Emblem Memorial Day
EMBLEM MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE and cemetery meeting will be held at 10:30 Sunday, June 14th at the Emblem Cemetery Chapel on FM highway 71. The special speaker will be Rebecca Hathcoat, and music will be presented by Zack Ferrell. A covered dish lunch will follow the morning service.
PJC Announces Certified List of Spring 2015 Graduates
The list of graduates receiving degrees or certificates from Paris Junior College for the spring 2015 semester has been certified and released.
Students from the area receiving associate degrees include:
Alba: Estephania Abrego
Brashear: Maria Lopez
Como: Jenifer M. Cummins, Jerry C. Jaynes, Christopher W. Nabors and Benjamin T. Pegues
Cooper: Brynna S. Blevins, Debbie D. Huff, Taylor R. Ingram, Jamie K. Landers, Mertha M. Pastor, Kevin J. Swaim, Kevin J. Swaim and Teresa L. Watson
Cumby: Brandon J. Heer and Lindsey N. Kurn
Dike: Karissa L. Nichols
Emory: Emilie A. Barba, Alexis N. Bongiorno, Stephanie N. Carlisle, Theodore B. Cunningham and Roger L. Hunt
Pickton: Julia I. Acosta, Amber N. Miller, Marbelis Rasgado and Carrie E. Russell
Point: Devyn M. Dowdle and Paul M. Milam
Saltillo: Megan M. Hodges
Sulphur Bluff: Ryan J. Watts
Sulphur Springs: Cristian B. Bacio-Bautista, Summer D. Ball, Jennifer L. Boykin, Stephanie D. Bradford, Julie M. Brewer, Mirna L. Campos, Maricruz Del Castillo, Tammie M. Dial, Mary L. Ferguson, Alonso Gallegos, Michael L. Griffin, Cole A. Gumpert, Russell J. Hammons, Brady T. Harmon, NaKesha N. Harrison, William C. Hettich, Bonnie L. Hogan, Lara B. Lile, Alexandria L. McGahee, Eimy A. Medina, Elizabeth R. Mills, Lacie L. Palmer, Jared W. Riley, Justin T. Robertson, Kalie M. Robertson, Rowdy C. Sachs, Caitlin L. Salinas, Elizabeth R. Scott, Meredith M. Townsend, Nichole I. Valle and Sheena R. Wright
Yantis: Keri R. Glenn, Ann M. Haas and Stephanie L. Hass
Students from the area receiving certificates include:
Campbell: James R. Blackwell, Timothy W. Brannon and Carrie L. Cannon
Como: LaRee Anglin
Cooper: Bailey T. Anderson, Elmer R. Clark, Bradee L. Curtis, Addie M. Elliott, Debbie D. Huff, Tony M. Ketner, Evelyn D. Phifer, Wesley J. Rutherford, Kevin J. Swaim and Lewis R. Taylor
Pickton: Billy D. Fuller
Point: Ana C. Camacho
Sulphur Bluff: Jamie L. Goldsmith
Sulphur Springs: Ashten D. Boatman, Karri A. Butts, Lindsay N. Dean, Daniel G. Harness, Jamie M. Leavens, Elizabeth A. McFarland, Jennifer L. Menge, Andrew P. Moody, Alma R. Morris, Karen R. Normandeau, Lauren N. Owsley, Wendy A. Packert, Colby W. Parker, Madison B. Penny, Jordan B. Perry, Jeanna R. Semler, Nizia M. Tubb and Jonathan T. Williams
Last Call for 2015 Dairy Recipe Contest!
Procrastinators beware! The deadline for submitting the written entry for the 2015 Hopkins County Dairy Festival Recipe contest is Monday, June 15, no later than 5:00 p.m. It is so simple – just give us your name, contact information, age group, and category, along with a copy of your recipe. Then, on Saturday, June 20, bring the prepared dish to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. Judging will take place, followed by an awards presentation at approximately 3:00, depending on the number of entries.
The contest was cancelled last year due to a low number of entries. Numerous comments were made on social media about how sad it was that the event was cancelled. SO, I challenge those of you who would like to see the continuation of the contest to enter! Official entry forms are available at the Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston, on the Hopkins County Dairy Festival website, on KSST website, and at Hopkins.agrilife.org.
In a nutshell, here are the guidelines:
- All participants must be from Hopkins County.
- All entries must contain at least two real dairy products (non-dairy whipped topping does not count!)
- Written recipe must spell out measurements (example: teaspoon, not ‘tsp’)
- Entries will be judged on flavor, appearance, texture, use of dairy products.
