Hopkins County EMS Video Among Top 30 Competing in CBS Special “Lip Sync To The Rescue”
Hopkins County EMS is one of 30 emergency response departments from across the country selected to compete in an upcoming CBS reality special called “Lip Sync To The Rescue,” based on department’s #LipSyncChallenge video.
For those unfamiliar, the #LipSyncChallenge began as a fun way for police, sheriff, fire department and EMTs to engage with their communities by creating lip sync music videos and challenging.
The Lip Sync To The Rescue entries predominantly feature law enforcement agencies, with a few fire departments and the local EMS crew among the mix. All four of the entries from Texas are North and East Texas departments: Hopkins County EMS, Paris Fire Department, Greenville Fire Department and Mansfield SWAT.
Starting today, April 12, fans can to go to Lip Sync To The Rescue, watch the videos and vote for their favorites. There’s no limit on voting, so fans can support their favorite videos and agencies as many times as they choose.
The top vote-getters will be featured in the CBS special hosted by Cedric The Entertainer, which is set to film this summer in Los Angeles in front of an audience of emergency responders, family and friends. Two videos will advance to the live vote during the broadcast to crown a winner, according to show’s page on CBS.com.
Two Wildcats Football Players and Lady Cats Track Athlete Sign With Colleges
Sulphur Springs Wildcats DQ Pitts and Jermond Bryant-Amos signed with RPA College in Arlington, and SSHS Lady Cat Abbi Beggs signed with Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
DQ Pitts and Jermond Bryant-Amos signed with RPA College in Arlington. RPA is next door to UT-Arlington. It’s a prep school that plays a JUCO schedule and focuses athletes on their studies. Players that attend will have all of their college eligibility left when they move on to another school.
Pitts, the son of Sharita Johnson and Terrance Pitts, played outside linebacker and wide receiver for the Wildcats last season. Pitts said he put his football highlights on twitter and that attracted the attention of the RPA College coach. Pitts was invited to come for a visit. He said he liked the school, its’ work out plans and the surroundings. Pitts said they are interested in letting him play some at both positions. He may also return kickoffs. After college, Pitts said he would like a career as a welder.
Bryant-Amos is the son of Denise Bryant and Cary Amos. He said Pitts made him aware of RPA College. He said soon they were interested in him. Bryant-Amos said they are close to home and he sees them as a stepping stone to a bigger program. They want Bryant-Amos to punt and play as a receiver. He is excited about RPA College and he likes the fact that he and Pitts will both be going there.
Lady Cat track shot putter and discus thrower Abbi Beggs signed with Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is the daughter of John and Rachel Beggs.
Abbi put some of her throws on the internet and that attracted the attention of Indiana Tech. Beggs said it was very cold up there when she visited but she said it had a very homey feel and seemed athlete friendly. Beggs said she will put the shot and will also throw the discus, the javelin and the hammer. Her favorites are discus and javelin. She said Indiana Tech has one of the best NAIA track programs anywhere. Her college plans include medical school and then becoming a part of the Doctors Without Borders Program.
Local Football Legend Forrest Gregg Passed Away Early Friday
Forrest Gregg, a true local football legend, passed away Friday at his home in Colorado Springs. He was 85.
Gregg was originally from Birthright and he played high school football at Sulphur Springs High School. He played in college at SMU.
Gregg spent 15 years in the National Football League as an offensive lineman, almost all of it with the Green Bay Packers. Legendary Packers Coach Vince Lombardi called Gregg the best player he ever coached. Gregg was seven times All-Pro and played in nine Pro Bowls. He was a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.
After his playing days were over, Gregg coached at Cleveland, Cincinnati and at Green Bay. Gregg took the Bengals to the Super Bowl.
Later, he also took the very tough jobs of head football coach and then athletic director at his alma mater SMU as they reinstalled football after the Ponies received the death penalty for NCAA rules violations.
Gregg returned to Sulphur Springs to speak at the annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Banquet in February 2011. He also returned in April 2013 to be honored as the Sulphur Springs city and school district received plaques as part of the NFL Hall of Fame and Allstate Insurance Hometown Hall of Famers program.
Saltillo Softball Team Drops Game to Solid Sulphur Bluff Team Thursday
Sulphur Bluff has a reputation for playing good softball and they showed it in a 12-4 win over the Saltillo Lady Lions Thursday.
Saltillo scored four runs in the top of the second inning to take a brief 4-3 lead. The Lady Bears scored the last nine runs in the game
Chandler Bain took the pitching loss for Saltillo. She had five strikeouts and three walks. For Saltillo, Bain was 1 for 3 wih a double.
Raegan Speir was 3 for 4 with three singles. Josey Bench was 2 for 4 with two singles. McKenna Gurley was 1 for 3 with a single. Ally Smith was 1 for 3 with a single.
