Potential Car Burglary Foiled By Sulphur Springs Police
November 20, 2023 – Sulphur Springs Police were dispatched to a local apartment complex late Saturday night to a report of a person trying to enter vehicles in the parking lot. The caller indicated to dispatchers that a white female was observed pulling on door handles of various vehicles. Officers arrived on scene and observed a female sitting inside a vehicle that turned out to not belong to the suspect.
The subject verbally identified herself with fictitious information as responding officers on the scene knew the true identity of the suspect. Alyssa Renee Cockrum was placed under arrest for misdemeanor charges of Burglary of a Vehicle as well as Failure to Identify and transported to the Hopkins County Jail. During check in at the Hopkins County Jail, officers found a clear bag with a white crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine weighing approximately 6.60 grams with packaging. Officer’s suspect the weight of the drugs at less than 1 gram. An additional felony charge was added for Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1 gram.
The suspect proved to be combative while in custody, and as jail staff attempted to detain Cockrum, a jail guard was hit in the face on multiple occassions and since Cockrum knew the jail guard was a public servant, an additional charge of Assault of a Public Servant was added to the list of charges. The latest charge is a third-degree felony.
Alyssa Renee Cockrum remains in the Hopkins County Jail with bonds set at a total of $50,000 so far.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
The Christmas Market On Main Street
November 20, 2023 – Fall is in the air, but we are thinking about Christmas! This year’s Christmas Market on Main Street will be held Saturday, 12-2-2023, from 9 am – 4 pm on Main and Gilmer Streets in Downtown Sulphur Springs.
We already have many great vendors signed up, and applications for vendor spots are being accepted. Please note that in order to provide a variety of items, we do have limits on the number of vendors with the same types of products. Email [email protected] for more information.
Health Care Foundation Participates in Giving Tuesday
Sulphur Springs, TX – Giving Tuesday has become a well-known, global effort to raise awareness and donations for non-profits during the holiday season. Many charities feel a financial pinch due to the increased needs of those they serve during this time.
This is the second year that the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation has participated in the campaign. Last year was a soft campaign publicized through Facebook and accepting donations via the Foundation’s website.
For 2023, the Foundation has chosen to do more to raise awareness about the vital services it offers to Hopkins County citizens. In addition to providing more information about the Foundation through all media outlets, the Foundation has also created a dedicated Giving Tuesday page which can be visited at GT23HelpHC.givesmart.com.
This webpage not only provides information about the Foundation but also allows visitors to donate. Giving Tuesday is celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which this year will be November 28. Non-profit organizations run informational campaigns much of the month. The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization that may accept charitable contributions under the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation has been serving the healthcare needs of Hopkins County for twenty-six years.
For more information about the Foundation visit GT23HelpHC.givesmart.com or call 903-438-4799.
Sulphur Springs Symphony League Auction Live at 6pm
November 18, 2023 – Listen live on KSST 1230 AM, watch with a 10 second delay on our Youtube Channel, or watch the action on Cable Channel 18.
Call in your bid to 903 885 0700.
Make Sure Your Donation is Tax Deductible
November 17, 2023 – Tis the season for holiday giving, and with the end of the 2023 Tax Season coming up, it’s also the season of giving for tax benefits.
We have all heard the phrase, “I did it for the tax deduction.” Just make sure when you give, if you really need or want a tax benefit, that you follow a few rules. First and foremost, consult a tax professional. They are the experts and their guidance can mean a happy April, or a sad sad story come tax season.
Here are some general considerations when it comes to donating to a charity.
- Gifts to a non-qualified charity or nonprofit are not deductible.
- A pledged or promised donation is not deductible, only money that is actually given.
- Money spent on fundraisers such as bingo games or raffles are not deductible.
- Cash donations without a receipt cannot be deducted. Cash donations greater than $250 must also be documented with a letter from the organization. Non-cash donations also need supporting records.
To qualify, a group must register with the IRS under section 501(c)(3) or, in some cases, section 501(c)(4).
