Barkers Stepped Down From NETEX Board, Johnson & McCullough Appointed
Earlier this week, Mickey Barker and Neal Barker each resigned from their positions on Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District Board. Brad Johnson and Steve McCullough were recommended to fill those seats as Hopkins County’s representatives on the NETEX Board.
Hopkins County Commissions Court unanimously approved a resolution during the Jan. 18, 2022, court session officially appointing Johnson and McCullough to replace Mickey Barker and Neal Barker on the NETEX Board of Directors.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom offered thanks to Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker and his nephew, Neal Barker, who have both served on the (NETEX) Board of Directors for the past few years.
Newsom said the NETEX Board at one time was not making as much progress as it seems to currently be doing.
“I want to give a lot of credit to Neal Barker and to Mickey Barker for your service, because things changed when you got on the board, truly positive changes,” the county judge said. “We’re excited to have new members coming on but we want to honor you.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley noted the difficulties he faced while serving on the NETEX Board. He stepped down when Mickey Barker agreed to fill his seat on the Baord.
“I had the had the opportunity to serve on the board prior to Mickey Barker,” Bartley said. “During that time, it seemed like things were going backwards. It was a tough, futile effort to try to get anything done. I felt it was time for me to step back. When Mickey came on board, he faced some challenges, then Neal came in. I know, Brad Johnson back there was big in a lot of it too, he represented the Coop. It’s made a lot of progress and it’s good to see that because it’s going to help our economy around here in Hopkins County and surrounding counties also. I applaud you for the work you did.”
Newsom presented a plaque to each, to “thank you for your service to Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District Board. Your time and your talents made a very positive difference to the railroad and to Hopkins County.”
The commissioner’s plaque noted his service from 2018 to 2022, and Neal Barker, who has served as treasurer of the NETEX Board for a couple of years and told the board earlier this month that he did not wish to be reelected as treasurer, denoted his service from 2019 to 2022 on the NETEX Board.
Neal Barker offered thanks to the Commissioners Court for asking him to represent Hopkins County on the board.
“It meant a lot to me. In 2019, I was just at a place in my life where I had to kinda serve and I knew about this railroad from previous projects and from several years of learning about it. So, when I spoke to Commissioner Bartley and to you judge. Then, you guys kind of put your faith in me to get on there an make it better, I can’t express that. It meant a lot to me. We did make progress. The whole board did. I’m just thankful that you entrusted that to me. Thank you for letting me put 2 years in,” Neal Barker said.
Mickey Barker said he’s served about 4 years on the board. The organization bylaws call for members to step down or change every 2, so he is stepping down.
“My love is for that rural rail transportation district that we have. It’s very vital to this Northeast Texas area. I cannot explain to you how vital it is to us. So, that’s why my passion is for the rail and I believe its the same for Neal, and I’m sure the two new members will have that same passion,” Mickey Barker said.
“Oh, they do,” Neal quickly noted.
Newsom then called on Brad Johnson and Steve McCullough, who were recommended to fill the two seats vacated by Neal and Mickey Barker, to join the outgoing NETEX Board members, Mickey Barker, Neal and Shannon Barker (who was named executive director of Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation in September 2020) and their 2 children, before the court.
McCullough recently moved to Sulphur Springs with his wife, and is Neal Barker’s father-in-law. Brad Johnson is general manager for Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op
“We’re glad to have you in Sulphur Springs and really glad that you’re willing to serve on this board,” Newsom told McCullough.
Newsom noted Brad Johnson’s faithfulness in attending so many of the NETEX meetings in the past few years.
“I just want to add that these two individuals bring a lot of knowledge of the rail to the table. We didn’t just pick them out of the phone book. They have a lot of knowledge concerning the rail and rail in general so think they’d be very good assets to the board,” Commissioner Barker said of Johnson and McCullough.
