National 4-H Week October 7-13 Proclaimed in Hopkins County
Hopkins County Commissioners Court proclaimed October 7-13, National 4-H Week in the county.
WHEREAS, The Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court is proud to honor the 4-H Youth Development Program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for 111 years of providing experience-based education to youngsters throughout the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, This admirable program, which seeks to provide a learning experience for the whole child, including head, heart, hands, and health, helps young Texans to acquire knowledge, develop life skills, and form attitudes to enable them to become self-directed, productive, and contributing members of our society; and
WHEREAS, Its more than 550,000 urban, suburban, and rural youth participants, ranging in age from eight to nineteen, hail from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and truly represent a cross-section of the state; and
WHEREAS, The program undoubtedly could not have achieved the success that it has today were it not for the service of its more than 22,000 volunteers, who have given generously of their time, talents, energies, and resources to the youth of Texas; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its proud history, the 4-H program has developed positive role models for countless Texans and through its innovative and inspiring programs, continues to build character and to instill the values that have made our state strong and great; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Hopkins County Commissioner’s Court, hereby designates October 7-13, 2018 as National 4-H Week in Texas and commend the 4-H Youth Development Program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the many men and women who made the program a success.
Failure to Register Social Media Presence Leads to Arrest of Parolee
Recently place on parole for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, Wayne Ray Campbell, 28, of Sulphur Springs, is back in Hopkins County Jail for Sex Offender Duty to Register for Life/Quarterly. Campbell failed to register his social media account and had begun to ask the wrong/inappropriate questions regarding a child in conversations on the account.
Campbell was seeking someone to care for a relative that is in ill health but during a social media conversation with an individual about the position, he began asking questions about that individual’s child, according to Charles Humphreys with the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. Campbell had failed to register a change of his online identifiers and admitted to the offense during an interview.
In April, 2017, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputies served an indictment warrant for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 14, according to Investigator Humphries. Campbell was arrested at his home on Country Road 3128 in Hopkins County.
At the time of the arrest, Humphries told KSST News that Campbell was arrested after the juvenile made an outcry to her step-father regarding an incident that happened in their home. She stated that Campbell, who was a guest in their home at the time of the incident, had touched her in an inappropriate manner.
Winnsboro Police Report September 17-23, 2018
Winnsboro Police Department reports three arrests, 115 calls for service, 14 citations written and 38 warnings issued during the September 17-23, 2018 period. There were no accidents reported.
Eaul Hayes, 32, of Winnsboro, was arrested September 17th for criminal mischief.
Scotty Wallis, 29, of Winnsboro, was arrested September 18th on City of Winnsboro Municipal Warrants.
Brian Rogers, 59, of Klondike, was arrested September 20th for Driving While License Invalid Enhanced.
Miller Grove Cross Country Runs in A & M Corpus Christi Islander Classic
Give Miller Grove Athletic Director and Cross Country Coach Gary Billingsley credit for some thinking outside the box. With rainy weather all around northeast Texas this past weekend, Coach Billingsley took his Hornets and Lady Hornets’ teams all the way to Corpus Christi for the Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islander Classic. He probably was also looking for competition that will serve his teams well later on when the stakes are high.
The Lady Hornets competed against 303 runners in Class A through 4A and they finished 9th out of 36 teams. Jolee Fox was 25th in the race. Cassidy Seaney was 28th. Lauren Bullard was 51st. Alexa Pelerose was 119th. Jorja Bessonett was 136th. Lainy Burnett was 149th. Harli Watson was 173rd.
The Hornets competed in the Gold Division with the best runners in all classifications in Region IV. The Hornets were 18th out of 29 teams. There were 217 total runners. Isaiah Billingley was 16th. Grant Earp was 86th. Lance Davis was 121st. Kobe Robertson was 150th. Matt Brignon was 179th. Lexton Sly was 205th.
Maness Called Friday a Rough Night for Lady Cat Volleyball
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness said the Lady Cats losing their match at Royse City, 3-1 Friday September 21) was definitely not the way they wanted to open district play. He called it a rough night all the way around. Coach Maness said a lot of things didn’t fall the Lady Cats’ way.
He said the Lady Cats should have been able to fight their way through some of it. Coach Maness said he did not want to take anything away from the Lady Bulldogs because they played well. After a 25-19 opening loss, the Lady Cats and Lady Bulldogs then played three 25-23 matches. Set two was a turning point as the Lady Cats led at one point, 23-18. However Royse City scored the final seven points of the match to win, 25-23.
The final two sets were both tied at one point, 23-23. In set three, the Lady Cats scored the last two points to win, 25-23. In set four, the Lady Bulldogs scored the last two points to win it, 25-23 and the match, 3-1. For whatever reason, the Lady Cats received far more calls for double hits and lifts than the Lady Bulldogs did.
Coach Maness admitted that the negative calls knocked the breath out of the Lady Cats in the match. He said his team came in having played 31 matches and in those previous matches, the Lady Cats did not receive so many of those calls in any of the previous matches. Coach Maness said the numerous calls seemed to get into the Lady Cats’ heads.
He said the Lady Cats need to forget about the Friday match and focus now on Lindale. The Lady Cats, ranked #24 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association Poll, play at Lindale, ranked #16, Tuesday (September 25) night in a district match. Coach Maness said last year the Lady Cats opened district play 0-2 before winning ten straight district matches. They ended up as district champs.
