Training Building Tradesmen; Summer Campus Improvements; Baseball, Softball Remodeling
Finding tradesmen for construction jobs such as home building is said to be more difficult in current times. To address that need, Sulphur Springs High School is bringing back a building trades class to help train tradesmen of the future. The building trades class will be building a house on Fore Street in Sulphur Springs on a lot owned by the school district. The slab is expected to be poured this summer. School district Director of Maintenance Dan Froneberger said his grandfather started a similar program at high school in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Auto Tech instructor Harold Smithson will be heading up the housing program. Overseeing it will be Jenny Arledge, Director of Career Technology Education. Froneberger said his maintenance men would lend a hand if needed. He said he understood the proposed home already had a buyer.
Froneberger also said maintenance crews would be busy with a long list of summer campus improvement projects. Included will be cabinet work in restrooms at Middle School, gym floors redone at Sulphur Springs Elementary, fixing a leak outside of Douglas Intermediate School on the westside and remodeling the Ag Department at High School.
Work was also being done Friday on the new baseball field and remodeling of the softball field at High School. For baseball, work included marking off for irrigation, dugout work along the first base line, slab pouring for a press box, concession stand and restrooms and beam painting for the outfield wall. For softball, dirt work was underway for the new press box and concession stand and some drainage work was in progress toward the Multipurpose Building. Froneberger also said a whole crew had been sent to Sulphur Bluff taking baseball and softball light poles there. The SSISD sold the poles to Sulphur Bluff. Froneberger said work crews had plenty of time to finish baseball and softball work before the February deadline.
Wood County Sheriff’s Report May 24-30, 2017
May 24th
At 8:12 a.m., cows were reported out on SPUR 514 near Yantis.
Deputies were dispatched to PR 8692 near Winnsboro, at approximately 8:45 a.m., in reference to a theft. Actors, or actors unknown, damaged the victim’s Kawasaki Mule and siphoned the gas out of it. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
Deputies made contact over the phone with an out-of-state complainant, at approximately 11:52 a.m. The complainant reported that an unknown party in Winnsboro opened an account, with the complainants’ information, and charged a purchase. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
Deputies were dispatched to Holliday Villages near Quitman, at approximately 12:33 p.m., in reference to a burglary. Actors, or actors unknown, stole several items from the victim’s RV trailer. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
Deputies made contact over the phone with the reporting party, at approximately 4:07 p.m., in regards to a theft. The reporting party’s utility trailer was stolen from a storage unit on FM 2869 in Hawkins. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
Deputies were dispatched to CR 4510 near Winnsboro, at approximately 11:23 p.m., in reference to a suspicious vehicle. The vehicle was located and stopped. Upon further investigation, narcotics were found in the vehicle. Joseph Walls, 53, of Winnsboro, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia.
May 25th
At 2:46 a.m., horses were reported out on 154 E/FM 14.
At 6:13 a.m., horses were reported out on FM 2869/CR 4530.
At 6:15 a.m., horses were reported out on 154 E.
Deputies were dispatched to HWY 515, at approximately 7:16 p.m., in reference to a burglary. Several items were stolen from the victim’s vehicle that was parked at the camp site. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
Deputies initiated a traffic stop on CR 4702, at approximately 10:24 p.m., due to no tail lights. The driver has an outstanding warrant out of another state. Scott Storey, 42, of Quitman, was arrested for no valid driver’s license and expired or no license plate.
May 26th
Deputies were dispatched to PR 790 in Hawkins, at approximately 12:27 p.m., in regards to an inquest. A male, 72, was pronounced dead at 1:00 p.m. by the Justice of the Peace.
At 4:16 p.m., horses were reported out on FM 69.
At 6:07 p.m., horses were reported out on FM 2869/CR 4530.
Deputies returned a call to the complainant, at approximately 6:12 p.m., regarding a stolen vehicle on CR 4470. The complainant reported that a known person stole her truck keys and left in her vehicle. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
May 27th
Deputies had calls that involved criminal mischief, suspicious circumstances, and animal complaints, but there were no major incidents that occurred.
