North Hopkins Host the 22nd Annual Invitational Cross Country Tournament
The North Hopkins High School Athletic Department will host the 22nd annual Tim Meeke Invitational Cross Country Tournament this Thursday, September 6th from 4 pm to 8pm. The races that are scheduled include: Fun Run, Junior High Girls, Junior High Boys, JV girls, Varsity Girls, JV boys, and Varsity boys.
Student and the public are encouraged to attend and support the North Hopkins Panthers on 1994 W Farm Rd 71, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.
North Hopkins FFA Gives Presentation at School Board Meeting
The North Hopkins School Board had their monthly meeting Thursday, August 30th. The Board carried out routine procedures and discussed topics concerning the growth of the North Hopkins community on the school district. A number of families are moving into the community.
The board also enjoyed a special presentation conducted by the North Hopkins FFA President Faith Wheeler and First Vice President Breeanna Hicks. The Presentation is an annual event where representatives from the North Hopkins FFA showcase the various activities the chapter participates in throughout the year. In the presentation Wheeler and Hicks reviewed the numerous leadership camps and service projects completed by North Hopkins FFA members throughout the summer. They also had the opportunity to highlight plans the North Hopkins FFA hopes to put in places to enhance student success.
Wildcat Football: Coordinators Discuss Wakeland Win and Lovejoy Defense
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young Discusses Wakeland Win and Lovejoy Defense
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young found a lot to like from the Wildcats’ offense last Friday (August 31) night in the win over Frisco Wakeland but he still spotted areas that need improvement. He said the Wildcats need to take better care of the ball. The Wildcats had three turnovers last Friday. Coach Young said if the Wildcats had eliminated those, they would have scored 50 points, everyone would have gotten to play and the game would not have ended as a nail biter.
Still he said the Wildcats offense was very productive and efficient, even if they still have a way to go. Coach Young said the Wildcats are back at work stressing details. He was very pleased with the play of the offensive line, which got contributions from a lot of players. Coach Young said they handled the Wolverines’ blitzes. He was quarterback D’Corian Young did a good job distributing the ball and making plays happen when things broke down. Coach Young said Young did miss on several slant passes last Friday and he said the Wildcats are working on that. The Wildcats did get two TD passes from Young to Austin Dodd and Landry Tyson. Coach Young said sophomore Caden Davis ran the ball well as did senior Colton Allen.
This Friday (September 7) the Wildcats face Lovejoy at Prim Stadium. The Leopards thrive on offense but Coach Young said that doesn’t mean that the Lovejoy defense is not strong. He noted last November during the bi-district match up between Wildcats and Leopards, the Lovejoy defense gave the Wildcats’ offense fits and made it tough for Sulphur Springs to win the third down battles. Coach Young said the faces may be different on the Lovejoy defense but he said they still play the same way: aggressive and despite being undersized, fast and violent. He said the Wildcats’ offense must be ready. Coach Young said Lovejoy tries to pressure offensive lines by using different defensive fronts and movement. He said the Leopards have some long defensive ends, a good middle linebacker, some players with speed on the outside and a wide receiver cornerback guy who is really fast.
Wildcats DC Alex Guerra Comments on Wildcats Wakeland Win and Lovejoy’s Potent Offense
Wildcats Defensive Coordinator Alex Guerra said he enjoyed the Wildcats win over Frisco Wakeland last Friday night (August 31). He said the Wildcats’ defense played fast. Coach Guerra said the Wildcats did have two break downs on defense that resulted in long TD passes. He said one was a gamble on an interception that was unsuccessful.
Coach Guerra said the Wildcats’ linebackers played well. He said the Wolverines worked to neutralize the Wildcats’ outside linebacker Kylan Wade so Coach Guerra said the Wildcats had to make some adjustments. The Wildcats leader for tackles and assists against Wakeland was inside linebacker Daniel Moreno. Coach Guerra said the Wildcats only allowed 37 yards rushing. He noted the Wildcats’ defense only had to face thirty-something plays since the Wildcats offense controlled the ball so much. Coach Guerra said outside linebacker D.Q. Pitts was impressive in breaking up a two point pass attempt after touchdown that would have tied the score in the fourth quarter.
The new defensive coordinator had a moment that is bound to raise his reputation among defensive players. He told the defense to watch for a long pass on Wakeland’s first play. That’s exactly what the Wolverines did and safety Austin Dodd was able to intercept the pass.
The Wildcats face Lovejoy Friday (September 7) at Prim Stadium and Coach Guerra said the Leopards are explosive. He said he attended the Wildcats and Lovejoy bi-district game at Prim Stadium last November and he said he was impressed with the Leopards’ quarterback, running back, receivers and center and he said they are all back. Coach Guerra called the Lovejoy offense well coached and disciplined. He said the Wildcats would have to gang tackle running back Jahi Rainey. Coach Guerra added that Lovejoy quarterback Carson Collins is a great quarterback.
Wildcat, Lady Cats Place at Wylie East Invitational
The Wildcats’ cross country team was fourth and the Lady Cats eighth at a Wylie East Raider Invitational last Saturday (September 1). Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks said it was a good meet with lots of quality competition. He said it was the first 5K race for the teams since their time trial run at Coleman Park back on August 18.
Coach Hicks said the Lady Cats were led by Sydney Washburn, who he said is getting better. Senior Bailey Arrington finished next for the Lady Cats followed by senior Kaitlyn Ferrill, then Landri McKinney and Ashley Noe. He said the Lady Cats’ times were close to where they were last year at this time.
