Overturned Vehicle Snarls Traffic On I-30
August 9, 2023 – A vehicle headed westbound on Interstate 30 left the roadway and overturned in the center median close to the 120 mile marker Wednesday morning. Emergency crews diverted westbound interstate traffic onto the service road near the Coleman park exit as they cleaned up the accident.
Sulphur Springs Man Arrested for Failure to Register
August 9, 2023 – A Sulphur Springs man was arrested this week after forgetting to update his Sex Offender Registration information.
GARRETT MATTHEW BURSBY who also goes by the name GARRETT MAHEW BURSBY, was registered to a Como Tx address. An anonymous tip was received by Law Enforcement, and a Hopkins County Sheriff Deputy followed up on that information.
Bursby was located in Sulphur Springs at his girlfriend’s residence. He was given a courtesy ride to the Hopkins County Jail. During an interview he admitted to failing to update his residence, and his current place of employment. Bursby also had two outstanding Sulphur Springs warrants. He is charged with:
1 62.102(B)(2) FAIL TO COMPLY SEX OFF DUTY TO REG LIFE/ANNUAL
1 62.102(B)(2) FAIL TO COMPLY SEX OFF DUTY TO REG LIFE/ANNUAL
22-5665 1 FTMFR
23-0491 1 3656 EXPIRED REGISTRATION
This is not the first time Bursby has been in jail for failing to register.
In May of 2019 Bursby was arrested for failure to register as a sex offender. At that time he was suspected to be on a public school campus without checking in. See that story here. He was indicted by a Hopkins County Grand Jury on those charges.
In October of 2017, he was arrested and charged with failure to register. See that story here.
According to public records, Bursby’s requirement to register as a Sex Offender was a result of a conviction on 3 counts of INDECENCY WITH A CHILD BY CONTACT. The male and female victims ranged from 8 to 16 years old. His requirement to register could end in 2024.
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.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report 07-31-2023 – 08-06-2023
Arrests:
Bentley, Amber, 46 years of age, of Winchester TN. was arrested on 8-6-2023 for Assault Family Violence Causing Bodily Injury.
Delacruz, Jesse, 44 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 8-6-2023 for Terroristic Threat, Continuous Violence against Family, Assault Causing Bodily Injury and 16 Winnsboro Municipal Court Warrants.
Richards, Kayla, 33 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 8-4-2023 for Public Intoxication.
Lison, Jonathan, 36 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 8-4-2023 for Possession Controlled Substance PG1/1-B>=1G<4G.
Jones, Elizabeth, 63 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 8-3-2023 on 10 Winnsboro Municipal Court Warrants.
Jones, Vincent, 22 years of age, of Tyler, was arrested on 8-1-2023 on a WCSO warrant.
Calls for Service:
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 141 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations:
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 34 citations and 42 warnings during this reporting period.
Hopkins County Chamber Connection August 8th
New Intern at Chamber
The Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome home a native son who has a distinguished and decorated military career for more than three decades. We welcome Joel Newsom to the team here at the Chamber, where he will serve as an intern for the next three plus months. A native of Hopkins County, Joel graduated from Como-Pickton High School in 1990 and joined the US Army. After serving as an infantry officer in locations across the country and around the globe, Joel is now a colonel and will soon retire after 33 years of service to our nation.
Joel and his wife Amy are excited to return to their hometown along with four of their seven children. Amy is a family nurse practitioner who is providing primary care, holistic health, and aesthetic healthcare at Pierce MD and Elan Med Spa. Their daughter Madilyn is a nurse in the Emergency Room at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs; their son Joel is a senior at Como-Pickton High School; and Abigail and Jed are in the 6th and 3rd grades respectively. Their son Jackson and his wife Madison are located in Port Arthur, Texas, where Jackson serves as an ensign in the Coast Guard, while their daughter Hannah is a senior at the US Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point, NY. Joel and Amy are grateful to be back in Hopkins County and look forward to plugging into this amazing community. We are excited to have them back home, where we know they will enrich our city and county.
