Woman Arrested for a Fraudulent Narcotics Script
March 1, 2023 – MCNEAL, DEAJENAE DERIEN was arrested and charged with submitting and collecting a fraudulent prescription for a Codeine-Promethazine containing drug. The 21 year-old Georgia resident, who reports herself as unemployed, is charged with a Third Degree Felony.
The script was allegedly sent from a Waco, TX physician to a Sulphur Springs pharmacy. McNeal arrived at the pharmacy and collected the medication in person. She was allowed to leave the pharmacy. Pharmacy staff then contacted the prescriber to confirm the validity of the script. The physician denied issuing the prescription.
The defendant’s description and vehicle information were relayed to police. Law enforcement quickly located the accused and a traffic stop was initiated at a nearby gas station. McNeal was Mirandized and allegedly confessed to the crime, stating that she was picking up the medication “For another person.” After her admission she then exercised her right to remain silent.
She was transported to Hopkins County jail without incident. The vehicle was released to the driver.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
8 Individuals Arrested During Wood County Bust
Feb. 28, 2023- A large scale marijuana grow farm was busted last week in Wood County, 8 individuals were arrested during the bust. Wood County Sheriffs seized nearly a ton of marijuana at the site.
Search warrants were executed at multiple sites resulting in the arrest of two Russian nationals and three Bolivian nationals, as well as three East Texans according to the Wood County Sheriff.
On Thursday, the sheriff’s office executed a search warrant at a residence on County Road 1350 near the Lake Quitman area. Investigators had received information of a large indoor grow operating at a residence in that area. Approximately 1,000 pounds of marijuana was seized, some of which had been partially harvested.
Ivan Pozdeev and Natalia Semenova, both Russian nationals, were arrested on-site. Also arrested were Russell Rothe, of Mineola, and Abdil Kulseitov, of Quitman. All were charged with delivery of marijuana greater than 50 pounds, less than or equal to 2,000 pounds, a first-degree felony.
On Saturday, the sheriff’s office executed another search warrant at a residence on County Road 1573 where approximately 600 pounds of marijuana were seized. Oscar Mier, Mirizabel Mier, Carmila Mier, all Bolivian nationals, and property owner Gilbert Maynard, were all arrested on a charge of delivery of marijuana greater than 50 pounds, less than or equal to 2,000 pounds.
Parnell Violates Probation: Back in Hopkins County Jail
February 28, 2023 – Bryer Ray Parnell turned himself in to authorities and was arrested on a warrant for a probation violation. He was taken into custody without incident. His bond is currently set at $150,000.
The Como, Tx man reached an agreement with Hopkins County and plead guilty February 23, 2021 to theft of a firearm. As part of that agreement, three pending controlled substance charges were dropped. Parnell received a sentence of 10 years deferred adjudication and community supervision and a $1,500 fine on the theft of firearm charge.
Parnell was arrested in April 2021 and charged with Felony Organized Criminal Activity.
Parnell was arrested in February 2020 after a traffic stop and vehicle search revealed a bag of MDMA .
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
2023 CTE Final Feature: Family and Community Services
Editor’s Note: February is Career and Technical Education Month, a public awareness campaign to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. To help Sulphur Springs High School celebrate CTE Month 2023, KSST has compiled short videos featuring a few of the CTE programs offered at SSHS.
Students interested in family and community services can take Debbie Stribling’s Principle of Human Services class.
The program has a wide-reach, including psychology, sociology, child development.
Practicum in Human Services, the highest level in the program that seniors take, allows soon-to-be-graduates to take the information they have learned over the past three years and apply it in the real world.
The SSHS instructor believes this is crucial to not only the learning experience, but also for the betterment of society at-large.
“I like to teach my students to give back to others, and to realize that there are other people out there who need help and assistance more than you do. And for that one person, you can change their world,” Stribling said last week in an interview with KSST.
The SSHS instructor said numbers in the program continue to grow under her watch, something Stribling hopes continues to increase due to the socio-economic climate.
“What we have seen in our society is that, especially in the last 3-4 years, [is] that we do need more human services employees out there and people out there willing to help other people with their problems,” the SSHS family & community services instructor said.
Some things students learn in the CTE-featured program is leadership skills. Another benefit to the classes is students having a completed resume ready to use going forward.
A big stressor in the program though is human relations, such as customer service relations and how to deal with people. Stribling said Thursday one of the things students were examined on is dealing with different scenarios in the human service industry, and how each student would relate to each one.
One of Stribling’s students, Kadence Nash, has put what she has learned to good use while in the program. At the practicum level, where she takes what she has learned and applies it in the real-world, has the SSHS student at Sulphur Springs Health & Rehab.
