Como-Pickton Seniors Honored At Academic Awards Assembly
Como-Pickton High School seniors were honored this week with awards, scholarships and honors during the annual Senior Academic Awards program. The Class of 2019 was awarded at least $170,600 in scholarships, at the annual salute of outstanding 12th graders.
Valedictorian K’Lah Skidmore was awarded a $64,000 LeTourneau University Founders Scholarship.
Kobie Miller was awarded a $40,000 Honors Scholarship and a $14,000 Christian Leadership Scholarship, both from East Texas Baptist University. Miller was also the recipient of a $500 Hopkins County Bar Association scholarship.
Presli Cummings was awarded a $4,000 First Year Leadership Class scholarship, a $5,000 Freshmen Tier 2 Scholarship, a $2,000 PTK Freshmen Scholarship and a $2,400 Carrie Middleton Holliday Endowment, all from Texas A&M University-commerce.
TAMU-Commerce Blue and Gold Scholarships in the amount of $5,000 went to Presli Cummings, Hannah Minick and Lyndee Mitchell.
Jinger Peeks awarded Dylan Wiggins and K’Lah Skidmore with $500 Como-Pickton Little Dribblers Scholarships; and awarded $100 C-P Little Dribblers awards to Jena Satterfield, Hannah Minick, Kobie Miller, Lyndee Mitchell and Kaylee Butler.
Dr. Greg Bower, Como-Pickton CISD superintendent, presented $1,000 Como-Pickton Administrators Scholarships to Alex Alonso, Kaylee Butler, Daisy Camacho, Dixye Degeurin, Maria Lara and Maria Mejia.
Como Mayor Darla Henry awarded $500 City of Como scholarships to Destiny Tadlock and Daisy Camacho.
Henry also announced K’Lah Skidmore, Kobie Miller, Presli Cummings, Kaylee Butler and Maria Lara as recipients of $300 Como-Pickton PTO scholarships.
Monica Tapley and Christie Phillips awarded $500 Como-Pickton Athletic Booster Club scholarships to Ernesto Murillo, Josh Martin, Kobie Miller and K’Lah Skidmore.
A few scholarships were given in memory of those who have made an impact on the community.
Tim Glenn presented Lyndee Mitchell a $2,000 City National Bank Scholarship in memory of Melvanda Smith. Patsy Evans presented Alex Alonso with the $2,000 scholarship given in memory of her son Clay Evans.
Michael Bowen announced Kayleigh Brewer as this year’s recipient of the $500 Lonnie Niblett Memorial Scholarship and Blaine Flemens as the recipient of a $1,500 NETLA Scholarship given in memory of Larry Spradlin. Christie Phillips assisted Autumn Bennett in presenting the $500 Addison Bennett Memorial Scholarship, given in honor of the former Como-Pickton student killed 5 years ago in a car crash, to Kaylee Butler.
Bowen also recognized Preslie Cummings as the recipient of a $500 East Texas State Fair Showmen Scholarship. Cummings and Kobie Miller each received a $1,000 Como-Pickton FFA scholarship. This award is funded through a stew and auction. Last year, FFA was able to award one scholarship; this year enough funds were raised to give two, Bowen explained.
Dixye Degeurin was awarded a $500 American Legion Scholarship and a $2,000 Brian Toliver Ford-Driving Dreams Scholarship.
Avery Vause received the $500 Load Trail Scholarship.
Honor Graduates and National Honor Society members were recognized during the program. This year’s 12th graders who donated blood at least twice or who had an adult donate to their credit received a red cord to wear at graduation, designating their commitment to helping others.
Students who were on the A and AB Honor Rolls too received certificates denoting the achievement, and students who earned the top scores in their courses were presented class awards from their teachers. Students who met requirements to attain industry recognized certifications such as for welding were presented certificates marking their achievements.
Amy Sprague, Breeanna Hicks Announced As NHHS Valedictorian, Salutatorian
Amy Sprague, daughter of Duane and Lisa Sprague, and Breeanna Hickks, daughter of Mindy Hicks, have been recognized as the top seniors at North Hopkins High School.
Five years ago, they were the top two students in their class in junior high, Hicks as valedictorian and Sprague salutatorian. Throughout high school their GPAs continued to be close.
