Chamber Connection — Jan. 11, 2023: Membership Banquet Will Celebrate Hopkins County With ‘A Night at the Gallery’
By Butch Burney, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO
The 95th Annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Membership Banquet will celebrate Hopkins County with a theme of “A Night at the Gallery,” awards and dinner on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.
Social networking and a cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m., with food service at 6:30 p.m., and awards beginning at 7 p.m.
You can reserve your seat for $30 per person or get a table for 10 for $500. The tables include preferential seating and name displays, as well as video recognition at the banquet.
For more information, call the Chamber at 903-885-6515 or email [email protected].
Nominations open until Jan. 20
Thanks to everyone who has mailed or emailed nominations for the superlative awards that will be given out at the annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Membership Banquet on Feb. 16.
Here are some tips for those who want to nominate individuals, businesses, groups or clubs for the awards. This is a nomination process, not a voting contest. The nominations go to committees that very seriously look at the nominations sent in. So …
- Don’t just send in a name; instead, tell us why the person or business should be selected. That carries much more weight in the process.
- Get the nominations in before Jan. 20. That’s the deadline.
Nominations are being accepted for Citizen of the Year, Woman of the Year, Small and Large Businesses of the Year and other superlative recognitions. The awards will be announced at the Chamber’s membership banquet on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
Nominations can be sent to [email protected] or mailed to the following addresses:
- Citizen of the Year—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
- Woman of the Year—Beta Sigma Phi Organization—P.O. Box 72, SS, TX 75483.
- Caregiver of the Year—The Pilot Club—P.O. Box 131, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483.
- Community Pride Award—Adult Leadership Class—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
- Agriculturist of the Year—Hopkins/Rains Counties Farm Bureau— 233 College St., Sulphur Springs 75482.
- Growth and Renewal—DBA—109 Jefferson St. E, SS, TX 75482.
- Outstanding Professional Educator (Administrator, Counselor, Diagnostician, or Teacher)—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
- Outstanding ParaProfessional Educator (Secretary or Aide)—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
- Outstanding Auxiliary Educator (Maintenance, Custodial, Transportation, Nurse or Cafeteria)—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
- Businesses of the Year nominations should be for those businesses which exhibit outstanding community involvement—civic, church, educational, benevolent, humanitarian or other.
- Large Business of the Year—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
- Small Business of the Year—Chamber of Commerce—110 Main Street, SS, TX 75482.
Directories
Work is finishing on the 2023 Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Directory. We distribute over 7,000 of these directories to visitors, relocation hopefuls, and even hometown heroes who are interested in learning more about our local businesses. They include historical information as well all things to the see and do in Hopkins County. The best part is, they include an alphabetical and categorical listing of your business.
LeeAnn Peugh, with Echo Publishing, is contacting businesses to see if you are interested in placing an ad in the directory.
The rates are affordable, and one of the best ways to represent your business. You may also contact the Chamber, and I will pass your information along to her.
If your business wants to be in the directory, please make sure your membership is current. Only current members will be included in the directory. If you’re unsure, please contact the chamber at [email protected] or by calling 903-885-6515.
Blood Drive
Please join Carter BloodCare at Brookshire’s parking lot at 809 Gilmer St., sponsored by American Legion Post #66 and VFW Post #8560, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14.
Retirement Reception
A retirement reception for Johanna Hicks will be held from 2-4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office at 1200-B West Houston St. It is hosted by the Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers.
Ribbon Cuttings/Grand Opening
- Shop the Springs and Deep Routes Coffee will have their Grand Opening and ribbon cutting on Friday, Jan. 20. Doors open at 8 a.m., with the ribbon cutting at noon, give-aways from 2-4 p.m. and live music from 5-7 p.m. Please join them on this special day at 215 Shannon Road East (behind Burger King).
- Frosted Whimsy will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Wednesday, Jan.18, at the Chamber office, 110 Main St. Please join us in welcoming them to the Chamber.
- Werry Pools will host a ribbon cutting at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the Chamber office. Please welcome them to the business community.
- The Vault fitness center held a ribbon cutting at noon on Monday, Jan. 9, at their gym in Hillcrest Square. Please welcome them to the community.
