Aging Insight: ‘Do It Yourself Will’ Law School Lunch Class
The approximately 100 persons who attended “Law School Lunch” on January 14, 2019 asked questions and got answers about the importance of having a will to delegate their final wishes. What they learned is that a do-it-yourself will written at home can actually be a valid document if worded properly. They also learned some things not to do when preparing this most important of final legal documents.
During the free noon-time event at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center, Attorney John Ross, Senior Law Partner at Ross and Shoalmire Elder Care Attorneys of Texarkana, Texas addressed both myths and truths about the making of a will. It is possible to create a valid handwritten will, called a holographic will, as long as you avoid errors that might render it invalid. No matter the person’s age or mental state, there are three major requirements for the individual at the time that they wish to make a valid will:
- Does he/she know who their people are? (the person or persons whom they wish to bequeath money or property to)
- Does he/she know what their stuff is? (are they aware of the money, property or possessions they wish to bequeath)
- Is he/she able to formulate their wishes in their own handwriting? (to be valid, the entire handwritten will must be in the person’s own handwriting and need not be notarized) .
Some basic tips in creating your own will include: In naming a beneficiary, do not state “my wife”, “my husband” or “my children” because over the course of time, spouses may change or the number of living children may change. Another tip: Make sure your will is up to date and be more specific about bequeathing “my house on the lake” or “my life savings” Why? Because with the passing of time, the home you leave may have changed or the dollar amount of your savings may grow or shrink, depending on circumstances. (example: your $100,000 savings may be diminished after a few years spent in a nursing facility) You may wish to update or correct your specific wishes as well as the beneficiaries of your property.
Much more about making a will can be obtained from a free consultation with Ross and Shoalmire Elder Law Attorneys, or rossandshoalmire.com
Parks and Open Space Master Plan Event Sparks Ideas for Buford Park
Tuesday, January 15th, Sulphur Springs residents had an opportunity to submit ideas for Buford Park. This is the second in a series of opportunities for the public to contribute ideas for the Parks and Open Space Master Plan. The Parks and Open Space Master Plan will be used by the city as they apply for Texas Parks and Wildlife grants as well as taking steps to improve park areas. A third meeting, to be conducted February 7th , will be focused on Coleman Park.
Micha Perez with Landscape Architect with MHS Planning and Design of Tyler, told KSST News that the day had been filled with ideas that are now being placed in an overall design for Buford Park. A number of ideas will be put in place during the next year and other plans will be available for the city in years to come. City Manager Marc Maxwell said “This is a plan and is probably a 25 year plan.” Some things will take place soon, according to Maxwell who noted the Bright Star Baseball organization has already raised $120,000 for a new baseball field for handicapped athletes. Maxwell said that an architect will be hired soon to begin plans for the new Gray’s Building at Pacific Park.
Perez said some things will be planned for changes in the next year. She said handicapped parking for the Chamber of Commerce Hopkins County Stew Fest and added parking that would be closer to the stew area are on the front burner for planning. She said bathroom facilities are also a concern that meets the immediate needs criteria.
Other suggested plans for Buford Park include:
- New restrooms and concession stands for ball fields and for the playground
- New Spray Pad in place of the old metal playground
- Lighting and irrigation around playground, pavilion, and walkways in the park
- Tree planting to replace older trees that are or will be dying
- New wooden playground to replace Kid’s Kingdom when it is no longer viable
- Improvements to the softball field that will add bleachers and some parking
- A U-shaped area for food trucks and picnic tables
- Head in parking along streets around the park
- New entry signs at all entries into the park
- Redoing the basketball court with Plexiglas walls around to facilitate an in-door-like soccer field
- Upgrading the skate park keeping most of the structures at skate park
- On the southwest side of the park, not only build the Bright Star baseball field for handicapped athletes but also build a playground and soccer field in that area
- Expand Peavine Pinion Pool area into the dog park area.
These ideas for Buford Park will be added to the ideas submitted for Pacific Park as the Parks and Open Space plan develops for the city. On Feb 7th, another day-long session will focus on Coleman Park.
Glass to Seek Re-election to City Council Place 5
On the first day to file for a place on the Sulphur Springs City Council, Councilwoman Emily Glass filed for re-election to Place 5 on the council. Glass, currently Mayor Pro-Tem, has been instrumental in a number of steps taken by the council in past years.
Filing is underway for the May 4, 2019 municipal election. Opportunity to file for Places 5, 6, and 7 continue through February 15, 2019. Currently Place 6 is held by Freddie Taylor and Place 7 is held by Doug Moore, who was appointed to Place 7 until this election. Moore was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Dan Froneberger who resigned from the council to pursue more time with family and other pursuits.
Toliver, Prickette Seek Re-election to SSISD Board
Early Wednesday morning, John Prickette and Lessa Toliver filed as incumbents for the Sulphur Springs School Board. Wednesday, was the first day to file for a place that will be on the May 4, 2019 ballot. Places on the board held by Prickette, Toliver, and Clay Johnson will be on the ballot.
