Burn Ban Lifted by Hopkins County Judge
Just in time for the Hopkins County Stew Contest, County Judge Robert Newsom has lifted the county burn ban. Rainfall Thursday night and Friday provided the basis of the judge’s decision signed at 4 p.m. Friday, October 23. Monday morning October 12, during Hopkins County Commissioners’ Court, the commissioners had agreed with County Judge Robert Newsom who had issued an emergency burn ban during the prior week. In a 4-0 vote,...
County Judge, City Mayor Declare Constitution Week September 17-23
In honor of Constitution Week, which begins Thursday, September 17th, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and City of Sulphur Springs Mayor Kayla Price read and presented proclamations to Regent Barbara Cockrum and members of the Captain David Phillips Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution Thursday morning in the County Commissioners Courtroom. Judge Newsom thanked those present to honor the constitution. He called the...
Budget and Rural Meals Fill County Judge’s Plate
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom has had a lot on his plate lately. Thursday morning KSST News talked with Newsom about the NETO investigation that could have an impact on a county rural meals program and about budget preparation. Newsom said that some funding that had been coming to the county may not be available. NETO funded meals for homebound will not be funded. County Commissioners along with Judge Newsom are speaking with an...
Newsom Seeks Commissioner Precinct 1 Nomination
Maci Newsom of Hopkins County announced today her candidacy for Commissioner of Precinct 1 in the Republican primary. Newsom was born and raised in Hopkins County. She is a graduate of Sulphur Springs High School and Columbus State University. Mrs. Newsom is married to Jonathan Newsom, also born and raised in Hopkins County, and is the proud mother of their two children, Noah, who is eight years old and Anna-Claire, who is six. Her...
County Judge Issues Declaration of Disaster
Monday afternoon Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom issued a declaration of disaster for the county. The declaration follows a month of heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms that swept across much of the county. Newsom said his tardiness in issuing the declaration is attributed to the lack of electrical power and problems with the county’s phone system immediately following the May 25th severe weather. Although the initial...
Newsom, Commissioners Return to Austin to Promote SB1158
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and the County Commissioners are expected to make a trip to Austin early this week to attend a discussion of Senate Bill 1158, which would allow the county government, with voter approval to pay for their new County Jail by an increase in the sales tax. The discussion will take place Tuesday at 9 a.m. before the Senate Finance Committee in the State Capitol.
District Judge Northcutt Orders Re-trial for Stabbing Death Case
District Judge Eddie Northcutt rejected the original plea bargain offered to Roy Dean Duffey in 2011, in the 8th District Court today. This will essentially restart the entire trial process including jury selection. The re-trial is tentatively slated for Summer 2015. Duffey is accused of the stabbing death of David Harrison Cooper in Sulphur Springs on February 20, 2011. Here is a brief summary of events is this case. Days...
County Judge on Proposed Sales Tax Increase
County Judge Robert Newsom agreed that Hopkins County has the highest hotel/motel tax and would have the highest sales tax should Senate Bill 1158 be approved as it is written and the tax approved by Hopkins County voters. Newsom also told KSST/Channel 18 news and ksstradio.com that the sales tax would only role back the county property tax for the current year. The tax revenue from the potential additional sales tax could only be...
Judge Newsom Proposes a Fairer Way to Pay For New Jail
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and most of the County Commissioners were in Austin several days this week. Judge Newsom is proposing an idea that if approved by the State Legislature could result in a slight increase in sales tax here that would offset the six-cent increase in the tax rate affecting property taxes to build the $16-million County Jail. I talked with Judge Newsom Friday morning. [pb_vidembed title=””...
Judge Newsom Is Doing Double Duty
Next week will be a very busy one for Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom. As of January 1, the county’s two Justices of the Peace, B.J. Teer in Precinct 1 and Brad Cummings in Precinct 2, are new to the job. Both will be in job-related school next week. Their duties will be performed by Judge Newsom who will be doing his job and theirs too all week long, setting bonds at the jail and considering cause of death for the deceased....
