Five Jailed In Two Days On Warrants For Violating Probation
At least five people were jailed in the last two days in Hopkins County on warrants for violating probation, according to police and sheriff’s reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Cameron Robinson reported an investigatory stop was conducted by officers Jan. 21 on Jarbo Street at South Locust Street on a red Ford F-150 pickup a wanted man was known to drive. Upon contact, 39-year-old Jacob Ray Ferrell of Sulphur Springs was located in the truck and was taken into custody at 9 p.m. Thursday. Ferrell was booked into Hopkins County jail for violation of probation on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, Robinson noted in arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bobby Osornio took Michael Lopez Hernandez into custody at 2:26 p.m. Jan. 21, at Adult Probation Office on a warrant for violation of probation on an online solicitation of a minor charge as well as a warrant for selling items without a permit. The 28-year-old Richardson man was booked into Hopkins County jail on the charge. The offense is alleged to have occurred on Dec. 29, 2020. Hernandez was indicted and jailed on the original online solicitation of a minor charge on Oct. 1, 2013, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Amanda Weatherford traveled Thursday afternoon, Jan. 21, to Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, where Kimberly Susan White was being held on a Hopkins County warrant. Weatherford transported the 53-year-old Arlington woman to Hopkins County jail, where she was booked on the warrant for violation of probation on an Oct. 12, 2015 driving while intoxicated with a child passenger charge, according to arrest reports.
Deputy Bobby Osornio also took Summer Lee Wright into custody at the Adult Probation Office at 10:25 a.m. Jan. 20. The 42-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was booked into Hopkins County jail for violation of probation on an October 2019 unauthorized use of a motor vehicle charge. The offense is alleged to have occurred on Oct. 26, 2020, according to arrest reports.
A 36-year-old Sulphur Springs man was also transported at 11:25 a.m. Jan. 21 from the probation office to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked for violation of probation on a Class A misdemeanor resisting arrest, search or transport charge, according to arrest reports.
KSST does not post the names and photos of individuals accused of misdemeanor offenses, 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.
Hopkins County Inmate Accused Of Assaulting Three Jailers
A Hopkins County inmate is accused of assaulting three jailers Thursday afternoon, according to arrest reports.
Around 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, a Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies were notified an inmate was actively assaulting jailers. Deputy Bobby Osornio responded to assist. Upon arrival, Osornio reported seeing Lamont Lankeen Mitchell actively resisting and fighting with jailers in a jail cell.
Osornio reported he and the jailers “used the least amount of force necessary to place” the 25-year-old Pittsburg man into handcuffs. Mitchell was moved to a “violent” cell, that is a padded cell specially equipped to minimize potential for a person to injure themselves or others. Osornio charged Mitchell with three new counts of assault on a public servant.
Mitchell has been in custody at Hopkins County jail since his arrest on July 15, 2020, at Walmart on two aggravated assault with a deadly weapon warrants. Police responded in July 2020 to an assault complaint, contacted the alleged suspect, identified as Mitchell.
The Pittsburg man had the two outstanding warrants for his arrest in connection with the shooting of two teens as they were walking home with a group of individuals from the Dairy Festival Carnival early June 14, 2020. The shooter allegedly jumped out of the bushes as the group turned onto Fuller Street round 1 a.m. and “opened fire on the group.” Two teens sustained gunshot wounds and were treated at the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The teens, police said at the time of Mitchell’s arrest in July, were expected to make a full recovery from their injuries.
Mitchell was later identified as the suspect, and the two warrants were issued for his arrest, Sulphur Springs Police Department Sgt. Jason Reneau reported following Mitchell’s arrest on July 15. Mitchell’s bond was set at $100,000 per charge.
He was indicted in October 2020 on the two aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges.
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.
Membership Drive Now Open by HC Genealogical Society
The Hopkins County Genealogical Society is opening membership for 2021 with a special offer. The regular annual membership fee is $20 per individual, and right now every member of your household can become a member for just a $25 flat fee. Generous resources through the HCGS Research Library and website, the Hopkins County Heritage Quarterly publication of current research topics, plus informative Zoom meetings are just a few reasons to join up now. And although the extensive website is open to all, an additional plus is the wealth of locally researched and published genealogical material available only to registered members.
