Man Found Sleeping In Truck At Boat Ramp Accused Of Having Methamphetamine
Daniel Joseph Nicholson, 32, of Greenville was arrested on a controlled substance charge after a deputy found sleeping in his truck on the FM 2285 boat ramp.
While patrolling on FM 2285 at 12:28 a.m. Friday, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Chaney reported seeing the Chevrolet Silverado parked on the south boat ramp with lights off and went to check it out. On approach,the deputy observed through the driver’s side window a person leaning back in the front seat, asleep under a blanket. He knocked on the window, awaking the man. He opened the door to talk with the deputy, allowing Chaney to see a lot of belongings inside the pickup, Chaney reported.
The deputy noted the vehicle parked by the lake, but had no visible fishing equipment. When asked why he parked at the boat ramp, he reportedly told the deputy he was waiting until morning so he could contact his employer and get his paycheck, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Suspicious, the deputy asked the man to step out of the truck to talk to him. The man agreed to allow officials to search the truck and his pockets. He was asked and emptied his pockets. The search yielded a pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine in a shirt pocket in the passenger’s side floorboard. It had loose shards of a clear, crystal-like substance the deputy believed to be methamphetamine in the stem of the pipe. He was asked and confirmed everything in the truck was his, resulting in his arrest for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Deputy Zack Horne arrived to help inventory the truck prior to impound, then stayed with it until the towing service arrived, allowing Chaney to transport the man, identified as 32-year-old Daniel Joseph Nicholson of Greenville, to the county jail on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, the deputies reported.
While at the jail, Chaney and Sgt. Scott Davis tested the loose crystal-like substance from the pipe with a methamphetamine field test kit. The result was positive for methamphetamine, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
According to jail reports, Nicholson remained in the county jail Friday. Bond was set at $30,000 on the charge.
Saltillo One Act Play Advancing to Area Contest at Grayson College
Saltillo ISD Music and Theater teacher Daron Bilyeu is taking five of his drama students to Denison’s Grayson College this weekend to compete in the Area level of One Act Play. The students are quite excited to have done well at Bi-District, earning All-Star Cast and Honorable Mention honors, and they are ready to present their play “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man In the Moon Marigolds” to the judges. On the KSST Good Morning Show, Bilyeu appeared in an interview with three of the cast members.
“The play, set in 1969, is quite dark. The mother in the story is not nice to her two young daughters, nor the elderly woman she cares for. She creates a dysfunctional atmosphere in which the characters must interact.” explained Bilyeu. Cheyenne Neal portrays Beatrice, the sharp-tongued mother of sisters Tillie and Ruth. Chaeli Spear plays Nanny, a dementia patient who is a boarder in the house. Brianna Tawil plays Tillie, and Graycie Hodges portrays Ruth. Joe Tippit is the lighting coordinator for the play. There is one more character, (not pictured) a live pet rabbit called “Peter”, which serves as a security blanket for Tillie. Mr. Bilyeu is quite proud of the quality of work this cast and crew has achieved. They will go up against five other One-Act teams from around the UIL Area. One Act Play is a timed contest, where the entire presentation may last no longer than 40 minutes.
Cheyenne Neal is a Junior, is a member of Beta and FCCLA, and is President of the Saltillo FFA Chapter. She plans to go to Texas A and M University-Commerce to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Chaeli Spear is a Junior, and competes in Beta Club, FCCLA and FFA as well as sports. She is on Softball, Track and Cross Country teams. Chaeli plans to go to college and pursue a career involving teaching children.
Joe Tippit has been involved in Theater for the past three years, and after graduation plans to go to college at UT Tyler majoring in Writing and Mass Media and then seek a career in Creative Writing. Joe is a Junior at Saltillo ISD and takes part in Beta and FCCLA.
Graycie Hodges (not pictured) is a Junior involved in Choir and One Act Play, and she plans to pursue a degree and career as a Pharmacist.
Brianna Tawil (not pictured) is a Freshman who participates in Softball and Basketball and FCCLA. She also enjoys Choir and One Act Play.
Mr. Daron Bilyeu has been teaching music and theater for the past 11 years at Saltillo ISD.
Update: 2 Men Jailed Following High Speed Chase On I-30 Early Friday Morning
Two men were arrested after leading authorities on a high speed chase along Interstate 30 west from Cumby to Royse City early Friday morning.
