Thunderstorms Produce Heavy Rain and Minor Flooding in Hopkins County
Reports of from 2.5 inches to over 5 inches of rain were made from across Hopkins County Thursday morning as a series of lines of thunderstorms moved across the region Wednesday night and into early Thursday morning. Due to minor flooding discovered Thursday morning, the local Community Chest and Food Pantry will be closed Thursday and a flood warning has been issued for the South Sulphur River along the Hopkins, Delta County lines. Other minor flooding has been noted in the county as well.
Rainfall amounts include 2.5 inches at Pickton with wind, loud thunder, and heavy rain. At Rocky Ridge, just over 2.5 inches of rain was reported. In Cornersville, the 5-inch measuring gauge was overflowing and all sizes of limbs were down. Wood County Electric, which supplies electrical power to that area, was also reporting outages through the night.
The Community Chest and Food Pantry, 217 Linda Driver, Sulphur Springs, will be closed due to flooding, Thursday, December 27, according to staff.
A Flood Warning has been issued until Friday morning, December 28th, for the South Sulphur River near Cooper. At 5:15 a.m. Thursday the stage was 18.02 feet. Flood stage is 16 feet. Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. The river will continue rising to a crest near 19 feet and should fall below flood stage some time Thursday.
At 20 feet moderate out of bank flooding will occur along the river reach. A few rural roads and farm and ranch land adjacent to the river will be flooded. Do not drive vehicles through the flooded areas. Use caution when walking near riverbanks.
Significant Weather Advisory for Hopkins, Rains, Delta, Lamar Counties
AT 9:40 p.m., Doppler Radar was tracking a line of strong thundertorms from Honey Grove to near Canton, Movement was northeast at 50 mph. Wind Gusts up to 50 mph will be possible in these storms. Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County along with Emory, Cumby, Cooper, Como, and other cities are included in the advisory area.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to localized flooding.
HE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH IN
EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CST THURSDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS RAINS and VAN ZANDT COUNTIES
Miller Grove, Saltillo Cross Country Team Members Named to All-State Teams
Saltillo and Miller Grove Cross Country Team members were named to All-State teams recently.
MileSplit Boys 2018 All-State Cross Country Teams includes 1st Team All State Isaiah Billingsley, Miller Grove and Garrett Tarver, Saltillo. Matthew Bignon and Grant Earp of Miller Grove were named third team and Jayden Holloway, Saltillo, is Honorable Mention
Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas All-State Team named Tarver of Saltillo and Billingsley and Earp of Miller Grove along with Kobe Robertson, Lance Verner Davis, and Matthew Brignon of Miller Grove. There are 15 1A Boys on the Coaches Association All-State Team.
Berger Officials Expected at Local Facility Thursday
Due to the dollar amount loss sustained in a fire Monday at Berger Horticulture, federal fire investigators with the ATF will be on scene this week. Assisted by the Sulphur Springs Fire Marshall, they will seek the cause of the fire that destroyed the industrial facility located in Hopkins County on State Highway 19N near Birthright. Local fire personnel have been on sight since the fire and were to remain until investigators take charge of the scene, according to County Fire Chief Andy Endsley.
Berger officials are expected at the facility Thursday. Their access to the facility will be depend on the completion of the investigation of the fire.
Cooper Lake State Park January Schedule; Winter is Special Time to Experience
Sulphur Springs, TX— Cooper Lake State Park is a special place to experience winter in Northeast Texas. During the month of January, the park will host ten programs focused on family fun and learning about our natural world. To kick off 2019, both Cooper Lake State Park Units will host our annual First Day Hikes to get the new year started off healthy. The park will also conduct a ranger led hike near the lake which winds through a dense oak forest later in the month. Have fun learning about how past generations lived in the area. Also learn about the plants and animals common to this part of Texas and so much more. Bring each fun and learning packed Saturday to a fitting conclusion with your family and friends around a campfire at the park! Campfires are part of our collective human DNA. The flickering light and warmth of a winter campfire will lift your spirit and reconnect you to feelings shared by past generation.
Bring a picnic and enjoy the day-use area on a warm winter afternoon. Fish off our pier or rent a boat and try your luck throughout the lake. Crappie, bluegill, bass, and catfish are commonly caught. Hike our trails or just relax under a giant oak tree or camp at one of our tree canopied campsites recharging your soul!
Park entrance fees are $5 for adults with kids 12 and under always free. Senior Texans 65 or older will only pay $3 to enter the park daily with a Bluebonnet Pass. Unlimited park entrances for you and everyone in your vehicle can be accomplished with the purchase of a Texas State Park Annual Pass for $70 which is good for over 12 months. All programs are free with paid entrance fees. For more information on this or other events and programs at Cooper Lake State Park, please visit and friend our Facebook pages (Cooper Lake State Park – South Sulphur 903-945-5256 and Cooper Lake State Park – Doctor’s Creek (903) 395-3100).
