Winnsboro Police Department – Jan. 3-9, 2022 Media Report
Winnsboro Police Department provided the following media report for the week of Jan. 3-9, 2022:
Arrests
- Miranda Collins, 35 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on Jan. 4, 2022, for criminal trespass and resisting arrest, search or transport.
- Janice Golightly, 53 years of age, of Quitman, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2022, for driving while license invalid with previous convictions.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 120 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 27 citations and 39 warnings during this reporting period.
Eligible Texas Voters Must Register By January 31 To Cast A Ballot In A March 1 Primary Election
AUSTIN — Texas Secretary of State John Scott today reminds all eligible Texas voters to make sure they are registered to vote ahead of the January 31 voter registration deadline for the March 1, 2022 Primary Elections in Texas. Voters registered by January 31 can also participate in Early Voting, which begins on February 14 and ends February 25, 2022. In Texas, voters register with their respective county voter registrars, which are housed within Elections Administrator offices or as is the case in Hopkins and other counties in the Tax Assessor-Collector offices.
Secretary Scott encouraged all Texans who are eligible to get registered and get informed as they prepare to head to the polls next month:
“Registering to vote in Texas is easy and straightforward – so long as you are a qualified voter, you can send in a voter registration application to your county’s voter registrar by January 31st and you’ll be eligible to vote in the upcoming Primary Election,” Secretary Scott said. “We want all eligible Texans to participate in all of this year’s upcoming elections, including the Primary Elections in which voters will choose the candidates to appear on the November 2022 General Election ballot. Don’t wait until the last minute – start the registration process today!”
To be eligible to vote in Texas, you must be:
- A United States citizen;
- A resident of the county where you submit the application;
- At least 17 years and 10 months old on the date your voter registration application is submitted, and 18 years of age on Election Day.
- Not finally convicted of a felony (you may be eligible to vote once you have completed your sentence, probation, and parole); and
- Not declared by a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be either totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote.
Texas is an open primary state, which means that voters do not ‘register’ as members of a particular political party. Rather, eligible Texas voters can cast a ballot in either party’s primary election – but not both. Primary Elections are run by the Republican and Democrat parties in each of Texas’ 254 counties. Party chairs in each county are responsible for conducting voting on Election Day, while county election officials administer the Early Voting period.
Texans can check to verify their registration status ahead of the January 31st deadline by visiting the Texas Secretary of State’s My Voter Portal.
Registering to vote for the first time?
To register to vote in Texas, simply complete a voter registration application and return it to your county election office at least 30 days before the upcoming election date. To complete an application, you may:
- Complete an application using the Texas Secretary of State’s online voter registration application module. Simply fill in the required information, print, sign and mail the completed application directly to your county election office;
- Request a printed application. The Texas Secretary of State’s office will mail a postage-paid voter registration application to the address provided; OR
- Contact or visit your county’s voter registrar (Hopkins County Tax Assessor-Collector Debbie Mitchell, P.O. Box 481 Sulphur Springs 75483; (903) 438-4063; her office is located in Hopkins County Courthouse Annex, 128 Jefferson St., Suite. D, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482) to complete the voter registration process.
Register to vote when renewing your Driver License or State ID card
If you’re not already registered to vote, but have an existing Texas Driver License or state identification card, you can register to vote online when renewing, replacing or changing your contact information for either card through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Follow the steps on the DPS web portal to update your driver license information, and you will be given the option to register to vote when renewing or updating your information.
Update your voter registration information online
Whether you’ve recently moved or changed your name, you can now update all your information on your voter registration record through the portal on Texas.gov.
Click here to update your voter registration information online. You will need your Voter Unique Identifier (VUID) to log in to the Texas.gov portal. You can find your VUID by visiting the Texas SOS My Voter Portal, then entering your name, county, date of birth and ZIP code to display your voter registration information.
Jettribe Announces 2022 Texas Professional Jet Ski Race Series
Local powersports company Jettribe has announced their return as title sponsor of a professional jet ski race series in the Central USA later this year.
The 2022 Jettribe Mid-America WaterX Championships, Central Nationals Series will have an exciting 7 Round Series with events in Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and Tennessee.
