Rep. Slaton To Speak During June 12 Hopkins County Republican Party Meeting
Hopkins County Republican Party will meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 12, for a covered dish breakfast at Pioneer Café, located at 307 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. Party members can expect meetings to resume monthly, now that the threat of COVID-19 has lessened due to vaccinations.
This month’s speaker will be State House District 2 Representative Bryan Slayton. Rep. Slayton will give an update on what he believes was and was not accomplished in the 87th session of the State House.
Also to be discussed will be an upcoming Old Time Political Rally slated to be held in September.
“If you are interested in being part of the solution, come join us and enjoy the fellowship, food and the update on the affairs of Texas,” invites Hopkins County GOP Chairman Donnie Wisenbaker.
Additional information about the Hopkins County Republican Party may be found on the organization website, www.HopkinsCountyGOP.org and Facebook page.
Hicks: Walk Thru Texas History and 4-H Project Tour Day
By Johanna Hicks, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County
Walk Thru Texas History
Three teams (24 individuals) recently participated in “Walk Through Texas History”, as part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s healthy lifestyle initiative.
Walk Through Texas History (WTTH) is a 4-week, 416-mile trek through historic places in Texas History, starting with Gonzales, and continuing with Lavaca River, Navadad River, Bunham’s Crossing on the Colorado River, Beason’s Ford, San Felipe de Austin, Mill Creek, Camp West of Brazos, Groce’s Plantation, Donoho’s Plantation, McCarley’s Home, Burnett’s Place on Cypress Creek, Head of Little Bayou, Harrisburg, Buffalo Bayou, San Jacinto, and ending at Huntsville.
Of course, participants didn’t actually walk to those places, but they kept track of miles and with each historic marker, they were able to read about actual events which took place.
Each week, participants received a recipe and encouragement to keep walking. Teams for the 2021 spring event were the Sassy Sneakers, logging 491.98 miles; TRTA3 logging 491.82 miles; and Texas Walkers, logging 526.1 miles. (Miles are reported as of press time, so most current mileage was not available.)
Each team surpassed the 416 miles goal, so they are to be commended! Top walkers were Linda Hodge, Miles Hoover, Marilyn Powers, Jacquelyn, Patsy Neal and Leticia Burnside. Congratulations to each of these participants!
We will be offering the 8-week, 832 mile, Walk Across Texas version beginning in August. Anyone who is interested is asked to contact the Hopkins County Extension Office, 903-885-3443. Teams of up to 8 people can participate, so gather your families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors and let’s get walking!
4-H Project Tour Day
Twelve members and leaders recently participated in the annual Hopkins County 4-H Project Tour Day. The purpose of this event is to introduce various projects to the youth.
Our stops for 2021 included the Planetarium for the showing of Astronaut and Space Nebula at Texas A&M Commerce (STEM project), Equine Center and Beef Farm (Livestock project), lunch and County Council meeting at the new Chick-Fil-A at TAMU-C (Leadership project), and a visit to Fox County Quilts in Commerce (Fashion and Interior Design Project).
Participants enjoyed each stop and indicated learning something new.
The 4-H Achievement Banquet will take place in August and 4-H members are reminded to submit awards applications and record books to the Extension Office on or before June 25. Information concerning 4-H registration for the 2021/2022 4-H year will be available soon.
Closing thought
A wise person seeks wisdom on a daily basis.
Get Motivated speaker
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B W. Houston St, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected]
40 Year Sentence in Fraudulent Digital Marketing Investment Scheme
Co-defendant, A Former Pastor, Previously Sentenced To 68 Years In State Prison
On June 8, 2021, Richard Gregory Tilford, from Arlington, TX, was sentenced to serve 40 years in state prison for engaging in a fraudulent digital marketing investment scheme. He was also sentenced to serve 10 years in prison for each of six counts of selling unregistered securities and 10 years in prison for each of six counts of acting as an unregistered dealer. The sentences will run concurrently.
StaMedia was an internet advertising company. Investors were told the investments in StaMedia were backed by a digital media patent supposedly valued at up to $85 million. They were promised a guaranteed nine percent return on their investments, but StaMedia never generated any revenue and investor funds were to pay for personal expenses.
Tilford was indicted in Collin County in 2018. Former pastor Timothy Lloyd Booth, a co-defendant, was previously indicted and convicted of theft and securities fraud in connection with the StaMedia scheme. He was sentenced to serve 68 years in state prison.
Bobby Guess, a co-defendant, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for his role in the scheme. Guess was a local radio personality and author of “Robbed With a Pen Again,” a book that purported to provide advice to investors to help protect assets from fraud.
“Our agency will continue to vigorously pursue justice for white collar crime victims,” said Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles. “We work closely with local prosecutors, assisting their offices to ensure the successful prosecution of perpetrators of complex securities schemes.”
