Wildcats Track Results
Two Wildcats Track Athletes Compete With Big Boys at Dallas Jesuit Sheaner Relays Saturday
The Wildcats’ track team sent nine athletes to the Dallas Jesuit Sheaner Relays this past Friday and Saturday (March 22-23). They got two especially outstanding performances. Jeremiah Roland finished in second place in the high jump. Landry Tyson got a third place finish in the 300-meter hurdles. We will have a more complete report later when we have a chance to talk with track coach Derek Tyson who took the athletes to Jesuit on Saturday.
Wildcat Baseball Suffers Loss
Wildcats Baseball Coach Says Texas High Player Changed His Approach to Win Game Friday
Texas High’s star Friday against the Wildcats was their lead off hitter Chris Sutton. Coach Hammack said he is a pull hitter than never goes to right field. Sutton went against form and hit the ball into right field to score the two runs that made a difference in a 6-4 Texas High win at Wildcat Park, Coach Hammack said he knew going in it was an important game. It was the last game of the first round. Coach Hammack said Texas High is a quality team and as good as anybody in the district. He said the Wildcats continued to battle during the game. Both teams traded the lead. Coach Hammack said when it was 4-4 going into the bottom of the seventh, he expected the Wildcats to get a win to win the game. He said he thought the Wildcats were about to get out of the bases leaded jam until Sutton went the other way like he never does. Coach Hammack said if the Wildcats continue to fight and claw, they will be fine. The Wildcats are 2-3 in district play. Texas High is tied for first with Mount Pleasant with 4-1 records. Two more rounds remain and the schedule calls for teams to play each other twice a week over the next five weeks. This is Royse City week for the Wildcats with a home game Tuesday with a trip to Royse City Friday. Royse City’s lone district win in the first round was against the Wildcats in Royse City. Coach Hammack said he has known Bulldogs Coach Clay Wolfe a long time and he said he has a lot of respect for Coach Wolfe and his team. Coach Hammack said the Wildcats need to play the way they are capable of playing and do it consistently. He said the Wildcats are as good as anybody in the district when they do that. Coach Hammack said he might start Pacen Edwards Tuesday against the Bulldogs since they have already seen usual Tuesday night starter Will Sims. Jace Burchfield is expected to pitch Friday.
Lady Cats Soccer Playoff Set
Lady Cats Soccer Bi-District Match Firmed Up, Lady Cats Face Hallsville
The Hallsville Lady Bobcats leapfrogged Jacksonville into first place in District 16-5A soccer and that changed the Sulphur Springs Lady Cats playoff plans. The Lady Cats renew their rivalry with old district foe Hallsville in bi-district action. The two teams meet Friday (March 29) at 6 p.m. at Mount Pleasant’s Sam Parker Field. The Lady Cats are visitors. To prepare for Friday night, the Lady Cats have a warm up game at Gerald Prim Stadium at 6 p.m. against Athens. Lady Cats Soccer Coach Joel Bailey called it a bonus game and he encouraged fans to show up and watch some soccer. Coach Bailey had expected to play Jacksonville but they lost Friday in a penalty kick shootout while Hallsville won. The Lady Bobcats are a team Coach Bailey knows well since they were district foes for several years until this year. The two teams scrimmaged at Hallsville on December 29. Coach Bailey said he was still trying to figure things out this year back then. He said he knew even then that they would be a tough team. Coach Bailey said he scrimmaged them to see what his team was made of. He said Hallsville lost some talented players off last year’s team but also returned some juniors and seniors that were equal to the challenge. Coach Bailey said a lot has changed since the first of the year adding the Lady Cats were a completely different team now. He’s hoping the bi-district game will be anybody’s game to win. He said the playoffs is the theater the Lady Cats want. Coach Bailey called the playoffs a new season and a second chance to prove your worth. He added there is no tomorrow with the winner still in and the loser our. Coach Bailey said he hopes the Lady Cats can jump on Hallsville and control the momentum of the game. Last year in bi-district the Lady Cats surprised Wylie East and led the Lady Raiders, 1-0 at the half before Wylie East rallied in the second half.
