Lady Cats’ Strong Second Half Defeats Paris 66-33
After a close first two quarters at Paris Tuesday, the Lady Cats’ basketball team broke the game open in the second half for a 63-33 win. The Lady Cats improved their season record to 4-1.
Sadavia Porter led the Lady Cats with 13 points, Kaylee Jefferson had 12 and Tori Moore 10. Jefferson and Autumn Tanton had 12 rebounds.
The Lady Cats return to action at the Winnsboro Hoop Fest on December 3-5.
Brunch With Santa at Children’s Museum
The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum in Commerce is having Brunch with Santa on Saturday, December 5 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 the day of the event. The event will include a pancake breakfast, crafts, a train and picture opportunities with Santa. The children’s museum has been open 13-years offering a place of discovery, creativity and imagination for all children.
City Purchases Trolley
The city of Sulphur Springs has purchased the Downtown Business Alliance Trolley. The city was actually a minority owner of the vehicle but bought the trolley outright for $4,000. Tuesday morning City Manager Marc Maxwell Tuesday said the city owned 40% of the trolley before the purchase.
Maxwell said some repairs must be made on the Trolley before anything is done with the trolley. Extensive work on the suspension is needed. Money used to repair the trolley will be far less than purchasing a new one. Cost of a new trolley would be around $70,000 according to Maxwell.
The trolley will continue to serve as transportation between local hotels, the Regional Civic Center and Celebration Plaza. Maxwell hopes to add signage to pinpoint trolley stops in the areas served.
Department of Labor to Be on Local Hospital Campus November 30th
Hopkins County Memorial Hospital CEO Michael McAndrew has had better Monday mornings than this week’s. He told the board Monday night about some more unwanted visitors the hospital will be having at the end of the month. McAndrew stated that someone has filed a complaint with the Department of Labor. He stated that a few disgruntled employees had left lately. McAndrew noted to the board that the DOL may find something but nothing that would be troublesome. A reference in the letter from the DOL referenced the Family Medical Leave Act but McAndrew noted that the hospital had not violated the act.
Financial Officer Donna Wallace noted that it has been 25 years since the DOL has visited Memorial Hospital. The infraction at that time had to do with overtime pay. She noted that the infraction had been corrected and no other difficulties have affected the local hospital.
Austin attorney Kevin Reed said that the visit should not be a problem. He noted that some small infraction may have occurred but should be easily corrected.
Burgers and Fries Wait Staff Donate to Senior Citizens Center
Once again the wait-staff of Burgers and Fries, 208 College Street, have donated their tips received for service. The recipient of their over $2000 donation is the Senior Citizens Center, 150 MLK Boulevard in Sulphur Springs. “These wonderful people and their customers are making a difference in a lot of Senior’s Lives,” stated Karon Weatherman, Program and Marketing Director for the Senior Center.
Infestation of Giant Salvinia Found on Lake Fork
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has confirmed the presence of giant salvinia in Chaney Branch on Lake Fork. The infestation appears to be confined to this branch and another small cove west of the dam and occupies an estimated 3.25 acres. Judging by the distribution and age of the plants, it is apparent it has been in place for several months. As is the case for other introductions in East Texas, the plants were most likely introduced to the lake by boat trailer.
Lake Fork’s controlling authority, the Sabine River Authority (SRA), immediately closed boat ramps at Chaney Point South and Secret Haven, which are located at the westernmost end of Chaney Branch, in order to eliminate any further risk of spreading this invasive plant. The SRA has also conducted reconnaissance at bridge crossings and conducted shoreline surveys by boat to look for additional infestations.
Crews from the SRA and TPWD have physically removed salvinia plants and placed them in garbage bags for disposal. Additionally, crews have placed approximately 1,100 feet of floating boom across the creek, containing the infestation within the 90-acre cove.
SRA staff has also installed a floating sign and lights to alert boaters to the presence of the floating boom.
