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.
Gunter Burns in Custody
Press Release from Delta County Sheriff Charla Singleton
On Monday, August 7, 2023, at 9:30 p.m., deputies with the Delta County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation of an aggravated assault involving a firearm. Due to the ongoing nature of the incident, Sgt. Manrique acquired an arrest warrant for the suspect for the charge of Aggravated Assault on a Family Member with a Weapon. The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Cooper resident Gunter Burns and he was subsequently arrested on the warrant. At the scene, deputies were able to recover a small baggie containing crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamines and a gun.
Through the information gathered during the investigation, a search warrant was secured for a search of the premises. On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, at 12:20 p.m., deputies with the Delta County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the 2600 block of FM 1529. During that search, deputies were able to recover a large amount of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamines, a clear liquid believed to contain methamphetamine solution and more firearms. In addition, deputies recovered equipment used for the manufacture and delivery of drugs.
Mr. Burns has been charged with a Felony 2 Aggravated Assault of a Family / Household Member with a Weapon, Felony 1 Manufacture / Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 with more than 4 grams but less than 200 grams and a State Jail Felony charge of Abandon / Endanger A Child.
Mr. Burns has been arraigned on the initial charge of Felony 2 Aggravated Assault of a Family / Household Member with a Weapon and is being held on a $75,000 bond and is awaiting to be arraigned on the other additional charges.
The investigation into this incident is continuing and additional charges may be filed on this case.
Bond for Baldwin Deemed Insufficient
August 9, 2023 – 45 year-old Christopher Lynn Baldwin of Sulphur Springs was arrested this week on a warrant for insufficient bond. Baldwin was located at his Precinct 2 address by Hopkins County Sheriff Deputies. His bond is now set at $500,000. Baldwin was charged in 2022 with indecency with a child.
HCSO Deputy arrested Christopher Lynn Baldwin around 3 p.m. Dec. 22, 2022, at his State Highway 11 east residence on a warrant. He was transported the sheriff’s office for an interview with investigators. Baldwin was then escorted into the county jail, where he was booked in at 3:20 p.m. on an indecency with a child charge. Bond was recommended at $100,000 on the second degree felony charge; Baldwin was released from jail Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. The offence is alleged to have occurred on or about Aug. 8, 2022.
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.
Smokey Bear Turns 79
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M Forest Service encourages Texans to celebrate Smokey Bear’s 79th birthday today by being extremely cautious with all outdoor activities that create heat or sparks.
As a national icon and the longest-running public service campaign in the United States, Smokey Bear has been teaching millions of people how to prevent wildfires since 1944.
“With increased wildfire activity across Texas, Smokey Bear’s wildfire prevention message proves to be just as important now as it was 79 years ago,” said Karen Stafford, Texas A&M Forest Service Prevention Program Coordinator.
Across the nation, approximately nine out of 10 wildfires are human-caused. In Texas last year, 96 percent of all reported wildfires were started by humans and their activities – completely preventable.
“The most common causes of wildfires during the summer are debris burning and equipment use,” said Stafford. “This includes parking in dry grass and dragging trailer chains.”
Smokey Bear recommends some tried and true practices to help prevent wildfires this summer:
- Always check with local officials for burn bans and other outdoor burning restrictions. Pay attention to local guidelines regarding open fires, campfires and outdoor activities that may pose a fire hazard. For burn ban information, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/TexasBurnBans/.
- Park in designated spaces and avoid driving over and/or parking on dry grass. The heat from a vehicle can easily ignite the grass.
- When using a cooking fire or campfire, never leave it unattended. Always make sure it is completely out by drowning it with water, stirring it and feeling to ensure it is out cold before leaving.
- When pulling a trailer, ensure the chains are properly connected and do not drag on the road as this can create sparks.
- If you witness suspicious behavior or signs of arson, immediately call the local authorities.
- Stay wildfire aware. If a wildfire is spotted, immediately contact local authorities. A quick response can help save lives and property. Remember, only you can prevent wildfires.
