Local 911 Is Service Down Again, Call Provided Numbers For Emergencies
Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jason Ricketson at noon Jan. 25, 2022, reported that the local 911 service is down again, and encourages city and county residents to store alternate emergency numbers to call in the event of an emergency in Sulphur Springs or Hopkins County when 911 is down.
“Once again, we have an interruption in our area and our 911 system is not receiving all calls. Please call 903-439-3719 for city emergencies and 903-885-2768 for county emergencies. Please save these numbers should they be needed in the future,” Ricketson stated, and posted on the city’s social media account.
This is at least the second time this month and third time in as many months that local 911 services has been down. Local 911 systems were also not receiving calls on Jan. 20 and Nov. 30 due to area interruptions.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
Brandon Faircloth Announced as New Athletic Director and Head Football Coach of Sulphur Springs
During a special board meeting held Monday, Jan. 24 the Sulphur Springs Independent School District approved the motion to hire Brandon Faircloth as Athletic Director and Head Football Coach of SSISD.
Faircloth previously served as head coach and athletic director at Port Neches-Groves.
He coached the Indians for 13 seasons, going 102-51 (.667) and leading Port Neches-Groves to the playoffs 12 of those 13 years as head coach for the Indians.
Five of those seasons resulted in the Indians winning a district championship, two of them outright (2009, 2017). The former, Coach Faircloth’s first season as head coach of PN-G, the Indians went a perfect 10-0 before falling in the area round.
The Indians made the second round seven times between 2009-2021, with five of those games resulting in wins allowing PN-G to move on to the third round.
The only season in which Coach Faircloth’s team failed to reach the postseason was 2012.
Prior to serving as head coach of PN-G, he was the offensive coordinator at Odessa-Permian.
The new head coach and athletic director replaces Greg Owens, who coached the Wildcats to the city’s only state championship in 2008 in a win over Dayton.
Coach Owens went 91-86 over 16 seasons and 12-10 in the playoffs.
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.
Preparation for Classes at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Campus
Charle Fox, Secretary at the PJC – Sulphur Springs Center, assists Mary Hedden, center, and Luz Correa as they prepare for classes at the Sulphur Springs campus.
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.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – Jan. 17, 2022-Jan. 23, 2022
Winnsboro Police Department provided the following media report for the week of Jan. 17, 2022-Jan. 23, 2022:
Arrests
- Moore, Cameron, 34 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 1-17-2022 on a Winnsboro Municipal Court warrant for Disorderly Conduct.
- Morgan, Richard, 38 years of age, of Como, was arrested on 1-17-2022 for DWLI with previous convictions.
- White, Janetta, 52 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on 1-22-2022 for DWLI w/ Previous Convictions, Possession of Dangerous Drug, Possession of Controlled Substance PG 3<28G and Possession of Controlled Substance PG 1 <1G.
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 118 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 38 citations and 33 warnings during this reporting period.
Local Community Participation Needed in Childress County Survey About Internet Connectivity
Childress County, Texas (January 24, 2022) – The Childress County Broadband Committee needs to hear from you! Childress County residents, business owners, ranchers, ag-producers, first responders, and local officials are invited to participate in a 10-minute survey designed to assess internet needs and uses throughout the county. You can answer in as many categories as apply to you. Survey data will contribute to a community action plan tailored to the unique connectivity needs of the county. The plan will focus on finding solutions for improving internet connectivity countywide.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to participate in the brief survey before the end of January by visiting this link: https://myconnectedcommunity.org/childress-county/.
“Better internet connectivity means better opportunities for Childress County residents, and good data is the first step,” said Broadband Solutions Manager Catherine Krantz. “We have extended the deadline of the survey until the end of January, and we hope everyone will take a few minutes to fill it out.”
The project is funded by the Priddy Foundation and completed in partnership with Connected Nation Texas (CN Texas). The program leverages CN Texas’ Connected Community Engagement Program, also referred to as Connected. The program has been used in more than 650 communities. It analyzes data collected from local residents, businesses and other stakeholders to develop community-specific Technology Action Plans.