Hopkins County Records – Jan. 22, 2022
Land Deed Transfers
- Heather Lynn Caldwell-Sanders to Woodmen Properties LLC; tract in the Jaun Polvedore survey
- Cephis Gregory to CK Parker Enterprises LLC; tract in the Harriett Brown survey
- Larry V. Davis, who is the same person as Laury Davis, and Sandra Ann Davis to Jorja Krause and Timothy Krause; tract in the John Bryan survey
- Ty Hawkins to Mary Anderson and Rick Anderson; tract in the Spring Creek Addition
- David Kay and Vickie Kay to Henry Jacob Teague and Krista Lorraine Teague; tract in the John Norris survey
- Linda Rae Hudnall and Lonnie R. Hudnall to Donna Fogus and Matthew Fogus; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Deanna Joan Boggs to Daniel Marty and Markos Alexander Lozano Zecevich; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Judy Irvin Darling and Justin Irvin to Crystal Tyson Collins; tract in the Samuel Belt survey
- Wood Investments Group LLC to David L. Stoddard II and Kayce J. Stoddard; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Brent Barclay and Sherri Barclay to Larry Brown and Lillie Brown; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Erwin A. Cain, Hazelnut Holdings Series LLC, Seris CR 2415, to Riversdale Properties Series LLC; tract in the James S. Coker survey
- Elmer Anders Junell Jr. Estate, also known by EA Junell Jr. Estate, Thomas Charles Sellers independent executor, to Zhengang Cheng; tract in the Shelby Tunnage survey
- Lee Warren and Myra Warren to Kathleen Martin and Robert Martin; tract in the James Lee survey
- Landon Wayne Austin, independent executor for the Susan Elizbeth Austin Estate, Wayne Austin, Perry Pillard and Stephanie Pillard to Glenna D. Bulloch Living Trust, Kaylyn Moss and Sherri Prisbrey trustees; tract in the J. Y’Barbo survey
- Madeliene G. Haygood to Lance E. Haygood and Jordan T. Smith; tract in the Agaton Caro survey
- Basilia Romero and Laura Romero to Aaron Westerfield and Sarah Westerfield; tract in the MA Bowlin survey
- Connie Payne and James Payne to Chelsey A. Brown and Marshall James Brown; tract in the Samuel Burke survey
- Alan Screws and Kim Screws to Brad Busby and Kinde Busby; tract in the Mary Ann Bowlin survey
- Reynaldo Jaimes Enciso to Ofelia Enciso Jaimes and Gilberto Hernandez Vences; tract in the James Gahagan survey
- Janeen Francis and Richard Francis to McKenzie Nichole Davison and Tyler Glenn Davison; tract in the GC Wetmore survey
- Brenda K Hobbs and Darrell A. Hobbs to Elmer Giles; tract in the Edward McLaughlin survey
- Angie Pearce and W. Dixon Pearce and Charlene Carr Young; tract in the William Jacobs survey
- Charlene Carr, known as Charlene Carr Youngblood, to Angela Leann Pearce and William Dixon Pearce; tract in the Seth Sheldon survey
- Jessie Kay Brown and Kyle Seale to Brandon Tizoc Zavala
Applications for Marriage Licenses
- Justin Lee Davis and Cassie Leann Cannon
- Jeremy Paul Cruz and Janie Lynn Perez
- Rocky Lane Vaughn and Erica Diane Moore
- Colby Tyler Anderson and Elyssa Sierra Nickerson
HCSO: Man Jailed For Deadly Conduct
A 46-year-old Sulphur Springs man was jailed for deadly conduct after he allegedly recklessly discharging a firearm toward an occupied residence, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Josh Davis and Bobby Osornio, and Sgt. Scott Davis reported responding at 11:05 p.m. Jan. 20, 2021, to what was reported as a verbal disturbance on County Road 4791. Upon arrival, they spoke with Jeremy Shane Robinson, who they believed to be intoxicated. The Sulphur Springs man admitted to discharging a firearm in the air after the altercation was over, deputies noted in arrest reports.
Deputies noted there to numerous residences around the area. During their investigation, deputies determined that Robinson had discharged the firearm, but at an angle, directly toward the residence across the county road. The residence was also determined by deputies to be occupied. Thus, Robinson was taken into custody for deadly conduct, Davis alleged in arrest reports.
Robinson remained in Hopkins County jail early Saturday morning, Jan. 22, 2022, in lieu of $10,000 bond on the third-degree felony deadly conduct 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.
