Animals of the Week: Four Unnamed Puppies
The Animals of the Week are four unnamed puppies, two male and two female. These four puppies are all siblings and will soon turn six weeks old. They have an interesting mix of breeds across all four puppies.
“They’re a lot of everything,” Animal Shelter Officer Barbi Blanch said. “We know for a fact that their mother is a black and white pit bull who runs the streets. One of the fathers is a Chow, possibly a Shepard. Another of the fathers is a Shar Pei. None of them look like their mother.”
There are a total of eight puppies in the litter. Three are still at large with their mother who has repeatedly escaped Animal Shelter officers best efforts to capture her. Another was recently adopted and these four are at the Shelter.
“Two of them we trapped because we were trying to trap their mother,” Officer Blanch said. “We knew that once we got the puppies that the mother would disappear. She’s been a street dog for a while. As soon as we put the trap out, she moved the puppies. Other people in the neighborhood have been finding them here and there and bringing them in.”
The mother of the puppies has been a target of the Animal Shelter for quite some time. She recognizes the Animal Shelter uniform and truck and runs away as soon as they are in view. The Shelter Officers have been unable to get close enough for a successful capture.
“They know who we are,” Animal Shelter Officer Annie DeWolfe said. “When they see the truck, they don’t hang around.”
The Animal Shelter has recently acquired a tranquilizer gun that will help them finally bring in the mother and unite the rest of the litter. Until then, the four at the Shelter have had no problems entertaining themselves. The puppies are prone to playing with each other almost all day.
“It’s hilarious, they’ll play for a little bit and all of a sudden they’ll all flop down and go to sleep,” Officer DeWolfe said. “Then they’ll wake up and play again and then go right back to sleep. Earlier this morning when we cam in, all four of them were squeezing themselves on top of each other.”
The four puppies currently at the Shelter will be at an off site adoption this weekend, January 9, at Atwoods from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Shelter will also be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lady Cats Soccer Lose to Paris
The Lady Cats’ soccer team wrapped up the scrimmage portion of their schedule with a 3-1 loss to Paris on the road Tuesday night. The scrimmage was moved to the artificial turf field at Paris due to wet field conditions at Prim Stadium.
Lady Cats Coach Jesus Deleon said the Lady Cats had lots of opportunities to score as they put 20 shots on goal. Only one went in. That one in the second half reduced the Paris lead to 2-1. The final goal for Paris occurred when a Lady Cats’ defender tried to clear a ball but it hit a Paris player and trickled into the Lady Cats’ net. The Lady Cats won two previous scrimmages against John Tyler and Pleasant Grove by identical 4-0 scores.
The Lady Cats open the regular season in a Terrell tournament that runs Thursday through Saturday.
“Updated” Single Car Fatality Accident Wednesday Morning in County
A one-car fatality accident occurred either late night Tuesday or early morning Wednesday on County Road 3564, one half mile west of FM 69 near the Precinct 3 County Barn, according to Brad Cummings, Justice of the Peace. Cummings told KSST News that a 335i BMW hardtop convertible left the roadway and went airborne, hitting and lodging in trees along the roadway. The driver, Moises Galvan, was thrown about 15 to 20 ft. from the auto. Cummings said according to investigating officers, DPS Troopers Aaron Hanna and Brandon Stribling, speed may have played a factor in the accident.
The accident was reported to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday morning by County Commissioner Precinct 3, Wade Bartley. Bartley was on his way to work when he noted the accident.
Galvan, 35, of Sulphur Springs was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:40 a.m. Wednesday by JP Cummings. Cummings ordered the body sent for autopsy.
“Update” FAA and NTSB Officials Investigating Crash Scene
Tuesday, January 5, shortly before 1 p.m., a Cessna fixed wing single-engine plane owned by Airflyers of America of California, Inc., located in Addison, Texas, crashed on approach from the north planning to land at the Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport. Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport officials told us that Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board officials will be on sight investigating the crash scene today. Preliminary findings will be released within a month and a final investigation report will follow the preliminary findings.
A call to Airflyers of America by KSST resulted in no information. KSST was told, “We have no information on [the crash] and there is no one here who can give any information on it.”
The plane that crashed is featured on the company website. The company is a pilot training school and the plane’s pilot was still in training. The pilot walked away from the crash with no serious injuries. There were no other passengers on board.
KSST News noted that the plane veered off the runway to the left and once hitting the ditch, the plane flipped and landing upside down in the ditch between the two runways. Landing tire marks were visible on the runway. There was also visible damage to the landing gear.
Jordan Owens filed a report for KSST/Channel 18.
City Council Appoints ZBA Members, Approve Parking Improvements, Welcome Tesla Charging Station
During their forty minute Tuesday night session, January 5, 2016, the Sulphur Springs City Council appointed a member and two alternates to the Zoning Board of Adjustments and approved the remainder of the agenda.
Appointed to the ZBA were permanent member Kevin Mohl and alternate members Brad Burgin and Ben Spraggins. The appointments were made after the ZBA had failed to acquire a quorum for meetings in two of the previous three months. The last failure delayed a vote on a proposed variance to the sign ordinance that would allow an 85 ft. sign for a proposed Starbucks on South Broadway, next door to Chili’s.
The council approved a proposed parking improvement along Main, Davis, and Tomlinson Streets that would provide 74 parking stalls at a cost of $300,000. This would allow at least an additional 30 parking spaces for the downtown area. Included in the parking area will be an 8 stall charging station for Tesla Motors. The Tesla charging station was also approved by the council Tuesday following statements made by two out of town individuals who desire to have increased charging opportunities for their travels to Sulphur Springs and beyond and by one downtown business owner who owns a Tesla auto. The charger will be located in the 300 block of Tomlinson.
