Learn the Pioneer Skill of Dutch Oven Cooking! Sign Up Now for Sept. 12 Class
The annual class for Dutch Oven cooks is on target for Autumn 2020. Organizer Rick Wilson announces that the class will be held on Saturday September 12, 2020 from 8am til 12 noon at it’s traditional location inside Heritage Park at 416 Jackson Street in Sulphur Springs. Masks will be worn and cooking sites will be set up on social distance guidelines.
Cost to sign up for the John Chester Dutch Oven Cooking Class is $15 person. The class will be taught by Wilson and by veteran outdoor cook Carlie Penson. You can attend the class individually or bring along a cooking partner. You will learn how to use the various dutch oven utensils and will learn how to manage the fire and cooking area, as well as fire safety measures. You will learn about the types of foods which can be prepared in Dutch Ovens, from breads to meats and vegetables to desserts. You will also learn how to regulate the heat on these ovens for the best cooking results. Although you can bring your own Dutch Oven cooking ware, there will be utensils available for you to use while you learn. Students will not need to bring any food items, as everything for the class will be provided. All the sites will prepare a few basic recipes, and a lunch will be spread from the foods which have been prepared during the class. Cost to enjoy the lunch is included in the $15 registration fee. Dress causal, as you will be cooking in an outdoor campsite environment. There will also be door prizes.
According to Wilson, if you have questions about Dutch Oven equipment which you own, you can ask him about this or bring photos to show him. The annual class was begun a number of years ago and has started many individuals off with this fascinating hobby. And, no one is ever too expert that they can’t learn something new or brush up on their cooking skills. During his lifetime, award-winning cook John Chester was a major influence on keeping the art of Dutch Oven cooking strong locally, because he practiced it year-round. He invited people from far and near to enjoy the cooking at his campsite, wherever he was set up, in Hopkins or in surrounding counties. Wilson began the John Chester Cooking Class after John passed away, and teaches this valuable ‘pioneer’ skill to all ages. To sign up or with questions, contact Rick Wilson at 903-335-2752 or Carlie Penson at 903-383-2648. Or you can mail your entry to Wilson at 140 Clayton Road, Sulphur Springs, Tx 75482.
Trees, Lawns Beginning To Feel Impact Of Hot, Dry Summer
By Mario Villarino, DVM, Ph.D. Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
It has been a hot and dry summer. It only takes a short trip to the countryside to see the impact of the lack of water in crops and pastures. Urban settings show the impact although because of irrigation, the severity is less evident.
According to Dr. Calvin Finch, former Texas A&M Urban Water Program Director for the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, summer is common for shade trees to drop leaves. Prepare to see even more as trees that put on heavy leaf loads in response to the generous rains received during winter and spring, adjust their foliar load to a level that can be supported in the current dry spell.
Adjusting leaf load to match available soil moisture is a survival mechanism practiced by well adapted trees. Some of the leaves that drop will have leaf spots, galls and be discolored, but that is just all part of the process.
Sometime before the leaves actually drop, the tree cuts off nutrients and discontinues its defense efforts for the leaves that are being dropped. The pests take advantage. A special irrigation application won’t hurt the trees dropping leaves but it probably won’t be enough to prevent the leaf drop. Applying fertilizer will not help, so save it for next spring. The affected trees will recover.
Lawns also suffer the impact of the heat. Sadly enough, even with proper irrigation, the impact of high temperatures causes stress in lawns making them more susceptible to disease.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topics please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Como-Pickton, Sulphur Bluff Schools Report 1 Student COVID-19 Case
Second Coronavirus Case Reported At Cumby ISD
At least five school districts in Hopkins County have report a confirmed COVID-19 case among either a student or staff member. Como-Pickton CISD and Sulphur Bluff ISD Monday were the latest to join that list, and Cumby ISD has reported a second student case of COVID-19.
Sulphur Bluff ISD
On Aug. 24, Sulphur Bluff ISD Superintendent Dustin Carr posted a letter notifying the “Sulphur Bluff Bear Family” that one student who had been on campus had tested positive for COVID-19. The district was notified Monday afternoon. The student was last reported to have been on campus on Friday, Aug. 21.
