Jettribe Excited to be the Official Clothing & Gear Sponsor of the Water Jet World Grand Prix #1
Jettribe is excited to be back as the Official Clothing & Gear Sponsor of the Water Jet World Grand Prix #1. The Water Jet World Grand Prix is a World Tournament with racers competing in 3 competitions for the title World Cup Champion! Round 1 took place this past July at the Jettribe European Jet Ski Championship in Poland. Round 2 will take place next month at the 40th Anniversary Jettrim IJSBA Lake Havasu World Finals. The 3rd and final round will take place in beautiful Pattaya,Thailand at the Jet Ski World Cup.
Jettribe is so proud to continue as Official Gear Sponsor for the 3rd consecutive year. Each year the organizers of this Championship Series put together amazing, large-scale competitions. The events are viewed by large audiences on shore, and worldwide on Euro sport channels. The PWC racing industry has grown much over the past few years, and are lucky to be along for the ride.
A&M-Commerce Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Program Earns Accreditation
COMMERCE, Texas —The Department of Engineering and Technology at Texas A&M University-Commerce recently announced that its Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering is newly accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).
ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)is a non-profit, non-governmental agency tasked with accrediting academic programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. Accreditation provides assurance that college and university programs meet the quality standards of the profession for which the program intends to prepare graduates. Criteria for accreditation is developed by professionals from ABET member professional societies.
Dr. Andrea Graham, associate dean of the College of Science and Engineering, said ABET accreditation marks a major milestone for the electrical engineering program at A&M-Commerce.
“Our faculty have worked tirelessly to develop quality course instruction while implementing an assessment process that is robust and delivers sound, continuous improvement,” Graham said. “Students completing the electrical engineering program at A&M-Commerce will be prepared for productive careers in their chosen specialty within the field.”
Dr. Brent Donham, dean of the College of Science and Engineering, reports that the electrical engineering program was implemented at A&M-Commerce in the Fall 2017 semester in response to the growing needs of regional industries.
“Receiving ABET accreditation in this short period of time is evidence of Dr. Andrea Graham’s leadership and the hard work of our dedicated electrical engineering faculty,” Donham said.
The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering is the fourth program to be accredited by ABET at A&M-Commerce. The Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering are also accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Additionally, the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Learn more about ABET at https://www.abet.org. Learn about the A&M-Commerce B.S. in Electrical Engineering program at https://www.tamuc.edu/programs/electrical-engineering.
3 Additional Hopkins County Residents Confirmed To Have Died From COVID
Fewer New COVID Cases, More Patients Recoveries Reported In Last Week
The daily case counts reported are mixed with overall new cases declining and active case counts declining, each outpaced last week by recoveries for Hopkins County; unfortunately, three additional Hopkins County residents Wednesday were confirmed to have died from COVID-19.
Fatalities
Over the past 7 days, Texas Department of State Health Services has reported five additional COVID-19 fatalities have been confirmed by cause of death on death certificates of people who lived at addresses with Hopkins County zip codes, three of them recorded for the first time Sept. 22. That’s nine new deaths confirmed this month for Hopkins County.
Only two of the latest round of COVID deaths, however, are occurred this month, one on Sept. 7 and another on Sept. 17, increasing the total number of Hopkins County residents who have died this month as a direct result of coronavirus to five. Two Hopkins County residents also died on Sept. 1 and one on Sept. 3, 2021.
The three additional new cases occurred in August, including one on Aug. 31, one of Aug. 19 and one on Aug. 15. Combined with the three fatalities on Aug. 6; two each on Aug. 10 and 2 on Aug. 30; and one each on Aug. 5, 7, 11, 12 and 13.
That makes 63 Hopkins County residents who have died from COVID-19 this year, 20 in the last month and a half after 2 months with no COVID deaths.
Cumulatively, 134 Hopkins County residents have died from COVID since July 17, 2020.
While 134 represents a death rate of less than 1 percent of the total population of Hopkins County, 4.77 percent of Hopkins residents who’ve received lab-confirmed COVID-19 results have died from the virus.
