Marcus Hill: Helping Build Futures Through 4H and FFA
February 28, 2020 – Businessman and agriculturist Marcus Hill, President of Ag Workers Insurance Company, remains one of the most successful and influential graduates of Sulphur Springs High School, due to his lifelong interest and involvement in 4H and FFA programs for youth. Although he is often in Ft Worth at his business headquarters, he continues to maintain family property in the Yantis area. One of the reasons for his success is that his early life was beneficially influenced by both 4H and FFA organizations.
Born in Sulphur Springs in 1947, Marcus began his leadership journey in 4H with membership in a local club at the age of 9 and served as Student Body President and as an FFA Officer in high school. After graduation, Marcus was elected as Texas State FFA President and traveled all over the state, speaking to high school students, ag science teachers, businesses and civic groups. During his year as president, he was able to meet and learn from great leaders, politicians and businessmen. He attended Texas A&M University and served as Student Senator, and was appointed by General Rudder to attend a National Convention at Vanderbilt University. He graduated Texas A&M in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education. While pursuing a Masters Degree in educational psychology, Marcus worked as a n insurance agent for National Farm Life Insurance. After graduation, he joined National Farm Life and it’s subsidiary, Agricultural Workers Auto Insurance Company full time, becoming President in 1988. Other business successes include forming Worth Casualty Company and Ag Pro Services.
Marcus is dedicated to giving back to the youth and the field of agriculture. He is an Honorary Vice President of the Ft. Worth Stock Show, and is on the Calf Scramble Committee. He is past President of the 4H Foundation Board and former member of the FFA Foundation Sponsor Board, a member of Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Advisory Board, former member of Youth Activities Committee at the State Fair of Texas, former advisory board for Tarrant County College of Business, member of College of Ag Dean’s Advisory Council at Tarleton State University, and a former member of Texas FFA Foundation.
You will often see Marcus at local stock shows and fairs supporting the youth with contributions or by purchasing their animals at the sale. He has bought many youths their first pair of Justin boots, and believes in raising grand champion kids! In addition to the contributions from Ag Workers, Mr. Hill frequently speaks at FFA events to pass along his knowledge and experience to the industry. Marcus is also a proud member of T.A.L.L., Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership program.
3 Hopkins County Residents Jailed On Warrants Alleging Child Sex Offenses
February 28, 2020 – Three people were jailed Thursday on warrants alleging sex offenses involving children, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Silas Whaley and Sgt. Brandon Mayes were alerted Ken Franklin Cabler, a wanted man, was at the station. They confirmed the warrant and took the 54-year-old Sulphur Springs man into custody at 2:15 p.m. Feb. 27, according to arrest reports.
Cabler remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning. Bond was set at $50,000 on the second-degree felony sexual assault of a child charge, according to jail reports.
SSPD Officer Cameron Robinson took Shawn Michael Matheny into custody at 1:53 p.m. Feb. 27 at his Calvert Street residence on an indecency with a child by sexual contact warrant, according to arrest reports.
Police were alerted at the beginning of the week. An interview was scheduled Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center with the alleged victim, a 10-year-old. Based on information gleaned, SSPD Sgt. Detective David Gilmore sought a warrant for Matheny’s arrest. Upon receiving the warrant, police served it and took Matheny to jail, according to Gilmore.
Matheny remained in Hopkins County jail Friday, Feb. 28, on the indecency with a child by sexual contact charge. Bond was set at $50,000, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Chaney reported seeing a pickup believed to belong to Noe Negrete traveling south on FM 269 south and turn into his residence. Aware that Negrete had an active warrant for his arrest, the deputy pulled into the driveway and made contact with the man, who had exited the truck and was walking toward the residence, Chaney noted in arrest reports.
The 35-year-old Pickton man taken into custody at 11:02 a.m. Feb. 27 and jailed for indecency with a child by sexual contact, according to arrest reports. Negrete remained in the county jail Friday morning, Feb. 28. Bond was set at $50,000 on the second-degree felony charge, 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.
Early Voting Concludes Today
Early voting by personal appearance in the Republican and Democratic Primary Elections ends today. Ballots may be cast by Hopkins County voters until 5 p.m. Feb. 28 in the Justice of the Peace 2 Courtroom located inside Hopkins County Courthouse Annex (the Tax/Justices of the Peace offices).
