SSISD Announces June 16 Parent Meeting For Two-Way Dual Language Program
A Sulphur Springs ISD parent meeting for the Two-Way Dual Language Program is scheduled June 16. This is for any parent interested in their child, who will be entering kindergarten in the 2020-2021 school year at SSISD, participate in the SSISD Two-Way Dual Language program.
The enrichment program is designed to teach children a second language in a natural way through subject content instruction and everyday classroom conversation. The Two-Way Dual Language Program program requires a minimum six-year commitment for students to continue in the program through fifth grade.
Information will be provided on the program expectations, model, language acquisition, assessment, identification, and notification process, according to SSISD Assistant Superintendent Rusty Harden.
The parent meeting will be conducted from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, in the Board Room of SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St.
Was Downtown Sulphur Springs a Progressive City in 1914? You Bet! Get the Book!
Hopkins County Historical Researcher Shirley Patchen has released her third book of historical research on Sulphur Springs. It’s titled The Progressive City: History of Downtown Sulphur Springs 1914 and it’s available at the Hopkins County Genealogical Society Library, 611 North Davis Street in Sulphur Springs, at a cost of $50. Already, there’s a waiting list for those wanting a book from the next printing this summer! Shirley, accompanied by her research mentor John Sellers, shared a preview of the book on June 10, 2020 during the KSST Good Morning Show with Enola Gay.
Shirley recalled, “when the HCGS (Hopkins County Genealogical Society) moved from it’s Main Street address downtown to the new research library space in 2015, we had teams of volunteers who helped move and set up the collections and documents in the new space. I was assigned to the “business cabinets and vertical files” portion of the move. And we all practically lived there until we got everything sorted and organized! We found we actually possessed far more research material than we had been able to utilize before. That’s where my interest in our early downtown business district actually began. And since 2015, I have worked on piecing together the material we already had with newly acquired information with a goal in mind. That was to present a warm, interesting and factual history of our town and the business people who formed it’s foundation. We included a full name index of businesses operating here in 1914. We also included more than 200 photos of early businesses and business leaders, as well as many vintage business advertisements. With the help of other volunteers, it took four years of research plus a year of editing and proofing to get the book ready to be published. It is a large size, 459 page unibound labor of love!” The cover shows vintage photos of banks and storefronts. Sellers added that every volume comes with a removable map which numbers each storefront that was in business that year.
Sellers spoke about the work, saying “this publication is fully indexed as well as sourced, so that you can go online and read any source we cite. That would range from other research works, genealogical records and even newspaper articles from before 1900, thanks to sources like Portal to Texas History, the library at Texas A&M Commerce and many other reserves now available on the Internet. Because of the sourcing Shirley cited, this is the best-documented book our Genealogical Society has produced to date”. It is actually Patchen’s third book. The first one detailed 1898 Hopkins County business and the second one was a collection of the articles written by the late Sydney and Kenneth Brice. Both these volumes are also available for sale at the HCGS.
Shirley shared, “you’ll discover some colorful stories and amazing history in this book, too, like the judge who died while presiding in court, and a secretary who shot and killed her boss! We had our own downtown Burger King, that was Mr. T.J. Swafford who was famous for his hamburgers”! Sellers continued, “we had 4 banks on the square plus 5 drugstores, 26 grocery stores, 3 movie theaters and 3 different wagonyards in a radius of the square that year. Sulphur Springs was a hub city, drawing people from miles around. A 1914 panoramic photo shows numerous storefronts with automobiles parked in front, making Sulphur Springs truly a progressive city. This book is more than a listing, it’s got facts and details that flesh out the people who made up the downtown business community back then and the roles they played in the historical record. And the obituaries of prominent business people that were included make the book an aid to family tree researchers”.
Cost of The Progressive City, History of Downtown Sulphur Springs 1914 is $50, and it may be purchased by contacting the HC Genealogical Library at 611 N. Davis Street in Sulphur Springs or calling 903-885-8523.
The book is perfect for home libraries and for gifts to others who have history with Sulphur Springs. It is Unibind steel spine bound with 459 pages (including 234 photos of early businesses and business leaders), a full name index, and a removable map depicting business locations during the 1914 era of Sulphur Springs, the county seat of Hopkins County.
