Pittsburg Siblings, 1 Other Jailed Following Theft Complaint
Three Pittsburg residents, a pair of siblings and another man, were jailed on controlled substance charges following a theft complaint at Walmart, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police were dispatched at 3:23 p.m. Dec. 7, 2022, to what was reported as a theft in progress at Wal-Mart. Officer Sean Hoffman was near the area and responded. He arrived in time to see a man, who matched the description given for the theft suspect, running from the store to a white Mitsubishi Endeavor. Store personnel reported the man walked past all points of sale with two TVs he had not paid for. The man jumped into the SUV, which quickly exited the store parking lot, turning east onto Posey Lane. The officer also exited the parking lot and initiated a traffic stop.
Hoffman reported seeing “heavy movement inside of hte vehicle as it was coming to a stop.” As the officer walked toward the SUV, he ordered the theft suspect out of it. He got out of the rear passenger’s seat and was detained, Hoffman noted in arrest reports.
A records check using the driver’s ID information showed Thomas James Clower to have an outstanding parole warrant for his arrest, and was placed into handcuffs. The 58-year-old Pittsburg man’s sister was a passenger in the Endeavor. Hoffman asked her to exit the SUV as well, and she did.
While the officer was investigating, the woman threw a glass pipe of hte type commonly used to smoke methamphetamine and other narcotics; it landed in front of a vehicle, partially destroying it. The sister then was detained. After reading their rights to all three involved, the woman claimed her brother handed her two glass pipes, which she concealed in her bra. She removed a glass pipe used to smoke meth, two baggies containing meth residue, a plastic straw, and a glass container with a crystal-like substance Hoffman believed to be meth, Hoffman alleged in arrest reports.
He was granted permission by Clower to search the SUV for possible contraband. In a headphone case on the front passenger’s seat, Hoffman reported finding a large amount of crystal-like substance he believed was meth as well as numerous baggies of the kind used for illegal distribution of narcotics. When asked, all three denied any claim to the contraband, resulting in all three being taken into custody on a controlled substance charge.
The theft suspect, 27-year-old Hector Leonardo Hernandez; 58-year-old Clower; and 37-year-old Dana Lynn Lison were booked into the county jail at 6:57 p.m. Dec. 7, 2022, on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams with intent to distribute
While Hernandez was also charged with a heft of property valued at $100 or more but less than $750, both Clower and Lison were also booked in on one warrant each for a parole violation, according to arrest reports. All three remained in the county jail Thursday morning on the second-degree felony according to jail and sheriff’s reports.
USFDA Authorizes Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines For Children Down To 6 Months of Age
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the updated (bivalent) Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to include use in children down to 6 months of age.
“More children now have the opportunity to update their protection against COVID-19 with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, and we encourage parents and caregivers of those eligible to consider doing so – especially as we head into the holidays and winter months where more time will be spent indoors,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “As this virus has changed, and immunity from previous COVID-19 vaccination wanes, the more people who keep up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, the more benefit there will be for individuals, families and public health by helping prevent severe illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.”
What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know
Children 6 months through 5 years of age who received the original (monovalent) Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine are now eligible to receive a single booster of the updated (bivalent) Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine two months after completing a primary series with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
Children 6 months through 4 years of age who have not yet begun their three-dose primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or have not yet received the third dose of their primary series will now receive the updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as the third dose in their primary series following two doses of the original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
Children 6 months through 4 years of age who have already completed their three-dose primary series with the original (monovalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine will not be eligible for a booster dose of an updated bivalent vaccine at this time. Children in this age group who already completed their primary series would still be expected to have protection against the most serious outcomes from the currently circulating omicron variant. The data to support giving an updated bivalent booster dose for these children are expected in January. The agency is committed to evaluating those data as quickly as possible.
The Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent COVID-19 vaccines include an mRNA component corresponding to the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an mRNA component corresponding to the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.
Individuals who receive the updated (bivalent) vaccines may experience similar side effects reported by individuals who received previous doses of the original (monovalent) mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
The fact sheets for both bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for recipients and caregivers and for healthcare providers include information about the potential side effects, as well as the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis.
