#5 Ranked Wildcats Basketball Team Began Practice Wednesday
There perhaps was no one happier at Sulphur Springs High School Wednesday than Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta. Per UIL rules, Wednesday (October 30) was the first day for practice for the #5 ranked Class 5A Wildcats Basketball Team. Coach Cipoletta says he actually enjoys practices more than games because he says he loves to teach basketball. He says returning players have been working on their games since last March when the Wildcats were eliminated at the State Basketball Tournament. There were some big sneakers left behind in the Wildcats locker room. Coach Cipoletta has to replace Keaston Willis, the school’s all time leading scorer, Xavier Cork, a 6-9 post player who was the District MVP last year, Jeremiah Roland, the District’s Defensive MVP, and three point marksman Deuce Berry. Coach Cipoletta says the grads can’t be replaced but he says he likes his current group. He says they may be the best team he’s ever had at sharing the basketball. He says the current group may not be as long or big but he says they will find a way to apply pressure. Coach Cipoletta says they might look different than last year’s team but he says he feels good going into the season. Returnees include 6-5 Day Day Hall and 6-7 Cameron Kahn, players that Coach Cip calls two of the best in all of Class 6A and 5A high school basketball. Sharpshooter Grayson McClure returns. Coach Cipoletta says McClure also thrives as a 95% player, one who does all the little things in the 95% of the time when he doesn’t have the ball. Boo Wilkerson, last year’s District Newcomer of the Year, is back and Coach Cipoletta feels he will be a very special player. Lamodrick Johnson also returns and Coach Cipoletta says Johnson may be his first true point guard. Coach Cipoletta can hardly contain his excitement over the potential for sophomore Justin Haire, now listed as 6-7. Coach Cipoletta says Haire has not only gotten taller but he has also been attacking the boards and playing above the rim. Others are expected to make their case to make the varsity during practices and upcoming scrimmage games. The Wildcats first scrimmage will be at McKinney Boyd on November 9. They will also scrimmage Frisco Liberty there. On November 12 the Wildcats will have their second and final scrimmage at Mesquite Poteet. The Wildcats again open the regular season on Saturday, November 16 at North Crowley at the Cowtown Showdown against Decatur, ranked #7 in Class 4A. Decatur lost only one player off of a state semifinal team. The Wildcats have their home opener on November 19 against Pleasant Grove. Buckle up and hope for another wild and wonderful ride by the Wildcats Basketball Team.
Wildcats Football at Kaufman and Lady Cats Volleyball at Home on Game Day Friday
The Wildcats Football Team plays their next to last district game of the season on this game day Friday (November 1) and they are going to a place they may have never been to before, Kaufman’s Lions’ Stadium. Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens remembers the stadium from his days playing there as Lindale’s head football coach. A journey back into Wildcats Football records as far as 1956 when Sulphur Springs went into Class 2A found no games at all between the two schools. This has been a disappointing season for both of these teams. They even have identical records: 1-5 in district play and tied for sixth place with Forney and 1-7 for the season. The Wildcats have a win over Forney while Kaufman won against Terrell. Needless to say, two hungry teams will be playing Friday. The Kaufman Head Coach is Jeramy Burleson, in his fourth year. He was an assistant and offensive coordinator at Kaufman for two years before being promoted to head coach. The Wildcats Head Football Coach is Greg Owens, in his 14th year at his alma mater. It should be a very competitive game. KSST Radio will bring you the Wildcats at Kaufman with streaming audio. The game will also be videotaped for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team is also playing on this Friday game day. They will play a playoff warm up game against Paris in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Lady Cats season record is 22-17. The Lady Cats are the fourth place district seed for the playoffs and the Lady Cats will play District 16-5A champion Hallsville in a bi-district matcn Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Wagstaff Gym on the campus of Tyler Junior College. Hallsville has a season record of 30-12.
Fruit Recalls: Season’s Choice, Raley’s Frozen Raspberries, Berry Mixes; North Bay Fresh Apples
November 1, 2019 – Anyone who’s purchased fresh apples or frozen raspberries or berry mixes recently will want to check their labels before eating or cooking with them. Recalls have been announced for fresh North Bay apples and Season’s Choice and Raley’s brand frozen raspberries and berry mixes due to possible health concerns.
