An Honor Nobody Wants: Meet Two Gold Star Families
The Gold Star Lapel Button, or Pin, is distributed to members of the immediate family of a fallen servicemember by the Department of Defense.
Our nation’s military veterans hold a solid place in the hearts of Hopkins County residents. We stand proud of our Veterans Memorial in downtown Sulphur Springs and faithfully observe opportunities to honor veterans each year. While most local families have at least one military veteran of their own, statistics show that fewer than 1% of Americans volunteer to serve during peacetime or when there is no active draft. During the solemn Wreaths Across America event held locally on December 15, 2019 to honor fallen veterans, I realized I personally knew two American Gold Star Families, both of whom lost sons during combat. The moms, Dena Lloyd and Patti Sells, have been friends of mine for years and an enlightening conversation with them followed. It opened my eyes to the compassion as well as courage being demonstrated by Gold Star Families locally and in communities across the nation. As the parent of two members of the U.S. Army, I felt the conversation was well worth sharing. Enola Gay Mathews
Patti Sells lost her eldest son Tanner Stone Higgins on April 14, 2012 at age 23. He was killed during small arms fire while serving in Afghanistan. Following a military procession across Northeast Texas, Tanner was laid to rest in the Cypress Cemetery in Franklin County in early May 2012. He had enlisted in 2007 right after graduating from Sulphur Springs High School, and following basic training, quickly qualified for Army Ranger. Tanner was a Sgt. with the 175th Ranger Regiment with four previous deployments to Irag and Afghanistan at the time of his death. His mother Patti states, “I must say that Tanner’s sacrifice as well as his years of service had a profound influence on his two younger brothers who were still at home at the time. Dillon had signed up the previous year, right after graduation from Yantis High School. Dillon also qualified as an Army Ranger and served a tour of duty from 2012 to 2015. Noah, my youngest, just graduated from SSHS in May 2019 and is now undergoing Advanced Infantry Training in San Antonio, Texas. He plans to serve as a Combat Medic. Patti continued, “my sons and I are very close, and our mutual loss of Tanner has intensified our relationship. We found TAPS, a survivors support group, and I joined with other survivors for educational meetings and retreats in several locations across the country, including a visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC. TAPS, or Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, provides invaluable help and support to Gold Star Families, like ‘adventure therapy” which I attended. And yes, I too was seeking a way to ensure my son would not be forgotten. During the year following his death, Tanner’s high school graduating class became instrumental in my efforts toward the naming of a section of Texas State Highway 154 south of Sulphur Springs as the Tanner Higgins Memorial Highway. Also in 2013, I was able to establish the annual Tanner Higgins Warrior Run in his memory. Each year, we invite his Ranger unit, and at least 3 or 4 always come to join our community in the run. The camaraderie of Tanner’s fellow Rangers or ‘brothers’ is alive and well today, even 7 years later. Tanner actually has 18 ‘namesake babies’ among this family of brothers all across the country! And my son Noah’s career choice can probably be linked to this brotherhood of Rangers, too, through one of Tanner’s combat medic friends. I feel I am held close today by the ones who were my son’s family away from home. I actually have a “war room” decorated with things I’ve received in Tanner’s memory, like photos, artwork, quilts, handmade items, and so many heartfelt letters from these ‘brothers’, his circle of support during his military service”.
Dena and her husband were notified by U.S. Army personnel of the death on August 12, 2006 of their son Michael Chad Lloyd. Staff Sgt. He was age 24 when he was killed by an IED during an invasion on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq. Following military procedure, in time Chad’s body was transported home to Hopkins County and he was laid to rest in Sulphur Springs City Cemetery. Dena recalled, “the entire town turned out that summer day, August 20. All across the city, porches and yards were decorated with American flags. People lined the curbs as the procession went by, and many stood reverently at Chad’s gravesite. On the day my son came home, the war became more real to an entire population here. And as time passed, Jimmy and I wanted Chad to not be forgotten. We also wanted to show that these personal sacrifices are still being made every day by American families who have lost their sons and daughters. We quickly got involved in plans for the creation of the Veterans Memorial project, and for the next few years I served on the Committee that brought the beautiful Memorial to reality. Then, about 11 years after we lost Chad, we heard about Wreaths Across America and knew we’d found another great thing because of it’s mission statement, ‘Remember, Honor and Teach”. So in December 2018, I organized the first local observance to remember and honor veterans who rest in Sulphur Springs City Cemetery. Retired U.S. Army Sgt. James Clayton Bounds helped to organize the first event and Clay has served as Master of Ceremonies both years. In 2019, I invited Patti Sells to share what being an American Gold Star Family means. My heart was especially moved to invite her to speak because it was Patti, then a reporter with the local newspaper, who came to interview us about our loss back in 2006. I was impressed then by her professionalism and her tenderness, and as fate would have it, just six years later Patti herself was also living that experience as a Gold Star Mother.
