Reckless Driver Complaint Lands Man in Jail
June 8, 2023 – A Wednesday call to emergency services alerted Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies to a reckless driver on Highway 19 north of Sulphur Springs.
The caller stated a south bound GMC Sonoma was swerving all over the road. The caller was able to relay the licence plate information to dispatch. A Deputy was able to locate the pickup on West Loop 301 and verify the tag information. A traffic stop was initiated.
A strong odor of marijuana emitted from the vehicle as deputies approached. The sole occupant, Joshua Scott Morris, a 43 year-old resident of Sulphur Springs, was asked to exit the vehicle. A search of his person revealed and a yellow pill vial filled with Ecstasy tabs inside one pocket, and methamphetamine in another pocket.
While searching his vehicle, deputies found THC wax as well. Morris, who stated he works a “marijuana dispensary” located in Oklahoma, was arrested. His vehicle was impounded. His charges are enhanced because of the proximity to the Barbara Bush Primary School Zone. He is charged charged with:
1 481.115(D) POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
1 481.116(C) POSS CS PG 2 >= 1G < 4G
1 481.116(B) POSS CS PG 2 < 1G
This not the first time Morris has been in Hopkins County Jail. In 2015 he was arrested for a Christmas Day assault of his disabled mother. See that story here. His was indicted by a Grand Jury in 2016 for his crime.
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.
Hopkins County United Way Newest Board Members and 2023-2024 Board President
June 7, 2023- Hopkins County United Way introduced their newest board members during their meeting Wednesday. The new members are as follows: Jessica McInnis, KK McKenzie, Chelsea Mayes and Lyndsay Palmer.
Also during this meeting it was announced that the serving board president will be Emily Glass, serving 2023 through 2024. Campaign Co-Chairs for this year’s campaign are Jessica McInnis and KK McKenzie.
Members of the Budget and Allocation Committee were also named for the upcoming year. They are David Burns, Larry Crowson, Emily Glass, Mike Jumper, Jessica McInnis, KK McKenzie and Lyndsay Palmer.
PJC Coding Camp Spots Still Open In Sulphur Springs, Greenville
A robotics coding camp offered at Paris Junior College still has openings in the Greenville and Sulphur Springs free one-week camps. Made possible by the Texas Workforce Commission, the camps are for students entering the sixth, seventh, or eighth grades in the 2023-24 school year.
Openings are available in the June 26-30 and July 24-28 camps at the PJC- Sulphur Springs Center and the July 10-14 and July 31-August 4 camps at the PJC- Greenville Center. Applications must be received ten days before the first day of the selected camp. Important forms and the camp application may be found at https://www.parisjc.edu/downloads/coding-camp-flyer.pdf.
The Robotics Coding Camp will allow students to explore the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. By using a snap-together robotics system, students will be able to design, build and code an endless variety of robots; watch code come alive on a physical robot and apply key STEM skills. By familiarizing students with coding, programming sensors and automation, they hone critical computational thinking skills needed to succeed.
Enrollment is limited and priority is given to foster youth, students with disabilities, students from low income families, and students from populations underserved in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Campers will work with Sphero Bolt robots and RVR+ programmable robots each camp day. They’ll be able to take the RVR+ robots home after the camp ends. Those may later be built upon and customized at the family’s discretion.
Camps are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students may be dropped off at 8:45 a.m. and picked up by 3:15 p.m. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance; parents or guardians will be notified if their child has been selected.
For questions or additional information, please contact 903-782-0447. The application may be emailed to [email protected], faxed to 903-782-0443, or dropped off at the PJC Continuing Education Department in Paris or at the PJC- Greenville or PJC-Sulphur Springs by the deadline of 10 days in advance of each camp’s start.
Couple Charged with Felony Possession
June 7, 2023 – A unemployed Texas couple, out for a drive near Coleman lake, are now in Hopkins County Jail.
A Hopkins County Deputy noticed a vehicle traveling east on Main Street in Sulphur Springs around 8 pm Tuesday. The vehicle did not display license plates. A traffic stop was initiated.
The driver, TIFFANY DAWN BOYKIN age 34 of Leonard, TX, advised the deputy that she did not have a driving license. The passenger, CHRISTOPHER RAY HARDMAN age 43 of Greenville, TX, advised his license was invalid.
A strong odor of marijuana wafted from the silver Dodge Journey. The driver indicated that there was a blunt inside the car. Additional deputies arrived on scene. The couple exited the vehicle and a probable cause search was conducted.
A backpack was located in the rear seat. Inside was over 5 grams of methamphetamine, a glass pipe and a bag of marijuana.
