The 2021 ‘Walk to Remember’ Fundraising Walk Reaches Its Goal for Terrific Tuesdays!
The 2021 “Walk to Remember” Alzheimer’s Walk was held on a beautiful morning in the heart of our town, on Celebration Plaza. The annual event is the only Fundraiser for the Terrific Tuesdays program with 100% of the funds raised going directly to the continuation of the program. Terrific Tuesdays is a Respite Care Program for anyone with Alzheimer’s , Dementia, Senility, Stroke and any other type of Brain Injuries. Tammi Reardon and her very caring group of Volunteers take care of these participants while their caregivers can have a day off to run errands or just have some time to themselves.
According to Tammy Reardon, “our goal today in our beautiful Celebration Plaza in Downtown Sulphur Springs is to pause and remember friends and loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s disease and any of these other brain related illnesses.
We want to Thank everyone who sponsored the T-Shirts, bought t-shirts, donated money, gift cards, bought raffle tickets or donated money to the walk.
Thank you to the Quilt Guild for making and donating a beautiful quilt again this year for our Raffle. If you have not purchased a raffle ticket and would like to .. Please do so at this time. They are $1 each or $10 for 15 tickets,with the drawing at the end of the walk.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Don Waddle for providing the music and sound system for this morning, and Enola Gay Mathews of KSST Radio for being our emcee again this year.
We would like everyone to make at least 1 lap around the square together while we remember the ones we have lost and the ones who are currently dealing with this horrible disease.”
Following a word of prayer by FUMC Reverend Ed Lantz and the playing of the National Anthem, the Walk began with attendees making leisurely laps around the walking track of Celebration Plaza.
Tammy continued,”your generosity and compassion of the Terrific Tuesdays program will allow us to continue to serve those families in our community that are facing memory loss. We have surpassed our goal again this year for Fundraising!!! Every year a ‘Spirit Award’ is presented to the facility that was able to raise the most Money during the mini walk.
This year’s Spirit Award winner is :
WESLEY HOUSE WITH $2500.00
And coming in as a close 2nd is :
THE SENIOR CENTER with raising over $2300.00
The Community Spirit Award is for the business that raised the most money.
This year the Community Spirit Award goes to:
SAPUTO $1000.00
Congratulations to these wonderful groups which will have Bragging Rights all year!
Raffle Winner of the Quilt is Pamela Johnson, a volunteer at Meal-a-Day. Pamela was not present because she was delivering her Meal-a-Day route to shut-in seniors! Seniors Center Director Karon Weatherman said she would take the quilt to Pamela.
As we conclude the 2021 “ A Walk To Remember” , I would like to say a special thank you to the City of Sulphur Springs for allowing us to utilize to this beautiful square for our walk. Thank you to local media for covering our event today.
Please make sure to visit all the information booths here to learn about the different services offered in this area.
Thank you to all those that made this walk a success!”
Miller Grove FFA Chapter Monthly Spotlight
Congratulations to the members of the Miller Grove FFA teams! Highlights of the activities of the busy Miller Grove FFA Chapter were provided by FFA Advisor Christin Fortenberry, who also serves as the Paris District FFA President.
Cell Phone Used To Track Stolen Car From Dallas To Hopkins County
High Speed Chase Spans 51 Miles Across 2 Counties, End 4 Miles After Car’s Tires Punctured By Stop Sticks
A cell phone was used to track a stolen car to Hopkins County, where deputies spotted the Nissan Sentra in question traveling at a high rate of speed early Oct. 6, 2021, on Interstate 30 in Hopkins County. A high speed chase then spanned 51 miles across 2 counties, with the car continuing 4 miles on punctured tires, before completely losing one tire.
According to arrest reports, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Communications operators were alerted by Dallas Police that a vehicle, recently stolen in the other city, was believed to be traveling east on Interstate 30 headed into Hopkins County. The Dallas Police officials had tracked a cell phone that was in the car when it was stolen to Interstate 30. It was shown to be headed east on I-30 entering Hopkins County. Dallas Police gave updates of the phone’s location as it progressed while deputies began traveling to the interstate.
