SSISD Board Names Lone Finalist For SSISD Superintendent
May 5, 2023 – Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees selects Dr. Deana Steeber as the lone finalist to be the next superintendent.
The Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees would like to announce that Dr. Deana Steeber has been selected as the lone finalist for the district’s next superintendent. Former superintendent, Mike Lamb, ended his time at SSISD on April 30, 2023.
Dr. Deana Steeber is coming from Argyle ISD, where she serves as the Assistant Superintendent. She has 27 years of experience in education. She has served as an Assistant Superintendent since 2017. Prior to joining Argyle ISD, she served as a principal for 11 years at the high school, middle school, and elementary campus levels. Dr. Steeber grew up in Oklahoma where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Soon after, she completed a Master of Education. Dr. Steeber completed a Doctorate in School Administration at Texas A&M University – Commerce. Dr. Steeber has been involved in the master planning process for a fast growth school district, resulting in the passage of bonds and expanding learning opportunities for students. She is committed to effective team building, curriculum and program development through transparency and open, honest communication. She believes in being pro-active and reaching out to the community, involving them in the learning process, which contributes to the long-term success of the district. Encouraging students to be problem solvers and analytical thinkers who are adaptable gives them the ability to excel and compete at their greatest capacity.
Dr. Steeber has been married to her husband, Dr. Robert Steeber for twenty-six years. Dr. Robert Steeber is a retired superintendent in the state of Texas. They have two children, Hanna and Joseph. Hanna currently serves as a teacher and is a graduate of Texas Tech University. Joseph is in his senior year at the University of Texas at Arlington where he is a pitcher for the baseball team. He is pursuing a degree in Business Finance.
The school board was very pleased with the number of applicants that applied for the position, which totaled 48. The board studied each resume folder and narrowed candidates down to seven for the interview portion of their search. Sulphur Springs ISD Board President Craig Roberts said that all seven candidates were outstanding, but after the interviews were complete, they all agreed that Dr. Deana Steeber was the right fit for the district. Roberts continued, “The trustees are excited to welcome Dr. Steeber to our district. As an educational leader, she will guide our district’s vision to be a home for excellence in public education. Her proven track record brings experience and excitement which will lead to opportunities for our staff, students, and community. It is truly a Great Day to be a Wildcat! Let’s be the first to welcome Dr. Steeber.”
Rep. Bryan Slaton Refused To Speak About Closed Investigation Hearing
State Rep. Bryan Slaton, the Royse City Republican who had been accused of having inappropriate relations with a staffer, has declined Thursday to discuss his attendance at a closed-door hearing of a house investigation panel that has been looking into these allegations.
Slaton did not answer questions from reporters as he left the room where a due-process hearing was taking place. He was absent from the House floor as the investigative panel was meeting in a separate part of the Capitol.
The meeting of the General Investigating Committee came after the five-member panel voted unanimously on Monday to conduct a private due-process meeting.
Last month, a Capitol staffer alleged in a complaint to the committee that Slaton, 45, had sex with one of his employees, a woman under 21, and also provided her with alcohol. The said incident is thought to have occurred in Slaton’s Austin apartment in March.
Slaton has since refused to comment on his allegations, instead referring reports and the likes to his lawyers who have since released a statement claiming the allegations to be “false” and “outrageous” without specifying further.
The committee has kept its investigation under wraps, refusing to name the lawmaker currently being investigated and referring to the investigation as “Matter B” in public hearings. The committee is also believed to be looking into allegations of an “abusive and hostile” work environment by state Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston.
The committee also issued a subpoena in “Matter B” directing a man “to provide all relevant testimony and information concerning the committee’s inquiry” as well as the issuing of “one or more subpoenas for a part or portion of any relevant testimony or information as necessary to avoid overburdening a witness or the committee.”
The identity of the man who has been subpoena has yet to be identified.
The committee members then walked across the hall for their 2 p.m. due-process hearing and almost immediately went into executive session. About an hour later, Slaton was seen exiting the room through the same door he’d entered.
