Final Public Hearings For Budget, Tax Rate, Master Fee Schedule To Be Held At 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting
Sulphur Springs residents will have one final opportunity Tuesday evening to voice any comments or concerns they may have regarding the proposed budget, reduced tax rate, service fees and schedules before the council considers making them officials.
Unlike the regular meeting which was packed to include of a playground for Pacific Park and material for the College Street road improvement projec, among others, the Sulphur Springs City Council will only be asked to consider 7 ordinances at the called special 7:30 p.m. meeting Sept. 21 at the City Municipal Building.
A public hearing will be conducted along withsecond reading of each ordinance, from 2783-2788 and No. 2790. If the couci approvs them, the ordinances will pass a 2021-22 budget; tax rate; master fee schedule for costs, fees and rates associated with permitting, utility and other city services; setting sewer, water and santiation rates; and authorizing updated service credits.
Master Fees, Utilities
After several preventations over the past year regarding instrastructure needs, including to water, sewer and streets, the council approved increases to all three fees city utility fees as well as a master fee schedule to better keep up with costs of inflation and put raise funds to address more infrastructure needs in the coming year.
The master fee schedule, which includes utility services, permitting and other services passed only on a 5-2 vote at the Sept. 3 regular City Council meeting. Both Mayor Johns Sellers and Place 2 Councilman Harold Nash Sr. voted against the ordinance and fee schedule as proposed, due largely to the motion to double the residential street maintenance fee and the deposit required for rental of the new HW Grays Community Building in Pacific Park. The street maintenance fee will increase to $10 per residential utility bill to fund twice as much on road improvements, which will mean getting more done to slow the deterioration process, and the Grays building deposit will increase to $200, to be returned upon the renters completion of the checklist returning the property to its pre-rental state.
City water bills, according to the rate proposed in Ordinance No. 2785, will include an $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 wil be $939.52 minimum for 0-230,000 gallons of water, then $3.78 per 1,000 gallon usage of waterin excess of 230,000 gallons of water.
Ordinance No. 2786 would increas the sewer use fee to $28.10 for gallons 0-4,000, then $4.07 per thousand gallons in excess of 4,000 gallons. For customers who contribute higher concentrations of waste than normal domestic wastewater woudl pay based on a forma based on the cheical oxygen demand, suspended solids and voume 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 will be asked to approve a $35.3 million budget, with 14.5 percent of the revenue from 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.
As proposed the City Council tax rate will be reduced from $0.44 per $100 property valuation to $0.42692 per $100 property valuation, 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 the 2020-21 budget. That equates to $507,107 in additional tax dollars to be raised in fiscal year 2021-22, 11.3 percet of that amount ($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 on average by 9.29 percent, which means an “average homestead taxable value” of $105,229 in 2020, now has been appraissed 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.
The City Council approved on first reading during the regular Sept. 7 meeting both the budget and tax rate, with the budget adjusted to reflect an increase in the street maintenance fee on city utility bills. An increase in the deposit fee to rent the HW Grays Building in Pacific Park from $100 to $200 too received approval of the council as part of Ordinance No. 2790, setting perits, utilty fees and services. The rental fee would remain $50 for the Grays Building; the $200 deposit would be returned, provided the renter completes the checklist to restore the facility to the original condition it was in when the renter assumed responsiblity for the new city building, paid part with the voter-approved bond taken out for that project, a new Senior Citizens Center and additional repairs in Pacific Park.
Updated service credits
The Council too will be asked to 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.
Student Activity at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Center
GETTING INFORMATION
Students Owen Miller, Lucas Williams and Carson Voorheese of Sulphur Springs get the official information from PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Director Rob Stanley. 
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.
Lady Cats Volleyball in Longview For Fourth District Match On Gameday Tuesday
The Sept. 21 edition of Tuesday gameday will be something of a quiet one for Sulphur Springs sports teams.
Normally, Tuesdays in the fall bring Wildcats team tennis and Lady Cats volleyball, but team tennis is off today on a bye.
The tennis team, lead by Coach Tony Martinez has earned a much-needed bye on Sept. 21 since they have been heavily entrenched in district play since it began in late-August.