HCSO deputies spotted a car matching the description of the stolen vehicle in the area the cell phone was reported to be located around 12:42 a.m. Wednesday. The gray car was traveling at a high rate of speed near mile marker 120 on I-30 east. Deputies claim while they were attempting to catch up to the car, it nearly struck a patrol unit parked at mile marker 122 on I-30 east.
When deputies attempted to stop the car at mile marker 123, it reportedly began evading the marked vehicles with lights and sirens behind it. Deputies began earnestly pursuing the car.
The pursuit continued on I-30 east, reaching speeds near 110 miles per hour. HCSO deputies pursued the car as it crossed from Hopkins into Franklin County, where Franklin County deputies awaited the arrival of the car, with stop sticks deployed near mile marker 147 on I-30 east. The stolen vehicle’s tires hit the spikes, but the car continued east on I-30 to mile marker 151, where it eventually lost a tire and became disabled. The driver pulled it onto the shoulder, where deputies from both counties initiated a high risk stop and take down.
The driver, later identified as 36-year-old Eugene Montrell Jones, was removed from the Nissan and taken into custody around 1 a.m. Oct. 6. HCSO deputies remained on scene with Franklin County deputies to aid in a vehicle search prior to Jones’ arrest. Jones was transported to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, and the car towed to the sally port behind the jail.
Upon arrival at the jail, Jones reportedly required evaluation by medical staff due to a prior injury to one foot. He was checked out at the Sulphur Springs hospital. Then, upon being cleared by medical staff, Jones was returned to the Hopkins County jail.
Jones, who indicated for arrest reports that he had no permanent address, was booked into jail around 4:30 a.m. Oct. 6, 2021, on a third-degree felony evading arrest or detention with a vehicle charge and a felony unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charge. The vehicle was further inventoried and based on conversation with Dallas Police was confirmed to be the car stolen there. The car was placed into impound and Jones released to jail staff.
The 36-year-old remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, on a both charges. Bond was set at $10,000 on the evading arrest charge and $5,000 on the stolen vehicle charge.
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.
Slaton Files 3 Bills To Ban COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Texas House District 2 Representative Bryan Slaton Thursday announced the filing of three pieces of legislation: House Bills 33, HB 110 and HB 125, to protect Texans against unjust COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
HB 33 would prohibit companies and hospitals in Texas from forcing COVID-19 vaccines on their employees. HB 110 would stop state and local governmental entities, including public universities, from requiring a COVID-19 vaccine. Finally, HB 125 would nullify unconstitutional federal vaccine mandates and make it a felony offense to attempt to enforce the mandate in Texas.
Rep. Slaton commented, saying, “These bills would serve to protect against the growing encroachment on the rights and medical freedoms of Texans, and I’m urging Governor Abbott and House leadership to support these bills. No Texan should have to choose between keeping their job to feed their family, and obeying their conscience. Texans are free to receive the vaccine if they choose, but mandates are unconscionable. Most especially, we must stand up to President Biden and Washington bureaucrats who wish to force their unconstitutional vaccine mandates on Texas. Any federal interference in the rights of Texans in this matter should be met with fierce resistance and nullified.”
Learning Math on the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Campus
LEARNING MATH
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Mathematics Instructor Charla Holzbog helps student Hector Martinez of Sulphur Springs during a recent class. For information about enrolling at the Center, call 903-885-1232
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.
Wildcats Head Coach Greg Owens Discusses Ennis Loss and Upcoming Royse City
After a tough loss in Ennis to the Lions on Friday, Sept. 24, the Wildcats football team were ready for their one bye of the fall 2021 season.
It could not have come at a better time, as Sulphur Springs was a bit banged up and needed a breather which was conveniently sandwiched in between two top-10 teams in 5A Division II that the Wildcats had to play in district.