Contact by email at [email protected] to get a membership application, go online to hcgstx.org, phone the Research Library at 903-885-8523 or request an application by mail at HCGS, P.O. Box 624, Sulphur Springs, Tx 75483. The Research Library is located at 611 North Davis Street inside the Public Library; however at this time it is not open to walk-ins but only by appointment. Some research assistance is available by phone.
HOPKINS COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.
611 North Davis St
PO Box 624
Sulphur Springs TX 75483 0624
2021 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Membership in HCGS is from January 1 through December 31. Annual dues are $20.00 for an Individual Membership and $25.00 for a Family Membership (2 adults living in the same household, one quarterly per household). Dues should be sent in by January 31st of the membership year. Members receive the Hopkins County Heritage, the society quarterly, following the end of each quarter, March, June, September, and December. If you join later in the year, you will receive all issues for the current year, if they are available. The March issue contains membership information and surnames being researched. When completing: Please do not put “same as last year” and please indicate (DNP) next to any information you do not want published in the quarterly.
Renewal ____ or New Member ____ E Mail Address ___________________________________
Name _________________________________________Phone Number __________________
Mailing Address________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________State _____ Zip Code______________________
(9 Digit)
Surnames I Am Researching:
Como-Pickton FFA Sweeps Glenrose ‘No Name Ag Mech Show’ on January 19, 2021
Como-Pickton FFA Chapter members came away with wins in several categories when they traveled to Glen Rose for the annual No Name Ag Mechanics Show. They started and ended the day with wins, and all projects exhibited came away with blue ribbons!
A great start to the day when 3 of our 8 projects have been judged and 3 Blue ribbons received. Utility Trailer – Blue Ribbon: Mario Lara, Caden Pere,z Klain Thomas, Cameron Ray
Entry Gate – Blue Ribbon Mario Lara, Klain Thomas, Ulysses Garza.
Cattle Squeeze Chute – Blue Ribbon Jhonatan Mejia, Canyon Thomas, Jackson Monk, Braden Miller
Three more blue ribbons for this awesome group of CP FFA members today in Glenrose! Hay Trailer – Blue Ribbon Johnny Gallegos Alex Perez, Carlos Perez, Koby Perez
Welding Trailer – Blue Ribbon Pablo Villa, Hayden Potts,Chris Daugherty, Carston Moore
Fab Table – Blue Ribbon Koalton Burkhart,Devin Diaz
All projects exhibited received Blue ribbons! Including the ‘So God Made a Farmer’ Bench built by Baylee Bowen, as well as the Patriotic Picnic Table built by Leslie Galvan, Alayna Chapman, Ximenna Morales, and Maliyah Diaz.
Congrats to the following for placing in their classes; Welding Trailer – 3rd in class, built by Pablo Villa, Carston Moore, Hayden Potts, & Chris Daugherty
Utility Trailer – 2nd Place, built by Klain Thomas, Cameron Ray, Mario Lara, and Caden Perez
Hydraulic Squeeze Chute – 1st in class, Grand Champion Division, and Overall Reserve Grand Champion; built by Jackson Monk, Jhonatan Mejia, Canyon Thomas, and Braden Miller.
It’s a great day to be a Como-Pickton Eagle! Great job and congratulations to all who participated!!
Jan. 21 COVID-19 Update: 2 Fatalities, 9 New Cases, 50 Recoveries
While Texas Department of State Health Services Jan. 21 COVID-19 dashboards show two additional Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities and nine new COVID-19 cases, the state also reported 50 Hopkins County corona virus recoveries and a significant decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations across the region.
Jan. 21 COVID-19 Case Counts
DSHS’s Texas Case Counts dashboard shows a total of 1,314 Hopkins County residents have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 results since the pandemic began spreading across Hopkins County last March, including six new confirmed cases on Jan. 21 — twice as many as on Wednesday. That makes 25 new confirmed cases so far this week and 192 cases so far this month.