Last week Wildcats team tennis hosted Pine Tree in a do-or-die play-in game. Coach Martinez told his squad for weeks that Tuesday, Sept. 14’s match versus the Pirates would determine if his squad could potentially participate in post-season play.
Fortunately for Wildcats and Lady Cats tennis fans, Sulphur Springs was able to best the Pirates at the Wildcats tennis center last Tuesday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
After their much-deserved bye today, Wildcats team tennis will be in Hallsville next Tuesday, Sept. 28 when they take on the Bobcats.
Moving over to volleyball, Coach Bailey Dorner’s team has been rocking and rolling to start district play.
After losing a tough five set classic versus Texas High a week ago, Sulphur Springs hosted Marshall last Friday.
The Lady Cats lost a nice lead in set one and went on to lose the first set 26-24.
Sets two and three were won by Sulphur Springs, 26-24 and 25-23 to give Coach Dorner’s team a 2-1 set lead.
The fourth set showed this team’s character and tenacity as even though they trailed by nine, they came back to win set four on Friday, Sept. 17 26-24 and thus the match 3-1.
The win gave the Lady Cats volleyball team a 16-11 overall record (2-1 district). Sulphur Springs has won four of their last five matches, with their lone loss in that stretch being last Tuesday’s home classic versus Texas High.
Next up, Coach Dorner and her squad will be in Longview later today taking on the Pine Tree Pirates.
JV and freshman squads will get things underway at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity squads at 6 P.M.
The Lady Cats volleyball game will be broadcasted over the radio on to 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.
COVID Booster Shots Are Now Available
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Do You Need a COVID test, but are unable to get in to see your provider for testing or an appointment?
- CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Primary Care in Sulphur Springs is now scheduling patients who are unable to schedule an office or urgent care visit for Covid testing.
- These appointments must be scheduled by calling 903-885-3181, then press option 0.
- We will open the schedule daily by 8:30 a.m. depending on staffing availability for the Covid drive through.
- Current tentative available times from testing are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
- Patients will be instructed to come to the parking lot of 100 Church Street at their scheduled appointment time and remain in their vehicle. Someone will be out shortly to check them in and begin the appointment.
- Patients will be required to sign up for MyChart.
- Results of Covid testing will be available to patients via MyChart.
Are you an Uninsured Female over 40?
The Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation wants to help you! The Foundation is offering FREE Mammogram Screenings to uninsured women over 40. Appointments will be Saturday, October 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ruth & Jack Gillis Women’s Center, within CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital.
Please call 903.439.4040 to schedule your appointment.
This is limited to the first 40 women
Thank you for your patience
With a spike in COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County, please expect “longer than usual” wait times in the Emergency Department. Rest assured we are doing everything we can to provide high quality care in a timely manner. Thank you in advance for allowing us to provide for your healthcare needs, while extending grace to our staff.
COVID Vaccine Clinics
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs will host a COVID Vaccine Clinic every Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the main lobby of the hospital until further notice. The available vaccines include Moderna (2-doses, ages 18 and older) and Pfizer (2-doses, ages 12 and older). Appointments not required, but parent/guardian must accompany anyone 17 and younger.
Effective immediately, boosters are available for the immunocompromised:
CDC recommends that 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.
Missing COVID card?
Don’t worry – We manage your medical records if you had your vaccine administered at a CHRISTUS location. You may log in to your “MyChart” account to access the record. If you don’t have a MyChart account, you can call 903.885.3181 to get that setup. You will need a working email address. Or, you may contact Health Information Management. If you need medical records, please use one of the following options:
- Please call 903.439.4045 to speak to staff members who can send your records to care providers for you or to request your medical records. You will need to complete an authorization form, complete and return, along with a copy of your identification, to our office via fax or email. The fax number is 903.439.4704.
- We are available Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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. Visitors must remain masked during their time in the hospital.
- Minor-aged visitors must be accompanied by an adult, be free of symptoms and able to comply with masking and hygiene expectations throughout the visit.