According to Carr, “the local health department has begun a case investigation and along with our Principals will contact any individuals determined to be in close contact with the positive tested student. Those that were in close contact will remain off campus for up to 14 days to ensure they do not have the virus and reduce the chance of spread.”
Carr reports that the SBISD “custodial staff are conducting additional cleaning and sanitizing this evening to ensure all areas of instruction are safe for return of students.”
Families are asked to continue to watch for potential COVID-19 symptoms and self-screen daily before returning to school. Anyone exhibiting symptoms is encouraged to let the school know and contact their physician.
Questions or concerns may be addressed by calling 903-945-2560.
Como-Pickton CISD
CPCISD Superintendent Greg Bower Monday afternoon, Aug. 24, reported the district was notified Sunday night that one high school student has tested positive for COVID-19.
“Though the student has not been in attendance at school since August 18th, we began contacting parents of students who we believe to have been in ‘close contact’ with the student within the last several days of his attendance. We have already contacted those parents and sent them home for self-quarantine. We believe that the exposure was limited and that the rest of our students are safe to remain at school,” Dr. Bower wrote in a letter written to the “Como-Pickton CISD Family.”
The school maintenance and custodial staff “are doing extensive cleaning and sanitizing of all areas of the campus to make sure that we are providing a safe place for our students to learn,” the letter posted around 3 p.m. Aug. 24 stated.
CPCISD parents are asked to continue daily self-screening of their children before sending them to school. If they are displaying any of the COVID-19 symptoms, parents are asked not to send the child to school but to consult a physician.
Any who feels they may have been exposed to COVID-19 visit are encouraged to go online to GoGetTested.com to register for a free oral COVID-19 test. Tests are being conducted at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the next week.
School related questions may be directed to the child’s campus principal at 903-488-3671.
Cumby ISD
Cumby ISD was the first district to official announce a confirmed case for the district.
Students were told Aug. 10 that athletic practices and activities had been canceled until Aug. 24 due to reports of symptoms among players at practice. On Aug. 11, Superintendent Shelly Slaughter reported one Cumby ISD student who was on campus on Aug. 7 had received a lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 result. Notification about the positive test was posted on the district website and sent to CISD families. That high school student is expected to return to campus on Aug. 24, provided the youth recovers on schedule.
The district is now reporting that another high school student has tested positive for COVID-19. The student tested positive on Aug. 20 and expected to return to campus Sept. 2, provide the students recovers on schedule.
Slaughter reports school officials are closely monitoring cases of COVID-19 and all recommendations to keep our students and staff safe are being followed.
Concerns or questions regarding Cumby ISD health protocols may be directed to school Nurse Juliana Osornio, [email protected] or 903243-7077.
Sulphur Springs ISD
Sulphur Springs ISD Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams Friday, Aug. 14, confirmed five district staff have tested positive for coronavirus since March. One staff member was on campus before finding out the individual had it earlier that week.
SSISD implemented the COVID-10 mitigation plan protocols upon notification, including cleaning areas where the infected staff member was at. SSISD is also working closely with the LHA to track, trace and appropriately respond to the situation per recommended guidelines and school policy.
For four of the five individuals who have been exposed to or had COVID-19, the virus is “in the their rear view mirror.”
Williams said all recommended and potential steps are taken to minimize potential spread of COVID-19 at SSISD schools, including frequent sanitizing, cleaning, hand-washing, masks and social distancing.
SSISD’s 10-page COVID-19 mitigation plan, accessible from the main page of the district website (www.ssisd.net), outlines procedures if someone is exposed to, tests positive for or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, as well as the procedures for notification and criteria which must be met in order to be allowed to return to school.
Saltillo ISD
Saltillo ISD administrators, on Thursday, Aug. 13, on the district website reported they’d received notified on Aug. 12, that a district employee had tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the Saltillo ISD release, the employee who tested positive last worked on the Saltillo ISD campus on Aug. 6. The employee did not have contact with students or non-district employees while on campus.
The area in which the employee worked was deeply sanitized.
“The District continues to monitor this situation and will provide additional information as needed. We hope for a successful recovery for our Saltillo I.S.D. staff member,” Saltillo ISD administrators noted in the post.