The Genealogical Society Research Library is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays from 10am til 5pm, and closed Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
SSPD: 5th Suspect In September 2019 Robbery Still Sought
A suspect in a September 2019 robbery is still sought by Sulphur Springs Police Department, according to SSPD Detective Sgt. David Gilmore.
Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for tips leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Tyreese Tupac Shukar Williams. The 21-year-old Sulphur Springs man should be considered armed and dangerous due to the use of a weapon during the alleged offenses, according to the police detective.
Tyreese Tupac Shukar Williams is wanted on first-degree felony charges including two aggravated robbery and one burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another offense. He is one of five defendants in a September 2019 home invasion and robbery.
Four masked men were accused of forcing entry to a secondary residence on a Lee Street property and robbing the occupants at gunpoint, taking cell phones, a rifle and cash just before 10 p.m. Sept. 25, 2019. Three pistols were reportedly used. One round was allegedly fired from one firearm during the commission of the offenses, but no one was injured, Gilmore said in September.
SSPD patrol officers located Zavarion Caymond Christopher Swain, 19, and Zavier Ahamad Rollerson, 17, both of Paris; and Dequenek Timothy Craig Shepard, 20, of Brashear on Main Street around 11:40 p.m. Sept. 25 and took them into custody as suspects. Recovered at that time were three pistols, the stolen cell phones, a rifle and about half of the amount cash reportedly stolen from the Lee Street residence; one of the pistols recovered had been reported stolen during an earlier break-in at an address across town, according to the police detective. All three at that time were charged on two aggravated robbery charges and one burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony charge each, according to police investigators and arrest reports. Shepard, Swain and Rollerson are currently in custody at Hopkins County jail, according to June 10, 2020 jail reports.
Dominick Maxwell Trigg, 29, of Paris was apprehended late Friday, Sept. 27, in Lamar County and transported the next Monday to Hopkins County jail on three Hopkins County warrants, two for aggravated robbery and one for burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony offense, in connection with the alleged home invasion, according to Gilmore.
Tyreese Tupac Shukar Williams of the Sulphur Springs area had also been identified by police by Oct. 1 as a suspect in the alleged burglary and robbery cases.
“He is still a fugitive. We need to locate him. He is to be considered armed and dangerous,” Gilmore said June 10, 2020. “If anyone has any information about this individual, please contact us. Crime Stoppers will pay a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. It’s possible he has changed his appearance.”
Although Williams is from Hopkins County, he is also known to have family and connections in Paris, Red River County and possibly in Oklahoma.
Tips regarding Tyreese Williams’ location may be made to Lake Country Crime Stoppers at 903 885-2020.
6 Intoxication-Related Arrests In Hopkins County
Local officials conducted 6 intoxication-related arrests, including two on felony and four on misdemeanor charges, June 6-8.
Davis Street DWI Crash
Kenneth John Isham was arrested after an officer observed him crashing a tan Buick Century at the corner of North Davis and Main Street at 5:55 p.m. June 7, Sulphur Springs Police Officer Nick Floyd alleged in arrest reports.
(HCSO jail photo)
Upon arrival, Floyd reported seeing the other officer talking to Isham, who was sitting in the front seat of his car and had blood on his face; officers requested EMS to respond at the location to check Isham out. Isham allegedly made a statement to the other officer that he had drunk too much.
When EMS arrived, Isham reportedly refused any medical treatment. When asked to perform standard field sobriety tests, he allegedly refused. He was taken into custody for further investigation. When asked to provide a breath specimen, he also gain refused, Floyd alleged in arrest reports. A search warrant was sought and obtained, requiring a blood draw for analysis. He was taken to the hospital, where a blood sample was drawn, then transported to Hopkins County jail, Floyd wrote in arrest reports.
Isham was booked for third or more driving while intoxicated offense. The 56-year-old Sulphur Springs man remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday, June 9. Bond was set at $10,000 on the the third-degree felony DWI charge, according to jail reports.
Warrant Arrests
(HCSO jail photo)
Amanda Marie Rowe was arrested and jailed in Hunt County on a Hopkins County warrant.
Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputy Elijah Fite transported the 35-year-old Commerce woman from Hunt County jail to Hopkins County jail.
