City Facility Reservation, Use Policy On July 7 Council Agenda
The regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will once again be conducted via teleconference at 7 p.m. July 7, 2020. A recording of the meetting will be available for the general public to view on Youtube. These measures are due to COVID-19 precautions and restrictions. The July 7 agenda, in addition to the regular administrative reports and consent agenda, includes three resolutions, including one which would impact city facility reservation and use.
One of the resolution would approve a 2020 Texas Capital Fund Downtown Revitalization Program Administrative Services Selection.
Another will establish a facility reservation and use policy, and designate certain city facilities available for private use. This follows the City Council’s approval at the regular June meeting for a deposit and rental fee, plus the $65 cleaning fee, for any events scheduled after the meeting; and the $65 sanitation fee to cover the extra sanitation measures taken due to COVID-19 for all events to be held from June 2 moving forward in the Council Chambers.
City Manager Marc Maxwell at the June 2 council meeting said if the council agreed to the fee, city staff would work up a policy that would cover things like use by nonprofits, security and long term versus hourly usage. A policy is now being presented to the council at their next council meeting.
City staff will also ask the City Council to consider authorizing the establishment of a small business assistance program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the City Council streamed meetings, a phone number will be provided to allow community members to speak to the council where allowed.
Click this link provided for the council meeting. It may also be found on the agenda, accessible on the city website or by searching City of Sulphur Springs Meetings on Youtube.
Tyler Man Jailed On Warrants
Hopkins County TX – July 7, 2020 – A 38-year-old Tyler man was jailed Sunday on two warrants.
Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputy Jason Lavender, just before 10 a.m. July 5, 2020, reported stopping a blue and black sport bike that did not display a license plate. The bike was traveling south on State Highway 19 south near Wildcat Way.
The driver, identified in arrest reports as Joshua Dan Bizzell, was found to be wanted by Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. He was transported to Hopkins Count jail and booked on the warrant for violating parole, which he was on for burglary of a habitation, Lavender alleged. He also was found to be wanted in Fannin County for insufficient bond on an assault causes bodily injury 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.
Pickton Man Allegedly Drunk At Time Of CR 2383 Crash
A 37-year-old Pickton man was allegedly drunk at the time of a CR 2383 crash. At least one other person was arrested on a misdemeanor DWI charge as well.
Felony DWI Crash
Eduardo Nunez-Hernandez was reportedly driving a green Chevrolet Silverado north, when the pickup veered off County Road 2383, struck a tree and rolled onto its top around 7 p.m. July 5, 2020.
Nunez-Hernandez left the crash site on foot and was located by officers a short distance from the crash site, Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Arturo Ugalde arrested alleged in arrest reports. The 47-year-old Pickton man allegedly admitted to driving the crashed vehicle and to consuming four beers. He allegedly showed signs of intoxication during a roadside interview and clues of intoxication during standard field sobriety tests.
He then complained of a head injury and asked to be transported to the hospital by EMS. While at the hospital Nunez Hernandez allegedly provided a voluntary blood specimen for testing. The sample was secured by medical personnel at the hospital. He was checked at the hospital and discharged by medical personnel and later released. Nunez Hernandez was taken into custody for driving while intoxicated and no driver’s license.
The Sulphur Springs man was transported to the county jail, where his criminal history showed he had three previous DWI convictions, resulting in the DWI charge being enhanced to a felony offense, according to arrest reports. He remained in custody July 5, 2020. His bond was set at $10,000 on the driving while intoxicated–third or more offense charge, according to jail reports.
Misdemeanor DWI Arrest
A DPS trooper was requested July 5, around 10:45 p.m., to assist Hopkins County sheriff‘s deputies with a possible intoxicated driver on FM 2948. While speaking to the suspect, the trooper alleged alcohol could be smelled on the 49-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s breath.
The driver allegedly admitted he had been drinking before driving. Deputies reported finding marijuana in the driver’s pocket. The man was determined by standard field sobriety tests to be intoxicated and, thus, was arrested. He reportedly voluntarily submitted to a blood draw. A search of the Toyota Scion revealed an open vodka container and a half empty beer can that was still chilled. Two unopened chilled beers and a unopened bottle of liquor were also found in the vehicle.
The 49-year-old Sulphur Springs man was released from Hopkins County jail later July 5, 2020 on $2,000 bond on the second offense DWI charge and $1,000 bond on the possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
July 6, 2020 Update: Masks Now Mandatory as 1 New COVID-19 Case Confirmed
The Hopkins County Emergency Management Team at 3:30 p.m. Monday, July 6th, reported they’d been notified of 1 more new positive COVID-19 case reported in the last 24 hours. This puts the county over the 20 case threshold meaning the mask mandate from the governor WILL be in effect in Hopkins County. The total number of cases reporting positive since the pandemic began is now 71, with 50 recoveries leaving the 21 active cases. Hopkins County will be under this new mandate for the next 30 days unless a change is made by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley and Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said as of this morning there were no COVID-19 patients at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said the new positive case did not change the regulations regarding restaurant occupancy/capacity.
No other information was known at this time about the new case.
2 Traffic Stops Resulted In 2 Controlled Substance Arrests In Sulphur Springs
Two traffic stops resulted in two controlled substance arrests in Sulphur Springs over the Independence Day weekend.
Industrial Drive Traffic Stop
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies Nick Marney and Aaron Chaney reported stopping a black Volkswagen at 1:44 a.m. July 4, 2020 on Industrial Drive near Interstate 30 mile marker 126 for a defective tail light. The driver, a 38-year-old Sulphur Springs man was taken into custody for the defective tail light violation, according to arrest reports.
