Man Jailed On Burglary, Controlled Substance Charges
A 38-year-old man was jailed on burglary and controlled substance charges, after being caught at a residence window early Friday morning, according to sheriff’s reports
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies at 3:15 a.m. Jan. 9 responded at a County Road 3364 residence, where a homeowner reported “he had a live feed from security cameras and could see someone shining a light through the windows.” When deputies arrived at the house and began checking the area for the suspect.
They reported finding 38-year-old Clinton Scott Williams “fleeing on foot from a back window.” After a brief foot pursuit, Williams was taken into custody. He allegedly had 1.5 grams of methamphetamine in his pocket at the time of arrest.
Williams remained in Hopkins County jail at lunch Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in lieu of $10000 bond on the possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and $30,000 bond on the burglary of a habitation charge, according to jail reports.
State Announces Planned Change To COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution, First Case Of COVID-19 UK Variant
Limited Number Of Vaccines Currently Only Available
While the COVID-19 vaccine distribution is still in the first stages, with only a limited supply of the first dose of the vaccine available for specific people at limited locations across the state, the state Thursday announced that the vaccination distribution process will be changing the way vaccines are distributed in Texas, by doing more distribution through designated large vaccination hubs.
Hopkins County Vaccine Allocations
Hopkins County did not receive any of the limited doses of Pfizer vaccine allocated in the first week of distribution. Hospital officials were told frontline healthcare workers could schedule to have the vaccine at one of the Tyler hospitals to get their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, then return to that site in 21 days to get the second dose.
After the Moderna vaccine was approved, two sites Brookshire’s Pharmacy and Christus Trinity Clinic- Sulphur Springs at 105 Medical Plaza, Building 1 were approved during the Week 2 vaccine allocations to receive limited amounts of the vaccine. Brookshire’s Pharmacy received 100 doses and the clinic was allocated 200 doses. Brookshire’s received a shipment of Moderna first and began offering it to individuals in group 1A and 1B. The hospital had initially been approved that week to receive 300 doses of the Moderna vaccine, but after a couple of days, the state changed the allocations list and the hospital was not on it.
In the Week 4 vaccine allocation list, Brookshire’s Pharmacy was again listed to receive 100 doses, Christus Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs to receive 200 doses and Walgreens Pharmacy 100 doses of Moderna. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic had received doses of the Moderna vaccine on Monday, the hospital CEO reported.
That put the CHRISTUS facilities and Hopkins County 2 weeks behind many other areas of the state in getting the first dose of vaccine to people in group 1A: front-line healthcare workers and residents at long-term care facilities. The clinic offered by appointment Wednesday and will again offer on Saturday vaccines to people in Group 2A: people 65 years of age and older and people 16 years of age and older with at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19. Those chronic conditions can include: cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart conditions (including heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies), solid organ transplantation, obesity and severe obesity (body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher), pregnancy, Sickle cell disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
This week, CMFH-SS has been working to get the first dose of the vaccine to as many frontline healthcare workers in Hopkins County and the other counties the hospital serves vaccinated as possible. Moderna COVID-19 vaccine vials contain 10 doses each, which must be used within 6 hours of opening, so appointment scheduling is an important part of vaccine distribution — to ensure every possible dose is used.
“We will be done with our allotted vaccines this Saturday afternoon as we move into category 1B,” CMFH-SS CEO Paul Harvey said Thursday afternoon.
Appointments for community members in 1A and 1B to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at CHRISTUS Clinic are conducted online only at christushealth.org, by clicking the yellow chat icon on the homepage to connect with the “virtual assistant Christy. After answering screening questions to regarding 1A and 1B status, community members can then select the nearest CHRISTUS location and if any appointments are available, schedule at that time.
“Currently, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic are working with a very limited supply. As they receive more vaccines, they will add slots to the schedule, and eventually be able to schedule by phone,” Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development for CHRISTUS® Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro and CHRISTUS® Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs reported.
Some pharmacies, including Cody Drug, have applied to receive the vaccine and have a waiting list of 1B individuals who they will contact if and when they are allocated doses of the vaccine, but don’t know if that will occur.
