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.
Send Birthday Cards To Help Grace Vaughn Celebrate Her 100th Birthday
By Jan Vaughn, Tira News columnist
We want to express our sympathy to the family of Charlie Williams, who passed away on Sunday. Charlie was married to Tina Belz Williams. Also, Yvonne Weir shared that Bart Benefield passed away recently. Bart was the son of the late Floyd Benefield of Tira. We extend our sympathy to his family. Please remember these families in your prayers.
Grace Vaughn will be 100 years old on January 18, 2021. We will not be having a large gathering, so we are hoping that she will get lots of birthday cards. If you would like to send her one the address is 776 FM 1536, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482.
Kenden Joslin and Emma Hall visited Malcolm and Melinda Joslin and their family in Princeton on December 27, which was Kenden’s birthday. It was, also, a late Christmas visit, due to Malcolm’s family being in quarantine during the holidays. Kenden and Emma stopped by and visited with us for a little while before they went.
Our great-granddaughter, Dixie, spent several days with Landon, Laiken, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden Joslin. They all had pizza with us on Saturday, December 26, and then Dixie opened her Christmas gifts, since she wasn’t with us on Christmas Day.
Linda Ellen Vaughn spent New Year’s weekend with us. Our niece AbbyGale Shell and her husband Sanford came for a visit on Saturday afternoon and brought Grace her Christmas present. Dixie and her brothers came and enjoyed playing on their riding toys in the driveway later that day. Laiken visited with us, too. Landon had to work that afternoon. Charlie Vaughn, also, came by for a little while. On Sunday the 3rd, Chip and I took Dixie to meet her mother in Mount Enterprise, and then Chip and I went to the Mineola Nature Preserve. We enjoyed walking on the trails and watching the sunset. We spent the night in Lindale and returned the next morning. Linda Ellen stayed with Grace while we were gone. Tim and Lori Vaughn and Mitchell and Nikki Vaughn visited Linda and Grace on Sunday afternoon.
I hope the New Year is off to a good start for you all and I look forward to having more to report soon.
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].
Jan. 6 COVID-19 Update: 3 Fatalities, 30 New Cases, 1 Recovery
Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services’ Jan. 6 COVID-19 reports showed three additional COVID-19 fatalities, continued high COVID-19 hospitalizations in area hospitals, only 1 recovery in the last three days, with 25 vaccination administered Jan. 3-11:59 p.m. Jan. 5 for Hopkins County.
Jan. 6 COVID-19 Case Counts
Twenty people received positive COVID-19 results from lab-confirmed molecular testing on Jan. 6. That increases the total for the first six days of the 2021 to 75 confirmed cases: one case each on Jan. 1 and Jan. 4, eight cases on Jan. 2, 35 cases on Jan. 3 and nine cases on Jan. 5. The 20 new cases increases the cumulative total to 1,196 confirmed COVID-19 cases among Hopkins County residence since the first case was reported on March 26.
Ten additional probable Hopkins County cases were also reported on Jan. 6, increasing the number probable cases reported so far this month to 53. Cumulatively, since the state began tracking the data, 1,170 probable Hopkins County cases have been recorded. Probable cases are those in which a person has either tested positive through an antigen test or has a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis.
One additional Hopkins County resident was reported Jan. 6 to have recovered from COVID-19, the first recovery reported in three days. Recoveries have been reported in only two of the first six days of this month: 42 recoveries were also reported on Jan. 3. Cumulatively, 2,096 of the total 2,366 Hopkins County COVID-19 cases (probable and confirmed) have recovered.
The DSHS Jan. 6 COVID-19 Texas Case Counts Dashboard shows 73 Hopkins County COVID-19 fatalities, which means three additional Hopkins County residents have died from COVID-19. That means “COVID-19 was listed as a direct cause of death” on their death certificates. “A medical certifier, usually a doctor, determines cause(s) of death. DSHS does not include deaths of people who had COVID-19 but died of an unrelated cause. Fatalities are reported by where the person lived as listed on the death certificate,” according to DSHS.
