Man Identified in Friday Night Incident
Sulphur Springs Police, Special Response Team, and Fire Department responded to a call in the 100 block of Kyle Street Friday night around 11 p.m. where a man had barricaded himself inside a residence wanting to harm himself, according to Captain Jason Ricketson with the Sulphur Springs Police Department. Officers first on the scene attempted to make contact with the male subject by phone but were unable to make contact. That’s when the Special Response Team (SWAT) and fire department were called to the scene.
Other individuals in the residence were not threatened by the man and were able to leave the house without difficulty prior to the attempt to remove the man from the house. A gas canister was fired into the house to attempt to smoke him out. The canister landed on a couch inside the house causing a fire which the Fire Department on the scene quickly extinguished with fire, smoke, and water damage to the structure.
Officers entered the house and found the man, Robert R. Richardson, 38, in a bathroom, dead, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound according to Justice of the Peace B. J. Teer. Teer ordered the body sent to Dallas for autopsy.
SKYWARN Severe Weather Class Set for February 9th
North and Central Texas had it all in 2016 when it came to storms. The National Weather Service will be offering a free class at the SKYWARN severe weather program on Thursday, February 9 th, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The program will be held at City Hall in Sulphur Springs and is held in partnership with Hopkins County Emergency Management and Sulphur Springs Police Department. This class is free of charge and no pre-registration is necessary.
This class is for organized storm spotters and anyone with an interest in severe weather. This is part of a regional severe weather preparedness campaign, which will include spotter training sessions across 46 counties in North and Central Texas.
This year’s program discusses thunderstorm formation, ingredients, and features associated with severe and non-severe storms. Several examples and cases for 2015 and 2016 will be shown. The program will discuss spotter operations and recommended reporting procedures. Most importantly, we will discuss what you can do to keep you and others safe when thunderstorms threaten. This session is free and open to the public. No advanced registration is necessary.
“By coming to this training session, you will gain a better understanding of Texas’ severe weather season,” says Tom Bradshaw, Meteorologist-in-Charge of the NWS Fort worth Office. “Waiting until storms are on your doorstep is not the time to start thinking about severe weather preparedness. We hope you attend these free sessions to learn more about the severe storms that impact the region every year.”
The Hopkins County severe weather program is one of 46 training sessions that the Fort Worth NWS Office will conduct between January and March 2017, with a session in each county. The National Weather Service in Fort Worth provides forecasts, warnings, and weather services for 46 counties in north and north-central Texas. For more information on severe weather, visit our website at http://www.weather.gov/fortworth, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSDallasFortWorth and on Twitter: @NWSFortWorth
Hopkins County Teens Face Threats and Public Shaming as They Enter the Workforce
As a parent in Hopkins County I could do nothing when my teen started talking about an incident at her Fast Food Restaurant job. Here is the Reader’s Digest Version: She was yelled at and humiliated in front of the entire team and a few customers. My daughter is old enough to face these things on her own. I can not simply call and chew out her manager. I sincerely hope she wouldn’t want me to. My wife and I can only listen and offer a some advice. We let her know we too have faced similar situations in our jobs.
I have never worked in the Fast Food Industry. Based on what my teen has reported about the conditions at various establishments, and the way she has been treated, I consider myself very lucky. See McJob.
These work place nightmares are not limited to Fast Food. Another teen friend of the family, employed at a grocery store, talks about being threatened with physical violence if work is not done correctly and on time. Not the “I was just kidding” kinda threat, a threat that is followed with “…and I’ll do it and no one will believe you because you are just a kid.” kind of threat.
Teens can be hard to motivate, I can attest to this first hand. Before I call these managers ‘Evil Overlords’, perhaps they were treated in a similar manor. It could be all they know. I doubt there is corporate training that provides these motivational techniques. It’s probably part of the ‘Fast Food Management’ culture. It’s a supply and demand situation. Demand for these jobs are high (many teens looking for a job), and businesses can ‘fire and hire’ as needed.
I am desperately hoping that these negative experiences will serve to motivate my daughter. I remind her that college awaits and I hope to provide her with options when it comes to choosing a career. College may not be for everyone, but post high school training should always be on the table. Nothing is worse than working at a job you hate.
City of Mt Vernon Issues Boil Water Prior to Consumption Alert to Their Customers
Due to a line break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Mount Vernon water system to notify customers of the need to boil their water prior to consumption. An alert was issued at 3:31 a.m. Sunday morning, January 29, 2017.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and making ice should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil, then boiled for 2 minutes.
In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for consumption. Instructions to discontinue boiling will be issued in the form of phone, email, and other alerts.
Mt Vernon residents who have any questions concerning this matter, tmay contact City Administrator Tina Rose at 903-717-4489 or Director of Public Works Jeremy Cox at 903-285-3423.
4-H Food Challenge Practice Run
The 4-H Food Challenge competition is coming up this spring, and Johanna Hicks want’s 4-H’ers to be ready. In order to prepare, participants were given a few hints, a bunch of ingredients, and instructed to make something delicious. There was plenty of guidance, and the crowd also go involved. Food safety was also discussed and practiced. A brief presentation about the creations ingredients, and nutritional values was also given.
I learned that avocados can go in smoothies, and almond slivers are a nice crunchy addition to chicken salad wraps. I also learned that lettuce wraps are not to be feared. Everyone got to sample the finished dishes, and I had seconds.
