BackStory Brewery Grand Opening Set for Friday
East Texas’ newest craft brewery is now open for business in the old Ice House at 211 Magnolia, Sulphur Springs, serving craft beers on tap. Grand opening for the venue is Friday July 13th 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. The venue is family friendly with arcade games, pinball, pool tables, shuffleboard, corn hole, and giant Jenga.
The Grand opening will feature live music with Matt Dunn and Cole Risnec. Food trucks will also be present Friday evening and Saturday from 3:30p.m. until 10 p.m. A corn hole tournament with a cash prize, shwag giveaways, and more will be featured Saturday.
The atmosphere is laid back and everyone is welcome. The staff is trained to help novices familiarize with craft beer and find a new favorite. Flights and tastes are available.
Pool at the BackStory Brewery
The venue is also available for rental for private events with indoor and outdoor areas available. The venue can accommodate 20-2,000 people.
Taproom Hours:
Thursdays 4pm – 10pm
Fridays 4pm – 10pm
Saturdays 12pm – 10pm
Sundays 12pm – 10pm
Current Beer Menu:
Notta Hazy IPA (strong citrus flavor with zero IBU – 6.1% ABV)
Strong Bock (6.9% ABV)
Minivan Meltdown with Mango (IPA 8.1% ABV)
Slice of Sunshine (California common steam beer – 5.4% ABV)
Blonde (8.2% ABV)
Hoppy Red (6% ABV)
Hefty Lefty Barleywine (11.2% ABV)
EBC’s 47 Old Ale (8.8% ABV)
Progress Update on the Crosstown Trail
A city construction crew was busy Wednesday making concrete forms and laying rebar. Work continues on the southern portion of the Crosstown Trail. Next week the crew may complete the path from the rail crossing to Main St. The design of the pedestrian crossing on Main has not been finalized, and construction of the crossing has not yet begun.
The rail crossing is complete. However that portion of the trail is not yet open to the public as there is no completed path south of the railroad.
Paths leading north toward Peavine Pinion Pond, the Civic Center, the High School, and Buford Park are now linked.
Dirt work has been completed south of main on the section linking Coleman Lake to the Crosstown Trail.
Police Academy Cadets Observe Posse Meeting, Badge Presentation
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and Sheriff Lewis Tatum pictured with Posse members and Academy cadets
Approximately eighteen cadet students of the Hopkins County Police Academy observed a monthly meeting of the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Posse on Tuesday July 10, 2018. The cadets are registered in a nearly year-long training for law enforcement certification. Some members of the school are already EMS or Fire certified, or are members of the Posse. Texas Ranger John Vance and Sheriff’s Patrol Captain Tanner Crump arranged for their attendance at the meeting, which included a special badge presentation to two elected officials who were also specially invited.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum both began their law enforcement careers as members of the Sheriff’s Posse. Posse members are receiving updated badges more closely resembling those of the Sheriff’s Department, and the first two were presented to Newsom and Tatum by Posse Captain Frank Tieman. Newsom remarked that he enjoyed his years in the organization, and that he would still be a member but cannot due to the office he presently holds. Tatum stated that the Posse is a backbone of the Sheriff’s Department. He knows that when the posse is called out, no one has to worry about what they will do, they know what to do. Many posse members are retired members of law enforcement. The Posse was most recently called out on a Tuesday July 10 manhunt for a dementia patient who had eluded local authorities.
Hopkins County Posse Captain Frank Teiman presents new Posse badges to County Judge Robert Newsom and County Sheriff Lewis Tatum, originally members of the Posse.
Local Man Arrested for Murder in Dallas
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department, Sulphur Springs Police Department, and the SWAT team assisted in serving a Dallas County Murder Warrant in the arrest of Clyde Earl Taylor, III, 33, of Sulphur Springs. Taylor was wanted for the murder of a woman in Dallas. Taylor was arrested at his Craig Street residence at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The young woman’s body was found on Zodiac Lane off Harry Hines in Dallas about three weeks ago. Video in the area showed a motorcycle circling in the convenience store parking lot. The video identified Taylor on the motorcycle. The video was taken within 30 minutes prior to the murder.
The young woman was described as having been in the army for one year, went to college, and was a pharmacy tech.
City Council Approves Capital Improvement Plan; Begins City Charter Amendment Process
Sulphur Springs City Council approved the Capital Improvement Plan for 2019-2023, approved an amendment to the case management software contract with GHS, voted to begin the City Charter Review/Amendment process, discussed a potential food truck ordinance, and heard speakers focused on recycling, downtown parking, and animal control.