Over the years, a rivalry developed between the two, but a friendly one, as each encouraged and challenged the other to do her best in and outside of class.
“We knew that we were gonna be pretty close,” Sprague said of their final rankings this year.
“I just don’t think we knew it was going to be that close. I was just like, oh I bet we’re going to be a point or so off. But, when she told me, I was like, that’s crazy,” said Hicks
And close they were. Only 0.001 of a point determined which would be valedictorian and which salutatorian of North Hopkins High School Class of 2019.
But, when all was said and done, Sprague’s final GPA was 5.155, making her this year’s top ranking student, and Hicks the second ranking student with a 5.154 GPA.
Future Plans
That
didn’t bother this year’s North Hopkins High School valedictorian and
salutatorian, however.
Both
have been admitted to the Honors College at Texas A&M
University-Commerce, where they will room together and, while
pursuing different career paths, continue to challenge each other to
reach harder and do her best.
Sprague plans earn a master of science in nursing, then work a few yeas as a nurse practitioner until she can apply to Doctors Without Borders.
The NHHS valedictorian said she learned of the organization a few years ago and views it as “such a great opportunity to go and serve the other people, people around the world.”
Sprague already has head start on college, having just received an associates of science degree from Paris Junior College. She said she her mom sat down one day to talk and decided she’d take advantage of the college courses offered while attending high school. She continued each year to take more classes and was able to graduate last week.
In addition to having her first year of tuition paid for being the top student, and other tuition and fees covered through the Honors College, Sprague also was awarded a $32,000 Bright Star Scholarship from the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation, payable in increments of $4,000 a semester up to $8,000 a year for four continuous years.
Hicks will plans to major in theater arts and minor in English, with a goal of becoming an high school teacher.
“I had several teachers in high school that really helped me find what I want to do, and I want to do that for other students,” Hicks said.
She’s been passionate about theater since she, her mom and cousins began getting together to attend “big Broadway shows in Dallas” when she was younger. When given the option to participate in theater in school, she knew it was something she wanted to do.
“It’s so much fun, because for a little bit you get to be somebody else, you get to wear cool clothes and you get to do things you would never get to do in your daily life. So, it’s just really fun to get to escape for a little bit,” Hicks said.
She said she has participated in One Act Play since seventh grade. Over the last two years, she’s earned accolades for her acting. He junior year she earned Best Actress at District and was named an Honorable Mention All Star Cast member at Bi-District OAP competition. This year, she was named to the All Star Cast at District and Honorable Mention at Bi-District.
In addition to the benefits awarded with the Honors College, Hicks also will receive a couple of other awards as well.
As the 2017-18 Hopkins County Fall Festival Cover Girl, Hicks will receive a $1,000 scholarship to apply toward her education.
She said being the Cover Girl, serving the community, attending ribbon cuttings and other social events has been a fun experience. It proved to be a good way to learn a more about Sulphur Springs, was a great opportunity to meet many people in the community. Competing in the contest and being the Cover Girl also helped her gain more confidence in herself while representing the community.
Hicks was notified last week she also will be the recipient of an Alliance Bank scholarship as well.
Sprague says she’s attended North Hopkins ISD since second grade, while Hicks has attended her entire educational career so far.
Hicks said while the idea of going to a different school is a little scary she’s excited to try something new, and is looking forward to fun new experiences.
Sprague says while Commerce is only about 9 miles from home, so moving won’t be that big of a change. She is excited to start the rest of her life, to see where it takes her.
Hicks said if given the opportunity, she’d definitely consider returning to North Hopkins ISD to teach, but isn’t opposed to the idea of living somewhere new either.
Looking Back
Both participated in sports until their sophomore year, then turned their interests elsewhere.
Each also was in Beta, FFA and UIL activities at school.
Sprague has been involved with both Beta and FFA since the seventh grade, serving as a FFA officer all four years of high school. She also had a goat, which she acknowledged was also a lot of work. She said it was fun while it lasted, but now that it’s over, she won’t miss it.
Hicks has been involved with FFA since eight grade, serving as a chapter officer all four years, including as first vice president until May 16, when she passed the torch to another NHHS student.
