Water Quality Training: The Importance of Water
by Mario Villarino, DVM, Ph.D.
Lake Fork
It is easy to understand the importance of water as a need and resource for our society. Both extremes (the absence or abundance of water) can provoke catastrophic consequences. Recently (as early as last year) we suffered both sides of the equation in the same year. Although a normal recurrence, the absence or abundance of water can cause stress in farmers and ranchers and communities as well. Both effects can cause detrimental effect in our economy and can cost significant economic toll in county budgets.
But there is another effect, less dramatic but equally important in how we operate our ranches, farms and communities to protect the existing water resources. Based on this, an upcoming water quality training May 6 will focus on Lake Tawakoni, Lake Fork, and area watersheds. A Texas Watershed Steward workshop on water quality and water management related to Lake Tawakoni, Lake Fork, and other area watersheds will be held from 8 a.m.-noon at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office for Rains County. The office is located at 410 Tawakoni Drive, also known as Highway 276, in Emory. The workshop will be presented by AgriLife Extension and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. The training is free and open to anyone interested in improving water quality in the region, said program coordinators. Participants are encouraged to preregister at the Texas Watershed Steward website at http://tws.tamu.edu.
The Texas Watershed Steward program is funded through a Clean Water Act nonpoint source grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said Michael Kuitu, AgriLife Extension program specialist and coordinator for the Texas Watershed Steward program. Kuitu said training will include an overview of water quality and watershed management in Texas, but will primarily focus on area water quality issues, including current and future efforts to help improve and protect local watersheds. “There will be a discussion of watershed systems, as well as the types and sources of water pollution,” he said. “We’ll also have a discussion about ways to improve and protect water quality and the need for community-driven watershed protection and management.”
Attendees of the training will receive a copy of the Texas Watershed Steward Handbook and a certificate of completion. The program offers four continuing education units in soil and water management for certified crop advisers, four units for professional engineers and certified planners, four credits for certified teachers and two credits for nutrient management specialists. A total of four professional development hours are available for professional geoscientists licensed by the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists. There are also three general continuing education units for Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license holders, four for certified landscape architects and three for certified floodplain managers. Four continuing education credits are offered for each of the following Texas Commission on Environmental Quality occupational licensees: wastewater system operators, public water system operators, on-site sewage facility installers and landscape irrigators.
Kuitu said he wants to encourage local residents and other stakeholders throughout and beyond Rains, Hopkins, Wood, and Van Zandt counties to attend the workshop to become better informed about area water resources and how to protect and improve their water quality.
For more information, go to http://tws.tamu.edu or contact Kuitu at 979-862-4457, [email protected]; Stephen Gowin in Rains County at 903-473-4580, [email protected]; Mario Villarino in Hopkins County at 903-885-3443, [email protected]; Clint Perkins in Wood County at 903-763-2924, [email protected]; or Tommy Phillips in Van Zandt County at 903-567-4149, [email protected].
Smith Sentenced For Theft of Property of Elderly
Tuesday morning in 8th Judicial District Court, Desiree Ann Smith was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $99,999.99 for theft of property of the elderly under $200,000, which is a first degree felony. According to the District Attorney’s office, Ms. Smith will serve 6 months in TDCJ at which time a bench warrant will return her to Hopkins County where she will begin 10-year probation.
Ms. Smith was providing care for the daughter of the 89-year old victim when she discovered that the daughter had a life insurance policy making her elderly father the beneficiary. After the daughter died and the elderly father received the benefit of the policy, Ms. Smith started assisting the victim with his bills and helping him around the house. She would tell the victim that a bill was due and that she needed a check to pay it. He would sign his name to the check and give it to her to fill out. Ms. Smith deceived the elderly man out of tens of thousands of dollars in this manner.
She also opened three credit cards—Justice, Victoria Secret, and Target—by using his personal identifying information without his consent. Additionally, she signed up for Sprint cell phone lines without his consent and using his personal information. She conducted this conduct for nearly two years before the account was drained and her activity discovered. The victim was 92 at the time the discovery was made and the Sulphur Springs Police Department and Detective Bo Fox made the arrest.
Ms. Smith begins her sentence April 8th.
