Powerlifting Meet Set for Saturday at Multipurpose Building
The Wildcats’ powerlifting team opens their season Saturday (January 12) at the annual Sulphur Springs Meet held at the high school Multipurpose Building. The Wildcats will have 18 lifters competing. Wildcats Powerlifting Coach Casey Jeter highly recommends the Sulphur Springs Meet as a spectator sport. He says it’s a great meet.
Coach Jeter says Wildcats Athletic Director Greg Owens does a great job putting on the meet. He says the coaching staff and others who help put on the meet do a wonderful job. Coach Jeter adds the Sulphur Springs Powerlifting Meet is probably one of the biggest meets in Texas. He expects over 400 lifters, both boys and girls, from more than 30 different schools.
Competition begins Saturday at 8:30 a.m. for the squat. Bench press competition is expected to start after lunch to be followed by dead lift. Coach Jeter says it is exciting to see kids lifting weight way over what you would think they should be able to lift. He uses veteran Wildcats lifter Carson Bridges as an example. Coach Jeter says Bridges, who lifts in the 181-pound weight class, is expected to squat 500 pounds, bench press 300 pounds and dead lift 550 pounds.
He says the Super Heavyweight lifters are popular but he says he finds fun in all classes. Coach Jeter says lifters in the 114-pound weight class may be lifting 3 to 4 times their weight. He says girls in the competition are very passionate about the sport. There will be action at 10 different platforms.
This will be the first meet for just about every school so expect a lot of new competitors to be attempting to establish base lines for each of their lifts.
Game Day: Wildcat Soccer in Lobo Invitational
The Wildcats’ soccer team opens play Thursday (January 10) in the 2019 Lobo Invitational Tournament in Longview. The Wildcats open against New Summerfield of Jacksonville at 6:15 p.m. on the grass soccer field at Longview High School.
Wildcats Soccer Coach Alexi Upton says the Wildcats also have Jacksonville and Tyler Chapel Hill in their pool. He says he feels the pool group are teams the Wildcats can be competitive with and ones they can beat. Coach Upton says he is confident about what the Wildcats can do.
The Wildcats come in with a season record of one win, one loss and one tie. Tuesday the Wildcats played to a 1-1 tie with Nevada Community at Gerald Prim Stadium.
Soccer: Lady Cats Lose First Game in Princeton Tournament; Play Two Games Friday
The Lady Cats’ soccer team continues to play strong competition to open the 2019 season. Thursday morning (January 10) in their first game in a Princeton tournament, the Lady Cats lost to Flower Mound Marcus, 3-0. Lady Cats Soccer Coach Joel Bailey describes Marcus as a Class 6A powerhouse every year. That being said, Coach Bailey added the 3-0 loss was a good result for the Lady Cats.
The Lady Cats are now 0-3-1 for the season. After a season opener tie, 0-0 against Mesquite Poteet in a Terrel tournament, the Lady Cats have lost three straight matches against very tough teams, Red Oak, the Highland Park JV and Flower Mound Marcus.
The Lady Cats play two games Friday in the Princeton tournament. They meet the A-Plus Academy of Dallas at 9:15 a.m. and then face San Angelo Lake View at 4:45 p.m. More games for the Lady Cats are possible Saturday depending on earlier results.
New Ms. Hopkins County Senior to be Chosen June 1, Registration Now Open
Since 2009, the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Pageant has brought a delightful annual contest in celebration of the Senior woman and her contribution to the community. The 2019 Pageant is set for Saturday June 1 at 6pm at the Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs. Ladies age 60 and older are invited to enter the fun competition. Their presence will present a cross-section of the many fascinating, beneficial interests pursued by senior-age women of Hopkins County. There is no fee to register as a contestant. Please contact Karon Weatherman at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center for an application and full details, or phone 903-885-1661.
Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Revocation Hearing
A revocation hearing in Eighth Judicial District Court Wednesday resulted in a five year sentence for Lowell Edward Landers. Landers’, 58, offense was Evading Arrest Detention with Vehicle. The offense was committed in 2017.
In October, 2017, a Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputy observed an 18-wheeler weaving all over the highway near the 126 mile marker of I-30. Multiple vehicles were seen getting out of the way of the truck to keep from getting hit. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and turned on flashing lights. The truck kept on going but only at a top speed of about 55 miles per hour. He sometime reduced speed to about 5 miles per hour. The trucker finally exited at the Highway 19 exit. He attempted to make a turn and ended up hitting a light pole which brought his rig to a halt. By this time, the sheriff’s deputy was joined by units from the Sulphur Springs Police Department. The trucker must have believed he was in Alabama because he said he had to deliver some goods to an Alabama location in about an hour. He was tested for inebriation and was arrested. Landers of Russellville, Alabama was charged with evading arrest and with driving while intoxicated.
Second Public Hearing on Annexation of Business Parks Leads to March 5th Decision by City Council
“If they ask for a tax abatement, we will have to consider it,” stated members of city council and city staff in answer a KSST News inquiry. The inquiry came after the conclusion of two public hearings regarding the annexation of industrial parks into the city limits of Sulphur Springs.
Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. in the council chamber of City Hall, members of the council conducted a second public hearing regarding the annexation of Pioneer Business Park located on the west side of Sulphur Springs, just off I-30, and the annexation of Heritage Business Park located on the east side of Sulphur Springs just off Loop 301. The first public hearings were conducted Tuesday, January 8th, during a January Special Session of the Council. The council will make a decision in their March 5th meeting regarding the annexation of the property.