On Sept. 24 the Wildcats travelled to Ennis and took on the number four team in 5A Division II. Sulphur Springs got behind early and could not recover, losing to a top five Lions team 47-14.
“We’ve gotta have better starts,” Coach Greg Owens said about the Ennis loss and getting behind early. “[The Wildcats] have to take care of things earlier,” the Sulphur Springs coach said.
Coach Owens said this is something that was addressed this week leading up to their Royse City district bout.
The Wildcats did mange to get in to the end zone twice in the fourth quarter in loss to Ennis thanks to CJ Williams running out of the Wildcat and QB Matthew Mitchell connecting with Weston Fields on a fade-route that went 56-yards to the end zone.
Coach Greg Owens’ program is still looking for their first win on the season, but like many other contests it will not be an easy go of it.
RC coach David Petroff said that the Wildcats’ record [0-5 overall (0-2 district)] is a bit misleading considering the opponents Sulphur Springs has gone up against:
- Frisco High — 5-0 (Not ranked)
- Lovejoy — 5-0 (#3 in 5A Divison II)
- Kaufman — 6-0 (#10 in 4A Division I)
- Crandall — 4-1 (NR)
- Ennis — 5-0 (#4 in 5A Division II)
- Royse City — 5-0 (NR)
The Wildcats’ opponents are a combined 30-1 through six games. All rankings above are according to Dave Campbell’s Texas High School Football.
That statistic includes the Royse City Bulldogs, who come in to tomorrow night’s contest undefeated [5-0 overall (2-0 district)] and are fresh off of a bye as well.
All teams in District 8-5A had a bye last weekend.
Royse City, this week’s opponent for Sulphur Springs, runs a methodical, run-heavy attack that they bring to Gerald Prim stadium tonight.
The Wildcats football head coach said the Bulldogs have an offense that is approximately 75% based on the ground.
“They hang their hat on the run,” Coach Owens said.
The Bulldogs feature a running back, #1 Champ Petty-Dozier, who is extremely explosive and fast, the Wildcats coach said. Coach Owens said Royse City loves to get the ball to Petty-Dozier in any way they can, so look for the offense to more or less to run through the RB for the Bulldogs.
And while Royse City will continuously pound it on the ground versus opponents, their quarterback, Kenneth Springs, can slice and dice defenses if need be.
Coach Owens said to look out for zone-read plays from the QB since it has been extremely successful for the Bulldogs.
The offensive line is tough and physical for Royse City, a necessity for a run-heavy attack.
On defense Royse City brings a 3-3-5 stack defense, and they are just as physical as their OL. Their nose guard, #56 Keiran Phounsavath is the anchor for the base-stack defense.
Coach Petroff’s D runs to the football and are well-disciplined and structured, the Wildcats coach said.
The defense likes to keep everything in front of them, allowing opposing offenses certain plays and yardage, but Coach Owens said OC Matt Young’s unit has to take advantage of those short-yard plays and be patient.
Coach Owens said the Bulldogs are a well-oiled machine that runs a great system featuring several talented athletes who know their role in that Bulldog system.
It should prove to be another good one as both teams come into the game well-rested and ready for the second half of the fall 2021 season.
The Wildcats-Bulldogs district match-up is set to begin tomorrow at 7:30 P.M.
That game will be both live-streamed on to KSST Radio’s Youtube channeland will be broadcasted over the radio on KSST 1230 AM as well.
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.
Tira News – Oct. 7, 2021: North Hopkins Alumni Homecoming Returns On Oct. 23, 2021
By Jan Vaughn
Carol Robinson passed away and a graveside service was held at the Tira Cemetery on Monday, October 4th at the Tira Cemetery. Carol was the wife of Allen Robinson. Please remember the family in prayer.
Billy George Taylor, son of the late Omer and Gertrude Taylor of Tira, passed away and there will be a graveside service at the Tira Cemetery on Monday, October 11, at 11 a.m. Many in the area will remember Mrs. Gertrude from her many years of teaching at North Hopkins School. Please pray for the family.
