CANHelp Back to School Fair Traffic Map
Parents/Guardians should have received emails on Tuesday evening if they registered their child/children for backpacks and school supplies from CANHelp’s 2020 Hopkins County Back to School Fair. Just a reminder that the pickup date is Friday, August 7th, 2020 from 3pm-6pm at the Sulphur Springs Middle School located at 835 Wildcat Way. Below are a few details that everyone will need to know:
- You will enter the event from CR 1103 as shown above in the traffic map.
- Signs and people will be posted to guide you.
- It is a DRIVE THRU event. You will stay inside your vehicle at all times.
- Please DO NOT line up before 3pm. You may be turned back if you do.
- You must have preregistered to attend and receive backpacks/school supplies.
- Please bring your identification.
- Each car will also receive a family bag of community resource information, free sno-cone coupons from The Pink Stand, goodies, and other fun stuff!
The fair will have a small number of vendors handing out items as well as drinks provided by Starbucks. If parents/guardians (or someone they have previously designated) are not able to attend to pick up the child/children’s backpacks and supplies, please let CANHelp know prior to Friday.
Due to COVID-19, CANHelp is taking the necessary precautions for our staff, volunteers, and exhibitors. Everyone will be wearing masks and some will be wearing gloves. Thank you for understanding and working with us to keep everyone safe. While CANHelp is not able to provide a full-scale event as in year’s past, they are happy to still be able to provide the students with the necessary supplies to start school thanks to the generous sponsors throughout our communities as well as The Supply Kit.
If a parent did not receive their email, CANHelp suggests checking your spam or junk folder. If you have any questions, please email CANHelp at [email protected] or call 903-885-9797 ext. 3.
CANHelp also suggests avoiding Wildcat Way in you do not have to travel in that direction in case of very heavy traffic.
Looking forward to an amazing event!
It’s Time For The 5th Annual Chamber Of Commerce Photography Contest
BY LEZLEY BROWN, CEO/President, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
I know that you are all wondering about the 2020 Stew Contest, and whether or not it will be cancelled. The answer is … we don’t know yet, but the Chamber is doing everything in our power to plan this year’s stew in a way that will keep everyone safe. Cooks’ letters have been mailed out this week. Once we know how many cooks will be cooking in the contest, we will take our safety and logistics plan to our city and county officials. We will all sit down together to make a decision.
Until then, we have something fun for you! Last year, we sold a very limited number of shirts that we named Stew + 75482. We are bringing these back by popular demand! These are not the shirts that will be sold for the 51st Annual Contest (BRACE yourself for those!), but these shirts celebrate Stew and the location in which it is held. You may purchase these in short sleeves, long sleeves, and hoodies; and you may choose light grey or royal blue. Call the Chamber to place your order! Deadline to order is Friday, Aug. 14 by noon.
It’s time for the 5th Annual Chamber of Commerce Photography Contest! Let me review the basics. Anyone of any age can enter as we have a children’s category. The picture must be newer than Jan. 1, 2018 and must have been taken in Hopkins County. The contest will be open from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31. There are seven categories you may enter: Natural World, Travel, People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children’s Category. Only digital images are accepted (no prints). To submit your photograph, email the picture to [email protected]. Rules and releases will be available on the Chamber of Commerce website. I cannot wait to see your beautiful photos!
Kjc Beauty Supply is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration
Kjc Beauty Supply, located at 1217 Broadway St. in Sulphur Springs, is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration on Monday, Aug. 10, at noon. Please make plans to stop by to learn about this new business and welcome them to Hopkins County. Please wear a mask if attending.
Goodwill is hosting a bottled water drive
Goodwill is having a Bottled Water Donation Drive from July 15 through Aug. 15. They are collecting cases of water (6 bottles and up) to deliver to the homeless shelters and food banks. They will accept water donations at our local store located at 1320 West Shannon Road in Sulphur Springs.
Ribbon Cutting
Wynar Unique Living held their ribbon cutting celebration
Wynar Unique Living held their ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, July 31, at noon. They are located at 143 Lee Street in Sulphur Springs. Wynar is a service that cares for elderly patients who are unable to live at home alone but are not ready to move into a skilled care facility.
Business Highlight
During the year 2020, The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a business each week.
Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for Aug. 6, La Quinta Inn and Suites. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
CHRISTUS Welcomes A New Orthopedic Surgeon
By Holly Ragan, MS, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Sulphur Springs, Texas, August 4, 2020 — CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
Anticipating the arrival of Chris Meltsakos, MD, Orthopedic Surgery | Sports Medicine
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital- Sulphur Springs is excited to welcome Dr. Chris Meltsakos, our new Orthopedic Surgeon with fellowship training in Sports Medicine. Dr. Meltsakos is a graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology. He subsequently obtained his medical degree from New York Medical College. Dr. Meltsakos completed his orthopedic surgery residency at New York Medical College at Westchester Medical Center. He completed his subspecialty training in Sports Medicine at the University Of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Dr. Meltsakos will be accepting new patients at 103B Medical Circle, beginning on Monday, Sept. 7.
Speaking of Sports Medicine, our FREE Saturday Walk-In Clinic for school athletes is just around the corner. The Saturday sports clinic will be held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., on Aug. 22 through Nov. 14. Athletes will get an exam and free x-ray to determine a plan of care to treat their injury. The location will be the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Orthopedic
Office at 103B Medical Circle in Sulphur Springs.
For more information about our Sports Medicine program, or Orthopedic services, please call our office at 903.885.6688.
Hospital Visitation
For the safety and health of the community and our ministry, CHRISTUS Health is screening all associates and visitors to our hospitals to help lessen the risk of infectious disease transmission among our patients, associates, and guests.
- 1 Entrance to hospital through Emergency Department 24/7
- 1 Visitor per patient
- Visitors must be between the ages of 16 years-old and 65-years old
- All visitors are screened at the door, including a temperature taken
- All associates are screened at each shift, including a temperature taken
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (subject to change)
- ALL hospital visitors are required to wear a mask. Visitors should bring their own mask; homemade cloth masks are acceptable.
COVID-19 Testing — Experiencing Symptoms?
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain or headache, or diarrhea, please call your provider for either a face-to-face appointment or a telemedicine consultation. If your provider determines you need to have a COVID-19 test, they will send you to the appropriate outpatient location for testing.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please present to the Emergency Room. At this time, we are preserving our Emergency Room COVID-19 tests for those who are experiencing an emergency. Otherwise, we would ask that you follow the steps above.
If you do not have a healthcare provider, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic welcomes new patients. Please call 903.885.3181 to talk to one of our associates about setting up an appointment.
Don’t Delay Care
We want to be perfectly clear – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances remains a safe place for all to receive quality care. Go to the Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 if you are urgently ill.
While COVID-19 is new, our processes and procedures in place for infection prevention and preventing the spread of illness are not. To learn more about COVID-19, go to ChristusTMF.org or www.cdc.gov.
Hearts of Life Presents Leo and Tigger
“Leo and Tigger are four month old domestic shorthair kittens. The brothers were found and raised together. Leo and Tigger complement each other perfectly with Leo’s rambunctious and playful nature along with Tigger’s more reserved and lazy attitude. The two work best as a team and, because of that, should be adopted together. To help get them adopted together, the adoption fee is $100 total for the pair which includes all previous vetting, neuter and rabies shots. For adoption, these kittens can be found at PetSense in Sulphur Springs. For more information on all animals available, please contact Hearts of Life Animal Rescue by phone at 903-439-5019, email at [email protected], Facebook.com/heartsoflife or Petfinder.com.”
Aug. 4 Update: 13 New COVID-19 Cases, 50 Active Cases Reported For Hopkins County
The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County continued to spike this week. Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom announced 13 new positive COVID-19 cases for Hopkins County at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4.
That follows a day in which 12 new cases and 30 recoveries were reported. That’s 26 new cases and 30 recoveries reported so far this month.
That brings the overall cumulative total to 178 COVID-19 cases since mid March. Of those, 128 Hopkins County residents have recovered, leaving 50 active cases of COVID-19 in Hopkins County on Aug. 4 according to Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom.
Three patients were also reported to be in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs on Aug. 4, one less than on Monday and four less than Sunday. There were no patients on ventilators in the COVID-19 unit on Aug. 4, Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley reported.
Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services Commission since July 29 has continued to show on the COVID-19 fatality data dashboard one COVID-19 fatality for Hopkins County. The DSHS “COVID-19 Total Fatalities by County” spreadsheet shows the fatality to have been assigned to Hopkins County on July 23.
Hopkins County Emergency Management officials on Aug. 4 continue to report that neither local emergency management officials nor regional DSHS officials have received any information regarding any COVID-19 deaths of Hopkins County residents.
There were no reports available for nursing homes or assisted living centers on Aug. 4. The report should have reflected employee and resident patient cases and deaths, as the counts are 2 weeks behind. However, according to HHS, “Due to an automation issue, data was not consolidated or reported on July 21, 2020.”
Sulphur Springs Cross Country Athletes Prepare For Fall Season
The Wildcats and Lady Cats’ cross country teams, including middle school athletes, continue to prepare for the upcoming season by getting a lot of running in early most mornings. The athletes, under Sulphur Springs Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks, are currently running from 7:15 a.m. until 8:30 a.m., at least right now. Coach Hicks will be involved in teacher in-service beginning Thursday, August 6. He says he will move up the start time then. Coach Hicks says he will try 6:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. to see how they fit into the start of the in-service day. Cross country athletes will continue to gather at Prim Stadium to start their running until the September 1 start of school. After school begins, cross country runners will assemble outside the cross country office to begin their roadwork. The UIL has said cross country may have competition meets beginning September 7. Because of the late start for competition this season, Coach Hicks says he has had to redo his schedule for 2020. Three August meets had to be canceled. Coach Hicks says he has added some meets in October. There will be a middle school district meet this year on November 7. The high school district meet will take place on November 9. Coach Hicks is beginning his fifth year as Sulphur Springs Cross Country Coach. He ran cross country and track and played soccer for the Wildcats. Coach Hicks also competed in cross country at Texas A&M-Commerce.
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.
Cocaine, Methamphetamine Allegedly Found During Interstate 30 Traffic Stop
Sulphur Springs, TX – August 4, 2020 – Suspected cocaine and methamphetamine were allegedly found during an Interstate 30 traffic stop early Tuesday morning, August 4, 2020 resulting in a Dallas man’s arrest on controlled substance charges.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Patterson reported stopping a Hummer H3 for traveling in the left lane of Interstate 30 east without passing other vehicles around midnight. The vehicle stopped near mile marker 136.
After receiving permission during the course of the traffic stop, Patterson conducted a search of the vehicle. Patterson, in arrest reports, alleged finding 24.6 grams of suspected cocaine and 49.9 grams of methamphetamine in a brief case-type bag.
The male passenger, 39-year-old Ronald Kristopher Gulley of Dallas, claimed ownership of the substances and was taken into custody. He and the suspected contraband were transported to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. The driver and vehicle were released, Patterson wrote in arrest reports.
The substances field-tested positive using test kits for meth and cocaine, resulting in Gulley’s arrest on two possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charges, according to arrest reports.
Gulley remained in Hopkins County jail late Tuesday morning, Aug. 4. His bonds totaled $150,000 — $75,000 per controlled substance 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.
Arlington Murder Suspect In Hopkins County Jail
A 22-year-old Arlington murder suspect was held in Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, Aug. 4, according to arrest reports.
Keshawn Sims reportedly turned himself in Monday, Aug. 3, on the Arlington murder and aggravated assault warrants, issued in connection with the July 27 death of a 17-year-old in Arlington, according to police and sheriff’s reports.
Arlington Police Department, in partnership with the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force, around 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, identified Sims as a suspect in the July 27 homicide investigation. APD released Sims’ photo and asked for the public’s help in locating the Arlington man wanted in connection with the death of 17-year-old Knoah Harlan.
On Monday, July 27, 2020, Arlington Police Department reported finding a teen seriously injured in the 2100 block of Highbank Drive. He had reportedly been “struck by a suspect vehicle that fled the scene.” The teen later identified as Harlan, was reportedly transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased, according to APD news reports.
Arlington police, in a new release, stated that detectives believed several people in two cars agreed to meet near Bowie High School to engage in a physical fight.