The case was prosecuted by the Collin County District Attorney’s Office. Attorneys from the Texas State Securities Board, acting as appointed special prosecutors, assisted the office in securing the conviction. Dale Barron, Tina Lawrence, Rachael Luna and Matthew Wise served as the appointed special prosecutors, and Steve Goodman and Suzanne Steinmetz from the Texas State Securities Board testified in support of the prosecution.
Parade of Pageant Contestants; Meet Nancy, Sharon and Wilma
Out of nine contestants for the crown of Ms. Hopkins County Senior Classic, we met the first three during the KSST Good Morning Show on Tuesday. All three ladies are making their first Pageant appearance on Saturday June 12, 2021
Wilma Thompson loves to travel, although she also loves being at home in Hopkins County where she was born and raised. Her youth was spent on a farm where she learned the value of hard work and good neighbors. During the Winter Storm of 2021, Wilma was happy to care for her 100-year-old housebound neighbor when treacherous weather prevented the neighbor’s loved ones from reaching her. Wilma enjoys volunteering and even playing roles at Main Street Theater, calling Bingo at the Seniors Center and helping out when she can at the local hospital. This Christmas she plans to treat herself to one of her favorite things, a cruise. At age 87, and with 2 children, 2 grandchildren and one great-grandbaby, Wilma has many stories to tell and plans to do Storytelling as her talent at the Pageant.
Nancy Roy lives in the southernmost edge of Hopkins County, having moved there with her husband Chuck about seven years ago. Nancy is Business Manager of the family business, the Community Chronicle newspaper. She also stays involved with the Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce and select non-profit organizations. She and Chuck live on a ‘gentleman’s farm’, which she says means they name their livestock and treat them like pets! Nancy does all kinds of sewing and quilting but has a special passion for hand-done fine embroidery, having once earned credit for embroidery done as part of study of the classic “The Scarlet Letter”. Nancy is the 69-year-old mom of three and grandmother of four. Her talent presentation will be a song and dance routine to “You Don’t Own Me”.
Sharon Baker is new to the Pageant and new to Hopkins County. Having left the stress and traffic of the Metroplex behind three years ago, she now enjoys the slower pace and having her three cousins nearby to do things with. Sharon loves to sing and has been a singer since her childhood in church. She spent several years singing in a Gospel group and operating the sound board for groups and events. She’s recently gotten involved with Main Street Theater and Community Players presentations. Hobbies include cooking and painting, and Sharon plans to sing “At Last” for her talent presentation at the Pageant.
The Pageant will be held on Saturday June 12, 2021 at 6pm in the Convention Hall of the Hopkins County Civic Center. Admission to attend is free. As current Ms. Hopkins County Senior titleholder Vender Wright gives up her crown, the winner of the 2021 title will be eligible to advance to the Ms. Texas Sr. Classic Pageant to be held in Tyler in September.
Woman Claimed She Was Left Holding A Bag Of Pills For Someone Else; Man Caught With Cocaine, Rifle
Local officers arrested two people on controlled substance charges: a Sulphur Springs woman who purported to be simply holding a bag containing several baggies of pills and a Rosenberg man allegedly caught with cocaine and a rifle, according to arrest reports.
Left Holding A Bag
A Sulphur Springs police officer reported seeing a 55-year-old convenience store clerk at 7:11 p.m. June 5, standing in a College Street parking lot with another person known to the officer as one who has been distributed narcotic. Upon contact with the woman, the officer alleged she displayed several signs of narcotics use.
The woman told the policeman that she was an employee at the business and the person she was talking to had asked her to hold a bag for him. The woman retrieved the bag from behind the counter. Inside it the policeman saw several baggies containing white pills. She claimed not to know what was in the bag, but admitted to being in possession of the pills, which she was waiting for the other person to come back and retrieve.
Consequently, the 55-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was taken into custody at 7:27 p.m. June 5 for possession of less than 28 grams of a penalty Group 3 controlled substance, according to arrest reports. She remained in Hopkins County jail June 8; bond on the Class A misdemeanor charge was set at $2,000.
KSST does not publish the names or photos of people charged with misdemeanor crimes in staff-generated reports, only those accused of felony offenses.
I-30 Cocaine Arrest
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Thomas Patterson reported stopping a Dodge Charger at 10:34 p.m. June 7, 2021, on Interstate 30 near the 112 mile marker after the driver disregarded an official traffic control device.
Patterson alleged smelling a strong alcohol odor coming from the interior of the car during the traffic stop. Several open Corona bottles were also visible in the floorboard. A probable cause search of the car allegedly revealed a zippered bag containing suspected cocaine, a loaded .22-caliber long rifle pistol and copious amounts of narcotic paraphernalia.