The Lady Lions are now 2-8 for the season. They play next at home Friday (April 12) against Como-Pickton.
Home Baseball and Softball on Friday Game Day
There is home baseball and softball on this game day Friday (April 12). The Wildcats’ baseball team hopes to begin a winning streak that will land them in the playoffs. The Lady Cats are trying to hold on to first place and win a second straight district championship.
The Wildcats finish off their three game district series with Greenville at Wildcat Park. There is a lot at stake Friday night. Both teams have won once so far. The Wildcats won 9-2 at Wildcat Park back on March 15. Greenville won at home Tuesday night, 10-9 in 8 innings. The winner Friday will own the tiebreaker in the series, which could be crucial in determining a playoff spot. Greenville is currently tied with Royse City for the fourth and final playoff spot, both are 3-7. The Wildcats are one game behind them at 2-8. Royse City already owns the tiebreaker with the Wildcats having swept them in three district games. There will be a JV contest against Greenville at 4 p.m. The varsity game will follow at 7 p.m. KSST Radio will bring you the Wildcats and Greenville game Friday live and with video streaming. The game will also be posted to YouTube and will also be shown at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Meanwhile the Lady Cats’ softball team will be taking on Lindale at Lady Cat Park on this game day Friday. There will be a JV contest at 5 p.m. The varsity game will follow at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Cats are 6-1 in district play and they are 20-5 for the season. Mount Pleasant lurks one game behind the Lady Cats with a 5-2 district record. The Lady Cats won the first game against Lindale, 4-0 on March 26 at Lindale. However since taking a defeat at Mount Pleasant on March 29 while getting only 3 hits, the Lady Cats have won three straight games by wide margins getting double-digit hits in each game.
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack said his Wildcats have had some disappointing losses this season but he said Tuesday (April 9) night’s 10-9 loss at Greenville was the most disappointing. He said the Wildcats finally got the bats going. The Wildcats had 12 hits and they scored nine runs. The Wildcats led Greenville, 9-5 going into the bottom of the seventh. The Lions scored four times to send the game into extra innings and then won it with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Coach Hammack said the Wildcats seemed to find a way to lose. He said the Wildcats committed three errors in the bottom of the seventh. They had six errors for the game. Coach Hammack said if the Wildcats had made the plays they should have, it would have led to a much needed victory. He said the Wildcats have always had a reputation for good pitching and good defense but he added it’s not there right now. Coach Hammack said he tinkered with the lineup and determined his batting order based on district on base percentage. That had usual lead off hitter Austin Dodd hitting fifth. Dodd thrived there going 5 for 5 and just missing the cycle. He had three singles, a double and a triple. Coach Hammack said Jaxon Chaney also swung a good bat Tuesday night. Chaney was 3 for 5 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs. Coach Hammack said the Wildcats also got a couple of big two out hits. Going into Tuesday’s game, Coach Hammack said he hoped the Wildcats could win four of their final six games. With the loss, now they would have to won 4 of 5. He said the Wildcats keep getting help but he said they can’t seem to help themselves. Royse City lost Tuesday night to Texas High. Greenville and Royse City are now tied for fourth. The Wildcats are at the bottom of the district standings with their 2-8 record. Still they are just a game out of fourth place. The Wildcats play Greenville Friday night at Wildcat Park.
Annual Silent Auction To Benefit the Children’s Museum
Funds Used for Exhibits at New Location
April 10, 2019 (COMMERCE, TEXAS) – The 2019 Silent Auction takes on special significance with the future move of the Children’s Museum to a building located at 100 Maple on Highway 11. Funds from the Silent Auction are earmarked for new exhibits and the refurbishing of current exhibits. The sixth annual Silent Auction & Market will be held Monday, April 29, 2019 in the Sam Rayburn Student Center on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce. The bidding will begin at 6:00 pm and close at 8:30 pm. Admission is $5.00
Guests at the auction will find all kinds of items for bidding while enjoying a fun and festive evening out with friends and neighbors. Items will include floral arrangements, furniture, home accents, original paintings and artwork, collector’s items, holiday décor, and jewelry as well as unique experience packages, and much, much more. At the 2018 event, more than 300 items were available for bid.
Our new location provides an opportunity to provide additional exhibits and to present our current exhibits in different settings.
The Market will feature homemade hot sauces, local honey, baked goods, and children’s items. Fried pies have been especially popular at the Market. Members of the Psychology Club will be among those providing cookies for the Market. Checks, cash and credit cards will all be accepted.
Raffle tickets are also on sale for $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00. In addition to purchasing these from a member of the Board of Directors, tickets can be purchased online from the museum’s webpage. This year’s raffle provides three choices. A prize of $1,000 in credit cards is sponsored by Alliance Bank, Cypress Bank, Guaranty Bank & Trust and Inwood National Bank; a 75″ LG Smart TV is sponsored by Charles Schwab of Greenville; and a $250 credit card is sponsored by Commerce Veterinary Clinic.
