Commissioners Court Hopes To Name New Civic Center Manager By Monday
A new manager for Hopkins County Civic Center could be announced by Monday morning, according to county officials.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court began taking applications March 25, following Adam Teer’s formal announcement of his resignation as manger of the Civic Center during a court work session.
Teer’s last day as Civic Center manager will be April 8; he plans to go into hotel manage. However, he said if a replacement can be found soon enough, he’s willing to return when to help train that individual and help out in the interim, when possible.
Overall, the county received 11 applications for the Civic Center manager’s position. They began meeting in executive session on Monday to begin the selection process. They are meeting again in executive session Wednesday to continue the selection process.
The commissioners court hopes to name a new manager by Monday morning, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said.
SSHS Wildcat & Lady Cat Golf Update
Lewis Wins District Golf Tournament, Wildcats Golf Team and Lady Cat Mariam Tran Advance
After the dust settled on the two-day District 15-5A Golf Tournament at Paris Country Club Tuesday (April 2), Wildcat Carter Lewis emerged as the district champion, the Wildcats’ golf team finished second to qualify for regional and Lady Cat Mariam Tran came in second place medalist to qualify for regional. Lewis fired a first day 70 on Monday and had a 71 on Tuesday for a winning total of 141. Also for the second place Wildcats, Colton Bench shot 78 and 73 for 151 total. Andrew Escobar carded a 75 and 82 for 157 total. Kip Childress and Grant Mohesky battled illness. Both were able to play Tuesday with Childress shooting 79 and Mohesky an 85. Tran shot an opening day 82 that put her in second place 8 strokes out of the lead. She maintained her hold on second place on Tuesday to qualify for the regional tournament. The Regional Golf Tournament will take place April 24-25 at the Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club.
City Could Save $800,000 By Refunding Bonds
Sulphur Springs City Council gave approval on first reading of two ordinances, one for a limited tax note to cover costs of new vehicles and equipment purchases and renovations and a second to refinance existing bonds for cost saving.
The city council also awarded the contract for water materials for the Connally Street grant project to Hayes Pipe Supply, and observed National Service Recognition Day.
Essentially, the city agreed to refinance existing general obligation bonds at a lower rate, at a savings of about $800,000, in Ordinance No. 2745. Another $445,000 would be borrowed as a limited tax note and paid back over three years for new equipment and vehicles for the municipal departments, renovations of existing municipal buildings and for costs of issuance of the note.
Andrew Friedman with SAMCO Capital told the council the financial group has been monitoring interest rates since January, and rates have been down, which should bring a competitive rate. Ordinance No. 2743 for the limited tax note for the new items will be presented for final reading at the May meeting, then the figures will be presented for council approval in June.
Jeff Gulbus with McCall Parkhurst and Horton LLP assured council members that the wording of the limited tax note does not mean an increase in the tax rate, just that enough funding is designated in the tax rate to cover the cost of a three-year note.
The city council also selected Hayes Pipe Supply’s low bid for water materials for the Connally Street grant project. The city received four bids, each within $1,500 of the other.
Bids for steel poles for the Crosstown Trail project was withdrawn from Tuesday night’s agenda.
Sulphur Springs Mayor John Sellers announced April 2 as National Service Recognition Day, April 2, in the city, and encouraged residents “to recognize the positive impact of national service in our community, to thank those who serve; and to find ways to give back to their communities.”
He honored AmeriCorps and Senior Corps participants for their efforts, presenting local volunteers at Tuesday’s City Council meeting with a proclamation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, city officials reported representatives from the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence will be in town, visiting various locations throughout the community until Saturday. The city is one of the five finalists for this year’s award. Each finalist will receive $10,000. The winner will receive $50,000.
