Brashear, Cooper Women Jailed On Child Endangerment Warrants
Brashear and Cooper women were jailed Thursday on child endangerment or abandonment-criminal negligence warrants. A Sulphur Springs woman was jailed on warrant for violating probation on child endangerment or abandonment-criminal negligence charge, according to arrest reports.
Child Endangerment/Abandonment Warrants
Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputy Richard Brantley and Sgt. Shea Shaw went to a Kerri Anne Burgin’s address and took her into custody at 11:356 a.m. Aug. 13 on a warrant for abandoning or endangering of a child-criminal negligence, according to arrest reports.
The 51-year-old Brashear woman was booked on the felony charge. The offense, Brantley noted in arrest reports, is alleged to have occurred on Aug. 6, 2020.
Burgin was released from Hopkins County jail Friday, Aug. 14, on a $20,000 bond, according to jail reports.
HCSO Deputy Elijah Fite transported Katelynn Brooke Jones at 7:46 p.m. Aug. 13 from Delta County jail to Hopkins County jail.
The 24-year-old Cooper woman was booked on an abandoning or endangering of a child-criminal negligence charge, according to arrest reports. The offense, Fite noted in arrest reports, is alleged to have occurred on June 23. She remained in Hopkins County jail Friday; bond on the charge was set at $20,000, according to jail reports.
Probation Violation Warrant
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Elijah Fite at 5:24 p.m. Aug. 13 transported Larissa Jordan Benson from Wood County jail to Hopkins County jail. The 30-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was booked on a warrant for violation of probation, which she was on for a 2017 abandonment or endangerment of a child-criminal negligence charge, according to arrest reports.
Benson remained in Hopkins County jail Friday night on the felony 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.
Michigan Man Arrested In Hopkins County On Warrant
A 61-year-old Flint, Michigan man was arrested in Hopkins County on a warrant for a child sex charge, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Thomas Patterson and M. Poindexter received a “hit” from a license plate reader for a Chevrolet Malibu being driven east on Interstate 30 around 10:30 p.m. Aug. 13. The report showed the car to be associated with a wanted person, according to arrest reports.
Deputies reported stopping the car near mile marker 130 and obtained identification for the occupants. A records check showed 61-year-old Bruce Brown to have an outstanding felony warrant issued by another county, officers alleged in arrest reports. The Michigan man was taken into custody on the aggravated sexual assault of a child charge.
Bond was recommended at $35,000 on the charge. Brown remained in Hopkins County jail Friday, Aug. 14, on the first-degree felony 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.
Miller Grove ISD Students Enjoy Free Lunch, Breakfast Daily
MGISD 2020-21 School Year Off To A Pretty Smooth Start
Miller Grove ISD Superintendent Steve Johnson said reports that while the 2020-21 school year is a lot different due to COVID-19, the first two days of classes at MGISD were”pretty smooth.”
“Kids seem to be happy to be back. We’ve not really had any issues,” Johnson said Friday afternoon.
Students and staff are adjusting face masks and social distancing requirements, which for younger students means some eat in the cafeteria spaced out and others have lunch brought to them.
Johnson expressed appreciation to Hopkins County Fire Chief/Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley for loaning the county’s sanitizing backpack to the district Wednesday. MGISD, like most other districts, ordered the recommended sanitizing and disinfecting system. However, due to the huge demand, theirs hadn’t arrived Aug. 12. With school slated to begin Aug. 13, the county loaned their equipment and supplies to Miller Grove and Cumby ISDs so they could make sure everything was ready for the first day of classes. He noted that the Cumby ISD police chief also responded at the location, assisting with the 2-step process, which he then used the supplies to repeat at Cumby ISD.
Endsley said Hopkins County was simply showing the same community spirit afforded to the county by the city, before the county’s equipment arrived.
Johnson reported something new this year is that all students who receive cafeteria meals will get their lunch and breakfast for free.
MGISD qualifies to operate under the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows district to provide breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge. It eliminates the need for families to complete applications to determine if they qualify for free or educed-price student meals.