The Jan. 21 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard also showed Hopkins County has had 1,225 probable novel coronavirus 2019 cases as well. Probable cases are those of people who have either tested positive for COVID-19 through an antigen test or have a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. The cumulative total includes three new probable cases reported as of 4:10 p.m. Thursday, which is six fewer than on Wednesday, and makes 16 new probable cases this week and 108 so far this month.
With both confirmed and probable cases combined, that’s 2,539 Hopkins County COVID-19 cases reported to DSHS as of Thursday afternoon, Jan. 21.
A total of 89 COVID-19 fatalities have been confirmed for Hopkins County, which means two additional Hopkins County residents deaths were confirmed Thursday by “cause” on their death certificates to be from COVID-19. The two latest deaths are shown in the County Trends chart to have occurred on Jan. 9 and Jan. 19. That makes seven Hopkins County residents who have died this month from COVID-19: two each on Jan. 2 and Jan. 5, and one on Jan. 3.
DSHS’ Jan. 21 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard did have some good news Thursday. The Hopkins County recovery total increased to 2,343, which means that 50 of the 150 people who actively still had COVID-19 on Wednesday had recovered from the virus on Thursday. Although the announcement followed three days with no recoveries reported at all, Thursday’s new recoveries make 180 in the last seven days (80 were reported on Friday and 50 on Saturday) and 290 recoveries so far this week.
Accounting for the nine new cases, two newly reported fatalities and 50 new recoveries, that leaves 107 Hopkins County residents who actively had COVID-19 as Thursday afternoon, Jan. 21.
Hospital Reports
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in the Jan. 21 COVID-19 update reported 26 patients in the COVID unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs. Jan. 21 marks the third consecutive day the COVID unit patient count has remained 26.
Across Trauma Service Area F, which includes all hospitals from Bowie County westward to Lamar and Hopkins counties, COVID-19 hospitalizations declined significantly on Jan. 20, according to the DSHS Jan. 21 Test and Hospital Data dashboard. On Wednesday, 186 total hospitalizations were reported, 50 less than on Tuesday when COVID-19 hospitalization reached their highest peaked thus far.
Wednesday’s overall total was the lowest COVID-19 patient count in TSA-F in 22 days. The last time there were less COVID-19 patients TSA-F hospitals was Jan. 29, when 167 total COVID-19 patients were reported and made up 15 percent of the total hospital capacity. On Jan. 20, COVID-19 patients accounted for only 18.09 percent of the total hospital capacity in Trauma Service Area F, down from 22.35 percent on Jan. 19 and 23.43 percent on Jan. 11.
Thursday 1,028 hospital beds were staffed in TSA-F, marking the fifth consecutive day of decreases: from 1,068 on Jan. 15 to 1,058 on Jan. 16, 1,044 on Ja. 17, 1,056 on Jan. 19 and 1,028 on Jan. 20.
A total of 936 inpatient beds were staffed on Jan. 20, down from 964 on Jan. 19. There were 619 hospitalizations in TSA-F on Jan. 20, six more 14 more than on Jan. 19 and 22 more tan on Jan. 18, but still 39 less than on Jan. 16 and 98 less than on Dec. 31.
Even with the reduction in cases, TSA-F continues to remain in the list of areas with “high hospitalizations” and subject to GA-32 restrictions until COVID-19 hospitalizations account for less than 15 percent of the overall hospital capacity for seven consecutive days.
COVID-19 Testing
HC/SSEM, in the Jan. 21 COVID-19 update, reported 8,418 COVID-19 tests have been performed at 128-A Jefferson St. since the Red Cross building was converted in September as a free testing center, including 74 molecular tests conducted on Jan. 20. In the last seven days, 363 free oral swab tests have been conducted at that location.
Those are among the 13,311 cumulative COVID-19 viral (molecular) tests conducted in Hopkins County since March. Another 27 antigen tests were conducted in Hopkins County on Wednesday, increasing the total number of antigen tests reported to DSHS since the state began tracking the data to 1,515. The four antibody tests conducted on Wednesday increased the overall total to 1,755 antibody tests conducted in Hopkins County and reported to DSHS. Cumulatively, at least 16,581 COVDI-19 tests had been conducted in Hopkins County as of Jan. 20, according to the DSHS Jan. 21 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
Free oral swab 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.
