Tenacity for Justice Renews Restitution Order
Tenacity for justice served proved true for the District Attorney’s office Wednesday morning in Eight Judicial District Court. District Attorney Will Ramsay, knowing that a 10-year probation was nearing an end and that restitution, ordered as a condition of probation, had not been made, filed a motion to continue the order of probation while having the probationer accept a State Jail Felony.
In March 2006 Kathy Lynn Haygood pled guilty to Theft more than $20,000, less than $100,000. She was given a 10-year probated sentence then. Wednesday following the decision of District Judge Eddie Northcutt, Haygood is under order by the court to make restitution of over $57,000.
Alliance Bank Sponsors Watermelon Eating Contest
July 2nd is the day the 2016 Watermelon Eating Contest sponsored by Alliance Bank. The contest will start at 6:30 p.m. on Celebration Plaza prior to the Independence Day Concert.
The Rules and Regulations Below:
- All hands must remain behind the back during the contest.
- Each competitor will be assigned a quarter of watermelon and will have one minute to consume it down to the rind. The winner will be the first person to finish their quarter of watermelon. If no one finishes the watermelon, the judges will decide who ate the most and will announce the winner.
- If any seed spitting is deemed necessary by the competitor, it must take place in the designated “seed-spitting-area” which will be a plate next to your watermelon. Competitors many not spit the seeds at other competitors or their watermelon.
- Any regurgitation or spitting out of any kind will be cause for disqualification.
- In the event of a tie, there will be a sudden death watermelon eating challenge.
- There will be three groups of competitors Under 12, Men, and Women.
- All competitors will be selected at random by answering Independence Day Trivia on the day of the competition.
- All competitors must fill out on entry form/ liability waiver. All children competing in the under 12 division must have their parent or guardian signature as well.
- Prizes will be awarded to the winners.
The entry form can be found on KSSTRadio.com
Recovered Items Just Some of Items Taken in County Burglary; Barker Charged
A burglary in the Arbala area has led Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigators to the internet, to Van Zandt County and today to Wood County for further questioning of a suspect who is shown pawning the items stolen. Three of the items, a wedding ring, a tennis bracelet, and a Nikon camera have been recovered and returned to the owner, according to Investigator Dennis Findley.
Other items taken in the burglary of a habitation were guns, knives, and additional jewelry. County investigators began follow-up on the burglary by going to an online site that is designed to assist law enforcement to track pawned items, according to Findley. There they found the items stolen and contacted the pawn shop with the identifying information on the items. They also learned the name of the individual who had pawned the items.
Findley said that the name Kenneth Shane Hinson was well known to local investigators. Although Hinson is not from Hopkins County, his activities have crossed the county line on several occasions. Findley traveled to the pawn shop where the items were found and viewed video of Hinson and a female companion, Sara Nicole Barker. Barker, 27, was transferred to Hopkins County Jail from Van Zandt County Jail and faces charges of Burglary of a Habitation, a Felony 2. Her bond in Hopkins County was set at $20,000.
It is now a he said she said situation as the story is told by Hinson or Barker. Hinson said he paid a friend $100 for the items he had pawned. Barker’s story is quite different. She told Findley that he gave her the tennis bracelet as a present and had also given her the wedding ring but she gave it back since it was not “from him.” She said that Hinson told her his uncle in Sulphur Springs had given the items to him. According to Barker, Hinson had taken her to his sister’s house where she saw the exact same items missing in the burglary.
Today Findley goes back to Wood County for another interview with Hinson. Findley calls Barker cooperative.
PJC Strengthens Relationship With Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Paris Junior College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University strengthened their relationship Tuesday with the signing of an agreement that will assist transfer students.
This 2+2 articulation agreement allows a seamless transition for students transferring from PJC into seven additional programs at Southeastern: Chemistry, Criminal Justice Major-Minor, Elementary Education, Hospitality Management, Recreation, Spanish, and Special Education.
Signing the agreement during a ceremony Tuesday were PJC president Dr. Pamela Anglin and Southeastern president Sean Burrage.
“Paris Junior College values our agreements with Southeastern and is proud to promote the transfer opportunity to our students,” said Dr. Anglin. “Today’s agreement provides additional articulated transfer opportunities for PJC students. It is good for our students and good for the region.”
“Paris Junior College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University are all about providing opportunities for students,’’ Burrage said. “That is what this articulation agreement is all about. It provides the opportunity for more students to pursue their higher education goals. We are proud to be a part of that.’’
Paris Junior College serves over 5,000 students in northeast Texas in Lamar, Red River, Delta, Hunt and Hopkins counties and has provided quality education since 1924. PJC provides academic transfer and workforce training classes and programs. For more information, go to www.parisjc.edu.
Southeastern has similar articulation agreements with 16 other junior/community colleges in Oklahoma and Texas.
With an enrollment of 4,000 students, Southeastern’s main campus is located in Durant, Oklahoma, with a branch campus in McCurtain County (Idabel, Oklahoma). Various programs are offered at seven other locations in Oklahoma and Texas.
The University, which offers 38 bachelor’s degree programs and 13 master’s degree programs, is nationally known for such fields of study as Aviation, Business, Elementary Education, and Occupational Safety & Health.
