5 Jailed In Hopkins County On Felony Warrants
At least five people were jailed in Hopkins County on felony warrants over the past 3 days, according to arrest and jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Richard Brantley and Alvin Jordan located Logan Rey Torres at a State Highway 11 east residence at 1 p.m. Jan. 29, 2021, and took the 18-year-old Winnsboro resident into custody. Torres was booked into Hopkins County jail at 1:35 p.m. on Nacogdoches County warrants for aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child, according to arrest reports.
Torres remained in Hopkins County jail Friday afternoon, Dec. 31, 2021. Bond was set at $150,000 on the first-degree felony sexual assault charge and $50,000 on the second-degree felony indecency charge, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputies Zack Horne and Drew Fisher were made aware of a warrant for Floyd Taylor’s arrest. They and Sulphur Springs Police Sgt. Josh Shufeldt located the 53-year-old Sulphur Springs man at 9:42 p.m. Dec. 29, 2021, at a Sulphur Springs apartment complex, took him into custody and transported him to the county jail.
Taylor, who is also known by Tevin Brown, Kevin Clayton, Christian Tervin and Floyd Lee Taylor, was booked in to the jail at 10:07 p.m. Dec. 29, 2021, on a warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. He was held in the county jail Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, without bond, according to jail reports.
HCSO deputies were made aware of a warrant for Michael Alan Dyer‘s arrest. Rains County deputies located the 18-year-old Point resident at one of his family member’s residences in Rains County and took him into custody. HCSO Deputy Aaron Chaney met Rains County Deputy Beck and took custody of Dyer at 2 p.m. Dec. 29, 2021, then transported him to the county jail.
Dyer was booked into the county jail at 4:45 p.m. Dec. 29, 2021, on the warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for a May 2021 possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1/1-B controlled substance charge. He was held without bond on the charge Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputies Zack Horne, Drew Fisher and Sgt. Tanner Steward located Kyle Dayne Belz, a man they knew to have outstanding warrants, at a place they knew he frequented, confirmed the warrant and took the 27-year-old into custody at 11:03 p.m. Dec. 29, 2021, on the charge.
Belz was booked into Hopkins County jail at 2:34 a.m. Dec. 30, 2021, on warrants for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and failure to maintain financial responsibility. He remained in Hopkins County jail on the charges Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputies Justin Wilkerson and Zack Steward located Bobby McKenzie Junior at 10:16 p.m. Dec. 28, 2021, at an East Industrial Drive residence and took him into custody on warrant issued by Austin Parole Board.
The 40-year-old Winnsboro man was held without bond in Hopkins County jail Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, on the violation or parole warrant.
Start The New Year With A First Day Hike At Cooper Lake State Park
Do you enjoy a good scenic walk, brisk walk, run or cycle ride? Maybe your New Year’s resolution is to exercise more, lose a few pounds or to just get out more. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department invites everyone to consider joining thousands of others across the country who will start 2022 participating in a First Day Hike at a state park.
Cooper Lake State Park South Sulphur Unit will be hosting a First Day Self-Guided Hike, Bike and/or Ride in celebration of wellness in nature. People are encouraged to drop by the park starting at 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022.
The park offers three moderately difficult trails, two easy and one moderate to challenging trail for hiking. After completing you hike or ride be sure to stop by CLSP Headquarters to a First Day Sticker to show your achievement.
Easy Trails
- Honey Creek Interpretive Trail, perhaps the easiest hiking trail at Cooper Lake, is only 0.3-mile and is estimated to take about 30 minutes to hike.
- Little Bluestem Loop is a 3.2-mile easy trail for hiking or horseback riding that’s estimated to take about 2 hours to complete.
Moderately Difficult Trails
- Rabbit Run is a 1 mile moderately difficult trail to hike or ride horseback. Estimated hiking time is 1 hour.
- Pioneer Pass is a moderate hiking and horseback riding trail, 1.5 mile in length, that is expected to take about 1.5 hours to complete.
- Coyote Run is a 4.6 mile round-trip moderately difficult hiking or biking trail estimated to take about 3 hours to complete.
Moderate-Challenging Trail
- Lonesome Dove Loop is a moderate to challenging hiking and horseback riding trail, spanning 4.8 miles which is anticipated to take about 3 hours to complete for more experienced hikers and equestrians.