COVID-19 Vaccine
A total of 1,366 COVID-19 vaccinations had been conducted in Hopkins County as of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, according to the Jan. 21 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard. A total of 1,187 people had received the first dose of the vaccine and 179 had received the second dose of the vaccine as of Wednesday night.
That’s nine additional people who received the first dose of the two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday: 325 people 16-49 years of age, 106 males and 325 females; 293 people 50-64 years of age, 97 men and 194 women; 416 people 65-79 years of age, 180 men and 236 women; 151 people age 80 years or older, 57 men and 94 women; and two for whom no demographic data was available.
Thirty-three additional people received the second dose of the vaccine, 76 people 16-49 years of age, 21 men and 54 women; 63 people age 50-64 years of age, 19 men and 43 women; 32 people 65-79 years of age, 16 men and 16 women; and eight people age 80 years or older, two men and six women.
COVID-19 vaccines are currently only available for healthcare workers and emergency responders (category 1A) and people ages 65 and older or ages 16 and older who have certain health issues which place them at “high risk” for the virus (category 1B). Doses of the vaccine are still in short supply and are distributed to providers through the state, which allocates how many doses and which approved providers receive the doses in counties across the state. The COVID-19 vaccine isn’t expected to be available to the general public until March or later.
Game Day Thursday Features Soccer, Powerlifting, but no longer Tennis
On this Thursday (January 21) game day, the Wildcats and Lady Cats Soccer Teams opened play in the Terrell Winter Classic Tournament while there is powerlifting at Sulphur Springs High School. A tennis match on the schedule was postponed by rain.
The Wildcats Soccer Team opened play in the Terrell tournament Thursday morning with a hard luck 1-0 loss to Kilgore. The Bulldogs were preseason ranked #3 in their region in Class 4A. It was the Wildcats second straight 1-0 loss as they also lost by that score at Highland Park Tuesday night. Thursday Wildcats Coach Alexi Upton said his team gave up a goal in the first 10 minutes of the game. He said the Wildcats struggled to finish. Coach Upton said he hoped that does not become a recurring problem. The Wildcats slip to 5-4-1 for the season. The Wildcats now face Paris in the Terrell tournament Friday at 2 p.m. Paris was preseason ranked #2 in the region in Class 4A. All three of the teams in the Wildcats’ White Group in the Terrell tournament were preseason ranked in the top ten in the region in Class 4A. That includes the Wildcats’ opponent Saturday, Sunnyvale, preseason ranked #9 in the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches Poll.
The Lady Cats Soccer Team took the field right after the Wildcats and they got a 3-0 win over the host Terrell Lady Tigers. The Lady Cats got a goal from freshman Haylee Shultz assisted by sophomore Rebekah Stanley. Stanley scored the next two Lady Cats’ goals both assisted by freshman Kylie Clarke. The Lady Cats now have a season record of 4-4-2. The Lady Cats now face Paris in the tournament Friday at 5 p.m.
Wildcats and Lady Cats’ powerlifters have a dual meet with Mount Pleasant at Sulphur Springs High School beginning at 5 p.m. in the Multipurpose Building Building. It’s the first competition of the season for the Wildcats and Lady Cats’ lifters.
Finally, the Wildcats Tennis Team will have to wait until at least Friday to play their first match of 2021. A home match against Sherman, scheduled for Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at the Wildcat Tennis Center, was postponed due to rain. A continuing rainy forecast for later Thursday forced Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez to call off the match just before 3 p.m. Thursday. Coach Martinez said later that the two teams would try and play matches on Friday at Sherman at 3:30 p.m.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Truck Driving Class at the Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center
Instructor Bryce Walker, right, is pointing out important aspects of a truck to a class of future operators as he conducts a truck driving school at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center. Observing Walker’s instructions are, from left, Stanley Tolbert, Roy Brannon, Jeremey Herndon, Jeremy Davis; and taking a close look in front of Walker is Greg Glover. For information about classes at the Center, call 903-885-1232.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
McGinnis Sentenced On Intoxication Manslaughter, Aggravated Assault Charges
A 38-year-old Hopkins County man has been sentenced on the intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges stemming from a vehicle crash which resulted in the death of one child and hospitalization of another child on Dec. 23, 2019, according to court reports.
