Corvette Club Senior Citizen Benefit
Sulphur Springs Corvette Club will collect new blankets, electric blankets, and/or cash donations for needy senior citizens in Sulphur Springs and surrounding areas from 6-9 p.m. December 7th, 8th, and 9th at Celebration Plaza in Sulphur Springs. Donations may be dropped off on any of these nights.
The Corvette Club will have candy canes for children and adults at the drop-off site as they invite the community to share the spirit of Christmas with those seniors who have given so much to others through the years.
KSST will be doing a live remote broadcast from the square, and blankets can be dropped off at KSST radio station or the Senior Citizens Center if you are unable to bring a blanket to the downtown area during the benefit hours.
Large Amount of Cash and Jewelry Taken in Home Burglary
The Sulphur Springs Police Department is investigating the burglary of a home in the southwest part of town where a safe and more than $35,000 of jewelry was stolen along with a large amount of cash. The burglary occurred Monday. The thief broke a window to gain entry. Taken were two Rolex watches along with a necklace, ring, bracelet and cash. The case has been assigned to Detective Sgt. Bo Fox.
Three Sulphur Springs Men Co-Invent High Altitude Balloon System
Three employees of Raven Industries in Sulphur Springs are co-inventors for a “high altitude balloon system” that recently received a U S patent. The Sulphur Springs co-inventors are Michael Smith, Kurt Sehnert, and Randy Scott. They share the co-inventor status with Justin Lee Marsh, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Mark L. West, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Raven Industries home office is in Sioux Falls.
The high altitude balloon system for which the company received a patent includes, according to the U S Patent Office, “…a dual chamber balloon extending from an upper apex to a lower apex with a circumferential edge between the upper and lower apexes. A deflectable diaphragm is within the dual chamber balloon and coupled along the circumferential edge. The deflectable membrane divides the dual chamber balloon into a lift gas chamber formed by an interior surface of the dual chamber balloon and the deflectable diaphragm, and a ballast chamber formed by the interior surface of the dual chamber balloon and the deflectable diaphragm. Optionally, the dual chamber balloon is constructed by interposing the deflectable diaphragm between an upper and lower balloon panels. Each of the upper and lower balloon panels and the deflectable diaphragm are then coupled together along the circumferential edge to form both the lift gas chamber and the ballast chamber.”
Blue Santa Collection Continues Tuesday
Locally Blue Santa is having a major cash and toy collection in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The two-day event continues Tuesday from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. They are selling barbeque lunches for $5. Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jay Sanders says they expect to provide toys for 1400 children this year. Blue Santa is hoping to raise $33,000 and collect lots of toys and 160 bicycles.
Sulphur River At Flood Stage Until After Midnight Thursday
Around midnight Thursday the South Sulphur River should fall below flood stage according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage for the river is 16 feet and Monday evening the stage was at 18.19 feet.
Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. The river should crest at less than 19 feet sometime Tuesday morning December 1, 2015. The river should fall below flood stage Thursday after midnight according to the weather service.
Flooding along the Sulphur River has cause travel difficulties for those seeking to drive near or cross the river in Hopkins, Franklin, and Titus Counties.
WPD Arrest Man for Third Time in Two Months
Two arrests, 142 calls for service, and 28 citations and 32 warnings written provided a quiet seven day period in Winnsboro for the police department November 23-29.
Candice Murrell, 25, of Pittsburg was arrested on the 24th for Driving While License invalid with a previous conviction.
Jason Bearden, 37, of Winnsboro was arrested on the 24th on an 8th Judicial Court warrant. Mr. Bearden was arrested during the previous seven day period, on Saturday, November 21st, for Assault Family/Household member with previous conviction and Interfere with Emergency Call with previous conviction. On Saturday, October 18th of this year, he was arrested for Criminal Mischief over $500 but less than $1500.
No accidents were reported to WPD during the seven day period.
“Updated” Lighted Christmas Parade Friday At 7 p.m.
The annual Lions’ Club Lighted Christmas Parade routinely draws large crowds along the parade route. Floats, horses, anything that can be lighted using various power packs will be entered in the parade. The theme for the parade is simply Christmas. The parade continues to grow each year. The parade will begin at dark, around 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. according to parade organizers. Santa will also put in an appearance.
Friday’s Lion’s Club Lighted Christmas Parade will travel from Buford Park on Connally Street across Celebration Plaza to Church Street then north on Church to Houston Street then west on Houston to Prim Stadium Parking lot. It begins at 7 p.m. according to the latest information.
Various events including snow slide, white tigers, ponies, and other activities will be available to the public on Celebration Plaza.
This year’s lighted parade will be taking place this Friday starting from Buford Park at dark. Lions Club Member Garrett Glass discussed the parade with Enola Gay on KSST’s Good Morning Show Monday morning.
Tanton Guilty; Sentencing December 15th
Monday afternoon in 8th Judicial District Court before District Judge Eddie Northcutt, Terry Reese Tanton of Como pled no contest and was found guilty of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Minor—First Degree Felonies. Tanton was placed in custody in Hopkins County Jail. The sentencing phase of the trial is set for December 15th. His punishment could range from 10 years deferred probation to life in prison.
Judge Eddie Northcutt pronounced the guilty verdict around 3 p.m. Monday following a day of testimony by witnesses called by District Attorneys Clay Harrison and Matt Harris. Defense Attorney Heath Hyde did not call any witnesses and Tanton chose not to testify on his own behalf.
Tanton, 53 at the time of his arrest, turned himself in at the Hopkins County Jail Wednesday, January 21, 2015, for aggravated sexual assault involving two girls, ages eight and ten. The three events took place on two days, January 2 and January 10.
Sulphur Springs Food Scene Sees New Changes
Changes have come to a number of restaurants in Sulphur Springs which include Chicken Express, Burger King, the new Roma’s Italian Restaurant, and San Remo’s.
Chicken Express is now under new management with the entire franchisee being bought out by a new owner.
“We purchased this from Ricky Stewart, the franchise owner’s son,” Regional Manager Justin Grubbs said. “This location will be the 22nd that we own of Chicken Express restaurants.”
The current Chicken Express will remain as it is with no other changes. Meanwhile, Burger King is undergoing extreme renovations on both the interior and exterior. It will be an overall visual “upgrade” according to the construction project manager.
The former Redneck Roadhouse will now be the home of Roma’s Italian Restaurant. Roma’s originated in Cumby, TX where it saw much success. Whether or not Roma’s is relocating or opening a new establishment is unknown. Interior renovations for the Italian restaurant are well underway.
San Remo’s, originally scheduled to relocate to the Celebration Plaza, remains closed and has cancelled its relocation. All exterior signs and decorations have been removed from the original site and it appears renovation continues inside the restaurant.
November Second Straight Month Over 10 Inches of Rain for Sulphur Springs
November was another wet month for Sulphur Springs. Some rain was recorded on 16 of the month’s 30 days. With rainfall of 10.17 inches, November was the second straight month of more than 10 inches of rain in the city. Total rainfall for the first eleven months of 2015 is 58.08 inches. That’s 14.85 inches above the average of 43.23 inches for Sulphur Springs. The city is already assured of having above average rainfall for the entire year with December still to go.
Average high and low temperature during November was 66 and 48. The highest recording was 83 degrees and the lowest recording was 29 degrees last month.
