Northeast Texas Rural Transportation Summit Set for November 9
The Sulphur Springs Hopkins County EDC and the ArkTex Council of Governments are hosting a Northeast Texas Rural Transportation Summit to be held on Wednesday, November 9 at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
The event is being held in an effort to discuss our region’s transportation needs and how best to meet them. Every city and county within the region has identified needed highway improvements including safety, increased capacity maintenance and design.
There are many factors limiting our region’s ability to build newer and better roads, with lack of funding topping the list.
Tickets for the event are $25 and include admission and lunch, and can be purchased from the Sulphur Springs EDC, or RSVP with them by calling 903/439-0101. Deadline for ticket purchase is November 4th The event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Local elected officials, Paris and Atlanta area TxDOT representatives along with officials from TxDOT in Austin will discuss our region’s long-term transportation needs. State Senators and Representatives will also be making presentations.
The goal of this summit is to share communication with TxDot and the region the common goals for improving our roadways. Your input is valuable. During this event you will have the opportunity to speak directly with TxDOT officials and participate in a panel discussion with state officials from the Northeast part of the state.
Six Sentenced in Eighth Judicial District Court Wednesday
Six pleas were made Wednesday morning at Eighth Judicial District Court, according to the District Attorney’s office. Court was held in the courtroom at the Hopkins County jail.
Pleas include:
Shayne Lappin’s probation for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 Less Than 1-Gram was revoked. He was sentenced to seven months state jail.
Jeremy Sharp pled to 12 months state jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance, PG1 less than a gram.
Taylor Connaster pled to 6 months state jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1 less than a gram.
Francisco Velasco was committed to county jail for 30 days as a sanction for not paying his probation fees.
Brittany Bone pled to 3 years TDCJ for delivery CS PG 1 one to four grams.
Jose Wis-Soto Rios pled to 180 days county jail for PCS PG1 less than 1 gram.
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Layne Shares Music, Story at TGIF Recovery Friday
Her life hit bottom over a decade ago. She felt lost, confused, and wondered why she was even breathing. Yet, for Heather Layne, her lowest point became her turning point. She will be in concert 7 p.m. Friday night, October 28 at T. G. I. F. Recovery at New Beginnings Church, 155 North Jackson St. in Sulphur Springs.
Layne’s music if filled with feeling and compassion that comes from the soul. Seen and hear over television and Christian and Country Music Radio, she has a heart for the broken. Her voice, music and story reach people from all walks of life.
Layne said that as she worked the 12 steps of recovery, God worked in her heart and her life started to untangle.
The public is invited to the free admission event.
No Problems Found in Local Electronic Early Voting
County Clerk Debbie Shirley stated that no problems are being found in the electronic voting process locally. All votes after Friday will be cast electronically. In November 2015, Hopkins County qualified to allow voters to cast ballots at any polling place in the county. That mandated that votes would only be cast electronically. Only ballot by mail votes are the exception. Friday is the last day for the election officials to receive a ballot by mail or paper ballot. Paper ballots may be mailed, faxed, or emailed. Paper ballots cannot be received over the counter at the clerk’s office.
Shirley reminds those voting electronically to go all the way to the end of the ballot to the summary page to be assured their vote has been recorded properly. She said, “If you have any questions, do not push the red button. Ask a worker for assistance if there is a problem.”
Early voting continues through the end of next week. This weekend, the early voting place will be open 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Sunday, October 31, one may vote early from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.
Sample ballots are found on the Hopkins County website.
Parking at the new Jefferson Street Parking lot, accessed off Rosemont Street, is being used by many voters.
Sweet Thangs Catering Co Open for Business in Cumby, TX
What started out as a place for the youth to go and relax has now become a successful business named Sweet Thangs Catering Company. This family owned and operated business is based in Cumby, Texas. They do a variety of events from Birthday Dinners to Sporting Events. Thanksgiving Dinner orders are being taken right now. Their motto is “You Think It, We Make It”. Sweet Thangs can be found on Facebook, you can call them at 903-994-2188 or 903-307-9731, and email them at [email protected].
Game Day: Lady Cats at Marshall
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team can wrap up the runner up spot in the district with a win at Marshall Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Cats come into the contest with the district’s second best record at 8-3. The Lady Cats cannot catch first place Hallsville but they are at least one game ahead of the rest of the district heading into p[lay Tuesday night at Marshall.
When the Lady Cats and the Lady Mavericks played in Wildcats Gym back on September 30, the Lady Cats took a 3-0 win. The score was 25-13, 25-25-11 and 25-8. If the Lady Cats finish in second place, they will face Forney in a bi-district playoff match. Forney defeated the Lady Cats in two tournaments held early this season. A possible site for next week’s playoff game is Edgewood. To prep for the playoffs, the Lady Cats will play a warm up match Friday at 5 p.m. at Emory Rains.