“Vaccines remain the best defense against the most devastating consequences of disease caused by the currently circulating omicron variant, such as hospitalization and death. Based on available data, the updated, bivalent vaccines are expected to provide increased protection against COVID-19,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “Parents and caregivers can be assured that the FDA has taken a great deal of care in our review, and we encourage parents of children of any age who are eligible for primary vaccination or a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to consider seeking vaccination now as it can potentially help protect them from COVID-19 during a time when cases are increasing.”
Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent
The monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized as a two-dose primary series in individuals six months of age and older and as a third primary series dose for individuals 6 months of age and older who have been determined to have certain kinds of immunocompromise. With today’s authorization, the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is now authorized for administration in individuals 6 months through 5 years of age as a single booster dose at least 2 months after completion of primary vaccination with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is also authorized for use in individuals 6 years and older as a single booster dose at least two months after completion of either primary vaccination with any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine, or receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
For the authorization of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for children 6 months through 5 years of age, the FDA relied on immune response data that it had previously evaluated from a clinical study in adults of a booster dose of Moderna’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained a component corresponding to the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and a component corresponding to the omicron lineage BA.1.
In addition, the FDA conducted an analysis of data from a clinical study that compared the immune response among 56 study participants 17 months through 5 years of age who received a single booster dose of monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine at least six months after completion of a two-dose primary series of the vaccine to the immune response among approximately 300 study participants 18 through 25 years of age who had received a two-dose primary series of monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine in a previous study which determined the vaccine to be effective in preventing COVID-19. The immune response to the booster dose of monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine in the 17 months through 5 years age group was comparable to the immune response to the two-dose primary series in the adult participants.
The safety of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for children 6 months through 5 years of age is supported by safety data from a clinical study which evaluated a booster dose of Moderna’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1), safety data from clinical trials which evaluated primary and booster vaccination with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, and postmarketing safety data with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent.
In one clinical study, the safety of a single booster dose of monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine was evaluated in 145 clinical study participants 6 months through 5 years of age who received a booster dose of monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine at least six months after completion of the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine two-dose primary series. The most commonly reported side effects after a booster dose of the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine across this age group included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, swelling/tenderness of the lymph nodes of the injected arm or thigh, and fever. In clinical study participants 17 months through 36 months of age, other commonly reported side effects included irritability/crying, sleepiness, and loss of appetite. In clinical trial participants 37 months through 5 years of age, other commonly reported side effects included fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, and nausea/vomiting.
The data accrued with the investigational Moderna bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) and with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine are relevant to the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent because these vaccines are manufactured using the same process.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent
With today’s authorization, children 6 months through 4 years of age who have not yet received the third dose of the three-dose primary series with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine will now receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent as the third dose of the primary series. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent is also authorized for administration in individuals 5 years of age and older as a single booster dose at least two months after completion of either primary vaccination with any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine, or receipt of the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
With today’s action, the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is no longer authorized for use as the third dose of the three-dose primary series in children 6 months through 4 years of age. The monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine remains authorized for administration as the first two doses of the three-dose primary series in individuals 6 months through 4 years of age, as a two-dose primary series for individuals 5 years of age and older, and as a third primary series dose for individuals 5 years of age and older who have been determined to have certain kinds of immunocompromise.
The authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for administration as the third dose of a three-dose primary series following two doses of the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in children 6 months through 4 years of age is supported by the FDA’s previous analyses of the effectiveness of primary vaccination with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in individuals 16 years of age and older and individuals 6 months through 4 years of age, and previous analyses of immune response data in adults greater than 55 years of age who had received a two-dose primary series and one booster dose with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and a second booster dose with the investigational Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1).
The safety of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for administration as the third dose of a three-dose primary series following two doses of the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in children 6 months through 4 years of age is based on safety data from a clinical study which evaluated a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) in individuals greater than 55 years of age, safety data from clinical trials which evaluated primary vaccination in individuals 6 months of age and older with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, safety data from clinical trials which evaluated booster vaccination in individuals 5 years of age and older with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and postmarketing safety data with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent.
The data accrued with the investigational Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) and with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine are relevant to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 Vaccine, Bivalent because these vaccines are manufactured using the same process.
The amendments to the EUAs were issued to Moderna TX Inc. and Pfizer Inc.
