Sulphur Springs ISD Cancelled for Thursday and Friday
January 8, 2024 – Sulphur Springs ISD will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, January 9th and Friday, January 10th.
No school and no after school events or programs.
North Hopkins ISD Cancelled for Thursday and Friday
January 8, 2024 – With the high probability of Winter Weather headed our way, NHISD will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, January 9th and Friday, January 10th.
No school and no after school events or programs.
Thank you in advance for your patience.
Stay warm and stay safe.
Community Chest Closed Due to Winter Weather
January 8, 2025 – Community Chest will be closed the rest of this week due to the threat of winter weather.
They will resume normal operations on Monday January 13, 2025.
Misdemeanor Court Dockets Cancelled for Jan 9, 2025
January 8, 2025 – Misdemeanor Court Dockets for Judge John Ginn have been canceled for January 9, 2025.
Como Pickton ISD Classes Cancelled for Thursday and Friday
January 8, 2024 – I am not a weather expert, but those who are predict that there will be rain, sleet, and snow starting just after school starts in the morning. It may do nothing, but the chances are that it will affect our school day greatly and carry over into Friday. I don’t like waiting until the last minute to make decisions about weather when the prediction shows such a great probability. Our two communities have working families who have to plan for the supervision of the children when school is not in session because of their work obligations. I want to make sure they have plenty of time to do that.
Therefore, I am canceling school Thursday and Friday. This includes all athletic activities and other extracurricular events.
We will resume classes as normal on Monday. We have time built into our school calendar for such occasions as this, so it will not affect the calendar in the future. Thank you again for your constant support of our little rural school- the Best in Hopkins County- Five Years in a Row….
Sincerely, Greg Bower
Jennifer Bunch
Como-Pickton CISD
Assistant Principal
ESL Coordinator
Testing Coordinator
Security and Safety Liaison
TxDOT Crews Responding to Winter Weather
Jan. 7, 2025 – AUSTIN— Winter weather is bearing down on Texas this January, and TxDOT crews are working throughout the state to help keep roads clear and passable.
More than 1,700 TxDOT employees have braved the bone-rattling, winter air in preparation for the winter storm. As of Tuesday, TxDOT has applied more than 1.3 million gallons of brine to roads in Texas. Brine is the salt and water mixture that helps prevent ice from forming on the road.
TxDOT began pre-treating roads in parts of the state on Sunday, with crews working 12-hour shifts to treat roads throughout the winter event. Of the agency’s 25 districts, 23 of them had pretreated roads with brine as of Tuesday morning. The other two districts have crews and equipment ready to pretreat or support other districts if needed.
The snowy and icy weather could make travel difficult, and it’s important to remember that ice can form even on pretreated roads. If you can, stay home to avoid driving in icy conditions. If you have to drive, give yourself extra time to get where you’re going and give TxDOT crews plenty of room to do their work.
Drivers should also remember to slow down, give other vehicles space, pay attention and check drivetexas.org for the latest information on road conditions and closures.
Remember Your Baptism January 11th is the Main Topic on This Second Cup Of Coffee
On this episode of KSST’s A Second Cup Of Coffee With John Mark Dempsey, John Mark sat down with Pastor Peter McNabb from First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs, Texas. The two talked about the Cookbook, Feed My Sheep, the Dinner Bell, and other topics, but the main subject of the conversation was “Remember Your Baptism” which will be observed January 11, 2025, at First United Methodist Church. Take a look at this episode and see some insights on Baptism and what it represents. Enjoy!
Governor Abbott Activates State Emergency Response Resources Ahead Of Severe Winter Weather
January 6, 2025 – Austin, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of severe winter weather expected to impact the state this week.
“The State of Texas is working around-the-clock to ensure Texans have the resources and support needed as severe winter weather impacts communities across Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “As temperatures begin to drop below freezing and regions of Texas face snow, ice, and freezing rain, it is crucial that everyone remain weather-aware, check DriveTexas.org before traveling, and heed the guidance of state and local officials. Texans can find the warming center nearest them at tdem.texas.gov/warm. I thank emergency management personnel and first responders for working tirelessly to help Texans prepare and stay safe during this winter weather.”
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures at or below freezing are expected across large areas of the state. Some areas may face disruptive snow, ice, and freezing rain, causing potentially hazardous travel conditions through the rest of the week.
Over the weekend, more than 700 Texas Department of Transportation personnel prepared for winter weather by pre-treating roads, bridges, and overpasses with over 500,000 gallons of brine and approximately 800 cubic yards of granular material.