Wildcats, Lady Cats Game Day Update
softball
Wildcats’ baseball and Lady Cats’ softball face Greenville today and the Lady Cats’ golf team is in a tournament on this Tuesday game day. The Wildcats’ baseball team will be in Greenville tonight. The JV team’s game gets underway at 4 p.m. with the Varsity starting at 7 p.m. The Wildcats come in with a 1-1 record in district play so far. Last week the Wildcats lost at Texas High and then won at home against Mt. Pleasant. The Wildcats season record is 4-6-1.
The Lady Cats’ softball team will welcome the Greenville Lady Lions into Lady Cat Park this evening. The JV Gold team plays Greenville JV at 4:30 p.m. The Lady Cats Varsity will host Greenville at 6 p.m. The Lady Cats have a district record of 3-1 with wins over Marshall and Longview on the road, a home win against Texas High and a road loss last Friday at Mt. Pleasant. The Lady Cats have a fine 19-3 season record. We’ll bring you tonight’s Lady Cats and Lady Lions game tonight at 6 p.m. on KSST Radio. We’ll also videotape the game for replay later on Channel 18 TV on Suddenlink Cable.
Finally the Lady Cats’ golf team is playing today in a tournament at the Rockwall Golf and Country Club. It will give the Lady Cats a good preview of the course where district competition will take place early next month.
Como-Pickton Eagles Baseball 4-0 in District Take on Campbell Tuesday
The Como-Pickton Eagles baseball team had a very good spring break as they picked up three big district wins.
Last Tuesday the Eagles downed Saltillo, 19-1. Blayke Pegues got the pitching win. He had great bat support especially from Raydon Swaim and Colton Clark. Clark had his first home run for the season.
Thursday Como-Pickton shut out Cumby, 8-0. Tyler Kearns was on the mound and pitched a complete game shutout. Leading hitters were Brian Potts, Colton Clark and Raydon Swaim.
Friday the Eagles were too much for Fruitvale winning 21-3. Colton Clark got his first pitching win this season. Leading hitters were Dylan Wiggins, Denton Lawson, Brian Potts and Raydon Swaim.
Over the three games, Swaim was 9 for 11 and Potts went 5 for 6 with a triple and double. Kearns has had a fine year pitching. He threw a no-hitter against Yantis, had a complete game win against Cooper allowing only one run as well as the complete game shutout against Cumby last week.
The Eagles are all alone atop the district standings with a 4-0 record. They are 5-2 for the season. They’ll play at Campbell tonight at 6 p.m. They’ll also travel to Sulphur Bluff for a game Friday at noon.
CANHelp “Play it Forward” Tennis Tournament
CANHelp Executive Director Shanna Martin and CANHelp Board Member Trice Lawrence are spreading the word about the tennis tournament that funds CANHelp with benevolence funds for community projects. The second-annual “Play it Forward” Tennis Tournament and Family Fun Day is doubles play, set for Saturday April 16 at the SSHS Tennis Complex with check-in starting at 8:30am. All ages and skill levels are welcome!
Public Library Offers Adult Programming
Sulphur Springs Public Library cordially invites everyone to attend our Adult Programming for March with our 2 special seminars and 2 weekly programs through April 9th :
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM Thursday March 24, 6pm: Kaylen Burgess from the Better Business Bureau brings information on how to recognize common scams and how the psychology of a scam works. Bring your questions and take away some important knowledge. Food will be served. Sulphur Springs Public Library 903-885-4926.
WILLS, ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE SEMINAR Thursday March 31, 5pm: Attorney Clay Johnson will offer practical insight on properly securing your personal assets and healthcare requests during and after your lifetime. Learn about current legal requirements and options concerning your wills, living wills, powers of attorney and the probate process in Texas. Food will be served. Sulphur Springs Public Library 903-885-4926
Our weekly programming for all adults through April 9th:
COMPUTER COACH FOR BEGINNERS Thursdays 1pm: set a goal, ask questions, and be successful. This is not a class, but we can assist you with your computer goals.
COLORING AND COFFEE Saturdays 9:30 – 12: (bring your own coffee with lid) we have adult coloring books with stress relieving patterns and a rainbow of pencils! Join the trend of meditation and stress relief.
Winnsboro Police Report for March 14-20, 2016
Winnsboro Police Department reports three arrests, no accidents, 134 response to calls, and 45 citations and 29 warnings issued from March 14 to March 20, 2016.
