Oak Wilt Disease Threatens Texas Oaks in Spring
AUSTIN, Texas – From February through June, oak trees should not be pruned or wounded to prevent the spread of oak wilt disease. Texas A&M Forest Service reminds Texans that it is especially critical to avoid pruning oaks in Texas counties affected by oak wilt.
When springtime comes, oak trees produce new leaves for the coming growing season. While the seasonal transition may leave oaks looking thin with yellowed leaves, new green leaves will soon emerge.
At this time of year, red oaks that have died of the disease during the previous summer and fall may produce spore mats under the bark that sap-feeding beetles may visit as a food source. These beetles may then fly to a fresh wound on any oak tree, infect the tree and start a new oak wilt infection center that can pass to adjacent oaks through root grafting.
All oaks are susceptible to oak wilt disease. Spring is the time of high fungal mat production, high insect populations and the highest susceptibility to disease for oaks.
Any new wound may be susceptible to infection including those produced by pruning, construction activities, livestock, land or “cedar” clearing, lawnmowers, string trimmers and storms.
To decrease the attractiveness of fresh wounds to these insects, always cover or paint wounds on oaks, no matter the time of the year. Any kind of paint will accomplish this task.
Remember, it is extremely important to avoid wounding and pruning oaks from February through June.
Millions of trees have been killed by this disease in over 76 counties of Central, North and West Texas. In order to keep new infection centers from starting, Texans must avoid wounding oaks in the spring and paint any fresh wound that occurs at any time of the year.
For more information or for answers to oak wilt questions, please visit www.texasoakwilt.org or the Texas A&M Forest Service website at https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/.
Cumby FFA Chapter Members Enter Projects in the Jr. Market Show
Dayton Wood has been showing livestock projects since back when he was a youth in Jr. FFA. He is now a Senior at Cumby High School and President of the Cumby FFA chapter. During high school, Dayton has earned a State title in Creed Speaking and qualified in a number of categories at the State level during his high school career. He has been accepted at Tarleton University and at Texas Tech, so he will have to make decisions soon about where he will attend college! According to Dayton, “because of my interest in the field of radio broadcast, I plan to major in Agriculture Communication. My scholarship earnings through the Netla sales have helped fund my college plans”. During the Junior Market Livestock Show in Hopkins County, he will be showing a lamb project.
Cumby Senior Bethany Taylor also has a solid history in livestock showing, having started in Jr. FFA when she was in third grade. Bethany has raised almost every specie of animal which you can enter, and has decided she likes raising chickens the best. On Friday February 22, she will have put her pen of three into the judging and hopes her chickens qualify to advance to the Sale of Champions on Saturday. “It is my scholarship earnings that will have helped me be able to attend Tarleton State University in the Fall, and helped me purchase quality animals for the livestock shows each year. My scholarship earnings are also paving the way for me to achieve my goal of becoming a neo-natal nurse. What I’ve learned about keeping livestock healthy has given me an interest in a career in the medical field” stated Bethany during a KSST interview.
Ag Instructor Robert Cowden gets deeply involved with his students especially during the county show. This week, he has been clipping and trimming most of the students’ livestock projects at their home barns. He will also help transport entries to the Civic Center on the day they are entered in the show. “I can’t expect every family to be able to take off work and haul the animals to me, so I go to them. There’s lots of work to do during the week of the County show, but I was helped back when I got started showing, and now I get to help these youth get themselves in a better position to succeed. In FFA, they are learning things they might use in real life, including the students who choose not to attend college after high school”. Mr. Cowden invites everyone to display their interest in the youth by viewing their livestock projects, and by attending the Sale of Champions on Saturday February 23 at 1pm in the arena of the Hopkins County Civic Center. Admission is free.
Easter Egg Hunt Planned in Pacific Park For Everyone; Can You Help?
“EEA OUR YOUTH” 501C3 Non-Profit Organization plans to present an Easter Egg Hunt at Pacific Park on April 13, 2019. Everyone is invited! Bring the kids out for some family fun! 🤗 SAVE THE DATE.
As we stay true to our mission, community activities are vital to the overall success of our youth. Thus, we’re asking for donations of candy filled eggs. Our goal is 1,000 eggs. We’re asking each LOCAL organization and business for 200 eggs. From community members, we ask 20 candy filled eggs. We are also taking donations for Hot Dogs and Buns. We would like to provide Free grilled hot dogs.
HELP US as we provide community activities for the youth!
Please contact Erica Crook for sign up! 903-689-6677
Contact Whitney Roland for pick up/drop off arrangements. 903-348-8725
Any questions please call 972-802-8705.
Thanks for your support!
Lady Cats Remain Unbeaten
The Lady Cats’ softball team remained unbeaten at 6-0 for the season defeating Mineola, 6-2 at Lady Cat Park Monday afternoon (February 18). The Lady Cats used two 3 run innings to get the win.
Bailey Haggerty got the pitching win going 7 innings and allowing 2 runs, both unearned, on 6 hits while striking out 2 and walking 1. Kelsey Wallace led off for the Lady Cats in the bottom of the first inning with a home run, her fourth of the season. Bricklee Driver went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles. Addison Caddell had 2 RBIs, Wallace had 1 RBI and Sadie Stroud had a double and an RBI. The Lady Cats had 9 hits.
The Lady Cats will play in an Allen tournament Thursday through Saturday.
