Hopkins County Had Lowest July 2020 Unemployment Rate In NE Texas Workforce Development Area
Texas Unemployment Rate Down Again in July, Below US Unemployment Rate
Hopkins County continued in July to have a lower unemployment rate than the state and national rates, and even below the overall 7.2 percent unemployment rate for the 9-county North East Texas Workforce Development Area (WDA) within which the county is located. In fact, Hopkins County had the lowest July 2020 unemployment rate in the entire Northeast Texas WDA.
Texas’ unemployment rate declined from 8.7 percent in June 2020 to 8.2 percent in July 2020, with a seasonably adjusted rate of 8.0 percent. The United States’ seasonably adjusted unemployment rate is 10.2 percent, down from 11.1 percent in June 2020, Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas reported Friday morning.
“July’s unemployment numbers continue to show the underlying strength of Texans and our economy,” said Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Bryan Daniel. “TWC remains committed to our goal of creating skills enhancement and career opportunities for Texans to continue to keep Texas as the top state to live and work.”
Hopkins County’s unemployment rate fell from 5.7 percent in June 2020, when 939 people out of the 16,604 labor force were unemployed, to 5.4 percent in July when 898 people out of a labor force of 16,739 were unemployed. The 5.4 percent unemployment rate is still 3.1 percent higher than in July 2019, when 575 people from the overall 17,551 labor force in Hopkins County were seeking employment, according to Labor Market Information data.
Hopkins County’s unemployment rose in March, when COVID-19 began spreading across the state, country and world, to 4.5 percent, with 784 people unemployed in March. That spike followed a steady unemployment rate of 3.2 percent in January and February. The unemployment rate in Hopkins County peaked at 8.4 percent in April, when many businesses were required to closed due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed at the state and national level. These spikes followed a steady unemployment rate of 3.2 percent in January and February.
Hopkins County’s July 2020 unemployment rate of 5.4 percent was the lowest unemployment rate in the North East Texas Workforce Development Area (WDA), as was the case in June 2020 and in July 2019.
Franklin and Delta Counties had the next lowest unemployment rates in July 2020 in the North East Texas WDA. Franklin County’s unemployment rate declined from 6.2 percent in June 2020 to 5.7 percent in July 2020, which is still 1.7 percent higher than in July 2019. Delta County’s unemployment dropped from 6.1 percent in June 2020 to 5.8 percent in July 2020, which is 2.2 percent higher than in July 2019.
In Red River County, unemployment fell from 7.3 percent in June 2020 to 6.8 percent in July 2020, up from 4.9 percent in 2019.
Around the Workforce Development Area, only one county experienced a rise in unemployment last month. Morris County’s unemployment rate rose from 12.1 percent in June 2020 to 12.4 percent in July 2020, according to LAUS data.
The Texas economy lost 12,300 private sector positions over the past month. In July, the government sector offset private employment losses, by adding 43,700 jobs. Professional and business services added 16,400 positions, and education and health services added 10,300 positions over the month, according to TWC. Texas added 31,400 non-farm positions in July.
Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit TexasLMI.com.
Annual Shared Meeting of Genealogical/Historical Societies Set Aug 27, 7pm at Heritage Park Winnifred Building
The Hopkins County Heritage Park’s new Winnifred Building will host the 2020 joint meeting of the Hopkins County Historical Society and the Hopkins County Genealogical Society, planned on Thursday August 27 at 7pm. The meeting room allows space for social distancing between guests in the new, spacious facility. Members of the Societies are encouraged to attend.
Historical Society President Rick Wilson and Society members will host the event. Everyone will be treated to a historical presentation by Paula Altenbaumer, who is a member of both Societies. She will portray an early Hopkins County business pioneer, Jenny V. Kirkpatrick Glasscock, wife of Thomas Glasscock, early owners of hotels and bath houses in the downtown district of Sulphur Springs. Best health practices will be in place to insure the safety of those attending. Wearing of masks by attendees is requested. The Winnifred Building, built through patron donations and labor supplied by members of the Historical Society, was dedicated in Spring 2019.
