Anonymous Donor Sends Lunch To EMS
Redneck Bar & Grill was contacted by KSST early this week to help an anonymous donor send lunch to paramedics and EMTs on duty at Hopkins County EMS. Zane Darling, owner of Redneck said, “This was a selfless act of an individual to thank those serving our community during these tough times.” He continued by saying his staff was proud to prepare and deliver the meals. EMS Director, Brent Smith accepted the meals on behalf of his staff, as they were all out on calls when the delivery appeared. Smith said, “he and his staff were honored that someone would think of them during this crisis.” He also stated that, “his staff is proud to continue to serve the community, even during this tough time.”
Our medical professionals are working harder than ever and on the front line of this pandemic. KSST was proud to help facilitate this kind gesture from someone who has had a good past experience with our local EMS. In this rare moment of our lives, consider the plight of others as we all fight this crisis. Check on your neighbors and co-workers, friends and family, and realize there are those having to fight this fight head-on.
SSPD: Sulphur Springs Man Arrested For Running From SCU Investigators
A 29-year-old Sulphur Springs man arrested for running from police Monday morning, claimed he runs from police every time they contact him, officers alleged in arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Department Special Crimes Unit officers reported attempting to detain the man for pulling on the front doors and entering back yards at multiple residences in the 600 block of Texas Street around 8:50 a.m. April 6. When Lt. Mark Estes got out of his patrol vehicle and identifying himself as a police officer, the man allegedly began to evade him, according to arrest reports.
The man reportedly entered his residence. SCU Lt. Estes and Sgt. Joe Scott located the man hiding in a bedroom and took him into custody. The 29-year-old Sulphur Springs man allegedly admitted he and at least one other person were looking to steal cigarettes. He then admitted that he runs from police every time they make contact with him, the SCU officers alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, the 29-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested on the Class A misdemeanor charge of evading arrest or detention. However, Hopkins County jail records show April 6 to be the only time the man has been booked into the county jail.
The incident was one of three times local officers were involved in attempting to locate someone who fled from officers, according to arrest reports.
A man allegedly ran from Sulphur Springs Police around 12:50 a.m. on Calvert Street. A sheriff’s deputy brought a canine to assist police in their efforts to locate the fleeing man, according to police and sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County sheriff’s patrol officers and investigators also were called on at 12:21 p.m. April 6 to assist Commerce Police with a vehicle pursuit that entered Hopkins County on State Highway 11 west. At 1:08 p.m., they reported the were unsuccessful in locating the fleeing suspect, according to sheriff’s 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.
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.
Paris Junior College Joins Online East Texas Giving Day
On April 28, Paris Junior College will join over 143 nonprofit organizations throughout north and east Texas as part of East Texas Giving Day.
For the third year a generous anonymous donor has stepped up to match up the first $5,000 raised. Pre-scheduled gifts began coming in on Monday, April 6.
“On April 28, from 6 a.m. to midnight, PJC Alumni, former students, friends, businesses, and everyone with a passion to help others are invited to make a gift, large or small, at www.easttexasgivingday.com/pjc to invest in the lives of our students,” said Derald Bulls, PJC Director of Institution Advancement and Alumni Affairs. “By logging in at this web address, your gift is directed specifically to PJC.”
“Gifts to the PJC Memorial Foundation will go to the greatest needs fund,” college President Dr. Pam Anglin said. “In challenging times like these, the basic needs of PJC students continue to grow and we want to assist our students in reaching their goals.”
In past East Texas Giving Day campaigns, 23% were first time donors; gifts were received from 42 individuals, businesses and foundations and ranged from $25 to over $1,200; 73% of donors were female and 83% were 45 or older; 98% of donors said they would participate in East Texas Giving Day again if asked; organizations with matching gifts raised 64% more than those who did not; 57% accessed ETGD.org using a smartphone/android (up from 49% in 2018); and 55% learned about East Texas Giving Day through the nonprofit they were donating to.
Coordinated in the region by the East Texas Community Foundation, the 2019 campaign grossed $1.3 million for the nonprofit agencies who took part. Paris Junior College finished as the No. 19 organization overall based on total funds raised (of 158 organizations). In addition, there are several local non-profit organizations in Lamar County who will be conducting parallel campaigns for their own causes.
