Como-Pickton FFA Teams Excel at Ft. Worth Show
According to FFA Advisor Michael Bowen of Como-Pickton CISD, here are results for Como-Pickton FFA teams from the 2017 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
Agricultural Mechanics Contest:
CP FFA exhibited five projects in the show.
Receiving a red ribbon – Patio Fire Pit constructed by Jessica Mares, Samantha Gallo,
Ashley Latham & Angela Baxley
Blue Ribbon Projects:
Farm Gate constructed by Shawn Murray, Brynden Andrews & Osvaldo Gutierrez
Specialty Equipment Hauling Trailer built by Melvin Jackson, Parker Cummings
and Daniel Galvan
Placing in Class:
Livestock Handling Equipment Class:
2nd in Class – Cattle Squeeze Chute built by Robert Flewelling, Tyler Osborne, Denton Lawson and Heston Wilburn.
Other Livestock Equipment Class:
1st in Class – Portable Milking Parlor built by River Thomas, Tristen Sickles, Breanna Bowen and Cameron Matthews.
Texas M.A.D.E competition: This is a competition where senior agricultural mechanics students take a written exam. Based on the exam scores, they advance to the second round where they have three minutes to tell about the project they built and brought to the show. CP FFA member Robert Flewelling competed in the contest and advanced to the second round. Top students in this contest receive scholarships.
Dairy Cattle Show:
Brown Swiss Caden Anglin – 4th Junior Show, 6th Open ShoHolstein
Cameron Matthews – 5th Junior Show, 5th Open Show
Presli Cummings – 7th Junior Show, 9th Open Show
Alex Holcomb – 9th Junior Show,
Avery Holcomb 7th Junior Show
Jersey
Breanna Bowen – 2nd Junior Show, 4th Junior Show, 4th open show
Baylee Bowen – 2nd Junior Show, 3rd Junior Show, 5th Junior Show, 7th open show
Junior Beef Heifer Show:
Brahman
Claire Jalufka – 4th Place
Chloe Jalufka – 6th Place
Simmental
Braxton Andrews – 4th Place
Maine Anjou
Brynden Andrews – 8th Place
Breeding Gilt Show:
Brody Busby- 9th with a Spot gilt, 6th with a Berkshire gilt
Junior Market Swine Show:
Dark Cross
Brody Busby exhibited his market barrow
Junior Market Steer Show:
Polled Hereford
Brynden Andrews exhibited his market steer
European Cross
River Thomas and Canyon Thomas exhibited their market steers
Events coming soon:
February 9, 10, & 11
SkillsUSA Welding Competition
SkillsUSA Construction Contests
San Antonio Dairy Show
February 14, 15 & 16
San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Ag Mechanics contest.
February 23, 24, & 25
Hopkins County Junior Market Show
City Council Hears Reports on Increased Sales Tax Revenue, Annual Police Profiling Report, and Approve Various Resolutions
Sulphur Springs Mayor Emily Glass proclaimed February as Black History Month for the city as the city council began their Tuesday, February 7, 2017 meeting. The council heard reports and transacted several points of business during the session.
Sales Tax for the city is up $80,000 over budget and water sales are also over budget thanks to a dry fall. City Finance Director Peter Karsten told the council that much of the bond money for the rework of the waste water treatment plant has been invested in short term investments to allow the money to be available for the work and to earn some interest on the money as well.
The council approved an intent to abandon a segment of South Texas Street between UPS and Hopkins County Fire Station. The changes in the intersection there will be funded by TxDOT and already has their approval as well as county approval for the change. The change is being made to slow traffic in front of the county fire station. A much safer, wider turn will also be provide at the intersection that remains.
Chief of Police Jay Sanders reported the mandatory racial profiling report for 2016. His report noted 7173 citation only stops, 389 arrests only, and 227 citation and arrest stops. Race or ethnicity in those stops show 6,820 were Caucasian, 537 African-American, 216 Hispanic, 201 Asian, 15 Native American, and no Middle Eastern. In those stops, officers did not know the race of the individual in 7,570 before the stop was made. They did know the race in 219 of those stops. Searches were conducted in 774 stops and in those only 46 gave consent to search.
