Workforce Solutions Board Rapid Response Team to Assess Skills of Laid Off Mine Workers
According to Roger Feagley, Executive Director of Sulphur Springs Economic Development, a rapid response team, empowered by the state through Northeast Texas Workforce Solutions Board, will assess the skills of workers displaced by the closing of the Luminent Mining operations at its Monticello Mines. The Solutions Board works within a nine county area which includes the locations of the three mines that will be closed permanently.
The closing of the mines will result in the elimination of all related operating jobs. Luminant has called the closing a difficult decision and states that all employees will be laid off according to the Collective Bargain Agreement. Locations of the mines include are in Sulphur Springs, Mt. Pleasant, and Winfield. Layoffs will take place on April 29th of this year.
The assessment of the workers will begin before the April closing will assist in identifying various skill sets that will fit into any available jobs in the area. Depending on the individual’s skills, training for new jobs could also be made available. In most cases the solutions board will pay for that training. The state will begin the process of assessment after Luminent files a form with the state indicating the lay-off.
Taxing entities in Hopkins County lose $6,678,591.00 in business property and equipment with the closing of the mine. Land owned will continue to be taxed. When the mine closed the last time in 2011, the various entities suffered a $16 million tax loss in 2012 tax year. According to the tax appraisal office it is hoped that increasing values and new construction will replace the latest loss.
The Power Plan in Mt Pleasant will remain open using coal from the western United States. Western coal is considered cleaner coal.
March Primary Early Voting Begins Tuesday
Early voting for the March 1st Primary Elections begins Tuesday February 16th. Early voting will begin Tuesday instead of Monday. February 15th is a state holiday. Early voting for all county voters both Democrats and Republicans will take place in the Sulphur Springs ISD Administration Building in the boardroom on Connelly Street in Sulphur Springs. The Admin building will be the only location for early voting. Hours for early voting are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each weekday until February 26. Early voting is also available on Saturday February 20th from 8 until 5 and Sunday the 21st from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
When preparing to cast your ballot, the election worker will ask you in which party primary you wish to vote. You must choose Democrat or Republican. At that time the worker will mark you voter card and assign the appropriate ballot. Shirley reminds voters that you must vote according to party divisions in this election. In the general election you may choose to cross party lines.
Deadline for the clerk’s office receiving a request for ballot by mail is February 19th. When requesting a ballot, please include the party ballot requested.
Sample ballots are available on line at www.hopkinscountytx.org. Use Quicklinks “County Clerk” and go to drop down box “elections”. The sample ballot you seek may be chosen according to the correct precinct number. Check your voter registration card for precinct number or contact the county clerk’s office. Sample ballots are also available at the polling place. You may use the sample ballot as a guide for your voting when casting your ballot on the voting machine.
Wildcats Begin Three Game Home Stand Following Strong Win on the Road
Wildcats Soccer Coach Andy Holt said earlier this week that Texas High seemed to have the Wildcats number last year as the Tigers swept the two game series. Apparently the Tigers lost the number Friday night in Texarkana. The Wildcats won 5-0. Chris Espinoza had two goals for the Wildcats. They also got single goals from Angel Tevera, Johnathan Alvarez and Cesar Andino.
The win improved the Wildcats district record to 4-2. They are now 9-7-1 for the season. After this one game road trip, the Wildcats play their next three district games at home, starting with a match with Hallsville coming up next Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium.
Glass Seeks Re-election to City Council Place 5
Emily Glass wasted no time in filing to seek re-election to Place 5 of the Sulphur Springs City Council. Mrs. Glass currently serves as Mayor Pro Tem on the council. An officer of Alliance Bank, she is also involved in a number of activities. Perhaps her greatest joy is her family and family heritage.
Mrs. Glass is involved in a number of community, church, and county activities. Holding firmly to her roots, she is the President of the Sulphur Bluff Scholarship Foundation. In the local community, she is currently an ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce, having previously served a three-year term as a director. As a member of the 2010-2011 Adult Leadership Class, she served as class secretary. She has also served on the United Way Budget Allocations Committee. In her church, Wesley United Methodist, she is on the finance committee. She is a member of the TAMU-C Hopkins County Alumni Association and Dial Study Club. As a volunteer, she has worked with the Dinner Bell, Blue Santa and Empty Stocking.
As Compliance Officer for Alliance Bank, she is a fourth generation customer there as well.
She attended TAMU-C (3rd generation to do so), where she received both her Bachelors and Masters and met her husband, Garrett, who works at Guaranty Bank and Trust.
A fourth (4th) generation Hopkins County resident, the daughter of Bill and Gina Wilder of Nelta, she is currently raising two 5th generation residents—Katherine who is soon to be 4 and Grant, who recently turned 2.