The North Hopkins Alumni Association would like to encourage all former students and faculty to attend the North Hopkins Alumni Homecoming on Saturday evening, October 23, in the school cafeteria from 5 to 8 p.m. Since there was no homecoming in 2020, the classes of 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, and 1990, 1991 will be honored for their 50-, 40-, and 30-year class reunion. The North Hopkins Culinary Arts department will be serving a delicious meal. Also, there will be Bingo and prizes! The cost is $15 per person. Please help spread the word.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Ordinance Establishing Reinvestment Zone For $4 Million J-B Weld Expansion Approved
Sulphur Springs City Council approved on first reading Ordinance No. 2791, establishing an industrial reinvestment zone for J-B Weld, LLC, located at 400 CMH Road, just off West Industrial Drive in the Pioneer Business Park. J-B Weld is expanding its building and adding employees.
The reinvestment zone is needed in order for J-B Weld to be able to attain a tax incentive from Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors, which can grant the incentive but doesn’t have the ability to create a reinvestment zone, which must be established in order for the board to consider granting the tax incentive, Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Roger Feagley explained when making the recommendation for approval.
During a Sept. 13 meeting, Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved a Chapter 381 Economic Development Program Agreement with J-B Weld, LLC.
The business, which had a 2020 ad valorem taxable value of just over $4.7 million, has committed to investing $4 million to expand its epoxy glue manufacturing business with construction of a 40,000 square-foot facility on the 12.24-acre tract of land, with the project to be completed by June 30, 2022, according to the ED Program agreement. This will allow J-B Weld to add 20 new fulltime positions, giving the business a total of 102 fulltime employees, which the company agreed to maintain the duration of the Chapter 381 agreement. J-B Weld agreed to a 5-year program instead of the usual 10 year program agreement with the county.
Beginning Dec. 31, 2021 and continuing each year for 5 years, Hopkins County, per the 381 agreement, will reimburse J-B Weld for 100 percent of county ad valorem taxes paid on the new addition. J-B Weld in turn agreed to maintain its current workforce of at least 82 fulltime employees during construction, then 102 after the new addition is complete. J-B Weld in exchange agreed to annually provide a report showing verification of the full-time employment requirement as well as the taxable value of the property beginning Dec. 31, 2021.
Another public hearing regarding the J-B Weld reinvestment zone, approved on first reading Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021 by the Sulphur Springs City Council for J-B Weld, LLC, will be conducted during the Nov. 2 council meeting, slated to begin at 7 p.m. at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building.
Ordinance No. 2791 establishing the reinvestment zone for J-B Weld will be read on second and, if approved by the City Council, final reading at that November City Council meeting. The reinvestment zone would become effective immediately on Nov. 2, 2021, and continuing for five years, with an option to renew it for an additional five years, or to terminate sooner if a subsequent ordinance regarding the zone is passed.
About J-B Weld
The J-B Weld Company was founded in 1969 by Sam and Mary Bonham. Sam had discovered a need for a “cold weld” product to use in his truck service garage, instead of traditional torch welding. Working with a Texas A&M chemist, he formulated an original “tougher than steel” two-part epoxy and named it J-B Weld. Sam and Mary soon went from selling the product out of their car to auto parts jobbers across Texas, to selling it in stores throughout the U.S. and internationally.
The latest chapter of the J-B Weld story began in 2008, when the company was purchased by a group of private investors led by Chip Hanson, who now serves as CEO and president. In just a few years’ time, J-B Weld broadened the product line to meet the changing needs of our customers, including new adhesives for metal, wood, plastic, and general purpose use. With each new product J-B Weld innovates – whether epoxy putty sticks, syringe-based epoxy adhesives, threadlockers, or specialty products, J-B Weld continues to provide the world’s strongest bond for your repair projects. The company also expanded its retail partnerships to reach even more customers.
Today, J-B Weld products can be found in some of the world’s largest automotive, hardware, home improvement, and big-box stores nationwide. For a complete list of retailers, go to the J-B Weld locations page.