A Word of Advice For Engaged Couples
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County, [email protected].
Yes, I know this is not the most prevalent wedding season. However, engaged couples have already started planning summer and fall weddings. I recently had the opportunity to visit with State Representative Bryan Slaton in his Greenville office, and his eyes lit up when I mentioned the Twogether in Texas marriage education workshops which I had been leading for the past 8 to 10 years. His belief (and mine, as well) is that a strong marriage leads to strong families, and strong families lead to strong communities.
Most of you know by now that I will be retiring at the end of January (more on that later!), but I have the approval to continue teaching the Twogether in Texas marriage education workshops in the interim period. I don’t have a date planned at this time, but keep posted! Engaged couples who take the workshop will be given a certificate to save $60 (the state portion) upon applying for a marriage license.
With that being said, I wanted to share a few tidbits from the curriculum. Expectations about love and marriage can have a powerful impact on relationships. “To a large degree, you will be disappointed or happy in life based on how well what is happening matches up with what you think should be happening.” (Markman, Blumberg & Stanley, 1990)
There are three common pitfalls regarding marriage expectations:
- Couples are often unaware of their own expectations. Not until they already feel the frustration or disappointment of unmet expectations do couples realize they had made some assumptions about how things “should” go. For example: “My father always gathered up the trash in the house. I guess I just assumed my partner would, too.”
- Expectations are unrealistic. Hollywood, love songs, and pop culture have a way of promoting and romanticizing unrealistic expectations. There is nothing wrong with wanting a great relationship, but expecting perfection is a slippery slope. Phrases such as “you complete me” paint unrealistic pictures of relationships.
- Couples fail to discuss their expectations with one another. There is sometimes a risk in expressing expectations. It may open up disagreement or rejection, and is therefore a vulnerable thing to do. The risk of not expressing expectations, however, is to set your relationship up for disappointment, hurt, and anger. So, discuss who will gather up the trash, clean the bathrooms, wash the dishes, etc.
As a friend once said, “Your expectations get you to the altar. Once there, you must alter your expectations.”
Some common myths may lead some couples astray. These include:
- Myth #1: Marriage will help improve our relationship or will motivate my fiancé to change. (You accepted them as they are. Don’t expect change.)
- Myth #2: Marriage will make me feel complete. (You are complete just as you are.)
- Myth #3: Perfect marriages happen for perfect people. (There are no perfect people, so there are no perfect marriages. Communication and faith in God are crucial to a healthy relationship.)
- Myth #4: Happily married couples never have serious problems. (Troubles make marriages stronger if you handle them as a team. Again, effective communication is key.)
- Myth #5: Happy marriages are filled with romantic love and unwavering trust. (Romance may wane, but the love can continue to grow more deeply over time.)
All couples, whether engaged, seriously dating, or married, can be intentional about your time together. As Henry Ford says, “Coming together is easy; keeping together in progress, working together is success.”
Closing Thought
The more you understand your past, the more influence you’ll have over your future.
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent at the Hopkins County Office, P.O. Box 518 or 1200-B W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected].
2 Served With Warrants For Felony Offenses Twice In Less Than A Week
At least 2 men have been served with warrants for felony offenses twice in less than a week, according to Hopkins County jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Zack Steward and Elijah Fite located Luke Maximus Walters at a County Road 2301 residence at 6:40 p.m. Jan. 5, 2023, and took the 20-year-old Dike man into custody on two warrants. Walters was booked into Hopkins County jail at 7:43 p.m. Thursday on two warrants for indecency with a child by sexual contact. The offenses, the deputies noted in arrest reports, are alleged to have occurred on March 1, 2021.
