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.
Race/Ethnicity of Traffic Stops in Sulphur Springs Reflect City Population Diversity Ratios
Caucasians make up 75% percent of all traffic stops in Sulphur Springs, 11% are African-American, and 12% are Hispanic. In a report to the Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday night, Police Chief Jay Sanders presented an annual racial profiling traffic stop and arrest report. In the report, Sanders pointed out the number of traffic stops for the year total 5113. In those stops officers have only known the race or ethnicity of the driver 350 of those 5113 stops before the stop was made. It was also noted that the local police department has a partial report exemption since the local department vehicles are equipped with video and audio equipment and the videos are maintained for 90 days following the traffic stop and/or arrest.
Sulphur Springs Police Department has adopted a detailed written policy on racial profiling. That policy 1) clearly defines acts constituting racial profiling; 2) strictly prohibits peace officers employed by the Sulphur Springs Police Department from engaging in racial profiling; 3) implements a process by which an individual may file a complaint with the Sulphur Springs Police Department if the individual believes that a peace officer employed by the department has engaged in racial profiling with respect to the individual; 4) provides public education relating to the agency’s complaint process; 5) requires appropriate corrective action to be taken against a peace officer employed by the Sulphur Springs Police Department who, after an investigation, is shown to have engaged in racial profiling in violation of the Sulphur Springs Police Department’s policy adopted under this article; 6) require collection of information relating to motor vehicle stops in which a citation is issued and to arrests made as a result of those stops, including information relating to:
- the race or ethnicity of the individual detained; Page 1 of 3 pages submitted electronically to The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
- whether a search was conducted and, if so, whether the individual detained consented to the search; and
- whether the peace officer knew the race or ethnicity of the individual detained before detaining that individual; and requires the chief administrator of the agency, regardless of whether the administrator is elected, employed, or appointed, to submit an annual report of the information collected under Subdivision (6) to:
- the Commission on Law Enforcement; and
- (B) the governing body of each county or municipality served by the agency, if the agency is an agency of a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state.
Information submitted in the report to the council included the Sulphur Springs Police Department Motor Vehicle Racial Profiling information gained from the number of motor vehicle stops. Those stops included 5044 citation only; 41 arrest only; 28 both; for a total of 5113 stops.
The report listed the diversity of those stops to include:
Race or Ethnicity: 607 African; 53 Asian; 3836 Caucasian; 610 Hispanic; 3 Middle Eastern; 4 Native American for a total of 5113.
Race or Ethnicity known prior to stop? 350 Yes; 4763 No; 5113 Total
Search conducted? 123 Yes; 4990 No; 5113 Total
Was search consented? 64 Yes; 59 No; 123 Total
City Manager Report Notes Destruction of K-9 Vehicle in Local Fire
In his report to the February meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council, City Manager Marc Maxwell noted street projects completed and those begun. He also noted that work on the Davis/Tomlinson downtown parking lot will begin Friday, February 5th. The city will also be installing lights and landscaping for a county 90-space parking lot to be built at the northeast corner at Jefferson and Rosemont Streets. He also noted the K-9 police unit was destroyed in the Toliver Ford Lincoln fire.
Here is the Manager’s Report:
STREETS, WATER AND SEWER – The Rockdale Road reconstruction project is nearly complete. Westbrook Concrete Contractors is finished pouring the concrete. We only lack three driveway approaches. We plan to open the street to through traffic next week. This project finishes Rockdale Road on the north side of Interstate 30.
Plano Street is also nearly complete. It will be paved on Friday. This $268,000 project is a complete reconstruction of Plano Street from Texas Street westward to the cul-de-sac. It includes new water main, new sewer main and a new street. The sewer main and water main have been replaced.
Bill Bradford Road has begun. Utilities work has started on Tennessee Street, which is a part of the project. Demolition on Bill Bradford road will begin on Monday, February 15. This $1.4 million project will include water and sewer utilities, underground drainage on the western end of the street and complete reconstruction of the street. Most of the street will be paved with asphalt, but both ends of the project will be rebuilt with concrete for 500’ on each end.
DAVIS/TOMLINSON PARKING LOT – Demolition will begin on Friday. Work will begin on the south side of the project and progress to the north. Doing it this way will preserve some of the parking throughout the project for nearby businesses.
