Faulty Muffler Leads to Drug Arrest
November 9, 2023 – A traffic stop on Hwy 19 near County Road 4764 was initiated Wednesday evening just before 8 pm by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies as a Dodge Durango was noticed to be dragging part of it’s muffler down the roadway. As the 2006 SUV turned onto the County Road, deputies noticed a black bag hurled out of the driver’s side window into the road ditch. The vehicle came to a stop a short distance later and deputies interviewed the driver and sole occupant of the car. During discussions of the faulty muffler pipe, an investigation was conducted into the object throw out of the vehicle. The littering soon turned into drug charges as a black zippered bag discovered to contain 1.33 grams of methamphetamine in a clear plastic bag.
Stanley Paul Wood, age 41, of Como was arrested and transported to the Hopkins County Jail on possession of a controlled substance charge as well as tampering with evidence. Wood also had outstanding warrants for other charges.
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.
Veterans Day on Celebration Plaza
November 8, 2023 – Attention Patriots and Veterans. The Hopkins County Marine Corps League Detachment 1357 will hold a Veterans Day Memorial celebration in Sulphur Springs on November 11 at 01100, that’s 11/11/11 on Celebration Plaza.
Please come and pay your respects to all those who offered their life for our freedom!
CPKC Holiday Express Stops in Sulphur Springs in 2023
November 8, 2023 – The 2023 CPKC Holiday Express, (formerly knows at KCS) will stop in Sulphur Springs Texas this year. This holiday favorite will stop on the railway near Pacific Park.
The train will arrive here on December 6th at 4 p.m.
The Holiday Express train will make 20 public stops across CPKC’s network in Louisiana, Missouri and Texas. The festive six-car Holiday Express train with intricate displays inside and out will bring Santa Claus and his elves to visit children and families as it continues its tradition of giving to The Salvation Army.
The full route table is available here.
About CPKC
With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of México to Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC.
SSISD Wildcats Face the Carter Cowboys Friday Night
November 8, 2023 – The Sulphur Springs Wildcats travel to Mesquite, TX Friday to face the Carter Cowboys of Oak Cliff at a neutral stadium. The SS Wildcats are 8-2 and the Cowboys are 7-4. This is a Playoff Game.
Click here for a map and directions to E.H. Hanby Stadium in Mesquite, TX.
Game Starts at 7:30PM. You can listen live on KSST AM 1230.
State District 2 Representative Election Results
November 7, 2023 – With 100% of polling locations reporting it appears, a runoff election will be required to determine our next District 2 House Rep as no candidate received more than 50% of the votes cast in the November 7th election to become the sole winner. Voters will have to return to the polls at a future election to choose between the top two candidates receiving votes: Brent Money received approx 32% of the votes and Jill Dutton receiving approx 25%. Local attorney Heath Hyde garnered approx 21% of the total votes cast narrowly missing inclusion in the runoff election. The results for Texas House of Representatives District 2 are as follows:
Candidate
Jill Dutton
Heath Hyde
Brent Money
Doug Roszhart
Krista Schild
Kristen Washinton
Early Votes / Voting Day
2628 / 4504
2753 / 3312
3662 / 5303
931 / 1271
221 / 494
1315 / 1841
Total Votes
7132
6065
8965
2204
715
3156
All results are unofficial pending certification from Hopkins, Hunt and Van Zandt counties which comprise District 2.
Como-Pickton School District Bond Passes
November 7, 2023 – With 582 votes cast in the Como-Pickton Consolidated Independent School District $29 Million bond election, 63% were in favor of the much needed repairs and enhancements the bond will provide. Votes “for” the bond exceeded “against” on election day as well as in early voting. A total of 367 votes for the measure were made up of 5 absentee, 215 early, and 147 on election day. Those totals eclipsed the against votes of 215 made up of 4 absentee, 99 early and 112 on election day.
TxDOT’S Push to End 23 Years of Fatalities on Texas Roads
Roadway crashes have claimed at least one life every day for more than 20 years
AUSTIN – It almost happened. The long and heartbreaking 23-year streak of daily deaths on Texas highways almost ended. Almost.
On one day in February, Texas experienced a single traffic fatality – well below the average of 12 roadway deaths that occur daily on roadways statewide.
