Over 1200 ONCOR Customers Without Electricity as a Severe Thunderstorm Produced Hail, Lightning, Gusty Winds, and Heavy Rain Across Hopkins County
According to their outage map, over 1200 ONCOR customers were without power Thursday night as a severe thunderstorm moved through southern Hopkins County from the western edge of the county into Franklin County. The storm brought with it gusty winds, hail reported to KSST in size from pea to marble sized, lots of lightning, and heavy rains.
As of 9:30 p.m. Thursday over six tenths of an inch of rain had fallen in the Woodbridge area on the west side of Sulphur Springs and at KSST studios. The storm carried the potential of wind gusts to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail. The storm moved across the county at 35-40 mph.
The storm gained in intensity near Cumby and continued across Sulphur Springs, Martin Springs, and Como. The heavier rain and hail fell south of Interstate 30. The warning expired at 9:30 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning continued until 10 p.m. Thursday.
Earlier in the afternoon thunderstorms moved across northern Hopkins County.
Severe Thunderstorm Until 9:15 PM Thursday, May 11, 2017
Severe thunderstorm warning until 9:15 p.m. for Hopkins County. At 8:30 p.m. a severe thunderstorm ws located 7 miles southwest of Sulphur Springs moving at 35 mph… Hazard 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. This includes I-30 mile markers 112-142. Find a sturdy structure and stay away from windows.
Eichelberger Sentenced for Online Solicitation; Now Faces Child Porn Charges in Oklahoma
With his probation for online solicitation revoked, Kevin Daniel Eichelberger, 42, or North Richland Hills is on his way to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice following what will be a detour to Oklahoma to answer charges for child pornography. Eichelberger was sentenced in Eighth Judicial District Court Thursday afternoon to 5-years in TDCJ.
In Oklahoma, he faces two Aggravated Possession of Child Pornography charges, a distribution of Child Pornography charge, and a charge for Using Access to Computers.
He was also on the most wanted list in Nicollet County Minnesota for felony probation violation of a Minnesota 4th degree drug possession.
Local Hotel Owners File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Court documents received by KSST News show the local company of Hahn Hotels of Sulphur Springs, LLC has filed for bankruptcy protection (Chapter 11) in the Eastern District of Texas Court located in Sherman. Hahn Hotels of Sulphur Springs is named as the owner and operator of the local La Quinta hotel located at 1344 Eaton Dr in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Five other Longview companies listing the same local (Sulphur Springs) mailing address filed bankruptcy at the same time using the “complex” bankruptcy rules which generally involves a larger numbers of parties involved or debts in excess of $10 million.
All of the included companies list a recently opened local P.O. Box on Gilmer St, which is not their actual business office location. The other companies involved in this bankruptcy are: Sleep Inn Property, LLC, Hahn Investments, LLC, SI of Longview, LLC, Hahn Hotels, LLC, and Copeland’s of Longview, LLC. Most of the companies involved own property, apartments and hotels in the Longview area. A records check in Gregg County shows most of those properties listed a P.O. Box in Judson, TX as their previous mailing address.
The parent company, Hahn Investments, LLC was formed in 1999 and lists Dante Hahn and Melissa Hahn as its directors. The local La Quinta in Sulphur Springs has retained it’s same staff during the bankruptcy announcement, and staff at the local property report that “everything is business as usual.”
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 10 PM Thursday, May 11, 2017
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued Thursday at 2:40 p.m. until 10 p.m. by the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center. Hopkins County is included in the watch area that includes North Central and Northeaster Texas.
IN TEXAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 21 COUNTIES
IN CENTRAL TEXAS
ANDERSON FALLS FREESTONE
HENDERSON HILL LEON
LIMESTONE MCLENNAN MILAM
ROBERTSON
IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
DELTA ELLIS FANNIN
HOPKINS HUNT KAUFMAN
LAMAR NAVARRO RAINS
ROCKWALL VAN ZANDT
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ATHENS, BONHAM, BUFFALO, CALVERT,
CAMERON, CANTON, CENTERVILLE, COMMERCE, COOPER, CORSICANA,
EAST TAWAKONI, EDGEWOOD, EMORY, ENNIS, FAIRFIELD, FORNEY,
FRANKLIN, GRAND SALINE, GREENVILLE, GROESBECK, GUN BARREL CITY,
HEARNE, HEATH, HILLSBORO, JEWETT, KAUFMAN, MARLIN, MEXIA,
MIDLOTHIAN, NORMANGEE, OAKWOOD, PALESTINE, PARIS, POINT,
ROCKDALE, ROCKWALL, SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEAGUE, TERRELL, VAN, WACO,
WAXAHACHIE, WILLS POINT, AND WORTHAM.
