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.
Those Silky Strands On Trees & Shrubs Aren’t Decorations
Tips For Controlling Bagworm Infestations
By Mario Villarino, DVM, Ph.D. Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
The small, silk weaving that resembles a Christmas tree ornament on your favorite tree or shrub is not decoration. These bags protect the caterpillars, or larvae, pupae, female adults and eggs of bagworms (Order Lepidoptera Family Psychidae). According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, although bagworms are not abundant every year, once a plant is infested the insect becomes a persistent problem unless controlled.
Texas has several species of bagworms. Each species’ slightly different habits and life cycles affect the timing of control measures. Infestations, which may not be noticed at first, can defoliate trees and shrubs, and kill these plants if left unchecked.
The bagworm (T. ephemeraeformis) found on most evergreens lives in east-central Texas, from the Oklahoma state line to the Gulf Coast. This species has one generation per year. Eggs are laid in the fall and hatch in the spring. Caterpillars grow throughout the summer and pupate in August or September. After a 3-week pupal period, the adult moths emerge. After mating, the females deposit their eggs and die.
Birds, insect parasites and insect predators are natural enemies of bagworms. Bird predation and insect parasitism can help keep bagworm outbreaks brief. However, natural enemies can’t prevent the bagworms from damaging plants.
Handpicking bagworms off the plants is the cheapest way to control them, particularly in the winter months. Pick off all of the bags and destroy or discard them. Eggs in bags thrown on the ground will hatch in the spring and develop into larvae that could re-infest the plants.
If handpicking isn’t practical or safe, use insecticide spray. Apply insecticide soon after bagworm eggs have hatched or while the larvae are small and feeding.
Determine the right time for treatment by collecting bags in late winter and keeping them in a container out of sunlight. Once the caterpillars hatch from the bags in the container, apply insecticide to plants. Chemical control is not as effective when the caterpillars close their bags to molt or pupate.
In most areas, insecticides applied in April, May and June are effective. Use insecticides containing acephate (Orthene®), Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, carbaryl (Sevin®), pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, etc.), spinosad, azadirachtin, neem oil, malathion, pyrethrins or insecticidal soap. Use spray equipment that gives complete coverage of all foliage. Hire a professional exterminator if you do not have adequate equipment to use insecticides safely.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic, please contact the Hopkins County Extension office by calling 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Hopkins County Football Notes For Monday
Football practice gets underway Monday, Aug. 3, for all the teams below Class 5A and 6A. In Hopkins County, that mean’s Cumby and Como-Pickton.
The Cumby Trojans are coached by Sulphur Springs’ native Charles Boles, who is in his first year as Trojans’ head coach. Cumby’s two-a-day practices are scheduled this week Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
The Trojans are coming off of an 8-4 season last year that saw them win their bi-district game to advance to area competition.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football picks Cumby to win their District 9-2A in Division II. The Trojans open the regular season Friday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at home against Quitman.
Cumby’s Lady Trojans’ volleyball team also starts practice on Monday from Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Cumby has a volleyball scrimmage on Friday.
The Como-Pickton Eagles‘ head football coach is Ronnie Green, in his second year with the Eagles. Coach Green says the Eagles practice will get started on Monday weekly Monday through Friday starting at 4:30 p.m. each day.
Como-Pickton made the playoffs under Coach Green last season as the Eagles went 4-7.
Texas Football predicts that the Eagles will finish 6th in their 7 team District 6-2A in Division I. Como-Pickton begins the regular season at home against Simms Bowie on Friday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Sulphur Springs Wildcats Head Football Coach Greg Owens has released an updated 2020 football schedule that shows a date change for the Wildcats scrimmage.
The Wildcats will scrimmage old foe Mount Pleasant on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium. The first schedule released had it as a Friday scrimmage.
The Sulphur Springs Wildcats are scheduled to begin their fall workouts on Monday, Sept. 7.
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.
