Female Allegedly Choked During CR 4772 Altercation
A female was allegedly choked to the point she couldn’t breath during a CR 4772 altercation Thursday afternoon. A 21-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested on a felony assault charge.
A Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office communications operator dispatched deputies at 1:34 p.m. to County Road 4772, where an active disturbance was reported. Dispatchers advised they’d received 911 text messages stating Dequarian Pitts had recently grabbed a female by the neck, choking her until she couldn’t breath during a CR 4772 altercation.
When HCSO Deputies Zack Horne and Richard Brantley and Cpl. Todd Evans arrived, they reported seeing two females exit the backdoor of the CF 4772 residence. Based on prior incidents at the residence deputies identified one of the pair as the alleged victim.
As they contacted the pair, they learned the other female was a guest who heard the altercation. They also noted the recognized female to be visibly upset and had “fresh red marks on her neck, indicating she had very recently been grabbed around the neck area,” Horne alleged in arrest reports.
A short time later, a 21-year-old male identified in arrest reports as Dequarian Terran Pitts exited the backdoor as well. He was detained in handcuffs while deputies following further investigation of the altercation.
The female with red marks on her neck claimed Pitts grabbed her by the neck following a verbal altercation. She allegedly began losing her breath while Pitts was choking her. She was able to get away from him and ran into the other room where the guest was at; the females remained in the room until deputies arrived, according to arrest reports.
The female’s injuries were photographed along with the area of the residence where the altercation was alleged to have occurred. When deputies attempted to photograph what appeared to be fingernail wounds on Pitts’ forearm, the 21-year-old man was alleged to be uncooperative.
Pitts was arrested at 2:26 p.m. Dec. 3, 2020, for assault of a date, family or household member that impeded breathing in connection with the CR 4772 altercation. Pitts remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, Dec. 4, on the third-degree felony charge. An emergency protective order was also requested, according to arrest reports.
Thursday was the second time Pitts has been booked into Hopkins County jail. He was arrested March 3 and released March 9 on a $1,000 bond on a possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
December 4 is Deadline ! How Families Can Sign Up For ‘Blue Santa 2020’
The Blue Santa Toy Drive is an annual partnership of Hopkins County and Sulphur Springs Law Enforcement and Empty Stocking. This year’s sign-up process to receive toys in the Blue Santa Toy Drive for children of families in need of assistance is being conducted on-line only. Qualifying families can get on the list to receive Christmas gifts for their children ages 0-16. Please go to www.canhelponline.org to see the sign-up qualifications. Parents or guardians will need to download certain documents to qualify, as there will be no in-person sign ups this year. Or you can get help with the process when you phone CANHelp at 903-885-9797 Ext. 3.
Also, if you are a family or individual who would like to donate toys for this year’s Blue Santa program, feel free to drop them off in any Blue Santa barrel around town, or contact the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department.
Shop Local at ‘Christmas Market on Main Street’ December 5 from 9am-4pm
Love shopping local at Christmastime? Here’s some great news! The Christmas Market on Main Street will be held downtown Sulphur Springs on Saturday December 5, 2020 between the hours of 9am and 4pm. More than two dozen vendors and merchants will be set up in an open-air market style and inside their stores, so plan to ‘shop til you drop’! Many will be offering door prizes and complimentary refreshments. You’ll find holiday wear, handcrafted clothing and crafts, home decor, delicious food, perfect gift items, as well as a jolly visit from Santa Claus!
Here are just a few of the vendor offerings: Christmas gnome wreaths and ornaments, Llama dolls, custom jewelry, fresh honey, homemade fragranced soaps, scrubs and lotions, Western bling jewelry and metal decor, homemade vanilla and sausage bread, furniture and antiques, floral decor, caramel apples and other treats, makeup and gift sets, handpainted signs and door hangers, handmade children clothing, hot cocoa, Cappuccino Bombs, cupcakes and cookies, vintage collectibles and decor, woodcrafts, crocheted items, Dream Catchers and Indian decor, T-shirts and way too much more to mention it all! Christmas Market is an annual project of the Downtown Business Alliance to benefit local retailers, eateries and our local economy.
Dec. 3 COVID-19 Update: 44 New Cases, 63 Active Cases
Texas Department of State Health Services’ Dec. 3 COVID-19 update provided both good and bad news for Hopkins County.
While the number of new COVID-19 cases was four times higher on Thursday than on Wednesday, the patient count in the hospital COVID unit declined for the third consecutive day. No new COVID-19 deaths were reported for Hopkins County, but there also were no new recoveries on Thursday either. There were also fewer molecular tests conducted at the Jefferson Street site Wednesday, according to the Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Dec. 3 COVID-19 update.