Stats for the Royse City match
Kills Autumn Tanton 12 Madi Vickery 8 Abbi Baier 7 Erika VanBenthem 6 Lexi Whisenhunt 5 Sydney Washburn 4
Assists Lexi Whisenhunt 26
Digs Sadie Stroud 22 Maddie Millsap 10 Autumn Tanton 10 Erika VanBenthem 7 Lexi Whisenhunt 6 Taylor McElfresh 5 Abbi Baier 3 Sydney Washburn 3
Block Assists Autumn Tanton 5 Abbi Baier 3 Madi Vickery 3 Sydney Washburn 1
Coach Owens on District Win Over Royse City
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens said the first quarter at Royse City last Thursday (September 20) couldn’t have gone any better for the Wildcats. The Wildcats scored three touchdowns and led, 21-0. Two touchdown drives followed fumble recoveries by the defense. Plus here was the 79-yard punt return for six points by Austin Dodd. Coach Owens said the offense was clicking in that first quarter while the defense stood tall and was flying around. He said the Wildcats played well in the first and fourth quarters.
Coach Owens said there was a shift in momentum after the lengthy lightning delay. Royse City picked up the pace in the second and third quarters. A Dodd interception slowed the Bulldogs down in the third quarter. Coach Owens said a goal line stand by the defense early in the fourth quarter was huge for the Wildcats. Royse City had to settle for a field goal to make it a 21-10 game. On the Wildcats second TD, on fourth down and two from the Royse City 20 yard line, Jermond Bryant-Amos came in with the bulls package, took a shotgun snap and went through a huge hole to score a touchdown. Coach Owens said the team had been working on the play but had not shown it yet this season.
He praised quarterback D’Corian Young for his composure and his decisions to look for receivers as he runs. Young also ran for a couple of first downs. Concerning Dodd’s big punt return, Coach Owens said Dodd is a talented young man who does a lot for the Wildcats. Some things that did not please Coach Owens were some personal foul calls the Wildcats picked up. He noted that the personal fouls hurt the team and he said players have to control their emotions. Coach Owens said the Wildcats used a great play to clinch the game in the fourth quarter. On fourth down and 25 from the 26 yard line in Bulldogs’ territory, quarterback Young rolled to his right, threw across his body and threw a perfect strike to an open Dodd for the score.
Coach Owens said inside linebacker Daniel Moreno had another strong game. He said the Wildcats tackling was better Thursday night. He said the team continues to improve. Coach Owens said Royse City is going to do some things in district games, especially if their passing game improves.
He said the Wildcats bye is coming at a good team. Coach Owens said the Wildcats are dinged up and need to get healthy during the off week. After the off week, the Wildcats will host Forney at The Prim on October 5.
Hopkins County Schools Invited to Apply for Gillis Foundation Grants
Although the deadline for applications for Grants to Schools is December 20, 2018, the application is online and ready to be completed by schools in Hopkins County that desire to apply for one of the 2019 grants from the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation. Information regarding application has been sent to each school district.
A total of $100,000 in grants over a three-year period will be awarded annually to qualifying schools to support instructional programs, staff development and other initiatives that align with the foundation’s mission.
The John and Deborah Gillis Foundation will also provide 10 annual Bright Stars Scholarships to seniors graduating from any of the seven high schools in Hopkins County, beginning in Spring 2019. The scholarships will be in the amount of $4,000 per semester, renewable for up to eight semesters — making it the largest single scholarship program in the county. The 10 annual scholarships will be aimed at students who are economically disadvantaged and who may be first-generation college students.
School campuses and students from the seven districts in Hopkins County which are eligible for the Bright Star Scholarships and Grants to Schools program include Cumby, Como-Pickton, Miller Grove, North Hopkins, Saltillo, Sulphur Bluff and Sulphur Springs. The first Grants to Schools will be issued in February 2019, while the deadline for the Bright Star Scholarships is March 30, 2019.
The foundation was developed and supported by the Sulphur Springs couple and will be managed by former teacher and educational consultant Robin Shrode. All three are Sulphur Springs High School graduates. Gillis, who is Chairman/CEO of Gillis Holdings, Inc., is a fifth-generation Hopkins County native.
Local Man Arrested for DWI 3rd or More After Narrowly Missing Police Officer
A Sulphur Springs Police Officer saw Curtis Lee Reynolds, 56, of Sulphur Springs, almost strike an officer with emergency lights activated. Reynolds was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or more, a Felony 3, and is in Hopkins County Jail held on a $15,000 bond.
When Reynolds narrowly missed the officer, the officer that observed the incident activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop Reynolds. Reynolds refused to stop but did finally stop at E-Z Mart on Main Street. When the officer questioned, Reynolds spoke with slurred speech, had bloodshot eyes and was unsteady on his feet when he exited the vehicle.
Peggy Rial of Mesquite Crowned Ms. Texas Senior Classic, Five Local Contestants Provided Strong Competition
The 2018 Ms Texas Senior is Peggy Purves Rial of Mesquite, Texas. She has competed in the Pageant for the last 12 years. She was crowned on Saturday, September 22, 2018 in Tyler by outgoing Ms. Texas Senior Classic Patsy Roan Crist of Cumby, Texas, former Ms. Hopkins County Sr. 2017.
The current Ms. Hopkins County Mary Ivey was in the top 10.
Local contestant Linda Pickle Hill received Most Talented and Best Platform award. She was in the top 5.
Local contestant Vendor Wright was recognized as Miss Congeniality and she also garnered the 2nd place Volunteering Award.
Among other local royalty who competed in the State pageant were Jan Gray and Valerie Ross. Former Ms. Texas Sr. Nancy Bolton also made an appearance.
