Chamber Connection March 30, 2017
It’s time for the 28th Annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament on Friday, April 14th at the Sulphur Springs Country Club!! We are currently accepting teams for morning tee times. The teams are first come, first served, so make sure and make your reservation today! Please see our website for more information… www.HopkinsChamber.org, or call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515.
The Largest Exhibitor Expo for Hopkins County is Returning on Saturday, April 1st
The 2nd Annual Home & Outdoor Expo will be held on Saturday, April 1st from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. The Home & Outdoor Expo is presented by The Way Radio Group and Jay Hodge Chevrolet. Vendors and guests are welcomed.
Shannon Oaks Church is holding a screening of A Heart That Forgives on Saturday, April 1st
A Heart That Forgives is being shown at Shannon Oaks Church, 1113 Shannon Oaks in Sulphur Springs, on Saturday, April 1st. The doors will open at 5:15 p.m., and the movie begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15. The movie is directed by M. Legend Brown. For more information, email [email protected].
Tanner Higgins Warrior Run is Scheduled for Saturday, April 8
The 5th Annual Tanner Higgins Warrior Run is scheduled for Saturday, April 8, at Cooper Lake State Park. There will be a 5 Mile Warrior Run and a One Mile Grunt Run. The entry fee is $40 from March 27th through April 7th. The fee will increase to $50 on the day of the race for the Warrior Run, and $25 for the Grunt Run. For additional information, please visit www.tannerstonehiggins.com.
| Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is offering Parenting Connections Classes
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is offering “Parenting Connections”, a 4-lesson series on Child Growth & Development, Parent-Child Communication, Positive Discipline, and Developing Your Child’s Self-Esteem. The series (2 lessons per session) will be held on Thursday, March 23 and Thursday, March 30, 6:00 p.m., at the Hopkins County Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston, Sulphur Springs. Please call 903-885-3443 to enroll. FBC will host at 55+ Health Fair on Tuesday, April 4th at the ROC from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs is hosting a 55+ Health Fair on Tuesday, April 4th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Roc, 115 Putman Street in Sulphur Springs. The 55+ Health Fair will have free health screenings and including cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose, body composition, and blood oxygen. They will also have information about pre-need counseling, home health, medical equipment, chiropractic, and pharmacy information as well as deaf and hard of hearing equipment demonstrations. Door prizes will be given away at 12:00 noon. For more information please call Fred Lewis at (903) 885-0646. Cross County Cowboy Church hosts Scroggins Family Benefit on Saturday, April 8th Cross Country Cowboy Church, located at 1515 TX Hwy 19 in Sulphur Springs, will host a benefit for the Scroggins Family. Jason Scroggins was first diagnosed with brain cancer on January 18, 2013. He beat that battle but has been diagnosed again. The benefit for this family will include stew and chili by donation only starting at 4 p.m., silent auction starting at 3:00 p.m., live auction starting at 5:30 p.m., and horseshoes with a sign up at noon. To make donations, please contact Angela at (214) 755-0994, Tori at (903) 440-2588, or Richard at (469) 644-2425. WIC is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Thursday, April 13th WIC is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for kids ages one to five on Thursday, April 13th at 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend, but please bring you own basket for egg gathering. WIC is located at 421 Industrial Dr. East #209 (parking lot of VF Outlet Mall) in Sulphur Springs. Please call (903) 885-2813 for more information. |
Wesley United Methodist Church will host Free AARP Tax Aid on Saturdays until April 18th
Wesley United Methodist Church will host free AARP Tax Aide starting this Saturday, February 4th, from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. They will complete your taxes for free every Saturday and Tuesday until April 18th. Each tax preparation day will last from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wesley United Methodist Church is located at 614 Texas Street in Sulphur Springs.
Hunt County Regional is offering March Mobile Mammography Coach in Sulphur Springs
Hunt County Regional Hospital is offering the Tubby Adkisson Memorial Mobile Mammography Coach on April 20th in the Spring Village Shopping Center in Sulphur Springs. All insurances accepted at Hunt Regional are also accepted for the Mobile Mammography Coach, including Medicare and Medicaid. They can also help with payment resources for uninsured/income-eligible women or those who choose to pay cash. For help with payment resources please call The Bridge Breast Network at (214) 821-3820 x 21.To schedule individual screening mammograms, please call (903) 408-5010. Appointments and pre-registration are requested.
