39 Members Of SSHS Choir Earn 1s At Region; 33 Advance to State Sole & Ensemble Contest
Sulphur Springs High School Choir students had great success at the regional UIL Solo & Ensemble contest Friday.
The students earned 39 first division ratings on solos and advanced five ensembles to Texas State Solo & Ensemble at the regional UIL Solo & Ensemble contest on Jan. 31. Out of the 39 soloists earning medals, 33 advanced to Texas SSEC, which will be held in May at UT in Austin, according to SSHS Choir Instructor Beth Cole.
“The non-state qualifiers took grade 2 solos. Grade 1 solos and ensembles advance to state,” Cole explained.
Among the group of distinguished students, there were many returning state qualifiers. Seniors Hope Williams and Lisseth Carmona are four-year state qualifiers for Solo & Ensemble, according to Cole.
Advancing as both soloists and members of ensembles were Hope Williams, Alex Walker, Sallee Spraggins, Lausen Ost, Danielle Verlander, Savannah Lilley, Litzy Chacon, Mia Hicks, Meredith Hooten, Layla McCarley, Haylee Fletcher, Rose Oyad, Ashland Hooten and Bailey Early.
SSHS students advancing to state as part of an ensemble were Misti Taylor, Michael Mercer, Lisseth Carmona, Nick Ullman and Chariti Johnson-Hill.
Advancing soloists include Sean Dial, Jokobe Yarbrough, Te’Asia Hopkins, Isabella Hill, Trinity Woods, Rebecca Carnes, Courtney Stewart, Aidyn Rogers, Lindsey Plumley, Kylie Horton, Ashanti Pineda, Jatavion Hall, Madison Martin, Anthony Arroyo,Wyatt Smithson, Gregg English, Freddy Botello, Caleb Massey and Hayden Funderburk.
* Denotes State Qualifiers
For information about SSISD visit the school website.
Additional stories about SSHS Wildcat and Lady Cat sports, fine arts, career and technology education programs, and school board stories, can be found at KSSTRadio.com. We broadcast games year-round live on the radio and, when allowed, via our YouTube channel.
Sulphur Springs High School Kicks Off CTE Month With Proclamation From Mayor
Sulphur Springs High School began the month-long celebration of career and technical education programs with a proclamation delivered by Sulphur Springs Mayor John Sellers designating February as Career and Technical Education Month in the city. SSHS staff and students join schools from across the country in the observance of CTE Month.
Students from several of the school’s CTE classes joined SSHS CTE Director Jenny Arledge in the school library Monday morning to welcome Sellers and be recognized for their participation in career and technical organizations.
Sellers noted the vital role CTE programs provide students in planning for and preparing them for careers. CTE program provide opportunities for students to gain academic, technical and employ-ability skills necessary for true career readiness. Participation in CTE programs provide authentic, meaningful experiences that improve the quality of their education and increase their engagement and achievement, Sellers noted.
CTE allows students to explore career opportunities earlier in their educational experience, which in turn enables them to make more informed decisions about their academic coursework and to pursue programs of study and career pathways.
CTE courses and programs provide integrated programs that can lead to industry-recognized credentials to help bridge the skills gap for qualified professionals business leaders report in healthcare, energy, advanced manufacturing and information technology business leaders have been reporting, according to Sellers.
“Ensuring that employers have access to a qualified workforce is a crucial step in ensuring productivity among the business and industry communities as well as continued American economic growth and global competitiveness,” the mayor read from the proclamation.
Sellers urges “all citizens to become familiar with the services and benefits offered by the Career and Technology Education Programs to this community and to support and participate in these programs to enhance individual skills and productivity.”
Arledge asked students involved in various student career and technical organizations, including Business Professionals of America, Future Farmers of America, Health Occupations Students of America, National Technical Honor Society and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America members to stand or raise their hand to be recognized.
“Congratulation. If you’re not involved in a career and technical education program, whatever CTE course that you’re in and you’re coming from today, you have that opportunity to get involved, and I encourage you to do that. That’s going to give you that workplace skills that are going to be competitive in a competitive nature that you get to go and travel and you get to go and compete in different career path areas that are relevant to what you are following as a career,” Arledge said.
Free Tax Preparation Offered at Wesley UMC
Trained volunteer tax preparers are ready to assist you this tax season. Bring the suggested documents with you when you come in! It is completely free of charge. You don’t have to be a Senior Citizen to use this free service!
UPDATE: TAMUC Campus Locked Down lifted
The precautionary shelter in place recommendations for Texas A&M University Commerce have been lifted, the school reports on their website.
However, due to the ongoing investigation of three gunshot victims at Pride Rock Hall, the surrounding areas were still blocked off at 1:45 p.m., however. The Rayburn Student Center was made available for students who may be displaced by the ongoing investigation, the reported.