Paris Junior College has set a 2020 Giving Day goal of $12,500 on April 28. Gifts are tax deductible and may be made with a cell phone, iPad, desktop computer, laptop computer, or any device with internet accessibility at the website listed. If preferred, a check may be mailed to Derald Bulls, PJC East Texas Giving Day, 2400 Clarksville Street, Paris, TX 75460-6258. Gifts from local donors or cash gifts may be made by contacting Bulls at 903-782-0276 or [email protected].
The college will use its social media channels to encourage East Texas Giving Day participation and is asking those who use social media to like, share, or forward messages to help spread the word, or forward emails about the campaign to their friends
“Every gift makes a difference for our students and their ever-changing needs,” Bulls said.
Texas WIC Expands Eligible Foods, Launches Updated App
AUSTIN – Texas Health and Human Services announces Texas WIC, the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, is expanding the number of food items eligible for purchase through the program. It is also updating the MyTexasWIC app to ensure Texans who need access to nutritious food will be able to find it in their local grocery stores.
“Grocers assure us they can meet this increased demand and have supply chains ready to respond,” said Dee Budgewater, HHS deputy executive commissioner for Health Developmental and Independence Services. “The Texas WIC team is working around the clock to ensure families have access to healthy food, which is one of the best ways to support mothers and growing children and help them achieve a greater sense of health and well-being.”
Effective immediately, there are additional options for certain food items WIC participants can buy. These food items include more options for milk, bread, rice, pasta and eggs. In addition, Texas WIC is permanently adding canned fruits and vegetables to the food package. Items at the grocery store with a pink sticker that says “WIC Approved” are products eligible for shoppers to purchase using WIC.
WIC participants can find detailed information on the Texas WIC website. WIC participants can also download the latest version of the MyTexasWIC shopping app on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, which informs families what the allowable food items are on their benefit package.
Texas WIC is operating under modified services throughout the state to help keep clients and staff safe. Families may call their local WIC clinics to learn more about how they can receive services. Visit the Texas WIC website or call 800-942-3678 to find how your local clinic is handling local services.
Many have modified their services and applicants are encouraged to start their applications online to protect office workers and practice social distancing precautions.
Texas State Parks Will Be Closed To The Public Today Due to COVID-19
At the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas State Parks will be closed to the public effective at the close of business Tuesday, April 7 in order to maintain the safest environment for visitors, volunteers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will continue to stay current with the latest public health recommendations and will announce when a definite reopening date has been determined.
“Given the myriad of challenges and heightened risks of operating the parks at this time, we believe this is the best course of action right now in order to meet the health and safety expectations the state has set out for the citizens of Texas,” said Carter Smith, Executive Director of TPWD. “All state parks will remain temporarily closed until public health and safety conditions improve. During the closure, staff will continue to steward and care for the parks to ensure they can be immediately reopened to visitors at the appropriate time.”
Outdoor recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing, biking, jogging, walking, hiking, wildlife viewing and the like are essential activities for Texas citizens. TPWD will continue to do its part to actively encourage and promote these opportunities in ways that are safe and close to home, said Smith.
Through this trying time, TPWD has worked diligently to facilitate access to the outdoors across the state, including in the state park system, which hosted nearly 740,000 day and overnight visitors throughout the month of March.
Despite the implementation of increasingly restrictive visitor use measures to help minimize the transmission of COVID-19 at parks, TPWD has reached a point where public safety considerations of those in the parks, and in the surrounding communities, must take precedence over continued operations. Difficulty in ensuring compliance with social distancing, problems in maintaining adequate supplies and keeping park facilities sufficiently sanitized are only a few of the challenges encountered by state park staff.
While parks are closed to the public, staff will be working to help maintain the standard upkeep, maintenance, stewardship, and continued regular cleaning of site facilities.
The Texas State Parks Customer Service Center is currently working toward contacting customers with upcoming overnight reservations to reimburse stays booked through the reservation system. Group and facility reservations have been cancelled until April 30. Cancelled reservations will not be charged normal administrative fees.
Day passes purchased through the reservation system, not associated to the Texas State Parks Pass, will also be refunded without penalties. The Texas State Parks Customer Service Center will automatically process cancellations of both overnight and day-use reservations. If your reservation is impacted by a facility or park closure, a Customer Service Center agent will contact you – you do not need to contact us. We are contacting customers in order of arrival date and appreciate your patience.
