Saltillo Varsity Girls Basketball Friday Pool Play Continues; Bracket Play Saturday
Friday is the second day of the three-day Saltillo Varsity Girls Basketball Tournament and pool play is continuing.
In Friday games, Chisum defeated CHESS, 63-29. Prairiland topped Clarksville, 52-46. Bullard downed Chisum, 65-26 and Quinlan Ford defeated Clarksville, 60-43. The Saltillo Lady Lions play two more games in the tournament Friday. They take on CHESS at 4:45 p.m. and McLeod at 7:15 p.m. Saltillo opened the tournament Thursday by defeating Chisum, 34-18. The Lady Lions also played Bullard Thursday night but we have not yet heard how that game turned out.
After pool play concludes Friday, Gold and Silver Bracket play will take place Saturday. Gold and Silver Bracket spots will be determined by results in pool play.
TxDOT Plans Work on Highway 11 From Como to Winnsboro
TxDOT has announced work planned in Franklin and Hopkins Counties during the week of Nov. 19, 2018. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues. Motorists are advised to remain alert and pay special attention to all signs, barricades and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Work planned includes State Highway 11, in Hopkins County from Winnsboro to Como. Watch for lane closures and short traffic delays as crews perform surfacing operations; flaggers will direct traffic.
Annual Symphony League Auction is Saturday at 5 p.m.
Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. the annual Sulphur Springs Symphony League Auction begins on KSST Radio, ksstradio.com stream, Suddenlink Cable Channel 18, and KSST Facebook Live… The auction is a fundraiser for the local Symphony League. The League produces the Independence Day Concert and other musical events.
Among items on the auction block this year, two tickets for the December 22 Trans-Siberian Orchestra at AT&T Stadium, a Texas BBQ dinner for 20 catered by Bodacious BBQ and League Board members serving… a night at the Warwick Melrose in Dallas including breakfast for two… a carriage ride through Highland Park to enjoy Christmas lights… and more.
Members of the Symphony League will be answering bid calls. Join the League Saturday at 5 for this live broadcast.
Cinch Rodeo Finals Royalty Invites You to Exciting Rodeo Action Through Sat. Nov. 17
Rodeo Queen Bobbi Loran from Archer County, Texas has traveled to dozens of counties in seven states, making 121 rodeo appearances during her tenure as Miss UPRA 2018. That doesn’t count ribbon cuttings and parades she has been asked to attend! This redhead is now attending Mid Western State University majoring in Business Marketing, but does not plan to give up her horses anytime soon. She will crown the 2019 Miss UPRA during an association luncheon on Saturday and then will say goodbye to Finals audiences during her Queen’s run in the arena on Saturday night
Lesley Henderson of Vinita Ok. Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo Queen,
McKenna Wiler of Mt Vernon for Wing Rodeo Company, and Rhiannon Klidowski of Pilot Point for Champion Rodeo Company
Miss Teen UPRA Dixie Tabb was formerly Miss Teen Rodeo in her home town of Bagota, Texas. As soon as she is age-eligible, Dixie plans to compete for the Miss UPRA title and crown. She says she has been helped along the way by her older sister Maggie, also a Miss Teen Rodeo titleholder, and Dixie plans to repeat the process for her younger sister Ronnie who is already a rodeo queen-hopeful! Dixie will crown her successor this weekend with the 2019 Miss Teen UPRA title.
There are three girls running for the Miss UPRA title: Lesley Henderson of Vinita, Oklahoma, who is Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo Queen and is enrolled at Southeastern College in Durant, Oklahoma….McKenna Wiler age 17 of Mt. Vernon who represents Wing Rodeo Company and plans to study at Tarleton State University…and 20-year-old Colleen Crumpton of DeKalb who wears the sash of Miss Naples Rodeo.
In the running for Miss Teen UPRA 2019 is Cheyan Bland, a 14-year-old from Krum, Texas who represents Flying C Rodeo Company, and sixteen-year-old Rhiannon Klidowski of Pilot Point, Texas who represents Champion Rodeo Association.
All of the contestants sing the praises of Ms. Linda Chase, long-time Queen’s Coordinator for the United Professional Rodeo Association which holds rodeos across the Southwest, and bring their Finals Rodeo to Hopkins County every November.