Middle School Students Face Charges In Connection With Alleged Sulphur Springs ISD Bus Incident
SSISD Administration: Bus Driver, Monitor Are No Longer With District Following Jan. 8 Incident
An incident on a school bus on Jan. 8 allegedly resulted in middle school students being injured by other students, and the bus driver and monitor are no longer in the employ of Sulphur Springs ISD, according to a release from the superintendent’s office Friday afternoon, Jan. 21, 2022.
“In addition to disciplinary measures taken in accordance with the SSISD Student Code of Conduct, several SSMS students face charges of injury to a child,” the release stated.
Sulphur Springs Middle School administrator and district police were notified Jan. 11, 2022, about the incident reported to have occurred on Jan. 8, 2022. Administrators and police began an investigation of the allegations and contacted middle school staff, parents and the students said to have been involved in the Jan. 8 bus incident, according to the new release.
District officials said while “the process of managing the situation is ongoing,” disciplinary measures are being implemented in accordance with the district Code of Conduct for students determined by the investigation to have caused injury to their peers. “Supportive measures” are being provided for all students involved, the superintendent’s office reports.
“The District has also determined that the two SSISD staff members who were driving/monitoring the bus
were negligent in the performance of their duty to maintain discipline and monitor their students.
These two staff members are no longer employed by the district,” the release states.
SSISD administrators are reported to be in continued communication with the students and families involved and impacted by the “staffing implications stemming from the incident.”
The release states that SSISD “is working to ensure that the opportunity for such an incident as this one can never happen again. We are committed to providing the safest environment possible for our kids.”
Character education anti-bullying programs implemented at every grade level are cited in the news release, as part of the district’s commitment to student safety and bullying prevention. SSISD’s Anonymous Alerts program, found as a link on the district website, is an anti-bullying, safety reporting system that gives students and community members the ability to anonymously report if they are aware of any member of the school community being bullied, hurt or mistreated. This is open to anyone, community, parents and families, not just students or employees.
Work To Rehab Lee Street Slated To Begin Tuesday
After months of delays, work to improve Lee Street is scheduled to begin next week. While great news for motorists once complete, that will mean the temporary inconvenience of finding alternate routes through the area until the work is complete.
According to Sulphur Springs Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski, street paving contractor Texana Land & Asphalt will begin rehabbing Lee Street on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. The contractor will be rehabbing the street.
Two work phases are anticipated for this project. Next week, they plan to start at South Broadway Street and work towards Georgia Street, and will stabilize it. Depending upon the weather, they will then proceed toward League Street the following week, then, come back and pave it all, according to Niewiadomski
“Citizens should avoid this area as it will be closed to through traffic over the next couple of weeks,” the assistant city manager said.
Improvements for Lee Street were included in the 2021 street improvement program, which was initially expected to be completed by the end of summer. The project as of October was expected to be completed by Thanksgiving. In early November, city officials said the work by Texana was still on hold due to supply chain constraints. In December, while work on one street had begun, work planned for Lee and League Streets had yet to begin. On Jan. 7, the work had still yet to begin. Weather permitting, the work is slated to begin Tuesday on Lee Street.
Authorities Release Names Of Children Who Perished In Moore Street House Fire
Local authorities at 11:30 a.m. Friday released the names of the two children who perished in the Moore Street house fire early Thursday morning, Jan. 20, 2022.
According to Sulphur Springs Fire Chief/Marshal David James, the two little girls found deceased inside the burned More Street structure Thursday morning are 3-year-old Heaven Lee and 1-year-old Hayden Lee.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,” James said stated in a press release issued Thursday afternoon, Jan. 20.
Sulphur Springs Fire Department responded at 3:52 a.m. Jan. 20, 2022, to a structure fire on South Moore Street. The house was fully engulfed in flames when units first arrived. It was later learned that two small children were unable to escape the fire and are deceased, James reported Thursday afternoon.
The cause of the blaze has yet to be determined, and very few other details have been released by local officials. However, the investigation into the South Moore Street house fire is ongoing with the assistance of local, state and federal fire officials, according to the Jan. 21 press release.
Friday Game Day Has Both Basketball, Soccer Teams Plus Team Tennis on Deck
Friday, Jan. 21 is a busy one for Sulphur Springs sports. Five teams are on deck today and ready for action.
Team Tennis had an early start on Friday, Jan. 21 in Hallsville in the Bobcat tournament.
