Disturbance Results In Misdemeanor Assault Arrest
Complaint of a disturbance in which a man allegedly kicked in a door resulted in a Class C misdemeanor assault arrest late Monday night, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers received two calls regarding a West Main Street residence in Como twice in less than an hour Monday night, one at 10:20 p.m. Aug. 17 of people arguing and one at 11:03 p.m. Aug. 17 of a woman and her boyfriend arguing, according to dispatch reports.
The second time, dispatchers were told a man had kicked in the back door in the 800 block of West Main Street. The man was also alleged to have made threats to other individuals at the location and possibly had a knife, a deputies noted in arrest reports.
When deputies arrived, they reported contacting the female at the front door of the residence. The male was reported to be exiting the residence from the back door. A deputy reportedly went around toward the back and contacted the male.
The male, while being detained, removed a pocket knife from his front pocket. Another male at the location reportedly claimed the man had another knife tucked into the rear of his pants. No additional weapons were located on the man, but deputies, in arrest reports, noted the man appeared to them to be intoxicated. The front of his pants appeared to be soiled, deputies noted in arrest reports.
Deputies reportedly contacted the female and two other males inside the residence. Deputies were told the man kicked the back door into the residence and made verbal threats of imminent bodily injury toward more than one individual in the residence. The 38-year-old Como man was taken into custody at 11:21 p.m. Aug. 17 for assault by threat, according to arrest reports. He was released from jail later Tuesday, Aug. 18, on the Class C misdemeanor assault charge, according to jail reports.
Lady Cats Volleyball Working on Fundamentals in August
After The Edge ended in late July, Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Bailey Dorner gave her players a two week break. Sessions of skills and strength resumed August 10. Coach Dorner says she has had a consistent 36 players each day. She says they are working hard and are excited. Coach Dorner says she has split her team into hitters, passers and setters for individual work. There is a heavy emphasis on fundamentals. Coach Dorner says her players are itching to play someone. She says she reserves some time each day for scrimmage type work at the end. Coach Dorner says her second team of Lady Cats is beginning to show potential. He says she lost some great seniors off of her first team but she says some great core players are returning. Coach Dorner is finding her second season as a head coach somewhat easier than the first year. She says lots of the players have been with her a year and now know what she expects. Coach Dorner says there were times last season where she had to figure things out as she went along. She hopes the fundamental work now will make her team better prepared to start the delayed season. First day of practice will be September 8. A scrimmage date of September 12 has been set. The Lady Cats open the regular season on the road at Greenville on September 15.
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.
Registration Activity at Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs
Angel Cedillo-Martinez of Sulphur Springs, left, enters information for Education Opportunity Center Advisor Tonya Yeager as he prepares to enter PJC-Sulphur Springs Center this fall. The campus is open and advisors are available each day to register students. Scholarships and federal grant funds are available. The first day of the fall semester is Sept. 8.
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.
Meet Daisy
“Meet Daisy! Daisy is a nine year-old black lab mix. After six years with a family, unfortunate circumstances brought her back to Hearts of Life. Daisy deserves another chance at being someone’s best friend. She is endlessly affectionate and gentle, making her the perfect companion for someone who is older and looking for a cuddle buddy. Her adoption fee is $100.00 which includes all previous vetting, neuter, and rabies shot. Please contact us by phone at 903-439-5019, email at [email protected], Petfinder.com, or at Facebook.com/heartsoflife”
What Is 4-H All About by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
To prepare youth to meet the challenges of childhood, adolescence and adulthood, through a coordinated, long-term, progressive series of educational experiences that enhance life skills and develop social, emotional, physical and cognitive competencies. 4-H is also a community of young people and their families across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H is about having fun, learning, exploring and discovering. In 4-H, young people make new friends, develop new skills, become leaders and help shape their communities. More than 65,000 Texas youth are enrolled members of 4-H community clubs in Texas. Another 850,000 Texas youth get involved in 4-H through special educational opportunities at school, in after school programs, or at neighborhood or youth centers. These youth live in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural communities. 4-H gives them a chance to pursue their own interests – from photography to computers, from building rockets to raising sheep. A list of 4-H projects is available online. They go places – to camp, to state and national conferences. They learn to be leaders and active citizens. In 4-H clubs, they serve as officers and learn to conduct meetings, handle club funds, and facilitate group decision-making. In a growing number of communities, 4-H youth serve as youth representatives in municipal or county government or as members of Teen Courts. They give back to their communities. 4-H members get involved in volunteer projects to protect the environment, mentor younger children and help people who are less fortunate. 4-H at the county level operates in local clubs, were social interaction between 4-H members enhance learning and promotes social skills. In Hopkins County, all the office staff is involved in 4-H. From learning how to make a cloth project, cook a recipe, prepare and deliver a speech to how to heal an animal patient, 4-H has the structure and resources to provide opportunities for our youth to grow. The first step to get involved is to get enrolled on-line at www.4honline.com (starting August 15, 2020) .