Winnsboro Police Report October 17-23
Winnsboro Police made three arrests, investigated one accident, responded to 133 calls for service and issued 57 citations and 36 warnings during the seven day period October 17-23.
Jessica Bentle, 29, of Winnsboro, was arrested October 17 for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, over 4-grams less than 200-grams in a drug free zone.
Candice Boriski, 38, of Hawkins, was arrested October 17 on a Wood County warrant.
Sabrina Davis, 25, of Vivian, Louisiana, was arrested October 18 on a Cass County Warrant.
A north bound vehicle on FM 852 was approaching FM 515 when it ran a red light and was struck by a southbound vehicle on FM 852.
Country Club Cooking Team Qualified for World Food Championship
Can you make a steak that’s worth $100,000? Sulphur Springs Country Club certainly thinks they can, and they are making plans right now to prove it. SSCC successfully qualified for the world’s largest event in Food Sport – the World Food Championships (WFC). From Nov 9-15th, SSCC will be competing for a $300,000 prize purse and the title of 2016 World Food Champion in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Sulphur Springs Country Club’s team, sponsored by US Foods, is one of 430 from across the world who will be seeking the ultimate food crown. SSCC won the chance to compete at WFC by winning NetBio 2015 Cattleman’s Rib Eye Round-Up. As a result, they will now have a shot for a major payday at WFC, where $100,000 is awarded for the best dish overall and $10,000 is awarded in nine different categories: BBQ, Chili, Dessert, Bacon, Sandwich, Seafood, Burger, Steak, and Recipe.
“Winning my category would be an incredible feat,” said Executive Chef Matt Mayfield. “But winning the whole tournament with the best dish? That would be a dream come true!”
You can cheer on Sulphur Springs Country Club by following them on Facebook or following the results at www.worldfoodchampionships.com. There’s also a good chance that the SSCC Cook-Off Team will be seen on TV, as this event is filmed for national cable television each year. It has been seen on the A&E Network as well as the Discovery Network.
The World Food Championships is the largest competition in Food Sport, where champions of previous events convene annually for a chance at winning the Ultimate Food Fight and a share of more than $300,000 in cash and prizes. Now in its fifth year, The World Food Championships platform ranges from live-event competitions to a robust multimedia platform that helps pro chefs, home cooks, and competition teams achieve food fame and fortune as TV’s next big food stars.
Hospital District Selects Folwell for District Manager; Hears Reports on Physician Recruitment
Hopkins County Hospital District Board authorized the remount of Medic 6, heard reports regarding nursing homes owned, and employed Ron Folwell as Manager for the district during their meeting Monday night in the hospital conference room.
Medic 6 will mount the emergency medical service box on a new chassis and be restored. According to EMS, a remount on a Medic unit will be done on a yearly basis. Currently, there are seven units. Medic 7 will be a total replacement next year due to its age and mileage. The remount is a cost saver for the district.
According to new district manager Ron Folwell, the Standard and Poor’s bond rating for the district has improved from a B to an A- rating. The improvement is credited to the partnership agreement with CHRISTUS. He stated he would be meeting with Moody’s soon to discuss improving rates there. Folwell, elected to serve as district manager during the Monday night meeting, stated that he has spent the past two weeks learning people and their roles, establishing an office in the EMS building, and moving through the learning curve regarding the district’s expenses and income.
Paul Harvey, CHRISTUS Mother Francis Sulphur Springs CEO said Physician recruitment is underway. He stated a GI physician who is currently a part of a large group in Atlanta, Georgia is considering a regional practice for both Sulphur Springs and Winnsboro hospitals. Harvey said the recruitment for physicians would be directed by the CHRISTUS system in Tyler to lower expenses of recruitment. New contracts are in the works for local physicians associated with CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. A new General Surgeon is also being sought to assist Dr. Scout McDearmont, who is currently the only General Surgeon. Harvey stated that Dr. Robert Lenington would provide back up until an additional surgeon was located. He also noted that the residency program for doctors would begin with the first resident in February. Four residents per year will be in Sulphur Springs as the program develops. He stated the doctors will do one year in Tyler and then be assigned to Sulphur Springs for two years.
Harvey also said a resurvey of the hospital is underway and an action plan has been turned in. He stated the hospital staff has accomplished much in the past few months. The resurvey will take a period of three days and he hopes it will take place before Christmas. He stated that the hospital will have paid Greely, a hospital consultant firm that has been assisting the hospital make corrections for compliance during the past year, will be paid approximately $2-million for their services.
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