As of Thursday evening, 249 voters had cast ballots in the Democratic Primary and 1,625 in the Republican Primary, according to the total voter counts posted by the early voting judges.
That’s up from 924 voters casting ballots in the Republican elections and 137 in the Democratic elections as of 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24.
Election Day voting in Hopkins County will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 3 at the 12 voting center locations throughout the county:
- Our Savior Lutheran Church
- Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church
- Hopkins County Courthouse
- Grace Family Church
- Hopkins County Regional Civic Center
- League Street Church of Christ
- Saltillo ISD
- Cumby Municipal Building
- Sulphur Bluff ISD
- Como-Pickton CISD
- Miller Grove ISD
- North Hopkins ISD
Unlike state and national offices, only contested election at the county-level is between Charles Humphries and John Brian Beadle for the Republican nomination for Precinct 2 Constable. Bill Allan opted not to seek election to another term as Constable, Precinct 2.
Democrats are also asked to consider 11 propositions and Republicans to consider 9 propositions.
Inmate Accused Of Threatening Jail Staff, Fight While In Custody
A 22-year-old inmate at Hopkins County jail has been accused of making threats toward jail staff and a fight that reportedly occurred while he has been in custody, according to sheriff’s investigators.
Jakwaviane Kentrail Goodson allegedly made death threats to jail staff and Sheriff’s officers sought and obtained warrants for Goodson’s arrest on two charges of obstruction or retaliation. The threats were directed toward two individuals, according to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford. The offenses were reported around 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, according to sheriff’s reports.
Goodson was served at the jail with two obstruction or retaliation warrants at 1:10 p.m. Feb. 27, according to arrest reports.
Investigator Wade Sheets was also working a case in which Goodson was alleged to have been in a fight while in custody. A warrant was sought in connection with that alleged offense as well, according to Weatherford.
A warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was added at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 to the list of charges Goodson is facing.
Goodson has been in the county jail since his arrest July 20, 2019, on sexual assault of a child, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence charges, and obstruction or retaliation charges, according to jail reports. He was indicted on the sexual assault and tampering with evidence charge in October 2019, according to court 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.
Broadway at I-30 Flashing Red This Morning
Prepare for some minor delays at the intersections of Broadway and I-30 this morning as traffic ligthts at both intersections are flashing red.
TxDOT has been notified, and is sending a crew to investigate. No other details are available at this time. Stay tuned to KSST for updates.
Wildcats Baseball Team Opens the Regular Season With A Win And A Loss In Rose Classic
The Wildcats Baseball Team opened the regular season Thursday, February 27, with two games in the 29th Annual Rose City Classic at Mike Carter Field in Tyler. The Wildcats opened with a win over district foe Lindale, 10-2 and then lost to host Tyler Lee, 7-2.
The win over the Eagles had to feel good to Wildcats Coach Jerrod Hammack since the Wildcats really struggled against Lindale last season. The Eagles won all three district games against the Wildcats and also defeated the Wildcats in last year’s Rose City Classic.
In game two in Tyler Thursday, Tyler Lee jumped out to a 5-0 lead. The Red Raiders scored the games first 2 runs in the bottom of the second inning and tallied 3 more runs in the bottom of the third. The Wildcats tightened the game with 2 runs in the top of the fifth. Tyler Lee scored the game’s final 2 runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Red Raiders outhit the Wildcats, 7-2. The Wildcats committed the game’s only error. Wildcats pitcher Will Sims took the loss allowing 5 earned runs on 5 hits in 4 innings with 4 strikeouts and no walks. Sims also hit 2 batters. Aiken Owen pitched 1 inning for the Wildcats allowing 2 earned runs and 2 hits with a strikeout and a walk. Sims had a good day at the plate going 2 for 3 and driving in both Wildcats’ runs. Blake Vice had the other Wildcats’ hit. Jake Davis and Kolson Hale scored the Wildcats’ runs. The Wildcats did earn 7 walks. Davis and Hale had a walk, Jaxon Chaney and Jaden Janway had a pair of walks and Hayden Hurst walked once.
The Wildcats, 1-1 for the season, play Hallsville in the tournament at Carter Field at 4 p.m. Friday. Saturday the Wildcats complete play in the tournament with back to back games. The Wildcats face Waxahachie at 10 a.m. and then play Forney at noon.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
3 Jailed In Hopkins County Feb. 26 On Felony Warrants
At least 3 people were booked into Hopkins County jail Wednesday on felony warrants.
