County Line Baptist Church New Year’s Stew and Singing
It’s been an annual event for over 100 years at County Line Baptist Church; the traditional New Year’s Stew (both chicken and beef!) and All-Day Singing. Decades ago, County Line parishioners would hold the event in a cramped church house which overflowed outside to tables near where the stew was cooked on church-owned property. Today, the church sits on a portion of the original property on FM275 near the Hopkins/Rains County line. It houses a spacious Family Life Center with kitchen and dining room, Sunday School rooms and office space and a brand-new sanctuary. The most recent building process was accomplished through monetary gifts, donated labor and neighborly help.
The All-Day Singing is led by the Texas Southern Gospel School of Music. This organization provides instruction for church groups in five states. The school’s annual travel circuit begins with the singing at County Line on New Year’s Day. During open classes, guest gospel groups, quartets and soloists can offer their musical gifts and receive free instruction from representatives of four music companies. These companies also provide curriculum for the school. Some were once associated with the early Stamps and Stamps/Baxter Singing Schools shaped-note instruction books. In the tradition of the late Sam Speed, Pastor Darty and Deacon Lewis Watts continue year-round promotion of the popular event hosted at County Line.
County Line Pastor Wayne Darty
Stew Cooks Woody Garmon and Clinton Lennon
There was plenty of stew and desserts to go around.
Singer Randall McDaniel chats with Gail Garmon and Nell Ross Garmon
A trio of second-generation gospel singers at the singing school
Students form a quartet for personalized instruction in harmony
Don’t miss the next one on January 1, 2018!
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Offers Free GED Class Starting January 9
The Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center’s Adult Education and Family Literacy program is offering a free intensive GED® (General Educational Development) class starting on Jan. 9. Pre-registration is required.
Registration for the GED® class begins Jan. 2; it will be held at the CANHelp Building. Contact Registration Clerk Macenzie Langston to sign up at 903-782-0467.
In addition to preparing for the GED®, the Adult Education program offers assistance in improving Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment scores and study skills, and with workplace literacy and soft skills, career pathways in high demand occupations, English language acquisition, workforce development training for English language learners, and on-line learning opportunities.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Soccer Open Seasons Thursday in Tournaments
Wildcats Alumni Scrimmages
The Wildcats’ soccer team opened the scrimmage part of their season with a 4-0 win over Wildcats Alumni Saturday at the SSHS Track Soccer Field. Chris Espinoza scored two goals and Johnathan Alvarez scored one goal. Wildcats Coach Nicky Wiggins said he hadn’t watched all the game on tape so he was unsure who scored the last goal. He said his team looked pretty good at times. Coach Wiggins said the Wildcats enjoyed seeing some of their old friends again. Among alums were two of the top scorers in Wildcats’ soccer history, top scorer Tony Bravo and former coach Andy Holt. Coach Wiggins said Coach Holt, now at Frisco Wakeland, tried to sneak a ball into the goal but keeper Rafael Lopez made the save. Coach Wiggins was proud of the team’s shutout considering what a prolific goal scorer Bravo is. The Wildcats will complete the scrimmage season at Royse City Tuesday night. The JV plays at 5:30 p.m. and the Varsity at 7 p.m. The Wildcats open the regular season in a Forney tournament Thursday. Coach Wiggins said right now the Wildcats will be playing all 6A teams. He said a team that finishes .500 in this tournament, should have a good season.
Lady Cats Soccer
Three scrimmages in three days for the Lady Cats’ soccer team. Coach Jesus DeLeon said his team looked more tired than he anticipated at Saturday’s Alumni Scrimmage. The first two scrimmages, at Paris Thursday and at Pleasant Grove Friday, were hard fought 1-0 Lady Cats’ wins. Coach DeLeon said Paris was a physical team and he added Pleasant Grove is the deepest team their coach has had there. Coach DeLeon said against Pleasant Grove, his team was also hit by several players not feeling well and top goal scorer Mileena Zirretta battling some nagging injuries. He said his team looked worn down against the Alumni Saturday. To make the game more competitive this year, Coach DeLeon had current keeper Abbi Hale play with the Alums. He said the game was more fun this year. The Lady Cats have their final scrimmage Tuesday night at home. The JV team will play at 5:30 p.m. and the Varsity at 7:15pm. Both games will be at the SSHS Track Soccer Field. The Lady Cats will open the regular season in a Terrell tournament that runs Thursday through Saturday.