Before you commit to a donation, just make sure your charity of choice is ready to issue a receipt. No donation will be valid, for tax purposes, without one.
Amanda Dietlin, director of Meal-A-Day in Sulphur Springs, has been issuing receipts since she was hired. “Early on, we took a look at our form, and made a few changes to reflect IRS requirements,” said Dietlin.
Meal-A-Day is a 501(c)(3) charity, and currently has an anonymous benefactor matching donations up to $5000 until the end of 2023. “We are so grateful that this person stepped up. They will match dollar for dollar, up to $5000 total, any donation made to us this year,” said Dietlin.
If you would like to donate to Meal-A-Day in Sulphur Springs, Call Amanda at 904 885 1661, or stop by weekdays at 150 Martin Luther King. Be sure to get your receipt!
Algae Overgrowth a Common Issue Plaguing Pond Owners by Mario Villarino
November 16, 2023 – When looking at the old fishing hole or stock tank, if there’s a thick mat of bubbly yellow-green substance floating on the surface of the pond, or the pond appears to be colored bright green, blue-green, or sometimes even red, then there may be an algae problem. Algae overgrowth is one of the most common issues plaguing pond owners.
The first step to effective algae management is to understand what type of algae resides in the pond. There are three different types of algae commonly found in farm ponds and small lakes: planktonic algae, filamentous algae, and macroalgae.
PLANKTONIC ALGAE (THE GOOD) Planktonic algae are the microscopic, single-celled, and free-floating algae that exist in the top few feet of a pond or lake where the sunlight penetrates. This type of algae is what gives the water a green coloration, a plant mass does not have to be visible. Planktonic algae are normal and are in fact desirable, because they are essential to the pond’s food chain. Planktonic algae (phytoplankton) provide food for the microscopic animals (zooplankton) that are eaten by fish fry, baitfish, and other pond inhabitants, which ultimately support a larger fish population. They display seasonal abundance, with explosions of growth called ‘blooms’ in the spring or summer that often change the color of the pond. Planktonic algae are also important in oxygenation of the pond as they photosynthesize during the day creating oxygen as a byproduct. Rapid die-off due to algaecide treatments or natural degradation of algal blooms can lead to oxygen depletion and fish kills in Quick Fact: In some cases planktonic algae (more specifically, protists of the genus Euglena) can turn from green to red in the pond.
Quick Facts: The quickest way to treat algae in ponds is with copper based algaecides such as chelated copper complexes or copper sulfate. However, integrated management practices are the most effective way to manage algae in ponds and prevent it from quickly returning after an algaecide treatment.
A combination of the following typically produces more effective, long term algae control: aeration; creating a 10’ to 20’ buffer zone around the pond with taller vegetation to filter excess nutrients; decreasing the amount of fertilizer used on lawns and forage fields near the pond; preventing livestock from defecating in or near the pond; locating septic fields far away from ponds; deepening the edges to a slope of 2:1 decline; or a chemical treatment followed by a fertilization program for the good planktonic algae in the pond.
For more information on this or any other agricultural or natural resources topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
17th Annual Sulphur Springs Lions Club Christmas Light Parade
November, 16 2023 – It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Sulphur Springs and we would like to invite everyone to get into the Christmas spirit with the annual Lions Club lighted Christmas parade! The seventeenth annual Sulphur Springs Lions Club Christmas Light Parade will be held on the evening of Friday, December 1, 2023 at 7:00 PM. A stunning showcase of festively lit parade entries will bring Christmas cheer to the viewers of all ages. This year’s parade Chairman, Greg Cravens, stated that he “cannot think of a better community atmosphere than the downtown square with the Christmas Tree Lighting, the Downtown Market, and the Christmas Light Parade all in one night. It would be hard to not
get into the Christmas Spirit in that environment.”
Parade entrants will be encouraged to decorate their floats with new and unwrapped toys to be donated
to Blue Santa at the end of the parade route. Blue Santa will also be collecting toys in a booth at the
Downtown Christmas Market.