Wildcat Baseball Suffers Another Loss
Wildcats Baseball Team Loses Fifth Straight Game Including Fourth Straight District Game
The Wildcats’ baseball team continues to struggle on the field and as the losses mount, they continue to sink in the district standings. Tuesday night (April 2) at Wildcat Park, the Wildcats lost to Lindale, 7-2. A tie game vanished in the top of the sixth as the Eagles scored five runs that were the difference in the game. The Wildcats collected only five hits and they made a whopping eight errors. Pitcher Will Sims took the pitching loss but did not allow a single earned run. In five and a third innings, Sims gave up seven runs and seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Jake Davis pitched well over an inning and two-thirds allowing no hits or runs while walking two. The Wildcats took an early lead with a first inning run to go up, 1-0. Lindale took the lead with two runs in the third to go ahead 2-1. The Wildcats tied the game up with a single run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 2-2. Then came the disastrous five run Lindale sixth that was the difference in the game. Kaden Argenbright was 1 for 3 with an RBI double in the fourth inning. Kamren Harrison was 2 for 3. Jaxon Chaney was 1 for 3 with a triple, a run scored and a walk. Kolson Hale was 1 for 3 with a run scored. The Wildcats have lost five straight games including their last three home games. The four straight district losses has taken their district record from 2-2 to 2-6. The Wildcats were swept by Royse City in district play and the Wildcats must win at Lindale on Friday to keep the Eagles from sweeping them as well. Wildcats Coach Jerrod Hammack is trying to right the ship before the playoffs and the season slip away.
Cumby Robotics Team Heads Out to National Competition at Council Bluffs, Iowa
The team of six Cumby ISD students who design and build robots will join other high school teams at the CREATE US Open Robotics competitions this week. Back in January, the school hosted 26 teams and claimed a State Qualifier title. That certified them for National competition with their robot which was programmed along the required “Turning Point” game guidelines. Now the Cumby team will be up against 235 other teams and their robots for the US title, a trophy they hope to bring home again.
According to Robotics Coach Ms. Lee Gifford, the team has continued working on building and programming their best robot so far. They also work as a team on suggesting and making improvements, and have spent lots of hours preparing to win the National title. The team also hopes to make a return to World VEX competition this summer. You may remember that the Cumby team did win the VEX World title in 2016, and have qualified each year since then. This year, four of the team members; Chapin, Cota, Long and Jacobs, are Seniors and will graduate in May 2019. They want very much to claim the World title and massive trophy again for their school.
Back Row: Jadryen Long, Ken Chapin and Cillian Smith
Teams will register on Thursday April 4 and get in some practice time in Iowa’s Council Bluffs Mid America Center contest venue. Opening Ceremonies begin the day on Friday followed by Qualifying rounds. There will be Elimination matches and Finals on Saturday April 6, with Closing Ceremonies that evening.
2 Men Jailed On Controlled Substance Charge, Warrants Following Traffic Stop
A routine traffic stop on State Highway 19 for speeding resulted in two felony arrests and recovery of suspected methamphetamine from a vehicle Tuesday afternoon.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper William Gillentine arrested Richard Leon Howell, 44, of Fort Worth and Mark Alan Tutton, 39, of Gun Barrel City for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. Howell was also arrested for driving while license invalid with a previous conviction and on Kaufman County warrants for prohibited weapon-knuckles and displaying expired license plates. Tutton also was charged on a Tom Green County warrant for driving while intoxicated and a Henderson County warrant for possession of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Gillentine stopped a white pickup for traveling 77 miles per hour in a 70 mph speed zone. Upon checking driver Howell’s driving history, the trooper found the man had three previous driving while license invalid convictions, the most recent on March 19, the trooper alleged in arrest reports. Thus, Howell was taken into custody by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Alvin Jordan.
Authorities asked if the passenger had a valid driver’s license so he could drive the truck, which would avoid a towing charge for the driver and not leave the passenger stranded. However, a records check showed the passenger identified as Tutton to also be wanted, resulting in his arrest as well, the trooper alleged in arrest reports.
As Jordan began an inventory of the truck prior to impound, he located what was believed by the officers to be methamphetamine in the center console, resulting in both men being charged with possession of a controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Howell remained in the county jail Wednesday morning. His bond was set at $10,000 on the controlled substance charge, $1,000 on the driver’s license charge and $5,000 on the weapon charge, jail reports read.
Tutton remained in the county jail Wednesday morning in lieu of $10,000 bond on the controlled substance charge, $50,000 on the Henderson County charge and $1,000 on the Tom Green County charge, jail reports read.