Soccer: Lady Cats Lose in OT, Wildcats Lose to Tigers
Mount Pleasant 2, Lady Cats Soccer 1
The Lady Cats’ soccer team battled Mount Pleasant into overtime Monday night (February 18) at Gerald Prim Stadium before the Lady Tigers got a goal for a 2-1 win. Mount Pleasant’s Kenia Vaquera scored at the 3:50 mark during the second half of overtime. The Lady Tigers scored first in the contest as Karina Navarro scored a goal at 26:52 during the first half. The score remained 1-0 until Lady Cats Haley Robinson scored the tying goal at 7:45 in the second half. The Lady Cats are 0-3 in district play. They play Texas High at home Friday at 7 p.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium.
Mount Pleasant 1 Wildcats Soccer 0
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton said his Wildcats fought valiantly with Mount Pleasant Monday night (February 18) losing just 1-0 to the Tigers in Mount Pleasant. Coach Upton said his team played very well but just could not get the result they wanted. The Wildcats are now 0-3 in district play. They will travel to Texas High in Texarkana Friday night at 7 p.m.
Three Wildcats Sign to Play College Football
Wildcats Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Greg Owens is announcing (on February 18) that three more of his football players have made commitments to play college football.
Landry Tyson and Austin Dodd, who played both safety and wide receiver for the Wildcats this fall, are committed to Texas A&M-Commerce.
Defensive back and receiver Damiyon Dugan is committed to Hardin- Simmons in Abilene.
On National Signing Day on February 6, Wildcats quarterback D’Corian Young signed with Trinity Valley Community College in Athens and nose tackle Jose Rodriguez signed with Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana.
Willis Expected to Return for Bi-District Basketball
On KSST Radio and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday Morning (February 16) Coaches Show, Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta said senior point guard Keaston Willis has been cleared by doctors to play in Tuesday night’s (February 19) bi-district game at 7 p.m. against John Tyler at Wills Point. The Wildcats will be the home team.
Coach Cipoletta said Willis will probably need surgery on the fractured ankle after the season ends but he’s been told that Willis should not make it any worse by playing. Coach Cipoletta said Willis returned to practice Friday and looked good. Willis injured his right ankle against Texas High at home on January 18. He missed the last 7 district games. Monday was a student holiday due to Presidents’ Day but the Wildcats practiced Monday morning.
The Wildcats are ranked #4 in Class 5A. They went a perfect 10-0 in district 15-5A play and are 24-8 for the season.
Game Day: Softball, Soccer Games Moved to Monday Due to Weather, Tuesday Playoff Game
Lady Cat Softball
A scheduled Tuesday game against Mineola at Lady Cat Park has been moved to Monday night due to concerns with Tuesday weather. The teams will be playing a varsity only game at 4:30 p.m. Monday. The game will be broadcast on KSST Radio beginning at 4:30 p.m. The game will also be videotaped for replay at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
The Lady Cats’ softball team opened the regular season with five wins in five games in the Sulphur Springs Tournament last Thursday through Saturday (February 14-16). Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo said the Lady Cats played very well. He said it is challenging hosting a tournament not only for him but also for the team. Coach Carrillo said his Lady Cats’ team is very deep. He is carrying 15 Lady Cats on the varsity roster. Coach Carrillo said he continues to stress a “We Over Me” approach. He said players will have to earn their playing time this season. Coach Carrillo said the team has a chance to do great things this season. The Lady Cats have received great pitching from Bailey Haggerty, Addison Caddell and Tessa Holt. Coach Carrillo said they are minimizing their mistakes. He said he is comfortable sending any of the three out to the pitching circle. The Lady Cats have also been hitting the ball. Everyone seems to be contributing. Coach Carrillo said Kelsey Wallace hit three homers in the Sulphur Springs Tournament and Maddie Millsap had one. He added Landri Bell and Sierra Smith were also hitting very well. A scheduled Tuesday game against Mineola at Lady Cat Park has been moved to Monday night due to concerns with Tuesday weather. The teams will be playing a varsity only game at 4:30 p.m. Monday. The game will be broadcast on KSST Radio beginning at 4:30 p.m. The game will also be videotaped for replay at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Soccer
The Lady Cats will face Mount Pleasant Monday night at Gerald Prim Stadium with a JV game at 5:30 p.m. And a varsity game at 7 p.m. The Lady Cats are 0-2 in district play with road losses at Greenville and against Lindale. The Lindale match, a 1-0 Lady Eagles win, was played to Tyler Junior College due to renovation work at the Lindale field. Lady Cats Coach Joel Bailey said his team made a mistake and Lindale capitalized with a goal. He said the Lady Cats had several near misses for goals late in the contest. Mount Pleasant comes in 2-0 in district play.
The Wildcats will be making their trip to Mount Pleasant a day early. They face the Tigers Monday night with a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. with a varsity match to follow at 7 p.m. The Wildcats are 0-2 in district play after home losses to Greenville and Lindale. Mount Pleasant is coming off of a one goal win in a big face off with Greenville. The Wildcats’ soccer team lost 4-0 at home to Lindale last Friday. Coach Upton said he visited the Eagles locker room after the game to congratulate them on the way they played against the Wildcats.
Lady Cats Play in Cold Regional Warm Up
Lady Cats Golf Coach Whitney Spigener said she had never been involved in a golf tournament colder than the one the Lady Cats played in Monday (February 18) at Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club. Coach Spigener said the wind chill was 23-degrees when her golfers teed off Monday and only got up to 36-degrees at the end of the round. With worse weather expected for Tuesday, round two of the tournament has been canceled.
Coach Spigener said scores were high Monday. The lowest score recorded was 81. Lady Cat Mariam Tran shot 86 to finish fifth in the tournament. Coach Spigener praised Lady Cat Charleigh Potts for showing improvement in her long game. She hoped the tournament at the site of this year’s Regional Tournament would be one that her golfers could learn from. Coach Spigener said conditions were too brutal for that.
The Lady Cats play next at Lindale on February 25.