DSHS Accepting Applications To Manufacture Or Sell Consumable Hemp Products
The Texas Department of State Health Services has launched the Consumable Hemp Program to regulate the manufacturing, processing, distribution and retail sale of consumable hemp products. DSHS is currently accepting applications online for consumable hemp product licenses and retailer registrations.
“The program establishes a consistent regulatory framework for consumable hemp products that are manufactured or sold in Texas,” said Stephen Pahl, DSHS Associate Commissioner for Consumer Protection. “We worked with stakeholders to develop rules that provide clarity for license and registration holders.”
As of Aug. 2, a license to manufacture, process and distribute consumable hemp products is required. The fee for an initial license, valid for one year, is $258 per facility.
Retailers currently selling consumable hemp products, including those containing cannabinoids, must register each location where the products will be sold no later than Oct. 2. The fee for an initial registration, valid for one year, is $155 per location.
“I want to thank all the folks that worked on these rules and look forward to Texans leading the way in the exciting hemp industry,” said Rep. Tracy O. King, who authored House Bill 1325 in the last legislative session that allows industrial hemp crops and products in Texas.
In addition to licensing and registration functions, DSHS will conduct random testing of consumable hemp products. Products may be tested for the presence of heavy metals, harmful pathogens, pesticides, residual solvents and the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
“With the passage of the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, Texas was seeing an exponential influx of products derived from, or including hemp, from lipsticks, to lotions, to CBD oils,” said Sen. Charles Perry, Senate sponsor of HB 1325. “These products were coming from states and countries that may not require robust testing or labeling. House Bill 1325 added some of the strongest consumer protections in the nation to ensure these products are safe for consumers. I am pleased to see that these safeguards are being implemented by DSHS to help guarantee our fellow Texans will be purchasing safe products.”
A consumable hemp product is a food, drug, device, or cosmetic that contains industrial hemp or hemp-derived cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD). These products may not contain more than 0.3 percent concentration of THC.
12 New Positive Cases, 30 Additional Recoveries Reported Aug. 3 For Hopkins County
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom on Monday announced 12 new positive COVID-19 cases and 30 additional patient recoveries were reported for Hopkins County at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3. In only one other day have more cases been reported for Hopkins County, 15 on July 16.
Four patients were also reported to be in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs on Aug. 3, three fewer than on Sunday. Two patients had been discharged and one transferred out of the COVID-19 unit by 5 p.m. Aug. 3. There were no patients in the COVID-19 unit that were on ventilators on Aug. 3, Endsley reported.
One of the cases reported previously was determined to have been a duplicate county, according to emergency management officials.
That brings the overall cumulative total to 165 COVID-19 cases since mid March. Of those, 128 Hopkins County residents have recovered, leaving 37 active cases of COVID-19 in Hopkins County on Aug. 3, according to Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom.
Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services Commission on the COVID-19 fatality data dashboard at 3:20 p.m. Aug. 3 still showed 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. 3 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.
DSHS on July 30 reported a manual check revealed an “automation error” Wednesday, which caused 229 fatalities that did not list COVID-19 as the direct cause of death to be counted in the state data. This follows DSHS’ shift in the way COVID-19 deaths are determined; death certificate data is now used to count fatalities as of Monday.
The Aug. 1 DSHS/HHS report stated that the cumulative fatality counts for July 27-29 were corrected. No new data was posted Aug. 2 on the DSHS/HHS COVID-19 dashboard “due to a scheduled upgrade to the system that processes electronic lab reports.” The Aug. 3 report still shows one fatality, which the state lists as being on July 23.
HHS’ COVID-19 page also continues to show only one worker at one Sulphur Springs nursing home facility as having tested positive for COVID-19 as of July 20 that was an active case on July 13 and continued to be an active case on July 20, according to the HHS report. All data in this report is 2 weeks behind so that information self-reported by these facilities can be entered and error-checked.
No nursing home or assisted living facility in Hopkins County has reported having any residents test positive for COVID-19 either in the past or through July 20, according to the HHS reports. Data for nursing homes and assisted living facilities will only be posted Monday-Friday.
