Brisk Start for Primary Election Early Voting
The first day of early voting in the March 6th Primary election was Tuesday, February 20th and the pace was brisk with 216 Republicans and 23 Democrats casting ballots at the Justice of the Peace Courtroom 128 Jackson Street in Sulphur Springs. The site is the only place for early voting in Hopkins County.
Early voting continues 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day through Friday, March 2nd, including Saturday, February 24th. Early voting is also available Sunday, February 25th from noon until 5 p.m.
On Primary Election Day, all Hopkins County voting sites will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. All but one county election will be finalized in the Republican Primary this year. Only the race for the County Clerk position will be contested in the November Election.
On the first day of early voting, some voters are concerned about candidates and candidate signs near the polling place. However, candidates or their representatives can stand or place signs more than 100-feet from the early voting site. They cannot be within the 100-ft boundary.
Three Arrested for Drug Possession Near Skate Park
Three individuals were arrested following a traffic stop on Main Street by a Hopkins County deputy. The stop took place around 10 p.m. Tuesday and within 1,000ft of the Buford Park skate park.
The smell of Marijuana was emitting from the vehicle led to a probable cause search that found a cloth bag in the left rear floorboard. Inside the bag the deputy located a sealed bag of K2 and two small baggies containing a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine. The three occupants of the vehicle denied ownership of the items.
Arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram but more than 4-grams in a Drug Free Zone and Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2-A less than 2oz in a Drug Free Zone were:
Shelby Reeves Hammack, 19, of Commerce
Lafayette Trey Crosby, 21, of Sulphur Springs
Ashton Marie Lindley, 28, of Sulphur Springs
All three are in Hopkins County Jail.
Sulphur Springs Ranked 46th Safest City in Texas; Neighboring Cities Rank Less Safe
According to the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report, Sulphur Springs is the 46th safest city in Texas in 2018. Compared to other nearby cities of similar size and larger, Sulphur Springs is one of the safest cities in Northeast Texas.
Cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) per 1,000 people.
Colleyville is the safest city in the state according to the report. Keller, Highland Village, Trophy Club, and Murphy are the top five. Colleyville, population 26,038, reported six (6) violent crimes or 0.23 per 1,000 population and 149 Property Crimes or 5.72 per 1,000, well before both state and national averages.
Locally, ranked 46th, Sulphur Springs, a city of 16,227, saw 29 violent crimes or 1.75 violent crimes per 1,000 in population and 252 property crimes or 15.53 per 1,000, during the report period.
Other cities of similar size and near Sulphur Springs ranked higher including Forney, 49th; Greenville, 147th; Kilgore, 159th; Mount Pleasant, 171st; Paris 197th; and Terrell, 206th.
Cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI and those with populations fewer than 10,000 were not listed. The report was released Tuesday, February 20, 2018 by the National Council for Home Safety and Security, a trade association of home security professionals who advocate for home safety and community involvement.
Roads Closed; River Flood Warning Issued; Flood Watch Remains in Effect
According to a county resident, FM 2653 from Brashear to Ridgeway, FM 1567 near Miller Grove, FM 71 in northern Hopkins County, FM 69 east of Sulphur Springs and service road along I-30 east of Sulphur Springs were closed with water over the roadway Wednesday morning but the roadways were expected to be open later in the day according to TxDOT.
A Flood Warning for the South Sulphur River near Cooper has been issued through Thursday morning or until the warning is cancelled. The river is expected to rise above flood stage and continue to rise to a crest near 19 feet, three feet above flood stage. The river should fall below flood stage sometime Wednesday evening.
The National Weather Service issued the flood warning that will affect Delta and Hopkins Counties. Do not drive through flooded areas and caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.
A Flood Watch remains in effect for the Northeast Texas area as rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with localized amounts of 6 inches may occur. Flooding in low lying areas is expected.
Created by Loretta Kuo.
Original photo by Steve Zumwalt/FEMA. Location: West Alton, Mo., June 6, 2013 — Missouri Route 94 flooded.
Wildcats Defeat Lovejoy Face Frisco Lone Star in Area Game
For about half of the bi-district game between the #13 state ranked Wildcats and Lovejoy Tuesday night at Paris, the Leopards strategy of slowing things down seem to be working as planned. The Wildcats led at the half but the score was only 17-16.
Then in the third quarter, aided mostly by 7 points from Victor Iwuakor and a three-point basket by Keaston Willis, the Wildcats outscored Lovejoy 14 to 7 to take a 31-23 lead after three quarters. The Wildcats blew the game wide open outscoring the Leopards 19-4 in the fourth quarter to win going away, 50-27.
The Wildcats had three players in double figures: Iwuakor with 13 points, Willis with 12 points and Bryson Lynn with 11 points. Both Willis and Lynn had 3-three-point baskets each. Godsgift Ezedinma scored 6 points. Michael Jefferson added 3 points, Dedric Godbolt and Day Day Hall had 2 points apiece and Xavier Cork had 1 point. Lovejoy’s Luke Ledebur led the Leopards with 10 points. Ledebur also hit the Leopards only 3 point basket.
