“Updated” Arrest Warrant Issued for Police Imposter; Not His First Arrest
According to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jay Sanders, an arrest warrant has been issued for 56-year old James Charles Williams, Jr. of Little Rock, Arkansas for impersonating a peace officer on the street and for theft, a state jail felony, in connection with the June 20th robbery of a Hispanic male in Sulphur Springs. Williams is also a suspect in the robbery that took place this weekend at Days Inn in the city.
Williams is now in custody in Little Rock Arkansas as of noon today, according to Chief Sanders.
Sanders, said the department, along with other police departments along the I-30 corridor continue their investigations into last weekend’s string of robberies and thefts that took place from Rockwall to Texarkana along the interstate.
In February, 2007, Williams was arrested after a traffic stop for possession of a phony badge. At that time, a string of robberies from Little Rock to West Memphis, Arkansas were tied to the arrest. Police confiscated a fake badge when Williams was arrested. According to a Little Rock ABC affiliate news story at that time, truck drivers traveling through the state were often victims when approached at motel rooms.
Texas Racing Commission Funded for 90 Days
Texas Racing Commission Funded for 90 Days
by Luqman Adeniyi, The Texas Tribune – September 2, 2015
Racetracks in Texas resumed operations Wednesday after state officials agreed to temporarily fund the commission that regulates them. But whether long-term funding will be approved for the Texas Racing Commission remains in question.
Late Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a statement saying the Legislative Budget Board came to an agreement to fund the commission for 90 days.
The commission’s funding has been targeted this year by Republican senators, who said the commission overstepped its authority by allowing historical racing — gambling on electronic simulations of past races with identifying information removed. The commission’s $7.7 million annual budget comes from licensing and fees paid by the racetracks, but the budget board must appropriate that money.
Jennifer Saenz, deputy chief of staff for state Sen. Juan Hinojosa D-McAllen, confirmed the temporary funding agreement Wednesday and said that the discussions will continue over the requested $15.4 million two-year budget for the commission.
Because the budget board hadn’t approved the funding before midnight Monday — when the new fiscal year was set to begin — the racing commission stopped operations and racetracks weren’t able to operate.
Only part of the $15.4 million budget was creating the stalemate among LBB leaders — the $1.5 million used for administrative and payroll costs.
A representative from Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson’s office said Wednesday that the agreement allows the racing commission to transfer $186,000 of its remaining undisputed $13.9 appropriated funds to pay for its administrative cost. The transfer is awaiting approval from Gov. Greg Abbott.
House Appropriations Chairman John Otto, R-Dayton, Patrick and Nelson, R-Flower Mound, were among those working on the issue. House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, has recused himself from talks because his family is involved in racing.
In his statement on the agreement, Patrick also said the 90-day period will allow Abbott to fill three expired terms on the racing commission.
Sam Houston Race Park in Houston released a statement Wednesday morning saying it had received official notice that it can resume operations. The park will have its first televised race at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
“We are glad to see our ability to operate our business restored,” Sam Houston Race Park President Andrea B. Young said in the release. “However, we remain extremely concerned with both the process and the extremely short period of funding. Like any business, we need to be able to plan farther out than three months.”
Disclosure: Sam Houston Race Park LLC is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2015/09/02/texas-racing-comission-funded-90-days/.
August Sub-par for Rainfall; Year Above Average
August was another sub-par month for rainfall in Sulphur Springs, the third straight month in a row. Average August rainfall is 2.35 inches and Sulphur Springs got 1.12 inches of rain last month. Still the city rainfall total remains 5.10 inches above normal due to the very wet first five months of the year. Average rainfall for the first eight months of the year is 29.90 inches and the city has received 35 inches of rain this year.
Surrendered Sportsmen Outdoor Expo Family Friendly
Surrendered Sportsmen is a group that mixes the love of hunting and the great outdoors with religious faith. The group, about four years old, will be returning to the Hopkins County Civic Center for its second annual family friendly Outdoor Expo on Saturday, September 19 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thousands of dollars in prizes will be given out including 25 guns and hunts for hogs, whitetail deer, birds, ducks and elk.
