Representative Slaton Files Bill To Make The Public Utility Commission Seats Elected Positions
AUSTIN, TEXAS – This morning, March 3, Representative Bryan Slaton of HD 2 filed HB 2691 to make the Public Utility Commission seats elected, rather than positions appointed by the Governor.
“Texans everywhere are angry over the energy failures during February’s winter storm. While there has been a lot of finger pointing on who is to blame, one thing is abundantly clear: The people of Texas deserve to have direct accountability of those in positions of power, not less. This bill will make the Public Utility Commission directly accountable to the people, not the Governor,” Rep. Slaton said.
The three commissioners on the Public Utility Commission would serve staggered six year terms, similar to the Railroad Commission, and would be elected during the general election for state officers as proposed by Slaton.
Chamber Connection: Upcoming Events Include An Anniversary Celebration, Golf Tourney Registration, Ribbon Cutting, iSTAT Reporting
By Lezley Brown, President/CEO, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
Great news! It’s time to register to play golf in the 32nd Annual Hopkins County Golf Tournament! We are mailing registration forms to our members this week. If you are interested in playing, call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515 to reserve your spot. We will have morning and afternoon tee times available, but they go fast! The tourney is set for Friday, April 9. It’s going to be a great day!
One thing I’d like to mention … County Judge Robert Newsom was explaining to me that Hopkins County has not yet been added to the Disaster Declaration from the snowstorm because we haven’t reported the damage to the state’s system. Texans are urged to fill out the Texas Department of Emergency Management’s (DEM’s) State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) to help the state identify damages across Texas and help emergency management officials gain an understanding of damages that occurred during the recent winter weather. FEMA has asked the state of Texas for additional information regarding the amount of damage in the counties that have yet to be declared, and TDEM will continue to present that information until all Texas counties that qualify for federal assistance receive the assistance they need. If this applies to you, please do your part, and submit a quick survey.
Events
SAFE-T Crisis Center to celebrate their 14th Anniversary
SAFE-T Crisis Center is celebrating their 14th anniversary on Wednesday, March 24, in their new facility located at 1716 Posey Lane in Sulphur Springs.
Ribbon Cuttings
McCullough Paint to host a ribbon cutting
McCullough Paint, located at 3913-B Wesley Street in Greenville, Tx., will host their ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, March 10, at noon. Please make plans to attend!
Babe hosted their ribbon cutting celebration
Babe hosted a ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, February 25, at noon. They are located at 215 B Main Street in Sulphur Springs and specialize in women’s and men’s clothing and (soon to be) shoes.
Business Highlight
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a member of the Chamber each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for March 3, Town & Country Cleaners. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Wildcats Soccer Team Continues to Play Top District Teams Close Losing 1-0 at Mount Pleasant Tuesday Night
The good news is that the Wildcats Soccer Team has now finished games against the district’s top two teams Longview and Mount Pleasant.
The Wildcats played them close each time home and away losing twice to the Lobos, 1-0 and dropping games to the Tigers 2-0 at The Prim and 1-0 in Mount Pleasant Tuesday night (March 2).
Wildcats Coach Alexi Upton said the Wildcats played a really good game Tuesday. He said they gave up a goal early in the first half. Coach Upton said the Wildcats played better in the second half. Again he noted the Wildcats had chances to score but could not finish them.
The loss to the Tigers dropped the Wildcats’ district record to 3-5. Their season record slips to 12-9-1. Next the Wildcats play host to former Lady Cats Coach Jesus DeLeon and his Texas High Tigers Thursday night at Gerald Prim Stadium. If the Wildcats intend to earn a playoff spot, the Texas High game seems to be in the must win category. The first time the two teams played in Texarkana back on February 5, the Wildcats squeezed by the Tigers, 3-2.
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.
SSISD: Masks Are Still Required At School This Week
Sulphur Springs ISD administrators Tuesday night issued a notice reminding students, staff and community members that Governor’s Executive Order GA-34 does not go into effect until March 10. That means masks and other protocols will continue at least through the end of the week.
