‘Fly Your Flag’ Combines Fun and Fundraising for New Women’s Center Equipment
When you hear the term “Fly Your Flag” what do you think of? Well, in Hopkins County during Thanksgiving season, it means school pride, pride in community and generous hearts. ‘Fly Your Flag’ has become a fun, competitive way to raise money for needed hospital equipment to better serve the local community. This year’s event is slightly different than in years past and has some very positive perks built in!
Along with a planning committee made up of Charles Helm, Michael Lamb, Mikki Eddins and Holly Ragan, and Meredith Caddell, who is CEO of the Hopkins County Healthcare Foundation, re-vamped the Fly Your Flag event and opened it up to a larger cross-section of persons who love their college alma maters! Basically, the college who raises the most money on ‘Fly your Flag’ Day gets to have their college colors flown above the Hopkins County Courthouse for a whole week. That’s still true, and to add to that, now a $1,000 scholarship will go to each of the top three fundraising schools, to be awarded to deserving students selected by the local alumni associations. So it’s a win/win for everyone!
There will be exactly 200 opportunities to donate money to the Fly Your Flag fundraising campaign during the morning hours of Tuesday November 20, 2018. Meredith and volunteers will be on the downtown Celebration Plaza at the Donation Wall, taking phone pledges and walk-up pledges. So don’t get left out! And in the New Year when you or someone close to you gets the benefit of the new 3D Mammogram machine with Biopsy Option, Bone Density Testing equipment and Ultra Sound department in the new Women’s Center at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs, you will know why ‘Fly Your Flag’ is so dear to the hearts of the community. Additionally, “naming opportunities” are still open for persons who would like their donations to carry the name of a loved one upon a door or a department at the new center. For more information and other donation opportunities, see the website hopkinscountyhealthcarefoundation.com or phone the Foundation office for details at 903-885-2961.
Peckham Sentenced to 20 Years
Editor’s Note: KSST thanks Assistant District Attorney and County-Court-At-Law Elect Clay Harrison for information in this report.
Koty Peckham, 38
On November 19, Koty Peckham, 38, of Winnsboro, was sentenced for the offense of felony Evading with a Motor Vehicle by District Judge Eddie Northcutt. The defendant had multiple prior felony convictions, including Evading with a Motor Vehicle and Bail Jumping. The defendant pled guilty to fleeing from DPS Troopers on December 13, 2017 while on Highway 11. Ultimately, the troopers called off the pursuit due to safety concerns after they were able to positively identify the defendant as the driver. A couple of months later, on February 14, 2018, the defendant later attempted to evade DPS troopers near Amarillo, leading police on a high-speed chase up to 130 miles per hour involving approximately 20 officers. The Amarillo pursuit ended in the defendant being arrested.
During the sentencing hearing, the State presented evidence that the defendant was a member of the Peckerwood white supremacist organization and that he had numerous felony convictions. The judge sentenced Peckham to the maximum of 20 years in the Institutional Division, TDCJ. The judge also found true the State’s allegation that the defendant operated his motor vehicle in a manner that was capable of causing death or serious bodily injury to another. Based on this finding of true, the defendant will not be parole-eligible until he has served 10 years of his 20 year sentence.
Fly Your Flag Today! Get Ready To Bid
The Hopkins County Health Care Foundation will be on Celebration Plaza today accepting bids for their “Fly Your Flag” auction. More opportunities to win are available this year as in years past. In addition to the winning school having bragging rights to having their college alma mater’s flag flown in Celebration Plaza, the second place school will also have their flag flown. Also, if enough bids are received, the top three schools will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship each to be given by that school to a Hopkins County student.
Bidding is a little different this year, with multiple schools able to get recognition for their efforts.
Below is a link to a short video to help explain how the new bidding process will work:
Saltillo Basketball: Lions Win; Lady Lions Lose
Liberty-Eylau 74, Saltillo Lions Basketball 63
The Saltillo Lions came out on the short end of a 74-63 game against Liberty-Eylau Monday. The Lions outscored the Leopards, 21-18 in the fourth quarter but it wasn’t nearly enough to catch up. Chris Boekhorst had another big night for the Lions with 24 points. Matthew Gurley scored 16 points, Ben Moore had 9 points, Levi Hoover and Edi Olayo had 5 points apiece. Andrew Redburn scored 4 points. The Lions are now 1-2 for the season. The Lions play Como-Pickton on November 20.
Celeste 47, Saltillo Lady Lions Basketball 38
The Saltillo Lady Lions lost a first half lead at home and ended up losing to Celeste, 47-38 in Saltillo Monday. The Lady Lions were up 11-10 after the first quarter and up 28-20 at halftime. Celeste rallied to outscore the Lady Lions 27-10 over the last two quarters. Chandler Bain led the Lady Lions with 15 points. Brittney Peeples had 10 points. Jocelyn Ochoa scored 6 points. Lorena Castro added 3 points. Anna Reeder and Maddy Smith scored 2 points apiece. The Lady Lions had an excellent night at the free throw line hitting 13 of 14. The Lady Lions are now 4-6 for the season. The Lady Lions play Yantis at home on November 27.