Chamber Connection September 3, 2015 by Meredith Caddell
Chamber Connection September 3, 2015 by Meredith Caddell
Mark your calendars for the 46th Annual World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest-Oct. 24th
Stew Cooks: Stew Packets went out this week, so please call us at the Chamber if you did not receive yours. The deadline to claim last year’s site is September 18th. All sites will be up for grabs, Monday, September 21st, so make sure to get your forms in ASAP!
Sponsors: Sponsor letters also were sent this week. There are tons of options to get your business’ name in front of the 7,000 people that attend the stew contest. If for some reason you haven’t received yours, please give us a call!
T-Shirt Designers: The Stew T-shirt Contest is BACK! If you would like to design a t-shirt for the stew contest, please have the design to the Chamber office by Friday, September 18th. We will begin voting for the winners some time the week of the 21st and will vote for 2 weeks! The winner of the stew t-shirt contest will win $100 and will also have the opportunity to be a stew judge (if desired). Please have your design in a format that is ready to print on a t-shirt.
Non-Profit Groups: The Stew Committee for the Chamber of Commerce has decided to offer a great opportunity for an organization looking to raise money. This year, we would like for a group or organization to take over the selling of drinks at the Stew Contest on October 24th. If your group would be interested, please call the Chamber by September 8th to let us know. The only way we could figure out a way to be fair, is to have a Blind Draw. All organizations will go into a drawing and the one that is drawn will be the one who sells drinks at the Stew Contest. There will be several requirements that must be met: 1) Must man 3 drink stations 2) Must have adequate volunteers to work Friday and Saturday 3) Must have t-shirts or some other “identifier” so visitors will recognize your group as the “drink sellers”. Group t-shirts will be fine. Once a group has sold drinks at the stew contest, they will not be eligible to sell them again the next year. If you have questions, please call the Chamber at 903-885-6515. Please note…NO others items may be sold on the stew grounds.
Storytime @ the Sulphur Springs Public Library begins the 1st & 3rd Fridays of every month.
The Very Ready Reading Program for preschoolers and their parent/caregiver uses books, music and activities to encourage the lifelong benefits of early literacy for your child. Call 903-885-4926 for questions.
Marlene’s Sass & Class Boutique is having a ribbon cutting Wednesday, September 16, at Noon
We are happy to welcome Marlene’s Sass & Class Boutique to the Chamber of Commerce. We hope to see all of you at their ribbon cutting at 101 Bill Bradford Road Suite #24, Windsor Plaza across from Shoe Inn, at noon, September 16th. The store hours are from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 to 3:00 PM on Saturday. Come check out their sales. Many ½ price items and a free crystal bracelet with the purchase of $25.00. Marlene will be carrying juniors, ladies and plus size clothing. Plus children’s Miss Me jeans and specialized clothes for 0-size 6. Exclusive boutique for Simply Noelle clothing, scarves and accessories! Popular Dear John jeans all styles. Trendy shoes and boots. Plus Mason jar label T shirts, z supply, and Southern Grace!
TABC Certification Class, Monday, September 14th at the Country Club!
On September 14, 2015, Sulphur Springs Country Club is hosting a Texas Best Comic’s TABC Certification Class in our Ballroom. The class is open to any restaurant, bar, or business in town that would like to send their employees to get their TABC Certification. The cost is only $20/person. It will be held from 1:00pm until 3:00pm. For more information, please call 903.885.4748.
2015 Lights of Life Style Show, presented by Lou Nell’s & Ashley Larea, Thursday, Sept. 17th
Get your tickets now for the amazing Lights of Life Style Show that will be held Thursday, September 17th at First United Methodist Church at 6:30pm. It will be an amazing evening filled with a delicious dinner and the latest greatest in fashion from Lou Nell’s! With a special treat, Aslely Larea jewelry will also be accenting the beautiful clothing during the show! For more information, please call the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation at 903-438-4799. You may purchase tickets for just $25 at Lou Nell’s & The Chamber office!