Lady Cat Softball Hammers Huge Win
Lady Cats Softball Team Hammers Out 18 Hits in Ten Run Win Over Texas High
Lady Cats Softball 15, Texas High 5
The Lady Cats’ softball team pounded out 18 hits to defeat Texas by the ten run rule, 15-5 in a game that ended in the bottom of the sixth at Lady Cat Park Tuesday night (April 2). Meanwhile pitcher Bailey Haggerty survived one rocky inning to get the pitching win. The Lady Cats wasted no time jumping on the Lady Tigers scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kelsey Wallace opened the inning with a home run. Alli Fite, Kate Womack and Sadie Stroud all singled to lead the bases. Sierra Smith emptied the bases with a grand slam home run. The Lady Cats increased their lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the second. Kate Womack’s sacrifice fly scored Fite who had singled. Stroud’s single brought in pinch runner Abbi Baier. Like lightning, Texas High struck for five runs of their own to make the score 7-5 after the top of the third inning. They too got a grand slam home run, this one from Bailey Groom. The Lady Cats then scored the game’s last eight runs while Haggerty shut out the Lady Tigers the rest of the way. The Lady Cats upped their lead to 10-5 with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Womack’s double scored Baier who was running for Brinklee Driver who had singled. Smith’s single scored Womack. Addison Caddell hit a double that scored Smith. The Lady Cats went up 13-5 with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Wallace hit her second home run of the game. Driver doubled and pinch runner Baier stole third and then scored when the catcher’s throw went into left field. Smith then knocked in her sixth run of the game with a single that scored Womack who had singled. The Lady scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth which ended the game with nobody out. Landry Bell, Colbria Harrison and Wallace all walked to load the bases. Fite’s single scored Bell. A wild pitch scored Harrison from third. It was 15-5, game over. Four Lady Cats had three hits: Fite, Womack, Stroud and Smith. Three Lady Cats had two hits: Wallace and Driver. Smith led the way with 6 RBIs. Wallace and Womack had 2 RBIs. Fite, Stroud and Caddell all had one RBI. Baier and Womack scored three runs. Wallace, Fite and Smith scored two runs. Stroud, Bell and Harrison scored one run apiece. The Lady Cats had six extra base hits. Wallace had two homers, Smith hit a home run, Driver, Womack and Caddell socked doubles. After Haggerty allowed five runs in the third inning, she then retired nine batters in a row. The Lady Cats improve to 4-1 in district play. They are 18-5 for the season. The Lady Cats begin the second half of district Friday evening as they play host to Royse City at Lady Cat Park.
You’re Invited! Central Baptist Church Plans Music, Family Events During April
After eight months in his new post, Pastor Chris Stephens already loves Sulphur Springs so much he is putting down roots and building a home here. He and his wife have embraced the Central Baptist Church family and the entire community, and plan a number of fun, wholesome and beneficial church events that everyone is invited to share in.
The first is a concert by Faith’s Journey Trio, which will bring an uplifting Country and Southern Gospel concert in two services on Sunday April 7, at 10:30 am and at 6 pm. Faith’s Journey Trio is made up of vocalists Jonathan Edwards, Deana Edwards and Josh Adams, with Lee Hendrix on keyboards. The trio is well known in Branson with their “Simply Country, Absolutely Gospel” concerts and in tours across the nation, playing about 120 dates annually. And , it just so happens that Jonathan and Deana are the brother and the sister-in-law of Benji Edwards, who is Central Baptist Church Youth Pastor.
On Sundays during April, Pastor Stephens’ sermons will document the path of Jesus leading up to His death and Resurrection. On Sunday April 21, the church plans a special Easter program with a “family hunt” for eggs at 9:30am, followed by a light breakfast and a 10:30am service with the choir’s Easter Contata, “Oh What a Savior”, an inspiring blend of Contemporary Christian and Southern Gospel music. Everyone will be welcomed.
Pastor Stephens also invites parents and their children to come to Central Baptist Church for a full slate of Sunday and Wednesday services weekly for all ages and for persons in all chapters of life. Melinda Henderson is Children’s Pastor. Stephens also reminds the community that the school on campus, Central Christian Academy, is open for students from pre-school age through sixth grade. At this time, there is room for more 4th, 5th and 6th-grade students as Open Enrollment continues through April. Kathy Vance is Principal of Central Christian Academy.