Related Information
42 SSHS Students Inducted Into Geral Kennedy Chapter Of National Technical Honor Society
The Geral Kennedy Chapter of the National Technical Honor Society inducted 42 new members during a special ceremony conducted Monday evening, Dec. 5, 2022, in Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria.
After Chapter President Kamilah Martinez welcomed everyone to the induction program, Vice President Isabelle Thesing lead the pledges to the US and Texas flags. Chapter Secretary Olivia Worth explained the history of NTHS, while Treasurer Natalie Negrete explained the purpose.
The SSHS NTHS is named in honor of Geral Kennedy, the first vocational director at SSHS during the 1966-1967 school year, and was responsible for getting the machine shop, vocational office education, marketing and distributive education, industrial cooperative training and vocational education for the handicapped. He retired in 1985 after 37 years in education, 19 with SSISD and 18 in Lamar County.
NTHS honors student achievement and leadership, promotes educational excellence, award scholarships, and enhances career opportunities members. The motto is “Excellence in America’s Workforce Begins with Excellence in Workforce Education.”
SSHS Director of College and Career Readiness/CTE Jenny Arledge explained the minimum criteria each student must meet in order to apply for membership in NTHS. The applicant must be classified as a junior or senior and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5. The candidate must also have been enrolled and/or completed a minimum of three Career & Technical Education courses, and be a current member of a Career & Technical Student Organization.
Martinez, Thesing, Worth and Negrete lit candles to symbolize the eight attributes of NTHS: knowledge, skill, honesty, service, responsibility, scholarship, citizenship and leadership.
SSHS students under consideration as candidates for NTHS regularly exhibit the characteristics which have been observed by his/her instructor(s):
- a desire to pursue a career in his/her course of study,
- scholastic achievement,
- honesty,
- dependability,
- responsibility,
- high quality task performance and pride in work performed,
- cooperation and ability to work well with others,
- interest in learning,
- initiative,
- leadership, and
- citizenship
Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher and NTHS advisor Debbie Stribling then called the name of each new member, who received a certificate of membership. Each then was asked to join Martinez in reciting the pledge of membership. New member inducted Dec. 5, 2022, include:
- Josleline Arenas
- Jayden Arledge
- Madelynn Bailey
- Peyton Ball
- Kody Barclay
- Coen Bell
- Makieya Boren
- Chloe Cameron
- Rylie Carroll
- Levi Caton
- Betzy Chacon
- Austin Chaney
- Celeste Chavarria
- Asia Chen
- Kylie Clarke
- Juan Garcia
- Maria Garning
- Lily Glenn
- Jaci Haire
- Hector Hernandez
- Payton Hooks
- Lorelai Lilley
- Ryan Mitchell
- Kathryn Monk
- Jacqueline Monroy
- Ivan Mora
- Holden Moss
- Katlyn Noe
- Emerson Penny
- Tomi Pirtle
- Annaston Price
- Emmi Price
- Osvaldo Rodriguez
- Brook Seagraves
- Catherine Starzyk
- Alexis Tanton
- Alan Tellez
- Daphne Valles
- Anna Williams
- Macey Williams
- Peyton Willis
- Jolee Wilson
Also recognized were 44 students who are 2-year members of the Geral Kennedy Chapter of National Technical Honor Society. They include:
- Jayla Abron
- Mali Maeker
- Carlos Alba
- Kamilah Martinez
- Lithzy Alvarez
- Trentin McKinney
- Jack Bain
- Mykylie Meador
- Brylee Brock
- Matthew Mitchell
- Mattie Bridges
- Natalie Negrete
- Luke Caton
- Lausen Ost
- Matthew Clarke
- Ella Ray
- Alexander Cooper
- Alfredo Renteria
- Catherine De La Rosa
- Jose Manuel Rodriguez
- Daniel Elam
- Mattye Schmidt
- Andres Flores
- Brooklynn Shackelford
- Jonah Foster
- Brooklynn Shelton
- Kinley Friddle
- Robert Lynn Smith III Smith
- Colbie Glenn
- Emily Soto
- Martha Gonzalez
- Rebekah Stanley
- Makayla Grinnan
- Isabelle Thesing
- Cole Haney
- Briley Vice
- Jadyn Harper
- Addisyn Wall
- Zoe Haywood
- Merrin Williams
- Laney Hurst
- Olivia Worth
- Jillian Jumper
- Khira Young
Afterward, NTHS members and those attending the induction cermeony were invited to stay, take photos and enjoy refreshments provided by the Culinary students, courtesy of Senior NHS members, while the room was being reconfigured for the National Honor Society meeting that followed.
