Commerce Man Arrested Locally for Possession of Meth
A traffic stop by a Hopkins County Deputy at the intersection of Loop 301 and Jefferson Street led to the arrest of Tony Lee Wilkinson, 48, of Commerce. Wilkinson’s nervousness alerted the officer to possible drug possession. That led to a search of the vehicle that located 15.62-grams of suspected methamphetamine.
Wilkinson was asked to exit the vehicle and during a pat down search, a glass pipe commonly used to smoke meth was located in his pocket. He stated that he had methamphetamine in the vehicle.
Wilkinson is in Hopkins County Jail Charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Penalty Group 1 more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams. His bond is set at $35,000.
Meal a Day Menu December 25th-29th
Meal A Day Menu
December 25th – December 29th
Monday
CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS
Tuesday
Chicken Cacciatore
Mixed Squash
Garlic Toast
Wednesday
Frito Chili Pie Casserole
Re-fried Beans
Corn
Thursday
Diced Ham Macaroni and Cheese
Provence Vegetables
Roll
Friday
Chicken Spectacular
Pickled Beets
Roll
Aviation History: THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL JET AIRPLANE – VC-137B 58-6970
USAF procurement of the Boeing 707 was very limited, amounting to three Model 707-153s designated VC-137A’s serial numbers 58-6970, 58-6971 and 58-6972. When delivered in 1959 these had four 13,500 lb dry thrust Pratt & Whitney J57 (JT3C6) turbojets; when subsequently re-engined with 18,000 lbf dry thrust TF33-P-5 (JT3D) turbofans they were redesignated VC-137B.
The first presidential jet plane was known as SAM (Special Air Missions) 970. This aircraft, as well as any other Air Force aircraft, carried the call sign “Air Force One” when the president was aboard. Delivered in 1959 to replace Eisenhower’s Super-Constellation, the high-speed jet transport was a flying Oval Office with a modified interior and sophisticated communication equipment.
Jet technology gave a president the opportunity to meet face-to-face with world leaders easily. SAM 970 has carried presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon as well as VIPs such as Nikita Khrushchev and Henry Kissinger.
By 1962, SAM 970 was replaced by a newer Boeing VC-137C 62-6000. But SAM 970 remained in the presidential fleet ferrying VIPs and the Vice-President until June of 1996.
Though she never was designated the official “Presidential aircraft,” she served as Air Force One many times and saw her share of history. (Columbine III, a Lockheed Super Constellation, retained that designation until the end of Eisenhower’s administration and a DC-6 known simply as ‘3240 served for the first years of Kennedy’s administration.) Without President Eisenhower’s knowledge, the CIA outfitted ‘970 with secret reconnaissance cameras in preparation for his planned trip to Moscow. That trip was scuttled, ironically, because of the shooting down of Francis Gary Powers in his U-2 spy plane over the USSR on May 1, 1960. In 1962 ‘970 carried John Glenn to Washington the day after his orbital flight, and in the early 1970’s she (and 62-6000) shuttled Henry Kissinger to Paris for the secret peace talks with North Vietnam. After the delivery of Aircraft 62-6000, ‘970 was relegated to service as backup, but in the process shed her plain Air Force markings in favor of Loewy’s striking blue and white livery. Affectionately known as “Queenie”, ‘970 retired with full military honors to the Museum of Flight in Seattle on June 18, 1996.
E-Systems in Greenville, TX performed depot maintenance on SAM 970 beginning in 1973 through 1994.
The included information comes from local Sulphur Springs resident Tony Hughes. Mr Hughes worked on, performed engine run up, pre-flight/post flight and flew as an aircraft mechanic observer on FCF’s (functional check flight) at the Greenville, Tx. plant, formerly known as TEMCO. The Greenville plant started as Temco (Texas Engineering & Manufacturing Co.) then changed to Ling-Temco Electronics, Inc. in 1960, then Ling-Temco-Vought, Inc. in 1961. The company then changed it’s name to LTV Electrosystems, Inc. in 1965, then E-Systems, Inc. in 1972. A merger changed the name to Raytheon E-Systems in 1995, and now the company has been managed by L-3 Communications since 2002.
Two Local Men Arrested for Contraband Found in Vehicle During Traffic Stop
Billy Don Campbell
Billy Don Campbell, 51, of Sulphur Springs, is in Hopkins County Jail following a traffic stop that found him in Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams and Violation of Probation for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram. Also arrested in the stop was Tracy Odell Marshall, 48, of Dike what is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram.
