Leave Her Alone
August 11, 2023 – If your home is like ours, we have had a good crop of spiders this year. My personal favorite is the Orb Weaving Spiders who decorate their web with a vertical stabilimentum. This zipper like structure may serve as a warning to birds, as an attractant to insects, or camouflage for the spider as she rests in the middle.
It’s a safe bet that a spider of this size is female, as the male is tiny in comparison, and usually gets eaten after his job is done.
We always leave the spiders alone, garden around them and water plants carefully as they are truly beneficial.
Orb weaver spiders are not poisonous. They may contain mild venom, but it isn’t harmful to humans or even large animals. The orb weaver’s bite is like a bee sting in pain but has a more negligible effect.
They create egg sacks that are commonly seen hanging from the eaves or other protected places. The sacks are about an inch in diameter, and tan in color. If you can muster it, leave them place for the next year’s hatch.
Seattle Investor Arrested on Warrant
August 11, 2023 – Akeem Lamar D. Bailey-Rich, age 29 years-old, was arrested on a warrant this week in Sulphur Springs.
Sulphur Springs Police performed a traffic stop on Bailey-Rich’s Pontiac around 1AM. The stop took place on the east loop near Interstate 30. A records check showed an outstanding warrant for:
1 46.04(E) UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON
A search of court records shows the felony offence occurred on January 11, 2021. His bond is set at $10,000. His car was impounded.
Bailey-Rich, who lists himself as an investor who lives in Seattle WA, was arrested by Woodland, WA police officers in 2017 on suspicion of second-degree theft and driving while intoxicated.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Construction Work Begins At Old Fairfield Lake State Park
August 11, 2023 – After a tumultuous year for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Park in Freestone County, work has now begun on turning the old State Park into a residential development. A gated golf course community is planned for the land, after the previous owner sold the property to Todd Interests from Dallas.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department voted in June to allow the agency to condemn the 5,000-acre property and seize it through eminent domain after negotiations stalled for TPWD to buy the property that the State of Texas had been leasing for many years. Currently the agency has not filed the necessary paperwork to initiate the condemnation in court.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department lost access to the park back in February of 2023 and has fought to try and purchase the park at a time when the 88th Texas Legislature has committed more funding to expand the park system. The TPWD has indicated that they offered “fair market value” for the land, but the developer is adamant of pushing forward with the construction of the residential project.
Eminent domain allows the State of Texas to seize the land for public purpose, but the State would still have to purchase the land. If the State of Texas moves forward with condemnation of the land through eminent domain proceedings, the final price could be left up to a judge as Todd Interests has said they have no intentions to sell. The state Legislature appropriated $125 million earlier this year to the TPWD for park acquisition statewide.
Freudiger May Avoid Additional Jail Time
August 11, 2023 – Michelle Denise Freudiger, who shot her husband in the face after an argument, may be able to avoid additional jail time.
Michelle Denise Freudiger was arrested in April after Wood County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call about a woman shooting a man in the face. Freudiger’s husband survived the shooting.
Freudiger, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, entered a guilty plea in Judge Brad McCampbell’s court on Thursday in exchange for 10 years deferred adjudication. No additional details of her probation were released.
Houston Street Getting Ready for School
August 11, 2023 – Houston Street along Gerald Prim Stadium, The SW Dairy Museum, the Civic Center and the student entrance to the SSISD High School is being resurfaced this week.
Teachers and Staff are already working at all SSISD locations to get ready for the 2023-2024 Academic Year.
Forms of asphalt recycling date back to 1915, becoming increasingly popular in the 1970s with the development of the modern milling machine. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Highway Administration estimate that we recycle more than 80 percent of the 90 million tons of asphalt pavement reclaimed each year in the US.
The top layer of asphalt has been milled away as of Friday morning. It should not take long to bring in recycled and renewed asphalt and roll it down. Traffic should be allowed to flow in both directions ie the street should not need to be closed.
Avoiding Houston from Hillcrest (Highway 19) to League st might be a good idea for the next few weeks. Once school starts on Tuesday August 22, the school zone will go back in effect and there will be more drivers navigating the student entrance.
The Successful Robotics Camp was Recently Held at Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs
Robotics Coding Camp participant Lane Abernathy of Sulphur Bluff gets instruction for camp instructor Cedric Crawford during the camp that was conducted at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Dinner Bell Menu For August 16, 2023
Alliance Bank is a very supportive entity in Sulphur Springs by being a Community Partner four times a year. This is the third event in 2023. Dinner Bell appreciates the Alliance Bank and its staff which give graciously to the area.