Arrested were:
- Monday: Evodio rojo, Jr., 25, of Nacogdoches for driving while license invalid with previous conviction.
- Thursday: Chon Munoz, 24, of Pittsburg for driving while license invalid with previous convictions.
- Thursday: Johnny Houston, 48, of Winnsboro on a Van Zandt County warrant.
Grand Jury Returns 55 Indictments in March
March 22, 2016 – A Hopkins County Grand Jury returned 55 indictments Monday, March 21st. Six were sealed indictments and will not be published until arrests are made. However, a number of charges for aggravated assault, sexual abuse of a child and possession of child pornography, along with a vast number of possession of a controlled substance were published.
Wes Gerald and Curtis Anthony August-Adams were indicted for aggravated assault in retaliation. The pair along with two others were arrested following an undercover buy-bust that created an intense scene for the Special Crimes Unit as they rushed a house located on the South Service Road just outside the city limits of Sulphur Springs. The informant for Special Crimes was assaulted and his communication devices, including cellphone were taken from him by force. During the rescue that followed, Gerald August-Adams, along with Cable James Bryant and Morgan Leigh Oboyle were arrested. Bryant and Oboyle are now serving time through TDCJ for their role in the event. The event took place in November of 2015.
Gary Dale Hawkins, 54, was indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Hawkins was arrested in January of this year by Hopkins County Deputies when they responded to a call to a residence on County Road 4591 and found a male lying in the ditch. He had been stabbed. When officers arrived at the residence, a female stated that the suspect in the stabbing was inside the house. The back door on the house had been broken. Hawkins stated that he and his stepson had gotten into an argument, began fighting and he stabbed his stepson. The stepson was transported to Hopkin County Memorial Hospital for medical treatment. Hawkins was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and transported to Hopkins County jail.
Jerry Walton Crawford, 62, was indicted for aggravated assault against a public servant. Crawford was charged with Aggravated Assault of a Peace Officer following a standoff in which he fired a pistol several times at Sheriff’s deputies and the SWAT Team. Crawford had barricaded himself in his residence on CR 1174. When he exited his house due to tear gas, he had in hand his weapon. The standoff took place February 4th when Crawford shot at police officers. One bullet penetrated the windshield of a patrol car. A second bent the radio antenna on the vehicle. Responding officers requested assistance from the SWAT Team, made up of Hopkins County, Sulphur Springs, and DPS officers.
Taylor Allen Moore, 27, was indicted for assault of a public servant. The incident occurred in January of this year. Moore is currently in Hopkins County jail.
Jennifer Leigh Jesters, 32, was indicted for engaging in organized crime as was Blake Adam Friddle, 21, and Jeremy Laverne Harris, 24. The three were arrested in a drug bust for the Sulphur Springs Special Crimes Unit Wednesday night, December 23, 2015, resulted in the recovery of a weapon and the arrest of four individuals.
Donald Michael Roach, 44, was indicted for sex abuse of a child continuous. Roach was arrested following the outcry of a 7-year old child to a relative. The child and her mother were living in the same residence with Roach. The arrest was made in February of this year. According to Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum, the child told a relative about the continuous sexual abuse and the relative took the child to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office where a report was made. The child was then taken by Investigator Dennis Findley to the Child Advocacy Center in Winnsboro where she, again, made an outcry during the interview there.
Robert Neal Brown was indicted for abandonment/endangering a child.
Joshua Scott Morris, 34, was indicted for injury to a child/elderly/disabled individual. The Brownsville man was arrested in the early morning hours of Christmas Day for assaulting his disabled mother. Police were called to a residence in the 300 block of Woodcrest Drive at 2:45 a.m. Friday. Both the victim and her mother told police that they feared the threat of future violent from the man. Joshua Scott Morris was charged with assaulting a disabled person.
Dathan Artemus Durant, 56, of Cumby was indicted for possession of child pornography. Durant was on of two Hopkins County men to have been charged with possessing child pornography. The cases were developed through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force in Dallas.
Steven Sterling Fouse, 46, was indicted or manufacture and delivery of a simulated controlled substance. Also indicted was Cynthia Maline Smith, 36. The pair was arrested as the result of a traffic stop on State Highway 19 North at 1:18 pm Tuesday, February 9, 2016, after officers discovered a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine as well as a small, plastic bag containing three blue pills. Fouse was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance less than 28 grams and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Smith, who had a warrant for Delivery of Simulated Controlled Substance, was located by officers at 212 Craig Street 2:00 pm the next day.