JEFFERSON STREET PARKING LOT – This is a County project at the northeast corner of Jefferson and Rosemont. The new lot will have 90 spaces. The County is constructing the lot in concrete and the City is installing lights and landscaping per our earlier agreement at the time the tax increment reinvestment zone was created. When the County opted into the zone, the City committed to beautification of the lot when it was built.
CLAIMS – We did not have any workers’ compensation claims in January.
We did not have any liability claims in January.
We did submit one claim to the TML Risk Pool for the K-9 vehicle that was destroyed in the fire at Toliver Ford.
POLICE DEPARTMENT REMODEL – The project is nearing completion. Tile setters are placing the tile now. Expect the project to be completed before the March City Council meeting.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Total suspended solids (TSS) came in at .81 mg/L, well within the limit of 15 mg/L.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director, Peter Karstens will present a year-to-date summary of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Installed wiring for new early warning siren at the Police Department. You may have heard it.
- Replaced the solar batteries on the “No Thru Truck” sign at the city limits on all state highways.
- Repaired the flashing lights on the Douglas “School Zone” lights.
- Replaced some of the lamps around Celebration Plaza.
- Began electrical work on new Buford Pavilion.
- Repaired motor on an airport hangar door.
- Repaired the heater at the animal shelter.
- Repaired A/C unit at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).
- Cleaned the filters at the WWTP.
- Repaired/rebuilt 2 pumps at the WWTP.
- Replaced a magnolia tree that had been broken during a storm.
- Conducted 25 building inspections, 13 electrical inspections, 12 plumbing inspections, 4 mechanical inspections, and issued 20 building permits.
- Responded to 112 fire/rescue calls including 5 structure fires.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 89 fire hydrants.
- Processed 574 citations through municipal court.
- Checked out 3,761 items to library patrons.
- Sold 1,271 gallons of AvGas and 7,540 gallons of Jet-A fuel.
- Recovered nearly $.25 million in stolen UTVs.
- Made 66 arrests, recorded 65 offences, wrote 610 traffic citations and responded to 33 accidents.
- Repaired 7 water main ruptures.
EDC Presents State of the Economy Report to City Council
With only 3.8 percent unemployment in December, Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County face a good news/bad news situation. Economic Development Director Roger Feagley presented his State of the Economy Report to the Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday Night. He pointed to the employment rate as an indicator of the stability of jobs in the area. Although the numbers are not exact, Feagley said people whose benefits have expired, who are unemployed by choice, or who are not seeking a job are not counted in the employment numbers.
The good news is that people are employed. The bad news is that industries seeking to relocate are looking for available employees. Feagley stated that even though the people of Hopkins County are employed, the fact that surrounding counties have a higher unemployment rate is an aide to attracting industry.
Feagley said the work of the EDC is to create primary employment to produce products for purchase in areas outside of Hopkins County. Pointing out that that brings to the city and county new money to purchase homes, spend in retail and live the American Dream, he said that jobs circulate money as well. For the past 10 years, Hopkins County employment rates have been lower than state, national and even regional competitors. Feagley said people in Hopkins County seek jobs immediately when they do not have one as opposed to waiting.
Even when the economy is down Sulphur Springs offers work that is constant, according to the EDC Director. Feagley noted that manufacturing here is focused on basic needs-centered-jobs such as food. He also noted that locally owned industry with a commitment to local life and the culture of the community creates stability for jobs.
According to numbers available, from 2005 to 2014, the EDC has brought to the city and county $87.7 million in Capital investment, 402 new jobs, and $12.5 million in new payroll. Sales tax received since 2005 is $16.2 million. Property tax has seen $2.2 million added.
Yet, there are also unmeasurable contributions such as the community college campus, water lines to industry that benefits homes along the line, providing more professional jobs, and increasing average salaries. Feagley stated this also is a positive for increased sales tax.
In response to a question from the council, Feagley pointed out that the building at Sulphur Springs High School that has housed the community college campus will be turned over to the local school district in June. June will conclude a 20-year contract between the EDC, PJC, and SSISD.
4-H Offers Summer Exchange Trip by Johanna Hicks
4-H Offers Summer Exchange Trip
4-H families from Smyth County, Virginia, gather for a picture upon their departure from Sulphur Springs. Hopkins County 4-H has been invited to Virginia for a June, 2016 trip to complete the Exchange.
Hopkins County young people are in the news a lot lately with wonderful opportunities to travel. Congratulations to the Sulphur Springs Wildcats on their upcoming trip to Florida in September! The Hopkins County 4-H program also has plans which have been in the works since June, 2015.