Case Counts
Week three of September began with recoveries outpacing new cases 22-16, reducing the active case count for Hopkins County to 382 on Sept. 22 – the least number of active cases in 20 days.
The total number of new lab-confirmed COVID cases rose from 136 on Week 1 to 148 in Week 2, then dipped to 87 for Week 3 of September. That’s 383 Hopkins County residents who have received positive molecular test results, 115 more confirmed cases from Sept. 1-22 than Aug. 1-22. That makes 1,690 new lab-confirmed COVID cases so far in 2021, and 2,812 since the pandemic began in March 2020.
Another 216 people have been reported Sept. 1-22 as having “probable” cases of COVID-19. DSHS, following the CDC terminology, defines a probable case as one in which a person “has either tested positive through an antigen test or has a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis.”
During the first week of September 76 new probable corona virus cases were reported, 98 during week 2 and 38 during week 3. That’s 93 more probable cases reported during the first 22 day of September than from Aug. 1-22, 2021.
That increases the total number of probable COVID-19 cases reported so far in 2021 to 1,026, and brings the cumulative pandemic total to 2,143. Probable case tallies only go back to late last fall as the state didn’t begin tracking probable cases until then, and didn’t begin reporting them daily until Dec. 11, 2020.
Combined, that’s 599 total new COVID cases reported so far this month, 208 more than during the first 22 days of August. In fact, that’s more than the 571 total new cases reported during the entire month of August 2021.
That makes 2,716 new COVID-19 cases reported for Hopkins County in 2021 and 4,967 COVID cases since Spring Break 2020.
Testing
Of course, the daily case counts and active case counts always have the potential to rise significantly with exposure and sickness. For instance 290 people were reported to have been COVID tested on Tuesday, Sept. 21, in Hopkins County — 150 molecular, 1 antibody and 130 antigen tests.
Molecular COVID tests can be nucleic acid amplification tests or NAAT, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (called RT-PCR) tests and loop mediated isothermic amplification (called LAMP) tests that diagnose current infections by looking for a germ’s genetic material. An antibody test or serology test is a blood test that can show whether a person had a past infection by looking for proteins the body creates to fight an infection. An antigen test is the rapid test that uses a nasal swab to check for certain proteins on the outside of a germ.
That’s up from 82 tests performed on Monday, Sept. 20, according to the DSHS data. Overall, that makes 34,181 COVID tests performed in Hopkins County using one of the three methods as of Sept. 21, 2021, including 22,710 molecular, 2,046 antibody and 9,425 antigen tests. On Monday, only 1 antibody test, 35 antigen and 46 molecular tests were conducted in Hopkins County.
To find COVID testing site near you, click here. Those not sure if they should be tested may use the CDC’s Coronavirus Self-Checker to help make decisions about seeking appropriate testing and medical care. When in doubt, call or message your physician for further information.
To find out what COVID testing collection sites are available near you near you, click here to view an interactive option for COVID-19 test collection sites.
| Category | Sept. 19 | Sept. 20 | Sept. 21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molecular | 22,505 | 22,551 | 22,710 |
| Antibody | 2,044 | 2,045 | 2,046 |
| Antigen | 9,260 | 9,295 | 9,425 |
| Total Tests | 33,809 | 33,891 | 34,181 |
Recoveries
Not only were fewer cases reported in Week 3 of September, but recoveries were on the rise. A total of 524 Hopkins County residents were reported to have recovered from the virus in September, 123 during Week 1 (Sept. 1-7), 159 during Week 2 (Sept. 8-15), 220 on Week 3, and 22 on Sept. 22. Overall, that’s 524 total recoveries so far in September, 323 more than during the first 22 days of August.
So, that makes 1,026 Hopkins County COVID recoveries reported so far in 2021 and 4,372 since the pandemic began in March of 2020.