At 10:15 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, Fite contacted Luke Walters, who remained in Hopkins County jail, and served him with three additional warrants, according to arrest reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in lieu of $5 million bond — $1 million each on the two indecency charges as $1 million each on three aggravated sexual assault of a child charges, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputy Justin Wilkinson served Jameek Montres Pryor at 4 p.m. Jan. 4, 2023, with a warrant for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The offense is alleged to have occurred on Oct. 21, 2022, the day he was arrested on an assault of a family or household member, a charge enhanced to a third-degree felony due to a 2019 conviction, according to arrest reports
He allegedly resisted officers efforts Oct. 21 to take him into custody, pulling way from deputies and once inside the patrol vehicle, allegedly kept yelling at the woman he was accused of assaulting. He allegedly yelled and screamed for water on the way to jail, then tried to kick out the vehicle window. The deputy gave him water and he calmed down and was transported to the county jail, where he was booked in Oct. 21, 2022, on the assault charge, deputies noted in arrest reports.
Pryor was indicted during the Dec. 30, 2022 Grand Jury session on the assault of a family or household member with previous conviction and unauthorized use of a vehicle charges. The 21-year-old Sulphur Springs man was charged with the Oct. 21, 2022 UUV offense on Jan. 4, 2023.
HCSO Deputy Michael Chang then served Pryor with another felony warrant, for robbery, at 4:25 p.m. Jan. 6, 2023, according to arrest reports.
Pryor remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in lieu of $175,000 in bonds — $50,000 bond on the assault of a family or household member with previous conviction charge, $100,000 bond on a Van Zandt County assault of a family or household member with previous conviction charge, a $5,000 bond on the unauthorize use of vehicle charge, and $20,000 in bond on the robbery charge, according to jail reports.
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.
Man Who Died Jan. 2 After Being Shot During Foot Pursuit With Local Authorities Has Been Identified
The man who died Jan. 2 after being shot during a foot pursuit with local authorities has been identified in a Custodial Death Report posted by state officials as 43-year-old Randy Wayne Tadlock.
The report summary for the death restated the public information release distributed to local media on Jan. 3:
Officers with the Sulphur Springs Police Department and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area of Holiday Drive in Sulphur Springs, Texas in reference to an individual that had a handgun and was threatening to do harm to himself and others. The complainant stated that after making these threats, the individual left the area on foot. A short time later, officers located the individual in a vehicle in a parking lot located at 1233 South Broadway Street. When confronted, the individual then fled from the vehicle on foot with the handgun. Officers gave pursuit and later the individual pointed the handgun at the officers and a Sulphur Springs Police Officer fired his duty weapon, striking the individual. The individual later succumbed to his injuries.
Local authorities have referred all requests for any further information to the Rangers. The police officer who fired his weapon was placed on administrative leave during the Rangers’ investigation.
Reports from the scene Monday night, Jan. 2, 2023, were that man who’d made threats with the firearm had begun running toward South Broadway Street, with officers in pursuit. Responding officers reported gunshots were fired, then, that one person was injured, according to initial reports Monday evening from the scene.
Officers reportedly administered first aid until EMS and fire department personnel arrived at the South Broadway Street address. The man was was pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace BJ Teer, with the man’s time of death listed as 6:06 p.m., four minutes after the listed time of incident, in the CDR.
South Broadway Street from Lee Street to Industrial Drive were closed to traffic for more than 3 hours Jan. 3 while officials began the investigative process.
The death was investigated by Texas Rangers out of Garland. The CDR required in a police-involved shooting was then submitted to the state.
The state report lists the manner of death as “Homicide (includes Justifiable Homicide).” Cause was listed as gunshot wounds caused by “Law enforcement/correctional personnel.” A handgun was listed as the cause of death.
According to the Custodial Death Report, Tadlock was a felon in possession of a firearm and evading arrest or detention at the time of his death. Officers had attempted to contact him due to the prior complaint of “Violent Crime Against Persons; Medical / Mental Health assistance call.” He was alleged in the report to have displayed a firearm, without discharging it, to have attempted to injure others, including law enforcement personnel responding at the location. The CDR was submitted to the state Friday afternoon, Jan. 6, 2023, according to the report.
Funeral services for 43-year-old Randy Tadlock of Lone Oak were held Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Wolfe City, with interment in Ladonia. Tadlock had worked in the construction business. He is survived by his father, five children and one sister.
Special Welding Program to Train Welders to Work in the Trailer Industry at Paris Junior College
WELDING
Maverick Maxey, left, and Billy Hill enroll in the welding program at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center. This program will train welders to work in the trailer industry. Enrollment is open now.
