Tensions Run High For Dike Residents About French Solar Farm
Tensions continue to run high between the citizens of Dike and the French Solar Company, Engie. The Hopkins County Commissioner’s court, which approved a tax abatement for the solar farm, held a public forum at the civic center on Monday night, in an effort to relieve concerns from the affected neighbors. The residents in Dike are very upset, and contend that they were not properly notified of the solar farm or what effects it would have on the community. More than 60 county residents showed up to first listen to a one-sided Zoom presentation from Ryan Economy, who is the Senior Advisor For Project Development for Engie’s North American office. After thirty minutes of technical issues, residents inside the civic center listened to the last half of Engie’s presentation of how a solar farm is good for the community of Dike. All participants were then allowed to ask specific questions to the advisors, but had to be typed into the software, instead of the normal Zoom protocol of live video and microphones. The sound quality inside the civic center proved to be sub-standard, so it was difficult for the participants to hear their questions asked and answered from the Engie team.
Community members were then allowed to speak and ask questions of the Commissioner’s Court, and the majority of those that spoke voiced concern over the lack of notification as well as all of the unknown impact that the solar farm will bring. Damage to roads, constant construction and operation noise, as well as the unsightly fencing and solar panels were major concerns throughout the night. Other residents brought up concerns about displacement of wildlife and the clear-cutting of trees to make way for the solar panels, which will cover over 1,800 acres, so far. The Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court maintained that they had followed the law by posting public notices in the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram, but Dike residents were not in agreement and had stated that only a handful of the residents still subscribe to the local paper. Citizens kept demanding that county officials should have done more to “get the word out.”
In the end, a lot of valid points were raised, but unfortunately due to the format, Engie was not able to hear the concerns voiced at the meeting. It will now be up to the Commissioner’s Court to reach out to the French firm and try to get some answers. Although the parent company of the French conglomerate boasts over 170,000 employess world-wide and had over $70 billion in revenue in 2019, not one employee chose to attend the meeting in person, and technical issues kept the Dike residents an arms-length away from being in full contact with the Solar Company.
10 Sulphur Springs ISD Employees Retiring, 4 Resigning
Ten Sulphur Springs ISD employees tendered notices of retirement and four letters of resignation, all except two are effective at the end of the school year or contract term. The 14 personnel leaving will impact staffing at seven different SSISD campuses, according to information provided by SSISD superintendent’s office.
SSES will be losing four employees to retirement. Tag Williams, a behavior interventionist at Sulphur Springs Elementary, is retiring early. Library aide Diane Coke, music teacher Deanna Spraggins and reading interventionist Juli Varosi all turned in early notification of pending retirement at the end of either the school or contract year.
Jordan Tyler, a math teacher at Sulphur Springs Middle School, is leaving to begin a new job. Also at SSMS, Vickie Vaughn also notified the district of her pending retirement after this year.
Three employees will be leaving Barbara Bush Primary at the end of the year/contract. Denise Booher, dyslexia coordinator and teacher and Michele Smith, library aide plan to retire. Kimberly Pellam, a special education aide, submitted a resignation letter notifying SSISD administrators she does not plan to return after this year.
Austin Academic Center is losing two educators. Principal Julie Ashmore Greenland and DAEP teacher Lesa Knotts notified the district of their plans to retire after this year/contract.
Gordon Fulcher, the 2019 SSISD Police Department Officer of the Year, will be retiring for the second time. He retired several years ago from Sulphur Springs Police Department, and recently notified SSISD of his plan to retire as a campus police officer at Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center at the end of this year.
Karen Phillips, a part-time science coordinator working out of the SSISD Administration Building, and Candice Lamb, a Title I aide at Bowie Primary, notified the district that they do not plan to return after this year/contract as well.
In addition to these early notifications of planned retirement and resignations, SSISD Board of Trustees following an executive session March 22 also extended employment contracts for certified and non-certified administrative personnel for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.
VFW Steak Night Tonight!
Even though it has been rescheduled a few times, tonight March 23rd, 2021 is steak night at the VFW in Sulphur Springs, TX.
The VFW will be serving Steaks with all the trimmings cooked by Big Smith’s Bar-B-Q on sight. $25 per person. Tickets available at the Canteen.
Click here for more information
SSHS FFA Cash Vititow’s Red Brahman Heifer Wins Best in Breed at Houston Livestock Show!
From a March 22 press release from John Holland, SSHS Ag Instructor/FFA Advisor, during this past month 8 students on the livestock show team traveled to the Houston Livestock Show. Cash Vititow, Maurie Flecker, Savannah Allen, Jace Mayers, and Jose Flores all took Breeding Beef Heifers, and all showed extremely well in very large classes. Cash Vititow and his heifer TO 68 won the Senior Division Red Brahmans. Vititow’s entry then proceeded to win Overall Grand Champion Red Brahman Female. For those that may not know, that means Cash and ’68’ were selected as the best Red Brahman Female at the Houston Livestock Show! Congratulations to Cash on this huge accomplishment.
Also at Houston, Braddox Rawson took a Market Barrow Hog. Jayden Arledge showed 2 Dairy Heifers in the Breeding Show, and placed 7th in class with his Jersey heifer and 3rd in class with his Holstein heifer. Annie Horton took a market lamb to Houston, placing 3rd in her class at Houston and making the sale her senior year. We had an overall great trip to Houston this year and look forward to next year’s shows.
In addition to the Houston Show we had 2 students travel to Abilene for the State Holstein show. Wayne Hinton and Robert Smith took their string of Dairy Heifers and did very well showing.
In other competitions which SSHS FFA students entered, Annie Horton also traveled to the Austin Livestock show. Cash Vititow and Savannah Allen will be traveling to the Waco for the International Beef Heifer Show this coming week.
Hopkins County 4H Archery Shooters Compete in Houston
In March, two Hopkins County 4H archery shooters traveled to the Houston Livestock Show to compete in an NASP meet. Taydon Horton and Bella Vaculik got a good measure of experience from the competition.
According to County 4-H Archery coach Stephanie Stewart, “Taydon Horton is a 5th grader from SSES and Bella Vaculik is a 6th grader from Miller Grove ISD. This is the first time for both of them competing at this big shoot. Houston Livestock streamed the shoot, and it was opened up for 240 shooters across our state. Taydon shot in the qualifier on Saturday. Bella advanced to the Sunday contest, placing 4th in her class as a barebow shooter. She came home with a $75 gift card from Cavendars as her prize. She has only been shooting the bare compound bow since Summer 2020. I am very proud of all our shooters”.
The National Archery in the Schools Program is an in-school program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4th – 12th. And through it, students are learning focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and the life lessons required to be successful in the classroom and in life.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – March 15-21, 2021
The Winnsboro Police Department media report for the week of March 15-21, 2021, included the following activity:
Arrests
- Bryan Couch, 29 years of age, of Grand Prairie was arrested on 3/15/2021 on a Wood County warrant for Assault Family Violence causing bodily injury and two Hopkins County warrants for criminal mischief and Fail to Maintain Financial Responsibility.
- John Patrick, 31 years of age, of Winnsboro was arrested on March 19, 2021, for DWI, Possession of a Penalty Group 1 Controlled Substance, Prohibited Substance and Item in Correctional or Civil Commitment Facility.
Calls for Service
- The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 147 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
- The Winnsboro Police Department issued 45 citations and 52 warnings during this reporting period.
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.