While must higher than desired, the smaller numbers of daily new cases last week and increased recoveries have resulted in fewer active cases in the county, dipping from 412 on Sept. 7 and the whopping 498 on Sept. 14 to 388 active cases on Sept. 21 and 382 active cases on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021.
| COVID-19 RECOVERIES | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Month (1st-22) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2021 | 123 | 159 | 220 | 524 |
| August 2021 | 33 | 62 | 86 | 201 |
Vaccines
Across the state 71.06 percent of the population age 12 and older had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Sept. 21, according to the Feb. 22 COVID-19 Vaccination in Texas dashboard on the Texas Health and Human Services/DSHS website. Overall, 30,515,802 doses of vaccine have been administered in the state to 17,103,070 people with 14,601,872 (60.67 percent) of those age 12 and up fully vaccinated.
In Hopkins County, 25,592 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered as of 11:59 p.m. Sept. 21, including 7,133 doses administered from Aug. 30 through Sept. 21, 2021. Fifty-eight doses were administered Monday-Tuesday of this week.
A total of 14,501 people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 12,160 have been fully vaccinated.
More females than male have gotten the vaccine in every age category except one; 258 youth ages 12-15, 129 boys and 129 girls, were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as of Sept. 21. The largest group vaccinated in Hopkins County, 4,104 people, is that of individuals age 16-49; a total of 1,812 males and 2,197 females had been fully vaccinated for the virus at the conclusion of the day Tuesday. Overall, 5,243 people in Hopkins County had received at least one dose of the vaccine, 2,412 males and 2,823 females.
The “People Vaccinated” tab in the HHS/DSHS COVID-19 Vaccine in Texas dashboard also shows 58.08 of people in Hopkins County who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are white, almost four times more than any other group identified in the charge. Only 14.65 percent of Hispanic individuals and 14.64 percent of people who listed their race/ethnicity as being other than Asian, Black, Hispanic, white or unknown (typically denoted when the person did not select any response for this demographic). Of the 12,160 fully vaccinated in Hopkins County, 5.81 percent identified as race/ethnicity unknown, 5.71 percent are Black and 1.11 percent Asian, according to the HHS/DSHS website.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs will continue hosting COVID Vaccine Clinics every Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the main lobby of the hospital until further notice. Moderna (2-doses, ages 18 and older) and Pfizer (2-doses, ages 12 and older) will be available. Appointments not required, but parent/guardian must accompany anyone 17 and younger.
Boosters are also available for the immunocompromised. The CDC recommends people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive an additional dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Those unsure if they fall into this category should consult their physician.
Most vaccines are available at local pharmacies. Click here to look up the information online.
TWC: Program Offers Free Child Care To Assist Parents Employed In Service Industry
Subsidized Child Care Program Expanded With Emphasis On Industries Hit Hardest By Pandemic
AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission is providing extra help to the service industry, which was hit hard by the pandemic, by providing 12 months of free child care to low-income parents who are employed in the service industry. TWC has an existing child care subsidy program designed to assist low-wage workers in paying for the cost of child care. The new Service Industry Recovery (SIR) program will use federal COVID-relief funds to provide an extra focus on workers in the service industry.
“TWC’s child care assistance program provides an important subsidy many Texas families use to enter the workforce” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “This Service Industry Recovery program provides additional funding to ensure service industry employers maintain access to quality child care as they play an important role in the state’s economic success.”
The industries targeted include low-wage workers in the arts, entertainment and recreation industry, as well as accomodations, food services and retail trade. These industries were some of the greatest impacted by the pandemic.
“For many Texans, lack of access to affordable, quality child care is sometimes the biggest roadblock to getting a job,” said Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “Workers should not have to choose between their families and their jobs. They need and want to do both, and this program helps them do that.”
While TWC is targeting aspects of the service sector with SIR child care, all income-eligible families continue to have access to TWC’s regular low-income child care subsidy program. This new program targeting service industries will provide for an initial 12 months of eligibility. Continued eligibility following this time period will be conditioned on families applying for and meeting the regular child care eligibility requirements.
“Service industries are crucial to our state’s economy,” said Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson. “Assisting with getting our Texans back to work helps our Texas employers bounce back, which means a stronger recovery for all of Texas.”
