole warrant. The Jeep was released to a friend of the owner, according to arrest reports.
Deputies observed Hodges, as reported, did not have on an ankle monitor. Hodges allegedly admitted to cutting it off, deputies noted in arrest reports.
SSISD Budget Shaping Up, But Still A Work In Progress
Oh, the difference a couple of weeks can make. Sulphur Springs Independent School District administrators at their regular July meeting presented to trustees a budget that showed a $136,000 shortfall. However, with additional information and nearly two weeks of adjustments, officials reported the most recent draft of the budget projects the district finishing the 2019-20202 fiscal year at least $24,000 ahead.
And, that likely will be even better after the 2019 certified tax values are in next Friday, as those figures are based on 2018 certified tax values.
“We’ve gotten our estimated values for 2019. If I put those in right now to that template, our revenue will be $518,000 more,” SSISD Business Manager Sherry McGraw noted. “We fell strong that our estimated values will stand firm and maybe even be better than that. We’ve still left everything based on certified values.”
The district factored funding based on 4,200 students this year, which includes a smaller senior class but adjustments to match the trend of increased enrollment.
Adjustments had to be made in how a new CTE middle school class figures into the district funding and expenses formula. While the class is expected to have 120 students, district receive weighted* funding for eligible full-time equivalent (FTE) students in approved Career and Technology Education programs; the district would receive 20 FTEs.
With House Bill 3 as a significant factor on school district budgets this year, SSISD as of the mid-July workshop was expected to receive $4,323,256 in additional revenues, but would also have to spend an additional $4,302,724.
McGraw presented a sheet detailing $4.1 million in additional anticipated expenses, including $2.6 million in salaries and $1.4 million in additional items.
The required $5,000 teacher pay scale increase, required in HB 3, accounted for $2,180,000 of the salary increases, and the 1.5 to 3 percent increase ($15 per day for instructional aides) approved July 18 for paraprofessionals, hourly, specialists and administrators accounts for the remaining $504,000.
Also part of that $4.1 million increase from the previous budget project include items that have been previously approved, but which will come out of the 2019-2020 budget, including $44,000 for computers and laptops and $88,000 for band uniforms.
It also includes $50,000 in additional custodial costs, to keep up with the additional facilities and duties the company takes on due to the number of campuses utilized, $25,000 in bus fuel, $20,000 for travel and training, $15,500 for testing materials and software, $10,000 for utilities, $3,000 for library books for elementary students, $18,000 in special education contract services and supplies, $18,000 for an additional special education route, and $40,000 for occupational and physical therapy and diagnostician work.
Also included were salaries for three social workers, 12 new teacher/professional positions, eight new aide positions and four clerical positions. An additional $100,000 was put into the substitute teacher fund, not as an increase in pay, but due to the increased number of substitute teachers needed as teachers attend training and other required functions, including competitions with kids.
The additional $4.1 million in the budget also includes $3,500 for new lights so the SSHS Auditorium stage is in compliance with One Act Play requirements; a number of school district utilize the SSHS Auditorium for OAP preparation and performances, according to Lamb.
Two new items added to the budget include $15,000 for a Challenge Day, in which certain students would attend, bond and hone leadership skills; and $50,000 to take fifth graders on an overnight educational trip to Sky Ranch. Officials said the goal would be to put the funding in the budget, so that a deposit can be made for Sky Ranch, but working with organizations such as the PTA to raise the necessary funds to cover the cost of the trip.
Also presented to trustees was a $741,500 “wish list,” which would be added only if funds become available and they are approved.
Two additional buses (two are already in the budget) at a cost of $92,000 each, as well as $7,500 for bus cameras, which on scheduled would be replaced at a rate of three per year.
The maintenance department has asked for two additional vehicles at a cost of $25,000 each to replacing aging units and get the maintenance fleet in good repair, figured an additional $60,000 for additional utility costs, $50,00 for supplies and landscaping and $58,000 for contracted services.
Since Barbara Bush Primary received a new playground as part of its renovation, approximately $300,000 was added to the wish list for new playground equipment or upgrades for Bowie, Travis and Lamar Primary campuses. Trustee John Prickette noted perhaps the upgrades could be done annually, with one campus could be updated each year at a rate of $100,000 each, instead of all in the same year.