Lunch and Learn
The Eclipse is coming, and so are the visitors. If you have an extra space to rent out to visitors the weekend before the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, you will want to sign up for our Lunch and Learn this month. The Chamber is sponsoring a Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, Aug. 16, to explain how to get your property ready for a possible rental. AirBnB entrepreneur Callie Bradshaw will be on hand
to help explain the process of putting rental property on the website. We will also discuss insurance and other peripheral information. The Lunch and Learn will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at a venue to be determined by the number of participants. Cost is $20 for Chamber members and $25 for non members.
Call us at 903-885-6515 or email at [email protected] to sign up by noon on Thursday Aug. 10.
Eclipse Information
When April 8, 2024 rolls around, get ready! Almost weekly, we are messaged, called or visited by people who will be coming to Hopkins County for the total solar eclipse on that date. They are coming from around the country and literally around the world. Our latest message was from Karen Ridgway in the United Kingdom, who said she was coming to Sulphur Springs for the eclipse. “Can’t wait!” she wrote.
If you and your business aren’t already thinking about what to do when literally tens of thousands of visitors will be here for that weekend leading up to the Monday eclipse, now is the time to start!
Eclipse Weekend Market
The Chamber is making plans for a weekend market and is looking for sponsors to help us bring a concert to town for the Sunday evening before the eclipse. But, there are plenty of options and opportunities available for all businesses. If you have an idea or an event, please contact us at the Chamber and we will help promote it on the website TotalEclipseSSTX.com. It’s not only time to start planning, it’s time to start getting things ready for our visitors.
Stewing It up
If you are a returning stew cook or a new cook who wants to get in on the biggest annual event in Hopkins County, it’s time to start registering. Registration for stew cooks is now available online at HopkinsChamber.org. The cost remains the same for our cooks — $100 registration fee. You can also pre-order this year’s T-shirt with Stew Cook on the back for just $20 each. If you are a returning stew cook, check your email account for a form sent from us, and if you don’t do email, then you should have received a registration form in the mail. The 54th Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, presented by Alliance Bank, has been able to keep its costs down because of our generous businesses in the community, and the cost just got even cheaper for some families.
Signature Solar and the Chamber announced earlier that children 12 and under will eat free at the festival on Saturday, Oct. 28, due to Signature Solar’s generous sponsorship. Children will still need tickets, which can be obtained either online or via paper tickets. Online tickets, which are $8 each for everyone 13 years and older, are available at HopkinsChamber.org. Paper tickets will be available in early August at the Chamber and local banks. City National Bank will be sponsoring the Friday night festivities, Oct. 27, and we will be announcing that line-up soon. Thanks to all of our sponsors who make the stew festival affordable for families in Hopkins County. Follow the Chamber’s Instagram and Facebook accounts for spotlights on our sponsors and updates on the stew festival.
Hopkins County Law Enforcement
The Hopkins County Law Enforcement Association will have a Golf Tournament fundraiser at the Sulphur Springs Country Club on Aug. 21. The four-person teams will tee off at 10 a.m. For sponsor or player information, call Michael Russell at 903-438-4040 or email [email protected].
The DIY Wedding Expo is coming back to the Civic Center from noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 23. For
more information on sponsorships or vendor spaces, contact Tracey Treadway at 214-683-7669
or [email protected].
Ribbon Cutting
Goodwill Industries, 1320 Shannon Road, hosted a grand reopening after making improvements
to its facility at noon on Friday, Aug. 4. Please drop by to see their improvements and to shop.
2023 Back-To-School Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend Aug 11-13
Sales Tax Waived On Qualifying School Supplies, Clothes, Shoes and Student Backpacks Priced Under $100 This Weekend in Texas
If you’re planning to buy school clothes or supplies, waiting until this weekend to do so could prove monetarily advantageous as this weekend is the annual sales tax holiday in Texas.