However, because district qualification is based on socioeconomic information, MGISD sill has to collect and report the socioeconomic status of each student to the Texas Education Agency for purposes of the annual state accountability ratings and for federal reporting.
Thus, families are still asked to complete and return Socioeconomic Information Form. The information asks if the family receives TANF or SNAP assistance, and if no, to select one of 12 options denoting annual income bracket, for instance, some ranges include: $0-$21,590; $66,657-$74,167; $36,613-$44,123; $81,679-$89,189; or $126,745 and above.
The Socioeconomic Impact Form can be downloaded from the school website, then returned to school when completed.
MGISD officials note the economic disadvantaged status of each student determined by the information provided on the form is reported to TEA, but the form and income levels indicated for the family are not.
Johnson asks families for all MGISD students who have not yet completed a socioeconomic impact form to get those in soon so the district can offer free meals for all MGISD students.
HCHD Will No Longer Provide COVID-19 Testing Reports
If you’re curious about how many COVID-19 tests are being conducted in Hopkins County, don’t expect to receive any local updates anytime soon.
Hopkins County Hospital District will no longer be providing testing updates. HCHD COO/EMS Director Brent Smith, in a news release distributed by Hopkins County Emergency Management Friday afternoon, cited the numerous testing variables as obstacles for reliable data collection as cause for discontinuance in test reporting.
“There are many different types of testing, molecular, antigen and antibody that are happening in our immediate area. None of the facilities or private entities are required to provide information to the Hospital District and it has become next to impossible to accurately gather the number of tests being performed by the area healthcare providers. The types of testing and availability is changing rapidly with no means of standard gathering of information and reporting other than to the person who receives the test,” the Aug. 14 HCHD press release stated.
Smith noted that HCEM will continue to provide case counts at 5 p.m. on days in which local officials have received reports of new positive COVID-19 cases and recoveries.
The Hopkins County Local Health Authority, under appointment by the Hopkins County Commissioners Court, also will continue “working with the local cases in Hopkins County to ensure procedures are being followed with the related cases.
Questions about COVID-19 screening or guidance should be directed to a local physician or 903-606- DOCS (3627). Anyone who feels short of breath or has trouble breathing is advised to call 911. Additional guidance regarding COVID-19 may be directed to the LHA at 903-440-5902.
3 School Districts Notified Of At Least 1 Employee Or Student COVID-19 Case
As the number of staff and students reporting to school has increased this month, so have the number of COVID-19 cases across the county and state. From Aug. 1-14 Hopkins County had 60 new positive COVID-19 cases, increasing the overall 5-month total to 212 cases among Hopkins County residents. Many wonder if the return to schools will impact the spread of the virus. In Hopkins County, at least 3 local school districts have received confirmation this week of at least one staff or student receiving a positive COVID-19 test result this.
Cumby ISD
Cumby ISD at the beginning of the week canceled athletic practices and activities until Aug. 24 due to reports of symptoms among players at practice. Tuesday afternoon, Superintendent Shelly Slaughter reported the school had received notification one Cumby ISD student who was on campus on Aug. 7 has received a lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 result. Notification about the positive test was posted on the district website and sent to CISD families.
The district nurse has been working with the Local Health Authority nurse to identify and notify any individuals who may have been at high risk of contact and to conduct contact tracing, according to the superintendent.
The student is and, as appropriate, any others at CISD who are reported to have potentially been exposed are to self quarantine until all criteria for returning to school outlined in the CISD Return to Learn Plan has been met.
As of Friday afternoon, Slaughter said she is unaware of any additional positive cases among CISD staff and students.
Even with the health and safety protocols in place, CISD students and staff were excited at the return of students to campus Thursday. Everyone worked together to provide extra help when needed to ensure all safety measures are being followed. Aside from a few reminders to wear masks and social distance, the first two days were a good start to the school year at CISD, according to Slaughter.
While only those age 10 and older are required to wear face masks to school, some parents have opted to have their younger students bring and wear masks as well. Slaughter encourages parents to remind students to social distance and wear their masks as required by the state.