As a result, 31-year-old Jacinto Jonathan Sosa of Rosenberg was arrested and transported to jail, and the car was towed. The substance field-tested positive as cocaine and weighed 2.1 grams. Sosa was booked into Hopkins County jail Tuesday, June 8, at 1:46 a.m. for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Sosa remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday evening, June 8, 2021. His bond was set at $10,000 on the felony controlled substance charge and $2,0000 on the weapon 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.
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.
Seven North Hopkins Panthers Make All-District Baseball Team
North Hopkins Baseball Coach Tim Henderson announced Panthers All-District Baseball selections Tuesday (June 8).
Making First Team All-District is infielder Karson Jenkins.
Second Team All-District choices include catcher Carson Mathis, utility player Tate Myers, infielder Aaron Nguyen and outfielder Chris Cruz.
Honorable Mention selections are Landry Breckeen and Braydon Nguyen.
New Wildcats Football Defensive Coordinator Kurt McCain Shares Some Thoughts on Defense
New Wildcats Football Defensive Coordinator Kurt McCain says he may not be as aggressive on defense as his predecessors Alex Guerra and Triston Abron.
He says his plan is to try and play more base defense so that when he brings the blitz, it will be more effective. Coach McCain says he suspects that Wildcats’ fans should not notice a big difference.
Coach McCain, a longtime Wildcats Assistant Defensive Coach, was promoted to Defensive Coordinator after Coach Guerra left to become the Head Football Coach at Edgewood.
Coach McCain says he has become a big fan of the 3-4 defensive front. Coach McCain says the 3-4 seems more multiple and will allow him to get more athletes on the field.
He says 9 defensive starters graduated after last season leaving only 2 returning starters.
However Coach McCain says several other Wildcats got quite a bit of playing time last year.
He says he expects a lot from his veteran safeties, third year varsity starter Korderrian “Bull” Turner and converted cornerback Dominique Sims.
Coach McCain likes to rotate in a lot of players but he’s not sure he will be able to do that as much this season with his lack of experience and depth right now. He expects kids to step up and he adds he is excited about some of the athletic players he has.
He says he looks forward to his new challenge and he adds the new situation is why you get into the coaching business. Coach McCain is beginning his 15th season in Sulphur Springs under Head Coach Greg Owens.
He says after his first year coaching both sides of the ball as a freshman coach, he has been a Wildcats varsity defensive secondary coach for the past 13 years.
Coach McCain is a native of the Como-Pickton area and a graduate of Cooper High School and Texas A&M-Commerce. He says his first football job was at Nevada Community.
Then after a three year stint as the Head Baseball Coach at Como-Pickton, he came to Sulphur Springs in 2007.
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.
CMFH-SS: Vaccine Clinic Offered June 27 At St. James Catholic Church
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Sulphur Springs, Texas, June 8, 2021 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
June is National Men’s Health Month: What better time than now, than to schedule annual screenings such as aphysical exam, blood test and urinalysis, colorectal health, prostate, bone, and heart health. Whether you need to see a Family Practice provider or a specialist, we have you covered! Call us today to schedule these important screening exams at 903.885.3181.
COVID Vaccine Clinics
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs will host the following COVID Vaccine Clinic:
- St. James Catholic Church, 297 Texas Street, Sunday, June 27, 2021, from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- Several of the vaccine brands will be available.
- No appointment required.
Contact Holly Ragan at 903.439.4033 to find out about future vaccine schedules.
Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation
Save the Date
- Designer Handbag Bingo – Thursday, August 12, 6-8 p.m., Hopkins County Civic Center
- Health Care Foundation Golf Tournament – Friday, October 1, Sulphur Springs Country Club
Updates on Funds Raised
The Healthcare Foundation recently gifted the hospital $90,365.23 for the purchase of five new Panda Warmers for the nursery. A note from the department
We have had roughly 250 babies born since we received the new Panda Warmers. We absolutely love them! We have had several NICU babies that have stayed 10-12 days and the new Pandas have been such a blessing.
On behalf of the staff, we are so thankful to have these, and I know the parents love them as well. Everyone especially loves the feature of the built-in scale; we can show the parents their baby’s weight at delivery.
— Sarah Mills, BSN, RN
Director of Perinatal Services
Universal Masking Still in Place at all CHRISTUS Facilities
We are asking that all visitors to the hospital bring their own mask, and continue to wear a mask
while present inside the hospital at this time. Thank you for your continued support of the safety
of our patients and associates.
Hospital Visitation
Please note the following guidelines:
- Visitors must acquire masks themselves prior to entering our facility; cloth masks are acceptable.
- Masks must cover both the nose and the mouth.