Jimmy Lloyd spoke of his son’s professionalism of which they were always so proud during his military career. “Chad never called us a lot, and when he did, he didn’t talk about his work. But one time he phoned and as he and I talked, he admitted to being nervous about that night when they were to move out on a particularly dangerous mission. Fortunately, he survived that particular maneuver, but it gave me bit more insight about the one he didn’t survive. I wish I could have known his last thoughts as he went about his work on his last day. This bond that develops between Gold Star Families, well it’s real, but it’s a bond you don”t actually wish for others. I remember when Patti’s son Tanner’s procession went by my place of business, and I stood out front by the flag I had placed there. My heart was breaking for that family, because I knew what lay ahead for them. Also, the effects of the loss doesn’t go away in time, but becomes a permanent part of your life. Patti has put some very tangible things in place in her son’s memory. For Dena and I, the Veterans Memorial and now the Wreaths Across America project serve as ways to keep Chad’s memory alive as well as an extension of our grieving process. We especially appreciate the word “Teach” in the mission statement. There are future generations that will need to learn how to Remember and Honor, and then to Teach others. And there’s more. At one of the TAPS retreats for Gold Star Families, I was given a sculpture by Chad’s chaplain which actually stands in full size at Ft. Hood. The replica is of an Iraqi family and a US soldier, created by an Iraqi artist, symbolizing the benefits of our military presence in his village. We were told that ‘they kept us safer and helped improve our economy and education. Your sons and daughters were humanitarians’. That makes us very proud.”
The U.S.Army says regarding Gold Star families, ‘the strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our soldiers. The strength of our soldiers is our families. The Army recognizes that no one has given more for the nation than the families of the fallen.
Wildcats Soccer Team Wraps Up Play In Frisco Tourney With Close Loss Saturday
The Wildcats Soccer Team completed its first tournament of the season with a close loss to McKinney North Saturday, Jan. 4. The Bulldogs came out on top, 1-0.
The Wildcats ended up with a win, two losses and a tie in the prestigious Frisco ISD Dr. Pink Tournament. The Wildcats also tied El Paso Montwood, 1-1 Thursday, lost to El Paso Eastlake Friday, 5-1 and defeated Amarillo Caprock, 3-1 at the Ford Center Friday.
The Wildcats, 1-2-1 for the season, compete next in a Longview tournament taking place this Thursday through Saturday.
Saltillo Lady Lions Ring Out The Old And Ring In The New Year With Victories
The Saltillo Lady Lions, ranked #16 in Class 1A, won their first game of 2020 after wrapping up 2019 with four wins at a Miller Grove tournament. Friday, Jan. 3, the Lady Lions won at Quinlan Ford, 52-26.
The Lady Lions built their lead in every quarter. Anna Reeder led the Lady Lions with 23 points. Chandler Bain had 15 points. Julianna Giles and Allie Lane each had 4 points. Maddy Smith and Kristina Wade had 3 points apiece.
In a Miller Grove Tournament Dec. 27-28, the Lady Lions defeated CHESS 56-47, won over Como-Pickton 71-26, topped host Miller Grove, 35-15 and handled Clarksville, 67-37.
The Lady Lions are now 18-7 for the season.
They open district play against Avery Tuesday at Saltillo.
Sulphur Springs City Council To Consider Ordinance Setting Curfew For Minors
Sulphur Springs City Council will be asked to consider Tuesday night an ordinance amendment which would set curfew hours for minors.
On the 7 p.m. regular meeting agenda is Ordinance No. 2762, which would amend Chapter 15 of the city Code of Ordiances to include Article VII, which would establish curfew hours for minors.
The issue of curfew hours was raised during the regular Dec. 3 Sulphur Springs City Council meeting, after two local businesswomen asked for help with unsupervised middle school-aged children downtown.
The women said 12-year-old and 13-year-old youth are often heard at downtown eateries using profane language and discussing fighting, and have knocked over trash cans. As many as 20 youth have been seen in this group at a time. Some remain downtown after 10 p.m., and have even been seen in alleys between businesses, the restaurant personnel told the City Council. They expressed concern for the children left alone and asked for help. One woman even suggested perhaps a curfew for middle-school aged children and younger.