Chamber Connection – Dec. 7: Nominations For 2022 Outstanding Individuals, Businesses Sought
By Butch Burney, President/CEO, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce, [email protected]
As 2022 comes to an end, it is time to get nominations in for those individuals and businesses that have been outstanding this year.
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 Para Professional 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.
Hopkins County Ornaments
If you’re decorating your Christmas tree and you’re looking for that special ornament, come see our local one.
For the fifth year, the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce has commissioned a Christmas ornament, and this year it celebrates Heritage Park!
The shipment is expected on Wednesday and there is a limited supply (70) and the cost is $40. If you would like to purchase one, drop by our office at 110 Main St. while supplies last!
Eclipse 2024
It’s still 16 months away, but the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will be here before we know it, and there is still a lot of planning to do.
Literally tens of thousands of people are expected to make Hopkins County their destination for the eclipse because Sulphur Springs sits directly on the centerline.
Plans have begun, but there is still a lot to do. Those who want to be a part of the process are invited to attend a planning meeting at noon on Friday, Dec. 16, at Clarion Pointe. You can RSVP [email protected] for more information.
Directories
Work has started 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, will be contacting you in the next few weeks 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.
Christmas Activities
- Christmas in Heritage Park will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. Admission is $3; children under 7 are free. You can visit with Santa, see light displays and live nativity, roast marshmallows and enjoy free hot cocoa and old fashioned cider. You can also start your Christmas shopping in the country store!
- RPM Staffing Professionals will host its 2nd Annual Stockings for Seniors, with donations directly benefitting Rock Creek Health and Rehabilitation. Donations items include but are not limited to Chapstick, books, socks, denture cleaner, hand lotion, etc. Contact RPM at 903-439-1022 or drop off donations at 401 Church St., Suite B.
- First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs will present Christmas at First, a celebration of the sights, sounds and the true meaning of Christmas, at 6 p.m. each day Dec. 10 and 11. Reserve your free tickets at SSFBC.org.
- Doerksen Hospice is hosting a sock drive benefitting our area oncology clinics, dialysis centers, and nursing homes. They will accepting the socks through the month of December. Drop off locations will be their office at 1304 Church St. and the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizen Center on MLK.
It’s That Time Of Year, Again … When Asian Lady Beetles Appear Indoors
Don’t Panic: They Are Not Toxic To Humans And Pets, And Can Even Help Reduce Aphid Populations
It is that time of year when Asian Lady Beetles make an appearance indoors, and usually in large numbers. While they can be a major nuisance, they shouldn’t cause panic and some simple exclusion practices can help prevent this issue in the future.
Asian Lady Beetles are not native to Texas – they were introduced from Asia to the United States in 1960s and 1990s as a USDA project to help reduce agricultural pests in several Southern and Eastern States from Louisiana to Connecticut. They are now found throughout the United States, either from natural spread or from further introductions into the United States from Japan on freighters.
Asian Lady Beetles are a true lady beetle, better known as a ladybug. They are wonderful biological control agents of pests such as aphids in nature and during warmer months, help control those pests in our landscape. During colder, winter months, they have a trait that makes them different from other ladybugs – their propensity to find harborage in protected spaces, which often is our warm home. One way to tell the difference between Asian Lady Beetles and other species is that these guys have a marking behind their head that looks like an M.
Asian Lady Beetles tend to be attracted to light or lit surfaces and will congregate in mass numbers on sunny, Southwest sides of buildings. Especially those structures that are lighter in coloration, but really any surface will do as long as it is warmed by the afternoon sun. They will soon find cracks and crevices to squeeze through and often times get into eaves of homes, attics, or directly indoors.
When we have these up and down temperatures in winter, typical of Texas, they will become active on the warmer days and are noticeable inside the home, clustering and flying around windows, door frames or lights.
