October Weather Summary
October 2015 provided 11.89 inches of rainfall for Sulphur Springs according to the official Daily Weather Report from the City Water Treatment plant. Saturday, October 24 was the rainiest day of the month with 6.75 inches recorded. Only eight (8) days of clear skies were seen in the city during the month.
Temperature averages for the month include a high temp average of 82 and an average low of 56. The warmest day during the month was Thursday, October 15th. The coolest night was the following Sunday, October 18th when the temp fell to 46.
The last day of the month, Halloween, registered 3.01 inches of rain, which fell in the early morning hours.
Charges Filed in Theft From Grandparents
Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a disturbance call Sunday morning instead ended up with a case of a youth stealing a great deal of money from grandparents. 19-year old Dakota Lane Diener was charged with theft over $2,500. Justice of the Peace B.J. Teer set bond for Diener at $10,000.
When Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance, they found a youth and a couple arguing in the driveway of a home on County Road 3506 at 8:43 a.m. Sunday. The young man admitted stealing $4,000 in cash. He also said he stole a check, which he made out to himself and cashed. He said he purchased a truck using the funds. The man’s grandmother estimated about $30,000 had been taken since July 10. The young man was arrested by Sheriff’s Sgt. Corley Weatherford.
Premiere of A Man Called Jon a Success
Over 200 persons were in the audience at Shannon Oaks Church for the Sulphur Springs Red Carpet premiere of the movie “A Man Called Jon”. The film, created by the team of Michael Brown of Terrell and Eric King of Sulphur Springs, will also be premiered during November in other select locations. Members of the cast and production crew were present at the local premier. “A Man Called Jon” a full-length faith-based feature film, is a light-hearted drama about a young pastor who finds the path to the perfect church home for his exuberant preaching style. This movie is the third faith-based feature by King and Brown Enterprises and Poorchild Films. Previous titles are “Hiding in Plain Sight” filmed in Dallas and “Steps of Faith” filmed largely in Sulphur Springs. See the movie trailer and find out how to order the DVD by going to kingandbrownenterprises.com or on Facebook.
My Brother’s Keeper and Daughters of Praise worship team of Morning Chapel Baptist Church were special guests.
Hospital Foundation Announces 20th Anniversary of Lights of Life Reception
[by Jackie Thornton, Director, Hopkins County Memorial Hospital Foundation]
Tuesday, November 3, 2015 10a.m., Memorial Hospital Lobby – the Health Care Foundation will host the Annual Lights of Life Kick-off reception in the lobby of Memorial Hospital. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the campaign, there will lots of excitement.
Gloria Mitchell, Donna Rudzik and Polly Swatsell the 2015-2016 Lights of Life Campaign Chairs will help with the officially kick-off of the 20th Anniversary of the Lights of Life Campaign. They are excited to announce that the campaign is going great due to the continued generosity of the sponsors. Pictures will be taken of the top level sponsors.
THREE $20,000 DIAMOND Sponsors – Carriage House Manor & The Cottages – Arvis & Sheila Tanton, CHRISTUS Health System & GSC Emprises, Inc. – Mickey & Barbara McKenzie
TWO – $10,000 STAR Sponsors – Alliance Bank and HCMH Volunteer Auxiliary
NINE – $5000 SPARKLE Sponsors – Access Physicians, Advanced Heart Care & Cath Lab, CD Ballard-Ballard Trucking, City National Bank, Guaranty Bank & Trust & Wealth Management, James Hodge Motor Company, Net Date, The Bookworm Box, and Wesley House & Wesley Oaks Memory Care
TWELVE – $3000 GLITTER Sponsors- Bulkley & Associates, CompleteRX, City National Bank, Echo Publishing Company, Gene & Jeanette Watson, M & F Western Products, Inc., Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home, Rock Creek Health & Rehab, SS Commercial Services, Sulphur Springs Dodge, Texas Heritage Bank and West Oaks Funeral Home.
All Past Campaign Chairs will be recognized as the 2015-2016 10th Anniversary Lights of Life Honorees. Past chairperson who will be recognized are: Mickey Master Barnett (2006), Wanda Galyean
(2007), Dr. Bill & Peggy Dietze (2009), Craig Roberts & Jennifer Roberts (2010), Tom & Pam Sellers
(2011), Mickey & Barbara McKenzie (2012), Arvis & Sheila Tanton (2013), Ms. Mary Bonham, Rhonda Young & Kristin Potts (2014), Brian & Leesa Toliver (2015). Because of their humble and tireless service
given to the campaign the Foundation, campaign chairs and committee are delighted to recognize the past campaign chairs that laid the groundwork that helped us get to where we are today.