soccer ball net
Channel 18 News Monday, January 2, 2017
Constable Precinct 1 Norman Colyer. See Video Presentation of Elected Officials Receiving the Oath of Officer here
Hopkins County Officials Receive Oath of Office-Video Presentation by Channel 18 News
Newly elected and re-elected Hopkins County officials received the oath of office at 4 p.m. Sunday in the District Court Room of the County Courthouse. Among those receiving the oath of office: Newly elected Sheriff Lewis Tatum and County Commissioner, Precinct 1 Mickey Earl Barker. Returning elected officials include: Eighth District Court Judge Eddie Northcutt, , District Attorney Will Ramsey, County Attorney Dustanna Hyde Rabe, Tax Assessor-Collector Debbie Pogue Jenkins, County Commissioner, Precinct 3 Wade Bartley, Constable, Precinct 1 Norman Colyer and Constable, Precinct 2 William B. “Bill” Allan.
Also all sheriff’s deputies received the oath as well. New deputies included retired Sheriff Butch Adams, who will continue to serve as a reserve for the courthouse.
Semi Accident/Fire Leads to Drug Arrest of Driver
The driver of a tractor-trailer semi ran off the paved area of I-30 and into the ditch near the 130 mile-marker New Year’s Day around 5 a.m. When he tried to remove the vehicle from the ditch, a fire was ignited as the driver was spinning tires on the asphalt pavement. However, an even greater difficulty for James Bradley Weaver, 49, of El Paso, developed when law enforcement found a clear plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance and a clear plastic baggie containing a dark brown tar like substance in his pants pockets.
Weaver was taken to CHRISTUS-Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs where he tested positive for intoxication. Weaver is in Hopkins County jail charged with Possession of Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram less than 4-grams and Driving While Intoxicated.
Charged With Arson in December, Morris Now Faces Burglary, Drug, and Tampering Charges
James Michael Morris, 31, of Sulphur Springs was arrested Monday morning at 1:40 a.m. by Hopkins County Deputy Todd Evans when Evans noted a defective license plate on the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe Morris was driving on County Road 3528 at FM 67. Morris was wanted on a warrant for burglary of a building, a case that was under investigation by the Sheriff’s office following Morris arrest for arson on Thursday, December 22, 2016.
As Evans initiated the stop, Morris turned onto the county road and a black article came out the window of the Tahoe. Morris denied the article was his. Evans arrested Morris on the warrant and retrieved the black article, a sunglasses case that contained several glass pipes busted and items.
Morris was charged in December with setting a vehicle on fire on December 12th after falling a couple of months behind in car payments. He had turned himself in at the Sheriff’s Office at that time.
Now Morris is back in Hopkins County Jail being held on Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence with intent to Impair, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Burglary of a Building.
Atlanta, TX Woman Arrested Locally for Possession of Meth
January 2, 2017 – A Hopkins County Deputy stopped a passenger vehicle for a traffic violation at 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve on FM 2560 at County Road 2458. The vehicle had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage and several open containers. A probable cause search found a small round metal can in the purse of Hope Marie Sertuche, 25, of Atlanta, TX. Inside the container was a clear baggie with a white crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine. A records check showed her wanted for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in Morris County.
Hope Marie Sertuche
Sertuche was booked into Hopkins County jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 1-gram less than 4-grams and on the Morris County warrant. Her bond was set at $15,000 for each offense.
Hopkins County Under Tornado Watch Until 2 p.m. and Severe Thunderstorm Watch Until 9 a.m. Monday
Hopkins County and much of North and Central Texas is under a tornado warning until 2 p.m and under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 a.m. Monday morning. Some storms may be severe with damaging wind and large hail. An isolated tornado is also possible with the best chances south of I-20. These storms will move east of the region by midday.
Bayou Jack’s Cajun Grill Closes Celebration Plaza Location
The sign is gone and the U-Haul trailer being loaded with liquor and other items from Bayou Jack’s Cajun Grill, 113 Gilmer Street was the first indication many in Sulphur Springs were given that the restaurant was closing. An announcement on their Facebook page, just before 8 p.m. Sunday night, was another.
In the announcement, they stated they were sad they had decided to close the Sulphur Springs location and invited patrons to visit their McKinney or Roanoke locations.
The restaurant had served as an anchor at Celebration Plaza for some time. The building in which they were located recently sold to an injury law attorney who is establishing a third office in Sulphur Springs according to other business owners near the location.