She was booked June 8 on a warrant for violation of probation, which she was on for a June 2014 driving while intoxicated with a child passenger who was under 15 years of age in the vehicle offense, according to arrest and jail reports. Rowe remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday, June 9, according to jail reports.
A 32-year-old Mesquite man was arrested in Dallas County on a misdemeanor Hopkins County warrant. Deputy Fite transported the man from Dallas County jail to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked June 8 on the warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for a misdemeanor DWI charge, according to jail reports.
He was released from Hopkins County jail Tuesday, June 9. Bond was set at $5,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
Misdemeanor DWI Arrest
HCSO deputies responded to a report of a possible intoxicated driver in the area of FM 3019 and State Highway 11 east at 1:45 p.m. June 6. A Winnsboro Police officer in the area located and stopped the suspect vehicle prior to the deputies’ arrival, according to arrest reports. The first deputy on scene radioed the other responding deputy to request an interpreter. That deputy had a fluent corrections officer ride with him to assist in translating.
The driver of the gray Hyundai was asked to perform field sobriety tests; the 28-year-old was unable to follow directions for a horizontal gaze nystagmus test and unable to successfully perform walk and turn and one-legged stand tests, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
The Winnsboro man was reportedly transported to the county jail for further investigation of DWI. He agreed to a breath test. An intoxilyzer operator for the Sulphur Springs police department arrived to conduct the test. Twice the police officer attempted to obtain a breath sample, and twice the results were reported to be invalid, deputies noted in arrest reports.
The man then allegedly agreed to a blood sample. A blood sample was reportedly taken for an analysis at 3:18 p.m. at the hospital. The man was then transported to the county jail and booked for DWI with an open container, according to arrest reports. He remained in Hopkins County jail on the misdemeanor DWI charge Tuesday, June 9, according to jail reports.
SH 19 Intoxication Arrests
Deputies and firefighters responded at 4:45 p.m. June 7 on State Highway 19 north at FM 71, where a vehicle reportedly went into the ditch and at least one person from the vehicle was throwing up, according to sheriff’s reports.
Upon arrival, deputies reported seeing two men. A 43-year-old Sulphur Springs man allegedly admitted to being intoxicated and an alcohol odor emitted from his breath. The man reportedly had difficulty walking, swaying and taking over-exaggerated, deliberate steps. Because the deputies did not witness the man operating the vehicle, he was arrested for public intoxication, deputies noted in reports.
A 45-year-old Sulphur Springs man was also arrested for public intoxication. He allegedly admitted to deputies that he “messed up.” Alcohol too could be smelled coming off of him for public intoxication as well, according to arrest 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.
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.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Business News
By Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development, CMFH-SS, [email protected]
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
Hospital Visitation
For the safety and health of the community and our ministry, CHRISTUS Health is screening all associates and visitors to our hospitals to help lessen the risk of infectious disease transmission among our patients, associates, and guests.
- (1) Entrance to hospital through Emergency Department 24/7
- (1) Visitor per patient
- Visitors must be between the ages of 16 years-old and 65-years old
- All visitors are screened at the door, including a temperature taken
- All associates are screened at each shift, including a temperature taken
- Visiting hours are 7am to 7pm (subject to change)
- ALL hospital visitors are required to wear a mask. Visitors should bring their own mask; homemade cloth masks are acceptable.
Services
Women’s Center
We are excited to announce the soft opening of our Ruth & Jack Gillis Women’s Center at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. Services available include: 3-D Mammography (screening and diagnostic), Bone Density, and Ultrasound. For more information, call 903.438.4325.
Pediatrics
Our Pediatric Medicine practice at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic in Sulphur Springs offers a full range of pediatric care including prenatal visits for expecting parents, well-child checkups, immunizations and sick appointments. Our caring team is committed to providing quality
service in a comfortable, safe setting where children and parents can feel at ease. We also set aside time to equip parents with the tools and resources necessary for the development of healthy children from birth to adolescence. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tod Conner or Family
Nurse Practitioner Kelly Newsome, call the office at 903.885.5439.
Primary Care
Do you have a Primary Care Provider? Now is a great time to establish care with one of the new team members available at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Primary Care in Sulphur Springs. Both accepting new patients, Dr. Blake Cross and Dr. Crystal Roe would love to serve your healthcare needs. Video and telephone visits are now available – a convenient way to meet with your provider from anywhere, including the comfort of your own home. At CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, our distinguished providers are dedicated to efficiently meeting the healthcare needs of the patients we serve with compassionate, quality care. To schedule an appointment, call 903.885.3181 today. Walk-in appointments are also available daily.