Northeast Texas Farmer’s Co-op is 80 Years Old!
On March 24, 2019, “the Co-op” as it’s known in Sulphur Springs will begin it’s 80th year serving the farming community in Hopkins County and it’s member-patrons. For a good segment of our population, the Co-op is a household word, and almost a member of the family. Most everyone knows General Manager Brad Johnson, also Donnie Peters, Store Manager and Jim Ratzlaff, Credit Manager. Among the longest-serving employees are Joe Lee Jackson who began working there in 1963, and Debbie Horton who came onboard in 1976. Anita Stapleton joined the Co-op family in May 1971, and today holds the office of Controller. There is a separate staff developing feed formulations at the busy Feed Mill located across the street from the Farm and Ranch Center. Jan Taylor, Eusebio Vazquez, Larry Hatley, Charles Champion, Blake Smith and Antonio Sanchez all are employees with twenty five years or more tenure. According to Anita, “there will probably not be much fanfare this week at the 468 North Jackson Street location in Sulphur Springs, just a lot of hard-working individuals going about their jobs as more and more people shop at our stores. Having added a brand new Farm & Ranch Center in Clarksville in 2016, and with a new location for the Canton Farm and Ranch Center in 2017, we are now looking at remodeling the warehouse and garden area at our Sulphur Springs Farm & Ranch Center in the coming weeks of 2019”. That’s a far cry from the earliest history of the Co-op, where it started as a cotton gin near the railroad tracks and an early-day store near the intersection of Houston and Jackson Streets.
With Spring coming on, all their services are in even greater demand, so get down to the Northeast Texas Farmer’s Co-op’s Farm and Ranch Centers in Sulphur Springs, Greenville, Canton and Clarksville and see what’s new inside and outside the store! And if you’re curious, for a bit of background, let’s take a look at the Co-op’s history.
The Early Years
Founded in 1939, Farmers Cooperative Gin Association of Sulphur Springs was chartered by the State of Texas. This local agricultural cooperative was charged by its founding member/patrons to serve the predominant Cotton Industry of Hopkins County and Northeast Texas. With a governance structure of a 5-man board of directors and 100% local ownership, the “Co-op”, as it became generically known, assisted in the evolution of production agriculture in Northeast Texas.
In the 1940’s, the agriculture industry in Northeast Texas began to grow and diversify. The dairy industry was an up and coming way of life. Animal agriculture would quickly outgrow row-crop agriculture, as the climate for growing good grasses became an advantage. The Co-op recognized these changes and assisted local producers by investing in a feed mill, supply store, and fertilizer blending plant. Serving rural and agriculture needs is indeed what a local agricultural co-op is all about, and these changes and investments helped the Co-op to grow in its ability to serve producers and the community, as well.
1971 saw the opening of the new, large Farm & Ranch Center and headquarters on Jackson Street. The Daily News-Telegram wrote, “The open house will place on display the latest addition to a major Sulphur Springs industry and distribution organization which has grown from a humble beginning as a cotton ginner in 1939 to its present size with the development of Hopkins County as a national leader in dairying and one of the South’s top beef cattle raising areas.”
While Hopkins County had become a predominantly dairy industry by the 1970’s, farming was still a way of life for several areas in Northeast Texas. The Co-op recognized these needs of producers and purchased a grain elevator and farm supply store in Hunt County in 1972. This elevator, with a capacity of 1.3 million bushels of grain, provided a market for local farmers and a source for grain to be used in dairy feed manufacturing. Wheat was marketed for farmers for export, while corn, sorghum, and soybeans were purchased to supply dairies in a seven county area. The elevator allowed the Co-op to store grains for the local marketplace until it was needed.
As the decade of the 80’s rolled in, the members and board realized the geographical swath the Cooperative served and changed the name of the association to Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op to reflect the geographical needs of agricultural and rural folks. In the early 1980’s, the dairies in this area had grown to exceed 300,000 cows. To keep up with our local agricultural needs, the Coop members built a new monolithic concrete feed mill at the Jackson St. location in 1982. State of the art computer controlled mixing and pelleting facilities enabled Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op to serve approximately 50% of the local mixed feed market.