While fewer fatalities is worth noting, the sad fact remains that the streak of daily deaths has continued since Nov. 7, 2000. But that momentary improvement illustrates that the push for engineering safety enhancements and public education can produce positive results. The harsh reality remains, however, that the deadly streak continues and more than 83,000 people have lost their lives on roadways since the streak began.
“Each life lost means a family, neighborhood and community are impacted for a lifetime, and we take safety very seriously as we work to end this horrible streak,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “But it’s going to take all of us working together to get this done.”
TxDOT has committed to enhancing safety on Texas roads, investing $17 billion in safety improvements through the state’s 10-year plan. TxDOT has also developed new changes that may seem small, but could have a major impact:
- Increasing the size of pavement striping from 4 inches to 6 inches. This enhances the visibility of striping on the roadways and encourages drivers to slow down.
- Providing a wider centerline buffer between double yellow stripes with rumble strips or raised pavement markers on undivided highways to alert drivers when they cross the centerline.
- Building innovative intersections like roundabouts, where appropriate, can decrease fatalities at intersections by 90%.
- Implementing a “Safer by Design” program to give roadway designers a way to model safety performance from most of the key design elements used in projects.
Engineering, education and enforcement will always be the key components of traffic safety programs.
While TxDOT builds engineering improvements, drivers can help keep themselves safe on the road. For example, 48% of deaths on Texas roads are from people not wearing their seatbelt inside a vehicle. That one click can have a major impact on fatalities. We all have a shared responsibility to keep our roads and fellow drivers safe.
TxDOT is asking all Texans to do any or all the following to raise awareness:
- Make the best and safest decisions behind the wheel, don’t drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs; always obey traffic laws; always wear your seatbelt.
- Post pictures on social media with this downloadable sign displaying the hashtag #EndTheStreakTX.
- Share personal stories on social media of loved ones who have been lost in a crash and use the hashtag #EndTheStreakTX.
- Follow @txdot social media pages and share the content we post.
Together, we can save lives and end this streak of daily deaths.
Subjects Offered at Paris Junior College Range From Psychology to Welding and Beyond
November 7, 2023 – cutline:
Psychology Lesson
Caroline Gibson of Sulphur Springs, a student at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center, listens and makes notes as Psychology Instructor Marla Elliott discusses topics in her class.
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.
Economic Forecaster Dr. Ray Perryman is Returning for the Economic Outlook Conference
Mark your calendars now for December 12, 11:30-1:00. Renowned analyst and economic forecaster Dr. Ray Perryman is returning for the Economic Outlook Conference at the Hopkins County Civic Center, sponsored by the Sulphur Springs EDC. Tickets are $25 and include a catered lunch. Tickets available through the Hopkins County Chamber, 903-885-6515.
Dr. Ray Perryman is President and CEO of The Perryman Group, an economic research and analysis firm based in Waco, Texas.
He holds a BS in Mathematics from Baylor University and a PhD in Economics from Rice University. He always felt that the BS would have been somehow more appropriate for Economics. He took his first economics course on a coin flip between economics and psychology. If it had gone the other way, there might be some really messed up people in the world. In addition to his earned degrees, Dr. Perryman has received an honorary doctorate from the International Institute for Advanced Studies. After that one, he told his kids they had to start calling him “Doctor Doctor.” They preferred dork, dweeb, nerd, geek, and loser (on a good day).
Dr. Perryman has held numerous academic positions in his career, including ten years as Herman Brown Professor of Economics and five years as University Professor and Economist-in-Residence at Baylor University, as well as five years as Business Economist-in-Residence at Southern Methodist University. He has authored several books and more than 400 academic papers, and served as President of both the Southwestern Economic Association and the Southwestern Society of Economists. His current academic roles include Senior Research Fellow of the IC2 Institute of the University of Texas and Institute Distinguished Professor of Economic Theory and Method at the International Institute for Advanced Studies. He also lives in Odessa while working in Waco, is the father of five young Texans (ages 35-41—although some temporarily reside elsewhere) and the grandfather of five, gets lost on his own block (he lives on a circle), and once ran one of his cars into another one.