The good news is that Asian Lady Beetles are not harmful to humans or pets. Even when consumed, they are not known to be toxic, although I imagine if a dog ate too many, it would get an upset stomach. But what they will do is leave a yellow stain on walls and surfaces, emit an musty odor, and just be a plain nuisance. You may love ladybugs outside in your garden, but who wants them indoors?
How do you get rid of them? Prevention is key, but it’s often times thought of too late. Seal up around cracks and crevices along windows and eaves, use screens on vents and large holes, replace weather stripping that is worn around door frames. For those already inside, vacuum them up! Throw them back outside and let them do their thing in nature.
Pesticide treatments are not always effective. It’s best not to focus on the indoors, but outside where they are entering. Where they are applied is key – put the pesticide where the ladybugs are entering . . . but if you know where that is, seal it up! The entry points are usually vents, eaves, soffits, windows and doors. Apply synthetic pyrethroids, such as bifenthrin, lambda cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, or cyfluthrin. But if the ladybugs are already indoors, it’s too late to spray. In that case, pull out the vacuum.
OR – consider your house lucky! Ladybugs are considered a sign of luck after all!
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-8853443 or email me at [email protected].
City Approves 35 MPH Speed Limit For The Section Of Mockingbird Lane South Of I-30
In the future, you’ should be able to legally drive a little bit faster along Mockingbird Lane, south of Interstate 30. Sulphur Springs City Council on Dec. 6, 2022, approved Ordinance No. 2819, which sets a prima facie speed limit of 35 miles per hour along Mockingbird Lane.
The change followed a request by a City Councilman to look into the speed limit on Mockingbird Lane from East Shannon Road to Posey Lane, as traffic through the area sometimes backs up, creating traffic congestion. A speeding profile was developed by placing a machine that gauges speed of motorists as each vehicle passed it on Mockingbird Lane. Information was also pulled from police records regarding traffic crashes at that location.
Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson presented the data collected during the speed survey of Mockingbird Lane to the City Council during their regular meeting on Nov. 1, 2022.
Using Texas Department of Transportation guides, the study showed the average vehicle was traveling at 33 to 34 mile per hour on that section of Mockingbird Lane (from East Shannon Road to Posey Lane. Of the more than 61,000 vehicles that passed the speed detecting trailer, 85% were rolling at speeds just over the current 30 mph speed limit for Mockingbird Lane, but under 35 mph. Based on the occupation along that stretch of roadway — which is heavily populated, and has a primary school, restaurants and a shopping center — city officials said even without a posted limit, the average person would reasonably slow down to that speed to accommodate the traffic and pedestrians in the area.
The school zone would not be impacted by the proposed ordinance change, as the school speed limit would still be enforced just as it currently is during peak school hours. Councilman Gary Spraggins on Nov. 1 proposed approving Ordinance No. 2819 amending Chapter 25 of the traffic ordinances by adding to section 25-35 a prima facie speed limit of 35 mph on Mockingbird Lane from the south service road to SH 11 east. Councilman Harold Nash seconded the motion, which was approved on first reading at hte Nov. 1 meeting.
The addition states:
Beginning at the north end of Mockingbird Lane at the intersection of East Shannon (Frontage Road) to the south end of Mockingbird Lane at the intersection of Posey Lane (Highway 11), a speed limit of 35 miles per hour; except that a school speed limit of 20 miles per hour will be effective on school days only at the school crossing zone that is approximately 0.08 to 0.22 miles south on Mockingbird Lane from East Shannon.
On Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, Place 5 Councilman Spraggins again made a motion, which Place 2 Councilman Nash seconded, to approve on second and final reading Ordinance No. 2819, changing the prima facie speed limit on Mockingbird Lane from 30 to 35.
A Year in Review – Master Wellness Volunteers
By Johanna Hicks, Texas AgriLife FCH Extension Agent, Hopkins County, [email protected]
This is the fourth in a series of program impacts conducted by the Family & Community Health Extension agent.
Relevance
Volunteers are the backbone of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Hopkins County has a strong group of 14 Master Wellness Volunteers who have received 40 hours of training in the areas of health and wellness, nutrition, working with diverse audiences, identifying reliable internet sources, food safety, and other topics. Numerous programs and educational opportunities are available through AgriLife Extension. However, there is a limit to the amount of programming the Extension Family and Community Health agent can implement. The Master Wellness Volunteers serve as advocates and substantially increase the scope and impact of the Family and Community Health program.