Horse-riders should note that equestrian trails may close due to wet weather or poor conditions. In the event of weather closures for park program, call the CLSP South Sulphur Unit office at 903-945-5256
Park programs are open to the public and free with park entrance fee, which is $5 per person for age 13 and up. Children 12 and under are admitted free! Or gain free entry to the park with a Texas State Park Pass. There’s no need to register. Just show up and make it a new tradition – burning off extra holiday calories in the great outdoors.
On average, participants in 2020 First Day Hikes traveled 2 miles each, enough to collectively make 7 trips around the equator. Overall, hikers in 2020 took 415,693,531 steps on First Day Hikes. That’s the burned calorie equivalent of 41,348 fast-food burgers.
In 2021, more than 400 socially distanced first day hikes were offered.
Not in this area for the New Year? No problem. Just click here to see a list of First Day Hikes being hosted at state parks across Texas and or click here to see a map showing more than 400 First Day Hikes being held at parks across the nation.
Secretary Scott Releases Phase 1 Progress Report On Full Forensic Audit Of 2020 General Election
AUSTIN — Texas Secretary of State John Scott today released a progress report upon conclusion of Phase 1 of the state’s full forensic audit of the 2020 General Election. The report, which outlines initial findings regarding the security and integrity of Texas’ election systems in Collin, Dallas, Harris and Tarrant counties, shows that:
- Statewide, a total of 509 potential cross-state duplicate votes were cast in the November 2020 General Election – meaning these individuals may have cast a ballot in both Texas and another state. Of those, 9 cast ballots in Collin County, 12 cast ballots in Dallas County, 27 cast ballots in Harris County, and 12 cast ballots in Tarrant County.
- Since November 2020, 224,585 deceased voters have been removed from the voter rolls in Texas – indicating the counties are performing their fundamental duties under federal and state law to maintain the accuracy of the statewide voter registration list and mitigate fraudulent activity related to potentially deceased voters. Collin County removed 4,889 deceased voters, Dallas County removed 14,926 deceased voters, Harris County removed 23,914 deceased voters, and Tarrant County removed 13,955 deceased voters.
- Statewide, a total of 67 potential votes cast in the name of deceased people are under investigation. Of those, 3 were cast in Collin County, 9 were cast in Dallas County, 4 were cast in Harris County and 1 was cast in Tarrant County.
- Statewide, a total of 11,737 potential non-U.S. citizens were identified as being registered to vote. Of these, 327 records were identified in Collin County, 1,385 were identified in Dallas County, 3,063 were identified in Harris County and 708 were identified in Tarrant County. While counties still have a significant number of pending investigations to complete, and have undertaken this list maintenance process to varying degrees, so far Dallas County has cancelled 1,193 potential non-U.S. citizen records, Tarrant County has cancelled one record, and Collin and Harris have not cancelled any potential non-U.S. citizen records. The final findings will be verified during Phase 2 of the full forensic audit.
- In a review of each county’s partial manual count report required under Texas law, three of the four counties reported discrepancies between ballots counted electronically versus those counted by hand. The reported reasons for these discrepancies are included in the report and will be re-examined, investigated and verified during Phase 2 of the full forensic audit.
- Each of the four counties has dedicated at least $136,000 to enhancing their respective election security postures over the past two years – including both cybersecurity and physical security of election equipment. This includes funds provided through Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Election Security allocation to the State of Texas, as well as local matching county funds.
To the extent any information was not made available to the Texas Secretary of State’s office before the publication of this report, the SOS office will endeavor to include any outstanding data figures in the final forensic audit report released after the completion of Phase 2.
To read the full Phase 1 progress report, click here.
Park And Senior Center, Potential Economic Development Projects On Jan. 4 Agenda
Pacific Park and senior center projects as well as potential economic development projects are among the topics on the Sulphur Springs City Council Jan. 4 agenda.
The City Council will first meet at 6:30 p.m. in executive session to consult with an attorney, discuss real property matters, specifically potential acquisition of property for storm drainage purposes, and to consider two economic development projects: one for D6 Inc. and one for a project described only as Project Superman. Afterward, the City Council will return to the Council Chambers on the first floor of Sulphur Springs Municipal Building (city hall) at 7 p.m. for the regular open portion of the meeting. Any action on items pushed forward from the closed session would be presented during the regular meeting.
Reinvestment Zone
One item on the regular agenda includes an ordinance which would establish a reinvestment zone for D6 Inc. for a multi-year expansion project, which would relocate of the company’s corporate headquarters from Oregon to Sulphur Springs, Texas, and include a 300,000 square-foot expansion.