In 1984, the Co-op added a feed mixing and pelleting plant to its Greenville/Hunt County facility. This plant is still fully utilized to meet the bagged feed needs of member/patrons thru the Co-op’s 3 Farm & Ranch Centers and some 40 dealers throughout Northeast and East Texas. Sabine Valley Feeds are the brand these feeds are marketed under.
The early 1990’s saw the Sulphur Springs feed mill expand with the construction of a Commodity Mixing Facility adjacent to the feed mill. This facility would allow the Co-op to mix grains, proteins, and roughage into a total ration for livestock.
Today
This decade, the Co-op has seen a contraction, then a re-start of expansion based entirely on the premise that the cooperative is here to Serve Member/Patrons Needs. The construction of a Mineral Plant alongside the feed mill, the sale of the Greenville elevator, a comprehensive renovation of the Sulphur Springs Bulk Feed Mill, and the addition of the Canton Farm & Ranch Center have solidified the Co-op’s footprint in so many rural, agricultural people’s daily lives.
Today, Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op proudly employs 102 people. Over 90,000 tons of feed is now produced annually to help generate over $41 million in sales thru its 2 feed mills, 3 Farm & Ranch Centers, and 2 bulk fertilizer plants. Agricultural needs of folks are actively served in 12 counties in East/Northeast Texas.
Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op membership stands at over 6,000 agricultural members. Members must be classified as agricultural producers per Chapter 52 of the Texas Agricultural Code. Of course, the Agricultural Cooperative form of business is open to all folks, member or non-member, who may choose to do business with our Cooperative. This is highlighted by the fact that 37% of the Co-op’s almost $42,000,000 business is non-member. We are proud to serve both city folks and country folks.
Members own $2,546,000 of preferred stock earned through doing business with their Co-op. Since 2006, $724,277 from patronage dividends and stock retirement has been returned to member stockholders. 100% local ownership of Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op assures that this money helps our local economy.
The governance structure centers on the membership. The members elect a 9-member board of directors who set policy and direction for the Co-op. Currently 4 of the 9 members of the board are Hopkins County producers. Hunt, Kaufman, Upshur, Camp, and Van Zandt Counties are also represented in the current board make-up. Harold Bryant, of the Gafford Chapel area in Hopkins County, serves as the President of the Board.
The Co-op serves the entire community by supporting and participation in Junior Market Livestock Shows and Sales, Dairy Festival, Fall Festival, Community Theater, FFA/4-H Clubs, School activities, AgriLife Extension, Rotary, Kiwanis, Relay for Life, and many other worthwhile activities. We believe and adhere to a guiding Principle for all cooperatives that was formalized in Manchester, England in 1995 by The International Cooperative Alliance. It states:
“Principle: Concern for Community. While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members.”
“The mission of Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op is to be the preferred provider of quality products complimented by excellent service and education to customers at a fair and competitive price, allowing the co-op to lead in the changing face of agriculture.”
The NETFC Mission Statemen
Adam Teer Resigns As Civic Center Manager
Hopkins County Civic Center Manager Adam Teer is resigning his post, effective April 8.
Teer said told Hopkins County Commissioners Court that another career opportunity was presented to him, and after much consideration and prayer, he has accepted it.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom noted Teer will be going into hotel management. Teer declined to specify any further details about the new position when his resignation was announced during the March 25 Hopkins County Commissioners Court work session.
“I believe it’s going to be a good decision for my family and I,” Teer said.
Teer said if a replacement can be found soon, he’s willing to return to help train that individual and help out in the interim.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said the county is moving forward immediately, accepting applications from anyone interested in being the Civic Center manager. Applications should be available on the county’s website, www.hopkinscountytx.org, starting March 25 or by calling Newsom’s office at 903-438-4006. Teer said he too will be available and happy to answer any questions regarding the job.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley commended Teer for being a “positive influence” at the Civic Center and extended thanks to him for his work.
Teer noted that the Civic Center finished another year “in the black,” something he’s been told by officials of similar facilities is not common. He expressed pride in being able to help turn things around at the facility the last few years, including ending the year with $40,000.