SSISD logo 
The order, in additional to lifting the mask order, authorizing business to reopen at 100 percent capacity and lifting certain operating limits enacted due to COVID-19. GA-34 also cites protocols and guidance issued and to be issued by the Texas Education Agency regarding COVID-19 protocols at schools and school-related functions.
For the remainder of this week, the Blackboard notice stated, SSISD will continue to enforce the Governor’s prior executive orders, which continue to be in effect. This means that masks are still required at school as they have been in the previous months.
SSISD officials will closely monitor TEA’s reaction, if any, to this order and communicate any changes with students, employees and community members before students return from Spring Break.
Lady Cats Soccer Evens District Record With 4-2 Win Over Mt. Pleasant
The Lady Cats Soccer team defeated district foe Mt. Pleasant, 4-2 at Gerald Prim Stadium Tuesday night.
The first goal of the game was scored by Mt. Pleasant’s Haylee Martinez thanks to a free kick with 20:13 left in the first half, which gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Over 10 minutes later the Lady Cats scored a goal of their own, thanks to sophomore Rebekah Stanley, who put the goal in the net off of a penalty kick with 7:37 left before halftime. Neither team scored again for almost 30 minutes of playing time.
In what appeared to be a game headed to overtime, like the last time these two teams met, quickly turned on the visiting Lady Tigers. Spark plug Janine Yamaguchi, Midfielder for the Lady Cats, scored a goal just about halfway in to the second half to make it a 2-1 lead for Coach Aguayo’s team. Rebekah Stanley got another goal for Sulphur Springs, just over two minutes later, to make it 3-1 in favor of the Lady Cats with 19:46 left in the game.
Mt. Pleasant was able to score a goal, thanks to an own goal committed by the Lady Cats, which made it a 3-2 game with 14:38 left, and while the Lady Tigers continuously pressed and never relented, Rebekah Stanley put the icing on the cake with just under four minutes left in the game to complete the hat trick, making it a 4-2 win for Lady Cats soccer over Mt. Pleasant.
It was a huge win for Sulphur Springs as the Lady Cats continue to fight for a playoff spot in the hotly contested District 15-5A standings.
Coach Javier Aguayo’s squad has been battling injuries the past several games, so his team leaving the Prim Tuesday, Mar. 2 with a victory over Mt. Pleasant, is huge for the Lady Cats. Perhaps even more so considering coming in to Tuesday night’s contest with the Lady Tigers, Coach Aguayo’s team was in the midst of a three game losing streak.
The win allowed the Lady Cats to even their district record at 4-4. Lady Cats soccer has a 9-8-4 season record. Next up, Lady Cats soccer will be traveling to Texarkana to take on Texas High Thursday, Mar. 4, at 7:15 P.M.
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.
Soccer and Golf on Tuesday Game Day
The Wildcats Soccer Team travels to Mount Pleasant to take on the Tigers. There will be a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. with the Varsity match getting under at 7:15 p.m. The Wildcats are 3-4 in district play after their Saturday 1-0 road loss at Longview. The Wildcats are 12-8-1 for the season. According to Max Preps, the Tigers are 9-5-1 for the season and 5-1 in district play. Mount Pleasant won 2-0 when the two teams played at The Prim back on February 2.
The Lady Cats Soccer Team is at home on this Tuesday game day hosting the Mount Pleasant Lady Tigers. There will be a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. with the Varsity match to follow at 7:15 p.m. The Lady Cats are 3-4 in district play after a home loss to Longview Saturday morning. One of the Lady Cats wins was in a shootout at Mount Pleasant on February 2. The teams tied 0-0 after regulation and overtime. According to Max Preps, the Lady Tigers are 6-9-2 for the season and 3-2-2 in district play. KSST Radio will bring you the Lady Cats and Lady Tigers live from Gerald Prim Stadium beginning at around 7:15 p.m. The broadcast will feature live video and audio steaming. The game will be posted to YouTube after the game. The game will also be shown on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable at a later date.
Meanwhile the Lady Cats Golf Team is playing in a Hallsville sponsored tournament on this game day Tuesday. The tournament is at Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater.
