Sharing CTE With Rotary Club
Sulphur Springs High School Career & Technical Education students presented to the Rotary Club on Thursday, February, 25, a summary of their CTE organizations and their accomplishments, as part of their CTE Month celebration and awareness programs.
Speakers this year included:
- Makayla Pullen representing Business Professionals of America (BPA)
- Jillian Jumper representing Family, Career, & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
- Cash Vititow and Camry Atkins representing FFA
- Harley Speed and Bailey Burnet representing Future Health Professionals (BPA)
- Hallie Boykin representing SkillsUSA
- Joseline Arenas representing Texas Association of Future Educators (TAFE)
- Rayden McCormack representing National Technical Honor Society (NTHS)
February is Career and Technical Education Month, a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country.
To help Sulphur Springs High School celebrate CTE Month, KSST’s high school interns have compiled short videos featuring a few of the CTE programs offered at SSHS. One will be featured each week during CTE Month.
Be sure to stay tuned to KSST Radio 1230, check out www.KSSTradio.com and the KSST social media accounts to ensure you don’t miss these weekly or any other CTE features. If you missed any, be sure to the check them out at the links below:
Week 1: Interior Design Class – Architecture Program
Week 2: Design and Multimedia Arts Program – Graphic Design I and Advanced Graphic Design
Also, check out the nayoral proclamation of February as CTE Month in Sulphur Springs.
A Modern Day Dr. Dolittle
A low mechanical buzz fills the air as Dr. Denise Fowler inserts a long pole with a flat-tipped grinder into the large white gelding’s mouth. The sedated horse blinks lazily as Fowler and her team brush and grind his teeth. As she files off the sharp edges and cleans his teeth, a new smell emanates from the horse’s mouth, it’s as if someone’s opened a fresh bag of Doritos mixed with the smell of fresh hay.
Dr. Fowler pauses her work and puts a hand inside the horse’s mouth to check for sharp edges. She reaches in nearly to her elbow before she begins grinding again.
“You know what sounds good for lunch?” Dr. Fowler asks her vet technicians.
The young women glance between each other and shrug.
“What’s that, Doc?” Roneyce, one of Fowler’s senior vet techs asks.
“Pho, and some eggrolls,” Dr. Fowler says with a smile.
She’s on a small farm, roughly an hour away from her clinic, performing routine osteopathic exams on two horses. Part of the routine exam is checking and filing the horse’s teeth, a process known in the veterinary world as “floating.” Left unchecked, Fowler explained, a horse’s teeth could cause problems, because their teeth naturally have uneven wear.
The morning is chilly, and a light drizzling rain is falling. The rain’s rhythmic tapping on the barn’s tin roof echoes slightly in the six-horse barn. Dr. Fowler’s regular clients are spread out across North Texas, because she is one of the few veterinarians familiar with less-common practices like osteopathy as well as traditional Chinese methods. Some of the farmers near the clinic may be distrustful of her less-conventional practices.
“I think the biggest part is taking the time to listen to the client and their concerns, and acknowledging that these animals are like family members,” Fowler said.
Fowler looks young for 41, with wavy chestnut colored hair and youthful skin. She wears a black vest over her traditional red scrubs as an attempt to stay warm in the cool barn. Her hazel eyes hold a wisdom that comes from her years of experience as a veterinarian. Her practice, Sulphur River Vet Clinic, is the only veterinary office within a 50-mile radius that offers traditional medicinal herbs and practices like acupuncture and osteopathy, in addition to pharmaceuticals.
After floating, Fowler examines the horses’ joints, muscles, and bones, looking for any irregularity.
His neck is tight, so she pops it using a chiropractic method. She circles his head with her arms, giving him a hug, her fists resting at the base of his skull. She squats, and there’s a quiet, yet satisfying pop.
***
Fowler’s love of horses stems from her childhood. Raised in Richardson, Texas, Fowler was eight years old when a friend introduced her to horseback riding. English riding is the most common equestrian discipline in the Dallas area, and Fowler eventually began to compete, balancing her riding along with her academic work and soccer.
“She got on that horse and it looked like she belonged on it,” Fowler’s mother commented.
“I’ve had horses ever since,” Fowler admitted.
Another influence in her life was reading James Herriot books about veterinary medicine. Her mother encouraged her love for science and pushed Fowler to own her own business. Fowler said she decided at a young age that she wanted to become a veterinarian.
