Sheriff’s Investigator Warns: Beware Of People Asking For Payment By Phone
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford cautions citizens to guard against people asking for financial payment by phone. This is especially true of people claiming to represent law enforcement, particularly sheriff’s office staff.
Weatherford released the following scam alert:
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office has become aware that people are representing themselves as Members of Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. These individuals are using scams including you have an arrest warrant, missed jury duty, and other potentially unknown strategies by phone. Each of these will result in asking for personal information and ultimately payment of money. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER ask you to pay a fine or other money by phone. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office would only take any payment in person at our Sheriff’s Office.
If you have been contacted and actually sent funds usually by the use of prepaid cards to what you believe to be Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, please contact the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office (903) 438-4040
Pursuing National Parks Experiences in Europe, Plus Local Fun, Recreation at Cooper Lake State Park
Steve Killian, Complex Manager for Cooper Lake State Park, carries the banner every day for an active lifestyle, and hopefully one where you get fresh air and sunshine! During his work and on his own, this active park employee walks or hikes every day, logging 4-5 miles and resulting in 10,000-12,000 steps per day or more. He reminds us that natural sunlight builds Vitamin D right on the surface of the skin, and unlike Vitamin D supplements, provides many other health benefits and ways to just feel better! And, breathing fresh air deeply is a simple, free, and health-giving habit that anyone can take advantage of!
Killian just returned from a 9-day international trip, specially arranged for outdoor experiences in some of the National Parks systems. He visited England and climbed the highest mountain in the country, ‘Scaffold Pike’ which is 3,200 feet above sea level. The 6-hour hike actually gained him over 4,000 feet of vertical climbing however, as a smaller mountain had to be covered before reaching the foot of Scaffold Pike. He said the climb and the view made it an entirely exhilarating experience. Listening to the BBC on the radio, he was favorably impressed with the nation’s initiative to get England’s students outdoors more during their school day. Next, on to Scotland where Killian visited the University of Glasgow and got to walk extensively on the grounds of the ancient campus, which is actually the fourth-oldest university in the world. Following that, he took a boat cruise up and down Loch Ness. Parties aboard the 2-hour cruise searched the water by sight and by sonar in hopes of seeing ‘the monster’ but no sightings were reported. KIllian’s theory is that the very dark waters and a particular undulation of waves made by passing boats can fool the eye into seeing ‘sea monsters’ on top of the water! Other wildlife and breathtaking views were captured by camera. Over in Ireland, lots of walking through the streets and pub areas yielded great sights as well as conversation with locals for Killian on this, his first International trip for cultural and natural studies.
Killian reports that Cooper Lake water is still warm and there are at least a few more weekends to enjoy swimming and other lake experiences, and that the hiking trails on both sides of Cooper Lake are actually quite inviting year-round. Cooper Lake State Park encompasses both the Delta County ‘Doctors Creek’ Unit and the Hopkins County ‘South Sulphur’ Unit. You are invited to a free outdoor concert on Saturday October 5, 2019 at the Lone Pine Boat Ramp area at Doctor’s Creek. This will be a 4-hour music festival starting at 5pm, featuring a number of different bands and acts like Birthright Blues Project, Janice Diane, and East Texas Mood Shine. Nature programs and information will also be offered free to everyone who attends the festival. Bring your lawn chairs, or bring your boat and enjoy the music out across the water.
Killian will return for another KSST Good Morning Show interview on November 21, 2019. Be sure and tune in!
Commerce ISD Teacher Receives We Teach Texas Leadership Fellow Scholarship
COMMERCE, TX— Third-grade teacher Meagan Heath recently accepted the 2019 We Teach Texas Leadership Fellow Scholarship, funded by The Texas A&M University System. The scholarship helps prepare talented teachers for leadership roles in high-needs districts.
A&M-Commerce partnered with Commerce ISD to select a qualified local scholarship recipient. Among the requirements, candidates were required to possess a strong academic record, a history of achievement and strong leadership skills.
According to Lisa Palazzetti, principal at A.C. Williams Elementary in Commerce, “Meagan exhibits fine qualities of a model teacher and employee…she is extremely knowledgeable and skilled as a master teacher in instruction, best practices, classroom management, technology and data intervention.”
Heath received her undergraduate degree from A&M-Commerce in 2011 and has dedicated her entire career to third graders at A.C. Williams Elementary. With almost a decade of teaching experience under her belt, she feels ready for the next step in her career.
“My goal is to break into the administration field and to one day become a school principal,” Heath said. “I want to create a school culture that brings excitement back into education and ensures that my students receive the highest quality of education.”
According to Heath, the We Teach Texas principal scholarship opened the door to her future. “Without this scholarship, I would not be able to attend this master’s program,” she said. “I am a recent widow and am raising my four-year-old son as a single parent. I want to show him that no matter what obstacles you face, you should never give up on your goals.”
