Four Transferred to Prison
Perry Jeff Yates, 31, Stanton Wayne Yates, 30, Patrick Wayne McMahan, 31, and Cody Scott Shaw, 27, were transferred to the Texas Department of Corrections Thursday morning according to Sheriff Butch Adams. Adams stated that the four were first transferred to Hunt County where they were placed on a bus for the trip to Huntsville.
The Yates brothers worked together in burglarizing several in Hopkins County and the Collin County area. McMahan and Shaw were found guilty of the murder of Hopkins County resident, Gary Maynard.
A Hopkins County jury set the punishment for Stanton Yates, 30, at four life sentences in state prison and one 20 year prison sentence with a $10,000 fine. The sentences will run concurrent by law. Perry Yates will serve 20 years in prison.
When McMahan and Shaw pled guilty to the capital murder of their employer Gary Maynard, Hopkins County breathed a sigh of relief. Citizens in the county were relieved that the event of Mr. Maynard’s murder had found a just ending and they were relieved that the bulk of the cost of a capital murder trial had been averted. Shaw was sentenced to life in prison without parole and McMahan to straight life with eligibility for parole in 30 calendar years. Shaw was the one who shot Maynard. McMahan participated in the event and the robbery that qualified the cases as Capital Murder.
Sulphur Bluff Homecoming Royalty
2016 Sulphur Bluff Basketball Homecoming Royalty were selected on January 29 in Bears Gym. Kindergarten Crown Bearers are Coda Cockrell and Evan Dugnolle, Prince and Princess are Alley Collett and Montana Hurley, Duke and Duchess are Madison Goodwin and David Rosas, and Homecoming King and Queen are Tori Dorner and Cody Vance.
Chamber Connection February 4th, 2016 by Meredith Caddell
Chamber Connection
Chamber Connection
February 4, 2016 by Meredith Caddell
Saddle Up & Save the Date…2/18 is the 90th Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet
Dust off your boots and put on your jeans for a rip-roarin’ good time at the 90th Annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet/Annual Membership Meeting! This is a great night to enjoy a delicious meal and congratulate the deserving recipients of the many awards! Tickets are $25 with seating on a first come/first served basis. If you would like to reserve a table for 10, you may do so for $300. Please call the Chamber at 903-885-6515 to make reservations.
Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening for Sulphur Springs Imaging Center, Thursday, Feb. 11th from 4-6
Please join us as we welcome Sulphur Springs Imaging Center to the Chamber of Commerce and to Sulphur Springs. They will be hosting their grand opening on Thursday, February 11th from 4-6pm and we will have their ribbon cutting at 5:00. This facility is able to do MRI’s, CatScans, and XRays. For more information, please call 903-919-5220! They are located at 109 Medical Circle.
Thank you to everyone who attended the ribbon cutting for BonWorth
They are a nationally recognized retailer of quality women’s fashion for over 40 years. They have more than 160 retail stores located in 33 states and maintain an online presence through this website and on Facebook. The focus of their designers is style and comfort for their customers. They want to help you look your best wherever your lifestyle may take you and we want you to be comfortable getting there. BonWorth’s new line of fashion forward designs depicts a whole new attitude in style. They have combined today’s hottest trends with traditional BonWorth quality, value and comfort. Their new line includes coordinating collections and an abundance of mix and match separates in Misses and Petite sizes. They continue to introduce new colors, fabrics and accessories into the design process while also bringing back, season after season, longtime customer favorites such as the uniquely BonWorth LeChute fabric. They are located inside the VF Outlet Mall!
Biggest Loser Community Challenge begins February 29th…Register NOW!!!
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is so excited to announce our partnership with NBC’s The Biggest Loser Community Challenge! This is a national wellness initiative designed to help employees become healthier. This company vs company competition invites teams of four to join an eight-week, online health & wellness community challenge. The challenge is for companies of all sizes (no limit to the amount of teams you can sign up!) and people of all fitness levels. It is truly designed to get our community moving, eating better and having fun!
This company vs company competition invites teams of four to join an eight-week, online health & wellness community challenge. The challenge is for companies of all sizes (no limit to the amount of teams you can sign up!) and people of all fitness levels. It is designed to get our community moving, eating better and having fun!
Business are encouraged to register teams of employees to represent their company in the challenge. For only $100 for a team of four, this exciting wellness offering is an affordable and fun way to kick start the new year for employees.
