Pickton Veterans Memorial Fundraiser
Pickton Cemetery Association is sponsoring a stew-fundraiser at the Pickton Community Center Saturday in support of the Pickton Veterans Memorial. The memorial will honor those residents of Pickton who “answered the call and their unselfish service preserved our liberty”. The fundraiser is set for March 28. Stew will be served from 11 am. until 12:30 p.m. Cost for the stew is by donation.
A short program will follow the stew at 12:30 p.m. and a live auction will begin at 12:45.
For more information call Robert Rose, 903-886-2686. If unable to attend, donations may be mailed to:
Pickton Cemetery Association
PO Box 108
Pickton, TX 75471
County Line School Committee Seeks Help
Members of the County Line School Historical Marker Committee are seeking photos, news clippings and memories about the Old County Line School, which once straddled the Hopkins and Rains County lines. The school’s history began in 1899, and ended in 1947 when it consolidated with Miller Grove ISD. The lower floor of the building had classrooms and the upper story of the school building was used for Woodmen of the World meetings. The original building was torn down a number of years ago. Historian Brandon Darrow and retired educators Gail Garmon and Lewis Watts invite everyone to the unveiling of the marker on Sunday April 12 at 2pm at County Line Baptist Church new Family Life Center located on Hwy 275 south of Miller Grove. Everyone is welcome. To contribute information, contact 903-459-3312 or [email protected]
Historian Brandon Darrow and retired educators Gail Garmon and Lewis Watts
Bulkley Trucking History and Upcoming Driver’s Event
With a home in Hopkins County, Buckley Trucking is an over the road Trucking Company specializing in time and tempersture-sensitive freight. At age 19, Clint Buckley started the company with a license and just one truck. Today the trucking firm remains locally owned and operated, has 60 trucks on the road and employs over 100 persons. Each spring drivers with the best fuel mileage and performance are recognized. This year’s Buckley business event and driver recognition is set for Tuesday March 24th at noon at the new facility on I-30
Memorial Hospital initiates “Care to Share”
Memorial Hospital wants to hear your story in your words! The hospital administration invites patients, visitors, and family members of patients to call the “Care to Share” telephone line 903-438-4700 at any time to share their personal experience.
Whether the experience is good or bad, complaint or compliment, Memorial Hospital wants to hear, in your own words, your experience. When calling, leave your message at the prompt. The service is anonymous and one does not have to leave their name or number but may do so if he or she desires. The message should be no longer than 5 minutes.
The message you leave will be forwarded to the administrative team in the area/department you name in the message. The message will also be saved by the hospital administrative office for internal use.
CANHELP Tennis Fundraiser Tourney
CanHelp is sponsoring Tennis Tournament and fun raiser—Play it Forward. The event will initiate the new tennis courts at Sulphur Springs High School, according to Shanna Martin, Executive Director of CanHelp. All ages and skill levels are invited to participate in the Round Robin Doubles Tournament. Teams are guaranteed three matches. There will also be donation based activities, concessions and prizes, and an event T-shirt for those who register two weeks in advance. To sign up for the tournament, CanHelp, 613 Gilmer St. and Fieldhouse Sports, 101 Bill Bradford Rd
Jail Construction:What to Do With Old Jail?
As of Wednesday construction on the Hopkins County Jail is 34 days behind. County Judge Robert Newsom noted the 7 inches of rainfall in the county is the primary delay. He hopes to see construction catch up so that inmates can be moved in October of this year. Construction continues under budget. The quandary now is does the old jail building remain or does the county demolish all of the building. Newsom says the decision will be made in the next few days.
