“East End Allegiance: Our Youth” Program and a Pacific Park Improvement Project To Be Launched
Dallas resident Bridgette Cooper, a graduate of Sulphur Springs High School Class of 2003, went on to complete her education through Texas Women’s University and University of Phoenix in Dallas. As a personal commitment, this businesswoman is focused on her home town where she benefitted from help and encouragement after losing both her parents at a young age. Her focus inspired her to found “East End Allegiance: Our Youth” a non-profit which will offer educational resources, enrighment activities and mentoring to youth through high school age. “Juniors in high school really need to set and implement their goals for a career, whether it be college or a trade career. Next Level Mentoring is a proven program designed in three phases…Beginner Phase, which initially encourages students toward academic success and high school graduation, Phase One which focuses on goal setting and goal completion, and Phase Two which is college and career preparation”. During Phase Two, Cooper can lend insight on Federal funding available to help qualifying students toward career training and/or college funding. “Parents are an essential part of Next Level Mentoring because their positive support and willingness to submit neccessary paperwork and documentation their student needs is what often opens the way for higher education or development of a career”.
Cooper is President of East End Allegiance, and her board of 11 members include Treasurer Britney Abron, who is also involved in Children’s Hope Fostering Program, and Secretary Amy Hightower, also Sharday Clayton, LeBaron and Erica Crook and others who are native Sulphur Springs citizens. Cooper is also active with the South Dallas Kids Cabinet where she is Program Director helping provide meals, mentoring and after-school activities for children in poor neighborhoods of South Dallas. She is Cheif Financial Officer and co-owner of Global Beauty and is owner of Money Zone Speedy Tax. Cooper first encountered organized community service in college as sorority President of Zeta Phi Beta, and that’s when she began envisioning giving back to her home community in Sulphur Springs. One of the founding principals of EEA:Our Youth is community service. Following August’s successful back-to-school fair, the next activity will be a Trunk or Treat Block Party on October 27, 2018 at 4pm in Pacific Park. Find out more on Facebook East End Allegiance Our Youth.
Sonya Rush is Cooper’s friend and acts as Community Liason for EEA:Our Youth. She is also involved in the Pacific Park Project which will also benefit the students and youth who live in Sulphur Springs. Rush and Cooper recently met with Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell, City Attorney Jim McLeroy, Parks/Recreation Director Kevin McCarty, and City Councilman Freddie Taylor on the topic of needs of Pacific Park, immediate and long-term. These needs include immediate repair and some replacement of slides and playground equipment and basketball goals, the installation of new playground equipment designed for younger children, improvment of the outdoor restroom facilities at the Park, addition of a large covered pavilion with electrical outlets for outdoor gatherings, and much-needed enlargement of the H.W. Grays Building which hosts a large volume of family gatherings and community events annually. According to Rush, the meeting with the officials was encouraging. Through grants and donations by the City, local industry and individuals, it is hoped that the Pacific Park Project can raise $30,000 estimated for the most immediate improvements. And according to Rush, “Now is the time for change in Pacific Park. We are now a diverse community. This project is not a sprint but a marathon with long-term features. We hope Pacific Park can become as beautiful, functional and well-equipped as other parks in the Sulphur Springs park system”.
Items Taken in Burglary Recovered; Local Man Arrested
Numerous items were taken from a residence off Highway 11W in a burglary Monday. Conner James Bradley, 21, of Hopkins County , was arrested in Wood County for the burglary. All items were recovered.
Hopkins County Criminal Investigators Corley Weatherford and Dennis Findley along with Bo Fox, Southwest Cattle Raisers’ Special Ranger began an investigation that led to a man that had been in the area a few days before. The investigators and the Special Ranger recovered the stolen items and arrested Bradley within a few hours after the investigation began.
Bradley, who lives part of the year in Tennessee, is also wanted in there on similar charges. The investigation will continue. Investigators believe there may be another individual involved in the burglary.