Trinity Oaks Apartments will have a letter provided enabling them to seek grant funds for the remodeling of 4-plex apartments located near 7th Street in the city. People on Social Security and other low income individuals live in those apartments. As they are being remodeled, residents will be provide a temporary living space.
The city also purchased a new pumper truck for the city fire department and renewed the mutual aid agreement with the county fire department.
Local Man Arrested for Aggravated Assault
Hopkins County Deputies were called to a residence on FM 3505 where Gerald Wayne Shafer, 71, was wielding a homemade spear and approaching his brother-in-law while threatening to stab him.
The brother-in-law was taken to CHRISTUS Mother Francis Hospital and later released. When released the brother-in-law was walking along State Highway 19 North when a deputy observed him and stopped him. It was found that he had an outstanding warrant for a misdemeanor and he was arrested.
Both are in Hopkins County Jail. Gerald Wayne Shafer is charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Family. 
Woman Admits Trying to Hide Methamphetamine
Kaitlynn Marie Hurst, 19 of Garland, was a passenger in a 2000 F-150 pickup stopped for a traffic violation Tuesday night 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.
Hurst is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evident with intent to impair, Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 under 1-gram, and possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She is being held on a total of $15,000 in bonds.
City Manager’s Report For February
Sulphur Springs City Manager Reported to the Council Tuesday Evening, February 7, 2017. In this verbal report, he drew attention to the growing number of e-books checked out at the city library.
BILL BRADFORD ROAD – The concrete is in place nearly to Como Street. By the next city council meeting we should be nearing completion. We began in February 2016.
LOCUST STREET – The Capital Construction Division has constructed 95% of the water and sewer mains on Locust Street. They should finish by the end of the week. Then the process of connecting all of the homes to the water main begins. We should be ready to start the street improvements in about a month. After that will be South Moore Street.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Work has begun at the wastewater treatment plant. The contractor has excavated on very large hole to accommodate 3 new clarifiers.
CLAIMS – We had one minor workers’ compensation claim in January, and no liability claims.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Total suspended solids (TSS) came in at 4.13 mg/L, well within the limit of 15 mg/L.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Peter Karstens will present a year-to-date summary of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Treated 125 million gallons of water from Cooper Lake and Lake Sulphur Springs.
- Sampled and tested water from the distribution system.
- Flushed 36 dead end water mains.
- Repaired 14 ruptured water mains.
- Unstopped 20 sewer mains.
- Repaired 10 sewer mains.
- Washed 85,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Raised 5 manholes on College Street.
- Replaced runway lights at the airport.
- Removed dead trees in city parks.
- Patched 100 potholes.
- Cleared storm drains.
- Made 41 street repairs following utility repairs.
- Removed Christmas decorations.
- Checked out 2,776 items from the library, and provided 1,269 hours of computer time.
- Checked out 342 e-books.
- Conducted 10 building inspections, 7 electrical inspections, 5 plumbing inspections, 1 mechanical inspection and issued 25 building permits.
- Sold 4,698 gallons of AvGas and 4,886 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Responded to 168 animal control calls achieving an adoption rate of 47%.
- Made 4 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Responded to 34 accidents, made 57 arrests, wrote 625 citations and recorded 51 offences.
- Responded to 137 fire/rescue calls including 3 structure fires.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 76 fire hydrants.
- Performed 67 fire inspections/surveys.
- Replaced 5 street signs.
How Maxwell Was Arrested; The Final Chase
According to Tanner Crump with the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, John Maxwell told arresting officers that he was in the perimeter of the search for him the whole time. Maxwell was arrested Wednesday morning after he knocked on the doors of three homes seeking a ride to work in Birthright. When arrested, Maxwell began asking who was in charge so he could seek to have some of the charges dropped.