Sulphur Springs City Attorney Jim McLeroy at the Dec. 3 meeting said he plans to draft a proposal to present to the council at the January meeting to address the matter. On Dec. 7, McLeroy said he was already at work drafting a curfew for minors ordinance proposal. At that time, the city attorney said he anticipated proposing a curfew that would apply only to minors under 17 years of age who are unsupervised after certain hours each night and before certain hours in the morning in Sulphur Springs.
McLeroy said he anticipates the curfew would be in place from either 9 or 10 p.m. until about 6 a.m. weekdays and on weekends starting around 10 or 11 p.m.
The proposed ordinance would not apply to minors 16 and younger who: are with parents or legal guardians, are on task where they are supposed to be while running errands for parents, working or traveling to and from work, emergency situations, outside their residences, or involved with school or religious functions. Minors exercising their First Amendment rights by participating in an organized peaceful protest would also be protected, the city attorney noted in December.
The ordinance, as proposed by McLeroy, would apply to all public areas of the city, including parks, downtown and public parking lot — not residences. However, public areas identified as most troublesome will likely be enforced more heavily than other areas.
The ordinance will be presented for first reading, discussion and consideration at the regular City Council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. Jan. 7, at Sulphur Springs City Hall, 201 Davis St. Whether or not the ordinance is approved, as well as times for the curfew and any other lawful modifications, will be up to the City Council.
Wildcats Basketball Team Shoots Their Way To Win Over Princeton, 65-51
Shooting the ball well in the first half and defensive stops in the second half were big factors as the #5 ranked Wildcats Basketball Team earned a win over Princeton on the road Friday night, Jan. 3, 65-51.
Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta said the Panthers came out and punched the Wildcats in the face early but, he said, the Wildcats were able to shoot real well, which kept them in the first half. The Wildcats also had some first quarter turnover problems. Still the Wildcats were able to lead, 11-10 after one quarter and 29-21 at the half.
Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats responded in the second half by playing hard and getting defensive stops. The team also had four players score in double figures. The Wildcats led 46-39 after three quarters, then, outscored the Panthers 19-12 in the last quarter.
Senior guard Grayson McClure led the Wildcats with 17 points including five three-pointers. Senior Cameron Kahn had 13 points. Senior Day Day Hall added 11 points including one three point basket. Junior Boo Wilkerson had 10 points with three treys. Sophomore Justin Haire just missed double figures with 9 points with a three pointer. Lamodrick Johnson had 5 points with one three point basket.
The Wildcats improved their season record to 16-6.
The Wildcats play next at Sherman Tuesday night. The 7:30 p.m. game will follow a 6:15 p.m. contest between the Lady Cats and Lady Bearcats.
Also Tuesday, the Lady Cats JV will play at 4 p.m. with the Wildcats freshmen and JV teams playing at 5 p.m.
Hugo, Oklahoma Basketball Team Gets Victory At SSHS Gym Friday Evening, 57-42
The Hugo, Oklahoma Lady Buffaloes broke open a close game several minutes into the game with the Lady Cats on their way to a 57-42 win Friday evening at the main gym at Sulphur Springs High School.
Hugo led 15-8 after one quarter, 27-16 at halftime and 43-24 after three periods. The Lady Cats outscored the Lady Buffs, 18-14 in the fourth quarter but it was not nearly enough.
Lady Cat junior Nylah Lindley led the Lady Cats with 12 points with half of them coming in the fourth quarter. Sophomore post Hannah Cordell added 10 points. Freshman Addisyn Wall scored 8 points including two three-pointers. Junior Bre’Asia Ivery had 6 points. Freshman Serenity Lewis, senior Colbria Harrison and sophomore Addy Lamb all scored two points. The Lady Cats had to play without freshman Kenzie Willis who is out with an injury.
Hugo was led in scoring by Jordan Holman with 14 points.
The Lady Cats are now 6-16 for the season.
They play next at Sherman Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. right before the Wildcats and Bearcats play at 7:30 p.m.
Cypress Springs Special Utility District Water System Issues Boil Water Notice For Hagansport, Mt. Vernon Area
Due to water line break, a boil water notice was issued Jan. 3 for Cypress Springs Special Utility District water system customers in the Mount Vernon, Hagansport and Talco area.