Trinity Harvest Church Begins Construction On New Sign
Trinity Harvest Church, 1150 E Shannon Rd, begins construction on a new LED message sign. The sign is part of their updating and modernizing the church facilities. The new sign built by Sign Express should be completely installed this week or next week at the latest.
The church is also undergoing construction on a new children and youth building behind the main establishment.
For more information on Trinity Harvest Church they invite you to attend their 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning service or 7 p.m. evening service. Also you can contact them through their website at www.thcog.org or download their mobile app trinityharvestcog.
Gerald Sentenced to 3 Years in Plea Bargain
June 21, 2016 – Wes Gerald, 41, pled guilty to failure to appear and bail jumping Tuesday afternoon in 8th Judicial District Court. Gerald was sentenced to three (3) years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
As part of his plea agreement other charges including Aggravated Assault in Retaliation, possession of drug paraphernalia, and engaging in organized crime were dropped.
Gerald was one of four were arrested Monday, November 17th, 2015 when an undercover buy-bust created the necessity for the Special Crimes Unit to rush a house located at 734 I-30 East. The four arrested had assaulted an individual whom they originally thought would make a buy but was instead an informant. The informant was assaulted and his communication devices including cell phone were taken from him by force. The Special Crimes Unit rescued the informant and arrested three males, Wes Gerald, 40, Caleb James Bryant, 21, August-Adams, and a female, Morgan Leigh Oboyle, 23, who were all charged at that time with engaging in organized criminal activity.
Wildcats Seek to Earn Funds for Orlando Trip
Fund raising is underway as the Sulphur Springs High School Athletic Department attempts to get varsity and JV players to Orlando, Florida for a football game in early September. When the trip was announced in January, the amount needed for each athlete was estimated to be $1200. Tuesday morning, Wildcats Athletic Director and Football Coach Greg Owens said about 80% of the athletes are right where they should be with fund raising. He added there were perhaps a dozen or so struggling to raise funds.
Coach Owens expressed appreciation to lots of members of the community who have called requesting help from the athletes. He said some players and a coach would be working in a man’s field soon. Coach Owens said some athletes have started Wildcat Lawns. They are seeking work mowing lawns and weed eating. Coach Owens said some athletes helped move someone’s house last week. He said anyone needing help with a project can call him at the high school and leave their name and number so he can call back.
Among other fundraisers were battery sales at Christmas time, Wildcat Card sales and selling chances for a new car giveaway at the May Spring Game.
ssisd football wildcats
Summer Grind in the City
The summer grind has begun for the City of Sulphur Springs according to Manager Marc Maxwell. Maxwell said the city is currently developing the next year’s budget and working water breaks. Parks and recreation is busy, water sales are up, and doing a redesign on the waste water treatment plant, continuing capital construction on Bill Bradford Road and anticipating work that will soon begin on Locust Street create a hurried season. In addition, Maxwell said that by August tempers begin to get short as well. Complaints from citizens, workers, and others begin to rise in the summer.
With the heat, Maxwell said there is only so much that can be asked of workers. However, he does plan for the city to catch up on some work that was slowed by rainy months. Water and sewer work on Bill Bradford Road is 75% completed. However, Atmos Energy has decided to replace gas pipes as well during the reconstruct. The city will now focus on the southeastern 25% of the roadway that has a large amount of truck traffic. The Economic Development Corporation is planning to tie in additional drainage for a industry on Elm Street. Maxwell said that city crews will not be involved in the subgrade and paving of the street. Thus, the capital construction crew will move to the Locust Street work.
Now that the Tesla portion of the Davis/Tomlinson Street parking lot has been completed, the city crew will begin the remainder of the lot using an incremental process doing one strip of parking at a time so that businesses and restaurants will not face major disruption as the parking lot is completed. Approximately 70 parking spaces will be available when the lot is completed.
Engineering for the waste water treatment plant is now 95% complete. Maxwell said the planning is made more difficult due to servicing several huge food processing plants as well as residents and the normal waste water produced. It will take two years to complete the process thanks to the need to continue the work of the plant in treating waste water while the additions are being made. The cost of the plant will be met by an extraordinary interest loan from the state and a slow and gradual increase in rates charged users.
Maxwell said that even with a drought through next summer the city will not have concerns regarding water levels and usage. He said that water levels are currently high and will meet the city’s need.
Winnsboro Police Department Report 6-13-2016 to 6-19-2016
Mckenzie, Robert, 33 years of age, of Ft. Worth, was arrested on 6-13-2016 on two Wood County warrants.
Lewers, Amanda, 34 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 6-14-2016 for driving while license invalid with previous convictions.
Sebring, Kimberly, 44 years of age, of Tyler, was arrested on 6-14-2016 for assault by contact family/household.
Drennan, Chelsie, 24 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested 6-18-2016 for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
Williams, Jason, 29 years of age, of Irving, was arrested 6-18-2016 on an Upshur County warrant.
Rushing, Carl, 53 years of age, was arrested on 6-18-2016 on a Collin County warrant.
Voight, Raydean, 23 years of age, of Buda, was arrested on 6-19-2016 for evading arrest/deterntion with a vehicle and failure to identify.
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 33 citations and 35 warning during this reporting period, and has responded to 133 calls for service. No accidents have been reported in this time period.