Maxwell had found refuge in a pine tree during the search by Hopkins County deputies, investigators, search dogs, and DPS helicopter. Crump noted that the helicopter could not use heat seeking instruments to detect Maxwell’s location due to the heat of the ground. The dogs had difficulty due to the many scents that were present due to the number of officers who had been searching the area. Crump said it was not a proud moment for law enforcement but several factors were involved in the type of chase that had been initiated when Maxwell fled detention.
The search had been called off Tuesday afternoon after it began around 7:55 a.m. However, at 8:30 p.m., Maxwell had knocked on a door of a house in the area where he had escaped and asked the resident to call his girlfriend to pick him up. The resident knew it was Maxwell and dialed 911. Maxwell left that house and went to the next house but the resident seeing it was Maxwell did not go to the door. That resident also called 911. Although law enforcement arrived quickly, Maxwell had already left the area. A command center was established for law enforcement but at 11:30 p.m. the officers pulled back but remained in the area.
Wednesday morning, Maxwell went to the third house and asked for a ride to his work at a plumbing business in Birthrite. The resident told his wife to call 911 and tell them where they would be going. He then gave Maxwell a ride. Investigator Corley Weatherford was first to see the vehicle. Weatherford in an unmarked car followed the vehicle and Maxwell to his work. Maxwell jumped out of the vehicle and attempted to hide behind the plumbing business. The manager of Joe Bob’s in Birthright was on his way to work and had been alerted to the fact that Maxwell might go to the convenience store. When the manger saw what was happening as Maxwell attempted to flee Weatherford, he drove his auto behind the plumbing shop to cut off Maxwell.
Maxwell found himself cornered by deputies, investigators and the convenience store manager. He picked up a scissor jack and began hitting himself in the head. A deputy tasered Maxwell at that time and the arrest was made. He is in Hopkins County Jail awaiting a magistrates hearing.
It all began during a traffic stop at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday morning on FM 71 just west of the Sulphur Bluff store, when Maxwell fled the Hopkins County Deputy. Maxwell fled south from the location on foot. The Sulphur Bluff ISD was placed on a Soft Non-Emergency Lock Down as Hopkins County Sheriff Deputies, Investigators, County and State Bloodhounds, and DPS Helicopter are involved in the pursuit of Maxwell. Maxwell has a history of criminal activity dating back to August, 2006. Traveling with Maxwell was a female and juvenile. The female is Tara Slough, 41, who has been married to Maxwell, according to a Slough’s niece. They were separated so that she could regain custody of the juvenile according to the niece. Slough has fled police before when with Maxwell.
Maxwell in Custody
John Maxwell is in Hopkins County Jail. Maxwell who evaded arrest on Tuesday was picked up by a citizen and taken to the Birthright area, according to Tanner Crump with the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. Crump said as Maxwell was taken to Birthright, law enforcement was called and they made a stop on the vehicle. Maxwell again attempted to flee on foot but was caught by the officers and taken into custody Wednesday morning.
During a traffic stop at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday morning on FM 71 just west of the Sulphur Bluff store, John Maxwell, 36, of Paris, fled the Hopkins County Deputy. Maxwell fled south from the location on foot. A pursuit followed and the deputy called for support. The Sulphur Bluff ISD was placed on a Soft Non-Emergency Lock Down as Hopkins County Sheriff Deputies, Investigators, County and State Bloodhounds, and DPS Helicopter were involved in the pursuit of Maxwell. A warrant for Maxwell had been issued in Austin, TX based on charges of Burglary of a Habitation and Possession of 10 to 50 forms of Identifying Information in Lamar and Red River Counties.
Maxwell has a history of criminal activity dating back to August, 2006. He has been arrested multiple times for criminal trespass, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, assaulting a public servant, assault causing bodily injury, fraudulent use of identifying and information.