Past contestants of The Biggest Loser will guide teams through eight weekly challenges. Challengers will also receive weekly motivation and nutrition tips from trainer, Dolvett Quince. Participants will earn points for each minute of activity they engage in, as well as additional points for completing weekly tasks and logging additional challenge activities designed to improve nutrition and overall wellness. Each participant will have access to their own private wellness account and mobile app, where they will journal challenge activities, access weekly health guidance and keep their eye on friends and competitors on live leaderboards. The focus of the challenge is not on weight loss and all personal information, including weight, is completely private. WARNING: Side effects may include weight loss! Prize drawings will be made each week, with over 10,000 prizes to be won across the country, including trips to LA to see the Finale live! More information, registration and key dates can be found online at: www.biggestlosercommunity.com.
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is going to enhance this 8-week challenge! The winning team will receive $1000! Also, every week, the Chamber will offer a community-wide workout opportunity! 4 of those weeks will include an actual Biggest Loser Challenge! Winners on these dates will receive a prize. Register now!!! Healthy People. Healthy Companies. Healthy Communities!
Mother’s Culture Club “A Night in New York City – 2016 Father/Daughter Dance, Sat., February 6.
The Mother’s Culture Club presents the annual 2015 Father-Daughter Dance, “A Night in New York City”, Saturday, February 6th, 2016 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Hopkins County Civic Center. There will be dancing, door prizes, refreshments and an ultimate photo artistry photograph. All proceeds benefit local children’s charities. Call Ashley Ortiz, 903-348-3518 to purchase tickets.
St. Philips Episcopal Church-Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper-Feb. 9th
Don’t miss the Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, next Tuesday, February 9th from 5:30-7:30pm at St. Philips Episcopal Church, 1206 College Street. This will be a traditional pancake supper! For more information, please call 903-885-5921.
Reilly Springs Jamboree featuring Monty Tipps and Shelby Glenn & Texas Thunder, Feb. 20th
Make plans now to attend the Reilly Springs Jamboree featuring Monty Tipp along with Shelby Glenn & Texas Thunder on Saturday, February 20th at 7:00pm. Enjoy the evening of Real Country Music for just $10. The Reilly Springs Community Center is located at 109 CR 1439, Sulphur Springs. For more information, please contact Enola Gay at 903-348-3568.
Tubby Adkisson Memorial Mobile Mammography-Feb. 25th in Spring Village Shopping Center
All insurances accepted at Hunt Regional are also accepted for the Mobile Mammography Coach, including Medicare and Medicaid. They can also help with payment resources for uninsured/income-eligible women or those who choose to pay cash. For help with payment resources please call Judy Quan, RN at 903-405-5720. To schedule individual screening mammograms, please call 903-408-5010. Appointments and pre-registration are requested.
That’s all for now…have a GREAT week!
Meredith Caddell
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
Texas House Republican Caucus Chair, NRA Endorse Flynn for Re-election
Endorsements for Texas House District 2 Representative Dan Flynn’s re-election have been flowing in recent days.
Tan Parker, Chairman of the Texas House Republican Caucus, endorses Representative Dan Flynn (R), HD-2 for re-election. In a press release, Parker stated, “Dan Flynn is a dear friend to conservative causes and someone that I have proudly been in the trenches with for almost a decade. As the Chairman of the Pensions Committee, no one has done more work to be fiscally prudent with our public pensions and ensuring that they will remain strong for many decades to come. Likewise, his passion for limited government, fiscal responsibility, protecting life, securing our border and fighting for traditional values are why Texas is the envy of the rest of the nation.”
The Texas Rifle Association and the National Rifle Association have endorsed Flynn for re-election. The NRA stated “There are few, if any, state lawmakers who have fought harder to expand your self-defense rights and options than Dan Flynn. During the 2013 session, he sponsored and passed NRA-supported legislation reducing the number of required classroom training hours for an initial Concealed Handgun License… In 2015, he joint-authored the landmark NRA-backed open carry and campus carry measures, and provided key support for passage of Texas’ Right to Hunt and Fish…”
Miller Grove News
by Brandon Darrow
Not much news in the old “Grove” this week. Seems as though we’ve hit a lull as far as news in the community goes.
The last couple of weekends my cousin, Nathan Petty, and I have done a little work on cleaning brush out of the fence row at the community center. There have been several people pass by driving slow to see what we were doing – I guess that’s typical in our small community. We have it looking a little better but still a long way to go to have it like it needs to be.
Plans for the 2016 Miller Grove Cemetery Memorial Day are underway. Nick Lamb has committed to being the Master of Ceremonies and Bro. Ronald Davis (Pastor of Miller Grove Baptist Church and math teacher at MGHS) has agreed to deliver the sermon. Mrs. Kim Irby has graciously accepted the invitation to bring the special music that day.