Everyone entering a CISD building will continue to be screened prior to entry. As the procedure becomes a part of the daily routine, entry screening process is taking less time. Parents have been understanding to abide by guidelines regarding campus visitors as well.
Slaughter encourages parents to remind their students to continue practicing social distancing and wearing face masks or coverings for ages 10 and up when they are not able to social distance as recommended by the CDC to help reduce potential for the spread of illness.
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 this 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 SSISD administrators were unaware Friday afternoon, Aug. 14, of any students who have or who have had the novel coronavirus 2019. However, with so many students away from school since spring break in March, it’s possible some have had the virus, and the school was not notified since school was not in session.
SSISD staff and students will follow the 10-page COVID-19 mitigation plan accessible from the main page of the district website (www.ssisd.net). The plan 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.
Williams said all recommended and potential steps are being taken to minimize potential spread of COVID-19 at SSISD schools, including frequent sanitizing, cleaning, hand-washing, masks and social distancing. The district’s back to school plan can also be accessed from the main page of SSISD’s website.
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 is being 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 administrator noted in the post.
A special event is being held at the school Sunday afternoon for any who would like to participate. Simply arrive at Saltillo ISD student parking lot at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, for a time of unified prayer for students and staff during the 2020-21 school year which begins Aug. 17.
More information about Saltillo ISD’s back to school plan can be seen on the superintendent’s prerecorded video.
Paris Junior College – Sulphur Springs News
SUMMER CLASS
Pipe welding student Jordan Holland, left, works on a project at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center welding shop during his summer workforce program class. PJC-Sulphur Springs welding instructor John Plemons is observing his work . To inquire about the welding program and other workforce education programs offered at PJC, call 903-885-1232.
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.
SSISD Offers Free Grab & Go Meals Aug. 17-28 For Students
SSISD Makes Announcements Regarding Bus Hub; Education Rights, Responsibilities During COVID-19; YMCA After School Program
Sulphur Springs Independent School District administrators this week have made announcements regarding a free meals for students new bus hub policy, educational rights and responsibility during COVID-19 and the YMCA After School program.
Bus Hub Policy
In an effort to provide the safest environment for bus riders, SSISD administrators ask that parents allow SSISD to deliver their bus riders to their home/regular drop-off location as opposed to picking them up at the bus hub, if it is at all possible.
If it is necessary to pick up students at the bus hub, for students’ safety, parents not be allowed onto the hub lot. Those picking up students will be required to remain at the sidewalk area or beyond to receive students once they have been released from their buses.
Students will not be released from buses early. All students will be released when the buses are ready to transition students to their proper bus for home delivery.
Free Meals For Kids
SSISD Child Nutrition Department will be offering meals through the Sulphur Springs Elementary campus. The grab-and-go meals may be picked up anytime between 7:30 a.m. and end at 11 a.m. Monday-Friday, Aug. 17-28.
Parents and/or guardians will be required to provide a list of their children’s names and schools each day in order to pick up meals. Any student age 18 or under is eligible for meals.
“We hope this helps the families in our community with meals until school starts in September,” SSISD administrators stated in the announcement.
YMCA After School Program
The YMCA After School program for SSISD students will be held at the Barbara Bush Primary campus this year. Parents may register their students online at YMCADallas.org/SchoolAgeServices between August 14-17 to have a $60 supply fee waived.
The program will be offered from the time school dismisses until 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, during the regular school term. This will include small group settings with enrichment activities designed to “support spirit, mind and body.”
Space in the YMCA programs is limited, so those planning to attend are encouraged to register as soon as possible to reserve a spot for their students. Financial assistance is available in some instances.
Rights, Responsibilities During COVID-19
Local school districts received information from Texas Education Agency regarding families’ education rights and responsibilities during COVID-19, which they are required to share with students’ families.
In order to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 families, staff and students will be be asked to do the following:
- Keep individuals who have the virus, were recently exposed to the virus have any symptoms of COVID-19 off school campuses.
- Be prepared in the event a campus or district has to close temporarily at some point during the school year for students have to switch temporarily to remote instruction. In that event all children will be required to participate in school remotely temporarily.