The couple were placed in handcuffs and read their rights. Neither claimed ownership of the drugs. Their SUV was impounded. They are both charged with:
1 481.115(D) POSS CS PG 1/1-B >=4G<200G
This is not the first time Boykins was been in jail. Boykin was in arrested in Hunt County just after Christmas last year and charged with possession of controlled substance. In 2019 she was arrested in Hunt County and charged with BURGLARY OF HABITATION; FUGITIVE OUT OF STATE.
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.
Sulphur Springs City Council Swears In New Member, John Sellers Reselected As Mayor
June 7, 2023- The Sulphur Springs City Council, during Tuesday’s meeting, has sworn in new member Tyler Law to position 6 as well as swearing in John Sellers to his position 7 for which he was reeelected. Both Law and Sellers then took their places on the council for the June regular meeting.
Also during this month’s meeting, council members voted on nominating a new mayor for the city of Sulphur Springs, The nominee selected was John Sellers. Council members voted unanimously to select Sellers as the Mayor of Sulphur Springs
Matter of Balance Class Begins June 22, 2023
Chamber Connection – June 7 By Butch Burney
Join us for a fun and interactive Business After Hours this month at Northeast Texas Gellyball from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 15.
NET Gellyball has not only the paintball-type game but also axe-throwing and other fun activities.
Business After Hours is a great way to interact and network with other business professionals and members of the community. You don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend and there is no cost.
NET Gellyball is located at 1151 South Broadway in the Spring Village Shopping Center.
Leadership Sulphur Springs
Even if you think you know Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County, you are sure to learn a lot through Leadership Sulphur Springs, which is back on this year, with applications online! The leadership class is for Hopkins County men and women who want to learn and become more invested in their local community. It’s an intensive nine-month program that immerses the participants in the business and government of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. The tentative dates for this year’s program are attached to the application, which can be accessed at HopkinsChamber.org.
The registration fee is $500 and that covers the cost of the food, drinks, transportation, etc. for the year.
Juneteenth Pageant
Sulphur Springs annual Juneteenth pageant will take place from 4-7 p.m. June 10, with the theme “A Night of Black Excellence” at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
The pageant has registrants from one year old to 18 years old, and both boys and girls have signed up to run,.
Tickets are $10 both in advance and at the door. Tickets can be purchased from participants or from pageant coordinators.
For tickets or further information contact: LaShan Taylor at 214-434-7212, Tish Debase at 903- 335-6980 or Nitri Adams at 903-440-4716.
Youth Summer Camp
Registration has begun for Explorer Summer Camp 2023, hosted by East End Allegiance – Our Youth in Sulphur Springs.
In collaboration with The Candle Studios, The Plant Niche, and Baked+ Brewed, this interactive camp promises to engage and inspire youth through a variety of enriching activities.
The camp sessions will kick off on July 10 and continue for the next four Mondays from 5 pm to 7:30 pm each session.
The registration fee is $60 per child, and there will be multi-family discounts to make the camp more accessible to all. Scholarships and sponsorship vouchers are available to families who may require financial assistance. For information on obtaining a scholarship, contact Program Director Bridgette Cooper at 972-802-8705 or [email protected].
SIGN-UP: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45A9AD2EAAFBC43-eeaexplorers
Journey to Joy
Camp Brave Heart, a grief camp for children ages 6-12 sponsored by Cypress Basin Hospice, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 22 and 23 in Sulphur Springs. The theme is Journey to Joy: Navigating Life Together.
For more information, visit cbhospice.org.
Wedding Expo
The DIY Wedding Expo is coming back to the Civic Center from noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 23. For more information on sponsorships or vendor spaces, contact Tracey Treadway at 214-683-7669 or [email protected].
Ribbon Cutting
The Diamond at Star E Ranch Event Venue hosted a ribbon cutting at noon on Friday, June 2, at 13342 FM 1567 in the Miller Grove community. Please welcome them to the community.
Slaughter’s Barbecue hosted a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, June 30, at their new temporary location on Magnolia Street. Visit them here while the nearby restaurant is being renovated.
The Dairy Festival will have a ribbon cutting at noon Friday, June 9, on the downtown plaza. Please help us open the 2023 Dairy Festival at this event.
The Yard at the VFW will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Wednesday, June 14, at the post on 1 Veterans Drive. Please join us for this event.
Business of the Week
Hopkins County Abstract is the Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Week. See their business story and profile on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Congratulations and thanks to Hopkins County Abstract.
Ted And Donna Lyon Center For Gamebird Research Planned For Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Commerce will soon be home to an innovative gamebird research and education facility, thanks to a historic gift from alumnus Ted B. Lyon and his wife, Donna. Construction of the Ted and Donna Lyon Center for Gamebird Research at Texas A&M University-Commerce will begin in 2024.