Dentistry from the Heart is scheduled for April 20th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Dentistry from the Heart is scheduled for Thursday, April 20th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Davis Street Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs. This is an opportunity for free dental care for all ages. There is limited availability, and dental care will be provided on a first come, first serve basis.
It’s Time for the Hopkins County Rodeo on Friday, April 21st and Saturday, April 22nd
The Hopkins County Rodeo Committee is presenting their UPRA Membership Rodeo on April 21st and 22nd at the Hopkins County Indoor Civic Center Arena. Tickets are available at Circle E Western Store and are $10 for pre-sale tickets. Tickets are also available at the door. Children’s admission is $8, Friday night tickets are $10, Saturday night tickets are $12 and include admission to the dance featuring Monty Tipps. Make sure you put this one on your calendar. It is a wonderful event!
Workforce Solutions is hosting a Career & Community Resource Expo on April 25th
Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting a Career & Community Resources Expo at the Hopkins County Civic Center on Tuesday, April 25th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are accepting vendors on a first come first served basis with a deadline for vendors of April 10th. Exhibitor space is limited. For additional information, please call Workforce Solutions at (903) 885-7556 x 414.
Ribbon Cuttings:
Marlene’s Sass & Class hosted a Grand Opening in her new location on Wednesday, March 22nd
Marlene’s Sass & Class has moved to 212 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. She held a ribbon cutting and grand opening of her new clothes and accessories boutique on Wednesday, March 22nd. Her hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Lezley Brown
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
Bus Passengers Arrested for Money Laundering
When the Greyhound bus stopped at Pilot on State Highway 19 and I-30, plain clothes deputies with the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office boarded the bus. They made contact with Cesar Alejandro Amaya, 25, of Dallas and Albert Amaya, Jr., 29, of Red Oak. One was wanted on a drug warrant and the other was arrested with a large sum of money. Both were charged with Money Laundering.
Cesar Amaya
Hopkins County Dispatch notified the deputies that Cesar Amaya was wanted on a Violation of Probation warrant. During the arrest permission was given to search the baggage of both individuals. In the bags was located a large sum of U S currency packaged in the same manner that narcotics traffickers package money.
Albert Amaya, Jr.
At Hopkins County Jail a K-9 conducted an open air search and alerted on the currency. Both are in Hopkins County Jail charged with Money Laundering more than $2,500 but less than $30,000. Bond for each is $20,000.
District Preview for Wildcat, Lady Cat Golf
Wildcats Golf
Perhaps it was just one of those days for members of the Wildcats’ golf team as they played a preview tournament Tuesday at the Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club, site of next Monday and Tuesday’s district golf tournament. Wildcats Golf Coach Chris Owens says his team shot a 325 and he says he was a little disappointed with that. He hopes the score will serve as a wake up call for his golfers. Coach Owens says no one played terribly but he says everyone was a little off, scoring 5 or 6 strokes more than usual. He hopes for lots of improvement next Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday the Wildcats were led by Caleb Lewis with a 79. Alex Motes shot 80. Carter Lewis carded an 82. Andrew Escobar shot 84. Matt Calhoun had an 85 and Cameron Morris shot 87.
Lady Cats Golf
Three members of the Lady Cats’ golf team were able to participate in a district preview tournament Tuesday at Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club. The Rockwall course will host the district tournament next Monday and Tuesday. The Lady Cats lost one team member due to injury and a second player could not play Tuesday because of testing. It was a rough day for the three who did play according to Lady Cats Golf Coach Whitney Spigener. She said the course is a tough one and players also had to battle sprinkles and wind. Coach Spigener said Morgan Landers was 17 over through four holes and shot a 105. Coach Spigener said Landers was optimistic that she can improve on that a lot next week. Alissa Sotelo shot a 117 and Emma Lane had a 133. Coach Spigener is hoping some of her players can break through to the regional tournament as individuals at the district tournament. She said Texas High, Pine Tree and Hallsville are expected to be strong at the district tournament next week.