- Emergency Department entrance open 24/7
- Main Entrance open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday – Friday
- Gift Shop open
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- COVID Unit limited to (1) visitor (age 16 and over)
- ER and ICU limited to (2) visitors
- ALL hospital visitors are required to wear a mask. Visitors should bring their own mask; homemade cloth masks are acceptable.
Effective March 17, 2021
We will no longer restrict the number of visitors per patient, however, we strongly encourage to limit visitors to ONE (1) essential support person and for all other visitors – continue utilizing virtual communication through mobile devices to monitor your loved ones in our care.
Clinic Services
New Staff
CHRISTUS Trinity Orthopedic Clinic is excited to welcome Christopher Lutz, PA-C, our new Orthopedic Physician Assistant. He will work collaboratively with Dr. Chris Meltsakos, Orthopedic Surgeon. Lutz is now accepting new patients at 103B Medical Circle. To schedule an appointment, call 903.885.6688.
Urology
Did you know we can take care of almost all of your medical specialty needs right here in Sulphur Springs? Just one of many is our Urologist Dr. Loren Ost, and his Nurse Practitioner Leah Irving. Dr. Ost and Leah see patients who have concerns of the urinary system in both male and females, as well as the reproductive organs of the male. They are located at 113 Airport Road, Suite 300, and may be reached by calling 903.885.1770.
COVID-19
Don’t Delay Care
We want to be perfectly clear – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances remains a safe place for all
to receive quality care. Go to the Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 if you are urgently ill.
While COVID-19 is new, our processes and procedures in place for infection prevention and
preventing the spread of illness are not. To learn more about COVID-19, go to ChristusTMF.org
or www.cdc.gov.
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long- term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
No Emblem Homecoming, Memorial Service This Year
Emblem Homecoming and Memorial Service for 2021 is cancelled due to the COVID 19 Pandemic. Donations for the Emblem Cemetery care are always welcomed, and those that wish to donate may do so at:
Emblem Cemetery Society
c/o Dudley Goggans
1613 Raintree Circle
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
COVID-19 Disaster Declaration Renewed By Governor
21 More Confirmed COVID-19 Cases And 12 More Probable Cases Reported For Hopkins County In May Than In April; 12 confirmed cases, 3 Probable Cases Recorded For County During First Week of June
The state’s disaster declaration has been renewed by Governor Greg Abbott. The proclamation issued Friday afternoon simply renewed the declaration that the Governor first issued on March 13, 2020, that the “novel coronavirus (COVID-19) poses an imminent threat of disaster for all counties in Texas,” according to Deputy Secretary of State Joe Esparza.
While that’s not surprising since there are still new cases being diagnosed regularly and people are still dying as a result of the novel coronavirus 2019.
In Hopkins County, the number of COVID cases and fatalities has declined significantly since more vaccinations have become more readily available locally, dropping from 247 new confirmed molecular cases in January to 135 in February, 60 in March, and 32 in April. The number of new probable cases dropped from 153 new cases in January to 134 in February, 38 in March and 24 in April. Both categories increased in May, however, with 53 new confirmed molecular cases and 30 new probable cases reported. During the first week of June, 12 new confirmed cases proven through molecular testing and three new probable cases were reported for Hopkins County, which is two fewer confirmed cases and nine less probable cases, increasing the cumulative totals since March 2020 to 1,668 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,507 probable cases
The number of residents dying as a direct result of COVID-19 has also declined in the last 5 months: dropping from 15 in January to five in February and three each in March, April and May. The latest COVID-19 fatalities confirmed by death certificate occurred on May 6, May 20 and May 23, according to Texas Department of State Health Services COVID-19 County Trends dashboard. That’s 113 Hopkins County residents who have been confirmed to have died from COVID-19 since July 2020. (Hopkins County had no confirmed fatalities between March and June.) None have yet been recorded for June 2021, according to the DSHS data.
The active case count also fluctuated a bit, going from 130 active COVID-9 cases on Jan. 31 to 160 active cases on Feb. 28, 98 on March 31, 31 active cases on April 30 and 41 on May 31. The first week of June 2021 saw the active case count fluctuate from 43 on June 1 down to 33 on June 4 then back up to 36 June 5-7. That’s 3,175 total COVID-19 cases since March of 2020.
So, while there aren’t nearly as many new cases, active cases nor fatalities, COVID-19 has not yet been eradicated from Hopkins County or Texas. Thus, the Governor renewed the COVID-19 disaster declaration for the state, and local officials’ urging for all who are able to attain one of the COVID-19 vaccines.
What does the declaration mean for Hopkins County residents? It won’t mean a lot directly. However, according to Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom, the continuation of the COVID Disaster Declaration will allow local officials to apply for any disaster relief grants or loans that may be available.