Another Sex Abuse of a Child Charge Adds Another $1-Million to Dixon Bond; Trial Set for March 7
Add an additional $1-million to the bond total for James Hunter Dixon. Dixon has yet another charge for continuous sexual abuse of a young child or children based on an 8th Judicial District Court indictment. This bond was added February 12,, 2016. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Dixon goes to trial March 7th.
James Hunter Dixon
On Friday, January 8, Justice of the Peace B. J. Teer held a magistrates hearing for James Hunter Dixon, 20. A total of $925,000 in bond was imposed on Dixon at that time based on an 8th Judicial District request. Dixon was first arrested May 28, 2015 at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department for aggravated sexual assault and continuous sexual assault of two girls under the age of ten. Additional charges for sexual assault of a child, male, were added in June. His bond at that time totaled $2.4 million.
Sheriff’s Criminal Investigator Dennis Findley said the sheriff’s office was made aware of the first two cases on Tuesday, May 26th after an outcry by the two female victims made to their biological father. The male made his outcry this week to his stepfather. Chief criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum told KSST news at that time that the incidents had been occurring over several months.
All three children were interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Winnsboro where specially trained Child Protective Services employees conduct such interviews for the area.
Planning and Zoning to Hear Heavy Commercial Zoning Request
Looking to the future, the owner of 89.6 acres located on the South side of Wildcat Way between Arbala Road and Holiday Drive and a 1.2 acre lot at the corner of Wildcat Way and Arbala Road is seeking to have the properties rezoned from Single Family to Heavy Commercial. The request is the only new item on the February 15th Monday evening agenda for the City of Sulphur Springs Planning and Zoning Commission. Commission members will met in the city council chambers, 201 North Davis Street.
The property owner has installed the water and sewer utilities for the property. The owner is requesting this rezoning to accommodate the interest in commercial development along Wildcat Way. Sixteen letters were mailed to surrounding property owners. One replied positive and one replied negative. City staff recommends approval.
Lady Cats Softball Completes Scrimmages; Open Regular Season Thursday
softball
The Lady Cats split a pair of scrimmage games at Lady Cat Park Friday night. The Lady Cats came up just short, losing to North Lamar 2-0 in the first game. Then the Lady Cats shut out Prairiland, 7-0 in the late game. The two contests complete the scrimmage portion of the Lady Cats schedule.
They will open the regular season in their own three-day Sulphur Springs Tournament that gets under way next Thursday at Lady Cat Park.
Lady Cats Suffer Close Loss to T High
The Lady Cats Soccer Team suffered a tough close loss, 1-0 to Texas High Friday night at Gerald Prim Stadium. The Lady Tigers scored a first half goal and it was all they needed as they kept the ball out of their goal all night long. The Lady Cats are now 4-2 in district play. Their season mark is now 13-3.
The Lady Cats complete the first half of district play next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Hallsville.
Wildcats Lose to Longview; Wrap Up Season Tuesday in Marshall
The Wildcats Basketball Team got off to a slow start and trailed Longview by 16 at the half, 37-21 Friday night in Wildcats Gym. Although the Wildcats played better in the third and fourth quarters, the big deficit was too much to overcome as the Lobos took at 61-50 win.
On Senior Night, freshman Keaston Willis led the Wildcats with 20 points, including 4 three-pointers. Sophomore Bryson Lynn added 14 points, including 4 three-pointers. Junior Ke’Ontae Dunn scored 9 points, including 2 three-point baskets.
The Wildcats district record slips to 3-10. They are now 10-19 for the season. The Wildcats will wrap up their season at Marshall next Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.
Lane Bench Poured in 43 to Lead Saltillo Lions to Victory
Saltillo Boys Basketball, Lane Bench
Lane Bench scored 43 points to lead Saltillo to a 74-40 win over Bloomburg Friday night. Bill Giles stated, This was a good performance for our team following a poor performance in the second half in our last game.” A big second and fourth quarter gave the Lions the edge in the game.
Giles said that Lane scored 43 points in 28 minutes and is one of the best performances see in Saltillo in a long time. Teammates were credited with getting the ball to him and creating situations for Lane to be open. Bench was 8 for 8 at the free throw line and Jonathon VanHolten went 4 for 4. The team was 19 for 22 at the line. Others scoring in the game include VanHolten with 10, Matthew Gurley, Adam Valenzuala, and Branson McGill with 4 points each, Dakota Patridge and Logan Camp each added 2, and Trevor Moore and Clayton Wilson had 1 each.
The Lion Junior Varsity downed Bloomburg 43-12.
Next up for the Lions is a trip to Yantis Tuesday the 16th.