Text-to-9-1-1 Available in Hopkins County
After several months of network provisioning, testing and training, Text-to-9-1-1 is now available in every primary Public Safety Answering Point in the northeast Texas area, according to David Ray, Communications Administrator for the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. The service is driven by Ark-Tex Council of Governments.
Texas Counties in the Ark-Tex Council of Governments including Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River, and Titus have implemented the system.
Texting allows 9-1-1 alerts to be sent to emergency response when one cannot call. A one minute video video found here illustrates the use of the texting system. There is restriction on what may be included in the texting–no group messages, no photos or videos, no emojis, just simple language giving location first.
Wildcats Season Ends with Loss to Raccoons
by Butch Burney
FRISCO — The Frisco Raccoons had to win their final two regular season games just to make the playoffs. Thursday night, they kept on winning.
Frisco used a ground-based offense and a bend-but-don’t-break defense to take a 41-14 victory over the Sulphur Springs Wildcats at the new, domed Ford Center in Frisco in the Class 5A, Division II bi-district game.
Frisco improved to 7-4 and will face the Everman-South Oak Cliff winner in the area round, while Sulphur Springs’ season ended at 6-4.
The Wildcats actually outgained Frisco in total yards, but the Raccoons took a 7-0 lead on their second possession of the game and never trailed.
Down 13-0 at halftime, Sulphur Springs scored on the second play of the second half to cut the deficit to 13-7 — and the Wildcats scored again on their final play of the game. But, in between, Frisco scored 28 straight points to put the game out of reach.
They did it by utilizing a single-wing offense in which fullback Nick Stanton gained 109 yards rushing and wingback Blake May added 108 yards on the ground. Stanton scored three touchdowns and May scored another to pace the Raccoons’ attack.
All told, Frisco had 292 yards rushing and 28 passing for a total of 320 yards. Conversely, the Wildcats got 281 yards passing from quarterback D’Corian Young (154 yards of it going to wide receiver Austin Dodd) and another 61 yards rushing for 342 total yards. But, the Wildcats turned the ball over twice while not forcing a turnover, and they were hit with 60 yards in penalties, some of which were at the most inopportune times.
Sulphur Springs had a tough time on fourth downs, converting just 1-of-6 opportunities, and they had just two “explosive” plays (of more than 20 yards) and those were the two touchdown passes Young threw to Dodd for 74 yards and to Landry Tyson for 47 yards.
The third quarter was especially painful for the Wildcats as they mustered just two first downs and failed to convert on a 4th-and-1 from their own 32 yard line while trailing 20-7. That led to a Stanton 4-yard TD run and a 27-7 Frisco lead with less than 10 minutes left in the contest. Then, Frisco was able to use its pounding ground game to wear down the Wildcat defense.
The Sulphur Springs offense was able to move the ball, especially in the first half when they had drives of 12, 15 and 7 plays, but were not able to score points on them. In the second half, the Wildcat offense was limited to just 7 yards rushing and both turnovers occured in the fourth quarter, including a SSHS fumble that was returned 44 yards for a touchdown by Frisco’s Nick Holland.
NOTES: The Wildcats, who most prognosticators had predicted before the season would not make the playoffs, finished in third place in District 8-5A, Division II. Frisco was the second place team in District 7-5A. … The Raccoons had 22 first downs to 16 for Sulphur Springs. … Wildcat special teams had a couple of shining moments as Damiyon Dugan had a 51-yard kickoff return in the second half and Austin Dodd had a 23-yard punt return. In additino, Jermond Bryant-Amos got off a 53-yard punt.
Jermond Bryant-Amos
AROUND THE DISTRICT: The SS-Frisco game was the only one played on Thursday night. Friday night games include Ennis (5-4) at No. 9 Frisco Reedy (10-0), Lake Dallas (7-3) at Corsciana (8-2), and Lucas Lovejoy (7-2) at Kaufman (7-2).
Sulphur Springs 0 0 7 7 –14
Frisco 0 13 7 21 –41
Second Quarter
Frisco — Nick Stanton 8 run (Peter Arena kick), 11:53.
Frisco — Stanton 4 run (kick failed), 4:45.
Third Quarter
Sulphur Springs — Austin Dodd 74 pass from D’Corian Young (Brandon Zavala kick), 11:27.
