Disturbance Involving A Brick Results In Arrest
A disturbance involving a brick resulted in a felony arrest Wednesday morning, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office communications operators dispatched Deputy Jason Lavender to County Road 3643 in Dike, where a disturbance was reported around 9 a.m. March 24, 2021. Upon arrival, Lavender contacted the complainant and the suspect, who was identified by a Louisiana driver’s license as 20-year-old Nathan Thomas Burrow but was listed in the arrest report as living at the residence.
During the deputy’s investigation into the altercation between the two men, Burrow was alleged to have picked up a cinder block style brick, then, just before Lavender arrived, threatened to use it to hit the other man in the face. The other man opted to file charges against Burrow for the offense, resulting in Burrow’s arrest around 10:15 a.m. March 24 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the brick, Lavender noted in arrest reports.
Burrow remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, March 25, 2021, on the second degree felony charge, according to jail reports.
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.
Financial Help For Funeral Expenses For COVID-19-Related Deaths Available In April
In early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 for
deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the
pandemic. The policy was finalized today, and FEMA is now moving rapidly to implement this funeral assistance
program nationwide.
Eligibility
To be eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance, the policy states:
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses
after Jan. 20, 2020 for a death attributed to COVID-19. (There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.) The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19. - If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as
applicant and co-applicant. FEMA will also consider documentation from other individuals not listed as the
applicant and co-applicant who may have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the
deceased individual. - An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals.
- The COVID-19-related death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the
District of Columbia. - This assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500
per application. - Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.
Documentation Needed
In the coming weeks, a dedicated 800 number will be established to help individuals who apply. In the meantime,
potential applicants are encouraged to start gathering the following documentation:
- An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the
U. S. The death certificate must indicate the death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of”
COVID-19 or COVID-19 like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are
considered sufficient attribution. - Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant’s name, the
deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses were
incurred. - Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may
not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received
from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other
sources.
How Funds Are Paid
If you are eligible for funeral assistance you will receive a check by mail, or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option you choose when you apply for assistance.
Additional Information
More information regarding this assistance can be found at COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov
State Highway 11 Traffic Stop Nets 3.5 Grams Of Methamphetamine
A State Highway 11 traffic stop netted 3.5 grams of methamphetamine and one felony arrest early Wednesday morning, deputies reported.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Scott Davis reported stopping a westbound silver Chevrolet Silverado that was driven across the fog line and on the improved shoulder of State Highway 11 west at FM 275 early March 24, 2021.
Upon contact with Mark Allan Potts, the 54-year-old Whitewright man reportedly advised the deputy he didn’t have a valid driver’s license. While talking to Potts, Davis alleged Potts wouldn’t make eye contact with him, had trembling hands and his heart rate appeared to increase when asked if there was anything illegal in the truck, but did agreed to allow the pickup to be searched.
Davis reported finding a zippered glass case under the driver’s seat nearer to the rear passenger floorboard than the front. The case contained a pipe of the kind used to smoke methamphetamine with suspected meth residue as well as a plastic bag with a crystal-like substance that later tested positive on a field-test for methamphetamine. In the front middle seat, under the console, in a cellophane wrapper inside of package of cigarettes Davis reported additional suspected meth was located.
Potts was taken into custody just after 3:45 a.m. March 24, 2021. The suspected contraband was seized; the substance and packaging weighed 3.5 grams, resulting in Potts being booked into jail on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports. HCSO Deputy Chris Baumann was credited with assisting on the traffic stop.
Potts remained in Hopkins County Wednesday afternoon in lieu of a $10,000 bond on the felony charge.
March 24 is the second time in 2021 Potts has been booked into Hopkins County jail. He was arrested by deputies just after 1 a.m. Jan. 15, 2021 following a traffic stop on Ponder Street at Connally Street. He was jailed for possession of drug paraphernalia after the officers reported finding a glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine in the Ford F-250 pickup he was driving, according to arrest reports.
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.
Sulphur Springs ISD Considering A Policy For School Facilities Name Designations
Some Sulphur Springs ISD Board Polices were discussed at this week’s regular school board meeting. Sulphur Springs ISD Superintendent Michael Lamb told the board of trustees that officials are working on a draft of a potential new policy for school facilities name designations. Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams, then asked SSISD Board of Trustees to approve Texas Association of School Boards Localized Policy Manual Update 116, which reflects changes from the last Legislative session which require updates to the district policy manual.
School Facilities Name Designations
Lamb presented to SSISD trustees during the administrative reports portion of their March 22 meeting a working draft for (CW) Local, a new proposed policy for naming or renaming of district facilities.
When the district reorganized the elementary grade levels a few years ago, two local campuses were renamed. Early Childhood Learning Center, repurposed for students from kindergarten through third grade instead for students through kindergarten, became Barbara Bush Primary School. Douglas Intermediate School, repurposed from a campus housing only fifth graders to a campus for all students in preschool and Head Start programs, became Douglass ECLC.