Pain Management
Do you have back or neck pain? Pain medicine physicians are part of a rapidly growing specialty that takes a multidisciplinary, integrated approach to treating all types of pain. Many patients come to us suffering from back and neck pain, painful joint or muscle conditions and nerve pain in the arms and legs. Each patient goes through an evaluation and assessment that leads to a highly personalized level of care. If you want help with your pain, call Dr. Matthew Johnson, at the CHRISTUS Trinity Pain Management Clinic in Sulphur Springs at 903.885.1740.
We want to reassure our patients that CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital continue to be a safe place to receive your care, and we encourage you to follow up with your regular healthcare needs. For any reason you cannot come into the clinic, or do not feel comfortable, virtual visits and telephone visits are available. Please contact your provider to discuss all of the many options for accessing care.
Chamber Connection — June 11, 2020
By Lezley Brown, CEO/President, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
The Hopkins County Adult Leadership is happy to announce that we are currently taking applications for the 2020-21 class. The Adult Leadership Class is a community leadership development program sponsored by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. The course was created in 1989 with the concept of offering leadership training and community involvement for emerging business and community leaders. Leadership Sulphur Springs is a nine-month session, with meetings held once a month. For more information and to get an application, please call the Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515.
The Chamber Golf Tournament is almost full! Our reschedule date is Friday, June 19th at Sulphur Springs Country Club. As usual, we will have morning and afternoon flights, and we have availability for teams right now. Give us a call at (903) 885-6515 to register your team!
Fireworks to be held on Saturday, July 4
Judge Newsom reached out to some businesses in town in hopes to offer fireworks of some kind for July 4. As a result, fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 4. There will be a band downtown who will play until about 8 p.m. Fireworks will begin at nightfall.
Let’s talk about some ways to keep everyone safe and healthy. First, you are welcome to bring your lawn chairs and sit on the Plaza to listen to the band and watch fireworks. Please make sure to put six feet in between your family and the family next to you. Second, you are also welcomed to find a place near the square to park and watch the show from your vehicle. Grab a snack from your favorite local business, take your lawn chairs, and hop in the back of your pickup! This will be a great way to watch the show and remain perfectly socially distanced. Third, keep in mind that COVID is still a part of our lives right now. Be respectful of peoples’ wishes. They may not want to shake hands or hug, and that’s perfectly okay. Everyone has a varied opinion about the virus, so we need to be understanding of all of them. Attendance is a personal decision, so do whatever it is that you are comfortable with, personally.
Finally, let’s all keep in mind that this holiday celebration is our favorite each year because of the outstanding talent and hard work of the Symphony League. They will host their concert and fireworks celebration for 2020 on Labor Day weekend. Hopkins County will get two fireworks shows this year, and everyone knows… we need a little extra!!! The Symphony League will host their concert and fireworks as usual in 2021; this is the only year things will look a little different.
Jettribe to host ribbon cutting celebration
Jettribe will host their ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, June 24, at noon. They are located at 1120 Como Street S. in Sulphur Springs. Make plans to come by and welcome Jettribe to Hopkins County.
Business Highlight
During the year 2020, The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a business each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for June 11, the Law Offices of B. Gregg Price, P.C.
You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Corvette Club Helping With “Beat the Heat” Fan Drive
The Sulphur Springs Corvette Club dropped off 54 Fans to the Senior Citizens Center for the Annual “Beat the Heat” Fan Drive. These guys, and ladies, are always willing to help the Senior Citizen Center out every year.
Shown in Photo: Mack Pitts, Tim Gee, Karon Weatherman, David Johnson, Steve Judkins and Mike Hart. If anyone needs a Fan they can call the Senior Citizens Center at (903) 885-1661 and we will get your name of the List.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens Says Football Numbers Are Good For The Edge
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens would always like to see more players attend The Edge conditioning program, which got underway Monday in the Multipurpose Building. However all and all Coach Owens seems mostly pleased with the turnout for the first two days of the program. He says there were about 150 players in attendance on Monday with about 50 each among 11th and 12 graders, 9th and 10th graders and 7th and 8th graders. Tuesday morning Coach Owens says about 50 players again showed up for each of the first two sessions. The first two sessions take place Monday through Friday while 7th and 8th grade players take off Tuesdays and Thursdays. He says the numbers are working out well with concerns about distancing, Coach Owens did say he would like to see more junior high and freshman players in attendance.