25th Anniversary Celebration ‘Part 1’ at Cooper Lake State Park on October 15 is for Everyone!
You are cordially invited to Cooper Lake State
Park’s 25th Anniversary Ceremony to be held at the
Doctor’s Creek Unit on Friday, October 15, 2021 at
10am. We will have an outstanding group of local,
regional, and statewide leaders present to talk
about Cooper Lake State Park’s local and regional
impact on our great state! Refreshments will be
served. This event is sponsored by the Friends of
Doctors Creek. Special thanks to Cooper ISD and North Hopkins ISD
Agenda
Welcome – Steve Killian, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department, Cooper Lake State Park Complex Superintendent
Presentation of the Colors by Civil Air Patrol, Sulphur Springs
The National Anthem by Mighty Maroon Jazz Band, Cooper ISD
Texas, and ‘Our Texas’ by Mighty Maroon Jazz Band, Cooper ISD and
Matt Seavey, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Manager
Darren Braddy – City of Cooper, Texas, City Mayor
“Deep in the Heart of Texas”, Enola Gay Mathews
History of Cooper Lake State Park, Mindy Hicks, Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department, Cooper Lake State Park, Doctor Creek Unit Superintendent
Honorable Robert Newsom, Hopkins County Judge
Rodney Franklin – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas State Parks Director
Concluding Remarks, Steve Killian, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Cooper Lake State Park Complex Superintendent
Refreshments Provided by Friends of Doctors Creek, Inc.
Music by the Mighty Maroon Jazz Band, Cooper ISD
Cooper Lake State Park – Doctors Creek Unit – 95 Park Road
8154 – Cooper, TX 75432 903-395-3100/903-945-5256.
$7 Million In ARP Funding Dedicated To NETEX, Communications Tower, Road Equipment, Salaries, Trustee Housing Facility, Retainage
Hopkins County Commissioners Court, in a special session Tuesday afternoon, committed the just over $7 million in ARP (American Rescue Plan) funding which has been allocated to the county toward 6 purposes: to assist NETEX, a communications tower, road equipment, salary replacement, a trustee facility and retainage. The Court also approved a security proposal and budget amendments for insurance proceeds received.
American Rescue Plan
“Those allocations will be set into stone today so that we will be able to work around those figures and, I understand there is going to be some give and take on some of those figures. However, that will allow for that money to be set aside to be used for these purposes,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom noted when reading the proposal to obligate ARP funds from the US Treasury.
“They are very strict as to how we use those funds, so that’s why we are using them for these particular projects, because they have met the criteria of what the money was meant for,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker pointed out.
Newsom noted that is correct, plus the allocations have to be somewhat COVID-related.
Road and Bridge, Salaries
“The funds that you state go to road and bridge from that, the guidelines state general economic development and infrastructure projects such as road construction or bridge repair unrelated to COVID-19 are not an eligible expense, UNLESS they are funded through a county’s loss revenue replacement allowance. Hopkins County had a loss of revenue, so that’s why you are able to get those funds,” County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook added.
Those funds are designated specifically for infrastructure and will be divided into the four county budgets at a later time.
“It is particularly for the purchase of capital assets, not necessarily going on the roads,” Newsom added.
The Commissioners Court allocated $1,719,040 of the more than $7 million in ARP funding for “public sector revenue loss,” to be spent on county general specific infrastructure within the road and bridge area for the purchase of heavy equipment capital assets for construction of county roads or bridge repair.
At least $610,000 of those funds will be used specifically for the purchase of two M314 Excavators from Holt Cat through Sourcewell. One will go to Precinct 2 and the other to Precinct 4. Each commissioner will use their portion of allocated American Rescue Plan funds to pay for the excavators. Each piece of equipment is $305,000, and because the units are being bought through Sourcewell, a purchasing cooperative, the county is not required to go out for bids for the purchase, according to Aulsbrook.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price said this will be used to replace Precinct 4 tractor that burned up a few weeks ago.