Miller Grove United Methodist Church has had a little work done on their fellowship area. Don Mitchell has replaced the ceiling and, a few months ago, replaced underpinning around the base of the building along with a few other cosmetic updates to the exterior of the church.
County Line Baptist Church is coming along nicely from what I can tell. Before long they will be able to hold worship services in the new sanctuary.
Happy Birthday to Linda Bailey & Chad Hinton on Feb. 8, Clay Smith on Feb. 9, Elaine Garmon on Feb. 10, Brian Evans & Vanessa (Boss) Tipps on Feb. 11, Lori (Potts) McCullough on Feb. 12, and Jade Spencer & Shanda Barron on Feb. 13.
Happy 8th Anniversary to my brother and sister-in-law, Bradley and Madison Darrow, on Feb. 9. I also want to wish my cousins, Jeremy and Jennifer Darrow, a Happy 11th Anniversary on Feb. 13.
As you travel the highways and byways don’t forget that all roads lead back home and back to Miller Grove. Please send me any newsworthy information. My email address is [email protected].
Public Library Offers Preschool Storytime, Multiplayer Minecraft, and Options for Adults
Storytime at Sulphur Springs Public Library. The Very Ready Reading Program for Preschoolers is held on the first and third Fridays of each month at 10:30. Parents and caregivers are a child’s first teacher. One of the 7 Ways to help your child get ready to read is to Share Sounds: Sounds are the building blocks of words. February 5 is our next Storytime!
Multiplayer Minecraft every Tuesday 3-6pm. Minecraft is a popular build and survive video game. Like Legos, Minecraft builds creativity, teaches real-world skills like resource management and budgeting, patience, perseverance and teamwork. The library has its own world for the kids to sign in and cooperatively play. We are limited to 12 computers and all kids must have their own active library card. A Mojang Minecraft license ($26.95) is needed for uninterrupted play, but a library license is available for sharing Minecraft playtime.
Beyond Books and Bytes Program in March and April for Adults at the Sulphur Springs Public Library include:
Computer Coach for adult beginners – weekly for 6 weeks;
Adult Coloring And Coffee, (bring your own coffee with lid) – weekly for 6 weeks;
Affordable Healthcare by Special Health Resources for Texas in Tyler;
How to Spot a SCAM by the Better Business Bureau;
Your Will by Atty. Clay Johnson;
and complete the Library Quest activities for a prize! Call 903-885-4926, see our website www.sslibrary.org or visit us at 611 Davis Street North for more information!
SSHS Hearts Festival King and Queen Nominees
by Allison Bledsoe
Sulphur Springs Student Council will hold the 2016 Hearts Festival on February 13th from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week SSHS students nominated the “Sweethearts” from their grade level as well as a “Wild Card” couple that consists of two students from separate grade levels.
From the Freshman grade Jaci Glenn and Kole Johnson were selected.
Sophomores are Imani Taylor and Cason Goodson.
Juniors are Tori Moore and Jackson Kinsey.
Seniors are Lexie Moore and Spencer Bramlett.
The Wild Card couple is Savanna McAfee and Tyrese Pryor.
Next week students will vote for their favorite “Sweethearts” and one couple will be names Hearts Festival King and Queen.
City Council Proclaims February Black History Month, Hears Reports,
Mayor Kayla Price read a proclamation honoring Black History month as the Sulphur Springs City Council meet in regular session Tuesday evening. The council received reports from the city manager (report here), chief of police (report here), and a report regarding the HOME Program. They also approved a resolution that would prohibit the open carry of a weapon during an open session of the city council.
City Human Resources Director Gordon Frazier said 18 houses have been built in the HOME Program. Currently, there is one that would like to participate in the program. The city has applied, under the new HOME Program rules, for two houses to be built locally.
The council approved a sewer capital improvement on Mockingbird Lane south of Interstate 30. The line is currently at 97% of capacity. The improvement would upgrade the line that serves the area behind Panda Express, Whataburger, McDonalds and one half of Brittany Square Apartments. The line would connect to sewer lines behind Furrs’ Cafeteria.
In a unique move, Charles Oxford, a former council member and current citizen, apologized to the council and specifically Mayor Price for his comments at the last council meeting regarding the dangers that surround the upkeep of the city welcome sign on the North side of the city. He stated then that no one had thanked him for his volunteer service in mowing the area around the sign. His apology noted that he had remembered thanks given by the mayor.