The deaths were reported in the Dec. 6 COVID-19 Fatalities Over Time By County report to have occurred on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29 of 2020, and Jan. 1, 2021. That makes 14 Hopkins County residents confirmed to have died in December, a month in which 290 confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported, and 193 probable cases were reported from Dec. 11-31.
Cumulatively, 1,122 Hopkins County residents tested positive on molecular COVID-19 tests and 1,117 probable COVID-19 cases were also assigned to Hopkins County in 2020; 2,053 of the 2,239 cumulative COVID-19 cases reported from March 26-Dec. 31 of last year recovered, with 72 deaths confirmed in 2020, although the fatality count could rise as additional death certificates are filed with the state.
That leaves 197 active COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County on Jan. 6, according to the DSHS Case Counts Dashboard.
Also, 310 people are reported to have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 11:59 p.m. Jan. 5, including 204 women and 104 men. That’s 16 more people receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination in Hopkins County on Jan. 5 than the day before and 25 vaccination administered from 12 a.m. Jan. 3-11:59 p.m. Jan. 5 for Hopkins County, according to the COVID-19 DSHS Vaccine Data dashboard.
Testing Data
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials reported a total of 7,458 COVID-19 tests have been performed at the Red Cross building since its designation on Sept. 25 as a free testing site. That means another 85 people were tested at 128-A Jefferson St. on Tuesday, Jan. 5. That’s 490 tests conducted over the last seven days at the testing center.
Cumulatively, DSHS on Jan. 6 reports 15,005 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Hopkins County since March, including 12,164 viral (molecular) tests, 1,248 antigen tests and 1,593 antibody tests. That means 26 antigen tests, 4 antibody tests and 106 viral tests were conducted in Hopkins County on Tuesday; and 626 viral tests, 85 antigen tests and 11antibody tests so far this month.
Free oral swab(molecular) COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered free 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.
Hospital Data
As the COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to increase across the state so too has the patient count in the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs COVID Unit. In fact, the Jan. 6 COVID-19 patient count at CMFH-SS was 31, the highest patient count thus far for the hospital since the pandemic began. Although, the hospital is equipped to house as many as 35 COVID-19 patients, Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management and CMFH-SS representatives have reported.
DSHS’ Jan. 6 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard shows Tuesday as the 11th consecutive day in COVID-19 hospitalizations accounted for 15 percent or more of the overall hospital capacity in Trauma Service Area F, which includes Sulphur Springs and most of Northeast Texas; it’s also the seventh consecutive day in which COVID-19 hospitalizations exceeded the 15 percent threshold set by the governor in GA-32. That means for the past four days Hopkins, Bowie, Cass, Lamar and Titus counties within TSA F have been required to reduce capacity at many businesses from 75 to 50 percent until TSA F has seven straight days in which the COVID-19 percent is less than 15 percent of capacity.
Only Delta, Morris and Red River Counties in Northeast Texas have qualified and submitted an attestation to the state certifying that their county has had fewer than 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days. All three had filed the proper paperwork for their businesses to continue to remain open at 75 percent capacity.
On Jan. 5, the 206 COVID-19 patients in Trauma Service Area F hospitals collectively accounted for 18.93 percent of the total hospital capacity, a 1.28 decrease from Jan. 4. In fact, the lowest percentage and least number of COVID-19 patients reported since TSA F officially was considered to have a “high hospitalization” percentage on Jan. 2 were reported on Jan. 5.
Only four ICU beds were reported to be available in all of TSA F, that’s one more available on Jan. 5 than on Jan. 4 and three more than on Jan. 2 and 3.
Man Accused Of Dumping Near Lake Sulphur Springs
A 26-year-old man is in custody at Morris County jail Wednesday night on felony Hopkins County warrants for allegedly dumping debris and trash near Lake Sulphur Springs earlier this week. The arrest is the third time he has been arrested on Hopkins County felony charges.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was notified earlier in the week that debris and trash had been dumped near Sulphur Springs Lake, at the dead end of County Road 4703. The debris, hauled away Tuesday in a dump truck, weighed more than 4,000 pounds. A joint investigation of the dumping was under way Tuesday by HCSO and Hopkins County Fire Department was launched.
