Two Arrested for 2016 Burglary on CR 3521
A traffic stop in Fate, Texas led to the arrest of two individuals who confessed to committing a burglary on CR 3521 in Hopkins County in 2016. Several items were taken in the burglary including pistols, pocket knives, cash, and other items.
During the traffic stop in Fate, law enforcement found a stolen gun under the seat of the vehicle. The weapon found was taken in the burglary in 2016. Two individuals, occupants of the vehicle, James Andrew Gregory, 25, and Macie Michelle McIllwain, 22, were both charged with possession of stolen weapon in Rockwall County. The weapon was traced to the burglary in Hopkins County and, according to Investigator Dennis Finley with Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, both confessed to burglary of the residence on 3521. In their confession, law enforcement was enabled to find other stolen items.
Both Gregory and McIllwain are in Hopkins County Jail. They were charged with Possession of a Stolen Weapon in Rockwall County and with Burglary of a Habitation, a felony 3, in Hopkins County.
Wildcats Defeat Lindale 58-48
The Wildcats’ basketball team got off to a very fast start in the first half and then they eased up in the second half as they defeated Lindale, 58-48 in Wildcats Gym Monday night.
The Wildcats led 20-2 after one quarter and then increased their lead to 35-13 at halftime. Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta emptied his bench in the second half and scrappy Lindale cut into the lead. The Eagles actually only trailed by single digits late in the contest. Lindale outscored the Wildcats 35-23 over the last two quarters.
Wildcats’ 6-foot-8 sophomore Godsgift Ezedinma led all scorers with 15 points including two three pointers. Nine other Wildcats scored points. Senior Bryson Lynn had eighth points including two three point baskets. Michael Jefferson added seven points. Keaston Willis, Dedric Godbolt and Victor Iwuakor had six points each. Jeremiah Roland and Ivan Clayton each hit a three pointer and they ended up with three points apiece. Grayson McClure and Xavier Cork each scored two points. Lindale was led by Dillon Heinaman with 13 points and Gray Pittman with 11 points.
The Wildcats season record is now 3-0. They play Rockwall on the road Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Game Day: Wildcat Basketball Monday
Sulphur Springs High School students are out on holiday this Thanksgiving week but there is Wildcats’ basketball on this Monday (November 20) game day. Lindale’s Eagles are coming to town to play the Wildcats. Action begins with a freshmen contest at 5 p.m. Monday. A JV game is scheduled for around 6:15 p.m. The varsity game is expected to get underway at around 7:30 p.m.
The season is young but already the Wildcats are 2-0 with victories over a pair of very good Class 6A teams. The Wildcats opened the season with a win over Arlington Bowie, 66-58, in the Cowtown Showdown at North Crowley on November 11. Bowie was preseason ranked #23 in the state in Class 6A. For an encore the Wildcats topped Rockwall Heath in overtime, 70-65, at Rockwall Heath last Tuesday night. The Wildcats had a strong overtime after staging a big rally to overcome a double digit deficit with just a few minutes left in regulation.
We will bring you Wildcats and Lindale basketball from Wildcats Gym Monday night (November 20) at around 7:30 p.m. on KSST Radio. We will also videotape the game for replay at the later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Symphony League Auction: Huge Success
By Savannah Owens
The Symphony League Auction was held on Saturday November 18th from 5:00-9:00 pm. There were a bunch of unique home items, great Christmas gifts, gift-certificates, tasty looking food items, and much more. Phones rang all night long as people called in to bid for items. Bill Owens, dressed as Uncle Sam, was one of the six people manning the phones and enjoying every minute the action.
A quilt was in high demand with the highest bidder donating $380. There were photographs from around Sulphur Springs, a drawing of Santa Clause, and a print of iconic Sulphur Springs spots. A handmade wooden domino set brought in many bidders towards the end of the night. Big board items were auctioned off throughout the night.
The preliminary total amount raised was a little over $11,000. The funds from the auction will go towards the annual July 4th symphony and fireworks show.
Everyone had a wonderful time both; the bidders and the auctioneers. We hope you call in next year to take part in all the fun!
Winnsboro Wins Saltillo Varsity Girls Tournament; Lady Lions Place Third
“Very competitive, lots of sportsmanship, and excellent crowds” is how Bill Giles defined the 2017 Saltillo Varsity Girls Tournament played in Kerry Garmon Gym over the weekend. He stated the championship game was the perfect ending for the tournament. Winnsboro defeated Bullard 40-37, to win. Saltillo Lady Lions downed Clarksville for third place.