Deputies Arrest 3 Bogata Men For CR 2302 Burglary
Hopkins County, TX – August 21, 2020 – Deputies arrested three Bogata, TX men on burglary of a habitation charge after allegedly catching them removing items from a County Road 2302 residence without permission late Thursday night. A tip called in to law enforcement alerted sheriff’s officers to the burglary in progress.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint that people, who were not supposed to be at the CR 2303 residence, were there and were attempting to remove items from the residence. Deputy Aaron Chaney and Deputy Bobby Osornio responded.
Upon arrival, the deputies reported seeing a black Chevrolet Silverado with what appeared to be a 16-foot trailer attached to it parked in front of the residence. Deputies contacted three men at the scene.
During the course of the investigation, deputies learned that one of the men, 38-year-old Larry Carlton Johnson, had moved from the residence approximately 1 year ago and was not allowed to be at the residence anymore, Chaney noted in arrest reports. Deputies also reportedly learned the trio was attempting to remove other items from inside the residence.
A person responsible for the residence arrived on scene. Several items inside the trailer were identified as items that had been removed from the residence; the individuals did not have permission from the person affiliated with the house to remove anything.
A pat down of 60-year-old Calvin Clint Chumbley’s front jeans pocket revealed a a small bag with a crystal-like substance deputies suspected was methamphetamine.
Johnson, Calvin Chumbley and his brother, 62-year-old David McCoy Chumbley, were placed into handcuffs.
All three were read their rights, deputies reported, and agreed to talk with officers. The trio did not provide any information that lead the deputies to believe the Bogata men were not committing a burglary, thus all three were taken to jail for burglary of a habitation. Calvin Chumbley was also charged with possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, Chaney and Osornio alleged in arrest reports.
All three Bogata men remained in the county jail late Friday morning, August 21 on the CR 2302 burglary charge; bond was set at $25,000 on the felony burglary of a habitation charge. Calvin Chumbley’s bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $5,000, according to jail reports.
Jail records indicate August 20 was the second time in less than a year that Johnson has been booked into Hopkins County jail. Johnson (whose aliases include known by Larry Jones Johnson, Ray John Johnson, Carlos Donelle Johnson and Larry Dewayne Johnson) was also arrested September 19, 2019, on warrants for abandoning or endangering a child-criminal negligence and not taking care of a speeding ticket. He also was arrested June 21, 2019 on a driving while license invalid charge, according to the 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.
Five People Arrested By HCSO On Controlled Substance, Related Charges
Five people were arrested August 18-20 by deputies on controlled substance and related charges, according to sheriff’s reports.
State Highway 19 North Arrests
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Justin Wilkerson conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet 3500 pulling a white livestock trailer with an obscured license plate on the trailer at 9:22 p.m. August 18, 2020. HCSO Sgt. Tanner Steward also responded as a cover unit at the traffic stock on State Highway 19 at FM 1536.
When the driver handed Wilkerson his ID, the deputy noted in arrest reports that the man’s hand nervously shook. Both driver and passenger were asked to exit the pickup. They were patted them down for officer safety. Deputy Chris Baumann arrived as an additional cover unit. When the occupants refused the HCSO officers’ request to search the pickup, they called for Deputy Drew Fisher to bring his canine partner, Maly, to the location.
Maly reportedly gave a positive alert during an open air olfactory search of the vehicle. A probable cause search allegedly revealed a loose crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine in the driver’s side door and a piece of plastic bag of the kind commonly used to package narcotics under the passenger’s seat, Wilkerson and Steward alleged in arrest reports..
HCSO Sgt. Investigator Dennis Findley and Bo Fox, a special cattle ranger with Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, arrived to assist as well.