For more information about summer wildfire prevention, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/summerwildfires/.
In preparation for Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday celebration in 2024, Texas A&M Forest Service has launched a poster contest for Texas students in kindergarten through 12th grade. For information and contest rules, visit https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/SmokeyPosterContest/. All contest entries must be received or postmarked by Sept. 15, 2023, for consideration.
Overturned Vehicle Snarls Traffic On I-30
August 9, 2023 – A vehicle headed westbound on Interstate 30 left the roadway and overturned in the center median close to the 120 mile marker Wednesday morning. Emergency crews diverted westbound interstate traffic onto the service road near the Coleman park exit as they cleaned up the accident.
Sulphur Springs Man Arrested for Failure to Register
August 9, 2023 – A Sulphur Springs man was arrested this week after forgetting to update his Sex Offender Registration information.
GARRETT MATTHEW BURSBY who also goes by the name GARRETT MAHEW BURSBY, was registered to a Como Tx address. An anonymous tip was received by Law Enforcement, and a Hopkins County Sheriff Deputy followed up on that information.
Bursby was located in Sulphur Springs at his girlfriend’s residence. He was given a courtesy ride to the Hopkins County Jail. During an interview he admitted to failing to update his residence, and his current place of employment. Bursby also had two outstanding Sulphur Springs warrants. He is charged with:
1 62.102(B)(2) FAIL TO COMPLY SEX OFF DUTY TO REG LIFE/ANNUAL
1 62.102(B)(2) FAIL TO COMPLY SEX OFF DUTY TO REG LIFE/ANNUAL
22-5665 1 FTMFR
23-0491 1 3656 EXPIRED REGISTRATION
This is not the first time Bursby has been in jail for failing to register.
In May of 2019 Bursby was arrested for failure to register as a sex offender. At that time he was suspected to be on a public school campus without checking in. See that story here. He was indicted by a Hopkins County Grand Jury on those charges.
In October of 2017, he was arrested and charged with failure to register. See that story here.
According to public records, Bursby’s requirement to register as a Sex Offender was a result of a conviction on 3 counts of INDECENCY WITH A CHILD BY CONTACT. The male and female victims ranged from 8 to 16 years old. His requirement to register could end in 2024.
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.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report 07-31-2023 – 08-06-2023
Arrests:
Bentley, Amber, 46 years of age, of Winchester TN. was arrested on 8-6-2023 for Assault Family Violence Causing Bodily Injury.
Delacruz, Jesse, 44 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 8-6-2023 for Terroristic Threat, Continuous Violence against Family, Assault Causing Bodily Injury and 16 Winnsboro Municipal Court Warrants.
Richards, Kayla, 33 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 8-4-2023 for Public Intoxication.
Lison, Jonathan, 36 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 8-4-2023 for Possession Controlled Substance PG1/1-B>=1G<4G.
Jones, Elizabeth, 63 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 8-3-2023 on 10 Winnsboro Municipal Court Warrants.
Jones, Vincent, 22 years of age, of Tyler, was arrested on 8-1-2023 on a WCSO warrant.
Calls for Service:
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 141 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations:
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 34 citations and 42 warnings during this reporting period.
Hopkins County Chamber Connection August 8th
New Intern at Chamber
The Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome home a native son who has a distinguished and decorated military career for more than three decades. We welcome Joel Newsom to the team here at the Chamber, where he will serve as an intern for the next three plus months. A native of Hopkins County, Joel graduated from Como-Pickton High School in 1990 and joined the US Army. After serving as an infantry officer in locations across the country and around the globe, Joel is now a colonel and will soon retire after 33 years of service to our nation.