In veterinarian school, everyone endures the same training. In undergrad, Fowler worked for the late Dr. Norris in Sulphur Springs. Norris practiced acupuncture and dentistry and taught Fowler some of his practices. She graduated in 2005 from Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. Her Aggie pride is evident from the familiar maroon-colored scrubs that she and her staff wear.
After vet school, Dr. Fowler knew she wanted to continue her studies of acupuncture to expand her depth in treatment protocols. She also added Chinese and Western herbs to her knowledge base. She studied these practices and refined her skills at the Chi Institute of Veterinary Chinese Medicine in Florida in 2006.
“I realized pretty quick that I was going to need to do chiropractic training. You can get a lot done with acupuncture and herbs, but sometimes you just need to ‘pop’ them or adjust them,” Fowler explained.
At a veterinary conference, Fowler ran into a friend, who’s also a vet. She suggested studying osteopathy at the Vluggen Institute for Equine Osteopathy and Education in San Marcos.
“I was like, what the heck is that?” Fowler joked, remembering her initial introduction to the skill before deciding to attend.
Osteopathy deals with connection between the muscles and skeleton system in the body. This is different than chiropractic techniques because chiropractors work mostly with spinal adjustments. Acupuncture is different from both, using needles and providing a form of local anesthesia relief.
In 2010, Dr. Fowler and her husband decided to settle near his hometown of Commerce, Texas. She was eight months pregnant when she started her own business out of a trailer house. Her focus was on having consistent clients, and she predominantly performed farm visits.
“I had my baby, and we put her in the truck, and started doing calls,” Fowler said.
Now, just 10 years later, not only has Dr. Fowler expanded her clientele, but she’s also managed to open an actual clinic near Commerce. Fowler still consistently makes farm visits, but finds it’s nice to have a space that clients can visit, bring smaller pets for evaluations, and a place where she can store herbal remedies and house necessary x-ray and other large equipment.
“You start with nothing, and it’s just hard to build that up. You have to have a lot of money and a lot of trust in God to bring the pieces together to help you, you know, get that money going and out of nowhere and be able to make the payments,” Fowler said.
One of the challenges that comes with owning your own business and having a country practice is financing. Fowler noted the cost for running a clinic was one that her clients often don’t consider.
The overhead of having a building, and taxes, ordering equipment and medicines, paying phone bills, and licensing and dues – it all adds up. Many customers have a hard time understanding why veterinary bills can sometimes be expensive. Fowler recognizes that clients in the area also struggle financially, and she does her best to offer medicines or herbs that might be cheaper alternatives.
“We were skeptical at first, but have come to appreciate Dr. Fowler and her holistic approach to animal health,” Laura Owens said.
Owens, a client of Dr. Fowler’s, has two aging horses and a donkey. She’s tried different supplements and herbs for their oldest gelding who’s been struggling with weight and thyroid problems. Under Fowler’s care, she’s seen an improvement in her horse’s agility and temperament.
“Now we just need to get him to lose a couple of pounds,” Owens joked.
***
Fowler has found it’s all about balance. Using alternative medicine, chiropractics, and acupuncture, both herbs and pharmaceuticals allows her a wider range of potential treatments to address problems. As Fowler put it, pharmaceutical drugs only tackle one issue, while herbs can help multiple problems.
In addition to keeping up with the traditional medicines, Fowler still needs to stay on the forefront of surgical procedures, and newest techniques available for diagnostics.
The research is there to back her up.
According to a 2019 study published by the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, the findings supported the positive therapeutic role of Chinese herbal medicine in the rescue treatment of canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease (or IBD) and emphasized a field of research with potential for growth and development.
A second study, published by the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, revealed that horses treated with laser acupuncture before a stressful event, like racing, had a statistically significant smaller heart rate increase than those treated with western medicines.
The success of both studies, in addition to Fowler’s personal success with traditional methods, is not only encouraging but provides a gateway for more research studies to examine the effectiveness of such treatments.
One of the most commonly used and prescribed herbal medicine is Shi Quan Da Bu Tang or the All-Inclusive Great Tonifying Decoction. This is a tonic herbal formula that treats general deficiency and weakness from injury, surgery, or chronic illness, and is also popular as a geriatric tonic. This medicine is frequently used in cancer treatments for humans and animals and promotes wound healing in animals with poor immune functions.
Dr. Fowler had a client whose dog had severe tumors all over, and she prescribed a product called Max’s formula. The formula helped the dog: improving his ability to move and slowing new tumor growth. But Fowler stressed that every case is unique.
