Hodges, Tippit Honored As Top Seniors At Saltillo High
Madison Hodges and Joe Tippit are recognized as this year’s top seniors at Saltillo High School.
Madison (Graycie) Hodges, daughter of Jamie Watts and Charles Hodges, earned valedictorian honors with a 3.74 grade point average.
She has been active in UIL One-Act Play competition, earning Best Actress honors at District in 2019 and All Star Cast honors at District in 2020.
Hodges participated in several school organizations, and held leadership positions in some as well. She served as vice president of competitions of the school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Chapter her senior year. She also served as class treasurer in both her junior and senior years at SHS. She was a member of the Beta Club, FFA, choir and yearbook staff.
When not engaged in school activities, Hodges hobbies and interests include reading, painting and spending time with her family.
Hodges has earned a Dell Scholarship to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where she plans to complete her prerequisite courses, then go on to pharmacy college.
Saltillo High School Class of 2020 salutatorian Joseph Tippit, son of John Tippit and Tammy Tippit, graduates with a 3.72 grade point average.
He too has been involved in school activities. He’s a member of the Beta Club and FCCLA. He also was in the choir and earned Best Tech honors in One-Act Play. He also served as co-treasurer.
Tippit’s hobbies include gaming, writing short stories, building computers and photography. He plans to apply those skills to his future career.
The 2020 Saltillo High School salutatorian plans to go to college, then work for a gaming company building computers and writing the story for video games.
A baccalaureate service has been set for at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Weaver Baptist Church. A graduation ceremony will be held on its original date, May 29, at Saltillo ISD, the school announced.
All students and guests will be required to follow social distancing guidelines, safety and security protocols, and other health measures at graduation. In order to do so, Saltillo ISD graduation ceremonies will move outdoors to the main parking lot of our school. A full list of protocols and guidelines provided by Texas Education Agency for schools regarding graduation celebrations held during the COVID-19 pandemic can be downloaded from the TEA website.
Saltillo ISD will provide additional information for students and guests.
Relay For Life Format Will Be Modified To Honor, Keep Survivors Safe This Year
This year’s Relay For Life format is being adapted in order to both honor and protect survivors as the community and world continues to employ health safety practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are so sorry for the many changes this year, but we are trying to adapt to the situation while still honoring our survivors. We appreciate your understanding,” said Gina Giguere on behalf of the Relay For Life -Tri-County, TX /Hopkins, Franklin, & Wood Counties Leadership Team.
The annual fundraiser, awareness campaign and survivors dinner for Hopkins, Franklin and Wood Counties was planned for May 8 but had to be postponed due COVID-19. With June 12 quickly approaching, the RFL Tri-County Tx Leadership Team made the difficult decision to host an event on that day to honor survivors, while still taking COVID-19 precautions, instead of again pushing the event back even further or cancelling.
“While I am sad that we will not have our normal event this year, I am excited that the city is allowing us to still honor our cancer survivors in the community!” Giguere said.
Instead of the normal survivors lap and booths, RFL this year will feature a survivor “parade” lap, luminaries and a chance for teams and community members to show support for survivors.
While plans are still being fine tuned, the RFL Leadership Team anticipates having all cancer survivors line up at Buford Park around 7 p.m. Then, at 7:30, the lap/parade will start. Survivors, in their personal vehicles, will head down Connally Street toward the downtown area. The parade will turn left on Church Street at the corner of Church and Jefferson Street, and end in the area of the shared banks parking area and First United Methodist Church.
While RFL was not able to get survivor shirts this year, given the situation at hand over the last few months, but luminary bags are still available for $5 each.
Luminary bags will line Connally Street in the downtown area and in front of Alliance Bank. Pictures of all luminary bags will be taken to create a slideshow which RFL Tri-County Tx leaders anticipate sharing on Facebook a week following the event.
“We are asking our community to come together to make this special for our area cancer survivors. We would love Relay teams and members of the community to make signs/noise makers, wear purple and line Connally Street to cheer on our survivors! We’d like to have the streets as full as possible while still maintaining social distancing,” said Giguere.
In lieu of team fundraising booths, a silent auction will be held online this year.
“If you have an item or gift card(s) that you would like to donate for our silent auction, we would be thrilled! Please contact me, Gina Giguere, directly at 903-573-2064, if you have a silent auction item to donate or if you’d like to purchase luminary bags.