“It says on there an excavator, which may through some people off. It’s an excavator on wheels, on top, so it can go one down the road. This particular model, I can count at least four jobs this machine will do out in the precincts for us. I think it will be well utilized,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin said. “I think this will really be a well rounded and used machine for us, especially on brush-cutting. It has an attachments.”
Anglin said while Price has had a problem recently with his machine, and the precinct 2 brush cutter has been a constant problem since he’s been in office. A more heavy duty machine, the Holt CAT M314 Excavator should hold up better for brush-cutting.
Price said in addition to clearing ditches, the Excavator would have a grade-all and tree brush cutter.
The equipment could potentially be used by Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 crews, provided they are available when the crews would need t use it or other means to accomplish their tasks.
Later in the meeting, Aulsbrook asked the court consider amending the FY 2021-22 budget by moving the $2 million the county has already received from the American Rescue Plan revenue, $500,000 each, into the four accounts for machinery and equipment.
Another $280,960 of the $7 million In ARP funding awarded to Hopkins County was allocated for salary replacement.
Communications Tower
The Commissioners Court allocated $500,000 of the $7 million In ARP funding for a new communications tower in Martin Springs Community, to replace a tower that is estimated to be 55-60 years old that is on its last leg. The tower was refurbished 5 years ago thanks to an Ark-Tex Council of Governments grant. At that point, county officials were told that the measure was a stopgap, a patch that would last only about 5 years, Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley told the Commissioners Court.
“We are at that point. So, if were to have a large wind or anything like that it really could come down. That would cripple our communications for our first responders throughout all of Hopkins County and our surrounding neighbors. It’s imperative that we do this. Also, allows for broadband to come in on this,” Endsley explained.
A component of the project to meet the rules and regulations established for funding includes allowing for broadband internet service to expand into the area using the tower.
“We’ve already go a community internet provider that’s on both of our locations and it also opens it up for other competitors if they want to do that,” Endsley said.
That, in turn, would make internet available further in the county, which should help reach some of the gaps in that area, which would allow schools who have students doing online learning from home in the more rural part of the county. That would provide more high speed internet at a pace needed for those students to effectively do school work online.
“We are still waiting on rough estimates to come in on that,” Endsley said.
Trustee Facility
The largest allocation from the $7 Million in ARP funding awarded to Hopkins County was designated for construction of a building to house male inmates who have been designated as “trustees,” and as such go out into the community to work daily, including on precinct crews, at schools, the Civic Center and other locations throughout the community.
The new $4.5 million housing facility would better segregate the inmate trustees from the general inmate population when they return from their work details, a measure to reduce potential spread of COVID or other infectious illnesses from the trustees who are out in the public or working alongside those who are around others in public, where they could be potentially exposed to illnesses, county officials pointed out.
By doing so, the county would be meeting the “response to COVID pandemic for public health and the health of the general inmate population of the Hopkins County jail,” according to the motion approved by the court for all six funding purposes.
County Commissioners, Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department and Jail representatives met with DRG Architects, LLC, following the regular court session to discuss the new Hopkins County Trustee Housing Facility, to be located on Houston Street, across from the Hopkins County jail. DRG, who also oversaw construction of the new Hopkins County jail, presented schematic drawings that were drawn based on prior conversations with county officials. The schematic plan has been submitted to the state jail commission for approval, the first of three submittals. DRG, once approved, will then work with the county on developing a design, and once approved will submit that as well. They also will submit for approval plans for the construction phase of the project.
Typically, a team including representatives from the court, sheriff’s office and architectural firm go before the state officials for an initial contact meeting. While COVID measures are lifting, it’s unclear whether the agency will continue visits via Zoom or otherwise for those sessions, the DRG representative noted.
As proposed in the DRG proposed schematic, the facility would house up to have three dorms with 12 beds each like a general population area, and two single cell pods with six singe-bed cells each. The new trustee housing facility would have an enclosed exercise area along with a warming kitchen with with three compartment sink, carts, work tables but no real cooking facilities are standard for these types of facilities. The need for refrigeration and likely microwaves was discussed.