State law exempts sales tax on qualified items — such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks — priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The Comptroller’s office estimates that shoppers will save $112 million in state and local sales tax during this sales tax holiday. This year’s sales tax holiday begins Friday, Aug. 11, and goes through midnight Sunday, Aug. 13.
“With inflation driving prices higher on just about everything, this sales tax holiday provides Texas families some small relief managing the costs associated with kids heading back to the classroom. As the father of three school-aged children myself, I know how these expenses can add up,” Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said of the upcoming sales tax holiday.
First enacted in 1999, the back-to-school sales tax holiday allows Texas shoppers (any shopper making a qualifying purchase in Texas) to save money during one weekend by waiving sales tax on qualifying school supplies, clothes, shoes and student backpacks priced under $100. The dates of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.
So what items under $100 are tax free during the holiday? Most footwear and clothing sold for less than $100. The exemption applies to each eligible item sold for less than $100, and there is no limit to the number of qualifying items that may be bought at one time.
For example, if you buy two shirts for $80 each, each shirt qualifies for the exemption because each is less than $100, even though the total purchase price is $160.
Cloth and disposable fabric face masks meet the definition of an article of clothing and are exempt from sales tax during the upcoming Sales Tax Holiday. However, industrial or medical grade masks (N95 or other masks designed as personal protective equipment) or other similar personal protection equipment are not exempt during the sales tax holiday. If a cloth or disposable fabric face mask is sold with a filter, the mask is exempt during the holiday; however, replacement filters are taxable.
More information can be obtained by visiting the Texas Comptroller’s Website.
Additional clothing items priced under $100 that qualify for the tax exemption include:
- Household aprons
- Baby Bibs
- Baby Clothes
- Belts with attached Buckles
- Blouses and Shirts: Hooded Shirts and Sweatshirts, Jerseys (baseball, football, etc.), Bowling Shirts, Sweaters
- Boots: General Purpose, Cowboy and Hiking
- Bow Ties, Neckwear, Ties, Scarfs, Shawls, Wraps
- Camp Clothes
- Caps (baseball, fishing, golf, knitted)
- Chef Uniforms
- Children’s Novelty Costumes
- Clerical Vestments
- Coats and Wraps
- Coveralls
- Diapers (adult and baby/cloth and disposable,)
- Dresses and Skirts (including golf dresses and tennis skirts)
- Cold Weather Earmuffs
- Gloves (general, dress, leather)
- Jackets, Windbreakers, Coats, Wraps,
- Graduation caps and gowns
- Gym Suits and Uniforms, Workout clothes
- Hats (including knitted)
- Hooded shirts and sweatshirts
- Hosiery (including support hosiery) and Panty Hose
- Hunting Vests
- Jeans, Pants and Shorts: Jogging Pants and Apparel, Painter Pants, Slacks, Tennis Shorts, Trousers
- Leg Warmers
- Masks: costume, cloth and disposable fabric face masks
- Nightgowns, Nightshirts, Pajamas, Sleepwear
- Raincoats, Ponchos and Rain Hats
- Religious Clothes, Clerical Vestments
- Robes
- Scout Uniforms
- Suits, Slacks, jackets
- Shoes: General, Boat shoes, dress shoes, jellies, running shoes without cleats, safety shoes suitable for everyday wear, sandals, slippers, sneakers and tennis shoes, walking shoes, cross trainers, flip-flogs (rubber thongs),
- Socks: athletic, soccer
- Suspenders
- Under Garments: Bras, Slips, Tights, Underpants, Underclothes, Undershirts, Leotards, Tights
- Uniforms: School, Work, Nurse, Waitress, Military, Postal, Police, Fire, work clothes and uniforms (unless rented)
- Vests: General, Non-Flotation Fishing, Hunting
Clothing items that do not qualify for the tax exemption include clothing subscription boxes; specially-designed athletic activity or protective-use clothing or footwear, clothing or footwear rentals; alterations (including embroidery) and cleaning services; and items used to make or repair clothing, such as fabric, thread, yarn, buttons, snaps, hooks and zippers.