“After the initial cleanup and investigation an arrest has been made in Morris County. Assistant Fire Marshal Mike Matthews, tracked down the suspect and he is now in custody,” HCSO Chief Deputy Tanner Crump noted in a news release Wednesday night.
According to law enforcement reports, Justen Blake Saffel was taken into custody late Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, 2021, in Omaha. The 26-year-old Hopkins County man was arrested and taken to Morris County jail, where he was held on the Hopkins County warrants for illegal dumping and intentionally or knowingly unauthorized discharge of the debris adjacent to the water way, in connection with the dumping near Lake Sulphur Springs, according to sheriffs reports.
Wednesday is the second time Saffel has been arrested by County fire marshals and third time he has been jailed on felony Hopkins County charges.
In September of 2016, County fire marshals arrested Saffel on an arson charge. Saffel was accused of setting a house that had been vacant for several years in Birthright on fire. A 6-month member of North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department, Saffel’s membership in the department was terminated following the incident, NHVFD wrote in a statement following Saffel’s arrest in 2016.
Saffel was arrested Sept. 11, 2016, by Hopkins County Fire Marshals; indicted Oct. 17, 2016, and was released Nov. 29, 2016, on 10 years probation on the arson charge, according to court and jail records.
The 26-year-old was also jailed Sept. 7, 2015, for allegedly pointing a gun at his mother and cousin during a disturbance at a Locust Street residence. Saffel remained in jail until Dec. 14, 2015 in Hopkins County jail on the aggravated assault of a date, family or household member with a weapon, 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.
Count Of Electoral Votes Resumes Wednesday Night, Following Storming Of Capitol By Protesters
Protesters forced their way into the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon, disrupting and delaying, but did not stop the counting of Electoral College votes. Congress reconvened the joint session shortly after 8 p.m. Jan. 6, 2021 to continue the process of counting and certifying the Electoral College votes.
Capitol the protesters, stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon, entering the building, reportedly yelling and waving Trump and United States flags as they marched through the halls, disrupting the count of Electoral College votes Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, 2021.
When alerted police and other law enforcement stood guard at the doors, barred from the inside with furniture and stood guard at doors, photos posted by protesters and media in Washington, D.C. depicted. Congress members were reportedly rushed to secure locations.
A woman was reportedly shot inside the Capitol and later died.
The D.C. mayor enacted a curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., allowing only essential personnel to be outdoors during those hours; a curfew was also declared by the Governor for nearby Alexandria and Arlington.
The entire D.C. National Guard was activated and responded, along with other local, state and federal law enforcement.
President Donald Trump has reportedly been locked out of or suspended, at least temporarily, from his Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.
After the Capital building was declared clear of protesters and safe, elected officials returned to resume the counting and certifying of the Electoral votes shortly after 8 p.m. EST. Jan. 6, 2021.
Jury Duty Cancelled In District Court Monday, Jan. 11
Eighth Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt has cancelled the jury panel that was summoned for Monday, January 11 at 8:30 a.m. at the Hopkins County Civic Center, the District Clerk reports.
Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report – Jan. 5, 2021
Sulphur Springs City Council received from City Manager Marc Maxwell the following monthly manager’s report on Jan. 5, 2021:
COVID-19 RESPONSE
The number of active cases in Hopkins County decreased 11% since our last meeting with a total of 150 active cases as of January 04, 2021. The state has tested a total of 7,197 people at the Hopkins County testing site since this whole thing began. We have had 2,095 cumulative recoveries and 70 cumulative fatalities (40%
increase from last month) in Hopkins County. The hospital has 30 patients in the COVID19 unit as of today which is up 30% from last month.
