Lights of Life “Galaxy” and “Star” Sponsors
HOPKINS COUNTY HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION’S LIGHTS OF LIFE “GALAXY” AND “STAR” SPONSORS FOR 2016
GSC Enterprises, Galaxy
Christus Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs, Galaxy
Bookworm Box and Rock Creek Health and Rehab, Stars
Access Physicians and Alliance Bank, Stars
Christus Mother Frances SS Volunteers, Stars
Lights of Life “Sparkle” Sponsors
THESE BUSINESSES ARE “SPARKLE” SPONSORS OF LIGHTS OF LIFE
Jay Hodge Chevrolet
Wesley House Assisted Living
Net Data 
Advanced Heart Care
Guaranty Bank and Trust
City National Bank
“ONE” at Celebration Plaza Will Promote Unity for the City
November 19th at 4 p.m. residents of the City of Sulphur Springs are invited to attend “One” at Celebration Plaza. The event will feature all present singing “What the World Needs Now is Love Sweet Love”. The event is focused on developing a moment of unity for all who live in the city, according to City Manager Marc Maxwell.
Maxwell says the show is those present as they join voices in the song. He states that he hopes thousands of local residents will attend. The event will be videoed and will serve as a reminder that “We are all one…” whether white, black, Hispanic, Asian, no matter our religion or gender. Shannon Askew from Morning Chapel Church will lead those present. Calvin Hickerson will be the accompaniment. Maxwell said he thinks those present will for a moment feel they are one.
The motivation for the event is based on an experience Maxwell had two days after the tragic shooting of police officers in Dallas. He views a video of 1500 people singing “Hallelujah”. (video found here).
Maxwell said people think of their city in physical terms—streets, water, sewer—but people should have an emotional connection to their city. He stated that Sulphur Springs is a special city but this event will add to that experience.
Tira News
by Jan Vaughn
Matthew Dodd celebrated his 8th birthday with a Halloween themed party and a haunted woods hayride on Saturday night, October 29th. He had a large crowd of friends and family to join in the fun, food, and activities. His grandmother, Joyce Dodd, reports, “The decorations were fun and festive, with lots of ghosts, goblins, and spooky music. The adults had as much or more fun than the kids.”
Jaidyn Joslin and her cousin, Elisabeth Yager, celebrated their 8th birthdays together, at Elisabeth’s home, on Saturday, October 15th. They were both born on 10-9-8 (October 9th, 2008). Guests enjoyed lots of fun and games and treats!
Wesley Weir enjoyed “My Heroes” bowling on Saturday. He went to the Fall Carnival in Cooper that night and had a great time!
The North Hopkins volleyball team just finished a great season and the basketball teams are gearing up for hoop action, which begins this month. Go Panthers!
North Hopkins Little Dribblers registration is going on this month. There will be a Little Dribblers meeting on November 28th in the old gym at North Hopkins School. See the school website for the registration form and more information.
North Hopkins PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) will have a meeting on November 10th at 6:00 p.m.
Tiffany Vaughn and I enjoyed a “girls day out”, shopping in Rockwall last Saturday.
Be sure to mark your calendar for the Tira Community Christmas Party, which is scheduled for Saturday, December 10th, at 6:00 p.m. Brisket will be provided and residents will bring side dishes and desserts to share. A brief Christmas program will follow the meal. We are, also, expecting Santa to stop by and visit with the kids. Make plans to come spend some time with your neighbors.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Man Admitted Intoxicated on Meth at Time of Arrest
When Hopkins County Deputy Shaw served a warrant on Christopher David Bockemehl, 26, he was found at the probation office. The warrant was for Delivery of Marijuana over a quarter of an ounce but less than 5 lbs in a Drug Free Zone.
At the time of the arrest, Bockemehl informed the officer that he was intoxicated on methamphetamine at the time of the arrest.
Bockemehl is in Hopkins County Jail.
Mother Brandishes Knife in Assault on Daughter
A caller to Hopkins County Sheriff’s dispatch said an assault had taken place involving a knife. When deputies responded to the assault, on County Road 1218, they found a small laceration above the subject’s eye.