Among the clothing, footwear and other wearable items specifically listed because they DO NOT qualify for the tax exemption are:
- Bathing Caps
- Baseball, Sports and Athletic Accessories Accessories and Gear: Cleats, Padding and Pads (knee, elbow, football, shoulder, hockey, soccer), Gloves, Pants, Swim Fins, Football Pants, Sports Helmets (including bike and motorcycle), Golf Purses, Shin Guards
- Belt Buckles, Belts For Weight Lifting
- Cloth, Lace, Knitting Yarn, Fabrics, Zippers, Snaps, Hooks, Buttons, Thread, Iron-On Patches, Patterns, Embroidery, Tapes, Shoulder Pads (for dresses, jackets, etc.) or other items used to make or repair clothing.
- Corsages, Boutonnieres
- Dry Cleaning Services
- Ear Muffs: Noise Cancellation or Noise Cancelling
- Gloves: baseball, batting, bicycle, garden, golf, hockey, rubber, surgical, tennis, work
- Hair Accessories: Barrettes, Bobby Pins, Elastic Ponytail Holders, Hair Bows, Hair Clips, Headbands, Head Nets, Ribbons,
- Handkerchiefs, Pocket Squares
- Ice Skates, Roller Skates, Roller Blades
- Life Jackets and Vests, Personal Flotation Devices, Wet and Dry Suits
- Masks: N95, Welder, Umpire, Swim or Other similar Personal Protective Equipment, Swimming Masks and Goggles,
- Monogramming Services
- Personal Protective Equipment and Safety Accessories: Chest Protectors, Goggles, Hard Hats, Paint or Dust Respirators and Incidental Supplies, Gloves, Safety Clothing (worn in hazardous occupations), Safety Glasses, Safety Shoes (not adaptable for street wear), bulletproof vests,
- Rented Clothing (including uniforms, formal wear, costumes)
- Repair of Clothing or Footwear, including shoe shines
- Shoes and Boots: Ballet, Baseball Cleats, Cleated Bicycle Shoes, Cleated or Spiked, Climbing Boots, Rubber Work Boots, Ski Boots, Fishing Boots and Waders, Bowling Shoes (rented or sold), Golf Shoes, Overshoes and Galoshes, Football Shoes, Golf Shoes, Jazz and Dance Shoes, Tap/Dance Shoes, Track Cleats,
- Shoe Accessories or Repairs: Insoles, Inserts, Shoelace
- Sunglasses (except prescription)
- Umbrellas
- Vests: Bulletproof, Flotation, Scuba, Water-ski
- Watches, Watch Bands, Wallets, Purses,
- Wristbands
Similarly, student backpacks sold for less than $100 each are tax exempt, but that does not extend to luggage. Backpacks with wheels and messenger bags are included among the exempt items, in fact, up to 10 backpacks can be purchased tax free at one time during the sales tax-free weekend (without providing a completed exemption certificate). The tax statute specifically lists among the items that do not qualify for tax exemption this weekend: framed backpacks, luggage, briefcases, athletic bags, gym bags, duffle bags, computer bags, purses.
Also on the list of items people will be required to pay tax on regardless of the ticket price this weekend are jewelry, handbags, purses, briefcases, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, other accessories.
Among the school supplies that ARE on the tax-exempt list include:
- Binders
- Blackboard chalk
- Book bags
- Calculators
- Cellophane tape
- Compasses
- Composition books
- Crayons
- Erasers
- Folders – expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
- Glue, paste and paste sticks
- Highlighters
- Index cards
- Index card boxes
- Kits ** (For kits of school supplies that contain exempt items, as well as taxable ones, the taxability depends on the value of exempt or taxable items in it. There is no limit on the quantity of school supplies in a kit, but if the value of the exempt items is more than the taxable ones, the kit is exempt. If the value of the taxable items is more than the exempt ones, then the kit is taxable).
