Vol. 141 | No. 110 Saturday, September 7, 2019 ssnewstelegram.com | Railroad NETEX Shutterbugs take a walk Annual photography contest sign-up underway board By JILLIAN SMITH jillian.smith@ ssnewstelegram.com address The Sulphur Springs down- town area will again be the meeting space of local photogra- budget phers for the annual Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk, a contest that last yeargrew worldwide to concerns more than 24,000 amateur and professional picture-takers. Funds could run The local Photowalk, now in its eighth year and sponsored by out as early as the Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance, encourages next summer area photographers of all skill levels to share their art and ex- n Editor’s note: In order to verify ploring photography for a few claims in this section as well as previ- hours. ous financial statements made by NE- The DBA will be inviting TEX, the News-Telegram requested experienced photographers as access on June 25 to NETEX’s official Walk Leaders who will share banking records from 2014 to 2019. their experience with the par- NETEX appealed to the Texas Attor- ticipants to help them develop ney General to withhold those docu- their creative eyes and skills, ments from the News-Telegram. Nei- including composition, light- ther NETEX nor the News-Telegram ing and other details. Last year’s has received the Attorney General’s Walk Leaders were local pro- decision about whether the official fessional photographer Isabel records can be released. Reyna and Leesa Toliver, both of whom were past participants in By TAYLOR NYE [email protected] the Photowalk. Participation is free, but reg- istration is requested, though The regular Sept. 5 session of the Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transpor- not necessary. Those wanting a tation District (NETEX) met to discuss chance to enter into any of the finances, a meeting with county judges, Scott Kelby Worldwide Photow- and personnel matters regarding the alk contests must register online executive director. prior to the event at https:// worldwidephotowalk.com. A See Rail, page 2A professional camera is not re- quired, as cell phone photos are accepted for the contests. | City Government Everyone will have the op- portunity to win prizes both at the local level and through Scott Council Kelby’s Photowalk organization. Local participants will have their work recognized and priz- Hopkins County resident Johnny Anderson is captured as “Mountain Man” by Steve Hack in the es given out at a reception to be 2018 Worldwide Photowalk. passes announced at a later date. Courtesy/DBA Through the Worldwide Pho- Prizes for these contests include towalk website, Walk Leaders IF YOU GO lens kits, printers, gift cards, apps will upload the registered local 16 items and camera accessories. n What: 8th annual Worldwide Photowalk winners’ photos that will then Walk Leaders and photogra- n When: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 be reviewed by Scott Kelby. He phers will meet at 9 a.m., Satur- n Where: Whimsy Boutique & Wine Bar, 300 Connally St. will chose one Grand Prize Win- day, Oct. 5, at Whimsy Boutique in Sulphur Springs ner and 10 finalists. There is also & Wine Bar, 300 Connally St. in n Cost: Free a mobile phone photo contest. Sulphur Springs. The Photowalk n More Info: https://worldwidephotowalk.com | Education School districts receive annual scores All ISDs either maintain, improve upon overall grade By TODD KLEIBOER each district and individual are based on STAAR perfor- to other districts or schools with todd.kleiboer@ school based on three indi- mance; students’ readiness to similar levels of student pover- Finance Director Lesa Smith (left) and ssnewstelegram.com cators: student achievement, enter the military, college or a ty. To showcase the district’s school progress and closing career; and graduation rates. City Secretary Gale Roberts during or school’s strengths, the high- Local school districts either the gaps (student equity). The School progress measures the September city council meeting. er component, be it academic Staff photo by Taylor Nye improved or maintained last better grade in student achieve- how well the students per- year’s letter grades in the latest ment or school progress and the formed on the STAAR test this growth or relative performance, release of report cards by the student equity grade are used year compared to last year, and is used for measurement. Water, sewer, Texas Education Agency. for overall grade calculations. it considers how well the stu- See , page 12A gas and new Letter grades are given to Student achievement grades dents are performing compared Grades ordinances on docket This week’s online poll By TAYLOR NYE The small [email protected] Texas town How are you supporting During the regular September of Greater our Wildcats