Johanna said that teams in competition usually have matching aprons, and really put on a show.
4-H Sewing Day at the AgriLife Extension Building
With every machine occupied, and ironing stations at the ready, 4-H’ers worked diligently on projects. Activity mats for Alzheimer patients, and Prayer Quilts were the main focus.
Johanna Hicks displays a 4-H quilt made last year that won many competitions.
Alexis hand stitches the opening on her project.
Boots off, it’s getting serious.
Dusty and Katie O’Brien working together on an activity mat.
Stephanie and Kadence Ross and Volunteer Joanna Brennan.
Penelope ties knots in a Prayer Quilt.
Lady Lions Score Big in Win Over Sulphur Bluff
The Saltillo Lady Lions defeated Sulphur Bluff, 76-24 on the road Friday night. The Lady Lions led 21-5 after the first quarter and continued to build their lead throughout the game.
Madison Simmons of Saltillo led all scorers with 17 points. Other Lady Lions’ scorers included Jocelyn Ochoa with 9 points, Sienna Collins with 8 points, Melissa Groenewold with 7 points, Ana Gallegos and Christie Gurley with 6 points each, Rainie English and Tori Mobley with 5 points apiece, Brenda Castro with 4 points, Melissa Tawil with 3 points and Jordan Sustaire with 2 points.
Sulphur Bluff got 13 points from Katlyn White.
Filing Underway for Area School Board and City Council May 6th Elections
Interest in the May 6th school board and municipal elections has garnered several applicants in Sulphur Springs, Como-Pickton, and Yantis.
In Sulphur Springs City Council filing, incumbent John Sellers and former council member Brad Burgin have filed. Burgin has been on the Planning and Zoning Board and then served on the council. Sellers has been a member of the council for two terms. Kayla Price, Place 6, will not seek re-election. Three others have picked up applications but have not returned them at this time. For School Board, both incumbents, Robbin Vaughn and Robert Cody, filed for re-election on the first day available. No others have filed at this time. Mrs. Vaughn has served as board secretary and currently serves as vice-president of the board. She was elected to the Board in 2014. She was elected as Vice President in 2016. Mrs. Vaughn is a Juvenile Probation Officer with the 8th Judicial District Juvenile Probation Office in Sulphur Springs. Cody is board secretary. Robert Cody was elected to the Board in 2014. He was elected board secretary in 2016. Mr. Cody is the Corporate Controller for GSC Enterprises, Inc. in Sulphur Springs.
For Como-Pickton School Board, incumbents Jim Murray, Greg Anglin, and Mark Humphrey have filed for re-election. Also filing are Jessica Pegues and Brittney Wright Smith. Como-Pickton has entered the search for a new Superintendent.
At Yantis, April Johnson and Melissa Stephens have filed.
Filing dates for the May 6th election continue through February 17.
Man Barricaded in Residence Takes Life as Police Try to Make Contact
Sulphur Springs Police, Special Response Team, and Fire Department responded to a call in the 100 block of Kyle Street Friday night around 11 p.m. A man had barricaded himself inside a residence wanting to harm himself, according to Captain Jason Ricketson with the Sulphur Springs Police Department.
Officers first on the scene attempted to make contact with the male subject by phone but were unable to make contact. That’s when the Special Response Team (SWAT) and fire department were called to the scene. Other individuals in the residence were not threatened by the man and were able to leave the house without difficulty prior to the attempt to remove the man from the house.
Unable to make contact with the man, a gas canister was fired into the house to attempt to smoke him out. The canister landed on a couch inside the house causing a fire. With the Fire Department on the scene, the blaze was quickly extinguished with minimal fire, smoke, and water damage to the structure.
Officers entered the house and found the man dead, in a bathroom, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound according to Justice of the Peace B. J. Teer. Teer ordered the body sent to Dallas for autopsy.
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.
#18 in State Lady Cats Basketball Scores 101-26 Win on Home Court
In perhaps the first time in history, the Lady Cats’ basketball team scored over 100 points in a 101-26 win over Marshall at home Friday night. The #18 state ranked Lady Cats had quarters of 23 points, 27 points, 25 points and 26 points.
Autumn Tanton scored on a basket as she was fouled in the final minute of play to put the Lady Cats over 100 points. The Lady Cats allowed the Lady Mavs quarters of 7 points, 7 points, 8 points and 4 points.
Three Lady Cats had more than 23 points. Sadavia Porter led the Lady Cats with 29 points, Kaylee Jefferson added 27 points and Tori Moore hit five 3-pointers and had a total of 23 points. Tanton scored 10 points. All seven Lady Cats scored. The Lady Cats hit a sizzling 61% from the field including 5 of 16 or 31% from three point range. The Lady Cats shot 58% from the foul line or 18-31. Porter hit 9 of 10 from the foul line. Jefferson had a team high 6 rebounds and one block.
The Lady Cats had 29 steals including five each from Porter, Moore and Jefferson. The Lady Cats committed only 8 turnovers and they had only 7 fouls.
The Lady Cats remain in first place in the district with a 10-0 record. Their season record is now 24-3 and the Lady Cats have won 17 straight games.
The Lady Cats will travel to Texas High next Tuesday night.