Mattison Named SSHS Class of 2017 Salutatorian
The Sulphur Springs High School salutatorian for the Class of 2017 is Tori Elizabeth Mattison. Tori is the daughter of Gene and Tammie Mattison. Tori is involved in band, theater, National Honor Society, student council, Health Science Technology Education, National Technical Honor Society, UIL Academic Ready Writing, Key Club, Leadership Class, work camp, children’s church and as a volunteer at CHRISTUS Mother Francis Hospital Sulphur Springs. Tori plans to attend the University of Texas at Austin and major in biology. She hopes to become an oncologist.
Tori says becoming salutatorian is a wonderful honor and she feels blessed. She received her first high school transcript as a freshman and it showed her ranked #2 in her class. Tori says it took lots of work, lots of late nights and all-nighters and lots of coffee to achieve salutatorian. She credits two older sisters who were wonderful role models and her parents for keeping her on task.
Tori’s mother Tammie Mattison says Tori is wonderful and she says she is blessed to have her as a daughter. Father Gene Mattison says God blesses people with opportunities and he says Tori has taken full advantage of the opportunities. He says he is also pleased that Tori plans to use the opportunity to help people and he adds that makes him very proud.
Burleson Named Class of 2017 SSHS Valedictorian
The Sulphur Springs High School valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2017 met with news media members Thursday morning.
The valedictorian is Lydia Michele Burleson. Her guardian is Eric Hill. Lydia is a Questbridge Scholar and she has won first place in state in UIL Academics in Ready Writing, Literary Criticism, in the Latino History Essay Contest and as a member of the Spelling and Vocabulary Team. She was also a BPA state qualifier. Lydia has been accepted at Yale. She plans to major in English with a goal of being an English professor and published author. Lydia says it ‘s very exciting being the valedictorian. She says she is proud of her accomplishments. Lydia adds it took a lot of hard work and dedication but she says you have to be willing to put in the work to achieve great things. As a freshman, Lydia received her first transcript and she discovered she was ranked #1 in her class. It made her realize she could become valedictorian.
Lydia admits a little senor-itis set in for her after she finished taking three Advanced Placement exams in five days. She credits high school English teacher Gail Herman with being very supportive. Lydia has been an integral part of Ms. Herman’s UIL Academic teams. Ms. Herman says she is proud of Lydia and she says she was a dream to work with. Ms. Herman calls Lydia a complete delight and one of the most outstanding students she’s ever worked with in her career. Guardian Eric Hill calls Lydia a wonderful girl. He says she has basically done this on her own and he adds her drive got her where she is today. Hill does give credit to Ms. Herman and other teachers at the high school.
Wildcats Area Game Moved to Frisco Thursday; At Eagle Stadium Friday
Wildcats baseball Area game has been moved to Frisco Wakeland Thursday night, 7:30 p.m.. The game was moved to Wakeland due to expected weather conditions. The Wildcats will host Wakeland at Eagle Stadium Friday night at 7:30. If a third game is needed, they play at Rockwall Heath Saturday.
After considering the chances of rain in Frisco and Sulphur Springs Thursday night, Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack has agreed to flip the area playoff schedule this week. Game three, if necessary remains at Rockwall-Heath Saturday at 1 p.m.
Coach Hammack said Wakeland is very good and will be the best team the Wildcats have faced this year. He is not sure they measure up to the eventual state champion Prosper team the Wildcats met in the playoffs two years ago. Coach Hammack said Wakeland has two good pitchers capable of throwing in the mid to upper 80’s. He said of pitchers the Wildcats have faced this year, perhaps only the Forney pitcher the Wildcats met in their opening game throws harder than the top two Wakeland pitchers.
Coach Hammack said Wakeland has guys throughout the lineup that can swing the bat. He said they also play solid defense. Coach Hammack said you don’t win 30 games in a season without doing everything well. Wakeland is highly ranked in state and they have only three losses this year.
Coach Hammack said his players are excited about meeting Frisco Wakeland. He added the Wildcats believe in themselves and each other. Coach Hammack said Wakeland would present a challenge but he said his team would be up for it and compete. He said there would be no fear of Wakeland but there would be a healthy respect.
Morris Sentenced in Revocation of Probation
James Morris had his two felony probations revoked Thursday in Eighth Judicial District Court. Morris probation was for Burglary of a Building and Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair. He was sentenced to five years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for tampering with evidence and six month state jail time for burglary of a building.
James Morris
In January of this year, Hopkins County Deputy Todd Evans noted a defective license plate on the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe Morris was driving on County Road 3528 at FM 67, he initiated a traffic stop. Morris was wanted on a warrant for burglary of a building, a case that was under investigation by the Sheriff’s office following Morris arrest for arson on Thursday, December 22, 2016.
As Evans initiated the stop, Morris turned onto the county road and a black article came out the window of the Tahoe. Morris denied the article was his. Evans arrested Morris on the warrant and retrieved the black article, a sunglasses case that contained several glass pipes busted and items.
