Home Built By Sulphur Springs High School CTE Students To Be Sold
The Fore Street residence Sulphur Springs High School students have built as part of the construction class is nearing completion and could soon be available for sale.
Remaining to be completed are the connection of the electric and gas meters, and condenser units and making sure they are operational. Those are expected to be completed soon, then the 0.232 acre corner property will have to be appraised, according to Sulphur Springs Independent School District Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams.
Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees earlier this week passed a resolution authorizing the sale of the single-family residential home by a sealed bid process.
Williams acknowledge that is not the typical manner in which homes are purchased, but said the community interested in buying the home will be invited in the near future to a special date set aside for tours and information about it.
Meet Dairy Festival Contestants # 7, #8, #9
The final trio of 2019 Dairy Festival Queen’s candidates appeared in an interview on June 13, 2019 during the KSST Good Morning Show with Enola Gay. Each contestant shared her fun, exciting and memorable experiences with Dairy Festival! They look forward to the Queen’s Pageant and Coronation on Saturday June 15, 2019 in the SSISD Auditorium at 7pm. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Contestant #7 is Annmarie Gunn, a Senior at Sulphur Springs High School who is a state winner in UIL academic events. She has taken dance instruction since age 4, and will sing and and tap dance to ‘If They Could See Me Now’ from the musical “Sweet Charity” as her talent on Pageant night. She selected a blue and white floral ball gown for her presentation in evening wear. Annmarie’s float-building efforts produced a good-looking float which sported the theme “Harvest Moon”. She experienced her first hot air balloon ride with a great pilot and crew. Her flight actually ended up on Wildcat Way! And she successfully milked her first cow ever during the contest, and though Annmarie didn’t place, her parents won the blue ribbon in the Milking Contest! Annmarie Gunn, Contestant #7, feels that participating Dairy Festival is a once in a lifetime opportunity. She became a fan of the Festival, when watching from the audience, she saw Kate Watson win the crown. Annmarie plans to major in English at Texas A and M University, Commerce and seek a career in Communications and Management of non-profit organizationas.
Madison Nordin was first introduced to Dairy Festival by her grandmother, who took her to a Pageant when Madison was in 5th grade.That’s the year Molly Millsap was named Dairy festival Queen, and young Madison thought that was really “cool”. At Sulphur Springs High School, Madison serves as mascot “Wally the Wildcat” and is active in Key Club and HKK while taking dual-credit classes. Both she and her parents placed second in the cow milking contest. And, with her family’s help, she built a parade float that carried a huge papier-mache moon with a rocket in a “Fly Me to the Moon” theme, commemorating the 1969 first moon walk. Madison’s talent is original stand-up comedy. She claims that her home is “comedy central” and that her family is a huge inspiration for comedy. Look for Madison Nordin, Contestant #8, in a teal evening gown with pearl-and-diamond sparkles during the Pageant. She plans a career as dermatologist.
Rachel Bramlett, Contestant #9, has had a richly enjoyable time preparing for the Dairy Festival Queen’s Pageant. As a 4th grader new to town, she had attended a Pageant with her mom, and was so impressed that she decided she would one day do that too! Her parade float displayed “Audrey Heifer” and waterfall with a ‘Moon River’ theme. Rachel’s talent presentation is a comedic musical number, and during the formal wear portion, she will appear in a blue evening gown that makes her feel ‘like Cinderella’. Because her interests include singing, dancing and acting, she competes in high school UIL as well as taking private vocal training, tap lessons and performance theater training. A published author with an essay in the Texas Theater Journal, Rachel claimed 2018 UIL District Champion in Prose and 2019 UIL Best Actress at the District level. Her college goals include a major in theater and a minor in journalism. Other goals include living in New York and writing for Broadway-based publications, for Rachel Bramlett, Contestant #9.
3 Arrested In Other Counties On Hopkins County Charges
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Hooten had a busy day Wednesday, picking up inmates held in jails in three different counties on Hopkins County charges.