Dr. Mark J. Reid, associate dean of the A&M-Commerce College of Education and Human Services, predicts that the principal scholarship program will impact Commerce ISD children in a significant and positive way.
“Meagan’s excellence in the classroom will undoubtedly help her translate her experience into becoming a visionary leader who puts the needs of students and teachers at the forefront,” Reid said.
Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlie Alderman agrees. “We are very excited for Ms. Heath and the opportunity she has to advance her career,” Alderman said. “We hope to always be able to grow our own future administrators. They already have a relationship with our students, parents and community.”
Heath began her graduate education at A&M-Commerce in August 2019, and she is enthused about her future in education. “My goal as a teacher and as a future administrator is to use my leadership skills, make more connections with the families in my community and make a larger impact on the academic lives of students,” Heath said. “For this reason, I desire to strengthen my educational background and become a principal.”
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About Texas A&M University-Commerce: A&M-COMMERCE serves rural and metropolitan East Texas with distinction, consistently delivering on a promise that our founder, Professor William Leonidas Mayo, made more than a century ago: “No industrious, ambitious youth shall be denied an education if I can prevent it.” We are committed to our university’s mission: Educate. Discover. Achieve.
Programs are delivered on-site at the Commerce campus as well as in Corsicana, Dallas, McKinney, Frisco and Mesquite. Many courses are also available online. Students may choose from more than 135 degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. A vibrant student life experience includes 14 NCAA Division II athletic teams, a thriving Greek system and more than 120 student organizations.
About the A&M System: The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation with a budget of $4.69 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities and seven state agencies, the Texas A&M System educates more than 150,000 students and makes more than 22 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceeded $996 million in FY 2017 and helped drive the state’s economy.
Grand Opening, Ribbon Cutting of JBA Financial Services in Commerce
Sarah Alderman, a Financial Advisor at JBA Financial Services would like to invite the community to their Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony and Grand Opening reception on Thursday, September 26th from noon to 2pm. JBA Financial Services is located on Main Street in downtown, Commerce. Sarah is the wife of Charlie Alderman, former Sulphur Springs ISD High School Principal and current Superintendent of Schools for Commerce ISD.
Chamber Connection For Sept. 26
By Lezley Brown, president and CEO, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is celebrating a big day! We are hosting our very own Ribbon Cutting Celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at our new location, 110 Main St. in Sulphur Springs. We will host an Open House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with our ribbon cutting at noon. Please make plans to come celebrate with us!
I have some more very exciting news! The Chamber of Commerce is currently selling our 2019 Hopkins County Christmas ornament. This ornament is the second of our series and features our beautiful Buford Park, the 50th Anniversary Stew Contest, and beautiful oak trees under a starry sky. It is dated with the year, made with 24 karat gold, shatterproof, and VERY limited in number. They are quite beautiful and the perfect addition to a rare collection. They are $40 each and literally flying out the door. If you would like to purchase one, please call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515, or come by soon.
The Chamber is excited to announce our vendor call for the Stew Fest Market! The Chamber is currently accepting vendors for the Stew Fest Market, which will be located on the south side of Buford Park during
Friday night and Saturday Stew Contest activities. This is a great opportunity to sell goods or to promote your business to 7,000 people who attend the Stew Contest annually. Vendors may rent booth space to sell goods or distribute information about their business. Booths will be assigned on a first-paid basis. Access to electricity is not guaranteed. Generators are permitted. Desserts may be sold, but no other food or drinks may be distributed. Vendors who are interested in purchasing booth space, call the Chamber of Commerce at (903) 885-6515.
One Soul Yoga schedules their ribbon cutting celebration
One Soul Yoga, located at 521 Main Street, Suite 201, in Sulphur Springs, has scheduled their ribbon cutting celebration for Wednesday, Oct. 2, at noon. Make plans to come by and explore the yoga opportunities that One Soul Yoga is now offering.
Texafied JamFest schedules a ribbon cutting
Texafied JamFest is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, October 3 rd at noon at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. Come by to learn all about the upcoming Texafied JamFest!
Workforce Solutions will host its annual LEAP Conference on Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon
Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting its annual LEAP (Learning Endorsements and Professions) Youth Expo on Friday, Oct. 4. This event is very much like a job fair except that it is geared to educate eighth graders and help guide them as they make their endorsement selections heading into high school.