Brant Lee McGinnis reportedly entered an open plea in court to both charges. On Jan. 20, 2021, the district judge sentenced McGinnis to 10 years on probation on each case and 180 days in jail as a condition of probation, according to the district attorney’s office.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Christopher Sorley, in 2019 arrest and crash reports, stated that based on his investigation, it was believed that McGinnis was driving a tan sport utility vehicle east on FM 1567 Dec. 23, 2019, at an unsafe speed as it entered a curve. The Chevrolet Yukon went off FM 1567 near FM 2948 into the north ditch, where it rolled onto its passenger side before resting on the passenger’s side in a ditch facing west. During the crash, two occupants were ejected from the vehicle, Sorley alleged in McGinnis’ 2019 arrest report.
“McGinnis admitted to drinking 6 beers before driving with his two young girls,” Sorley alleged in arrest reports.
McGinnis was transported to the hospital, where a blood sample was taken for testing and where he was treated Dec. 23 for what were reported to be minor injuries. McGinnis’ 9-year-old daughter, Keira McGinnis, was pronounced dead at the crash site at 5:19 p.m. Dec. 23, 2019. Another child, reportedly an 11-year-old girl, was transported to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash, then later transferred to Children’s Hospital, according to DPS reports and Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace BJ Teer.
Upon his released from the hospital, Monday night, Dec. 23, 2019, McGinnis was jailed on intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault with a vehicle charges, according to arrest reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail for approximately 6 weeks, starting with his arrest on Dec. 23, 2019, through Feb. 3, 2020, before being released on bond, according to jail reports.
McGinnis was slated to appear at 9 a.m. Jan. 20 in district court for a sentencing hearing on second-degree felony intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge, according to the court docket. The judge sentenced McGinnis to 10 years probation on each case and 180 days in jail as a condition of probation, according to the District Attorney.
City Council Approves Materials Bids For Saputo Sewer Main Grant Project
Sulphur Springs City Council during a 13 minute meeting, conducted via Zoom and streamed on YouTube, approved materials bids for Saputo sewer main expansion grant project and selected a group to provide grant administrative services to work with the city in preparing a grant application to be submitted in the spring seeking a community development fund grant.
Sewer Main Expansion
This $750,000 sewer project is a capital improvement project funded entirely by a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture. The new main will supplement an older undersized main. The path of the new main begins at Saputo and continues under the interstate. It then continues south for 3,500 feet before connecting to an existing trunk line. The new main has a 15-inch inch diameter, Sulphur Springs City Manger Marc Maxwell explained during his manager’s report at the Jan. 5 council meeting.
City Finance Director Lesa Smith noted there will be no out-of-pocket expenses for the City of Sulphur Springs for this capital construction project. The Community Development Block Grant grant is made possible because of a $50 million plant upgrade at Saputo and their cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture. Labor and equipment costs will be reimbursed to the city as part of the grant.
Smith explained that city staff sent out notices seeking bids for five types of materials for the sewer line project in December. Eight companies submitted bids, which were opened on Tuesday. A special City Council meeting was conducted at 11 a.m. Jan. 21 to select materials bids so the project can get under way.
The City Council approved a total of $199,512.39 for materials needed to complete the sewer line project.
Four companies submitted bids for manhole covers: APSCO, Ferguson, Coburn’s and DIGG. The low bid of $15,242 from APSCO was recommended by city staff and approved by the council.
APSCO, Ferguson, Core & Main, Coburn’s and DIGG submitted bids for sewer line. Coburn’s low bid of $81,687.39 was recommended by city staff and approved by the City Council.
Three companies submitted bids for rebar: APSCO, DIGG and H&K Materials. The low bid of $2,775 submitted by H&K Materials was recommended by city staff and approved by the council
DIGG and Bell Concrete submitted bids to provide concrete for the sewer main grant project. The City Council approved the low bid of $20,516 submitted by Bell Concrete, as recommended by city staff.