Currently, the UT Health of East Texas also scheduling appointments online for high-risk 1B individuals to receive the first dose of the two-dose vaccination at their North Tyler campus. Appointments fill quickly. People hoping to get the shot are recommended to keep checking back frequently as they are listed as they become available. Click here, or type in https://www.signupgenius.com/go/ut, to register to drive to Tyler to receive the first dose of the vaccine at UT Health North Tyler campus.
Changes in Vaccine Allocation & Distribution
The Texas COVID‑19 Vaccine Provider Locations map on the DHS website shows locations allocated doses of the vaccine, but because supplies are limited, 1A and 1b individuals will need to check with each to see if appointments are available for doses of the vaccine.
Those in the 1A and 1B categories who don’t make it onto those lists may have to drive quite a distance to receive the vaccine as the state plans next week to transition to allocation of vaccines to large hubs, that is large providers that can vaccinate a total of more than 100,000 people at a time. Texas Department of State Health Services Thursday reported some additional vaccine will be distributed to smaller providers in other parts of the state, but the focus will be on the large hubs beginning next week.
Harvey said while the state is looking at super sites to do mass vaccinations, CMFH-SS hopes to be able among the smaller areas to receive additional doses of the vaccine.
“We will continue to uphold we have five counties to serve and feel justified we need vaccines here for our patient populations,” Harvey said Thursday.
Providers that receive the larger amounts of vaccine will vaccinate health care workers, people who are 65 and older, and those who have a medical condition that increases their risk of severe disease or death. They also agree to provide a registration phone number and website and “focus on areas and populations hardest hit by COVID-19 while vaccinating people from surrounding areas,” according to DSHS.
The Texas Department of State Health Services said vaccine providers were surveyed regarding their capacity to operate large, community vaccination sites the week of Jan. 11. A list of vaccine hub providers is expectded to be published by DSHS once vaccine allocation is finalized.
Large and small sites around Texas will receive a total of about 200,000 doses of vaccine next week, the last week the state is required to reserve doses to vaccinate residents and staff of long-term care facilities under the federal pharmacy-LTC partnership. That should free up more vaccine for use in other settings in the future, DSHS noted.
However, allocations and distributions of the vaccine remains limited based on the capacity of the manufacturers to produce it. That means it will take time for Texas to receive enough vaccine for the people in the priority populations who want to be vaccinated. Supplies are expected to increase in the coming months, and additional vaccines are in clinical trials and may could be authorized soon by the Food and Drug Administration.
All doses received are to be allocated. No shots are to be reserve. A matching number of second doses should arrive at providers by the required 21 days for the Prizer shot and 28 days for Moderna.
More information on the COVID-19 vaccine and its availability throughout the state can be found at at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/immunize/vaccine.aspx or by clicking the COVID-19 Vaccine Information link on COVID-19 main page on the DSHS website: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/
COVID-19 UK Variant In Texas
DSHS also in a news release Thursday reported the first known case of the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant, the kind first identified in the United Kingdom in the fall, in Texas. Genetic sequencing in an adult male resident of Harris County, recently diagnosed with COVID-19 this week showed that the infection was caused by the variant. The case is being investigated by Harris County Public Health and the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“The fact that this person had no travel history suggests this variant is already circulating in Texas,” Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner, was quoted in the release. “Genetic variations are the norm among viruses, and it’s not surprising that it arrived here given how rapidly it spreads. This should make us all redouble our commitment to the infection prevention practices that we know work: masks any time you’re around people you don’t live with, social distancing, and personal and environmental hygiene.”
The B.1.1.7 variant appears to spread much more easily from person to person than most strains of the coronavirus, according to DSHS. The current scientific evidence is that the variant does not cause more severe disease and that vaccines are expected to be effective against it. It is thought to be responsible for only a small proportion of the current COVID-19 cases in Texas and the United States, the news release stated.
Additional information about COVID-19 in Texas, including vaccines, testing sites and counts, and daily case counts, can be found at dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus,
COVID-19 Situation Reaches Dire Levels In Hunt County
With record numbers of COVID-19 patients in Hunt County Regional Hospital, Richard Carter, Hunt Regional Healthcare CEO released the following open letter to the citizens of their county.
To the citizens of Hunt County,
I am writing to update you on the seriousness of the current spread of COVID-19 in our area and our vaccine administration process. Moreover, I am writing to inform you of the dire situation of local healthcare resources and ask for your help mitigating the further spread of this virus.