Josh Bray with Sanitation Solutions told the council that his company pays $55-$95 per ton to get rid of recyclable materials. Bray stated that services like his now have to pay recycle centers to take the materials. He said that curbside pickup of recyclable material has a substantial cost. He noted that when curbside pickup of material to recycle is instituted, garbage pickup would be only one day per week with the second day used to pick up recyclables. He noted that only 15-20% of residents in cities that recycle participate in the program. However, he said, all residents in the city pay additional cost. He noted studies and area cities as examples for his presentation.
The council heard that with the budget 75% complete for the year, revenue for the city remains strong. Sales tax revenues are up 3.4% over the budgeted revenue expected. It was also noted that expected water revenue for the city should give the city a strong finish to the year.
Bellview Street will be an asphalt street with major water and sewer utility work performed for more of the street than originally planned. The council approved a $1-million expenditure on the street. With that completed, the council approved the Capital Improvement Plan for 2019-2023 with no other change to the original plan presented in the June regular session and a June 27th special session of the council.
GHS, a case management software service that provides services to the city municipal court will now house servers in the city police department. The company is under mandate to secure the servers in a protected environment and will use Sulphur Springs Police building as the hub for their cloud servers. Council approved the new relationship based on the fact that the city has the proper facility and more than ample space and because it will save the city over $16,000. The city will no longer pay $17,500 for the service but will supply just over $1,000 in electricity are the servers. Dave Graves, with GHS, described the agreement to KSST News as a win-win.
Following a request by Councilman Jimmy Lucas and an explanation of procedure by City Attorney Jim McLeroy, the city council voted to begin the Charter Review/Amendment process. The City Charter was last reviewed in 1983 and all though it time to update the Charter. The process will now begin and a review committee could be chosen as soon as the August Council meeting.
Food trucks were the focus of a discussion requiring no action. The council did state individual agreement regarding guidelines for location, safety, food handling, and other steps to regulate food trucks. It was noted that permits and required inspections as known in local restaurants are already required for food trucks in the city. Council members stated that they desired to see those permits posted on trucks.
During Public Forum, recycling, parking downtown, and animal control were subjects for local residents. One local resident spoke against recycling saying that it is not the right thing for the city. Barbara Palmer, owner of Pioneer Café, addressed the council regarding parking downtown and the use of parking spaces by employees of downtown businesses. She noted that her staff was limited in locating parking near her café and that the use of some green space and the closing of streets near her business is a detriment for all downtown businesses. Charles Oxford addressed the council regarding what he called the city murdering his dog. Oxford stated that a neighbor falsely accused his dog of biting the neighbor and animal control took the dog and “…cut off its head.” He also accused city staff of telling the Commerce Animal Shelter to not sell him another dog.
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report July 10, 2018
CROSSTOWN TRAIL –The railroad crossing is complete. The Capital Construction Division is now constructing the portion of the trail from the KCS railroad tracks to Coleman Park. When finished, this grant-funded project will connect Buford Park to Coleman Park and the high school/civic center complex. It will also replace the sidewalk on the north side of Connally Street.
CANTEX FORCE MAIN – The materials for this project have been delivered, and are being staged on site. The Capital Construction Division has cleared the easement and has constructed temporary fencing in certain areas. This is the final capital improvement project in the 2013-2017 C.I.P. It replaces 2,400 linear feet of aging sewer force main and 2,900 feet of gravity main. Currently the main passes through the middle of the hospital complex. The new route passes around the hospital complex. One-third of the city’s sewage passes through this line.
SUNSET STREET – We have designed the Sunset Street improvements. The project will include new water mains, new sewer mains and a new concrete street from Connally to Houston. The $275,000 CDBG grant is matched with $132,000 of city funding. We have submitted construction drawings for approval. Work will begin in the fall.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Progress at the wastewater treatment plant achieved a milestone on Monday. The three primary clarifier basins have been filled and they are now operational. Now work will begin on the aeration basins. This project is on time and under budget.
CLAIMS – We did not have any workers compensation claims or liability claims in June.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will give a year-to-date report of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Made 11 extensive street repairs following utility repairs.
- Replaced 6 stop signs and 12 street signs.
- Graded Pipeline Road and Wisenbaker Lane.
- Hauled select fill to 105 Mark Street for H.O.M.E. program.
- Performed set-up and take-down for Independence Day event.
- Sold 2,145 gallons of AvGas and 10,534 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Conducted 36 building inspections, 30 electrical inspections, 17 plumbing inspections, 9 mechanical inspections and issued 28 building permits.
