Learn What’s up at Cooper Lake State Park on this Episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee
July 15, 2025 – Aron Maib, Supervisor of Cooper Lake State Park, dropped by to have a chat with John Mark Dempsey. Aron and John Mark chatted about fishing at Cooper Lake, the park’s want for volunteers, and events coming up at the park. On July 18, 2025, Cooper Lake State Park will host a program on Amphibians, and a program on Nature Journaling. Also, on this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark and Aron discussed the Fishing With A Ranger event taking place July 19th, 2025, and the “Become A Junior Ranger” event being held on July 26th, 2025. Check out this segment and learn about these events, and so much more!
Local Corvette Club Revs Up CanHelp for Back-To-School
July 15, 2025 – Several members of the Sulphur Springs Corvette Club motored on over to the CanHelp office to drop off a $1,000 check to help out CanHelp’s “Back to School” Fair. This year’s fair will be held Thursday, August 7th from 4pm to 6pm at The ROC located at 115 Putman St. in Sulphur Springs.
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees Approved Employee pay and Compensation Increases
July 15, 2025 – The Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees has approved employee pay and compensation increases for the 2025-26 school year.
Teachers and librarians with two years or less experience will receive a pay hike off $3,000.. Teachers with 3-5 years of experience will get an additional $4,000.. And teachers with five or more years of experience will receive a pay boost of $8,000. The starting pay for teachers will be $53,275 per year.
A statement on the Sulphur Springs ISD Facebook page says: “This investment reflects the commitment to valuing and supporting the incredible staff who make a difference in the lives of students every day.”
Learn About Watering on this Episode of A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey
July 14, 2025 – On this educational episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark had a chat with Hopkins County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Master Gardener Ronnie Wilson. The main topic of their conversation on this segment was “watering.” Ronnie gave pointers on watering. Factors to consider while watering. The two discussed watering your lawn, flowers, and gardens. Watering is very important for your plants during this hot time of the year so watch this episode and learn maybe what you can do to improve your watering routine.
Josie Cabreros Crowned 2025 Ms Hopkins County Senior Classic Queen July 12th
July 14, 2025 – Witness the glamor, excitement, and talent of the 2025 Ms Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant with KSST’s coverage of the fabulous event! Watch as some of Hopkins County most creative ladies compete to earn the prestigious honor to wear the crown. Senior Center Coordinator Dawna Pryor and her hard working team worked for weeks to put together this wonderful evening of sparkle, singing, dance, and more! The theme of this year’s glamors competition was, “Golden Years, Golden Hearts, Golden Girls.” So, be sure to check out the golden journey and adventure that led to, after a close and tough competition, the crowning of Josie Cabreros as your 2025 Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic Queen! This exciting event was held at the new Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Activity Center in Sulphur Springs, Texas, on Saturday, July 12th, 2025.
Local Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Million-Dollar Theft Ring; Over $220,000 in Restitution Paid to Victims
On July 10, 2025, Everett Van Jennings, 36, of Sulphur Springs, pleaded guilty to first-degree felony Theft of Property and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Jennings was ordered to pay $222,169.98 in restitution and a $2,500 fine. As part of the plea agreement, Jennings tendered the full amount of restitution in cashier’s checks payable to each victim at the time of the plea, ensuring all victims were made whole.
Jennings orchestrated a million-dollar theft operation, trafficking over $1,000,000 in stolen property, including luxury vehicles such as Lamborghinis and Corvettes, boats, heavy machinery, and trailers. Law enforcement first identified Jennings when a stolen 2021 Lamborghini Urus was tracked to his residence in Hopkins County.
The investigation revealed Jennings used fraudulent Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) to evade detection and even stole and utilized the identity of Aaron Crum, a former tenant currently serving a life sentence for murder. Jennings sold stolen items under Crum’s name and created a fake Facebook page to further facilitate the criminal activity.
Jennings, a semi well-known local entrepreneur, demonstrated his arrogance and criminal nature by publicly accusing Hopkins County law enforcement of misconduct, attempting to deceive the public of the truth. He also evaded law enforcement by fleeing on foot when officers attempted to serve an arrest warrant at his parents’ residence, resulting in an extensive manhunt. Jennings went so far as to open a burner phone account in Aaron Crum’s name to send text messages to the sheriff, falsely warning that continued investigation into Everett would result in negative publicity for the sheriff’s reelection campaign, while promising positive coverage if the investigation ceased due to Everett’s alleged ownership of a popular local news page on Facebook.
Due to the prison sentence and restitution being paid for all cases in the theft case, all of the remaining charges against Jennings were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
The successful prosecution resulted from extensive investigative efforts by the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. Special recognition is given to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigator Todd Evans, who works with the Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force, for the many hours of thorough detective work he poured into this complex case.
This sentence sends a clear message that the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office remains committed to holding offenders accountable, protecting our community from theft, and ensuring justice and restitution for victims.
Quote from District Attorney Will Ramsay: “Jennings’s arrogance and public ridicule of Hopkins County law enforcement was an aggravating factor in this case. While we believe a Hopkins County jury would have given Mr. Jennings a heavier prison sentence, being able to immediately secure prison time and almost a quarter million dollars in much needed restitution for victims was an outcome we wanted. Thanks to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant District Attorney Zach Blackmon for rolling up their sleeves and spending many hours to see that justice was done.”