As a part of the City’s response to Covid-19 the City suspended the practice of cutting off water service for non-payment. Some of the balances are growing quite high. The total arrearage is $152,037.68 with 584 accounts (8.71% of all accounts) in arrears. We now have a vaccine available on a limited basis. As it begins to become more widely available, we will have to decide how to bring the delinquent accounts up to a current status. I will likely propose requiring residents to pay their current bill along with 1/6th or 1/12th of their arrearage to avoid being cut off. In this way their accounts would be brought current in either 6 months or 12 months.
GRAYS BUILDING
The steel work is completed, and wooden framing has begun. You can now walk through the building and get a real sense of what it is going to look like.
SENIOR CITIZENS BUILDING
Construction drawings are still being prepared by REES Associates. We have hired Tandem Consulting to oversee the construction just like the Grays Building.
MCCANN STREET
Texana Land and Asphalt paved McCann Street in December. This project is now complete.
WOODLAWN STREET
The Capital Construction Division has completed the sewer main and the water main. They are now replacing portions of curb and gutter. Texana Land and Asphalt will then cement-stabilize the road base and pave the street with asphalt.
SAPUTO SEWER MAIN
This is the next capital improvement project. This $750,000 sewer project is 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. This grant is made possible because of a $50 million plant upgrade at Saputo and their cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture. Without their cooperation this project would not have been possible.
COLLEGE STREET
This will be the next project after the Saputo Sewer Line Project
CLAIMS
We did not have any workers compensation claims in December. We did have one liability claim for a sewer back up. We have submitted the claim to the TML risk pool. We recently began paying an extra premium for supplemental sewage backup coverage, so I expect this claim to be paid.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
Finance Director Lesa Smith will present a report of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Made 12 extensive street repairs following utility repairs.
- Repaired 726 Potholes at various locations.
- Replaced 3 stop signs and 3 street signs.
- Hauled off concrete from buildings that were removed at the Airport.
- Put out barricades for a power pole that had been knocked down on Texas St.
- Put out barricades in flood areas for storms.
- Finished hauling street sweeper material to the Republic/Malloy Landfill.
- Installed curbs on Davis Street, in place of the approach for the old Ashcroft St, as well as a driveway next to it.
- Cleaned out storm drains 4 times.
- Repaired and replaced sidewalks at various locations around Coleman Park.
- Began installing new sidewalks at 2 locations at the Airport.
- Replaced 2 sections of the Cross-Town Trail to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.
- Responded to 277 fire/rescue calls including 4 structure fires, 3 vehicle fires and 10 grass fires.
- Performed 5 fire inspections and reviewed 78 pre-fire plans.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 78 fire hydrants.
- Responded to 183 animal control calls.
- Achieved a 72% adoption rate at the animal shelter.
- Made 2 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- Seized 4 pounds of marijuana and over $15,000
- Responded to 33 accidents, wrote 493 citations, recorded 56 offenses, made 6 arrests and responded to 2,125 calls for police service.
- Conducted 30 building inspections, 7 electrical inspections, 5 plumbing inspections, 6 mechanical inspections, and issued 19 building permits.
- Installed retrofit LED in Coleman Water Tower office.
- Installed retrofit LED in soccer field concession, bathrooms and storage facility building.
- Maintenance on Christmas lights on several streetlights and buildings.
- Installed new flow meter at the wastewater treatment plant.
- Installed fire extinguishers at the airport, hanger #27.
- Began installation on electrical service and powers for newly refurbished hanger at the airport.
- Installed light at the police department under awning in the back lot.
- Replaced lights at animal shelter dog kennels with LED.
- Replaced water valve and flush valve in women’s restroom at the Library.
- Maintenance work in restroom at Imagination Mountain.
- Maintenance work on locks for the Parks and Recreation Department.
- Maintenance work on central heat at the wastewater plant.
- Delivered door frames to Grays Building.
- Maintenance work on pad locks at the service center.
- Routine inspection and checks on central heat and air units at city hall.
- Meeting with East Texas Compost regarding compost operations on needed structural repairs to composting facility.
- Completed 4th quarter Bio-Monitoring DMR.
- Replaced Chlorinator auto switch over on one-ton cylinder.
