SSPD: 72-Year-Old Woman Jailed Following Drunk Driving Crash
A 72-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was jailed following a drunk driving crash Thursday evening, police alleged in arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Cameron Robinson responded at 5 p.m. March 18 in the 1200 block of Brinker Street, where a woman was alleged to have been involved in a motor vehicle crash. Lajuana Lanell Minty Chester appeared to Robinson to have slurred speech and admitted to consuming her prescribed valium medication and alcoholic beverages.
Chester was unable to follow instructions when the officer attempted to administer horizontal gaze nystagmus tests and was unable to perform other field sobriety tests, for safety reasons. Robinson alleged in arrest reports that he believed the 72-year-old to be a danger to herself and others while operating a vehicle on the road.
The Sulphur Springs woman was taken into custody and transported to the hospital, where a specimen of her blood was taken for analysis. The 72-year-old woman was then jailed for drunk driving, third offense. The tan Chevrolet Cavalier she was driving was impounded.
Chester, who is also known to go by Minty Lajuana Chester, remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, March 19, 2021, in lieu of the $10,000 bond set on the felony drunk driving charge.
Her Hopkins County jail record shows the woman was arrested on March 25, 1994 and Oct. 6, 2001 on DWI, third or more offense charges. She was jailed on a third or more DWI indictment on April 15, 2002. Chester was taken into custody June 24, 2002 to serve a 25-year prison commitment on a DWI charge, and remained in Hopkins County jail until July 29, 2002. She then was in Hopkins County jail from Oct. 16, 2012 to May 20, 2013 as part of a 10-year prison sentence for a DWI third or more offense commitment and violation of parole.
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.
Cumby Man Back In Jail For Second Time This Week
A 21-year-old Cumby man is back in jailed for the second time this week, according to arrest and sheriff’s reports.
Cole William Peterson was jailed Sunday, March 14, for driving while intoxicated with a child passenger younger than 15 years of age in the vehicle, abandoning or endangering a child-criminal neglect and tampering with evidence. He was accused of crashing the vehicle he was driving while intoxicated, and calling someone to remove a child from the FM 1870 crash site and take her to her mother in Como before law enforcement arrived. Peterson allegedly admitted to consuming numerous alcoholic beverages prior to operating the car, but denied that a child was in the car at the time of the crash.
“At the scene, it was apparent there was a car seat in the rear seat. Based on the blood in the car it was readily apparent that someone had retrieved a child from the car seat but there was no child present at the scene,” Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Warren Williamson wrote in Peterson’s March 14 arrest report.
When deputies checked on the child, the 1 1/2-year-old’s mother reportedly lied to them. However, when contacted by the trooper allegedly admitted to the falsehood and confirmed the toddler was in the car when it crashed and someone drove her home. The child allegedly sustained minor injuries during the crash.
As a result, Peterson was charged with the felony DWI with a child passenger charge as well as child endangerment-criminal negligence for not seeking medical attention for the child given the severity of the crash and tampering with evidence for having the child removed to avoid the felony DWI charge,.
He was released from Hopkins County jail March 16, on a $30,000 bond on the tampering with evidence charge, a $10,000 bond on the DWI with child passenger charge and $10,000 on the child endangerment-criminal neglect charge.
On Thursday, March 18, while attending a hearing at Hopkins County Civic Center Peterson’s bond was revoked by 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt on the DWI with child passenger charge, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bobby Osornio alleged in arrest reports. Osornio took Peterson into custody at 5:24 p.m. March 18 and transported him to Hopkins County jail, where the Cumby man was held Friday morning, March 19, 2021, for bond forfeiture on the DWI charge.
Man Arrested On Child Porn And Controlled Substance Charges
March 19, 2021 – A lengthy investigation into alleged possession or promotion of child pornography resulted in a 39-year-old man’s arrest Thursday on child porn and controlled substance charges, according to arrest and sheriff’s reports.
“This was another child pornography investigation that’s been ongoing for a while. He was hard to track down. We’ve been looking for some time. He’s apparently been living out of a vehicle. He’s obtained employment in Hopkins County and yesterday the vehicle was found at his employer’s place. We obtained arrest and search warrants for him and the vehicle,” Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford said Friday morning.