Fresh Apples
North Bay Produce, Inc. of Traverse City, Michigan is voluntarily recalling 2,297 cases and 2 bulk bins of fresh apples due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
Recalled varieties include McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Fuji, Jonamac and Red Delicious apples. Recalled apples were sold in plastic bags under the brands; Great Lakes, North Bay Produce Pure Michigan as well as unbranded in clear plastic tote bags, white paper tote bags, and individually from retailers display trays. The recalled apples were shipped between October 16th, 2019 and October 21st, 2019 from one North Bay facility to wholesalers, retailers and brokers in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.
Apples purchased at retail prior to Oct. 16 are not affected by this recall, and no other North Bay Produce products were affected nor have any illnesses been linked by health officials to this recall, according to the company’s recall announcement.
Anyone who has the recalled product in their possession should not consume it. The product should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase.
For additional information, check out the company’s announcement.
Frozen raspberries, berry mixes
Wawona Frozen Foods is voluntarily recalling packages of frozen raspberries and frozen berry mixes containing raspberries sold at Aldi Grocery Stores and frozen raspberries sold at Raley’s Family of Fine Stores because they have the potential to be contaminated with Hepatitis A. The frozen raspberries and frozen berry mixes containing raspberries were packaged under the Aldi and Raley’s private labels.
The recalled frozen raspberries were packaged and sold in these sizes and with the following accompanying information:
Aldi:
- Season’s Choice Raspberries (frozen): 12 ounce bags, “best by” date of June, 10, 2021, August 1,2021 and August 23, 2021. “Product of Chile.” UPC Code: 0 41498 12419 9
- Season’s Choice Berry Medley (frozen) containing raspberries: 16 ounce bags, “best by” date of July 17, 2021, July 20, 2021 and July 22, 2021. “Product of USA, Chile.” UPC Code: 0 41498 31344 9
Raley’s:
- Raley’s Fresh Frozen Red Raspberries: 12 ounce bags, “best by” date of June 5, 2021 (lot code:20156A04), August 1, 2021 (lot code: 20213A06) “Product of Chile.” UPC Code: 46567 00754
The frozen raspberries and frozen berry mixes containing raspberries were distributed throughout stores in Aldi and Raley’s Family of Fine store chains. The recalled frozen raspberries were imported from Chile. No other retail packages of frozen raspberry products are included in this voluntary and precautionary recall.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should not consume them and should either discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Aldi and Raley customers with questions may contact Wawona Frozen Foods at 866-913-0667 or visit the Wawona website.
Meet CHRISTUS New ‘Family Practice Nurse Practitioner’ Lydia Amartey
The term ‘Nurse Practitioner’ may be rather new to some, but it’s the important title of a very important job in medicine today. Lydia Amartey is one of six Family Practice Nurse Practitioners now on staff in the clinics of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs. The term refers to ‘a nurse who is qualified to treat certain medical conditions without the direct supervision of a doctor’. We learned more about her job as Family Nurse Practitioner Lydia Amertey visited the KSST studios along with CHRISTUS Clinic Operations Manager Brad Burgin on November 1, 2019. Her first day of practice is November 4, 2019 in the CHRISTUS clinic which serves patients along with Dr. Coker, at 111 Medical Circle in Sulphur Springs.