Community Calendar March 30-April 8, 2017
A & M Commerce Receives Grant To Support BS in Criminal Justice
COMMERCE, TX—Drs. Martha Hurley and David Hurley received a grant from the College for All Texans Foundation (CFAT) as part of their Texas Affordable Baccalaureate Grant Program. The award in the amount of $170,000 was matched by Texas A&M University-Commerce for a total of $340,000 for the two-year program.
This grant will support the development of the Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice as a hybrid competency-based online program for certified first responders, military personnel, and adult learners with criminal justice employment experience beginning in the fall of 2018.
“The degree is designed to merge knowledge gained through criminal justice employment experience with the best of what higher education in the state of Texas provides to include the development of enhanced critical thinking skills, knowledge of evidence-based approaches to justice, and the use of advanced assessment protocols to improve decision-making on the ground by criminal justice professionals,” said Dr. Martha Hurley.
The original award was part of that awarded to A&M-Commerce along with three other schools by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board earlier this month.
PJC Makes Changes to Nursing Program; LVN, ADN Applications Being Accepted
After a site visit and review by nursing consultants, Paris Junior College is making several changes to the Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) and Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) programs.
“Last month we had consultants review the nursing programs and we’re beginning the implementation of some of the recommendations now,” said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “It’s important that we move quickly on that. The first big change is moving our start date for the ADN program from a summer to a fall start.”
The vocational nursing program will accept late applications for the LVN program that starts with the Summer I semester on June 5. Applications may be obtained now through April 7 by calling 903-782-0734, and appointments to submit applications scheduled April 17-20 with the Director of Nursing.
Additional review by the consultants also means that students who were not initially admitted to the program earlier this year should check again to see if they now meet admission criteria.
Applications for the ADN program may be picked up through May 15 at the Health Occupations Office in the Bobby R. Walters Workforce Training Center.
A fall start allows ADN students to access financial aid that is not available until July. Also, students completing the LVN program will have time to take their licensure tests, as well as a break, before advancing to the more rigorous ADN program. That program will now finish up the following August and not as many nursing programs in Texas end during that month, so it scheduling RN licensing tests should be easier for students.
“We’re very proud of our program,” said Director of Nursing Stephanie Parker. “Both our LVN and ADN students experience hands-on clinicals two days a week at hospitals in Paris, Greenville and Sulphur Springs. They have instructors at the patient’s bedside helping them. Few programs in the state offer this much time with patients, and our students emerge from the program well-prepared to get to work.”
Bears Top Lions Tuesday
The Sulphur Bluff Bears topped the Saltillo Lions, 16-6 in Saltillo Tuesday. The Bears had an 8 runs first inning. They added 1 in the second, 2 in the fourth and 5 more in the fifth. Saltillo rallied with six runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 16-6 final.
Jaden Goldsmith got the pitching win for Sulphur Bluff. For the Bears on offense, Brennon Seymore was hit by a pitch 3 times and he walked once and had an RBI. Ky Rochelle was hit by a pitch, had a walk and an RBI. Goldsmith was 2 for 3 with a walk. Joe Forshee walked three times and had an RBI. Jacob Watts was 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. Trayton South was 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI’s. Hunter Wallis was 1 for 4 with 3 RBI’s. Ryan Vance was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Dylan Flowers was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Ricky Hatfield was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Eight Indicted for Injury to a Child With Intent Bodily Injury; March Grand Jury Indictments
Injury Child/Elderly/Disable With Intent Bodily Injury led the list of indictments handed down by a Hopkins County Grand Jury Tuesday afternoon, March 29, 2017. A total of 39 indictments for various charges were handed down. Eight of the 39 were for Injury to a Child. Not all individuals indicted have been arrested. Those names are not published here.