May 28th
At 10:35 a.m., cows were reported out on FM 515 W/near CR 7540 in Yantis.
Deputies had calls that ranged from suspicious circumstances, to criminal trespassing, but there were no major incidents that occurred.
May 29th
At 9:41 a.m., cows were reported out on CR 4730 near Winnsboro.
Deputies were dispatched to CR 3204 near Quitman, at approximately 10:53 a.m., in regards to criminal mischief. Several storage unit lock plates were damaged or cut off. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
Deputies were dispatched to CR 4990 near Quitman, at approximately 12:38 p.m., in reference to a theft. The reporting party stated that several pieces of pipe were missing from the work site. Further down CR 4990, at an additional work site, more pipe was missing. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
At 7:59 p.m., cows were reported out on CR 4730/4740.
May 30th
Deputies were dispatched to CR 3540 near Hawkins, at approximately 12:05 a.m., in reference to a suspicious person. The area was checked, and David Wilson, 52, of Hawkins, was located and arrested for Public Intoxication.
At 3:39 a.m., cows were reported out on FM 515/CR 2966.
At 5:51 a.m., cows were reported out on CR 3220.
At 7:22 a.m., horses were reported out on FM 852/CR 4430.
Deputies were dispatched to PR 5937 near Yantis, at approximately 2:21 p.m., in reference to a theft. Fishing equipment was stolen from the reporting party’s property. Their neighbor had fishing equipment stolen from their property, as well. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
Total Jail Count – 150 prisoners – 123 males and 27 females.
Sheriff Castloo would like to remind everyone…if you have any information on these or any other crimes, please contact the Wood County Sheriff’s Office at 903-763-2201 or Crime Stoppers at 903-763-CASH.
DPS Traffic Stop Discovers Tetrahydrocannabinol and Meth
Jason William Helmholtz, 40, and Jacqueline Mary Helmholtz, 47, both of Missouri, were speeding down I-30 when a DPS Trooper clocked them at 82 mph in a 75 mph zone. When the trooper approached the vehicle, he noted the odor of burnt marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle.
Both occupants were asked to exit the vehicle. Jason was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. In the auto the trooper found a glass jar containing a blue grinder and a piece of tin foil that contained Tetrahydrocannabinol, a marijuana wax.
Jacqueline Helmholtz is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2 less than 1-gram and Possession of Marijuana under 2 oz. . She is held on total bonds of $6,000. Jason Helmholtz is charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram, Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2 less than 1-gram and Possession of Marijuana under 2 oz. He is in jail with bonds totaling $11,000.
Not Wearing Seat Belt But Meth Under the Seat
At 11:51 a.m. Cumby Police Ray Embro noted an auto exiting a gas station parking lot and the driver not wearing a seatbelt. Embro initiated a traffic stop on Frisco Street. Following a consent to search the vehicle, Embro located a white pill bottle containing a plastic baggy with white crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine under the driver’s seat. Two pipes with meth residue were also found under the front seat.
Rowdy Dee Duvall, 37, of Sulphur Springs is in Hopkins County Jail charge with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams. He is in Hopkins County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Winnsboro Man Attempts to Ship Controlled Substance
June 2, 2017 – John Lamar Jones, 70, of Winnsboro, TX attempted to ship a package on May 31st at a UPS Hub on Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs. Once again, alert clerks notified Sulphur Springs Police.
The Special Crimes Unit investigated and on Thursday arrested Jones for Possession with Intent to Deliver or Manufacture a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than or equal to 4-grams but less than 200-grams, a Felony 1.
John Lamar Jones
Jones is in Hopkins County Jail being held on $70,000 bond.
County Fire Chief Injured in Accident; Traffic Backed Up on I-30 Wednesday
An accident on I-30 westbound at Bill Bradford Road created a second accident when a driver of an semi-truck failed to control speed. Both accidents created a traffic backup for approximately 4 miles. Traffic was routed onto the service road for about an hour following the second accident. Andy Endsley, Hopkins County Fire Chief was injured in the second accident.