Commerce Police arrested 28-year-old Carey Lee Brookshire of Lone Oak on a Hopkins County warrant. Brookshire was held at a Commerce facility until Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies Aaron Chaney and Elijah Fite arrived at 10:37 a.m. Feb. 26 to take custody of him.
The deputies transported Brookshire to Hopkins County jail, where he was held on the third-degree felony prohibited weapon charge. He remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, Feb. 26 in lieu of $50,000 bond on the charge, according to jail reports.
An officer reportedly spotted Jose Manuel Galvan Jr. attempting to walk along the 1400 block of College Street around 8:45 a.m., but alleged the 27-year-old Sulphur Springs man was unable to keep his balance. While talking to the officer, Galvan admitted to narcotic use on Feb. 26, Sulphur Springs Police Officers Adrian Pruitt and Jameison Hawkins alleged in arrest reports.
The officer attempted to administer standard field sobriety tests, but Galvan couldn’t stand up straight, often leaning or hanging onto the patrol unit, the officers noted in arrest reports. Believing the man to a danger to himself and others, police took the man into custody and to jail for public intoxication, according to arrest reports.
Galvan was also charged with surety off bond on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, he remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, Feb. 27; bond was set at $5,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
His arrest Feb. 26 marks the second time this year’s he’s spent time in custody. He was also jailed from Jan. 18 to Feb. 18 on the possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Zachary Brown was made aware of of a warrant for 66-year-old Carol Kimbrell Hilburn’s arrest on a Cherokee County warrant. Brown went to Hilburn’s Jefferson Street residence and took her into custody at 9:42 p.m. Feb. 26 on the warrant for prohibited substance in a correctional facility charge, according to arrest reports.
Hilburn remained in Hopkins County jail until Feb. 27. Bond on the third-degree felony charge was set at $10,000, 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.
Lady Cats Softball Team Gets Two Losses On First Day Of Tough Allen Tournament Thursday
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo is a firm believer in getting his team ready for district play with a tough pre-district schedule. A good example was day one of the three day 21st Annual Allen Varsity Softball Tournament Thursday. The Lady Cats faced Wylie East and Class 6A Hebron. Wylie East won 7-2 and Hebron won 10-2. The Lady Cats are now 2-6 for the season.
In game one, Wylie East went up 1-0 in the top of the first on a wild pitch. A Lady Cats error contributed to two Lady Raider runs in the second as Wylie East went up 3-0. The Lady Raiders got a fourth run in the fourth inning and went up 7-0 with three in the top of the seventh. The Lady Cats got two runs back in the bottom of the seventh. The Lady Raiders outhit the Lady Cats, 10-5. The Lady Cats had 5 errors and Wylie East 1. Alli Fite led the Lady Cats at the plate going 2 for 3 with a double. Nylah Lindley was 1 for 3 with a run scored, an RBI and a double. Lindley also stole a base. Jadyn Harper and Colbria Harrison both were 1 for 3 at the plate. Harrison also stole 2 bases. Aliyah Abron scored a run for the Lady Cats Addison Caddell took the loss in the circle for the Lady Cats going all 7 innings and allowing 10 hits and 5 earned runs while striking out 3 and walking 3. Caddell also had two wild pitches.
In game two, Hebron’s offense broke open a game that was competitive early. Hebron went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. After the Lady Cats tied the game 1-1 in the top of the second, the Lady Hawks added three second inning runs to go up 4-1. The Lady Cats reduced the deficit to 4-2 with a run in the top of the third. Hebron scored three runs in the third and three more in the fourth to put the game away. The Hawks only outhit the Lady Cats 11-8. Both teams made an error. Harper and Heather Bowen were the top hitters in the game for the Lady Cats with three hits apiece. Harper hit a double and also had a stolen base. Bowen drove home a run. Fite and Lindley both went 1 for 3. Fite also had an RBI. Caddell and Grace Magnuson both scored runs. Magnuson also worked a walk as did Sailan Adair. Freshman Denver Wyatt got the pitching loss. Wyatt went 2 2/3 innings allowing 7 hits and 7 runs with one strikeout and 3 walks. Caddell went the final 2 1/3 innings allowing 4 hits and only 1 earned run with a strikeout and a walk.