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.
Wildcats First and Lady Cats Second at Sulphur Springs Track Meet Last Thursday
Sulphur Springs High School held its annual Sulphur Springs Track Meet last Thursday, Feb. 25, with the Wildcats taking first and the Lady Cats second. The meet also featured athletes from North Lamar, Paris and Mount Pleasant.
For the Wildcats, Luke Caton was second in the discus. Devin Franklin took first in the high jump clearing 5-feet 8. Landon Fields leaped his way to first in the triple jump getting 38.8 feet. The Wildcats swept the long jump getting first, second and third. Franklin was first at 19.8 feet. Robbie Hanks took second and Malachi Roland was third. In the shot put, Somjai Pryor was third and Sean Dial fourth. In the 100-meter dash, Roland was first with a time of 11.46. Brady Driver was second and Adam Beckham was fifth. The the 200-meter dash, Roland was second and C.J. Williams was third. In the 800-meter race, Alex Flecker was second and Jonathan Scott was fifth. In the 1600-meter race, Flecker was third and Scott was fifth. In the 110-meter hurdles, Landon Fields was second. Fields took first in the 300-meter hurdles. The Wildcats were first in the 4X100-meter relay and the 4X200-meter relay. The Wildcats were second in the 4X400-meter relay.
For the Lady Cats, Kerie Wright was first in the discuss with a toss of 86.3 feet. Isabelle Thesing was second and Jacie Haire was third. In the high jump, Dalanee Myles was fourth. In the long jump, Myssiah Dugan took sixth. In the shot put, Mia Jones was first with a throw of 30-feet-4 inches. Jayden Holley was second and Machelle Allen was fifth. In the 100-meter dash, Bre’Asia Ivery was first with a time of 12.65 seconds. Vanessa Wayne was third and Dugan was fifth. In the 200-meter dash, Savanna Nowlin was seventh. In the 400-meter race, Myles was fourth. Laney Hurst took first in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:49. Penny Emerson placed eighth. Kenia Herrera took second place in the 1600-meter run. In the 3200-meter run, Haylee Shultz won the race with a time 12:46. Herrera was fourth, Emily Soto was fifth and Beida Palomino was seventh. In the 100-meter hurdles, Hannah Bowman took fourth. In the 300-meter hurdles, Claire Bybee took first with a time of 51:37. Makayla Jimmerson took fourth and Lorelai Lilley placed sixth. The Lady Cats team of Myles, Dugan, Wayne and Ivery were second in the 4X200-meter relay race. The Lady Cats team of Hurst, Jimmerson, Lilley and Herrera finished third in the 4X400-meter relay race.
The Wildcats and Lady Cats compete at a Royse City meet Thursday with JV and Varsity teams involved.
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.
Governor’s Executive Order GA-34 Lifts Mask Mandate, Allows Businesses To Open at 100 Percent Starting March 10
After almost a full year of COVID-19 restrictions, Governor Greg Abbott today issued Executive Order (GA-34) lifting the mask mandate in Texas and increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100 percent starting next Wednesday, March 10, 2021. The Governor made the announcement in Lubbock on Tuesday, March 2.
“With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” said Governor Abbott. “We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans by opening Texas 100 percent. Make no mistake, COVID-19 has not disappeared, but it is clear from the recoveries, vaccinations, reduced hospitalizations, and safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed. Today’s announcement does not abandon safe practices that Texans have mastered over the past year. Instead, it is a reminder that each person has a role to play in their own personal safety and the safety of others. With this executive order, we are ensuring that all businesses and families in Texas have the freedom to determine their own destiny.”