Doctor’s Creek Unit (Northside
of Cooper Lake – Delta County)
Jan 1 – 1pm – First Day Hike: Start off
your year right with a nature hike
Jan 5 – 12pm – Buds, Blossoms, & Bounty: Learn about flora before and after
wildfire
Jan 6 – 10am – Bringing Back Bygones: From natural fires to prescribed burns
Jan 21 – 12pm – MLK Day Hike: Celebrate his birthday by hiking side by side
Jan 26 – 12pm – Birds, Butterflies & Beyond: Winter brrrds and butterfl-ice
South Sulfur Unit (Southside of Cooper Lake –
Hopkins County)
Jan 1 – 3pm – First Day Hike: Start off your year right with a nature hike
Jan 12 – 12pm – Birds, Butterflies & Beyond: Winter brrrds and butterfl-ice
Jan 19 – 12pm – Buds, Blossoms & Bounty: Native flora used during the Civil
War
Jan 20 – 10am – Bringing Back Bygones: Boycott technology and march through the
park
Jan 20 – 9:00pm – Celestial & Star Stories: Observe and learn about the
Total Lunar Eclipse
##
Berger Fire Under Control Monday Afternoon; Cause of Fire to Be Investigated; County Fire Chief Commends Effort Made to Control Fire
The first call came in Monday at 11:28 a.m. of a possible structure fire at Berger Horticulture located near Birthright on State Highway 19N. The fire was officially under control at 3:20 p.m. Monday, December 24, 2018. Hopkins County Engine 20, Sulphur Springs Fire Department Engine, and North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the scene at the same time. Noting the fire was consuming the front side of the building, an all call was given to all county volunteer departments. County Tankers from surrounding counties–Lamar, Franklin, and Delta–and the City of Commerce responded.
Traffic was routed around the location between Mahoney and Birthright. County Sheriff’s Department detoured traffic around the scene. With county, city, and multiple county departments responding, County Fire Chief Andy Endsley said the progression of the fire was stopped. He said it could have gone on all night had it not been for the sacrifices of the crews involved. He noted that even though it was Christmas Eve Day when many would be finalizing shopping and family activities, their dedication to the task keep the fire from escalating to a greater level.
Endsley said the entire building was consumed. Emergency Haz-Mat for the county found there was limited inhalation hazard for the fire fighters. Only those fire fighters who had breathing equipment went into the areas of hazard. There was no hazard for the community according to the professional Haz-Mat personnel called to the scene.
Due to the monetary loss, both the Sulphur Springs Fire Marshall and the ATF have been called to determine the cause of the fire. Personnel will remain at the scene until Wednesday when the investigators are expected to arrive.
Coaches Show: Tisdell on Lady Cats at Hugo; Cipolleta on Wildcats at Showcase
Coach Tisdell on Lady Cats 1-Point Win at Hugo, Oklahoma Friday
The Lady Cats’ basketball team came out on the right end of a one-point game Friday (December 21) at Hugo, Oklahoma. The Lady Cats defeated the Lady Buffaloes, 43-42. The Lady Buffaloes missed a short shot in the game’s final seconds. Lady Cats Coach Brittney Tisdell admitted the game was a thriller, perhaps too much so. So what was she thinking as Hugo took that last shot. First of all Coach Tisdell said she was ready to call a time out if the shot had been made. Prior to the shot, she had told her team to put their hands up and play defense but to avoid a foul. Coach Tisdell said she did not want Hugo to make the shot and get a foul shot. She said the officials were calling a lot of fouls on the Lady Cats and they were in foul trouble. Basically Coach Tisdell said she prayed the final shot would not go in. Lady Cat Nylah Lindley grabbed the rebound on the missed shot to secure the win. Coach Tisdell said the Lady Cats got killed on the boards by the athletic Lady Buffaloes during the first half. At halftime, she encouraged her team to fight for the rebounds and she said they did a good job rebounding during the second half. Last Cats’ post Autumn Tanton hit the basket that turned out to be the game winner and she led the Lady Cats with 26 points. Coach Tisdell said Tanton was very impressive early in the game draining her shots. She said she tried to isolate the dominating Tanton on the Lady Buffaloes’ post players. Despite the hectic finish, Coach Tisdell said the game with extremely athletic Hugo was good preparation for the Lady Cats with district play coming up soon. She said despite foul trouble none of the Lady Cats fouled out. Coach Tisdell said she was forced to go into a zone defense in an attempt to cut down on fouling. After the Christmas break, the Lady Cats will be playing Thursday (December 27) in the three-day Idabel, Oklahoma Winter Classic. The Lady Cats, now 15-3 for the season, open Thursday at 10 a.m. against Arkansas High.