Sexton Sentenced to 30 Years for Aggravated Robbery
Monday afternoon in Eighth Judicial District Court, Tracy Sexton, 52, of Springdale Arkansas, was sentenced to 30 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Sexton pled guilty to Aggravated Robbery, which took place at Jon’s Mini Mart on Hillcrest Dr. in Sulphur Springs. The weapon used in the robbery was a pellet gun.
Sexton admitted to the crime and was booked into Hopkins County Jail by Sulphur Springs Police Detectives following his transport from Oklahoma. At the time, he was also shown to have a parole warrant out of Arkansas and an aggravated robbery warrant out of Arlington, Texas.
On Friday, March 16, 2018, Sexton and a female, left the Mini Mart and sought access to the interstate. However, they entered the Woodbridge Crossing area, which has no access to the interstate, and returned to Hillcrest and then to the interstate and traveled west. Less than $1,000 was taken in the robbery. An employee of the mini mart took a picture of their vehicle which police were able to use in their investigation.
Following a social media post by the police department, tips began coming into the local department. The pair was located at a Lake Dallas hotel where Lake Dallas police ran a raid on the room where the couple was supposedly staying. The couple was not in the room when police entered but were across the street and observed the raid. They left the area finding a ride to Gainesville and then on to Marietta, Oklahoma, according to local law enforcement. The truck used in the robbery was placed in impound by Lake Dallas police.
A phone call from a Marietta hotel led local law enforcement to contact the Marietta deputies and their task force surrounded the hotel after confirming the female had secured a room there. Law enforcement made entry into the room and arrested both individuals.
Owens Said Wildcats Kept Their Heads With Pressure On Against Terrell
On KSST and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday Morning Coach’s Show, Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens said he was proud of his team for how they reacted when the Terrell Tigers challenged them in the third quarter. The Tigers scored twice in the quarter and seemed to have the Wildcats back on their heels a little and trailed Sulphur Springs just 22-20. The Wildcats responded with 20 straight points to put the game away. Coach Owens credited the Wildcats for keeping their heads with the pressure on.
He said the Wildcats took back control of the game. Coach Owens said a big first down pass gave the Wildcats some momentum leading to a big touchdown. One big play occurred early in the game as Damiyon Dugan blocked a Terrell field goal attempt. Detrick Clayton picked up the ball and took it to the other end of the field. The Wildcats scored on their first play from scrimmage on a 17-yard TD pass from quarterback D’Corian Young to tall receiver and B-back Jermond Bryant-Amos. Coach Owens said offensive coaches gave credit to Young for keeping his composure despite some setbacks on the field.
Coach Owens also enjoyed the successful field goal by Brandon Zavala. He said Zavala and Osiel Lopez did a good job with their pooch kicks on kickoffs. Coach Owens also likes his trio of running backs: Colton Allen, Caden Davis and D’Korian Choc Sims. He said they are all close in talent. Coach Owens said they are also a close knit bunch and are supportive of each other. He said one time Allen hesitated to go into the game because he wanted to see Sims score a touchdown.
Coach Owens also had praise for the offensive line. He said they continue to improve. Tackle Charlie Maddux had a strong game getting plus ratings on his first 18 plays in the game. Coach Owens said center Ethan Rogers continues to do a great job. He said Terrell had a lot of speedy players.
Terrell offensive back Deedee George had a huge night with over 200 yards rushing. Coach Owens said an option team that knows what they are doing can give a defense fits. He said it was hard for underclassmen to simulate the Tigers offense in practice. Coach Owens praised the play of Wildcat Daniel Moreno on defense. He said the Wildcats are playing with great effort on defense and he especially liked how they ran down some of the Tigers from behind. Coach Owens credited Andy Eddins and Kylan Wade for doing this.
Coach Owens said it was fun to honor the 2008 State Champions at the game.
Next for the Wildcats is Royse City on the road. The Wildcats are 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in district play. The Bulldogs had a bye last week and they are 1-1 so far this season. Coach Owens said the Bulldogs lost a quarterback and a running back during the off season. He said Royse City now uses one or two tight ends and emphasizes a rushing attack featuring lots of different running backs. He said the Bulldogs would create a big challenge for the Wildcats defensive front. Coach Owens hopes his team is more crisp in their third game of the season.
