Wildcat Football Coordinators Prepare for Homecoming Game vs. Terrell
Coach Young Discusses Having a Game Canceled and the Terrell Defense
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young said he had never been a part of a football game canceled due to the weather until last Friday (September 7). Now comes district play and Homecoming for the Wildcats. Coach Young said the district opener (September 14) is big because all teams want to get off to a good start and win the first one. He said the Terrell defense the Wildcats will face Friday at Prim Stadium is one that tries to create chaos for an offense. Coach Young said the Tigers will blitz using a lot of players and will vary their coverages constantly. He said the Tigers nose guard is huge weighing 320 to 330 pounds and is extremely physical. Coach Young said Wildcats center Ethan Rogers will have his hands full. He said the Tigers are also fast and athletic like a Paris team. Coach Young said spaces created by an offense tend to close quickly with the Terrell defense. He said he was especially impressed with the Tigers’ safeties and outside linebackers. Coach Young said the Wildcats offense must do things right or Terrell will make them pay. The Tigers are 0-1 for the season after an opening week loss at Hallsville. The Tigers week two game at home against Paris was canceled after about a quarter of play. Coach Young said Hallsville was able to run the ball at Terrell. He said the Tigers are not real deep so the Wildcats will attempt to get the Tigers tired. Coach Young said Terrell has had playoff teams some years and some years with 3-7 or 4-6 seasons. He said they should present a challenge for the Wildcats Friday night.
Coach Guerra Comments on Being Impacted by a Game Cancellation and on the Terrell Offense
Wildcats Defensive Coordinator Alex Guerra has coached for 20 years and he said only once before Friday night (September 7) has he had a game canceled due to weather. He remembered that it was a district game and was made up on a Monday. The Wildcats hope to resume their season this Friday (September 14) as Terrell comes to Gerald Prim Stadium. It’s the district opener for both teams and Homecoming for the Wildcats. Coach Guerra said there is one word to describe Terrell’s offense, athletic. He said their offensive line gets after it and gets off the ball pretty well. Coach Guerra said Terrell runs an option football offense. He called it old school offense that is making a comeback. Coach Guerra said a lot of people don’t know how to defend it. He said the key for the Wildcats is to play assignment football. Coach Guerra said there are pros and cons to having the game cancellation last Friday. He said players got healthier and coaches got a bit of an early start working on this week’s game. The negative is that players missed a game opportunity and the experience it brings. Coach Guerra said the Wildcats’ players were hungry and ready to play a game.
Game Day: Volleyball, Team Tennis
There is volleyball and tennis on this Tuesday (September 11) game day. The Lady Cats’ volleyball team will welcome Edgewood into Wildcat Gym. There is a change in start time for the varsity match from what was listed on the original schedule. There will only be two games instead of three. Edgewood does not have a JV team. There will be a freshman contest at 4:30 p.m. and the Lady Cats’ varsity will now play Edgewood at 5:30 p.m. Lady Cats Coach Justin Maness said Edgewood is a salty team with a good won-loss record. The Lady Cats are now ranked #23 in the state by the Texas Girls Coaches Association Poll. The Lady Cats have a 22-6 season record. They lost their last contest to Wylie East last Friday. We will bring you Lady Cats’ volleyball live on KSST Radio beginning at 5:30 p.m. We will also videotape the game for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
There is also a big district team tennis match on the game day Tuesday schedule weather permitting. Greenville is scheduled to play the Wildcats at the Wildcat Tennis Center at 3:30 p.m. The match is a big one for possible playoff seeding. As of right now, the match is still a go. Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez told me if there is a change, he will let us know so we can let you know. The Wildcats enter play with an 0-1 district record and a 3-8 record for the season.