COVID-19 Update: 4 Deaths, 4 New Cases, 40 Active Cases Reported Aug. 24 For Hopkins County
After two days without any COVID-19 updates, Hopkins County Emergency Management officials, along with the Local Health Authority nurse, Monday not only reported on new cases, but that the state dashboard will be the official record for COVID-19 deaths in Hopkins County.
Local Case Reports
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom at 5 p.m. Aug. 24 announced 4 new positive COVID-19 cases, which increases the number of active cases among Hopkins County residents to 40. There were no new recoveries since the last update on Aug. 21.
Two patients were also reported to be in the COVID-19 unit at at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs on Aug. 24. That’s four fewer patients in the COVID-19 unit than were reported on Aug. 21.
That’s 81 new positive cases and 94 recoveries so far this month, that’s 8 more cases and 68 more recoveries for the first 24 days of August than the first 24 days of July.
Overall, that brings the cumulative total to 233 positive COVID-19 cases and 193 recoveries reported for Hopkins County since midMarch.
COVID-19 Death Reporting
Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Coordinator/Police Chief Jason Ricketson Aug. 24 said the information reported on the Texas Department of State Health Services COVID-19 dashboard is the official source for COVID-19 death reports, including for Hopkins County.
Ricketson said that local officials have been in contact with state officials over the last month, trying to figure out where DSHS is getting the information posted on the DSHS dashboard regarding Hopkins County deaths, which they have not been notified of. They were told the state will not be notifying counties of COVID-19 deaths.
Information on the dashboard comes straight from death certificates. Death certificates are sent to the Vital Statistics in Austin, and are then imported by the state onto the DSHS COVID-19 dashboard.
Local officials said they were told that COVID-19 information is not to be released unless it official, and it’s not official unless it comes from the state.
“We can’t officially report anything unless DSHS notifies us of it. They will not notify us of the deaths,” LHA Nurse Brynn Smith said.
Even if a family were to share death certificate information with local authorities regarding a COVID-19 death, officials said, releasing that information would not be a fair or accurate count, as they still would not have information on any other deaths.
“The only way to be consistently clear in reporting numbers is what the dashboard has,” Smith said.
The DSHS dashboard, the official source for COVID-19 death records, on Monday reported 4 deaths of Hopkins County residents. That’s one more death that was reported over the weekend for Hopkins County. According to the “Fatalities over time by county link” in the Additional information page within DSHS COVID-19 dashboard, the Hopkins County deaths occurred on July 17, July 23, Aug. 2 and Aug. 4.
Nursing, Assisted Living Facilities
Texas Health and Human Services Commission reported no active cases in the nursing facilities in Sulphur Springs as of Aug. 10. One of the four facility has, in the past, had three employees who tested positive for COVID-19, but those cases were no longer active on Aug. 10. There have been no nursing home residents in Sulphur Springs who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the state data.
One assisted living facility in Sulphur Springs on Aug. 10 continued to have three active cases among employees and had seven active cases among residents, according to the Aug. 24 HHSC report. One patient also has recovered from COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 8 resident and three employees from the facility who have tested positive for COIVD-19 cases. The three employee cases and six resident cases were first reported as active on Aug. 4, another patient had tested positive for COVID-19 on Aug. 6.
Data for nursing and assisted living facilities is typically 2 weeks behind. It is self-reported by facility staff to HHSC, and is then reviewed for data entry and transcription errors. HHSC investigates every assisted living facility that reports a COVID-positive case for compliance with health and safety regulations. Data on any resident after discharge from a facility would not be reflected in the state report, according to HHSC.
Child Care Centers
Texas health and Human Services reported there were no active cases among the four child care facilities in Hopkins County as of Aug. 23. Two of the facilities have reported one employee who has tested positive for COVID-19 since March. One of the facilities has had two employees test positive since March. The fourth facility has had one enrolled student and one employee test positive for COIVD-19 since March, according to the HHSC report.
This state report includes only data licensed child care centers, school-age programs, and before or after-school programs had self-reported to Texas Health and Human Services Commission as of Aug. 23
Free Testing Offered At Civic Center
Free oral COVID-19 testing will continue to be offered at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center to anyone. Symptoms are not required in order to be tested. Children can be tested, provided they are accompanied by an adult.
Those testing are asked to register online at GoGetTested.com prior to arrival.