Wednesday, two motorcycles and two autos were involved in a traffic accident at the above location. Hopkins County Fire Department Station 20 responded with city units to control traffic and assist as first responders. Engine 20 was blocking the left hand lane on the interstate but having difficulty slowing traffic. They called for backup. Chief Endsley parked his official vehicle about 2000 yards behind the fire truck, according to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Tanner Crump. Crump said the driver of the semi-truck was not paying attention until the last moment when he saw the lights of the Chief’s vehicle. The truck swerved to miss the vehicle but the Honda Pilot behind him slammed on brakes and stopped just prior to hitting the Chief’s unit. However, an auto behind the Honda hit it and pushed it into the Chief’s vehicle. Crump said the driver and passengers in the Honda were transported to the local hospital by ambulance and Endsley was transported by Crump in his vehicle. Endsley was treated and later released. He was off duty Thursday and Friday.
The driver of the semi-truck was charged with driving with suspended license and failure to control speed.
Tira News June 2, 2017
By Jan Vaughn
We want to express our sympathy to Mary Beth (Robinson) Moore. Her husband Louis Moore had a heart attack on Wednesday and passed away. The funeral will be held on Saturday, June 3rd, at 11:00 a.m. in the Tira United Methodist Church, with visitation at 10:00, prior to the service. Lunch will be served at 12:45 at Posey Baptist Church, due to a family reunion at the Tira Community Center. Please be in prayer for the family.
William and Joyce Dodd had a visit from Michael McNiel last Saturday in celebration of a late Mother’s Day and early Father’s Day. Joyce reports, “They enjoyed catching up and visiting.” She and Michael visited William’s uncle, Charles Rhodes, in the Shirley community and helped him do a few housekeeping chores.
William and Joyce had an early Memorial Day lunch on Sunday with Brad, Tanya, and Matthew Dodd, and Tonja Dodd-Jones, and friend Will.
Our grandson, Morgan Joslin, was in from college at Louisiana Tech and he and his girlfriend, Alexis, from Texarkana, joined us Monday evening for hamburgers, hotdogs, and homemade ice cream. Tiffany, Jaidyn, and Kenden, Kenden’s friend, Matthew, Landon, Laiken, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden, and Malcolm were here, too. In addition to Memorial Day, we celebrated Alexis’ graduation from high school and her birthday.
On Tuesday, Tiffany, Jaidyn, Alexis and I took Morgan to DFW, where he caught a flight to Atlanta, Georgia, and then took a bus to Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama for field training with the Air Force ROTC.
The Tira Homecoming will be coming up in about a month – Sunday, July 2nd, at the Tira United Methodist Church and cemetery grounds. Please make plans to come for the program, business meeting, covered dish lunch, and visiting. On behalf of the Cemetery Board, I would like to express our appreciation to Regina Payton, daughter of Martha and the late Floyd Payton, former Tira Cemetery Association Chairman. Regina and her family have worked, through the years, on a database of family members of those buried in the Tira Cemetery and Regina sends Tira Homecoming reminder letters to those known addresses. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please let me know and I will share that with her.
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].
Become a Master Gardener; Beekeeper Information for June
Who are Texas Master Gardeners? Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people. What really sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, persons who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities.
Is the Master Gardener Program for Me? To help you decide if you should apply to be a Master Gardener, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I want to learn more about the culture and maintenance of many types of plants?
- Am I eager to participate in a practical and intense training program?
- Do I look forward to sharing my knowledge with people in my community?
- Do I have enough time to attend training and to complete the volunteer service?
If you answered yes to these questions, the Master Gardener program could be for you. Contact The Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 . If accepted into the Master Gardener program in your county, you will attend a Master Gardener training course. Classes are taught by Texas AgriLife Extension specialists, agents, and local experts. The program offers a minimum of 50 hours of instruction that covers topics including lawn care, ornamental trees and shrubs, insect, disease, and weed management; soils and plant nutrition, vegetable gardening; home fruit production; garden flowers; and water conservation. The training is offered at various times during the year at various locations across the state. Check with your County Extension office for specific locations, dates, and times.
