New Ms. Hopkins County Senior to be Chosen June 1, Registration Now Open
Since 2009, the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Pageant has brought a delightful annual contest in celebration of the Senior woman and her contribution to the community. The 2019 Pageant is set for Saturday June 1 at 6pm at the Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs. Ladies age 60 and older are invited to enter the fun competition. Their presence will present a cross-section of the many fascinating, beneficial interests pursued by senior-age women of Hopkins County. There is no fee to register as a contestant. Please contact Karon Weatherman at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center for an application and full details, or phone 903-885-1661.
Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Revocation Hearing
A revocation hearing in Eighth Judicial District Court Wednesday resulted in a five year sentence for Lowell Edward Landers. Landers’, 58, offense was Evading Arrest Detention with Vehicle. The offense was committed in 2017.
In October, 2017, a Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputy observed an 18-wheeler weaving all over the highway near the 126 mile marker of I-30. Multiple vehicles were seen getting out of the way of the truck to keep from getting hit. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and turned on flashing lights. The truck kept on going but only at a top speed of about 55 miles per hour. He sometime reduced speed to about 5 miles per hour. The trucker finally exited at the Highway 19 exit. He attempted to make a turn and ended up hitting a light pole which brought his rig to a halt. By this time, the sheriff’s deputy was joined by units from the Sulphur Springs Police Department. The trucker must have believed he was in Alabama because he said he had to deliver some goods to an Alabama location in about an hour. He was tested for inebriation and was arrested. Landers of Russellville, Alabama was charged with evading arrest and with driving while intoxicated.
Second Public Hearing on Annexation of Business Parks Leads to March 5th Decision by City Council
“If they ask for a tax abatement, we will have to consider it,” stated members of city council and city staff in answer a KSST News inquiry. The inquiry came after the conclusion of two public hearings regarding the annexation of industrial parks into the city limits of Sulphur Springs.
Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in the council chamber of City Hall, members of the council conducted a second public hearing regarding the annexation of Pioneer Business Park located on the west side of Sulphur Springs, just off I-30, and the annexation of Heritage Business Park located on the east side of Sulphur Springs just off Loop 301. The first public hearings were conducted Tuesday, January 8th, during a January Special Session of the Council. The council will make a decision in their March 5th meeting regarding the annexation of the property.
During the second public hearing, again no one spoke regarding the Heritage Business Park. That park includes Raven Industries, Load Trail, and Armorock Polymer Concrete.
Two individuals whose businesses are located in Pioneer Business Park did question council regarding permits, codes, and advantages of being inside the city limits.
The owner of a storage facility located just across the street from Clayton Homes was concerned about inventory taxation. He moved his business from California to Texas due to the lengthy process of permitting building changes, additions, and inventory taxation. The city council and staff assured him that this is not California. The city staff noted that inventory taxation is rolling throughout the year and inventory tax is not a flat rate based on specific dates. City Staff said the tax bill for the newly incorporated area would be prorated for the year.
Regarding permitting expansion or changes to current facilities, City Manager Marc Maxwell said the city has a quick turnaround on permits for small projects. He noted that most small projects are permitted the day they are requested when the engineering of the project meets code.
They also noted that water and sewer bills will be lowered as soon as they are inside the city. Currently they purchase those services at a fee level for any outside the city limits. It was also noted that in May of this year, the insurance rate for the facility will be lowered thanks to the new ISO rating that will lower fire insurance rates for business and residents.
City sanitation services were also a concern. The owner of the storage facility has recently signed a multi-year contract with a sanitation company and not with Sanitation Solutions that currently serves the city. It was noted that city sanitation services would be negotiable.
The second speaker, who had been present for the first public hearing, said he did not feel his business would be getting anything in return for the taxes paid in annexation. He asked if a grace period could be put in place for industries that needed expansion or changes that must be permitted for code requirements. He wanted an extended time for some work before having to seek a permit. City Attorney Jim McElroy said the city could not offer a grace period due to the ISO insurance rating. He noted one requirement for the lower rating is the code and permit process.
Both City Manager Maxwell and City Attorney McElroy offered their personal mobile phone numbers to the two business leaders present so that they could answer any other questions or respond to needs.
Council will consider the annexation of the property in a final reading in their March regular session on March 5, 2019.
PJC-Sulphur Springs: Spring Registration Underway
READY FOR SPRING
Jessica Santana of Sulphur Springs, left, gets some help from PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Educational Advisor Tonya Armstrong as she registers for spring semester classes at the campus. On campus registration continues daily through Jan. 14. A special late registration session will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16. Spring semester classes begin on Jan. 22. For more information call 903-885-1232.
