Improvements Planned For West Side Of Prim Stadium Parking Lot
The westside Gerald Prim Stadium parking lot, the home parking area, has been designated to receive $68,000 worth of improvements to clean, seal-coat and stipe the surface. Sulphur Springs ISD also will continue to contract out lawn work for most district facilities.
Prim Stadium Parking
The Prim Stadium parking lot has had no significant improvements in a quite a while, and it has begun to show. The surface has some cracks, which have grass growing through them, thus the need for the routine maintenance.
“It’s time to take care of that damage. We’ve recently sprayed to kill all of the grass in that area. As you know that’s the parking from Buford Circle to Houston Street on the home side of Prim to the Civic Center. That’ll be sealing all the cracks and resurfacing,” Sulphur Springs Independent School District Director of Maintenance Dan Froneberger said. “It’ll turn out darker than it is now. It’ll be restriped to hopefully gain us another 20 to 30 parking spaces.”
Part of the area to be paved came to the school district from the county, part of a deal a few years back giving SSISD a long-term lease on the Civic Center Auditorium.
“Prim is ours and a portion over at the high school parking lot that is not ours, it was part of the agreement with the Auditorium, that when we redid ours we redid theirs as well,” Sulphur Springs ISD Superintendent Mike Lamb said.
“The school district and county reached an agreement to swap some parking area for some parking space on the high school parking lot. At the high school, if you look at the clock that’s in front of the Civic Center, at an angle back across toward the Dairy Museum on Gladys Alexander, that belonged to the Civic Center, that’s the High School. We had this whole parking lot,” Froneberger noted of the deal struck several years back between SSISD and Hopkins County.
He said SSISD personnel have been in touch with Civic Center Manager Lonnie Fox regarding the planned parking improvements. fox indicated the Civic Center has four-five handicap parking spaces that are “kind of out in the middle of our parking lot.” Those will be moved up toward the county building “because he’s having some parking issues with people parking on his grass, as we did too until we put some big rocks that we had at other campuses. So that will clean up real nice,” Froneberger said.
The district posted notices asking companies interested in the project to submit bids. They received on proposal, from 5W Contracting, LLC, to perform the cleaning, seal-coating and striping of the Prim West parking lot.
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees, during their regular meeting on July 12, 2021, approved the $68,000 bid from the Sulphur Springs company
Lawn Care Services
Sulphur Springs ISD trustees also at the July 12 meeting approved a bid from a Sulphur Springs business to continue providing lawn care services for SSISD facilities.
Notices asking interested businesses to submit bids were posted last month. SSISD received one bid, from the Sulphur Springs company the district is currently using for lawn care services. East Texas Landscaping & Fencing met all requirements, including insurance and workers compensation, Froneberger reported.
The length of the agreement was increased from a one-year to a two-year contract, with an option to extend it for a third year.
“In the two years, they’ll hold the fee the same, and I believe it was down just a little bit from last year,” Froneberger said. “The principals are happy, and if you’ve seen the work that we’re doing, it’s pretty nice. The only thing that we keep in-house is from Highway 19 back to League Street and the high school complex. As we have retirements, they’ll put that under their umbrella.”
The board members present at the July 12 Board of Trustees meeting voted to award a two-year contract for lawn care services to East Texas Landscaping & Fencing for 2021-2023; the company agreed to perform the service, providing all materials, labor and services for $99,600 a year, which could be paid in increments of $8,300 monthly.
Journey Road Ministries’ Inaugural Golf Tourney July 19 to Support Foster Families
Rachel and Dean Draper became foster parents since her retirement from public school administration in SSISD. They soon discovered the plight of families which are fostering in the local area as well as across Texas. “The need is great for these struggling families. They can use help from the community, from everything from diapers to car seats, to qualified babysitters to encouragement and love. Journey Road Ministries non-profit organization was formed to help find resources within our own community to assist these families who are making their homes here among us in Hopkins County”. Here are some facts found on the website journeyroadministries.com plus information on how you can register a team in the 4-person Scramble on Monday July 19, 2021 at 8am at Sulphur Springs Country Club. Or, if you prefer, please consider donating to the Journey Road cause.
In 2018 there were…
Over 280,911 allegations of Child Abuse/Neglect in the state of Texas.
Almost 66,382 of these cases were confirmed.
Over 20,000 children were removed from their home for investigation,
or because of confirmed cases of abuse.
The total number of Texas children in CPS custody was 32,793.
THE NEED IS OVERWHELMING…
would you consider ‘standing in the gap’ with us to help these precious children and the families that are caring for them?
OUR MISSION
Journey Road is a new non-profit organization that hopes to strengthen foster families in their ministry to foster children. At our farm we have a facility that will provide a place to run, play, fish, learn, ride horses, and all kinds of other outdoor activities. We will provide a context for foster families to get much of the help they need as they give themselves to supporting the children that have been placed in their home. Beyond this, we hope that one day we will be a place where parents can learn life and parenting skills.
