Dave Kirkpatrick

The Upshur County Sheriff's Office has released the name of the teen arrested for seriously vandalizing the Union Grove High School Friday night. Seventeen-year-old George Merrill III allegedly used a baseball bat to extensively damage display cases, water fountains, urinals, and multiple glass-door entry ways. He's charged with 2

Forty-one-year-old Basil Scott Hammond was arrested by Hopkins County deputies last week after a traffic stop for failure to stop at a stop sign in Sulphur Springs. A subsequent search by a K9 turned up multiple packages containing THC-infused edibles, 98 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale and packaging materials. HE was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and at last report was being held in the Hopkins County jail under $75,000 bond.

Sulphur Springs police have identified the man killed Thursday night in a crash between an SUV and an 18 -wheeler. Officers say the 18-wheeler was westbound on Industrial Drive West and a Chevrolet Tahoe was behind it. The driver of the Tahoe, 25-year-old Alfonso Alverez then crash into the rear of the 18-wheeler. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The occupants of the 18 wheeler were not injured.

The Sulphur Springs AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide program will again provide free income tax preparation and filing services during the upcoming tax filing season between February and April. Trained and Internal Revenue Service-certified Tax-Aide volunteers will be offering this service at the Sulphur Springs public library. Appointments are required – call 903-885-4926 or go online to

The Oklahoma Highway reports that a Pontotoc County man killed in a single vehicle crash Thursday night in Murray County is believed to have suffered a medical event. Sixty-year-old Alfred Atchison of Roff was driving on Hwy 177 north of Sulphur when he ran off the road and hit a fence. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park has confirmed that a mother and her two -year-old son were found dead in a car Friday night in the parking lot of the Walmart in Hugo. A six-year-old is expected to survive. No other information has been released and the investigation is continuing.

The Choctaw Nation has appointed a veteran lawman to be the new Chief of the Choctaw Lighthorse Police. Michael Woodruff has 30 years experience in law enforcement and previously served with Durant PD, Johnston County Sheriff's Office and Madill PD. He's a graduate of the FBI National Academy and was the Law Enforcement Coordinator for Oklahoma's Regional Organized Crime Information Center.

The latest Texas jobs report shows the state set another record with nearly 15-million people working. Glenn Hamer, who heads the Texas Association of Business, is not surprised by the trend because there have been dozens of reports, showing people are moving to the Lone Star State. He says, in order to keep this pace, the legislature needs to help, they're calling on lawmakers to beef up the state's infrastructure. That's everything from power to water and roads.

Greenville police were dispatched to a location after receiving a report that someone had been shot and the suspect was still on the scene. Responding officers located a 62-year-old man identified as the suspect standing between two cars and a 36-year-old man, who was the victim lying on the ground.

Hopkins County United Way Executive Secretary Susan Berning reported Monday that the 2024-2025 Campaign year-end pledge total was $177,269.34. Because of the generosity of the community, the United Way will be able to fully fund the 18 organizations this Campaign helps support.