Racers will earn points at each race towards the Central Nationals Championship. The point series will conclude with a 4-Day Event at Lake Coleman in Sulphur Springs, Texas, Aug, 4-7.
Jet ski race classes include beginners, juniors, and professional top-level athletes racing both stand-up and sit down personal watercrafts.
Questions about the series should be directed to Race Organizer Nauti Water Racing at www.facebook.com/officialnautiwaterracing.
Updates will also be posted to the Jettribe website www.jettribe.com/events/
Last Week’s Team Tennis Match in Sherman Ruled No-Contest
Coach Tony Martinez and team tennis were set and prepped for Thursday’s spring-opener for the Wildcats in Sherman, but it was postponed and ultimately cancelled due to weather.
Coach Martinez told his team early last week to keep their Saturday open due to fears that the competition would not make its Thursday slot due to poor weather.
Ultimately, the game was pushed to Saturday, still in Sherman, but finally the decision was made that the Wildcats could not make the trip and compete due to extreme mist that rolled through North/Northeast Texas on Saturday.
With harsh weather making it difficult for Sulphur Springs to not only make the trip but to compete as well the opening contest for team tennis in spring 2022 was called off.
Last week’s contest versus Sherman as a result was ruled a no-contest.
With that, Coach Martinez and team tennis practice this week in preparation for the Hallsville tournament Friday after next on Jan. 21.
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.
Commissioners Court Again Approves Reinvestment Zone For BT Solterra Solar, As Well As 381 Agreement
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Monday morning, Jan. 10, 2022, again approved a reinvestment zone for and also approved a 381 agreement for BT Solterra Solar, LLC.
Austin Willis, director of Solar and Storage for Belltown Power Texas, Monday morning explained that the reinvestment zone is exactly the same as the one approved by the court in November 2021 for BT Solterra Solar. However, due to an oversight on behalf of the local newspaper, notice for the reinvestment zone were never published as required.
“We believe it was just an oversight by the newspaper. We do not believe there was any malice. It was just overlooked and pushed out for something else,” County Judge Robert Newsom.
Thus, the notices that were supposed to go out before the November 2021 voted have been posted since the error was discovered and the court again held a public hearing, then the three court members present (Precint 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley and Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price were both absent from the Jan. 10, 2022 court session) voted to establish the reinvestment zone as presented for BT Solerra.
During the public hearing conducted Jan. 10, 2022, prior to the vote approving the reinvestment zone for BT Solerra Solar to be constructed in the Saltillo area, Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Director Roger Feagley noted that the reinvestment zone simply established a geographic area for which the solar facility developer may request a tax incentive at some point in the future. This is particularly important as it is required for the BT Solerra to request a Chapter 312 agreement from Hopkins County Hospital District Board for a tax abatement for the solar project.
Hopkins County Resident Mac Pitts asked what the duration of the reinvestment zone will be. Feagley advised it would be for 5 years, but would be renewable for up to 10 years. The zone begins in January 2022 and would be valid through 2027, when it could be renewed for five additional years through 2032. The zone spans 1354 acres.
BT Solterra has asked for tax incentives from Saltillo ISD and Monday asked and received a 381 agreement from Hopkins County Commissioners Court. The company will be required to pay all taxes, for the approximately 1,354 acres across 15 different parcels leased from Los Senderos Cattle and Ranch Company and Delbert Chip Tully. Upon meeting terms of the agreement, BT Solterra Solar would receive a 100 percent reimbursement of taxes for tax years 2023-2033, or beginning the tax year in which on-site construction of the project has begun and at last 25% of the minimum investment of $100 million as of the appraisal date for that tax year.
According to the 381 agreement, the investment for the project will be a minimum of $100 million with a target of $140 million in improvements, new business personal property and equipment, but excluding inventory placed on the property. The project must be a complete construction by Dec. 31, 2023, and the developer is required to present to the court invoices, receipts or other documentation to the county for expenditures made toward the $100 million minimum investment, and a certificate of completion by Dec. 31, 2023.