Over time, various requests or recommendations for renaming of facilities have been made, Lamb explained. For instance, at the retirement of Rowena Johnson in Spring 2020, some community members suggested naming a SSISD facility in honor of her 50-year legacy as an educator. When Mrs. Johnson passed away in July 2020, the suggestion was again made to school officials to rename the Lamar Primary campus, where Johnson served as principal from 1993 to 2020; or even Bowie, where she taught from 1971-1991, or Travis, where she was a reading specialist from 1991 to 1993, after the distinguished educator.
Currently, SSISD does not have an official policy in place regarding the naming or renaming of district facilities. A group has been looking into the matter and has a working policy drafted. Lamb presented that policy for review and feedback.
Discussed so far for the policy is giving the board sole discretion in naming or renaming a district facility. As proposed, the board would consider a number of items in the naming or renaming process. Among considerations suggested are geographic location of the SSISD facility; whether the name considered is of historic significance to that area or to state, local or national historic events; whether a person a facility is proposed to be named after is a district graduate who has gained prominence on a local, national or international scale; if the suggested honoree is a distinguished educator or board member who has retired from service to SSISD; or if the proposed name recognizes a significant contribution of resources, equaling or exceeding 50 percent of the total value of the complex or facility.
Lamb stressed the school facility name designation policy is still in the development process. Only after receiving additional comments and conducting further research into the matter, then tweaking the policy, does Lamb anticipate potentially presenting to SSISD trustees at a future board meeting to ask them to consider adopting a policy for school facilities name designations.
Policy Update 116
Williams told trustees TASB Localized Policy Manual Update 116 includes 34 legal changes and five local changes, recommended by TASB to meet changes set by the state of Texas. The policies were presented to the board at the February school board meeting for review. Appropriate department directors and principals throughout the district also received copies of the TASB update to receive any additional comments or recommendations for any local policies that might impact their programs or campuses.
The assistant superintendent recommended approving the policies as recommended, with the notation that (FFAC) Local might in the future require minor adjustments depending on additional decisions by the school board in the future.
Williams noted the five local policies mainly include some rewording and reshuffling of the statutes between the policy and administrative code. The biggest change will be in (FFAC) local policy, which has to do with health and wellness services and medical treatment. SSISD officials recommend a change to that policy pertaining to certain medications purchased and administered by the district because the district won’t be making those purchases anymore. Those items will be provided by Hazel Health this semester.
SSISD Board of Trustees at the February meeting approved this semester to provide telemedicine services at no cost to the district and, at least initially, no out-of- pocket cost to students. Hazel Health works closely with school nurses, providing campus clinics with an iPad to access the service and an iPod Touch for nurses to use to input of the students’ patient information. Hazel Health will also provide each campus clinic with a medicine cabinet the size of a small file cabinet stocked with 12 kinds of over-the-counter medications and supplies, like lice shampoo and hair combs, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen and acetaminophen as appropriate. Nine of the 12 items the district has historically stocked and provided, so receiving the medicine cabinet would be a savings to the district of those medication fees. These OTC medications would be offered free to students if the medical professional recommends them, which would assist the student with medication until the parent is able to get their child to their primary care physician if a visit is recommended, Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk reported in February.
Within the legal policy, there’s also policy regarding certain certifications which require training identifying sexual abuse and human trafficking, and requirements for students who take certain higher level classes for high school credit to take ACT and SAT tests, according to the school administrator.
Commerce Tigers Track Team Wins Cooper Bulldog Relays
The Varsity Commerce Tigers track team won another invitational, this time the Cooper Bulldog Relays. The champion Tigers finished with 221 points.
In field events, Dre Gadlin got third and Ty Hoffman followed in fourth in high jump. Triple jump featured Ashton Seale leaving with third in the event. De’Shawn Jackson got fourth in the long jump. Anton Stapleton won the shot put event and Omari Davis followed in second place. Richard Jackson earned the fourth spot in the event. In the discuss event, Omari Davis took gold with Roy Gaffney not far behind taking bronze in the event.
In the running events, Oliver Roberts won the 3200 run, with Jovani Costanada and Sacramento Galvan following closely behind in third and fourth, respectively. In the 4x100M relay, the Tigers team of Ashton Seale, Jaydon Harris, Carlos Aubrey, and De’shawn Jackson placed second. Enrique Morales won the 800M run, and Isaac Hernandez was not far behind in the event, coming in at fourth.
Continuing field events, Ty Hoffman won the 110M hurdles and Dre Gadlin got bronze. In the 100M dash two Tigers placed in the top five; De’Shawn Jackson and Carlos Aubrey, who finished at second and fifth, respectively. In the 4x200M relay, the Tiger team of Ashton Seale, Aiden Crowder, Edgar Castillo, and Jaydon Harris placed second. Enrique Morales and Isaac Hernandez got third and fifth in the 400 M dash.
