Lady Cats Soccer Coach Javier Aguayo Says His Lady Cats are Playing With Confidence
The Lady Cats Soccer Team topped Paris, 1-0 during a scrimmage Tuesday night (December 17) at Paris. Lady Cats first year Head Coach Javier Aguayo said the scrimmage went very well with the Lady Cats dominating the match and possession of the soccer ball. However the Lady Cats got off to a slow start offensively. Coach Aguayo said the Lady Cats seemed to be forcing thing and trying to play too fast. He said he kept encouraging them to slow down. He said the first half of the scrimmage resulted in some scoring chances but no goals. Still he said the Lady Cats are starting to play like he wants them to. Freshman Rebecca Stanley scored the scrimmages’ lone goal with about 15 minutes left to play. It was her second goal in two scrimmages. Coach Aguayo said the Lady Cats are excited for this season and their confidence level is high. Next for the Lady Cats is their Alumni Scrimmage on December 28. Coach Aguayo hopes enough Alums show up for a noon contest with the Lady Cats JV and for a Lady Cats Varsity match at 2 p.m.
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton Was Not Pleased After Scrimmage Tie With Paris Tuesday
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton noted that at least Tuesday (December 17) night’s 0-0 tie with a Paris team preseason ranked #6 in Class 4A occurred during a scrimmage game that does not count. Deep down he knows that the Wildcats still have a lot of time to get better. He encouraged his team to just put the game behind them but learn from it. Coach Upton’s main beef was that his team had lots of scoring chances that did not result in goals. He also did not like the number of turnovers that stifled the Wildcats Tuesday night at Prim Stadium. The Wildcats defense did not allow Paris any goals. Coach Upton said the Wildcats are the type of team that should not be giving up many goals to anyone. But right now the Wildcats biggest problem is scoring goals. After Christmas break, the Wildcats will be scrimmaging North Mesquite and Rowlett, both Class 6A teams, at North Mesquite on December 27. Then comes the Wildcats final scrimmage, their annual Alumni Scrimmage on December 28 with matches between Alums against the Wildcats JV at 5:30 p.m. and against the Varsity at 7:15 p.m.
Wildcats Basketball Coach Cipoletta Says Sometimes Even With a Loss, Team Gets Better
During a post game interview after Tuesday (December 17) night’s Wildcats’ home loss to Denton Guyer, 70-64, Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta repeated his philosophy of the benefits of scheduling the toughest opponents he can find. He said a kid that just wants to win 30 games a year might be at the wrong program here. He said the Wildcats, while he is head coach, would play the best of the best. Coach Cipoletta said his team got better Tuesday night by playing highly ranked 6A Denton Guyer. He said sometime even with a loss, a team gets better. Coach Cipoletta said the tough schedule pays off during district play and the playoffs. He noted that the Wildcats have played 8 close games this season. He said his team has been up by 3 with 3 seconds left and down by 3 with 3 seconds left. Coach Cipoletta said he knows it is not fun to lose, either for a competitive coach like himself or for his competitive players. He said everyone needs to keep the big picture in mind. The Wildcats need to continue to get better every day. Coach Cipoletta said he was proud of senior Justin Brock who had a big fourth quarter for the Wildcats scoring 9 points. He said Brock played with confidence and was an impact player. Senior Grayson McClure also scored 11 fourth quarter points and senior Day Day Hall added 5 points in the quarter. Next the Wildcats play Dallas Jesuit Friday night in the main gym at Sulphur Springs High School.
Hospital District Board Approves Purchase of 2 Ambulances For EMS Fleet
Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors Monday night approved purchase of two ambulances and a request to consider beginning the process to find a qualified architect to design a new EMS facility.
Ambulance replacement
Brent Smith, chief operating officer and director of EMS, asked that the hospital district board consider purchasing two demo ambulances as a reduced price instead of buying one ambulance to replace Medic 2. The ambulance was involved on Nov. 30 in collision with another vehicle and is expected to be considered a total loss.
“We got confirmation of that today that they agree you can’t really put that one back together,” Smith said of the insurance adjuster. “It sustained substantial damage.Part of that was because when it did roll over, it slid on its side. The impact was pretty high, as far as speed goes.”
Smith said having one less truck in operation has “kind of put us into an operational issue.” That leaves only one spare truck that can be put into service when others are being services or multiple transfers are needed in a short amount of time.