The deputy was told that Georgia Allen George, 54, of Brashear had brandished a knife while assaulting her daughter. The daughter also stated that George had thrown the knife at her causing the knife to stick into the wall of the residence. Photos of the scene, victim, and George were taken. The daughter also filed an emergency protective order against her mother.
George is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Aggravated Assault Family with a Weapon. She is being held on a $50,000 bond.
Hopkins County Grand Jury November Indictments
November 4, 2016 – Thursday, 23 indictments were handed down by a Hopkins County Grand Jury for the month of November. Eight of the indictments were sealed awaiting the arrest of the indicted individuals.
Among those indicted:
William Pearce Ewton was indicted on one count of Burglary of a Building and one count of Theft of Property over $30,000 but less than $150,000. When a tractor almost hit a vehicle on Spur 71 in Sulphur Springs, 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. William Pearce 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. Ewton was arrested and charged with Theft of Property over $30,000 but under $150,000, Burglary of a Building, Theft of Property over $100 but under $750, and Public Intoxication.
Timothy Dale Moody was indicted for one count of Retaliation.
Cathy Darlene Culpepper was indicted for Hinder Apprehension or Prosecution of a Known Felon. Three individuals were arrested shortly after Hopkins County Deputies knocked on the door of a residence on FM 1870. Deputies went to the house in search of a wanted person. When the female resident answered the door, she stated that she had not seen the individual sought in over a week. Deputies searched the residence and found a locked door. She stated that the door should not be locked because no one was in the room. The wanted subject opened the door. Juan Domingo Ramirez, 26, of Como was behind the locked door along with another male. Ramirez was wanted for Violation of Probation Injury to Child. Cathy Darlene Culpepper, 44, was arrested for Hindering Apprehension, a Felony 3. Both are in Hopkins County Jail Wednesday morning. The third individual was also arrested on a misdemeanor charge.
Cory Wayne Thompson was indicted for Evading Arrest Detention with Vehicle or Watercraft.
Michael Carl Spradling was indicted for Fraudulent Use/Possession Identifying Information. A traffic stop by Sulphur Springs Police Friday afternoon found Michael Carl Spradling, 37, driving while license invalid. However, also in the auto was a zipper pouch containing over 15 but less than 50 various identifying information. Spradling was arrested for Driving While License Invalid and Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information over 10 items but under 50 items.
Harold Joseph Marcantel
Harold Joseph Marcantel was indicted for Possession Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 4-grams but less than 200-grams. A Cumby Police officer noted a damaged driver side tail lamp on a gray minivan that passed the officer Saturday afternoon around 1:30 near the 111 mile marker on I-30. A traffic stop for the violation followed and opened the door to much more. When the traffic stop was made, the driver was moving erratically in the driver’s seat and reaching into the passenger side seat. The officer asked Marcantel, 52, of Cedar Hill to exit the auto. When he did exit, in plain sight was a pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana. With permission to search the vehicle, a small black baggie containing a substance suspended to be methamphetamine. The substance weighted approximately 6.1-grams.
Sharon Donice Simmons was indicted for Possession Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 4-grams but less than 200-grams.
Karla Louise Vasquez Weathers was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 1-gram but less than 4 grams.
Stephen Paul Hawrylak was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 1-gram but less than 4 grams. At 12:05 a.m. on FM 69 at CR 2426, a traffic stop found the female drive extremely nervous and the male passenger sweating profusely. Asked if contraband was in the vehicle, both answered there was not. The Hopkins County Deputy then asked consent to search and did not receive it. He then called for Sulphur Springs Police K-9 Unit and the dog made a positive hit on the vehicle. In the center console of the vehicle was found a purple Crown Royal bag containing a clear crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine. Both were arrested at that time and asked if they had contraband on their person. Again, they denied having anything on them. At Hopkins County Jail they were taken from the patrol unit into the receiving area. The female dropped a small vial containing clear crystal-like residue that field tested to be methamphetamine. Both Weathers and Hawrylak were arrested in the stop.