Ty Hoffman took gold in the 300 M hurdles, with Dre Gadlin finishing behind Hoffman at second. One of the few events the Tigers did not fare as well as others was the 200 M dash, in that Ashton Seale placed third with Aidan Crower following in fourth place. De’Shawn Jackson came in sixth.
Oliver Roberts won the 1600M run, with Jovani Costanada and Sacramento Galvan placing fifth and sixth, respectively. And finally in the 1600 M relay, the Tiger team of Dre Gadlin, Enrique Morales, Aidan Crowder, and Issac Hernadez placed second.
The JV boys did very well for themselves, finishing second in points accumulated at the Cooper Bulldog Relays.
Next up, the Commerce Tigers track team will be back in action on Friday as they will be participating in the Paris Invitational. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10 A.M.
Man Arrested In Cameron County On Felony Hopkins County Warrant
A 37-year-old man was arrested in Cameron County on a felony Hopkins County warrant, according to arrest reports. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was notified that the US Border Patrol had taken Jose Estuardo Martinez into custody and was being held in Cameron County jail on a Hopkins County warrant for violation of probation on an indecency with a child by sexual contact charge, according to arrest reports.
Deputy Amanda Weatherford took Martinez into custody, and transported the Guatemalan citizen directly to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked at 7:07 p.m. March 23, 2021, on the warrant.
According to Hopkins County jail reports, Martinez, who is also know by Surdo, was arrested on Sept. 29, 2011 on the indecency with a child by sexual contact charge. He was released from Hopkins County jail the next day on a $25,000 bond. He then spent April 12-17, 2013, in Hopkins County jail as part of a 60 day commitment on the charge. He also had a hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials at that time, according to the jail records.
Martinez remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning, March 24, 2021; bond was denied on the charge, according to arrest reports.
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.
Wildcats Golf Team Prepares for District Tournament With Strong Showing at the District Course Monday
Wildcats Golf Coach Jeremy DeLorge said no official results were were sent out after a district course preview at Tempest Golf Course Monday (March 22).
The District Tournament will be at Tempest next Monday and Tuesday. Coach DeLorge said his guys played well Monday as they got a much needed bounce back and boost of confidence going into the district tourney next week.
He said all five of his golfers showed great improvement compared to what they shot the last time they played at Tempest on March 6 as part of the Twisted 54 event. Coach DeLorge said Kip Childress improved by 14 strokes shooting a 71 Monday. Grant Mohesky was 1 stroke better with a 79. Caleb Kesting was 5 strokes better with an 82. Rylan Brewer improved a whopping 13 strokes firing 85 Monday. Luke Dietze showed a 22 stroke improvement Monday shooting 89.
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.
Appointments Still Available For COVID-19 Shots On March 25 At Sulphur Springs Hospital
For individuals in the eligible groups, COVID-19 shots are being offered Thursday, March 25, 2021, at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs. The hospital was allocated 500 first-doses of the Moderna two-dose COVID-19 vaccine to administer this week, according to Texas Department of State Health Services.
At 10:10 a.m. Wednesday, March 24, there were still 150 appointment slots available for Thursday for any qualified individual who has yet to receive a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Those who schedule n appointment will received the first dose on March 25 and the second dose on April 22 in the front lobby of the hospital, according to Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development personnel for CHRISTUS® Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs.
To register for COVID-19 shots on March 25, visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4EABA72DABFB6-cmfhss7
If for some reason a person registers and needs to cancel the appointment or for additional questions, email Tanna Holland at [email protected].
North Hopkins Baseball Team Tops Rival Sulphur Bluff in District Opener, 8-5 Tuesday
The North Hopkins Panthers Baseball Team opened district play in the right way defeating rival Sulphur Bluff, 8-5 Tuesday at North Hopkins.
The Panthers jumped out to a 7-0 lead with a run in the first, 5 more in the second and one more run in the fourth. The Bluff rallied for 5 late runs but could not overcome the Panthers.
North Hopkins outhit the Bears, 8-7. North Hopkins used three pitchers to get the win. Karston Jenkins was the winning pitcher going 5 innings allowing 4 hits, no runs with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks.
Tate Myers allowed a hit and 3 runs none of which were earned due to errors and he walked one. Dakota Smith finished up with 2 innings giving up 2 hits, 2 unearned runs with 4 strikeouts. Smith was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI’s and a run scored. Jenkins was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI’s and a run scored. Aaron Nguyen was 1 for 3 with 2 RBI’s. Chris Cruz had an RBI. Carson Mathis was 1 for 3 with 2 runs scored. Landry Breckeen was 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored. Myers, Robert Perry and Clinton Degen all scored one run.