The opportunities are endless with what the Lord has provided. We want to honor Him above all things by doing all we can to help hurting and confused children find His love and a safe and secure home.
Contact Rachel and Dean Draper at journeyroadministries.com
Pickton Woman Accused Of Having Paraphernalia, Methamphetamine At Court
Items Allegedly Connected To Recent Home Burglary Also Found In Her Possession Upon Arrival At The Jail
Sheriff’s office staff arrested in court a 35-year-old Pickton woman accused of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during a court hearing Wednesday.
When Hillary Kay Spigner showed up in the 8th Judicial District Court July 14, 2021, for her 9 a.m. arraignment hearing on a Jan. 14, 2021 possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge court officials took her into custody. They reported finding drug paraphernalia in her bags while taking her into custody at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
She was handed over to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Todd Evans to be booked into jail on the possession of drug paraphernalia charge. During the book-in process, a corrections officer found an over-the-counter pill container with pills and two Ziploc-style baggies containing a suspected controlled substance.
Spigner allegedly denied having any controlled substances or drug paraphernalia. She claimed she had found the contents on the grounds at a local apartment complex where she told officers she was employed. She consented to a drug test, but could not complete the task. The substance in the baggies field tested positive as meth and weighed approximately 1.56 grams, resulting in Spigner being charged with possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
The Pickton woman was found to have in her possession some items that were similar to items listed in a recent burglary cases, according to arrest reports. The person to whom the articles belonged was contacted and identified two items stolen from his home.
When HCSO Investigator Shea Shaw contacted Spigner she allegedly confessed. Investigators began searching for the rest of the property that had been reported stolen when the two identified items were found.
Spigner was charged with burglary of a habitation, and fully booked into jail on the possession of drug paraphernalia charges as well as burglary charge around 4:30 p.m. July 14.
She remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday afternoon, July 15, 2021, in lieu of $100,000 in bonds, $50,000 each on the felony controlled substance and burglary charges.
Wednesday was the third time this year that Spigner had been booked into Hopkins County jail.
Spigner, who is also known by Hillary Thomas, was jailed Jan. 15 to Feb. 3, 2021, in jail on possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, assault and expired driver’s license; she was released on a $5,000 bond on the controlled substance charge.
She too spent April 14-20, 2021 in Hopkins County jail on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Cutoffs Will Begin Tuesday For Water Customers Who Have Yet To Address Overdue Bills Accrued Due To COVID-19
Cutoffs will begin Tuesday, July 20, 2021, for Sulphur Springs water customers who have yet to address overdue city utility bills accrued due to COVID-19, Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell reminded Thursday morning.
A total of 503 water accounts were behind by 30 days or more, including 29 accounts that were more than 12 months or more past due as Tuesday, April 6, 2021,
City staff during the April meeting asked Sulphur Springs City Council members to approve a resolution establishing a payment plan for utility customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, the city determined to freeze water shutoffs for customers who had outstanding balances on their water bills due to COVID-19. In April, when city staff asked Sulphur Springs City Council to end the grace period, at least 29 accounts were more than 12 months past due in April a plan was approved
“When the City Council approved the payment plan arrangement in April, there were over 700 accounts with balances past due over 30 days. Today, there are only 426,” said City Finance Director Lesa Smith reported July 15, 2021.
During the April City Council meeting, Smith proposed having those city water customers who were behind one their utility payment due to COVID-19 pay their current month’s pill plus 1/12th of the past due amount each month. At that point, she reported at least 29 accounts were more than 12 months past due in April a plan was approved
Councilman Gary Spraggins in April 2021 asked that amount paid back be reduced to as low as 1/24th the total owed plus the current bill if the customer requests it, so that those already struggling would not be required to pay what would essentially be two water bills each month. While the payment plan can be for up to 24 months, the payment amount will be determined by the listed utility customer on the account provided the account is caught up at the conclusion the 2 years.
Customers behind on water bills due to COVID were required to visit the city officers to sign a contract agreeing to pay the agreed on back amount of the owed amount by the deadline. As an added incentive to make a payment agreement, no additional fees are being added to the amount in arrears through May 31, 2021, so long as the customer uphold the agreement.
The idea was to allow the customer to get caught up in one year and avoid disconnection of water service. The City Council approved the resolution and letters were sent to customers to make them aware that the city will begin requiring them to start paying the amount if they do not set up a payment plan or pay the owed amounts by deadline. Customer were asked to establish an agreement by June 7, 2021.