The $500 million program is funded by a Child Care Development Block Grant through the federal CARES, ARPA and CRRSAA recovery legislation passed by Congress. The SIR program is being implemented through grants to the 28 Workforce Development Boards across Texas. For child chare assistance, click here, type in your zip code, then select the child care assistance option near the bottom of the page.
The Hopkins County Community Toiletry Drive A Success
The Hopkins County Community Toiletry Drive was a success, with more than 3,000 items as well as monetary donations contributed by individuals and businesses within the community, which will benefit individuals at all six rural county school districts in Hopkins County – Como-Pickton, Saltillo, Sulphur Bluff, North Hopkins, Miller Grove and Cumby.
“Thank you again for all you did to help market the project. You definitely helped make the project a success! I appreciate it so much!” project coordinator Helena Martinez says to all who contributed and helped.
Martinez is currently working to finish her Master’s of Science in Nursing Administration at the University of Texas-Austin. She was assigned, as her capstone project for the graduate degree program, to lead a community partnership project with a non-profit organization within the community.
After talking with multiple school nurses and counselors at the schools, Martinez identified a need for toiletry items to benefit students at all six rural Hopkins County school districts, which don’t have the funding needed to provide these items; what little each district does have one hand has been provided by school employees, particularly nurses and teachers. Martinez then contacted Shanna Martin to teamed up with CANHelp to collect toiletry donations. The Gilmer Street facility and the Alliance Bank Sulphur Springs Main Branch from June 28-July 11 served as collection sites for donations of hygienic products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner, soap, combs and brushes, deodorant, lotion and sanitary napkins.
Donations were divided and distributed to the six rural school districts.
For more information, please contact Helena Martinez at [email protected].”
Traffic Stop Results In Foot Pursuit, Controlled Substance Arrest
A Van Sickle Street traffic stop resulted in a foot pursuit and controlled substance arrest Tuesday morning, while a State Highway 19 traffic stop late Tuesday night netted 4 grams of methamphetamine a man tried to discard when a deputy search his SUV. Two other men were also arrested Tuesday on controlled substance and related charges, and a teen got to spend the night in for having marijuana in the jail parking lot, according to arrest reports.
Van Sickle Street Traffic Stop
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Sean Hoffman stopped Brian Lynn Matthews at 10:59 a.m. Sept. 21, 2021, on Van Sickle Street at the North Locust and Connally Street intersection for a defective stop light on the Dodge Caliber he was driving . The car crossed Connally then continued north on Locust Street.
The driver, identified in arrest reports as 43-year-old of Sulphur Springs, immediately exited the car upon stopping and began running west from the officer. Matthews reportedly tripped while running, allowing the officer to gain distance on him and try to get him into handcuffs, acording to arrest reports.
Matthews did not cooperate, refusing to place his hands behind his back and constantly trying to get away from the officer. The policeman observed a bag in his hand which he believed contained a narcotic. The man was forced to put his hands behind his back with the least amount of force nece3ssary to effect the arrest. The man continued to clench his fist tight while Hoffman was trying to conceal a bag with multiple other baggies containing a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine.
He was checked by EMS, then transported to jail, where he remained Wednesday morning, Sept. 22, 2021 on possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone, evading arrest or detention and resisting arrest charges, according to arrest and jail reports.
Warrant Arrests
Two people were arrested on warrants Tuesday.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Francisco Castro spotted Nicholas Anthony Reynolds at a Como Street residence at 8:24 a.m. Sept. 21, 2021. Recognizing the man, the officers contacted him, then asked communications operators to conduct a records check. A dispatchers advised there was an outstanding warrant for the man’s arrest.
Castro took the 32-year-old into custody on the manufacture or delivery of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance warrant. He remained in jail on the charge Wednesday morning, Sept. 22, 2021, on the felony charge.
