Work Zone Fatalities Increase in Texas
AUSTIN – Work zone fatalities in Texas last year increased 27 percent, resulting in 181 lost lives. Of those fatalities, 174 (96 percent) were motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
“People often think work zone crashes result in the deaths of roadside workers, but statistics show the vast majority of these fatalities are drivers like you and me who are passing through as motorists,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “We urge you to pay attention and adhere to posted traffic signs when driving through work zones to ensure your safety and the safety of the men and women who are working on our roads. At the end of the day, we want everyone to return home safely to their loved ones.”
In recognition of National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 3-7, TxDOT reminds drivers that every single day requires caution when driving through work zones. As the state’s population continues to boom, the price of progress can mean more than 2,500 active TxDOT work zones at any given time. The leading causes of fatal work zone crashes statewide – speeding and failure to stay in a single lane – are entirely preventable.
By law, drivers are required to move over or slow down when approaching work crews, emergency vehicles or tow trucks stopped on the roadside or shoulder with flashing blue or amber lights. Traffic fines in work zones double when workers are present and can cost up to $2,000.
As part of its ongoing Work Zone Awareness campaign, TxDOT is partnering with Austin-based Texas Mutual Insurance Company to host events around the state. An integral part of Texas Mutual’s mission – helping employers prevent workplace incidents and minimizing their consequences – aligns with TxDOT’s Work Zone Awareness efforts.
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City Receives Gift of 4,900 Acres; Luminant Coal Mine To Become City Property
The City of Sulphur Springs will begin planning the use of a 4,900 acre gift and public input will be invited. Luminant will give the coal mine located southeast of the city to become city property. The idea for the gift was birthed when the late Roy Pelton wanted to a championship dog trials event held locally but there was not enough land area available. Pelton and the city contacted Troy Sellers with Luminant but he stated the trials could not use the property because the mining operation did not allow firearms on their property. That’s when the request was made to give the land to the city when the mine closed.
According to Marc Maxwell, City Manager, an email from Luminant about three months ago questioned if the city remained interested in the property. A conversation by city council last week in a special meeting confirmed the cities interest. Maxwell stated that there remains only a small area of the land that is yet to be reclaimed by the mine. He stated that the mountain would remain with some terracing and other work performed. He said the city would be involved in the reclamation work that will conclude the required process.
Maxwell said the city will use much of the land for various events. Maxwell pointed out that there are a number of questions yet to be answered regarding the use of the land. About 300 acres are suitable for structures. A railroad spur into the property can also be an asset to industrial development. Several roadways run through the property as well. Maxwell said those roads are in decent condition and will be a part of the planning for utilization of the acreage. The overpass on FM 1870 will remain giving worry free access to property on both sides of the Farm to Market road. There are also 19-20 lakes on the property. Among the events, he noted that mud runs are popular and are often two-day or more events. Dog field trials could also be a part of the event plan.
Maxwell expects public input into the usage of the property. With the new comprehensive planning set to begin in May of this year, he said that property will also be in the discussion for the city’s future.
With the gift, 4,900 acres will be removed from the tax revenue for the county and school district. Maxwell pointed out the land was already being place into the agricultural use category. That would generate only a small amount of tax revenue. Instead, with improvements to be made on the property and other opportunities offered by the property there would be a great revenue generated for those entities.
PCP Blackout Causes Accident; Leads to Arrest
Keri Amanda Crump, 28
Keri Amanda Crump, 28, of Sulphur Springs was the driver and sole occupant of a vehicle that had been involved in a single vehicle crash that occurred on I-30 eastbound at the 111-mile marker. Crump admitted to deputies at the scene she had smoked PCP just prior to the crash.
When arrested by DPS on Airport Road Sunday around 6 p.m., she also admitted to the trooper that she was under the influence of PCP. She also admitted backing out while driving after smoking the PCP. In a search of the vehicle, three cigar type cigarettes were found. They appeared to be moist which was consistent with being dipped in liquid PCP, according to the arresting officer. A small vial of suspected PCP was found secreted in a cigarette package. She was taken to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs and then to Hopkins County Jail.
She is in Hopkins County Jail charged with a state jail felony—Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram.
Cumby Police Arrest Greenville Woman on Drug Charges
Saturday afternoon at 2:03 p.m. Cumby Police spotted a suspicious passenger car parked at the South Service Road of I-30 in an area generally used for truck parking. Inside the vehicle were two females. Deborah Lynn Miller, 44, of Greenville appeared to be under the influence of a possible illegal drug when the officer began his conversation with the pair.
With consent to search, Miller stated that she carried marijuana in her backpack. A search of the backpack revealed multiple bags of marijuana, a bag of methamphetamine, multiple pipes, and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia. Miller was arrested at the scene but became combative when the officer tried to place her in the patrol car. She slammed her head into the window and into the wall that separates the backseat from the officer.
Miller is in Hopkins County Jail charged with a state jail felony for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram and for possession of marijuana under 2 oz.
Bright Star Baseball Opens Monday Night
Monday, April 3rd is Bright Star Baseball opening night. Game starts at 6pm at Buford Park T-Ball fields. The public is invited to attend the game and cheer on all of our Bright Stars.
Bright Star Baseball is for special needs athletes assisted in the game by buddies.
All players must report at 5pm for spring pictures.
Wildcats 5-0 in District with Win at Greenville
The Wildcats’ baseball team exploded for 8 runs in the top of the fifth inning on their way to a 14-2 win over Greenville Friday night on the road. The game was called after five inning due to the ten run rule.
