Hopkins County Fire Department Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Hopkins County Fire Department will celebrate 20 years of service with an open house 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2019, at the County Fire Station, 1286 Texas Street in Sulphur Springs. Andy Endsley, County Fire Chief, invites the public to the come and go event. At 2 p.m. a Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting and remarks by County Judge Robert Newsom are scheduled.
Chamber Banquet Holds Networking, Catered Dinner and Community Awards
It is with great pleasure that the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce 2019 Board of Directors invites you to the 93rd Annual Membership Banquet on Thursday, February 14, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Hopkins County Civic Center. The banquet will start with a Networking Cocktail half-hour beginning at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the community awards will begin at 7 p.m. Please take this opportunity to bring your family, friends, and employees to an evening of dinner and community awards including Large and Small Business of the Year, Educator of the Year, Caregiver Award, Agriculturist of the Year, Woman of the Year, and Citizen of the Year. This year’s banquet theme is “Love Makes the World Go ‘Round!”, and is set in various locations around the world. Take this opportunity to bring your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day to enjoy a night full of community pride. Red attire is welcomed, but not required.
Individual tickets are $30, and tables of ten are available for $500, which includes preferential seating and visible labeling of your business. Please make your reservation promptly by calling Chelsea, Cathey, or Lezley at the Chamber of Commerce, (903) 885-6515, or by stopping by at 300 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs.
The Chamber is also extending the deadline for nominations on Small Business of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Educator of the Year. All these nominations will be due at the Chamber office on or before Friday, January 18th. If you know a deserving individual or a business you would like to nominate, please call the Chamber for a nomination form. It is part of the delightful evening to see who takes home these coveted recognitions.
Additionally, a number of other community honors will be awarded as well. Please contact the following organizations for deadlines to nominate for the following awards: Sigma Phi Sorority for Woman of the Year, Pilot Club for Caregiver of the Year, 1994 Leadership Sulphur Springs Class for the Community Pride award, the Professional Ag Workers for the Agriculturist of the Year, and the Downtown Business Alliance for Growth and Renewal Award nominations.
Special Crimes Unit Investigations in Past Six Months Reflect Rise in Meth Use and Sales
Methamphetamine sales and use have increased during the last six months of 2018 according to the Sulphur Springs Special Crime Unit. Mark Estes, SCU officer, said methamphetamine has taken over the community and has become the focus for the unit. He stated that the unit is focused on all the Penalty Group 1 drugs which includes meth, heroin, and cocaine.
Sulphur Springs Special Crimes Unit consisting of SSPD officers Estes and Joe Scott has been in a lengthy investigation from July through December, 2018. During that time they have conducted 61 felony cases involving 27 defendants. Using confidential informants, they have seized 7.18 oz. of methamphetamine, 5-grams of crack cocaine, 2.5-grams of heroin, 2.5lbs of marijuana, 8lbs of mushrooms, seized currency totaling $21,099, seized two vehicles and six firearms.
Estes says marijuana is the gate-way drug to stronger drugs like meth and crack. He says it doesn’t take long for one to realize there is more money to be made in meth than marijuana.
Estes stated that the SCU works with Hopkins County and surrounding counties as well, when asked.
Local Man Arrested on Camp County Warrant; Has Meth in Possession
When a Hopkins County Deputy conducted a traffic stop for failure to use signal required distance and not coming to a complete stop, he found there was a warrant for the driver, Alexander Guzman-Thomas, 38, of Sulphur Springs. The Camp County warrant was for assault. Arrested and taken to county jail, it was found that Guzman-Thomas also had 3.4-grams of methamphetamine in his left sock.
Guzman-Thomas is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 greater than 1-gram but less than 4-grams. He is being held for Camp County authorities as well.
Local Man Charged with UUMV
Sulphur Springs Police were dispatched to a Fisher Street address in reference to a stolen vehicle. As officers sought the vehicle, a witness advised that Jaidarius Dermonte McGill, 17, of Sulphur Springs, was hiding from the police. When found, McGill fled police before complying with orders to stop.
McGill is in Hopkins County Jail Charged with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and is held on a $10,000 bond.
County Corrections Officer Arrested for Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
According to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, on January, 2, 2019, Hopkins County Corrections Officer Sinead Nicole Hagan, 27, was arrested and charged with improper sexual activity with person in custody.
As soon as the Jail Staff became aware of the Allegations of Sexual Activity between Hagan, a corrections officer, and an inmate, the Texas Rangers were notified. Texas Ranger John Vance conducted the investigation. District Attorney Will Ramsey was made aware of the criminal activity and a warrant was issued for Hagans arrest.
Hagan was booked in to Hopkins County Jail.
Chamber Connection January 3, 2019
Charleston Sky scheduled their ribbon cutting celebration
Charleston Sky, a new venue in Delta County, has scheduled their ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, January 9th at noon. Their address is 4274 FM 895 in Cooper, Texas. Please make plans to join us for networking and welcoming this new venue.
Would you like to recognize an Outstanding Educator?
Here is your chance… the Chamber of Commerce Education Committee wants to allow all Hopkins County Citizens to nominate their candidates for “Outstanding Professional Educator” (Administrator, Counselor, Diagnostician, or Teacher) “Outstanding Para Professional Educator” (Secretary or Aide) and “Outstanding Auxiliary Educator” (Maintenance, Custodial, Transportation, Nurse or Cafeteria). You may pick up a nomination form at the Chamber office at 300 Connally Street and then either fax, e-mail or mail it in, no later than December 31st. Our fax number is 903-885-6516, our e-mail address is [email protected], and our mailing address is also 300 Connally Street, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. Don’t miss this opportunity to recognize a special educator!
