Hopkins and 109 Other Texas Counties Eligible for FEMA Disaster Aid
Hopkins County is one of 110 Counties Eligible for FEMA Disaster Aid. Nineteen more Texas counties are now eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster aid. The aid includes all categories of work, including debris removal, emergency protective measures and infrastructure repairs in the wake of severe storms, tornadoes, straight line winds and flooding in Texas from May 4 to June 22.
Eligible applicants in Bosque, Brazoria, Collingsworth, Colorado, Coryell, Duval, Erath, Hall, Hardin, Jim Wells, Lubbock, McLennan, Palo Pinto, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Tom Green, Washington and Young counties can now apply for FEMA Public Assistance (PA) reimbursement for repairs to roads and bridges, water control facilities, city- and county-owned buildings and equipment, utilities, parks and recreational facilities and other public as well as some private facilities.
Supplementary funding under the PA program goes to the state and its agencies, local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations. Under the program, FEMA obligates funds to the state for 75 percent of eligible costs, with the state and local governments sharing the remaining 25 percent of costs. The state forwards the federal funds to the eligible local governments or organizations that incurred costs.
Previously, 91 counties were designated as eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance Program: Angelina, Austin, Archer, Atascosa, Bastrop, Baylor, Blanco, Bowie, Brown, Burleson, Caldwell, Callahan, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Comal, Comanche, Cooke, Dallas, Delta, Denton, DeWitt, Dickens, Eastland, Edwards, Ellis, Fannin, Fayette, Frio, Gaines, Garza, Gillespie, Gonzales, Grayson, Grimes, Harris, Harrison, Hartley, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hood, Hopkins, Houston, Jack, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Kaufman, Kendall, Lamar, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Lynn, Madison, Milam, Montague, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Nueces, Newton, Orange, Parker, Polk, Real, Red River, Refugio, Robertson, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Starr, Tarrant, Throckmorton, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson, Wise and Zavala.
For more information on Texas disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4223. You can follow us on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/
For information on the Public Assistance process go to: https://www.fema.gov/public-
Ladycats Scrimmage Cumby, Commerce Friday Morning
The Sulphur Springs High School Ladycats Volleyball team scrimmaged against Cumby and Commerce late Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. Freshman, JV and Varsity all scrimaged at the same time, with Freshman in the auxilliary gym and JV and Varsity in the main gym. The main gym court was split in half to make two smaller volleyball courts for JV and Varsity. While no scores were kept, the Ladycats played well across all three Ladycats teams. Varsity Ladycats player Kaylie Jefferson was unable to participate in the scrimmage due to other athletic obligations.
Scores are not officially kept during scrimmages. Coaches use scrimmages to analyze the strengthes and weaknesses of the team and to make last minute changes to team rosters. The next scrimmage on the Ladycats’ schedule is to take place tomorrow, August 8 starting at 12:00 p.m. at Wills Point High School against several other schools that are unknown at this point. The Ladycats’ first match will be August 11 at Prairiland High School against Prairiland and North Lamar with first game starting at 4:30 p.m.
Wildcat Football Concludes First Week of Practice
Friday was the first practice day in pads for the Wildcats Football Team. They have now finished their first full week on practice. Wildcats Head 
Football Coach Greg Owens said the Wildcats were intense as they developed over the first week. A lot of repetition, good numbers, and tons of video of practices will combine to assist in preparing for scrimmages the next two weeks and the first game of the season against Rockwall Heath August 28th. Heat has played a role in the practices as well.
Owens said there is still much work to do but players are invested in their preparation. He said the style of offense and defense demands that players step up with desire. Owens said he will be looking for team leaders who will “…demand it and bring it…” over the next two weeks. Some of his upperclassment missed practice due to illness and injury but, Owens said, it gave the younger players an opportunity to show what they can do. He also noted commitment issues as a vital part of the future for some players.