The Family & Community Services instructor has been told that folks there love the SSHS student.
Stribling advises any students interested in a career in helping others, “Whether that be working in cosmetology, whether that be working in funeral homes, nursing homes… that they give this a try, just enroll in the class. If you find out that the course isn’t right for you, you will still learn some valuable leadership skills and real-world work skills that will help you in the future.”
Brooklynn Person, an SSHS student enrolled in the program, knew she wanted to be involved with family & community services because she loves to help people.
Another student and senior in the program, Kadence Nash, echoed Person’s sentiments and said she looks to be a psychologist or working at CPS (Child Protective Services) once she enters the work force.
Nash quickly signed up for the program upon realizing what all the work would entail, as well as the ability to be off-campus. Interning at SS Health & Rehab, getting valuable life-experience, and the ability to put this work on her college resume are all big selling points for the senior.
Nash works with the activities director at the nursing home.
Both students recommended the program. Kadence Nash said its a great learning experience and looks good to colleges.
While there is no certification currently for the program, Stribling is actively working to move towards that goal.
The SSHS instructor said that would more than likely involve students working on the computer in a program that each tester would have to go through doing modules and taking a test.
If students taking the exam pass, once the high school acquires the right to certify these students, would make those who pass legally certified as a human service worker in the state of Texas.
Be sure to stay tuned to KSST Radio 1230 and Suddenlink Channel 18, check out www.KSSTradio.com, the KSST Radio 1230 AM YouTube Channel and other KSST social media accounts to ensure you don’t miss these 2023 CTE features. Just watch for the “2023 CTE” heading throughout the month.
If you missed any of the features, be sure to click the links below to catch up:
Kick Off Event: Sulphur Springs High School Kicks Off CTE Month 2023 With Mayoral Proclamation
Feature 1: Applied Agricultural Engineering
Feature 2: Digital Communications
Three Arrested In Deer Poaching Ring Bust
Feb. 28, 2023- State game wardens have concluded a 3 year-long poaching ring investigation spreading across four separate states and have arrested three individuals.
The three arrested so far are Carson Don Bottoms, 21, of Longview, Drake Anthony Cannon, 24, of Mount Pleasant, and an unamed juvenile.
Capt. Shawn Hervey said the arrests followed a three-year long investigation into deer poaching in East Texas as well as in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Iowa. There is potential for several others connected to the poaching ring to be arrested.
The poachers would allegedly drive around shooting deer at night. This occured all year and included trespassing. It is suspected that over 100 deer were killed illegally by the poaching ring. The deer would be allegedly taken to Cannon, who would process them.
Hervey said game wardens will be reaching out to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department for possible federal charges.
Chamber Connection – March 1
Spring seems like it may finally be here, so it’s time for the 34th Annual Chamber Golf Tournament, set for April 7 at the Sulphur Springs Country Club.
Like last year, the registration fee for a six-person scramble team is $750, with tee times at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. We have room for 25 afternoon teams and 18 morning teams on a first- come basis. Registration includes 12 mulligans, six meal tickets, and three carts.
We also have many sponsorship opportunities, so check out our registration form online at hopkinschamber.org or drop by the office at 110 Main St in Sulphur Springs.
Eclipse 2024
Don’t be caught in the dark when the April 8, 2024 eclipse happens! Everyone is invited to a press conference at 2 p.m. Monday, March 6, on the Courthouse steps as we talk about what is needed to prepare for the eclipse.
Sulphur Springs is ranked as the 8th best place in North America to watch the afternoon event. Let’s get ready!
Business After Hours
Our next Business After Hours will be from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, at the House of Sabo, 214 Main St.
You can enjoy small elevated bits and crafted cocktails at the mixer as well as meet the owners behind the House of Sabo and other local industry professionals.
Freedom Ball
This year’s Hopkins County Freedom Ball is going to be bigger and better than ever! Come help celebrate our local heroes at the Hopkins County Civic Center on May 20.
This years theme is “Top Gun” and Jason Walden & The Alibis will be providing the music for the evening.
Tickets are $125 each, and 200 tickets are set aside for veterans and their wingman each — first come, first serve. So, get your tickets now.
For tickets, contact Danny Davis at 903-438-4003.
DIY Wedding Expo
The East Texas DIY Wedding Expo, hosted by Frosted Whimsy, is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. March 18 at the Hopkins County Civic Center. Vendors spots are available, starting at $150. Email [email protected] for more information.
Free Movies
The Barn of Emory is presenting free movies from 7-9 p.m. each Friday. The Barn of Emory is located at 550 Rains County Road 3425 in Emory. Call 903-485-8222 for movie titles each week.