- Emergency Department entrance open 24/7
- Main Entrance open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m, Monday – Friday
- Gift Shop open
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Types of Visitors:
- COVID receiving aerosol treatments: via tele-visitation only;
- COVID not receiving aerosol treatments: 1 Essential support person for the duration of hospital stay – Essential support person will be given a visible wrist band for identification purposes;
- ICU/ER: 1 Essential support person only;
- All other patients may have 1 Essential support person and 1 visitor (up to 2 persons in room at a time)
- Types of Visitors:
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care – Sulphur Springs Hours of Operation
The CHRISTUS Urgent Care hours of operation are as follows:
- In-Person Care Hours
- Monday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, closed
- Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday, closed.
- Virtual Visit Hours
- Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- To schedule a virtual visit, please visit urgentcare.christushealth.org, then select your location and click “Virtual Visit”
The Urgent Care is located at 1339 South Broadway St., and the phone number to call is 903.951.1001.
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
Lee Street Jamboree: Fun for the Entire Family
Last Saturday September 18th, was the annual Lee Street Jamboree in downtown Greenville.
Families were all smiles as they grabbed some snacks to eat, and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Food trucks had everything from kettle corn popcorn and Kona ice to nachos, hamburgers, cheese fries, and even wine popsicles for mom and dad!
Many of the unique vendors offered great deals that had people shopping until they dropped. Several vendors sold eclectic soaps and candles. There were cute holiday themed Kleenex box covers, wooden signs and crosses, as well as lots of other home décor. Hunt County Coffee company had different organic artisanal coffee roasts available for purchase. Apparel stands had hats, custom handmade jewelry, cute clothes and graphic tees! The Jamboree was the perfect place to pick up some gifts for friends and family!
Gellyball set up on Westly allowed families to compete in a safe and fun way. Gellyball is similar to paintball-without the pain or mess!
Kids could be found laughing with joy in the massive Kids Zone that featured a relay race, inflatable shark bounce house, face painting, and much more! Children flocked to the giant foam-filled wrecking ball. It was amusing to watch as they ran into the structure and would get bopped around as the ball that was suspended by a large strap would swing back and forth.
The Emerald City Band appealed to young and old alike with their phenomenal performance of fan favorites from the decades. The band performed classic songs from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s as well as well as current songs we all know and love. People could be seen sitting back, enjoying the music and tapping their toes, while others were up dancing and singing along to the music.
The art show at the Texan Theatre offered a welcome, air conditioned reprieve from the heat. There were many inspiring talented artists eager to show and sell their work. Art ranged from paintings, custom wooden walking canes, artisan crafted jewelry, themed holiday wreaths, and even car freshies. There were so many different types of arts and crafts to enjoy!
There was also a forbidden gallery exhibit in the lobby of the Texan Theatre by Erica Painter. Erica is a local artist known for incorporating tattoo designs, natural elements, and taxidermy. She refers to her style as “vegan macabre”.
Overall the jamboree was fun for all and you want to make sure to mark your calendar for next year!
Woman Claims She Was Going To Pick Her Children Up From School After 5 p.m. When Arrested For DWI
A 31-year-old Dike woman claimed she was going to pick her children up from school – at 5:30 p.m. – when deputies arrested her for DWI. This was her second DUI arrest in less than a year, according to arrest and jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies received more than one complaint in regard to a reckless driver on FM 1537. One complainant told sheriff’s officials that a motorist in a gray vehicle was not driving in a single lane of traffic. The car turned onto State Highway 19 and headed south toward Sulphur Springs, where a deputy intercepted the Toyota Camry at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 20, 2021, on Hillcrest Drive just before it becomes Church Street.
The woman driving was visibly shaking and admitted to being nervous when the deputy contacted her. Additional deputies arrived to assist. The woman was asked to step out of the car to talk with the deputies. When she complied, the sheriff’s officers reported smelling an alcohol odor emitting from her. She admitted to consuming an alocholic beverage earlier in the day, but said she was on her way to a Barbara Bush Primary on Hillcrest Drive to pick her two children up.