Lester Eugene Ivy, Jr. was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 1-gram but less than 4-grams.
Christopher Wayne Paris was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 1-gram but less than 4-grams. Christopher Wayne Paris, 36, of Nash Texas was stopped at the 127-mile marker on I-30 near Loop 301E Thursday. He was found to be in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine.
Those indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram include: Martin Sanchez, Jr. and Tammy Leann Crouch,
Sulphur Bluff Boys Cross Country Going to State
Sulphur Bluff girls and boys competed at region cross country this past weekend.
Miller Grove News
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St. Augustine Grass Lawn Problems By Mario Villarino
Recently I have visited with several homeowners related to st. Agustinegrass lawns having problems.
Expanding, irregular patches of dead or stunted grass surrounded by a halo of yellowing, dying grass can have several causes including drought, fungal infections or chinch bugs. The “islands” of dying grass cause by chinch bugs tend to increase in size and merge as insect numbers increase.
Damage can develop rapidly, especially in sunny locations during hot, dry weather. Chinch bug damage can be confused with certain lawn diseases or other physiological disorders. For example, brown patch is a common disease affecting the leaf blades of St. Augustinegrass. Brown patch symptoms, however, usually occur in a circular or semi-circular pattern, as opposed to the irregular-shaped areas of dead and dying grass that result from chinch bug feeding. Chinch numbers of the insects themselves is the best proof of chinch bug damage. Too little or too much water also can cause chinch bug problems. Chinch bugs prefer hot, dry environments. Dry weather enhances survival of chinch bug nymphs and eggs by reducing the incidence of disease within chinch bug populations.
Also, drought-stressed lawns are more susceptible to chinch bug injury. On the other hand, over-watering causes saturated, oxygen-deprived soils that cannot sustain the microbes needed to decompose thatch. St. Augustinegrass lawns should be watched closely during the summer for signs of drought stress. The lawn should be watered immediately when edges of grass blades begin to curl, grass fails to spring back quickly when walked on, or the turf begins to have a dull bluish-gray color.
Due to the various soil types and depths in Texas, the amount of water needed will vary. First determine whether a problem truly exists when considering pesticides for chinch bug control. An easy method to detect chinch bugs is using a soap-water mix (a mixture of dishwashing detergent (one spoon) in water (one gallon) drenched in the affected area of the lawn. Chinch bugs do not like the detergent in the mix and will literally “crawl” away from the drenched area. Be ready to observant and look carefully for them immediately after drenching the area. If your neighborhood is prone to chinch bug problems, inspect your lawn weekly during the spring, summer and fall. Look for off-color areas, especially in direct sun, and along sidewalks and driveways. When there are numerous chinch bugs, they will cause grass to yellow. You can often find them by parting the grass at the edge of affected areas and by examining the soil and base of the turf. You should check areas with suspected infestations several times. When chinch bugs are numerous, you might see them on leaves or scurrying about on adjacent sidewalks during the day.
Insecticides can prevent further injury when chinch bugs are abundant enough to cause visible damage. A variety of liquid and granular insecticides is available for chinch bug control. Granular insecticides can be applied with a standard fertilizer spreader and irrigated lightly (1⁄8- to 1⁄4-inch of water) to activate the insecticide. Drop-type spreaders are good for keeping insecticide granules from scattering into gutters, sidewalks and driveways. There they can be washed into storm drains and streams which is why you should sweep up and properly reapply any granules landing in such sites. Liquid sprays are usually applied using a hose-end sprayer that can apply 15 to 20 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet. To ensure even coverage, spray back and forth across the same area.
Watering the lawn before application can help the pesticide penetrate the turf, but irrigation is not recommended following application of liquid insecticides. Use spot treatments where chinch bugs are restricted to isolated areas of the lawn. Treat the off-color turf and all surrounding infested areas. Inspect the site every 3 to 5 days for at least 2 weeks to determine if the infestation is under control. Spot treatments help prevent environmental contamination. They also minimize the impact of pesticides on beneficial insects. For more information in this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
