Woman Found Guilty, Sentenced To 8 Years In TDCJ For Aggravated Assault
Maurquia Inez Ford, 32, was convicted Monday, March 25, and sentenced to 8 years in Texas Department of Criminal Justice for aggravated assault.
During a trial before the court, Ford and two other individuals were accused of following the victim to his uncle’s residence. Once there, one of the assailants was alleged to have hit the victim in the head with an object, causing severe injuries. The victim was later flown to a Dallas hospital for his injuries, reported Eighth Judicial District Attorney Will Ramsay.
“I feel that justice was served in this case. People should not be allowed to justify violent, assaultive behavior on the grounds of revenge,” Ramsay said.
After the district judge found her guilty, an 8 year sentence was agreed upon and approved by the judge in the punishment phase of the trial.
Diabetes Support Group Meets Today at Noon
A Diabetes Support Group for Hopkins County and surrounding areas will meet the 4th Tuesday of each month. The newly formed group will meet Tuesday, March 26, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Hopkins County, 1200 W. Houston Street, Sulphur Springs at 12:00 noon. The group is open to anyone who has diabetes or who cares for someone with diabetes. Informative topics for discussion will include nutrition, exercise, medications, complications, and more. For more information, contact Johanna Hicks, 903-885-3443 or Sue Potts, 903-348-3903.
Motor Grader, Research Resources Among Items Considered By County Commissioners Court
A new motor grader, amendments for two county precinct budgets and extended research resources for judges and the district attorney were all matters Hopkins County Commissioners Court was asked to consider approving during their regular meeting Monday.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price received approval Monday to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for a new motor grader.
The full purchase price for the motor grader is $219,500. However, Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price is putting down $50,000 from his budget, leaving only $169,500 to be financed over 7 years. Bids were sought for financing. City National Bank proposed financing at a rate of 4.25 percent while Alliance Bank proposed a 4.15 percent finance rate, Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Walker told commissioners during their regular March 25 meeting.
Both rates were lower than the financing rate quoted by Holt, Price said.
Thus, Price and Walker recommended, and Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved the purchase of the motor grader through BuyBoard, to be financed through Alliance Bank at the 4.15 percent rate.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court also agreed to amend Precinct 1 and Precinct 4 budgets. Each precinct money left over from last year’s budget. The court agreed to roll the funds over to this year into the two precinct budgets. That’s little more than $57,500 for Precinct 1 and just over $42,100 for Precinct 4, Walker said.
In other business, County Court at Law Judge Clay Harrison asked the commissioners court to consider approving a contract which would expand the research resources available to judges and court officials through a contract with LexisNexis.
The contract would run from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020, at a rate of $509 a month. A $35 fee charged goes to the law library fund for library materials or equipment such as software and electronic research resources. Money from the law library fund would be used to help with that fee.
Harrison said extending the scope of subscription would “greatly benefit” him as well as the district judge and attorney, as it would allow them to “research a lot more different types of issues.”
The court gave approval to the contract, which won’t be official until its signed by LexisNexis.
North Hopkins VFD Recognized For Service
North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department was recognized Monday by Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley and the Commissioners Court for their “outstanding efforts” and “dedication in their perseverance to provide protection for the citizens of Hopkins County and their property.”
Endsley noted that each month, in order by department number, he and the commissioners court would be recognizing the volunteer departments that the county “subsidizes” and who help HCFD on calls in the county. This is part of HCFD’s 20th anniversary celebration, a way to honor the many volunteers who work side-by-side with county firemen.
The officials commended the NHVFD members present at Monday’s commissioners court meeting, especially Chief Bobby Harris for getting the department back to it’s former functionality including financially.
County Judge Robert Newsom and Endsley noting the department’s rich history as part of the local system for 43 years.
NHVFD was started in 1976, by nine members. Kenneth Cockran served as president, James Lair as vice-president, Gene Dixon as secretary and treasurer, and Merrel Chester as chief; and firefighters Jesse Orr, John Martin, Jerry Don Gibby, Jimmy Goldsmith and Jerry Glossup.
That year, the county used revenue sharing money to purchase five one-ton chassis to be fully equipped to include the installation of citizens band radios. Bill Mosely also in 1976 donated the property for NHVFD, with the stipulation that the property would return to the family in the event the Volunteer Fire Department ceased to exit.
Texas Forestry Service donated a tanker. John Martin donated an EMS ambulance to serve as a rescue service truck and a rescue boat. A&S Air Conditioning Inc. gave NHVFD a brush truck.
Currently, the the department has nine members supporting four fire
apparatus – Bobby Harris as fire chief, Steve Taylor as assistant chief, Arron Daniels and Bobby Brown as lieutenants, and Debbie Harris as treasurer/bookkeeper; and firefighters, Brenten Burnside, Blake Stewart, Gary Hendricks, Lashonda Taylor, Darrell Moore.
9 SSHS BPA Members Competed At State Leadership Conference
Nine career and technical education students from Sulphur Springs High School strongly represented SSHS in their respective events at the Business Professionals of America 2019 State Leadership Conference Wednesday-Saturday, March 6-9, at the Sheraton in Dallas.