Tracy Odell Marshall
A Sulphur Springs Police Officer on patrol in the 1000 block of South Davis Street around 8 a.m. Thursday morning noted a Red Silverado Chevrolet pickup run a stop sign leaving Georgia Street turning onto Peach Street. Then the officer noted the vehicle fail to signal a turn onto South Davis. During the traffic stop, the officer noted Campbell, the driver, to be very nervous and the officer asked consent to search the vehicle. Consent was not granted and a K-9 unit was called to the scene. The K-9 made a positive alert and a search conducted found the contraband.
Courthouse Window Repair Approved; Commissioners Meet Next Week to Discuss Sale of Property on Main Street
Hopkins County Commissioners Court awarded a contract to Phoenix I Corp, of Farmers Branch, to do restoration and repair on the courthouse windows on lower floors. The project slated to begin in January and continue for three months will cost $145,000. Restoration and repair on the windows on the upper floors was carried out in 2008.
Next week, Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 9 a.m. commissioners’ court will conduct a work session in the first floor meeting room to discuss bids for the purchase of county owned property at 110 Main Street and 118 Main Street. The properties currently house the District Attorney and District Clerk offices. County Judge Robert Newsom stated that the minimum bid must be $400,000 and there will be a one year wait before the owner can take possession of the property if a bid is accepted in a later Commissioners’ Court meeting. Newsom noted that during the year following the sale, a new 100-seat courtroom and District Attorney and District Clerk offices would be built on county property near the county jail to facilitate public safety and to add technical advantages to the courtroom if approved by the court.
Lake Fork’s Patriot Sporting Challenge Makes $100,000 Donation to Folds of Honor
Garry Schnabel, Executive Director of the Patriot Sporting Challenge and Chuck Roy, founder and board member, visited the KSST Good Morning Show to share some good news about the success of the inaugural event of the 501c4 organization and it’s 501c3 arm, PSC Patriots. Plans are now going forward for the 2018 Patriots Sporting Challenge which will further the work of the national organization, Folds of Honor. Following is a press release, dated December 13, 2017.
Yantis, Texas – The Patriot Sporting Challenge recently presented to the Folds of Honor Foundation a check for $100,000 to support the educational opportunities for dependents of those U.S. Servicemen who have been lost in action or significantly disabled.
The Patriot Sporting Challenge’s inaugural event “Lunkers, Bunkers and Clays” was held at Lake Fork Texas on October 27 & 28 and featured 42 competitive 4-man teams competing in a trilogy of sporting events. This was a first ever challenge that coupled fishing, golf, and shooting sports into a tournament format for determining a Challenge Grand Champion. The Links at Land’s End, Hidden Lakes Resort, and Lake Fork presented the competitors a challenging arena for the competition. The winners received a trophy that is on permanent display at The Links at Land’s End as well as significant cash and merchandise prizes.
The check presentation was held in the corporate headquarters of Skeeter Boats in Kilgore, Texas and was attended by Mr. Jeff Stone, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Skeeter and Ms. JoAnne O’Bryant, Senior Marketing Project Manager. Skeeter was a Signature Sponsor for the event. Mr. Kelly Jordan, a Skeeter Professional Staff member, also attended and added his appreciation as a participant in the Challenge.
Accepting the check for the Folds of Honor was Diane Nemecek, Regional Development Manager. Presenting the check was Garry Schnabel, Director of the Patriot Sporting Challenge.
Mrs. Nemecek was thrilled to receive the donation and said, “This is an overwhelming honor to receive these funds to support the Folds of Honor’s mission statement, ‘Honor the Sacrifice by Educating their Legacy.’ This money will forever change the life of many dependents that have been adversely affected by the loss of a military family member. Many educational scholarships will be made possible by today’s gift.”
For more about the Folds of Honor, including mission statement and history, see www.foldsofhonor.org
Check out the challenge course at www.golflakefork.com, details of the shooting competition venue at www.hiddenlakeshr.com, and Lake Fork Texas at www.lakeforktexas.com and Facebook Patriot Sporting Challenge.
Tira News December 22, 2017
By Jan Vaughn
We want to express our sympathy to the family of Travis Eugene (Gene) Lewis, son of the late Barney and Edna Lewis. He passed away December 19th in Armuchee, Georgia. Rachel Lewis reports that a memorial service will be scheduled for a later date. Siblings are Wanda Clayton, Dorothy Hargrave, Gary Lewis, Judy Lewis and Richard Lewis. Please be in prayer for the family.