Video Story: Patriot Day: Fire Academy Conducts Solemn Remembrance
Patriot Day, September 11 at 9 a.m. at the Fire Academy located on Sharon Ln in Sulphur Springs, academy students conducted a solemn remembrance of September 11, 2001 when 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
September SSISD Board Meeting Focused on New Programs, Security, Success
Sulphur Springs School Board gained insight into a number of programs at Sulphur Springs Elementary School including a Gentlemen’s League, a program for 4th and 5th grade boys, and “My Classroom Economy”, a program that teaches students basic financial and budgeting skills. A number of other reports were heard as the board approved a number of policies and purchased two new maintenance vehicles.
Leesa Toliver, SSISD board member and former President of the local board, is now a Master Trustee. Toliver invested a year of activity in a state-wide program, Leadership TASB, for trustees from schools of all sizes and types. Fellow board member Clay Johnson presented a certificate of completion to Toliver.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Lamb presented information and a video focused on the new “Gentlemen’s League” for 4th and 5th grade boys. The program will teach life lessons to the male students. Lessons taught will include what to wear and how to wear it, etiquette at meals, respect for and how to treat others with respect, and accepting oneself for who they are. According to Lamb, students will gain a sense of belonging, preparation for academics and how to contribute to community. In the video students in schools where the program is begin utilized stated the program gave them confidence and motivation. The League is optional for students and will meet twice a month. The program begins Wednesday, September 12th at the SSES campus. A science program for 5th grade girls is in its second year.
My Classroom Economy enables 4th and 5th grade students to learn life skills in a real world way. Principal Holly Folmar, assisted by teachers Amanda Hgginbotham, Chandra Maddox, and Maria Martinez presented the program. Six students told of t heir experience in the program. Students learn the value of a pay check, bank account, loans, budgets, making payments, and saving to attain. They earn money (paper currency for the program) up to three and four digit amounts. They have deposit slips, withdrawal slips, and a balance sheet. They earn a salary for completing classroom jobs and receive bonus rewards for achievements. Loans must be paid back and students pay rent for desks, buy items at auctions, pay fines for not following rules, and more.
Jenny Arledge presented the CTE Program evaluation for 2017-2018. She noted the program was meeting goals and standards set locally and by the program. The evaluation was conducted by a team from Region 6 due to the fact that Region 8, the region in which SSISD is located, does not do CTE Program evaluations.
Rusty Harden presented the Human Resources and Communications report. He noted that in the past five years the district has averaged hiring 86 new employees per year. Approximately 60 new teachers are hired each year. He stated the numbers are below average number of hires when the district is compared to other Texas districts. The majority of teachers in SSISD have six or more years of experience. Recent hires have been teachers with less than five years’ experience.
Harden showed slides of actions taken in to increase security at the high school and presented a video focused on an emergency operations app that would be used by teachers and staff in the district.
Lamb presented the TEA 2018 Accountability Rating for SSISD. He noted the successes achieved and the concerns that had focused on the SSES campus. However, with the recent restructure of campuses, many of the concerns are being answered. He anticipates a much higher rating for the local district.
The board approved all action items including the purchase of two 6-cylindar vans for the maintenance departments. Toliver Ford was awarded the bid which was lower than the only other bid from Hodge Chevrolet. Nine local policies and 57 legal policies were approved in a TASB Localized Manual Update. Extracurricular status was awarded to lower grade 4-H and the local county extension agents Johanna Hicks and Dr. Mario Villarino were approved as Adjunct Faculty.
No district personnel changes were made.
Let’s Cook! John Chester Dutch Oven Cookoff and Indian Summer Day at Heritage Park October 6!
It’s the perfect setting…beautiful Heritage Park in Sulphur Springs during the Fall of the year when the Park becomes a showcase of living history and colorful heritage. Families flock to enjoy the Museum and demonstrations of primitive skills, and people you know from all walks of life in Hopkins County dust off their Dutch ovens and start planning winning recipes for a one-of-a-kind food contest. New to Dutch oven cooking? No matter…past winners and seasoned cooks set up alongside beginners and novices…to enjoy the art and science of cooking with coals.