Firstly, I would like to thank you for your patience as we work through the public vaccination process. We have experienced an overwhelming response. We are navigating this in real time and are relying on the public for your support and cooperation. I could not be more proud of our employees who are working tirelessly on behalf of public health.
Hunt Regional Healthcare was fortunate to be among the first to receive the first vaccine doses and were prepared to receive and administer the vaccine to our healthcare staff. Our aim was to keep our staff healthy so they can continue to care for our communities. It was not our intention to provide vaccines to the public. When the Texas Department of State Health Services asked if we would be willing to receive the first shipment of Tier 1B vaccines for Hunt County citizens we agreed, knowing we were not equipped to provide large scale vaccination clinics but wanting to do what we could.
Hunt Regional received a 24 hour notice that the first shipment of Tier 1B vaccine was on its way on Wednesday, December 30. Our charge from the state was to administer the vaccine as quickly as possible so that we would be eligible to receive additional doses. We requested the State allow us to transport vaccines to various county locations for distribution, but were advised that the vaccine was to be distributed only at the location where it was received. We did not have time to develop an appointment system prior to our vaccine distribution, but are now testing a structured method and hope to have it in place for future distributions.
Our success thus far is due to the forward-thinking staff we employ who suggested we purchase the ultra-low temperature freezers early in the vaccine process, even before information about the vaccine was fully understood. The freezers cost us $30,000, but we determined the investment on behalf of our citizens was worthwhile. If we had waited to purchase the freezer, Hunt County would have no Pfizer vaccine for distribution and our healthcare professionals and senior citizens would be without the opportunity to receive early doses.
It is important that we are transparent about our current situation. Our staff is limited and required for patient care. Our abilities become more limited as the pandemic progresses. We do not have the nursing staff or resources to run a daily clinic for the extended period of time it will require to vaccinate the public. Simply put, your local hospital cannot accomplish this task alone.
I have reached out to County Judge Bobby Stovall to develop a COVID vaccine task force and he is working diligently to get the task force operational and design a system to administer large quantities of the vaccine to Hunt County residents. We are also hopeful that a distribution network is in development by the state for mass community distribution.
It is now that I must inform you of the severity of our present battle. We are currently over capacity with both COVID and non COVID patients. As of today, we have 70 COVID patients in our hospital and are operating at 120% of our medical capacity. We expect these numbers to continue to rise due to a post-holiday surge.
We have a daily ER hold of 20-25 patients waiting for beds and are using an outdoor tent for ER registration so that we can utilize waiting room and office space to care for patients. Surgeries have been restricted and we are now using the surgery center as an alternative care site. This is not a trial unique to our area. We have been dealing with these problems for months and your local healthcare professionals have done a magnificent job. They did not sign up for this crisis. And yet, they have gone the extra mile. They are tired. They are facing a strain on their mental health. They have put their own health second to care for our community. They deserve praise for their quick, steadied response, not criticism for an impossibly challenging situation.
For those who have heeded the advice of your local healthcare professionals and the CDC, thank you. For those who have not, please start today.
You already know what to do. Wear a mask. Do not gather in large groups with those outside your household. If you feel you may be sick or are asymptomatic but may have been exposed, stay home.
We pledge to continue to serve you and ask for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Richard Carter, Hunt Regional Healthcare CEO
Wildcats Basketball Team Drops A Game To Nacogdoches In Overtime, 56-48
The Wildcats Basketball Team took Nacogdoches in overtime on the road only to take a loss, 56-48, Tuesday night, January 5. Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta said the Wildcats did not play well.
Justin Haire led the Wildcats with 11 points. Lamodrick Johnson had 10 points. Boo Wilkerson and Kordrick Turner both had 9 points. Caleb Alexander added 5 points. Parker Whisenhunt scored 4 points.
The Wildcats season record is now 9-6. The Wildcats are 2-0 in district play and they will return to district competition Friday night as they travel to Hallsville.
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.
Sulphur Springs ISD Celebrates School Board Recognition Month This January
Sulphur Springs – The Sulphur Springs ISD joins 1,024 school districts throughout Texas to celebrate January as School Board Recognition Month, according to SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb.