Missing Sulphur Springs Teen
*Update* This missing person has been found and is safe. See Related Story
Sulphur Springs Police Department is asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of missing 15-year-old Camri Leigh Propes to contact the SSPD at 903-885-7602 or Crimestoppers at 903-885-2020.
Camri is approximately five feet-four inches tall and weighs about 100 pounds. She has long brown hair and brown eyes.
She was reported to have been missing since May 12. She was reportedly last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black leggings and a cheetah print backpack.
Deputy Arrested A Sulphur Springs Man On A Warrant
A deputy arrested a Sulphur Springs man on a warrant Tuesday afternoon.
Hopkins County Sheriff Office Cpl. Todd Evans located Chaisen Jadran Chamness of Sulphur Springs at his Main Street address. He was taken into custody at 3:24 p.m. May 19.
Chamness was booked into Hopkins County jail for insufficient bond on a December 2019, third or more driving while intoxicated, charge.
The arrest, according to jail records, marks the third time in less than a year that Chamness has spent time in Hopkins County jail.
He had an overnight stay on Aug. 28, 2019, a one-day commitment for a no driver’s license charge. Chamness was booked Dec. 14 on a third or more driving while intoxicated charge and released the next day on a $10,000 bond, jail records state.
Chamness remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday, May 20. His new bond was set at $100,000, 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.
Suspicious Vehicle Report On County Road 2307 Results In Controlled Substance Arrest
A suspicious vehicle report on County Road 2307 Tuesday night resulted in a controlled substance arrest, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff Office‘s Deputies Chris Baumann and Zack Horne responded at 9:30 p.m. to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked in an empty lot on CR 2307. A man had allegedly been spotted in the wooded area behind the lot just prior to the report,
Upon arrival, deputies contacted a man at the location who appeared to them to be disoriented and who showed signs of bruxism, Baumann and Horne alleged in arrest reports. The man did, however, agree to let the deputies search the Ford Ranger on site.
Deputies found a glass pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue inside of it as well as a bag with a crystal-like substance they believed to be meth during the search, Baumann and Horne alleged in arrest reports.
The man, identified as Mark Alan Hicks, was taken into custody. After EMS personnel conducted a health evaluation, deputies transported the 53-year-old Yantis man to jail for possession of 1.36 grams of a controlled substance which tested positive for methamphetamine, according to arrest reports.
Hicks remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday, May 20. Bond on the third-degree felony controlled substance charge was set at $10,000, 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.
Two New Positive COVID-19 Cases Reported May 20 In Hopkins County
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom at 1:45 p.m. May 20 reported two new positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed, for a total of 13 lab-confirmed cases since mid-March. Five of those individuals have recovered from COVID-19. The remaining eight cases are currently still active COVID-19 cases.
One of the two new cases reported Wednesday afternoon was among the 107 tested last Friday at the mobile test collection site. Local officials have received no information regarding results of the other 106 tests collected May 15 at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.
Newsom said it is concerning that Hopkins County has had five new cases in two days, but officials are told these individuals are in isolation in their homes and are being treated. A nurse working with the Local Health Authority is responsible for tracking these patients and checking to make sure that those who are quarantined remain in quarantine, the judge noted.
“Right now, I think Hopkins County is still doing very, very well. Our Hopkins County hospital is doing well and ready to serve anyone. We are doing extremely well compared to many of our neighbors,” Newsom said.
Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley and Judge Newsom reported that they have no additional information to release regarding these patients’ demographics.
Counties that are releasing demographical information either have a local health official that has authority to do so or a population over 75,000, according to the Endsley.
“We don’t have a visual on that here in EOC. As much as we’d like to have access to that, we don’t have confirmation on that. That’s the rules of DSHS — the state not HC,” Endsley said.
The increase in cases does not have an impact on the 50 percent capacity rule for businesses and restaurants. A different standard is being used. The newest set of guidelines announced by the Governor this week will kick into effect Friday with a 50 percent in-door capacity businesses and restaurants in Texas, with the exception of the four named counties with excessively high COVID-19 cases, the officials reported.
Bars, bowling alleys and certain other businesses and facilities are still limited to 25 percent capacity at opening as designated by the Governor, according to the HCEMT. However, where applicable, businesses can have outdoor area too.
“We continue to encourage everyone to social distance as much as possible. We encourage our businesses to continue doing the great job that they are doing. Everyone needs to continue doing what they are doing in Hopkins County, watching out for each other. We are always watching out for each other,” Endsley said.