Complete contest rules will be provided when you sign up to cook at just $25 per team, but in brief, each team of cooks provides their own dutch ovens, utensils, fuel and foods. Site set-up begins as early as dawn when the cooking fires are lit. Actual cooking begins at the discretion of the individual cooks who must plan their foods to be ready for judging at 11am. Each cooking team must prepare an entire meal, which consists of a meat dish, a vegetable, a bread and a dessert. Following judging, the cooking teams will serve the diners who have paid $5 person to taste and enjoy the delicious creations prepared at all of the sites. Following the meal, cash prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place overall winners as well as to “Best in Pot” winners in each individual category.
Rick Wilson, a member of the Hopkins County Historical Society, conjured up the idea of a Dutch Oven cooking contest following the death of his friend and mentor John “Buffalo” Chester, a renowned outdoor cook. Wilson named it the John Chester Dutch Oven Cooking Contest as a tribute to the Chester family’s heritage of pioneer skills and friendly competition. To instruct the how-to’s of this unique cooking skill, Wilson also formed a Dutch Oven Cooking Class which he offers each Spring in Heritage Park.
During Indian Summer Day, expect to meet a blacksmith, a hide tanner, Early Texas re-enactors and Native American dancers. See Caddo Indian artifacts and watch demonstrations of potters wheel, quilting, rug looming and archery. Kids love to do candle dipping and tin punch and the many hands-on activities. Everyone loves the General Store, the Sweet Shop and Bakery and the music through the Park. Plan a leisurely stroll through the entire grounds and take in the interesting collections inside the Hopkins County Museum. The day-long cover charge is only $3 per person, and will be used for year-round upkeep and maintenance of the grounds and buildings. Get more details at hopkinscountymuseum.org, on Facebook at Hopkins County Museum and Heritage Park, or by calling 903-383-2648.
Flags Fly at Half Staff 9/11
The flags at the Veterans Memorial and around the City will be lowered to half staff at 8 a.m. and will remain until 5 p.m. at which time they will be raised full staff by the Hopkins County Marine Corps League.
The Marine Corps League is following a directive from Governor Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump concerning the flying of flags on September 11, 2018. The event marks a remembrance of September 11, 2001 when 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
4-Way Stop at 19N/FM 71 to Begin September 17
PARIS – Texas Department of Transportation officials today announced that four-way stop signs will be installed at the intersection of State Highway 19 and FM 71 in northern Hopkins County beginning Sept. 17.
Message boards are already in place to alert drivers to the upcoming change in the traffic pattern on this portion of SH 19. TxDOT personnel will install the bases for the four-way stop signs during the week of Sept. 10, officials said.
TxDOT officials asked motorists and others who travel frequently in this area to remain alert and observe the posted speed limit when approaching and passing through this intersection. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
Coach Reflects on Lady Cat Volleyball at Wylie East
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness said the scores of the Lady Cats’ road loss at Wylie East Friday (September 7) don’t reflect how good of a match it was. The Lady Raiders won 3-0 by scores of 25-21, 25-19 and 25-17. Coach Maness said it was an exciting match.
He felt the Lady Cats competed well and played with effort and intensity, especially during sets one and two and the first half of set three. Coach Maness said the match boiled down to the Lady Cats making more unforced errors. He said the Lady Raiders, who played the Lady Cats last season in a bi-district match, were better than they were last season. Coach Maness said Wylie East moved the ball around, hit the ball hard and played very good defense. He said the match had lots of good volleys but he said the Lady Raiders ended up winning a majority of them.
Coach Maness said the match was a good growing lesson for the Lady Cats. He told his team after the match to think of Wylie East as a Lindale or Royse City team they will soon face in district play. Coach Maness also told them they will be facing teams like Wylie East in the playoffs. He said the Lady Cats will have to be able to compete at that level, Coach Maness said the Lady Cats blocking was off Friday and he added the Lady Cats missed too many serves.
The Lady Cats are now 22-6 for the season. He said the team still has time to get better before district play begins on September 21. Next up is a home match against Edgewood Tuesday night. Coach Maness said Edgewood is a salty team with a good won-loss record. Then the Lady Cats will be off for Homecoming activities Friday.
