Seven Lady Cats Basketball Players Make All-District Team With One Superlative
Lady Cats senior point guard SaDavia Porter was named the district’s Defensive Player of the Year on the District 15-5A All-District Basketball Team released Wednesday (February 20). The team was selected by the district’s coaches who could not vote for members of their own team. Porter was one of seven Lady Cats named to the All District Team.
Selected First Team All District:
Senior post Autumn Tanton and
Senior guard Danielle Godbolt .
Named Second Team All District:
Sophomore forward Nylah Lindley
Junior guard Kate Womack
Honorable Mention:
Senior guard Te’Arria Rose
Junior guard Aliyah Abron
Coach Talk: Rebounding a Key in Wildcat Bi-District Win
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta said rebounding was a key to victory for the #4 ranked Wildcats in Tuesday (February 19) night’s bi-district win over John Tyler, 66-50 at Wills Point. The Wildcats now face #24 ranked Midlothian in an Area game Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Forney.
Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats had perhaps their best rebounding performance of the season Tuesday night. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats greatly limited second chance points for the Lions. He had lots of good things to say about John Tyler. He said they were really good and very athletic. Coach Cipoletta said the Lions had players that can really change the game on offense and he added they also made it tough to score.
Coach Cipoletta said Lions’ guard Michael Hogg was perhaps the quickest player the Wildcats have faced this season. He said he was proud of his Wildcats. He said they made some shots and played defense pretty well.
Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats have some things to clean up on offense for Friday night and he said the Wildcats are capable to playing defense better than they did Tuesday night. He said with Keaston Willis back the Wildcats need to get in a flow with him. Coach Cipoletta noted that Willis hit the first basket in the game just like he had never been away. He said he was glad Willis could continue his high school legacy that includes being a part of more than 90 wins the last four years.
Saltillo Lady Lions Season Ends in Regional Quarterfinal Loss
The #20 ranked Saltillo Lady Lions’ basketball team had their season come to an end Tuesday (February 19) with a regional quarterfinal loss to #17 ranked Slidell, 51-30.
Lady Lions Coach Colton Smith said Slidell is a good team coached by a good coach in Lance Shelton. Coach Smith said Slidell had only two losses on the season. He said they shot the ball well and made 9 three-point baskets. Slidell led 14-3 after one quarter, 29-11 at the half and 45-26 after three quarters.
Brittney Peeples led the Lady Lions with 8 points. Chandler Bain scored 7 points. Jocelyn Ochoa had 6 points. Maddy Smith added 5 points. Anna Reeder scored 4 points.
The Lady Lions end the season with a 28-9 record.
Home Invasion Suspect Sought by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigators
A home invasion and robbery at a residence on State Highway 11W just outside the city of Sulphur Springs has Hopkins County Investigators seeking assistance from the public. A $1,000 cash reward and possibly other reward money through Crime Stoppers are being offered.
On Tuesday a thin build masked white male believed to be between 40 and 50 years of age entered the unlocked back door of the residence and walked up behind the senior adult, who was watching TV. He had a pistol and demanded that the person not turn around. He made demands for money and jewelry. The victim did provide him the money and jewelry. He locked the victim in a bathroom and told the victim to not leave the room for 5-minutes. She waited and then contacted law enforcement who arrived within minutes of the call, according to Investigators.
A canvas of the area did not provide any leads regarding the thin build male or a vehicle. The description of the suspect was provided by the victim thanks to a brief glance even though at gunpoint and told not to turn around. Sheriff’s investigators hope the public can help with information regarding anything unusual on State Highway 11W Tuesday morning.
Miller Grove FFA Students Enter Livestock, Welding Projects in County Show
Freshman Cassidi Froneberger will be showing her cattle project during the Hopkins County Livestock Show on February 21, 2019 in the arena of the Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs. Cassidi is a member of the Miller Grove FFA Chapter. She hopes that during the judging process in the ring, that her animal will be selected for Saturday’s Sale of Champions, a good way to earn college scholarship money. She would like to have a career as a Dental Hygienist.
Wyatt Poteet of Miller Grove is a member of the FFA Chapter who enjoys welding. Along with fellow members of his Ag Mechanics class, Wyatt has created functional art in the form of an outdoor bench. The bench is constructed of metal pipe and cedar planks and makes sturdy attractive seating for a number of people. The bench was featured along with other Ag Mech projects in the Hopkins County show on February 19, and was auctioned off after the show. His earnings are part of his education fund. After high school, he plans to pursue a career involving welding skills.
Jeff Gatlin, Ag Instructor at Miller Grove High School, has been involved in many aspects of FFA and agricultural education. He most enjoys helping equip students with important skills which many will use in their careers as well as farming and hobbies for a good portion of their lives.