Testing began Thursday afternoon, continued Friday and Saturday, and is expected to continue to be offered at the Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Sunday for another week.
Wildcats Team Tennis Is Currently Girls Strong With Guys Rebuilding
The extra skills and conditioning work that the UIL allowed for team tennis after delaying the start of the season five weeks is benefiting Wildcats Team Tennis Coach Tony Martinez. He currently finds himself with a team with a strong returning cast of girls players, but a boys side in need of some rebuilding due to heavy graduation losses.
Coach Martinez says he has 7 or 8 returning girls but currently only 5 guys. A typical team tennis match requires six of each. If that does not change, Coach Martinez says, he will have to forfeit two points per match. He is in need of a boy for #6 singles and for the #3 boys doubles team. Coach Martinez says he hopes to identify the extra boys player he needs to avoid forfeits.
He says this year’s team tennis squad should be competitive again. The team is expected to have their first official practice on Labor Day and then open the season at home in a district match against Mount Pleasant on September 8.
Disturbance Report Results In Warrant Arrest
A disturbance report resulted in a warrant arrest early Sunday morning, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Chad Norris contacted a 56-year-old Sulphur Springs man on West Spence Street while on a disturbance call. A records check showed an outstanding warrant for George Edward Stribling‘s arrest.
Stribling was taken into custody at 1:36 a.m. August 23 on the warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for sex offender failure in duty to register. The offense is alleged to have occurred on August 21.
Stribling remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, August 24, on the charge. The arrest marked the second time in the last year that he has been jailed locally; he spent December 30, 2019 through February 6, 2020 in custody for violation of parole, 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.
2 Sulphur Springs Residents Accused Of Controlled Substance Possession
Two Sulphur Springs residents accused of controlled substance possession were arrested over the weekend by deputies in separate incidents.
Industrial Drive Narcotics Tip
A tip of suspected narcotic activity resulted in Jimmy Ray Emeyabbi’s arrest on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and a possession of drug paraphernalia charge early Monday morning, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tanner Steward and Deputy Chris Baumann went to a business in the 1400 block of East Industrial Drive, following up on information received on suspected narcotic usage at the location. Deputies contacted Emeyabbi at the room in question. When asked, the 39-year-old Sulphur Springs man allegedly admitted to having a small amount of marijuana in the room and agreed to let the deputies enter with him to retrieve it.
While in the room, Emeyabbi presented with the deputies with other drug paraphernalia and digital scales, and agreed to let the deputies search the room for contraband, Steward alleged in arrest reports. Two small baggies containing a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine were found in a safe in the room. Consequently, Emeyabbie was taken into custody at 3:51 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, on controlled substance and drug paraphernalia possession charges.
The substance in the two baggies field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 4.024 grams, including packaging, and the marijuana weighed 0.2331 ounce, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Emeyabbi remained in Hopkins County jail late Monday morning, Aug. 24. Bond on the second-degree felony controlled substance charge was set at $20,000, according to jail reports.
Gilmer Street Traffic Stop
Deputies Steward and Baumann also arrested Jose Campos-Trejo at 11:18 p.m. Aug. 22 on Gilmer Street for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports.
Deputies reported conducting a traffic stop on a Toyota SUV, driven by the 17-year-old, who they recognized as an individual who did not have a valid driver’s license.
They reported the teen to be making furtive movements as they approached the vehicle. He reportedly contacted someone on the phone to help translate. He agreed to a search of the vehicle.
A search allegedly revealed a glass pipe of the kind commonly used to smoke methamphetamine in the console, a wallet with his ID in the back seat and a small bag containing a crystal-like substance the deputies suspected to be methamphetamine, according to arrest reports. The substance field-tested positive for meth and weighed 0.98 grams, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Campos-Trejo was released from Hopkins County jail Aug. 23, on a $5,000 bond on the felony controlled substance charge. The arrest marked the second time in four months he was jailed on the charge. He was also jailed May 7 for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, 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.