Response
Three new volunteers joined the elite rank of Master Wellness Volunteers in 2022. Eight issues of “Volunteer Connection” newsletter were delivered to volunteers recognizing their involvement, announcing upcoming volunteer opportunities, and providing a professional development segment. Partnerships and collaborators with the Master Wellness Volunteers included Texas A&M AgriLife specialist Andy Crocker, Retired Teachers’ Association, Senior Citizen’s Center, and Cumby and Sulphur Springs ISD’s. Volunteers are expected to earn 10 hours of professions development which includes assignments for research, reading reputable articles, and visiting reputable websites.
Results
In 2022, Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers contributed 1,413.5 hours (as of December 5, with more hours to be added during December). Their efforts reached 7,365 individuals. They served as presenters in the following events:
- Summer Youth Day Camp sessions
- Head Start Walk & Talk nutrition session
- Annual Christmas Joys Holiday program
- Leadership Advisory Board meeting report on the State of Health for Hopkins County
- Retired Teachers program
- Walk Across Texas (served as team captain)
- Walk Through Texas History (served as team captain)
Planning meetings and/or programs in which Master Wellness Volunteers attended or assisted were: Hopkins County Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest; Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes series; Cooking Well with Diabetes series; Ag-in-the-Classroom; 4-H Foods Project meetings; 4-H Sewing workshops; food collections; Meal-A-Day and Meals on Wheels; Heritage Park events; marketing events; and Dress a Girl Around the World. Volunteers also assisted in handling the front Extension office when short-staffed.
Summary
Hopkins County Master Wellness Volunteers have formed a strong friendship bond that expands beyond their volunteer efforts. They are the backbone to effective Extension programming, extending outreach to clientele.
Closing Thought
Faith is the place between where I am and the place God is taking me. – Author Unknown
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent at the Hopkins County Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B West Houston, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
Como Man Arrested On Parole Warrant
A Como man was arrested Monday evening on a parole warrant, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Isaac Foley reported seeing the 41-year-old walking on the wrong side of State Highway 11 east at Taylor Street in Como. Foley contacted the man, identified as James Edward Miller Jr.
A records check using his identifying information showed a warrant for Miller’s arrest. Foley took the Como man into custody at 8:38 p.m. and transported him to Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center. Miller was booked into Hopkins County jail at 9:23 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, 2022 on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice warrant for violation of parole. The offense, Foley noted on Miller’s arrest report, is alleged to have occurred at 8 a.m. Dec. 2, 2022, in Texas.
He continued to be held without bond for the Austin parole authorities in Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, 2022, according to sheriff’s and 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.
City Council To Consider Bids, Award Contract For Construction Of New Senior Citizens Center
After a lengthy delay of more than a year, Sulphur Springs City Council is expected during Tuesday night’s regular December meeting to consider bids and at long last award a contract for construction of a new Senior Citizens Activity Center on Oak Avenue.
The City Council is also slated to consider on final approval an ordinance changing the speed limit on Mockingbird Lane; purchasing communications equipment, 2 airport ground leases, extending the sanitation collection contract and on first reading of a proposed amendment setting sanitation rates, as well as a Capital Improvement Plan amendment for Ramsey Street during the Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 meeting which begins at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building (City Hall).
Senior Citizens Center
City Manager Marc Maxwell last month advised the City Council that the City of Sulphur Springs would open the bid process for construction of a new Senior Citizens Center on Nov. 16, and anticipated presenting those bids and making a recommendation to the City Council at the regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022.
The pre-construction process first took longer to receive and approve a final design for the center, then stalled when costs came in significantly higher than originally budgeted in the 2019 bond election, which authorized the city to use EDC funding to pay the note annually for the project as well as improvements at Pacific Park. Waiting ultimately proved advantageous to the city. Officials were able to apply for and was notified in April Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs had approved a Community Development Block Grant-CV Community Resiliency Program Grant in the amount of $2.4 million grant to pair with the bond funds so the project can be expanded a bit to include not just the budgeted facility, but also some “wants” identified in the planning and design process.