One student is advancing to the BPA National Leadership Conference May 1-5, another will run for a state officer position and two students were also named as alternates for the national convention, SSHS Career and Technology Education Director Jenny Arledge reported
Genesis Zamora won fourth place in business law and ethics, qualifying her to compete in Anaheim, California at the national conference in May.
Recognized as a national officer candidate is Emily Atkinson.
Makayla Pullen and Christian Yanez have been designated as alternates for nationals, Pullen after placing four thin administrative support research and Christian Yanez after placing seventh in graphic design promotion.
Also recognized for their participation in the state conference were: Emily Atkinson, in administrative support research; Brayden Fisher, C++ programming; Jaci Glenn , medical office procedures; David Grinnan, advanced word processing; Dakota Soles, PC servicing and troubleshooting; and Daniel Soto, payroll accounting.
Business Professionals of America is a national organization for high school, college, and middle school students preparing for careers in business and information technology. The organization’s activities and programs complement classroom instruction by giving students practical experience through application of the skills learned at school. BPA acts as a cohesive agent in the nationwide networking of education and business and industry. BPA is contributing to the preparation of a world-class workforce through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic and technological skills. Today’s students. Tomorrow’s business professionals
County Commissioners Approve $1 Million For County Road Repairs
Each of the four county commissioners have been allocated an additional $250,000 to put toward road work in their precincts this spring. The $1 million allocation was approved Monday, along with a resolution granting the emergency budget expenditure.
The resolution allows Hopkins County Commissioners Court to amend the budget so funding can be transferred to each precinct’s road and bridges budget to meet the “grave public necessity” to repair roads “immeasurably negatively impacted” by September and October “rain, flooding and winds.”
“This is a serious situation. We are blessed to have a budget that allows us to do this this year. We are doing well in Hopkins County, except for the roads,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said.
The funding can be used in each precinct for materials, labor or otherwise be applied toward road repairs at each commissioner’s discretion, Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Walker said.
The road projects are expected to start and go quickly, according to Newsom.
City Council Takes No Action Regarding Public Safety Director
Sulphur Springs City Council members after a 40-minute executive session Monday opted not to take any action related to that session, nor was any statement released.
The city officials were expected to be briefed during the session about Sulphur Springs Public Safety Director James W. “Jay” Sanders being placed on administrative leave with pay at the end of last week, city officials said Monday.
The city did so due to Sanders “being involved in an ongoing criminal investigation by another agency. This action should not be viewed as an opinion on the merits of the investigation,” an official release from the city stated.
Sulphur Springs Police Capt. Jason Ricketson and SSFD Assistant Chief Tim Vaughn will step up to serve in the top jobs at their respective departments in the interim, according to the city manager.
Work Progressing At Chick-Fil-A Site
Construction of the new Chick-Fil-A continues to progress, with the structure appreciably complete and the opening projected for May, local sources report.
Saltillo Track Results From Alba-Golden
Saltillo Lions and Lady Lions Compete at Alba-Golden Relays Last Thursday
The Saltillo Lions and Lady Lions competed at the Alba-Golden Relays over Spring Break last Thursday (March 21). For the Lady Lions, Kristina Wade got third place in the 800-meter run and fourth in the 1600-meter run. Reagen Speirs was first in the 3200-meter run, fifth in the 1600-meters and sixth in the 800-meter run. For the Lions, Matthew Gurley was fifth in the triple jump. Ben Moore was fifth in the long jump. Dillon Beadle placed second in the 1600-meter run, second in the 3200-meter run and fourth in the 800-meters. Jayden Holloway was fourth in the 3200-meter run and fifth in the 1600-meter run.
Storm results in some hail damage, downed trees and power lines
Mar 25, 2019 – Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County weathered Monday’s early morning storm relatively unscathed, emergency officials said late Monday morning. Neither city nor county officials received reports of any tornado touching down in either Sulphur Springs or Hopkins County.
County emergency officials went on high alert as the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the county starting shortly after midnight. Sheriff’s officials monitored the storm cell on radar, which some rotation in the southern part of the southeast moving cell spotted, with high upper rotation as it neared Cumby.
Sulphur Springs Police Department’s emergency officials sounded the tornado sirens throughout town as the NWS warning was announced.
In Sulphur Springs, a section of South Broadway Street was closed for several hours by Texas Department of Transportation after a utility pole at the corner of Drexel Drive and Broadway was blown down Monday morning. That section of road was expected to remain closed until a new utility pole was installed, city officials said.
Residents reported hail ranging from pea to golf ball in size falling as the storm system blew across the area, particularly areas from Wildcat Way south of town.
Some city residents reported enough hail falling in a short span to lightly cover most of porch surfaces, but the frozen precipitation melted as the storm cell dissipated.
Mild to heavy rainfall too was reported.
Winds whipped some limbs and other debris around in town, onto a few city streets, but no major damages had been reported to city or county emergency officials as of late Monday morning.
Further out in the county, few trees and limbs were blown down, with the worst of the story reported just south of Sulphur Springs in the area of County Road 1100. Although a tree was reported to be blocking FM 900 south about 1:20 a.m.