Tuesday was the fourth time in less than 7 months Reynolds has been booked into Hopkins County jail. He spent one night each in jail on March 14 and April 11 on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, as well as Aug. 17-24, on a warrant for bond forfeiture on one of the controlled substance charges, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joe Hooten took Corey Latroy Grant into custody at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2021, in the 8th Judicial District Courtroom.
The 39-year-old Dallas man was booked into Hopkins County jail for bond forfeiture on a June 25, 2020 possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. He remained in custody at the county jail Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. Bond was recommended to be a cash-only $10,000 bond, according to jail reports.
SH 19 North Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Wilkerson and Sgt. Scott Davis reported stopping Jimmy Ray Emeyabbi at 11:27 p.m. Sept. 21, 2021, on State Highway 19 north at FM 1536 for driving a Honda SUV on the improved shoulder.
While talking to the 40-year-old Talco man, deputies noted his hands shook as if nervous. When asked if he had anything illegal in the vehicle, the driver pointed to a burnt marijuana blunt in an ashtray.
The deputy had him step out and the SUV and patted him down. After the finding a hypodermic syringe on him, he detained Emeyabbi in handcuffs and had him stand near his patrol vehicle while the deputies searched the Talco man’s SUV. Additional drug paraphernalia was found in the SUV. One deputy noticed Emeyabbi moving around near his patrol unit. The deputy reported when he walked back toward him, the deputy reported seeing a crystal-like substance he suspected was methamphetamine.
The deputy placed Emeyabbi into custody and seized the suspected contraband. The loose substance from the roadhouse was collected. Emeyabbi admitted to concealing contraband on him and when he saw the officer behind the vehicle trying to discard it. The substance field-tested positive for meth and weighed 4.24 grams, including packaging.
Emeyabbi was booked into jail at 1:17 a.m. Sept. 22, 2021, for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and tampering with evidence with intent to impair, and on a warrant for not taking are of an Aug. 24, 2020 possession of drug paraphernalia charge. He remained in jail Wednesday afternoon. Bond was set at $50,000 each on the controlled substance and tampering with evidence charge, according to jail reports.
Arrested in the Jail Parking Lot
A Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer alerted Investigator Michael Russell around 9:25 a.m. Sept. 21 that he had detected a marijuana odor emitting from a vehicle as he walked past it in the parking lot. Russell contacted the occupants of the gray Chevrolet Impala and also detected a marijuana odor coming from inside the car. The operator of the vehicle admitted there was marijuana within the center console and claimed it as hers.
Russell and Sgt. Richard Greer arrested the 17-year-old Mount Pleasant youth at 9:34 a.m. for possession of drug paraphernalia. She was escorted into the jail, where she remained overnight on a Class C misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charge, according to jail reports.
KSST does not publish the names or photos of people charged with misdemeanor crimes in staff-generated reports, only those accused of felony offenses.
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.
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 Team Tennis Clinches Playoff Spot With Last Week’s Win Versus Pine Tree
Wildcats team tennis has kept busy in the last month, entrenched in district play.
It has gone very well for Sulphur Springs, as even though they have taken on a number of powerhouse programs that play in District 15-5A, they have consistently performed better and better than in years’ past.
Mt. Pleasant was the first team that awaited the Wildcats in district play, and it went swimmingly as the tennis team swept the Tigers 19-0.
On Aug. 31 they stole a match versus Texas High, but that was all they could manage in an 18-1 defeat at home versus the Tigers.
And while the following two matches, in Longview on Sept. 7 and at home versus Kaufman on Sept. 11 were both losses, Coach Tony Martinez and his team had their sights set on Pine Tree all season long on Sept. 14.
The team tennis coach said for weeks that hosting the Pirates last Tuesday would be a de-facto playoff game, in that if the Wildcats could emerge victorious versus Pine Tree they would clinch a playoff spot as the #4 seed.
They did just that, beating Pine Tree to give themselves a playoff berth.
Coach Martinez said he has been most impressed with his team’s lack of quitting.
He said that after a Wildcat player finishes their match, whether it be singles or doubles, they then would go and cheer on their teammates for moral support.