Results for the tournament include:
Championship Game
Bullard 37
Winnsboro 40
Third Place Game
Saltillo 46
Clarksville 36
5th Place Game
Paris 66
Chisum 41
7th Place Game
CHESS 45
Consolation
Rivercrest 39
Quinlan Ford 61
CHRISTUS Health Plan Available in Wood County But Not Hopkins
CHRISTUS Health Plan is available to residents of Cherokee, Smith and Wood Counties and is the only individual/family Health Insurance Marketplace provider in-network with CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System. Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace is November 1, 2017 through December 15, 2017. The last date to enroll for coverage that starts January 1, 2018 is December 15, 2017. Due to this year’s shortened Open Enrollment period, health care leaders are advising patients to visit the Health Insurance Marketplace at healthcare.gov to secure health insurance coverage that begins January 1, 2018.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) report enrollment is up 46-percent for the first two weeks nationally, as compared to 2016. But while health care providers are encouraged by the early turnout, they recommend patients avoid any delays in signing up.
“We are encouraging patients to sign up for health care insurance as soon as they have the chance,” said Mary Elizabeth Jackson, MA, Vice President of Group Governmental Affairs and Community Benefits for CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System. “This year’s shortened Open Enrollment period means there is even less time to secure health care coverage for yourself and your family.
“Last year’s launch of the CHRISTUS Health Plan to residents of Cherokee, Smith and Wood Counties was very compelling to the people of Northeast Texas because it allowed patients to continue their care at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System through the Health Insurance Marketplace,” said Jackson. “This year, early enrollment numbers look good. From Nov. 1 through Nov. 16, almost 300 people have signed up for CHRISTUS Health Plan. It is estimated 1.5 million are now on track to have coverage purchased through the web based health insurance marketplace, healthcare.gov, in 2018.”
“We are incredibly excited to be able to offer award-winning medical care to patients in Northeast Texas who obtain their family’s insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace,” said Chris Glenney, FACHE, Senior Vice President of Group Operations for CHRISTUS Health and Chief Executive Officer of CHRISTUS Health Northeast Texas, which includes CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System and CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System. “However, the most important thing by far is that patients are able to obtain coverage during this Open Enrollment period. Our Mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, and first and foremost, we want patients to visit the Health Insurance Exchange to get the coverage they need.”
“Patients throughout Northeast Texas have made their voices heard,” said Steven Keuer, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System and President of CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. “They want access to the medical care and services on the leading edge of technology and best practices. They want to work together with distinguished health care providers to manage their health. They want to build a medical home with a team of physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and medical staff that they trust and value. And they want to do that at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System.”
“Everyone throughout the System is deeply passionate about providing nationally-recognized, faith-based care to the people of East Texas,” said Jackson. “We welcome patients to CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, but our Mission is to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Our focus is on making sure the people of East Texas are healthy, and we just want them to be covered.”
Local Man Arrested for Assault of Disabled Individual
Sulphur Springs Police responded to an assault on an autistic individual Saturday evening. EMS was called to treat the victim and a report was taken. The named assailant, Jerry Lynn Hicks, 29, of Sulphur Springs, was not present when police arrived. As the officers were clearing the first scene, they were called to a second location, an apartment in the 700 block of Wildcat Way. There they found Hicks.
Jerry Lynn Hicks
Hicks was read his rights and then admitted to assaulting and causing bodily injury to the disabled victim.
Hicks was arrested for Injury to Disabled Individual Family Violence, a felony 3.
Marijuana Purchased in Rockwall Ends in Arrest in Hopkins County for Local Man
A traffic stop at 11:16 p.m. Sunday, November 19th, resulted in the arrest of Lakenzie Taylor, Jr., 23, of Sulphur Springs. He was arrested for Possession of Marijuana more than 4oz but less than 5lbs, a State Jail Felony. He had purchased the marijuana for $1,000 earlier in the day in Rockwall.
Taylor was driving 2010 Ford Fusion with a defective license plate light when he was stopped on Highway 11W by a Hopkins County Deputy. The odor of marijuana was emitting from the vehicle as the deputy approached. When the deputy told Taylor that he could smell the marijuana, Taylor said it was located in the front passenger floorboard. The deputy found a white plastic sack with eight clear plastic bags containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.
Taylor is in Hopkins County Jail.
No Dinner Bell November 22
There will be no Dinner Bell on Wednesday, November 22 as volunteers prepare Thanksgiving for their families. The Dinner Bell Ministry wishes everyone a Happy and Holy Thanksgiving.
Dinner Bell will resume serving on Wednesday, November 29.