Weatherford and Deputy Kevin Lester took Hugo Enrique Menchaca into custody at 12:13 p.m. March 18, 2021 on FM 1870. Officials searched Menchaca and the Chevrolet Tahoe, which was later impounded.
While searching Menchaca, officials reported finding a glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine in his pants pocket; the pipe had suspected meth residue. A small blue bag containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine was found in a different pants pocket. The crystal-like substance later tested positive for meth and weighed approximately 1.78 grams.
A search of the sport utility vehicle resulted in more than one item of evidence, electronics, being recovered. Weatherford said the investigation showed the man to indicate Menchaca was involved involved in child pornography online. Menchaca’s “exact involvement is not entirely clear,” but the evidence attained does indicate he was “involved in the downloading, access and transfer child porn,” according to the investigator. A forensic investigation is planned for the recovered items.
Menchaca was booked into Hopkins County jail Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 3:17 p.m. on a second-degree felony warrant for possession or promotion of child pornography charge as well as a felony possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
The 39-year-old remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, March 19, 2021, in lieu of a $100,000 bond on the child porn charge and a $50,000 bond on the controlled substance 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.
Unemployment Rate Up In Hopkins County In January, But Still Lowest In NET Workforce Area
Unemployment rose slightly in Hopkins County from December 2020 to January 2021, but Hopkins County’s 5.4 percent unemployment rate was still the lowest in the Northeast Texas Workforce Development Area in January 2021. That’s also below the state unemployment rate of 7.3 percent and WDA unemployment rate of 7.1 percent.
According to Texas Work Force Commission and Texas Labor Market Index’s Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 953 people out of the 17,728 labor force (LF) in Hopkins County were unemployed in Hopkins County in January 2021, up from 859 of 17,744 seeking employment in December 2020, and 558 of 17,725 who were unemployed in January 2020. That’s 0.6 percent more people unemployed from December to January, and 2.3 percent more unemployed in Hopkins County than one year ago.
In the Northeast Texas (Texarkana) Workforce Development Area, Delta County has the smallest labor force (2,440) and second lowest unemployment rate 5.7 percent (140 unemployed) in January 2020. That’s up the 4.9 percent (120 people) who were unemployed in December 2020 and 3.6 percent (87 people) who were unemployed in January 2020.
Franklin County had the third smallest labor force (4,952) in January 2020 and the third lowest unemployment rate of 5.9 percent (290 people) in January 2020, which is 0.4 percent higher than in December 2020 when 269 of 4,901 LF were unemployed and 2.5 percent higher than in January 2020 when 163 of 4,736 LF were unemployed.
The only other county in NET WDA with an unemployment rate under 7 percent was Titus County, a county with a labor force of 13,521, including 898 who were unemployed (6.6 percent) in January 2020. That’s up from 6.3 percent in December 2020 and 4.3 percent in January 2020.
Morris County, which has the second smallest labor force (4,745), continued to have the highest unemployment rate of 13.8 percent. In January 2021, 653 were unemployed in Morris County, up from 633 of 4,742 LF who were unemployed (13.3 percent) in December 2020 and 275 of 4,802 LF in January 2020 who were unemployed (5.7 percent).
Bowie County, which has the largest labor force (38,911), and Lamar County, which had the second largest labor force in the NET WDA (23,827), both had an unemployment rate of 7.0 percent; Bowie county had 2,743 unemployed and Lamar 1,658 unemployed in January 2020. That’s up from 6.3 percent (2,452 of 39,163 LF) in December 2020 and 4.2 percent (1,656 of 39,422 LF) in January 2020 in Bowie County. For Lamar County, that’s up from 6.1 percent (1,465 of 23,895 LF) in December 2020 and 3.5 percent (824 of 23,721 LF).
The second highest unemployment rate in the area was 8.7 percent (1,067 of 12,333 LF) in Cass County, which is up from 4.7 percent in January 2020 and 8.1 percent in January 2020.
Also in the NET WDA, Red River County’s unemployment rate is up from 4.8 percent in January 2020, 6.3 percent in December 2020.