Joel and his wife Amy are excited to return to their hometown along with four of their seven children. Amy is a family nurse practitioner who is providing primary care, holistic health, and aesthetic healthcare at Pierce MD and Elan Med Spa. Their daughter Madilyn is a nurse in the Emergency Room at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs; their son Joel is a senior at Como-Pickton High School; and Abigail and Jed are in the 6th and 3rd grades respectively. Their son Jackson and his wife Madison are located in Port Arthur, Texas, where Jackson serves as an ensign in the Coast Guard, while their daughter Hannah is a senior at the US Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point, NY. Joel and Amy are grateful to be back in Hopkins County and look forward to plugging into this amazing community. We are excited to have them back home, where we know they will enrich our city and county.
Lunch and Learn
The Eclipse is coming, and so are the visitors. If you have an extra space to rent out to visitors the weekend before the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024, you will want to sign up for our Lunch and Learn this month. The Chamber is sponsoring a Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, Aug. 16, to explain how to get your property ready for a possible rental. AirBnB entrepreneur Callie Bradshaw will be on hand
to help explain the process of putting rental property on the website. We will also discuss insurance and other peripheral information. The Lunch and Learn will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at a venue to be determined by the number of participants. Cost is $20 for Chamber members and $25 for non members.
Call us at 903-885-6515 or email at [email protected] to sign up by noon on Thursday Aug. 10.
Eclipse Information
When April 8, 2024 rolls around, get ready! Almost weekly, we are messaged, called or visited by people who will be coming to Hopkins County for the total solar eclipse on that date. They are coming from around the country and literally around the world. Our latest message was from Karen Ridgway in the United Kingdom, who said she was coming to Sulphur Springs for the eclipse. “Can’t wait!” she wrote.
If you and your business aren’t already thinking about what to do when literally tens of thousands of visitors will be here for that weekend leading up to the Monday eclipse, now is the time to start!
Eclipse Weekend Market
The Chamber is making plans for a weekend market and is looking for sponsors to help us bring a concert to town for the Sunday evening before the eclipse. But, there are plenty of options and opportunities available for all businesses. If you have an idea or an event, please contact us at the Chamber and we will help promote it on the website TotalEclipseSSTX.com. It’s not only time to start planning, it’s time to start getting things ready for our visitors.
Stewing It up
If you are a returning stew cook or a new cook who wants to get in on the biggest annual event in Hopkins County, it’s time to start registering. Registration for stew cooks is now available online at HopkinsChamber.org. The cost remains the same for our cooks — $100 registration fee. You can also pre-order this year’s T-shirt with Stew Cook on the back for just $20 each. If you are a returning stew cook, check your email account for a form sent from us, and if you don’t do email, then you should have received a registration form in the mail. The 54th Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, presented by Alliance Bank, has been able to keep its costs down because of our generous businesses in the community, and the cost just got even cheaper for some families.
Signature Solar and the Chamber announced earlier that children 12 and under will eat free at the festival on Saturday, Oct. 28, due to Signature Solar’s generous sponsorship. Children will still need tickets, which can be obtained either online or via paper tickets. Online tickets, which are $8 each for everyone 13 years and older, are available at HopkinsChamber.org. Paper tickets will be available in early August at the Chamber and local banks. City National Bank will be sponsoring the Friday night festivities, Oct. 27, and we will be announcing that line-up soon. Thanks to all of our sponsors who make the stew festival affordable for families in Hopkins County. Follow the Chamber’s Instagram and Facebook accounts for spotlights on our sponsors and updates on the stew festival.
Hopkins County Law Enforcement
The Hopkins County Law Enforcement Association will have a Golf Tournament fundraiser at the Sulphur Springs Country Club on Aug. 21. The four-person teams will tee off at 10 a.m. For sponsor or player information, call Michael Russell at 903-438-4040 or email [email protected].
The DIY Wedding Expo is coming back to the Civic Center from noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 23. For
more information on sponsorships or vendor spaces, contact Tracey Treadway at 214-683-7669
or [email protected].
Ribbon Cutting
Goodwill Industries, 1320 Shannon Road, hosted a grand reopening after making improvements
to its facility at noon on Friday, Aug. 4. Please drop by to see their improvements and to shop.