Contests began on this Friday game day at 8 A.M. in Hallsville.
Today’s tournament contains the first contests for Coach Tony Martinez’s program in their spring 2022 season.
They no doubt hope to get their spring season off on the right foot by getting some wins in both matches and series against formidable foes in Hallsville.
Moving over to soccer, both squads are set for day two of their respective tournaments.
Men’s soccer have a 2 P.M. start time in Terrell taking on Paris and women’s soccer are not far behind that, with a 3 P.M. kick off in Longview against Nacogdoches.
Both teams have one game Friday, Jan. 21 before finishing tournament play tomorrow.
Coach Alexi Upton’s Wildcats play Sunnyvale Saturday, Jan. 22 at 12:30 P.M. and Coach Javier Aguayo’s Lady Cats take on Kilgore on Saturday at 5 P.M.
This weekend’s tournaments mark the end of tournament play for both soccer teams.
Both soccer squads wrap up their pre-season with matches on Tuesday before district play begins next Friday, Jan. 28.
Last but certainly not least both basketball squads take on Texas High.
Men’s basketball hosts the Tigers at the SSHS Main Gym on Friday, Jan. 21 and Lady Cats basketball are in Texarkana taking on the Lady Tigers.
Wildcats basketball lost a slugfest Tuesday, Jan. 17 in Mount Pleasant 53-51. They look to stay near the top of District 15-5A if they can get the win versus a tough Texas High squad.
That game tips off at the SSHS Main Gym at 7 P.M. and will be broadcasted on to KSST 1230 AM. If given permission we will also livestream that game on to KSST Radio’s Youtube channel.
Like men’s basketball, Sulphur Springs fell to Mount Pleasant on Tuesday, 69-18 to hurt their playoff chances. If Coach Erica Delley’s squad can best Texas High on the road today, they stay in the race for the postseason.
A loss on Friday, Jan. 21 would make it an uphill battle for the Lady Cats to make the postseason.
The Lady Cats tip off with Texas High in Texarkana at 6:15 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Spraggins Seeking Reelection To Place 5 On City Council
Thursday afternoon, incumbent Gary Spraggins filed an application for a place on the May 7 Sulphur Springs City Council Election ballot. Spraggins, a salesman, is seeking reelection to Place 5.
He won the Nov. 3, 2020 election, receiving 71.24 percent of the votes for the Place 5 seat for one year, and then in 2021 was elected to the final year of the unexpired term for Place 5.
Candidate filing for Places 4 and Place 5 on the May 7, 2022, Sulphur Springs City Council Election ballot opened Wednesday morning. Currently, Freddie Taylor serves in Place 4.
Candidate filing for both three-year term seats on the May 7 City Council Election ballot will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building (City Hall), 201 North Davis St. Mail applications for a place on the ballot may be mailed to City Secretary/Elections Officer Natalie Darrow at 125 South Davis St., Sulphur Springs, TX 75482; or emailed to [email protected]
To be eligible to run for a seat on the City Council, the prospective candidate must be a
qualified voter of the State of Texas, resided continuously in the State of Texas and the City of Sulphur Springs for 12 months immediately preceding the deadline for filing an application for a
place on the ballot.
Other qualifications include:
- Must be a citizen of the United States eligible to hold such office under the constitution
and laws of this state; - Must not be mentally incompetent as determined by a court;
- Must not be convicted of a felony for which he/she has not been pardoned or had full rights of citizenship restored by other official action;
- Must be 18 years of age or older on the commencement of the term to be filled;
- Must not hold any other public office in which he/she was elected for and/or be a member of a board directly appointed by the City Council on the commencement of the term to be filled;
- City taxes must be paid to current; and
- Have knowledge of the nepotism law summary.
Charley’s Aunt Rescheduled For Jan. 28, 29, 30
Community Players membership and the director announced this week that Charley’s Aunt, scheduled this weekend, has been pushed back to Jan. 28, 29 and 30 at Main Street Theatre, according to Board President Lyndie Mansfield. The theatre group cites “internal concerns” for this weekend’s cancelation.
The doors will be open at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28 and 29, and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. Tickets will be available at that time.
Tickets purchased for this weekend may be moved to next weekend’s performances or refunded. Send Main Street Theatre a message on Facebook with information on your choice of show date.