VF Outlet Women’s Fashion Night Out, Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 7-9 PM
Don’t’ miss this! Fashion show featuring the new fall arrival starts a 7 PM. There will be a photo booth to have your picture taken with pink props and other photo ops to help support breast cancer with a smile. There will be a fall product preview of the new collections. Fashion Stylists will be available to give you style tips in the stores. Help the VF Outlet support breast cancer awareness by making a donation throughout the night to be donated to Lee Denim Day. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Register to win FREE outfits for a year. Winner receives 1 outfit per month for 1 year. You also get 20% off your entire purchase one night only from 7PM-9PM with a coupon that can be printed off from the Chamber of Commerce website (click on Hot Deals)
Walk Like MADD Car & Bike Show, September 26th at Buford Park
If you have a car or bike that you would like to show off, then plan to register it for the Walk Like MADD Car & Bike Show, Saturday, September 26th. All Classes are welcome and the registration fee is only $25. The event is free to the public. They will open the gates for participants at 1:00 with judging taking place between 3:00 & 5:00. The winner will be announce at 5:30, with Glow presentation winner being announced at 8:00 pm. All proceeds benefit Hopkin County Walk Like MADD. For more information please contact Eddie Moon at [email protected] or call 903-534-6000.
Lights of Life Half Marathon-October 3rd benefitting the HC Health Care Foundation
Register before September 11th to guarantee a T-shirt for the Lights of Life Half Marathon! Registration is $75 for an individual entry, $80 for Partner Relay (2 person) or $100 for a Team Relay (4 person). You may register at Fieldhouse Sports or at www.rctregister.com. For more information please call 903-438-4799. Packet pickup will be Friday, October 2nd from 6-9pm at Celebration Plaza.
Adult Leadership Class Project…Beautiful Picnic Tables in the new pavilion!
The Leadership class of 2014-15 has the opportunity to assist in enhancing this area using a location that has been unused for years. The City of Sulphur Springs and the Adult Leadership Class of 2014-15 has partnered in the demolition of the old city pool and begun the construction of a large pavilion, available for public use, complete with brick fireplace/smoker and 24 picnic tables. We anticipate a great place for family reunions, class reunions, birthday parties or general meeting space!
The tables are a $1,000 donation for each picnic table personalized with your business, family name or loved one’s name with a maximum of 30 letters. Donations can be paid to the order of Sulphur Springs Leadership Class 2014-15 or Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. They will limit to the first 24 paid donations.
We would like to welcome our newest member:
Marlene’s Sass & Class Boutique
101 Bill Bradford Rd., Suite 24
Marlene DeYong, Owner
903-335-8918
Ladies & Children’s Clothing & Accessories
That’s all for now…have a GREAT week!
Meredith Caddell
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
LAYNESPORT LANDING – SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
LAYNESPORT LANDING – SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
Maybe this will be the last week of the Smoky Road information. Curtis Walker lives up on Smoky Road and called a few days ago. Curtis remembers one of the residents of Smoky Road, Asbury Smith, who was about 84 when he died in 1947. Asbury told stories about having to put tops on hog pens to keep the bears out. Curtis remembers twelve houses along a two mile stretch of the road. A few of the ones that lived there were Robinson Dudley, ? Loftin, and J.N. Smith.
Last week I was telling about a 1988 float trip on Red River. I drove to the river north of Dekalb and launched. On the river at 4:40, August 15, 1988. At 6:30 I passed an old barn and house on the Texas side. Looks like the one T.J. Scott and I slept in years ago on a float trip to Texarkana. At 7:28 a small creek came in from the Oklahoma side. Soon two big barns on the Oklahoma side. About a mile apart. River running north and south. Just past the second barn the river curves around and runs southwest for a while. Very unusual to have the river running northwest. Stopping for the night on a big sandbar. Crescent moon low in the west. No cars within hearing. Stripped off to bathe and set up tent. Fish flouncing loud ten yards from my tent. Not quite dark at 8:25.Grilled five pork chops. In the tent about 9:45 going to listen to my transistor until sleepy. Bat flying around my Coleman lantern. A few mosquitoes and June bugs cruising around. A leaf footed bug climbing a tent pole on the outside of the tent. Scorpio is going strong in the south.