- Ordered and installed flush valve on final clarifier #2.
- Changed bearings in Bar-Screen “B”.
- Assisted GraCon installing flow meter on north aeration train #1.
- Ordered replacement pump for effluent sampler.
- Completed recall work on service vehicles 70-951, 70-958, and 70-970.
- Treated wastewater to a daily average total suspended solids count of .56 mg/L
- Repaired 8 water main ruptures and replaced 13 water meters.
- Unstopped 14 sewer mains and repaired 2 sewer mains.
- Washed 70,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Collected three sets of bacteriological samples in the distribution system.
- Collected TOC samples delivered to AEL in Tyler and received results.
- Collected distribution chlorite samples, shipped to lab and received results.
- Flushed 36 dead end water mains.
2 Jailed In Hopkins County on Controlled Substance Charges, 2 on Marijuana Charges
Two people were jailed in Hopkins County on controlled substance charges and one on a marijuana charge on Tuesday, and another man was jailed early Wednesday morning on a marijuana charge as well, according to arrest reports.
East Middle Street Investigation
Sulphur Springs Police Department Sgt. Brandon Mayes went to Kimberley Michelle Rachui’s address at 2:49 p.m. Jan. 5, following up on an investigation on the 30-year-old woman.
He reported finding Rachui sitting in a black Dodge Ram pickup, from which an odor of marijuana emitted. The Sulphur Springs woman allegedly handed Mayes a pipe with unsmoked marijuana in it. A search of the truck allegedly revealed a glass pipe of the type used to smoke methamphetamine and a small baggy containing a crystal-like substance Mayes believed to be methamphetamine.
Mayes arrested Rachui at 3:08 p.m. Jan. 5 on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, a drug-free zone enhancement because the location was about 557 feet from a primary school campus. She remained in Hopkins County jail on Jan. 6, 2021 in lieu of a $10,000 bond on the controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Tuesday was the third time Rachui has been booked into Hopkins County jail in the 3 months. She too spent Oct. 22-23, 2020 in jail on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance; and Nov. 2-8, 20202, in custody for bond revocation on the a March 29, 2019 possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and surety off bond on the Oct. 22 controlled substance charge, according to jail records.
North League Street Marijuana Investigation
Sulphur Springs Police officers responded at 6:08 p.m. Jan. 5, 2021, in the 200 block of North League Street to a complaint of suspected marijuana smoking in a red pickup. Upon arrival, officers alleged they could smell a marijuana odor emitting from a red Chevrolet S10 tuck, A probable cause search allegedly revealed a bag containing a green leafy substance police believed to be marijuana.
The 20-year-old Sulphur Springs man in the truck claimed the marijuana as his and was taken into custody for possession of less than 2 ounces of marihuana, a drug-free zone enhancement was added because the location was within 500 feet of a church and park, police alleged in arrest reports. The man remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, in lieu of a $2,000 bond on the Class A misdemeanor charge.
Warrant Service On West Shannon Road
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Francisco Castro responded Tuesday night, in the 1600 block of West Shannon Road to meet with a man contacted police because he thought he had a warrant out of Hopkins County for his arrest. Upon contacting the man, officers obtained Mathew Banda‘s identifying information, which dispatchers used to confirm the 24-year-old El Paso man did indeed have an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
Castro took Banda into custody at 8:45 p.m. Jan. 5, 2021, on the warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for manufacture or delivery of 400 grams or more of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. The violation was alleged in arrest reports to have occurred on Dec. 8, 2020.
He was arrested Jan. 12, 2019, on the original manufacture or delivery of 400 grams or more of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and released from Hopkins County jail, according to jail reports. He and three others were jailed after an Interstate traffic stop revealed an aftermarket compartment on the battery containing 4 black tape- and cellophane-wrapped bundles containing suspected heroin, officials alleged in the 2019 arrest report. He was released from jail May 29, 2019 on a $100,000 bond on the heroin charge, according to jail reports.