School board trustee election filing continues through Friday, February 15, 2019. Anyone desiring to seek a place on the board may file at the Tax Office at the SSISD Administration Building on Connally Street. If no others file for a place on the board, the incumbents will be returned to their place without an election.
Porter Scores Game High 29; Lady Cats Defeat Mount Pleasant 58-31
Led by dynamic point guard Sadavia Porter, the Lady Cats’ basketball team built a 10 point lead during the third quarter against Mount Pleasant and then blew the game wide open in the fourth quarter taking a 58-31 win at Mount Pleasant Tuesday evening.
Porter almost matched the Lady Tigers offensive output all by herself scoring a game high 29 points including a dramatic long three-point basket just before the third quarter buzzer.
Autumn Tanton added 12 points.
Nylah Lindley scored 7 points.
Kate Womack had 5 points coming off the bench.
Danielle Godbolt scored 4 points and
Aliyah Abron had 1 point.
The Lady Cats actually struggled through the first two and a half quarters before Porter sparked the big finish. Mount Pleasant led 9-6 after the first quarter. The Lady Cats rallied in the second quarter to lead 21-17 at the half. The Lady Cats closed strongly in the third quarter and led 38-28 after three periods. The Lady Cats scored the first 19 points of the fourth quarter and outscored the Lady Tigers 20-3 in the final period.
The Lady Cats improved their district record to 3-1 and their season mark to 21-4. The Lady Cats have a big showdown with Texas High at Sulphur Springs Gym Friday evening at 6:15 p.m.
Wildcats Defeat Tigers 63-43; Kahn Leads Scoring With 22
The Wildcats’ basketball team, ranked #5 in Class 5A, scored the last nine points of the third quarter to build an 8 point lead against Mount Pleasant and then used a big fourth quarter to secure a 63-43 district win at Mount Pleasant Tuesday night. The Wildcats had to play without Sadaidriene Day Day Hall who is following concussion protocol after a fall against Greenville last Friday night.
6-foot 6 junior Cameron Kahn was called on to step up and delivered big time with a game high 22 points.
Keaston Willis poured in 14 points and
6-9 senior post Xavier Cork added 13 points.
Grayson McClure chipped in 7 points.
Boo Wilkerson started in place of Hall and scored 4 points.
Jeremiah Roland scored 3 points.
Stifling defense by the Wildcats made Mount Pleasant struggle to make shots and to work hard for their points. The Wildcats led 13-5 after one quarter and 26-17 at the half. The Tigers made a run at the Wildcats in the early part of the third quarter and took the lead at 32-31. The Tigers last led 35-34 in the third when the Wildcats went on their 9-0 run to close the quarter.
Mount Pleasant slips to 0-2 in district play and 12-12 for the season. The Wildcats are 2-0 in district play and 16-8 for the season.
The Wildcats host Texas High in Sulphur Springs Gym Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Wildcat Soccer Ready for Ice Bowl Tournament
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton maintains a positive attitude concerning his team. He sees the Wildcats as being near where they need to be after mostly tournament competition so far. The Wildcats are 2-3-1. They won one and lost two in the 2019 Lobo Invitational in Longview this past weekend (January 10-12).
The Wildcats defeated a smaller school New Summerfield, 5-0 to open the tournament. Coach Upton says the Wildcats played really well and finished their chances. He says when playing a smaller school, the Wildcats can’t be complacent and he says the Wildcats took care of business against New Summerfield. The Wildcats then lost to Jacksonville, 3-1. Coach Upton says Jacksonville won the tournament. He notes the Wildcats went up on them 1-0. He says the Wildcats need to finish games and be more consistent throughout a game. Next came a loss to Tyler Chapel Hill, 2-0. Coach Upton says the Wildcats were missing some players and had some injuries. He says the Wildcats started slowly and never really played well.
Next for the Wildcats is the Ice Bowl Tournament in Richardson this Thursday through Saturday. The optimistic Coach Upton feels he will have all twenty two of his players healthy and ready to go for that tournament. He expects his team to pick up some wins.
Lady Cat Soccer Battle Injuries; Face Strong Opponents in Tournament Play
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Joel Bailey is ready to pick on some teams that are the same size as his Lady Cats. He says when he plans tournaments for the coming season, he hopes games will be competitive. Then he says this season tournament brackets show up matching his Lady Cats with some powerful opposition. The Lady Cats also have had more than their fair share of injuries and illness and Coach Bailey is awaiting orthopedists’ reports and MRI results.
In last weekend’s (January 10-12) Princeton tournament, the Lady Cats opened play against Class 6A toughie Flower Mound Marcus. Actually Coach Bailey was generally pleased with a 3-0 loss against Marcus. Previous Lady Cats’ opponents this season have included Red Oak and he Highland Park JV. The Lady Cats have opened the season against tournament competition with a record of 0-5-2. That includes going 0-3-1 last weekend in the Princeton tournament.
The task may not get any easier soon. This weekend, the Lady Cats play in a North Forney tournament. The Lady Cats share pool play with two Class 6A teams: Rockwall Heath and North Mesquite along with old district foe North Lamar, a Class 4A school.