- Age divisions are: Beginning Cooks (ages 11 & under); Youthful Cooks (ages 12 – 18); Experienced Cooks (ages 19 – 59); Seasoned Cooks (ages 6- & over); Past & Present Dairy Festival Board members
- Entry categories are: cheesecake/desserts; Side Dish; Main Dish; and Appetizer/Snack
That’s all there is to it! You may drop off the written recipe at my office, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, 1200-B W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, or e-mail it to [email protected] before 5:00 p.m., Monday, June 15. Then, on Saturday, June 20, bring your prepared dish. Please make sure that your dish is kept at a safe temperature while in transport. They will be tasted and we don’t want to make any of our judges ill! Refrigeration and warming/heating will be available once you arrive at the Extension Office. If you have questions, feel free to call 903-885-3443.
2015 Hopkins County Tomato Festival
I was recently distributing my “Better Living for Texans” newsletters, and one of my friends commented that she wasn’t aware that Hopkins County had a Tomato Festival. Well, yes, we do indeed! The third annual event is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 in a new, wonderful location! But I’ll get to that later.
The 2015 Tomato Festival will include two separate opportunities for involvement. Here is a breakdown of the contests:
1) Tomato Growing Contest: classes are Cherry, Pear, Large Red, and Goliath (biggest tomato by weight). There are no age divisions, so anyone can enter. These must be from your garden – not store bought!
2) Tomato Recipe Contest: Classes are Main Dish, Side Dish, and Salsa/relish/jelly. Age divisions are Children (ages 12 & under); Youth (ages 13 – 18); and Adult (ages 19 & up). There are a few guidelines to keep in mind for the Tomato Recipe Contest. The recipe must have tomatoes as a prominent ingredient. Fresh, canned or frozen will all be accepted. Please submit a written copy of the recipe when bringing the dish so judges can see the ingredients, but please do not put your name on the recipe. (The entry form, available on site, will ask for your name, phone number and name of recipe). Again, please keep the dish at a safe temperature while en route to the contest headquarters. Dishes will be tasted by judges.
All entries are to be taken to the City Hall Courtyard (by the wall fountain) to be checked in between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. We’ll have canopies and tables set up, so you can’t miss it! Judging will take place at 6:00 p.m., followed by announcing of the awards at approximately 7:00 p.m., depending on the number of entries.
While you’re downtown, stake out your spot for the Independence Day concert and fireworks on the square! What better way to spend a Saturday night, than to enter the Tomato Festival and hear great music?
Closing Thought
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him – David Brinkley
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
Duffey Trial Continues Tuesday
Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. District Attorney Will Ramsay concluded his list of witnesses and the prosecution rested in the 8th Judicial District Court trial of Roy Dean Duffey. Duffey is on trial for Manslaughter for the February 20, 2011 stabbing death of David Harrison Cooper.
The trial follows a denial of a plea bargain agreement reached and an appeal that overturned a 12-year sentence given Duffey by then District Judge Robert Newsom. In March, Judge Northcutt reset the trial to give the defense attorney more time to prepare and to give the District Attorney’s office an opportunity to refile their motion in a different form than first submitted.
Among the witnesses called, Ramsay concluded Tuesday morning’s testimony with Sulphur Springs Criminal Investigator Bo Fox on the stand. Fox, who has been with the SSPD since November 1, 1998 and for the past nine years in CID, recounted his investigation. Defense attorney Frank Hughes sought ways to question Fox about Cooper’s encounters with law officers in Sulphur Springs but struggled to find his wording of questions acceptable to the court. Judge Northcutt told Hughes the attorney could submit documents to the court to introduce Cooper’s past record. Hughes finally found a line of questioning regarding one specific incident in Cooper’s past. Hughes also questioned Fox regarding Fox’s interview of witnesses and investigative techniques.
Prior to Tuesday morning, Ramsay had called Detective David Gilmore to testify. Gilmore, who has 26 years in the SSPD, was the on call Criminal Investigator for the week of February 20, 2011. Gilmore, who said that not only the lead detective but also any detective could collect evidence and investigate a crime scene, reviewed 20 photos he had taken at the scene and recounted finding a hacksaw in a field across the street from the Lamar Street location of the incident. Gilmore stated he found a small amount of marijuana just inside the front door of the house during his investigation. He also found a possible witness to the altercation, James Baxley. Baxley had been working on his car at the scene but had left the scene before police arrived.
Baxley is currently an inmate in Hopkins County Jail following arraignment for possession of a controlled substance as of Monday of this week.
Rusty Stillwagoner, Chief Investigator for SSPD, also testified that a large crowd had been drawn to the scene and that city and county officers were called up for crowd control to keep the crime scene secure. Stillwagoner had inspected the body of Cooper for other injuries and found none other than those noted by the medical examiner in Monday’s testimony. He had also checked the pockets of Cooper and found no weapon.