Wilkerson, Steward and Baumann placed into custody at 10:16 p.m. August 18 47-year-old Cody Ray Self of Sulphur Springs on a possession of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and the passenger, a 25-year-old Sulphur Springs man, on a misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia charge, according to arrest reports.
Baumann transported the passenger to jail. Wilkerson, Fox and Findley transported the truck, trailer and livestock to Self’s rural residence. The truck, trailer and animals were left at the residence. Self, who was in Wilkerson’s custody was transported to jail, where he was booked on the controlled substance charge after the crystal-like substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 0.185 gram. Self was charged with possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
Self was released from Hopkins County jail August 20; bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $5,000. The arrest marked the third time this year that Self has been in Hopkins County jail. He was also arrested February 4 for violation of probation, which he was on for a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge; Feburary. 14 after his bond was revoked on a possession of 1 gram ore more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
The 25-year-old passenger was also released from the county jail on Thursday, August 20, on the drug paraphernalia charge, according to jail reports.
South Broadway Street Traffic Stop
At 3:38 a.m. August 20, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Marney conducted a traffic stop on a Lincoln passenger car with defective license plate lights that was traveling north on South Broadway Street.
Upon contact with the driver, Marney detected a marijuana odor emitting from the vehicle. Found, under the driver’s seat in a bag the man claimed as his, was a small bag containing a baggy with a crystal-like substance the deputy believed to be methamphetamine.
23-year-old Truston Guage McDonald of Sherman was arrested for possession of less than 1 gram of Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. He remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday afternoon, August 20; bond on the charge was set at $5,000, according to jail reports.
Traffic Stop on I-30 West at Mile Marker 112
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Bobby Osornio reported stopping a red Honda Civic at 2:51 a.m. August 20 on Interstate 30 west near mile marker 112 after noticing that the car didn’t have a license plate light on.
While speaking to Osornio, 20-year-old Brady Michael Miller of Pengram, Tennessee appeared to the deputy to be nervous and was frantically searching for his driver’s license and playing with his thumbs, the deputy wrote in arrest reports. Osornio reported the man, when asked, denied that there was anything illegal in the car and gave the deputy permission to search the car.
Osornio alleged a green substance inside of clear pill capsules which he believed to be mushrooms, edible brownies, a green leafy substance he believed to be marijuana and two fake driver’s licenses were found during the vehicle search. When asked about the pills, the man admitted they were mushrooms, marijuana Osornio alleged in arrest reports.
HCSO Sgt. Scott Davis and Deputy Aaron Chaney arrived to assist. Davis searched but reportedly found no further contraband in the vehicle. Chaney inventoried the vehicle so it could be impounded. Osornio transported Miller to Hopkins County jail.
Miller remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday evening, August 20. His bond was set at $35,000 each on two possession of 4 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance charges, $5,000 on a possession of more than 4 ounces but less than 4 pounds of marijuana charge and $5,000 on a fraudulent use or possession of identifying information charge, according to jail reports.
Courthouse Arrest
Rosemary Boone Springer, 64, of Sulphur Springs was taken into custody at 12:30 p.m. August 19, at Hopkins County District Courthouse.
She was scheduled to appear during the 9 a.m. court session in the 8th Judicial District Court for pretrial hearings on two possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, offenses alleged to have occurred on August 13, 2019 and October 6, 2019. She was taken into custody after having her bond revoked on both charges, according to court and arrest reports. Deputy Elijah Fite took her into custody at the courthouse and transported her to jail, where she remained Thursday, August 20, according to arrest and jail reports.
August 19 marked the third time Springer has been in jail this year. She was jailed February 10 for surety off bond one possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and June 27 on a warrant 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.