Slaton, one of the most far-right social conservatives in the Legislature, has been married to his second wife since 2017.
He joined the Texas House in 2021 after a campaign financed heavily by far-right Texas groups that framed him as a Christian family man and touted his previous work as a Southern Baptist youth pastor.
The allegations of an inappropriate workplace relationship created shockwaves through the most conservative wings of the Texas GOP. After days of rumors at the Capitol about Slaton’s unexplained, multiday absence last month, he faced calls to resign from two lawmakers with whom he is ideologically aligned.
Shasore Returned to Hopkins County Jail To Face Charges
May 5, 2023 – Abdullateef Olasun “AB” Shasore was returned to Hopkins County Jail this week. He was arrested at the Tarrant County Jail were he was serving time for another conviction.
Shasore and an accomplice were arrested in 2022 after they attempted to withdraw thousands of dollars from a Sulphur Springs, TX bank. The funds did not belong to them. See that story here.
Nigerian born Shasore, who is 22 years old is being held on a $250,000 bond.
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.
Dallas Democrat Colin Allred Announces 2024 Challenge To Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz
May 4, 2023- U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, announced Wednesday he is challenging U.S. Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for reelection.
The three-term congressman made the announcement on a three-minute video posted on social media. Allred had been considering a campaign for months and it was no surprise when he announced he was running.
Allred’s campaign begins as an uphill battle. A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide election in Texas since 1994, and while Cruz’s 2018 reelection race against Beto O’Rourke was surprisingly tight, Democrats have not been able to replicate such a close contest since then.
Cruz’s campaign responded by calling Allred “too extreme for Texas,” stated his faithful voting record with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Ted Cruz has some of the highest job-approval ratings among republicans in the state and has gathered considerable influence in the senate since his last reelection. Cruz has now become a staple part of the Republican image through his years serving the state of Texas.
Several harsh words and accusations were exchanged through both campaigns from Senator Cruz and Representative Allred.
Allred is also a civil rights lawyer who worked at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under former President Barack Obama. While, Cruz is running for a third term in the Senate after toying with making another White House bid in 2024
State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, is also likely to run but is not expected to make any announcement until after the legislative session, which ends May 29.
MasCo Prepares For Equipment Auction in Winnsboro on Saturday
May 4, 2023 – Sulphur Springs agricultural equipment dealer Shawn Massey and the team at MasCo Equipment are holding the 2nd Annual Equipment Auction in Winnsboro on Saturday, May 6, 2023. Massey tells KSST News, “Several hundred lots are already consigned to the sale and more lots are coming in daily.” Not only will there be the usual assortment of ag and construction equipment, but smaller items have also been consigned including trucks, trailers, and boats. Massey continued by saying, “We even have a very rare low-mileage 1991 Corvette ZR-1 hitting the auction block during the sale. There will be something for everyone, from hand and power tools, to boats or backhoes.”
The auction starts at 10 a.m. Saturday morning and bidders should register before the auction starts. On-site bidder registration starts at 8 a.m. If you would like to register for Live bidding in advance you can email Masco at: [email protected]
Online bidding will occur simultaneously on some items through EquipmentFacts.com. You can find a link to the items listed with MasCo online here: Online Auction Items
The auction takes place at 1208 E. Broadway St., Winnsboro, TX 75494
Miller Grove Cemetery Annual Memorial And Homecoming
May 4, 2023- Miller Grove will be holding their annual memorial service and homecoming this Saturday May 6th at the Miller Grove Methodist Church at 10:30 am.
Located at 7819 FM 275, Cumby, TX.
Dike Election Receives Interest at State Level
All eyes are on the rural area of Dike, Texas as an election to make Dike an incorporated municipality is set for Saturday, May 6th at the Dike Community Center.