State Highway 11 Crash Report Results In Winnsboro Man’s Arrest On DWI Charge
A State Highway 11 crash report resulted in a 54-year-old Winnsboro man’s arrested on a felony DWI charge Saturday night, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper and Hopkins County firefighters were dispatched at 8 p.m. August 22 to a vehicle crash on State Highway 11 east. The site was west of the railroad tracks near County Road 2408. One caller reported a vehicle had gone off the highway into trees. Another caller told dispatchers a truck hit a tree in the ditch. The person was reported to be walking away from the crash site, according to sheriff’s reports.
Upon arrival at the State Highway 11 crash site, DPS Trooper Chris Sorley reported finding a red GMC Sierra in a group of trees. The alleged driver, identified in arrest reports as 54-year-old Sedric Wayne Byrd of Winnsboro, was contacted.
Byrd allegedly admitted to consuming one beer earlier in the day Saturday. Sorley administered standard field sobriety tests to Byrd, with results showing Byrd to be intoxicated, the trooper noted in arrest reports.
Byrd was take into custody for driving while intoxicated, a felony offense as it marked at least the second time he has been booked into Hopkins County jail on a third or more DWI charge, according to jail and arrest reports. Jail reports show he was previously spent Sept. 16-18, 2013, in Hopkins County jail on a third or more DWI charge.
The 54-year-old Winnsboro man was released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, August 23, on a $10,000 bond on the latest felony DWI charge, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Clearance Rate Remains High, Even With Increases In 5 of 9 Major Offense Categories
The Hopkins County clearance rate for all offenses recorded Jan. 1-June 30, 2020 by sheriff’s officers was 94.87 percent, which includes the 9 major offense reporting categories, crimes against children, drug and other offenses.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office typically provides data regarding the nine major crime reporting categories, as do most departments. However, this year, in addition to the traditional statistics, information was also provided about other offense categories to provide a more complete picture of crime reported to and cases worked by HCSO.
9 Major Reporting Categories
The HCSO clearance rate for the nine major offense reporting categories was 88.23 percent during the first 6 months of 2020, despite an overall increase in the nine major offense reporting categories. Offenses increased in 5 categories, declined in 1 category and was unchanged in three offense categories. the overall total was still the third lowest in 20 years.
Twenty-two more offenses were reported in the 9 traditional reporting categories during the first 6 months of 2020 than the 20-year record low of 47 offenses reported Jan. 1-June 30, 2019. That’s just three more offenses reported from Jan. 1-June 30, 2020, than the 66 offenses reported for the same period in 2018.
The 69 cases reported in the first half of 2020 is still less than a third of the record high of 214 offenses reported during the first six months of 2001, 6-months in which only 132 cases were cleared (61.58 percent). In only one other year were there more than 200 offenses in the 9 categories, 204 in 2004, a year in which only 116 cases (56.86 percent) were cleared. The offense total in the 9 major crime reporting categories has only risen over 100 twice since 2010: 105 offenses in 2011 and 102 offenses in 2015.
Overall, 62 of the 69 offenses recorded by HCSO were cleared. That’s the first time in five years the Jan.1-June 30 clearance rate has been less than 90 percent. The clearance rate has remained above 80 percent since 2012, a year in which 98 cases were reported and 81 cases were cleared.
“When it looks like offenses are down and clearance rates are up, it’s because officers are working twice as hard to keep the numbers down,” Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum said.
Tatum and HCSO Chief Deputy Corley Weatherford attributed the low crime rate in the 9 major reporting categories and high clearance rates to the deputies’ commitment and diligence to “proactive policing” to keep the county and its citizens protected. The deputies’ presence while patrolling in all areas of the county, stopping people when they see infractions, making contact with individuals and residents, serves as a deterrent for some criminal activity.
Tatum commended the proactive work of the deputies as well as the other county employees and citizens. Even precinct workers and mail carriers are alert, calling in if they drive up on or see something potentially suspicious. Jail staff remain alert.
Citizens also play a role. They assist HCSO by keeping an eye out for their neighbors, reporting activity that appears suspicious, and getting license plate numbers and other vehicle descriptions when a vehicle is involved, sheriff noted.
“We want them to continue to do that. It takes everybody working together,” Tatum said. “There are not enough of us to do it by ourselves. The citizens in the community do their part and help out. Everybody helps out.”
