July 3 Storm Damage Reported at Mahoney Residence
Pinky Cooper is a homeowner in the Mahoney area of Hopkins County. Her house and property on CR 3504 received extensive damage in Tuesday evening’s thunderstorm that crossed central Hopkins County. On Wednesday morning, Pinky contacted KSST’s Enola Gay with a report that along with thunder, lightning, high winds and blowing rain, a large tree in her front yard blew down and fell across a power line, ripping electrical lines from her home, also satellite TV lines. At 10am Wednesday, she was awaiting the arrival of Oncor personnel to begin clean up and repairs to the home’s electrical power. Pinky’s neighbors were also without power following the storm, and most had power restored about 5:30 am Wednesday.
In addition to the power line problem, tin from the barn roof was blown away and ended up at her daughter’s yard to the west, apparently blowing above the tree line. The chicken pen was turned over and damage done to patio furniture by high winds. Pinky reports that the rain appeared blowing horizontally during the worst part of the storm which lasted a good part of an hour, but her rain gage only yielded one inch of rain total.
Man Attempts to Hide Methamphetamine in Vehicle Floor Carpet
When Sulphur Springs Police initiated a traffic stop Tuesday morning around 8 a.m., the driver of a 2005 Dodge Durango began making what was described as furtive movements inside the vehicle. The driver pulled into a convenience store and slowly came to a stop. Jimmy Villa, Jr. 27, of Haskell, was ordered to place his hands on the steering wheel but he continued to reach down toward the floorboard area. Officers removed him from his vehicle.
Jimmy Villa, Jr
Officers found a torn sandwich baggy on the floorboard and several shards of suspected methamphetamine as well as suspected meth ground into the carpet of the vehicle. A field test of the substance showed positive for meth and the weight was determined to be 1.3-grams.
Villa is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams and with Tamper Fabricate Physical Evidence.
Marshall Man Arrested Following Traffic Stop
David Joel Dean, 38, of Marshall, told the Hopkins County Deputy that he had marijuana in his pocket. The confession came as a pat down search was initiated following a traffic stop at the 126 mile marker on I-30 Tuesday afternoon. The officer also located a clear glass pipe and a black plastic bag containing a clear crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Dean is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams.
Thunderstorm Leaves Over 2,000 in Area Without Electrical Power Tuesday Evening
Just under 2,000 FEC customers and over 500 Oncor customers in the TXU service area were without power Tuesday evening when a thunderstorm blew through central Hopkins County moving Southwest at 25 mph. Lightning and heavy rains accompanied the fast moving storm. Wind at 50-55 mph was possible and some hail was reported in the Dike area.
A significant weather advisory was issued by the National Weather Service at 7:03 p.m. and extended until 7:30 p.m. and then 8 p.m. as the storm did not decrease in intensity as it moved across the Lake Fork area near Yantis.
Oncor and FEC customers expected power to be restored between 9:30 and 10:50 p.m.
Significant Weather Advisory for Hopkins County
At 7:03 p.m. Tuesday, July 3, 2018 the National Weather Service issued a significant weather advisory for Central Hopkins County. A strong thunderstorm 10 miles north of Como and 11 miles east of Sulphur Springs moving southwest at 25 mph. Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Frequent cloud to ground lightning also occurring with this storm.
Miller Sentenced to Four Years in TDCJ
July 3, 2018 – Tuesday afternoon in Eighth Judicial District Court, Matthew Miller, 21, of Greenville, was sentenced to four years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Tuesday morning Judge Eddie Northcutt heard testimony regarding Miller’s attack on a man who was having an affair with Miller’s wife. Miller confessed to cutting the victim’s throat during the altercation at the time of his arrest. He will serve at least half of the sentence, two years, before being eligible for parole because of aggravated parole rules when a deadly weapon is used.
Matthew Miller
In October 2017, Sulphur Springs Police responded to an early morning call in the 300 block of Texas Street. There they located a victim with a very large laceration on the left side of his neck. The victim described the assailant and a search of the area located Miller and removed a Glock 43, 9MM handgun from his coat pocket.
Miller had found his wife in bed with the victim at the time of the offense. The victim claimed he did not know that Miller and the woman were married.
Miller had entered the residence where the victim and his wife were staying. He fire the Glock into the bedroom and grabbed a kitchen knife used in the assault. A baby was asleep in another room. Assistant District Attorney Clay Harrison stated that Miller was aware of the danger he created and he intended to harm the victim.
Miller and his wife had been together since their teens and Miller had finished school early to care for their child while the mother finished school, according to testimony.
The range of punishment for the offense was 2 to 20 years in prison or probation of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000. The judge sentenced the defendant to 4 years in prison and no fine. Miller currently has 2 days of credit in the Hopkins County Jail.
Flags at Half Staff Tuesday, July 3, 2018, Honoring Victims of the Tragedy in Annapolis, Maryland
Our Nation shares the sorrow of those affected by the shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. Americans across the country are united in calling upon God to be with the victims and to bring aid and comfort to their families and friends. As a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the terrible act of violence perpetrated on June 28, 2018, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, July 3, 2018. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.
DONALD J. TRUMP
Local Woman Arrested for Theft With Previous Convictions
Sulphur Springs Police were called to the VF Outlet Monday afternoon where they questioned Shaukiquia Tralynn Ford, 32, of Sulphur Springs regarding items taken from the store. The store manager told police that Ford had stolen from the store on previous occasions.
During questioning, she pulled a pair of pants out of her purse. The purse was large and filled with other items. She told police that she had property inside the purse that she had taken from the store without paying for the items. Notified by police dispatch that Ford had previous convictions for theft, she was arrested at the scene.
Ford is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Theft of Property less than $2500 with previous convictions, a State Jail Felony.
Video Presentation: Groundbreaking at Heritage Park
A $125,000 donation from Dr. Robert Taylor of Texarkana enabled the groundbreaking at Heritage Park Monday, July 2, 2018. The building will be located near the double gate entrance to the park off Jackson Street and will house a meeting/reception room, kitchen, and restrooms. Labor to build the facility will include members of the Historical Society and any local laborers who wish to help. Donations toward the building and needed contents are being accepted.