Bids for fuel farm site work for concrete, earthwork, and electrical were awarded by the city as was a bid for the water line for Bill Bradford Road.
Community Outreach Lunch and Food Pantry January 9
Community Outreach Lunch and Food Pantry Open this upcoming Saturday, January 9, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the M.L.K. Jr. Drive Church of Christ located at 154 M.L.K. Jr. Drive here in Sulphur Springs, TX.
City Manager’s Report Presented in Council Meeting
Tuesday night, January 5th, City Manager Marc Maxwell presented his monthly manager’s report to the City Council in session for their January meeting. His report follows.
STREETS, WATER AND SEWER – The Rockdale Road reconstruction project is underway. Westbrook Concrete Contractors is forming and pouring the concrete street one segment at a time. Approximately 65% of the concrete is in place. Water utilities have been replaced. This project will finish Rockdale Road on the north side of Interstate 30.
Plano Street is underway. 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. The Capital Construction Division is now replacing a few sections of curb and gutter before the street can be cement-stabilized and repaved.
Bill Bradford Road is next. The sewer pipe is on order. The water pipe is on the agenda for approval later tonight. Work will begin at the end of the month. At an estimated cost of $1.4 million, this is a major project. It will include a new water main, a new sewer main, drainage improvements and a new asphalt street.
CLAIMS – We have three workers’ compensation claims in December, two for electrical shock and one for a strained knee. All three were treated and released to duty without lost time.
We did not have any liability claims in December.
POLICE DEPARTMENT REMODEL – The project is nearing completion. Painters are onsite now.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Total suspended solids (TSS) came in at 5.20 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 a new weather siren at the police department.
- Repaired the fountain at the airport.
- Installed a payment kiosk at the water office.
- Repaired crosswalk lights at the post office.
- Performed preventative maintenance and repairs at the wastewater treatment plant and water treatment plant.
- Checked out 3,382 items from the library.
- Sold 1.205 gallons of AvGas and 4,020 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Fixed broken equipment at Kids Kingdom.
- Started removing underbrush at Coleman Park.
- Responded to 125 fire/rescue calls including 2 structure fires.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 83 fire hydrants.
- Repaired 5 water main ruptures and replaced 12 water meters.
- Unstopped 40 sewer mains and repaired 8 sewer mains.
- Washed 68,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Flushed 36 dead-end water mains.
- Opened Lake Sulphur Springs flood gates twice.
- Responded to 57 accidents, made 57 arrests, recorded 66 accidents and wrote 441 traffic citations.
- Made 9 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Responded to 212 animal control calls, and achieved a 45% adoption rate.
- Activated the weather sirens twice.
- Performed preventative maintenance on two water towers.
- Treated 118 million gallons of drinking water.
- Patched 1,060 potholes.
- Made 6 street repairs following utility repairs.
- Cleaned storm drains and catch basins.
- Removed fallen trees from the road.
- Excavated several drainage ditches to enable better run-off.
- Conducted 21 building inspections, 12 electrical inspections, 7 plumbing inspections, 1 mechanical inspection, and issued 17 building permits.
First Day for Express Care Clinic
A new clinic has opened on 1339 S Broadway in Sulphur Springs called “Express Care.” This new clinic opened Tuesday January 5. The new clinic is an extension of the Hopkins County Memorial Hospital, and will treat the more common cases.
“We will be providing family practice services here,” Jana Shaw said. “Your chronic care management will be done with one of our primary care physicians, or if it’s a specialty needs, we’ll go with a specialist. Express Care will be providing services for general cough, cold, simple procedures, lacerations, fractures and things like that.”
The new Express Care clinic had been in the works for close to a year before it opened at the former RadioShack location. It has seen a fair amount of business for its first day.
“Mr. MacAndrew and our previous DAO, as well as the Board, were looking at locations over time,” Shaw said. “But it was just finding something on this end of town that we can provide service in a more localized place for patients.”
Lady Cats Dominate Mt Pleasant in Third District Win
The Lady Cats’ basketball team improved their district record to 3-1 and their season mark to 16-5 with a dominating win over Mt. Pleasant, 63-34 on the road Tuesday night.
Tori Moore was on fire shooting behind the three-point arc hitting five of six as part of her team leading 17 points. Kaylee Jefferson scored 11 points and had a team leading nine rebounds.
The Lady Cats got off to a great start as they jumped out to a 21-3 first quarter lead. They led 36-14 at the half and 56-27 after three quarters.
The Lady Cats host the Greenville Lady Lions Friday at 7 p.m. in Wildcats Gym.
Wildcats Go Cold in Third Quarter in Loss to Tigers
For the first two quarters, the Wildcats’ basketball team battled with a talented Mt. Pleasant team Tuesday night in Wildcats Gym. The Tigers led by only six, 28-22. A four point third quarter did the Wildcats in as Mt. Pleasant claimed a 55-40 win.
It was a night where the Wildcats played with a lot of effort but their shots, for the most part, would not fall. Leading scorer Keaston Willis led the Wildcats with 17 points despite battling with foul trouble. Ke’Ontae Dunn added 10 points.
Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta said his team executed the game plan well but did not make enough shots to overcome a Mt. Pleasant team he feels will make a run at the district championship. Coach Cipoletta noted the Wildcats were able to limit the top two Tigers scorers.
If the Wildcats get their first district win of the season Friday night, they’ll have to do it on the road at Greenville where the Lions can be very tough. The Wildcats are now 0-2 in district play and 7-11 for the season.