Nominations for Large and Small Business of the Year!
Please submit your nomination for Large Business of the Year or Small Business of the Year. Nominations should be for those businesses which exhibit outstanding community involvement—civic, church, educational, benevolent, humanitarian or other. You may pick up a nomination form at the Chamber office at 300 Connally Street and either fax, e-mail or mail it in, no later than December 31st. Our fax number is 903-885-6516, our e-mail address is [email protected] and our mailing address is 300 Connally Street, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.
Joining the Chamber is such a wonderful boost for your business. Have you been thinking about joining the Chamber but wondering what the benefits are? Here are just a few of the reasons being a member of the Chamber of Commerce is helpful to you:
| Medical Insurance Options for your business of 2-50 people Business Education opportunities through low cost Lunch + Learns Listings in the Membership Directory with community history and profile (distributed to 7,000 people) |
| One copy of the Membership Directory (published annually) |
| Chamber Online Directory Listing & mini website |
| Ribbon-cutting, Grand Opening & Anniversary Celebration promotion opportunities Low cost education for businesses through Lunch+ Learns and seminars |
| Business After Hours hosting opportunities |
| Certificates of Origin for international trade |
| Member-only opportunities for display space of printed materials at the Chamber of Commerce |
| Member-only opportunities for promotion distribution at Chamber-sponsored events |
| Weekly Chamber Connection publication |
| Partner-to-Partner discount program opportunities |
| Unlimited opportunities for business networking |
| Business advocacy at the local, county, state, and national levels |
| Credibility and visibility in the Hopkins County area |
| Advertising Opportunities in the Membership Directory |
| First-hand customer referrals |
If you are ready to join or renew with the Chamber, give us a call! We’d love to welcome you to the Chamber family! Call Cathey, Chelsea, or Lezley at (903) 885-6515 for more information.
Donation opportunity for students at A&M-Commerce
Cleaning out your closet over the holidays? Consider donating your gently worn business casual or professional clothes to the Lion Wardrobe, a program sponsored by Career Development at Texas A&M University – Commerce. Donations are used to help students look the part for interviews, presentations, conferences, or other professional events and set that very important first impression with employers. You can drop them off at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, 300 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, contact Bethany Ferrall at 903-468-3212.
Miller Grove ISD Opens Two Hours Late on Thurs. Jan. 3
According to Superintendent Steve Johnson, the Miller Grove ISD will start classes at 10am on Thursday January 3, due to excessive water on roadways in the district. Buses will run two hours late and classes will start two hours late on January 3 at Miller Grove ISD, so please plan accordingly.
Fort Worth Couple Arrested For Como Store Break In Wednesday
January 2, 2019 – Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum says he does not like thieves so he was pleased when a Fort Worth man and a woman were arrested shortly after a Como convenience store was burglarized early Wednesday morning.
Sheriff Tatum says it was the second time the store was targeted recently. He says after the first break in on December 28, deputies have been on the alert in the area. Sheriff Tatum says when a burglar alarm sounded at 2:27 a.m. Wednesday, Hopkins County Patrolman Dan Turrentine was nearby. Sheriff Tatum says the patrolman saw a dark SUV on Highway 11 heading west toward Sulphur Springs. The sheriff says the patrolman secured the building and alerted other deputies and Sulphur Springs police officers. Lawmen watched the two main routes to Sulphur Springs on Highway 11 and on Highway 1870. Police Patrolman Justin Findley Stanley stopped the dark SUV near Helm Lane.
GOMEZ,VONDRICK DESHAWN aka LIL-VON
Inside the vehicle, he found 90 individual packs of cigarettes and some alcohol. Sheriff Tatum says the cigarettes were stolen from the Como store and the alcohol was reported stolen from a store in Cass County earlier Wednesday. The sheriff says he believes the couple also broke into the same Como store and into a Sulphur Springs’ store on December 28.
Sulphur Springs Detective Sgt. David Gilmore is working on the city case coordinating with the Sheriff’s Office. Justice of the Peace B.J. Teer charged 27-year old Vondrick Deshawn Gomez II and 25 -year old Hevelyn Carter with burglary of a building in connection with the early Wednesday break in at the Como convenience store. JP Teer set bond for Gomez at $200,000 and for Carter at $150,000.
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.
Attend FBC “Pass the Legacy” Grandparenting Conference on Evening of January 11
Fred Lewis, Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs, and Bruce Welch, Pastor of Education, are inviting grandparents and great-grandparents in the area to a conference designed especially for them. The conference will help those in a grandparenting role, many who are raising their grandchildren, to become better equipped to “pass the legacy”, a valuable resource of love and wisdom, on to their grandchildren. Catherine Jacobs, Founder and Executive Director of “Pass the Legacy” Ministry, will present an informative and inspiring program. The Conference is set for Friday January 11, 2019 from 6-9pm in the FBC Fellowship Hall. A meal will be included. Cost is $15 per person or $25 per couple. Purchase tickets online at ssfbc.org or at the church office, 116 Oak Avenue, downtown Sulphur Springs.
During a KSST Good Morning Show interview, Welch stated “grandparents have a unique opportunity to pour their love and wisdom into the lives of their grandchildren. Children today, more than ever before, need love and time, and their grandparents often have a great reserve of these valuable commodities”. Lewis added “the value structure of older Americans is a resource to be shared. And children love to hear the handed-down stories about their family! If you are blessed to have grandchildren, whether you have them full-time or only during occasional visits, then you can benefit from this conference, and in turn, so will they.”