Wednesday morning, Hooten transported Zachary Michael Boyett, 25, of Dallas from Dallas County jail to Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center, where he was booked on a warrant for failure to comply with sex offender duty to register annually for life, according to arrest reports.
Boyett remained in Hopkins County jail at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 13. His bond was set at $25,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
Thel Wallace Renfro III, 39, of Carrollton too was also transported Wednesday morning by Hooten from Denton County jail to to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked for violation of probation, which he was on for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair it, Hooten noted in arrest reports.
Renfro remained in Hopkins County jail at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 13, according to jail reports.
Hooten then picked up Christopher Roy Mosher, 19, of Winnsboro at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday from Wood County jail and transported him to Hopkins County jail on warrants for expired registration and violation of probation, which he was on for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
Mosher remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, according to jail reports.
Bicyclist Accused of Methamphetamine Possession
June 13, 2019 – A 20-year-old Sulphur Springs woman caught a deputy’s attention just after 1 a.m. Thursday by riding a bicycle on the wrong side of Jefferson Street and having an improper light and ended up in jail on a controlled substance charge.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Davis said after he contacted Jessica Nicole Hicks at 1:06 a.m. June 13 at the corner of Jefferson and Oak Grove, the woman agreed to let him search the backpack she was carrying on carrying.
Davis, in arrest reports, reported finding a blue case containing a glass pipe of the type commonly used for smoking methamphetamine with suspected meth residue inside of it, as well as a small tank-top type shirt with a small silver wrapper resembling that for a stick of gum with a small bag of crystal-like substance also believed to be methamphetamine in it.
Consequently, Hicks was taken into custody for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. She remained in the county jail at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, June 13; her bond was set at $5,000 on the charge, 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 Arrested In May For Paris Car Theft Served With 3 Debit Card Abuse Warrants
A 51-year-old Sulphur Springs man arrested May 28 in a stolen car with another man’s debit/credit card was served Wednesday afternoon with three additional counts of debit card abuse, according to arrest reports.
Michael Allen Coker was first arrested Tuesday, after Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper William Gillentine discovered the silver Chevrolet sedan he stopped at 1:40 p.m. May 28, just west of Sulphur Springs on Interstate 30, for speeding had been reported stolen in Paris.
When Gillentine asked Coker why the vehicle would be reported stolen, Coker claimed a woman gave it to him to drive the day before, the trooper alleged in arrest reports. When pressed for more details and asked numerous questions, Coker was alleged to provide a vague story.
A Paris Police Department detective contacted Gillentine by phone. The car has reportedly been left running and unattended while the driver went inside a store; when the driver walked back outside, the vehicle was missing, the Paris officer reportedly told Gillentine.
An inventory of the vehicle prior to impound revealed an open can of Angry Orchard hard cider in the console; a credit card with another man’s name on it, a receipt, new set of drill bits and mirrors, and packaging were also found in the front compartment of the car, Gillentine alleged.
The Paris police detective met Gillentine at Hopkins County jail and showed him pictures taken from a video of the area where the vehicle was reported stolen. Coker was reportedly wearing the same clothing as the suspect who was pictured approaching the car in the store parking lot.
Coker was booked into Hopkins County jail for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The Paris Detective later advised Gillentine that they’d been alerted a man’s credit card had been used at O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Sulphur Springs around 1:30 p.m. May 28. That’s the name on the credit card found in the stolen car, Gillentine reported.
Shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, Gillentine interviewed the manager and assistant manager at the Gilmer Street auto parts store. The store staff recalled seeing the person who made the purchase. One noted the man who made the purchase with the credit card acted weird, gritting his teeth, in ragged clothing, ‘ like he was high or something’ entered the the store three times. The suspect allegedly tried to trade a gift card for cash, Gillentine alleged in arrest reports.
The other store employee remembered the man because he claimed to be the son of a man who had been his customer for 25 years. He also when asked gave the same number Coker gave the trooper when asked for his contact number, Gillentine noted in arrest reports.