- Legal pads
- Lunch boxes
- Markers (including dry erase markers)
- Notebooks
- Paper – loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
- Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
- Pencil sharpeners
- Pencils
- Pens
- Protractors
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Writing tablets
Supplies that are NOT exempt this weekend include:
- computers
- software
- textbooks.
Grand Jury Indictments for August 2023
Links are provided if details of the arrests are available.
ARDON,MANUEL ANTONIO – MONEY LAUNDERING >=52,500<$30K
BAILEY,ERIC ANDERSON – POSS CS PG1/1B <1G DFZ IAT 481.115
GREAVES, FAITH EMILY – POSS CS PG1/1B <1G DFZ IAT 481.115
BOYKIN, TIFFANY DAWN – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
HARDMON,CHRISTOPHER RAY – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
BRITTON,BRADLEY KEITH – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G
MCPHERSON, NESSICA RACHELE – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G
MCPHERSON, NESSICA RACHELE – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
DUVALL, EUGENE PERCELL II – MAN DEL CS PG 1-B >=4G<200G DFZ
GARLAND, DARIUS ANDIAN – UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON
GARLAND,DARIUS ANDIAN – TAMPER/FABRICATE PHYS EVID W/INTENT TO IMPAIR
GARZA, ALEXANDER – UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON
GARZA, ALEXANDER – POSS CS PG1/1B <1G DFZ IAT 481.115
HARVELL, JHERICO LASHEA – POSS CS PG1/1B 1G DFZ IAT 481.115
HARVELL, JHERICO LASHEA – THEFT OF FIREARM
GREAVES,CHRISTOPHER GRADY – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=1G<4G
HARP,HEATH JUSTIN – UNAUTH USE OF VEHICLE
HERNANDEZ-JINEZ,RAMIRO – TAMPER/FABRICATE PHYS EVID W/INTENT TO IMPAIR
HERNANDEZ-JINEZ,RAMIRO – PROH SUBSTANCE/ITEM iN CORR/CIV COM FACILITY
HERNANDEZ,CASHIUS ANTONIO – TAMPER/FABRICATE PHYS EVID W/INTENT TO IMPAIR
HERNANDEZ,CASHIUS ANTONIO – MAN/DEL CS CAUSE DEATH OR SBI IAT
INFANTE, ROBERT RAY – SEX ABUSE OF CHILD CONTINUOUS: VICTIM UNDER 14
LANG,RICHARD LEE – POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G 200G
LIBIGS,ALYSSA MARIE – POSS CSPG2>=1G<4G
SELF, HEATHER LASHAY – FORGERY GOVT/NATIONAL INST/MONEY/SECURITY
Clarksville Woman Arrested For Theft
August 8, 2023 – A 47 year-old Clarksville, TX woman was arrested and charged with felony theft at a south Broadway retailer this week.
Kristal Dawn McMahon, aka Kristal Shourd aka Kristal Asbridge was previously convicted twice for theft. That activity elevated her current charge to a felony.
McMahon, who lists herself as unemployed, was caught on surveillance attempting to steal merchandise with a value over $100.
Sulphur Springs Police arrived at the business, mirandize her and started an interview. McMahon allegedly confessed to the crime. She was arrested and transported to Hopkins County Jail without incident. She is charged with:
1 31.03(E)(4)(D) THEFT PROP <$2,500 2/MORE PREV CONV
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.
Summer 2023 Featured Multiple Highlights for the Miller Grove FFA
The Divorce Care Support Group Will Meet Beginning August 16th
The Divorce Care Support Group will meet every Wednesday beginning August 16, 2023. The group will last for 13 weeks and will meet at 6:00pm each Wednesday night. The location for the meetings is the basement of the First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs, Texas. There will be signs to direct attendees to the correct meeting room. For more details about the Divorce Care Support Group, contact Debbie Young at 903-303-4771, or Tom Young at 903-413-1673.
Learn Vital Skills in Welding and Other Fields at Paris Junior College
WELDING PROJECT
Brandon Mitchell of Campbell, a welding student at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Welding Center, is working on a Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) is an arc welding process that produces the weld.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