“You may see three or four coughs in a row and every single cough is going to be different,” Fowler said.
Making the right diagnosis is paramount. Fowler stressed the importance of continuous learning. Figuring out what works best for one animal may not always work for another. Fowler noted that veterinarians ultimately must learn to trust their own intuition when it comes to helping each pet.
***
Next is his hindquarters. They’ve shifted, causing him to walk unevenly. It’s as if Fowler can tell this isn’t comfortable for the horse, and ultimately needs to be adjusted. Fowler holds her arms straight out, resting on either side of the gelding’s hips, visualizing the spot she wants to shift.
“Do you want me to do this one?” One of her vet students, Emma asks, reaching for the back-left leg of the white gelding.
Fowler grins, excited to share her knowledge with her mentees.
“Yeah! You’re going to pull it towards you and lift it up.” Dr. Fowler says.
Emma follows the instructions, and Fowler nods in approval. Fowler steps back to recheck the horse’s hips. She frowns, squinting at the horse’s hips.
One hand rests on his side, the other used to pull the opposite hip towards her. It takes a few tries to push the geldings’ hips back into alignment, but finally Dr. Fowler nods. A victorious smile spreads across her face, and she pats the horse’s back lightly for a job well done.
Fowler considers many opportunities in both her clinic and on house calls as teachable moments to share her veterinary knowledge with her all-female staff. Cultivating an all-female staff is something near and dear to Fowler’s heart. She wants to ensure her vet techs and student workers benefit under her mentorship; something Fowler never really had starting out.
“Most of my mentors were older men.” Fowler said.
She explained the difficulty of balancing being a mother, wife, and veterinarian.
“I think for a lot of men it’s hard for them to get that perspective.” Dr. Fowler continues. “Females should have a mentor to try to learn under; another female vet that has a similar situation to how they want to mold their life.”
Fowler strives to have a life worth molding. Dr. Fowler’s office houses a basket of small plastic horses and children’s toys for her young daughter, Maggie, who frequently visits the clinic. A daughter who takes after her mother with a love of horses.
Dr. Fowler smiles at a photo on her wall of Maggie and Fowler’s husband. Fowler has continued her love of riding by competing with her daughter in pony and dressage shows. She believes her background in veterinary medicine helps her as a rider to ride correctly, not impede on the horses. It appears the horse enjoys riding as much as she does.
The COVID pandemic has cancelled some tournaments and caused others to increase their regulations. But the pandemic won’t stop Fowler from riding horses anytime soon.
However, there have been other challenges with the pandemic. Dr. Fowler found herself in need of more staff members after one assistant contracted COVID and others were isolating. It was just Fowler, the secretary, and one vet tech. So, she hired a few more female vet students to add to her crew. COVID has also caused the staff to increase safety practices around the clinic such as wearing masks, social distancing with clients, as well as offering curbside services.
“The first week of COVID, there was absolutely nothing,” Fowler said. “And then the second week, the phone started ringing and it hasn’t stopped.”
Dr. Fowler smiles as she takes a brief break to eat some soup for lunch, watching her clinic in motion. Technicians bustle about: checking on dogs and researching medicines, and even animal travel laws. She doesn’t get a lot of breaks, but from the glint in her eye you can tell it doesn’t matter, because she loves what she does.
She has a unique ability to understand her clients’ needs and provide insight into the animals’ feelings.
“I think as a veterinarian, you want to be perfect.” Fowler continued. “It’s not for the faint of heart.”
And Fowler is not faint of heart.
Citations: Beebe, S. E. (2019). Cantwell, S. L. (2010). Google Maps. (2020). Jing Ying Chan, M. (2019). What is equine osteopathy? (2017, June 17). Ying, W., Bhattacharjee, A., & Wu, S. S. (2019).
3 Sentenced In District Court On Controlled Substance Charges, 1 On Firearm And 1 On Assault Charge
Five individuals were sentenced in the 8th Judicial District Court this week, three on controlled substance charges, and one each on firearm and assault charges, according to the court reports and the District Attorney’s Office.
Micah Wayne Reynolds was accused of two counts of assault of a family or household member with previous conviction. The 36-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested in March 2020 for allegedly assaulting a woman by grabbing her and causing redness and scratching to her face, then again on Nov. 21, 2020 for allegedly punching his ex-wife in the face, causing pain, and shoving her to the floor with her children witnessing the assault, according to arrest reports.