Around the region, Hunt County which is in the North Central WDA had an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent (2,888 out of 44,289 LF) in January 2021, up from 5.8 percent in December 2020 and 3.6 percent in January 2020. Nearby Rains County, located in East Texas WDA, was the only county around that had a better January 2021 unemployment rate than Hopkins County. Rains County’s January 2021 unemployment rate of 4.6 percent (284 of 6,217 LF) was an increase of 0.04 percent from December 2020 and 1.5 percent from January 2020. Wood County’s 6.8 percent unemployment rate (1,233 of 18,188 LF) was 0.7 percent higher than in December 2020 and 2.6 percent higher than in January 2020.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Sports Competitors are Pointing Toward Some Big Dates Ahead
The Wildcats Soccer Team already has a date in mind for their bi-district game. The match is expected to be played a week from Friday on March 26. They just don’t know who they will be facing yet.
That is expected to be determined Friday after District 16-5A completes district play. The Wildcats, as the #4 seed in District 15-5A, will be facing the champion and #1 seed from District 16-5A.
Right now Whitehouse and Lufkin are tied at the top with 7-2 district records. Friday, Whitehouse plays at Tyler, right now a #4 seed, while Lufkin plays at home against now #3 seed Nacogdoches.
Both the Wildcats Baseball Team and Lady Cats Softball Team are involved in district play. The Lady Cats will be playing their fourth district game Friday while the Wildcats play their third. Both play in Texarkana at Texas High Friday night. The Lady Cats continue district play through April 20 and the Wildcats through April 27. Then both teams are hoping for the playoffs.
For Powerlifting teams, only state meet qualifiers have planned events left. For the Lady Cats, freshman Machelle Allen and senior Czhela Moya, compete at the Girls’ State Meet Saturday at Corpus Christi. For the Wildcats, senior Ryan Carrillo, junior Juan Hernandez and sophomore Matthew Mitchell are scheduled to compete at the Boys’ State Meet in Abilene on March 27.
The Wildcats Tennis Team will be playing in their fifth tournament of the semester Friday at Waxahachie. They are preparing for the District Tournament April 13-14 at Texas High in Texarkana.
The Wildcats Golf Team has had four tournament this semester and the Lady Cats Golf Team has had three. Both have one more tournament before district. The Wildcats compete in the District Tournament on March 29-30 while the Lady Cats have their District Tournament March 31 and April 1. Both are at Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater.
The Wildcats and Lady Cats Track Teams have had three meets so far this semester and they will compete at their fourth Friday at Lindale. The teams compete at their District Meet March 31 and April 1 at Pine Tree. Tennis, golf and track athletes hope to continue past district to future competitions, perhaps all the way to state.
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.
Emory Man Arrested On Rains County Warrant
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin Lester took a 27-year-old Emory man into custody around 2:25 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at the Adult Probation Office on a felony Rains County warrant.
Lester transported Jesse Aaron Ragle to the county jail, where was booked on the warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for an online solicitation with a minor for sexual conduct charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
The Emory man transferred from Hopkins County jail Thursday, March 18, 2021, to Rains County jail on the warrant, according to jail reports.
According to law enforcement reports, Ragle was convicted of criminal solicitation of a minor to commit online solicitation of a minor, a 15-year-old female, to meet for sexual conduct in November 2018; he was sentenced to 9 years on probation for the 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.
Tira News: Find Out Who Won A State Champion, Who Visited Florida And Oklahoma
By Jan Vaughn, Tira News correspondent
Kevin and Dee Melton were at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Wednesday, March 10, to watch their niece, Dodd City Junior Kylee Graves, in the 1A State Basketball finals.
Dee reports, “The Dodd City Lady Hornets took their first ever State Championship on Wednesday giving Coach Alex Stephenson his first state championship trophy as a birthday present! Their team motto for the year was ‘Our Time’ and this was fulfilled in their 4th match up with 24-time state champions Nazareth in 5 years. Dodd City finished with a record of 33-0 in an undefeated season. #23 Kylee Graves scored 21 points in the semi-final game and played an awesome defensive game in the state finals. She was named 1st team All-District, 1st Team All-Region and Academic All-Region. The Lady Hornet team members picked up many well-deserved season end superlatives as well.”