“Our school board members are volunteers who shoulder critical responsibilities and often make difficult choices for our district, all without pay. Their goal is always focused on the future success of the children in our district,” Lamb said. “Celebrating School Board Recognition Month is one way to say thanks for all they do.”
Serving as a link between the community and classroom, school board members are elected to establish the policies that provide the framework for public schools. The SSISD board is responsible for an annual budget, 4,300+ students, 710 employees, and 9 campuses.
Board members currently serving SSISD are: Robert Cody, President (7 years); Craig Roberts, Vice President (2 years); Jason Dietze, Secretary (12 years); John Prickette (9 ½ years), Leesa Toliver (8 years), Robbin Vaughn (7 years), and Kerry Wright (11 ½ years).
“It’s more important than ever before that communities support public education so that today’s students are prepared to be productive citizens and the leaders of tomorrow. Please take a moment and tell school board members ‘thanks for caring about our children and giving so much to our community.’ Let them know we support them and that their dedicated service is recognized and truly appreciated,” Lamb said.
SSISD board members will be formally recognized at a special board meeting to be held on Monday, January 25, 2021.
Jan. 7 COVID-19 Update: 15 New Cases, 3 Recoveries, 209 Active Cases
As COVID-19 counts continue to rise, not surprisingly, so too do COVID-19 hospitalizations. In fact, the highest COVID-19 patient count in not only the local COVID unit but across Trauma Service Area F were reported in Texas Department of State Health Services and Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management’s Jan. 7 COVID-19 updates.
Case Counts
The 13 new confirmed COVID-19 cases increase the total number of new molecular so far this week to 87, which officially has January outpacing the first week of all other months so far during the pandemic. Even October and December, the two months with the highest total new confirmed COVID-19 cases, had fewer confirmed cases during the first seven days of the month than January.
While October had 323 total new confirmed COVID-19 cases, only 38 Hopkins County residents had received positive molecular novel coronavirus 2019 results during the first seven days of the month. Even December, which started at a fast clip with 44 new cases reported on the third alone, concluded with only 290 new molecular cases, 81 of which were reported during the first seven days of the month.
Cumulatively, 1,209 Hopkins County residents have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 tests results. Two additional new probable cases were also reported on Jan. 7 for Hopkins County, for a total of 55 new probable cases identified so far this this month and 1,172 probable cases since the state began tracking the data in the fall.
Combined, that’s 142 new COVID-19 cases reported during the first seven days of 2021. Cumulatively, 2,381 COVID-19 cases have been reported to DSHS for Hopkins County since the pandemic began in March 2020, including 2,099 cases that have recovered from the virus and 209 active cases.
Hospital Data
HC/SSEM officials this week have daily reported one additional patients in the COVID unit, beginning with 29 patients on Jan. 4 up to the 32 patients (34.59 percent of the hospital capacity) reported in the Jan. 7 COVID-19 update. The hospital has up to 35 beds that can be utilized for COVID-19 patients. Until this month, the most patients reported to be in the CMFH-SS COVID Unit at one time was 30 on Dec. 30.
COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to be high in Trauma Service Area F on Jan. 6 as well, with 218 COVID-19 patients accounting for 20.32 percent of 1,073 staffed hospital beds in hospitals across the Northeast Texas area. That’s up from 18.92 percent on Jan. 5, when COVID patients took up 206 of the 1,088 staff hospital beds in TSA F hospitals. That eclipses the 20.21 percent reported on Jan. 4, when COVID-19 patients occupied 210 of the 1,039 staffed hospital beds, and the 216 patients reported on Dec. 31, when they COVID-19 patients made up 19.03 percent of the 1,135 staffed beds in TSA F.
Trauma Service Area F has had “high hospitalizations,” defined by DSHS as days in which COVID-19 hospitalizations account for 15 percent or more of the total hospital capacity for a trauma service area, for 12 days so far, starting Dec. 26 and continuing through Jan. 6.
The DSHS Jan. 7 COVID-19 Testing and Hospital Data dashboard also showed there to be just four ICU beds available in the entire trauma service area, the same as on Jan. 1 and Dec. 4, but three more than on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.