Reynolds, as part of a 12.45 agreement, pled true to the motion to proceed with adjudication on one charge and was sentenced to 7 years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ (prison). The other pending assault of family or household member was dismissed pursuant to TPC 12.45, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
John Matthew Perez was sentenced Tuesday to 5 years in prison on a Nov. 12, 2019 possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
Police reported finding the 36-year-old Sulphur Springs man on Nicholson Street, where he was accused of removing items from another man’s residence without permission on Nov. 12, 2019. He admitted to taking items and drug paraphernalia was located. He was taken to jail, where a bag containing suspected methamphetamine was found in his boot, resulting in Perez being charged with controlled substance possession, police alleged in arrest reports. Perez has remained in Hopkins County jail since his arrest on Nov. 12, 2019, according to jail reports.
Linton Brandon Keyton was accused of manufacture or delivery of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. The 34-year-old Mount Pleasant man pled guilty Feb. 23 in the 8th Judicial District Court to the lesser included offense of delivery of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in an amount greater than 1 gram but less than 4 grams and was sentenced to 2 years in the Institutional Division of Texas Department of Criminal Justice. However, Keyton was given credit for time at the time of the plea.
The controlled substance offense, according to the Feb. 23 court docket, occurred on or about Sept. 18, 2018. Keyton was taken into custody at Hutchins State Jail Hopkins County jail on Nov. 20, 2020, and remained in Hopkins County jail until Feb. 23, 2021, when he was released with credit for time served previously on the charge, according to jail, court and arrest reports.
Bryer Ray Parnell plead guilt Feb. 23 to theft of firearm as part of what is referred to as a 12.45 agreement, which refers to Texas Penal Code 12.45, which requires the defendant to plead guilty to an offense and admit responsibility for one or more additional offenses, which can be taken into account by the judge during punishment.
The 18-year-old Como resident admitted guilt to the April 6 theft of firearm charge and three pending controlled substance charges were dropped. Parnell received a sentence of 10 years deferred adjudication on community supervision and a $1,500 fine on the theft of firearm charge, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Parnell was also arrested on a warrant for the charge on May 20 and was released from Hopkins County jail on a $5,000 bond on the charge the next day, according to arrest and jail reports. The Como teen was arrested May 15 on two possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charges. He allegedly had one bag containing a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine and another containing a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine, officers noted in arrest reports.
He too was arrested Feb. 23, 2020, for possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance after claiming a bag of Ecstasy pills found in a vehicle curing a traffic stop, according to arrest reports.
The controlled substance charges were dismissed on Feb. 23, according to the 12.45 agreement, the DA’s Office reported.
Kevin Dwayne Turner was alleged Dec. 23, 2019 to have been in possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance.
Troopers, in arrest reports, alleged finding during a routine Interstate 30 traffic stop on Dec. 23, 2019:
- a suspected homemade Ecstasy pill in the 29-year-old Little Rock, Arkansas man’s pocket;
- a small container with a green, leafy substance the trooper believed to be marijuana with a label that had THC written on it, under the front passenger’s seat, where Turner had been sitting; and
- a semi automatic handgun in a backpack on the back seat in the area Turner had reportedly been reaching at the time of the stop.
Turner was indicted on a controlled substance charge in September of 2020. However, as part of a 12.44(a) plea agreement, referring to Title 3, Chapter 12, Section 44(a) of Texas Penal Code, the state jail conviction was punished as a Class A misdemeanor pursuant, for which he was sentenced in district court on a Feb. 23, 2021, to 7 days in the Hopkins County jail. He had already served the 7 days in custody at the time he made the plea and was released on the charge, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Three Hopkins County Residents Arrested For Aggravated Kidnapping For Allegedly Locking A Child In A Closet
Three Hopkins County residents were arrested Wednesday on an aggravated kidnapping charge for allegedly locking a child in a closet, causing injuries; the man is also accused of aggravated sexual assault of the child, according to sheriff’s reports.
The offenses allegedly occurred in 2018 but have just come to light. An outcry was made. Following an investigation by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant was obtained for a rural Sulphur Springs residence and arrest warrants were obtained, according to HCSO Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford. The alleged child victim is currently in a safe location.