Deputies alleged the passenger, identified as 45-year-old Carlotta Fiona Davis of Sulphur Springs, appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and did admit to it, resulting in her being taken into custody for public intoxication.
She was transported to the county jail, where she was found to be in possession of a crystal-like substance deputies suspected to be methamphetamine, Marney alleged in arrest reports. As a result, Davis was also charged with possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to jail reports.
Davis (who is also known as Carlotta Fiona Noyes, Carlotta Davis Noyes, Carlotta Fiene Noyes and Carlotta Fiona Noyes Davis) was released from Hopkins County jail later July 4 on a $2,000 bond on the controlled substance charge, according to jail reports. The 38-year-old Sulphur Springs man was also released from Hopkins County jail July 4, jail records show.
Interstate 30 Traffic Stop
HCSO Deputy Jason Lavender reported stopping a silver BMW just before 5 p.m. July 5 for traveling in the left lane on Interstate 30 east without passing other vehicles. The car stopped near mile marker 122.
Both occupants were identified by Texas ID card. A search of the car allegedly revealed a large shard of a white crystal-like substance in a foil wrapper in the passenger’s seat. Both the male and female were placed into handcuffs and detained pending further investigation of suspected controlled substance possession, according to arrest reports.
The woman, identified in arrest reports as 35-year-old Amanda Raedene Heath of Fort Worth, claimed the suspected methamphetamine, claimed the substance and jailed for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to jail reports.
Heath was released from Hopkins County jail July 6. Bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $5,000, 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.
Former Wildcat Triston Abron’s Mexia Team Picked To Finish Second In Their District
Former Wildcats Football Defensive Coordinator Triston Abron is having a good early career as a head coach since departing Sulphur Springs after the 2017 season to take a head coaching job at Paul Pewitt.
Coach Abron spent two seasons there and took the Brahmas to the state final game last season. Since then, he was hired as Mexia’s head coach.
The Black Cats are in a five team, District 7-4A, Division II. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine picks the Van Vandals to take the district title and Mexia is the choice at #2. The district also includes Bullard, Canton and Brownsboro.
Coach Abron selected Wildcats defensive line coach Chris Valdovinos to be his defensive coordinator.
Coach Abron has 18 returning letterman including six starters on offense and six on defense.
The Black Cats were 7-4 last year and they were an Area finalist. Texas Football says this year’s Black Cats team will have plenty of talent and senior leadership. Mexia’s offensive leader is running back Jarrell Wiley who gained 1,700 yards last season and scored 20 touchdowns. Leader of the Mexia defense is defensive back Le’Marion Miller, who had 110 tackles last season.
The 4A district 7 will have their hands full in bi-district. They are paired with District 8, which includes teams like Pleasant Grove, Gilmer and Pittsburg.
The Edge For Football Continues Brief Hiatus
The Edge conditioning program continues on hiatus this week. After taking Friday, July 3, off last week, The Edge will also be off through Wednesday this week.
The Edge for football at the SSHS Multipurpose Building will return on Thursday, July 9. There will be only 10 more sessions of The Edge, which wraps up on Friday, July 24.
Unless the UIL changes its’ mind, football practice for the Wildcats, is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 3.
Person Found Deceased In Vehicle In Sulphur Springs
A deceased person was reportedly found in a vehicle in Sulphur Springs, TX Sunday evening July 5th, 2020. Sulphur Springs Police Department was notified on Sunday between 5 and 5:30 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered. Police are not releasing any additional information pending notification of the deceased person’s next of kin, according to SSPD.
Man Arrested For Felony DWI After Nearly Striking Parked Vehicle
A 62-year-old Sulphur Springs Man was arrested for felony DWI after nearly striking a parked vehicle on Tate Street July 4, 2020 according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Victor Reyna was dispatched Saturday night to the area of Texas Street, where a suspected drunk driver was reported. Reyna reported seeing a white Chevrolet pickup make a slow, wide turn from Texas Street onto Tate Street. Reyna then saw the Silverado almost strike a parked vehicle. Reyna stopped the vehicle to conduct a welfare check, the officer alleged in arrest report.
Alcohol could be smelled on the driver’s breath and he had slow, confused speech. The driver, identified in arrest reports as Oral Weaver Anders, admitted he had left a local bar and had been consuming alcohol.
Anders was unable to complete the horizontal gaze nystagmus tests and refused to complete any remaining sobriety tests, resulting in the 62-year-old Sulphur Springs man being taken into custody and jailed around 10:15 p.m. July 4, 2020.
Anders refused to provide a breath sample for testing of alcohol content, so a search warrant was sought and obtained requiring a blood sample. The warrant was executed at 12:29 a.m. July 5 at a CHRISTUS Mother Frances laboratory. He was then transported to the sheriff’s office to be booked for driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, according to arrest reports.
He was released from Hopkins County jail later July 5 on a $10,000 bond on the felony DWI charge. Jail records show one of the prior DWI arrests occurred on Sept. 1, 1984; he was released from the county jail later that day on a $1,250 bond, according to jail reports.
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.
July 4th Baseball Tourney At Coleman Park
Triple Play Sports from Athens hosted a tournament in Sulphur Springs at Coleman Park over the July 4th weekend. More than 20 teams came to town and brought their family and friends as spectators to help stimulate the local economy. One of the local teams that participated in the tournament was East Texas Heat (11 and under).