She adds, “You can read more on the Dodd City ISD Facebook page.”
Congratulations to Kylee, her family, and her team!
Robert, Yvonne, Wesley, Dustin, Natalie, and Everly Weir traveled to Hollywood, Florida for five days during spring break. Yvonne said, “We had one good beach day, but it was windy and cool most of the time. We had fun at the boardwalk. Kaitlin Murray our great-niece came to visit us. Wesley loved the airplane ride.” On Sunday the 14, Dustin and Dakota and their families came to Robert and Yvonne’s for lunch.
Chip, Grace, and I went to Broken Bow, Oklahoma last Wednesday the 10th and visited with Jim and Sandra Vaughn. We took a drive out to see the new place they are purchasing. They are looking forward to moving in the next few weeks and being away from the busy highway between Broken Bow and Beavers Bend. Also, they will be closer to their son, Johnny, and his family.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Work On Grays Building In Pacific Park Progressing With Roof Work
Deadline For Community Members To Complete Online Pacific Park Improvements Survey Is March 19
Work on the Grays Building in Pacific Park is progressing with the roof being installed Wednesday. Crews were on scene using equipment to lift large metal panels to the top of the building to be placed and secured atop the metal frame.
Over the last month, framing and plumbing top-out were finished. Electrical rough-in was nearly complete, and HVAC was being installed March 2, Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell reported. The roofer was slated to be onsite the first week of the month, with insulation to be installed the week of March 8. The city manager noted brick and sheetrock won’t be far behind completion of these stages.
With the new Grays Building progressing so well, the City of Sulphur Springs is concentrating focus more toward the redesign and upgrade of the actual park area. Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski March 11 announced a survey on the city website which community members are invited to complete to weigh in on finishing touches for the park area, including choice of a new playground, uses for a pavilion, additional desire amenities and any other feedback residents wish to relay.
The Pacific Park improvements are part of the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan adopted by the city in 2019. An emphasis of the plan was to design and develop a Pacific Park Site Specific Master Plan, created based on input from community members during a design charrette.
Voters in November 2019 approved a proposition allowing up to $200,000 of EDC sales and use tax funding to be used annually for up to 20 years by the city’s parks department to repay $3 million worth of bonds which will fund qualified 4B projects, including a new Grays Building in Pacific Park and a new Senior Citizens Center. In August 2020, the city was approved for a $750,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant for improvements to the grounds at Pacific Park.
“We are delighted to report that we can accomplish the goals for the plan and need further input on some of the finishing touches for the park. Specifically, we would love to hear your input on the playground and functionality of the covered sports pavilion. This information will be reviewed by City Staff and will ultimately lead to a decision on which elements to incorporate into the park,” the prompt on the survey page states.
The survey can be accessed on the City Facebook Page and on the home page of City website, http://www.sulphurspringstx.org/, under the “Latest News” heading or by clicking here
There’s still time for those who wish to weigh in by completing the Pacific Park Improvement Survey. They man do so online through Friday, March 19. A Zoom meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 29, to discuss the results and presentation on the next steps moving forward, Niewiadomski noted.
Construction drawings for the new Senior Citizens Center were still being prepared by REES Associates, Maxwell reported in his monthly manager’s report, presented March 2, 2021, to Sulphur Springs City Council. Tandem Consulting has been hired to oversee the construction f the activity center for adults ages 50 and older, as is the case with the Grays Building.
Sulphur Springs ISD New Student, Dual Language Program Registration Begins March 25
Registration For Current Pre-K, Head Start Students Conducted Via Skyward Family Access
Sulphur Springs ISD New Student Registration Round-up for kindergarten through third begins March 25 for the 2021-2022 school year.
This registration is for new students who did NOT end the 2020-2021 school year in Sulphur Springs ISD. Parents of current pre-kindergarten and Head Start students will complete a Returning Student Registration with their Skyward Family Access account.
New-to-the-district pre-kindergarten and Head Start students will register at Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center. Sulphur Springs ISD will be hosting New Student Registration in the Administration Board Room, 631 Connally St., from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 25-26, April 5-7 and May 5-7, with registration extended until 6:30 p.m. on April 7 and May 5.