Lady Cats Holds Off Fourth Quarter Rally to Defeat LE 54-53
The Lady Cats’ basketball team improved their season record to 2-0 with a nail biting 54-53 victory over Liberty-Eylau in Texarkana Monday night (November 19). The Lady Cats withstood a furious fourth quarter rally from the Lady Leopards and escaped with the one point win.
The Lady Cats reportedly got good scoring efforts from seniors Sadavia Porter and Autumn Tanton. Tanton also had a good night rebounding. After the Thanksgiving break, the Lady Cats will play Terrell in Wildcats Gym on November 27.
Wildcats Upset 6-A #2 Rockwall 77-67
The state’s #2 team in Class 6A, Rockwall was upset by the #15 team in Class 5A Sulphur Springs, 77-67 in Wildcats Gym Monday night (November 19). The Wildcats took a lead in the first quarter and never gave it up.
The Wildcats led 21-12 after one quarter, 37-27 at the half and 58-45 after three quarters. The Wildcats were led by senior guard Keaston Willis who scored a game high 32 points. Willis got the Wildcats going with 12 first quarter points and scored 13 fourth quarter points to assure the Wildcats held on to their lead. Willis hit 4 three pointers. Senior post Xavier Cork scored 14 points including 11 in the second half. Junior Cameron Kahn added 12 points including two-three pointers. Junior forward Sadaidriene Day Day Hall scored 8 points and did a good job rebounding. Junior guard Grayson McClure scored 6 points on two three-pointers. Senior guard Jeremiah Roland scored 3 points on a three-pointer but drew praise from Head Coach Clark Cipoletta for limiting a major Rockwall scorer to only 4 points. Sophomore Boo Wilkerson scored 2 points. Rockwall’s Samuell Williamson, a Louisville commit, scored 28 points for the Yellowjackets. Rockwall slips to 6-2 for the season.
The Wildcats are now 3-0 with all of their wins over Class 6A teams. The Wildcats play next on Saturday in the Duncanville Thanksgiving Hoop-Fest against an opponent to be determined. Tournament officials initial scheduled the Wildcats to play Dallas Woodrow Wilson but both teams requested different opponents since the teams are scheduled to play in Sulphur Springs on December 4.
Winnsboro Police Report November 12-18, 2018
No arrests, two no injury accidents, 139 calls for service, 27 citations and 49 warnings written were reported by the Winnsboro Police Department during the November 12-18, 2018 report period.
A two vehicle accident at 207 Knight Street on November 15th and a one vehicle accident at 823 South Main on November 18th were reported.
PJC Mid-Year Graduation December 14, 2018
READY TO GRADUATE
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Advisor Carey Gable is helping Savanna Tharp get her graduation application completed so she can walk during the mid-year graduation exercises to be held on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. on the Paris campus.
Saturday Morning Coach’s Show: Owens Reflects on 32 Wildcat Seniors
Editor’s Note: Coach Owens and KSST Sports Director Don Julian put a wrap on the 2018 Football Season with the Coach’s Show, Saturday, November 24, 9 a.m. on KSST and Suddenlink Cable Channel 18.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens said the 41-14 bi-district loss to Frisco last Thursday in Frisco left a bad taste in his mouth. He said the Wildcats just didn’t play up to par, similar to the way they finished the season. He credited the Wildcats for playing hard on both sides of the ball. Coach Owens said offensive woes caught up to the Wildcats. (More on this later)
He said the offense had a 17 play drive and a 13 play drive but could not get clicking again and could not make plays when they needed to. Coach Owens said the Wildcats defense did a great job. He said the Wildcats have to score to win. Coach Owens said at the end Frisco began to grind down the Wildcats with their wing T attack adding the Raccoons’ running backs began to run harder. He said he was proud of the Wildcats. Concerning going for a fourth down and 1 play from the Wildcats 29 yard line, Coach Owens said it occurred late in the third quarter with the Wildcats trailing 20-7. He said Frisco was chewing up a lot of the clock on every one of their drives. Coach Owens said it was getting to a desperate time in the game and the Wildcats had to try and maintain possession. Frisco stopped a running play and the ball went over on downs.
Later during a segment talking about his 32 seniors that will air Saturday on KSST Radio and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday Morning Coach’s Show, Coach Owens revealed one of the factors that impacted the Wildcats’ offense late in the season. He said quarterback D’Corian Young played the last four games of the season with a torn ACL.