Questions regarding state park reservations can be emailed to [email protected] and general park information can be found at TexasStateParks.org.
Sulphur Springs City Council To Consider Minor Curfew, Election, Step Plan For SSPD
Due to COVID-19 social distancing and closed lobbies measures in place, the regular April meeting of Sulphur Springs City Council will be conduced online, and can be viewed by the public online starting at 7 p.m. tonight. The agenda is relatively short agenda, and includes for City Council consideration a curfew ordinance for minors, resolution to postpone the May 2 election and a step plan for Sulphur Springs Police Department.
Council Election
The city was slated to hold a special election on May 2 to fill four seats on the City Council, vacated in December with the resignations of Place 1-3 and Place 5 council members, and a regulation election for Places 6 and 7.
The regular election May 2 city Council Election was canceled when Doug Moore and John Sellers were unchallenged in their bids for reelection to Places 6 and 7 respectively.
Only two of the four special election races are opposed. Harold Nash Sr. is unchallenged for Place 2 and Oscar Aguilar is unchallenged for Place 3 on the Council. The four candidates for Place 1 include:
Both candidates for Place 5 include:
The https://www.ksstradio.com/2020/03/governor-extends-school-closures-implements-essential-services-activities-protocols/Governor’s March 31 Executive Order for Texans to stay safe at home unless working at an essential business or involved in an “essential” activity, observe social distancing and keep schools closed to the public could potentially allow voters to cast ballots on May 2 if the order is not extended, but would Monday-Friday, April 20-28, in the Sulphur Springs Municipal Building located at 201 North Davis St.
Keith Ingram, Director of the Elections Division in the Office of the Secretary of State, last Thursday notified many elections officials by email that, noted that the Executive Order too prevents election officials from securing polling places, recruiting election workers, and allowing voters a safe way to exercise their right to vote. Going ahead with the May 2 election instead of postponing it could subject voters to health risks from COVID-19 and potential criminal violations, according to Ingram. Thus, the SOS official reported, those who have not moved their May elections must take action immediately to do so. The approved date for postponed elections is Nov. 3.
Sulphur Springs City Council are slated to discuss tonight and consider approving a resolution postponing the special City Council election until Nov. 3.
Curfew for Minors
Sulphur Springs City Council are also slated to conduct a public hearing, and discuss and consider approving on second and final reading Ordinance No. 2762, which amends Chapter 15 of the Code of Ordinances by adding Article VII, setting curfew hours for minors.
This issue was raised in December by a couple of downtown business women, concerned about the number of middle school aged youth congregating around downtown unsupervised on weekends and late at night, making threats to fight each other, knocking over trash cans and potentially putting themselves in danger. The women asked for the city’s help regarding the issue.
City Attorney Jim McLeroy drafted and proposed at the January meeting an ordinance setting a curfew for minors to address issues of citizens feeling unsecure and potentially unsafe conditions for unaccompanied minors after hours. The proposed ordinance was tabled twice, with additional information sought and some revisions requested.
The ordinance, as proposed, would apply to all unaccompanied youth younger than 16 years who are in public and would be effective from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Saturday-Sunday.
Exceptions to this policy would include emergency, work, being in the company of a guardian, running errands for a parent or guardian, if the minor is exercising First Amendment rights protected by the United States
Constitution, or married or has been married. The youth would be allowed to be on the sidewalk outside the home or neighboring residence as long as the neighbor doesn’t report them to the police.
Also an acceptable exception is if the minor is attending “an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the city, the Sulphur Springs Independent School District, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor, or going to or returning home from, without any detour or stop, an official school, religious, or other recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the city, the Sulphur Springs Independent School District, a civic organization, or another similar entity that takes responsibility for the minor.”
A public hearing to the ordinance will be conducted during the 7 p.m. April 7 meeting. If the council chooses to approve the ordinance, the curfew for minors would go into effect on May 1, according to the proposed ordinance.
Public Forum
Anyone who would like to speak during public forum should call 903-439-3705 and provide their name and address during the meeting as instructed at the appropriate time.
Other Agenda Items
The April 7 council agenda also includes an ordinance amending and updating a pretreatment ordinance, a new step plan for SSPD, consider a motion to reject bids for the water treatment plant Clearwell Modification and PH enhancement.
