Local Man Arrested for Sexual Assault of a Minor
Casey Gween Miles, 22, of Sulphur Springs is in Hopkins County jail after he spoke with investigators at the Sheriff’s Office. He is charged with six (6) counts of Sexual Assault of a Child, a Felony 2 on each count.
Advised of his rights when he arrived at the Sheriff’ Office, Miles admitted his sexual activities with a 15-year old minor. The sexual involvement took place in Miles home.
City Council Approve Rates, Fees, Rezoning; Manager Reports Start of Reconstruction on Pampa Street, Completion of Locust Street
Attendance was sparse at the Sulphur Springs City Council meeting Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. All council members and members of city staff attended but few members of the public were present as the council approved on first reading ordinances that set the tax rate and water, sewer, and sanitation fees for the city for the new budget year. The second reading of ordinances establishing a tax increment reinvestment zone and the rezoning of property on Wildcat Way from single family to heavy commercial were also approved.
The rezoning will allow the building of an air conditioned storage facility on Wildcat Way. It will be a second location for Landmark Storage. Wayne Cooper is the builder.
The city tax rate will remain at .44 per $100 valuation but will increase 2.66% as final property values set by the Hopkins County Appraisal District were presented to the city. Citizen Jay Julien addressed the council regarding the property tax. He requested the council to consider lowering the tax rate in proportion to the increase in value. Councilman Clay Walker noted that tax revenue is not keeping up with what it costs to run the city as it is. The council approved the revenue increase with only Councilman Dan Froneburger opposing.
Froneburger also voted his opposition to the increase in water rates. The rate will increase 2.25%, which means an approximate $117,000 increase in water revenue. However, all members of the council voted to approve the 3.5% sewer rate increase due to required operational fund and loan balance for the wastewater treatment plant and the recommended sanitation rate increase of 2.25%.
MANAGER’S REPORT
LOCUST STREET – This project is completed.
MOORE STREET. – Utility work is completed, and street reconstruction has begun. The concrete contractor, Highway 19 Construction LLC, has begun soil stabilization. Expect concrete forms in the next few weeks.
PAMPA STREET – The reconstruction of Pampa Street has begun. The Capital Construction Division is currently replacing the sewer line. After that, the water line will be replaced, followed by cement stabilization and an asphalt overlay.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – The work at the wastewater treatment plant is on schedule despite all the summer rains. The three primary clarifier basins have been constructed, and backfilling is about to begin. The building which will house all of the blower controllers has also been erected.
CLAIMS – We had one liability claim in August for a sewer overflow. We did not have any liability claims.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director, Peter Karstens will present a year-to-date summary of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Conducted 21 building inspections, 21 electrical inspections, 17 plumbing inspections, 5 mechanical inspections, and issued 31 building permits.
- Made 15 major street repairs following utility repairs.
- Patched 302 potholes.
- Cleaned storm drains twice.
- Replaced various street signs and stop signs.
- Sold 1,720 gallons of AvGas and 4,150 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Responded to 195 animal control calls and achieved a 41% adoption rate.
- Recorded 63 offenses, wrote 504 traffic citations, made 49 felony arrests and responded to 38 accidents.
- Made 10 felony arrests in the special crimes unit.
- Checked out 3,181 items from the library, and served 1,375 computer users.
- Achieved a Total Suspended Solids count at the wastewater treatment plant of 0.83 mg/L.
- Repaired 12 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 21 water meters.
- Unstopped 20 sewer mains.
- Repaired 13 sewer mains.
- Washed 80,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Treated 147 million gallons of potable water.
- Flushed 35 dead-end water mains.
- Made repairs to the spillway gates at Lake Sulphur Springs.
- Drained and disinfected Carter Street water tower.
- Repaired various items at the water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant.
- Responded to 148 fire/rescue calls including 4 structure fires.
- Sent the swift water rescue team to Houston to assist with rescue efforts.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 85 fire hydrants.
- Suppressed 3 invasions of army worms at Buford Park.
- Removed dead trees at Buford Park.
State Ranked Lake Ridge Defeats Lady Cats; Locals Face Pleasant Grove Friday
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team took on a tough, strong team on the road and lost a match to talented Mansfield Lake Ridge, 3-0 Tuesday night. Score was 25-15, 25-12 and 25-22. The loss dropped the Lady Cats season record to 16-10. Lake Ridge is now 21-7 according to Max Preps.