- Students, staff, and visitors, including students’ families should be prepared to observe some new practices to reduce COVID-19 spread, including wearing masks and social distancing when applicable and possible during on-campus learning. Families of SSISD students also have the option to participate in a Virtual Academy
Regardless the learning option selected, in-person on campus or online, the student will be required to attend 90 percent of each daily class in order to obtain credit.
Sulphur Springs Man Back In Jail For Second Time In 2 Weeks, 4th Time This Year
A 36-year-old Sulphur Springs man is back in jail for the second time in 2 weeks and fourth time this year.
Jeremy Lindre Williams was scheduled to appear at 9 a.m Thursday, Aug. 13, in the 8th Judicial District Court for a pretrial hearing on an April 11, 2020 voyeurism– child victim under 14 years of age charge. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Richard Brantley took him Williams into custody at 2:49 p.m. after his bond was revoked on the charge.
He was arrested April 16 on a a misdemeanor assault warrant and the felony voyeurism warrant. He was released from jail the next day; bond was set at $5,000 on the assault charge and $15,000 on the voyeurism charge.
A protective order was reportedly issued prohibiting Williams from contacting the 29-year-old female he was accused of assaulting. However, he allegedly sent social media messages to the woman’s phone the day he was released from jail. A warrant was issued for Williams’ arrest for violation of bond/protective order. Police took him into custody for violating bond/protective order at 5:05 p.m. April 22. He was released from jail on a $5,000 bond on the charge on April 23.
Williams reportedly turned himself in at 4 a.m. July 30, 2020 at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Kevin Lester escorted Williams into the jail, where he was booked for insufficient bond on a voyeurism charge. He was released from jail later that day; his new bond was set at $500,000, according to jail reports.
Wood County Sheriff Report For Aug. 5-11, 2020
Wood County Sheriff’s Office provided the following activity report for Aug. 5-11, 2020:
- Abandoned Vehicle: 1 Traffic Hazard: 1
- Alarm: 9 Traffic Stop With Arrest: 1
- Animal Complaint: 2 Unauthorized Use of Vehicle: 2
- Arrest/Warrant Service: 3 Welfare Check: 6
- Arson: 1
- Assault: 3
- Burglary: 2
- Criminal Mischief: 2
- Criminal Trespass: 1
- Disturbances/Disputes: 8
- Fire – Structure: 1
- Fraud: 1
- Funeral Escort: 1
- Harassment: 1
- Inquest: 1
- Livestock At Large: 10
- Motorist Assist: 7
- Noise Complaint: 1
- Reckless Driver: 6
- Shots Fired:
- Suspicious Activity: 17
- Theft: 7
- Terroristic Threat: 1
SSISD Trustees Approve 2020-21 General Fund, Debt, Food Service Budgets
Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees approved balanced SSISD 2020-21 general fund, debt and food service budgets during the regular board meeting held earlier this week. The tax rate will be presented for board approval during a special called board meeting and public hearing later this month.
General Fund
The 2019-20 and 2020-21 budgets are very similar. However, SSISD anticipates receiving $1.2 million less in revenues in fiscal year 2020-21 than the $42,789,274 that was projected in the 2019-2020 budget.
The general fund budget will be tight. SSISD is projected to use all except for $1,675 of the $41,585,313 in revenue the district projects receiving for the general fund during the 2020-21 fiscal year. That’s $1.2 million less in revenue than the original 2019-20 budget, when only $776 was expected to be left once expenses were deducted from the 2019-20 $42,789,274 general fund revenue.
The general fund is comprised of four different functions: general operating, needy children, transportation and co-curricular.
SSISD is projected to receive $41,435,541 in revenues for the general operating fund; expenditures are only projected to be $39,232,871, however, leaving $2,308,138 in the general operating fund which includes day-to-day expenses, including salaries. That’s down slightly from the 2019-20 budget, when revenues and expenses were both projected to be a little higher; SSISD budgeted to spend $39,322,671 of the projected $41,786,763 in general operating revenues in 2019-20.