Frisco — Blake May 33 run (Arena kick), 3:44.
Fourth Quarter
Frisco — Stanton 4 run (Arena kick), 9:51.
Frisco — Bryson Clemons 15 run (Jake Gaster kick), 4:42.
Frisco — Nick Holland 44 fumble return (Gaster kick), 1:29.
Sulphur Springs — Landry Tyson 47 pass from Young (Zavala kick), 0:14.
STATISTICS
RUSHING
Sulphur Springs, 26-61 — Colton Allen 6-17, Da’Korian Sims 7-23, Caden Davis 5-28, Kaleb Myles 2-11, D’Corian Young 6-(-18).
Frisco, 47-292 — Nick Stanton 24-109, Blake May 9-108, Bryson Clemons 8-29, Aaron Taylor 3-44, Carter Yates 3-2.
PASSING
Sulphur Springs, 19-36-1-281 — D’Corian Young 19-36-1-281.
Frisco, 2-4-0-28 — Carter Yates 2-4-0-28.
RECEIVING
Sulphur Springs, 19-281 — Austin Dodd 9-154, Landry Tyson 5-75, Bryce McQueen 2-17, Jermond Bryant-Amos 1-7, Da’Korian Sims 1-15, Jace Thompson 1-13.
Frisco, 2-28 — Donta Reece 1-23, Nick Stanton 1-5.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
Sulphur Springs, 0.
Frisco, 1 — Nick Holland 1.
INTERCEPTIONS
Sulphur Springs, 0.
Frisco, 1 — Donta Reece 1.
PUNTING
Sulphur Springs, 2-83 — Jermond Bryant-Amos 2-83 (41.5 average).
Frisco, 3-125 — Maximo Mengelle 3-125 (41.7 average).
KICK RETURNS
Sulphur Springs, 4-91 — Damiyon Dugan 4-91.
Frisco, 2-19 — Jacob Stayman 1-23, Brandon Torres 1-(-4).
PUNT RETURNS
Sulphur Springs, 2-23 — Austin Dodd 2-23.
Frisco, none.
FUMBLES-LOST: Sulphur Springs 2-1. Frisco 0-0.
PENALTIES: Sulphur Springs 6-60. Frisco 2-10.
FIRST DOWNS: Sulphur Springs 16. Frisco 22.
Tira News: Nov. 16, 2018
By Jan Vaughn
Mark your calendars for the Tira Community Christmas Party. It is scheduled for Saturday, December 8th , at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center. Brisket will be provided and residents are asked to bring side dishes and desserts. Also, we will be collecting regular sized canned goods for the Community Food Pantry. Make plans to come enjoy a time of visiting with
your neighbors. We are expecting Santa to drop in to visit with the kids!
At the last meeting, the Tira City Council voted to change the regular quarterly meetings to the first Monday of the quarter – March, June, September, and December. The next meeting will be on Monday, December 3 rd . After the meeting, the group will decorate the center for the
Christmas party. The public is always welcome and encouraged to attend.
No election was required for the Tira City Council this year. Evelyn Horne, Tami Joslin, and Yvonne Weir were unopposed.
Evelyn Horne and her guest attended the Mavericks game against the New York Knicks on November 2nd . Evelyn comments, “Although the Mavericks lost, it was fantastic, especially in their suite.” They also went shopping and visited Victory Park.
Joyce Dodd shared that their grandson, Matthew Dodd, turned 10 on November 12th . He was treated to a small family celebration at Joyce and William’s house on Sunday.
Joyce, also, reported that “the food angels came again…the pantry is stocked.” We always appreciate the generosity of those who contribute to the Food Pantry.