COVID-19 Case Counts
As was predicted for 1-2 weeks following Thanksgiving, the new case count spiked 7 days after the holiday. The 44 new lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 cases reported Dec. 3 is the most new cases reported in a single day since October. HC/SSEM reported 77 new COVID-19 cases on Oct. 19 and 42 on Oct. 21.
While new cases across the state have declined the last two days from what appears to have been a record high of 15,182 new cases on Dec. 1 to 14758 on Dec. 2 and 13,857 on Dec. 3, new cases have spiked in Hopkins County this week, going from 1 on Monday and Tuesday to 11 on Wednesday and 44 Thursday. That makes 888 Hopkins County residents who have received positive molecular COVID-19 tests since March, including 771 residents who have recovered from the virus and 54 who died from COVID-19.
The active case count in Hopkins County appeared to be headed in the right direction Wednesday, decreasing from 90 Tuesday to 19 Wednesday due to the 80 recoveries reported on Wednesday for Hopkins County, the 44 new cases reported Thursday increased the active case count to 63, the DSHS COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard showed on Dec. 3.
Hospital Reports
The patient count in the COVID-19 Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs has slowly declined this week, dropping from 25 patients Monday to 23 on Tuesday, 21 on Wednesday and 20 Thursday, according to HC/SSEM’s Dec. 3 COVID-19 update.
According to DSHS, the overall percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations out of the total hospital capacity in Trauma Service Area F declined below 15 percent for the first time in six days from 16.3 percent on Wednesday to 13.8 percent on Thursday. That resets the daily count from five consecutive days above the 15 percent mark, so no additional COVID-19 restrictions such as reduction of business occupancies from 75 to 50 percent or closings are needed for TSA F.
TSA E, which includes the Dallas/Fort Worth area, however, marked the seventh consecutive day in wich COVID-19 hospitalizations reached or exceeded 15 percent or more: 15 percent on Nov. 27, 15.6 percent on Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, 16.1 percent on Nov. 30, 16.4 percent on Dec.1, 15.8 percent on Dec. 2 and 15.6 percent on Dec. 3.
The total COVID-19 percentage of hospital capacity in TSA-I, which includes El Paso, hasn’t dropped below 30 percent since Oct. 23 and hasn’t been below 15 percent since Oct. 11.
The total COVID-19 percentage of hospital capacity hasn’t been below 15 percent in TSA J (Midland/Odessa) since Nov. 16 and for TSA M (Waco) since Nov. 23, TSA T (Laredo) since Nov. 13.
According to the DSHS Testing and Hospitals Dashboard, there were 363 available hospital beds, 6 available ICU Beds, 63 ventilators and 148 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in hospitals in TSA F on Dec. 3.
HC/SSEM Testing Report
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in the Dec. 3 COVID-19 update reported there have been a total of 4,733 COVID-19 tests performed at the free testing site since it opened on Sept. 25. That means 84 additional tests were conducted on Dec. 2. That’s 505 molecular COVID-19 tests conducted at 128-A Jefferson Street in the last 7 days.
Free testing continues to be offered inside the Red Cross building (former Fidelity Express building) weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in December. Testing is available for anyone, but registration must be completed by an adult age 18 or older in advance online at www.GoGetTested.com to schedule the oral COVID swab.
Those testing should bring the number with the QR code sent sent upon completion of registration along with a photo ID to 128-A Jefferson St. at the designated time. This is not a drive-through location. The COVID-19 test will be performed inside the building.
HHS Nursing Home Reports
Texas Health and Human Services in the Dec. 3 COVID-19 nursing facility report showed only one change from the previous day: one additional resident at Carriage House Manor had received positive COVID-19 results on Nov. 19, increasing the active resident case count at the facility to six.
The only other active COVID-19 cases reported for Sulphur Springs nursing facilities on Nov. 19, the most recent data available, were employee cases. There continued to be two active employee cases at Carriage House Manor, five at Rock Creek Health and Rehab, two at Sulphur Springs Health and Rehabilitation and one at Sunny Springs Nursing and Rehab on Nov. 19, according to the HHS report.
2 Contracts Related To Pacific Park, Senior Center Projects Approved
Sulphur Sulphur Springs City Council this week during their regular December meeting approved two contracts related to the Pacific Park improvement and Senior Citizens Center construction projects.
Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski recommended the council approve of the contract as proposed with MHS Planning & Design, LLC, for professional services for design and engineering for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant for Pacific Park.
