Veteran’s Appreciation Breakfast at ECLC November 10
The Transitional First Grade classes of the Early Childhood Learning Center will be hosting a Veterans’ Appreciation Breakfast and presenting a program for the school and community on Tuesday, November 10, 2015. You will have two opportunities to view the program. We will perform for the Head Start and Pre-K classes at 9:00 a.m., followed by an encore presentation for the Kindergarten students and community members at 9:40 a.m. The program will be presented in the ECLC Developmental Play Area.
Our military guests are also invited to enjoy breakfast treats that will be available before and after each performance in the ECLC parent Center. It is always a special honor and privilege for T-1 students to dedicate this time to our Veterans, and we hope you will make plans to join us, as we share with others that “Freedom is Never Free.”
Man Arrested for Meth Delivery Near Travis Primary School
A 23 year old Sulphur Springs man was arrested at his home Tuesday by members of the city and county Special Crimes Unit for delivering methamphetamine near Travis Primary School on September 1st of this year. Arrested was Chase Garrett McCord Hudson was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. Bond was set at $30,000 by Justice of the Peace B J Teer. A criminal complaint alleges that a man delivered less than a gram of meth less than 1,000 feet from the school.
Area Retired School Personnel Meet November 10
The Sulphur Springs Area of Retired School Personnel will meet Tuesday, November 10, at the Ag Building in City Park in Sulphur Springs at 11:15. The ECLC Kindergarten Class will bring a patriotic musical program. President Tommy Long encourages all members and any guests to attend.
Family Series “Socially Safe Students” Begins November 10 at SSMS
Counselors Carey Lobin of SSES and Nancy Kirby of SSMS are promoting the November 10 Family Series at Sulphur Springs Middle School. Students, parents, grandparents and anyone interested are invited to attend the informative program. A hot dog meal will be served at 5:30pm and the program will start at 6pm. Childcare for younger children will be provided. This parent session is entitled “Socially Safe Students” will address Bullying, Cyber Safety and Teen Dating Violence. Speaker will be Jenni Morse, Assistant District Attorney. Two more informative sessions are planned on January 6 and April 7, 2016.
The November 10th event will focus on Bullying. Parents and family members will learn about the different types of bullying, why kids bully, the warning signs, and how to help your child if he/she is a victim of bullying. Cyber Safety is also a concern addressed. With unlimited access to people and informatiion, children are more vulnerable to a host of dangers. Teen Dating Violence will focus on unhealthy, abusive, or violent relationships that bring severe consequences and short and long-term negative effects on a developing teen.
For more information, contact any SSISD Counselor or phone 903-885-2158.
Flash Flood Watch for Thursday
The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch in effect for Thursday and Thursday night for much of North Central, Northeast, and South Central Texas including Hopkins and surrounding counties. Thunderstorms are expected to develop Wednesday night as an upper level storm system approaches from the west. Showers and storms will increase in coverage Thursday with some producing heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding. Recent heavy rainfall events have led to saturated soils meaning that 1-2 inches of rainfall in a short amount of time could lead to flash flooding in many of the affected areas. Higher amounts of rain can be expected in some localized areas.
“Updated” Lady Cats Volleyball Face Mansfield Legacy Next
The Lady Cats, now 28-13 and Bi-District Champs, play Mansfield Legacy 7 p.m. Saturday night at Wills Point High School Gym. Tuesday night in a crucial fourth set against Corsicana, the Lady Cats’ volleyball team fended off five match points and scored 7 straight points to take a 26-24 win. A 15-12 set five win gave the Lady Cats a thrilling 3-2 win in Forney.
Smiddy, McPherson Elected to NHISD Board; Propositions Favored
North Hopkins ISD voters elected Sherry Smiddy and Robert McPherson to the school board Tuesday. The two received the most votes in the three person race. Smiddy received 120 votes. McPherson received 103 votes. The third, Justin Holland received 74 votes.
County voters overwhelmingly approved all seven (7) Propositions placed before Texas voters.
Walking Path Will Connect Coleman Park to Downtown; City Council Met Tuesday
City Manager Marc Maxwell announced a $700,000 grant to rebuild sidewalks down Connally Street to Buford Park will complement a $200,000 grant already received to build sidewalks from Coleman Park to Buford Park in the City of Sulphur Springs. The grants are from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. His announcement came during the November meeting of the city council Tuesday night.
Also during the meeting, the council voted to approve a tax abatement for BEF Foods. The company sold its building to a real estate holding company and then signed a long term lease on the facility. In the multi-year lease agreement BEF will continue to pay all taxes. BEF will continue to receive the tax abatement but must also keep prior commitments to the city regarding employment numbers and other agreements.
Bill Watts will continue to represent the city on the Hopkins County Appraisal District Board of Directors. Watts began his service on the board while a member of the city council in 2005.
Winnsboro Police Report for October 26-November 1
Winnsboro Police arrested four, answered 176 calls for service, and issued 32 citations and 23 warnings during the week of October 26-November 1. No accidents were reported during the week.
Chris Davis, 39, of Pittsburg was arrested Wednesday, October 28 for a City of Winnsboro Municipal warrant.
Also on Wednesday, Dorthey Grattet, 18, of Quitman was arrested for possession of marijuana under 2 oz.
Thursday Coleman Giovanni, 20, of Sulphur Springs was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
Sunday, November 1, Claston Bearden, 43, of Winnsboro was arrested on a Blue warrant.
“Update” Covington Found Guilty; Sentenced to Life in Prison
Around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night, a Hopkins County jury that had found Mark Covington, 46, of Pickton guilty of two counts of tampering with a witness sentenced him to life in prison for one count and 20 years in prison for the other count. The sentences are to run concurrent. Assistant District Attorney Clay Harrison presented a series of incarcerations to which Covington had been sentenced. The incarcerations date back to 1998 and sentences were handed down in Erath, Johnson, and Parker Counties. Witnesses also testified to his attempts to tamper with witnesses regarding his parole violation.
Security remained tight Wednesday morning at Hopkins County Courthouse as the jury heard the sentencing phase for Covington. Security had been tight Tuesday as County deputies sought to provide a safe environment for voters on the first floor and protection for a trial underway on the second floor of the Courthouse. In a day long trial Tuesday, Covington was found guilty of the two counts by a Hopkins County jury in 8th Judicial District Court Tuesday afternoon.
Covington has been in Hopkins County jail on January 17 of this year. At that time he was incarcerated for violation of parole, possession of a controlled substance over 1 gram and under 4 grams, forgery of a financial instrument, prohibited substance in a correctional facility, and two charges of tampering with a witness. He was charged again on February 13th with forgery and possession charges. In May, another tampering charge and on October 2nd another tampering charge.
Covington was incarcerated in January after a manhunt for him ended shortly after midnight January 17, 2015 in Hunt County. He had been on the run since Thursday night, January 15th when he first fled from Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigators and Deputies into a large wooded area off of FM 2285 near Pleasant Grove. Shortly after noon Friday, Hopkins County lawmen went to a motel along I-30 after the man had been seen in that area. He left before officers arrived. Hopkins County lawmen aided by the Greenville Police Department and K9 Officer, Hunt County DPS and Hunt County Sheriff’s Deputies set up a perimeter and captured the man.