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.
Sulphur Springs ISD Receives Best Rating Possible On Annual Audit
8 Personnel Changes Will Impact 5 District Campuses
Sulphur Springs ISD received the top rating on the annual independent auditor. Trustees during the regular school board meeting Jan. 9, 2023, also approved eight personnel changes, announced candidate filing dates for two seats on the school board and heard a brief update on the SSISD 2021-2022 Texas Performance Reporting System report.
Annual Audit
Taylor and Company, PC
Robert Lake with Rutherford, Taylor and Company, PC., presented the annual financial and compliance report accountants conducted on 2021-2022 school district finances.
Lake said while there are a few new things in the report, overall, they did not have any significant impact on the outcome of the audit.. More importantly, Lake reported, Sulphur Springs ISD received an “unmodified opinion, the best you can receive.”
The business’ audit of internal controls and compliance found they had not changed; they remain unmodified. In fact, Lake noted, “across all facets of the audit, everything looks great.”
Lake commended the district for its 98.7% tax collection rate, which increases to more than 100% when delinquent collections and fees are added. SSISD is one of only a few school districts that still collect their own taxes, which officials stated, is why the tax collection rate is so high.
The district finished out the 2021-2022 school year which concluded Aug. 31, 2022, about $1 million under budget for the year, Lake pointed out from the annual audit report.
Personnel Items
The eight personnel changes approved by Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees following an executive session Monday night will impact five district campuses.
Chasity Roy’s resignation as a Title 1 aide at Sulphur Springs Middle School was accepted as was that of Sulphur Springs Elementary math aide Melina Rivera.
Two SSISD employees were approved to swap jobs. Both receptionist Jerika Hankins and at-risk aide Sandra Forshee will remain on the Sulphur Springs Middle School campus. However, Hankins was approved to become the new Middle School receptionist and Forshee will become an at-risk aide.
Five people were approved to join the SSISD staff. Alicia Henderson will become a Title 1 aide at Bowie Primary. At Rowena Johnson Primary, Lori Nix assumes the role of third grade English language arts/reading teacher while Hannah-Kay Brazel becomes a behavior aide. Finally, rounding out the list of new staff approved by the trustees Monday night as the new career and technology education business teacher at Sulphur Springs High School was Nickie Smith.
Trustees Election
Those interested in serving on the Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees may begin filing candidacy Wednesday morning, Jan. 18, with filing continuing from weekdays through Feb. 19. Filing will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, through Feb. 19, 2023,
The election is slated to be held Saturday, May 6, 2023. All places on Sulphur Springs school board are at-large, so the two candidates receiving the most votes at the conclusion of the election on May 6 will be elected to the school board.
Robert Cody and Robbin Vaughn, who have continued to be reelected to the board since 2014, are currently serving in the two seats up for election in May. Neither trustee indicated whether or not they plan to seek another term on the school board.
Applications for a place on the ballot may be downloaded from the SSISD website, www.ssisd.net. From the About SSISD menu on the main page of the website, select SSISD Board of Trustees, then select the School Board Election Information. An Application for a Place on the Ballot and Form CTA (Campaign Treasurer Appointment). Both must be completed and filed in the Tax Office of the SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally Street.
Candidate applications may also be obtained in the SSISD Tax Office. All applications filed are public records and open to inspection upon request.
To be eligible for candidacy in a school board election, the individual must be 18 years of age or older; a US citizen; have lived in the state for 12 months, and in the district for 6 months on the date of the regular filing deadline, or the election date if a write-in candidate; and be registered to vote in the trustees election.
Trustee candidates may not have been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote; not have been finally convicted of a felony from which the person has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.
School board election qualifications and eligibility information may be found in SSISD Board Policy BBA(LEGAL). A Candidate’s Guide to Primary and General Elections may be accessed by clicking here.
For additional SSISD Board Elections information, call SSISD Tax Assessor/CollectorSandra Gibby at 903-885-2153, extension 1111.
