Ewton Sentenced to 15 Years For Theft
William Pearce Ewton, 44, was sentenced to 15 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as the result of a plea bargain agreement Wednesday morning in Eighth Judicial Court. Ewton plead guilty to theft more than $30,000, less than $150,000.
His story was an interesting one. When a tractor almost hit a vehicle on Spur 71, Hopkins County Deputies were called. Upon arriving near the scene of the near accident, the deputy found a tractor parked in the middle of the roadway. Ewton, 44, of Sulphur Springs was attempting to drive the tractor. The Deputy stated that it was obvious Ewton was under the influence of something.
The deputy invited Sulphur Springs Police to assist. It was found that Ewton was too intoxicated to tell where he got the tractor and to whom it belonged. A search of the tractor well found two sets of golf clubs, six fishing poles, and a tackle box. The items had been stolen in the Peerless area from two different locations. The tractor had also been stolen.
Local Woman Told Officer Meth Was in Her Purse
Stopped for a traffic violation at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday at the 124 mile-marker eastbound on I-30, Ashley Nicole Bruce told the Sulphur Springs Police officer that she had methamphetamine in her purse.
Bruce is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram (a state jail felony) and is being held on a $10,000 bond.
Hopkins County Bond Rating Upgraded As County’s Financial Position Improves
Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded from A2 to A1 Hopkins County, TX’s General Obligation Limited Tax Bonds. The rating action affects $18.3 million in rated debt. The upgrade reflects the county’s improved financial position and the stable outlook for the county’s financial position based on healthy revenue levels.
The rating incorporates the stability of the county’s moderately-sized agricultural tax base, below average wealth metrics, and above average debt burden. Among credit strengths are a healthy financial position with increased reserve levels, conservative budgeting, and the stable tax base. Challenges to the budget include only the average wealth metrics and the debt burden. The rating could be upgraded if a significant tax base expansion and diversification along with improved wealth indices should occur. However, if the county sees a significant structural imbalance and narrowing of reserves, the rating could be downgraded.
County Judge Robert Newsom told KSST News that a representative of Moody’s thought it time to upgrade the rating based on the fiscal conservative policies the county has utilized over the past few years and that debt and reserves are in good shape. Noting that when the rating fell during the 2008 recession, as did the ratings across the country, the county had laid off employees and taken other steps necessary to continue the fiscal conservatism. Newsom stated the county has built on that conservatism and has recovered well from the time of the recession.
Moody’s expects the county’s tax base to continue moderate growth over the near-term based on the development and expansion at local employers. As a county seat and accounts for about half of the tax base, the economic rating of the City of Sulphur Springs (A1) also assisted in the rate increase. The diversifying, albeit slow, through a growing industrial presence was also a factor. Also factoring into the considerations are the ten top taxpayers making up 15.5% of total assessed values in fiscal year 2016. The fact that these top taxpayers include several food processors was a strong factor. A diverse tax base consisting of 27.1% acreage, 20.9% single family residential, 17.2% farm and ranch, and 12.4% commercial and industrial property was a factor in the steady growth for the county. The county’s $1.7 billion full value growth has been an average of 2.8% annually over the past five years but increased 4.1% in fiscal 2016.
County officials reported the addition of 75 new single family homes and several small businesses within the county which contribute to the 2017 tax base. An addition of 150 new jobs at newly opened Plant Process Fabrication, a manufacturing plant that produces products for renewable fuel products was also a plus. Low unemployment rate, lower than the state and national average, for Hopkins County also was a factor.
With the county’s cash and investment position historically strong and stable and expected to remain so, it is also expected the county’s debt burden will decline steadily. The county’s overall debt burden is 5.7% reflecting the overlapping obligations of the City of Sulphur Springs and the Sulphur Springs Independent School District (A1).
Will it Hold?
Equipment testing for Sulphur Springs Fire Department came Wednesday January 11th, 2017. Ladders and trucks were
Sulphur Springs Fireman J. Stonaker
examined by technicians who specialize in this type of inspection.
Tests include a #500 weight lowered onto ladders to simulate the weight of an equipt fireman and a fire victim. A permanent deviation of more than 0.5 inch mean a trip to the recycle bin. A Port-A-Power is applied to the hooks at the top of the ladders to check for heat fatigue. Heat degrades the alloys used in the ladders so thermal sensing labels are read and re-applied.
The entire Sulphur Springs Fire Fighting Fleet will be tested and inspected. Emergency vehicles will be moving between the two fire stations throughout the day.