Owens said the great thing is the varsity will be two deep in every postion. The team is 75% there, according to Owens. He said those who were there everyday showed good attitude and that will go a long way in getting the job done.
“Updated” Child Endangerment, Theft, Controlled Substance Charges Filed on Pair in Hopkins County
A 30-year old Terrell woman and a 37-year old Rockwall man were arrested early Thursday morning at a Hopkins County resident south of Como where they were staying in connection with a Kaufman County theft case. Lydia Ellen Campbell has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, theft over $1500 and child endangerment before JP B.J. Teer who set bonds totaling $55,000.
After his wife had a magistrate’s hearing Friday, later in the day 37-year old Michael Dale Campbell (no picture available) was charged with child endangerment, theft, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a handgun. JP BJ Teer set bonds totalling $75,000. Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies arrested the couple at a FM 69 residence Thursday for stealing a trailer and lawn mower tractor out of Kaufman County.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum said Kaufman County contacted local law enforcement early Thursday morning alerting the locals to the location of the pair at a residence near Como. The pair had in their possession items taken in a theft in Kaufman County. A trailer and lawn mower were recoved. A search warrant was issued and following a search, other items stolen in Kaufman County were located at the residence. Also, items taken in a Hunt County burglary were found. During the search, drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, and a weapon were found. Children present in the residence were surrendered to Child Protective Services.
Tatum said they were also checking out Hopkins County burglaries in which the couple may have been involved. He stated that often burglaries are conducted outside the county of residence. The pair is in Hopkins County jail but will probably be transferred to Kaufman County later.
I-30 Accident Halts Traffic; Claims Lives of Three Alabama Teens
Traffic on I-30 West bound just east of Greenville stopped early Friday morning following a three (3) vehicle accident created by a wrong-way driver. West bound traffic halted near the Farmers Electric Coop offices when an east bound driver in a silver Mercury in the west bound lane struck an SUV with five (5) teens and then that SUV burst into flames when it was struck by a semi-truck and trailer. The accident occurred around 2 a.m. The roadway was finally cleared near mid-morning.
Three teens, traveling from Alabama to Austin, in the SUV died at the scene and one was taken to Hunt Regional Hospital while another was transported to Parkland Hospital by helicopter, according to DPS. The driver of the Mercury died as did the dog with him.
KSST listeners called to report what they viewed at the scene. Many traveling from Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County toward the metroplex found other routes of travel Friday morning.
Nugget Is Ready For A Home
This week’s adoptable dog of the week at Hearts of Life Animal Rescue is Nugget, a seven month old blue healer mix. Nugget was part of a litter of puppies dumped near the shelter during the winter ice storm. Nugget has had all her shots and whoever adopts her for the $90 adoption fee will also receive a certificate good for spaying when she is old enough. Hearts of Life Animal Rescue was able to find homes for two dogs at last weekend’s adopt-a-thon at PetSense. As fate would have it, at the same time sometime dumped two more dogs outside the shelter. To adopt Nugget or another dog, call Hearts of Life Animal Rescue at 903 439-5019.
Tira News – By Jan Vaughn
Tira News – By Jan Vaughn
Georgia and Troy Smith would like to express their appreciation to whoever left them some blueberries and a watermelon! I’m sure they would like to know who to thank personally, if you’d like to “fess up”.
Yvonne Weir reported that lots has been going on with their family. Destri Weir and her friend Eben are on vacation in New York City. An Air Force buddy of Robert, from Georgia, visited with them on Tuesday. On Saturday, while they were bowling, their friend, Jamie Shehan, and her friend, Isaac, stopped in with Milo, Acie, and Kiegan. She shared that they had a good visit. Yvonne also mentioned that their son, Dustin, will be teaching 8th grade at Garland ISD this fall.
North Hopkins School is gearing up for the new school year. The new elementary building is basically finished and the teachers are beginning to move in to prepare for the arrival of the students. The first day of classes will be Monday, August 24th.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Jan Vaughn
903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