To learn more about the Connected Community Engagement Program, visit: https://connectednation.org/connect-my-community/
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Coach From Port Neches-Grove Rumored To Take Over At SSISD
Coach Faircloth confirmed as new head coach.
Tonight’s agenda for the SSISD school board includes an agenda item to discuss and possibly approve the position of new athletic director and head football coach. The person rumored to be up for that position is Brian Faircloth from the Port Neches-Grove who is the winningest coach from that program with a record of 102-51. His team has been to the playoffs 12 out of the last 13 seasons.
This is a developing story and KSST News will update information as soon as it becomes available after January 24, 2022 SSISD Board Meeting.
Authorities: Manhunt Launched For Dallas Man Who Fled After Assaulting Officers Who Tried To Stop Him For Shoplifting Alcoholic Beverages
A 27-year-old Dallas man allegedly assaulted the police officers who tried to stop him from shoplifting a basket full of alcoholic beverages. He lead officers on a vehicle pursuit through Sulphur Springs, through pastures and into the county, where he fled after crashing into a tree. The manhunt ended after the suspect got wet in a cold pond and was taken into custody Saturday. He now faces 11 charges, with bonds totaling $1,769,000.
The incident started with Sulphur Springs Police officers being dispatched at 4:47 p.m. Jan. 22, 2022, to a theft at a Gilmer Street grocery store. Upon arrival, officers were told the Dallas man had passed all points of sale with a cart full of alcoholic beverages without paying for any of it.
When police tried to contact the man in the parking lot, they reported he let go of the cart and ran for a vehicle. Officers pursued the man to the vehicle, where two approached the driver’s side and one the passenger’s side of the black SUV. The officer on the passenger’s side of the SUV was allegedly pushed from the parked vehicle, causing injury. Then, the man allegedly put the vehicle in drive and caused the two officers on the driver’s side to smash into a parked car, causing injury. Officers pursued the vehicle, SSPD Sgt. Brandon Mayes and Cpl. Chris Rosamond alleged in arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to assist police at the store, where they were told the man was resisting arrest. A SSPD officer soon, however, reported the suspect had fled in a black Lexus RX-350. The vehicle was reported to be traveling north on Oak Avenue toward the square. A deputy reported seeing the vehicle traveling east on Fleming Street toward Rosemont Street. Deputies attempted to catch up to the vehicle as it continued south on Rosemont Street, east on Houston Street and north onto Jackson Street, The vehicle then turned east onto Pipeline Road, a dead-end street, HCSO Deputies Aaron Chaney and Drew Fisher alleged in arrest reports.
As deputies approached the vehicle on Pipeline Road, the driver turned north into a pasture. The deputy followed the vehicle as it continued through a tree line. The deputy stopped when the SUV drove through a barbed wire fence. The deputy watched as the SUV continued east through another pasture, then continued toward the neighborhood at Rain Tree Circle and Loop 301, Chaney alleged in arrest reports.
SSPD, other HCSO, and highway patrol units checked the area but did not immediately spot the fleeing SUV. Deputies saw where the vehicle went through a homeowner’s wooden fence on Rain Tree Circle and continued to Loop 301, where tire marks showed the vehicle had headed south toward I-30.
A short time later, dispatchers advised they had gotten a reckless driver call about a vehicle that matched the one they had been pursuing; the SUV had almost struck the caller’s vehicle while exiting at FM 69. The caller stayed behind the SUV, calling in locations as the SUV continued. The caller soon reported the SUV was being driven at a high rate of speed on FM 69 north, making it hard to follow him, according to arrest reports.
Soon, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Aaron Hanna advised he was at the intersection of FM 900 and FM 69. Although the trooper was able to spike the tires on the SUV, it continued traveling north on FM 69. Chaney reported continuing north on FM 69 and eventually spotted the SUV in the distance, where the driver soon lost control of the vehicle, and it crashed into a tree on the east side of the road.
The deputy reported the man driving was not deterred. He ran into a wooded area nearby as the deputy approached the vehicle. The deputy lost sight of the suspect. Deputy Drew Fisher stopped and deployed his partner, K-9 Axe. Deputies searched the wooded area but were unable to located the man. A perimeter search was launched, with a DPS helicopter was launched to search from the air.