How To Register
To register make an appointment by clicking the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/newstudent2021. Only a parent or legal guardian can enroll a child; the parent/guardian must have appropriate documents and bring their child so that SSISD can administer Universal screening for placement.
Parents will need to bring all of the required and/or applicable documents listed below:
- Proof of residency within district. Must be one of the following:
- Current utility bill;
- Current rent, Lease agreement, mortgage statement showing name and address of owner; or
- Income Tax paperwork
- Parent or Legal Guardian’s Photo ID
- Child’s Official Birth Certificate
- Child’s Social Security Card
- Child’s Up-to-Date Immunization Record
- Dr.’s Notes Concerning Allergy/Health Needs
- Custodial Documents or Court Orders, if applicable.
Parents will then complete the online registration process via Skyward. SSISD staff will be available to assist those in need or parents/guardians may go to www.ssisd.net to complete beforehand.
Dual Language Program Registration
The SSISD Dual Language Department will also be on campus with applications for the 2021-2022 Two-Way Dual Language Enrichment Program from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 25-26, April 5-7 and May 5-7, except April 7 and May 5, when staff will be available until 6:30 p.m.
Administration will be on campus to distribute primary campus assignment based on residency within the school district.
Students must begin the bilingual, biliteracy program in kindergarten with a goal of students completing fifth grade comfortable and fluent in both Spanish and English communication they’ve achieved speaking, writing and reading in both languages at equal skill levels. The program also promotes cross cultural awareness
Students will learn to read and write in their native language in kindergarten and first grade in their language arts classes. In second grade, students will begin
learning to read and write in their second language.
All math instruction is in English. All science and social studies instruction is in Spanish.
The program makes extensive use of bilingual pairs to provide students the opportunities to master both the academic content and the acquisition of a second
language. Our Two-Way Dual Language Program is based at Travis Elementary for kindergarten through third grade.
Craig Toney is the dual language program director. Michelle Wallace is Travis Primary principal and Sonia Cordova is program assistant. For additional information about the dual language program, call (903) 885-2153. Extension 1148 or send an email to [email protected].
Oklahoma Man Arrested On Cocaine, Weapon Charges
Emory Man Jailed For Bond Forfeiture
Police arrested an Oklahoma man at 11:57 p.m. March 17 on cocaine and weapon charges. An Emory man was jailed on an order revoking his probation on a controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Main Street Traffic Stop
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Robble Acosta reported stopping a GMC Sierra with a defective taillight pass around 11:35 p.m. Wednesday in the 1200 block of Main Street. Upon contact with the driver, Acosta reported smelling a marijuana odor. The 23-year-old driver agreed and notified the officer the console contained a handgun. Acosta had Timothy Cole August Kelsey exit the truck. The officer talked to the passengers while conducting a search of it.
Acosta reported finding a small bag containing a white powdered substance he suspected to be cocaine and a rolled $20 bill in the back seat. While placing the item in his patrol vehicle Acosta observed a bag with a white powdered substance next to his front passenger side tire. When the driver and passengers were asked about the contraband, the driver Kelsey allegedly admitted the substance in the bag was cocaine. It also field-tested positive for cocaine.
Consequently, Kelsey was arrested for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon. He remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, March 18, 2021. Bond was set at $10,000 on the controlled substance charge and $2,000 on the weapon charge, according to jail reports.
Bond Forfeiture
A39-year-old Emory man in custody on a Hopkins County warrant was transported by Hunt County deputies to Hopkins County jail Wednesday afternoon. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin Lester took custody of John Scott Thompson II at 2:40 p.m. March 17 and escorted him into Hopkins County jail.
Thompson was booked into jail for bond forfeiture on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, March 18, 2021, on the bond forfeiture charge; his new bond was set at $25,000, according to jail reports.
Thompson, who is also known to use the aliases Scotty Joe Thompson and James Joseph Watts, was arrested at 3:15 p.m. March 17, 2020 in Hopkins County on the original controlled substance charge, and released the next day on a $5,000 bond. He was indicted during the December 2020 Grand Jury session on the charge, according to court 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.