“The first car that arrived contained approximately five subjects. The second vehicle arrived and began to drive recklessly on the roadway in front of the school. At one point, the suspect vehicle started accelerating towards the vehicle with the five occupants. Investigators believe as the occupants were trying to exit the car and flee to safety believing the car they were seated in might be struck, the suspect car swerved and struck the victim on the roadway. The suspect vehicle, a passenger car sedan, fled the scene,” the police release stated.
Keshawn Sims turned himself in at the lobby of Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office at 7 p.m. Aug. 3. He was escorted into Hopkins County jail by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Dustin Fisher and booked on the murder and aggravated assault warrants, according to arrest reports.
Sims remained in custody in Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, Aug. 4. His bonds totaled $1 million — $500,000 per 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.
Shooting Victim’s Case Still Active
On July 22nd, 2019, Vincent Sheldon Jones was shot twice in the chest. His death is a source of angst for Sheldon’s family and friends. The individual who pulled the trigger has yet to face any charges.
Tuesday August 4th, 2020 Hunt County District Attorney Noble Walker gave KSST some insight into the status of the case. “It is still pending, it’s an open investigation.” said Walker. Walker is in contact with local police and elements of the Texas Rangers regarding the open investigation. “Any time we have a case like this, it takes time to build the case and complete the investigation.” Walker says some items related to the fatal shooting are still at the lab, and that COVID related delays are to blame. Walker is certain that once the investigation is completed, and the case transferred to his office, the case will go to a grand jury. “It will be up to a grand jury to decide if the case goes any further.”
Walker expects the investigation to conclude soon. Since the grand just meets only once a month, the earliest conceivable opportunity for the case to go before a grand jury would be September 2020.
Walker expressed his empathy with Jones’ family and friends. “If the shoe was on the other foot, I would be frustrated as well.”
Sulphur Springs City Council Has Full Agenda Tuesday
Sulphur Springs City Council has a full evening of work ahead Tuesday, with a budget work session and full meeting agenda which includes recommendations for three ordinance amendments, 10 resolutions, two contract service bids, a lease agreement, consideration of action for a November election and an executive session for an economic development matter.
The council via scheduled at 6 p.m. to hold a budget workshop to discuss the proposed fiscal year 2020-21 budget, according to the agenda posted on the city’s website. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom and broadcast on the City of Sulphur Springs Meetings YouTube channel for the public to view, to avoid large indoor gatherings due to COVID-19.
The regular August meeting will follow at 7 p.m. Aug. 4 as scheduled, but will also be conducted online and streamed via the City of Sulphur Springs YouTube channel for the public to view. A number will be given to allow community members who wish to address the council to do so during the meeting.
The City Council in April postponed the City Council Election that was scheduled in May due to COVID-19 concerns. They are scheduled to revisit the notice postponing the election tonight.
In addition to amending the annual budget ordinance for fiscal year 2019-2020, the council also will be asked to consider amending two zoning ordinances to create a definition for accessory dwelling units and establishing eligibility and design standards for ADUs; and to define permanent makeup and cosmetic tattoos and allowing them as defined in multifamily dwelling, central commercial and light commercial districts without requiring special use permits.
The city has over the last couple of years received a number of requests for special use permits to provide cosmetic tattoos and permanent makeup at salons as an ancillary service. The amendments are submitted with recommendation of the zoning board and planning commission.
A new airport ground lease agreement for Lot 1220-23, reinsurance contract for the city employee health insurance program and contract for chemicals for the water treatment plant are submitted for council approval as well.
- Resolutions on the agenda for council discussion and consideration include:
- Resolution No. 1200 (as required) to establish a geographic area for blighted and slum conditions with the sidewalks to apply for a grant submission for a TDA Downtown Revitalization Program.
- Resolution No. 1201 (as required) to establish the City’s commitment to adopting a Citizen Participation Plan.
- Resolution No. 1202 (as required) authorizing the City to submit the grant application with a budgeted amount.
- Resolution No. 1203 amending the 380 policy.Resolution No. 1204 authorizes a 380 Agreement for property located at 943 Putman Street.
- Resolution No. 1205 authorizes a 380 Agreement for property located at 206 West Beckham Street.
- Resolution No. 1206 authorizing adequate funding for and endorsement of the Industrial Waste Pretreatment Program.