According to Weatherford, 64-year-old Deborah “Debbie” Ann Troutt, 75-year-old Edward Faris Trout Jr. and 32-year-old Elizabeth Ann Karst were “responsible for the care and custody” of an elementary-aged child in 2018. The child was alleged to have been routinely locked in a closet while in their care. The child allegedly sustained injuries, either mental or physical.
When officers executed the search warrant at a residence this week, they found “locking devices on the closet,” Weatherford said Thursday morning. As a result of the investigation, arrest warrants were obtained. Sheriff’s officers arrested Deborah Troutt, her husband Edward Troutt Jr. and daughter Elizabeth Karst at their rural Sulphur Springs residence at 11:10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 on an aggravated kidnapping charge, for allegedly forcefully restraining the child in a place where the child was not likely to be found and causing injury to the youth. Edward Troutt was also arrested on an aggravated sexual assault of a child charge, which was also alleged to have occurred in 2018, according to the chief investigator.
According to Title 5, Chapter 20, Sec. 20.04. of Texas Penal Code aggravated kidnapping occurs when:
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly abducts another person with the intent to:(1) hold him for ransom or reward;(2) use him as a shield or hostage;(3) facilitate the commission of a felony or the flight after the attempt or commission of a felony;(4) inflict bodily injury on him or violate or abuse him sexually;(5) terrorize him or a third person; or(6) interfere with the performance of any governmental or political function.(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly abducts another person and uses or exhibits a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense.(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), an offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.(d) At the punishment stage of a trial, the defendant may raise the issue as to whether he voluntarily released the victim in a safe place. If the defendant proves the issue in the affirmative by a preponderance of the evidence, the offense is a felony of the second degree.
Edgar and Deborah Trout and Elizabeth Karst remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, Feb. 25 on one aggravated kidnapping charge each; and Edward Trout on the aggravated sexual assault of a child charge as well. Bond had yet to be set for these charges, according to jail reports.
Jail records also show Elizabeth Karst and Deborah Ann Troutt also were jailed on one charge of cruelty to non-livestock animals on May 10, 2018. Both were released from the county jail the next day on a $10,000 bond each,
On May 10, 2018, HCSO and SPCA officials reportedly found 50 live dogs in a house and outbuildings and approximately 50 dead animals, including litters of puppies, grown dogs and animal tissue stored in a freezer at the residence located just off FM 2285 north of Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County. Found in every room of the residence were animals housed in a cruel manner, and feces and urine on the floor, officials reported in 2018. The live canines were reportedly in poor health, had lost hair, some were paralyzed, and were kept in inhumane manner and conditions, sheriff’s officials alleged at the time. The live animals were removed on May 10, 2018, from the location to be housed, fed, and given medical treatment by the SPCA. Charges were filed at that time for animal cruelty, according to 2018 sheriff’s 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.
North Hopkins Water District All Clear
As of 9 a.m. Thursday, February 25, 2021, the North Hopkins Water District has cancelled the Boil Water Notice.
Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell reported the water usage for the North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation, which had reached as high as 1.3 gallons per day in the past week, and has returned to a normal rate of 295,000 gallons per day as of Thursday morning, Feb. 25.
Maxwell, on behalf of the City of Sulphur Springs, commends NHWSC for their diligent work in identifying and repairing water issues.
According to NHWSC General Manager Edgar Clements, the WSC found and repaired three leaks and shut off some customers water at the meter after yard line ruptures or busted pipes were called in on their properties.
“We had three total leaks. They were normal leaks, small leaks people don’t normally recognize. They’re the kind we see and fix and do not usually affect water pressure,” Clements said.
NHWSC’s usage increased significantly over the weekend and customers reported from low water pressure to no water at all. The City of Sulphur Springs, which supplies water to NHWSC and other WSCs, reported the city’s water towers had gotten very low over the weekend and more than once shut off the water supply to NWSC.
On Monday, both Maxwell and Clements appeared in Hopkins County Commissioners Court to discuss the issue. Immediately following the meeting, the city and NWSC officials met, discussed a plan to locate potential leaks on NHWS’s system. The City of Sulphur Springs agreed and turned NHWSC’s valves back on at 10 a.m. Monday, it took a while for enough to be pumped and re-pressurized to reach resident.
North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation, like the City of Sulphur Springs, Monday offered a 1-million gallon reward to its customers who find a major water leak on their system. A major water leak is defined as a leak on a main line not a service lateral. Additionally, NHWSC is also offering a 100,000-gallon reward for customers who turn in a leak on a service lateral to a vacant building or vacant home. The NHWSC rewards were offered for a 48-hour period which began at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, and was backed by the City of Sulphur Springs.