Tuesday, August 16, 1988. Leaving camp at 8:50. Ate three porkchops for supper last night and two more for breakfast. Little creek on the Texas side just above an irrigation pump. Blue pump and Kong Brand. River low and slow. Big windmill just ahead. Pulled over to shade at the bank and cut some limber limbs to work on my shade. Sure helps during the heat of the day. At 10:30 a white rock road coming in from the Oklahoma side. White water ahead. Was shallow rapids all the way across. Least terns on sandbar. May be near the line between Oklahoma and Arkansas. Big island ahead. You have to study it carefully to make sure you don’t float down the wrong side and have to drag the boat back up and drag boat around the other side. Texas flag and U.S. flag on the south side. Could see camper trailers. Went up the bank to the camp and hollered. No one around. On downriver about five hundred yards a Texas Highway sign was nailed to a post. The sign had arrows pointing one way to Ector and the other pointing to Bonham. Quite a ways downstream from those two sign. Another sign said Moss Hill Grocery. Somebody had used the signs for target practice.
At 3:00 lots of rocks on Arkansas bank. Near the edge. I rounded a bend and there was the bridge. Tied my boat out in the water about twenty yards so maybe nobody bother it while I hitch hike back where I started from. Five minutes later a sixty year old woman picked me up and carried me to Highway 82 where she let me out and I kept moving west. A man and woman carried me to the west side of New Boston. Walked a short way when a man in a new red pickup and gave me a ride. I told him about my trip. Wanted to know how long it took me. He knew right where the camper trailers were back up river where I walked up the bank. He knew about the rocks all the way across the river. Said it was an old crossing where a fault line went across. I walked about five minutes and a car hauler picked me up and carried me right to my pickup. He suggested I go back to my boat a different way, crossing over into Oklahoma and Arkansas. A road turned east just north of where I left my pickup. Sign near store said State Line 15 miles. Crooked road. Historical marker told of Laynesport, one mile south of Red River. A steamboat landing was established in 1820. At the bridge some men volunteered to help me to go out in water and help pull the boat to the bank. Take a float trip sometime and see some back country.
The only bad thing about golf is the slow ones get ahead of you and the fast ones get behind you. A man was in the Army and called his wife to say they would be late because the sergeant had found a lot of dirty magazines. The wife was fussing and saying probably 90% of the men in Army had dirty magazines. The husband said, “You don’t understand. These are like dirty clips that hold the bullets.”
City Passes Key Ordinances Tuesday Night
The Sulphur Springs City Council passed key ordinances on first reading for the budget for next fiscal year at a regular meeting Tuesday night. Mayor Kayla Price explains what the ordinances deals with and then there are responses from city Director of Finance Peter Karstens on the first three and then from city Human Resources Director Gordon Frazier on the fourth one. Councilman Craig Johnson also asks some questions.
The ordinances for the budget are expected to be finalized on second reading at a special meeting on September 29.
At Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council, City Manager Marc Maxwell gave the council his monthly Manager’s Report full of information.
STREETS, WATER AND SEWER – The Davis Street wateriine replacement project is nearly complete. I expect it to be finished by Friday. After the water main is finished we will prepare the street for asphalt repaying in the summer paving program. This project replaces 1, 500 feet of water main on North Davis from Park to Glover.
The annual summer paving program is about to kick off. Texana Land and Asphalt anticipates paving the following streets this month:
Live Oak Helm to Dead-end 91,779
Waco Industrial to Lee 24,600
Vonda Mockingbird to Wright 35,042
League Main to Bellview 78,272
Carter College to Fuller 17,057
S. Davis Kyle to Lee 82,529
Woodlawn Locust to Mulberry 57,601
Jill College to dead-end 41,435
West/Joyce Shannon to McCann 52,721
S. Moore Tate to Barbara 54,909
Finney League to Sunset 25,325
TOTAL $561,268
The Rockdale Road reconstruction project is underway. The water line installation is nearly complete. After that, the street will be reconstructed with reinforced concrete. You might recall that in the past five years we have replaced two out of four segments of Rockdale Road (on the north side of the interstate). This project will reconstruct the remainder of Rockdale Road.
Bill Bradford Road is on-deck. At an estimated cost of $1. 4 million, this is a major project. It will include a new water main, a new sewer main, drainage improvements and a new asphalt
street.
CLAIMS – We did not have any worker’s compensation claims in August. We had one liability claim in August relating to the death of Tony Chance Ross. We have submitted it to the TML risk pool. We submitted a claim to TML for damage at the water treatment plant from a recent lightning strike.