Chip and I spent Thursday through Sunday in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We drove up by way of the Talimena Scenic Drive from Talihena, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas. The fall foliage was just a little past peak, but was still beautiful. On Friday, we drove north on Scenic Highway 7, and then went to the Buffalo National River and then came back on a different route and
ended up at Mount Nebo, just in time to watch the sun sink behind another mountain, from Sunset Point. The views of the sunset and the Arkansas River valley were beautiful. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious seafood buffet at Catfish N in nearby Dardanelle. We spent the day in
Hot Springs on Saturday. We did some shopping and sightseeing downtown and went for a drive up the East and West Mountains. That afternoon, we enjoyed a golf cart tour of Garvan Woodland Gardens, where they were in the process of putting up their light displays for the holiday season. We attended church on Sunday morning, and then shopped a little before
returning home that evening.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Impaired Driving: A Deadly Danger at Thanksgiving By Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have joined forces this Thanksgiving holiday to remind drivers that whether under the influence of illegal drugs, prescription drugs, or alcohol, any form of impaired driving is deadly and dangerous — and illegal. The message is clear: If You Feel Different, You Drive Different. Drive Sober During Thanksgiving.
Too often, while celebrating with family and friends over Thanksgiving weekend, impaired drivers get behind the wheel, but whether impaired by alcohol, marijuana, or anything else, it can be deadly to drive under the influence. No one should ever take that risk. Drunk driving-related crashes spike during the Thanksgiving holiday. According to the NHTSA, from 2013 to 2017, more than 800 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday week — Wednesday, 6 p.m., to Monday, 5:59 a.m. — making it the deadliest holiday on not only Texas roadways, but across the U.S.
In fact, during 2017, more than one out of every three traffic fatalities during the Thanksgiving holiday week involved an alcohol-impaired driver. Also, a new threat is emerging: Drug-impaired driving. From 2007 to 2016, marijuana usage doubled among drivers killed in crashes, and in 2016, 42 percent of the drivers killed in fatal crashes who were tested revealed to test positive for drug-use while driving.
Excessive alcohol and drug intoxication are also prevalent over Thanksgiving, due in part to cultural phenomenon’s like “Blackout Wednesday” and “Danksgiving,” which highlight and even encourage the heavy consumption of alcohol and marijuana throughout the holiday weekend. That is why this Thanksgiving holiday, the NHTSA and its partners are doing even more to save lives on the road. A nationwide social media blitz, featuring the hashtags #BoycottBlackoutWednesday and #DitchDanksgiving, will help deliver some new life-saving messages into the public conversation and encourage positive actions that can help reduce the danger of impaired driving on the roadways.
Impaired driving, in any form, is illegal in all 50 U.S. states. Whether a person is feeling a little high, buzzed, stoned, wasted, or drunk, he or she is impaired and should never get behind the wheel. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s “Watch UR BAC” program recommends these simple tips to stay safe on the road while celebrating this Thanksgiving:
· Choose non-alcoholic beverages – hot cider and hot chocolate are good cold-weather beverages.
· Plan a way to safely get home before the Thanksgiving festivities begin.
· Always designate a sober driver.
· If you are impaired, take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
· Download the NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, which helps identify a sober ride home and a location for pickup.
· If a driver on the road appears impaired, contact local law enforcement.
· If someone you know is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make safe, sober travel arrangements to where they are going.
By working together, everyone involved can save lives and help keep America’s roadways safe. Please join or start the conversation to reduce the danger of impaired driving by sharing the life-saving message: “Drive Sober During Thanksgiving,” and by using the hashtags #BoycottBlackoutWednesday and #DitchDanksgiving on social media this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Focus on friends, family, and thankfulness – and as I always tell my kids (even though they are now adults), make wise choices!
Twogether In Texas
Christmas is a popular time for couples to get engaged. This can be an exciting time, but also the beginning of a stressful time of planning, finding a venue, hiring professionals, considering finances, and much more.
“Twogether in Texas” to the rescue! This is a marriage education workshop to help couples prepare for a lifetime of marriage. I offer the workshop three times each year, and the next one is scheduled for Saturday, February 9, 2019, 8:30 a.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m., at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston Street, in Sulphur Springs. Topics will include: marriage expectations, communication, conflict resolution, money management, and goal setting.
The workshop is open to engaged couples, seriously dating couples, and married couples. Engaged couples have an extra bonus, because a certificate to save $60 upon applying for a marriage license will be given at the conclusion of the workshop. Coffee, water and refreshments will be served during the morning sessions, followed by lunch, which is complementary to all couples. More refreshments will be served during the afternoon sessions, so no one will leave hungry!
We are currently taking reservations, so if you or someone you know, might be interested in attending, please call 903-885-3443.
Closing Thought
“Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved” – Lecrae