3 Arrested For Violating Probation, Parole
Two people were arrested July 31, 2020 for violating probation, including a man accused of having a bag of suspected methamphetamine concealed on his body. A man was also jailed August 1 on a parole warrant.
Concealed Controlled Substance
Douglas Paul Merrell was taken into custody at 11:47 a.m. July 31 on a warrant for violation of probation on a misdemeanor deadly conduct charge. The 53-year-old Sulphur Springs man was escorted into Hopkins County jail and released to jail staff.
While being dressed in jail clothes, corrections officers alleged Merrell was found to have a clear baggy containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine concealed between the checks of his buttocks.
The baggy and contents were seized as evidence. The substance later tested positive as methamphetamine. The bag and contents weighed 0.767 grams, resulting in Merrell being charged with possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, Greer and Deputy Jason Lavender alleged in arrest reports.
Merrell was released from Hopkins County jail August 2 on a $5,000 bond on the controlled substance charge and a $25,000 on the other, according to jail reports.
The arrest marked the second time in just under a year that Merrell has been booked into Hopkins County jail. He was also arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on Aug. 18, 2019, according to jail reports.
Police Department Arrest
Andrea Lynn Chapman was taken into custody at 8:42 a.m. July 31 by Lt. Brad Horton on a warrant.
The 42-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was transported to jail and booked on the violation of probation charge, which she was on for a possession of controlled substance, according to arrest and jail reports.
Chapman remained in Hopkins County jail on the charge August 3, 2020, according to jail reports.
Irwin Lane Arrest
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Sean Hoffman and Lt. Brad Horton responded around 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, on Irwin Lane at Posey Lane for a female alleged to have been involved in a theft they’d responded to, according to arrest reports.
A records check revealed 29-year-old Steven Ray Hunter of Alvin to be wanted by the Austin Parole Board on a violation of parole warrant and by Galveston County authorities on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge. Consequently, Hunter was arrested at 3:08 p.m. August 1 on the both warrants, according to arrest reports.
Hunter’s bond on the Galveston County warrant was set at $25,000; he was still being held in Hopkins County jail August 3 on the violation of parole warrant, 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.
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.
2 Arrested On Stolen Vehicle Charges In Hopkins County
Two men were arrested on stolen vehicle charges August 1-3, according to arrest reports.
Interstate 30 East Stop
For the second time in less than a week, Hunt County Sheriff’s Investigator Kenneth Peters notified Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers of a stolen vehicle being driven on interstate 30. At 5:06 p.m. Saturday, August 1, 2020 Peters reported he got a hit on his license plate reader that a vehicle traveling on Interstate 30 east near mile marker 85 was stolen; it continued on I-30 to the Hopkins-Hunt County line.
Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies and Cumby police responded and headed toward I-30. Cumby Police Officer Nicholas Geer spotted what he believed to be the vehicle in question, a white Kia, at the 110 mile marker. Geer stopped the car near mile marker 116 at 5:18 p.m. The driver, identified as 44-year-old Jason Todd Boyette of Texarkana, Arkansas, was taken into custody for unauthorized use of a vehicle.
The SUV was impounded. Boyette was taken to jail Hopkins County jail August 1 and was released from custody on a $5,000 bond on August 2, according to jail reports.
Hillcrest Drive Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Bobby Osornio reported stopping a southbound white Ford Escape around 2:30 a.m. Monday, August 3, 2020, on Hillcrest Drive near County Road 1100 for a defective headlight.
A records check showed the passenger, Cole William Peterson, to have an outstanding warrant. Consequently, the 20-year-old Cumby man was arrested on the unauthorized use of a vehicle charge. The offense, according to arrest reports, is alleged to have occurred on July 8, 2020, according to arrest reports.
Peterson remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, Aug. 3. Bond was set at $5,000 on the unauthorized use of a vehicle 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.
Sulphur Springs Man Accused Of Aggravated Robbery
Sulphur Springs Police arrested a 28-year-old Sulphur Springs man accused of aggravated robbery, according to arrest reports.