Counselors are also available in Rayburn Student Center conference rooms on campus for anyone who needs assistance coping with this situation.
Students, faculty and staff at Texas A&M University-Commerce were instructed around noon Monday to take shelter and stay in place until further notice as a precautionary measure. All classes were canceled for the remainder of the day and evening at the A&M-Commerce campus, according to a TAMUC post.
At 1 p.m., a notice on TAMUC campus website and social medial pages stated: “A&M-Commerce UPD is actively investigating three gunshot victims in Pride Rock Residence Hall on the A&M-Commerce campus. There have been two confirmed deaths. The third victim has been taken to the hospital for treatment. UPD has stationed officers throughout the campus, including all key gathering points, for the safety of the campus community.”
Seniors Center Becomes a Driving Classroom 2x Year
Several Seniors took advantage of the Affiliated Driving Class at the Senior Citizens Center on Thursday, January 3Oth, 2020. This class can give you a 10% Discount off of your Liability Insurance for 3 years. The Senior Citizens Center offers the class a couple of times a year. The class is also good for a Ticket Dismissal.
Ruling On Deaths of Couple Found In Their SH 19 Home Friday Still Pending
The investigation into the deaths of Joe Dan and Melinda Edmonson is ongoing.
The official ruling regarding the deaths of the pair found in their State Highway 19 home Friday evening with apparent gunshot wounds is still pending results of the initial autopsy, which officials were still waiting to receive Monday morning, according to Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum.
Emergency officials were told at 6:27 p.m. Jan. 31 that the woman was cold to the touch when found in the home by a family member. Hopkins County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched, according to sheriff’s reports.
At 6:33 p.m. Jan. 31, emergency dispatchers received a second call from the residence requesting medical assistance. Hopkins County and North Hopkins firefighters were dispatched as first responders to the SH 19 residence, located north of FM 71, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County sheriff’s officers reported both the husband and wife at the residence were deceased. Both had apparent gunshot wounds, Tatum said Saturday morning.
Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace B.J. Teer pronounced both the 52-year-old man and 48-year-old woman dead at the residence Friday night. Both bodies were sent to a medical examiner’s office for autopsy, the sheriff reported Saturday.
The deaths are being investigated by the sheriff’s office as murder due to the apparent injuries. However, Tatum said no official ruling will be made regarding what happened until the autopsy results are in. Tatum said Monday morning they were still waiting on the initial autopsy report.
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.
Teen Allegedly Caught With Ecstasy During Traffic Stop
A Hillcrest Drive traffic stop Saturday night resulted in location of marijuana and two baggies containing suspected Ecstasy in a vehicle, and one arrest, according to arrest reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Sgt. Joe Scott reported the passenger in the vehicle, stopped at 8:22 p.m. Feb. 1 because half of the license plate wasn’t visable due to the light being out, appeared “extremely nervous.”
Thus, the passenger, identified in arrest reports as Dylan Cole Anderson, was asked to step out of the car. Anderson allegedly admitted to having marijuana and removed a bag with suspected marijuana in it from his pants.
When Anderson was placed into custody, the 17-year-old Sulphur Springs resident allegedly admitted to having Ecstasy as well; a bag with numerous colored pills believed to be Ecstasy were removed from the teen’s jacket pocket, Scott alleged in arrest reports.
During a probable cause search of the car, Scott reported finding a bag with more suspected Ecstasy behind the driver’s seat, within reaching distance of the front passenger’s seat. Anderson allegedly admitted ownership of all of the substance and was taken to jail for possession of approximately 2 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Anderson remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning, Feb. 3; his bond on the third-degree felony controlled substance charge was set at $10,000, according to jail reports.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
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.
Dr. Lavelle Hendricks Honored at Appreciation Service at East Caney BC
Dr. Lavelle Hendricks has pastored East Caney Missionary Baptist Church for 30 years. In addition to that milestone, it was 30 years ago that he also founded a celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Hopkins County. It is for his love, courage, servanthood and commitment that he was honored in a special service on Sunday February 2, 2020.
A number of pastors attended to speak about their regard for Pastor Hendricks as a friend, leader and servant. Women of the congregation sang “Give and It Will Come Back To You” as the crowd filed past the offering basket and back to their seats. The music was joyful and inspiring, performed by the visiting Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Choir and the East Caney Choir.Pastor Willis Taylor delivered a strong sermon about obedience and faith based on 1 Kings 7:8-13.
Hot Potatoes
The First Baptist Church Kitchen is alive this morning. Steamy bins of baked potatoes are ready for delivery or pickup.
The initial number of potatoes to be sold was around 300. Inside sources tell KSST that the actual number is north of 400.
An assembly line of sorts will form this morning to produce the boxed meals. No additional meals are available for order. Remember the cost is $6 per potato lunch or $8 for potato topped with pulled pork. Have your cash and extra napkins ready.