In the professional arena, Dr. Perryman has authored more than 3,000 trade articles, publishes a subscription forecasting service and a monthly newsletter, writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column, hosts a daily radio commentary, and appears regularly on National Public Radio (NPR). His firm engages in a broad range of complex projects for major corporate and governmental interests and has served the needs of more than 3,000 clients, including 12 cabinet departments, over half of the Fortune 100, two-thirds of the Global 25, and the 12 largest technology firms, six largest energy companies, and the five largest financial institutions in the world. In other words, he is an obsessive-compulsive workaholic.
Dr. Perryman has been called a “genius” by The Wall Street Journal, a “world class scholar” by Business Week, the “unofficial state economist” by The New York Times, “the most quoted man in Texas” by Texas Monthly, “the conscience of Texas” by NPR, and, his personal favorite, “the state’s premiere barbecue connoisseur” by The Dallas Morning News. What his wife calls him can’t be repeated in mixed company.
Dr. Perryman has received hundreds of prestigious awards for his academic and professional efforts. He has been named the Outstanding Young Economist and Social Scientist in the US, the Outstanding Young Person in the World in Business and Economic Innovation, one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans and Ten Outstanding Young Persons in the World. It is highly unlikely that he will ever receive another award with the word “Young” in it, or even “Middle-Aged” for that matter.
Dr. Perryman has been honored by The Democracy Foundation for his role in promoting capitalism in China, The Asia and World Institute for promoting international trade and academic exchange, and the Systems Research Foundation for his contributions to the field of modeling (that would be “economic” modeling, not “fashion” modeling; he seems to think there might be some confusion). He has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Institute for Advanced Studies. He was skeptical about that one, thinking it was something you received just before you croaked. He has never played in the NBA, but he has played in Wilson Pickett’s band, sang the National Anthem at a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and had his name and picture in lights on the marquee in Times Square.
Dr. Perryman has received citations from governments around the world, presidents, governors, Congress, and national and state administrative and legislative bodies, and has been nominated for the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics). He has received far more citations from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Some of his most gratifying work has been in the field of economic development, where he has played a key role in the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs. He is pleased that, at long last, some of his kids actually hold some of those jobs. He devotes a substantial portion of his time to pro bono efforts seeking solutions to major social problems such as poverty, hunger, indigent health care, and child maltreatment. He is a past recipient of the Outstanding Texas Leader Award and has been honored by the Texas Legislature for his “tireless efforts in helping to build a better Texas.” Dr. Perryman was selected as the 2012 Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference, received the 2013 Baylor University Distinguished Service Medal, was inducted into the Texas Leadership Hall of Fame in 2014, received the 2016 Cesar E. Chavez Legacy Award for his humanitarian efforts, was named the Most Dynamic Economic Researcher in the US in 2018 by Global Business Insights, received the 2019 Chairman’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in Economic Development from the International Economic Development Council, was selected for the 2019 “Go Global” Award from the International Trade Council as the outstanding global economic analyst for his work on trade, energy, the environment, and other international issues, and named the Best Economic Research Service in the US in 2021 by Corp Today Magazine. He is also an honorary Kilgore Rangerette, although his high kick leaves a lot to be desired, so he is not yet on the traveling squad (but there is always next year!!).
Chamber Connection for November 7
Chamber Connection – Nov. 7
By Butch Burney
Get an inside look at next year’s economic forecast with Dr. Ray Perryman.
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce and Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation are happy to announce that Dr. Ray Perryman, a renowned economist, will be headlining the Economic Outlook Conference scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
Perryman was a regular speaker at the conference but hasn’t appeared here in five years. It’s time for his return.
Perryman is an author, syndicated columnist, consultant, financial analyst, and economic forecaster. His syndicated daily radio commentary, “The Perryman Report,” is broadcast daily on the Texas State Networks. He also appears regularly on National Public Radio’s “Marketplace” and is frequently quoted in print, broadcast, and electronic media.
Perryman is a former professor at Baylor University and is currently Senior Research Fellow of the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin and Distinguished Professor at the International Institute for Advanced Studies. He serves on numerous corporate and civic boards and has won many prestigious awards for his achievements in academics and public service.
Sponsorships are available for $500 for a table of eight, $375 for a table for six and $250 for a table for four. Sponsorships will include corresponding recognition at the conference and leading up to the event. Individual tickets are $25 each.
