Wildcats JV and Varsity 7 on 7 Football Teams Play in Paul Pewitt Tournament Last Saturday
The Wildcats Varsity and JV 7 on 7 Football Teams played in a Paul Pewitt tournament last Saturday (May 4). Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young said the Tanner Memorial Tournament was a fundraiser in memory of a young man killed five years ago in a traffic accident. He said the Wildcats were blessed to be a part of the event. The varsity won one game and lost one in early play and then lost a bracket play game. The Wildcats started with an overtime loss to Daingerfield. Coach Young said Daingerfield scored late to tie the game at 14-14. Teams then get a single play from the ten yard line in overtime. Daingerfield scored and the Wildcats did not. Coach Young said quarterbacks Kaden Wallace and Noe Ponce both led TD drives. Coach Young said the Wildcats varsity then played host Paul Pewitt. He said the Wildcats started slow and had some dropped passes. Coach Young said Wallace’s passes had better touch on them. He said receiver Campbell Cody made a one-handed catch along the sidelines and then got into the end zone for a score. Coach Young said the play lit a fire under the Wildcats and he said they might have scored on every drive after that until overtime of the next game. The Wildcats defeated Paul Pewitt, 28-7. In bracket play, the Wildcats faced Paul Pewitt again. Coach Young said offensive receiver standouts in the third game included Kylan Wade, Landry Meskimen, Brycen Lacy, Detrick Clayton, Zach Tiemeyer and Chase Haney. He said George Greenway and Ryan Carrillo were defensive standouts. The teams ended up tied, 42-42. Paul Pewitt then scored in a fourth overtime and the Wildcats did not match the score.
Coach Young said the Wildcats JV perhaps was a little over matched against varsity teams from Paul Pewitt, Alba-Golden and Mount Vernon. He said despite being on the wrong side of scores, the JV did get better as the day went along. 20-25 guys were on the JV team. Coach Young said quarterbacks Ty Stroud and Matthew Sherman got in lots of throws. He said the Wildcats are not in 7 on 7 mode right now with spring football going on. Still Coach Young said everyone got valuable reps and he added he was excited to see players improving.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens Provides Spring Football Update
The Wildcats’ football team is just a little bit past the midway point of Spring Football workouts. After Monday’s (May 6) session, Head Football Coach Greg Owens said he was not happy with Monday workouts. He said teaching was going on but he said players were dragging with not much fire or energy. Still Coach Owens said generally good stuff was happening. He said players were learning and were getting valuable reps. He said the players had been divided into two groups based on their age and experience level to avoid mismatches. Coach Owens said he could see progress. He is also beginning to mix in special teams stuff. Coach Owens said Monday they worked on extra point kicking, field goals, punting and kick offs. Large parts of practice are videotaped and he said video sessions afterward with the players are very productive.
Football, Trainers and Powerlifting Announce MVP’s at Monday Night Banquet
An athletic banquet for football, powerlifting and athletic trainers took place Monday (May 6) night at Sulphur Springs Country Club. Football MVP’s were their 32 seniors. Powerlifting MVP’s, for the Wildcats was senior Carson Bridges and for the Lady Cats Sable Erdmier. Athletic Trainers MVP’s were seniors Jacquelyn Bocanegra and Brianna Hernandez. Wildcat Head Athletic Trainer Tammy Carrell introduced all her trainers and Wildcats and Lady Cats Powerlifting Coach Casey Jeter introduced his boys and girls’ powerlifters. Girls powerlifting is new to Sulphur Springs High School this year. Wildcats Head Football Coach Greg Owens, Offensive Coordinator Matt Young, Defensive Coordinator Alex Guerra and all of the Wildcats offensive and defensive assistant coaches talked at length and introduced players in their position groups. The Wildcats videotapers were also recognized. There is no longer just one large athletic banquet. Individual teams are having their own banquets this year.
