Wildcats Tennis Players are Playing Tournaments For Seeding in Upcoming District Tourney
Unlike Team Tennis in the fall, tennis in the spring semester is more about individual accomplishments by members of a team.
Singles and doubles players on the Wildcats Tennis Team are playing in tournaments attempting to receive the best seeding possible for the upcoming District Tennis Tournament.
Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez hopes some of his players find a path to the Regional Tournament at the District Tournament. He has high hopes for his #1 girls’ player Jeauxleigh Cantu. Most recently Cantu has been teamed with sophomore Mykylie Meador as the Wildcats #1 girls doubles’ team. The pair won first place at a Waxahachie Tournament last Friday (March 19).
Coach Martinez now believes that Cantu’s best chance to go to the Regional Tournament is in girls’ singles. He says Texas High does have the district’s top girls singles player.
Hallsville also has a player that defeated Cantu several months ago during Team Tennis season but he says he believes Cantu can win a rematch at district. Coach Martinez says powerhouses Texas High and Longview are utilizing their top two girls players on doubles and mixed doubles teams. He says Meador is expected to be on the Wildcats top girls double team with either senior Harleigh Stegient or Paige Miesse.
Coach Martinez says all of his team members have shown a lot of improvement over the past calendar year. He has been especially impressed with Meador and boys Alex Romero and Tate Smith, who both play on mixed doubles’ teams. Friday the Wildcats will play in their sixth tournament this semester, this one at Pleasant Grove.
After that tournament, the Wildcats will have three more tourneys before district: at Wills Point, a make up tournament in Tyler and one at Whitehouse. The District Tournament is on April 13-14 in Texarkana.
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.
Brinker VFD To Hold Crawfish Boil April 3
Brinker Volunteer Fire Rescue Department is hosting its first annual crawfish boil on Saturday, April 3, 2021, at Brinker VFD Station 12, located at 1415 FM 69 south.
Department member anticipate preparing 1,000 pounds of crawfish, which will be served starting at 2 p.m. and will continue to be available until 7 p.m. or until they run out of crawfish, whichever comes first. Teac and water will be offered, or bring a drink of choice. Hot dogs and a bounce house will be offered for kids as well.
The cost to eat at Brinker VFD Crawfish Boil is strictly on a donation basis to benefit Brinker VFD.
“This benefit is for our community as we are constantly striving to provide the best trained and equipped emergency response service in the county. We have applied for grants that have been awarded to us from the Texas Forestry Service and we have to cover 10% of the cost of the new equipment. This fundraiser will help offset the cost of that,” said Brinker Volunteer Fire Chief Wade McDaniel. “Y’all come out for great fellowship and good food.”
For questions, or to make a donation, contact Chief Wade McDaniel at 903-243-4828 or Assistant Chief Conner Nix at 903-951-7366.
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Offered March 29; Registration Required
For those who still want to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but were unable to register for the two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Thursday at the hospital or during shot administrations, the state will be hosting another COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this coming Monday, March 29, in Sulphur Springs at the Hopkins County Civic Center. The vaccine will be the Pfizer, also a two-dose vaccine which requires a second dose in approximatley 3-6 weeks. There are 200 doses available on March 29.
To register for the COVID-19 vaccine event, either follow the link below and complete the registration process or call the Local Health Authority at 903-440-5902. Those applying will be asked if they are in the 1A, 1B and eligible school and child care worker vaccine groups.
Click here to register: http://bit.ly/HopkinsCountyVax0329
60-Year-Old Man Allegedly Hid Methamphetamine In A Soda Can
Marijuana Found In Truck Where Man Was Sleeping In Como
Deputies arrested a 60-year-old who allegedly hid methamphetamine in a soda can and a a 25-year-old sleeping in his truck at a Como business Wednesday, March 24, on Main Street on possession charges, according to sheriff’s and arrest reports. An Alba woman turned herself in Tuesday night at the county jail on a controlled substance related charge, according to arrest reports.
Methamphetamine In A Soda Can
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tanner Steward reported stopping a Mitsubishi Galant at 6:44 p.m. March 24, 2021, on Main Street at Davis Street after noticing the car had a defective high center mounted stop lights and registration that expired in December of 2019.
During the traffic investigation, Steward noted 60-year-old Daryl Christopher Simmons of Sulphur Springs to be sweating profusely. A search of the white passenger vehicle allegedly revealed a baggy containing a crystal-like substance in a root beer can in the cup holder. The substance found in the soda can field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 0.4 gram, including packaging, Steward alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, Simmons was arrested just before 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, 2021, by Steward and Investigators Shea Shaw and Corley Weatherford on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge in a drug-free zone, the latter enhancement was added as the stop occurred approximately 433 feet from a drug-free zone, the sheriff’s officers alleged in arrest reports.