On Jan. 2, after the seventh consecutive day of high hospitalizations, businesses, libraries, museums and restaurants in counties in Trauma Service Area F that had been allowed to operate at 75 percent capacity were required by Governor’s Order GA-32 to scale back to 50 percent capacity. That order is in effect for 17 of the 22 Trauma Service areas in Texas. In order to return to 75 percent capacity, TSAs must have seven consecutive day in which COVID-19 hospitalizations remain below the 15 percent total capacity threshold.
In Trauma Service Area F, Hopkins, Bowie, Cass, Lamar and Titus Counties have a least seven more days before that is possible. Delta, Morris and Red River Counties can remain at 75 percent capacity because they have filed the property paperwork attesting teach has had less than 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days.
Testing Data
HC/SSEM officials in the Jan. 7 COVID-19 update reported 7,544 molecular COVID-19 tests have been conducted at 128-A Jefferson Street since the facility was converted to a free testing center, including 86 tests on Wednesday and 576 tests in the last week.
DSHS reported a total of 15,124 COVID-19 tests have been in Hopkins County: 12,202 viral (molecular) tests; 1,252 antigen tests; and 1,670 antibody tests. That’s an increase of 115 additional tests conducted on Jan. 6.
Free oral swab (molecular) COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays in January inside the Red Cross (old Fidelity Express Building) in Sulphur Springs. Free testing is open to anyone regardless of age or address. Registration is required online at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested at 128-A Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
HHS Reports
Texas Health and Human Services reported another resident of Carriage House Manor had died as a result of COVID-19 on Dec. 23. The facility also had still had 12 resident cases and four active employee cases on Dec. 23, the most recent data available from HHS as of the Jan. 7 COVID-19 nursing facility report as data was not recorded on Dec. 24-25, which were holidays, nor is it recorded on weekends.
The HHS report also showed 19 active employee and 40 active resident COVID-19 cases for Rock Creek Health and Rehabilitation LLC, and three active employee cases at Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab, on Dec. 23.
Wesley House also was reported on Dec. 23 to have one active employee COVID-19 case on Dec. 23, according to HHS’ Jan. 7 COVID-19 assisted living facility report.
COVID Vaccine
Nineteen additional people in Hopkins County had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 6. Of the 329 vaccines administered, 213 were female and 113 male, with three unknown. A total of 126 people ages 16-49 years, 102 ages 50-64 years, have been vaccinated in Hopkins County, 77 ages 65-79 years and 24 ages 80 and older, according to the DSHS COVID-19 Vaccine dashboard.
Wildcats Soccer Team Continues Slow Start To Season With Tourney Loss Thursday
The Wildcats Soccer Team opened play at the Forney Kickoff Tournament Thursday afternoon, January 7, with a 4-0 pool play loss to Ennis at City Bank Stadium at Forney High School.
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton said the Wildcats fell apart early in the match and gave up a goal on a penalty kick. He added the Wildcats overall just could not finish to score a goal.
In pool play Friday, the Wildcats will face Mesquite Poteet at 10:30 a.m. and Dallas South Oak Cliff at 4:30 p.m. Both games will be at Falcon Stadium at North Forney High School.
The Wildcats are off to a slow start this season. With the Thursday loss, the Wildcats slipped to 0-2 for the season.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats and Lady Cats Soccer Teams Begin Tournament Play Thursday
Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats are in early season soccer tournaments on this game day Thursday (January 7). Both teams come in 0-1 after season opening losses on Monday. The Wildcats were edged out at Terrell, 3-2. The Lady Cats lost at home to Kilgore, 5-3.
The Wildcats are playing in the Forney Kickoff Tournament. They open the tournament with a pool game against Ennis getting underway at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The Wildcats also have Mesquite Poteet and Dallas South Oak Cliff in their pool. They are scheduled to play them on Friday. Games on Saturday will be determined by pool game results.
The Lady Cats are playing in the Kilgore Tournament 2021. They open with two Thursday games at the Kilgore Varsity Stadium. A match with Pleasant Grove got underway at 10:30 a.m. The Lady Cats are also scheduled to face Nacogdoches at 4:30 p.m. The Lady Cats also have games scheduled Friday and Saturday. Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javier Aguayo said early Thursday morning that a JV game against Tyler Legacy JV at the grass field at Kilgore scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. has been canceled.