The City then had to wait on a contract from TDHCA, which followed a number of steps before a contract could be issued. In October, Maxwell reported TDHCA had to finish their environmental clearance process, which involves 2 different comment periods. The second comment period was delayed 9 days later than anticipated, concluding Oct. 7 instead of Sept. 28. Maxwell had received and signed the contract with TDHCA by the Nov. 1, 2022, City Council meeting.
Any work performed prior to the inking of the contact for the grant would not be reimbursed or covered by the TDHCA grant. Thus, the City of Sulphur Springs opted to wait, to apply the voter approved funding and grant funding toward construction of the project.
Mockingbird Lane Speed Limit
The City Council will also be asked to consider on second reading an ordinance amending Chapter 25 of the city’s Code of Ordinances, adding section 25-35, which, if approved, would set a prima facie speed limit on Mockingbird Lane. This would only impact the section of Mockingbird Lane south of Interstate 30, from East Shannon Road (south service road) to Posey Lane (SH 11 east).
Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson at the Nov. 1, 2022, City Council meeting presented data collected during a speed survey of Mockingbird Lane, conducted after a City Council member asked him to look into the speed limit on the city street between the Interstate 30 south service road and State Highway 11 east. The councilman had indicated that traffic through that area sometimes backed up, creating traffic congestion in the area at times. A speeding profile was developed by placing a machine that gauges speed of motorists as each vehicle passed it. Information was also pulled from police records regarding traffic crashes at that location.
Using Texas Department of Transportation guides, the study showed the average vehicle was traveling at 33 to 34 mile per hour on that section of Mockingbird Lane (from East Shannon Road to Posey Lane. Of the more than 61,000 vehicles that passed the speed detecting trailer, 85% were rolling at speeds just over the current 30 mph speed limit for Mockingbird Lane, but under 35 mph. Based on the occupation along that stretch of roadway — which is heavily populated, and has a primary school, restaurants and a shopping center — city officials said even without a posted limit, the average person would reasonably slow down to that speed to accommodate the traffic and pedestrians in the area.
The school zone would not be impacted by the proposed ordinance change, as the school speed limit would still be enforced just as it currently is during peak school hours.
At the regular Nov. 1, 2022, City Council meeting, Place 5 Councilman Gary Spraggins made a motion to approve on first reading Ordinance No. 2819 setting the speed limit at 35 mph on that stretch of Mockingbird Lane, which he noted would still be safe for those in the area.
Place 2 Councilman Nash, at the Nov. 1 meeting, noted while 30 seemed slow, the speed limit on Mockingbird Lane south of I-30 should not be 45 mph either. He then seconded Spraggins’ motion to approve the ordinance amendment setting the speed limit at 35 mph. The motion received unanimous approval of the City Council.
If Ordinance No. 2819 is approved tonight (Dec. 6, 2022), Chapter 25 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Sulphur Springs would be amended, with “Section 25-35” added to read as follows for Mockingbird Lane:
Beginning at the north end of Mockingbird Lane at the intersection of East Shannon (Frontage Road) to the south end of Mockingbird Lane at the intersection of Posey Lane (Highway 11), a speed limit of 35 miles per hour; except that a school speed limit of 20 miles per hour will be effective on school days only at the school crossing zone that is approximately 0.08 to 0.22 miles south on Mockingbird Lane from East Shannon.
Sanitation Rates
Also slated to be presented are two items dealing with trash pick up. The City Council will be asked to consider on first reading and City Council consideration is Ordinance No. 2815 which, if approved on second reading at a future meeting, would amend the sanitation rate ordinance, setting new sanitation rates for city residents and businesses. Proposed on the agenda is a seven-year extension to the contract with Sanitation Solutions, one of two companies providing sanitation collection services (trash pickup and removal) in Sulphur Springs.
| Sanitation Rate Increases | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Average Increase | Total Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPI-W (Consumer Price Index-Wages for hourly staff) | 2.05% | 2.69% | 1.56% | 1.27% | 6.85% | 2.89% | 14.45% |
| City Rate Increases | 2.25% | 2.0% | 1.5% | 0% | 5.0% | 2.15% | 10.75% |
The city finance department during the budget process this summer recommended increasing the sanitation rates by 9.8% to reflect contract provisions. Over the past five years of annual contract increases are based on the consumer price index-for urban wage earners and clerical workers (wages for hourly staff — CPI-W) in October, but the city’s rates including any increases are decided on in September. That’s 3.7% more in contract increases than the city has passed on to users, according to city staff.