“We hope this is our most successful Silent Auction. Our new location provides an opportunity to provide additional exhibits and to present our current exhibits in different settings. Funds are needed to make this possible. The future is exciting, and we hope that excitement will provide a very successful Silent Auction,” said Board President Donna Tavener.
Call 903.886.6055 for more information, or if you would like to donate an item for the auction.
Danna’s Flea Market is in Town at Backstory Brewery!
Danna Bain, owner of Danna’s Florist and Buffalo Girls Boutique in Sulphur Springs, is putting on her annual Spring Flea Market and Swap Meet. This year it’s at Backstory Brewery, 211 Magnolia Street near downtown. There are numerous vendors inside and outside, with vintage, antique and collectible junque! Admission is free! Check them out through Saturday April 13, 2019.
Arkansas Pair Accused Of Tossing 13 Pounds Of Methamphetamine From Car
April 12, 2019 – An Arkansas pair was arrested Thursday night after allegedly throwing more than 13 pounds of suspected methamphetamine out a car window while trying to evade Sulphur Springs Police Lt. Eddie Moon.
Lt. Moon reported noticing a Honda Accord pass him on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 122 around 11 p.m. Thursday. Moon said it caught his attention because the license plate light bulb was so dim it was barely glowing, and not providing enough light to illuminate the license plate from 50 feet away.
Moon said he drove east to catch up to the car, but it took the 123 exit onto Shannon Road, and continued east, signaling a right turn, even though there was nowhere to turn. Moon wasn’t able to exit I-30 due to traffic, but continued alongside the car on the interstate. The Honda continued at 65 miles per hour on Shannon Road, a 50 mile per hour speed zone that decreased to 45 mph speed zone just past the 124 exit, the officer reported.
Moon reported seeing the brake lights on the Honda light up as he exited I-30 onto Shannon Road on that exit. Moon alleged radar showed the car to be traveling at 54 miles per hour entering the 45 mph speed zone, so he activated the lights and siren on his patrol vehicle to initiate a traffic stop for the two traffic violations.
The officer alleged the car slowed for approximately 1 second, then accelerated through the South Broadway Street and Shannon Road intersection, where the traffic light was red. The car then switched lanes, narrowly avoiding striking a large van.
“While pursuing the vehicle with lights and siren activated, I observed a large amount of contraband being thrown from the vehicle,” Moon alleged in arrest reports.
The officer alleged the contraband that went out the passenger’s window appeared to be narcotics, and alerted other officers via radio to the location of the tossed items.
SSPD Sgt. Josh Shufeldt responded at that location to recover what was reported to be at least three 1-gallon Ziplock bags and two other baggies with a crystal-like substance he suspected to be methamphetamine, police reports noted.
Moon,meanwhile, continued to follow the car, which continued to the 125 entrance ramp, entering the interstate at Mockingbird Lane and continuing to the top of the Bill Bradford Road overpass before stopping on the right shoulder.
The pair in the car was placed into custody. Officer Derrick Williams arrived to aid Moon in safely talking to the pair. He stayed at the location while the car was being impounded. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Colt Patterson arrived to transport the driver, identified in reports as 21-year-old Francisco A. Guillen-Campos of North Little Rock, Arkansas, to jail and Moon transported the passenger, identified in police reports as as 28-year-old Mary Wooten of Hensley, Arkansas, to jail.
The woman was found to be wanted in Tarrant County for possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance, arrest reports read.
The substance recovered from Shannon Road by Shufeldt reportedly weighed approximately more than 13 pounds, and field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Consequently, both Guillen-Campos and Wooten were charged with possession of 400 grams or more of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and tampering with evidence. Guillen-Campos was also charged with evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.
Wooten remained in the county jail late Friday morning; her bond was set at $100,000 on the possession of more than 400 grams of a controlled substance charge and $250,000 on the tampering with evidence charge, according to jail reports. Guillen-Campos also remained in the county jail late Friday morning. His bond was set at $100,000 on the possession charge, and at $25,000 each on the evading arrest and tampering with evidence charges.
Saltillo One-Act Play to be Performed Monday April 15 at Main Street Theater, 7pm
According to Saltillo ISD’s Music and Theater coach Darin Bilyeu, the One Act Play cast/crew will present their play in a public performance on Monday April 15 at 7pm at Main Street Theater, downtown Sulphur Springs at 225 Main Street. The crew got a “1” at District with “The Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds”, a Paul Zindel play. They advanced to Bi-District, garnering 11 individual and technical awards and then qualified for Area competition, a history-maker for the Saltillo school theater department. Attendance to the play is free, however, you must have a ticket, available at the Saltillo School. Donations will be welcomed.