A short time later, a landowner approached the officer, advising his son had seen a man running through their pasture. Deputies set up around the area. The suspect was reportedly located in a large pond on the property a short time later. After being in the cold water briefly, the man made his way to the bank and was taken into custody just before 7 p.m. Saturday.
The man was transported to jail and the vehicle was towed to the sheriff’s office for inventory. Additional stolen property was reportedly located in the vehicle, along with a firearm and drug paraphernalia, packages of ecstasy (MDMA) pills and baggies of suspected methamphetamine. The pills tested positive for MDMA and weighed 71.8 grams and the other substance tested positive as meth, and weighed 13.3 grams, deputies alleged in arrest reports. The man was found to be a convicted felon and not allowed to have a firearm.
Sulphur Springs Police charged 27-year-old Xzavier Antjuane Bolden of Dallas with theft of $764.81 worth of items from the store, but because he had two previous theft convictions, the charge was enhanced; as well as two counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, one count of assault on a peace officer, and one count of evading arrest or detention in a vehicle. His bonds were set at $500,000 each on the two aggravated assault charges, $100,000 on the other assault charge, $15,000 on the theft charge and $100,000 on the evading arrest charge, according to jail reports.
HCSO deputies charged Bolden with evading arrest with a vehicle, two counts of possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and criminal mischief for the property damage. His bond was set at $150,000 each on the controlled substance charges, $100,000 on the evading arrest charge, $150,000 on the weapon charge and $2,000 on the criminal mischief charge, according to jail reports.
And, Bolden was also found to be wanted by Dallas County authorities on a disorderly conduct/displaying a firearm charge. Bond on the warrant was set at $2,000, jail records state.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
Wildcats Soccer Goes 0-3 in Second Straight Tournament
Men’s soccer competed hard in their third and final tournament of the winter 2021-22 season but could not string together wins, going 0-3 in the Terrell tournament.
Wildcats soccer started out the winter classic on Thursday, Jan. 20 and fell to Kilgore 2-0 in Terrell.
Friday, Jan. 21 brought a Wildcats showdown between Sulphur Springs and Paris, with the men’s team falling to Paris 1-0 to fall to 0-2 in Terrell.
Unfortunately for Coach Alexi Upton’s squad, they fell again on Saturday, Jan. 22 to Sunnyvale 2-0 for their third straight loss in the Terrell winter classic.
The three shutout losses last weekend brought the men’s soccer team’s season record to 0-9-2.
Sulphur Springs has one more pre-season game, an away match with Nacogdoches on Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 P.M.
After their final pre-season contest with Nacogdoches Tuesday, district play begins for both soccer squads this Friday, Jan. 28.
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.
SSISD Trustees To Consider Hiring Athletic Director, Terminating SSMS Employee Jan. 24
Sulphur Springs ISD will hold a special meeting tonight (Monday, Jan. 24,) to consider a number personnel matters.
In an executive session, the board is slated to discuss and consider hiring an athletic director/head football coach.
Afterward, during the action items portion of the 6 p.m. meeting, the trustees will be asked to consider approving a resolution for wage payments during emergency school closings, including the recent closure due to COVID illnesses, through the end of the school year. The school board will also be asked to consider updating local district policy DEC(local) regarding employee absences and payment for missed days.
In other business at the Jan. 24 meeting, trustees will be asked to take possible action regarding the proposed termination of term contract employee Amy Anderson before the end of the contract period. The School Directory shows Anderson has been employed at middle school, working with the Read 180 program.
Afterward, trustees are slated to enter into another executive session to not only consider any additional personnel matters that have been presented since the last board meeting, but to also consider a contract extension and compensation for the superintendent, and any other real property matters up for consideration.
The board will then return to regular open forum to consider any items pushed forward from executive session.
During public forum, the school board will be recognized as part of the district’s Board Appreciation Month observance.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Jan. 24, 2022, in the board room of SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St.