She tested 6 of 6 clues during horizontal gaze nystagmus testing when attempted field sobriety tests. She displayed four of eight clues on a walk and turn test and three of four clues on the one-legged stand test. Based on the test results and her admission of alcohol consumption earlier in the day, the woman was taken into custody for further investigation of driving while intoxicated. An open alcoholic beverage container was located inside the vehicle.
The car was towed from the location and the woman was taken to jail, where she tested 0.212 and 0.2, more than twice the legal limit on breath-alcohol tests. The 31-year-old Dike woman was booked into the county jail at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, for driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol over 0.15.
She remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, Sept. 21, 2021, on the Class B misdemeanor DWI charge.
Monday was the second time in just under a year the woman has been jailed in Hopkins County on a DWI charge. She also spent the night Oct. 16, 2020, in jail after a deputy arrested her at 5:15 a.m. on FM 1537 following a crash in a black Camry. She was reported to be the sole occupant of the Toyota found in the ditch. Deputies believed the car had rolled over, causing the airbag to deploy.
The woman complained of chest pains and was transported to the hospital, where the deputy contacted her and administered horizontal gaze nystagmus testing. Standard field sobriety testing was not attempted due to her complaint of major chest pain. She refused the deputy’s request for a blood sample to measure blood-alcohol content, so he sought and obtained a warrant requiring a blood draw for analysis. The sample was taken and, after she was discharged from the hospital, the deputy transported her to jail, the officers alleged in arrest reports. She was booked on Oct. 16, 2020, on a DWI charge, then released the next day on a $1,000 bond on the misdemeanor 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.
Constitution Week is September 17-23; View DAR Display in SS Public Library Foyer
What is Constitution Week?
Constitution Week is the commemoration of America’s most important document. It is celebrated annually during the week of September 17-23.
The United States Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties, freedoms and inalienable rights.
This celebration of the Constitution was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1955, DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into public law on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
The DAR has also erected a structure that is built in tribute to the Constitution of the United States. DAR Constitution Hall, which is a performing arts center, opened in 1929.
The aims of Constitution Week celebrations are to:
- Emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution.
- Inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life.
- Encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.
from press release of the Daughters of the American Revolution Headquarters in Washington, D.C.: We’re excited to welcome you back! The DAR Headquarters buildings, including the DAR Museum, DAR Library and DAR Constitution Hall, will reopen to the public on September 1, 2021!
Locally, for almost fifty years the Captain David Phillips Chapter of the DAR has been active in Hopkins County. The Chapter began in October 1972. Officers this year are Marynell Bryant-Regent, Patsy Bolton – Vice Regent, Gail Boles – Chaplain, Barbara Cockrum – Secretary, Debra Wood – Treasurer, Sandy Boyd – Registrar, Jan Kimmel – Historian, Michelle Arnold – Librarian and Elner Pettiet -Parliamentarian.
In past years, the local Chapter has celebrated Constitution Week by hosting a Tea, ringing bells, obtaining proclamations, reading part of the Constitution on the Courthouse steps, and donating posters and books to all the county schools. Thanks to the local DAR for this timely reminder for Americans living in Hopkins County!
Local Food Pantries Need Volunteers on Food Bank Days
Each Monday when the Northeast Texas Food Bank truck arrives in Sulphur Springs, volunteers are needed to assist local food pantries in getting their supplies for the week. Recently, a call went out on local media for more volunteers. KSST went to see how best to help the local situation.
A Northeast Texas Food Bank semi-truck arrives at approximately 9 a.m. Mondays on the parking lot of Church of the Nazarene, 1300 League Street. That’s when volunteers are most needed….to help put the boxed and crated foods onto the trucks and trailers of the individual pantries. There are six of these served by the Northeast Texas Food Bank, and they all receive their weekly food orders on Monday mornings. Many of the volunteer drivers are senior citizens themselves. Can you help out for an hour or two on Monday mornings?
Once the food truck driver sets all the pallets onto the parking lot, then the work of loading each pantry’s order gets underway by volunteers. Sharon Newton of Cumby is co-ordinator for the six Hopkins County pantries served by Northeast Texas Food Bank. Among these are Cumby Food Pantry, Pine Forest Food Pantry, Jehovah Jireh Food Pantry at Como, Fruitful Harvest Food Pantry and Meal a Day. “It’s like a team effort out here, in all kinds of weather”, stated Gloria of the Cumby Food Pantry.
