Grand Jury Returns 45 Indictments May 11
A Hopkins County Grand Jury Monday returned 45 indictments.
Joe Gilbert Valdez was indicted for continuous sexual assault of a young child. The victim was a six year old girl.
Two men were indicted for on-line solicitation of a minor: Bart Co Hoppenreys and Joshua Cain Strickland. Strickland was also indicted for possession of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine.
A man and a woman were indicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. R.V. Jones Junior is accused of cutting a man’s face and head with a sharp object. Cina Kay Elliott is alleged to have shot her son with a firearm.
Sherrie Lee Cooksey was indicted for burglary of a habitation.
A woman and a man were indicted for assault on a public servant. Carolyn Brooke Houston is accused of kicking a Hopkins County EMS paramedic. Chad Alando Collins was indicted for kicking a Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy.
There were two indictments for failure to register as a sex offender. Named were Herbert Lee Willis and Troy Michael Ivory.
Two women were indicted in unrelated incidents for having a prohibitive substance in a correctional facility. Indicted were Patricia Ann Clark McLeroy and Chaney Nicole Doyle.
In both cases, methamphetamine was discovered in the Hopkins County Jail.
There were two indictments for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver or manufacture. They named Julio Alfonso Rios and Wesley Aaron Lawrence.
There were two indictments for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. Named were Patricia Nicole Woodham and Joseph Thomas Tucker.
Michael Bryan Smith was indicted for possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone with intent to deliver.
There were six indictments for possession of a controlled substance. Indicted were Mark Alan Shipman, Breena Leann Rhodes Nichols, Lacey Leann Henson, Juan Raul Flores-Hernandez, Kierrah Demond Ellis and Ronald Ray Gardner.
Three people were indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity involving the theft of a washer and dryer. Named were Ashley Michelle McMillan, Tony Jay Harrington and Steven Joe Garrett Jr.
Three people were indicted on two counts of delivery of a controlled substance. Named were Jasmyn Starr Williams, Glory Lynn Oetting and Jonathon Heath Meadows.
Tranameth Delon Ford was indicted for assault family violence impeding breath.
David Earl Spillman was indicted for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Three men were indicted for tampering with or fabricating physical evidence: Edward Earl Simmons, Bryce Clay Gorton and George Robert Foster Jr.
Thomas Joseph Lynch was indicted for evading arrest with a vehicle and criminal mischief over $1500. He is accused of fleeing from a lawman and running into his patrol car.
John Thomas Gideon Ketchum was indicted for evading arrest with a vehicle and also unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
There were two other indictments for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Named were Joshua Lee Wrenn and Charles Ray Miles Jr.
Derek Lane Carrell was indicted for credit card or debit card abuse. The victim was a woman over 65.
Late Night Burglaries Occurring Hopkins County
For several nights, two to three car burglaries have occurred in Hopkins County according to Hopkins County Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum. The burglaries have occurred in the Shaggy area, County Road 3341 where it crosses I-30, east of the country club overpass, on and around County Road 2310, and along FM 2560 in the Martin Springs area.
Lewis encourages rural residents to lock the doors of their vehicles. He said purses and billfolds have been taken along with other items in the vehicles. He also asks that citizens keep watch and should they see a vehicle parked on a roadway to get the license plate and notify the Sheriff’s Office. Not only should residents keep their vehicles locked but residents should remove valuables from the autos at night.
Lewis said the burglaries are beginning at 11:30 p.m. and continuing through the night. He said local law enforcement do have one suspect as they continue their investigations.
Como Residents Need to Boil Water
Due to a positive compliance sample the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the City of Como water system to notify customers of the need to boil their water prior to consumption.
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to use. The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water system officials will notify you that the water is safe for consumption.
Holy Highway Girl’s Home Fundraiser Fish Fry
Top: Chris Dickens, Exec. Asst.
Tommy Neal, Deacon at Tabernacle Baptist Church
Bottom: Pam Burton Dickens, Director/Founder
Linda Williams, CEO
For 29 years, Holy Highway Girl’s Home has been helping girls who are having a difficult time in their present situation and need a place to go. For some girls, entering the program at Holy Highway is the last chance before legal action is taken against them. Director Pam Burton Dickens and her staff do “the work of angels” when it comes to working with these girls ages 12-17. Through their efforts, the lives of thousands of girls have been changed and even saved because of the unselfish devotion, care and protection that the young women receive at Holy Highway.
Currently there are 15 girls enrolled where they are continuing their educations, learning life skills and working on goals for completion of the one-year program. Numerous expenses are involved with the ministry, and that’s the purpose of this weekend’s third-annual fundraiser, an idea originated by Tommy Neal and his Sunday School class at Tabernacle Baptist Church.
The Fundraiser Fish Fry will be held on Saturday May 16, 2015 from 5-7pm at the home, located at Pickton,Texas at 166 CR 2391. For a donation, you can enjoy the meal as well as tour the campus. The girls will serve the meal, provide musical entertainment, and help auction the homemade pies and cakes they have made for the sale. Funds raised will help with resident’s needs, as well as be used to paint the chapel, repair dorms and fill potholes in the roads on the property. There are always needs at Holy Highway as well as blessings to those who share in it’s support. To find out more about Holy Highway Girls Home and Ministry, phone 903-866-3300.
Senate Backs Allowing Pastors to Refuse to Marry Same-Sex Couples
by Morgan Smith, The Texas Tribune – May 11, 2015
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The so-called Pastor Protection Act — a bill that clarifies clergy members’ right to refuse to marry same-sex couples — tentatively passed the Texas Senate on Monday.