“We do not have information yet on how many of those leaks/ruptures were the result of the reward program offered by NHWSC, but the City stands by its commitment to backstop the district with the free water to make good on the rewards. Once again, good job!” Maxwell stated Thursday.
Clements said he is aware of one woman who called in a leak at a bell joint, but isn’t sure whether that will meet the city’s definition for the reward.
NHWSC customers’ water had been restored Tuesday morning, with some low pressure in the Dike area, but a boil water notice remained in place. and the city’s water towers were filling and have continued to hold water, according to Maxwell and Clements. NHWSC employees reported the water now meets TCEQ standards, water service was back to normal and the boil notice was lifted Thursday morning, Clements reported.
Any questions or concerns from NHWSC customers may be directed to the water supply corporation office at 903-945-2619.
Hopkins County FFA Ag Mechanics Show is Largest So Far, 36 Projects
On February 23, 2021, six Hopkins County school FFA Chapters entered their best Ag Mechanics projects for judging. The turnout filled up the Civic Center arena as each project involved from 2-4 students. The SSHS FFA Chapter hosted the show. Other schools participating were Cumby, Miller Grove, Saltillo, Como-Pickton and North Hopkins. Welding and Woodshop students helped construct the projects,with a number of skills involved like design, reading a blueprint, measuring, cutting, sanding, painting, finishing and working as a team. And as one student pointed out, the effort also includes speaking skills and showmanship as the project is explained and demonstrated during the judging process. Congratulations to all the student teams who put the work into the projects, and find their photos in another story. Here are the winners, according to Dan Froneberger, Ag Mechanics Superintendent for NETLA.
The Grand Champion project was built by four Como-Pickton CISD Seniors who teamed up to design and construct a custom hydraulic cattle squeeze chute. They are Jackson Monk, Canyon Thomas, Braden Miller and Jonathan Mejia. According to the team, “we built a manual squeeze chute last year. We wanted to go all out on our final year in school, so we decided to design a hydraulic chute. We are pretty proud of the award”.
The Reserve Grand Champion Project was a Low-Profile Skid Steer Bucket constructed by Cumby Jr. student Logan Miller. Miller used skills he has learned as a member of the Cumby FFA Chapter such as design, cutting, bending, welding and painting.
The Ag Mechanics Showmanship Award went to Jr. student Kaleb Harris of the Saltillo FFA Chapter. Kaleb did the welding on two projects; a custom TV table with wagon wheel detail, and a Fenceline Feeder. Other builders of the projects were Raegan Speir, Jr. and Landon Gilbreath, sophomore.
2 Sentenced On Murder Charge In District Court
Two men were sentenced this week on a murder charge in 8th Judicial District Court in Hopkins County, according to the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Jesus Antonio-Hernandez and Maximino Manuel Ibarra, along with 31-year-old German Manuel Ibarra and 24-year-old Charli Ciera Wadley-Hodges, were booked into Hopkins County jail April 13, 2020 in connection with the death of Luis Martin Medina. Antonio-Hernandez, Maximino Ibarra and German Ibarra were charged with capital murder by terror threat or other felony while Wadley-Hodges was indicted on a tampering with evidence charge.
The three men and woman were accused in April of beating Luis Martin Medina at a Sulphur Springs address on or about April 10, then of burning him in a vehicle. Medina’s body was found at 2:20 p.m. Sunday, April 12, by a rural resident in the burned truck on County Road 1186, Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum alleged following the arrest of the four individuals for capital murder by terror threat or other felony.
“It is believed at this time that there was a dispute involving rent and payment that led to Medina losing his life. Medina was injured at his residence and eventually taken by parties involved to the County Road 1186 location,” Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum said, following the arrest of all four suspects in April.
The district attorney’s office alleged that Luis Martin Medina was stabbed and killed in Sulphur Springs, then German Ibarra took the victim’s truck, with the victim inside, and drove out into the county. The truck was found off CR 1186, burned with the victim’s remains inside.
Antonio-Hernandez and Maximino Ibarra have remained in Hopkins County jail since their arrest in April 2020. Both pled guilty to the lesser offense of murder and went “open” to the court for sentencing. Eighth Judicial District Court Judge Eddie Northcutt sentenced 40-year-old Antononio-Hernandez on Feb. 22 to a 60-year prison sentence for the murder of Medina. Northcutt sentenced 30-year-old Maximino Ibarra on Feb. 23 to a 40-year prison sentence on Feb. 23 for the murder of Medina.