Wildcats and Lady Cats tennis fans saw just that last Tuesday when Sulphur Springs beat Pine Tree 12-7 at the Tennis Center.
Coach Martinez said his team never quit in their big district match versus the Pirates, and even when down in a few sets, fought all the way to the finish.
The win increases Wildcats team tennis’ record to 5-6.
They had a bye on Tuesday and will be back in action next Tuesday when they make the trip out to Hallsville to take on the Bobcats.
An always-tough district match-up, Coach Martinez’s squad will have their hands full next Tuesday when they take on Hallsville starting at 4 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.
Budget, Tax Rate, Utility Fees Receive Unanimous Approval From Sulphur Springs City Council
Ordinance Setting Master Fee Schedule Passes On 4-2 Vote
Sulphur Springs City Council made short work of Tuesday evening’s special meeting, unanimously approving ordinances setting the budget, tax rate and utility fees for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and one authorizing updated service credits. Ordinance No. 2783 establishing a master fee schedule passed on a 4-2 vote. Although public hearings were held for each, no members of the community attended the 7;30 p.m. meeting to voice opinions regarding the seven ordinances.
Master Fees, Utilities
When asked to consider approving a master fee schedule for costs, frees and rates associated with permitting, utility services and other services provided by the city, Mayor Johns Sellers said he still had reservations about the street maintenance fee being doubled from $5 on residential water bills to $10 for FY 2021-22.
He said he thinks there is a lot of misinformation among the community as to how that funding is spent and exactly how much it will actually fund. Some people, he said are still think the SMF has been in placed for 5 years or longer. That fee has only been charged for 2 1/2 years, and has helped extend the number of street the city is able to treat or provide small repairs on all across the city not part of downtown. This is funding above what had previously been allowed through the capital improvement budget. He said he believes it’d be good to have a fact sheet available to give to residents with accurate information, to help the city be as transparent with this as possible.
“I understand costs are going up. I fell like with everything going on in the world in the last year and a half, people are truly struggling, I feel like hte case needs to be proven better,” Sellers said.
Place 1 Councilman Jay Julian submitted as “food for thought” but not something that could potentially require immediate action an idea to perhaps charge the fee not city water bills but perhaps another place. He noted that practically every citizen within Hopkins County uses the city streets, driving into town to the store or for work or events, and commercial trucks and business vehicles also drive on city streets carrying loads or during the course of business. Perhaps, he said, a more equitable way to fund street repairs would be not exclusively on fees paid just by Sulphur Springs citizens who pay water bills.
Julian noted that based on his research Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in Hopkins County registered more than 42,000 vehicles in 2020. That would include those county residents who travel to Sulphur Springs to town or work or visit as well as plants, cooperatives and businesses. He said while he does not know the intricacies of doing so, perhaps it’d be worthwhile to take a different approach and see what it would involved to have say $1.50 a year fee added to vehicle registrations instead of on water bills. That, he said, would generate over $1 million. The funds generated from the street maintenance fee have been helpful, but aren’t enough to fix a road base. The city can’t afford to stop repairing streets.
City Manager Marc Maxwell said he has reservations about going that route, which would be a risk, but wasn’t prepared to say more about it until the matter can be better researched.
Based on information presented in recent months by Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski the city needs to move up its time table for repairs, to get on a schedule so that all roads receive some maintenance at least once every 15 years.
Currently, to do that will require the street maintenance fee increase. Julian proposed if that’s to continue, to regularly on a schedule evaluate the fee and consider increasing or lowering it based on need.
Sellers and Place 2 Councilman Harold Nash Sr. both voted against the master fee schedule as proposed. The motion passed, however, on a 4-2 vote.
Utility Fees
The City Council unanimously approved as proposed increases to city water, sewer and sanitation fees.
City water bills, according to Ordinance No. 2785, will not charge a minimum $8.02 monthly demand charge plus a $4.05 usage fee for each 1,000 gallons of water. For meters 4-inches or larger the fee will be $939.52 minimum for 0-230,000 gallons of water, then $3.78 per 1,000 gallon usage of water in excess of 230,000 gallons of water.