Cumby Police Sgt. Ray Embro first noticed a Nissan Altima with a Georgia license plate speeding past him at 88 miles per hour in the 75 mile per hour speed zone on Interstate 30 west at mile marker 111 at 1:22 a.m. Friday. Embro reported catching up to the car at the 109 mile marker and activating the emergency lights on his vehicle to attempt a traffic stop.
According to Embro, the Nissan initially slowed down and pulled onto the improved shoulder, then abruptly resumed traveling west on I-30 at a high rate of speed. Embro notified dispatchers he was in pursuit of the car.
Embro reported the car reached speeds between 100 and 125 miles per hour while driving recklessly on I-30. Specifically, the car made changed lanes unsafely, without using a turn signal, was driving on the improved shoulder, followed too close to other vehicles and committed other traffic violations, the Cumby officer alleged in reports.
As the pursuit reached Greenville, Hunt County officers joined in the vehicle pursuit, but the car continued traveling westward. Embro said he was advised by dispatchers that a Royse City police officer had road spikes at the 77 mile marker. The Royse City officer deployed the spikes, which successfully spiked the tires of the Nissan Altima, according to Embro’s report.
However, the car did not immediately stop. Instead it continued onto the 77A exit ramp and the service road, where the car allegedly ran a red light. The car’s front tire began to smoke and lose air, so the car slowed down and eventually stopped on the service road close to the ramp to get back onto I-30 west, Embro alleged in reports.
Embro, accompanied by Hunt County and Royse City officers, conducted a felony take-down of the car. The driver was identified in police and jail reports as 27-year-old Williams Joseph Simpson and the passenger as 18-year-old Christian Lee Bloodworth.
While officers were talking with the pair, Embro said dispatchers advised him the Nissan had been confirmed as “stolen out of Georgie,” and the suspect identified as Simpson. Embro alleged Bloodworth admitted he knew the car was stolen, while Simpson denied know it was stolen. However, as of 11:45 a.m. Friday, neither man had been charged in connection with the alleged car theft, according to jail reports.
Both Simpson and Bloodworth were taken into custody for evading arrest or detention with a vehicle and transported at 5:15 a.m. Friday to Hopkins County jail. The car was impounded, Embro alleged in reports.
Education Bills Address Finance Overhaul, Teacher Certifications, Special Programs
The last two days have been busy ones as far as education goes in both the Senate and House, with bill impacting budgets, special populations, educators’ pay and a variety of other related topics.
WEDNESDAY
The Texas House passed a bill supposed to be targeted at reforming the school finance system.
The bill allocates $6.3 billion of new funding for Texas public schools and students, and dedicates $2.7 billion for property tax compression. The bulk of that new funding will go to increase the basic allotment from $5,140 to $6,030 and create a new early childhood allotment to fund full-day prekindergarten for eligible students. HB 3 also reduces recapture by almost 40 percent by reducing district payments from $7.7 billion to $4.7 billion, Texas Association of School Boards Governmental Relations department reports.
The House reportedly amended the bill to require 25 percent of any basic allotment increase going forward to be spent on equal pay raises for full-time, non-administrative staff in an effort to help fund teacher pay raises.
Of
course, rarely is a bill passed without significant give and take.
Some of the amendments added to HB 3, TASB reports, include:
creating
a summer CTE grant program for districts to offer CTE courses during
the summer,
- requiring districts to report their G/T spending to TEA,
- ensuring districts don’t limit the number of students districts may identify as gifted and talented,
- requiring districts to adopt a policy regarding the use of funds to support the district’s G/T programs,
- allowing school districts to provide a salary bonus or other incentive to a teacher who completes training related to autism,
- requiring districts to report to the legislature every biennium salary increases of employees subject to the minimum salary schedule,
- requiring districts to adopt plans with specific annual goals regarding measures of student college, career, and military readiness,
- requiring the commissioner of education to provide funding to districts for students receiving special education to comply with federal maintenance of state financial support requirements (which TEA estimates to be around $228 million),
- creating hold harmless provisions for certain small districts,
- allowing districts to use up to 20 percent of an academic services grant allotment to contract with private providers for supplemental academic services for students with dyslexia.
THURSDAY
The Senate Education Committee passed bills on Thursday dealing with certain teacher certifications, services for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, agreements between public junior colleges and school districts, a new Texas Education Agency office to conduct certain investigations and teacher service days.
Below are summaries, provided by TASB, of the bills the Senate Education Committee passed on Thursday:
- SB 54 clarifies that in determining the accountability performance of a school district or campus, a student participating in a regional day school program for the deaf whose parent does not reside in the school district providing program services is not considered a student of the district or campus in which the program is physically located.
