Northeast Texas Children’s Museum Acquires a New Home in Commerce, Texas
For seventeen years, the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum has offered educational opportunities and play activities for pre-school through elementary school children. Sharline Garrison Freeman, who became Director of the 501(c)3 in Commerce, Texas ten years ago, is not only pleased with the growth of the museum’s offerings, but thrilled that a new 26,000 sq. ft. property for the facility has been secured. The Northeast Texas Children’s Museum will plan to move into it’s new Commerce home during Autumn 2019. Meantime, the Children’s Museum is open for hands-on play, birthday parties and classroom field trips during their normal hours of operation, open Tuesday through Saturday 9:30am until 4:30pm, and closed on Sundays and Mondays. Special offerings during Spring Break will include Dinosaur Days and Robotics Days. Check the Museum website daily for current activities, www.netxcm.com
According to the Director, the acquisition of the Polara Building on Hwy. 11 East in Commerce ends a period of anticipation about where the Museum would make it’s new home. The current location at 2501 Hwy. 24, across the highway from Texas A and M University-Commerce, has been a leased property. To pay for needed renovations on the new building, support is being sought through donations and sponsorships, as well fundraisers. The Museum’s major annual fundraising event, the Silent Auction, is coming up this Spring and will be held on the evening of Monday April 29 at 6pm in the Sam Rayburn Center on the campus of the University. The Freda Mays Bridge Day is set for April 8 and the annual Style Show will be held in September. During February, the Daddy-Daughter Dance brought 500 persons to the Museum. Donations by check can be mailed to Northeast Texas Children’s Museum, P.O. Box 994, Commerce, Texas 75429.
Approximately 30,000 visitors cross the threshold of the Children’s Museum each year. Springtime Field Trip Season brings classes of students from all over NE Texas. The Summer season is quite busy with families coming from as far away as Dallas to Mount Pleasant, and from Denison to Daingerfield. But, alongside themed educational events and inter-active displays which the Museum continues to offer, it’s the unstructured, creative play of childhood that is perpetually the star of the show. Children are encouraged to let their imaginations be their guide as they play in the Airplane, the Train, the Grocery Store, Bank Drive-Thru, Dress-Up and numerous other areas. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to take advantage of Family Memberships and Grandparent Memberships. For full details, go to www.netxcm.org or phone Director Sharline Freeman 903-886-6055.
Homeowner Maintenance of Aerobic Treatment Units
A homeowner maintenance of Aerobic Treatment Units is set for April 16, 2019, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Hopkins County Extension Office- Sulphur Springs, TX. Cost for the course is $100.
This course covers the components of an aerobic treatment unit and spray field . Presentations discuss the importance of maintaining an onsite wastewater treatment system, health and safety considerations, basic concepts about the aerobic treatment processes, testing and reporting on the status of the treatment system, care and feeding of the aerobic treatment unit, and tools for evaluating the system. These presentations provide a basic understanding of the operational and maintenance activities for an aerobic treatment unit.
The course explains how activities within the home can impact the operation of an aerobic treatment unit. The participants will leave this class with a better understanding of the practices required to keep their system working and limit interferences with the enjoyment of their property.
This course is intended for homeowners interested in gaining knowledge in the operation and maintenance of their onsite wastewater treatment system. The course consists of classroom lecture and discussion, plus hands-on demonstrations and tour of the onsite wastewater training center located near the classroom.
Course fee is $100, which includes training materials, lunch, and certificate of completion. Seating limited to 50 participants. Requires at least 10 participants for the class to make.
Register by April 7, 2019 by calling 903-885-3443.
Soccer: Wildcats win; Lady Cats Lose
Wildcats Soccer 3, Royse City 0
The Wildcats’ soccer team strengthened their hold on the district’s fourth playoff spot with an impressive 3-0 over Royse City at Gerald Prim Stadium Tuesday night (February 26). The Wildcats and Bulldogs came into the contest tied for the final playoff spot. The Wildcats end the first half of district play with a 2-3 record. They are 7-8-2 for the season. The Wildcats broke a 0-0 tie with an unassisted goal from Jose Salazar. Andrew Escobar made it 2-0 Wildcats with a goal after an assisst from Kevin Yanez. Enrique Arellano got the third Wildcats’ goal assisted by Isaac Gutierrez. The Wildcats begin the second half of district play at Greenville next Tuesday. Greenville defeated the Wildcats at Prim Stadium, 5-1 back on February 12.