3 Arrested On Intoxication Charges Over The Weekend
At least three people were arrested on intoxication charges over the weekend, two for driving while intoxicated and one for public intoxication, according to jail and arrest reports.
A Hopkins County Sheriff‘s deputy arrested a 30-year-old Sulphur Springs man Friday night on Industrial Drive for driving while intoxicated. He was stopped just before 11 p.m. April 3 for traffic violation allegedly committed in a Nissan Altima.
On contact with the driver, the deputy alleged he could immediately detect a strong alcohol odor emitting from the car. The deputy alleged a large bottle of Evan Williams liquor rested in the passenger’s seat.
When removed from the car, the man admitted to consuming an unknown amount of liquor, the deputy alleged in arrest reports. The 30-year-old was placed into custody and agreed to a blood draw for testing. The blood sample was taken at the hospital lab, then the Sulphur Springs man was taken to jail.
After standard field sobriety tests were administered, the Sulphur Springs man was booked into Hopkins County jail early April 4 for DWI, according to arrest reports. The man was released from jail later April 4, according to jail reports.
A reckless driving complaint resulted in a 41-year-old North Little Rock, Arkansas man’s arrest Saturday, April 4, for driving while intoxicated, according to arrest reports.
When deputies spotted the black Ford Focus that’d been reported for reckless driving about 2:45 p.m. Saturday, they reported the driver was failing to maintain a single lane of traffic in it. A traffic stop was initiated on West Industrial Drive at Georgia Street, according to arrest reports.
Upon contact, the sheriff’s officers alleged the a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitted from the Arkansas man. He failed all field sobriety tests administered and was taken into custody for DWI, Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies alleged in arrest reports.
At the county jail, he allegedly tested over 0.15 on breath tests administered at the county jail, resulting in him being booked into Hopkins County jail for DWI. The 40-year-old Arkansas man was released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, April 5, according to jail reports.
A 35-year-old Dallas man was arrested just after 8 p.m. Sunday, April 5, following a disturbance on a Greyhound bus.
Sulphur Springs Police were dispatched to the 1600 block fo West Shannon Road, where an intoxicated person was located. The Dallas man had allegedly caused a disturbance when exiting the bus and was not allowed to get back on it.
Police alleged the man was found to be “highly intoxicated and having trouble staying awake.” Believing him to represent a potential danger to himself or others in his state, police took him to jail for public intoxication, the officer noted in arrest reports. He was released from Hopkins County jail Monday, April 6 on the charge, according to jail reports.
Speeding caught a deputy’s attention on March 29, and resulted in a 57-year-old man’s arrest for DWI. He was alleged to driving a black Chevrolet pickup traveling 98 miles per hour in a 75 mph speed zone on Interstate 30 west. The pickup was stopped just after 7 p.m. at the 110 rest area, according to arrest reports.
The deputy alleged smelling an alcoholic beverage emitting from the truck while talking to the man. The man was reportedly identified using a Texas driver’s license but was shown on arrest and jail reports to have a residential address in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. The 57-year-old allegedly admitted he’d consumed two beers earlier March 29.
The man was asked to exit the truck; the deputy alleged he could still smell the alcohol odor. While talking with the man, the deputy alleged the Oklahoma resident was unsteady on his feet. The man also was unable to complete standard field sobriety tests, exhibited slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and instability while standing, the deputy alleged in arrest reports. The Oklahoma man, determined to be above the 0.08 legal alcohol-blood limit, was transported to the county jail for DWI.
At the jail, he allegedly agreed to a blood sample to determine blood concentration. The sample was taken from the Oklahoma man at the hospital; he was then transported back to jail and booked for DWI, marking the second time he’s been charged with the offense, according to arrest reports. The man was released from Hopkins County jail March 30, 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.
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.
Gladwater Woman, 2 Men Jailed On Hopkins County Probation Violation Warrants
A 38-year-old Gladewater woman was booked into Hopkins County jail on a probation violation warrant Sunday, according to sheriff’s reports. At least two others were jailed over the last week on violation of probation warrants as well
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office sent Transport Deputy Steve Huffman to Restoring Joy Ministries in Gladewater to take custody of Shawnda Jean Bellamy April 5. Huffman transported her to Hopkins County jail, where she was booked around 9 p.m. on a warrant for violating probation, which she was on for a possession of a controlled substance charge. She remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, April 6, on the charge, according to jail reports.
