Harry Washington’s Love for Hopkins County Motivated His Candidacy for Sheriff
The purpose of his campaign is found in the fundamentals of this county. Harry Washington, candidate for Hopkins County Sheriff, wants to be able to protect the citizens of Hopkins County and their property. He has roots in the county. Before announcing his candidacy, he sought his uncle’s blessing, which he did receive. He has discussed his desire to seek the office with Sheriff Butch Adams had waited until Sheriff Adams’ announced his retirement before seeking the office.
He believes that he can work effectively with the other Hopkins County officials as a team player, as well as being able to work hand in hand with the county judge, commissioner’s court, and other law enforcement officials. He believes that they can work together in unity and be effective in protecting Hopkins County.
With leadership as a priority, he will bring together a leadership team. In the county that he currently works, Hunt County, he is a member of the leadership team that meets twice a month with law enforcement officers from the top to patrol deputies. He said the leadership team seeks to find what makes law enforcement work. It helps enlighten them to they need to be doing for law enforcement purposes to better serve the people of the county. He stated the team approach works well in developing a better plan for enforcing the law.
He will support citizens on patrol – citizens and deputies working together. As a narcotics officer, he knows the tactics that can be utilized as citizens of the county become the eyes and the ears of the sheriff’s department. Citizen calling the sheriff’s office to report strange behavior or strangers in the neighborhood facilitate officers in making arrests. While working narcotics, he used to receive calls of suspicious individuals that might be involved in drug related activities. He is happy knowing that there are citizens that are watching. He believes that it is everyone’s responsibility, not just law enforcement, to keep the county safe and healthy. As an undercover officer he has purchased drugs, based on community members taking note of behavior, from places such as Church’s Chicken, on church parking lots, and in front of police departments. This is why he encourages citizen involvement to report such activities. He believes such cooperative work can deter crime efficiently.
His faith plays a major role in his duty as a law enforcement officer. God plays an important role in his life, as does the church. He views himself as a sinner saved by grace. In his daily role as an intervention officer, he feels blessed.
The interdiction program of which he is a member has seen great results. Through good law enforcement leading to the seizure of drug-money, the department in which he works has been able to give back to the community with the purchase of new patrol cars and equipment for fellow deputies without using tax revenue. He sees this happening in Hopkins County as well.
When it comes to dealing with budget of the Sheriff’s office, he feels confident in the work and sees the development of the budget as a team effort. By working with the judges and commissioners, he said they can find the places in the department that need work and make them stronger.
Mr. Washington has dreamed of running for sheriff of Hopkins County and has had other law enforcement officers encourage him to run for the position. He believes that he will make a good sheriff and wants to bolster the morale of the deputies and encourage good character so they can shine in the county.
Although Harry’s twin brother, Barry, is also a candidate for the office, Harry said that has nothing to do with his candidacy. In both instances, Harry had announced and later filed for the office prior to his brother. Mr. Washington said he was not pleased with a regional media outlet’s recent interview that seemed to pit the brothers against one another. He said this is not about anything but his desire to be Sheriff in Hopkins County.
Road Rage Leads to Arrest
A 52-year old Fort Worth man was charged with deadly conduct after he admitted pointing a gun at another driver at mile marker 116 on westbound I-30 at about 5:45 p.m. Sunday. The man was reportedly driving recklessly. A Cumby policeman stopped the driver at the 109 mile marker.
Justice of the Peace Brad Cummings had a magistrate’s hearing for the man who was formally charged with deadly conduct.
Man Makes False Report to Deputy
A 28-year old Cleburne man has been charged with making a false report to a peace officer after claiming at one time he’d been shot and robbed. A Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a gunshot wound case at the Emergency Department at Memorial Hospital just after 7 p.m. Saturday. The man first told the deputy and unknown man had shot him and robbed him after his car had broken down along FM 2285. The man granted a request to search his vehicle. The deputy found a pistol and a bloody towel. The man then told the deputy that he had accidently shot himself at a boat ramp on FM 2285.