Franklin County Posts Lowest Unemployment Rate In NET Area For 7th Consecutive Month
Unemployment Rates Continue Dropping, Almost To Pre-Pandemic Levels In Hopkins County
Unemployment continues to drop across the Northeast Texas Workforce Development Area to the lowest rates since the pandemic began. Franklin County had the lowest December unemployment rate in the WDA, marking the 7th consecutive month Franklin County has had the best unemployment rate. Hopkins County was a close second, with unemployment dropping to an almost pre-pandemic level in December.
State Reports
Unemployment dipped slightly across the state from 4.5% n November 2021 to 4.3% last month, both down from 6.7% in December of 2020. In Texas, the civilian labor force declined from 14,429,974 in November to 14, 398,693 in December 2021, up from 14,139,874 in December 2020. As more jobs were added, the number of employed rose as well from 13,191,324 in December 2020 to 13,775,211 in November 2021 and up to 13,785,955.
| Labor Force | Employed | Unemployed | Rate | |
| Texas | 14,398,693 | 13,785,955 | 612,738 | 4.4 |
| Northeast Texas WDA | 122,787 | 117,134 | 5,653 | 4.6 |
According to TWC, the seasonally adjusted Texas unemployment rate was 5.0 percent in December 2021, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from November 2021. Texas added 50,000 total nonagricultural jobs over the month, making gains in 19 of the last 20 months. For the month, the state reached another record employment level with 13,059,600 jobs. Texas has added a total of 694,400 positions since December 2020.
“Seeing a second consecutive month of record-setting employment, with more than 13 million jobs, highlights the underlying strength of the Texas economy,” TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel said Friday in a release about state unemployment totals. “This economic strength creates an environment for Texas employers to continue to create jobs and provide opportunities for the workforce in the Lone Star State.”
“The continued job growth we’ve seen in our Texas labor market is a true testament to the strength of our Texas employers, large and small,” TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson in the Jan. 21, 2022 release. “In addition, the falling unemployment rate demonstrates Texans taking advantage of the numerous job and career opportunities provided by our Texas employers.”
According to TWC, the biggest job gains were in three areas: 10,400 additional construction jobs; 7,300 more trade, transportation and utilities positions; and 7,200 financial activities jobs in December 2021.
Only three of the nine counties in the Northeast Texas Workforce Development area posted December 2021 unemployment rates that were below not only the NET WDA rate of 4.6% but Texas’ 4.3% unadjusted unemployment rate as well – Franklin, Hopkins and Delta Counties. The three counties in NETWDA with the worst December 2021 unemployment rates were Morris, Cass and Red River. but even those counties saw a downturn in joblessness last month, according to the TLMI data.
Hopkins County
Hopkins County came in a close second to Franklin County in December 2021 for best unemployment rate in the NET WDA for the 7th consecutive month. Hopkins County’s unemployment rate last month was 3.4%, just 0.1 percent higher than Franklin County’s jobless rate, one of only 2 counties in the area with an unemployment rate of less than 4 percent.
That’s the lowest unemployment rate in Hopkins County in since COVID swept the world and forced job and school closures at spring break 2020, the lowest unemployment rate in Hopkins County in the last 2 years was 3.1% in January and February of 2020. Even the highest unemployment rates for Hopkins County during the COVID shutdowns were 7.8% in April 2020, 6.9% in May 2020, 6.5% in June 2020 and 6% in July 2020.
Overall, the unemployment average for Hopkins County was 4.6% in 2021 and 5.1% in 2020. While not as good as the 3.1% unemployment average for 2019 (when unemployment averages for 6 months of the year were below 3%) , the 2021 unemployment average was not nearly as high as the 7.6% reported in 2011 and 7.5 percent in 2020. Unemployment in Hopkins County reached a 22-year monthly high of 8.4% in June and low was only 6.6% in December 2011, for an overall annual unemployment average of 7.6 percent.
Hopkins County’s labor force continued to shrink as well, dipping from 17,744 in December 2020 to 17,474 in November 2021 and 17,347 CLF in December 2021. While the number of people employed in Hopkins County also dipped – from 16,885 in December 2020 to 16,822 in November 2021 and 16,754 in December 2021, the number of unemployed also shrunk from 859 in December 2020, to 652 two months ago and 592 last month.