Traveling with Maxwell, when first arrested, was a female and juvenile. The female and juvenile were taken to CHRISTUS Mother Francis and then transported to Hopkins County Jail. The female is Tara Slough, 41, who has been married to Maxwell, according to a Slough’s niece. Slough and Maxwell were separated so that she could regain custody of the juvenile according to the niece. Slough moved from Paris to Mt Vernon to get away from Maxwell, stated the niece. Slough has fled police before when with Maxwell. She is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Hindering Apprehension of a Felon
Lady Cats Win 19 Straight Games; 12-0 District Season; Face North Forney in Bi-District Play
The Lady Cats’ basketball team defended last year’s district championship and ended this season unbeaten in district play after a 49-34 win over Mt. Pleasant Tuesday night in Wildcats Gym. The Lady Cats led by only 5 points, 30-25, going into the fourth quarter. The Lady Cats put the game away by outscoring the Lady Tigers 19-9 in the last quarter.
Sophomore Sadavia Porter and junior Kaylee Jefferson led the Lady Cats fourth quarter charge as both scored 8 points. Jefferson led the Lady Cats with 16 points and Porter added 14 points. Jefferson also had 10 rebounds for a double double. Porter also had 3 steals and 6 deflections. Autumn Tanton scored 11 points and had 3 blocks. Sakaria Grant led Mt. Pleasant with 10 points. The Lady Cats once again shot over 50% hitting 18 of 35 or 51%. They were only 1 for 5 from three-point range and managed only 46% from the foul line, 12 of 26. The Lady Cats had 15 turnovers. The Lady Cats recognized four players on Senior Night: Tori Moore, Daieyshia Pruitt, Rita Hill and Destinee Weeks.
The game also marked the return of former Lady Cats Coach Tina Carrillo to Wildcats Gym as the Lady Tigers coach.
The Lady Cats ended district play with a perfect 12-0 record. The Lady Cats are now 26-3 for the season. They have now won 19 straight games.
The Lady Cats will play North Forney in bi-district play sometime next week.
Wildcats Lose to Tigers; Qualify for Playoffs
The Wildcats’ basketball team couldn’t match the red hot three point shooting of Mt. Pleasant Tuesday night as the Tigers defeated the Wildcats, 65-53, in Mt. Pleasant. The Wildcats only trailed 16-14 after one quarter but the Tigers extended their lead to 40-31 at the half.
The Wildcats slip to 8-2 in district play and 23-6 overall. Both of their district losses were to Mt. Pleasant, who are undefeated in district play. The Wildcats can wrap up second place in the district standings with a win over Greenville Friday night in Wildcats Gym. They have already qualified for the playoffs.
The Wildcats will conclude district play at Hallsville next Tuesday night.
Lions, Lady Lions Dominate Roxton
Both the Saltillo Lions and the Saltillo Lady Lions continue their good roll in district play.
The Lions are now 7-0 in district play and 17-14 for the season after a 66-41 win over Roxton in Saltillo Tuesday night. After a 10-10 first quarter tie, the Lions took a 32-19 led at halftime. The Lions extended their lead to 53-33 after three quarters. Lyle Bench led Saltillo with 21 points. Mathew Gurley had 16 points. Other scorers for the Lions included Trevor Moore with 9 points, Logan Camp with 7 points, Walker McGill, Adam Valenzuela and Ryan Prewett with 3 points each and Dakota Patridge and Clayton Wilson with 2 points apiece. The Lions play Sulphur Bluff next Tuesday.
The Saltillo Lady Lions also topped Roxton in dominating fashion, 84-19 Tuesday night. The Lady Lions came out strong and lead 21-2 after one quarter. The Lady Lions continued to pour it on leading 46-9 at halftime. The third quarter lead swelled to 66-13. Melissa Groenewold led the Lady Lions with 18 points. Madison Simmons and Rainie Englished had 10 points each. Tori Mobley and Christie Gurley scored 8 points apiece. Melissa Tawil, Ana Gallegos and Sienna Collins had 6 points apiece. Brenda Castro scored 5 points. Christy Marquez had 3 points. Jocelyn Ochoa scored 2 points. Cheyenne Neal and Jordan Sustaire had 1 point apiece.