The City Council approved the low bid of $79,292 submitted by RK Hall for bedding. Bell Concrete and DIGG also submitted bids.
Grant Application
City staff sent out requests to prequalified firms for professionals services and received two proposals, one from GrantWorks and another from KSBR, LLC, to provide grant administrative services for a Texas Community Development Block Grant Community Development Fund Project application to be submitted by the May 3, 2021 deadline.
An evaluation committee consisting of the Mayor pro tem Freddie Taylor and City Manager Marc Maxwell, Finance Director Lesa Smith and Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski ranked the proposals on Jan. 20 based on four criteria: experience, prior work performance, capacity to perform and proposed cost. Based on those evaluations, the committee recommended and City Council approved KSBR, LLC, as grant consultant for the grant application preparation and contract implementation services, provided the firm can match the lowest bid proposal.
The objective of the TxCDBG Community Development Fund program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environments, and expanding economic opportunities principally for people of low to modest income. Most funds are used for public utilities such as water and wastewater infrastructure, street and drainage improvements and housing activities.
Niewiadomski explained that the city is considering three potential grant projects, which will be further discussed and budgets for each presented to KSBR, LLC. All three potential grant projects, the community development director explained, are for the upgrade of sewer, water and street/drainage. Locations for potential projects are:
- Randolph Street from JD Franklin Drive to Lamar Street,
- Mulberry Street from Van Sickle Street to Woodlawn Street, and
- Easy Street/Atkins Street from Van Sickle to Rogers Street.
The top recommendation for the city’s next capital construction grant project is then expected to be presented to the City Council in April for approval of the grant application.
The maximum award amount that can be attained from TxCDBG is $350,000, which will require a 20 percent local match if the city’s application is approved for funding. The city will also pay $31,900 for administrative services if they are awarded the grant.
Tira News: Grace Vaughn’s 100th Birthday Celebrated With Cake, Lunch, More Than 80 Cards, Vehicle Parade
By Jan Vaughn, Tira News Correspondent
We want to express our sympathy to the family of Mary Beth (Robinson) Moore. A graveside funeral service will be held, under the direction of Delta Funeral Home, at the Tira Cemetery on Friday, January 22, at 2 p.m. Please remember the family in your prayers.
Also, Leveta (Chapman) Watson was buried in the Tira Cemetery on Wednesday, January 6, 2021. Her obituary can be seen on the Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home website. She had long-time ties to our community. Please pray for her family.
Janie Lewis reminds everyone that the Tira Community Center is closed due to coronavirus risks. The Tira City Council will take a look at the situation again at their quarterly meeting in March.
We have received several generous donations to the Tira Food Pantry in the past few days. We want to express our appreciation for the contributions. If you would like to help out, please call Sherry Smiddy at 903-945-5644. She answers the 211 calls for assistance in our area and shared that “some of the situations will break your heart.” We are thankful that we can help by keeping the pantry stocked. I want to express my appreciation to the Tira City Council members who volunteer to fill the pantry each week.
Robert, Yvonne and Wesley Weir traveled to Sunnyvale Sunday and spent the night with Destri, Eben, and their family. On Monday, Destri and Nico and the Weirs met Dustin and Everly at Rowlett Park. Yvonne comments, “After playing, we enjoyed lunch at Kiki’s, before heading home.”
Grace Vaughn was honored with a parade on Sunday afternoon. Fifteen vehicles filled with family and friends passed by. Everyone honked and shouted “Happy Birthday” to her in celebration of her 100th birthday. She enjoyed a special birthday lunch and cake at home on Monday, her actual birthday. Several of her family members and friends stopped by and visited her on Sunday and Monday. Grace asked me to be sure to let everyone know that she really appreciates all the birthday cards. At last count she had received over 80 cards over the past couple of weeks!
Tira was coated with snow on January 11. It didn’t stick around for long, but it was beautiful while it lasted. I couldn’t resist stopping to take pictures on my way to work that morning.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
