Stuck in Mud Now Stuck in Prison and Probation
Wesley Aaron Lawrence, 35, was sentenced to five (5) years in the Texas Department of Corrections in May. Lawrence was arrested in Hopkins County early in the morning of March 19, 2015, when the vehicle he was driving bcame stuck in the front yard of a residence on County Road 4778 just off of State Highway 19. In his possession was a list of identity information for more than 50 other people along with possession of illicit drugs.
With Lawrence in the truck on March 19 was Tamara Rose Story, 24, and a 6-year old boy. In April, Story plead guilty to this and other charges and was sentenced to 10 years probation. The child was taken into custody by Child Protective Services in March.
See arrest story here.
Follis, Ferguson Unanimous Choices for 15-5A First Team
With the Wildcats and Hallsville now out of the state baseball playoff race, Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack can now share All-District Baseball results with us.
District 15-5A First Team selections included: Pitchers Tyler Follis, SSHS Junior (unanimous choice), and Ben Brooks, SSHS Senior. Ryan Ferguson, SSHS Senior, was unanimous choice first team catcher. Senior Landon Brock infield and Senior Larry Pryor outfield round out the Sulphur Springs first team designees. Selected to Second Team All District were first baseman Carson Hicks, a senior, and Senior outfielder Kade Hudgins.
2015 Rainfall Exceeds 30 Inches Through May
So how wet was May. Average rainfall for May is about 5-inches. This year in May there was 8.63 inches of rain recorded at the official site at the city of Sulphur Springs Water Treatment Plant. So far, for the first five months of 2015 we have had 30.28 inches of rain. That’s 9.59 inches of rain above the average of 19.69 inches. Rain was recorded on 23 of the months 31 days. The biggest rainfall day was May 17, a Wednesday, when 1.85 inches of rain was recorded. In June we usually get 4.66 inches of rain. During May average high and low temperature was 81 and 63. Highest temperature was 90 degrees last Thursday and the lowest reading was 52 degrees recorded on May 1.
Motorcycle/Bicycle Accident Result of DWI
A Hopkins County teenager was released from Hopkins County Memorial Hospital Sunday morning in stable condition and with minor injuries after being in a Saturday night collision with a motorcycle whose driver has been charged with DWI. The accident occurred at the intersection of Carter Street and Calvert Street in Sulphur Springs at 8:45 p.m. Saturday.
The motorcycle driver had blood drawn at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital only after County Judge Robert Newsom issued a blood draw search warrant. Fifty-five (55) year old David Dewayne Gordon of Sulphur Springs was charged with Driving While Intoxicated before Justice of the Peace Brad Cummings who set bond at $25,000.
Summer Reading Program Has Begun!
Omar Sanchez, Public Relations and Vivian Beasley, Storytime Co-ordinator
The Summer Reading Program has begun! It opens with a Petting Zoo this Thursday June 4 from 5-7pm on the parking lot, free to the public. Through June and July, children through teens can keep a reading journal and be eligible for prizes!
Based on the theme “Every Superhero has a Story”, this summer’s Storytime will be held in two weekly sessions, and will offer crafts portions where youngsters can construct their own Superhero costume to wear. Get reading logs and find out complete details at 611 North Davis Street, at 903-885-4926
or sslibrary.org.
“Open Carry” Bill Heads to Gov. Abbott
by Morgan Smith, The Texas Tribune – May 29, 2015
*Editor’s note: This story has been updated throughout.
A signature from Gov. Greg Abbott is all that remains before a bill allowing Texans to carry their handguns openly becomes law.
After a week of hand-wringing over a controversial amendment — and what proved to be empty threats of a Democratic filibuster — the measure sailed through both chambers of the Legislature on Friday afternoon. The vote in the House was 102 to 43; in the Senate, 20 to 11.
House Bill 910 from state Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman, would allow license-holders to carry handguns openly in a hip or shoulder holster, changing current law requiring that such weapons be concealed.
Gun rights activists pushed fiercely for the legislation this session — some even arguing that it did not go far enough because it did not repeal handgun licensing requirements altogether.
The bill encountered opposition from law enforcement officials and public safety groups, who said it would endanger the lives of police officers and the communities they protect.
“Today’s vote to allow the open carry of handguns is not at all surprising — this session has been an alarming show of politicking that caters to a gun lobby agenda rather than listening to the majority of Texans and law enforcement who oppose the open carry of handguns,” Sandy Chasse, a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said in a statement. “There is no evidence to show the open carry of handguns makes Texas safer.”
Last week, the bill’s passage was temporarily delayed when the Senate unexpectedly revived a provision that would limit the power of police officers to ask those carrying handguns visibly for a permit.
The so-called “cop stop” amendment had support from some Democrats who said it would help prevent racial profiling, as well as conservatives who said it was necessary to protect the public against unreasonable searches and seizures. But it stirred vocal criticism from the state’s police chiefs, some of whom held an impromptu news conference at the Capitol to urge Abbott to veto the bill if the language stayed in.
State Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Houston Democrat who supported the “cop stop” provision but opposed the legislation as a whole, told the chamber shortly before Friday’s vote that he wished law enforcement had used its “collective strength” to oppose the entire bill, rather than aligning at the last minute to fight an amendment.
Before the bill passed the House, state Rep. Harold Dutton, the Houston Democrat who originally crafted the amendment, made a final unsuccessful plea to keep it in.
“I’m disappointed that the amendment didn’t stay on, but it’s still the law, nonetheless,” he said of how police officers can only stop those who are engaged in unlawful conduct. “I expect law enforcement to follow the law, and we’ll be watching to see to make sure they do.”