Stillwagoner told of going to Duffey’s residence and finding what he identified as a World War II fighting knife. Stillwagoner stated that he is a collector of knives and recognized the knife due to the length of blade and hilt on the handle. He said it was made for close quarter man-to-man fighting. He stated the knife was “absolutely” a deadly weapon in response to the D. A.’s question. The knife was found between the console and seat of Duffey’s truck and the blade had blood on it. The investigator also found a single shot 410 shotgun in the truck. The defense did not question Stillwagoner.
Brian Shurtleff, who has recently been transferred to the K-9 division of SSPD, stated that he was a part of crowd control and had searched the empty lot across the street for tools that had been thrown there. Duffey’s attorney had said several tools had been thrown into the field. Shurtleff said only one, the hacksaw, had been found.
Monday morning in the 8th Judicial District Court Room, District Judge Eddie Northcutt began hearing evidence in a Manslaughter Felony 2 trial. Roy Dean Duffey is being tried in connection with the stabbing death of David Harrison Cooper on February 20, 2011.
Monday morning District Attorney Will Ramsay played the February 20, 2011, 911 call and followed that with Dr. Reed Quinton, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner in Dallas County. Quinton, a forensic expert who now teaches as well as conducts autopsies said that a one inch wide incision and 4.5 inches deep stab wound went through a rib and into the right ventricle of Cooper’s heart. The one inch stab wound also had a 3.5 inches trail across Cooper’s chest. No other injuries, except an abrasion across the bridge of the nose were evident in the autopsy. Quinton said Cooper probably lived a few seconds following the wound. The defense for Duffey asked if the wound could have been caused by falling on the knife and the Medical Examiner said “Yes.”
The medical examiner stated there was only a small trace of marijuana and no other drug or alcohol found in the toxicology report. When asked by the defense if the marijuana was enough to create mental impairment, Dr. Quinton stated medical science has not reached a conclusion regarding the amount needed to cause mental impairment. He stated that is one of the arguments being made in the current attempts to legalize the drug.
Captain Jason Ricketson with the Sulphur Springs Police Department was the second witness called by the prosecution. Ricketson, who was a Lieutenant and day shift supervisor for the department in 2011, stated he responded to the 911 call placed February 20th along with patrol officers. He arrived quickly after the call was placed and found three females, one of whom was kneeling beside Cooper’s body. A check of Cooper’s pulse did not provide a pulse. Firemen and EMS soon arrived along with other law enforcement. CPR was given but with no result. Ricketson said he ordered the area cleared and posted to preserve the crime scene. Statements were taken and, shortly after, the investigation was turned over the Texas Ranger John Vance and SSPD Detective Bo Fox. He also pointed out that the pockets of Cooper’s clothing were emptied by Detective Rusty Stillwagoner and no weapons were found.
School Board Asked to Take Action Regarding Ghetto Award
The Ghetto Award was the topic of discussion of five speakers during the public forum portion of the meeting of the Sulphur Springs School Board Monday night. Speakers included mother of the child who received the award, Jerrika Dabbs-Wilkins. Pastors Lavelle Hendricks and Harold Nash urged the board to act on the matter. Board President John Prickette explained the board could not take action on the matter Monday night.
Pastor Nash stated that he felt that it was the school board’s duty to take action but did not define the action he thought should be taken. Pastor Hendricks said “they are watching and listening” as he too requested action without defining the steps that should be taken.
Dairy Festival Milk Run, 2015
Holly Fain
Holly Fain is chairman of the Dairy Festival Milk Run for 2015. Being a runner herself makes this involvement even more fun for Holly! The Milk Run will begin at 7pm on Friday June 12 at Shannon Oaks Church. Cost is $35 person, or $20 person in groups of five or more. Non-runners are invited to cheer the participants and enjoy the Balloon Glow and Rally, and the evening’s live entertainment. Find full details at hopkinscountydairyfestival.com
“Updated” Candlelight Vigil for Young At Pacific Park
(Audio from last night’s event added)
Monday evening in Pacific Park, family and friends of Jonathan Young gathered for a candlelight vigil in memorial of Young who died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds early Monday morning.
Jonathan Young, 26, a Sulphur Springs resident was taken by EMS to Hopkins County Memorial Hospital where he died of multiple gunshot wounds shortly after 2 a.m. Monday, according to Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jay Sanders.
Sanders said that following statements by witnesses to the shooting Sulphur Springs Police have attained a warrant for the arrest of Tilton Joshua Isaiah Mapps, 20, an African-American male whose last known address was Greenville, Texas. Mapps is considered armed and dangerous.