The project will provide a minimum of one full-time employment position to be paid an average wage by Dec. 31, 2023, for which an annual compliance verification is to be provided for all 10 year years of the 381 agreement. The developer also must present an anual tax appraisal by the local appraisal distirct and pay the the taxes each year, then will be reimbursed for them, upon meeting all requirements.
The developer has agreed upon construction of at least 25% of the minimum investment in tax year 2023 or later to pay a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) payment each year through 2032 equal to $880 multiplied by the greater of the overall nameplate capacity located in the county and the 140 megawatt AC. The developer may also pay a one-time amount to be included in the tax year 2023 PILOT payment equal to the greater of $440 multiplied by the greater of the overall nameplate capacity (defined in the agreement at as the total or overall generating capacity of the improvements on the property in megawatts AC) located in the county and 140 megawatt AC for road repairs and maintenance.
Lady Cats Soccer Goes 1-1-0 in Kilgore Tournament
Lady Cats soccer got a win, tie and loss from Jan. 6-8 in the Kilgore tournament, their first regular-season tourney of the year.
Thursday’s opening match versus Bullard was the first regular season contest for the women’s soccer squad.
It did not go as planned for Coach Javier Aguayo’s squad, as Sulphur Springs fells to Bullard 3-1 on Thursday, Jan. 6.
It was a tough loss for the girls, as the Lady Cats trailed 3-0 at the half and were able to get one in early in the second half.
Coach Aguayo said the second half was a better, in that they were able to control the game and create more chances. The women’s soccer coach said his squad kept getting shots on goal but couldn’t convert.
Injuries are hurting the Lady Cats at the moment, as Coach Aguayo missed six starters in the loss to Bullard.
Friday, Jan. 7 was a better day for women’s soccer, getting a 2-1 win over Spring Hill.
Springs Springs was able to score two goals in the first half and conceded one in the second half. Coach Aguayo said he was glad his squad shook things off from the Bullard loss and rebounded by starting out with a great first half against Spring Hill.
Due to injuries, the women’s soccer coach moved up some JV players who are getting plenty of playing time. Coach Aguayo said this will help the Lady Cats be ready for district.
Wrapping up tournament play in Kilgore on Saturday, Jan. 8, Sulphur Springs were scheduled to take on Pleasant Grove. That game was cancelled due to weather, Coach Aguayo confirmed over text.
With that, women’s soccer come in to their Monday, Jan. 10 game day sporting a 1-1-0 record.
The Lady Cats will look to extend their win streak to two if they can best visiting Princeton at Gerald Prim Stadium on Monday, Jan. 10.
That game kicks off tonight at 7:15 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.
Wildcats Soccer Goes 0-2-2 in Forney Tournament
Coach Alexi Upton’s team fought hard Thursday through Saturday in the Forney tournament, but could not stream together wins, going 0-2-2.
The three matches for Wildcats soccer were tough ones. They tied Coach Alexi Upton’s alma mater in Mesquite Poteet 2-2 on Thursday, Jan. 6 in their first regular season contest.
Friday, Jan. 7 provided the men’s soccer squad with two more quality opponents in Ennis and Crandall.
Sulphur Springs lost both of Friday’s contests, first shutout by Ennis 2-0 then getting beat 3-1 by the Pirates.
Edgar Salazar scored the lone goal in the loss to Crandall and was assisted by Jose Rodriguez.
Coach Upton said his varsity squad dominated over all four tournament games but just could not get results. The men’s soccer coach said several coaches come up to the team and said both how good they look and how they perhaps should have won.
Coach Alexi Upton did not attend Saturday’s 1-1 tie with Corsicana, citing illness. The Wildcats soccer coach said he did not attend Saturday’s tourney finale as a precaution.
Defensive/keeper errors, bad luck and an inability to put the ball in the net proved to much to overcome as the Wildcats wrapped up participation in the Forney tournament going 0-2-2.
The men’s soccer coach said his squad will stay positive and keep working. “Results will come,” Coach Upton said.
Next up, Wildcats soccer are back at Gerald Prim Stadium on Tuesday, Jan. 11 when they host Terrell.
That match kicks off on Tuesday at 7:15 P.M. for the varsity. JV2/freshmen and JV precede the varsity at 4 and 5:30 P.M. respectively.