Volunteer Commitment. In exchange for training, participants are asked to volunteer time to their County Extension program. At least 50 hours of volunteer service within one year following the training is required to earn the title of “Texas Master Gardener.” The type of service done by Master Gardeners varies according to community needs, and the abilities and interests of the Master Gardeners. Some Master Gardeners answer telephone requests for information related to gardening. Others staff plant clinics or displays in shopping malls or community centers. Master Gardeners may speak to local groups and conduct workshops. They may help establish community garden projects, work with 4-H youth, or assist their agent with news or radio releases related to gardening. The Master gardener Coordinator in the County Extension office decides how volunteer time can be best utilized. Master Gardeners are representatives of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M System. In all volunteer work related to the program, Master Gardeners follow the research-based recommendations of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The title “Texas Master Gardener” can be used by volunteers only when engaged in Extension-sponsored activities.
Certification
Participants become certified Master Gardeners after they have completed the training course and fulfilled their volunteer commitment.
For More Information
Application forms and additional information are available from The Hopkins County Extension Office by calling 903-885-3443 or visiting at 1200b Houston Street.
NEW! Beekeeper Info for June:
By the time June arrives in our area the honey flow has wound down. There may be some nectar coming in from sumac and perhaps horsemint. In most years the main flow will end in June. During June the honey harvest can begin. There are several methods for removing full supers from hives.
1) Use a fume board to chase bees from supers. Fume boards work best in very hot weather. 2) Use a bee escape board beneath supers. This method requires more than one trip to the bee yard to remove supers.
3) Brush bees from the combs one comb at a time. This is a time consuming method and can anger bees.
4) Remove supers from hives and blow bees out with a “bee blower”.
5) Smoke bees from supers. Plan to harvest honey when the weather is dry and warm.- Try to extract only those frames of honey that are at least 3/4 capped.
New colonies can also be started in the month of June but they need to be fed more than those started in April. This is due to the fact that a major honey flow is not generally underway in June.
WEEK 1,2,3,4
- Extract supers
- Make nucs
- Feed young colonies
Remember that the Hopkins County Beekeepers meet every third Thursday every month (next meeting June 15, 2017 at 6:30 PM. For more information on these or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Seat Belts, Cooking, Sewing; Agrilife June 2, 2017
WHAT YOU MAY BE MISSING AT NIGHT!
By now, you are probably familiar with the “Click it or Ticket” campaign. Taking those few seconds to buckle your seat belt is the most important step you can make to protect yourself in a crash. Fortunately, most Texans now buckle up, but some groups of motorists continue not taking the message to heart and not consistently using their seat belts. The demographic of motorist most likely to be unrestrained are men and young adults, especially pickup truck drivers and passengers.
This year marks the 15th year that the “Click It or Ticket” Campaign to increase seat belt use has been conducted in Texas. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), since its inception 15 years ago, this life-saving campaign has resulted in 5,068 fewer traffic fatalities and 86,000 fewer injuries, including more than $19.3 billion saved in related economic costs.
However, from 2015 to 2016, deaths among people not wearing seat belts increased 9 percent. According to TX DOT, in 2016 more than 2,500 people who failed to wear their seat belts were killed or seriously injured. Simply remembering to put on your seat belt increases the chances of surviving a crash by 45 percent in a car, and up to 60 percent in a truck.
Did you know that driving at night is more dangerous than driving during the day? In fact, the majority (57%) of fatal crashes in Texas happen at night. In 2016, of all Texas crashes in which people died and weren’t wearing a seat belt, 62 percent happened at night. You might think that under the cover of darkness, police officers don’t notice unbuckled drivers and passengers — but they do. If you get pulled over, that means facing fines and court costs up to $200.
After many years of having seat belts as a standard part in vehicles, it would seem that buckling your seat belt before driving off would be second nature. However, some pickup truck drivers and their passengers depend on their larger size vehicle to protect them in a crash. Yet, pickup trucks are twice as likely to rollover as passenger cars. Due to pick up trucks’ tendency to rollover in crashes, the consequences are more severe for drivers and occupants not wearing seat belts — including being thrown from the vehicle, or even death.