Consequently, Coker was subsequently charged May 29 with credit card abuse for alleged use of the other man’s credit card at O’Reilly the day before.
Gillentine was later notified by the victim that someone had attempted to use his debit card twice to withdraw $100 at the ATM inside a Walmart at 3:51 and 3:53 a.m. May 28, about 10 hours before the trooper first contacted him. Store surveillance showed the suspect to be wearing the same clothing Coker had on at the time of his arrest; thus, the trooper filed two cases and warrants were issued for two additional counts of debit card abuse, the trooper alleged in arrest reports June 12.
The trooper was also alerted someone attempted to use the victim’s card at shortly after 7 a.m. May 28 at a Super Handy store. Surveillance allegedly showed Coker wearing the same clothing as when arrested face the gas pump, and attempt to use the other man’s debit card, Gillentine alleged in the June 12 arrest reports. The victim was reported to be at work in Paris at the time of the alleged offense, and denied granting the man permission to use it. Thus, a third charge for debit card abuse was filed and a warrant issued.
Gillentine served Coker with the three of the debit card abuse warrants stemming from the attempts at Walmart and the gas station at 11:35 a.m. June 12 at the county jail, according to arrest reports.
Coker remained in the county jail at 8 a.m. Thursday morning, June 13, according to jail reports.
SSISD Elementary, Secondary Campus Updates For June 2019
Each month Sulphur Springs Independent School District Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk gives an update on activities, accomplishments and other notable things that have occurred between the last school board meeting and current months meeting from the elementary campuses, and Josh Williams presents an update on secondary campuses.
Below are a few of the many highlights presented to school board members at their regular June meeting by campus:
Douglass ECLC
- 1K Before K – Reading initiative for parents to read with their children 1,000 books before Kindergarten – We recognized 26 students with the fewest number of books read with a parent being 100. The highest was 1,146 books read. The parents have to keep a log and turn in to their Family Specialist.
- We had 7 students who never missed a day of school! That is very difficult for three-and-four- year-olds and their parents.
SSES
- STAAR results for 5th grade second administration are back, and many students were successful. We are anxiously awaiting the 4th grade reading, writing and math and 5th grade science scores.
- SSES Summer Activities: Summer School Pre-K-4, YMCA Summer Camp, 4-H Camp, Summer Nutrition Program – serves breakfast and lunch, 5th Grade STAAR Blitz.
Sulphur Springs High School
- UIL Academics – 5th in the State, between Hallsville and Lindale High Schools
- Fine Arts Showcase
- Senior Awards Ceremony – Over 3.5 million dollars awarded in scholarships
- Graduation – First in New Prim Stadium
- Project Graduation – Nearly 2/3 Attended
- Summer Athletic Camps Begins
- Hosting Summer Work Camp
Sulphur Springs Middle School
- DI –The DI scientific team placed 18th out of 83 teams, which was a great improvement from the prior year (36th place)
Austin Academic Center 2018-2019 Summary
- 128 Students Served
- 27 Graduates and 3 Pending Graduates (EOC Testing); Williams noted these are students who likely would not have graduated had it not been for the program.
Summer School 2019
- Anticipating 70 – 90 Students for Credit Recovery June 10 – July 11.
Chamber Connection- June 13, 2019
Chamber Connection- June 13th
The weather played its part in the success of the Balloon Festival, Ice Cream Freeze-off, Dairy Festival Parade, and Milking Contest that were held this weekend. We couldn’t have asked for anything better. However, that wasn’t my favorite part of the weekend. My favorite part was witnessing how Hopkins County always bands together for the good of the place we live and work. In a heartbeat of time news had spread that protestors were making their way to Sulphur Springs; and right away, Hopkins County was ready to love each other and the protestors as well. Over and over again I saw acts of kindness among the ones who live here, and I was so proud to call this place home. Let there never be a doubt that something special exists in our little neck of the woods.