The Tira City Council would like to express their appreciation to the North Hopkins Beta Club and Danna Lewis, their sponsor, for their generous donation of food for the Tira Food Pantry.
Linda Petty had back surgery on Monday, December 11th, at Methodist Surgery Center in Addison. Mick reports, “The back surgery went well, but she had some heart issues on the 2nd day after the surgery, so our two-day stay turned into a 5-day stay. I think all is well now and we go back for a follow up this Friday. We can’t thank our family and friends enough for their help and prayers.”
Regina Taylor, of Sulphur Springs, Brenda Allen, of Yantis, and Yvonne Weir and I, from Tira, went to Hot Springs, Arkansas on Friday. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf, overlooking Lake Hamilton, and then drove around downtown and up the mountain. That evening we went to Garvan Woodland Gardens for their beautiful Holiday Lights event. Later we had a delicious meal at the Bleu Monkey Grill. On Saturday, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, and then spent the day shopping before returning home.
I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
A year in review: 2017 Hopkins County Water Conservation and Preservation By Mario Villarino
A year in review: 2017 Hopkins County Water Conservation and Preservation
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Hopkins County, Texas
Relevance: Water conservation is a critically important issue for residents throughout the state of Texas. Proper use of fertilizers and gardening chemicals is important to the long term health and safety of residents in the county. Programs that promote reduction of landscape waste and recycling will assist in maintaining land fill availability. These community-wide projects and activities include: creating and maintaining research and demonstration gardens; providing speakers bureaus, answer telephone inquiries, conducting workshops and short courses, and disseminating information via mass media and the Internet. In addition, Master Gardener volunteers provide thousands of service hours coordinating and managing educational programs and projects for Extension. Youth that are exposed to the art and science of gardening at an early age have the opportunity to experience and learn horticultural concept s and techniques which may lead to a vocation or a life-long hobby. The Hopkins Count y Master Gardener Program is a volunteer development program administered by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is designed to increase the availability of horticultural information and leadership to improve the quality of life through gardening and horticultural projects. Program objectives are implemented through the training and recruiting of local volunteers, known as Master Gardeners. They aid Extension by conducting school garden projects; answering telephone requests for horticultural information; providing speaker bureaus, establishing and maintaining demonstration gardens; working with special audiences in the community; and designing and implementing community improvement projects, as well as coordinating Master Gardener projects. The principle goals of the Hopkins County Master Gardener program include: Environmental stewardship and Earth Kind Principles. Landscape irrigation in Texas accounts for up to 40-60% of the total residential water use during peak summer months. The goal of this plan was to increase the availability of specific horticultural information and improve the quality of life within communities and individuals through horticultural educational programs. Measuring the knowledge gained of horticultural best practices and Earth Kind practices by Hopkins County citizens and Master Gardeners is the first step toward ensuring that effective efforts are made by the Hopkins County Master Gardeners toward conserving and protecting natural resources through the use of environmentally-friendly landscape management practices. The objective of this plan was to educate 60 small acre farmers and gardeners in the implementation of earth kind principles and applications and 40 dairy producers in manure management education.
Response:
- 12 monthly master gardeners planning meetings.
- Go-Native Plant Sale (in collaboration of Hopkins County 4-H Exchange Program)(4/14).
- 40 Mass Media Publications related to gardening- water conservation.
- Master Gardeners Multicounty Training (60 hrs training).
- Kids Camp (4 sessions in horticulture).
- Skills Camp (1 session in butterfly habitat conservation/recycling).
- Dairy Outreach Program Area Fall Conference in Texas Watershed Stewardship.
- Plan interpretation (Volunteers 11/9, Commissioner’s Court 11/27, and mass media 12/5).
Results: Water conservation is a major environmental concern during extremely high precipitation years. The adoption of water protection-water conservation principles becomes a challenge since environmental moisture is high. However, the adoption of water conservation principles is critical since water scarcity is not only related to quantity of water but also water quality. During 2017, specific educational efforts were directed to use of native plants in the landscape to protect water and reduce ecological chemical pressure in pollinators (bees and butterflies) in collaboration with Hopkins County Beekeepers Group. Five Master Gardeners Trainers completed their training and will be conducting their volunteer projects during 2017-2018.
The members of Texas A&M AgriLife will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout Texas A&M AgriLife.
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Traveling with Children for the Holidays? By Johanna Hicks
Traveling with Children for the Holidays?