Newsom said he has already heard from a few individuals he considers to be “highly qualified” who are interested in applying to become Civic Center manager, but welcomes all interested applicants.
KSST is Giving Away Opening Day Texas Rangers Tickets!
KSST is giving away four tickets to the Thursday, March 28th, 2019 Texas Ranger Season Opener. The Rangers will be facing the Chicago Cubs.
How to enter: Like KSST on Facebook, AND like this Post on Facebook.
Rules:
The tickets must be picked up in person from the KSST Studios. If they can’t be picked during business hours, after-hours pickup can be arranged. 903 885 3111
The tickets must NOT be resold!
Unclaimed tickets will be dispersed by KSST.
Employees of KSST/KRVA can not win.
Winner’s names will be posted on Facebook.
Winners will be notified via Facebook.
How to enter: Like KSST on Facebook, AND like this Post on Facebook.
City’s Public Safety Director On Administrative Leave Pending Investigation
The city’s top public safety official has been placed on administrative leave, Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell said Monday.
Jay Sanders, whose job as public safety director is to oversee both Sulphur Springs Police Department and Fire Department, was placed on administrative leave with pay at the end of last week, city officials reported.
The action is “due to his being involved in an ongoing criminal investigation by another agency. This action should not be viewed as an opinion on the merits of the investigation,” Maxwell stated in a press release Monday morning.
A special meeting of Sulphur Springs City Council has been scheduled in the Conference Room upstairs at City Hall at 7 p.m. Monday. Maxwell is slated to brief council members about the investigation during an executive session.
If the council, following the discussion, decides action is needed related to that session, they will reconvene and do so in open session.
Sulphur Springs Police Capt. Jason Ricketson has been placed “at the helm” at the police department, and SSFD Assistant Chief Tim Vaughn is in charge at the fire department in the interim, according to the city manager.
Intense But Brief Weather Affected Sulphur Springs Area During Early Monday
Around midnight on Sunday March 24, 2019 the Early Warning Sirens situated in various areas around Sulphur Springs were heard, alerting residents to impending dangerous weather. The National Weather Service upgraded a Severe Thunderstorm Warning to include a Tornado Warning, and residents were told to take cover. James Terry, on air at the KSST Weather Desk, kept listeners informed of the alerts from the National Weather Service, and apprised of the local direction of movement of the thunderstorm once it entered Hopkins County. The storm brought high winds, brief heavy rain and brief hail during an intense period of time from about 12:15 am to 12:45 am. The storm, after approaching Hopkins County from the northwest where it had caused damage in Collin County, was tracked as moving southeasterly, where it exited Hopkins County during the 1am hour on Monday, March 25, 2019. Apparently, the storm downed a power line across the roadway in the 1400 and 1500 block area of South Broadway in Sulphur Springs. A safety crew remained on the scene through the rest of the night to divert traffic until power crews could clear the area around daylight on Monday.
Thanks to listeners who contacted KSST during and after the storm, we have these reports.
Woodbridge Addition received pea-to-quarter size hail, wind and 1 1/4″ rain
Rocky Ridge got 1/2″ rain with wind and no hail reported.
The neighborhood of South Davis Street and Wesley United Methodist Church on Texas Street received brief heavy rain, high wind and hail that was pea to marble size. The hail fell heavily in some places and more lightly in others, resulting in random pile-ups of hailstones and the ground appearing totally white, while a few feet away, far less hail accumulated.
The KSST Studio also received a brief time of wind, rain and hail during the midnight to 1am time frame, with hailstones reported up to quarter-size.
Dinner Bell Menu For March 27, 2019
Dinner Bell March 27, 2019
IHOP is the Community Partner
Menu:
Pancakes, Butter and Syrup
Bacon
Ham, Egg and Cheese Casserole with Homemade Salsa
Fresh Fruit
Come have Brunch with us. Perfect for a new Spring Day.
Same time (11:45 a.m.). Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church).
Our doors will be open and the WELCOME mat is out. Hope to see you.