But lawmakers ultimately voted not to keep the amendment. Phillips said he was convinced police officers would be properly trained in the new law.
“We will be doing a diligent effort to make sure that law enforcement is educated about this very topic,” he said.
Since shortly after he was elected in November, Abbott, a Republican, has said he would sign any open carry bill that reached his desk.
Just minutes after the final vote in the Senate, he tweeted: “Open Carry just passed in both the Texas House & Senate. Next destination: My Pen.”
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/29/open-carry-bill-heads-gov-greg-abbott/.
Cumby Math Teacher Arrested On Child Porn Charges
May 31, 2015 – Saturday, a Cumby ISD math teacher was arrested for impersonation—name and persona to create a page—and for possession of child pornography. Lucas Ray Hill, 38, is accused of stealing an identity and establishing a fake social media account which he used to exploit children including the requesting of and soliciting of child pornography. Hill had maintained a large library of pages and pictures in the social media account.
Lucas Ray Hill
Corley Weatherford, Sergeant with the Hopkins County Police Department, working with the Internet Crimes Against Children and Amanda Weatherford of the Sulphur Springs Police Department, led the investigation. Accompanied by investigators from the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office and ICAC, Weatherford served warrants on Hill Saturday morning. Law enforcement seized numerous electronic devices used to obtain child pornography photos. Weatherford told KSST news that this investigation will be ongoing for some time due to the nature of the crime and the enormous amount of information obtained in this arrest. Weatherford and ICAC had monitored the fake social media account for some time to gather the mountain of evidence that led to the arrest.
Weatherford said that the Hopkins County Sheriff’s office and the Sulphur Springs Police Department are the only law enforcement agencies in the Northeast Texas area working with ICAC. He said that the Dallas Police Department leads the group of law enforcement agencies that form ICAC in the North Texas area.
Bond for Hill was set at $20,000 for possession of child ponography, and $10,000 for online impersonation–name/create page by Justice of the Peace Brad Cummings Sunday morning. Both charges are third degree felonies.
Wayward Peacock to be Reunited with Owner and His Remaining Flock
rey Jorge a.k.a. King George
‘rey Jorge‘ will be returned to his owner this week.
Sightings around Sulphur Springs of a solitary Peacock have been surfacing for the last 2 weeks. Initially it was speculated that the Memorial Day storm had caused the bird to stray from his home. His journey home had many stops, including the Hospital, convenience stores, homes and high traffic areas. However one common factor in each of his choices was a shinny surface. He loves to see his reflection. This behavior is common in Peafowl. Who can know the mind of a Peacock, but some humans speculated that this vision is comforting. Giving a sense of security, rather than an act of vanity.
rey Jorge a.k.a. King George
His adventure has a tragic beginning. A neighbor’s pit bull attacked the flock. Two peahens, bonded to ‘King George’ as he is called by some, where killed. The owner and his family were able to breakup the attack with only 2 dead. No further attacks have occurred. The Sulphur Springs Police were notified, however additional information about the Pit bull is unavailable at this time. No one is certain as to what action, if any, was taken by Animal Control.
‘The initial report was sent to KSST Radio‘s Trading Post Program. Social media played a huge role in his eventual return. Many concerned residents of Sulphur Springs also contributed. Every stop along his journey he was offered food water and what ever shelter his Royal Highness would accept.
Grand Opening At Travel Time RV
Travel Time RV, located west of Sulphur Springs on the north service road at 1811 W. Industrial Drive, attracted a number of guests and customers Saturday for their Grand Opening. The Opening had been postponed in earlier due to winter weather conditions. Saturday, they faced showers, thunderstorms, and a flash flood warning.
Representatives of various RV brands were present as well as a number of those assisting in making the day a success for the business. A ribbon cutting 
conducted by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce followed a drawing for a number of recreational vehicles related prizes.
Roy McGahee welcomed those present and told his reasons for establishing the local business. He stated that he grew tired of taking his RV to the Dallas area for repair or service. Having located a local man who now leads his service department, he decided to take the steps needed to establish the business.
Travel Times RV represents various RV brands including: Big Country, Elk Ridge, Road Warrior, Wilderness, Trail Runner, Aspen Trail and Kodiak.
Local Masonic Lodge Present Scholarship; Name Community Builder
Laura Grant
The Sulphur Springs Masonic Lodge presented a scholarship and named a community builder during special activities Saturday evening at the Lodge Hall on Oak Avenue.
Laura Grant was presented the Lamar Award which includes a scholarship for over $2,000 Saturday night in ceremonies at the Sulphur Springs Masonic Lodge. Wayne Davenport presented the scholarship pointing out the academic achievements of Grant, a senior at Sulphur Springs High School. Davenport noted that the award required an application and the recipient was chosen by members of the Lodge. Grant is in the top 10% of her class and a member of the state champion Literary Criticism UIL Academic Team. She will attend Texas A & M University at College Station seeking a degree in medicine.
Joel Tiemeyer
Joel Tiemeyer, founding pastor of The Way Church, was named Community Building during the Saturday evening event. The Community Builder Award is given to one who is not a member of the Lodge but who had exhibited the ideals of those who are members. Davenport stated that Tiemeyer, Senior Pastor of The Way, organized the church three years after graduating Sulphur Springs High School and then continued his education achieving a doctorate. He has been on 12 mission trips and will travel to Vietnam and China in this summer. Tiemeyer has also been an organizer of several local events with a Christian emphasis and made various community contributions through specific organizations.