GRAB and GO with a meal from the distribution area under the covered driveway (porte cochere) on the Northeast corner of the First United Methodist Church campus starting around 10:30 on Wednesday.
MENU
Baked Spaghetti
Sauteed Yellow and Zucchini Squash
Garden Salad
Buttered French Bread Slices
Kentucky Butter Poke Cake
BE CAREFUL AS THE PANDEMIC AND FLU ARE STILL IN OUR MIDST! WEAR MASKS WHERE REQUIRED! WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN! GET INOCULATED AND BOOSTED!
DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH!!!
Designer Handbag Bingo Nets $60,000
The most popular event in Hopkins County, the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation’s
Designer Handbag Bingo, was held on August 3, 2023. With 539 participants, 34 designer bags, 10
door prizes and 5 tie-breaker consolation prizes, the night was a big one!
The Foundation had hoped to make $50,000 this year to provide programs such as a Free
Mammography Clinic to be held in October. The preliminary income and expenses show the
net proceeds to be a little over $60,000 due to the generosity of bingo players and donors.
With the help of sponsors and donors, gorgeous designer handbags, including luxury bags, were
part of the winnings. Due to the participants and volunteers, the event was a fun one!
Everyone cheered on the winners!
The biggest winner from Designer Handbag Bingo is healthcare in Hopkins County…which is the
beneficiary of the proceeds. In addition to the Free Mammography Clinic, the Foundation also
provides free wigs and prosthetics to Hopkins County women undergoing breast cancer
treatment. Additionally, the Foundation sets a yearly funding priority which insures that the
best medical technology, equipment, and offerings are available to Hopkins County citizens.
The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation is an IRS designated 501 (c) 3 non-profit, governed
by an all-volunteer board of directors, each of whom lives and works in Hopkins County. All
funds raised by the Foundation stay in Hopkins County to benefit its citizens. For more
information contact Kayla Price, Executive Director, at 903-438-4799 or [email protected].
Photo 1: Dr. Martin Fielder welcomes the Designer Handbag Bingo crowd as Dr. David Black
looks on. In the background are Don Sapaugh and Tanner Crump preparing for the event start.
Photo 2: Three handbag winners, l-r, Laura Jones, Kasey Knotts, and Maci Merrell are assisted
by the event’s Manly Helpers, 2nd row, l – r, Dr. Martin Fielder, Nolan Willis, Fr. Justin Wiley, and
Will Douglas, PharmD.
Photo 3: Linda Galligher’s (middle, front) door prize win is celebrated by, l-r, Nolan Willis, Paul
Harvey, and Jeff Sanderson.
Photo 4: Jeff Sanderson (left) and Don Sapuagh (right and sideways), provide Katelyn Morgan
with a tie-breaker consolation prize at Designer Handbag Bingo.
Hopkins County – No Burn Ban, But Caution Advised
August 10, 2023 – The latest Drought Map from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows Hopkins County to have a “No Drought” rating as of August 8th, 2023. As surrounding counties, mostly to our South and West are showing to start increasing in their drought rating, some are beginning to enforce burn bans in their counties. Officials in Hopkins County have not yet announced a burn ban for local residents but do advise county residents to use extreme caution when burning trash, brush, or working with equipment outdoors. Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley also warns those performing any outdoor welding to use caution and have fire extenguishers and/or water on hand in case of an emergency.
The latest Drought Map released this week show some counties in central Texas to now be experiencing “Exceptional Drought” which is the highest or worst rating of D4 on the drought scale. Closer to home, most of Van Zandt County to our South is now in the D0 category showing to be “Abnormally Dry” prompting officials in that county to issue a burn ban for 90 days starting August 7th, 2023.
Covington Violates Parole, Back in Hopkins County Jail
August 10, 2023 – VALERIE NICHOLE COVINGTON was arrested this week for violating her parole. The 20 year-old sulphur Springs resident, who lists herself as unemployed, was taken into custody at a Milligan St address without incident.
Covington was arrested in August 2021 at a Helm Lane apartment. She had an outstanding warrant for surety off bond on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone. See that story here.
Covington was arrested in 2020 and charged with third-degree felony controlled substance. Her bond at that time was set at $10,000. See that story here.
Her current bond is set at $150,000.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