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.
Saltillo Man Caught On CR 3355 With Psychedelic Mushrooms
A deputy reported finding suspected psychedelic mushrooms in a truck that appeared to be out of place parked on the side of County Road 3355 late Wednesday morning, resulting in one arrest. A traffic stop early Thursday morning also reportedly revealed drug paraphernalia and resulted in two arrests, according to sheriff’s reports.
CR 3355 Suspicious Vehicle Investigation
While on patrol, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Lavender noticed a silver pickup parked on the side of County Road 3355 in a parking area county precinct workers frequently use to park road paving equipment. So, he stopped at 10:40 a.m. Jan. 6 in front off the truck to check on it and noticed movement inside the truck, the deputy noted in arrest reports.
As he exited his patrol vehicle to approach the pickup, Lavender noted the passenger side door on the pickup opened. The deputy alleged as h e spoke with the passenger, identified as 32-year-old Omar Ochoa of Saltillo, he detected a strong marijuana odor coming from inside the GMC Sierra.
Lavender reported finding a bag containing suspected psilocybin, otherwise known as psychedelic mushrooms, during a probable cause search of the truck. He detained both the Ochoa and the driver while he completed his search. Ochoa claimed the contraband and was taken into custody, Lavender alleged in arrest reports.
Ochoa remained in Hopkins County jail late Thursday morning, Jan. 7, on the possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance charge. Bond on the third-degree felony charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
Church Street Traffic Stop
A sheriff’s deputy reported stopping a silver Pontiac Firebird at 1:30 a.m. Jan. 7 on Church Street for a defective brake light. Upon contact with both occupants, the deputy alleged both occupants displayed signs of slurred speech and nervous behavior.
Additional deputies arrived to assist and, after obtaining permission, conducted a search of the car. Deputies reported finding a glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine with suspected meth residue on it and a suspected prescription narcotic in the front driver’s seat.
When neither claimed the contraband, deputies took both the 45-year-old Sulphur Springs man and 48-year-old Lone Oak woman into custody just before 2 a.m. for possession of drug paraphernalia, according to arrest reports.
An alcohol odor reportedly emitted from the woman who, deputies report, admitted to consuming an alcoholic beverage prior to the traffic stop. She was also charge with public intoxication.
Both had been released from jail by noon Thursday, according to jail reports.
KSST does not publish the names or photos of people charged with misdemeanor crimes in staff-generated reports, only those accused of felony offenses.
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.
Lezley Brown Set To Resign From Hopkins County Chamber: New Applicants Sought
PRESS RELEASE: Chamber to hire new President/CEO
Lezley Brown, the current President/CEO of the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
announced to the Chamber Board of Directors Thursday, January 7, that she will be resigning her
position at the Chamber in the middle of April. Brown told the Board, “These five years have
been some of my favorite in all of my career. I have met amazing people and learned more than
I ever imagined I would. I want, very much, to be helpful in this transition. When I joined the
Chamber team five years ago, I walked in completely wild-eyed and excited. You need to look
for someone with that excitement. That excitement and love for the Chamber is what gets me
through the hardest days here. I can’t wait to see who you will choose next to carry out the big
dreams of our wonderful Chamber, and I can’t wait to see the big things that are destined to
happen in our community.”
Rusty Posey, current Chairman of the Chamber Board, replied with the following statement:
“We are incredibly proud of the job Lezley has done as President of the Chamber of Commerce
in the last five years. Her infectious personality and visionary leadership have taken the Chamber
to new heights. In those five years, with her leadership, we have relocated the Chamber offices to
the Square, started our Grow-n-Go program for new businesses, and celebrated the 50th Stew
Contest with our biggest Stew ever. We are grateful for these five years and believe we are
poised and ready for continued success.
The Chamber is currently accepting applications for the President/CEO position. A job
description and list of qualifications can be found on the Chamber Facebook page and on the
Chamber website. Additionally, interested applicants may call the Chamber at (903)885-6515 to
receive these documents via email. All applications, resumes, and cover letters must be received
at the Chamber by Friday, February 12 th at noon to be considered. Application packets may be
submitted via email to [email protected], or by mailing them to 110 Main Street in
Sulphur Springs.