Proactive policing has made a huge difference in over the last 10 years in reducing the number of burglaries and thefts reported in Hopkins County, according to the HCSO officials,
Burglaries have continued to drop significantly over the last 20 years, to the point the 2020 total is only about 1/10th the total reported during the first 6 months of 2001. HCSO reported 68 burglaries in 2001, almost as many burglaries as the total for all 9 categories in 2020.. The 6-month burglary total has remained below 50 since 2003. During the first half of each year since 2007, there have been less than 40 burglaries. For 5 years, there have been less than 20 burglary cases recorded by HCSO during the first half of the year. A new Jan. 1-June 30 record low of 7 burglary cases was set in 2020, down two from the previous record low set in 2019. Of the 7 cases 6 were cleared, for an overall burglary clearance rate of 85.71 during the first half of 2020.
From Jan. 1 to June 30 of 2020, HCSO made reports for 17 thefts, 12 of which were cleared (70.58 percent). While that’s nearly twice the record low of 9 theft or larceny cases reported by HCSO during the first half 2019, the 17 thefts reported in 2020 is still 75 percent less than the 68 reported in 2001 and the 20-year record high of 70 thefts reported in 2004.
Two murders were reported and two cleared during the first half of 2020, the same as in 2018. This is another category that typically has few if any offenses recorded. Only during the first half of 2004, 2009 and 2011 were any murders recorded, and only one in each.
Three sexual assaults were reported during the first half of 2020, but one attempted sexual assault report was determined to be unfounded, reducing the total two. That’s up from 2019, when only one sexual assault was reported to sheriff’s officers. This is another category that typically has few, if any cases. The most sexual assaults reported during the first half of the year was 6 in 2005, and repeated in 2008, 2011 and 2018. There were 3 sexual assaults reported in 2009; two each in 2003, 2013, and 2017; and one sexual assault report made in 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2019. These cases do not include offenses in which the alleged victim is a child. The 2020 clearance rate for this category, as well as all categories involving violent crimes against people, was 100 percent.
There were 20 simple assaults reported during the first half of 2020, the same as in 2015 and five more than in 2019. That’s still only about one-third of the record high of 58 simple assault offenses recorded in 2001. This category didn’t drop below 50 until 2005, but has remained below 30 since 2011.
Nine aggravated assaults were reported during the first half of 2020, the same as in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019. The least number of aggravated assaults was one in 2010. In only two of the last 20 years have more than 20 aggravated assaults been reported during the first half of the year: 27 in 2004 and the record high of 30 in 2008.
There were no robberies and no arson cases in 2020. Rarely are any offenses recorded in either category. In only five of the last 20 years have any arson cases been reported during the first 6 months of the year: three in 2003; two each in 2012, 2015 and 2018; and one arson case in 2016. Only six times since 2001 have any robberies been reported for Hopkins County during the half of the year, and none in the last 6 years: two robberies in 2011 and one robbery each in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2014.
HCSO made 12 unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (vehicle theft) offense reports, and cleared 10 UUMV cases in 2020, for an overall clearance rate of 83.33 percent. That’s 8 more UUMV cases recorded in 2020 than the first half of 2019, when the 20-year low was set, but still 4 less than the record high of 16 UUMV cases reported in 2008.
The unauthorized use of motor vehicle category includes all stolen vehicle reports made by deputies, but does not necessarily mean the auto was stolen from Hopkins County. An UUMV report would also be made for vehicles stolen from another county that were recovered in Hopkins County during a traffic stop or other interaction with the driver. For instance, a Hunt County investigator working near the Hunt-Hopkins County line on more than one occasion has received confirmation from a license plate reader that a vehicle traveling west on I-30 was stolen for another county. He radioed officials in Hopkins County, where the vehicle is stopped and recovered, and an arrest is made. An UUMV report would be made in Hopkins County, where an unauthorized person was caught in the stolen vehicle.
Overall Offenses
While those 9 offense categories are the most reported offenses, they are by no means a complete picture of HCSO’s total case load. In fact, they only account for about 30 percent of the overall offense reports taken by HCSO officers during the first half of 2020.
“It’s important to let people know what’s going on in Hopkins County,” Tatum said. “These categories don’t include child pornography or other crimes against children or drug cases.”
In an effort to provide a more complete report, HCSO is providing information about other reportable offenses from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2020, with the exception of DWI, which are recorded differently.