Chamber Connection January 9, 2019
Big news from the Chamber! Since it is our 50th Anniversary for the Stew Contest, we are hosting our t-shirt/theme contest EARLY so we can CELEBRATE all year!!!! If you have a great idea for the theme of this year’s stew contest, submit your entry via email to [email protected] by January 31st, 2019. Can’t wait to see your ideas!!! It’s gonna be big!!!
It is with great pleasure that the 2019 Board of Directors invites you to the 93rd Annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Thursday, February 14, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hopkins County Civic Center. We are introducing a Networking Cocktail half hour at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:30, and the awards will follow 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. Our banquet theme is “Love Makes the World Go ‘Round!” and is set in various places around the world. This is your chance to bring your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day to enjoy a night bursting with community pride. Red attire is encouraged, 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. We are excited for you and your business to join us for this extraordinary evening. Please make your reservation TODAY by calling Chelsea, Cathey, or Lezley at the Chamber of Commerce, (903) 885-6515, or by stopping by to visit at 300 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs.
Nominations are still being accepted for Outstanding Educators, Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Citizen of the Year. These nominations should be sent to [email protected]. In addition, the Pilot Club is currently accepting nominations for Caregiver of the Year. These nomination forms can also be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office.
Midwest Total Lending Concepts to host Ribbon Cutting
Midwest Total Lending Concepts will host their ribbon cutting celebration at noon on Monday, January 14th. They are located at 616 N. Hillcrest Dr., Suite B, in Sulphur Springs. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Downtown Dental will host their ribbon cutting celebration on January 16th
Downtown Dental, located at 226 Main Street in Sulphur Springs, will be hosting their ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, January 16th at noon. Please make plans to attend and hear about the new and exciting things happening at Downtown Dental.
Merle Norman Spa to host ribbon cutting
Merle Norman Spa will host a ribbon cutting celebration on Tuesday, January 22nd, at noon. They will reveal their new spa services. Merle Norman is located at 212 N. Davis Street in Sulphur Springs. See you there!
Hunt Regional is offering Mobile Mammography Coach in Sulphur Springs
Hunt Regional Hospital is offering the Tubby Adkisson Memorial Mobile Mammography Coach on January 24th in the Spring Village Shopping Center in Sulphur Springs. All insurances accepted at Hunt Regional are also accepted for the Mobile Mammography Coach, including Medicare and Medicaid. To schedule individual screening mammograms, please call (903) 408-5010. Appointments and pre-registration are requested.
Ribbon Cuttings:
The Hopkins County Fire Department celebrated their 20th Anniversary on Friday, January 4th at 2 p.m. Congratulations to the Hopkins County Fire Department on this huge accomplishment!
Coach Upton Says High School Soccer Competition Has Advanced Over the Years
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton said opponent Nevada Community played really well in a 1-1 tie with the Wildcats Tuesday night (January 8) at Gerald Prim Stadium. He said several of the Braves play advanced club soccer. Coach Upton said soccer has advanced to where there are no longer any free games. He said everyone is good, knows how to play and will compete with you.
Coach Upton said if the Wildcats would have cashed in on some more of their goal chances, they would have won the game. He said the Wildcats had 5 to 8 chances to score down the stretch after they tied the game at 1-1. Coach Upton called the Community first half goal amazing.
In the second half, Wildcat Alejandro Diosdado scored to tie the match getting a nice assist from Enrique Arellano. Diosdado leads the Wildcats with 2 goals. Coach Upton said the Wildcats will be defensively sound but he said they need Diosdado and others like Arellano and Omar Hernandez to score goals. Hernandez is currently out with an ankle injury.
Coach Upton said the team is working on finishing their scoring opportunities and he added when they get better at that, the team will get much better. Wednesday Coach Upton said Kevin Yanez received the team’s pipe award for being the hardest worker for the Wildcats in the Community game.
The Wildcats, now 1-1-1 for the season play next in a Longview tournament Thursday through Saturday. Coach Upton said the Wildcats were in a pool with New Summerfield near Jacksonville, Jacksonville and Tyler Chapel Hill.
Lady Cats Defeat Lindale 57-35
The Lady Cats’ basketball team had a good game in many ways as they defeated Lindale, 57-35 Tuesday evening (January 8) at Lindale. The Lady Cats are now 1-1 in district play and 19-4 for the season.
