TxDOT Seeks to Fill Numerous Positions Within the Agency
AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Transportation is hosting a career fair Thursday, August 17, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 200 E. Riverside Drive, Austin, Texas to help fill open positions in numerous fields within the agency. Benefits include health insurance, paid leave, tuition assistance and more. Recruiting opportunities include:
- Transportation Engineers
- Facility Engineers
- Electrical Engineers
- Architects
- Engineer Assistants
- Design Technicians
- Business Relationship Managers
- General Maintenance Technicians
- Electronics Technician
- Journeyman Electrician
- HVAC Specialist
Check www.txdot.gov for all jobs posted or call statewide job hotline at 800-893-6848.
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Divorce Care Series Begins August 23 at FUMC Sulphur Springs
Divorce Care, a weekly support group for persons dealing with the effects of divorce, is starting a new series of meetings. Divorce Care will be held on Wednesday August 23, 2017 and the following Wednesdays from 6-7:30 pm at First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs in the basement classroom. Look for signs from the canopy entrance of the church. For details, contact Tom Young at 903-413-1673 or [email protected] or contact Debbie Young at 903-243-1235 or [email protected].
Game Day: Lady Cat Volleyball; Wildcat Team Tennis
There is Lady Cats’ volleyball and Wildcats’ team tennis on this Tuesday game day (August 15). The Lady Cats’ volleyball team is playing at McKinney North starting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Lady Cats come into the match with a 4-4 record. They opened the season last Tuesday at home with a win over North Lamar and a loss to Sherman. The Lady Cats won three and lost three at a Garland tournament last Friday and Saturday (August 11-12). In pool play, the Lady Cats downed South Garland and Carrollton Newman Smith and lost to Mesquite Horn. In the championship bracket, the Lady Cats won over Hallsville and lost to Sachse and Wylie.
Meanwhile the Wildcats’ team tennis squad is opening their season Tuesday (August 15) on the road in Tyler. They will face host John Tyler and will also play Jacksonville. The Wildcats have been practicing for about a week so far this season. They may be a little shorthanded for these early season matches. The Wildcats will also be hosting Tyler Lee Wednesday (August 16) at the Wildcats Tennis Complex. The Wildcats will also be facing Terrell and Forney at Terrell on Thursday (August 17).
Hopkins County Jury Finds Epps Guilty for Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substances
In Eighth Judicial District Court Tuesday, a Hopkins County Jury found Glenn Anthony Epps, 37, guilty of one count of Felony 1 Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1 gram but less than 4-grams in a Drug Free Zone, one count of Felony 3 Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1 gram in a Drug Free Zone, and one count of Felony 2 Manufacture Delivery of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1 gram but less than 4-grams. Epps will be sentenced September 27th. He has two charges of Injury to a Child with Intent Bodily Injury pending future court action.
Epps, along with his wife were arrested at the Child Protective Services Office in Sulphur Springs in December, 2016 regarding two felony warrants for injury to a child. Epps was involved in a lengthy investigation by the Special Crimes Unit and CPS Agents regarding the sale and use of cocaine from his residence, 525 South Locust Street in Sulphur Springs. During the completion of the case the two youngest children of nine living in the home tested positive for cocaine. At that time, warrants were issued for both the mother and the father. Any judicial proceedings for Epps wife, Tiffany Nicole Epps, 29, are pending.
His first arrest occurred on November 23, 2016 at the residence. During the search at that time by the Special Crimes Unit, a rectangular mirror containing a quantity of suspected crack cocaine weighing over 1-gram was in plain sight on top of the inside AC unit. Another clear bag containing over 1-gram of suspected crack cocaine was observed on the end table next to the bed. The Epps’ residence was within 1000 feet of a daycare center, a drug free zone, enhancing the charges.
Child Protective Services was also involved in the arrest. There were nine (9) children living in the residence and present during the possession and delivery of the controlled substance.
Dr. Shanan Gwatlney Gibson Named Dean of College of Business at A & M-Commerce
A&M-Commerce Provost Dr. John Humphreys said of the appointment: “We believe Dr. Gibson is the right person to lead our world-class business school in providing opportunities for our students to transform their lives. Also, as a member of the university academic leadership team, she will play an integral role in shaping the direction of academic affairs more broadly on our campus.”Wright Appointed to SSISD Board
Don Sapaugh resigned as a member of the Sulphur Springs School Board Monday night August 14, 2017 during their August regular meeting. His resignation ended almost 12 years of service on the board. His resignation was motivated by the desire of his wife to reenter the teaching profession. One cannot serve on the board when a family member is hired as a teacher. Appointed to Sapaugh’s place on the board is Kerry Wright who was present and sworn in Monday night. Wright has previously served on the SSISD board.