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.
Meal A Day Menu – Jan. 10-14, 2022
Volunteers prepare meals at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center and deliver them five days a week to Meal A Day program recipients in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. The Meal A Day Menu for Jan. 10-14, 2022, includes:
- Monday – Chicken Parmesan, Egg Noodles, Squash and Garlic Sticks.
- Tuesday – Smothered Beef Patties, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and a Roll.
- Wednesday – Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, Corn and Pinto Beans.
- Thursday – Vegetable Beef Soup, Cornbread and Tossed Salad.
- Friday – Poppy Seed Chicken, On a Bed of Rice, Broccoli with Cheese Sauce and a Roll.
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
NETEX Board Approves 4 Of 5 ROW Matters For Elevon Development
Board Officers Elected, Audit Progressing, Counties Urged To Consider Designating ARP Funding For Replacement Of Cross Ties
Northeast Texas Rural Trasnsportation District (NETEX) Board approved four of the five right-of-way (ROW) related matters from RAMS, Inc. For the Elevon Development being constructed in Collin County.
The NETEX Board his week also elected officers, heard a report on finances and progress of a multi-year audit, and the president urges counties to consider designating American Rescue Plan funding for replacement of cross ties on the railroad.
Elevon Development
The NETEX Board agreed to four of the five ROW related matters presented from RAMS Inc. for Elevon Development, and authorized their attorney and chairman to handle final documents. Approved as recommended were:
- Utility agreements, pipeline and wireline;
- Public road crossing agreements – as a one-time payment per crossing by the developer to NETEX in lieu of future payments at a rate of about $250,000 for Inspiration Grove and $400,000 for Elevon Parkway;
- Support removal of Bear Creek bridge, which has been in disrepair for some time, with support of North East Texas Connector (NETEX rail operator), who would like to salvage some reusable parts of the bridge for emergency repairs or temporary parts, if the dissembled bridge pieces are intact after removal; and
- Stipulations of parties, detailing who holds responsibility and liability for what, and including one addition to be worked out by counsel and chairman.
Board members indicated the private road agreement ROW mattersfor the Elevon Development should be tabled until the next meeting, pending futher negotiation and ironing out of additional matters.
Financial Update
Treasurer Neal Barker on Jan. 6, 2022, reported NETEX received two checks from NETC, one each for August and September car counts, for a deposit of $6,120 for the month of December. NETEX made two payments of $4,500, one per month, to NETC to be applied toward the lease payment for the machine used to cut brush from crossings. NETEX also had a small legal bill. That gives NETEX a balance of $246,277.19, and the money market account balance of $51,755.
Barker also reported that Mike Ward has continued making progress on the audit or three years worth of finances for NETEX. While the audit wasn’t complete by the Jan. 6 NETEX meeting, Ward indicadted he expects to have a report ready to present to the NETEX Board for review at the February meeting.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court, Neal reported, has been talking, trying to figure out a way to provide some additional funding to NETEX to purchase some additional ties for the railroad. He received a check from Hopkins County Jan. 6, 2022, for NETEX in the amount of $25,225. Hopkins County Commissioners Court on Dec. 27, 2021, voted to designate that portion of the American Rescue Plan funding the county received to assist the railroad group with the purchase of cross ties to help improve the railroad.
Although Hopkins County Precinct 1 Commissioner/NETEX Board member Mickey Barker was unable to attend the Jan. 6, 2022 NETEX Board meeting to present the check, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and NETEX Treasurer/Hopkins County NETEX Board representative Neal Barker was on hand for the presentation of the $25,225 from Hopkins County to NETEX.
The treasurer said Mickey Barker also wanted to make clear that as far as he and Hopkins County Commissioners Court are concerned the funding is not given for rail improvements in Hopkins County but to purchase cross ties to be installed wherever along the roadway the most ties are needed.
“Give thanks to Mickey whenever you all see him for kind of spearheading that and encouraging me to write letters to each of your county judges, which has been done. Hopefully, as you are considering those ARP fundsand how you might use them, this is an excellent way if you can find some room in your expenditure budget,” NETEX Board President/Chairman Brian Lee said Thursday. “Thank you also Judge Newsom in your role in getting this done. I assume you were not a dessenting vote there.”