- Replaced lights at Pacific Park and installed new lights at Coleman Lake.
- Repaired Airport Fountain.
- Began transporting sludge to Republic Maloy Landfill because the compost company is behind.
- Achieved a monthly average total suspended solids reading of 5.27 mg/L, well within our limit of 10 mg/L.
- Repaired 14 water ruptured water mains.
- Replaced 31 water meters.
- Unstopped 7 sewer mains.
- Repaired 3 sewer mains.
- Washed 75,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Flushed 35 dead end water mains.
- Treated 170 million gallons of potable water.
- Responded to 189 fire/rescue calls including 4 structure fires.
- Conducted 47 fire inspections and reviewed 47 pre-fire plans.
- Replaced sod on various baseball and soccer fields.
- Responded to 208 animal control calls, achieving a 38% adoption rate.
- Made 5 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Made 69 arrests in the Patrol Division, wrote 672 citations, recorded 47 offenses and responded to 41 accidents.
- Checked out 5,017 items and 513 e-books from the Municipal Library.
Hayward Found Guilty; Receives 5 Years Probated Sentence
July 10, 2018 – It took an hour to decide guilt or innocence and almost two hours to determine the sentence Tuesday in Eighth Judicial District Court. A Hopkins County Jury found Brooke Sierra Hayward, 23, of Sulphur Springs, guilty of Evading Arrest Detention with a Motor Vehicle, a Felony 3. However, the jury did not find that a deadly weapon enhancement, the use of a motor vehicle as a deadly weapon, should be added to the verdict. Following a sentencing hearing and deliberation, the jury presented their decision to Judge Eddie Northcutt who sentenced Hayward to five years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice probated to 5 years, 100 hours of Community Service, and to pay court costs of just over $300.
Hayward was driving a 2013 Chevy Malibu clocked at 105 mph when a traffic stop was initiated by the Hopkins County Deputy on FM 69. She continued to drive FM 69 to the south service road and along the service road until finally coming to a stop in the drive of her employer.
During his questioning of the arresting deputy during the guilt/innocence phase of the trail, Defense Attorney Frank Long asked if anyone could have been harmed during the high speed chase. The deputy testified that although Hayward was traveling at speeds over 100 miles per hour they met no one on FM 69 or on the south service road of I-30 before she came to a stop in the driveway of a residence on the service road. She failed to stop for the deputy until she reached her destination, according to testimony. During the sentencing hearing, Long called Hayward’s mother and employer. Both asked for probation for her.
The prosecution showed camera footage of the arrest as videoed by the dash camera in the Sheriff’s vehicle and referred to the numerous traffic violations with which Hayward had been charged with since 2015.
Ratcliffe Supports Kavanaugh Nomination to Supreme Court
Following President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the U S Supreme Court Monday, U S Congressman John Ratcliffe, R-Texas District 4, expressed his support of the nomination.
In a letter to constituents, Ratcliffe stated:
“I could not be more pleased with President Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.Judge Kavanaugh’s extensive legal experience, including his service as a federal appellate judge on the D.C. Circuit Court, qualifies him as an excellent candidate for this important position that will have a lasting impact on our country. His longstanding and unwavering commitment to upholding justice makes me confident that Judge Kavanaugh will work diligently to uphold the Constitution as a Justice on the highest court of the land. I urge my Senate colleagues to move swiftly on his confirmation and stand strong against any pushback … to delay this process.“
Friddle’s Death Called Great Loss to Law Enforcement
Cumby Police officer Jarrod Friddle, 40, died Monday night of a sudden medical event following his return home from his work shift. Friddle, a former SSISD Police Officer had been with the Cumby Department for approximately two years.
Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum said that the death of Friddle is a great loss to law enforcement. The sudden shock of his death adds to the grief of law enforcement but more so to Friddle’s family. Lewis stated that local law enforcement will remember his service. The Hunt County Honor Guard and other law enforcement agencies from around the area will assist at his memorial service.
Scam Alert: Calls Regarding Medical Bill Collection Being Made to Local Residents
Another scam and this time the attempt to dupe the elderly is focused on doctor bills. Sheriff Lewis Tatum told KSST News Tuesday afternoon that scam calls in which to caller poses as a representative of a collection agency calling regarding unpaid doctor bills are being made to county residents. Sheriff Tatum says that if you are unaware of owning a medical bill, hand up and block the number.
He advises that if you have a question regarding any money owed to a doctor; call your doctor’s office regarding any bill. He stated that if you do not recognized the number calling you, do not answer the call. Noting that people know who and what they owe, this type of call should be ignored.