Ordinance No. 2786 increases the sewer use fee to $28.10 for 0-4,000 gallons, then $4.07 per thousand gallons in excess of 4,000 gallons of sewage. Customers who contribute higher concentrations of waste than normal domestic wastewater would pay based on a forma based on the chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids and volume of water used.
Sanitation rates are scheduled to go up 5 percent, less than the 6 percent increase charged by the contractors. The rate per dwelling unit, multfamily residential unit and mobilehome park is $13.07. The monthly charge for commercial collection will be $26.15 per commercial unit. Business rates would be charge per contain per yard and per day. Temporary dumpsters under Ordinance No. 2787 would be charged a $102.84 delivery fee and charged fees per cubic yards for roll-offs and compactors.
Budget, Tax Rate
The City Council unanimously approved a budget just over $35 million budget, with 14.5 percent of the revenue funded by ad valorem taxes. Expenditures are budgeted to match revenues, which will fund all debt requirements, operating city government, and capital improvements, according to Ordinance No. 2783 Appropriations for 2021-2022 as posted on the city’s website.
The City Council tax rate will be reduced from $0.44 per $100 property valuation to $0.42692 per $100 property valuation in FY 2021-22, with $0.36241 designated for city maintenance and operations and the remaining $0.06461 applied to pay the principal and interest on city debit.
While the tax rate is almost 1.5-cents lower, it’s still expected to bring in 12.96 percent more in tax revenues than in FY 2020-21. That’s $507,107 in additional tax dollars to be raised in fiscal year 2021-22; $52,715 is new property added to the tax roll. The rest will come from tax payers in the form of increased property values, assessed for tax roles by Hopkins County Appraisal District.
In other words, the taxable value on homesteads has increased over 9 percent, which means an “average homestead taxable value” of $105,229 in 2020 would now be appraised at $115,012. That means the tax bill on that property would increased by $28 in FY 2021-22 to $491.01, according to the Notice of public hearing on tax increase posted by the City of Sulphur Springs.
Updated service credits
The Council approved Ordinance authorize updated service credits. Essentially, this is the retirement plan for city employees, through Texas Municipal Retirement System. The city’s contribution rate is 7.84 percent without updated service credits and increases to a total rate of 8.17 percent with adopted updated service credits. The city funded portion that will decrease slightly from 95.3 percent to 94.8 percent for FY 2022. The updated service credits enhance each retirement account of current full time employees for inflationary factors above specific thresholds. The additional cost of USC are estimated at $30,209.97 for FY 2022, city officials reported at a previous meeting.
Lady Cats Volleyball Gets Fourth District Win, Sweeping Pine Tree On the Road
The Lady Cats volleyball team never quit in a 3-0 sweep of the Lady Pirates in Longview on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021.
The first set proved to be the easiest of the three, as Sulphur Springs rode their momentum to a 25-19 set one win.
Set two proved to be more of the same, as even though the home Lady Pirates found their footing and made it competitive, Coach Bailey Dorner‘s squad pulled it out again 25-18 for a big 2-0 set lead.
The third set looked at many points as though Pine Tree could take the set and potentially avoid a sweep. 13 times set three was tied up between the district foes.
With Pine Tree trailing by one at 24-23, the Lady Pirates called a timeout to ensure that they could fight back and force a set four.
During the timeout, Coach Dorner said to her squad they “Just had to finish.”
In a back-and-forth set three, Coach Dorner said her team just had to stay true to who they are and finish, doing just that in a tight 25-23 set to complete the sweep.
Sulphur Springs has now won five of their last six contests.
The Lady Cats volleyball coach said she’s been most impressed with the way her squad works together as a team and when their backs are against the wall players step up.
The win increases Coach Dorner’s squad’s overall record to 17-11 (3-1 district).
Next up, the Lady Cats volleyball team will be on a bye this Friday before being back on the road next Tuesday, Sept. 28 when they take on the Hallsville Lady Cats.