Bellamy was first booked for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance on July 28, 2018, as well as a Titus County warrant. She was released from Hopkins County jail Aug. 15, 2018. She was booked back into Hopkins County jail on June 25, 2019, for bond forfeiture on the controlled substance charge, and remained in Hopkins County jail until Aug. 5, 2019. She was again booked into Hopkins County jail on Jan. 28, 2020, and remained there until Feb. 6, for violation of probation on the charge, according to jail reports.
Christopher Arlen Ray, 36, of Suphur Springs turned himself just before 10 a.m. March 31 at the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office lobby. Lt. Amanda Weatherford escort him into the county jail, where he was booked on a warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for driving while intoxicated with a child passenger younger than 15 years of age in the vehicle charge, according to arrest reports.
Ray has been booked into Hopkins County jail twice for DWI with a child passenger under 15 years of age, the first on Sept. 7, 2009 and the second on Sept. 8, 2017, according to jail records
The 36-year-old Sulphur Springs man remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, April 6, on the charge, according to jail reports.
Timothy Pernell Thurston, 55, of Texarkana was taken into custody just before 1 p.m. April 2 at Bowie County jail by HCSO Deputy Steve Huffman.
Thurston was transported to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked on a warrant for violation of probation, which he was on for an unauthorized use of a vehicle charge, according to jail reports.
Thurston was arrested in Hopkins County on April 11, 2019 on the UUMV charge. He was stopped on Interstate 30 driving a tan Chevrolet Avalanche with a sticker featuring two pink lips on the back glass that’d allegedly been stolen recently while the owner was in a Texarkana convenience store, deputies alleged in the April 2019 arrest reports.
A Hopkins County Grand Jury in June 2019 indicted Thurston on the UUMV charge.
He remained in Hopkins County jail Monday, April 6, on the controlled the VOP warrant, 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.
SSPD: Woman Caught With Fake Money And Heroin
April 6, 2020 – Police arrested a 28-year-old Sulphur Springs woman allegedly caught with fake money and heroin at a local business Saturday evening.
Police responded just after 5 p.m. April 4 at a business in the 1200 block of South Broadway Street, where a forgery had been reported.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Adrian Pruitt and Silas Whaley alleged Katrina Jane Crowson was found at the location with counterfeit currency. She allegedly admitted to having syringes, which were located in her purse.
A search allegedly revealed additional counterfeit currency and drug paraphernalia. A black substance suspected to be black tar heroin was located in her purse; a field test kit showed a positive reaction for heroin, Whaley and Pruitt alleged in arrest reports. Crowson was accused of having a total of five fake $100s in her possession.
Whaley and Pruitt transported Crowson to jail, where she was booked for Saturday, April 4, for forgery of a financial instrument and possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Crowson, who is also known by Katrina Jane Humphrey and Katrina Lile, was released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, April 5. Bond was set at $5,000 per charge, according to jail reports.
The arrest marked the second time in less than a year the woman has been booked into Hopkins County jail on a controlled substance charge. She was also arrested Aug. 7 on a misdemeanor possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance 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.
On Being Kind: Mom’s Birthday Wave Parade!
Mrs. Marjorie West was turning 91, and each birthday has been an opportunity for her four daughters and the numerous grand-and great-grandchildren to show their love and appreciation of their ‘Nannie’. This year was different though, because of social distancing. How were they going to have a celebration she would enjoy AND keep it a secret? Leave it to a schoolteacher! Johnna West, Lee Gifford, Carol Crowson and Ann Lary put their heads together and came up with the perfect solution, a Birthday Honk and Wave Parade! It was held on Friday evening April 3 past the West home address on Vonda Drive!
In order to pull this off as a surprise, they had to keep her from listening to KSST on April 2 and 3 because they were making the plans known as a part of the Birthday reading on the Good Morning Show. Then, on Friday afternoon, they went over as usual, baked a cake, decorated her yard and got her dressed for her “party”. Then, they seated her outside to wait for her ‘guests’. And that’s when the honking and waving began! Happy Birthday, Nannie!