“Bittersweet because it was such a great experience, but it’ll be fun to have that be a part of my past experience and get to do something new. I’m excited for the new officers they’ll have fun,” the salutatorian said.
In FFA, Hicks raised chickens for five years, a process that’s interesting but a lot of work. She won’t miss having to tend chickens, she said.
Hicks also participated in chapter speaking and was on the chapter conducting team all four years.
Both students credit FFA Advisor Christin Daugherty for the lasting impact she’s had in her life.
“She helped me become such the involved individual that I am today. She helped me with all of my community service and teaching me public speaking. She’s just been such an inspiring role model,” Sprague said.
“She found me as a freshman and really pushed me. I am so glad she did. I would not be where I am right now,” Hicks said.
The salutatorian said theater teacher Jenifer Lucas had a similar impact on her life
“She found me in seventh grade, was like you can do this. She pushed me to do things I never would have tried before,” Hicks said.
She also expressed appreciation to art teacher Paulin Cowling.
“She’s just so great,” Hicks said. “I love Mrs. Cowling.”
Hicks, along with her friend and brother, are advancing to nationals in the Beta technology contest with a video they made focusing on this year’s them “Let Us Lead By Serving Others.” Their video focused on how it helps with leadership in high school.
Beta teaches students to lead by serving others, and they made a video centered on that theme and it advanced, Hicks explained.
Sprague was part of the new FCCLA chapter started at the school two years ago. This year, she competed at the state FCCLA level in recycle and redesign, with the chair she made out of books. She said that was especially useful at the regional contest; while others had to sit on the ground outside the door to the event, she was able to use her chair all day.
The idea, she was born of one of her passions and the need for her project to send a message regarding an issue of importance.
“Books have always been one of my secret pleasures. I love to read. I’m an avid reader. Then, once I started thinking about it, I wanted to make an impact on something. Once I started thinking about it, deforestation is a huge problem in our world. I wanted to have a saying like look what else you can do. You don’t have to throw away all of these products of wood,” Sprague said.
Sprague also participated in One Act Play this year as a cast member, helping advance the play from district.
Hicks has also been involved in academic UIL in prose and editorial writing, placing fifth in the latter.
The top students said their achievements came with hard work and determination.
Their advice to others students hoping to also be successful:
“Do the best that you can do,” Sprague advises.
“Make yourself a goal. That’s the most important thing, having something to work for. It comes with sacrifice, so you have to know what you’re willing to give up to know what you’re working towards. You give up things when your’e involved. We’re probably busy every other Saturday. Most high school kids probably aren’t willing to give up their Saturday. That’s something you have to think about when you make a goal like we have. It’s a commitment,” Hicks said.
TRAX To Get $100,000 Software Upgrade
A motion to review and consider approval of a contract with Shah Software is on the agenda for May 30th, 2019. Shah Software of Dallas, TX won the bid to provide transit scheduling software for the TRAX rural transportation service.
Approval of the $100,000 contract is expected at the May 30th meeting.
The Executive Committee of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) will meet at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 30, 2019, at the Titus County Extension Office, 1708 Industrial Road, Mt. Pleasant, Texas.
Police Follow Trail Of Parts To Sleeping Man In Damaged Truck
Sulphur Springs police followed a trail of car parts to a man in a Dodge Ram pickup with front end damage early Thursday morning.
Officers had responded to complaints of multiple crashes. They observed what was found to be a trail of vehicle parts, and followed it from the 500 block of Woodlawn Street to the 900 block of North Hillcrest Drive. There, police reported seeing a blue pickup that had apparently sustained heavy front end damage. A man could be seen inside of it; the man appeared to be asleep in the driver’s seat, police reported.
After a period of time, officers were able to awaken the man. Police alleged alcohol emitted from his breath, he was unsteady on his feet, spoke with mumbling slurred speech and had bloodshot eyes. The officer alleged he attempted to administer field sobriety tests, but the man was unable to perform them.
The 27-year-old Sulphur Springs man was taken to jail, where he refused to provide a blood sample for analysis. A search warrant was obtained, requiring a blood draw. Samples were taken at 3:07 a.m., then, the man was booked into jail for accident involving damage estimated at more than $200 and driving while intoxicated, both Class B misdemeanor offenses, according to arrest reports.