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Former Sulphur Springs Trooper Making DPS History As One Of First Female Ranger Captains
August 11, 2020 – Three Texas Rangers, including a Ranger who began her DPS career in Sulphur Springs, are making history with their promotions to the rank of captain, according to Texas Department of Public Safety.
Wende Wakeman, who began her career as a DPS Trooper in Sulphur Springs, and Melba Saenz are the first two female Ranger captains in DPS history. James Thomas is the first-known Ranger in modern history to hold a doctorate degree, DPS reported Aug. 18.
“These three talented, dedicated professionals have excelled in positions throughout their DPS careers and have exhibited tremendous commitment to the people of Texas and our law enforcement partners,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “I have the utmost confidence they will continue to make the department proud in their new roles within the Rangers.”
The promotions of Wakeman and Thomas are effective Sept. 1, and both will be stationed at Austin headquarters. Saenz was promoted May 15; her duty station is Edinburg. All three held the rank of lieutenant prior to their promotions, according to DPS.
Ranger Capt. Wende Wakeman first joined DPS in 1998. She was a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper in Sulphur Springs and New Caney, before being promoted to narcotics sergeant in 2003. In 2008, Wakeman joined the Texas Rangers in Conroe. In 2014, she was promoted to lieutenant and was stationed in Laredo, marking the first time in agency history that a woman was promoted to the rank of Ranger lieutenant. She transferred to Huntsville in 2015, where she has served until this most recent promotion.
Wakeman is a graduate of the National Forensics Academy, the International Association of Chiefs of Police Women’s Leadership Institute and the DPS Command College. She has also completed the FBI Leadership Trilogy and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University.
Wakeman’s duties in Austin will include helping oversee specialized law enforcement teams within the Rangers.
Ranger Capt. James Thomas graduated from the DPS Academy in 2002 and worked as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper in Anahuac, Bryan, Madisonville, Mont Belvieu and Baytown. In 2011, he was promoted to Special Agent within the Criminal Investigations Division in Houston, where he served in the gang unit. In 2013, Thomas was appointed as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal with the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force in Houston. In 2015, he joined the Texas Rangers in El Paso. Three years later, he was promoted to lieutenant and was stationed in Waco.
In addition to his service with DPS, Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Lamar University, a master’s degree in behavioral science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake and a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Lamar University.
Thomas’ duties in Austin will include supervising the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative and the Forensic Artists program.
Ranger Capt. Melba Saenz joined DPS in 2003 after serving as a police officer in Mission and with the McAllen Independent School District. She was stationed as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper in McAllen for several years before joining the Texas Rangers in 2008 in Laredo. In 2015, Saenz was promoted to lieutenant in Edinburg, where she managed three Joint Operations Intelligence Centers (JOICs) and field operations for the Drawbridge Program in South Texas.
In May 2020, Saenz was promoted to captain and remains stationed in Edinburg, where she is now managing six JOICs from El Paso to the Rio Grande Valley, while continuing to manage the field operations for the Drawbridge Program.
Saenz was recognized by the FBI for a joint aggravated kidnapping investigation and the recovery of a 5-year-old child, and by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for a high-profile joint corruption investigation in South Texas. She is also a graduate of the DPS Leadership Development School and DPS Leadership College.
Cumby, Sulphur Springs To Hold City Council Elections
Both Cumby and Sulphur Springs are scheduled to hold City Council elections on Nov. 3, each to fill two seats on the council.