Unbuckled passengers can also be deadly to others in the vehicle. Most people are not aware of the dangers posed by unbuckled backseat passengers. In a crash, they can become projectiles that are tossed around inside the vehicle, often injuring or killing those in the front seat.
Here’s another good reason to buckle up: It’s the law! Unbelted drivers and adult passengers can face fines and court costs of up to $200. Children younger than 8-years-old must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they are taller than 4 feet 9 inches. Fines issued to drivers for unrestrained children in their vehicle can be as high as $250, plus court costs.
Remember to buckle up day and night and save your life — not just during “Click It or Ticket,” but every day of the year!
Cooking with Chef Cruz Reminder
If you registered for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s “Cooking with Chef Cruz”, you are in for a treat! I recently received a phone call from an individual who was probably one of the first ones to register, inquiring about a confirmation phone call. If you filled out the form and sent in the fee, you are registered, and we’ll have your name on the roster! Here are the details once more:
- What: “Dinner Tonight – Cooking with Chef Cruz”
- When: Tuesday, June 6
- Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Where: Hidden Lakes Hunting Resort, Yantis
If you did not register but wish to attend, please call the Rains County Extension Office at 903-473-4580 to make sure the event is not full. We can accommodate 100 people, and as of this writing, we were getting close to the maximum.
Beginner Sewing Workshop
I’m listening! I received phone calls from two individuals who were interested in learning to sew. A workshop has now been planned. If you are interested in learning to sew, or simply need a refresher, put these dates on your calendar: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, August 15, 16, and 17, at the Extension Office. Watch for more details to come!
Closing Thought
“Tomorrow is the longest day of the week – it has to be because of all the things we are going to do” – unknown
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]
More Than 500 Graduate From PJC in May Ceremony
By Paul Bailey
The west stands of Noyes Stadium was packed as Paris Junior College held its 92nd spring graduation ceremony Friday evening, May 12. PJC had 512 students graduating from PJC with a certificate or associate degree, and nearly 260 students chose to participate in the graduation ceremony.
The ceremony opened with an invocation by Student Government Association president Logan Thomas and a song performed by PJC alumna and Drama & Speech Instructor Robyn Huizinga
Among the graduates were students who had received state and national honors in their degree fields and ranged in age from 17 to 77 years. They were 48 percent male and 52 percent female. The graduates represented 30 different Texas counties, 21 different states, and the countries of the Bahamas, Germany, Japan, and Nepal.
“In this year’s graduating class, we have 38 students receiving their associate degrees who will be graduating from high school in the next two to three weeks,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “Of these, 31 are from Quinlan Ford High School, two are from Miller Grove High School, two are home schooled and one from Greenville Christian, North Lamar, and Prairiland high schools.”
The students took college courses while attending high school and received high school and college credit for the coursework.
The high graduate numbers from Quinlan Ford stem from a partnership that started in 2009. Quinlan ISD pays tuition, fees and books for their students and buses them to the PJC-Greenville Center early on weekdays, returning them later to the high school.
As a result of a tie vote, the Distinguished Service Award, PJC’s highest student honor, was presented to two students this year — Mengkheang (Sam) Chek of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Heather Collins of Paris. The Award recognizes academic achievement and service to PJC and the community and is given to an outstanding graduating student. PJC faculty and professional staff determine the winner.
Chek is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, serves as Vice-President of the Teacher Education Student Organization, and is a recipient of the Eugene “Gene” Thielman Scholarship. Chek plans to pursue his degree at Texas A&M University – Commerce in computer science to become a programmer and teacher.
Collins attends PJC on a drama scholarship and serves as stage manager for the department. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, President of Delta Psi Omega, and has been on the President’s List for academic excellence for three semesters.
In closing comments, Dr. Anglin told the audience that community colleges enroll 72 percent of all freshman in the State of Texas and 78 percent of all students graduating with bachelor degrees have community college hours on their transcript.