Those customers were given an extra month’s grace period. However, there are still water customers who as of July 15, 2021, had not set up a payment plan to begin paying. Maxwell reported they will be given through Monday, July 19, 2021, to stop by the city’s Business office, located at 125 South Davis St., to complete and sign a payment agreement.
“We have had around 75 customers sign up for payment plans over the past three months,” Smith said.
Smith explained that he city has two billing cycles for utility bills. Cycle 1 cutoffs will begin Tuesday, July 20, while Cycle 2 cutoffs will begin Tuesday, July 27. A total of 330 accounts on the first billing cycle were still delinquent, with either no plan in place or have defaulted on the agreement made, as of Thursday morning, July 15; that accounts for $84,285 in city utility fees as yet uncollected from those water customers who still owe back amounts unpaid due to COVID.
Any remaining accounts still delinquent due to COVID-19 that do not have a payment agreement on file with the city will have their water cut off starting Tuesday, July 20, 2021, Maxwell noted.
Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs News
Rudy Murillo of Sulphur Springs is preparing to begin his college career with the assistance of PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Student Educational Advisor Maria Zuniga. Call 903-885-1232 for registration for the fall semester that begins August 30.
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.
Tira News: ‘Good Group’ Gathers For 2021 Tira Homecoming
By Jan Vaughn
We had a good group at the Tira Homecoming on Sunday, July 4. Danna Lewis coordinated the program and led the congregational singing. Coy Vicars was the Master of Ceremonies and folks shared memories of Tira. Tiffany Gilbert passed out roses to the families of those who were buried in the Tira Cemetery since the 2019 Homecoming.
Mark Chapman, Vice President of the Tira Cemetery Association, led the business meeting. Since there was no Tira Homecoming in 2020, there were four cemetery board members whose terms were ending. Mick Petty, Chip Vaughn, Billy Joe Clayton, and Rick Petty were reelected for the positions.
Following the program, the group gathered at the picnic tables on the grounds and shared a potluck lunch. Danna Lewis reported that the Crowson family has agreed to coordinate the program for the 2022 homecoming, which will be on the first Sunday in July.
On behalf of the cemetery board, I want to express my Regina Payton, who sends out letters about the Tira Homecoming each year, also to Floyd Lawson who does a good job of keeping the cemetery mowed, and to all who had a part in the homecoming. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be, please let me know and I will be sure to share your address with Regina.
Everly Weir is spending the week with her grandparents, Robert and Yvonne Weir, while her parents, Dustin and Natalie Weir are in Mexico. Yvonne commented, “She is quite busy and lots of fun.” She added, “Last Monday we went to Dacy’s and swam and enjoyed their patio. Dustin, Natalie, and Everly stopped by. On July 3rd, Dakota, Sarah, Lucas, and Levi came for fireworks. It was good to have the North Hopkins fireworks shop open.”
Our daughter and granddaughter, Tiffany and Jaidyn, came in from Malvern, Arkansas for the Tira Homecoming. Perry wasn’t able to come with them because he had to work. That night Landon, Laiken, Dixie, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden joined us for homemade ice cream and fireworks. Kenden Joslin and Emma Hall were at the lake with her family for the holiday weekend.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Football Edge Concludes Thursday as Wildcats Staff Look Onward to August
The six week run of the Edge for football wrapped up earlier today, July 15, at the Multipurpose Building at the SSHS athletic complex.
Coach Matt Young, offensive coordinator for the Wildcats football team, said progress went really well for those who attended the summer strength and conditioning program.
Coach Young said the level of commitment for student-athletes is really interesting.
The offensive coordinator said a core group of players were consistently attending the Edge, and results were plain as day; according to the Wildcats coach, several players exhibited 100+ pound improvements in deadlift, squatting go up 40 pounds, change in direction improving, and the same with conditioning over the course of the six week run of the Edge.
While there were approximately 15 students that did not attend the summer strength and conditioning program as much as the Wildcats coaching staff would have preferred, Coach Young said that while those same students would have a lot of catching up to do, they will still be a valuable asset to this team.
One of the many benefits of having the Edge is the ability for coaching staffs here in Sulphur Springs to work from the ground up, starting with fundamentals, doing drills to improve conditioning, to improving situational spots in games.
Coach Young said the team worked on two-minute drills, something that the Wildcats would normally do in August and the fall, which puts the team about a week and a half ahead of where this team would be in the fall.
Not only that, but working on red-zone drills and teaching student-athletes when to stay inbounds and go out of bounds, has put the team ahead where it normally would be come fall.
Coach Young then went on to say that the skill level that his athletes have exhibited has shown dramatic improvement.
The Wildcats offensive coordinator said its been a really good summer.
Speaking on who QB1 will be come fall, Coach Young said that both quarterbacks Brady Driver and Matthew Mitchell exhibited great poise and improvement, and Coach Owens‘s staff will utilize both talented quarterbacks when scrimmages and games come to pass in August and beyond.