German Ibarra, as part of an agreement, pled guilty to both the murder and aggravated robbery of Luis Martin Medina on or about April 10, 2020. In exchange for the guilty pleas, the District Attorney’s Office struck six paragraphs from the capital murder indictment so that it alleges Ibarra caused the death of Luis Martin Medina by stabbing him with a knife, a deadly weapon. First-degree murder is a lesser included offense within the capital murder charge, according to 8th Judicial District Attorney Will Ramsay. German Ibarra also waived indictment and pled guilty to an aggravated robbery charge.
Eighth Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt upheld the agreement reached through attorneys and on Dec. 7 sentenced German Ibarra to life in prison on the first-degree murder charge and 20 years in prison on the first-degree felony aggravated robbery charge, which is to be served consecutively.
According to current parole rules, that will require German Ibarra to serve no less than 30 years in prison before he can become eligible for parole. Then, if German Ibarra makes parole after serving the required time on the life sentence, he will be required to serve the aggravated robbery sentence. The 20-year sentence will require Ibarra to serve a minimum of 10 years in prison before he can again become eligible for parole, Northcutt explained during German Ibarra’s plea hearing. He will receive credit for the 242 days he’s already served in Hopkins County jail, where he remained until he was transferred to a prison to serve the remainder of his sentences.
Free Bottled Water Available To Anyone Without Water Or Still Under Boil Water Notice
Free bottled water is available to any local residents or businesses without water following last week’s winter weather, especially those who do not have water because they are still waiting for a plumber or materials to repair broken pipes at their residence or business.
In Sulphur Springs, residents or businesses can stop by Sulphur Springs Police Department, 125 South Davis St. to get some free bottled water. Those unable to get to the police station may call dispatch at 903-885-7602 to make arrangements for an officer to bring bottled water to their location in the city.
In Hopkins County, those without water may stop be Joe Bob’s on the corner of State Highway 19 north and FM 71 from about 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, to receive up to 2 free cases of bottled water per household. Just look for the emergency management officials distributing pallets of water. That location was chosen as a central location for North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation customers, the only WSC customers still under a boil water order in Hopkins County. As soon as the boil order is lifted, the pallets containing cases of bottle water will be relocated to Sulphur Springs for distribution through a local agency. In the event of rain on Thursday, officials will remain on site at Joe Bob’s to provide water; look for the tent and water pallet, according to Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley.
Hopkins County-Sulphur Springs Emergency Management began mass distributing cases of water in the community to residents on Monday, after Texas Baptist Men arrived with two pallets of bottle water to assist local residents and businesses in areas where water service was disrupted, turned off or boil orders issued, as well as those who have broken or damaged pipes and sprinkler systems that required the water to be shut off. Texas Department of Emergency Management then provided and 18-wheeler trailer filled with 21 pallets containing cases of bottled water. Texas A&M University-Commerce delivered another 14 pallets of bottled water. Overall, 34 of the 35 pallets of water received on the first day were given out to help those without water in their home or business, according to the county emergency management coordinator. Endsley reported 20 pallets of water were being delivered Tuesday afternoon and additional supplies arrived Wednesday as well.
In addition to swerving the Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County community, HC/SSEM along with Bowie County officials have provided TDEM water distribution points for counties in the 9-county Ark-Tex Council of Governments region. For instance, 9 of the pallets of water were loaded from the Hopkins County hub and transported to Paris earlier today and Tuesday Hopkins County helped Delta County fill requests made to the state for bottled water.
“Everybody’s been fantastic. From the county to everybody, including the volunteer departments, everyone has collectively jump in and to do what we do here in Hopkins County: everybody helping their neighbors. We are appreciative to all who have contributed and helped out, and can’t say enough about Joe Bob’s and the staff out there where they’ve allowed us to set up a hub out there,” Endsley said.
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation Pleads Guilty To Price Fixing, Sentenced To A $107 Million Criminal Fine
First Corporation Pleads Guilty In Ongoing Criminal Antitrust Investigation Into Broiler Chicken Industry
Denver, Colorado – Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (Pilgrim’s), a major broiler chicken producer based in Greeley, Colorado, has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to pay approximately $107 million in criminal fines for its participation in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products, the Department of Justice announced today.