Officer Sean Hoffman reported seeing Lucas Wayne Williams in the passenger seat of a blue Hyundai SUV Sunday morning. Aware of the warrant for his arrest, police conducted a traffic stop on Lee Street, and after positively identifying him, took Williams into around 9:30 a.m. Aug. 2 on aggravated robbery warrant.
The charge stems from a July 3 incident on Van Sickle Street. Williams allegedly got into an altercation with a male family member who is hearing paired.
Williams is accused of exhibiting a knife. The male family member allegedly sustained a small laceration on the arm during the disturbance. He also allegedly struck the other man in the head and took money from him. The family member fled the residence to get away from Williams.
Police reportedly encountered Williams on July 4 regarding another matter, and asked him about the disturbance. Williams reportedly denied involvement in an altercation with the other man and claimed he pays his sister rent to stay in a room at the residence.
Williams remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning, Aug. 3, 2020. Bond on the aggravated robbery charge was set at $50,000.
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.
Hopkins County COVID-19 Update: 2 New Cases On August 2, 56 Active
Two new positive COVID-19 cases and no additional patient recoveries were reported for Hopkins County at 5 p.m. Sunday, August 2nd, after one day in which no new cases were reported.
Seven patients were also reported to be in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs on August 2. No other information was known of the patients in the CMFH-SS COVID-19 unit at this time.
Of the 154 Hopkins County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-March, 98 have recovered, leaving 56 active cases of COVID-19 in Hopkins County on August 2nd.
When Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services Commission last updated their COVID-19 fatality data dashboard at 3.20 p.m. Aug. 1, it still showed 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 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.
DSHS on July 30 reported a manual check revealed an “automation error” Wednesday, which caused 229 fatalities that did not list COVID-19 as the direct cause of death to be counted in the state data. This follows DSHS’ shift in the way COVID-19 deaths are determined; death certificate data is now used to count fatalities as of Monday.
The Aug. 1 report stated that the cumulative fatality counts for July 27-29 were corrected, but DHSH reports numbers could rise as more death certificates are filed daily across the state. No new data was posted Aug. 2 on the DSHS/HHS COVID-19 dashboard “due to a scheduled upgrade to the system that processes electronic lab reports.” Sunday’s data will be posted along with Monday’s data in the files on the “Additional Data tab” at the bottom of the COVID-19 dashboard.
HHS’ COVID-19 page also continues to show only one worker at one Sulphur Springs nursing home facility as having tested positive for COVID-19 as of July 17; that was an active case on July 13 and continued to be an active case on July 17, according to the HHS report. All data in this report is 2 weeks behind so that information self-reported by these facilities can be entered and error-checked.
No nursing home or assisted living facility in Hopkins County has reported having any residents test positive for COVID-19 either in the past or through July 17, according to the HHS reports. Data for nursing homes and assisted living facilities will only be posted Monday-Friday.
Those who check the DSHS/HHS site regularly for case counts will want to note DSHS will not be posting any new data on the COVID-19 dashboard on Sunday, Aug. 2, “due to a scheduled upgrade to the system that processes electronic lab reports.” The upgrade should “enable incoming lab results to be processed faster and maintain compatibility with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Sunday’s data will be posted along with Monday’s data in the files on the “Additional Data tab” at the bottom of the COVID-19 dashboard.
Aug. 3-7 Meal A Day Menu
Although the Senior Citizens Center continues to be closed due to COVID-19, Meal A Day volunteers continue to work five days a week preparing and delivering meals to shut-in elderly in the community. The Aug. 3-7, 2020, Meal A Day menu for includes:
Monday – Spaghetti and Meatballs, English Peas and Garlic Toast
Tuesday – Smoked Pork Ribs, Mashed Potatoes, Baked Beans and a Roll
Wednesday – Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and a Roll
Thursday – Ham and Potato Casserole, Carrots and Mixed Vegetables
Friday – Salad Plate: Chicken Salad, Pasta Salad, Potato Salad, Tossed Salad, Fruit Salad and Crackers
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