Here is the remainder of the 60th Anniversary Dairy Festival schedule:
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].
Gordmans to host a ribbon cutting
On June 27, Bealls will officially close and become Gordmans of Sulphur Springs. They will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration on the 27th at 9 a.m. Please make plans to attend and welcome Gordmans to Sulphur Springs.
Ribbon Cuttings
Opening Ceremonies Ribbon Cutting for the Dairy Festival
The Dairy Festival officially kicked off with a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, June 7th at noon on Celebration Plaza. Many were there and celebrate the start of the 60th Anniversary of the Dairy Festival!
2019 Dairy Classic Sale set for Thursday, June 13
The 2019 Dairy Classic Sale, sponsored by the Northeast Texas Livestock Association, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at Sulphur Springs Livestock and Dairy Auction, located on State Highway 154 south.
“Sulphur Springs Livestock And Dairy Auction will be opening their doors just for us. There will not be a regular dairy sale so we have plenty of room for you to bring your friends,” invites Kevin Gibson, president of NETLA.
The show features the top entries from the annual Dairy Classic, held the first Saturday of the Dairy Festival to showcase months of hard work on the part of local youth. Funds raised from the sale are used to support local youth and future dairy farmers.
In order to participate in the Diary Classic, youth must validate their heifers. This January, 38 kids validated 56 heifers, all three-to-five-month old.
“These kids are all local and either live or attend school in Hopkins County. They were responsible for raising and preparing their animals for show. Only one heifer per exhibitor is allowed to enter the Dairy Classic class at the show. Thirty-four exhibitors arrived Friday night or early Saturday morning to show off their hard work, the top 17 made the sale,” Gibson stated.
Hopkins County 4-H members showing the three heifers earning top honors among sale cattle at the show include Braden Lennon, who took the championship title, Elida Miller reserve champion and Zia Miller Showmanship.
Sale heifers to be sold Thursday will be shown by the following youth:
- Braden Lennon, Hopkins County 4-H
- Elida Miller, Hopkins County 4-H
- Samantha Smith,Hopkins County 4-H
- Zia Miller, Hopkins County. 4-H
- Brett Boatman, Hopkins County 4-H
- Baylee Bowen, Como- Pickton FFA
- Allie Cockrum, Como- Pickton FFA
- Tatum Thompson, Hopkins County 4-H
- Reese Ragan, Hopkins County 4-H
- Kannon Gibson, Sulphur Springs FFA
- Dallas Davidson, Hopkins County 4-H
- Milley McCormack, Sulphur Springs FFA
- David James, North Hopkins FFA
- Wayne Hinton, Hopkins County 4-H
- Maddi Skaggs, Hopkins County 4-H
- Baylor Boatman, Hopkins County 4-H
- Jackson Reed, Sulphur Springs FF
3 Dozen Personnel Changes Approved for SSISD
Three dozen personnel changes were approved by Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees on Tuesday night, and term contract teachers who do not plan to return for the 2019-20 school year have only about 3 weeks to get their resignations in.
Assistant Superintendent Rusty Harden announced that July 6 is the 45-day contract release deadline. That is the date, according to Texas Education Section 21.210 of Texas Education Code, that is the last day teachers on term contracts who do not plan to return for the school year can submit their written resignation to the proper school official in order to be released from their contracts with penalty.
Trustees did accept resignations from three teachers and three aides Tuesday night, and approved two summer contracts, recommendations for 19 new personnel and nine personnel changes. These staffing changes will impact seven campuses.
Resigning were Sulphur Springs Elementary fifth grade teacher Brandi Caddell, middle school physical education teacher and coach Adolphus (Duane) Davis and special education aide Dayton Gifford; and high school government teacher and coach Brandon DeLorge, and inclusion aides Lori Franklin and Dana Wallace.
Summer contracts approved due to mid-term hire dates were those of Laura Badgett, a kindergarten teacher at Barbara Bush Primary, and Beverly Mayo, Sulphur Springs High School nurse.