According to Lydia, a Nurse Practitioner is a nurse who is also trained as a teacher. As a Registered Nurse working in a large Metroplex hospital, Lydia was noticed by her peers and superiors as someone who was especially good at imparting information to patients and nurses about diagnosis and care. She decided to go back to school to pursue the specialty of Nurse Practitioner in the Family Practice field. Now, she will begin seeing current and new Clinic patients, consulting with Dr. Coker and assisting in their care. She will also assist in their education about managing their medical issues, with a view to attaining the best results for that individual patient. Lydia stated that ‘connecting with the patient and helping them individually understand and participate in their treatment toward healing is the ultimate goal. Good communication between staff and patient is vital. Our goal is always to serve the patient in the best ways possible”
Burgin added that Nurse Practitioners are a real benefit to the CHRISTUS staff. He noted that remainders of an old stigma may exist, where patients might say that they want to see “their doctor, not a nurse”. Truthfully, the Nurse Practitioner is a vital link in patient care, bringing the same information to a patient that their doctor would, and is often more quickly and easily accessible than the doctor. In addition to being highly trained, NP’s also have full access to the patient’s records and history, and will become part of the personal patient care relationships that develop. Burgin feels that bringing Nurse Practitioners into a patient’s care team is a real blessing, which has been brought about through CHRISTUS for the people of Hopkins and the bordering counties who come to Sulphur Springs for care, as Rains, Delta and Franklin counties no longer have hospitals of their own. Burgin stated “we now have highly qualified Nurse Practitioners working and assisting doctors in many of the specialty fields, such as Orthopedics, Urology and G.I. as well as Family Practice. And we hope to get more in the coming year.”
Lydia is originally from Ghana in West Africa. She came to the United States during her high school years and attended college and medical training in Texas, largely in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. She first attended Navarro College in Corsicana, then transferred to UTA, followed by higher nursing studies at Midwest State University in Wichita Falls and Texas Women’s University in Dallas. She later earned her Doctoral degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Most recently, she was hired by CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs, and she now makes her home in Greenville, Texas.
Nolanville Woman Jailed In Bell County On 3 Felony Hopkins County Warrants
Brandy Lyn McCullough, 34, of Nolanville, Texas was held in Bell County jail until Oct. 31 for bond forfeiture on two Hopkins County possession of controlled substance charges and on one tampering with government, school record, license, seal or permit charge, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County sheriff’s office was notified and sent an officer Oct. 31 to transport McCullough to Sulphur Springs, where she was booked into the county jail for bond forfeiture on the charges. She remained in the county jail Friday morning, Nov. 1.
McCullough was arrested on the three charges July 31, 2018, after giving deputies what was alleged to be a falsified driver’s license. The Texas ID had too many numbers on it; the woman was also alleged to have been in possession of controlled substances as well and was wanted on a felony theft charge, according to 2018 arrest reports and jail reports.
She was released from jail the next day on $30,000 bond on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance, $10,000 for tampering with a government record,$5,000 on a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge and $5,000 on the theft charge, according to jail reports.
Mesquite Man Arrested By DPS On Felony Marijuana Charge Following I-30 Stop
Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers Warren Williamson arrested 29-year-old Christopher Orandel Royal of Mesquite after allegedly finding just a pound of marijuana in his vehicle, just enough to warrant a felony charge, according to arrest reports.
Williamson reported stopping a white 2019 Dodge Charger with a Georgia license plate around 3:30 p.m. Oct. 31 on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 130 being driven in the left lane where prohibited and not passing.
Upon contact with the driver, identified in arrest reports as Royal, Williamson alleged he detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana emitting from the car. A clear bag with 464 grams of a green, leafy substance the trooper recognized based on his training and experience as a law enforcement officer as marijuana was allegedly found in a black bag behind the front passenger’s seat, within Royal’s reach. The trooper alleged Royal was observed reaching toward the bag as he stopped the car on the shoulder of the road.
Consequently, Royal was taken into custody and the car was impounded. The marijuana and packaging weighed 16.37 ounces, resulting in Royal being booked into the county jail for possession of 4 ounces or more but less than 5 pounds of marijuana, an offense punishable as a state jail felony if convicted, according to arrest reports.
Royal remained in the the county jail Friday morning, Nov. 1. Bond was set at $5,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
Como Man Jailed After Bond Revoked On Assault Impeding Breathing Charge
Carlos Alberte Valle, 24, of Como was taken into custody at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, at Hopkins County Courthouse after having his bond on an assault impeding breathing or circulation charge revoked.