Other Items
Superintendent Michael Lamb gave a brief report on the 2021-2022 Texas Performance Reporting System. Trustees received 6 pages, which are a quick snapshot with district STAAR scores broken down by grade level, test and social economic and other student subsets so the board members can begin looking over the data.
Lamb noted the TPRS is based on data that is released in December, which encapsulates data the district received and presents in August. A full report is slated to be reviewed at the Feb. 13, 2023, SSISD Board of Trustees meeting by administrators. The full TPRS report is available online on the Texas Education Agency website.
One notable change in reporting is that whereas in the past school scores were based on pass or fail. Now, however, scores reflect “at or approaches,” “at or meets” and “masters” grade level on tests.
Most students’ score across the state reflected the impact of lost lessons due to COVID-19 shutdowns in 2021 test scores. That did not seem, in some instances, to catch up to SSISD students until the 2021-2022 school year in some areas. In other areas, the district scored higher than state averages. While some scores are lower at the lower testing grade levels, students appear to have caught up by the time they exit middle school.
Following an executive session, SSISD Board of Trustees reviewed and discussed options for facilities and future bond possibilities. The board also discussed these matters during a special board meeting last week.
Another meeting of SSISD Board of Trustees is slated to be conducted at 5:30 p.m. Monday, January 23, 2023.
Mississippi Escaped Inmate Accused of Dumping Stolen Church Van in Lake Fork Arrested, 1 Still Missing
An escaped inmate from Mississippi who is accused of dumping a church van used in the escape in Wood County’s Lake Fork has been arrested and is being held in Dallas County.
Tyler Payne, 31, was booked into Dallas County Jail early Tuesday morning and is being held on charges of aggravated robbery and failure to identify as a fugitive.
Dallas County records show that Payne is also being held on five other charges from Hinds County in Mississippi including:
- Auto burglary
- Business burglary
- Church burglary
- Motor vehicle taking
- Escape from Raymond Detention Center, original charge armed carjacking
Payne and Traverro McElroy, 36, who officials said escaped with Payne from the detention center, allegedly stole a church van in Mississippi before driving it to Texas.
The Quitman Fire Department diver team found and recovered the van from Lake Fork, according to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.
After the van’s recovery, officials in Wood County said they were working closely with the Texas Rangers and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office.
“Neither escapee has any ties to the Wood County area, however they do have ties in the Dallas/Fort Worth area,” Wood County officials said.
McElroy is described by officials as a Black man, 5’5″ tall and 120 pounds with dread style hair. He is considered armed and dangerous.
According to Wood County, McElroy had been incarcerated on a murder charge before his escape.
Should you have any information regarding the suspects please contact the authorities immediately.
Fisher-Price® Rock ‘n Play Sleeper Recall
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of all Fisher-Price® Rock ‘n Play Sleepers.
Infant fatalities have occurred in Rock ‘n Play Sleepers, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.
On April 12, 2019, at the time the original recall was announced, over 30 fatalities were reported to have occurred in the Rock ‘n Play Sleepers after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances. Since the recall, approximately 70 additional fatalities have been reported, which includes at least 8 fatalities that were reported to have occurred after the initial recall announcement.
Fisher-Price notes that in some of the reports, it has been unable to confirm the circumstances of the incidents or that the product was a Rock ‘n Play Sleeper.
If you own a Rock ‘n Play Sleeper, discontinue use of the item immediately.
For more information on this recall click Here
For more information on how to obtain a refund for your purchase click Fisher Price Refund
SH 19 North Traffic Stop Nets Cocaine, Drug Paraphernalia, 1 Controlled Substance Arrest
Marijuana, THC Vape Pen Found During I-30 Traffic Stop
A State Highway 19 north traffic stop netted cocaine, drug paraphernalia and one felony controlled substance arrest Sunday night. Marijuana and a THC vape pen were found during an Interstate 30 traffic stop last week.
SH 19 North Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Isaac Foley reported stopping a Toyota Camry with a defective head light and a defective license plate light at 7:27 p.m. Jan. 8, 2023, on SH 19 north at County Road 4778. As he spoke with the two men in the car, Foley alleged he could smell a marijuana odor emitting from inside the Camry. Foley had both both men step out so he could conduct a probable cause search in the car; a clear container with a baggy containing a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine was found in a backpack in the backseat and other drug paraphernalia found elsewhere in the car, Foley alleged in arrest reports.