During his remarks, Abbott discussed advancements Texas has made, including the “rapid increase of vaccines.” Nearly 5.7 million vaccine shots have been administered to Texans, and the state is now administering almost one million shots each week. By March 10, an estimated 7 million COVID-19 vaccine shots are expected to have been administered in Texas and over half of seniors in Texas will have received a vaccine shot. Abbott said that by the end of March, every senior who wants a vaccine should be able to get one. The vaccine supply is increasing so that more and more Texans will soon be eligible to receive a vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccines haven’t been as available in Hopkins County as they have in some larger more urban areas with designated vaccine hubs and super hubs. In fact, Hopkins County vaccine providers have been allocated first-doses of COVID-19 vaccines in only two of the last six weeks, and none this week. Residents have reported difficulty scheduling an appointment with Hopkins County providers when first-doses of the vaccine have been allocated. As of March 1, 12 weeks into COVID-19 vaccine allocations, Hopkins County has only been allocated 4,100, but 4,742 people in Hopkins County had been vaccinated, according to the COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard, a likely indication 642 residents have had to go elsewhere to receive the vaccine. Of the vaccines administered only 1,732 have received both doses of the vaccine, leaving 3,010 waiting on a second dose.
Abbott also Tuesday noted that Texas has a surplus of personal protective equipment and can perform over 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day. The state has invested in a variety of anti-body therapeutic drugs that have kept thousands of Texans out of hospitals. Texans have also adopted daily habits that reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure and infection. More than 2.5 million Texans who were lab confirmed for COVID-19 have recovered since the beginning of the pandemic , and experts note the total number of Texans who have recovered from COVID-19 is likely 4-5 times that amount. The number of active COVID-19 cases is the lowest since November—meaning more Texans are recovering from COVID-19 than contracting it, Governor Abbott reported.
Hopkins County has had 1,514 confirmed COVID-19 cases since March 21, 2020, and 1,408 additional probable cases and 101 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, leaving 160 active cases of of March 1, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services Case Counts dashboard.
Executive Order GA-34 rescinds most of the Governor’s earlier executive orders related to COVID-19. Effective next Wednesday, all businesses of any type may open to 100 percent capacity. Additionally, GA-34 order ends the statewide mask mandate in Texas. Businesses may still limit capacity or implement additional safety protocols at their own discretion.
If COVID-19 hospitalizations in any of the 22 hospital regions in Texas get above 15 percent of the hospital bed capacity in that region for seven straight days, a county judge in that region may use COVID-19 mitigation strategies. However, county judges may not impose jail time for not following COVID-19 orders nor may any penalties be imposed for failing to wear a face mask. If restrictions are imposed at a county level, those restrictions may not include reducing capacity to less than 50 percent for any type of entity.
Click here to view the entirety of Governor’s Executive Order GA-34.
Street Improvement Program, Concessionaire Services Highlight March 2 Sulphur Springs City Council Agenda
The Street Improvement Program, concessionaire services and May election highlight the March 2 Sulphur Springs City Council meeting agenda.
As has been the practice through most of the last year, Tuesday night’s City Council meeting will be conducted virtually, with Council members and city employees participating in the meeting connecting through Zoom conferencing platform, which will be streamed on the City of Sulphur Springs Meetings YouTube channel for community members to view. A phone number will be given and time allocated at designated times during the meeting for anyone who wishes to address the council to call in and do so. The meeting is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
Council Election
The City Council will be asked to consider accepting the certificates of unopposed candidates for Places 1, 2, 3 and 5 in the May City Council Election; and orders cancelling both the General Election for places 1-3 and Special Election for Place 5.
Harold Nash Sr. was appointed to Place 2 on the Council in December 2019, when four council members turned in their notices of resignations from the council in the same week. Nash then ran for place 2 and Oscar Aguilar for Place 3 on the council in the May 2020 Special City Council Elections, which were postponed until November due to COVID-19 pandemic. Both Nash and Aguilar were unopposed for the remaining months of on the terms for Places 2 and 3 respectively on the council. Gary Spraggins finished ahead of Ricardo Chavarria in November for Place 5 on the Council, for which more than a year remained on the term. Jay W. Julian finished ahead of Mark Bradley for the remaining months of the term for Place 1 on the Council in a December runoff election.
The incumbents were the only candidates who filed in February for a place on the ballot for a full term in their seats: Place 1 Councilman Jay W. Julian, Place 2 Councilman Harold Nash Sr. and Place 3 Councilman Oscar Aguilar. Incumbent Gary Spraggins was the only candidate to file for the 15-month term for Place 5.
