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At Monday morning's commissioner's court, Sulphur Bluff Volunteer Fire Department received an award from Sulphur Bluff Masonic Lodge #246. The Community Builders Award is given to recognize non-mason residents for their outstanding community service. On behalf of the Lodge, Commissioner Wade Bartley presented the award to the VFD. Staff photo by Miranda Caddell -
Hopkins County Fire Department received a donation from Atmos Energy. Staff photo by Miranda Caddell
Hopkins County FD gets Atmos donation
Hopkins County Commissioners met Monday morning for their regular meeting. Sulphur Bluff VFD received an award and Hopkins County Fire Department received a donation from Atmos Energy. Citizens also attended to discuss their concerns on the Dike solar farm.
SULPHUR BLUFF VFD
Sulphur Bluff Volunteer Fire Department received the Community Builder Award from Sulphur Bluff Masonic Lodge #246. The award is given to recognize non-mason residents for their outstanding community service. On behalf of the Lodge, Commissioner Wade Bartley presented the award to the VFD.
ATMOS DONATION
Atmos Energy presented Hopkins County Fire Department with a multi-gas meter. The meter will help keep the firefighters safer when working. Fire Chief Andy Endsley said it's an important tool, and when faced with a gas odor, it will be able to help them determine what gas they are dealing with so the issue can be solved.
The department received the tool a few months ago, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, could not have a presentation until now.
SOLAR FARM
Three Hopkins County residents spoke during the meeting about their concern for the solar farm that is currently being planned to be constructed in Dike.
Michele Barnes said she moved to Dike 18 months ago from Houston and was concerned about the long-term effects the farm would have on the area. Barnes requested a meeting; according to commissioner Bartley, a meeting is in the works, and they are looking for a venue that would work during the pandemic.
Save Dike from Solar spokesperson Michael Pickens spoke to commissioners. According to Pickens, the farm is a “massive power plant operation,” and would create noise similar to that of a highway, and would have two substations.
Resident Andrew Froneberger has lived in the area for 25 years, and married into a family with roots going back generations. Froneberger stated that he didn’t work all his life to buy a piece of property to have it disrupted.
“I don’t want it disrupted by bringing the city to the country,” he said.
Froneberger also spoke of his concern that the plant will not create local jobs.
SETTLEMENT
According to county judge Robert Newsom, Hopkins County entered a lawsuit against opiate companies a few years ago, for the damage that opiate abuse has done in Hopkins County.
Newsom announced that the county has received a settlement of $149,518, and the money must be used to combat the opioid crisis.