He remained in the county jail shortly before noon May 23. His bond was set at $1,000 per charge, according to jail reports.
3 Arrested Following Midnight Complaint
A complaint regarding intoxicated people on Connally Street resulted in three arrests early Thursday morning.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Zach Brown, Sgt. Josh Shufeldt and Lt. Eddie Moon were dispatched at 12:08 a.m. to the 200 block of Connally Street.
As they arrived, Moon reported one man started walking away from him near a Davis Street business. He finally stopped, after being instructed to do so numerous times, Moon reported.
On contact, Moon alleged he could smell a very strong alcoholic beverage odor on the man’s breath. Moon also reported the man to have bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and to be very unsteady on his feet. Consequently, 27-year-old Tony Contreras of Sulphur Springs was taken into custody for public intoxication.
Contreras was later found to be in possession of a vial containing less than 1 gram of tetrahydrocanaboinal, known as THC, resulting in the additional charge possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance. Contreras also allegedly became very uncooperative, Moon alleged in arrest reports.
SSPD Sgt. Josh Shufeldt contacted a 24-year-old Venice, Florida man who he reported had an odor of alcohol on his breath, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. Believing him to be a danger to himself and others, he took the man into custody for public intoxication, according to arrest reports.
SSPD Officer Zach Brown contacted a 32-year-old Sulphur Springs woman in the 300 block of Connally Street, where she was reportedly behind a Davis Street bar. Alcohol was smelled on her. She was reported to be unsteady on her feet and to have slurred speech. The woman also allegedly became very argumentative and uncooperative. She too was arrested for public intoxication.
Local Author’s Book Showcases the Texas Ranger Who Ended Bonnie and Clyde’s Crime Spree in 1934
It was on May 23, 1934 that the bloody career of the most notorious criminal couple in American history came to an end. Now, eighty-five years later, a recent release by local author Gene Shelton will better acquaint readers with the lawman who stopped the pair. The book is entitled “MANHUNTER” and is a novel based on the life and times of Frank Hamer, Texas Ranger. Shelton actually wrote the book over 20 years ago based upon extensive research into the lawman’s career. It was released by Berkeley Publishing in 1997. Decades later, following the upheaval in the publishing industry, Shelton took an interest in self-publishing his newer works as well as some of his older books from as early as the 1960’s. He has been successful in doing this, but the success behind the re-release of “MANHUNTER” has been especially gratifying to Shelton.
From a KSST Good Morning Show interview earlier this spring, Shelton stated “I had always regretted that to get the Hamer book published, I had to cut it down. The publisher wanted to keep the size of the book as well as it’s purchase price down in a certain range. So, I cut out more than 30,000 words of my research. But it was a successful book. However, with today’s technology, more has been made public about Hamer and the ambush and I wanted to bring the story up to date and re-release the book. It wasn’t an overnight process, but I eventually have not only received the rights to re-publish, I was able to recover the 30,000 words of the original manuscript and offer the book the way I originally wanted to, only better. The cover is nicer, and the content is more complete. I couldn’t be more pleased and gratified. Especially since it’s release co-incides not only with the May anniversary of the ambush of Bonnie and Clyde, but with the release of “Highwaymen”, a movie about the brave Ranger. There is more to his story than Bonnie and Clyde! Hamer’s law enforcement career spanned from horseback and Winchester days, to the invention of the telephone and automobile. He built a reputation as a fearless and incorruptible lawman. He survived 52 gunfights and 23 bullet wounds”.
“MANHUNTER”and many of Shelton’s 26 novels are available on Amazon.
Convicted Sex Offender Accused Of Failing To Comply With Terms to Register
May 23, 2019 – A 23 year-old Brashear man was arrested at 1:18 p.m. Thursday at his County Road 1158 residence by Investigator Charles Humphries for failure to comply with sex offender laws which require individuals with prior sex convictions to register with local authorities.
Humphries said authorities were first alerted to BURSBY, GARRETT MATTHEW, after he was reportedly seen April 26 during regular school hours at a county school, where he was thought not to have checked in with school officials.