“It was unanimous,” Newsom said of Hopkisn County Commissioners Court’s decision to contribute American Rescue Act funding to to NETEX.
“TI appreciate that very much, you taking the lead on that,” Lee said.
Election Of NETEX Officers
The NETEX Board then was asked to elect from members four to serve as officers, who compose the executive team. Entering the meeting, Lee served as president, Cheryl Williams as vice president, Neal Barker as treasurer and Paul Burt as secretary.
One board member asked if the members could simply make a motion to keep the current slate of officers on the board. Lee noted that mixing it up and giving others an opportunity to assume leadership roles on the NETEX Board is recommended.
Lee thanked the other board members for giving him that opportunity for more than one term, but said he was more than willing to pass the president’s baton to another member of the board if any have aspirations of a leadership role. He then asked if those serving as officer at that point wanted off the board.
Neal Barker said he would prefer not to serve yet another term as treasurer of the group. He said NETEX Administrative Assistant to the Board Mitzi Y’Barbo actually does the actual accounting work and provides a report for the treasurer to read aloud. The position requires from less than an hour to about 2 hours a month, and as a member of the executive team, could be called upon by contractors such as Jarrett Mankin of RAMS Inc. or others to answer questions or make calls related to NETEX business to check on things.
Suggested for treasurer were Mickey Barker who lives in Sulphur Springs where a new facility is to be constructed and where the board meets and assistant keeps track of records and business, and Hunt county Precinct 1 Commissioner Mark Hutchins, who had previously indicated a desire to have an active role on the NETEX Board. Neither were able to attend the Jan. 6 meeting, so both were contacted by text message. Hutchins responded with a willingness to serve, and the board unanimously approved the nomination.
Titus County Judge Brian Lee was again elected to serve as president, Collin County Precinct 2 Commissioner Cheryl Williams as vice president and Paul Burt (Delta County) as secretary.
NETC Operators Update
Amanda Fernandez, Northeast Texas Connector Railroad customer service representative, reported that NETC finished the year strong. In December 2021, 116 cars made it through interchange, 2 less than in November 2021. Overall, NETC reported 1,350 cars on the rail from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2021, NETC’s first full year as rail operator. NETC officially stepped in as rail operator on July 1, 2020, but reported 563 carloads fro July thoruigh December of 2020. From July 1 through Dec. 31, 2021, NETC reported having 628 carloads on the rail, an increase of 65 cars from 2020.
She too reported the average number of inbound cycle days was 2.0, breaking even. Outbound cycle time increased by 0.02 to 4.4 days.
“We did have one derailment in Franklin County, and we were able to get that picked up with no problem and repaired a little bit,” Fernandez said. “It took about 2 days to repair. We had to get a crane in there to help pick up, but no significant damage- or no damage at all – to cars or engine, just a few repairs on the track.”
The derailment occurred just east of Franklin County Road 1020 past the cemetery just off Highway 67 in Franklin County, according to Miguel Fernandez.
Amanda Fernandez also reported 172 ties installed throughout the line, 17 FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) 30 day defects and brush-cut four road crossings: FM 118, FM 2736, CR 4201 and CR 4202.
2 Hopkins County Men Jailed Friday On Felony Warrants
Two Hopkins County men were jailed Friday on felony warrants, according to arrest and jail reports.
David Alan “Toots” Deaton was taken into custody at 8:20 p.m. Jan. 7, 2022, at his Merrell Drive residence by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tanner Steward, and Deputies Zack Horne and Drew Fisher, on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance warrant. The 51-year-old Sulphur springs man was released from Hopkisn County jail Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, on a $5,000 bond on the felony charge, according to jail reports. The offense, the deputies noted in arrest reports, was alleged to have occurred on Nov. 9, 2021.
HCSO Deputy Steve Huffman transported John Robert Sievers Jr. to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, on a warrant for continuous sexual abuse of a young child. The 43 year-old Brashear man remained in Hopkins County jail Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, on the first-degree felony charge, according to jail reports.