The Wildcats improved their season record to 29-4. The Wildcats now face Frisco Lone Star in an Area game at Princeton Friday at 7 p.m. The Rangers defeated The Colony.
Boyer Signs Soccer Letter of Intent
Gracie Boyer, a member of the Lady Cats’ soccer varsity for four years, signed a letter of intent Tuesday morning to play college soccer at Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant. Boyer said she made initial contact with NETCC through their website.
She said the coach called a couple of days later and invited her to a practice. Boyer said she did that and she said the coach liked what he saw. Boyer said the campus is located out in the country near Mount Pleasant. She said it reminded her of home. Boyer said she watched a NETCC game last fall against Paris Junior College and she said the NETCC Eagles won by a good margin. She said NETCC wants her to play outside forward. It’s her current position for the Lady Cats and Boyer called it her favorite position.
Boyer said she is undecided on a college major but she said she is considering a business degree. She said she expects to compete for a spot on the team. Boyer said the coaches need to fill an outside forward position. Boyer seems to be improving as a goal scorer. She has 14 goals this season. That’s her most ever for a season.
Boyer said it was one of her goals to play college soccer. She has been playing since she was 4 years old. Lady Cats Coach Joel Bailey said he is very proud of Boyer. He noted that she is the fourth Lady Cat to sign to play college soccer. Coach Bailey said the signings send positive signals to younger players. Coach Bailey said Boyer is good with both her feet. He cited her leadership. Coach Bailey said she is experienced and has technical abilities.
Sam Rayburn Speaker Series to Host Author, Activist
COMMERCE, TX—A&M-Commerce has announced the return of intellectual, author, and activist Dr. Cornel West on Monday, March 19, 2018, as part of The Sam Rayburn Speaker Series.
Dr. West will discuss “What #MeToo, Militarism and Money Can’t Buy,” touching on trends in current events related to social justice and democracy. He will speak in Ferguson Auditorium from 11 a.m. to noon, in a free event open to the public.
A&M-Commerce was one of several universities and institutions Dr. West visited during The Justice Matters Tour, which crossed the country in 2017. While visiting, he noted that education was “taking place at its best here at Commerce.”
A Professor Emeritus at Princeton University, Dr. Cornel West has also taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale, Harvard, and the University of Paris. He has written 20 books and edited 13, and is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters. Dr. West is a frequent guest on the Bill Maher Show, CNN, C-SPAN, and Democracy Now.
Saltillo Lions Advance to Area with Win Against Avinger
Saltillo Boys Varsity 1st Row L to R: Ben Moore, Walker McGill, Branson McGill, Lyle Bench & Coach Casey Riddle; 2nd Row L to R: Coach Bill Giles, Michael Clover, Trevor Moore, Levi Hoover, Chris Boekhorst, Matthew Gurley, Coach Colton Smith.
The Saltillo Lions’ basketball team took care of business with a big bi-district win against Avinger, 64-36 Monday night.
After leading only 13-11 after one quarter, the Lions outscored Avinger 20-7 in the second quarter to lead 33-18 at the half. The Lions were up 42-28 after three quarters. The Lions outscored Avinger 22-8 in the fourth quarter to really put the game away.
Matthew Gurley and Chris Boekhorst led the Lions with 13 points apiece. Walker McGill scored 12 points. Trevor Moore had 10 points. Lyle Bench scored 9 points. Levi Hoover added 4 points. Michael Clover scored 2 points. Ben Moore had 1 point. T
he Lions improved their season record to 21-15. The Lions play Ector in an Area game at Commerce Thursday at 7 p.m.
Wildcats Basketball 58, Frisco Lone Star 41 (Area game)
The Wildcats’ basketball team advanced into the Regional Quarterfinals with a 58-41 win over Frisco Lone Star Friday night in Princeton. The Wildcats built their lead in every quarter. The Wildcats led by 5, 16-11 after one quarter. They increased the lead 12 points, 32-20 after outscoring the Rangers 16-9 in the second quarter. The lead went up to 15 points at 43-28 after the Wildcats outscored Lone Star 11-8 in the third quarter. The Wildcats outscored the Rangers 15-13 in the fourth quarter to increase the lead at the end to 17 points, 58-41. Godsgift Ezedinma led the Wildcats with 21 points including 3 three-pointers. Keaston Willis added 14 points including a pair of threes. Victor Iwuakor scored 9 points. Michael Jefferson had 7 points with one three point basket. Sadaidriene Day Day Hall scored 4 points. Xavier Cork scored 2 points. The Rangers got 16 points from Marvin Mims who hit 4 three-pointers. The win marked a milestone for the Wildcats. It was their 30th win of the season. Their season record is 30-4. They now play the winner of the Royse City and Prosper game.