Ryan Humphries had a big night at the plate going 2 for 3 with a triple, 3 runs scored and an RBI. Michael Arnold was 2 for 3 with a run scored and 2 RBI’s. Kaden Argenbright was 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI’s. Jamal Hobson-Cox, Kamren Harrison and Gavin Millsap also had RBI’s. Ty Lopez scored three runs as a courtesy runner.
The Wildcats got off to a good start scoring a first inning run without a hit on a walk, a hit batter and a Lion error. The Wildcats went up 4-0 with a 3 run second inning. Ryder Caddell, Arnold and Harrison all singled to load the bases. Millsap got a walk to force in a run. Hobson-Cox had a RBI single and Argenbright plated a run on a fielder’s choice. The Wildcats went up 6-0 in the top of the third with 2 more runs. Triston McCormick doubled and Humphries drove home courtesy runner Lopez with a triple. Humphries scored on a Harrison fielder’s choice. Greenville got their 2 runs in the bottom of the third. It remained 6-2 until the Wildcats big fifth which included an Argenbright 2-RBI double, a Humphries single, an Arnold 2-RBI single, five Lions errors, 5 walks and a sacrifice. The Wildcats had 10 hits in the game.
Almost lost in all the offense was the solid pitching of Triston McCormick who improved to 2-0 in district play allowing 2 runs, both earned, on 4 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks with 1 hit batter.
The Wildcats are 5-0 in district play and their season record is 11-5-1. They have won seven straight games. The Wildcats close the first half of district play at home Tuesday night as they play always tough Hallsville.
Lady Cats Defeat Greenville 15-5
The Lady Cats’ softball team brought their hitting shoes to Lady Cat Park as they hammered out 20 hits and scored 15 runs to defeat Greenville, 15-5 Friday night. The game was called with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning due to the ten run rule. The Lady Cats actually had to play catch up to win.
Greenville scored three runs in the top of the first as they hit six straight singles. The Lady Cats answered with six runs of their own on seven hits, all singles. After a scoreless second inning, The Lady Lions got to within one run at 6-5 with 2 more runs in the top of the third. A dropped fly ball prolonged the inning with a Greenville double driving home two runs. The Lady Cats used the long ball and more in the bottom of the third scoring six runs on seven hits. Sadie Stroud doubled and Kelsey Wallace blasted a two-run homer. Alli Fite doubled and came home ona Macee Hollins single. Alyssa Abron then hit a two run homer over the wall in right center to score Hollins. Hannah Crowson and Kristen Allen singled. They moved up a base on an outfield error and both scored on a Stroud single.
The Lady Cats scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to end the game early. In the fourth Fite singled and later scored on Ashley Moore’s sacrifice fly. The game ended when Stroud singled and Kelsey Wallace doubled her in. Wallace also came across the plate but the game ended when Stroud scored. Shortstop Wallace was very good on defense making a diving catch in foul territory and throwing out a Lady Lion from deep in the hole on the left side. Bailey Haggerty shut down the Lady Lions in three out of five innings. She allowed ten hits and five runs, but only 3 earned runs, and she didn’t walk a single batter.
The Lady Cats are now 5-2 in district play. Their season record is now 18-6. They travel to Hallsville next Tuesday evening.
Lady Lions Lose Slugfest to Sulphur Bluff
The Sulphur Bluff Lady Bears won a slugfest over the Saltillo Lady Lions, 20-12 Friday. Both teams scored runs in every inning but two in the seven inning game.
Christie Gurley hits a double on this at bat…photo courtesy of Blake Gurley
The Lady Lions had lots of standouts on offense. Melissa Groenewold had four hits including a triple and a home run. Kasey Sanders had two singles and a double. Madison Simmons had a single and a double. Christie Gurley and Melissa Tawil hit three singles apiece. Jordan Sustaire had two singles. Shelby Matlock and Tori Mobley had one single apiece.
Scudder Opposes Hall’s Support of School Vouchers
District 2, Texas Senate Candidate, Kendall Scudder, vehemently disagrees with his opponents vote to support school vouchers.
“Bob Hall’s support of school vouchers is a clear attempt to defund our public schools and dismantle them brick by brick,“ Scudder said. “Our public schools are desperately underfunded because of politicians like Bob Hall.”
School administrators, teachers, parents, disability advocates, religious leaders, and even home schooling coalitions urged the Texas Senate Education Committee not to pass Senate Bill 3.
“Bob and his elite buddies in Austin are out of touch, and once again, they didn’t listen to their constituents. They never listen,” Scudder said.
Scudder believes school vouchers are unfair to rural, low income, and minority children.
“Vouchers have no educational accountability, they have no requirements on accommodations for students with disabilities, and they have no financial transparency with the tax dollars of hard working Texans,” he said.
“Austin politicians never take responsibility for the mess they made within our education system and now they want to offer you a voucher instead of investing in our schools. It’s time to stop balancing the budget on the backs of our children. Every single child in our state deserves the opportunity for a quality public education,” Scudder said.
Scudder said he believes it’s time to fight back against the failed priorities of the Texas Legislature.
“This is about more than just public schools; this is about preserving the opportunity for all Texans to attain a quality public education,” Scudder said. “As your senator, I will never support legislation that pushes school vouchers on our community and I will fight to give our students and teachers the resources that our public schools deserve.”
Election Day for midterm elections falls on November 6th, 2018. To learn more about Scudder’s positions on vital issues such as inadequate funding for veterans affairs and our crumbling infrastructure, as well as resources for families visit www.ScudderForSenate.com