Posse Sworn In Under New Sheriff
Seventeen members of the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Posse were present at the swearing in on January 10, 2017 during the Posse’s first monthly meeting of the year. Election of officers was also held. 2017 officers are Captain Lisa Hooten, Lt. Gary Moon, Secretary/Treasurer Frank Tieman, Platoon A Sergeant Joe Hooten with Corporal Earl Martin, Platoon B Sergeant Steve Huffman with Corporal Sam Tatum. Members were also issued updated ID cards. The organization will observe it’s 30-year anniversary during 2017. Charter posse members were sworn in October 1987 by former Sheriff Bill Dierks. Current Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum began his career in law enforcement as a Posse member.
Grab Your Rewards Card; A Starbucks Update
Flying a white flag and declaring myself a member of the media (no comments please…) I slipped into the new Starbucks in Sulphur Springs. I was able to speak briefly with a district manager. A tentative opening date slated for… get ready for it…. Early February 2017.
Although there are a few expected minor items to work on, the structure is ready. The delay at this moment is the first delivery of stock.
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Wildcats, Lady Cats Off Tuesday; Return to Hardwood Friday
In a seven team district like both the Wildcats and Lady Cats are in, each game night one of the district’s teams has to have the night off while the other six play. Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats have their first round bye Tuesday night.
The Lady Cats are 5-0 in district play coming into the open date and the Wildcats are 3-0 in district play. Both resume play Friday against Mt. Pleasant. The Wildcats will face the Tigers at home while the Lady Cats will play the Lady Tigers on the road. Mt. Pleasant teams are matched up against Texas High Tuesday night before playing the Wildcats and Lady Cats.
Both Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta and Lady Cats Basketball Coach Jeff Chapman have indicated they hope to take in the Texas High and Mt. Pleasant games Tuesday night. The Tigers play Texas High at home and the Lady Tigers, coached by former Lady Cats Coach Tina Carrillo, travel to Texarkana.
The Wildcats hit the open date with an 18-4 record while the Lady Cats are 19-3. The Wildcats and Lady Cats second round open date is on Friday, February 3.
Saltillo Homecoming Court Announced
Saltillo 2017 Homecoming Court has been announced. Cornation is Friday night at halftime of the Varsity boys basketball game. Pep Rally is 9:30 Friday morning. Nominees are: Front Row L to R: Freshman Duchess – Jocelyn Ochoa, Sophomore Duchess – Christy Marquez & Junior Duchess Christie Gurley; Senior Queen Nominees L to R: Kacey Sanders, BreAnna Reynolds, Selena Hernandez, Brianna Harvick, Caitlin Shelby, Melissa Groenewold, Rainie English, Brenda Castro, Ana Gallegos & Destiny Welch.
Hurry to Become a 2017 Chamber Member!
LEZLEY BROWN SAYS HURRY FOR MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS!
Lezley Brown takes her job very seriously as President/CEO of the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. She wants businesses, organizations and individuals to know all the benefits available as a Chamber member, and that in fact, membership is quite a bargain! Inclusion in the beautiful full-color 2017 Membership Directory is promised if you join before the deadline of mid-January. Advertising and promotion are part of the package, with a free mini-website you can use and change all year. The Membership Directory reaches over 7,000 people including visitors and residents. New members also receive a ribbon-cutting, open house or mixer at their business as a Chamber-sponsored event. There are networking opportunities all year long as well as business training and education opportunities. Contact Lezley or her staff to get all the details!
Also, the annual Chamber Membership Banquet is coming up on Thursday February 16, 2017 at 6pm in the Civic Center banquet hall, with “An Evening in the Woods” as the theme. This will be a business casual event and meal where numerous Community Awards and recognitions will be made. Nominations are still being taken for two categories: Large Business (51-plus employees)and Small Business (1-50 employees) of the Year. Hurry and get your nominations in this week by contacting the Chamber for a Nomination form, then be there and see who wins the awards!
Business owners find still more ways that the Chamber helps them reach the public. Go to the website for a full listing of benefits. Additionally, there are opportunities open for people to serve their community as Chamber Ambassadors and volunteers.
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is conveniently located downtown Sulphur Springs at 300 Connally Street across from City Hall. Phone the Chamber weekdays at 903-885-6515 or email Lezley at [email protected]. Search the website at www.sulphurspringstx.com and click on the Visitors tab.