Workforce Solutions is seeking a wide variety of companies and businesses to attend the LEAP Youth Expo to describe your business and expose eighth graders to all career avenues after graduation. Since students now choose their high school endorsements while in eighth grade, the Expo is perfect for them. Over the past two years, they’ve had difficulty getting a veterinarian, doctor, dentist, orthodontist, pilot, author, artist, musician,
architect and sports/personal trainer. Please consider attending this Expo and taking visuals and information to give away. They will be so thankful to have you there! Please call Bart Spivy at (903)794-9490 ext. 513 with
any questions.
DBA hosts Worldwide Photo Walk
Our Sulphur Springs DBA is hosting the Worldwide Photo Walk on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. All interested participants should meet at Whimsy, located at 300 Connally St. in Sulphur Springs, that morning. To RSVP, email [email protected].
Dutch Oven Cook-off and Indian Summer Days are scheduled Saturday, Oct. 5
Hopkins County Heritage Park will host Indian Summer Days with the John Chester Dutch Oven Cook-off on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entry fee to the Indian Summer Days is $3 per person and includes food and fun for the whole family! While there, you may purchase an all you can eat plate for $5 to the Dutch Oven Cook-off. To enter the Dutch Oven Cook-off, call Rick Wilson at (903) 885-9692.
NETBIO hosts the Cattleman’s Classic Ribeye Roundup
NETBIO hosts the Cattleman’s Classic Ribeye Roundup and Steak Cookoff on Saturday, Oct. 5. Dinner is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., and concert will follow featuring country music artist Mike Ryan. You don’t want to
miss this!
Ribbon Cuttings
Ribbon Cutting for Happily Ever After and 4-J’s Body Shop
Happily Ever After and 4-J’s Body Shop hosted a double ribbon cutting celebration on Thursday, Sept. 19, at noon. They are located 4411 Highway 19 North in Sulphur Springs.
Pain Management Tips Offered By Dr. Matthew Johnson
Approximately 50 senior citizens took advantage of the informational program offered over lunch Wednesday, Sept. 25, by Dr. Matthew Johnson, Pain Management at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic.
Dr. Johnson talked about the different procedures that he can perform to help people with the pain in their back and neck.
“I didn’t realize that there were so many different kinds of things that they can do to relieve pain. Most of it is minimally invasive. You don’t need to suffer when relief is just a phone call away,” said Karon Weatherman, Senior Citizens Center marketing and programs director, of Johnson and the medical professionals available in the area to help.
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Sulphur Springs ISD Head Start Program Recruiting For Eligible Preschool Children
The Sulphur Springs Independent School District Head Start program is currently recruiting for eligible children for future participation in the program, according to Rita Taylor, program ERSEA and parent, family and community engagement specialist.
The Head Start program, located at Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center, is federally funded to serve 179 children ages 3 and 4 years from low-income families. Children with mild, moderate or severe disabilities are also accepted.
While there is not currently a vacancy, the Head Start program typically has a waiting list for qualified applicants who are admitted as spaces become available. The program currently has no students on the waiting list, thus those parents interested in enrolling their children who meet eligibility guidelines are encouraged to apply to Head Start.
“Any time we have a vacancy, we have to fill the slot. Nevertheless, families must also meet income guidelines. I currently don’t have any students on my wait list,” Taylor reported.
For information, call 903-885-4516, during school hours.
Coach Owens Comments on Royse City Loss on Saturday Morning Coach’s Show
After playing Royse City and losing 36-9 last Friday (September 20) on Homecoming at Prim Stadium, Wildcats Coach Greg Owens said they are his favorite now to win the district championship. Coach Owens was on KSST and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday Morning Coach’s Show last Saturday. Coach Owens later amended his statement to say either the Bulldogs or Ennis may claim the district championship when all is said and done. Coach Owens said Royse City gave us fits. He was impressed with the two Bulldogs’ move-ins from Lancaster, Ketron Jackson, a receiver and Ahmon Petty-Dozier, a running back. Coach Owens also mentioned the Bulldogs’ crafty QB Tyson Oliver and the slashing running back Bryce Martinez. But he says the guy that really makes them go is nose guard Jamie Cortez. Coach Owens said he destroyed the middle and made it a frustrating night for the Wildcats’ offense. Coach Owens said the Wildcats defense played really well but just ran out of juice. He said he was proud of the Wildcats for their fast start. Two things kept the Wildcats in check. They had an interception on a deflection down near the goal line and Choc Sims 95-yard kickoff return was nullified by a holding call. Coach Owens called the game a real physical battle. He said the bottom line was that the Bulldogs were just better than the Wildcats. Coach Owens also said Royse City’s Peyton Petroff, the head coach’s son, is a good football player and he said small Bulldogs’ linebacker John Krump would be playing anywhere in college if he were 6-foot-2. (He’s 5-foot-8). Coach Owens said his kickers, Brandon Zavala and Osiel Lopez, did a good job for the Wildcats. He said the Wildcats have some work to do on punt protection. They had a punt blocked. He pointed out that all effort matters. He said it was other defenders in people’s faces that resulted in interceptions by Kylan Wade and Chase Haney. Defensive end Cameron Kaufert rushed a passer who made a poor throw that was picked by Wade. Wade applied pressure on the Haney interception. He said the coaching staff is seeing small positive things on tape. Quarterback Kaden Wallace threw a TD pass to receiver Landry Meskimen. Bryant Sanchez had a big running play. Sims made good yards on a swing pass. Still Coach Owens said those things did not result in a win. He added there was still a long way to go in district play. He said he was ready to start winning.