The parade route will begin at Buford Park and head east on Connally Street to the square. Then the
parade will then head north on Church Street then west on Houston St ending at Gerald Prim Stadium.
The Lions Club would like to thank this year’s parade sponsors for their support of the Christmas Light
Parade. Sponsors for this year’s parade are: Alliance Bank, Atmos Energy, City National Bank, Farmers
Electric Cooperative, Legacy Ag Credit, Signature Solar, Christus Mother Frances Hospital, and Bell
Concrete. Also sponsoring the parade are Farm Country, Inc. Brian Toliver Ford, Nor-Tex Tractor, Jay
Hodge Chevrolet, Money Law Firm, Texana Land and Asphalt, Guaranty Bank and Trust, East Texas
Physical Therapy, Tully Insurance, Sulphur Springs Dodge, 5W Construction, Discount Pipe and Steel,
Clayton Homes, Texas Farm Credit, Clarion Pointe, Northeast Texas Farmers Cooperative, Lindsey Lee with
Century 21 First Group, and the Hopkins County Law Enforcement Association.
Entry forms for the lighted Christmas Parade can be picked up at the Hopkins County Chamber of
Commerce. The deadline to enter the parade is Tuesday, November 28th.
The Sulphur Springs Lions Club meets at noon every Tuesday at The Corner Grub House on Connally St.
Lions Club has a mission to serve. It’s that simple, and it has been since we first began in 1917. The Sulphur Springs Lions Club is a place where individuals join to give their valuable time and effort to improving the community. For more information, or to get involved with the Sulphur Springs Lions Club,
please visit a club meeting or look them up on Facebook.
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with nearly 1.3 million members
in approximately 45,000 clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since
1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired, made a strong commitment to community
service and served young people throughout the world. For more information about the Lions Clubs
International please visit, www.lionsclubs.org.
No Strike at Local Starbucks for Red Cup Day
November 16, 2023 – Business was brisk at the Sulphur Springs Starbucks Store as baristas whipped up customer’s favorite holiday beverages on what is historically the company’s busiest day. Customers ordering certain beverages on Red Cup Day received a 2023 Reuseable Holiday Cup as employees were hard at work filling orders. Thousands of employees of other Starbucks’ locations chose this day to stage a walkout and strike for better hours and higher pay, but the Sulphur Springs location employees were steadfast in their committment to supplying the caffeinated bevarages to their loyal customers. No work on whether any local employees are members of the Starbucks’ Workers United union that instigated the walkout, but for now Sulphur Springs Starbucks’ customers are safe to get their Peppermint White Hot Chocolate, and other special holiday drinks.
Suspect Attempts to Flee Arrest At Stampede Solar Farm on Skid Steer
November 15, 2023 – What turned out to be a very short and slow speed chase started in Saltillo as law enforcement showed up looking for a suspect wanted on a federal warrant for violation of probation. Supervisors of the construction company, IEA Constructors, obliged law enforcement in locating the suspect who was busy at work operating a skid steer. Once the suspect, Jesus Alberto Alaniz, spotted law enforcement in the supervisor’s truck, Alaniz attempted to flee the area in his construction apparatus.
With nowhere to go and unable to evade officers, Alaniz made a large, slow-speed circle in an attempt for a few extra seconds of freedom. Supervisors of the construction company convinced the 32-year old Mount Pleasant man to stop the skid steer and surrender. Jesus Alberto Alaniz was taken into custody with no further incident and transported to the Hopkins County Jail. Alaniz remains in jail on the federal warrant.
Enel Green Power is the developer of the Stampede Solar Project in Saltillo. Zach Precopia serves as project developer and is responsible for all aspects of wind and solar energy development and project management, including land acquisition, title curative, design and engineering, environmental and permitting, and community development.
Texas A&M Forest Service Annual Meeting Honors Personnel and Service
November 14, 2023 – SAN ANGELO, Texas – Texas A&M Forest Service held the agency’s annual personnel meeting today in San Angelo, Texas. Agency employees gathered from across the state to recognize accomplishments of the past year and employee achievements.