Overall, HCSO made 234 case reports and cleared 222 of those cases from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2020, for an overall clearance rate of 94.87 percent for Hopkins County. (This includes only offenses reported to HCSO, but does not include offenses for cities that have their own police department and are required annually to report case information to the state.)
Of the 234 offenses recorded by HCSO officers, 23 offenses (almost 10 percent) were for crimes against children: five indecency with a child cases, five sexual assault of a child cases, two sexual performance by a child cases, six possession or promotion of child pornography cases, four abandoning or endangering a child-criminal negligence cases and one online solicitation of a minor case. Of those cases, one indecency case was determined to be unfounded. The clearance rate for this category was 100 percent.
Tatum said some of these cases have increased since 2014 due mostly to the specialized training Weatherford received and specialized lab which helps detect certain online offenses as well as with the forensic investigation of devices when certain crimes such as online pornography or solicitation offenses are alleged.
Hopkins County also made 88 controlled substance, marijuana, drug and other related offense reports during the first 6 months of 2020. That’s nearly 38 percent of all offense reports made from Jan. 1-June 30, 2020, according to the HCSO data. There were 79 possession of a controlled substance cases, three manufacture or delivery of controlled substance cases, four possession of marijuana cases, two possession of dangerous drug cases and four tampering with evidence cases.
Five burglary of a motor vehicle offenses were reported, but only two of those cases were cleared. All four of the evading arrest or detention cases reported during the first half of 2020 were cleared.
Categories with three offense reports each included criminal mischief, failure to register as a sex offender or failure to comply with terms of sex offender registration, fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, terroristic threat and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. All of these cases, except for one criminal mischief case, were cleared.
Offense categories in which HCSO officers made 1-2 case reports each included criminal instrument, criminal trespass, deadly conduct, drug test falsification/classification, false report, forgery, harassment, interference with duties, obstruction/retaliation, repeated violation, resisting arrest and unlawful carrying of a weapon
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.
Blackmon Selected As New Assistant District Attorney
Aug 23, 2020 – Zack Blackmon is excited to be back home working in and serving the community where he grew up. He was sworn in on Thursday, Aug. 13, as an assistant district attorney in the 8th Judicial District.
Sulphur Springs is home to Blackmon. He graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 2013, then went to Texas Tech University. He earned his undergraduate degree in 2016 from Texas Tech, then attended Texas Tech School of Law.
While at Texas Tech, he reportedly served as vice chair of trial advocacy, ran the law school’s intramural mock trial competitions and was an advocate for the school’s traveling mock trial team
During his summer and winter breaks, from May 2016 through August 2017, Zach Blackmon interned at Roper and White Attorneys at Law. From May 2018 through August 2018, he interned at Gordon Davis Johnson & Shane PC in the El Paso area.
Blackmon earned his Juris Doctor degree from Texas Tech University School Of Law in 2019, then spent a year working for Gordon Davis Johnson & Shane in the El Paso area in business and commercial litigation.
The new assistant district attorney said while he enjoyed his work in El Paso, he wanted to return to the Northeast Texas area and Sulphur Springs. He reached out to contacts in the area and was put in contact with District Attorney Will Ramsay as well. He said when talking with Ramsay, he really liked the district attorney’s philosophy.
He’s excited to work at the district attorney’s office, where he too will strive to achieve justice, which doesn’t necessarily fit into one model, while protecting citizens, whether that means a case is resolved with a conviction, a trial, probation, time or other disposition.
ADA Blackmon acknowledged that the criminal prosecutor’s office is different from the mostly civil litigation he practiced over the last year. At the DA’s office he’ll be handling felony criminal cases.
“I’m learning a lot about criminal procedure,” Blackmon said, after nearly a week in office.
He is able to draw on his previous experience in the courtroom in his work at the district attorney’s office. He knows the basics of law, how to look at the facts and research, but his knew job will require some adjustments, including learning more about the particulars of criminal law such as enhancements for specific offenses.
Blackmon said he is glad to be back in his hometown, excited to be able to give back to the community where he grew up by helping people and businesses through his work at the district attorney’s office. He also appreciates being close enough to spend more time with his family, which includes parents Michelle and Randy Blackmon.