In December 2022, the Lyons gifted $1 million to the university—the largest all-cash gift with immediate impact in university history—to support their shared passion for wildlife conservation.
Dr. Kelly Reyna, associate professor and director of the Quail Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University-Commerce, will serve as the gamebird center’s director.
He said the Lyons’ donation will support several gamebird research and education initiatives at Texas A&M University-Commerce, including separate endowments for constructing and operating the new center and funding gamebird research.
“The Lyons’ generous gift will create a world-class research facility and an endowed professorship that will position Texas A&M University-Commerce to recruit and retain high-quality faculty and provide resources to promote innovative gamebird research,” Reyna said. “Their gift will also establish the Ted and Donna Lyon Scholars program benefiting Texas A&M University-Commerce students who are committed to gamebird conservation and sustainability.”
Reyna said the research center—projected to open in early 2025—will be located 1.5 miles south of campus, “where the uplands meet the wetlands.” The center will include a state-of-the-art quail research and production facility, a wetland research station, large classrooms and meeting spaces, wetland and upland nature trails, and office space for gamebird faculty and students.
“Gamebirds are vitally important to all Americans, not just hunters,” Reyna said. “Not only are gamebirds the basis of a multi-billion-dollar hunting industry, but gamebird habitat also filters our air, cleans our water, recharges aquifers, and sequesters carbon. These basic human necessities make restoring gamebirds and their habitat a priority for Texas and the U.S.”
Ted and Donna have deep ties to Northeast Texas. Born and raised in Terrell, Texas, the high school sweethearts married after graduation. While Ted worked as a police officer, Donna worked as an executive assistant for Southwestern Bell. Their shared commitment and work ethic helped Ted earn his bachelor’s degree in political science from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University-Commerce) and a Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University School of Law.
Their unrelenting stewardship of wildlife and natural spaces inspired them to create a legacy of conservation that matches the center’s mission to foster sustainable gamebird populations through innovative research, education and collaboration.
Texas A&M University-Commerce President Mark Rudin said the university is proud to partner with the Lyons to ensure future generations enjoy gamebird hunting and connecting with nature.
“It is a joy to know the Lyons and witness their genuine passion for Texas A&M University-Commerce and our students,” Rudin said. “With leaders like Ted and Donna, the university will continue to advance research that accelerates gamebird conservation across Texas and the nation. I know their generosity and passion will inspire others to join the university and contribute to the Lyon Center for Gamebird Research.”
Visit www.tamuc.edu/Quail to learn more about quail research at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Explore opportunities to support Texas A&M University-Commerce research and other initiatives at www.tamuc.edu/Giving.
Delta County Sheriff’s Searching For Car And Driver Involved In Fatal Hit-And-Run
June 6, 2023- The Delta County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a car and driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run on the morning of Monday, June 5.
The Sheriff’s office has stated that the incident occurred just after 3:30 am in the 1800 block of FM 1532, west of Antioch.
One person was, unfortunately found deceased at the scene. It was determined that the vehicle that struck the victim did not stop and left the scene.
Sheriffs stated that the vehicle parts found at the scene showed that the vehicle that struck the victim is a Nissan Altima between the years 2001 and 2005.
The department adds that the car will likely have fresh damage to its driver’s side, front bumper, and/or the driver’s side front fender area.
Anyone with information on the crash, the car or the driver, can contact the Delta County Sheriff’s Office at (903)395-2146.
16-Year-Old Hawkins High School Student Killed In Crash
June 6, 2023- A 16-year-old East Texas boy died in a car crash over the weekend.
Jaykob A. Dobb, of Hawkins, was driving south on FM 14 when his vehicle drifted across the rod’s center line and into the oncoming northbound lane, according to Texas Department of Public Safety preliminary investigation.
Dodd was pronounced dead on the scene, DPS said. He was wearing a seatbelt.
Dodd was a Hawkins ISD student, the district confirmed in a Facebook post Sunday night.
“We send our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Jaykob Dodd. We stand by you during this difficult time, and our hearts go out to everyone in his family and our HISD school family,” the district said.
Hawkins ISD will have counselors on hand Monday for any student and staff in need.
“Whether you need someone to talk to or just someone to listen, we are here for you,” the district said.
The middle/high school postponed summer school Monday and was set to resume the summer learning program on Tuesday.
The driver of the other vehicle, Sabino Santoy, 65, of Ore City, suffered incapacitating injuries and was transported to the hospital. Santoy’s passenger, Maria Santoy, 63, of Ore City, was also taken to the hospital but suffered non-incapacitating injuries, according to DPS. Both were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
Weather conditions were clear and roads were dry, DPS said.