A recent solar plant project has disrupted the quiet life in Dike. Some residents’ in Dike have banded together to have their Class C Incorporation request put on the ballot to add an extra layer of protection for landowners in that area. Tyler based KLTV recently interviewed Dike resident Kirk Reams who voiced his displeasure with county officials “not allowing Dike residents’ to voice their opinions or concerns.” Reams stated that by the time other residents found out about the project the solar deal was already done. Reams says that incorporation would help protect Dike residents from future projects. Donna Tubb, who is against incorporation, was quoted by KLTV as saying “that not all of her family were asked about incorporating.” See KLTV’s story here: Dike Community to Vote on Incorporation
Texas State Network News picked up the KLTV story Thursday morning distributing the plight of Dike residents to it’s 3 million weekly listeners statewide. The ongoing “David vs. Goliath” fight has pitted some residents against county officials who have aligned with foreign energy entities to bring the massive solar project to the once quiet rural community. Engie Solar, through their subsidiary Hopkins Solar, LLC, received approval from Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court as well as other taxing entities for taxable valuation reductions of over 90 percent.
Blattner Energy, LLC is in charge of contructing the project and has recently caught the eye of a state-level office as the TCEQ recently cited the construction company for multiple violations regarding water and sediment runoff. That story can be found here: Blattner Battles State of Texas.
Early voting for the incorporation has already concluded with 59 of the 218 eligible voters voting early. The remaining eligible voters will be able to cast their vote on election day Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 7 am until 7 pm at the Dike Community Center on Highway 69 in Dike.
Dallas Resident Attempts to Outrun Police
May 4, 2023 – BRANDON DONNELL JOHNSON was arrested this week after he attempted to flee law enforcement on Interstate 30.
At around 10PM Wednesday night, Greenville TX Police advised Hopkins County Dispatch that they were in pursuit of a black Chrysler 300c heading east on I-30. Greenville PD terminated their pursuit near the Hunt Hopkins County line. Cumby PD then started to pursue the Chrysler. The fleeing car was traveling at 100mph.
Working in concert with Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies, a stop strip device was deployed. During that deployment, a Deputy incurred a finger laceration. That laceration required medical attention at a local hospital.
After BRANDON DONNELL JOHNSON’s car hit the device, he pulled into a truck stop of the western edge of Sulphur Springs. Johnson, age 20, was taken into custody by Cumby PD. The 300c was impounded.
Because a member of law enforcement was injured during the incident, Johnson’s charge was elevated to a felony.
He is charged with:
38.04(B)(2)(B) EVADING ARREST DET CAUSE SBI (Serious Bodily Injury)
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.
Banuelos-Rios Arrested on Theft Related Warrants
May 4, 2023 – JUAN ANTONIO BANUELOS-RIOS was arrested this week on theft related warrants. His current bond totals $60,000.
JUAN ANTONIO BANUELOS-RIOS was arrested in February of this year after deputies found close to $300,000 worth of stolen equipment in his possession. See that story here.
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.
City of Dallas Confirmed Struck By Ransomware, Shutting Down Several IT Services
May 4, 2023- Dallas Texas has confirmed Wednesday to have been struck by a ransomware attack which caused several IT based services to shut down.
The Dallas Police Department was also affected by this attack which led to 911 dispatchers having to write down received reports for officers rather than submit them via the computer-assisted dispatch system. The Dallas County Police Department’s website was also offline for part of the day due to the incident but has since been restored.\
During the attack several network printers on the City of Dallas’ network began printing out ransom notes this morning, with the IT department warning employees to retain any printed notes.
The perpetrator of the attack is believed to be a cybercrime syndicate by the name of Royal Ransomware. The Royal Ransomware is believed to have risen to power after the Conti cybercrime syndicate shut down its operation.
When launched in January 2022, Royal utilized other ransomware operations’ encryptors, such as ALPHV/BlackCat, to avoid standing out. However, they later started using their own encryptor, Zeon, in attacks for the rest of the year.
Towards the end of 2022, the operation rebranded into Royal and quickly became one of the most active enterprise-targeting ransomware gangs.
Like other ransomware gangs, Royal is known to steal data from networks before encrypting devices. This stolen data is then used as further leverage in extortion demands, with the threat actors warning that they will publicly leak data if a ransom is not paid.
At this time, it is unknown if any data was stolen from the City of Dallas during the attack.