Aug. 20 Hopkins County COVID-19 Update: 5 New Cases, 32 Active Cases
HHS Reports COVID-19 Cases Among Employees, Residents At Local Assisted Living Facility
After two days without reports of any new positive COVID-19 cases, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom at 5 p.m. Aug. 20 announced 5 new positive COVID-19 cases have been reported for Hopkins County. That increasing the total number of active cases in Hopkins County to 32. There were no new recoveries to report on Aug. 20.
There have been 73 new cases and 94 recoveries reported through Aug. 20. That’s 12 more cases and 72 more recoveries than on the July 20, and 16 fewer cases and 46 more recoveries than were reported during the whole month of July.
Since midMarch, the total number of COVID-19 cases reported in Hopkins County is 225, and total recoveries is 193 recoveries.
Officials reported there were 5 patients in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs on Aug. 20. That’s two more than were reported on Aug. 17, the last day local emergency management officials reported any new cases, two still two less than reported on Aug. 2, Aug. 13 and Aug. 15.
State Reports For Hopkins County
Texas Department of State Health Services‘ COVID-19 dashboard on Aug. 20 continues to show three COVID-19 deaths for Hopkins County, on July 17, July 23 and Aug. 2. Hopkins County Emergency Management officials have adamantly denied any official notifications of any Hopkins County residents dying as a result of COVID-19 since the state showed the first death last month.
Texas Department of Health and Human Services Commission’s reports do show there have been no COVID-19 deaths reported for either residents or employees of Hopkins County nursing and assisted living facilities.
HHSC does report an outbreak of COVID-19 cases among staff and patients at an assisted living facility in Sulphur Springs earlier this month, with a total of 3 cumulative employee and 8 cumulative resident cases reported on Aug. 6, the most recent date for which the state has information.
On Aug. 4, the assisted living facility reported 3 active cases among employees. As of Aug. 6 the facility still had 3 active cases among employees. The facility Aug. 4-5 had 6 active resident cases and 1 resident had recovered from COVID-19. On Aug. 6, the facility reported 7 active cases among residents, and still just 1 resident who has recovered, according to the HSSC Assisted Living COVID-19 Self-Reported Case Count reports.
Among nursing home facilities in Sulphur Springs, there had been no reports of residents testing positive for COVID-19 and no new employee cases reported as of Aug. 6. One nursing home previously reported 3 employees had tested positive for and had also recovered from COVID-19, according to the HHSC Nursing Facility COVID-19 Self-Reported Case County report.
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.
Sulphur Springs Fire Chief David James said while the reopening of nursing homes and assisted living facilities for limited visitation, provided the facilities meet state guidelines, is up to the individual facilities. He said if a facility that had a COVID-19 case requested assistance, the fire department would be available to advise and help.
Free Testing Offered
Free COVID-19 testing is also being offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Friday, Aug. 21, at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs.
“They’ve been doing testing in counties around us and do it for about 2 weeks at a time. It kicked off today at 1 p.m. and starting tomorrow, it’ll be offered every day except Sundays,” Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Coordinator/Police Chief Jason Ricketson said.
Testing will be by oral swab and will coincide with the start of the new school year for county school districts last week and this week, on Sept. 1 for Sulphur Springs ISD.
Children will be able to be tested at the Sulphur Springs location as long as there is a parent or guardian present.
COVID-19 symptoms are not required for testing. Online registration at GoGetTested.com is required for the free COVID-19 testing in Sulphur Springs, but should only take about a minute to complete.
Results are expected to be returned in 48-96 hours, according to information released from state and local emergency management officials.
Anyone who receives a positive result will receive a medical consultation from a health provider.