- SB 251 clarifies that a public junior college may enter into an agreement to offer one or more courses with any school district located in a county in which the service area of the junior college is wholly or partly located or in a county adjacent to a county in which the service area of the junior college is wholly or partly located. A high school student enrolled in a school district may enroll in a course at any public junior college that has entered into an agreement with that school district to offer the course.
- SB 676 permits a person whose parent is an active-duty member of the US armed forces to establish residence for purposes of attending public school (including charter school) by providing the school district or charter school a copy of a military order requiring the parent’s transfer to a military installation in or adjacent to the district or charter attendance zone.
- SB 863 (Watson) directs TEA to conduct an ongoing study to examine costs associated with dual credit courses offered at public high schools. The bill sets out data collection requirements and report components. Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, TEA must submit a report on the results of the study to state leadership.
- SB 895 requires the commissioner of education and the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to ensure that language acquisition of each child age eight or younger who is deaf or hard of hearing is regularly assessed using valid and reliable assessment tools.
- SB 933 creates an office of inspector general at TEA to investigate, prevent, and detect criminal misconduct and wrongdoing, fraud, waste, and abuse in the administration of public schools, charter schools, regional education service centers and other local education agencies. The commissioner of education may authorize special accreditation investigations to be conducted by the office of inspector general when there are allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse in the administration of public education.
- SB 1276 relates to agreements between school districts and public institutions of higher education to provide dual credit programs to high school students. The agreements must include specific goals aligned with statewide goals for dual credit; establish common advising strategies; provide for alignment of endorsements with post-secondary pathways, credentials, and certifications; and identify tools that will assist school counselors, parents, and students in selecting endorsements.
- SB 1731 permits a person to receive a teaching certificate by completing a bachelor’s degree with an education major or another academic major and does not constrain the credit hours required for pedagogically focused course work. Current law does not permit the award of a teaching certificate to individuals who have only an education major. Current law also prohibits a teacher preparation program from requiring more than 18 semester credit hours of pedagogically focused coursework for the granting of a teaching certificate.
- SB 2073 requires a school district that provides fewer than 180 days of instruction to reduce proportionally the number of days of service by educators. Reduction of days of service would not reduce an educator’s salary.
Youthful Antics, Hijinks Abound In The C.H.E.S.S. Production of “Forgotten”
If childhood antics such as pirates, sword and food fights, and archery competitions tickle your fancy, the C.H.E.S.S. students’ interpretation of Attaire Gural’s “Forgotten” will likely be right up your alley.
The Christian Home Educators of Sulphur Springs group consists of 37 students ranging in age from 4 to 19 who’ve been working hard under the direction of high school junior Kyla Deterding to prepare this active Peter Pan tale, set 60 years after the original Neverland childhood adventures.
The play lends itself to nostalgia with favorites such as Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell, Hook and Michael, whose hijinks cause a few messy scenarios, but still offers just enough plot twists to keep things interesting.
Presented by C.H.E.S.S. and Community Players Inc., “Forgotten” will begin it’s run on Main Street Theatre, 225 Main St., starting at 7 p.m. Friday, April 5. The play will be offered again at 7 p.m. April 6, April 11 and April 13. A matinee showing will be offered at 2 p.m. Sundays, April 7 and April 14.
Tickets are $10 and seating is limited, so those planning to attend are encouraged to reserve their seats ahead of time online at www.communityplayersinc.com or by calling 903-885-0107.
SSHS Tennis Season Wraps-Up
No Wildcats Advance to Regional at District Tennis Tournament in Sulphur Springs This Week
Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez said his team did not do as well as they would have liked at the District Tennis Tournament Tuesday and Wednesday at the Wildcat Tennis Complex. No Wildcat was able to advance to regional. Coach Martinez said his #1 boys doubles team of Aaron Lucas and Logan Schumacher lost their first match of the tournament to a Lindale team in three sets. Eventually the Wildcats’ pair took first in the consolation bracket beating the #2 Wildcats boys doubles team in the final. Wildcats #1 boys player Jonah Kirkpatrick had highs and lows during his semifinal match against a Texas High senior. Kirkpatrick won the first set, 6-0 but then began to have trouble. He lost the second set, 6-0 and then the third. Coach Martinez said Kirkpatrick was having trouble with his serve. Coach Martinez was very proud of his lone senior, Zoe Wilson, a team captain. Wilson lost her first set against a Lindale player, 6-1, but then came back to lead in the second set before dropping the set. Coach Martinez said she went out competing and with class. The Wildcats freshman girls doubles team of Paige Miesse and Savannah Lilley won their first round match against a Greenville team before losing to a Texas High pair. Coach Martinez said he was happy with the entire team’s progress this year and he liked they way they all competed. Coach Martinez said he would have a lot of returning senior boys next year as well as this year’s talented group of freshmen girls. Coach Martinez also made a pitch for next weekend’s CanHELP benefit tennis tournament on April 13. He said there is still time to enter. Those interested can contact Coach Martinez or CanHELP.