TPWD staff will be conducting a chemical treatment using glyphosate. All efforts will be made to protect beneficial aquatic plants while focusing treatment on killing the invasive giant salvinia. TPWD will continue to conduct additional surveys to check for the spread of the plant to other areas of the lake, and additional physical removals will be done if necessary.
Efforts to increase public awareness will be increased by installing warning signs at major boat ramps. Boaters and property owners are urged to clean, drain, and dry their boats and trailers in between trips and to report additional infestations outside of the Chaney Branch area by calling (903) 593-5077, (903) 570-5745, or by emailing [email protected].
Giant salvinia is a floating fern native to Brazil. It reproduces by budding and spreads easily by the movement of wind and water currents. Giant salvinia grows rapidly and can double in coverage in a week. Uncontrolled, giant salvinia can impede navigation, block sunlight from reaching the water and hamper fishing.
This incident is a painful reminder of the importance of cleaning all plant material from your boat, trailer, and towing vehicle and draining your boat before leaving a lake. Transportation of aquatic invasive species is illegal in Texas.
For more information on giant salvinia and other invasive species, visit http://www.texasinvasives.org/
Talco Woman Sentenced to 20 Years
She did not wait for her December 7th trial date. Instead of waiting, Jackqulyn Henry Erwin, 52, of Talco pled guilty to two first degree felony delivery cases and was sentenced to 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Her guilty plea was made in 8th Judicial District Court before Judge Eddie Northcutt Monday. She was scheduled for a final pre-trial hearing Monday.
In September of this year, Erwin and a 59-year old Sulphur Springs man, Randall Scott Green, were placed under arrest after 134 grams of methamphetamine and $3400 in cash were found in the car in which they were traveling. They were stopped for a traffic violation at the 112 mile marker near Cumby on eastbound I-30 at around 8 a.m. September 16th.
Lawmen suspected illegal activity but the suspects refused to allow a search of their car. A police K-9 officer was brought to the scene and alerted on the trunk of the car. A search of the car produced the meth and money.
Another Missed Date for New County Jail
texas flag courthouse
One wonders if Hopkins County jail residents will be in their new home for Christmas. Once again, county plans have been stymied by failure of vendors to meet deadlines. Yet, county officials continue to plan for a December 1 Open House for those who desire to tour the jail.
Inmates will not be moving into the new Hopkins County Jail anytime this week. Apparently installation of a required phone visitation system will not be taking place this week. Furniture for the facility and mattresses for cells have been ordered but have yet to arrive.
Plans still call for an open house for the new facility during the afternoon on December 1.
Hospital Addresses CMS Concerns With Purchased Equipment
The Hopkins County Memorial Hospital Board bought more non-budgeted equipment to address concerns from a survey by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Systems Monday night. For the OR they bought instruments and a sterilizer and scope cleaner and approved renovation of the sterile processing department and decontamination area. They have now spent over $500,000 for CMS concerns for infection control.
Winnsboro Police Report for November 16-22
Winnsboro City Police were busy with five arrests, a minor accident, 197 calls for service, and 52 citations and 42 warnings issued during the seven day period of November 16-22.
Arrested Saturday for Assault Family/Household member with previous conviction and Interfere with emergency call with previous conviction, was Jason Bearden, 37, of Winnsboro.
Kayla Dean, 29, of Paris was arrested on two City of Mt Pleasant warrants Monday.
Kevin Woods, 32, of Lessburg was arrested Wednesday on three City of Winnsboro municipal warrants.
Jennifer Bryant, 42, of Winnsboro was arrested Thursday for Credit/Debit card abuse.
Larry Smith, 46, of Winnsboro was arrested Sunday on a Wood County warrant.
A minor two vehicle accident on Wednesday involved a Toyota van traveling southbound on Mill Street and a Chevrolet Silverado. The Toyota was about to turn into a private drive when the Silverado failed to control their speed and struck the van from behind. No injuries were reported.