The sanitation revenue was less than projected over the last year, finance officials reported. Both sanitation companies serving Sulphur Springs typically submit rates at the end of October, which is after the annual budget is adopted and, typically, utility rates for city residents as well.
Place 1 City Councilman Jay Julian made a motion at the regular Sept. 6 council meeting to postpone any action of a sanitation ordinance until there were more accurate numbers, such as Republic and Sanitation Solutions submitting their annual request for increases to sanitation services, as allowed by the contracts the city has with each. Councilman Spraggins seconded the motion, and the vote was unanimous by the council on Sept. 6, 2022..
City staff are scheduled to present proposed sanitation rates for first reading and consideration, as well as a proposed 7-year contract extension for sanitation collection services from Sanitation Solutions at tonight’s City Council meeting.
Other Agenda Items
The City Council will also will be asked to consider approving:
- a third amendment to the 2019-2023 Capital Improvements Plan for Ramsey Street work
- assignment of one existing and one new ground lease agreements a the airport,
- using Regional FEMA Firefighter Assistance Grant funding to purchase communications equipment, and
- the consent agenda which in addition to the minutes from the most recent City Council and town boards and committee meetings, also includes a request for a 380 agreement for 302 Magnolia Street
The agenda shows a presentation is scheduled to be given for the street maintenance fee.
The city manager is slated to give a monthly report of capital improvements, municipal operations, accidents and claim for the month. A review of expenditures and revenues may also be given by the assistant city manager/finance director.
Prior to the 7 p.m. meeting, the City Council is scheduled to hold a 30 minute executive session to consult with an attorney and deliberate regarding economic development for Ashoka Steel. Any action from that session would then be taken after the City Council resumes meeting during the regular session beginning at 7 p.m.
SSHS Auto Tech Students Partner With Jay Hodge In Readiness For North Texas Automobile Dealers Contest
Buxton Wins Engine Precision Measuring Station Part Of 2-Day Event
Sulphur Springs High School automotive technology students Austin Buxton and Matthew Brown participated in the 2022 North Texas Automobile Dealers (NTXAD) contest December 2-3, 2022, at Texas Motor Speedway. The SSHS automotive program partnered with Jay Hodge Chevrolet to provide training, diagnostic equipment, and temporary use of a new vehicle for the contest.
The students, instructor Michael Rhodes and Director of College & Career Readiness/CTE Director Jenny Arledge offer special thanks to Bill Owens, John Hall, and Jay Hodge Chevrolet for making this possible.
According to NTXAD, there currently is a need for 76,000 trained automotive technicians nationwide in dealerships, with many of these job openings in North Texas. Experienced, well-trained technicians will always be in demand and able to earn top dollar, however, achieving the highest level of expertise is a process.
With this in mind, the North Texas Automobile Dealers joined forces with educators, state and local government, and local dealerships to train, certify and employ students to work in the auto industry in North Texas.
The Auto Tech Competition gives high school seniors a high-profile stage to demonstrate their skills, measure of knowledge, and a race against the clock – all rolled into one. It features North Texas’ best high school automotive education students competing for top honors, scholarships, and other prizes.
Teams are comprised of two students each and are selected based on preliminary ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification tests in maintenance and light repair, steering and suspension, brakes, and electrical. The final teams are then paired with NTXAD new-car franchised dealerships to act as mentors and help train them for the competition.
The contest consisted of 2 days full of tasks designed to test their knowledge and skills in the area of automotive repair. The first day consisted of 12 “stations,” each designed to test the students in specific repair areas. The second day, the students competed in a 3-hour event to repair a new 2023 Silverado. The students had to diagnose, document, and repair the faults in accordance to the General Motors Service Information.
Over 40 schools and 120 students took part in the competition. This is the first time that SSHS has participated in this contest. While the students did not win the overall contest, Austin Buxton did win the engine precision measuring station, according to Arledge and Rhodes.