The planned project is a $21 million capital investment that will create 231 new jobs, Governor Greg Abbott announced on Oct. 15. The business has also been approved for a $1,432,200 Texas Enterprise Fund grant and a $6,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus to help with the move.
D6 Inc. has only been in operation in Sulphur Springs for about a year, having opened a plant inside the old Coca-Cola buildings at the end of 2020 to better serve a Paris, Texas business.
At least three taxing entities last year approved incentives to D6 for the initial $6 million investment, which included an immediate 25,000-square-foot expansion of the building, and plans to expand within 18 months.
Now, local officials are being asked again to consider approving additional tax incentives for D6 for the investment which is projected to provide at least 231 jobs which should have a positive significant impact on the Northeast Texas economy. Some people will move with the company to Texas. The rest will be hired locally as needed.
Approving the reinvestment zone will allow the city, county and hospital district to consider tax incentives for D6’s planned expansion as well.
Overall, the business is expected to expand the current operation by 300,000-square feet, with a 180,000-square-foot building to be constructed as soon as the business can get everything in line and another 120,000-square-foot building expansion in three years. The new buildings will be located by the Saputo (old We Pack) property just across the highway from the current facility, on the 10 acres the EDC has near the railroad tracks, according to Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Roger Feagley.
Rezoning Request
Sulphur Springs City Council too is being asked during the Jan. 4 meeting to consider a request from John Heilman to rezone a 0.97 acre property located at 1381 West Industrial Drive from heavy commercial to light industrial.
Heilman owns that property as well as another connected to it. This would make both light industrial, which would allow him to sell it together for potential future businesses. He explained to the Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this month that he’d been approached by representatives from a few businesses who are interested in the property, including one for a water park like the one located in Canton and a travel center, which would offer diesel fuel but at this point is not proposed to offer overnight parking for big rigs.
The proposed ordinance rezoning the property is being forwarded to the City Council at the recommendation of the zoning board and city staff, who have reviewed the request and find the zoning consistent with zoning along that corridor.
Park, Senior Center
Resolution No. 1284 will be presented for City Council discussion and consideration; this is for a Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs grant for the Senior Citizens Center.
A public hearing is also slated at 5 p.m. Jan. 11, 2022, at City Hall for anyone who wishes to give feedback regarding a Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus Community Resiliency Program pre-application to be submitted to Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to request funding to help construct a new senior citizens activity center.
The agenda also includes two items that would move the Pacific Park improvement projects forward. The Jan. 4 agenda includes: discussion on bids and possible awarding of a contract for the supply of concrete for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Grant Project, and the purchase of restrooms through a Sourcewell contract.
Fire Department
Also slated for discussion and consideration is a resolution hiring a consultant to locate existing and future required fire stations based on the present city limits.
The city has experienced continued development and expansion, and the consultant would consider based on those and potential future growth the best locations for the city’s fire departments, either by maximizing the current resources or if an additional station would be required. The consultant’s recommendation would taken into account a desire to keep the city’s current ISO rating while fully and properly providing sufficient fire services.
Other Items
Last month, the City Council authorized the city manager to execute documents needed for one agricultural license agreement for the old Thermo mine/Luminant property. On Jan. 4, 2022, the City Council will be asked to consider approving four agricultural license agreements for the old mine property and authorizing Marc Maxwell to execute those documents as well.
The consent agenda includes minutes from previous council and city board meetings as well as a request for one 380 agreement.
Ben Wheeler Man Jailed After Almost Striking Patrol Vehicle, Threatening A Cumby Police Officer
A 38-year-old Ben Wheeler man was jailed Thursday night after almost striking a patrol vehicle and threatening a Cumby Police officer, according to arrest reports.
Cumby Police Officer Justin Talley reported he was traveling west on the south frontage road, when a silver passenger car failed to maintain a single lane of traffic. As the car crossed the double yellow line on the south Interstate 30 frontage road near mile marker 114, it nearly struck Talley’s patrol vehicle, the officer alleged in arrest reports.
Talley reported stopping the Ford Focus at 9 p.m. on FM 2653 at I-30 east. Upon contact with the driver, Talley reported seeing an open Steel Reserve beer container in the center cup holder.
The driver complied when Talley asked him to exit the car. However, when Talley placed the man identified in arrest reports as Waylon Parsons was placed into custody at 9:05 p.m. Dec. 30, 2021, the 38-year-old Ben Wheeler man threatened to crack his skull, Talley alleged in arrest reports.
A search of Parsons’ car revealed a sawed off shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches under the front passenger’s seat within Parsons’ reach, Talley alleged in arrest reports.