“We all participate in sorting the food in the crates and containers and dispense it evenly. Then we each help each other load up. If one of the pantries is short-handed on a Monday, we all pitch in. No one has to do the work alone. And we all feel blessed that there is food for those individuals and families who most need it in our communities”.
Obviously the efforts are rewarding. Several are long-time volunteers: Edith Bain for 14 years, and Melba Sickles has also been serving in this way for a long time. Karon Weatherman of the Meal- a Day program reminds everyone, “if you’d like to become a Monday morning volunteer, just show up with two hands and a willing heart. You will probably go home with a bigger blessing than the gift you give. All it takes is a little time to volunteer and a spirit of giving to others”.
Dennis Hunt, Scott Lennon,Jan and Hrold Smithson and Mike Borden of Jehovah Jireh Food Pantry at Como. Nancy Attaway (not pictured) heads up that facility 
Paul Bennet, Edith Bain and Eddie McGregor of Pine Forest Food Pantry in the southeastern portion of the county 
For Meal a Day, Mack Pitts and Pamela Johnson are among the regular volunteers. They transport the food to the Senior Citizens Center, where other volunteers store the supplies and prepare nourishing meals which are then packaged and delivered to shut-in senior citizens in the Sulphur Springs and Como areas, five days a week. 
Fruitful HArvest Food Pantry volunteers include Melba Sickles, Barbara Martin, Jerry Brewer and Heath. Volunteer James Hathcoat is not pictured. Fruitful Harvest distributes on Mondays from 2-4pm at 413 West California Street in Sulphur Springs. Persons who need food can come to the location and get signed up. 
For the Cumby Food Pantry, Gloria, Allen and Walter are joyful volunteers. Cumby distributes every other Thursday from 9am til noon 
New volunteers who answered the call on Monday September 20, 2021 “Will you join us next Monday?”
Evading Arrest Charge Enhanced To Felony Due To Prior Convictions
A man who tried to run from officers during a traffic stop ended up charged with two felonies, including an evading arrest charge enhanced to a felony due to prior convictions, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Josh Davis and Sgt. Tanner Steward reported that not only did Justin Wayne Andrews fail to stop the Concord he was driving at a Van Sickle Street stop sign Friday night, he also took off running on foot after they stopped the car. When deputies took the 35-year-old into custody at 9:24 p.m. Sept. 17, the Cooper man admitted to discarding a methamphetamine pipe. The pipe was recovered.
Because Andrews has more than one felony conviction on his criminal record, the evading arrest charge was enhanced to a state jail felony offense. He was booked into Hopkins County jail on a tampering with physical evidence charge.
Deputies learned the 32-year-old Cooper man, also in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop, had a digital scale with suspected methamphetamine residue in his pocket. The man was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. The man appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine and “more than a hypodermic syringe” was reported to have been located in the car.
The 32-year-old was released from jail on the misdemeanor charge Saturday. Justin Andrews was released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021, on $10,000 in bonds, $5,000 per chaarge.
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.
Hopkins County Unemployment Rate Dips During August 2021
Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar Counties Jobless Rates Remain Below State Average
The unemployment rate in Hopkins County dipped slightly during August 2021, and Franklin County continued ahead of Hopkins County for the second consecutive month in a row with the lowest unemployment rate in the Northeast Texas/Texarkana Workforce Development Area, according to the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Labor Market Index data released over the weekend.
Franklin, Hopkins, Delta and Lamar counties’ jobless rates remained below the state average of 5.3 percent (5.9 percent once seasonally adjusted) and NET WDA rate of 5.1 percent for August 2021. At the state level, that’s a 0.7 percent dip from July 2021 to August 2021, and a 1.6 percent dip from August 2020. Unemployment in the Northeast Texas WDA as a whole dipped 0.6 percent from month to month and was 0.4 percent lower than in August 2020.
Franklin County had the lowest unemployment rate of 4.2 percent in the 9-county region that makes up the Northeast Texas/Texarkana WDA. Hopkins County ranked second in the area with a 4.3 percent jobless rate, Delta County third at 4.7 percent and Lamar County fourth with a 5 percent unemployment rate.