Royse City 6, Lady Cats Soccer 0
The Lady Cats’ soccer team took on the district’s top team and came out on the short end of a 6-0 score at Royse City Tuesday night (February 26). The game marked the end of the first half of district play. The Lady Cats have lost four of their five district contests but did score a 2-1 win over Texas High by penalty kicks last Friday. The Lady Cats are currently in fifth place. The Lady Cats begin the second half of district play at home against Greenville next Tuesday night. Back on February 12, the Lady Cats lost to the Lady Lions, 3-0 at Greenville.
Wildcats Heading to Regional Tournament Following Tuesday Win; Face Highland Park 6 p.m. Friday
The Wildcats’ basketball team is heading to the Regional Tournament after a regional quarterfinal win over Lufkin, 56-44 at Tyler Junior College’s Wagstaff Gym Tuesday night (February 26). The Wildcats trailed the defensive minded Panthers, 18-16 at the half. The Wildcats obviously made some adjustments in the second half and outscored the Panthers, 40-26.
Keaston Willis hit 3 three-point baskets and scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half to lead the way for the Wildcats.
Sadaidriene Day Day Hall scored 9 of his 14 total points in the last two quarters.
Jeremiah Roland had a third quarter three and also scored 5 of his 7 total points in the second half.
Xavier Cork also scored 7 points with 4 in the first half and 3 in the second half.
Cameron Kahn scored all of his 4 points in the third quarter.
The Wildcats held a slim 10-9 lead after one quarter and then fell behind 18-16 at the half. The Wildcats outscored Lufkin 18-8 in the third quarter to take a 34-26 lead into the fourth quarter. In an offensive fourth quarter, the Wildcats outscored the Panthers 22-18. The Panthers, the champions of District 16-5A, got 11 points from Natron Wortham and 10 points from Jordan Moore.
The Wildcats, ranked #4 in Class 5A and now 27-8 for the season, will play Highland Park Friday at 6 p.m. at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland in a Regional Semifinal game.
North Hopkins Senior Class Certified in CPR
by Cecile Lozano
As of February 26, 2018 the North Hopkins High School senior class of 2019 has been CPR certified. This graduating class is being prepared to ascend into the world with the necessary education, and ability to respond to emergencies with direction.
Students participating include: (Front row right to left) Kyria Davidson, Amy Sprague, Evan lewis, and Haley Timko;
(Back row, right to left) Bryson Sims, Johnny Smith, Blane Hocutt, Victor Rojo, Caleb Wyatt, and Branson Thomas (Photo by Faith Wheeler)
Students participating in training include (right to left): Thea Patterson, Cecile Lozano, Rebecca Armstrong, Sarahi Cabrera,Esperanza Deterding, and Andrea Santana (Photo by Faith Wheeler)
SSHS Theatre Performs Jules Verne Eats a Rhinoceros Sunday
SSHS Theatre will perform their 2019 UIL OAP, JULES VERNE EATS A RHINOCEROS, for the public this Sunday, March 3rd, at 2pm in anticipation of their OAP contest on March 5th.
The show is a wacky time-shifting farce recounting the career and personal milestones of legendary female journalist Nellie Bly (Junior Rachel Bramlett) at the end of the 19th century.
The play starts at the moment of Nellie’s death and goes into a series of flashbacks featuring her interactions with people important in her life, including science fiction writer Jules Verne (Freshman Ben Braddy), legendary journalist Joseph Pulitzer (sophomore Anthony Arroyo), and a possible love interest (Junior Chase Berry).
Seniors Hagen Hunt, Joseph Baxley, and Johnathan Johnson; Juniors Nathan Braddy and Reagan Kesting; Sophomores Rorie Young and Caitlynn Monaghen, and Freshmen AllieGrace Woodard and Caleb Talmage round out the cast. Crew and alternates– Seniors Belinda Flores, Tre Ransom, and Cody Queen; Junior Kennedy Dicus; Sophomores Crystal Flores and Haylee Fletcher; and Freshmen Brandon Williams and Emilie Gotcher are led by Senior Stage Manager Lucia Yanez.
Tickets are $1 for students and $3 for adults.
A&M-Commerce Department of Music Presents Gala Performance in Dallas
COMMERCE, TX— A gala performance featuring almost 200 students and a faculty soloist from the A&M-Commerce Department of Music will fill Moody Performance Hall in Dallas with enchanting melodies during “Music at the Moody” on March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
“This gala performance at the Moody serves a two-fold purpose of showcasing the incredible abilities of our students in the heart of Dallas’ Arts District and giving our students the opportunity to make art in a world-class venue in a world-class city,” said Dr. David Davies, interim head of the Department of Music.
The concert features performances from the University Chorale, the Piano Division, the A&M-Commerce Brass Ensemble and the Wind Ensemble, featuring Dr. Brian Zator on the marimba. The evening will also include a performance of guest composer Jim Stephenson’s award-winning “Symphony No. 2 (Voices).”