Coach Cipoletta Comments on Impressive Win Over Houston Sam Houston in Friday Showcase
Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta discussed the latest Wildcats huge win over a ranked Class 6A opponent on KSST Radio and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday (December 22) Morning Coaches Show. Friday the Wildcats topped #12 ranked Class 6A team, Houston Sam Houston, 69-64 in overtime in the Christmas Crossover Showcase in Houston. It was the Wildcats third win over a ranked Class 6A program in seven such contests this season. Coach Cipoletta said the Sam Houston win was a great game. He said it was the best first half the Wildcats have had on offense and defense this season. Coach Cipoletta said the Tigers were super athletic, pressed the Wildcats the entire game and were really quick. He said the Wildcats did a great job in the first half breaking the press and making good decisions. Coach Cipoletta said during the second half, Sam Houston began to wear the Wildcats down and they began to hit their shots. He said the Tigers had a four point lead late in the game. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats had to make two straight stops and then execute on offense to score twice and tie the game. Another stop was required to send the game into overtime. He said the Wildcats played well in overtime making six straight stops on defense. Coach Cipoletta said he was proud of his team for finding a way to win on a court that was basically the home court for the Tigers. There were a lot of Wildcats who had to play well to make the victory possible. Coach Cipoletta talked about Grayson McClure who hit 4 three-point baskets and scored 14 points. McClure prepared for this season by taking 40,000 shots this summer. Keaston Willis led the Wildcats with 20 points and Coach Cipoletta pointed out his work ethic has made him into the scorer he has become. Jeremiah Roland had 11 points and Coach Cipoletta talked about his strong defense and ball handling. Day Day Hall scored 10 points and collected 18 big rebounds including 11 offensive rebounds. Cameron Kahn scored 8 points and Coach Cipoletta added Kahn is very good at taking offensive charges. Sophomore Boo Wilkerson scored 6 points and Coach Cipoletta said he scored to tie the game and then in overtime tipped in two missed shots to give the Wildcats a four point lead. The Wildcats again played without their tallest player, 6-foot-9 post Xavier Cork who is out with a sore big toe. Coach Cipoletta said he wants to make sure X is completely healthy before he returns with big district games starting soon. After the Christmas break, the Wildcats will play in the three-day Whataburger Tournament. Their first game is against Katy Morton Ranch, ranked #18 in Class 6A. The Wildcats play Thursday (December 27) at 11:30 a.m. at Birdville ISD’ W.G. Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City.
Update: Berger Horticulture Fire
Thanks to Sheriff Lewis Tatum for additional photos from Berger fire
It’s all hands on deck as Hopkins County Firefighters are responding to a major fire at Berger Horticultural Specialties. Traffic is being diverted on State Highway 19 near Birthright, the location of the industry.
No additional information is available at this time. KSST will follow the story through the afternoon with a more complete report to follow.
Berger Horticulture Fire Diverts Traffic on Highway 19N
It’s all hands on deck as Hopkins County Firefighters are responding to a major fire at Berger Horticultural Specialties. Traffic is being diverted on State Highway 19 near Birthright, the location of the industry.
No additional information is available at this time. KSST will follow the story through the afternoon with a more complete report to follow.
Como-Pickton FFA Welding Challenge and Floral Challenge Contest Results
The Como-Pickton FFA Chapter hosted the second annual Challenge Contest of December 12, 2018. Schools participating were Grand Saline, Longview, Mineola, North Hopkins, Pittsburg, Prairiland, Rains, Rivercrest, Sulphur Springs and Como-Pickton. Each challenge team consisted of three students.
The Floral Challenge tested students on floral knowledge, tool identification, symmetrical designs and various floral skills. Individual winners were: Grand Champion Shelby Aulsbrook of Sulphur Springs FFA and Reserve Champion Faith Wheeler of North Hopkins FFA. Winning schools in the Floral Challenge were: First Place North Hopkins, Second Place Prairiland and Third Place Como-Pickton FFA.
With a structure of elimination and consolation rounds, the Welding Challenge tested student teams in the areas of welding knowledge, tool identification and various welding and cutting skills. Winning schools were: First Place Longview, Second Place Prairiland, Third Place Como-Pickton. Individual winners were: Grand Champion Welding Luis Lopez and Reserve Champion Welding Jose Landin, both of Longview High School.