Although 48 additional people obtained employment in Hopkins County in August, for a total of 16,646 people working, the overall labor force also shrank by 14 people to 17,394 from August to July. So, while the number of people seeking employment in Hopkins County dropped from 810 from July to 748 in August, the declining labor force offset the change in unemployment numbers, so the total August 2021 unemployment rate only dropped from 4.7 percent in July 2021 to 4.3 percent last month – matching the August 2020 unemployment rate. Notable is that the labor force in August 2020 was 17,770, with 17,022 working and the remaining 768 jobless, while the labor force last month consisted of 17,394 with 16,646 working and 748 jobless, according to the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Labor Market Index data released over the weekend.
Franklin County’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.6 percent in July 2021 to 4.2 percent in August 2021, which also down from 4.5 percent in August 2021. The labor force in Franklin County grew by 5 to 5,320 in August 2021, up from 5,002 in August 2020, with 24 more people employed last month than in July 2021, causing the number of unemployed to shrink from 242 to 223 in August 2021. The labor force in Franklin County has grown by 328 workers since August 2020,
Delta County’s workforce was still less than the 2,433 recorded in August 2020, but had grown from 2,388 in July 2021 to 4,402 in August 2021. Only 114 people were unemployed last month, the same number reported one year before when the unemployment rate was also 4.7 percent, but down from129 unemployed in July 2021. Overall, that’s a drop of 0.7 percent from July to August 2021.
Lamar County’s unemployment rate dipped 0.7 percent to 5.0 in August 2021, which is 0.6 percent less than the unemployment rate reported one year before. The overall work force grew by 102 people from August 2020 to last month in Lamar County. From July 2021 to August 2021. However, the workforce in Lamar County rose from 23,820 in July 20201 to 24,133 in August 2021, while the number of jobless shrank from 1,367 to 1,218 last month – that’s 462 more people working in Lamar County last month than in July 2021 and 221 more working in August 2021 than one year before,
The unemployment rate for the city of Paris decline from 6.7 in July 2021 to 6.0 in August 2021, which was 0.5 percent less than in August of 2020, according to the WDA unemployment data released Sept. 17, 2021.
Titus County’s August 2021 jobless rate of 5.4 percent was down from 6.1 percent in July 2021 and 5.9 percent for August 2020. The workforce in this county shrunk from 13,213 in July to 13,189 last month, both down from 13,519 in August of 2021. The decreased workforce has also mean a decrease in unemployment from 800 without jobs in August 2020 to 801 in July 2021 and just 711 seeking employment in August 2021.
Red River County’s unemployment rate dropped from 6.2 percent (320 of 4,172 potential workers) in July 2021 to 5.6 percent (293 of 5,235 workers) in August 2021. Both months in 2021 are still higher than in August 2020, however, when the unemployment rate was 5 percent ( 2.62 of 5,277).
Bowie County’s unemployment rate also dropped from 6. 2 percent (2,389 of 38,673 labor force) in July 2021 to 5.6 percent (2,150 of the 38,554 labor force unemployed) in August 2021, down from 6.3 percent (2,457 of 39,187) in August 2020. Within Bowie County, Texarkana, Texas’ unemployment rate dripped from 7.1 percent in August 2020 when 1,085 of 15,187 were without jobs, to 6.2 percent (979 of 14,910 LF) in July 2021 and 6.4 percent (904 of 14,927) in August 2021. Texarkana, as a metropolitan statistical area posted a 5.1 percent unemployment rate for August 2021, with 3,241 of 63,073 unemployed; that’s down from 5.9 percent in July 2021 (3,757 of 63,867 unemployed), and 6.4 percent (4,081 of 63,855 LF) in August 2021.
Morris County continued to have the highest unemployment rate in the 9-county NETWDA area in August 2021, although the rate has declined from 11.3 in both August 2020 when 540 of the overall workforce of 4.767 were unemployed and July 2021 (512 of 4,513) to 10.4 percent (467 of of 4,498) in August 2021.