Niewiadomski explained that MHS Planning assisted the city in 2019 with the parks and recreation master plan outlining future improvements at the city’s parks
In addition to the master plan, MHS also worked with city officials in December of 2019 on the 50/50 Local Parks Grant application submitted to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department seeking $1.5 million to apply toward identified improvements at Pacific Park, specifically the redesign and upgrade which is to include a new pavilion and playground equipment.
In August, TPWD awarded the city a$750,000 which the city will match. The parks grant includes a line item to fund design and engineering for the project, up to $125,000.
The fee submitted by MHS for professional services was $98,605. Niewiadomski said the bid falls within the thresholds for the grant, thus, city staff recommended awarding the contract to MHS for planning and design. Half of MHS’ fees will be paid for using grant funds and half from matching city funds. City Manager Marc Maxwell was authorized to execute the approved contract.
The parks grant does not include funding for the new Grays Community Building, already in progress thanks to funding approved by Sulphur Springs residents in November 2019 for both Pacific Park construction and improvements and a new senior citizens activity center. Earlier this week, the Grays building project began another phase with the steel frame work being installed.
The City Council also approved a contract with the Economic Development Corporation to share costs for the construction projects. Voters in November 2019 agreed for up to $200,000 per year for the next 20 years to be paid from EDC funding to go toward repayment of Series 2020 combination tax and revenue certificates of obligation for Pacific Park improvements and the new senior center building to be constructed on Oak Avenue.
Essentially, Sulphur Springs Finance Director Lesa Smith explained, the contract simply obligates the funding to be paid each year in August, dating back to this year, for the parks projects debt.
The contract legally outlining the obligation of the EDC to pay was recommended by the city’s auditors, Maxwell noted.
Smith said this is the same agreement the city had with the EDC for construction of Coleman Park two decades ago, just for more money each year. The EDC already made the first $200,000 payment in August.
The City Council also approved five lease agreements at the old Thermo Mine/Luminant property and authorized the city manager to execute the documents. The documents pretty much the same leases approved by the City Council last year: four agricultural lease and a lease to Hopkins County for use of sand from a pit at the southeast corner of the old mine property. The rates remained the same. Together, the leases generate $20,381.20 in revenue annually.
NET Continuing Education Conference Held In Sulphur Springs
The ROC in Sulphur Springs Thursday served as the location for the 11th Annual District 4 Northeast Texas Continuing Education Conference, hosted by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.
“It’s great to be serving the community,” Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Agent Mario Villarino said Thursday morning.
“We are excited we were picked among other cities or counties that could have sponsored this today,” said Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom Thursday morning. “Usually, it’s at another location, but because of our facilities her in Hopkins County, they chose the ROC.”
Villarino said the sessions got off to a great start at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 2 at The ROC, which allows for recommended social distancing during the educational sessions for judges and county commissioners.
“We have a good opportunity to visit on different subjects that are beneficial for our commissioners and judges. Of course, we are following the CDC recommendations for maintaining everybody safe,” Dr, Villarino said.
“It’s a really down to earth conference. I’m just glad they came to Sulphur Springs,” Newsom said.
The full in-service training conference is planned annual by Texas AgriLife Extension especially for county judges, commissioners, auditors and human resource personnel, and includes lunch. The educational presentations provide “practical training on affairs of the county government,” and a general overview of what is going on across the state.
Some of the topics discussed on Thursday during the conference included mental health in jails, jail capacity, feral hogs and wild game, and COVID-19. Among the presenters were Texas Commission on Jail Standards Executive Director Brandon Wood, as well as agricultural representatives and state legislators. The conference was also slated to feature Jim Allison, General Counsel from the County Judges and Commissions Association of Texas and industry representatives. Each commissioner attending the 11th Annual District 4 NET conference will receive up to six continuing education (CEU) credits for the conference.
Wildcats Tennis Opens “Spring” Season at Kaufman Tourney Thursday
Tennis at Sulphur Springs High School is transitioning from fall semester team tennis to spring semester tennis. There is something new this school year. After the completion of the team tennis schedule in late October, the Wildcats’ players took several weeks off and then got right back at it. In the past the spring semester tennis would not start until a late January tournament. This year, the Wildcats have at least one tournament earlier than that. In fact it is taking place on this Thursday (December 3) game day. The Wildcats are participating in a Kaufman tournament. Unlike team tennis, spring tennis is more about individual and doubles team accomplishment. Players seek wins to bolster their chances of a good seeding for the district tournament coming up on April 12-13 at Texas High. After Thursday, the Wildcats next scheduled tournament is in Sherman on January 21.
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.