At the direction of Governor Abbott, TDEM has activated the following state emergency response resources to support winter weather response operations:
- Texas Department of Transportation: Winter weather roadway equipment and crews pre-treating and treating roadways; personnel and equipment to assist with traffic control and road closures
- Texas Division of Emergency Management: Incident Management Teams; personnel working with local partners to update warming center maps
- Texas A&M Forest Service: Saw crews; motor graders and personnel to assist with snow/ice clearance
- Texas National Guard: High-profile vehicles and personnel responding to support stranded motorists
Additionally, the following state emergency response resources have been placed on standby for deployment as needed:
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordinating with utility providers across the threat area
- Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoring
- Texas Department of State Health Services (Texas Emergency Medical Task Force): Winter Weather Packages including medics and ambulances
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster assessment and recovery agents
- Texas Animal Health Commission: Coordinating animal/agricultural resource needs
- Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers to patrol Texas roadways
- Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Game Wardens to support local law enforcement; high-profile vehicles to assist stranded motorists
- Texas Department of Information Resources: Monitoring technology infrastructure
- Texas Education Agency: Monitoring school district needs across the state
Texans are urged to monitor local forecasts, check road conditions before traveling on roadways, and follow instructions from emergency officials.
Texans can access winter weather safety tips by visiting TexasReady.gov, locate warming centers opened and operated by local officials at tdem.texas.gov/warm, and check road conditions at DriveTexas.org.
ERCOT Issues Weather Watch
(Austin, TX) ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch from January 6-10 due to forecasted cold weather across the ERCOT region, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves. Grid conditions are expected to be normal during an ERCOT Weather Watch.
ERCOT is monitoring conditions closely and will deploy all available tools to manage the grid, continuing a reliability-first approach to operations.
ERCOT encourages everyone to sign up for grid condition notifications through the Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS). Texans can also monitor real-time and extended grid conditions at ercot.com.
What is an ERCOT Weather Watch?
An ERCOT Weather Watch is an advance notification of forecasted significant weather with higher electrical demand and the potential for lower reserves. At this time, grid conditions are expected to be normal, and there is no current expectation of an energy emergency. Texans should continue to monitor real-time and extended grid conditions at ercot.com.
What Action is Needed?
No action is needed. You can monitor current and extended grid conditions on ercot.com.
Did You Know?
Reducing electric use during peak demand times can help you save and lower demand on the grid. Energy-saving tips can be found on the TXANS webpage.
Stay Updated
Sign up for TXANS notifications on the TXANS webpage. You can also subscribe to ERCOT Emergency Alerts, which are not sent through TXANS notifications, and download the ERCOT Mobile App for additional notifications: iOS | Android.
Governor Abbott Announces Four TdA Gang Members Arrested Attempting To Illegally Cross Border
January 5, 2025 – Austin, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) arrested four confirmed members of Tren de Aragua (TdA) as they attempted to illegally cross the border into Texas on New Year’s Eve.
“Our top priority is the safety and security of Texans, including against the growing threat of Tren de Aragua,” said Governor Abbott. “Earlier this week, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers identified and arrested four vicious TdA gang members attempting to illegally cross the border from Mexico into the state. I designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization, and we will not tolerate this gang operating or gaining a foothold in Texas. Until President Trump is back in the White House to secure our border, Texas will continue to hunt down dangerous criminals like TdA and put them behind bars to protect Texans from this vicious gang.”
On December 31, 2024, DPS troopers working on Operation Lone Star in Val Verde County encountered a group of 22 illegal immigrants from Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. 11 were arrested for criminal trespass, with the family groups being referred to Border Patrol for processing.
Among those arrested for criminal trespass, a group of nine Venezuelan nationals claimed they were heading to San Antonio, Irving, and Corsicana, Texas, and were interviewed by DPS Special Agents. Based on their interviews as well as their tattoos, Special Agents suspected four of the males may have been TdA members and upon receiving consent to search their cell phones were able to verify their gang affiliation through social media apps.
The confirmed TdA gang members arrested on New Year’s Eve include Segundo Ocando-Mejia, 39; Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, 27; Antonio Joe Urruttia-Rojas, 18; and Levi Jesus Urrutia-Blanco, 18. Ocando-Mejia had tattoos on his shoulders indicating he may hold rank or leadership within the gang.
In September, Governor Abbott launched a comprehensive, statewide operation to aggressively target TdA to disrupt their criminal operations and deny their foothold in Texas. The Governor also designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization and directed DPS to elevate them to a Tier 1 gang and to create a TdA Strike Team to identify and arrest TdA gang members.
Additionally, Governor Abbott announced that his Public Safety Office is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of known or suspected members of TdA gang members who have been or are involved in criminal activity. Learn more on how to report TdA activity here.