For the Wildcats, Landon Thornton led the way with a seventh place finish. Coach Hicks said he ran a good race with a time of 16:50. The next Wildcats’ finishers were sophomore Christian Palomino and senior Eli Sellers. Junior Nabian Ramirez was next followed by freshman Jose Mejia.
Next the Wildcats and Lady Cats will run at a UT Tyler cross country meet on Saturday (September 8). Sulphur Springs has competed there for many years. Hicks ran the course when he was in high school. He said to expect more quality competition.
Game Day: Volleyball Hosts Wills Point, Team Tennis Opens District at Lindale
Volleyball and team tennis are on the menu for this Tuesday (September 4) game day. The Lady Cats play host to Wills Point in Wildcat Gym. The #13 state ranked Lady Cats are 21-5 for the season. This is the second time the two teams have played. The Lady Cats topped Wills Point, 2-0 during a Wills Point tournament in mid-August. There will be a freshman match at 4:30 p.m. followed by a JV contest and then a varsity match at around 6:30 p.m.
The Wildcats’ team tennis squad is also back in action on this Tuesday game day. It’s a big match in Lindale since it’s the district opener for both teams. Lindale is coached by former Wildcats’ tennis coach Randy Namanny. The match gets underway in Lindale at 3:30 p.m. The Wildcats seem much improved this season despite a season record of 3-7. Many of the Wildcats’ losses have been close ones. The Wildcats played last on August 23 and they got a big win at Pine Tree.
Alexis Lopez Talks Food Trucks
KSST sat down with SSISD Student Council President Alexis Lopez and talked Food Trucks Tuesday morning. This is a first for Sulphur Springs ISD, and excitement is building.
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Enrollment Continues at PJC-Sulphur Springs
Michael Arnold of Sulphur Springs, left, with assistance from his dad, Benjamin, and PJC-Sulphur Springs Center secretary Iris Gutierrez, completes enrollment to return to the Sulphur Springs campus this fall.
Murder Investigation Continues in Two Cities
With a crime scene in two cities that are 100 miles apart, Sulphur Springs Police Chief Jay Sanders said his department is busy as they continue investigation into the murder of a 34-year old Fort Worth woman whose body was found in an undeveloped area off Highway 67W in Sulphur Springs. Fort Worth Police and Sulphur Spring Police are working together to sort out evidence from a crime scene in Fort Worth and the discovery of the body in Sulphur Springs. The woman’s name had not been released a mid-morning Tuesday awaiting word from Fort Worth that her family had been contacted. Lucious Newhouse III, 54 of Fort Worth was arrested at the scene and is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Felony 1 Murder and is being held on a $1-million bond.
The first call to SSPD came at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning, according to Sanders. He said that someone reported an accident on Main Street. However, the vehicle was found in a ravine in the field near where Newhouse had dumped the body. Newhouse had become disoriented as he attempted to flee the scene in his vehicle and drove into the ravine. He was in his auto when officers arrived. Sanders said the auto has been sent to a crime lab. Sanders said his department and the Fort Worth Police are working with the Texas Ranger in the homicide investigation.
Justice of the Peace B. J. Teer pronounced the woman dead at the scene Sunday as Sulphur Springs Police Detectives, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Investigators, DPS Troopers, and the Texas Ranger began their investigation locally that revealed evidence that led to the murder warrant for Newhouse.
Through the investigation that involved Fort Worth law enforcement, the crime scene was discovered to be in Fort Worth. According to Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum, law enforcement and the District Attorney offices, both local and in Fort Worth, are currently determining where the eventual charges will be filed and prosecution will take place.
Tatum commended the work of SSPD Investigator Rusty Stillwagoner, who led the investigation, the Texas Ranger, DPS Troopers, and members of the county CID in the investigation.
Fall Festival’s New Event for October is the Hay Bale Sculpture Contest
Local history researcher Shirley Patchen’s current interest in the era of 1914 made her realize the role that farmers played in the early growth of Hopkins County. Through their tireless labor, industry and innovation, Hopkins County became the Dairy Capitol of Texas. Patchen suggested that, as a tribute to past and present dairymen, farmers, ranchers, cattlemen and hay growers, Fall Festival might honor this heritage with a fun “art” contest utilizing a product that’s often taken for granted but vital to most every livestock operation, the humble hay bale.
Patchen invited local farmer and hay producer Sue Potts and friends Gail Boles and Gail Garmon to form a committee at the invitation of the Fall Festival Board. Patchen says that creating art from bales is easy and fun, and if you don’t have any immediate ideas for sculpting hay bales, just look online and you will find an abundance. Whether square bales, small rolls or big round bales, the different shapes and weight of hay make them a fun medium with which to create a Fall “statement piece”. Bales can be spray painted, covered with fabric or colored plastic or decorated with painted cut-outs or other objects. Groups and individuals are encouraged to get creative! The contest is open to clubs, churches, businesses, schools, neighborhoods, farms, offices, families and individuals. Sign-up forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce, City National Bank and Alliance Bank.
Hay bale sculptures from the large and elaborate to the small and simple should be displayed where they can be seen by passing motorists from October 1 through October 12. Sites will be visited and photos taken. Judging will be done on October 19, with awards and prizes to be handed out during Fall Festival on Friday October 26. Patchen and her committee hope that the art can be appreciated by local residents and visitors alike through the autumn before being recycled to it’s original purpose as livestock forage. With questions, contact Patchen at 903-885-5914 or Potts at 903-485-3241.