Other Action Items
The agenda also calls for discussion on and consideration of contract bids for the annual Street Improvement Program. The City of Sulphur Springs budget $500,000 raised from the street maintenance fee collected on city utility bills and Capital Improvements funds to pay for improvements on the designated streets, along with various preventative maintenance measures.
City staff estimates that more than 2 miles on 6 different street segments will be paved using the street maintenance fee revenue in 2021, but noted that actual resurfacing and maintenance depends on the bids received by the city for materials and certain work. This year, will be the second full year the street maintenance fee has been in effect. The street maintenance fee is $5 per month per residential unit, $5 per month per unit for multi-family units, $12.50 per month for commercial units and $30 per month per industrial unit.
In 2020, the Street Maintenance Fee, enabled the City to pave 5.45 miles of city streets, 3.04 miles more than the regular Summer Paving program allows, according to the FY 2020 Street Maintenance Fee Report.
The City Council is also scheduled to discuss and consider bids for a contract for concessionaire services at designated city parks.
Presentations, Reports
During the presentations, proclamations and announcements portion of the meeting, a Texas History Month proclamation is slated to be given and Judy Moore to be recognized. The City manager’s report will include status of capital improvements, wastewater treatment plant operations, accidents and claims, and a review of expenditures and revenues (the latter is typically given by Finance Director Lesa Smith).
Slaton Proposes Bills To Protect Historic Monuments, Prohibit Gender Reassignment Surgery Or Transitioning For Children
District 2 Representative Proposes Bill Renaming Section of I-35 In Austin The ‘Steve Adler Public Restroom Highway’
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Tuesday, March 2 – Representative Bryan Slaton from House District 2 filed HB 2571 that will protect historic monuments and statues from being removed, altered or destroyed. The bill protects important pieces of Texas history, and creates fair legal processes for alterations, removal or relocations.
“On this Texas Independence Day, it is important that we remember the lessons and stories of the past and preserve our storied history for the future. At a time when monuments and statues representing our history and traditions continue to be destroyed across America and even within Texas itself, it is more important than ever that we protect our historic monuments in the public
square,” Representative Slaton said.
Similar legislation was filed in the 86th legislature by Senator Brandon Creighton. The bill was passed out of the senate, but failed to receive a vote on the House floor, Slaton noted in Tuesday’s release.
HB 2571 is one of a dozen bills Slaton has announced over the last week.
On Monday, Slaton’s office also announced the representative has filed HB 2471 proposing Interstate 35 in Austin between 4th street and 11th street, an area with a homeless population the representative called “Tent City,” be renamed Steve Adler Public Restroom Highway.”
“Liberal legacies deserve to be recognized. Since the legislature has made it clear it intends to rename some highways and bridges this session, I think it’s imperative that we start with a highway that truly recognizes the contributions of Mayor Adler. Texans who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it, and with the renaming of this highway we will ensure that citizens of the Texas capital never forget the legacy of failed liberal policies,” Slaton stated in the release.
Slaton’s office announced the District 2 Representative is co-authoring 10 proposed “conservative bills that will further advance a strong conservative agenda in 2021.” They include:
- HB 574 strengthens election law to help prevent fraud and increase penalties for election fraud.
- HB 749 bans the unethical and unfair practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying.
- HB 825 removes the required fee for obtaining a license to carry a handgun.
- HB 827 prohibits toll road entities from reporting vehicle speed to law enforcement.
- HB 957 allows the sale of firearm suppressors if the suppressor was manufactured in Texas, without federal interference or regulation.
- HB 1057 designates November 7th as Victims of Communism Day.
- HB 1218 requires schools to clearly display our national motto, “In God We Trust.”
- HB 1238 proposes Constitutional Carry for all law-abiding citizens.
- HB 1359 allows a referendum on Texas reasserting itself as a sovereign and independent state.
- HB 1399 prohibits gender reassignment surgery or gender transitioning for children