Valle was arrested July 26 for allegedly choking his girlfriend multiple times and of holding her in a bedroom at his then-West Industrial Drive residence against her will during an argument about a doctor’s appointment. The 17-year-old reportedly crawled out a bedroom window to get away from Valle, police alleged in reports immediately following Valle’s arrest at shortly before midnight July 25, police alleged in arrest reports.
The teen had “injuries consistent with strangulation,” and had “defensive contact injuries around her hands and fingers,” police alleged in reports. The young woman, who was reported to be pregnant, was transported to the hospital, according to arrest and offense reports.
Valle reportedly told officers the teen had a mental health disorder and had hit him in the face. He had a small scratch on his face, according to police reports.
Valle was released from jail later July 26 on a $25,000 bond on the felony assault impeding breathing or circulation charge. He was indicted on the charge during the Sept. 5 grand jury session.
During a court appearance Thursday morning, Valle was taken into custody by Deputy/Communications Supervisor David Ray after his bond was revoked on the charge, according to arrest reports. Valle remained in Hopkins County jail Friday morning, Nov. 1; his new bond was set at $150,000 on the charge, according to jail reports.
“Blue Santa” Season: Give Christmas Toys for Needy Children of Hopkins County
The Hopkins County Blue Santa program got underway this week, making an early start toward the needs of the needy this Christmas. Toys are collected from the blue barrels stationed in several local shopping and business areas, in addition to the toys and bicycles collected during the Toy Drive on December 2 and 3 at Lowes parking lot. This program helps supplement toys for some children of Hopkins County who may not have a bright Christmas. Organizers of Blue Santa, a program sponsored by the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department and the Sulphur Springs Police Department, strive to make sure that underprivileged children receive toys for their families at Christmas time. Empty Stocking is the program that distributes the toys for the families by way of the information they provide to CanHelp during the signup period. Salvation Army helps with clothing needs of children whose families qualify for that program. Please be prepared to help this Christmas in one or more of these ways. More information can be obtained by calling CanHelp at 903-885-9797 Ext 3 or by contacting Salvation Army representative Tammy Flemens.
Honor Flight Send Off Held For 4 Area Veterans Oct. 31
Community members and veterans filled the second floor courtroom at Hopkins County Courthouse Thursday to recognize Rick Flanary and Jerry Hanna of Sulphur Springs, Earl Stubblefield of Bogata and Marvin Cherney of Mineola who have been selected to participate in DFW Veterans Honor Flight.
Hopkins County showed appreciation for their service with a send-off event Thursday that included the pledge to the flags lead by Veterans Service Administrator Danny Davis and the singing of the National Anthem lead by Sulphur Springs High School choir student Hope Williams, to music played by the SSHS Jazz Band.
Clayton McGraw, who served in the Army in Korea, retold the Johnny Cash favorite “That Ragged Old Flag” which struck a cord with many a veteran as well as community members. First Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Jeff Graves recited Psalm 100 and offered a prayer of thanks for those who have and continue to serve, and a closing prayer by Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom.
A recorded Military Salute featuring each branch of service’s song, provided by Lonnie Fox, was played with those who served asked to stand and be recognized with applause of appreciation.
Honorees Hanna, Flanary, Stubblefield and Cherney were recognized for their service. They will depart Friday morning from Dallas Love Field aboard DFW Veterans Honor Flight 43 for a whirlwind 2-days in Washington, D.C.
“You have no idea what it means to me, and I’m sure all these others, for all of you, your hard work and the community doing what it’s doing here today to honor us, not only us but our country. Thank you so much,” said Stubblefield.
The Honor Flight veterans will attend a special event hosted in their honor and tour numerous veterans memorials and monuments. They will be accompanied by their “guardian,” a person designated to go with them to assist in whatever way they can, whether to carry or keep up with their belongings or help medically or otherwise.
Hope Williams 
Dr. Jeff Graves
The veterans were selected for the Honor Flight by a board, which includes Secretary Judy Rawson Heaps. The Honor Flight mission began in 2009, to take as many World War II veterans as possible to see the memorial in Washington, D.C., and continues today with Cold War, Korean War and Vietnam veterans to the list of honorees designated to participate in an Honor Flight.