Bond was set at $1,000 for the Class B misdemeanor.
Child Killed in Accident
A 7-year old boy was killed in an accident involving a collision between a pair of 18-wheelers. The accident occurred on westbound I-30 at the 122 mile marker near the League Street exit just before 10 p.m. Saturday. Sulphur Springs Police Patrol Captain Jason Ricketson told KSST News Monday morning that two 18-wheelers ran together. It is thought that the child was wearing a seatbelt.
The accident shut down westbound I-30 for some time Saturday night. The victim’s father, age 47, who was driving the 18-wheeler that was in collision with the other big rig, was injured in the collision and was treated and released at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital. The other trucker was not injured. The accident is being investigated by Officer Terry Miller, who is being assisted by the DPS.
Children’s Health Fair Planned
The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is pleased to introduce a new event for children in northeast Texas. The first Children’s Health Fair will be held at the Children’s Museum on Saturday, January 16 from 9:30 to 11:30.
The event will include free admission. Hands-on activities will highlight children’s health. For example, after exercise children will compare their oxygen level and pulse rate to their resting levels using oximeters. Lonnie, the Museum’s MegaLung, will provide children an opportunity to walk through a lung. Children’s safety will be emphasized as a children’s ID card with picture and fingerprints will be provided by the Commerce Police Department. With Glo-Gel children can see the cleanliness of their hands before and after washing. And, of course, the Children’s Museum will be open for play and exploration of more than fifty different play areas.
“With the current emphasis on children’s health, the Children’s Museum wanted to play a role in emphasizing this to families and to our community. We do lessons throughout the year on good health, but we wanted to have one morning for health education for children in our area,” said Sharline Freeman Director of the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. In addition to health activities set up in the Children’s Museum and the play areas which will be open, children will receive a Children’s Activity Book. This book will be given to children who participate in the Children’s Health Fair and then will be distributed throughout Hunt County.
“We appreciate the sponsors for the event and for the Children’s Activity Book. Hunt
Regional Healthcare has played a large role in this event. Other sponsors include McDaniel Family Dentistry, Commerce Veterinary Clinic, Live Oak Professional Center, Primary Care Associates, Atmos Energy, and Community Health Service Agency, Inc. We appreciate these groups for making the Children’s Health Fair possible,” said Elana Barton, Director of Development for the Children’s Museum.
“We hope this event will impact the area as we emphasize the health of our children,” said Beckey Thompson, Board President. For more information, call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055.
City and County Rainfall Reports
Rainfall amounts over the weekend of December 26-27 have been reported by the city and individuals in various communities:
Sulphur Springs Official total: 7.11 inches
Brinker totals: 7.9 inches and southwest of Brinker, 9 inches
Rocky Ridge: 7.3 inches
Cornersville: 9 inches
Union: 2.2 inches
Star Ridge: 6.1 inches
Food Bank Closed This Week
The Hopkins County Ministerial Alliance sponsored Food Bank will be closed this week because the North Texas Food Bank’s truck was unable to make the weekly delivery today due to flooding in Dallas. This means the Hopkins County Food Bank,, which is co-located with the COMMUNITY CHEST on Linda Drive in Sulphur Springs, will be closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.
They will reopen on Tuesday Jan 5th for normal “B” cycle families. “A” cycle families who would have received their food this week may come in on Thursday Jan 7th only – as a make up day. The Hopkins County COMMUNITY CHEST, however, will be open Mon, Tue and Wed of this week, with normal operation after the new year.
Updated Monday: Flash Flood Warning Extended Into Evening Hours
With flooding across a number of Farm-to-Market and county roads reported at midday Monday, the National Weather Service has once again extended the Flood Warning. This extension is until 7:15 p.m. Monday. Motorists are advised to turn around where water covers and/or is flowing over the roadway.