Yoga Open House
One Soul Yoga will have an Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at their facility at 1008 Main St. There will be free yoga classes and demos, discounts on passes and retail, and giveaways and refreshments.
Representative Slaton Files HB 2889 Providing Property Tax Relief to Families
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Yesterday, Representative Slaton filed HB 2889, which provides Texas families with property tax relief based on the size of their family. The bill will help promote couples getting married, staying married, and having or adopting children. A couple who marries and stays married would receive a ten-percent property tax credit. A family of four or more biological or adopted children would receive a forty-percent tax credit, and up to one hundred-percent credit for having ten children.
Representative Slaton said the following: “Supporting Texas means supporting Texas families. Strong families are the backbone and building blocks of society. We must support families by making it financially easier for them to have and raise children in a supportive and nurturing way.”
Many Studies have shown that children tend to have enhanced “wellbeing and development,”[1] and tend to avoid developmental, academic, and behavioral problems when raised by both parents in a stable marriage.[2] Falling birthrates also pose a potentially significant problem for the future as the age dependency ratio rises. Policies similar to HB 2889 have been implemented in nations such as Hungary[3] and Poland[4], where they have begun the process of reversing their declining birth rates, and are helping to foster thriving families.
Rep. Slaton continued: “With this bill, Texas will start saying to couples: ‘Get married, stay married, and be fruitful and multiply.’”
Department Of Public Safety License Fraud
Feb. 28, 2023- The Texas Department of Public Safety was tricked into shipping at least 3,000 Texas driver’s licenses to a Chinese organized crime group that targeted Asian Texans.
The criminal organization was then selling the licenses, obtained using the personal information of Texas drivers, to people in the country illegally, DPS Director Steve McCraw said.
The thieves used the state’s government portal, Texas.gov to fraud the DPS agency. DPS discovered the scheme back in December and has stated that they will be sending out letters of apology to all of the victims that were involved with this fraud. More victims are still being identified.
The criminal organization was not named by DPS at this moment. The organization was able to get a hold of the Texas driver’s licenses by pulling personal data on several individuals with Asian surnames from the “dark web” and other underground data-trading portals.
The info given to the organization from the dark web was then used to correctly answer any password security questions on the Texas.gov website. Stolen credit cards were used to purchase duplicate copies of active licenses. These replacement licenses cost $11 per license.
The license theft investigation spans roughly four separate states, also including fraudulent licenses duplicated from victims. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are also investigating the fraud in hopes of preventing more victims.
DPS declined to discuss specific details of the investigation, including whether arrests had been made in connection with the Texas thefts. However several subjects have been identified in this criminal enterprise.
The problem was first detected in December when a third-party Texas.gov payment vendor “alerted DPS to an increase in customers challenging credit card charges for online transactions”. The credit cards used to buy the fraudulent copies were also stolen, authorities said.
DPS was asked whether the fact that Asian Americans were being targeted would constitute a hate crime.
McCraw, without committing either way, said they appeared to be targeted because their names and photos would most closely resemble the people the syndicate would be selling the licenses to, according to what the agency’s investigation has uncovered so far.
Letters to the victims are set to go out later this week explaining that their licenses have been used fraudulently, the victims cases will be set as priority. Also, the department will send affected Texas Residents replacement licenses free of charge.
Paris Junior College Students Enjoy a Break
ENJOYING BREAK
Students at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus enjoy a short break between classes as they visit in the hallway with Secretary Dana Smock, left. Students in the group include Jessica Sisk, Alyssa Cockrum, Veronica Bussell, Liberty Gaunt and Jay Leitner.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Tommy Harris in Honor Of Black History Month
In light of Black History Month, we would like to commemorate a member of our community who embodies the spirit of excellence and positively influences the lives of those who live here in Sulphur Springs, Mr. Tommy Harrison. Mr. Harrison is an inspirational man who proudly served this country for 40 years before retiring from the US Department of Defense and returning here to Sulphur Springs five years ago. In that time he has become a very important member of our community. He sits as part of the city council and zoning board and is known for his humble, selfless, and kind spirit. He lives by the scripture “a man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Prov 18:24 KJV) And this is shown by Mr. Harrison’s hospitable actions towards others daily.
In wake of the recent ice storm we experienced here in Sulphur Springs, Mr. Harrison was seen checking on the wellbeing of his neighbors as well as the community abroad. He made phone calls on behalf of those in need and stopped by the homes of others to see where he could offer his assistance. He also stands on the scripture “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Prov 27:17 KJV). He is recognized as a man that always has the thought in his mind of how he can be a service to others in his community and this city.
Tommy Harrison is a man who loves God, family, this city, and this country and we want to honor him and thank him for continuing to be a compassionate inspiration to this community and those around him.