Heaps said growing up, she knew what patriotism was, but didn’t fully understand what it means be a veteran and to be in a country “where we get to live and express ourselves the way we do” until she accompanied her dad on the first DFW Veterans Honor Flight in 2009.
She challenged the young people attending the sendoff to meet the veterans who have participated in a Veterans Honor Flight and spend time with veterans within their own families, so they too can learn what it truly means to sacrifice and to be willing to sacrifice everything.
Heaps offered thanks to all veterans who for their sacrifices to provide the freedoms we enjoy in this country every day, and the opportunities to be free.
“I hear stories over and over that these men and women have never shared before, and I look forward to hearing so many from you four this time. I look forward to this trip and getting to know you four, and getting to honor you,” Heaps said.
She said each flight has it’s own “personality” much the same a school classroom filled with young people does.
Heaps said this trip is the “youngest” trip, with 29 Vietnam veterans among the group, the youngest age 66. DFW Honor Flight 43 also include nine Korean War veterans and four World War II veterans, the oldest 98 years.
Earl Stubblefield served in the air Force, in the strategic Air command. He said he was trained to carry a nuclear weapon to the Soviet Union in case that was needed.
“During the Korean War, they were in need of spare parts. My bomb wing at Barksdale air field in Shreveport, Louisiana, the 301st, loaned a bunch of us gunners, flight engineers, radio operators to the 307th Bomb Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. We flew combat missions over North Korea. We bombed targets there with 500 pounds bombs. Sometimes, we flew in support on the front lines using 100 pound bombs,” Stubblefield said.
After the war, Stubblefield returned to his Barksdale, and continued practicing hitting targets in Russia. Shortly after that, he was sent to England, Tripoli, Libya and other places.
“It wasn’t long before they began replacing our old Wold War II B29s with the B47 jets. I didn’t have enough time in the service left to be retrained. They sent me on to Randolph Field as an instructor in a combat training school. They had about 20 guys like me that they didn’t know what to do with. Finally, they said one day all that want to get out can,” Stubblefield said.
From there, he took advantage of the GI Bill, which allowed him to major in math at college. He became a coach has had “a wonderful life.”
Stubblefield is to be accompanied on the trip by his son-in-law Monte Dain.
Rick Flanary served three tours in Vietnam, flying air evac for the Air Force. He was over a two-corps hospital, NCOD there. He served during the Tet Offensive. In 1968, he flew with the Army.
Flanary recounted being in a helicopter that was shot down and sustaining a gunshot to the leg. In all, Flanary served 6 years, 8 months. He was a staff sergeant.
Flanary will be accompanied on the Honor Flight by his daughter, Nikki Flanary.
Jerry Hanna is an Army veteran. He served two tours and was enlisted for three years, including in Vietnam. When he got out, he went to school.
He then went back in with a direct admission as a second lieutenant, then served for over 27 years of active duty. He received his training and college while in military, graduating from TCU.
Hanna is to be accompanied on the Honor Flight by his son Patrick Eady.
Marvin Cherney, a North Dakota native, served in the Army for three years, including during Vietnam. He entered service with his cousin anticipating the ‘buddy system” but got separate orders. Cherney went to medical school in Fort Walters, Texas out of training. He received orders to go to Vietnam in January of 1968.
Cherney was an infantry medic, serving 3 months and 25 days; he was shot while in Vietnam, underwent operation at a field hospital then was sent to Japan, then the United States. He was unable to return combat at that time\, but says the “good Lord let me come home.” He was sent to a hospital in Denver and received discharge papers, then orders to return to Vietnam. He was sent to Oregon, where it was determined he’d received the wrong orders and was sent to Fort Hood. He was discharged in October of 1969. He married a Texas resident and has called the Lone Star State home ever since.
“The Lord was with me. I got to come home. Others didn’t get to come home. They are heroes,” Cherney said.
Accompanying Cherney on the Honor Flight as his “guardian” will be his daughter Brandy Young.
