Wildcat Basketball Won Three at Elite 14 Scrimmage
The Wildcats’ basketball team won three scrimmages and lost none at the Elite 14 Scrimmage Saturday (November 3) at Wichita Falls Hirschi. The scrimmage featured top teams from Texas, Oklahoma and around the nation. The Wildcats won handily over Lubbock Estacado, a ranked Class 4A team, defeated prep school Millwood, Oklahoma by four points and edged by Norman, Oklahoma by one point.
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta said all three teams were very athletic. He said the Wildcats saw a lot of different defenses and presses include the run and jump press, man defense, 2-2-1 defense, zone and pressure man on man. Coach Cipoletta said his team’s offense is ahead of its defense. He said this year’s team has a special chance to be very good.
Coach Cipoletta said he expects his teams to hang their hat on defense so he is eager for them to get better on the defensive end. He said the entire team impressed him Saturday. Coach Cipoletta said Keaston Willis did a good job creating his shot. He said Day Day Hall was impressive with his offensive rebounding. He said Cameron Kahn will be a big surprise for teams this season. Coach Cip said Kahn made 4 of 6 three pointers and also drove to the basket. Big man Xavier Cork did a good job with his big post presence. Coach Cipoletta also had praise for Grayson McClure and Kai Taylor. He was also enthusiastic about the play of guard Jeremiah Roland. Coach Cipoletta said Roland knocked down shots and played with energy and athleticism on defense.
Two of the teams the Wildcats scrimmaged Saturday started the games pressing the Wildcats. After a slew of early points quickly by the Wildcats, the teams abandoned the press. The Wildcats have their second and final scrimmage Tuesday (November 6) in Longview. Cedar Hill was expected to scrimmage also but they have changed their plans.
HCGS Wins Multiple Awards at State Conference
The Texas State Genealogical Society Conference was held at the Omni Hotel in San Antonio, Texas on November 1-4, 2018. Hopkins County Genealogical Society (HCGS) had several members in attendance. HCGS also won awards including first place quarterly with the Hopkins County Heritage.
The weekend was culminated with an awards banquet on Saturday night. The key note speaker was Andrew Carroll. Andrew is currently the director of the Center for American War Letters at Chapman University. In 1997, he created the Legacy Project, an all-volunteer initiative to honor veterans, active duty troops, and their families by preserving their wartime correspondence. The project has collected over 100,000 letters and emails from every war in U.S. history beginning with the Revolutionary War. These letters not only reflect historic events but also tell the human side of the story. They are archived at Chapman University where they are preserved for future generations. Andrew has written several books related to these heartwarming and historic letters. He brought many actual letters with him including one written during the bombing of Pearl Harbor and two WWII letters written by everyday Americans describing the liberation of Nazi concentration camps.
During the banquet statewide awards were announced. HCGS entered its quarterly, website, and two books into the statewide competition. The HCGS quarterly Hopkins County Heritage, published by Editor Carol Ann Dixon, won first place. Carol Ann previously won 2nd place for the quarterly in 2015 and 2017.
The HCGS website HCGSTX.org, created by Bethany Ferrell of Lonestar Web Group and assisted by HCGS Archivist Earl Pogue & HCGS Librarian Jan Stovall, won first place.
HCGS publication Known Only to God, written by Rhonda Bechhold and Carole Ann Smith, finished second in the category “books published by partner societies”. Known Only to Godis the story of the mystery man who died tragically in a car accident on Hwy. 19th just north of Sulphur Springs in August of 1954. It details the two-year search to recognize and honor this World War II veteran named John Everett Phinney. A Celebration of Life Ceremony was held at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery in June 2018 to honor this soldier and unveil the military marker that the author helped to procure. He is now known thanks to the efforts of authors Rhonda and Carole Ann.
HCGS, also, entered Wandering and Wondering by Larry Harman. Larry was a local historian and former board member of HCGS. Larry grew up in Sulphur Springs and enjoyed traveling the back roads researching area history. Several of his stories appeared in the HCGS quarterly. Larry passed away in 2012. His wife Sharon and sister Carol McKeever compiled and published his research in this book. While Wandering and Wondering did not place, Awards Chairman Bill Buckner of Waco Public library, singled it out saying that “this book touched my heart’.
Both books can be obtained by contacting the HCGS library.