New personnel were approved as recommended for six different campuses.
Kelsie Moser was approved to join the faculty as a first grade math and science teacher at Barbara Bush Primary. Amanda Walker is to be a special education aide at Travis Primary.
Approved to work at SSES were Natosha Burns, Lori Green and Vicki Nugent, fourth grade math teachers; Melva Dunan, special education behavior aide; Kendra Fisher, fifth grade teacher; Angel Tavera, bilingual instructional aide; and Kristy Williams, special education self contained aide.
At SSMS, Barbara Bloodgood was approved as a special education aide, Kayla Gentry as a sixth grade math teacher and Zuleyma Miranda as an eighth grade math teacher.
New at SSHS will be Ashley Bagwell as a math teacher and possibly a coach, Sean Coleman and Bryan Jones as a social studies teachers and coaches, Austin Fleming as a special education teacher and coach, Heather Fretwell as an English teacher, and Deanna McCoy as a health science technology education teacher.
Erin Echols was also approved to become a special education aide at Austin Academic Center.
Nine additional personnel changes were also approved by SSISD trustees, some requiring classroom swaps, others campus swaps, and in most cases changes in positions.
Mariana Hernandez will remain at Travis Primary, but will change from second grade dual language Spanish language arts and reading/science and social studies teacher to bilingual literacy support staff.
Tawnette Ramsey will continue teaching at SSES, but will exchange a fifth grade classroom for a special education classroom.
Renee Johnson will then move from Sulphur Springs Elementary where she is a fifth grade teacher to fill the second grade dual language SLAR/science and social studies position.
Susana Sanchez too will remain at Travis, where she will switch from teaching first grade dual language math and science to bilingual special education teacher. Olga Tellez will remain in a first grade classroom at Travis, but instead of teaching dual language math and science will now be teaching dual language science and social studies. Kelly Robinson will move from Douglas Early Childhood Learning Center to Travis, switching from prekindergarten ESL teacher to first grade dual language math teacher.
Chris Owens will trade in duties as a social studies teacher to become a SAC teacher at SSHS, but will continue to coach. Physical education teacher and boys coach Kevin Hatcher will then move from SSHS to high school to teach history and coach.
Adriana Ortiz will remain at SSMS, but will trade duties as an at-risk class aide for those of special education aide.
3 Taken Into Custody At Adult Probation Office Tuesday
Two Sulphur Springs men were taken into custody at the adult probation office Tuesday on warrants. A woman was also allegedly found intoxicated at the adult probation office.
Jonathan Wayne Smith, 22, of Sulphur Springs was arrested at 3:56 p.m. Tuesday at the adult probation office on three warrants for controlled substance offenses and one for violating probation, according to arrest reports.
The Special Crimes Unit officer reportedly obtained three warrants following an investigation into the purchase, selling and possession of narcotics from and by Smith.
Aware of the charges, Sulphur Springs Police Officer Adrian Pruitt and SCU Sgt. Joe Scott took Smith into custody on the warrants at the adult probation office Tuesday afternoon, they noted in arrest reports.
Smith remained in jail at Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center Wednesday afternoon. He bond was set at $40,000 on the possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone charge, $50,000 manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone and $40,0000 on the manufacture or delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone. No bond was set for violation of probation, which he was on for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, according to jail reports.
Gerardo Arellano, 20, of Sulphur Springs was taken into custody by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Shing and Sgt. Kelly Wiser at 8:47 a.m. Tuesday for violation of probation, which he was on for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
Arellano, identified in arrest reports by the last name Arellano-Saldana, remained in jail at Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center Wednesday afternoon on the violation of probation charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Jameison Hawkins also reportedly responded to a report of a person on some form of intoxicant at adult probation office. The 46-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was determined to be intoxicated to the degree she could harm herself or others, resulting in her arrest on the misdemeanor charge of public intoxication, Hawkins alleged in the report. She was released from the county jail Wednesday, according to jail reports.