The National Weather Service had extended the Flood Warning until 1:15 p.m. Monday, December 28. County Road culverts and roadways were showing signs of stress resulting from flooding conditions as were Farm to Market and state highways in some places. River flooding remains an issue. Both the North Sulphur and South Sulphur are above flood stage and will continue to rise through Tuesday. Flooded roadways caused the cancellation of several church events Sunday night and is a factor in the closing of the Meal-a-Day program in Sulphur Springs on Monday. Streets in Sulphur Springs also reflect the results of flooding.
The extension of the flood warning into Monday comes after an extension announced Sunday afternoon. With over four (4) inches of rainfall in the last 24 hours, at 4:04 p.m. Sunday afternoon, December 27, the National Weather Service extended the flash flood warning until 7:15 p.m. for Hopkins, Delta, and Lamar Counties. A Flash Flood Watch was in effect until 6 a.m. Monday prior to the extension.
Several dozen roads have been closed in the three counties including FM 69 South from Highway 11 in Como to south of Pickton. Precinct 2 Commissioner Mike O’Dell called KSST to report a rescue made utilizing the Precinct backhoe. A man and his auto had gone off the roadway. Other roads are under water as well. High water rescues are also reported in Lamar County.
Lightning has also been an issue with this series of storms Sunday. Lightning strikes are being reported by weather observers and observation equipment. Thunderstorms will continue through the night Sunday and temperatures will fall into the mid-30’s tonight.
Slow Moving Cold Front Arrives in Hopkins County
As of 5 a.m. Sunday morning the slow moving cold front that has produced severe weather across North and Northeast Texas arrived in Sulphur Springs beginning a drop in temperatures that should level out in the 30’s and 40’s later today and tonight. Saturday, Hopkins County and Sulphur Springs were under a tornado watch until 8 p.m. and had been placed under three warnings between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The first two warnings activated the emergency warning sirens in Sulphur Springs. Tornados were signed but none touched ground nor caused damage. The tornado watch was extended until 11 p.m. for the county and counties east. However, the watch was lifted around 9:45 p.m.
To the west of the area, in the Garland area, eight deaths have been confirmed and severe damage reported from DeSoto to Wylie in the metroplex.
Radar Sunday morning at 6:45 a.m. showed sleet and snow from east of Abilene to Wichita Falls, a line of thunderstorms stretching from Limestone County to Plano and scattered rain and thunderstorms from San Antonio into Oklahoma.
With the passing of the cold front, the severe weather will end but rain will continue through Sunday night and Monday continuing the flash flood watch until Monday morning at 6 a.m. However, until the cold front passes, the chance of severe storms producing hail, damaging winds and possible tornadoes does exist. The treat of severe storms is expected to end locally around noon today, according to the National Weather Service.
Wintry sleet and snow is expected west of the DFW area and a rain/snow mix is possible as far east as Bonham to Dallas to Hillsboro late tonight. No accumulations are expected in the DFW area and traffic impacts are not expected there. The National Weather Service does not expect the wintry mix to reach the Hopkins County area.
Weather updates will be provided at KSST 1230 AM (radio), the KSST smartphone app, and ksstradio.com streaming. Also here at ksstradio.com and on the KSST Facebook page.
Tornado Watch Extended Then Cancelled
The tornado watch issued at noon today set to 8 p.m. had been extended until 11 p.m. Saturday night but at 9:50 p.m., the National Weather Service cancelled the watch.
Severe thunderstorms moved through Van Zandt, Rains, Hopkins, and Red River counties earlier today produced heavy rain, hail, and cloud to ground lightning. These storms also produce rotating formations and tornadoes that did not touch ground.
At 8 p.m. this evening, the cool front had not reached Hopkins County but is producing tornados in Rockwall County that are moving to the north. A new line of storms is expected in the local area as the evening continues. Now heavy rains will be the focus of any thunderstorms in the area… until something changes. Follow the weather updates on ksstradio.com and KSST 1230 AM.