Christmas is here, and New Year’s Day is not far behind, which means that many families will be traveling by car and airplane to visit with friends and relatives. This is an appropriate time to stop and think about having your child in the proper car seat before planning your trip. Although parents always want to protect their children, studies show that nationally, 3 out of 4 car seats are not used correctly. For a car seat to best protect your child, it must be the right seat for your child’s age, weight, height and developmental stage, and must fit properly in your vehicle while being installed correctly and securely.
Children are at greater risk than adults in a vehicle crash. In fact, motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death for children 14 and under. Safety belts and car seats are the single most effective tool in reducing these deaths and injuries. Unfortunately, in 2015 alone, less than half of the children killed in vehicle crashes in Texas were known to be restrained.
That’s why the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Passenger Safety Project is urging all parents and caregivers to secure children properly in age- and size-appropriate child safety seats in the back seat of your vehicle, which is the most effective thing you can do to protect them in the event of a crash. In fact, in motor vehicle crashes, child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers. Get a free inspection by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to make sure you are using the child safety seat correctly. To locate a technician in Texas, visit: http://buckleup.tamu.edu. Technicians can provide hands-on advice and instruction.
If you are traveling by plane, it is always safest to purchase a separate seat for your child, and bring an FAA-approved car seat. Most car seats, except for booster seats, are approved for use on an airplane. Turbulence is the greatest danger for a child on an airplane trip, and a properly installed car seat can protect your child from injuries due to being thrown around in the plane. Traveling with your car seat will also ensure that you will have it ready for your use when you arrive at your destination.
Follow these guidelines from American Academy of Pediatrics to keep your children riding safely:
- Infants and Toddlers – Rear-facing Only and Convertible Seats: All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing seat until they are at least 2 years of age or, preferably, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat manufacturer.
- Toddlers and Pre-schoolers – Convertible or Forward-facing Seat with a Harness Seats: Children who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their convertible seat should use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.
- School-age Children- Booster Seats: Children whose weight or height exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly — typically this is between the ages of 8-12 years old.
- Older Children – Seat Belts: When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for the best protection.
Remember: All child passengers under age 13 should ride securely restrained in the back seat, where they are safest — every trip, every time. Take time before you leave to make sure that the holidays will be a safe and enjoyable time for your family. Buckle everyone up correctly on every trip!
Hispanic Diabetes Series
If you know of anyone interested in attending a diabetes education series targeted toward Hispanic audiences, please share this information. ¡Si, Yo Puedo Controlar Mi Diabetes! is a seven-lesson series to help individuals with type 2 diabetes learn to control their diabetes by developing self-care skills, improving eating habits, increasing physical activity, preventing complications, and improving quality of life. Each session will be taught in Spanish and led by health professionals.
Sessions will take place at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston, in Sulphur Springs on January 8, 16, 22, 29, February 5, 12, and 19 (all sessions are on Mondays with the exception of the second session). Two times are being offered – 1:30 and repeated at 5:30. To register, contact Angela Doddy with Christus Trinity Clinic at 903-244-1424, or the Extension Office at 903-885-3443.
Closing Thought
If you’re troubled and you can’t sleep, count your blessings instead of sheep, and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings – White Christmas Movie
From our staff to you, Merry Christmas!
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
“Ladies Night Out” Fun and Festive First Occasion for Downtown Business Alliance
Gourmet Kitchen’s Judy Heilman, President of Downtown Business Alliance, and DBA member Vanessa of Phinessse Farms Wineries were pleased with the turnout.
It was the first ever “Ladies Night Out” merchant event! Shoppers and diners took advantage of late hours at over three dozen shops, eateries, stores, boutiques, wineries and coffeeshops in the shopping district of Sulphur Springs. Business was brisk until 8pm when the participating merchants closed their doors and converged at a central meeting place, The Venue at 219 on Main Street. That’s where door prizes were awarded and the “Tacky Christmas Sweater” contest was held. Dinky Weeks, manager of The Corner Grub House, won the $50 Visa gift card provided by DBA. Plans are already being discussed for expanding the event next year.
Lara Colby, Owner of Magic Scoop Soda Shop and General Store with costume contestants
Anna Hicks and her mom Johanna Hicks had fun entering the Tacky Sweater Contest
Gay Bailey, right, owner of Merle Norman Studio, poses with her assistant manager Sue Norton
Marcie, owner of The Secret Garden entered her costumed pet in the contest
Danna Bain, onwer of Dann’s Southern Charm and The Florist draws a door prize winner
Contest winner Dinky Weeks is pictured at far right
