Commissioners Court Approves Equipment Financing, Grant Funding, ATCOG Agreement
Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved equipment financing, grant funding, an Ark-Texas Council of Governments agreement, designated two days as County Clean Up Days, and rescinded an agreement with the hospital during their regular meeting Monday, March 22, 2021. A citizen also addressed the court during public forum regarding the planned Dike solar project.
Grant Funding
Hopkins County Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley reported the county has been approved to receive funding for the purchase of two mobile generators through the hazard mitigation grant program under DR-4416. One generator is a 220 KW mobile diesel powered generator and the other is a 100 KW generator.
Endsley noted that GrantWorks wrote the grant for the Hopkins County Critical Facilities Generator Program. As part of the grant, the county agreed to provide plug and play stations for the generators. A budget amendment will be requested at a later date to cover the county’s portion of the cost.
“This covers all of the volunteer fire departments throughout our county. All the volunteer stations, which is 14 stations; a couple of the departments have sub stations. Then we have Como water and sewer facilities and Brinker and Martin Springs were two other water co-ops that did not have standby generators. Standby generators proved their weight in gold just a few weeks ago during the winter storm we had,” Endsley explained,.
“For the record, the other rural water district do have stand-alones?” Barker asked.
“Yes, at one time all of them had it. Since that time, former Commissioner Beth Wisenbaker helped with that several years ago. We had three of the water co-ops split off into three individuals. That’s why those I mentioned did not have generators at their main pumps.
Barker noted that Brashear Water Supply did not have power for a period of time during the storm and ran on the generator for an extended period of time. The generator proved very useful for those residents.
“They do prove their weight in gold,” Endsley noted. “They sheriff’s office didn’t miss a beat their whole time with their inmates. Matter of fact, we moved inmates from other counties to ours because we had power, and everything was up and running. So everything worked flawlessly.”
Endsley noted that there will be opportunities in the future to apply for additional grants to better equipped the various county departments support critical infrastructure.
Price made the motion, which was seconded by Barker, and unanimously approved to accept the grant funding. Then, Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin proposed designating County Judge Robert Newsom as authorized signature for the documents pertaining to the grant program.
Newsom noted that the county has the opportunity to potentially help North Hopkins Water Corporation apply for a grant. However, an interlocal agreement is needed between the county and Ark-Tex Council of Governments to begin that process. He asked the Commissioners to approve the interlocal agreement with ATCOG to get that process started. Price seconded the motion, which then received unanimous approval of the court.
Dike Solar
Michele Barnes told the commissioners addressed the commissioners regarding what she considers a lack of transparency on the part of the Commissioners Court regarding the planned solar project in Dike. She said the small ad that was placed in the newspaper prior to a public hearing before taxing entities considered approving tax incentives for the project gave no indication it was in regard to a proposed solar farm in Dike. The notice listed Hopkins Energy LLC, she said, but did not include the word solar.
Barnes acknowledge she would not have seen the notice anyway, because she didn’t move to Hopkins County until 8 days later.
She said questions addressed to the judge and commissioners did not result in sufficient answers. She contends the county did not effectively represent the interests of the residents they are elected to represent because they did not ask appropriate questions to provide the answers to their questions prior to granting the incentives for the Dike solar project.
She said a hand count of individuals at the Save Dike From Solar meeting conducted March 13 at Dike Community Center showed only a percentage of the 385 Dike residents have internet, and only about half of those know and have the capacity to participate in a Zoom Virtual Town Hall meeting to be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight (March 22) with county and ENGIE project officials. Inability of residents to attend the meeting is indicative of a lack of transparency, Barnes told the court.
District Judge Robert Newsom noted that the Commissioners Court plans to be at the Civic Center at 6 p.m. for the meeting which will be conducted virtually with ENGIE officials but in person with county officials. All county residents and interested parties, especially Dike residents, are invited to attend the town hall meeting at the Civic Center to voice their concerns and questions to both county and company officials.
Those who can and do wish to participate in the meeting virtually, may click on the following link to register to join the virtual meeting: Click Here
Equipment Financing
Commissioners on March 8, 2021, agreed to allow Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker to purchase of a 2019 Volvo Pneumatic Roller for Precinct 1. The roller will be purchased from Romco Equipment Company through Buyboard. The cost for the purchase will be $64,860. Because the equipment is being purchased through Buyboard, the county is not required to go out for bids for the project, County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook reported at the March 8 meeting.