In other action, the board approved the student handbooks that add a provision for anonymous bully reporting using a link on the school website. New language addressing authorized and unauthorized persons on campuses, allowing business, civic, and youth groups up to 10 minutes to address students, middle and elementary schools policy regarding promotion and retention, and high school no pass, no play allowing students in honors classes and advanced classes, exempted by state, to meet a base line grade of 60 in those classes were also noted.
Dress code, hairstyles, and facial hair standards will now be based on decisions made by principals. Facial hair for high school males may now be a well-groomed, neat beard. Hairstyles cannot have a distracting or unusual design. Inappropriate dress will not be allowed. Principals will determine what are acceptable or unacceptable standards using common sense and community standards. Students in extracurricular activities can be held to a higher standard than other students, according to Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams.
Other items addressed were the employee handbook, Student Code of Conduct, teacher appraisal and calendar for appraisals and legal polices that have been updated.
Faculty/Visitor meal price increase was announced. Prices are breakfast, $2.25 and lunch, $3.75
PERSONNEL
Resignations
Chelsea Weaver Art Teacher Middle School
New Personnel
Jill Sapaugh Grade 5 Teacher Douglas
Jordan Ortloff Art Teacher Middle School
Three Arrested For Felony 1 Meth Possession
Three individuals were charges with a Felony 1 Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 200-grams but less than 400-grams and Tampering with Physical Evidence when a Hopkins County Deputy made a traffic stop on State Highway 154 at CR1174 Tuesday morning at 12:42 a.m. A juvenile and two adults showed signs of nervousness on initial contacts.
Having been given permission to search the vehicle, the deputy found a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine in the back seat of the 2006 Chevy Aveo. In the center console in a can was a plastic bag that contained the suspected meth.
Toby Shawn Meeks, 37, of Canton and Munsal Jamal Calhoun, 28 of Winnsboro are in Hopkins County Jail. The juvenile was sent to Gregg County to be held. 
Back to School Bash n Splash Water Party at Wesley UMC Saturday Aug 19
Pastor Steve Cook invites all youngsters from pre-K to high-school age to the annual end of summer water party at Wesley United Methodist Church , 614 Texas Street in Sulphur Springs. The Back to School Bash and Splash is set from 3-6pm on Saturday August 19 and it’s absolutely free. There will be a dual slip-n-slide, and large double water slide and other water games. There will also be several stations of Ice Hunt for Toys. A dunking booth will feature appearances by Pastor Cook and Youth Pastor Joe Clark, and a hot dog meal will be provided. The Wesley UMC congregation invites families to talk advantage of the family-fun free event. Please bring your towel and come prepared to get wet!
Pastor Steve Cook of Wesley UMC in Sulphur Springs, Texas
Wesley UMC recently participated as a sponsor in the Can Help Back to School Bash, and regularly hosts “BackPack Buddies”, a youth mission which provides healthy snacks for the weekend for youngsters in disadvantaged families.
For information on services, ministries and programs of Wesley United Methodist Church, contact the office at 903-885-3383.
2017 Hopkins County Stew Festival: Shirt Design Winner Announced
2017 Hopkins County Stew Festival Winning Design
For the second year in a row, the combined efforts to two Sulphur Springs residents have claimed the bragging rights for the Hopkins County Stew Festival Shirt Design. In all, 18 designs were submitted to the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce for consideration.
Cindy Roller is staff photographer for the City of Sulphur Springs, and Editor of the Cooper Review. Adam Whitson is program director at KSST 1230 AM in Sulphur Springs, TX.
The 2016 winning design deviated from the typical ‘Stew Pot’ design. The soft drink inspired logo was a hit with both shirt design judges and the public as well.
2016 Hopkins County Stew Logo
The winning 2017 design includes the traditional Stew Pot, but mixes in a famous flag from Texas’ past.
The Battle of Gonzales was fought on October 2, 1835. The iconic flag bearing the slogan “Come and Take It” is forever associated with that battle.
“Combing our iconic Stew Pot and that flag pays tribute to tradition here in Hopkins County, and to Texas.”