The Lights of Life tree lighting campaign started in 1996. Chaired by Chad and Rhonda Young, the community was invited to help light the hospital Christmas tree by making a $25 donation in “memory or to honor” someone special. For every $25 donation given a light was placed on the hospital Christmas tree. Funds raised before 2005 were designated for specific programs and/or projects like, Hospice at Memorial, Think Child Safety, pediatrics and other specified programs offered by the hospital. The campaign has grown over the past twenty years to include several min-events and the annual black time Lights of Life gala. All funds raised through the campaign help reach the aggressive goal of $250,000 set by the Foundation board of directors. Acknowledgement cards are still sent to the families of those “honored or remembered”. The official tree lighting and reception will be held on Thursday, December 4 at 6p.m. in The Gardens at Memorial.
A portion of the funds raised this year through the Lights of Life Campaign and Gala will be used to purchase six (6) LUCAS CPR devices and add additional funds to the Foundation “Leaving a Legacy” endowment fund.
Help us continue to make a difference for Memorial Hospital and Hopkins County by giving the gift that keeps on giving. Donation checks should be made payable to the Health Care Foundation. Contact Jackie Thornton, Foundation Director for more information, 903-438-4799.
Warren Mitchell Announces His Candidacy for Sheriff
Late Friday, Hopkins County Republican Chair Donnie Wisenbaker released an announcment by Warren Mitchell regarding Mitchell’s candidacy for Hopkins County Sheriff. Mitchell is the fourth to enter the bid for the Republican nomination to be determined in the 2016 Primary Election. (No picture of Mr. Mitchell was made available.)
His statement follows:
Today I am announcing that I will be a candidate for the office of Hopkins County Sheriff in the upcoming Republican Primary in March 2016.
I was born and raised in Sulphur Springs. I am a 1984 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School.
I grew up in the law enforcement family with my father, Alton Mitchell, reaching the rank of Lieutenant in the Criminal Investigation Division for the Sulphur Springs Police Department.
I have been in law enforcement for the last twenty seven years with twenty four of those years being assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division. I have been the senior investigator within the division for the past twenty years. I have obtained a Master Peace Officer License and Instructor certificate.
In 2012 I was awarded a national award by the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children for my work in the area of Collaborative Leadership in Law Enforcement.
I have obtained the certification by the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children to be an instructor for their training program. I have presented the training program numerous times over the last three years within the state, training numerous law enforcement officers, employees of Child Protective Services, and civic volunteers.
I am currently the State Executive Vice President for the Texas Narcotic Officers Association. I will be state President of the association in 2016/2017.
As the Sheriff of Hopkins County I will serve the citizens of our county by working hand in hand with the professional men and women of the Sheriff’s Office and other departments within the county to carry on and move forward with the level of professionalism that Sheriff Adams has required to be a part of the Sheriff’s Office during his time in office.
I feel that we are living during a time where illegal drugs are a controlling factor in the lives of many. That being said I believe that combatting the drug problem from the user level to the distributor and trafficker is a must to lower our crime rate overall within the county. Also by doing this it will lead to even greater amounts of property recovery and persons prosecuted for the crimes committed as many of the drug users are committing the crimes to support their drug usage.
The children of our county are the future of our county and they should be able to live in a safe environment free of volatile chemicals and substances that hurt them both physically and mentally. I will put in place a collaborative system of investigating crimes committed against children by those that use, possess, or sell drugs within our county.
I believe that the thorough investigation of all crimes reported to the Sheriff’s Office is necessary to provide the citizens of our county the level of protection that they deserve.
My wife, Stephanie, and I have lived in the Birthright area for the past eighteen years where we are raising our children.
Lady Cats Warm Up Win Before Tuesday’s Bi-district Match
In a warm up game for the playoffs Friday, the Lady Cats’ volleyball team went right up to the edge of defeat before rallying for a thrilling 3-2 win over Princeton in Wildcats Gym. The Lady Cats lost the first two sets, 25-18 and 25-16 before winning the last three sets 25-16, 25-23 and 15-13. The Lady Cats are now 27-13 for the season. They play Corsicana in a bi-district match Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Forney.
Wildcats Lose to Lobos 48-10
It was a day early but Longview proved to be scary offering tricks but few treats as the Lobos defeated the Wildcats 48-10 at rainy Lobos Stadium Friday night. The Lobos scored on their first play from scrimmage. The Wildcats countered with a Julio Robles field goal before the Lobos scored 41 unanswered points. The Wildcats got a late TD pass from Ryan Humphries to Tieson Goodson. The Wildcats host Marshall Friday.
A & M Commerce Equestrian Team Achieving Success
The Texas A&M University-Commerce equestrian team, founded earlier this year, is comprised of students of diverse majors who practice regularly at the Equine Center to be a part of competitive events through intercollegiate associations such as the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
The team can already boast successes of team members Meagan Gravelle (Equine Studies) and Channing Marley (Agriculture Science). Gravelle placed second in 2A hunt seat equitation walk, trot and cantor, and Marley earned third place in the same category at the IHSA show in Oklahoma, held in mid-October. Student riders participated under the guidance of Brooke Harris, equine supervisor and coach for the intercollegiate equestrian team and intercollegiate horse judging team at A&M-Commerce.