“Anytime convicted sex offenders are at schools during normal school hours, they have to notify the school they are on the property. He had not notified the school,” Humphries said. “They may have a chaperone while on the campus, if the school is OK with them being there. It is a felony if caught without notification.”
On further investigation, Bursby was found not to have complied with terms for him to register with authorities as a sex offender as required, which resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest, according to the investigator. Humphries served the warrant and took Bursby into custody May 22.
If anyone sees a person they believe to be a convicted sex offender on a school campus during school hours, Humphries recommends notifying the local sheriff’s office or police department so officers can verify whether the person is a sex offender, then make sure those who are have checked in with school officials as required.
7 Pounds Of Suspected Methamphetamine Discovered In Car Speaker During Traffic Stop
A traffic stop on Interstate 30 by Cumby police yielded more than 7 pounds of methamphetamine in a sub-woofer box located in the trunk of a car and a small container of THC inside of the vehicle, according to arrest reports.
Cumby Police Officer Kenneth Jones reported seeing an eastbound beige colored vehicle drive onto the shoulder and over the white line, after passing him on I-30 around 1:45 p.m. Thursday. Jones, who was patrolling, followed the Chevrolet Monte Carlo on I-30, where he alleged he saw it being driven too close to a truck and trailer as they neared the 109 mile marker, then saw it crossing the shoulder and follow too close to another vehicle.
Suspecting the driver might be impaired, Jones said he continued to monitor the car until he could find a safe spot out of the heavy traffic on I-30 to stop the car. He then initiated a traffic stop at the 110 mile marker. The driver stopped at the Valero gas station, ones alleged in arrest reports.
Jones alleged when he approached the driver, the man was shaking and acting very nervous, so he asked to search the car. The man reportedly initially said no, then agreed. During the search, Jones alleged in arrest reports, the officer found a THC vape pen capsule with THC juice inside of it. Cumby Police Chief Paul Robertson arrived at that point to assist with the stop, Jones noted in arrest reports.
While searching, Jones reported seeing a sub-woofer box that had only three screws inside of one of the speakers to hold it on. Jones, in reports, said he knew from his experience in law enforcement that people sometimes hide things in speakers and speaker boxes. Robertson provided a screwdriver, which Jones reported using to remove the screws. That allowed him to access the inside, where the officers found three large gallon-sized bags with what appeared to them to be crystallized methamphetamine, Jones noted in arrest reports.
Consequently, driver Andrew Zachery Berry, 36, of Russellville, Arkansas, was taken into custody at 1:33 p.m. May 22 for having the controlled substance.
Robertson seized the suspected methamphetamine and took it to the police station to be weighed. The chief reported the substance weighed 7.08 pounds.
A short time later after being taken into custody, Berry reportedly began complaining of chest pains and was taken to the hospital to be checked out, according to reports. He was transported to the county jail, where he was booked at 7:30 p.m. for manufacture or delivery of more than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to arrest reports.
Berry remained in the county jail late Wednesday morning. His bond was set at $75,000 on the controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
PJC Offering Scholarships
PJC offering scholarship for a summer class tuition to graduating seniors.
Graduating high school seniors in the Paris Junior College service area are eligible for a scholarship covering tuition for a class in either of the five-week Summer I or Summer II semesters. Summer I starts June 3 and Summer II begins July 10.
Generous donors to the PJC Memorial Foundation make possible the scholarships for graduating high school seniors in Delta, Lamar, Hunt, Hopkins and Red River counties, plus those from Honey Grove and Fannindel. Students may take either a core academic class to transfer and save money, or a workforce class leading to a great career.
“PJC offers a great education with small class sizes and personalized attention from experienced instructors, “ said PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. “That is a big part of why more than two-thirds of all students graduating with bachelor degrees have community college hours as part of that degree.”
The online scholarship application can be found here. High school seniors wanting the summer class scholarship should enter “graduating senior 2019” in the scholarship application box that asks for “semester/year to attend PJC.”
Registration is going on now for summer classes. For questions or more information contact Amie Cato at 903-782-0425 or [email protected] or Sheila Reece at 903-782-0211 or [email protected].