The church is located at 840 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Find out more at atcentral.org and on Facebook, and by calling 903-885-3660.
City Council Denies Request For Houston Street Zoning Change On First Reading
An ordinance request to change 607 Houston Street from a single family to a two family housing zone was denied by Sulphur Springs City Council, as recommended by city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. However, three council members — Erica Armstrong, John Sellers and Jimmy Lucas voted in favor of the change, on first reading of the proposal.
Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski explained that the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing in March regarding the zone designation. The P&Z Commission recommended denying the request so that it could not be considered spot zoning, which City Attorney Jim McLeroy said is illegal and can lead to land use issues. Concern was expressed for higher traffic a duplex might bring to an area were children are outside playing.
When Councilwoman Erica Armstrong asked if there were already duplexes in the area, Niewiadomski said research found one had been in the area, but was no longer in use.
The developer spoke with city staff afterward, and indicated other options would be considered.
Armstrong questioned whether there would really be that much more traffic from a duplex or two family structure as apposed to a one family structure.
Niewiadomski said the P&Z Commission want to preserve the single family area, indicating a duplex would be out of place in that area.
“That is an area I’m very familiar with. A new developer in there would be very nice in areas as in need of help. I understand the concern for spot. The area could definitely stand for some new construction,” Sellers said.
Armstrong said she did’t think duplexes, especially with the new construction styles, would be that out of place.
Emily Glass said traffic would increase, but she is more concerned it could be construed as spot zoning, which is largely why P&Z Commission denied.
When Armstrong asked about apartment or multifamily dwellings near the area of the proposed two family structure. Niewiadomski admitted there were some a couple of blocks away. Sellers noted there’s a retirement facility on Woodlawn Street as well. Niewiadomski said that’s a multi family zone.
The final vote was 4-3 affirming the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to deny the request for a change of 607 Houston St. from a single to a two family zone on first reading of Ordinance 2743.
KSST News researched the area and found one Multi-Family Zoned lot near that same block, but that lot has only been recently occupied by a family of horses.
Wildcats Track Results From Sunnyvale
Wildcats Track Team Tuned Up For District Meet at Sunnyvale Last Thursday
The Wildcats’ track team got some positive results at a Sunnyvale Meet last Thursday (March 28), the last meet before the District Meet coming up Wednesday and Thursday in Royse City. The Wildcats had a good day according to Wildcats Track Coach Matt Young. He said a good breeze helped throwers and jumpers but may have hindered runners some. Damiyon Dugan went over 42 feet and placed sixth in the triple jump and had a long jump over 20 feet. Cade Eaton went over 40 feet in triple jump. Landry Tyson won the high jump with a 6-foot-2 leap. Jermond Bryant-Amos was fourth in shot put at 43 feet and Ryan Hammons was fifth with a toss of 42 feet. Coach Young said distance runners Landon Thornton and Christian Palomino ran good times in the 3200-meter and 1600-meter races against solid competition. He said the 4×100-meter relay team was fifth with not a great time. Coach Young said they got the stick around but added it was only the second time they had run as a team. The relay included Dugan, George Greenway, C.C. Clayton and Caden Davis. In the 110-meter hurdles, Kylan Wade finished second and Landry Tyson third. Coach Young said they were running directly into the wind. Nabian Ramirez won the 800-meter run with an outstanding time while Rhett Reid also ran a good race according to Coach Young. Eli Sellers was second in pole vault again clearing 12 feet. Coach Young said Sellers pole vaulting in recent meets has prevented him from also competing in the 800-meters. Coach Young said Sellers would be able to compete in both events at the district meet. Ricardo Torres placed in the 400-meter run. Landry Tyson ran a 41.2 in the 300-meter hurdles. Coach Young said it was a solid time considering the wind. Coach Young said the Wildcats 4×400-meter relay ran its’ best time of the year, a 3:32. The relay is made up of Torres, Sellers, Ramirez and Tyson. Coach Young said the team hopes to rack up 100 points at the district meet. He said if they have a great day they could challenge for the district title and if they don’t, they won’t. Coach Young also hopes nine or ten athletes will qualify for the area meet.