The district maintains $13 million in the general operating budget at the end of the budget year carried over from previous years. These funds are typically designated so the district has funds to continue operating in case state or federal disbursements are delayed, and can be used to offset deficit funds or other unanticipated shortfalls, disaster or needs during the school year.
Expenses for the children fund are budgeted only at the amount the district anticipates receiving. In the 2019-20 budget, that was $14,783. This year, the NCF is budgeted at $9,772.
The district does not collect revenue for transportation. SSISD expected to spend $1.8 million in the 2019-20 budget. This year, transportation is expected to cost $1.58 million.
Co-curricular activities, which include all extra curricular activities is expected to bring in $140,000, but will cost $862,036 in 2020-21. That’s $16,600 less in projected revenue and $27,655 less expenditures this year than were budgeted for 2019-20.
Previously, the general fund budget also included listing for an Instructional Materials Allotment (formerly textbook) fund.
“Really, there’s no need for them to be included here. It comes from the state. It’s designated funds. Our auditor said we didn’t need to do that. Last year it was $831,000. So, if you were to look back at last year’s budget, you’d see that’s gone. The same thing,” SSISD Business Manager Sherry McGraw told school trustees when presenting the general fund, food and debt service budgets for board approval.
Special Funds Dedicated to Special Purposes, Federal Funding
The overall district budget includes six additional special funds dedicated for special purposes. The food and debt service budgets which were approved by SSISD trustees during their regular meeting Aug. 10.
SSISD started the 2019-20 school year with $647,677 remaining in the food service fund. The 2019-20 budget approved in August 2019 projected $2,275,500 in revenues, just $13,655 more than expenses. SSISD anticipates ending the 2019-20 budget year on Aug. 31 with $600,00 remaining in the food service budget to carry over to the 2020-21 school year. During FY 2020-21, SSISD anticipates receiving only $2,210,100 in revenues, and spending $3,219,331 for food services, which would leave $935,398 in the food service budget at the end of FY 2020-21.
Debt service is expected to generate $4.15 million in revenue, with payments totaling $3.2 million. That’s down from the $4.49 million in revenue and $4.2 million in expenses projected in the 2019-20 budget.
Other special purpose budgets of the district include capital projects, workers compensation, tech self-insurance and scholarship funds.
The capital projects fund is projected at $45,160, which is about half as much as the $88,667 SSISD budgeted for capital projects in 2019-20.
SSISD anticipates $107,500 in revenue and has budgeted for $184,337 in expenses in the workers comp fund for 2020-21. The district expects to have $190,000 left in the fund, built up from previous years. That’d still leave $113,183 in that fund at the end of 2020-21.
The technology self-insurance fund is expected to be $13,198 for 2020-21, up from $10,000 least year. Last year, the district anticipated spending $18,000. This year, the fund is expected to balance even.
In 2019-20, SSISD allocated $6,932 for scholarships. For 2020-21, SSISD had allocated $14,278 for the scholarship fund.
Overall, that adds another $6,544,965 in revenue designated for special purposes, and $5,651,740 in expenses. When the general fund and special purposes funds are combined, that’s $48.1 million overall in projected revenue and $47.2 million in budgeted expenditures.
The district also anticipates receiving an additional $3.2 million in federal funding during 2020-21, down from nearly $3.7 million in the 2019-20 budget adopted in August of 2019. All of these funds go toward payroll for federal programs, such as Head Start, Title I, Title IV, preschool and visually impaired programs, according to McGraw.
That put the overall budgeted funds for SSISD for 2020-21 at $51.3 million, and expenditures at $50.4 million. The three types of budgeted funds combined for a projected $53.46 million in revenues and $52.2 in expenditures in the budget approved in August 2019 for FY 2019-20.
“She makes it look easy,” Superintendent Michael Lamb said of McGraw. “After House Bill 3 last year and COVID-19 all spring, Sherry has done an amazing job to get to this point.”
“It take a lot of work that goes into it, and we appreciate it,” SSISD Board of Trustees President Robert Cody said.
The general fund, debt service and food service budgets were unanimously approved as presented on a motion by trustee Leesa Toliver that was seconded by trustee Robbin Vaughn.