After the game, Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness said Lake Ridge was a tough team but he said playing them was a great experience for the Lady Cats. He said Lake Ridge is a top 20 team in Texas and is ranked #117 nationally. Coach Maness said they have players committed to Texas, TCU and Nebraska. He said despite the scores, the Lady Cats did compete.
Stats for the Lady Cats, Kaylee Jefferson led the team in kills with 6. Madi Vickery had 4. Abbi Baier, Erika VanBenthem and Mieke VanBenthem had 3 apiece. Anden Hammack had 13 assists and Lexie Whisenhunt had 4.
Coach Maness had added a game to the team’s schedule. Instead of a bye Friday, the Lady Cats will play Pleasant Grove at 4:30 p.m. JV and freshmen games will follow.
Hallsville 16, Wildcats’ Team Tennis 3 as District Play Opens
The Wildcats’ team tennis squad opened district play with a 16-3 loss to Hallsville Tuesday afternoon at the Wildcat Tennis Complex. A mixed doubles match was not played.
The Wildcats won three points in boys matches. The Wildcats #1 boys doubles team of Alex Benitez and Jonah Kirkpatrick won their match. #4 boys singles player Blaine Flemens won his match as did #6 boys singles player Waylon Matlock. The Wildcats are now 0-1 in district play and 1-6 for the season.
Next, the Wildcats play a crucial district home match with Marshall next Tuesday. The Mavericks and the Wildcats are expected to be among teams battling for one of the district’s four playoff spots.
Wildcat Football Coordinators Talk Bearcats, Black Knights
Wildcats Offense
For Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young, Friday’s 42-21 victory at Sherman was a great way to start the season. He said the team was successful, lots of players got touches and the offense put points on the board. Still Coach Young said the offense still had a lot of work to do. He said he was pleased with the way the running backs ran. Coach Young used Colton Allen, Cason Goodson, Lawrence Worth, Searn Rodgers, Cortavius Pruitt, Noah Johnson and quarterbacks Ryan Humphries and D’Corian Young. He said it is important to continue to use the team’s depth because many of the players also play on defense or special teams. Coach Young said he was pleased to see receiver Simeon Taylor have a good night and receiver Landry Tyson catch a TD pass. He said the offensive line did a good job. Coach Young said he was also pleased with the play of receiver Bryce McQueen who caught two passes and blocked well, Hayden Daniel who got a start at left guard and did well and Cor’Tavius Pruitt who added a spark at running back. Coach Young pointed out that quarterback Ryan Humphries completed 81% of his passes and threw for over 200 yards. He also gave a scouting report for this Friday night’s opponent, The Avalon School of Maryland. Coach Young said they reminded him of scrimmage opponent Liberty-Eylay except they are bigger but perhaps not quite as fast. He said they had a cornerback heading for Virginia Tech and a safety-outside linebacker going to Virginia. Coach Young said the Black Knights are big up front and have a good pass rush. He said they would present a challenge for the Wildcats offense. Coach Young said the Wildcats would have to focus on technique adding their pace and execution would have to be right or they could look foolish. He said the game was an opportunity for the Wildcats to show they can compete with players who play at a high level. Coach Young said the game would be a good opportunity for the Wildcats to see where they are right now as a team.
Wildcats Defense
Wildcats Defensive Coordinator Triston Abron said the Wildcats’ defense did a pretty good job after they settled in Friday night at Sherman. He credited them with containing a big Sherman running back to had the potential to give the Wildcats problems. Coach Abron said the defense held him to 40 or 50 yards and no touchdowns. He said the defense still had things to work on. Coach Abron had special praise for several players including sophomore outside linebacker Kylan Wade. He said Wade played well against the Bearcats’ tight end-H back and kept containment on his side of the field. Coach Abron also praised his entire defensive line that included D’Idrec Dugan, Jose Rodriguez, Calvin Eckert and Vuk Susic. He pointed out that inside linebacker Jaxon Reneau had 15 tackles and inside linebacker K.J. Abron had 10. Coach Abron said Cason Churchman, playing his first varsity game did a great job at outside linebacker. He also liked the play of his cornerbacks. Coach Abron also credited his defensive assistants with getting players ready to play. They are Kurt McCain, Cameron Warren, Bruce Silman and Chris Valdovinos. Coach Abron also gave a scouting report on The Avalon School of Maryland, the Wildcats opponent Friday night at Prim Stadium. He said they reminded him of Liberty-Eylau with athletes everywhere. Coach Abron said the Black Knigtht’s quarterback is elusive and fast. He said the Avalon running back runs likes he’s 220 pounds. Coach Abron said Avalon had two good receivers. He called the game a good test. Coach Abron said he wants his team to play four full quarters and get some turnovers this week.