Purchasing two demo units that would mirror the current fleet’s cab and chassis would save the hospital district $60,000-$80,000 long term, and provide an additional ambulance that would provide an additional spare vehicle that could be staffed when needed to “back-fill” when other units are tied up on other cars or multiple transports. The ambulances were quoted at $150,000 each, according to Smith.
Purchasing a new which would have to be built, wouldn’t be ready until potentially May. If the demo units are purchased, the first ambulance could potentially be put online at the beginning of January and the other demo unit is expected to be available by the end of February, Smith reported.
Smith recommended applying $125,000 that’d been previously allocated for a remount project to be paired with the amount received from insurance on Medic 2 and applied to the purchase of the two demo trucks. The remount project then could be pushed back until next year’s budget
Smith said with the notification that Medic 2 is totaled, EMS staff can begin stripping it down in readiness for its removal. They may be able to salvage a few things from it to reuse, such as lights and sirens.
The hospital district board approved the ambulance purchase request, with Dr. David Black noting it to be such a great opportunity that it might be worth looking at demo units available for purchase before making future purchases.
New Facility
The hospital district too agreed to a request to consider beginning the process of finding a qualified architect to to design a new EMS facility.
The new facility is to replace the current building, which is in need of numerous repairs and has outlived its originally intended lifespan.
Smith, during the June hospital district board meeting, explained that the building is made of four module trailers put together. The section between the trailer housing the director’s office, crew and communications areas is separating and beginning to pull apart. So far, there’s no leak, but the area is pulling apart, Smith told the board in June.
The building is also pulling apart from the foundation, where its deteriorating along the concrete. The underpinning on the north wall is pulling away. On that wall, stucco has come off, exposing the wood, which has become rotten. The whole piece along and under the back door is rotted needs to be replaced, according to Smith.
The west corner wall where utilities such as a fiber line and electricity come into the building, and where the breaker boxes for the EMS facility are located, is starting to take on water, Smith told the board in June.
The upper southeast corner of the building has a dark spot that looks like it’s been burned. Smith said it has not burned, but there is a substance on it and a gap where it is coming apart, allowing water to enter the building. The stucco along that wall is coming off and the wood behind it is deteriorating.
The new building would be on hospital district-owned property near the current building, which would be removed.
After discussion Tuesday night, it was recommended that a survey be attained to determine whether the area near the current facility is feasible. Potential location of a pipeline, whether its in a flood plain and right-of-ways could prove the site unsuitable for a new EMS facility, it was noted at the Dec. 17 meeting. The board anticipates adding that to a future board agenda.
If the site is found suitable, Smith proposed constructing the new EMS facility that would include bays and housing for EMS on one side as well as an office big enough to host hospital district board meetings, conduct regular district business and potentially serve as a classroom for EMS training purposes on the other side.
Zoning Board Approves Special Use Permit, 2 Ordinance Variances
Sulphur Springs Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals approved a special use permit and two ordinance variances during the regular meeting Tuesday night.
A special use permit allowing construction of a communications tower at 402 Church St. was approved. Danny Weems had requested the permit to improve the service offered by his business, Cross Country Communications. The tower is approximately 60 feet higher than the current tower, located on top of the building. The new tower also would hold additional equipment as well, Weems told the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night.
The permit was approved as recommended by city staff, pending Weems obtaining a letter from the FAA indicating no hazard will exist from the proposed facility. Also, the applicant would need to comply with all FCC requirements for pre-clearance, which would be provided before the city officially issues the permit, according to City Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski.
The ZBA too approved a variance request from Jonathan Kennedy to divide a 120 tract of land on Loop 301 at County Road 3503, most of which is located outside the city boundary into four parcels without extending public utilities, as it pertains to property in the city, according to Niewiadomski.
Only one person, who lives near the property, reportedly expressed concern that if the owner was granted a subdivision variance, that they’d do it again. Officials reported that for any further subdivisions in the city the owner would be subject to the same process to request a special permit, according to the community development director
A variance request was granted on a 4-1 vote for a sign ordinance to allow a single pole off premise digital sign at 629 Gilmer St. The intent of the property owner, Coy Johnson, was to install the bill board for digital advertising for local businesses and charitable organizations downtown, Niewiadomski reported.
The city received one letter, from a neighboring resident who expressed concern that the sign would be visible from his Davis Street back yard.
A nearby business owner too expressed concern that a sign would obstruct visibility to his property. The sign will be 10 feet by 24 feet by 35 feet. The sign will be approximately 25 feet off the ground.