In the past, The Edge attendance has been bolstered by players from other sports including girls. This year basketball, volleyball, cross country and tennis players who have attended The Edge at the Multipurpose Building in the past, are now at other sites with teammates.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta Offers The Edge at High School Gym
With the UIL allowing high school coaches to conduct one hour a week of skills work with their teams, coaches of several Wildcats and Lady Cats’ sports are having sessions of The Edge along with football. Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta is offering The Edge conditioning program for basketball players Monday through Friday in the Main High School Gym. Those entering 10th through 12th grades are there from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and Middle School and incoming 9th graders show up from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. With concerns about coronavirus, obviously there is no scrimmaging or one on one drills but Coach Cipoletta says he is concentrating on working with individual players on their footwork, shooting, dribbling, passing and finishing. He says players are getting better every day. Along with the skills, Coach Cipoletta says players are working on agility, conditioning and weight lifting. He says there are about 12 players in the older group and about 21 in the younger group. Coach Cipoletta says he is also sharing a few players with football. After wrapping up The Edge for football at around 10 a.m., the players hit the gym for about 30 minutes of basketball. Coach Cipoletta says he is very excited to be back around his guys. He says working with them is special.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Commissioner Explains Request To Abandon CR 3531 Right-Of-Way
Commissioners Court Asked To Consider Signs To Better Identify Rosemont Street Buildings
Hopkins County Commissioners approved 2 road-related items and heard a request from the District Clerk’s Office regarding signage for Rosemont Street buildings. Precinct 3 Commissioner explained the request to abandon a CR 3531 right-of-way.
Granitized Road Materials
The court was asked to consider approving bids for the purchase of granitized road materials.
Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrook explained that county had sought bids for granitized road materials, which is separate from earlier bids approved for road materials because it’s a different type of material. The granitized material is now available from a local contractor, but required bids be taken. Commissioners could opt to accept for all and list by precinct approval.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker noted that it’s a separate type of material that perviously had to come from Oklahoma. Commerce Sand & Gravel now has a crusher. He said he has used the granitized rock on roads and is satisfied with it. Utilizing a local vendor instead of paying to have the rock transported from Sawyer, Oklahoma would “save the county a tremendous amount of money.”
The court approved the bids as recommended.
CR 3531 Right-Of-Way
The Commissioners Court was also asked to consider approving an application and petition to close and abandon a portion of right-of-way off County Road 3531.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley explained that several years ago, potentially 100 years or so ago, the township of Weaver was platted. The streets were platted along with small lots. The streets were never developed. At some point later, county roads were built. County Road 3531 did not follow the exact plat of the streets.
Now, a piece of property is slated to be sold downtown Weaver next to the Baptist Church. A survey showed a small part of the house on that property is sitting on the county right of way. As is the underwriters for the title policy wouldn’t approve the deed as is.
A small portion of that house is sitting on that old “street.” The county road is adjacent to the street right-of-way. So, the request would not actually affect CR 3531. Because of the “street” designation, legally, the right-of-way must be abandoned in order for that to be corrected and the property to be eligible for sale.
“So we are abandoning a portion of that right-of-way that joins CR 3531 right-of-way. I would like to move that the court approve this,” Bartley said.
Barker asked if Ark-Tex Council of Governments would take that out of GPS systems.
“What I’ve run into, there are some other road in my precinct that have been abandoned, but they are still in GPS,” Barker noted.
“Well, I don’t know that this was in GPS because if was established so many years ago. It shows a street name, I can’t recall the street name right off the top of my head. But it’s not going to affect 3531,” Bartley said.
t was never questioned until now. Using modern surveying equipment, the house was found to actually sit 2 feet on the right-of-way for the formerly platted Weaver township. Instead of abandoning a portion of CR 3531, the county would be granting abandonment of the right-of-way, the Precinct 3 Commissioner explained.
The request received unanimous approval of the Commissioners Court.
