Coach Owens Said The First Day Of Football Practice Monday Was A Good One
Wildcats Head Football Coach Greg Owens said the Wildcats had a good first day of practice Monday, August 12, inside and outside the Multipurpose Building.
After some meetings, the Wildcats spent just a few minutes indoors before heading out to the practice field under a broiling sun with high nineties temperatures. Actually Coach Owens said things felt pretty good on the outside grass. A breeze helped.
Coach Owens said spring football was again good for the Wildcats as he said the retention level was good Monday. He especially liked the energy from the players Monday.
Coach Owens said the challenge now would be to stack another good day on top of the first one. He compared it to stacking bricks. Coach Owens said his staff is wanting players to be more mentally and physically tough.
Another a couple of days in shorts and jerseys, the Wildcats will wear shoulder pads Wednesday but, by UIL rules, can not hit each other. Coach Owens said players can begin to bump each other a little on Thursday and Friday. He said hitting could occur as soon as Saturday. Saturday is also Picture Day for the Wildcats.
Concerning the first day numbers, Coach Owens said there were 40 varsity players, 60 JV players and 30 freshmen. He said the conditioning level was pretty good Monday. He said Monday didn’t feature a lot of grueling work but he said Monday was a long day. By the time players finished required gasser tests Monday, it was past 9:30 p.m.
Coach Owens got these impressions from players Monday:
- he thought quarterback Kaden Wallace threw well,
- he said the running backs looked fresh, strong and explosive,
- he liked the play of outside linebackers Kylan Wade and Aiden Walker, also inside linebackers Ryan Carrillo and George Greenway,
- he said the defensive line looked good but lean,
- he liked the play of some receivers going one-on-one with defensive backs,
- he said Chase Haney looked good on both sides of the ball,
- he noticed the play of sophomore safety Korderrian Bull Turner and cornerback Dominique Simms.
The quote of the day came from Defensive Coordinator Alex Guerra, working with outside linebackers. He said you’ve got to get the little things right.
The Wildcats will try to keep stacking bricks Tuesday night at a second practice.
Volleyball And Team Tennis Are On Tuesday Game Day
There is volleyball and team tennis on this Tuesday, Aug. 13, game day.
The Lady Cats will be on the road facing McKinney North. Freshmen and JV teams will play at 5 p.m. The Varsity Lady Cats are scheduled to start at around 6 p.m.
The Varsity Lady Cats come in with a record of 6-3. They were 4-3 last weekend at the Garland ISD Volleyball Tournament losing out in the final game of the Challenger Bracket to Carrollton Ranchview, 2-0. Lady Cats Coach Bailey Dorner says that playing good teams early will help the Lady Cats when district play begins.
The Wildcats Team Tennis squad has another two match day Tuesday with both competitions on the road. The Wildcats began play at Hallsville at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. A match at Spring Hill is set to start at around 2 p.m. The Wildcats are 1-4 so far this season against good competition.
Troup Woman Arrested In Cherokee County On Felony Hopkins County Warrant
A 33-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was arrested in Cherokee County on a Hopkins County warrant. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office staff was notified Jamie Lynn Musick was being held at the Cherokee County jail. Officer Melvin Jackson was dispatched to collect her.
Jackson took Musick into custody at the Cherokee County jail at 2 p.m. Aug. 12 and transported her to Hopkins County jail, where she was held on the warrant for violation of probation, which she was on for a Nov. 1, 2017 third or more driving while intoxicated charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
City Council Special Meeting Agenda For Aug. 13
CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 13, 2019, 5:30 P.M.
A special meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 in the Council Room at 201 North Davis. The following items will be discussed:
- Call to order.
- Pledge and invocation.
- Discussions on proposed fiscal year 2019-20 budget.
- Discussion/action on motion to place a proposal to increase total tax revenue on the September 3, 2019, City Council meeting agenda and to schedule two (2) public hearings for the proposed tax increase.
- Adjourn.