Gina Law with Lake Country CASA and Judy Gilreath reportedly expressed support for the sign, noting the boost it could give to organizations by helping to spread awareness.
The lone vote against the sign was reportedly because the board member did not feel it is in the spirit and intent of the ordinance, city officials reported.
Reasons to Shop Downtown Biz Alliance "Jingle Mingle" Thursday Night Downtown!
Take the advice of downtown merchant Marlene DeYong of Marlene’s Sass and Class Boutique when she says, “bring a little jingle in your pocketbook and come mingle with friends while shopping and eating at our small businesses downtown this Thursday Night December 19! And find out more at our Facebook page, LadiesNiteOut, created specifically for this event! The in-store prizes and contents of the $350 Grand Prize basket are listed there! And remember, there is also great shopping for the men on your list, too! All you really have to do is come downtown Thursday evening, go into the shops and restaurants between 5:30 and 7:30pm, and sign up at each one. Then attend the wrap-up event at 7:30 pm at Hope Smith Interior Design, 115 Gilmer, where we’ve got live music, refreshments and holiday cheer awaiting you. Must be present to win the prizes!”
Hope Smith is hosting the wrap-up mixer at her beautifully decorated home decor showroom. It is the intent of Hope and other members of the Downtown Business Alliance to make this one of the most memorable Christmas events you attend this year!
2 Arrested On Aggravated Sexual Assault Charges
Koby Mahl 
Emily Rutherford
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office arrested Koby Chase Mahl, 20, of Cumby and Emily Rutherford, 18, of Miller Grove Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 17, on one warrant each for aggravated sexual assault, according to arrest reports. Both remained in the county jail at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Bond was set at $100,000 bond on the charge, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford released the following around 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, regarding the allegations:
Wildcats Soccer Scoreless Scrimmage
Wildcats and Paris Battle to 0-0 Tie in Soccer Scrimmage Tuesday night at The Prim
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton said his Wildcats had a frustrating night Tuesday night (December 17) as they ended a scrimmage against Paris tied 0-0 at Gerald Prim Stadium. Paris is preseason ranked #6 in Class 4A. The scrimmage was the second of the season for the Wildcats. Coach Upton said his team had chances and more chances but made no goals. He added the Wildcats committed lots of mistakes and turnovers making it not a good performance night. Coach Upton said the Wildcats JV did come through with a 5-1 scrimmage win against Paris. He said he was very proud of them adding they had great goals and great team effort. The Wildcats will have their third scrimmage of the season Friday, December 27 as they take on North Mesquite and Rowlett at North Mesquite.
Wildcats Come Up Short Against Denton Guyer
Despite Furious Fourth Quarter Rally, Wildcats Can’t Make Up Deficit in 70-64 Home Loss to Denton Guyer
After suffering through a bad third quarter, the Wildcats Basketball Team, ranked #17 in Class 5A, staged a serious fourth quarter rally but could not come all the way back in a 70-64 home loss to Denton Guyer, the #5 ranked team in Class 6A, Tuesday night (December 17) at the main gym at Sulphur Springs High School. Guyer trailed at the half, 32-29 but then came out hot in the third quarter. Guyer’s 8-0 run put them up 37-32. Guyer outscored the Wildcats 20-7 in the third period to go up 49-39. The Wildcats got an 11 point fourth quarter from Grayson McClure, a 9 point period from Justin Brock and 5 points from Dal Day Hall to just about erase the deficit. Almost. The Wildcats got to within 66-64 in the last two minutes of the game. After that, the Wildcats could not get a steal and were forced to foul. Guyer’s junior Brayden Bradshaw went 4 for 4 from the foul line down the stretch and the Wildcats could not answer. Guyer improved their season record to 11-2 while the Wildcats slipped to 11-5. Guyer senior Tyler McGhie led all scorers with 20 points. The Wildcats were led by senior Day Day Hall with 19 points including 2 three-pointers. Senior Grayson McClure scored 17 points with 4 three-point baskets. Senior Justin Brock scored 9 points with 1 three. Senior Cameron Kahn had 8 points. Junior Boo Wilkerson hit 2 three-pointers for 6 points. Sophomore Justin Haire scored 3 points. Junior Lamodrick Johnson had 2 points. The Wildcats had not lost a home game since January 13, 2017 when Mount Pleasant defeated the Wildcats, 51-39. The Wildcats will seek to begin a new home winning streak when they host Dallas Jesuit Friday night.