According to the plea agreement entered in the U.S. District Court in Denver, from as early as 2012 and continuing at least into 2017, Pilgrim’s participated in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition for sales of broiler chicken products in the United States that affected at least $361 million in Pilgrim’s sales of broiler chicken products.
The District Court accepted Pilgrim’s guilty plea and sentenced the company to pay a criminal fine of $107,923,572.
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates our unwavering commitment to prosecuting companies that violate the nation’s antitrust laws, especially when it involves something as central to everyday life as the food we eat,” said Richard Powers, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “This guilty plea is a direct result of the tireless efforts of our dedicated career prosecutors and staff, and partners at the FBI, Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG) and USDA OIG.”
“Today’s plea is another example of the FBI’s ongoing work to eliminate bid rigging and price fixing and hold those conducting these activities accountable for their actions,” said Steven M. D’Antuono, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “These criminal acts cheat American workers and consumers while harming competitive markets. This ongoing investigation has yielded charges against 10 individuals for their efforts to illegally manipulate broiler chicken prices, and the FBI is committed to continuing this important work alongside the Department of Justice and our partners.”
“This investigation demonstrates the government’s resolve to protect the integrity of free and open market competition,” said Peggy E. Gustafson, Inspector General of the Department of Commerce. “When competitor companies conspire to set prices that benefit themselves, American consumers are cheated. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue such illegal activity and ensure perpetrators are held accountable. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Department of Justice, FBI and USDA OIG on this investigation.”
“We appreciate the ongoing commitment and concerted efforts of our law enforcement partners at the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, the FBI, and the Department of Commerce OIG to investigate a long running scheme affecting competition through the rigging of bids and price fixing of broiler chicken products,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Bethanne M. Dinkins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) OIG. “During these uncertain times, USDA OIG will continue to dedicate resources and prioritize work that benefits hard working Americans through competitive prices for agricultural producers and fairness in pricing and quality of agricultural products for consumers.”
Pilgrim’s is the first company to plead guilty for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products. Broiler chickens are chickens raised for human consumption and sold to grocers and restaurants. Ten executives and employees at major broiler chicken producers have also previously been charged. The investigation remains ongoing.
A violation of the Sherman Act carries a maximum penalty of a $100 million fine for corporations. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.
This case is the result of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging, and other anticompetitive conduct in the broiler chicken industry, which is being conducted by the Antitrust Division with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Commerce OIG, FBI Washington Field Office, and USDA OIG. Special thanks to U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hetal Doshi from the District of Colorado for their assistance. Anyone with information on price fixing, bid rigging, or other anticompetitive conduct related to the broiler chicken industry should contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html.
Former Enloe State Bank President Sentenced To 8 Years In Federal Prison For Conspiracy To Commit Bank Fraud, Arson
SHERMAN, Texas – A former bank president has been sentenced to federal prison for violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting United States Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei today.
Anita Gail Moody, 57, of Cooper, Texas pleaded guilty on June 5, 2020, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and arson and was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III. Moody has additionally agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $11,136,241.82.
According to information presented in court, on May 11, 2019, while Moody was President of Enloe State Bank in Cooper, Texas, the bank suffered a fire that investigators later determined to be arson. The fire was contained to the bank’s boardroom, however the entire bank suffered smoke damage. Investigation revealed that several files had been purposefully stacked on the boardroom table, all of which were burned in the fire. Notably, the bank was scheduled for a review by the Texas Department of Banking the very next day. Further investigation revealed Moody had created false nominee loans in the names of several people, including actual bank customers. Moody eventually admitted to setting the fire in the boardroom to conceal her criminal activity concerning the false loans. She also admitted to using the fraudulently obtained money to fund her boyfriend’s business, other businesses of friends, and her own lifestyle. The fraudulent activity, which began in 2012, resulted in a loss to the bank of approximately 11 million dollars.
“Criminal conduct that affects the financial health of a small, local lender can send a negative ripple effect throughout the entire community,” said Acting United States Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. “The Eastern District of Texas will vigorously prosecute cases, such as the one here, that undermine public confidence in our local banks. We are also deeply appreciative of the excellent investigative work of the FDIC Office of the Inspector General, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in bringing this matter to a close.”
Jeannie Swaim, who served as vice president of Enloe State Bank, and who was also involved in fraudulent conduct, was previously sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, and agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $410,675.18.
This case was investigated by the FDIC-OIG and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Smith and Wes Wynne.