On Monday, March 22, Aulsbrook reported the county had received two bid quotes from local banks to finance the purchase over 5 years. Alliance Bank’s bid was for 2.75 percent interest, but also included a $2,000 document preparation fee and another $650 origination fee. Aulsbrook said she was told by Alliance Bank officials that smaller loans, which the $64,860 loan is considered to be, are harder to do. Since they are out the fees for an attorney to draw up the contract, those fees will be charged to the applicant for smaller loans. City National Bank offered to cover the loan at 3.25 percent interest, with no additional fees, starting July 15, 2021. The county auditor recommended going with CNB’s proposal, because overall is for a lower amount than Alliance Bank quote.
Barker proposed accepting the CNB lease purchase financing agreement. The motion was seconded by Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price, and received unanimous approval of the four-members of the court present at Monday morning’s court session. Wade Bartley was out for a medical procedure but planned to be at the Virtual Town Hall meeting hosted at Hopkins County Civic Center with ENGIE to discuss the planned Dike solar project, Hopkins Energy LLC. Residents and concerned citizens are invited to attend to ask questions and address concerns directly to county and ENGIE officials at the 6 p.m. meeting.
Rescinded Agreement
The Commissioners Court also voted to rescind an interlocal agreement between the county and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs.
Endsley reminded the court that the agreement was approved by the commissioners in November on Nov. 9. This was drafted to potentially allow for reimbursement of all or part of the salary for the Local Health Authority Nurse, who was brought in spring 2020 to assist Dr. IL Balkcom with contact tracing, answering questions from county officials and residents related to COVID-19, and obtaining information that is needed that only they have access to due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The LHA nurse was thought to already be in the payroll system at CMFHSS, with the hospital paying her check since March for those services. The agreement was approved to allow for some reimbursement of pay as the LHA nurse, Endsley noted at the Nov. 9 meeting.
Two weeks later, the Commissioners approved the same type of interlocal agreement with Hopkins County Hospital District, dating back to March 2020, allowing the LHA to hire Registered Nurse Brynn Smith to assist Balkcom. HCHD then would as part of the agreement pay Smith, since it was determined she was actually an employee of the hospital district, which had been paying her salary. The HCHD then could potentially apply for reimbursement through the CARES Act for funding for her duties as LHA nurse. The agreement with HCHD remains in effect, with a few adjustments, according to Endsley
However, CMFH-SS is not a taxing entity, therefore, the county has to rescind the agreement with the hospital, but noted the agreement with the hospital district continues because it is a taxing entity.
Other Items
County Judge Robert Newsom asked the court to consider approving amended rules and regulations for non-consent towing in the county. He noted that he and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tanner Crump are on a committee for such matters and during a recent meeting made a few changes.
“We actually took some of the rules and regulations off and loosened up the rules and regulation of non-consent towing,” Newsom said.
“This is also the sheriff’s office opinion to simplify the rules and regulations, does that sound right?” Newsom asked Sheriff Lewis Tatum, who affirmed it is.
Newsom then made the motion, seconded by Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin, to approve the non-consent rules and regulations as presented. The court unanimously approved the non-consent towing rules and regulations as presented.
The judge and all four commissioners were recognized for completing educational training through the VG Young School of County Commissioners Courts held at College Station Feb. 2-4, 2021.
Farmers Electric Cooperative’s request for utility easements across County Road 1170, east of County Road 1171 was also granted by the Commissioners Court during the March 22, 2021 meeting.
Hopkins County Commissioners Court also designated April 23 and 24 as County Clean Up Days.
April 23-24 Designated As County Clean Up Days
Hopkins County Commissioners Court have designated Friday-Saturday, April 23-24, the weekend following the City of Sulphur Spring’s annual Spring Clean Up Days (7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, April 12-17), as County Clean Up Days. Hopkins County residents may bring larger household items (not commercial) to their county precinct barn to dispose of.
Items will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 23 and from 8 a.m. to noon April 24. No toxic or hazardous materials will be accepted. That means no tires, no shingles, no chemicals, no household hazardous wastes, no pesticides, no paint and no appliances containing Freon.
Commissioners plan to have some staff available to assist people when they arrive, but noted those bringing larger items to discard should be prepared to help off load them.