Indicted for Injury to a Child with Intent Bodily Injury were:
Laci Marie Reichel, 28 of Sulphur Springs. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to a disturbance involving a juvenile in the 100 block of Sandy Hill Road. There the investigating deputy found a juvenile with visible marks on the back of his neck. The deputy was directed across the road to the neighbor’s house where contact was made with the alleged suspect. During the interview with the suspect, the deputy noted a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emitting from the body of the suspect as the suspect admitted grabbing the juvenile from the back and pulling him toward her during the altercation. During the arrest of the suspect, the deputy noted a strong smell of marijuana on the suspect. The suspect’s children were also transported to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and CPS was notified.
Kimberly Lynn Finch (two counts) and Douglas Wayne Gaffney (two counts). 
Finch, 36, and Gaffney, 51, who live on County Road 3502 in Hopkins County were arrested by the Special Crimes Unit on warrants for two charges each for Injury Child with Intend. The couple is charged with injury to a child exposing them to drugs being used in the home.
Destiny Michelle Parker and John Ocie Peck.
The Special Crimes Unit assisted Child Protective Services in the arrest of Parker, 25, and Peck, 39, both of Yantis. The pair was arrested following the birth of a child that tested positive for methamphetamine. The child was removed by CPS at birth for the safety of the child. The Special Crimes Unit and CPS had presented evidence to the District Attorney’s office, which granted felony warrants. Both Parker and Peck signed acknowledgements stating they did in fact use meth.
Courtney Leigh Plunkett. Special Crimes Unit investigators assisted CPS agents with an investigation involving Plunkett, 24 of Sulphur Springs and her 8-month old child that tested positive for methamphetamine. The child’s meth levels tested higher than Plunkett’s. Plunkett was arrested at at her residence on CR 2316.
Indicted for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon was Kellen Warren Tramel.
Russel Kline Frazar was Indicted for Assault Family/House Member Impede Breath/Circulation . Sulphur Springs Police responded to a welfare concern on Atkins Street. There the officer made contact with a female who said her husband assaulted her. Injuries were evident to the officer. While interviewing the victim, her husband returned while Sgt. Matt Glenn was speaking with victim and he was agitated. Fearing another assault could occur if the parties were not separated, Frazar, 25, was arrested and charged with Assault Family Violence Impeding Breathing/ Circulation.
Indicted for Deadly Conduct Discharge Firearm was Jeremy Blake Mosley. He was also indicted for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Gunshots fired in the vicinity of Douglas Intermediate School resulted in a soft lockdown of the school and Sulphur Springs Police and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies seeking the individual who fired the weapon. Police responded to a call that identified the individual as a male “…wearing a white T-shirt and black beanie running down Putman Street.” SSPD Sgt. Matt Glenn found the man on Jennings Street. In his possession were ammunition and a magazine to a firearm. The handgun was later found lying on the ground in close proximity to where the man was detained. A witness told Sgt. Glenn that the man had discharged several rounds in the direction of houses as well as people. Mosely, 31, a homeless man in Sulphur Springs was arrested for Deadly Conduct and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
Christopher Huddleston was indicted for Evading Arrest Detention with Previous Conviction. Sulphur Springs Police responded to a call in reference to a theft at the Dollar General store on South Broadway Thursday. There they found Huddleston, 38 of Sulphur Springs in possession of the stolen property. As officers sought to make the arrest, he ran from officers. They quickly caught him. Huddleston is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Evading Arrest Detention with Previous Conviction and his being held for Violation of Parole. He is held on a $10,000 fine for evading arrest and without bail on the state parole violation. Almost a month to the day, Huddleston had attempted to evade arrest. While on patrol, a Sulphur Springs Police officer noted a man running across the street. He was running from the manager of a convenience store located on League Street. The store manager was stating he had just been robbed. The officer exited his vehicle and gave chase. The man evaded officers called to the scene but was soon found sitting near the railroad track drinking a Coors Beer that he had taken from the store. What was at first described to officers as an armed robbery turned out to be shoplifting. However, a records check on the man showed a prior conviction for evading arrest. That bumped everything up to a State Jail Felony.