Cumby VFD Honored; Town’s History Of Fire Protection Dates Back To 1870s
The commissioners court and county fire chief also recognized Cumby VFD and expressed appreciation to them for their continued dedication to the community, with volunteers responding with apparatus housed both at the main station in Cumby and the substation in Brashear.
The county is recognizing one volunteer department each month this year as part of Hopkins County Fire Department’s 20th anniversary celebration, noting the vital role each plays in providing fire and rescue protection in each community and throughout the county.
“We wanted to include everybody, because without each individual volunteer fire department Hopkins County Station 20 would not be where it’s at today,” Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley said. “Because of all of yall helping the guys. We all work so well together. Cumby’s one of those if you call them, they’re coming, it doesn’t matter where it’s at in the county.”
“This is a special occasion. Cumby is one of the most effective volunteer fire departments in Hopkins County. We’ve watched over the years as as they have responded really all over the county at times, but especially on the western side of the county. They’ve been a lifesaver for many,” Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said.
Cumby has had various levels of fire protection dating back more than 100 years, according to information read during the Aug. 12 Commissioners Court session.
According to the Cumby Rustler publication, Cumby had a fire brigade that put out fires at local cotton gins, other businesses and homes, the railways as well as grass fires from the 1870s to early 1900s. The Cumby fire brigade was reported to have put out a locomotive steam engine fire. It was reported that a large portion of downtown would have burned if not for the quick efforts of firemen, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom read from a proclamation given to the department at Monday’s meeting.
The City of Cumby’s first official fire department was formed in 1924, however, information about the members was destroyed in a when the roof of the old city hall collapsed in the 1980s. The first known fire apparatus was a 1932 Howe pumper truck, Newsom said.
The current fire department, the modern era department, was formed in 1968 by James Strickland, Leroy Conville, Junior Millsap, Leon Higginbotham, Luke Smith, Williams Cross and Bill Spencer.
“The department’s motto ‘Pride of the Westside’ still holds true as its members continue to proudly claim a longstanding sense of success in providing fire protection for the City of Cumby and Western Hopkins County,” Newsom said.
“They are the pride of the west side. They take care of the west end so well for us, the Interstate. We know each other very well from the Interstate. That history right there if phenomenal. It goes all the way back to the 1800s. So far y’all have go the record on how far back you go. That’s amazing right there. That’s a testament to Cumby, the people of Cumby and the department. We appreciate that,” Endsley said.
Cumby VFD member Jimmy Evans noted that he’d been a member of the department since 1976, and could remember a time “the budget of the county was $38,000 for all of the departments.”
Evans commended the county for “doing an excellent job for us, helping all the fire departments” over the years. He noted at one time, the county purchased a cab and chassis for all VFDs, and said he wished the county was able to still do so, but expressed appreciation to the commissioners court for what they are able to do for the VFD.
Evans said just as the county has grown and changed over the years, and that has impacted VFDs.
“As far as the departments, I think everybody is suffering for manpower. I know we are. We used to always have a minimum of 18 members. We are down to about 12 now. You have to keep up the good work supporting fire departments as you have done,” the VFD members said.
“We need young firemen. The future future of Hopkins County and depends on young people to step up. This is volunteers. They don’t get paid, and are volunteers we appreciate that so much,” Newsom said.
The commissioners court urged citizens to join them in applauding the outstanding efforts of Cumby VFD, including their dedication and perseverance in providing fire protection to the citizens of Hopkins County, and offer heartfelt appreciation to the servant hood of each CVFD member.
Deputies: Woman Claims Substance Found In Her Bag Is Gag Gift, Not Meth
A 63-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was arrested early Tuesday morning near a South Broadway Street eye care business after officers found a baggy with a crystal-like substance she claimed wasn’t methamphetamine, but a gag gift.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies Lance Burdick and Zack Horne spotted the woman, identified in arrest reports as Rosemary Boone Springer, walking at 2:10 a.m. Aug. 13, on South Broadway Street. They stopped to conduct a welfare check on the woman. The sheriff’s office had received a call Monday from a person inquiring if the person was still listed as missing, so they stopped to check on her, according to sheriff’s reports.