Sulphur Springs Man Arrested For Second Time In Five Days
A 23-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested for the second time in five days and fourth time in five months he’s been jailed in Hopkins County, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s officers received information pointing to Tyler Gerard Maloney as the suspect in a firearm theft from a residential property in that area, according to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigator Wade Sheets. Based on evidence gathered, investigators sought and obtained a warrant for Maloney’s arrest.
Sheets and Deputy Chris Baumann contacted Maloney at his residence and took the 23-year-old into custody at 4 p.m. May 19 on a theft of firearm warrant, according to jail reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning, May 20; bond was set at $5,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
The arrest marked the second time in five days sheriff’s investigators arrested Maloney at his residence, according to arrest reports. While investigating a number of vehicle burglaries and thefts in the area of County Road 1104 overnight , sheriff’s investigators reported finding Maloney in an open truck in a driveway just after midnight on CR 1104. Upon contact, sheriff’s officers alleged a strong odor of marijuana emitted from Maloney.
“A large amount of marijuana” was allegedly found in a sack. Two THC oil vape cartridges were allegedly found in a backpack on the back seat, as well as a set of digital scales in plain view on the center console, according to arrest reports.
Consequently, Maloney was arrested at 12:10 a.m. May 14 for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, Sheets and HCSO Deputy Chris Baumann noted in arrest reports. He was released from jail May 18 on the controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Maloney’s arrest Thursday morning marked the fourth time the 23-year-old has been booked into Hopkins County jail in the last nine months. He was arrested Aug. 14, 2019 and Jan. 6, 2020 on possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana; and on April 24, 2020 at a Gilmer Street business for public intoxication, 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.
Mount Pleasant Man Accused Of Online Solicitation Of A Minor
A 69-year-old Mount Pleasant, TX man is accused of online solicitation of a minor.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Officer received a complaint of suspected online solicitation of a minor, a Hopkins County juvenile younger than 14 years of age. The offense, according to arrest reports, allegedly occurred on May 11, 2020.
Through investigation, sheriff’s officers allegedly collected forensic evidence taken from a photo and developed additional evidence pointing to a Titus County resident as a suspect. A warrant was issued for Jerry Ray Pittman’s arrest Tuesday, according to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford.
Weatherford and HCSO Deputy Jason Lavender traveled to Titus County Sheriff’s Office, where suspect Pittman met them Tuesday afternoon, May 19, 2020. Jerry Ray Pittman was interviewed and taken into custody just before 4 p.m. on the warrant for online solicitation of a minor and transported to Hopkins County jail.
Pittman remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning. Bond was set at $50,000 on the second-degree felony charge,
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 Youth Caught In A Stolen Vehicle
Two youth caught in a stolen vehicle were arrested early Tuesday morning, according to Sulphur Springs Police reports.
A vehicle was reportedly stolen from a Sulphur Springs apartment complex on May 18. Officers alleged seeing a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle traveling down Como Street within a few hours of the vehicle being reported stolen early Tuesday morning. Officers reported stopping the vehicle, which was occupied by a juvenile and a 17-year-old Sulphur Springs resident, on Carter Street, according to police and arrest reports.
Both youth were taken into custody at 5:19 a.m. May 19 for unauthorized use of a vehicle, according to police reports. The juvenile was reportedly taken to a juvenile detention center. The 17-year-old, identified as Daishawn Jerome Godbolt, was booked into Hopkins County jail. Godbolt was released Tuesday evening on bond, set at $5,000 on the felony charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police said auto thefts, in many cases, can be prevented by taking keys and valuables when exiting autos, then, locking the vehicles. This case should serve as a reminder for people to lock their vehicles, taking keys and property with them, according to police.
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.
Dallas Woman Arrested In Hopkins County On Assault On A Public Servant Warrant
Deputies took to jail Tuesday night a 32-year-old Dallas woman arrested on an assault on a public servant warrant, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputy Zack Horne responded to what was reported as a possible vehicle crash on FM 269 south at State Highway 11 east; a car was reported to be on a culvert pipe in the ditch at 10:38 p.m. May 19th, 2020, according to arrest and sheriff’s reports.
Upon arrival, Horne reported finding an Audi A-4 struck in the bar ditch. On contact, Horne confirmed the identify of the reported driver. A records check by communications operators revealed showed the woman to be wanted by Dallas County Hospital Police for assault on a public servant, Horne noted in arrest reports.
Consequently, Horne arrested the 32-year-old Dallas woman on the warrant. Martinez was booked into and remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning, May 20th, on the third-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.