During the second public hearing, again no one spoke regarding the Heritage Business Park. That park includes Raven Industries, Load Trail, and Armorock Polymer Concrete.
Two individuals whose businesses are located in Pioneer Business Park did question council regarding permits, codes, and advantages of being inside the city limits.
The owner of a storage facility located just across the street from Clayton Homes was concerned about inventory taxation. He moved his business from California to Texas due to the lengthy process of permitting building changes, additions, and inventory taxation. The city council and staff assured him that this is not California. The city staff noted that inventory taxation is rolling throughout the year and inventory tax is not a flat rate based on specific dates. City Staff said the tax bill for the newly incorporated area would be prorated for the year.
Regarding permitting expansion or changes to current facilities, City Manager Marc Maxwell said the city has a quick turnaround on permits for small projects. He noted that most small projects are permitted the day they are requested when the engineering of the project meets code.
They also noted that water and sewer bills will be lowered as soon as they are inside the city. Currently they purchase those services at a fee level for any outside the city limits. It was also noted that in May of this year, the insurance rate for the facility will be lowered thanks to the new ISO rating that will lower fire insurance rates for business and residents.
City sanitation services were also a concern. The owner of the storage facility has recently signed a multi-year contract with a sanitation company and not with Sanitation Solutions that currently serves the city. It was noted that city sanitation services would be negotiable.
The second speaker, who had been present for the first public hearing, said he did not feel his business would be getting anything in return for the taxes paid in annexation. He asked if a grace period could be put in place for industries that needed expansion or changes that must be permitted for code requirements. He wanted an extended time for some work before having to seek a permit. City Attorney Jim McElroy said the city could not offer a grace period due to the ISO insurance rating. He noted one requirement for the lower rating is the code and permit process.
Both City Manager Maxwell and City Attorney McElroy offered their personal mobile phone numbers to the two business leaders present so that they could answer any other questions or respond to needs.
Council will consider the annexation of the property in a final reading in their March regular session on March 5, 2019.
PJC-Sulphur Springs: Spring Registration Underway
READY FOR SPRING
Jessica Santana of Sulphur Springs, left, gets some help from PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Educational Advisor Tonya Armstrong as she registers for spring semester classes at the campus. On campus registration continues daily through Jan. 14. A special late registration session will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 16. Spring semester classes begin on Jan. 22. For more information call 903-885-1232.
Chamber Connection January 9, 2019
Big news from the Chamber! Since it is our 50th Anniversary for the Stew Contest, we are hosting our t-shirt/theme contest EARLY so we can CELEBRATE all year!!!! If you have a great idea for the theme of this year’s stew contest, submit your entry via email to [email protected] by January 31st, 2019. Can’t wait to see your ideas!!! It’s gonna be big!!!
It is with great pleasure that the 2019 Board of Directors invites you to the 93rd Annual Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Banquet on Thursday, February 14, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hopkins County Civic Center. We are introducing a Networking Cocktail half hour at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:30, and the awards will follow at 7 p.m. Please take this opportunity to bring your family, friends, and employees to an evening of dinner and community awards including Large and Small Business of the Year, Educator of the Year, Caregiver Award, Agriculturist of the Year, Woman of the Year, and Citizen of the Year. Our banquet theme is “Love Makes the World Go ‘Round!” and is set in various places around the world. This is your chance to bring your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day to enjoy a night bursting with community pride. Red attire is encouraged, but not required. Individual tickets are $30, and tables of ten are available for $500, which includes preferential seating and visible labeling of your business. We are excited for you and your business to join us for this extraordinary evening. Please make your reservation TODAY by calling Chelsea, Cathey, or Lezley at the Chamber of Commerce, (903) 885-6515, or by stopping by to visit at 300 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs.
Nominations are still being accepted for Outstanding Educators, Large Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Citizen of the Year. These nominations should be sent to [email protected]. In addition, the Pilot Club is currently accepting nominations for Caregiver of the Year. These nomination forms can also be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office.
Midwest Total Lending Concepts to host Ribbon Cutting
Midwest Total Lending Concepts will host their ribbon cutting celebration at noon on Monday, January 14th. They are located at 616 N. Hillcrest Dr., Suite B, in Sulphur Springs. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Downtown Dental will host their ribbon cutting celebration on January 16th
Downtown Dental, located at 226 Main Street in Sulphur Springs, will be hosting their ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, January 16th at noon. Please make plans to attend and hear about the new and exciting things happening at Downtown Dental.
Merle Norman Spa to host ribbon cutting
Merle Norman Spa will host a ribbon cutting celebration on Tuesday, January 22nd, at noon. They will reveal their new spa services. Merle Norman is located at 212 N. Davis Street in Sulphur Springs. See you there!
Hunt Regional is offering Mobile Mammography Coach in Sulphur Springs
Hunt Regional Hospital is offering the Tubby Adkisson Memorial Mobile Mammography Coach on January 24th in the Spring Village Shopping Center in Sulphur Springs. All insurances accepted at Hunt Regional are also accepted for the Mobile Mammography Coach, including Medicare and Medicaid. To schedule individual screening mammograms, please call (903) 408-5010. Appointments and pre-registration are requested.
Ribbon Cuttings:
The Hopkins County Fire Department celebrated their 20th Anniversary on Friday, January 4th at 2 p.m. Congratulations to the Hopkins County Fire Department on this huge accomplishment!