While talking to the woman, the deputies noted her to exhibit “nervous behavior.” She allegedly wouldn’t make eye contact with the deputies and several times change her story as to where she was walking.
A short time later, HCSO Sgt. Scott Davis reportedly arrived and began speaking to the woman. Dispatchers reportedly advised she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest on a possession or delivery of drug paraphernalia charge, but that she was not at that time listed as a missing person.
After obtaining permission to search her handbag, deputies found a small white pill bottle that had a plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance the suspected to be methamphetamine, Burdick and Davis alleged in arrest reports. Springer allegedly claimed the substance wasn’t meth; that it was gag gift. Deputies field-tested the substance. Contrary to her claim, the substance tested positive for methamphetamine, Burdick and Davis alleged in arrest reports.
Springer was taken into custody on both the warrant as well as a new charge for possession of less than 1 gram Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. The substance and packaging weighed about 0.61 gram, the deputies alleged in arrest reports.
She remained in the county jail Tuesday morning. Bond on the controlled substance charge was set at $5,000, according to arrest reports.
Teen Reportedly Injured In County Road 4712 ATV Crash
A 16-year-old was reportedly injured and flown from the crash site to an area trauma center for treatment Monday evening.
Hopkins County emergency dispatchers at 6:18 p.m. Monday were notified of an ATV crash with injuries on County Road 4712. Hopkins County and Cumby firefighters, and sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the location, according to reports.
A 16-year-old was reportedly found trapped beneath a crashed ATV. Once the vehicle was moved, a medical helicopter was reportedly landed near the crash site. The teen was flown to an area trauma center, for what were reported to be possible life-threatening injuries. Another person at the crash site was reported to have sustained less serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, according to sheriff’s reports.
No additional information was available regarding the crash, including information regarding the two injured, mid morning Tuesday.
Merger Of North Hopkins, South Sulphur VFDs Receives Approval Of Commissioners
A handshake between North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bobby Harris and South Sulphur VFD Chief Jim Rich marked what Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom called a “historic moment” in county history.
The two departments have agreed, with approval of Hopkins County Commissioner Court, to merge their departments to better maximize the resources of both departments.
There are still several details to work out in regard to the combining of the two stations, including some financial matters. The new North Hopkins-South Sulphur VFD plans to add a substation in the near future to house part of the apparatus and give the area a second station from which department members can more quickly respond to calls in the north and western portions of Hopkins County as needed. The court appointed Harris as chief of the newly combined department.
The combined department and additional station should also help lower ISO ratings, which should mean lower insurance rates for many residents within 5 miles of each station.
“Bobby and I have a good working relationship, which makes this possible with the tight funds and available volunteers,” said Rich.
“This is for the residents. Jim and I want to help our community. If we do our part together, we can pool our resources in the community and pool different resources,” said Harris.
That spirit of cooperation and potential for more efficient and productive use of resources were the motivating factors for the commissioners court to unanimously passed a resolution in favor of the combining of departments, according to Newsom.
Wildcats Varsity And JV Football Teams Begin Practice Monday Evening
The Wildcats Varsity and JV Football Teams will have their first practice of the season Monday evening, August 12, at the Multipurpose Building.
After several meetings, the teams were expected to take the field, either indoors or out, beginning at around 6 p.m. Practice is expected to go until around 9 p.m.
The Wildcats are starting a week later than some because they had spring football practice. Because of spring ball, they lose not only a week of practice, but also one scrimmage. The Wildcats lone scrimmage will take place Thursday, Aug. 22, at Liberty-Eylau in Texarkana. The Leopards are coached by Klint King, son of former Wildcats Head Football Coach Chuck King.
The Wildcats are expected to go several days without pads before putting on pads and getting in some contact.
The Wildcats were 6-4 last season including a bi-district loss to Frisco. They were 5-3 in district play and finished as the district’s #3 seed.
The Wildcats return 19 lettermen, including four offensive and four defensive starters. The Wildcats lost 35 seniors off last year’s team.