A receiving area on the side of the building would allow vehicles to pull up to a fenced area with a covered awning to pick up inmates assigned to work crews throughout the county. However a number of matters will need to considered and decisions made regarding use and equipping of entry areas to reenter the jail housing. Discussed was the potential for a locker room/dressing area off the receiving area and a body scanner and possible shower at the inmate entrance.
Visitation, counseling, multipurpose, reception/lobby, office and other spaces within the jail too were discussed. For instance, the officials considered what visitation areas would need to consist of and whether visitation would be conducted at the cells or a multipurpose room that could be used for education, training and special programs and religious observances.
Overall, security for the inmate trustees, officers and visitors is to be paramount, with consideration given for inmates’ medical and mental health needs as well, and possible areas that could be converted or reconfigured in the event of an outbreak of illness among trustee inmates, and the long-term needs for a facility of that size, including possibility of housing female inmates at the location.
NETEX Rail
Barker, who serves on the NETEX Board, reported $25,225.94 of the $7 million In ARP funding was allocated to NETEX (Northeast Texas Rural Transportation District) will “help replace cross ties on the failing rail that we are experiencing right now.”
“This will be a good boost to at least get them in the right direction,” Barker said. “We are the first county of six to do this. I plan on encouraging the other counties to help out also.”
In late September Barker proposed donating two semi loads of crossties to NETEX to help support Northeast Texas Connector’s (NETC) repair efforts. NETC, a division of Freedom Rail Group, which has served since July 1, 2020, as operator of NETEX rail, which spans 65.6 miles of operational railroad along an 88.8 mile corridor that runs from east to west through 6 counties, starting in Winfield in Titus County and continuing through Franklin, Hopkins, Delta and Hunt Counties to Mesquite in Collin County.
The NETEX Board meets the first Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in the Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corporation offices.
Retainage
Another $177,806.06 of the $7-plus million in ARP funding will be held as “retainage,” to be used if needed to fill in as necessary for all of the other projects, according to Newsom.
“We haven’t received all the bids back on all these projects. Once we get the bids back, we’ll have firm numbers, but we put some in retainage just to be on the safe side,” Aulsbrook said.
Other Business
Aulsbrook also presented and received court approval for budget amendments insurance funding, to close out the 2020-21 budget year which ended Sept. 30, 2021 and get everything in the proper fund in the current budget, which began on Oct. 1, 2021.
The county received from Texas Association of Counties $2,266.38 for a sheriff’s office truck damaged last year. The funding received for the repairs would be reflected in the department’s vehicle repair and maintenance fund.
The county also received $222,917.09 from TAC for hail damage sustained at the County Annex Building. Quite a bit of that had already been paid for. That would be moved to courthouse repairs and maintenance fund. Part of it will roll over into the new budget.
The county too was awarded $7,056.50 in insurance funding for roof replacement at the County Annex Building. That too will go into the repairs and maintenance fund in the 2021-22 budget.
Another item requiring a budget amendment moves $39,000 from the sheriff’s office commissary fund the maintenance budget for the maintenance truck. The truck was sold to the sheriff’s office. HCSO paid $39,000 for the maintenance vehicle. That funding was moved into the truck maintenance budget, to pay for the new truck.
Also approved was a security proposal with Firetrol Protection Systems for Hopkins County buildings.
“This is just a routine update on the existing contracts we already have with Firetrol. In the past we had several different venders that were duplicating work. We eliminated that by going with one sole source. They do all of our fire suppression, fire extinguishers, fire alarm monitoring and also the security of our buildings. This one only pertains to the fire protection, where they come and inspect our sprinkler systems, fill the backflow, preventers do a flow test on our sprinkler systems within our county buildings and the fire alarm side of it,” Endsley said.
As each goes out, they are paid for by each department where the fire protection systems are located; in other words, the sheriff’s office would pay for services as outlined in the contracts, the fire department their systems and the courthouse would come out of the courthouse maintenance fund, according to Endsley.