After a brief debate in which several Democrats questioned the necessity of the measure, lawmakers approved Senate Bill 2065 along nearly party lines with a 21-10 vote. State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, sided with the chamber’s 20 Republicans. Final passage is expected Tuesday.
State Sen. José Rodríguez, an El Paso Democrat who voted against the measure, questioned whether it could be used to justify a refusal to perform interracial marriages — shielding religious officials from prosecution “no matter how extreme [their] views are.”
Pointing out that same-sex marriage is banned in Texas, state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, asked what problem the bill was trying to fix.
Whitmire said it was “unheard of” that a same-sex couple would try to force a pastor to perform a wedding ceremony if that pastor did not accept their marriage.
“They just want to be left alone to love their partner. They want to get married with clergy in a setting that embraces that union,” he said.
A challenge to the state’s ban against same-sex marriage is pending in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on four same-sex marriage cases in other states in June. Some expect the Supreme Court could rule in favor of striking down same-sex marriage bans nationwide.
The bill’s author, state Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, suggested on the floor Monday that his measure would be needed if that became the case.
He also dismissed concerns about its unintended consequences. The legislation was about protecting pastors “who have a strong religious belief ” against same-sex marriage, he said.
“It is not my intention to discriminate against anyone with this bill,” he said.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/11/senate-clarifies-pastors-right-refuse-gay-marriage/.
Flash Flood Watch Issued for Tuesday and Wednesday
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a Flash Flood watch from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening (May 12-13) for Hopkins, Delta, Rains, Lamar, and Van Zandt Counties in Northeast Texas and 24 counties in North Central Texas.
The ground remains saturated from excessive rainfall which has occurred across much of the Region over the past few days. Locally heavy rain will be possible with showers and thunderstorms Tuesday and Wednesday, which could lead to additional flash flooding during the watch period.
Former Lady Cat Signs With TWU
Former Lady Cats’ standout pitcher Hailey Dixon will continue her college career. Hailey has signed a letter of intent to play softball for Texas Woman’s University in Denton. She completed a successful 2 years at Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant this spring and is excited to be headed to TWU. When Hailey was a senior, she pitched the Lady Cats into the third round of the playoffs winning against McKinney North and Nacogdoches before facing Mansfield Legacy.
Allen is Valedictorian; Gonzalez Salutatorian
The Sulphur Springs High School Valedictorian for the Class of 2015 is Andrew Allen. He is the son of Bryan and Vicki Allen. The Salutatorian is Ariel Gonzalez, son of Victor and Paulina Gonzalez. They were introduced Monday morning by High School Principal Josh Williams in a meeting with news media members in the school library. Williams said both students had amazing accomplishments during their individual career at the local school.
Gonzalez said he had an ambition to go forward in life and thinks academics are the best path. Gonzalez will attend Brown University in Rhode Island following graduation. He said he always tries his best. His motivation for academic achievement began when he entered high school. He credited several teachers for inspiring his work calling teachers at SSHS very supportive and encouraging. During his high school career, Gonzalez has been active in French Club, five UIL Academic Team events including number sense, current events, mathematics, social studies, and calculator. He called his activities time well spent. Gonzalez said he is undecided regarding his future plans. However, mathematics and a career with a government agency has peeked his interest. He credited his parents for his confidence.
Allen credited half-luck, half-ambition, his parents, and the Lord for his success. A yearning to know what’s going on in the world along with his parents’ encouragement spurred Allen to his success. He was involved in Academic UIL, Wildcat soccer–which he called a distraction and a time to relax–and cross country. Allen plans to attend Texas A & M University College Station and study mechanical engineering.
“Corrected” Smith Trial Underway
May 11, 2015 – Monday morning in the 8th Judicial District Courtroom in the Hopkins County Courthouse, a jury panel began hearing testimony from witnesses in the trial of Jarrod Arnold Smith. Smith, 41, is being tried on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. According to Hopkins County Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum, Smith is on trial for shooting a man in the chest with 45 caliber pistol. The incident occurred in the Pine Forest community.
According to District Attorney Will Ramsay, Smith was charged in 2012 with aggravated assault for holding a gun to his then wife’s head. That charge ended in a mistrial. He did not fire the weapon as stated in a previous story here. In the 90’s, he was placed on probation for beating a female about the head with the butt of a long gun.
Jarrod Arnold Smith AKA Jarred Arnold Smith
Wildcats Host Legacy Friday at Eagle Stadium
Wildcat baseball returns to Eagle Stadium Friday night May 15th as the locals take on Mansfield Legacy in a best 2 of 3 Area 5-A play-off series. Game 1 begins at 7 p.m. Game 2 is set for Saturday at Mansfield Legacy with a 1 p.m. first pitch. If game three is necessary, it will immediately follow Game 2 at Legacy. KSST will broadcast the games.
A Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat 6-0 lead after the first two innings was more than Whitehouse could overcome Friday night May 9 in Game 2 of their bi-district encounter. The second game began after a three hour rain delay created a late start for the game in Whitehouse. Ben Brooks picked up the game 2 of bi-district win allowing only 2 runs 0n 6 hits.
In the first game of the series with Whitehouse, Wildcats catcher Ryan Ferguson got a clutch two out single that drove home Carson Hick with a winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning as the Wildcats took game one of their bi-district series, 3-2 over Whitehouse at Eagle Stadium Thursday night. Hicks got on an error and then took second base when Whitehouse forgot to cover the bag. Hicks moved to third when a pickoff throw hit his helmet and went into short left field. Kade Hudgins got the win as he threw three scoreless innings in relief.