NETBIO Requests Local Help To Assist South Texas Ranchers in Need
A SOUTH TEXAS RANCHER TRYING TO SWIM A COW TO HIGHER GROUND
If you’d like to help the Northeast Texas Cattleman’s’ Beef Improvement Organization assist flooded farmers and ranchers in the Southeast Texas area, here is a local donation opportunity sent by Dwyatt Bell, NETBIO President
The NETBIO organization is receiving donations and purchasing hay and other items that we are shipping directly to the South Texas Independent Cattlemen in Beaumont and Winnie. Since Friday we have purchased and shipped 1,718 square bales, two pallets of feed, 640 bottles of water and some dog food. All the items purchased were discounted to cover cost as was the shipping cost. We have had ranchers here donate 7 loads of round hay but we do not at this time have the money for the freight. We started raising money Friday and received $7K to start the account. The items already shipped will run around $13K and it will cost about $8K more to ship the donated hay. 100% of the donations go to the ranchers in the Winnie TX area. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you.
Checks should be made out to NETBIO Harvey Relief Fund and mailed to NETBIO PO Box 1250 Sulphur Springs TX, 75483
Pallets of feed shipped from Potts Feed Store in Quitman on Sunday September 3, 2017 which included cases of water and 580 square bales of hay for Winnie, Texas
The hay truck unloading at Winnie, Texas
Hay from a first shipment that arrived in Beaumont area on Saturday September 2, 2017
Game Day: Lady Cats’ Volleyball at Mansfield Lake Ridge; Wildcats’ Team Tennis Begins District
Lady Cats’ volleyball team and the Wildcats’ team tennis squad are competing on this Tuesday game day. The Lady Cats face a big challenge as they travel to Mansfield to face Lake Ridge Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Cats have won six straight matches and they come in with a season record of 16-9. Lake Ridge has three Division I players and they may well be the best team the Lady Cats have faced so far this year.
Meanwhile it’s a very big day for the Wildcats’ team tennis squad. They open district play Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at home at the Wildcat Tennis Complex. Hallsville is coming to town. The Bobcats have been among the district’s best for the past several years. The Wildcats have gone 1-5 in pre-district matches as they prepared for district play.
Equine Donations Sought to Assist South Texas Hurricane Victims
An effort to acquire horse feed, cattle feed, dog food, vet supplies, vet wrap, fly sprays, antibacterial soap, poultry feed, cat food, OFF insect repellant for humans, and hay is underway on the parking lot at Atwoods. The effort is organized by Martha Hayward, owner of 4X4 Performance Horses, and a realtor. Donations may be dropped off until 5 p.m. today.
The items will be taken to individuals in Crosby, Texas who have been affiliated with Stock Horse of Texas events held in Sulphur Springs.
Look for the red F350 Ford on the parking lot.
Burkett Announces Candidacy for Republican Nomination for Texas Senate District 2
Cindy Burkett announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Texas Senate saying she will work hard to turn the conservative values “we share into the principles our State lives by.” She will challenge Republican State Senator Bob Hall. (see video below)
She says, “Our families need property tax relief. I will deliver results. Our kids need us to fix our broken school finance system. I can get it done. Liberal courts are now trying to undo the Sanctuary City Ban and every part of my groundbreaking pro-life legislation. But I am more confident than ever that we will prevail.
“My Christian values, my hard work, and my love of family have set the course for my life. I am proud of where they have led me. But I am now undertaking one more important challenge.
As a conservative state representative in Texas House District 113, Cindy helped balance the State budget, passed the largest border security plan in Texas history, banned sanctuary cities, defunded Planned Parenthood, passed Open Carry, cut taxes by $5 billion, and helped make Texas the best.”