Robert Earl Hawkins, Jr. was indicted for Evading Arrest Detention with Vehicle With Previous Conviction. Hawkins, 32, of Sulphur Springs is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Evading Arrest Detention with Vehicle with Previous Conviction. Sulphur Springs Police received a call from a complainant who said a maroon pickup was following the complainant. Officers attempted to catch up with the pickup after they activated emergency lights. Hawkins fled the scene and failed to yield to an emergency vehicle while traveling at a high rate of speed. The pickup wrecked out, according to police, in the 100 block of MLK Blvd.
Tara Diann Slough was indicted for Hinder Apprehension or Prosecution of a Known Felon. In a pickup pulling a trailer with John Samuel Maxwell, 35 of Paris, was Slough, 40 of Mt Vernon, and a juvenile. As the Hopkins County Deputy stopped the vehicle, Maxwell exited and began working with the trailer. The Deputy made him get back in the truck, which he did for a brief time. Maxwell fled on foot and that resulted in an almost 24-hour hunt for him However, Slough was also questioned by a deputy. The name she gave the deputy was not her own name. She had been involved with Maxwell in evading arrest in other instances prior to Tuesday, February 7th. She is charged with Hinder Apprehension or Prosecution Known Felon. Slough and Maxwell had been married and has had an on-again, off-again relationship with him. She moved from Paris to Mt Vernon so that she could regain custody of her child. The child is now in custody of Child Protective Services.
Charles Hershel Compton was indicted for Money Laundering more than $2,00 but less than $30,000. Cumby Police stopped a 2017 Lexus RX330 for doing 88 mph in a 75 mph zone at the 110 mile marker on I-30. After a roadside investigation, a positive alert was made on the vehicle using a K-9. A probable cause search resulted in two weapons and $12,300 in cash found in the vehicle and $1700 carried by the driver.
Indicted for Theft of Property more than $2,500 but less than $30,000 was Deven Lee Brown.
Juanita Bolyer Bell was indicted for Theft of Property more than $2,5000, two or more Previous Convictions. After she passed all points of sale with $50 in property not paid for, Bell, 55, of Winnsboro was detained by the retailer’s store security. For her, she has been convicted of at least two other thefts of property charges.
Indicted individually for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More were Ronald Wayne McCoy and James Arthur Baxley.
Joshua Aaron Blaylock was indicted for Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair. Constant requests by a Hopkins County Deputy resulted in Blaylock, 24, of Sulphur Springs eventually giving up what he had in his hand and had attempted to conceal from the officer. Blaylock was stopped by the deputy at the corner of Craig and Camp Streets. There the deputy observed him attempting to hide something in his hand. He also attempted to place the concealed matter in a Styrofoam cup. Finally he complied. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine.
Kaitlynn Marie Hurst was indicted for Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair and indicted for Possession Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram. Hurst, 19 of Garland, was a passenger in a 2000 F-150 pickup stopped for a traffic violation by a Hopkins County deputy. During the stop the deputy noted a syringe in plain view on the seat under Hurst. The deputy asked Hurst to exit the vehicle. When she did, he noted two syringes in the seat. That wouldn’t be all the deputy would observe. Hurst was placed in the patrol unit for arrest. At the jail, the deputy noted a crystal like substance scattered on the back seat of his unit. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine. In reviewing the video taken from the patrol unit, the deputy noted Hurst fidgeting and trying to retrieve an object from her person. During questioning, Hurst admitted to having loose meth in her pocket and trying to shake it out but did not realize that it would be clearly evident in the backseat.
Individually indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram were:
Michael Wayne Roberts, 66, of Winnsboro was in the Dollar General on Main Street when someone thought him a suspicious person. The sheriff’s deputy arrived and located Roberts at the rear of his vehicle. A pat down search led to the discovery of an eyeglass container that contained a syringe and a clear plastic baggie with a white crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine.- Brady James Weaver
Rangers Opening Day Ticket Giveaway
Want a pair of tickets to the Texas Rangers Opening Day Game on April 3rd, 2017?
Like this post, and like KSST on Facebook to enter.
Listen to Afternoon Drive 4 – 6 PM Wednesday March 29th, 2017 to hear the winners.
KSST is proud to bring you Ranger Baseball all season long.
Passes can be picked up at the KSST Studios during business hours.