TCOLE Investigation of Sanders Concludes With Surrender of License
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement’s investigation of former Sulphur Spring Public Safety Director James “Jay” Sanders concluded with Sanders voluntarily surrendering his peace officer license on May 2, TCOLE spokeswoman Gretchen Grigsby said.
Sanders, who served as the head of both the police and fire departments, was placed on administrative leave March 22, “due to his being involved in an ongoing criminal investigation by another agency,” City Manager Marc Maxwell stated in a March 25 press release.
TCOLE was investigating an allegation Sanders provided “false information to pay for a couple of people to go to academy,” the TCOLE spokeswoman said.
There is a process in which funding can be obtained to help with costs of police academy. Sanders was accused of providing false information on documentation to obtain funding for a couple of individuals to go through police academy, according to Grigsby.
TCOLE’s investigation concluded with Sanders’ voluntary surrender of his peace officer license on May 2, she said.
When asked if other agencies were involved in or investigating the allegation, Grigsby said she could speak for TCOLE; the agency’s case on Sanders is closed.
Sanders remained on administrative leave from the city until Friday, May 3, when he officially handed in his letter of resignation, according to Maxwell.
Jason Ricketson has served as acting police chief and Tim Vaughn as acting fire chief for the city since Sanders was placed on leave. Both will continue to serve in those positions at this time, Maxwell said.
Date Change for GENEXE Screenings at Sulphur Springs Seniors Center
Due to unavoidable reasons, the Genexe screening scheduled at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center at 150 MLK Drive has been re-scheduled for Tuesday May 14, 2019 from 9:30 til 11:30 am. For more information, phone Karon Weatherman at 903-885-1661.
“Antibiotic Stewardship” is Encouraged by CHRISTUS Hospitals in Sulphur Springs and Winnsboro
Edward Vaughn is the Clinical and Operational Pharmacy Manager at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals of Sulphur Springs and Winnsboro, Texas. During a KSST Good Morning Show interview, he shared information on how “antimicrobial stewardship, better known as “antibiotic stewardship” is part of CHRISTUS’ over-reaching ministry to apply the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. He shared information as well as advised caution about the frequent over-use and wrong usage of today’s “anti-bacterial” drugs, or antibiotics. Across the United States, this usage has begun to result in an epidemic of multi-drug resistant organisms within our bodies. In one example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the emerging Candida auris has been reported recently. This “super fungus” may present a serious global health threat because it is multi-drug resistant, meaning that it is resistant to multiple anti-fungal drugs commonly used to treat Candida infections.
Vaughn states that the public needs to become more aware of the fact that antibiotics are not designed to treat or cure every disorder we may go to see a doctor about. As the chart below shows, viral infections are not affected by a program of antibiotics, whereas we know that some bacterial infections can benefit from antibiotic dosages. Frequently and for various reasons however, doctors may prescribe antibiotic medications for complaints that may not actually benefit from the prescription. There are a number of reasons that physicians may yield to this, including “patient request”. Let’s say a patient comes in with symptoms of the common cold, and may insist on being written a prescription to start feeling better. In truth, a 5-7 day program of antibiotic may coincide with 5-7 day lifespan of the common cold, and thus may only appear to have helped in the recovery. In this case, the patient has consumed medication which he or she did not actually need. The World Health Organization launched a study where 15 million patient charts were compared to identify various medical diagnoses and the medications prescribed for each. The findings were that 23%, or one-in-four patients, were prescribed medication that was not justified. During his discussion on behalf of CHRISTUS, Vaughn stated that “knowledge is power” and encouraged the local public to inform themselves and get facts through their own research via the internet about Antibiotic Stewardship.
Traffic In Brashear Stalled At Railroad Tracks Tuesday Morning
Traffic was halted at the railroad tracks on FM 2653, off Interstate 30, in Brashear Tuesday morning. A train reportedly stopped on the tracks across the roadway around 9 a.m. Tuesday, and was expected to remain there until the defect was resolved, according to sheriff’s reports.