CITY BUSINESS OFFICE – We’re almost done. Move-in day is set for this weekend.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – Total suspended solids (TSS) came in at 1. 44 mg/L, well within the limit of 12 mg/L.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director, Peter Karstens will present the year-to-date summary of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
. Patched 111 potholes.. .take that Scott Keys.
. Replaced several signs in school zones around town.
. Painted crosswalks and school zone lines at all schools.
. Trimmed trees that were blocking the view of signs in all school zones.
. Re-programmed school crossing lights.
. Boom-shredded several streets around town.
. Shredded at airport.
. Cleaned up crash site at the airport.
. Fertilized all grass and trees downtown.
. Trimmed trees and shrubbery downtown.
. Repaired the fountain.
. Stained downtown benches.
. Removed the stains from vandalism on the Hopkins County Veterans Memorial.
. Repaired the beacon light at the airport.
. Repaired crosswalk lights on Church Street.
. Performed preventative maintenance on numerous items at the wastewater treatment
plant.
. Repaired the entry gate at Coleman Park.
. Repaired 23 ruptured water mains.
. Replaced 13 water meters.
201 N Davis Street, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 . 903.439.3700 . sulphurspringstx.org Page 2
Unstopped 18 sewer mains.
Repaired 4 sewer mains.
Flushed 36 dead-end water mains.
Performed preventative maintenance on various mechanisms at the water treatment plant.
Opened 17 code enforcement investigations.
Sold 1, 560 gallons ofAvGas and 4, 100 gallons ofJetA fuel.
Processed 629 tickets through municipal court.
Placed 100 cubic yards of top dressing on fields at Coleman Park.
Sprayed athletic fields with pre-emergent.
Responded to 125 fire/rescue calls including 1 structure fire.
Performed preventative maintenance on 83 fire hydrants.
Issued 41 weed/brush citations.
Made 96 arrests, recorded 106 offences, responded to 33 accidents, and wrote 629 traffic citations.
Achieved a 40% adoption rate at the animal shelter.
Made 4 felony arrests in the special crimes unit.
Checked out 3,641 materials from the library.
Began holding Story Time on first and third Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
WannaGoFast Event Proves to Be Popular
The 1/2 mile shootout at the Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport in November has already sold out their Saturday slots for folks to race their car at breakneck speeds down the runway. There is still availability on Sunday slots, although the website does not say how many slots are available. This event will certainly be attended by tons of out of town folks as it will draw all kinds of car owners that want to take their Ferrari, Lamborghini, or favorite supercar to the limit down Sulphur Springs 5,000 foot runway. Spectators are welcome with a charge at the gate of $20 per day or $10 per day for kids 12 and under. Concessions will be available so you can make it an all day event of enjoying an unprecedented collection of cars never before assembled in Sulphur Springs. You can find out how to sign up your car to run the 1/2 mile by visiting their website at wannagofast.com They also have a promo video that you can view at the same link.
Wildcat Offense Gaining Experience
Wildcats Football Offensive Coordinator Matt Young says the offense didn’t play a great first half against Rockwall-Heath last Friday but they played okay. He says they really played the same in the second half but didn’t finish drives. Coach Young says the key is for the offense to continue to get better every day. Concerning the Sherman defense, he says their strength is up front.
Young stated that two thirds of the snaps was a learning experience. He noted two fourth and two situations created where pass plays were just too short. He said this week should be better with Tanner Rameriz and Ryan Humphry having more experience and receivers learning route patterns.
Wildcat Defense About to Get Better
Wildcats Football Defensive Coordinator Triston Abron says he believes the defenders understand that when they ran their new defensive scheme right last Friday night, Rockwall-Heath had a hard time moving the ball. Because of that he says the defense is about to get much better. Concerning Sherman on Friday, Coach Abron says they have a large offensive line, a very tough quarterback and capable running backs.
Abron said that in the current Wildcat scheme there is no room for error. Abron noted that both players and he as a coach learned from the first game of the Wildcat season. Abron’s lesson came from the fact that this is the most inexperienced group of players he has coached on the varsity level. He learned the need to slow the pace of the game for his younger players. For the players, it was learning to do exactly what the coach had taught them to do. Abron said when they were in place, Heath had a difficult time moving the ball.
Wildcat defensive line will have a difficult time with the Sherman center. Abron has a great respect for the Sherman quarterback.