Also, any metal items donated during the Spring clean up days will be scrapped, with funds received again designated to benefit the county volunteer fire departments.
During a special work session held at the Economic Development Corporation offices March 17, the Commissioners Court discussed the County Clean Up. Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin noted the difficulty county of unloading gooseneck calf trailers packed with items to be discarded. Thus, this year, people are asked to refrain from using gooseneck trailers to cart items for disposal at their county precinct barn.
The four county precinct bars will serve as collection sites for the Hopkins County Clean Up Days. The barns can be found at the following locations:
- Precinct 1 Barn – 5516 State Highway 19 south, Sulphur Springs; contact: Commissioner Mickey Barker at 903-485-2040.
- Precinct 2 Barn – 12080 State Highway 11 east, Como; Contact: Commissioner Greg Anglin at 903-488-3514.
- Precinct 3 Barn – 583 County Road 3564, Dike; Contact: Commissioner Wade Bartley at 903-945 2178.
- Precinct 4 Barn – FM 2653, Cumby, 1.7 mile south of State Highway 11 west; Contact: Commissioner Joe Price at 903-582-8840.
Cumby Man Accused Of Driving Drunk With 3 Children Under 10 Years In SUV
A 60-year-old Cumby man is accused of driving drunk with 3 children under 10 years of age in the SUV with him at the time, according to arrest reports.
Texas Department of Pubic Safety Trooper Christopher Sorley reported stopping Victor Miranda-Sirvantes for failing to maintain a single lane with the maroon GMC Yukon he was driving shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, March 20, on FM 2653. Miranda-Sirvantes reportedly had red eyes and an alcohol odor was detected on his breath, Sorley alleged in arrest reports. Open Budweiser cans were visible in the SUV, including one open beer can in between a child’s feet in the center of the back row of seating in the truck, Sorley alleged in arrest reports.
The driver did not have any form of identification on him but gave his name and date of birth. Miranda-Sirvantes was arrested, following standard field sobriety testing, for drunk diving with 3 children under 10 years of age in the SUV: a 5-year-old, a 7-year-old and an 8-year-old in the back seat. Sulphur Springs Police Officer Victor Reyna was reported to assist in communication due to a language barrier. Sirvantes was jailed at 12:40 a.m. March 21, 2021, for driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years in the vehicle, the three kids were released to the 60-year-old Cumby man’s son and the vehicle was impounded, according to arrest reports.
Miranda-Sirvanes was released from Hopkins County jail later March 21, 2021, on a $5,000 bond on the DWI with a child under 15 years of age 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.
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.
Louisiana Pair Jailed on Controlled Substance Charge
A Louisiana pair was jailed Saturday morning at an East Industrial Drive motel on controlled substance and weapon charges, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Sgt. Brandon Mayes and Lt. Pat Leber responded at 10:36 a.m. March 20 to a report of people smoking marijuana in a room at the hotel. Upon arrival, Mayes contacted 24-year-old Haley Alexis Nichols of Shreveport, Louisiana, the person who had rented the room.
After obtaining permission, police patted down 43-year-old Marcus Dewayne Poole of Bossier City, Louisiana and found a glass pipe. When asked about additional contraband, Poole allegedly pulled two baggies of suspected methamphetamine from his pockets. Police asked about a weapon upon discovering a holder on the front of his belt. Poole reportedly pointed to a bag inside of which he told the officer he’d find his son’s pistol. Police also found a syringe loaded with a brown liquid substance in the bag as well as a safe with a strong marijuana odor coming from inside of it, Mayes and Leber alleged in arrest reports.
Poole and Nichols each claimed items in the black bag as belonging to them, and each claimed some of the suspected narcotics, officers alleged in arrest reports. Large amounts of drug paraphernalia were allegedly found in the room. An officer was given the code for the safe, inside of which he found more drug paraphernalia and a baggy containing a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine. The total amount of suspected meth recovered was 2.1 grams, Mayes alleged in arrest and police reports.
Police arrested Poole on unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charges. Nichols was discovered to be wanted in Pima County, Arizona, on a warrant for failure to appear on an armed robbery-threat or use of weapon charge; she was arrested on the warrant as well as a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Nichols remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning, March 22, in lieu of a $10,000 bond on the controlled substance charge and a $2,500 bond on the warrant. Poole also remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning in lieu of a $10,000 bond on the controlled substance charge and a $2,000 bond on the weapon charge, according to jail reports.