Illegal Aliens Cut From Certain ‘Federal Public Benefits’
July 14, 2025 – On July 10, 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a major policy reversal intended to prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing certain taxpayer-funded healthcare and social services. The new directive rescinds a 1998 Clinton-era interpretation of the 1996 PRWORA welfare law, which had previously narrowed “federal public benefit” and allowed undocumented individuals to receive services like Head Start, community health centers, mental-health and substance-use grants, and Title X family planning.
“For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans’ tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration.” – Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
HHS’s updated stance clarifies that any program serving individuals, families, or households under PRWORA now falls under this definition, reversing exemptions that have been in place for nearly 27 years.
Under the new rule, 44 programs are designated as “federal public benefits” including Head Start, mental-health and substance-abuse support, health workforce initiatives, and homelessness aid.
Government officials say this change could save Texas and other states millions of dollars, citing Texas Health and Human Services data showing hospitals incurred $121 million in monthly healthcare costs for undocumented patients.
HHS’s own estimates suggest redirecting these resources could yield up to $375–374 million annually in Head Start alone.
Kennedy framed the move as restoring “integrity to federal social programs,” preventing public resources from incentivizing illegal immigration.
Though the policy takes effect immediately, a 30-day public comment period is underway before detailed implementation guidelines are released.
The revised list newly includes all programs now classified as “Federal public benefits” under PRWORA:
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
- Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
- Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
- Head Start
- Health Center Program
- Health Workforce Programs not otherwise previously covered (including grants, loans, scholarships, payments, and loan repayments).
- Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Prevention, and Recovery Support Services Programs administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Grant Program
- Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant
- Title IV-E Educational and Training Voucher Program
- Title IV-E Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
- Title IV-E Prevention Services Program
- Title X Family Planning Program
Animal Shelters in Texas Get Relief
July 13, 2025 – Adoptable pets from Central Texas flew into the Susquehanna Valley Saturday, touching down at Lancaster Airport and heading straight to the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area for adoption this week. The rescue mission—coordinated by Wings of Rescue in partnership with Brandywine Valley SPCA—marks a second relief flight, following an earlier arrival in Delaware.
Multiple flights carrying hundreds of pets have provided relief for Texas shelters since the flooding in Kerr County Texas earlier this month.
Among the arrivals are four dogs and ten cats that were already waiting in overcrowded Austin-area shelters before recent flooding intensified the crisis. According to Colleen Harrington, director of the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s Second Chance Program, the flights open up much-needed kennel space in Texas and prevent stray animals from slipping through the safety net.
Animal-care teams unloaded the pets quickly despite the summer heat. These affectionate dogs and shy but hopeful cats are now available at the Harrisburg shelter—some as early as Sunday or Tuesday, depending on check-in timing.
With adoption efforts in full swing, the Humane Society is urging local families to visit and welcome a fellow rescue into their homes this week. Not only does adoption offer a fresh start for these animals, but it also frees space for Texas shelters still dealing with flooding fallout.
If you’ve been considering bringing a pet into your life, now is the perfect opportunity to make an incredible impact—two-fold, in fact.
Indiana Task Force 1 Sends Additional Help To Texas
July 13, 2025 – Indiana Task Force 1, Indiana’s urban search-and-rescue team, has dispatched an additional 35 members to Kerr County, Texas, to bolster ongoing flood-response operations following catastrophic flash flooding that inundated the Hill Country region earlier this month.
The deployment comes amid intensifying recovery efforts after several rounds of torrential thunderstorms, which have repeatedly inundated local communities and disrupted prior relief operations . The team augments a multistate response that has included task forces from Ohio, Colorado, Minnesota, and others, along with units from the Coast Guard, National Guard, and Mexican emergency crews.
The disaster has claimed at least 132 confirmed fatalities as of July 10, including a tragic toll of over 106 lives lost in Kerr County alone—comprising both adults and children—with hundreds more reported missing. The Indiana contingent will assist in search and rescue, structural assessments, and recovery efforts, particularly along the rapidly swelling Guadalupe River corridor.
Indiana Task Force 1’s additional deployment underscores the severity and national scope of the disaster, with teams continuing 24/7 operations to locate survivors, recover victims, and support local authorities. As heavy rains threaten renewed flooding, the trained professionals are critical in reinforcing regional capacity and helping communities through this crisis.
SID MILLER ADDRESSES PRESIDENT TRUMP’S VISIT TO KERRVILLE, TEXAS
July 13, 2025 – “President Trump’s visit to Kerrville comes at a crucial time as Texans are suffering from historic and devastating flooding. This is the leadership Texans know to expect from President Trump: present, proactive, and ready to act when disaster occurs.
President Trump is committed to strengthening emergency response efforts so that what happened in the Hill Country never happens again, and I will fight with him every step of the way. We’re not just going to rebuild, we’re going to rebuild stronger, smarter, and faster.
Hundreds of Texans remain unaccounted for. As searches continue, I hope Texans will continue to join me in keeping those affected in their prayers. In times of disaster, we must unite in solidarity and support our neighbors.”