For more information, contact the Chamber at 903-885-6515 or [email protected].
Cocktails and Conversation
Plan now to attend our next Cocktails and Conversation, the new name for our revamped Business After Hours, at Clarion Pointe on Industrial Drive on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 5-6 p.m. Cocktails and Conversation will be held the first Thursday of every month, from 5-6 p.m., and for December, the Clarion Pointe staff will welcome everyone to their meeting room on Dec. 7.
This is a casual networking event and happy hour. You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend.
Ornaments and Stew Merch
Our 2023 Christmas Ornaments, featuring the Dairy Festival, are on sale at the Chamber office. We also have a limited supply of 2022 ornaments if you missed last year’s sale. They are $40 each.
The Chamber also has a limited supply of 2023 stew merchandise still available. This includes a few shirts, tumblers, mugs and hoodies. We are located at 110 Main St.
2023 Award Nominations
Nominations are being accepted for Citizen of the Year, Woman of the Year, Small and Large Businesses of the Year and other superlative recognitions. The awards will be announced at the Chamber’s membership banquet on Thursday, Feb. 15, at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
Nominations can be sent to [email protected] or mailed to the following addresses:
Citizen of the Year—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
Woman of the Year—Chamber of Commerce – 110 Main Street, SS, TX 75483.
Caregiver of the Year—Chamber of Commerce – 110 Main Street, SS, TX 75483.
Community Pride Award—Adult Leadership Class—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
Agriculturist of the Year—Hopkins/Rains Counties Farm Bureau— 233 College St., Sulphur Springs 75482.
Growth and Renewal—DBA—109 Jefferson St. E, SS, TX 75482.
Outstanding Professional Educator (Administrator, Counselor, Diagnostician, or Teacher)—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
Outstanding ParaProfessional Educator (Secretary or Aide)—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
Outstanding Auxiliary Educator (Maintenance, Custodial, Transportation, Nurse or Cafeteria)—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
Businesses of the Year nominations should be for those businesses which exhibit outstanding community involvement—civic, church, educational, benevolent, humanitarian or other.
Large Business of the Year—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
Small Business of the Year—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
Christmas Activities
■ The Lions Club Lighted Christmas Parade is set for Friday, Dec. 1, starting at Buford Park. Line-up begins at 4 p.m. with the parade starting at 7. Registration must be received by noon on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Categories will be Large Business, Small Business and Non-Profit, with cash prizes awarded to winners.
Registration sheets are available at the Chamber office, 110 Main St.
■ Christmas in the Park is set for Nov. 25 and Dec. 2 at Heritage Park on Jackson Street. Affordable family fun under the Christmas lights, with Santa, live music, nativity and more.
■ The Christmas Market on Main Street will take place on Saturday, Dec. 2, downtown. You can do your shopping with our local merchants and vendors that day.
■ Northeast Texas Choral Society will have their “A Celtic Christmas” production 7 p.m. Dec. 2 and 2 p.m. on Dec. 3, at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Visit the website SingersCount.org for ticket information.
Empty Bowls
Community Garden will host an Empty Bowls event as a food pantry fundraisers on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 5:30-8 p.m. at 420 West Park St. Bring a food donation bag for local families and you can eat for free. Purchase a $20 ticket and receive a handcrafted bowl. All proceeds benefit Fruitful Harvest Food Pantry.
Event details are at CraversTX on Facebook and Instagram.
Ribbon Cuttings
Sulphur Springs Country Club hosted a ribbon cutting for its new pro shop and fitness center at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
Trans Load held a ribbon cutting at on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at its new facility located at 250 Heritage Parkway.
The Pine RV and Cabin Resort in Mount Vernon as well as the Rosewood Venue hosted ribbon cuttings at noon Friday, Nov. 3, at 4069 CR SE 4250 in Franklin County. Come out and see the facility.
Owens Insurance will have a ribbon cutting at noon on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 1335 Shannon Road East, Suite A. You are welcome to join us for this event.
The new county jail trustees’ facility on Houston Street, across from the county jail, will have a ribbon cutting at noon on Monday, Nov. 13. Please join us for some refreshments at the event.