Rosemont Street Sign Request
Cindy Caviness with Hopkins County District Clerk’s Office asked the court to consider adding signage to the Rosemont Street in the law enforcement center area.
“We have daily at least one person, sometimes more, who comes in looking for the sheriff’s office. A lot of times, they’ll go actually to the new courtroom. We’ve had them leave deliveries there on the front step. We’ve had them go in the courtroom when Judge Northcutt was having a court session, trying to deliver stuff. We’ve had out of county officers come, looking for the sheriff’s office — just lots of delivery people all the time. We have had that since we moved in. We’d like to have some kind of sign other than the little bitty one that’s on the north entrance,” Caviness explained.
She asked if perhaps signage could be placed outside of the courtroom that shows where the sheriff’s office is located, or a sign other at the north entrance that designates which building is the sheriff’s office.
“GPS always sends people to the courtroom when they punch in 298 Rosemont. Luckily, we have found some that the delivery people have left out and put on the courtroom door. One person left food, because they were instructed to leave food at the front entrance of the sheriff’s office. So they actually left food on the bench, and we caught them as they were getting ready to drive off and explained to them. I know the DA’s office also gets people too looking for the sheriff’s office,” Caviness explained.
Barker asked how the address for those Rosemont Street buildings was determined.
Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum explained that when the new law enforcement center, which houses the jail and sheriff’s offices, was opened the building kept the former address assigned to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, 298 Rosemont St., even though the new structure was construct a distance from the former HCSO.
Butch Adams, who sheriff at the time the new building was constructed, said local officials were told by the Post Office that the address would remain the same even though the new building is on the opposite end of the property and now faces Houston Street.
Barker asked if there signs could be put in place directing people to the appropriate building.
District Clerk Cheryl Fulcher explained that most people pull into the Rosemont Street complex from the south entrance because of the parking available in the lot next to the building. Rarely, she said, do people pull in the complex from the north entrance where a small sign points to the various offices in the complex.
“We’re always running out the door, trying to help people find their way that don’t come to our office,” Caviness said, suggesting perhaps a visible sign directing visitors to the sheriff’s office.
“You can actually see some of them, I think they are following GPS. They’ve go their phones open out of the car. They see all these doors with different labels and they’re saying, ‘It’s supposed to be here,'” the district clerk noted.
HCSO Chief Deputy Tanner Crump said the court had approved a court sign to go on the court building. The court sign has been built but has yet to be installed. He pledged to make contact to schedule the sign installation.
Crump said the only other solution he can think of would be to label “Jail” on the side of the Hopkins County Law Enforcement Center nearest the three Rosemont Street buildings. He cited aesthetic as cause for a big billboard saying “Sheriff’s Office this way.” He said hopefully, putting a label on the district courtroom will be enough to let visitors know that’s not part of the sheriff’s office.
Newsom recalled that when the new jail was opened, the county did approach the Post Office about the changing the address for the sheriff’s office to Houston Street, since it faces that direction.
“I don’t know that we’d systematically have an objection to changing our address. I think that there’s a lot that that would entail and the Post Office would have to cooperate. When that decision was made, we didn’t have the courthouse or the district clerk’s office or the district attorney’s office, so that’s just more things compounded on that issue,” Crump said.
“We might pursue that issue. It’d probably help more than anything. The truth is that Butch and Donna give so many people directs,” Newsom said of courthouse officer Adams and Donna Goins, administrative assistant to the county judge. “Every day we give them to get all of y’all because people come here first always, just like they are doing with y’all. It makes sense if at this time — I don’t know what it would change on your stationary. Anybody have thousands of pages with 298 Rosemont on them. That’s traditionally been our sheriff’s office, but what if we changed that, how much trouble would it be to everyone?”
Crump said he’d research the process to change the physical address of the sheriff’s office from Rosemont to Houston Street.
Bartley asked if ATCOG could potentially help with the process.
“Probably. Just off the top of my head, every database in the United States lists that as our address. It would take years probably to overcome that change and that stress would be put on the Post Office to understand that things that go there, got to both places. There’s a lot more to it, but we’re not opposed to it,” Crump said.
Newsom thanked Caviness and Fulcher for bringing the Rosemont Street buildings signage issue to the court’s attention, as it does need to be address, even if not immediately.