Motorists who were were able turned around. Others traveling the area were recommended to find a different route until the tracks could be cleared.
A truck driver just before 10:30 a.m. reported waiting at the tracks for about 1 hour and 20 minutes , before seeing any movement of the train, and reported it appeared only to be creeping then.
Dinner Bell Menu For May 8th, 2019
The Lions Club is the day’s Community Partner
Don’t know about the weather, but whether rain or shine you will be greeted with a welcome smile and a comfortable place to eat and visit. So Come On Over!
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Baked Zucchini Sticks
Garden Salad
Buttered French Bread
Fruit and Yogurt Peach Cups (the no sugar added dessert)
Same time (11:45 a.m.). Same place (Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church).
You will never regret your decision to “break bread” with us.
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
SSHS Academic UIL Team Earns 12 Medals At State Contest
Matthew Harper, Literary Criticism Team Named State Champs
Sulphur Springs High School sophomore (second from left) Matthew Harper is the state UIL literary criticism champion, and the literary criticism team consisting of Harper, Andrew Westlund, Carissa Carter, Lainey Whittle are state literary criticism championship team. Also pictured are (left) state literary criticism director Mark Bernier and (right) SSHS literary criticism team coach Gail Herman.
Nine students from Sulphur Springs High School came home from the state UIL competitions with a total of 12 medals earned from participation in six different events.
“Congratulations to each competitor. We are extremely proud of the way these students represented Sulphur Springs High School,” said Gerald Grafton, SSHS UIL coordinator. “Also, congratulations to coaches Gail Herman, Brandon Nelson and Desi Pharis for their efforts and successes in preparing students for this level of achievement.”
The SSHS literary criticism team over the weekend won the UIL state team championship, marking the fifth consecutive year and the the sixth time in the last seven years they’ve won at state.
Matthew Harper was named the individual state champion in literary criticism and noted to have the highest score of any student competing in any classification, according to SSHS literary criticism coach Gail Herman. Harper is Herman’s fourth student to be named individual state champion in literary criticism.
Teammates Carissa Carter won third place honors, Andrew Westlund fourth and Lainey Whittle fifth in the state in literary criticism. Also notable is that this is Carter’s fourth year in a row to be on the state championship team, according to Herman.
One student, Annmarie Gunn, is commended for placing in not one but two events at state. Gunn earned fourth placed in ready writing and second place honors in the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition.
Rachel Bramlett was also recognized as a finalist in the Latino History Essay Contest. In the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Competition, Sydney Washburn was a finalist and Breana Wooten finished in third place.
Gunn, Bramlett, Washburn and Wooten were named finalists and winners from a field of almost 400 entries. Twelve finalists were named in each of the Barbara Jordan and Latino History essay contests. Each received a framed certificate. Students placing first through sixth also received medals, according to Herman.
Also during the May 3-4 state academic UIL meet, Angela Brown won sixth place in news writing.
In theater design, Belinda Flores, Hagen Hunt and AllieGrace Woodard were recognized for being finalists.
Grafton offered thanks on behalf of the UIL academic coaches to the administration and staff of SSISD and SSHS “for all the encouragement and support you have provided for UIL academic competitors this year.”
To the UIL coaches, he expressed thanks “for all your sacrifices of time and effort to help our students succeed. Win or lose, I believe your efforts have taught them valuable life lessons that carry them to the next level.”
Coaches for the 2019 academic season included Steven Allemang, science; Phillip Dick, UIL Young Filmmakers; Grafton, math events; Paula Hass, accounting; Gail Herman, essays, literary criticism and spelling; Madison Millsap, social studies and current issues; Brandon Nelson, journalism events; Ruston Pennington, robotics; Desi Pharis, one act play and theater design; Matt Wilder, computer science; Josh Williams, cross examination and Lincoln Douglas debate; and Lesha Woodard, one act play, prose and poetry.
Finally, Grafton concluded with this message to seniors, “You are the best. We are so proud of you and your hard work.”