After detaining and reading both men their rights, the passenger claimed the backpack and contents. The driver and car were released, but passenger David Valenzuela was placed under arrest at 8:10 p.m. and transported to Hopkins County jail. The substance field tested positive for cocaine and weighed 0.606 gram including packaging. The 29-year-old Bay City, Texas man was booked into Hopkins County jail at 9:21 p.m. Jan. 8, 2023, on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Valenzuela was released from Hopkins County jail on bond Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, on the felony controlled substance charge, according to jail records.
I-30 Traffic Stop
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper G. Rodriguez reported stopping the driver of a GMC Sierra at 10:13 a.m. Jan. 3, 2023, near mile marker 135 on I-30 east for speeding and failure to signal a lane change. Ultimately, the highway patrol trooper reported, Kevin Edward Rowe was found following a canine alert to be in possession of a green, leafy substance which the trooper believed based on his training and experience patrolling to be marijuana and a vape pen containing a brown substance suspected to be THC.
The 43-year-old from Sykesville, Maryland (a small town in Carroll County, Maryland, about 20 miles west of Baltimore and 40 miles north of Washington D.C.) was transported to the county jail, where the suspected marijuana weighed 0.754 ounces. Rowe was booked in at 11:39 a.m. on possession of less than 1 gram of Penalty Group 1 2 controlled substance and possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana charges. He spent the night in jail and was released the next day, according to arrest reports.
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.
SSHS Wildcat Band Member Levi Caton Selected As All-State Musician On Trumpet
Levi Caton, a member of the Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat Band, will perform with the Texas All-State Symphonic Band on trumpet in San Antonio, Saturday, February 11, 2023, at the Henry B. González Convention Center, as part of the 2023 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention.
Levi is the 9th student in school history to be named to the All-State Band. The first All-State band member from Sulphur Springs was Kelley Fletcher, who also performed on a trumpet, in 1980.
“We are so proud of Levi! This is the most impressive accomplishment any band student can achieve,” said Spencer Emmert, SSHS head director. “The All-State experience for me in 1998 was one of the top memories I have from high school. We look forward to seeing and hearing Levi at All-State, with the best musicians in all of Texas.”
Levi will sit in the same section that SSMS Head Director Brittany Robinett sat in for three of her four eligible years.
“Trumpet players are special, and I am so excited for Levi to get this opportunity. He will fit right in in San Antonio with the other fine musicians,” Robinett said.
Levi Caton was chosen for this prestigious honor through a competitive process held this year across the state at District, Region, and Area levels. Levi is a junior at Sulphur Springs High School and plays trumpet under the direction of Spencer Emmert, who is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, a 14,000-plus member organization headquartered in Austin. This is Levi’s first time to perform as a member of a TMEA All-State organization. Levi is the child of Kevin Caton and Ailsha Caton.
High school students selected to perform in the All-State concerts have competed through auditions to qualify at the state level. All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. only 1,875 students are selected through a process that began with over 70,000 students from around the state vying for this honor to perform in one of 18 ensembles.
Texas Music Educators Association sponsors the Texas All-State competition. This competitive process begins throughout the state in auditions hosted by 33 TMEA Regions. Individual musicians perform selected music for a panel of judges who rank each instrument or voice part. From this ranking, a select group of musicians advances from their Region to compete against musicians from other areas in eight TMEA Area competitions. The highest-ranking musicians judged at the TMEA Area competitions qualify to perform in a TMEA All-State music group. Only the top 2.6% of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians.
These All-State students participate in four days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors during the TMEA Clinic/Convention. Their performances for thousands of attendees bring this extraordinary event to a close. For the All-State concert and conductor information, go to the Performances section of www.tmea.org/convention.
Overall, more than 30,000 people from Texas and around the world are expected to attend over 290 workshops, 100 performances, and visit over 1,200 exhibit booths at the nation’s largest music educators convention.
Congratulations to Levi Caton for making the Texas All-State Symphonic Band on trumpet.