Affected area spans from: Highway 37 north of Mount Vernon to Hagansport, west on FM 71 to County Road 1081 from Highway 37 and, East on FM 71 to Talco. All county roads off of Highway 37 between Mt. Vernon and Hagansport, and all county roads off of FM 71.
Texas Commission on Envirmental Quality has required the Cypress Springs SUD 0800003 public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption, including for hand and face washing, teeth brushing and drinking. Children, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria.
All customers should follow these directions.
- To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
- In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
- When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
- Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Those on Cypress Springs Special Utility District water are asked to share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
DPS: Yantis Man Jailed In Hopkins County On Marijuana Charge, Warrants
The 30-year-old passenger in a Cadillac Escalade stopped by troopers was jailed early Saturday morning on a misdemeanor marijuana charge, as well as two outstanding traffic warrants, according to arrest reports.
A Texas Department of Public Safety highway patrol trooper reported stopping the SUV for a defective head light at 12:09 a.m. Jan. 4, on State Highway 11.
On approach, the trooper reported smelling a marijuana odor coming from inside the vehicle. The front seat passenger, a 30-year-old Yantis man, allegedly admitted to having marijuana under his seat, the trooper alleged in arrest reports.
A probable cause search of the vehicle did indeed reveal a small baggy containing suspected marijuana under the front passenger’s seat, where the Yantis man had been seated; consequently, the passenger was arrested for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana, the trooper wrote in arrest reports.
The man was also found to have Class C misdemeanor warrants for his arrest for driving while license invalid and speeding. Fees owed on the charges totaled $858, according to arrest reports.
The Yantis man remained in the county jail mid-morning Saturday, Jan. 4, on all three charges, according to jail reports.
Wildcats Split a Pair of Games in Frisco Soccer Tournament on Friday
The Wildcats Soccer Team won one and lost one Friday, Jan. 3, at the Frisco ISD Dr. Pink Tournament.
The Wildcats opened Friday with a disappointing 5-1 loss to El Paso Eastlake. David Moreno had the lone Wildcats goal. It was an unassisted goal.
Later, playing at the Ford Center, the Wildcats got a solid win over Amarillo Caprock, 3-1. Omar Hernandez scored two goals, both of them assisted by Kevin Yanez. Manuel Esparza also scored an unassisted goal.
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton said it was a great game by the Wildcats. He added it was an amazing opportunity to play in the Ford Center, which Coach Upton called once in a life time.
The Wildcats now have a season record of 1-1-1.
The Wildcats complete play in the tournament Saturday at 11 a.m. at Toyota Field #16 in Frisco against McKinney North.
Hearings Scheduled Jan. 7, Jan. 9 Regarding Proposed Annex Of Former Thermo Mine Property
Two public hearings are scheduled next week regarding the proposed annexation of 4857.591 acres of property previously owned by Luminant.
The deal between the City of Sulphur Springs and Luminant to transfer the title for the former Thermo mine property to the city was closed at Friday, Nov. 22, Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell reported. Now, the city is in the process of annexing that parcel of land.
The proposed annexation is only for the old Thermo mine property, it does not include the 15.59 acres of railroad and 19.217 acres of right-of-way on FM 1870. No homes or other personal property between the city and the mine will be included in the annexation, if approved by Sulphur Springs City Council. By only including city property, the annexation process will be cut from what could take about a year down to about 60 days, according to the city manager.
The property does still contain land in the process of being reclaimed, as required for environmental standards; reclamation is an ongoing process that typically takes 7-8 years, according to the city manager.
The first hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m.Tuesday, Jan. 7, and the second at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, both at Sulphur Springs City Hall, 201 North Davis St.
According to the hearing notice, “all such persons interested in the above proposed annexation … Shall have the right to appear and be heard” during the two designated public hearings.
The first hearing is to be just prior to the regular January meeting of Sulphur Springs City Council, which is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 7. During the regular council meeting Tuesday night, the counsill will be asked to consider approving “land lease agreements at the old Thermo Mine/Luminant property and authorizing the city manager to execute said documents,” according to the Jan. 7 regular meeting agenda.
Annexing the property into the city would make the property available for future use, including potential industry, which would increase the city tax base and provide additional funding for city operations such as road and sewer repairs and upgrades. Interest has already been expressed by some business representatives to locate their company on the site, according to the city manager.
Additional information about the proposed annexation of the old Thermo mine property, including a service plan, maps, public notices and other documents, can be found on the city’s website.