“The concert has been programmed to highlight the diverse talents of the music department including performances from a 70-piece brass ensemble, students from the Piano Division, the renowned Wind Ensemble under the direction of Professor Phil Clements and the A&M-Commerce Chorale under the direction of Dr. Randall Hooper, fresh from their acclaimed performance for an audience of over a thousand at the Texas Music Educators Association conference,” Davies said.
A reception will be held after the concert in the Moody lobby, giving attendees the opportunity to greet and interact with the student performers.
The Moody Performance Hall, formerly known as the Dallas City Performance Hall, is a city-managed, publicly-funded theater designed to provide a home in the Dallas Arts District for the city’s mid-size performing arts and cultural organizations.
Tickets are on sale now in the TAMUC Marketplace.
Relentless to Sign With Sony/SM1 Music Group
Kenny Robbins, AKA Relentless, of Sulphur Springs and a graduate of Miller Grove High School, is signing a contract with Sony/ SM 1 Music Group Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 6 PM at 163 Arapaho, Quitman TX. Sony Artist Don Woods will be attending the event. As well as Clay Dustin Public Relations / Promotion CEO SM1 Music Group.
The event will be broadcasting live on Facebook. To watch, one will need to follow Kenny Robbins Or Devan Sean Edwards For more information or any questions contact Kimberly Detwiler 903-461-1960 or Kenny Robbins 903-335-4443.
Sulphur Springs Places 2nd in Judy Tipping Memorial UIL Academic Meet
The Sulphur Springs High School UIL Academic Team hosted the Judy Tipping Memorial UIL Academic meet last Friday and Saturday, February 22-23. The Wildcats finished 2nd overall with Hallsville taking the championship.
Sulphur Springs students placing at the meet include:
Ready Writing (Gail Herman, coach) Matthew Harper, First Place; Braken Sant, Third Place; Lainey Whittle, Fifth Place
Computer Science (Matt Wilder, coach) Team placed 2nd with Brayden Fisher, First Place; Blake Talmage, Third Place; Dakota Soles, Fifth Place; Kevin Orozco, Sixth Place
Current Events (Madison Millsap, coach) Team of Brandon Hodges, James Draper, and Weston Vasquez, Second Place; Hodges, First Place individual
Spelling and Vocabulary (Gail Herman, coach) Cameron Beard, Second Place
News Writing (Brandon Nelson, coach) Mariana Botello, First Place
Literary Criticism (Gail Hermon, coach) Team of Matthew Harper, Carissa Carter, Lainey Whittle, and Mariana Botello, First Place; Harper, First Place individual; Carter, Second Place individual; Whittle, Third Place individual
Social Studies (Madison Millsap, coach) Brandon Hodges, Second Place
Poetry (Lesha Woodard, coach) Emilie Gotcher, Second Place; AllieGrace Woodard, Third Place
Prose (Lesha Woodard, coach) Rachel Bramlett, First Place; Hanna Shultz, Sixth Place
LD Debate (Josh Williams, coach) Corbin Philo, First Place; Rhett Reid, Fifth Place
Speech Team First Place
Number Sense (Gerald Grafton, coach) Kendall Little, Sixth Place (overall), Third Place (10th grade); Isaac Gutierrez, Fourth Place (11th grade)
Calculator (Gerald Grafton, coach) Carissa Carter, Fourth Place (12th grade); Isaac Gutierrez, Fifth Place (11th grade); Kennedy Lee, Sixth Place (11th grade)
Mathematics (Gerald Grafton, coach) Ivory Liu, Fourth Place (11th grade); Kennedy Lee, Sixth Place (11th grade), Kendall Little, Fifth Place (10th grade).
Science (Steven Allemang, coach) Matthew Harper, Fifth Place (10th grade)
Game Day Soccer; Wildcats, Lady Cats Face Royse City
Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats’ soccer teams play Royse City on this Tuesday (February 26) game day.
The Wildcats play the Bulldogs at Gerald Prim Stadium. There will be a JV game at 5:30 p.m. The varsity match will follow at around 7 p.m. Both teams have 1-3 district records. Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton calls this game crucial for his Wildcats. He wants to go 2-3 in the first half of district play. He said he hopes to get some surprise wins in the second half.
The Lady Cats found the win column against Texas High at The Prim last Friday. That exciting game was decided by penalty kicks. Now the Lady Cats really have their hands full. They travel to Royse City to face the very talented Lady Bulldogs. There will be a JV game at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity match to follow. Their last two games the Lady Cats have shown improvement. They lost a close one to Mount Pleasant before the penalty kick win against Texas High.