Paris Junior College Dual Credit Student Opportunities Growing, Regents Learn
Opportunities for dual credit students at Paris Junior College continue to expand, according to a report presented Monday evening, Nov. 23, to the PJC Board of Regents.
Dual credit provides high school students the opportunity to earn both college and high school credit while enrolled in high school. Course credit is awarded through the school district for high school academic requirements and through PJC for semester credit hours leading to a postsecondary degree or certificate. A brief video showed Sulphur Springs students saying thank you to PJC for making dual credit courses available to them.
“PJC currently has over 1,700 dual credit students attending 27 schools in the service area,” said Rob Stanley, Dual Credit Coordinator. “Those schools range in size from 1,500 to fewer than 100 students. Those students have very diverse needs.”
One of the most successful forms of dual credit is the Early College High School (ECHS) program funded through Texas Education Agency grants. The program creates a high school within a high school targeting high risk populations of underserved students. For the last several years, PJC has partnered with Greenville High School and Innovation First International for an ECHS leading to an associate of science degree in engineering for students who complete the program successfully.
Three other high schools are partnering with PJC to pursue an ECHS in 2021: Royse City, Cumby, and Clarksville.
In other business the Regents:
• Recognized outgoing Regent Jim Bell, who expressed appreciation for his time serving on the PJC governing board.
• Swore in Dr. Linda Kapp as new regent in Place 7. Her term will end in 2026.
• Approved the financial report presented by Controller Cody Helm. Despite reductions in revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic, PJC has kept expenses in line.
“The staff should be commended that we’re only down $178,000 under these circumstances,” said Curtis Fendley, PJC Board of Regents President.
• Approved the 2021-2022 Academic Calendar.
• Received the President’s Report, including an update on Dr. Pam Anglin coordinating a session on budgeting and financial indicators at a recent Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board leadership conference for new regents. Regents were also updated on the free mobile COVID-19 testing on campus. Dr. Anglin thanked Sen. Bryan Hughes, saying his staff assisted in making it happen. PJC is also researching two potential new programs: sonography and drone technology. Regents also learned that, per plans in place since August, students would continue classes virtually after the Thanksgiving Break. All administrative, student, and library services will remain open until the College closes for Winter Break on Dec. 18. Graduating will again be a virtual ceremony, due to COVID-19.
• Accepted employment of Upward Bound Advisor Amanda Snider effective Jan. 1, 2021.
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.
Semi-Pro Football Game Benefits Toy Drive
There is a new semi-pro football team in Sulphur Springs and their first game will benefit their local toy drive.
The North East Texas Dragons from Sulphur Springs will host their first ever Preseason game Saturday December 5th at 2pm. The game will be held at Gerald Prim Stadium against the Mesquite Warbirds. The local team is asking the community to show up in big numbers to support some of your own local area and hometown players and coaches.
Admission will be a boys or girls toy (value of at least $5). If you’re not bringing a toy the admission will be $5.00 for adults $2.00 for kids.
Hall of Famer Charles Haley, who played with the Dallas Cowboys will be in attendance speaking with the players and watching the game.
Hopkins County Inmate Accused Of Assaulting Three Corrections Officers
An Hopkins County jail inmate is accused of assaulting three corrections officers Wednesday night, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Wilkerson reported being advised around 11:15 p.m. Dec. 2, 2020 of a request from staff in the county jail for assistance.
Upon arrival at the jail, Wilkerson was advised Jacob Wyatt Burgess began fighting with the three corrections officers who attempted to remove him from his cell in order to clean it.
The 28-year-old Yantis man allegedly struck all three with his hands and feet more than once, causing bodily injury to the officers. The corrections officers managed to “apprehend” Burgess and place him into a “V cell,” according to arrest reports. For his alleged violent behavior, three counts of assault on a public servant were added to the list of offenses Burgess is accused of.
Burgess has been in Hopkins County jail since his arrest March 22 on a criminal trespassing charge Deputies found him at a County Road 1441 address for which records show he’d been previously issued a criminal trespass warning.
At the time of his arrest, officials were reportedly investigating a report of an alleged sex crime by Burgess. After interviews, investigators received and served Burgess with a second-degree felony warrant alleging indecency with a child by sexual contact the next day. Burgess was also served later with a family violence assault causing bodily injury warrant. Bonds were set at $1,000 on the trespassing charge, $50,000 on the indecency charge and $5,000 on the assault charge.
Hopkins County jail records show Burgess has at least two prior misdemeanor assault arrests on his record as well, one on July 29, 2015 and the other on Sept. 5, 2018.
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.