Freshman and JV squads will get the action underway in Hallsville at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity teams at 6 P.M.
That game next Tuesday will be broadcasted over the radio on KSST 1230 AM.
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.
Chamber Connection – September 22, 2021: Jay Hodge Chevrolet is Hosting Their First Business Before Hours Networking Event
By Butch Burney
Jay Hodge Chevrolet is hosting the first Business Before Hours networking event from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28.
Join us for coffee, juice and donuts as you connect with other businessmen and women.
Jay Hodge Chevrolet is located on Wildcat Way.
This is the first networking event of the fall, and will be followed by a Business After Hours in October.
Strong Town Seminar
Neal Barker, owner of Town and Country Cleaners has invited Charles Marohn, professional engineer and founder of the Strong Towns movement, to discuss with interested individuals how to improve the trajectory of our town and help us to become more resilient. He focuses on bottom-up strategies for making investments that will actually build wealth, all while improving quality of life for residents of our community.
The discussion is set for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, at The Venue at 219. Registration is free at the website: sulphurspringsstrong.eventbrite.com
Marohn is the founder and president of Strong Towns. He is a professional engineer and a land use planner with decades of experience. He is the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity (Wiley, 2019). He hosts the Strong Towns Podcast and is a primary writer for Strong Towns’ web content. He has presented Strong Towns concepts in hundreds of cities and towns across North America. Planetizen named him one of the 10 Most Influential Urbanists of all time.
Get Your Stew On
It’s not too late for stew cooks to get their registration forms in for the 52nd Annual World Championship Hopkins County Stew Contest, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 23, at Buford Park.
Come by the chamber office or send us an email and we will get the registration form to you. We are expecting a big turnout for this year’s event, so be sure and get your spot.
We will have the north and south sides of the park open for cooking, along with a vendor market. We are expecting a fully open stew.
Speaking of stew, tickets will be available next week at all local banks and at the Chamber office. The cost remains the same as in the past, $6 for all-you-can-eat stew and $10 for take-home quarts.
In addition, we have Stew+75482 tumblers at the office for $20 and T-shirts will be available soon.
Heart of Hope Fundraiser
Northeast Texas Heart of Hope has a Fall Fundraiser set for 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Hopkins County Civic Center. It will feature speaker and recording artist Caitlin Jane. Register for free at SSHOH.com.
Ribeye Roundup
The Ribeye Roundup, kids zone and evening concert are coming to Celebration Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 2. You can purchase tickets at Texas Heritage National Bank.
You can also buy t-shirts to promote the event for $12 at the Chamber office, 110 Main St. Come by and pick up your shirt today.
Main Street Uncorked
Main Street Uncorked Wine and Music Festival is set for 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, in downtown. There will be Texas wineries, local vendors and great music. Music will be by Matthew Fiock, Lincoln Goodman and Twisted Whisky.
Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com.
Help A Child Benefit
The annual Help-A-Child Benefit keeps getting bigger and better. The 14th annual event is set for Saturday, Oct. 16, and will feature a chili cook-off, auction, livestock show, brisket cookoff, Dutch oven cobbler and corn hole competition.
All money raised will go toward Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, foster families and Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center.
The livestock show starts at 9 a.m., followed by the ag mechanics show at 11 a.m. and chili, brisket and Dutch oven cobbler is served at 11:30 (for $10). The auction begins at 12:30 p.m. and corn hole competition at 1:30 p.m.
Call Wade Bartley at 903-348-1878 for more information.
Arts and Crafts Show
The 2021 Hopkins County Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show will take place in the Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria and north entry way on Friday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 23. This event is open to anyone with hand-made, hand-crafted items to sell. Unique items, including handmade soaps and lotions, greeting cards, Christmas and seasonal decorations, jewelry, wood carvings, and much more will be available for purchase. Contact Johanna Hicks at 903-885-3443 for more information.
Ribbon Cutting
Burke’s Outlet hosted a ribbon cutting at Thursday morning as the new store opened on Mockingbird Lane.