Michael Allen Coker, 47, was indicted for prohibited substance/item in a correctional facility. David Carl Harvey, 39, was indicted on the same charge and received a second indictment for tamper/fabrication of physical evidence. Both men, then residents of Hopkins County Jail, were charged in January of this year.
Alexander Garza, 36, was indicted for driving while intoxicated third or more.
Kerry La Terry Gotcher, (pic) 28, was indicted for possession of a controlled substance under 4-grams. He was indicted last November for delivery of marijuana—five pounds.
Indicted for possession of a controlled substance under 4-grams was Mandy Michelle Crocker
Ritchie Adam Trahan was indicted for manufacture delivery of a controlled substance under 1-gram in a drug free zone.
Indicted for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance under 1-gram was:
- Chassity Ramirez-Miears
- John William Davis
Indicted for possession of marijuana under five pounds were:
- Rickey Leviticus Pinckney, Jr
- Dominique Donta Gage
- Chelsea Chanel Crisler
Billy Don Deverell was indicted on two counts of credit card or debit card abuse.
Angie Michelle Simons was indicted for credit card or debit card abuse.
Indicted for tamper/fabricate physical evidence were:
- Daniel Webb Lawson
- Shelby Lynn Lyons
- Pedro Amador Monrreal
- Meldrick Dewayne Roland
Indicted for possession of a controlled substance under 1-gram were:
- Ashley Nicole Wall
- Russell Edward Skeen (2 counts)
- Caitlan Danae Prestridge
- David Aron Norton
- Donald Lloyd Rooks, Jr.
- Pedro Amador Monrreal
- Shelby Lynn Lyons
- Angela Kristine Koppens
- Valirie Ann Hicks
- Chase Alan Harrison
- Andrea Kirby Bennett
- Scott Buren Baker, V
Bobby Okeefe Doddy was incited for evading arrest or detention.
2013 Robbery Suspect Found, Arrested
James Curtis Sims, Jr., 55, of Sulphur Springs was arrested Monday afternoon on warrants for robbery. Sims was placed in custody at the Hopkins County Courthouse and then transferred to the Hopkins County Jail where he was booked without incident and placed on $75,000 bond.
According to information given to KSST from Hopkins County Sheriff’s officers, the offense occurred on or around March 1, 2013. Sims committed theft of property valued at less than $2,500 with the intent to obtain or maintain control of said property while intentionally and recklessly causing bodily injury to a victim by striking the victim on the head, face and jaw with his fists and kicking the victim in the leg with his foot. The victim of the robbery filed the complaint report with Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Investigators. All names of victims involved in the incident are being withheld at this time.
KSST will continue to follow any new developments in the story.
Business History Month: Reilly Springs Jamboree
It may be off the beaten path, but the Reilly Springs Jamboree remains contentedly at home in the country near Hopkins County’s southeastern border. The show’s slogan “Hopkins County’s original music venue” harks back to the Autumn of 1956, when a couple of local musicians, Bob and Joe (Attlesey) Shelton put the abandoned Reilly Springs schoolhouse back to work as their concert hall. The brothers and their band began regular broadcasts of hillbilly and country music “oprys” and early-bird radio shows from deep in Reilly Springs over KSST’s “barbed wire network”
The Jamboree became the place to be on Saturday nights! Crowds came from Sulphur Springs. Greenville, Paris and neighboring communities to mix and mingle and to see country music’s biggest stars onstage…George Jones, June Carter, Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash and dozens more. A few times during the 1960’s, audiences grew so large that shows were moved to the school auditorium in Sulphur Springs. Ultimately, as television began to bring entertainment into everyone’s living room, the years of the Shelton Boys and the Sunshine Band’s original Reilly Springs Jamboree drew to an end.
The sturdy schoolhouse became a community center and for the next two decades, hosted school reunions, cemetery memorial days and quilting bees. Country music was still at home there and occasional “Jamborees” were staged by local bands.
![IMG_290737601183871[1]](https://www.ksstradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMG_2907376011838711.jpeg)