Award-Winning Exhibit at A&M-Commerce March 11
COMMERCE, TX—“Send Silence Packing,” an award-winning traveling exhibit, will be on the A&M-Commerce campus March 11. The exhibit is designed to encourage meaningful dialogue regarding mental health concerns, raise awareness about the impact of suicide, connect individuals to mental health resources available on campus and in the area, and inspire action for suicide prevention.
The exhibit will be located on the North Walking Mall near the Rayburn Student Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the rain location inside the RSC. It was produced by Active Minds (activeminds.org), the nation’s premier nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and education for students.
“The stigma that surrounds mental illness is the reason why many students don’t seek the help they need,” said Alison Malmon, executive director of Active Minds. “’Send Silence Packing’ is a highly visible way to combat that stigma, increase openness and inspire action for suicide prevention.”
Dr. Nick Patras, director of the A&M-Commerce Counseling Center, said that preventing suicide is a campus-wide responsibility and the “Send Silence Packing” exhibit is a tangible reminder of the impact of suicide. The Counseling Center will have an informational booth at the exhibit where additional support information can be obtained.
The A&M-Commerce chapter of Active Minds will also be available for students interested in helping to continue the conversation about mental health and well-being on campus. Responsible Lions from the Athletics Department will also assist with the exhibit and provide information about campus resources.
“The Counseling Center and Dr. Thomas Newsom, dean of students, are sponsoring the ‘Send Silence Packing’ traveling exhibit as a way to challenge students, faculty and staff to make mental health a top priority of campus life; in particular, to decrease the stigma around seeking help,” Patras said. “Our number one concern is that no one is suffering in silence.”
Through award-winning programs and services, Active Minds is empowering a new generation to change the conversation about mental health.
2019 NETLA Ag-Mechanic Show Results
The 2019 NETLA Ag-Mechanic competition Tuesday afternoon at the Hopkins County Civic Center included 31 projects built by FFA students from Como-Pickton, Cumby, Miller Grove, Sulphur Bluff, and Sulphur Springs. Morris Mortenson was judge for the event. Results (photos courtesy of Dan Froneburger) include:
Grand Champion project was a 20 ft. Gooseneck Lowboy built by
Daniel Galvan, Landon Lambrich, Caemon Wilburn, and Avery Holcomb members of Como-Pickton FFA . They also won the Class 2 Division.
Bruno Estrada, Trayton Powell, Blaine Flemmens, and Jackson Monk for a Welding Trailer Como-Pickton FFA
Chloe Romen, Sydnee Neal, Jackson Monk, and Nolan Brown of Como-Pickton FFA won Class 9 with an Epoxy River Dining Table & Chairs.
Meet the New Hopkins County Agri-Life Extension Assistant Jessica Taylor
Hopkins County Extension agents Johanna Hicks and Mario Villarino and office manager Barbara Sanders recently welcomed a new member to the team, Jessica Taylor. She is an Extension Assistant assigned to the Hopkins County office for the next couple of years. To meet the community, Jessica appeared with Johanna in a KSST Good Morning Show interview on Wednesday February 20, 2019.
Originally from Clarksville, Texas, Jessica is a member of the Taylor family who raise cattle there as well as horses. As a youth, she was active in the daily operations on the family farm, and got involved at a young age showing cattle as a 4-H’er . When she entered high school, she joined the FFA Chapter of Detroit ISD , staying active in livestock showing during the Red River County Fair and in other aspects of FFA. Her first college choice was PJC where she commuted to class during her first year. She then “went off to college” and transferred Tarleton State College in Stephenville to pursue a major in Agriculture, Plant and Animal Science. Though she loved her studies there, she missed home, and so a transfer to Texas A and M University-Commerce was her next move. It was there that she was urged to not only stay on and obtain her Master’s degree in Animal Science, but to take a look at Texas Agri-Life Extension as a career. Jessica did just that, and is presently homebased out of the Sulphur Springs office of the Hopkins County Agri-Life Extension Service office. For the next 18-24 months of her career, she will be involved in all the health, nutrition and education aspects of Extension as well as the Plant and Animal side of the service. So, she will be assisting both Johanna and Mario in the daily work that Extension performs in the community.
Almost as soon as she was settled at her desk in the office, Jessica got involved in preparation for the Hopkins County Jr. Market Livestock Show set for Februry 21-23. The show is designed for 4H and FFA students in Hopkins County. Jessica jumped right in and has already been assisting students and their ag teachers with the projects. She will be on site during Thursday’s Lamb and Goat show at 2pm and Friday’s Poultry, Swine and Cattle shows starting at 8am, as well as Saturday’s “Sale of Champions” at 1pm, which is sponsored by NETLA, the Northeast Texas Livestock Association. Jessica invites the students to “look for me at the show and the sale. If you need some help with your animal, come get me. I’ll be there in the arena to help!” She also reminds the community that attendance is free, and that everyone is welcome to bring their children and grandchildren to see the animals and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the exciting local 3-day livestock event, held annually inside the arena of the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.