The Lady Cats will play two games in the tournament Friday back on Allen Station 1 Field. The Lady Cats face Dallas W.T. White at 11 a.m. and then take on Hurst L.D. Bell at 5 p.m. The Lady Cats complete play in the Allen tournament Saturday on Allen High School Field 2 against Dallas Bishop Lynch at 5 p.m.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
NETLA, Farm Bureau Host Annual Buyers Luncheon
The annual Northeast Texas Livestock Association Buyers Luncheon, put on by NETLA and sponsored by Farm Bureau, was held on Thursday, February 27, 2020, at First Baptist Church.
Individuals, civic leaders and business and industry professionals attended because they recognize the value that agriculture brings to the lives of youth in our county.
As FFA chapter members in uniform began to serve the delicious prime rib meal, NETLA President Kevin Gibson welcomed the crowd, then introduced SSHS FFA Chapter Advisor John Holland, who also serves as Hopkins County Farm Bureau President.
Holland recognized Farm Bureau board members Hunter Cooksey, Mike Meisse, Danny and Debra Evans, Don and Marilyn Smith, Andy and Mary Lou Wright and Farm Bureau agent George Tenneberg.
Then, Holland invited two senior FFA members to share some of their personal experiences in FFA and what NETLA has meant to them during their high school years.
Savannah Allen, who is 2020 President of the SSHS FFA Chapter, related that she has shown cattle since she was in the 8th grade, goats since 3rd grade, and has had exposure to sheep and pig projects as well. Those years of experience also led to her showing cattle up through the FFA State level.
“Along the way, I got to make a lot of friends, which is important to me. I have also learned many valuable life skills, but it is NETLA which pointed me on a path toward a college education. I have saved my earnings from the NETLA Sale of Champions and set it aside. So, when I go to college next year, I will be spending the money I have earned to pursue a college degree,” Allen said. “I appreciate that, and my opportunities to have made friends all across the country.”
NETLA President Kevin Gibson and Hopkins County Farm Bureau President John Holland 
Sulphur Springs FFA Chapter President Savannah Allen 
North Hopkins FFA Chapter President Madison Joslin
North Hopkins FFA President Madison Joslin, a senior who plans to attend college to pursue a career in social work, said she has been blessed to make the sale every year because of the her drive and hard work she puts in.
“NETLA has shown me the value of hard work and that it is good to set goals for yourself. It has given me the chance to work on being kinder, meeting new people, and given me a platform to spread my love of the FFA. The NETLA show is so much more than winning and getting money,” Joslin said.
“NETLA teaches kids how to work hard and have a drive to achieve a goal. Everyone wants to hear their name be called for grand champion. So, we all work as hard as we can to achieve our ultimate goal,” said Joslin, concluding by offering thanks to “each one of you for making these experiences possible for me. I truly would not be the person I am today without each one of you making the impact you do each day in our community and without the NETLA sale.”
“It’s all about what we are trying to put back into these kids. I always tell everybody, we are raising kids, we just have animals to do it,” Gibson said.
The event was dismissed with encouragement for everyone to attend the two days of livestock shows and the exciting Sale of Champions in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center Arena February 27-29.
Diana Rosas and Eli Hamm, Sulphur Bluff FFA Chapter 
Carly Talley and Tatum White, Cumby FFA Chapter 
Jalyn Hrabal, Madison Joslin and Tate Myers, NHFFA Chapter
Wildcats Golf Team Finishes Seventh At Brookhaven Course Tournament On Monday
The Wildcats Golf Team played an unfamiliar course with a challenging layout in tough, windy conditions Monday, February 24, at a Dallas Jesuit sponsored tournament at Brookhaven Masters Country Club in Dallas.
The Wildcats finished in seventh place in a 21 team field.
Wildcats Golf Coach Jeremy DeLorge said the wind was howling and he added the course was a tight one filled with trees and nearby houses. He said the course had a lot of bunkers along with unforgiving greens. Coach DeLorge said the course was basically unknown to his players.
Wildcat Kip Childress shot a 9 over par 81 to finish in a 9th place tie. Grant Mohesky had an 88 to tie for 36th. Colton Bench shot 90 and tied for 47th. Caleb Kesting shot 93 to tie for 62nd. Rylan Brewer shot 96 and tied for 71st.
Coach DeLorge said the Wildcats had a lot of problems with their short game.
Next the Wildcats are scheduled to play in their fourth tournament of the fall Monday at a Dallas Lake Highlands sponsored tournament at Dallas Athletic Club.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