Property Tax Option Bill Before Senate
Senate Bill 1158, filled last week by State Senator Bob Hall, calls for allowing citizens of Hopkins County to vote on a proposition that would allow the lowering for property taxes and introducing a sales tax to pay for the construction of the new county jail. Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said the bill would also call for the add on sales tax to end when the jail is paid off. According to Newsom, Representative Dan Flynn has promised to support the bill in the Texas House when the state senate passes the bill forward. Newsom said that if the economy continues, the sales tax could pay off the jail earlier than it would be paid for by property taxes. With property taxes, the jail would be paid off in 20 years but with the additional sales tax and the reduction in property taxes it would take only 10 years. The county judge called this an unusual idea but a great benefit for Hopkins County property owners. The bill is currently before the state senate finance committee. Newsom asks Hopkins County citizens to contact Senator Hall’s office to give support to the bill.
Cooper Lake Level Rising
City Manager Marc Maxwell tells KSST news that Cooper Lake and Lake Sulphur Springs levels are much better thanks to recent rains. He states Cooper Lake is now between 4 and 5 feet low compared to a first of the year low of 13 feet. The good news for the city of Sulphur Springs is that Lake Sulphur Springs has remained full thanks to a smaller lake and wider water shed. For Cooper Lake, Maxwell said with current ground saturation it will take only 4-5 inches to fill the regional lake.
Wildcat Soccer Ends Season Friday
The Wildcats’ soccer team lost another one goal match, 2-1 at Texas High Tuesday night. All the goals were scored in the first half. Chris Espinoza scored the lone Wildcat goal with Daniel Sosa getting an assist. The Wildcats are now 4-8-1 in district play and 6-12-4 for the season. They’ll wrap up the season with Senior Night as they host Hallsville Friday night weather permitting.
Stephens Sentenced, Ramirez Postponed, Duffey Complicated
Wednesday afternoon March 18 in Eight Judicial District Court, Judge Eddie Northcut handed down plea bargain sentences, postponements, and hearing status during a busy court docket. Some of the action taken include:
Andrew Keith Stephens
Judge Northcut sentenced Andrew Keith Stephens (shown above), 49, to 28 years for aggrevated assault causing serious bodily injury and two (2) years for endangerment of a child. The sentence came as part of a plea bargain that dismissed a charge of assault family violence of choking. Stephens was booked into Hopkins County jail on the charges in November, 2014. He was one of several to come before District Judge Northcut Wednesday afternoon at the Hopkins County Courthouse District Courtroom.
Gonzalo Avelor
Gonzalo Avelor (pictured), 33, plead to a 5 year sentence for violation of probation. He was incarcerated in July of 2007 for trafficking illegal drugs more than 200 grams but less than 400 grams. He had been on probation since September 2007. He was arrested for violation of probation in December of 2014.
Among others on the docket, Oscar Ramirez received a postponement to give his attorney more time to prepare for his defense. Ramirez is charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a minor dating back to last year.
A status hearing was also conducted in the Roy Dean Duffey case in 8th District Court Wednesday. Judge Northcut reset the hearing to give the defense attorney time to prepare and to give the District Attorney’s office an opportunity to refile their motion in a different form, according to one source. Duffey is accused of the stabbing death of David Harrison Cooper in Sulphur Springs on February 20, 2011. At some future hearing, District Judge Eddie Northcutt will be asked to accept or reject an original plea bargain deal offered to Duffey on July 3, 2012. It called for Duffey to enter a plea to a reduced charge of manslaughter in exchange for a sentence of six months in prison to be followed by a ten year probated term. This is commonly called shock probation. The plea bargain was accepted and a sentencing date was set for July 9, 2012. Two days later, family and friends of the victim, upset by the terms of the plea bargain, met with District Judge Robert Newsom. Then District Attorney Martin Braddy asked that the sentencing hearing continue based on new interviews with family and friends that raised new questions in the case. The sentencing date was moved to July 23, 2012. Several days before, Judge Newsom announced he would not accept the plea bargain. Defense attorneys sought to have Judge Newsom removed from the case. A visiting judge John Ovard denied their motion keeping Judge Newsom on the case. Subsequently Duffey pleaded guilty to manslaughter and went to a jury for punishment. The jury sentenced him to 12 years in prison. An appeals court overturned the case and sent it back to 8th District Court. Judge Northcutt ordered a new trial for Duffey last October.