SSHS Band Earn Straight One’s
Wildcats Bands Get Straight One’s At UIL Contest and Earn Sweepstakes
It’s been a very good week for the Wildcats’ band program. On Tuesday, the non-varsity band, called the Concert Band, attended the Spring UIL Contest and earned the highest score of 1 for their on-stage concert and for sight reading. Wildcats Band Director Spencer Emmert said it was only the fourth time in history for the Concert Band to earn straight 1’s. On Wednesday the Wildcats’ varsity band or Wind Ensemble went to Mount Pleasant and earned straight 1’s for concert and for sight reading. Coupled with the straight 1 scores for the band in the fall Marching Band UIL Contest, the band qualified for Sweepstakes. Emmert called Sweepstakes one of the most coveted UIL awards and the most coveted in music. Emmert believes this is only the second time in school history for the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble to both earn Sweepstakes. He is researching it. Emmert said sight reading is always stressful, not only for students but also for the band director. He said he is given a long piece of music he has never seen before and has three minutes to go over it. Then he said he gets about seven minutes to discuss the music with the band and another three minutes to sing parts of it to them. Emmert said the band students have to react to a lot of the new music on their own. The Sulphur Springs Middle School Bands go to the UIL Contest on Friday at Pleasant Grove. Emmert said next the band would be working on their part of the upcoming Fine Arts Showcase.
Jury Selection Cancelled
Jury selection scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, April 8, in the County Court At Law with Judge Clay Harrison has been cancelled. Jurors do not need to appear, according to Hopkins County Clerk Tracy Smith.
Motorists Cautioned To Watch For Pavement Work On SH 19 In Emory
Local motorists who regularly travel on State Highway 19 south into Rains County will want to make note of and plan to drive more attentively through Emory starting April 22,when work to repave a portion of the highway in Emory begins.
Contractor Richard Drake Construction anticipates completing this project in about five working days, weather permitting, TxDOT officials said. The target date for completion of this project is April 26, according to a press release from Tim McAlavy, TxDOT Paris District Public Information Officer.
The contractor’s crews will remove the existing asphalt pavement, then apply a new top layer of asphalt pavement on State Highway 19, extending from its intersection with US 69 to North Street, bordering the Rains County Courthouse Square in Emory.
McAlavy urges motorists who regularly travel in this area in Rains County during the paving work to pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and to reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. He also recommends motorists avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
For more information, contact [email protected] or (903) 737-9213.
Lady Cat Softball Game Review
Lady Cats Softball Offense Returns in a Big Way Against Texas High
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo asked his team if they were ready to step it up Tuesday night (Apri 2) against Texas High at Lady Cat Park. Team members answered in the affirmative and then went out and stepped it up. After getting only three hits in a loss to Mount Pleasant last Friday night, the Lady Cats collected 16 hits Tuesday night in a 15-5 ten run rule game. Coach Carrillo said the team’s mindset was that they might have to outscore a good hitting Texas High team. For awhile it looked like that might be the case as the Lady Tigers only trailed 7-5 at one point. Coach Carrillo said lead off hitter Kelsey Wallace set the tone with a home run. He said Brinklee Driver also had a good game. And then there was Sierra Smith. Coach Carrillo called her the complete package Tuesday night with 6 RBIs, a grand slam home run and with several ESPN style defensive plays. He also praised pitcher Bailey Haggerty for shutting down the Lady Tigers after their five run inning to make it a 7-5 game. Coach Carrillo noted Texas High did not score another run. He said the Lady Cats needed to shore up some things on defense. The Lady Cats completed the first half of district play with a 4-1 reord. They open the second half by hosting Royse City Friday night. Coach Carrillo said they have pitchers and hitters that present a challenge. He also said the Lady Bulldogs will be tough because they are fighting for their playoff lives. Coach Carrillo said the Lady Cats can clinch a playoff spot with a win Friday. He also wants another crack at Mount Pleasant and he wants his team to go into that game with only the one loss they have right now.