Lady Cat Volleyball to Play Two Tuesday; Games Begin at 4:30 p.m.
There are some changes to Tuesday’s (September 18) Lady Cats’ volleyball schedule. The Varsity will be starting earlier and will now play a pair of games back to back. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Wildcat Gym, the Lady Cats’ varsity will play Pleasant Grove. That game will be followed by a 6 p.m. match pitting the varsity against Nevada Community in Wildcat Gym.
In the Auxiliary Gym at 4:30 p.m., the Lady Cats JV will face the Pleasant Grove JV. That match will be followed by a 6 p.m. match between the Lady Cats’ freshmen team and the Nevada Community freshmen team in the Auxiliary Gym.
The Lady Cats’ varsity, ranked #23 in the state in the Texas Girls Coaches Association Poll, will enter matches Tuesday with a record of 23-6. They were off Friday night (September 14) for Homecoming. Last Tuesday (September 11), the Lady Cats won at home, 3-1 over a good Edgewood team.
The Tuesday matches are the Lady Cats final non-district games before district play starts Friday (September 21) at 5 p.m. in Royse City.
SSHS Cash Vititow and “CC” Capture Grand Champ at 4 States Fair Livestock Show, Entire Show Team Does Well
Report by John Holland, FFA Instructor at SSHS
Cash Vititow and his heifer CC bring home Grand Champion Red Brahman from the 4 States Fair Livestock show!!
Last Thursday the Sulphur Springs FFA show team traveled to Texarkana Arkansas to compete in the annual 4 States Fair Livestock show. At this show students compete with other FFA and 4-H members from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. We had a very successful weekend of showing. On Friday Breanna Sells showed Dixie her Angus heifer, placing 3rd in her class, and Elida Miller showed Gabby her Hereford heifer, placing 5th in her class. Saturday morning we started off with Hayden Daniel placing 2nd in his class with Patsy, his Beefmaster heifer (Hayden left Sulphur Springs at 4:30am Saturday to make the show after playing football and beating Terrell the night before). Jodie Tippit placed 4th with her heifer Mags, and Sydney Swatsell placed 2nd, with her heifer Dot. Cash Vititow showed 3 Red Brahman heifers having 2 class winners and a 3rd in class. Cash showed CC, his 2 year old heifer, along her bull calf Charlie (shown by Aubrey Thornton) in the Grand Drive and they went on to win Grand Champion Red Brahman of the whole show! We will be traveling to the East Texas State Fair in Tyler, Tx on Thursday September 20th. These students and their success with their animals can be summed up with a quote from Robert Collier “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” I cannot wait to see what the rest of the year holds for Sulphur Springs FFA!
A Successful Fundraising Fashion Show Was Styled By the NE Texas Children’s Museum in Commerce
Sharline Garrison Freeeman, a native of Sulphur Springs and Director of the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum, says that following a busy summer with over 7,500 visitors to the Museum, she is planning a series of fundraising events to help raise money for the construction of a new museum facility. The Fall Style Show Luncheon, which featured eleven models from around the NE Texas area, was held on Friday September 14 at First Baptist Church in Commerce. Everyone who attended the sold-out luncheon learned about the Museum’s mission and enjoyed a showing of fashions from Chico’s, an American women’s clothing and accessories retailer with a location in Rockwall, Texas. Models included Jency Holbert, Brenda Estes, Leslie Killgore, Sarah Alderman, Mary Hendrix, Janet Peek, Gloria Matthews, Bonnie Hunter, Bethany Farmer, Enola Gay, Alicia Wittkof, and Kelsi Mahan.