this year? meeting of the Sulphur Springs city council, members passed 16 ordinanc- Tuna es unanimously, most of which were Page 14A budget items for the fiscal year 2020. See page 4A for online See City, page 2A voting results. TODAY’S WEATHER INDEX FOLLOW $1.25 For the Record .......3A Classifieds ...............9A See the Hot High: 101 °F forecast, Sports ......................6A Comics ..................11A page 4A Obituaries ...............8A Lunch Menus .......12A ssnewstelegram.com Page 2A Saturday, September 7, 2019 Sulphur Springs News-Telegram | Sulphur Springs FD | Commissioners Court Elected City temporarily Brinker VFD to Officials U.S. Sen. John Cornyn be recognized 517 Hart Senate Office down one fire engine Bldg. By TAMMY VINSON Washington, D.C. 20510 Engine two is suffering from a “blown [email protected] 202-224-2934 Chief hopes turbo,” Fire Chief David James said. “As of right now, we’re trying to take it back to The Hopkins County Commissioners Court will U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz mechanical issues Dallas to have warranty work done on it.” meet for a regular session, which will include a pub- The department’s ladder truck had “a lic hearing on the proposed 2020 budget prior to 455 Dirksen Senate Office fixed soon few minor issues,” but according to James approval, as well as recognition of the Brinker Vol- Blvd. unteer Fire Department. Washington, D.C. 20510 Staff Reports it is now operational. The court is expected to approve the salary for [email protected] On whether the city will need to pur- elected officials and formally adopt the proposed 202-224-5922 chase a new vehicle, James said it has “been 2020 budget and the 2019 property tax rate of According to Sulphur Springs Fire De- looked at and talked about, but at this time .624892 cents per $100. Congressman partment, engine two is currently experi- we do not know what the status of that is.” Commissioners will also conduct a final public John Ratcliffe hearing on the plan for funding the preservation encing mechanical issues and will not be in “We are going to do everything we can and restoration of the county clerk’s records archive 325 Cannon HOB commission from a week to up to a month. to provide services,” James stated. before they formally approve and adopt the plan Washington, D.C. 20515 into the 2020 budget. 202-225-6673 The commissioners will consider approving pay- ing election workers at the rate of $12 per hour. This will also include up to four hours of training. Texas Sen. Bob Hall The court will recognize Kristy Springfield for P.O. Box 12068 Sulphur successfully completing training and fulfilling state Austin, Texas 78711 Springs Fire requirements to become a licensed On-Site Sewer Department 512-463-0102 Facilities Designated Representative. Springfield re- Engine No. ceived her license from the Texas Commission on 2 is out with Environmental Quality on Aug. 29. Texas Rep. Dan Flynn mechanical The court will approve a proclamation recogniz- problems, P.O. Box 2910 ing Brinker Volunteer Fire Department for its ser- the de- vice to Hopkins County. Austin, Texas 78768 partment Also on the agenda for court approval are pre- 512-463-0880 announced vious meeting minutes; utility easments, payment thisweek. of bills, revenues, expenses, payroll and financial Staff photo Gov. Greg Abbott statements; any other grants or donations present- by Taylor P.O. Box 12428 Nye ed; disposal of assets requests; and any resolutions or proclamations presented. Austin, Texas 78711 The commissioners court regular session will 512-463-2000 convene at 9 a.m. Monday in the first floor court- tative Mickey Barker asked. NETEX has a negative bal- room of the Hopkins County Courthouse. “At $20 a car?” ance of $225,866.76. Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton Rail “I don’t have that num- A $75,000 line item for 300 West 15th St. Continued from page 1A ber,” Angie Huie, represen- transitional maintenance Adoption of updat- Austin, Texas 78701 tative for Blacklands Rail- was described as “things ed service credits would road, stated. “That would that might need to be done, City raise city retirement 512-463-2100 COUNTY JUDGES probably be going off of the physically, safety issues that Continued from page 1A matching from 8% to OUTREACH MEETING last number Wayne [Defe- absolutely should be ad- 8.02%, Frazier said. Hopkins County Judge baugh, Blacklands presi- According to Frazier, A meeting between the dressed,” according to Lee. Robert Newsom NETEX executive board dent] gave them.” “It’s just a guess if it’s on the Ordinance 2751—A the city renews its policy and judges of five of the six “Do we have that to low end or high end at this requested amendment on updated service cred- P.O. Box 288 counties in which NETEX compare to past years?” point.” on the fiscal year 2019 its on an ad hoc basis.