Northeast Texas WDA
As a whole, the CFL in Northeast Texas WDA has continued to shrink over the past year, from 124,062 in December 2020 to 123,230 in November 2021 and 122,787 last month. Although the number of employed dipped from 117,161 in November 2021 to 117,134 in December 2021, both months still had more employed than the 116,074 reported in December 2020. These have helped lower the overall unemployment rate in NETWDA from 6.4% in December 2020 to 4.9% in November and 4.6% in December.
In Franklin County, the civilian labor force shrunk from 5,268 in November 2021 to 5,226 in December 2021, reducing the number of employed from 5,268 in November to 5,051 in December and the number of unemployed from 186 to 175 in December. That gives Franklin County an unemployment rate of 3.3% for December 2021, which is 2.2% lower than in December 2020, when 269 of the 4,901 civilian labor force were unemployed, according to the information released Friday, Jan. 21, 2022 on Texas Labor Market Information website for Texas Workforce Commission.
Delta County had the third lowest unemployment rate of 4% for December 2021, down from 4.9 percent from December 2020 and 4.4 percent in November 2021. Delta County’s CLF also has been shrinking, from 2,438 in in December 2020 to 2,393 in November 2021 and 2,376 last month. The number of employed declined from 2,318 in December 2020 to 2,288 in November 2021 and 2,281 last month.
Titus County’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.6% in November 2021 to 4.4 percent last month, both down from 6.3 percent one year before. The labor pool in Titus County too has continued to decline, dropping from 13,171 in November 2021 to 13,132 on month later; the CFL in December 2020 was 13,491. While there were fewer working in Titus County in December 2021 than even one month before, the number of unemployed also dropped from 484 in December 2020 to 605 in November 2021 and 573 in December 2021.
Lamar County’s CFL was 23,837 in December 2021, down from 23,895 in December 2020 and 24,045 in November 2021. Lamar County had more people working in November 2021 than in December, 22,876 to 22,754, but still more than the 22,430 reported in December 2020. There were fewer unemployed each time however, dropping the jobless rate in Lamar County from 6.1% in December 2020 to 4.9 percent in November 2021 and 4.5% in December 2021.
Bowie County’s unemployment rate dipped from 6.3% in December 2020 to 5.1% in November 2021, then 4.7% last month. Bowie’s CFL has continued to rise over the last year, up from 39,163 in December 2020 to 39,392 in November and 39,486 in December 2021. The number employed in Bowie County also rose, from 36,711 in December 2020 to 37,399 in November 2021 and 37,611 last month. That dropped Bowie County’s unemployment rate from 6.3% one year ago to 4.7% last month, down from 5.1 the previous month.
Cass and Red River counties each had 5.3% unemployment rate for December 2021. Cass County’s CFL had declined from 12,427 in December 2021 to 11,942 in November 2021, and 11,885 last month. However, one more person was employed in December than in November of 2021. These factors have helped Cass County’s jobless rate drop from 8.1% in December 2020 to5.8 percent in November 2021 and 5.3 percent in December 2021. Red River County’s CFL rose from 5,123 in November 2021 to 5,138 in December 2021, which was still smaller than one year before when the CFL was 5,261. The number of people employed in Red River County isn’t quite as large as the 4,929 of December 2020, but did rise from 4,844 in November 2021 to 4,868 last month. That helped lower the unemployment rate from 6.3 percent in December 2020 to 5.4 percent in November 2021 and 5.3 percent last month in Red River County.
Morris County had the highest unemployment rate in the 9-county area, but has been steadily improving. The unemployment rate was 13.3 percent in December of 2020, 8.9 percent in November and 8.3 percent last month. The CFL dropped sharply over the last year, from 4,742 in December 2020 to 4,422 in November and 4,360 last month. The number of people working in Morris County fell from 4,109 a little over a year ago to 4,029 in November and 4,000 in December 2021. The number of unemployed dropped from 633 in December 2020 to 393 in November and 360 in December 2021.
Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit TexasLMI.com.