So how would you like to win a new car? Thanks to Britain Chevrolet in Greenville, the Children’s Museum is one of several non-profits participating in a chance for a new car. Chance tickets are $2.00 and the drawing for the winner will be on December 17, 2018. Money from the chance tickets are a donation to the Children’s Museum; Britain Chevrolet gets the publicity, and someone wins a new car. Chance tickets are now available at the Children’s Museum; chances will also be available at the Bois d’arc Bash. “I will be at the Bois d’Arc Bash with chances to win a car. It would be so exciting if someone who got their chance from the Children’s Museum was the winner of the new Chevy Cruze,” said Leslie Killgore. The winner will have the opportunity to pay for an upgrade on the car.
“We hope our supporters will participate at some level to help the Children’s Museum move into a stable future. From a $2 chance on a car to a $35 ticket for the Chico’s Style Show to a larger donation on North Texas Giving Day, we need your participation,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum. Call the Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055 with any questions concerning the fundraisers.
City of Sulphur Springs Awarded $750,000 Texas Capital Fund Grant for Infrastructure
City of Sulphur Springs has been awarded a $750,000 Texas Capital Fund Grant for Infrastructure. The grant was made possible thanks to Saputo and the Ark-TX Council of Government. Tory Niewiadomski, City Development Director, told KSST News that Saputo’s investment in developing their facility locally was a key to the grant that will provide a 15-inch sewer pipe to replace aging pipe and provide new connects for Saputo to 18-27-inch waste-water disposal pipe already in place. The new pipe will open some properties to greater opportunity for development.
The grant is based on the number of jobs created and the amount invested. Saputo has grown to 375 employees and a recent $50-million expansion will add more employees. Niewiadomski said that of those new employees, 51% of the new hires will be people who currently have low to moderate income who will now have an opportunity to gain a higher paying job and better their opportunities in the city.
Saputo is also a significant waste-water user in the city. This is both good and bad. They do pay a lot toward waste-water costs but they also provide a large amount of waste-water to the system. With the age of sewer lines, this outside help will replace aging or weakened lines. The grant will also provide new sewer lines on undeveloped property in the city as well.
Nine “Fruit of the Spirit” Recipients Honored by Colorblind Ministries During 3rd Annual Banquet
With former Dallas Cowboys Everson Walls as speaker, inspiring gospel music by Kenya Chaffer and a beautifully served banquet meal, it was truly an event to be enjoyed and remembered. Pastor CJ Duffey of Colorblind Ministries envisioned this recognition a few years ago, to honor indivuduals in the spirit of love, fellowship and service to the community. In 2016, Duffey organized the first Fruit of the Spirit Awards and Banquet for Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. The well-attended 2018 event took place in the Cafeteria of Sulphur Springs High School on September 15.
Recipients receiving their awards from Pastor CJ and Kathy Duffey were:
LOVE: Pastor Ron Smedley of Community Bible Fellowship of Dike, Texas and founding member of Morgan’s Mercy Mansion Rehab in Winnsboro.
JOY: Jenny Folmar, Special Education teacher at Cooper ISD and Specialist in Deaf Education
PEACE: Kenneth Dean, Jail Administrator and Pastor in Hopkins County Jail Ministry Program (Not pictured)
LONG-SUFFERING: Sam Johnson, Retired Air Force Captain and Vice President of Commercial Lending at CNB, Sulphur Springs
GENTLENESS: Enola Gay Mathews, with over 9,000 mornings spent with early-morning listeners as host of KSST Radio Morning Show
GOODNESS: Alan Screws, who along with his family and volunteers maintain a Christmas tradition in Hopkins County, the North Pole of Texas, sharing the true meaning of Christmas free of charge each December. (Not pictured)
FAITH: Evangelist Larry Jordan, a planter of numerous ministries and missions including New Beginnings Fellowship Baptist Church, now preaching revivals, retreats and Bible conferences.
KINDNESS/MEEKNESS: Judy Moore, Executive Director of the Hopkins County Community Chest and Christian Alliance Community Cupboard
SELF-CONTROL: Rowena Johnson, 49-year educator and admininistrator at Sulphur Springs ISD
SPECIAL HONOREES were Zach and Nancy Attaway, a couple who assist in numerous ways at Color Blind Ministries and Lord’s Work Food Pantry