In addition to enjoying and learning from excellent speakers, the members manned a successful booth selling books and local publications.
PJC-Sulphur Springs: Taco Lunch
GET YOUR TACOS
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Director Rob Stanley, center, joins students on campus for a tasty taco lunch. Preparing their lunches are, from left, Rainie English, Sydnee Hawkins, Stanley, and Andre Evans.
Friday, November 9th Veteran’s Day Program for Sulphur Springs High School
Program
Welcome……………………………………………………… Mike Lamb
SSISD Superintendent
The Meaning of Veterans Day and…………………. Josh Williams
Introduction of Veterans by Conflict Assistant Superintendent
Presentation of the Colors (please stand)…… SSHS Color Guard
Accompanied by “Yankee Doodle” Flautist – Elizabeth Lopez; Drummer – Mason Gillem
US……….. Dakota Clark Navy…………. Haley Kovach
POW……. Ty Connally Air Force…… Austin McCain
Army……. Matthew Harper Coast Guard Trinity Sherman
Marines.. Kacie Bates Texas………… Brandon Williams
National Anthem…………………………………………….. Ensemble
(remain standing) SSHS Choir
US Pledge (remain standing)…………………………… Alexis Lopez
Student Council President
Service Songs…………………….. SSHS Band and Elizabeth Cole
“Salute to America’s Finest” Arranged by Paul Lavender
(Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard)
Posting of the Colors……………………………. SSHS Color Guard
Service Lighting Ceremony…………………… SMSGT Gene White
U.S. Army…………………………………………….. TEC-5 Cleotha Miller
U.S. Marines…………………………….. SGTMAJ Henry O. Askew, Sr.
U.S. Navy……………………………………………. RM3C Roger K. Arnold
U.S. Air Force…………………………………….. SGT Clifford F. Randall
U.S. Coast Guard………………………………………… PO3C Pat Chase
Families of KIA’s……………………………. PFC Benjamin Z.O. Askew
(Represented by Barbara Askew Fannin)
“Here Lies an American”………………………. Annmarie Gunn
MIA/POW Ceremony…………. Narrator, W.T. Allison, USMC
with SSHS Color Guard
“Amazing Grace”………………………………………….. Jim Dial
“God Bless the USA”………………………………… Darren Gray
Moment of Silence for US Troops……………….. Derek Driver SSHS Principal
Taps……………………………… Adam Ost and Nathan Braddy
“Thank You”……………………………………… Rachel Bramlett
Benediction……………………………………… Clayton McGraw
Veteran
National Anthem Etiquette
During the rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform shall stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform should remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should render the military salute at the first note of the anthem and retain this position until the last note. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute in the manner provided for individuals in uniform. When the flag is not displayed, those present should face toward the music and act in the same manner they would if the flag were displayed there.
Definition of a Veteran
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America,” for an account of “up to and including my life.” –That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.
~ Author Unknown
Today, it is our privilege to say “thank you” to all of America’s veterans, to let them know that we appreciate them for their service and honor them for their sacrifices. The price of freedom is high. We cannot afford to forget those willing to pay it. We celebrate America’s veterans for keeping this nation “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
SSHS Principal Driver Says He’s Blessed with a Great School and Excellent Staff
In a KSST Good Morning Show interview, SSHS Principal Derek Driver enthusiastically sang praises of the teaching and coaching staff, the administration and the student body at Sulphur Springs High School. He includes the community in contributing to that success, too. “Of the schools I’ve been associated with, Sulphur Springs has the most active community, parent and fan support I have seen”, he commented on the air. “Besides the Wildcats having clinched a District berth in football and having had a great volleyball season, our Marching Band has earned a “1” again, our Choir is advancing in competitions, and Cross Country runner Landon Thornton recently competed at State. And with the Basketball season just ahead, there will be more opportunities for the loyal Wildcat fans to keep up the spirit they supply so generously at games. Additionally, the SSHS FFA Chapter plans a big Stew and Auction event on November 17, and that’s a change from the Spring date it traditionally had. Come out and support it! All our Sports and Extra-curricular activities have been positive and successful this year, just like our Academics”. Driver bragged on the teaching staff, observing that many classroom teachers also serve students in other capacities, like being Activity Sponsors and assisting in sports activities. And the high school students have greatly enjoyed the “Food Truck Fridays” during 2018, having helped make this food feature a reality through the Student Council.