Parsons was transported to Hopkins County jail, where he was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, the sawed-off shotgun, and obstruction or retaliation for threatening a Cumby Police officer. He remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, Dec. 31, 2021, awaiting arraignment on both felony charges, jail records show.
According to jail reports, Thursday is the second time Parsons, who is also known by James Waylon Parsons, has been booked into Hopkins County jail this year. He spent the night June 2, 2021, in custody for public intoxication.
Lady Cats Basketball and Wildcats Soccer’s Annual Alumni Game on Deck For New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is something of a busy ones for Sulphur Springs sports. Lady Cats basketball and the annual alumni game for men’s soccer are on deck.
Friday, Dec. 31 has Lady Cats basketball first up in Gilmer taking on the Lady Buckeyes.
Women’s basketball’s final non-district contest of the winter 2021-22 season.
Coach Erica Delley’s squad comes in to the New Year’s Eve match-up with Gilmer sporting a 2-19 overall record (0-3 district).
Sulphur Springs won their first two games of the season in the Kaufman Holiday tournament earlier this week. They will no doubt look to extend that win streak to three if they can best the Lady Buckeyes on Friday, Dec. 31.
The New Year’s Eve match-up with Gilmer is a mid-afternoon one at 12 P.M.
Moving over to soccer, both squads were set to be in action on New Year’s Day for their annual alumni game, but it has since been moved to Friday, Dec. 31.
The game was moved from its Saturday’s placement due to the freezing cold hitting Hopkins County this weekend.
With the game moved forward to Friday, both the scrimmages versus Wylie East (originally scheduled for today) and Mount Pleasant’s Chapel Hill (Saturday morning) have been cancelled.
Friday game day now has the men’s soccer team hosting their annual alumni game at 5:30 P.M. for JV and 7:15 P.M. for the varsity.
The men’s soccer squad fell at home to Jacksonville 4-2 on Tuesday, Dec. 28.
The loss to the Indians dropped the Wildcats scrimmage record to 4-2-1, the second straight loss for Sulphur Springs.
The Lady Cats were originally slated to hold their annual alumni game on Saturday, Jan. 1 before the men’s soccer team, but it has since been cancelled due to the inclement weather.
With that, women’s soccer scrimmage record finalizes itself at 4-3-1.
Coach Javier Aguayo and his Lady Cats got a come-from-behind victory over Palestine on Thursday, Dec. 30 at Gerald Prim Stadium.
In light of the alumni game’s cancellation, Sulphur Springs now shifts its attention to Celina on Tuesday, the first match of non-district play.
The regular season kicks off for women’s soccer on Tuesday, Jan. 4 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.
Change In State Law Allows Additional Time For Online Registration Renewal Eligibility
AUSTIN, Texas – A new state law gives Texans additional time to renew their vehicle registration online. House Bill 2152 allows online registration renewals up to 12 months past the expiration date. Previously, Texans could renew expired registrations online up to nine months past the expiration date. Customers who renew late will still be responsible for paying for a full year of registration.
Additionally, anyone renewing between 10 and 12 months after their registration expires will have the option to renew for both the current (past-due) registration year and the next registration year at the same time. The month of expiration will not change for Texans using this option. Registration and local county fees will be doubled when registration is renewed for both years; however, only one processing and handling fee will be charged.
To renew your registration online visit TxDMV.gov or Texas.gov.
Lady Cats Soccer Annual Alumni Game Cancelled, Wildcats Soccer’s Moved to New Year’s Eve
Wildcats soccer coach Alexi Upton announced that Saturday’s annual alumni match at Gerald Prim Stadium has been pushed forward a day to December 31 due to inclement weather.
Junior varsity’s game is now on Friday, Dec. 31 at 5:30 P.M. followed by the varsity’s alumni match at 7:15 P.M.
Coach Upton’s squad’s scrimmage record finalizes at 4-2-1, dropping their final two scrimmage matches before the non-district season gets underway Tuesday.
Women’s soccer’s annual alumni game is cancelled, Coach Javier Aguayo confirmed over text.
The Lady Cats concluded their scrimmage season with a win over Palestine, and a record of 4-3-1.
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.
Lady Cats Soccer Gets Come-From-Behind Victory Over Palestine, 3-2
On Thursday, Dec. 30 the women’s soccer team hosted Palestine, falling behind in the second but scoring late to beat the visiting Lady Cats 3-2 at Gerald Prim Stadium.