“This was the very first Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competition for us. We had two of our five hunt seat team members compete and were very excited about their performance in the classes as this was against some very tough schools. We will have our first western horsemanship show November 7-8 in Canyon, Texas, where we will have four students competing at various levels,” said Harris.
“The Equine Program at A&M-Commerce is receiving more attention through students’ presence at Intercollegiate Horse Shows in several disciplines such as horsemanship, dressage, stock horse, and hunter/jumper,” stated Assistant Professor Petra Collyer. “Our ambitious students have shaped the equestrian team into a group of competitive riders with diverse interests, supporting each other through practice and during competition. We are proud of Channing and Meagan, and look forward to celebrating our students’ successes along the way.”
North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department Benefits from Forest Service Grant
With over 85 percent of Texas fire departments being operated by volunteers, funding for essential equipment and training can be hard to come by. The Texas Legislature allocates funding to Texas A&M Forest Service for pass-through grants to Texas volunteer fire departments in an effort to help them better protect lives and property. This year the agency received $24.3 million to distribute to volunteer fire departments through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program. On Oct. 7, the program awarded $15.7 million in its first of three meetings for the 2016 fiscal year. At least one volunteer fire department in Hopkins County will benefit from the funding. According to Judge Robert Newsom, the North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department will receive a new fire apparatus. Several other local volunteer departments have applied.
“No other state understands or supports their first responders like Texas. By increasing the Rural VFD Assistance Program grant fund, the Texas Legislature drove home that point and we are extremely grateful,” Texas A&M Forest Service Director Tom Boggus said. Newsom stated that he and the commissioners will be assisting local volunteer departments to attain funds in future years.
The program allows TFS to build the capacity of communities by providing funds to volunteer fire departments to purchase life-saving equipment, including firefighting vehicles, fire and rescue equipment, protective clothing, dry-hydrants, firefighting training and training aids.
“We were honored to present the awards at our first meeting, knowing that they will make a tremendous difference in the protection of life and property,” Jason Keiningham, capacity building department head. “These grants provide firefighters with much-needed equipment to more effectively respond to a variety of emergencies.”
Established by the 77th Legislature in 2001, the program has provided funds for 1,630 engines, 4,166 grants for fire and rescue equipment, 4,024 grants for protective gear and 17,997 training request for 64,268 firefighters, awarding more than $213 million total since its inception. While we are extremely proud of this accomplishment, there is a big job left to do with $155 million in unmet needs.
All chartered, nonprofit VFDs operated by its members are eligible, and any part-paid, part-volunteer fire department with 20 or fewer paid members is eligible to receive grants through the Rural VFD Assistance Program.
“Time after time I’ve been told by proud and thankful fire chiefs across the state that this was the first brand new fire truck the department has ever had and what a difference it made in their ability to protect Texans,” Boggus said. “We are proud to take part in the Rural VFD Program and will continue to support our first responders.”
With the increase in state funding, more departments have the opportunity to get life-saving equipment and training, better protecting communities threatened by wildfire. Additionally, TFS will offer a pilot program which will fully cover the cost of adding a slip-on unit to trucks acquired through the Department of Defense Firefighter Property Program — a federally-sourced program operated by TFS that provides excess military equipment to fire departments and emergency service providers.
To learn more about the Rural VFD Assistance Program visit http://tfsweb.tamu.edu/RuralVFDAssistanceProgram/.
PJC to Participate in AACC Pathways Project
Implementing guided academic and career pathways at scale – for all students – is the shared commitment of 30 colleges that will participate in the Pathways Project led by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Paris Junior College is among the institutions invited, through a highly competitive national selection process, to join in and contribute to the work.
“This is a huge opportunity for Paris Junior College to be involved in this transformational work to implement academic and career pathways to improve 
student completion rates and prepare students for academic transfer or to go to work in order to meet the ambitious statewide goal of Texas to have 60 percent of individuals 25 to 34 years of age with a certificate or degree by 2030,” said Paris Junior College president Dr. Pamela Anglin.
AACC is coordinating a national partnership to build capacity for community colleges to implement a pathways approach to student success and college completion. Partners include Achieving the Dream, Inc., the Aspen Institute, the Center for Community College Student Engagement, the Community College Research Center, Jobs for the Future, the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement, and Public Agenda. Partners have participated actively in the college selection process and also are substantively involved in designing a model series of six two-day pathways institutes, each focusing on key elements in a fully scaled pathway model for community colleges. The project is funded through a $5.2 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The selected colleges will be the first to participate in the pathways institute series over the next 2.5 years and will work with expert coaches at those institutes. In addition, the participating colleges themselves will contribute to learning both across the initiative and more broadly, across the community college field.
“These very diverse community colleges can feel proud of the strong foundations they have laid for this transformational work,” said AACC president Walter G. Bumphus. “We are pleased with the rigor and integrity that the Pathways partners have ensured in the selection process, and all of the partners look forward to the intensive work ahead.”
The Pathways colleges are in urban, suburban, and rural locations in 17 states, with fall headcount enrollments ranging from less than 3000 to almost 60,000 students.