Moving over to the defense, Coach Young said new DC Kurt McCain and his defensive unit have not shown much struggle of growing pains, even though the DC (who has been with Sulphur Springs for 15 seasons now), will be bringing to the table a new defensive scheme, switching from the 4-3 last year to the 3-4 this year.
Speaking on this topic, Coach Young said he believed the defense has not missed a beat. He said that overall, the defense will look pretty similar to last year’s 11, with the noted addition that Coach McCain will bring his own style and wrinkles in to the mix.
He said that Coach McCain has an excellent attention to detail and it has been exciting watching him implement his system.
Sulphur Springs will play two scrimmages and their season-opener in August; the Wildcats will take on Liberty Eylau on August 13, followed by a scrimmage versus Pleasant Grove on August 20, and finally Sulphur Springs will open up its season on August 27 when they host Frisco Wakeland.
According to Coach Young, Pleasant Grove will be in the top 10 in the state come football season, and Kauffman won the state 7-on-7 tournament.
Add in the season opener versus a tough Wakeland team, which features a top-10 defense in the state, followed by Lovejoy and Kauffman, another top program here in Texas, and Kauffman, and this Wildcats team will be tested early and often.
How will the two QBs, new defense, and an overall-improved Wildcats team fare? We will find out on Aug. 13 when the Wildcats football team plays their first scrimmage versus L.E.
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.
Bogata Man Arrested In Red River County On Two Hopkins County Warrants
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a 39-year-old Bogata man had been arrested July 13, in Red River County on two Hopkins County warrants.
Red River County officials transported Larry Carlton Johnson to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, where he was released to HCSO Sgt. Todd Evans at 4:51 p.m. July 14. The HCSO officer escorted the Bogata man into the jail, where he was booked at 5:14 p.m. for bond forfeiture on an abandoning or endangering a child-criminal negligence charge and a bail jumping/failure to appear for a child endangerment charge.
Johnson remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, July 15, 2021 on both Hopkins County warrants.
He was first arrested on a child endangerment warrant on Sept. 20, 2019, and released the next day on a $4,000 bond. He was then arrested Nov. 16, 2020 for on a warrant for violation of probation on a child endangerment charge.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Suspect Identified In Vehicle Burglaries; No Arrests Yet
Patrol officers have identified a suspect in connection with a pair of vehicle burglaries reported to police over the last week, according to police.
While no arrest has been made in these cases as of Thursday morning, July 15, 2021, the investigation into the string of vehicle burglaries is ongoing. Sulphur Springs Police investigators anticipate filing for warrants in connection with some of these cases.
Officers received about half a dozen reports of vehicles being entered without permission and items being stolen from them. Vehicle burglary reports recorded by police over a one-week period included Austin Acres, Drexel Drive, Kellie Circle, Houston Street and Hodge Street addresses. Firearms, wallets with IDs were among the items stolen. A coin-operated bottled drink machine on Reservoir Street also sustained damages when someone attempted to break into it.
Police on Wednesday morning posted photos and around lunch time posted two videos on social media depicting individuals entering Sulphur Springs residents’ unlocked vehicles at night and going through them. They were asking at that time for community assistance in identifying the suspects.
Patrol officers through diligence reportedly identified at least on suspect in connection with a couple of the burglaries Wednesday.
Annual Fan Drive For Senior Citizens Launched
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center‘s annual fan drive to benefit senior citizens in the Hopkins County community has been launches.
“It is getting really HOT outside and people are in need of fans,” Senior Citizens Center Marketing and Program Director Karon Weatherman reported Wednesday, July 14, 2021.
In fact, there have been so many senior adults in Hopkins County who are in need, that Weatherman has started a waiting list for those most in need of a fan to help make their homes cooler during the dog days of summer – traditionally the hottest months of the year in Northeast Texas.
“I didn’t think we were going to have to do a Fan Drive this year, but we didn’t get as many as we expected. If you would like to help keep a senior citizen cool this summer please bring a new box fan or stand fan to the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center,” Weatherman said.
Any number of new box or stand fans are welcome and will be put to use to help those elderly adults and senior citizens who do not have the luxury of air conditioned homes. As the temperature, heat index and humidity rise so too does the danger for people who are unable to escape the hot July and August heat. Monetary donations may also be made at the Senior Citizens Center, 150 Martin Luther King, for those who wish to contribute but are unable or choose not to purchase a fan to donate themselves; the money will be used to buy fans for senior citizens.
Those senior citizens in need of a fan may call the Senior Citizens Center to get on the list to receive a fan as soon as one becomes available.
Those who live near or who have family who are senior citizens are encouraged to go by and check on them, to make sure they too have the supplies they need to keep cool and thrive during the warmest months of the year.