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.
Hicks: Purpose in the Pedal
Every 4-H’er has a story – an encouraging, empowering story, unique story. Here is a story of just one of our outstanding members, Penelope Deterding. Penelope has been buying chicken feed and chasing pigs around for ears, but running the pedal on a sewing machine isn’t as familiar.
The Hopkins County 4-H Sewing Fun Day, held every year, provided an introduction to the 4-H Fashion & Interior Design project. Participating in that particular event was simply a way to try something new for Penelope, but in 2020, it evolved into the unveiling of raw talent with a purpose that extends beyond our country’s borders.
The 2020 4-H Sewing Fun Day, “Quilts Across the County” (pre-COVID), I challenged each participant to complete two or more quilt blocks to make a pillow, lap quilt, or something larger. Not only did Penelope do that, but with the help of volunteers, she created an entire quilt top in one day.
Following that experience, she created a twin sized quilt. She entered her first quilt in the Hopkins County Fall Festival Creative Arts Contest and the 4-H Project Show, winning Best of Show in both contests.
However, blue ribbons aren’t her main focus. To date, she has competed two large quilts and works tirelessly with a group of women at her church who craft together quilts to send to third-world countries. So far, the group has helped families in 44 countries ranging from Greece to Zambia and places in between with handmade quilts.
The Fashion & Interior Design project (and quilting, in particular), has become popular because quilting not only creates a tangible output, but also involved math, design, creativity, cognitive skills, color analysis, and precision. Penelope enjoys this project because it is quite structured, yet allows for creativity in the selection of patterns, colors, and designs.
Penelope will continue to participate in her animal projects, food and nutrition projects, and of course sewing projects during the 2021-2022 4-H year, her last year as a member.
When asked if she has advice for other 4-H’ers, Penelope said, “If you want to try something new, just go for it. If it seems like a daunting task, like ‘I’ve never seen a sewing machine before in my life,’ just listen to what the instructors have to say. If it seems scary, like you press the pedal and it goes way too fats, just put your hands up and take your feet off, and then maybe call for some help. Just try again and you’ll do fine. You’ll get the hang of it!”
Another 4-H member who has really taken to quilting is Lena Reyes, who is currently working on a “Hugs and Kisses” quilt from pastel fabrics. We’re anxious to see her progress!
To learn more about the Family & Community Health 4-H projects in Texas, visit: https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/project-category/fch
Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Community Health Agent
Hopkins County
P.O. Box 518
1200-B W. Houston
Sulphur Springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443
[email protected]
Dinner Bell Menu For March 24, 2021
Diversified Storage Systems is the Community Partner
MENU
Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Topping
Bacon Infused Green Beans
Garden Salad
Toasted Walnut Spice Cake
We hand out boxes of food lovingly prepared for you under the covered driveway on the
Northeast corner of the Furst United Methodist Church campus.
PLEASE PLEASE continue to WEAR MASK. Get your SHOTS when you can. STAY SAFELY from OTHERS. WASH YOUR HANDS. OFTEN. DINNER BELL CARES ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.
THANK YOU 1ST CHOICE HOME HEALTH, Stephanie and Warren Mitchell, for the GENEROUS DONATION of 350 pounds of ground beef to Dinner Bell. This has been their practice for several years. A freezer is FULL!!!
Dinner Bell remains a Grab and Go distribution system for meals. Meals may be secured by driving under the covered driveway on the Northeast Corner of The First United Methodist Church Campus after 11:00 a.m. on Wednesdays.
SS Seniors Center Re-opens on Monday, April 5, Seniors Welcome!
Director Karon Weatherman is thrilled to share the news that the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center will re-open it’s doors on Monday, April 5, 2021 for exercise, activities and lunch through the Meal A Day program. “Almost a year to the day since we closed in 2020 due to the pandemic, we are finally getting to re-open! I will be happy to welcome our Senior Citizens back in. We do not require masks, but if you wish to wear yours, please do. I will be wearing mine. I will have hand sanitizer by the front door, so please make use of that as you enter. And if you are sick, please stay at home until you get well. We will also be serving lunch each weekday, so if you want to reserve a lunch, please call us at 903-885-1661 to do that, and lunches are still $2 each, dine in or take out.”