Principal Driver is also proud of the Veterans Program that SSHS hosts each year. “This event is one of the most apparent ways to notice the community’s positive involvement in the school. There are many pluses to holding a Veterans Program at the school. It honors worthy individuals as well as teaches our young people to be aware of sacrifices that have been made on their behalf”. Driver encourages people in the community to attend this important program on Friday November 9, 2018 at 1pm in the high school gym. A reception will begin at 12 noon.
Murder Trial Opens With Police Testimony
Opening arguments were presented by District Attorney Will Ramsay in Eighth Judicial District Court as a Hopkins County jury hears testimony in the trial focused on the death of Joshua Paul Cowling. Aaron Tyler Crum, 26, of Sulphur Springs is being tried for the Felony 1 Murder of Cowling. The incident took place February 24th of this year at a residence on Pampa Street. Crum has been in Hopkins County Jail since his arrest at the scene. Crum is being represented by former District Attorney Martin Braddy. Braddy chose to withhold opening remarks and use the time later in the case.
In his remarks Ramsay described the events that led to the alleged murder of Cowling. He noted that Cowling’s sister was present at the party and was standing only steps away from Crum when a 9mm pistol was discharged a Cowling fell dead at the scene. Ramsay said the sister called 9-1-1 as soon as the shot was fired. He noted that several had been locked out of the house and were seeking to regain entrance to retrieve personal items such as a purse and a jacket. However, Crum was not responding to knocks at the door, phone calls, or texts. Ramsay said the sliding glass door that was locked between the patio and room where the party had been broke at the knock of Cowling and that Cowling was apologizing to Crum and offering to pay for the door when the shot was fired.
The first witness called was Sulphur Spring Police Captain Eddie Moon who presented body cam footage from the scene, pictures from the scene, and the alleged weapon used in the incident.
The court took the first recess at 10 a.m. and will resume testimony following the recess.
Election Day: Voting Centers Open 7 AM to 7 PM
This is Election Day. Hopkins County voters may cast ballots at any of the Vote Centers in the county.
Voters will need one of seven forms of ID: Texas Driver License, Texas Personal Identification Card, Texas Election Identification Certificate, Texas Handgun License, United States Military Identification Card, or United States Passport (book or card).
Vote Centers open November 6th include: In the city of Sulphur Springs: the Lutheran Church, 1000 Texas Street; Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 208 Fuller Street; County Courthouse, 118 Church St; Grace Family Church, 1901 Loop 301 East; Civic Center, 1200 Houston St; League Street Church of Christ, 1100 South League. Throughout the county: Saltillo ISD, 150 CR 3534, Saltillo; Cumby Municipal Building, 100 E. Main Street, Cumby, TX; Sulphur Bluff ISD, 1027 CR 3550, Sulphur Bluff; Como-Pickton school, 13017 TX Highway 11E, Como; Miller Grove ISD, 7819 FM 275 S, Cumby; and North Hopkins ISD, 1994 FM 71 W, Sulphur Springs.
Hours for voting November 6th are 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Election returns will begin on KSST, ksstradio.com, and Suddenlink Cable Channel 18 at 7 p.m. Local returns will be presented as they come in to the County Clerk’s office and state-wide returns at :15 and :45 past the hour.
SSHS Band Prepare for Patriotic Celebrations
Sulphur Springs High School band students will be performing at several veterans related events this week.
Monday night (November 5) at League Street Church of Christ, the Jazz Band will play at the Wal-Mart sponsored Veterans Program.
Friday (November 9) on campus, the entire Wildcat Band will play at the Veterans Day ceremony in the main gym.
Then Saturday morning (November 10), after Friday night’s on field performance at City Bank Field in Forney during the Wildcats and North Forney football game, the band will march and play in the Veterans Day Parade in Sulphur Springs. Band Director Spencer Emmert said the Armed Forces’ medley, featuring hymns from the various branches of the military, is always popular. Music will also include a Yankee Doodle presentation and other neat things according to Emmert. He explained that bands came out of the military.
Emmert recalled his Winnsboro band playing patriotic tunes at the World War II Memorial with the Washington Monument behind them and the Lincoln Memorial in front of them. He called that a special thing.