Simmons remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, March 26, 2021, on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
Simmons has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1997, including being arrested and booked into Hopkins County jail on 19 prior occasions, including 75-day state jail commitments on two 2012 driving while intoxicated convictions, two 18-month commitments on 2013 evading arrest and theft convictions, a 10-month commitment on 2017 burglary of building conviction, and a 12-month commitment on a 2019 possession of controlled substance conviction, according to jail records.
Asleep In A Truck In Como
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call of a suspected intoxicated person causing a disturbance on Tiegiser Lane around 9:30 p.m. March 24, 2021. The man was alleged to have driven away in a silver Chevrolet truck with an orange go-cart in the back of the truck. Then, they were told the man was headed in the direction of his place of employment in Como to sleep for the night.
Deputies located a silver Chevrolet Silverado around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of West Main Street in Como, inside of which a 25-year-old Sulphur Springs man slept in the driver’s seat. An open container visible to deputies in the pickup. Deputies woke the man and had him step out of the truck to talk to them. He allegedly admitted there was marijuana in the vehicle. A search did indeed yield a green, leafy substance that appeared to be marijuana.
Consequently, the 25-year-old Sulphur Springs man was taken into custody just after 10:40 p.m. March 25 jailed on a possession of drug paraphernalia charge. He remained in Hopkins County jail on the charge Thursday, March 25, according to arrest reports.
March 24 was not the first time the man has been boked into Hopkins County jail for possession of drug paraphernalia; he was booked on the charge on April 23, 2013 and March 7, 2016. He also has been jailed in Hopkins County Nov. 10, 2013 for possession of a controlled substance in a drug-free zone, March 11, 2014 on an engaging in organized criminal activity charge, from March 11-May 14, 2014 as part of an 18-month state jail commitment on a controlled substance charge, May 18-24, 2016 on a burglary of a building charge; Jan. 3-Feb. 15, 2017 after being sentenced to a commitment in an intermediate sanctioned facility on the burglary charge; and April 17-15, 2019 for violating probation on the burglary charge, according to jail records.
Warrant Arrest At Sheriff’s Office
A 58-year-old Alba woman turned herself in just after 8:20 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, 2021, on a warrant. Deputy Justin Wilkerson walked Tamela Perkins Owen around to the county jail and released her to corrections officers.
Owen – who jail reports shows is also known by Tamela Louise Owen, Tamela Louise Krante, Tamela Perkins Krantz, Tamila Louise Owen and Tamela Louise Perkins – was booked for bond forfeiture on an Aug. 25, 2020 possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to jail and arrest reports.
The Alba woman Thursday morning, March 25, 2021, remained in Hopkins County jail, where he new bond was set at $20,000 on the charge – twice the original bond set for the controlled substance offense.
Owen has been booked in Hopkins County jail on four other occasion, on May 18, 2006, for violation of probation on a Camp County DWI charge; Dec. 19-20, 2014 for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; and July 11-Aug. 17, 2016 for violation of probation on the possession of a controlled substance 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.
Inmate Allegedly Threatened Retaliation Against Father
A Hopkins County jail inmate allegedly threatened retaliation against his father for reporting him to police, an investigator noted in arrest reports.
Brandon Darel Roach has been in Hopkins County jail since his arrest Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, following a disturbance in which the 39-year-old allegedly threatened to burn down a residence with his nephew inside if the nephew and his family did not vacate the residence. The man also allegedly threatened to kill his father before leaving a County Road 4744 residence. He was located on County Road 4738 and arrested at 6 p.m. Jan. 16, on two Class A misdemeanor terroristic threat of a family or household member charges after admitting to making threats against his nephew and father, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Bobby Osornio and Steve Shing alleged in the arrest report. His has remained in jail in lieu of a $5,000 per charge.
HCSO Investigator Dennis Findley at 2:55 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, charged Roach with obstruction or retaliation. While listening to jail calls Roach made to his mother, Findley heard Roach during a Jan. 18 call tell his mother he was going to kill his father for calling the police on him, the investigator alleged in arrest reports. Thus, the inmate was charged with retaliation.
He remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, March 26, 2021, on the two original terroristic threat charges as well as the new charge for allegedly threatening retaliation charge, according to Hopkins County 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.
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.