“One problem we have run into since the pandemic, is a shortage of cooks. Even through the year of COVID-19, we have continued to cook and send out lunches for our shut-in seniors every weekday. That amounts to 160 meals per day, five days per week, or about 800 meals each week. It has been a rough year volunteer-wise because people were shuttering themselves at home a lot. But we need our volunteer cooks as well as delivery drivers and I am so appreciative for the ones who continued to come and help. Often I have to pitch in for cooking, too, and that’s just part of the job of Director. But I am hoping now that our volunteers will increase in number. Having enough cooks in the kitchen sure makes it more fun when we put on our aprons at 7 a.m.! We really need at least 3 cooks per day, and right now we don’t have that many on hand regularly.”
What does it take to be a Meal A Day cook? According to Karon, “You just need to be able to stir a pot, cut up a dessert or put food portions into the take-out boxes. You don’t have to wash dishes, you don’t have to be a pro chef and you don’t have to come up with any recipes or plan meals because we have all that in place. It just takes teamwork and a dedication to serving our shut-in senior population, and Meal a Day is blessed to do a quality job of that. What will you be paid? I tell people we pay you in love and cookies! And a lunch if you want one.”
Volunteering is fun and rewarding. To sign up to be a volunteer cook for one or more mornings mornings per week, just call the Seniors Center at 903-885-1661 and talk to Karon.
Board of Directors of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival has Decided to Cancel the 2021 Hopkins County Dairy Festival
In a statement sent to KSST…
Hopkins County Dairy Festival
Press Release
“Due to the uncertainty of holding large scale events, with many people in attendance, and the preparation requirements to hold these events, with heavy hearts, the Board of Directors of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival have decided to cancel the 2021 Hopkins County Dairy Festival. This was a very difficult decision but one that we felt was best for this community event.
However, the Hopkins County Dairy Festival will return in 2022 with the biggest and best festival ever. We want to thank all of our sponsors, the many, many volunteers, and citizens of Hopkins County for their tremendous support of this great festival in the past and their continued support in the future. You are what makes this festival the best.
Sincerely on behalf of the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Board of Directors
David McCaig President”
Hopkins County Commissioners Court Have Busy Day March 22, With Court, Work Session, Town Hall Meeting Scheduled
Hopkins County Commissioners Court will be busy March 22, with a regular court session and work session in the morning, and a town hall meeting to give community members a chance to ask questions and discuss with county and ENGIE officials the planned Dike solar project.
Regular Meeting
Among the items presented for court approval Monday morning are lease purchase financing for a 2019 Volvo Pneumatic Roller for Precinct 1, a county clean up days, funding for two generators through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, authorizing the county judge to sign documents pertaining to the grant, rescinding of an interlocal agreement between the county and hospital and an interlocal agreement with Ark-Tex Council of Governments.
At Monday’s March 8 meeting gave approval for Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker to purchase of a 2019 Volvo Pneumatic Roller for Precinct 1.
The roller will be purchased from Romco Equipment Company through Buyboard. The cost for the purchase will be $64,860. Because the equipment is being purchased through Buyboard, the county is not required to go out for bids for the project, County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook reported.
The request being made to the court March 22 is for financing of the pneumatic roller. Proposed at the March 8 meeting was a 5-year lease purchase agreement.
During a special work session held at the Economic Development Corp. offices March 17, the Commissioners Court discussed dates for a spring 2021 county clean up. The Commissioners will be asked to officially set those days. The Commissioners proposed Friday, April 23, 2021 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, April 24, from 8 a.m.to noon.
The Commissioners discussed the difficulty of unloading gooseneck calf trailers packed with items to be discarded and this year will be asking people to refrain from using those to cart items for disposal at their county precinct barn. Those planning to haul items should also be aware chemicals and toxic materials are not accepted.
The commissioners plan to have some staff available to assist people when they arrive, but noted those bringing larger items to discard should be prepared to help off load them.
Also, any metal items donated during the Spring clean up days will be scrapped, with funds received again designated to benefit county’s volunteer fire departments.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom at the March 17 work session also announced that Hopkins County has been approved for funding, awarded to the county due to a disaster designation, to obtain two generators, a 211 kw generator and a 100 kw generator with 18 quick connects. These can be used in county facilities as well as by water supply districts when the power goes out. They are part of a county generator maintenance program.