Banda, who is also known by the alias Mathew Sagaribai, remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 on the violation of probation charge, according to jail reports.
SH 19 South Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped a tan Ford Ranger at 2:12 a.m. Jan. 6 on State Highway 19 south, just south of Interstate 30, for a defective head light. On contact with the driver, a deputy reported smelling a marijuana odor emitting from the truck.
A probable cause search of the truck revealed two baggies containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, a yellow bowl with marijuana residue in it, a large clear jar with marijuana residue, multiple baggies with marijuana residue, a package with marijuana residue, a vacuum-sealed bag containing marijuana residue and a half consumed blunt, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, the 23-year-old Sulphur Springs man was taken into custody at 2:27 a.m. Wednesday on a possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana charge. He remained in Hopkins County jail later Jan. 6, 2021 in lieu o f a $1,000 bond on the Class B misdemeanor charge, according to jail reports.
He was jailed on two other occasions for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana: exactly 1 year ago (Jan. 6, 2020) and on Aug. 14, 2019. He was also booked into Hopkins County jail on four occasions last year: April 24 for public intoxication, May 14 for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, May 19 on a theft of firearm warrant and May 28 on a burglary of vehicles warrant, according to arrest 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.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
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.
Wildcat Band Members Named To Prestigious All-Region Bands
5 Freshmen Selected To Freshmen, High School Region Bands; 4 Wildcat Band Members Advance to Area Band Auditions
In what can only be described as an unusual year, Texas music organizations worked to find ways to still hold annual music events for students. Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat Band members have also worked hard to meet the challenges posed by those changes, which this year included virtual auditions for All-Region Bands.
The hard work paid off with 16 making the Freshmen Region Band and 15 making the High School All-Region Band. Five freshmen made both bands Four Wildcat Band members played well enough to advance from All-Region to the Area audition as well.
For these competitions, Texas Music Educators Association worked to create an online audition process where students recorded themselves on their prepared audition music. In year’s past, these have always been in-person, head-to-head performances. After the head band director certified that each recording was legitimate, the students’ audition recordings were sent digitally and anonymously to a panel of judges who adjudicated each recording.
“The students still worked on the audition music as always and had stiff competition.” said Spencer Emmert, head director. “Sulphur Springs HS Band had great results in this unique setting for Region! The students didn’t let these different circumstances change their focus on excelling at the Region level.”
Students from TMEA Region 4, that stretches from west of Sulphur Springs all the way to Texarkana, submitted audition recordings.
“I felt like, since students didn’t have to personally attend an audition this year, there was even more competition,” Emmert said.
The first round of auditions were for our Freshmen Region Band. Students named to the group were Jasmin Yanez, Sara Voss, Payton Willis, Jeremy Resendiz, Lauren Maynard, Levi Caton, Ty Robinson, Adam Arnecke, Janeth Rivera, Catherine Starzyk, Caroline Prickette, Kate Hurley, Kami White, Alexis Villarino, Jonas Mejia and Abraham Lopez.
The High School All-Region auditions came next. These auditions have the potential for advancement to the AREA level to audition for a seat in the Texas All-State Band. Students named to the TMEA Region 4 Band were Avery Moss, Cameron Beard, Triston Stewart, Jakson Medelline, Joel Villarino, Matthew Sherman, John Moser, Catherine Starzyk, Caroline Prickette, Kate Hurley, Kami White, Alex Botello, Levi Caton, Tyler Burnett and Anthony Arroyo.
Freshmen students lauded for earning a place in both the Freshmen and HS Region Bands were Levi Caton, Kate Hurley, Caroline Prickette, Catherin Starzyk and Kami White.
Students who place at the very top of their instrument class to advance onto the Area level were Cameron Beard on clarinet, Tyler Burnett on trombone, Matthew Sherman on alto saxophone and Joel Villarino on horn. These students will record an audition for the Area level on Tuesday, January 12, for a chance at the Texas All-State Band placement.
Congratulations to all the students for their achievements in making the All-Region Bands, particularly those placing in both and those advancing to the Area.