Coach Brittney Tisdell said every member of the team got to work on the press against the Lady Eagles. She said defensively the Lady Cats played really well and that secured the win. Coach Tisdell said on offense, working against the Lindale zone defense, the Lady Cats moved the ball around well and took care of the ball. She said doing all that the Lady Cats got out to a big lead that they held all night. The Lady Cats led 19-6 after one quarter and 34-13 at halftime. The Lady Cats led 48-25 after three quarters.
Lady Cat senior Danielle Godbolt also made sure the Lady Cats got off to a good start. Coach Tisdell said Godbolt scored 12 points in the game’s first three minutes. She finished with 15 points, hit a three-pointer, was 6 of 6 from the field, had 2 assists, 4 offensive rebounds, 4 steals and 1 deflection.
Sadavia Porter led the Lady Cats with 19 points including a three pointer. She also had 2 assists, 3 offensive rebounds, 2 steals and 1 deflection.
Te’Arria Rose had 7 points with one three-pointer. She also had 2 assists, 4 steals and 3 deflections.
Kate Womack had 4 points, 4 rebounds including 3 offensive rebounds, 1 steal and 1 deflection.
Colbria Harrison had 3 points hitting a shot from behind the arc and she had an assist.
Tarayla Kelley scored 3 points with 2 rebounds and a steal.
Aliyah Abron, Autumn Tanton and Nylah Lindley all scored 2 points.
Abron also had an assist, a rebound, a steal and a deflection. Tanton had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and a deflection.
Lindley had 1 assist, 3 steals and 3 deflections.
Latavia Smith had a rebound, 3 steals and 2 deflections.
Kerie Wright had a rebound.
The Lady Cats hit 45% of their shots including 4 of 15, or 26% from three-point range. They made a whopping 16 baskets in the paint. The Lady Cats won the rebounding battle, 21-20 but they had 15 big offensive rebounds. The Lady Cats had 11 assists, 20 steals and 13 deflections.
Next the Lady Cats play Greenville Friday at 6:15 p.m. as part of a Lady Cats and Wildcats evening of basketball in Sulphur Springs Gym.
City Council January Session: ISO Rating, Bid Approved for Summer Paving Program
During the Tuesday, January 8th Special Session of the Sulphur Springs City Council, the council heard a report from the Ark-Tex Council of Governments, Assistant Fire Marshall David James, conducted public hearings for annexation of two business parks, approved updating various electrical, building, and maintenance codes, discussed savings on tax notes sale and Certificates of Obligation, and received bids for the summer paving program.
Assistant Fire Marshall David James informed the council that an 18-month study has led to lowering the ISO ratings for the city. With a rating of 1 as the best and a rating of 10 as poor, the city has now been given a rating of 2. The lower rating will mean lower insurance costs for businesses and residents. The closest cities with a rating of 2 are Tyler and Sherman. The rating is based on emergency communication, water distribution and hydrants, and fire services. James said the prevention safeguards in place for the city have increased and that, too, assisted with the better rating.
Chris Brown, Executive Director of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments, informed the council regarding the work of the non-profit, state mandated political subdivision that encompasses 10 counties. There are 27 regional planning council of governments. The Council of Governments is responsible for the 911 system that allows first responders and law enforcement to locate addresses. They have introduced text to 911 in this region and two primarily rural regions nearby. The Council of Government also oversees financial investments in environmental, homeland security, criminal justice and the TRAX system. TRAX is a rural transportation system for the elderly and disabled. Section 8 housing, advocacy for the elderly, 504 small business loans and economic development in the region are also a focus for the Council of Government.
Sales tax receipts are up 10% and over revenue budgeted amounts. Water and sewer receipts are also above revenue budget. Thus, the city continues a solid course for income.
The Council unanimously approved all items on the agenda. The City Charter will see a few tweaks that will align the Charter with mandates from the state and cause the Charter to conform to existing practices. The Charter will be reviewed again in 10 years.
Three miles of streets will be in the summer paving program as the city begins the first phase of the 5-year program.
Initial steps for tax notes for the 2019 budget and a refunding of 2009 Certificates of Obligation will begin. The tax notes will be a reimbursement for what the city spends in purchasing the already approved fire and police gear, election equipment, mowers for the park, trucks used in city work and police vehicles. With interest rates lower, the refunding of 2009 Certificates of Obligation could save the city between $600,000 and $700,000 depending on interest rates in May. The final approval of refunding of the Certificates of Obligation hinge on interest rates in May of this year.