Texas A&M Forest Service Director Al Davis emphasized his pride in the agency’s work and the annual meeting being an opportunity to highlight the agency’s progress while setting goals for 2024.
“Our agency has seen many changes and improvements throughout the year, and this year’s personnel meeting was a great opportunity to reflect on our development, recognize the hard work of the agency’s employees and look forward to the year ahead,” said Davis.
Additionally, Davis shared his anticipation about the agency’s new recruiting efforts, as the state legislature recently authorized funding for the agency to hire 40 new employees this fiscal year.
“As we look to expand Texas A&M Forest Service’s workforce, our annual meeting served as an opportunity to reflect on our agency’s values of leadership, excellence, accountability, duty and service,” said Davis. “We look forward to expanding our workforce to continue our service to the state of Texas.”
The meeting also focused on the vision Davis has for the agency. Since assuming the position of director in June 2023, after serving as interim director for two years prior, Davis plans to continue his development with agency recruiting, retention and safety. Also, Davis shared with the agency the three core values of conservation, protection and leadership.
During the meeting, agency leadership recognized 52 employees with more than five years of service, including five employees with 25 years of service or more: Kevin Matthews, Resource Specialist in Pittsburg, for 25 years of service; Dina Nutall, Business Associate in College Station, for 25 years of service; Tina Yount, business associate in Lufkin, for 25 years of service; Robert Edmonson, Biologist in Johnson City, for 30 years of service; and Tammy Russell, Business Associate in Conroe, for 30 years of service.
Scharise Phariss, Business Assistant in Merkel, received the Director’s Award for Support Staff Field. Phariss plays an instrumental role in the hiring, onboarding and development of new employees in the Merkel branch. Phariss has been known to create impactful relationships within the agency and with its external partners, all while being a full-time college student.
Jason Calvet, Regional Fire Coordinator in Houston, received the Director’s Award for Support Staff Professional. Calvet serves as a prominent ambassador for the agency within his community, as he has responded to fires throughout the Texas panhandle. Calvet is also responsible for successful internal employee development by introducing West Texas agency employees to the forestry practices of East Texas.
Tana Chappell, Administrative Associate in College Station, received the Director’s Award for Support Staff Office. Chappell has been an employee of Texas A&M Forest Service for more than 16 years and is an employee that works far beyond the title of her position. By rarely saying “no,” Chappell has created an efficient and caring environment for the purchasing department.
Jacey Tosh, Program Coordinator in Dallas, received the D.A. “Andy” Anderson Outreach and Education Award for her passion for forest conservation education which she has helped make more accessible throughout Texas. Tosh aided in the development and promotion of the Texas Forest Literacy Plan, a forest and nature-based education curriculum in Texas public schools.
Dan Gaskins, Staff Forester in Kerrville, received the Bruce Miles Natural Resource Professional Award. Gaskins routinely conducts forest inventory and analysis throughout the state, and serves as a leading mentor for many employees under him and come in contact with him.
Seth Morris, Resource Specialist in Merkel, received the Charles Krenek Award for Resource Specialist. Morris has provided substantial support to internal training for new employees by co-developing a new employee job-aid. Externally, Morris has formed strong relationships with more than 30 fire departments, assisting with volunteer fire department grants, equipment allocation and the rural volunteer fire department insurance program.
The Virtually Wild! Texas program was recognized as the agency’s best interdivisional project with the Director’s Award for Team Effort. The program provides accessible forest conservation and natural resource education for classrooms and students learning from home and in healthcare facilities with virtual field trips. One of the most successful sessions included a presentation on the use of drones in forest management, reaching more than 350 students and teachers across the state.
Team members are Mike Carter, Resource Specialist; Matt Ford, Regional Wildland Urban Interface Coordinator; Stuart Morris, Regional Wildland Urban Interface Coordinator; Connor Murname, District Forester; Mike Sills, Staff Forester; Shruthi Srinivasan, Geospatial Analyst; and Donna Work, Biologist.
#