City of Cumby
The City of Cumby had called for a special election in May to fill the open seats on the council. However, state election officials contacted city officials in April regarding the Cumby special election. All candidates for Places 1 and 2 in the May 2 election were contacted in April, and all agreed due to the COVID-19 situation postponing the election until November was best for all. Because the Cumby City Council Election was a special election, it was canceled in April instead of postponed.
The council on June 9 again called for a Special Election on Nov. 3 to fill the 2 alderman seats and to select a mayor.
At the close of filing on Aug 17 incumbent Doug Simmerman was the only candidate who had filed for mayor, but two candidates each filed for Places 1 and 2 – the same as had filed in February for the May election.
Candidates for Alderman Place 1 include Sheryl Lackey and Wayne Mobley, and candidates for Alderman Place 2 include Audri Mayo and Amber Hardy.
City Of Sulphur Springs
The City of Sulphur Springs was also scheduled in May to hold a general election for 2 places on the council and special election for 4 places on the City Council Election to replace council members who resigned in December.
On March 3, the City Council cancelled the General Election due to the absence of contested races. On March 18, Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation authorizing political subdivisions that would otherwise hold elections on May 2, 2020, to move their general elections for 2020 to Nov. 3, 2020, due to public health and safety concerns related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The City Council officially postponed the election in April and this summer adopt a revised order calling for the election on Nov. 3 instead of May 2.
“By postponing the election date, the City is preserving all candidate filings and ballot order actions that have already taken place. This postponement does not have the effect of reopening candidate filings,” the resolution officially postponing the election stated.
The City Council at the regular Aug. 4 meeting issued a notice for the election to be held Nov. 3, with early voting by personal appearance to be conducted at The ROC, 115 Putman St. in Sulphur Springs.
Place 1 has four candidates: Jay W. Julian, Mark Bradley, Vanessa Diosdado and Justin M. Brown.
Place 5 has two candidates: Ricardo Chavarria and Gary Spraggins.
Harold Nash Sr., appointed in December to fill the vacant Place 2 seat on the City Council, was the only candidate to file for Place 2. Oscar Aguilar was the only candidate filing for Place 3. Both have been administered the oath of office for those seats.
Meal a Day Needs Cooks! Can You Volunteer?
During the weeks of Summer and COVID-19, volunteer help in the Meal a Day Kitchen has dwindled. The currently small cooking staff is carrying a load meant for more workers. The demand calls for 5 cooks per day, and on some days, there are only 2 or 3 cooks for that day’s shift. Thus, the cooking staff and and Director Karon Weatherman are seeking some additional help. Here are the current needs, based on a 5-day week.
Monday – We have 2 Cooks, we need 3 more
Tuesday – We have 4 Cooks, we need 1 more
Wednesday – We have 2 Cooks, we need 3 more
Thursday – We have 4 Cooks, we need 1 more
Friday – We have 3 Cooks, we need 2 More
If you’d like to volunteer, call the Seniors Center at 903-885-1661.
According to Karon, two regular Cooks are out with surgeries (one volunteers on WednesdayThursday and the other one volunteers on Friday) and these two cooks will hopefully be back soon. “It is hard on the cooks when even one person is out of pocket. I have to call other volunteers in to fill in for them, or I go in and take a shift myself. We are reaching out for some help at Meal-a-Day. Our kitchen is spacious and well-equipped, the camaraderie is good among our cooks, and what we do is a real help to others.”
Cooks come in at 7:00 AM on their assigned day and are usually done by 11:00 am or before. Some of them stay and help prep stuff or make desserts for the next day. It is gratifying work because the shut-in seniors who receive the meals are truly in need, and are appreciative for the nutritious and delicious meals delivered to them at their door. If you can help by being a volunteer cook, please contact Karon at 903-885-1661. Meal a Day is prepared and delivered from the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, 150 MLK Drive in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
Good Start to 2020 Reported by County, Area School Supts
In a round of phone calls to school districts in and around Hopkins County on August 18, there was an overall positive response about the first days back at school from the Superintendent’s offices we spoke to today.
Cumby ISD reports 88% in-class and 12% at-home attendance since school started on August 13, with about 400 students enrolled. According to Cindy Mannon in the Superintendent’s office, “we’ve had a wonderfully encouraging start to the year. Everyone is following directions, wearing their masks and no complaints from students about their temperature having to be taken through the day!”