The County 4-H Exchange program began during the summer of 2012 when a group of six students and two chaperones from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, visited Sulphur Springs. The group has ties to Sulphur Springs through our own Susie and Bernie Thesing (Coffee Off the Square). The following summer, they sent a group of eleven 4-H members and four adults. That started the ball rolling for an official 4-H Exchange.
During the summer of 2014, the Exchange continued as eight Hopkins County 4-H members and four adult chaperones traveled to Eau Claire, stopping at numerous places for site-seeing along the way. These included Memphis, Tennessee to see the Peabody Hotel ducks, Alex Haley Museum, and other places of interest. Also on the route, they visited the St. Louis arch, Chicago pier, and many other fascinating historical and modern attractions. While in Wisconsin, they were able to learn about the 4-H program and demographics of their host state. Overall, the group traveled through seventeen states. Each person learned about and experienced the grandeur of our great nation. They also learned a lot about character as they traveled long hours and MANY miles in a 15-passenger van with luggage!
During the summer of 2015, a group of 4-H kids and chaperones from Smyth County, Virginia visited Hopkins County. The Extension agent has connections to Sulphur Springs through David Zahn, his former college roommate. (It’s a small world, huh?) The group of 28 stayed in host homes during their visit. Jay and I had the privilege of hosting a family of four in our home – mom, daughter, and two boys. While here, our Hopkins County 4-H’ers kept them busy with a welcome dinner provided by the Infinity 4-H Club, followed by participation in the Dairy Festival Hot Air Balloon festival. Both 4-H groups helped as crew members for the balloonists and seemed to learn a lot about the hobby. We also treated the Virginians to the Dairy Festival parade, lunch, ice cream freeze off, swim party, hay ride, dairy tour, zip-line, cookout, fishing, shopping on the square, and other activities. A tour of the AT&T Stadium and stockyards rounded out the list of activities for the Virginia group.
On the morning of their departure, we were invited to send a group to Virginia for a summer, 2016 4-H Exchange trip. The benefits of the Exchange trip are multi-faceted:
– To expose our youth to different geographical areas in our country
– To experience different foods and cultures
– To promote teamwork & citizenship
– To learn about different 4-H programs/projects in the hosting state
– To strengthen responsibility (by keeping up with their belongings, loading/unloading, etc.)
– To offer an opportunity in which most of these 4-H members would never be able to participate
To date, we have approximately 16 youth and adult chaperones who have indicated interest. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our 4-H kids! Of course, funding is always an issue. Our kids worked very diligently to raise funds for the 2014 Wisconsin trip. The list of expenses is below:
1) Rental of Vehicle(s) – enough to carry people and luggage
2) Fuel for the road trip
3) Lodging along the way (the group will stay in host homes while in Virginia)
4) Meals along the way
5) Funds to go toward expenses of visiting museums, historic sites, etc. en route
We will have another Exchange trip planning meeting on Monday, February 22 at the Extension Office. At that time, we hope to nail down specifics for the June 22 thru 30 trip. If you would like to help support these kids, we welcome your input!
Closing Thought
“Maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Visualize your dreams and stretch to reach for them” – Somewhat Daily Devotional
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
Wildcats, Lady Cats Pick Up District Wins Against Pine Tree Tuesday
soccer ball net
Wildcats Soccer Coach Andy Holt believes Pine Tree is one of the best teams in the district along with Mt. Pleasant.Tuesday night at Gerald Prim Stadium, the Wildcats edged by Pine Tree, 2-1. It was the first district game at home for the Wildcats after opening district play with two road games. The Wildcats are now 2-1 in district play and their season record is 7-6-1. Five of the next six Wildcats’ district games will be played at Prim Stadium. The home stand continues Friday as the Wildcats host Greenville for a 7 p.m. match.
The Lady Cats Soccer Team’s string of shutouts ended Tuesday night at Pine Tree but that hardly mattered in the big scheme of things as the Lady Cats topped the Lady Pirates, 2-1. The match was tied 1-1 after the first half. Lady Cats Coach Jesus DeLeon talks about his difference makers on this year’s team and they provided a big second half goal and made it stand up with their defense Tuesday night. The Lady Cats have started district play 3-0. This was their first road game. The Lady Cats are now 12-1 for the season and their consecutive winning streak is now at 10 games. The Lady Cats travel to Greenville this Friday night at 7 p.m.