Commissioners also had to have information and photos turned in to Beth Wisenbaker by 5 p.m. so she could upload everything and prepare it for submission by the deadline this week to apply for funding for damages the county sustained during the storm, particularly to county roads.
Wisenbaker and the county emergency management coordinator also advised the commissioners to be sure to document any damages sustained in their precinct during the storm and high winds earlier in the week. Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price noted he’d received three calls Wednesday morning about trees downed in the storm. Barker reported 2-3 outbuildings, a barn and shed, had been damaged in Precinct 1. Anglin noted several trees down in one area of his Precinct.
The regular Commissioners Court meeting Monday is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom on the first floor of Hopkins County Courthouse.
Work Session
A work session is scheduled to immediately follow Monday’s regular court session. Commissioners and the judge will move to the meeting room on the third floor of the courthouse. The court is scheduled to meet with representatives from the fire department, sheriff’s office and Civic Center to discuss any repairs or proposed improvements needed or recommended and to review revenues and expenditures for those facilities. The court too is slated to meet with the environmental inspector to discuss any environmental concerns. The court also can hold a budget work session during that time.
Dike Solar Town Hall
The Commissioners Court will also invite concerned community members to join them for a town hall meeting with an official from ENGIE, the French company that is now in charge of the planned solar facility in Dike, to discuss the 250 MW project is slated to span across more than 1870 acres.
Members of the Commissioners Court plan to Hopkins County Civic Center starting at 6 p.m. to answer questions directly from concerned residents regarding Hopkins Energy LLC. They will be having a virtual meeting with the ENGIE representative, with a large screen set up so those present can see, and ask questions.
Those who do not choose to be at the Civic Center who have internet can sign up and take part in the Zoom conference, scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. March 22 by clicking on the following link to register to join the virtual meeting: Click Here.
Harrison Sentenced On Continuous Sexual Abuse Of Young Child, Indecency Charges
A Hopkins County jury convicted a 51-year-old McKinney man Thursday of continuous sexual abuse of a young child and indecency with a child by contact. On Friday, Rodney Lee Harrison was sentenced to 45 years in prison on the continuous sexual abuse case and 25 years on the indecency case; the sentences are to run concurrently, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Continuous sexual abuse of a young child is an offense for which the defendant is not eligible for parole. That means Harrison must serve the entire 45-year sentence, which would make him 95 before he could be released from Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Harrison has remained in custody since his arrest on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020 in McKinney by police He was transferred from Collin County jail to Hopkins County jail later that day. He was given credit for time served from Feb. 14, 2020 to March 15, 2020, in toward his sentence.
The cases were prosecuted by Matt Harris, First Assistant District Attorney for the 8th Judicial District, with ADA Blackmon sitting second chair. There were at least two victims and multiple agencies involved in the investigation of the cases.
“Sulphur Springs Police Department Detective David Gilmore, the lead detective on these cases, conducted a thorough and professional investigation. His hard work and dedication allowed us to achieve justice for these victims and their families. I am thankful for him and the many other individuals and agencies who contributed to the prosecution of these cases, including the Paris Child Advocacy Center and the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office,” ADA Harris said.
Following Harrison’s arrest in February of 2020, SSPD Det. Sgt. Gilmore reported that local law enforcement officials were contacted on Feb. 2, 2020 regarding an allegation of sexual abuse of an 11-year-old child. During the investigation, they received information alleging the youth had been sexually abused by Rodney Harrison multiple times over a period of about 1 1/2 to 2 years. The offenses were alleged at that time to have occurred in Sulphur Springs and the Pickton area. SSPD and HCSO worked together on the parallel investigation. Child Protective Services was also contacted.
Officials obtained a warrant for Harrison’s arrest on Feb. 7, 2020, on the continuous sexual assault abuse of a child charge, a first-degree felony offense with a punishment range of 25 to 99 years or life in prison if a defendant is convicted.
Through the course of investigation, Harrison was also accused of one count of indecency with another child, a 9-year-old, by sexual contact. Another warrant was sought and obtained for Harrison’s arrest on that second-degree felony charge on Feb. 11, Gilmore reported in February 2020.
Officials looked for Harrison for seven days before he was apprehended at a McKinney apartment on Feb. 14, 2020, on both warrants as well as a speeding warrant, according 2020 arrest reports.
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.
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.