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Said Strong Royse City Defense Hampered Wildcats Last Friday
Here is the way Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young described the Wildcats offensive play against Royse City last Friday in the 36-9 loss on Homecoming at The Prim. First he said the Wildcats did a good job on execution and on their assignments Friday. He added the Bulldogs physically got after the Wildcats. Coach Young said the disruption by Royse City’s nose guard made the Wildcats running game just about non-existent. He said the Wildcats fought their tails off. He said it was about as hard as he’s ever seen an offensive line have to fight snap after snap. He said running backs got what they could get which was often just a yard or two. Coach Young said at one point in the game the Wildcats had a 13 play drive that would usually put you into the end zone or at least the red zone. In this case, the Wildcats were only at midfield. It was taking them three or four plays to get ten yards. Coach Young credited quarterback Kaden Wallace with playing better. He did say near the end of the game, Wallace began to pick receivers rather than reading what was available. Coach Young said Chase Haney made a big catch to convert a third and 16 situation. He said Bryant Sanchez mae on good run. He said running backs did a good job receiving and then running after the catch. He called it something to build on. Coach Young praised the offensive tackle play of Giovanni Pizano and Somjai Pryor. He said there was some pressure on the quarterback the first two series but then he noted it eased up until the fourth quarter. Overall he said the offense has to get better. Coach Young said the attitude has been very good in practice this week. Going into last Friday’s game, he said the Royse City defense would be the best the Wildcats have faced this year and he said that played out Friday. He compared the 14 first downs the Wildcats got Friday with their average of over 20 and about 200 yards of offense to the usual 350 yards. Coach Young said this week the offensive staff is assessing the things the offense does well so they can build on those. On the offensive weaknesses, he said the staff would decide to make improvements to those areas or perhaps not to do those things anymore. He said the off week was an opportunity for the Wildcats to get refocused.
Coach Dorner Says Struggles With Passing Hampered Lady Cats Against Community Tuesday
The Lady Cats Volleyball Team was certainly seriously tested in their final non-district game Tuesday evening (September 24) before district play begins Friday. The Lady Cats traveled to Nevada Community. Former Lady Cats Coach Justin Maness has the Lady Braves playing at a very high level. Community came into the match with a 25-5 record and ranked #12 in Class 4A. Community won the match 3-0. Still the Lady Cats hung with the Lady Braves for at least the first set. Late in the set, the Lady Cats rallied to tie the set, 21-21. The Lady Braves outscored the Lady Cats 4-1 to take set one, 25-22. Lady Cats Coach Bailey Dorner said the Lady Cats missed a couple of serves at the end of that set that hurt their chances. Coach Dorner said overall the Lady Cats struggled to pass the ball off of serve and receive impacting sets and the ability to get good kills. The Lady Cats started fairly well in set two and at one point trailed only 9-8. Then Community went on an eight point run to lead 17-8. Right near the end of the run, the Lady Cats’ major finisher Sadie Washburn suffered an ankle injury. As a precaution, coach Dorner said she decided not to play Washburn any more Tuesday. Coach Dorner is hoping with rest that Washburn will be able to play Friday against Royse City in the district opener at home. With Washburn out Tuesday, several Lady Cats players upped their games and Community only outscored the Lady Cats 8-7 after the injury in taking set two, 25-15. The Lady Braves completed the sweep with a 25-16 win in set three. In KSST unofficial stats, Sadie Washburn led the Lady Cats with 7 kills. She also had a service ace. Sydney Washburn had 4 kills with 1 block. Nylah Lindley had 3 kills. Setter Peyton Hammack, Brooklyn Burnside and Kate Womack all had 2 kills. Burnside had 2 blocks on one volley. Hammack has 2 service aces. Erika VanBenthem had 1 kill. Libero Czhela Moya had a pair of service aces. The Lady Cats season record is now 18-11 and they have lost their last two matches. Any coach will tell you a more relevant stat is that all the district teams enter play Friday tied with 0-0 records. The Lady Cats open district play Friday at 5 p.m. against Royse City in the main gym at Sulphur Springs High School. KSST will broadcast the game with Wildcats football taking this Friday night off.