To register for the test or for more information, go online to GoGetRegistered.com
Wood County Sheriff Report For August 12-18, 2020
Wood County Sheriff’s Office provided the following activity report for Aug. 12-18, 2020:
- Abandoned Vehicle: 6
- Traffic Hazard: 4
- Alarm: 10
- Traffic Stop With Arrest: 0
- Animal Complaint: 6
- Unauthorized Use of Vehicle: 2
- Arrest/Warrant Service: 1
- Welfare Check: 15
- Arson: 1
- Assault: 1
- Burglary: 4
- Criminal Mischief: 2
- Criminal Trespass: 4
- Disturbances/Disputes: 11
- Fire – Structure: 0
- Fraud: 4
- Funeral Escort: 1
- Harassment: 4
- Inquest: 1
- Livestock At Large: 15
- Motorist Assist: 9
- Noise Complaint: 1
- Reckless Driver: 5
- Shots Fired: 1
- Suspicious Activity: 27
- Theft: 5
- Terroristic Threat: 0
Registration at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Center
FUTURE NURSE
Rebecca Kendle of Sulphur Springs, right, was on the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus during registration day Wednesday to enroll for the fall semester at the college. Assisted by Advisor Tonya Yeager, left, Kendle is enrolling in the PJC nursing program.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Woman Accused Of Trafficking West Texas Youth Now Charged With Firearm Offenses
Sulphur Springs, TX – August 20, 2020 – A 43-year-old Saltillo woman accused earlier this month of trafficking a youth from West Texas to Hopkins County has also been charged with firearm offenses.
Romany Michael Ruble, who is also known as Romany Michael Cathey, has been in Hopkins County jail since August 9, when she was accused of picking up a runaway in West Texas approximately 1 week before.
Ruble reportedly had a prior acquaintance with a minor she allegedly transported to Hopkins County, where she allegedly sexually abused him. The youth reportedly escaped. Law enforcement was contacted Sunday, August 9. Based on investigation by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, a warrant was obtained for Ruble’s arrest on a trafficking of a person charge, HCSO Chief Investigator Corley said following Ruble’s arrest earlier this month.
Ruble was served with three warrants Thursday, August 19, for theft of a firearm. She is accused of stealing three guns from her father on August 3 and August 4, then pawning them. A warrant was obtained for theft of each gun, according to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigator Wade Sheets.
The guns have been recovered and law enforcement will be working to return them to their owner.
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.
Free COVID-19 Testing Available In Sulphur Springs
Free COVID-19 testing will be available in Sulphur Springs starting at 1 p.m. today (Aug. 20) at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, according to local emergency management officials. The oral swab testing will then be offered from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Sunday.
COVID-19 symptoms are not required for testing. Online registration at GoGetTested.com is required for the free COVID-19 testing in Sulphur Springs, but should only take about a minute to complete.
Children will be able to be tested at the Sulphur Springs location as long as there is a parent or guardian present.
Results are expected to be returned in 48-96 hours, according to information released from state and local emergency management officials.
Anyone who receives a positive result will receive a medical consultation from a health provider.
To register or for additional information, go online to GoGetTested.com
The testing is offered through the partnerships of WellHealth, Texas Health and Human Services, Health TrackRx and Wellpay, according to the registration website.
Dallas Man Leads Police On 8-Mile Vehicle Pursuit On Interstate 30
Hopkins County, TX – August 19, 2020 – A 30-year-old Dallas man lead police on an 8-mile vehicle pursuit on Interstate 30. The chase stretched from the Brashear area to Sulphur Springs.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Cleve Williams reported attempting to stop a red Kia Sorento at 9:35 p.m. August 19, at mile marker 114 on I-30 east for a traffic violation. Instead of stopping, the driver continued along I-30 with the police officer in pursuit. Williams reported seeing the driver throw items out of the sport utility vehicle as it continued east on I-30.
The SUV continued on I-30 to mile marker 122, where his vehicle was reportedly spiked with spike strips. The vehicle came to rest at the 122 exit ramp. Williams took 30-year-old Deante Shelley Wilson of Dallas into custody at 9:42 p.m. for evading arrest or detention in a vehicle. The SUV was impounded, Williams noted in arrest reports.
Wilson remained in Hopkins County jail August 20; bond was set at $10,000 on the third-degree felony evading arrest charge, 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.