Sulphur Springs fell behind 2-1 in the second half.
Kylie Clark scored the first goal of the game to put the Lady Cats ahead of Palestine 1-0. Vanessa Lara assisted on the header.
Unfortunately for Coach Javier’s Aguayo’s team, the visiting Lady Cats scored the equalizer with just four minutes left in the first half.
The women’s soccer coach said at halftime that he told his athletes to dribble if they have the room, and to not go back if they didn’t have to.
Palestine pulled ahead of Sulphur Springs 2-1 just 10 minutes in to the second half.
“It kind of affected us when [the Lady Cats] were playing the ball back, because they felt like they couldn’t go forward,” Coach Aguayo said.
The women’s soccer coach credited the visiting Lady Cats for their efforts contesting midfield.
Coach Aguayo said that once Palestine gave Sulphur Springs the room to turn, his athletes should turn, dribble, and attack.
It paid dividends in the second as the Lady Cats scored two unanswered.
Forward Kaitlyn Robinson scored the equalizer in the 65th minute, thanks to a beautiful chip pass from Emily Soto.
Soto got one of her own on a corner from Addy Jones to get the go-ahead goal, leading 3-2.
“When we moved Emily Soto from Center Back to Attacking Mid she controlled the midfield,” Coach Aguayo said.
The Lady Cats were missing a number of players Thursday, but the women’s soccer coach applauded those that have stepped up in some starters’ absence.
“We still have some players out, but those girls that are put in to play are stepping up to the plate,” the Lady Cats coach said.
Coach Aguayo said that overall he thought his team was doing better.
The come-from-behind victory over Palestine, the final scrimmage contest, puts the women’s soccer team’s record at 4-3-1.
Next up, Coach Javier Aguayo and his Lady Cats were scheduled back at the Prim on Saturday, Jan. 1 for their annual alumni game, but that game has since been cancelled due to inclement weather.
With the alumni game cancelled, women’s soccer scrimmage play has officially come to a conclusion.
Non-district play begins Tuesday for Sulphur Springs when they host Celina.
That match on Tuesday, Jan. 4 kicks off at 7:15 P.M. at Gerald Prim Stadium.
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.
New Law Changing Disabled Veteran License Plates Requirements Starts Jan. 1
Disabled Veteran Plates with the International Symbol of Access will be available
AUSTIN, Texas – Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, a new state law changes the requirements for Texans with disabled veteran license plates who wish to park in spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
Senate Bill 792 requires anyone parking in a disabled parking space must have a license plate or a disabled parking placard that features the International Symbol of Access (ISA). Disabled veteran license plates do not feature the ISA, and all Texans with these plates were permitted to use disabled parking under previous law.
Texans with disabled veteran plates wanting to use disabled parking spaces on or after Jan. 1, 2022, and who meet the ISA eligibility requirements, should apply for a disabled parking placard or for a new disabled veteran license plate with the ISA. Texans can apply for these designations at their local county tax assessor-collector’s office. Current placards will remain valid; however, the new requirements must be met at time of renewal.
Eligibility for Disabled Parking Placards or License Plates with the International Symbol of Access (ISA)
ISA placard and plate eligibility is based on a medical condition that meets the legal definition of a disability. “Disability” means a condition in which a person has:
- Visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses.
- Visual acuity of more than 20/200 but with a limited field of vision in which the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of 20 degrees or less.
- Mobility problems that substantially impair a person’s ability; these problems can be caused by:
- Paralysis
- Lung disease
- Use of portable oxygen
- Cardiac deficiency
- Wheelchair confinement
- Arthritis, neurological, or orthopedic condition
- Foot disorder
- Other medical condition causing a person to use a brace, cane, crutch or other assistive device.
A parking placard or plate with the ISA is only valid when being used by the person with the disability or by someone who is driving a person with the disability in the vehicle.
It is a violation of state law to use the placard or plates for a disabled parking spot without the person with the disability in the vehicle. People who misuse disabled parking placards are subject to fines of up to $1,250 and/or up to 50 hours of community service.
Additional Resources
- Disabled Veteran Plates and Parking Privileges Information Sheet
- Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard and/or License Plate
- Application for Disabled Veteran License Plates and/or Parking Placards
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles registers and titles motor vehicles, licenses motor vehicle dealers, credentials motor carriers, issues oversize/overweight permits, investigates complaints against dealers and motor carriers, and awards grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce vehicle burglaries and thefts. Learn more at www.TxDMV.gov.