Lori Agee in the Superintendent’s office at Mt. Vernon ISD says “We’ve had a great start to the school year!” She reports about 12% virtual learners and the rest participating in face-to-face instruction among the 1,502 students from Pre-K through 12th grade. Superintendent is Dr. Jason McCullough who started out as a teacher at Mt. Vernon some 20 years ago, and spent a number of years employed at Region 8 before taking the Supt. post at Mt. Vernon two years ago.
Rains ISD Superintendent is Jennifer Johnson. From her office, we learned that of the 1,704 students enrolled, 16% are Virtual Learning students and 74% opted for classroom learning. Johnson stated “since school opened on August 13, everything is running smoothly. Rains students and parents are co-operating with the rules and restrictions, and students age 10 and older wearing masks as required.”
Among the last school districts to open are Sulphur Bluff ISD on August 18 and North Hopkins ISD on August 19, 2020.
Sulphur Springs ISD begins classes on September 1, 2020. The final week of August will have SSHS students coming in to the high school for schedule and learning device pick-up between 8am and 4pm. Virtual Academy students should come in on Monday August 24 or Tuesday August 25. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors have two days, Tuesday August 25 or Wednesday August 26. Freshmen are asked to come in Thursday August 27 or Friday August 28. Each will need to pay a $10 device fee, and they are asked to bring back any school devices they may still have from the Spring semester.
3 School Districts Plan For Nov. 3 Trustees Elections
2 Districts Will Likely Be Able To Cancel Nov. 3 School Board Elections; School Board At 1 District Will Have To Fill Open Seat
At the close of candidate filing Monday, only two Hopkins County school districts had more candidates than trustee seats up for election on Nov. 3. One district had one fewer candidate than seats to be filled with a Nov. 3 trustees election. One district postponed the trustees election from May until Nov. 3.
Cumby ISD
The only two people to apply for candidacy on the Nov. 3 Cumby ISD Board of Trustees Election were incumbents Marsha Krotky and Kenny Campbell. They will continue to serve another full term on the school board.
Cumby ISD anticipates being able to cancel their election, provided the district receives no write-in candidates by the Aug. 21 deadline.
Miller Grove ISD
Five candidates filed for a place on the Nov. 3 ballot for Miller Grove ISD Board of Trustees.
Candidates vying for the four full-term at-large seats on the Miller Grove school board election include incumbent Clark L. May, Ryan Claston, Mike Hasten, Cole W. Middleton and Lee Roy Stracener.
The drawing for places on the ballot is expected to be conducted Monday.
North Hopkins ISD
At North Hopkins ISD three candidates vie for two seats on the school board.
Incumbents David James and Brian Lewis are challenged by Jackie Boles Jr. for the two at-large full-term seats to be determined in the Nov. 3 NHISD Board of Trustees Election.
Saltillo ISD
Saltillo ISD will also likely be able to cancel the Nov. 3, 2020, trustees election.
The three incumbents were the only candidates to file for three seats on the school board. Mark Sustaire will continue to serve in Place 1, Chad Neal in Place 3 and Randy Johnson in Place 5 until November 202, unless challenged by a write-in candidate. The deadline to file as a write-in candidate is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21.
Sulphur Bluff ISD
Sulphur Bluff ISD had only three candidates candidacy in the Nov. 3 trustees election. There are three seats expiring.
Incumbents Donnie Powers, Terry Goldsmith and Chris Bassham all filed to seek another four-year term on the school board. Incumbent John Vance opted not to seek another term on the school board, leaving the fourth slot still to be filled at the close of filing Monday, Aug. 17.
Unless the district gets a write-in candidate before the close of that period Friday, SBISD will meet to determine what to do about the fourth seat. Typically, when fewer candidates sign up than trustees seats up for election, the school board is left with the task of appointing/selecting a candidate to fill the seat.
Yantis ISD
Yantis ISD will also hold a Nov. 3 trustees election. The district was scheduled to hold an election in May, but had to postpone the election until November due to COVID-19.
When candidate filing closed in February, incumbents Jennifer McKeever and Melissa Stephens were challenged by Teresa Starrett and Jennifer Larkin for their seats on the school board. These four candidates will appear on the YISD Nov. 3 ballot.
The two seats on YISD Board of Trustees are full-term and will go to the two candidates receiving the most votes.