Due To Shortage Of COVID Testing Supplies, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinics-Urgent Care Can’t Guarantee Rapid COVID Tests, PCR Available
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
POSTPONED: Community Health Day
In partnership with CHRISTUS Health, Columbia Lodge #81 has been diligently planning an event aimed to build a community that is more secure, productive, healthy, and hopeful. We plan to have local experts speaking on a variety of health-related topics that will educate and empower community members to take charge of their own health and well-being.
Due to an increase in community COVID cases, the event will be rescheduled for a later date at the HW Grays Building at Pacific Park. We apologize for any inconvenience, but want everyone to stay safe!
COVID Testing at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinics | Urgent Care
Due to a shortage of COVID testing supplies, we unfortunately cannot guarantee that rapid tests will be available. If rapid tests are not available, we will be able to send out a COVID PCR test, which typically results in 2 days, but could take up to 7 days if testing volume is high. We are working diligently to obtain additional supplies and appreciate your understanding; please know that we remain dedicated to providing you with the very best care possible.
Thank you for your respect and consideration!
With a spike in COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County, we appreciate anyone who has made an appointment with a provider at one of our clinic locations kindly cancelling within 4 hours of their scheduled time to allow the visit slot to be filled with someone else who may need it. Thank you in advance for allowing us to provide for your healthcare needs, while extending grace to our staff.
COVID Vaccine Clinics
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs offers a COVID Vaccine Clinic every Friday morning from 9am to 12pm in the main lobby of the hospital until further notice. The available vaccines include Moderna (2-doses, ages 18 and older) and Pfizer (2-doses, ages 12 and older) and Johnson & Johnson (1-dose, ages 18 and older).
This includes all three brands of boosters for fully vaccinated people. Appointments not required, but parent/guardian must accompany anyone 17 and younger.
Hospital Visitation
Please note the following guidelines:
- Visitors must acquire masks themselves prior to entering our facility; cloth masks are acceptable. Masks must cover both the nose and the mouth. Visitors must remain masked during their time in the hospital.
- Minor-age visitors must be accompanied by an adult, be free of symptoms and able to comply with masking and hygiene expectations throughout the visit.
- Emergency Department entrance open 24/7
- Main Entrance open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday
- Gift Shop open
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Types of Visitors:
- COVID receiving aerosol treatments: via tele-visitation only;
- COVID not receiving aerosol treatments: 1 Essential support person for the duration of hospital stay – Essential support person will be given a visible wrist band for identification purposes;
- ICU/ER: 1 Essential support person only;
- All other patients may have 1 Essential support person and 1 visitor (up to 2 persons in room at a time)
- Types of Visitors:
Services
Sleep Medicine
Dr. Aaron Pierce, Sleep Medicine Specialist will be coming to Sulphur Springs the first Monday of every month to CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Medical Building 10, 113 Medical Circle. You may require a referral from your Primary Care Physician based on your insurance coverage; however, you may contact his office directly for more information by calling 903.606.1664. *Please indicate that you prefer an appointment in the Sulphur Springs location.
Pulmonology
On January 20, we will be adding tele-Pulmonary outpatient clinic with Tyler physicians, Drs. Andrew and Amaya Skabelund. They will be providing services at CTC Medical Building 7 – 107 Medical Circle every Thursday interchangeably. The clinic operation hours will be 8 AM – 4:30 PM. They will break from 12-1 PM. The pulmonary clinic contact phone number is 903.606.2830.
*Please indicate that you prefer an appointment in the Sulphur Springs location.
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care – Sulphur Springs
** PLEASE NOTE – due to limited staffing, the Urgent Care may be forced to change its hours without notice … We recommend calling prior to your arrival to check the status of availability. We apologize for the inconvenience.**
The CHRISTUS Urgent Care Hours of Operation is as follows:
- In-Person Care Hours: Monday through Friday, 9-5; Saturday and Sunday, Closed
- Virtual Visit Hours: Monday-Friday, 8-5
- To schedule a virtual visit, please visit urgentcare.christushealth.org, then select your location and click “Virtual Visit”
The Urgent Care is located at 1339 S. Broadway, and the phone number to call is 903.951.1001.
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CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
