Rodeo Champ Rope Meyers Joins Jousting Team at Shadow Renaissance Festival in Sulphur Springs July 28, 29
Rope Meyers, a World Champion Steer Wrestler, conducts rodeo camps at Sky Ranch near Van, Texas. In 2012, he took up the sport of jousting on the History Channel’s “Full Metal Jousting” television series. Today, he still enjoys jousting and will perform in Sulphur Springs, Texas on July 28 and 29 during the Shadow Renaissance Festival, a major fundraising event for Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center.
Monty Tipps Keeps it Country at the Reilly Springs Jamboree with MainStreet Band Saturday July 21
For nearly two decades, Monty Tipps has made special appearances on the stage of the Reilly Springs Jamboree, Hopkins County’s original country music venue. In fact, during a KSST interview, Monty said it feels “like home” for his return on Saturday July 21, 2018. A gospel pre-show starts at 6pm, and Monty and MainStreet takes the stage at 7pm. Tickets will be $10 per person at the door for the entire evening of entertainment, and kids age 10 and under get in free.
Monty grew up and attended school at Miller Grove ISD in southern Hopkins County. His older brother Stevie owned a guitar, and as a kid, Monty would sometimes sneak into his brother’s room and try to play the guitar like Johnny Cash. Obviously, he learned a few chords because at age 20, he purchased his own guitar from the local pawn shop and started learning his favorite songs by watching country performers on MTV. Monty had started working for the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department right after high school, and ended up spending 6 years there. He later transferred to the Sulphur Springs Police Department and spent 24 and 1/2 years there before retiring as an Investigator, ending his career in law enforcement at that time. Then, two years ago, Monty was hired by the SSISD Police force and now really loves this new aspect of law enforcement because it keeps him in close touch with the kids of our city. As a Christian family man, he feels he has found his niche with a career that lets him “give back” to the community.
His other love, as always, is traditional country music. Today, there are various sub-genres in country music like red dirt, outlaw, alternative and progressive. Monty says those are all OK, but they are not “him”. He likes to perform the music of Merle Haggard, George Jones, Buck Owens and Johnny Cash best, and makes it a point to surround himself with musicians who can help him reproduce those sounds. “People still love this music and like to go to the places where it’s played, like the Reilly Springs Jamboree and some of the other country Oprys in Texas. Thankfully, they are helping us keep it alive”. Monty’s MainStreet Band is currently made up of lead guitarist Kurt Bittner, steel guitarist Joe Harrison, drummer Jason Roberts and bassman Brandon Andrews. Providing rhythm guitar and vocals, Monty also engages and entertains the crowd with family-appropriate comedy and fun.
Kurt Bittner, Jason Roberts , Monty Tipps and Tommy Peugh from 2017
The Reilly Springs Jamboree is located at 109 CR 1439 in Hopkins County. It is held on the third-Saturday night of each month at the Reilly Springs Community Center in a smoke-and-alcohol-free environment. At each show, the Kitchen offers a plate meal along with hot dogs, nachos and frito pies, homemade desserts, coffee and cold drinks. At the July 21 Jamboree, the 6pm opening portion of the evening will be a gospel hour with Roger Reed and the Sunshine Band featuring Gary Jones. On August 18, 2018, the Jamboree will host the Blackwood Quartet in a concert also featuring local artists Buddy and Ina Gore and Bill Owens.
Driving in Left Lane, McKinney Woman Arrested for UUMV
Keiosha Shymetric-Shante Blackmon a.k.a. Keioshia Blackmon
When the DPS Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a 2014 Nissan Maxima, eastbound at the 134 mile post on I-30, he determined the vehicle was displaying the wrong license plate and registration insignia. His routine check of the vehicle’s VIN revealed the vehicle was listed as stolen out of McKinney.
Keiosha Shymetric-Shante Blackmon a.k.a. Keioshia Blackmon, 22, of McKinney, did not have consent of the vehicle owner to operate the vehicle. She was arrested for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, a State Jail Felony.
Blackmon was driving in the left lane on the eastbound side of I-30 when driving in that lane was prohibited, according to the trooper’s report.
MJP Edge Conditioning Attracting Younger Players As Well as Varsity Candidates
This year, The Edge conditioning program at Sulphur Springs High School is being presented by Michael Johnson Performance. This week marks the fifth week of the six week program.
Wildcats’ coaches may not be involved in presenting The Edge but they are paying attention to who is attending. The first group at The Edge each day are boys who will be sophomores, juniors and seniors this year. That group started with around 60. Attendance slipped into the mid 40’s last week but Coach Young said attendance was back to to around 50 this week. He has been impressed with not only the number of varsity players showing up but also with younger kids as well. Coach Young said this has been one of the most consistent groups ever at The Edge. He said in the past, The Edge attendance would drop off 10 to 20 per week.
Coach Young said players attending regularly are feeling better about themselves and their confidence levels are increasing. He said having Michael Johnson Performance conducting The Edge is a nice break for participants and gives them a fresh voice to hear. Coach Young said MJP slows things down and teaches details of lots of different moves athletes make. He said eventually that will make better athletes of those attending.
Mary Poppins Arrives in Sulphur Springs July 20! Five Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Performances Only!
A portion of the Mary Poppins cast with (at center) Kassidy Branch and Josh Thompson, also Director Amanda Thompson Brandenburg (standing) with son Matthew
More than forty local youngsters will make up two full casts for the musical theater production of “Mary Poppins” set to open Friday July 20, 2018. This Shining Star Productions play is to be staged in the SSISD Auditorium of the Civic Center and will feature two evening performances and three afternoon performances.
Director Amanda Thompson Brandenburg has been working with her young charges since September 2017, getting ready for this summer’s show. “We took about a month off following last summer’s “Beauty and the Beast” production, let the families get the kids back into school in August, and then we began again in September on brand new scripts for our 2018 play!” Amanda says that it was an 11-month-long process, but at first the group met just one hour per week through the Fall. After the Christmas holidays were over, that’s the time that readings, memorization of lines and polishing of British accents really got started in earnest. And typically, when school lets out for the summer, everyone comes on board for set building, costume fittings, song and dance coaching, and true rehearsals on a daily basis. Parents and family members of the young actors also play vital roles in the success of all Shining Star Productions plays, from backstage assistance, doing set design, working concessions, securing sponsorships and handling front of house roles. Each year’s production company truly becomes an “all for one, and one for all” theater troupe! Ms. Brandenburg noted that the talent pool for youth shows has grown locally since her first year when she had only seven in the cast. For the Mary Poppins production, there are 46 actors plus a dozen crew members.
Some of the cast who attended a KSST Good Morning Show interview included Brianna Isom as Winnifred Banks, Callan Branch as her husband George Banks, Bella Gilbreath playing Jane Banks and as her brother, Micah Ray Petty as Michael Banks.
The classic story of “Mary Poppins” has an appeal for all ages of audiences. Six professional backdrops will make you feel you are in London, and the comedy, singing and dancing talent will be unforgettable. A total of five performances are planned, with a cast of younger lead actors appearing at 2pm Friday July 20 and at 2pm Saturday July 21. The regular teen cast starring Kassidy Branch as Mary Poppins and Josh Thompson as Bert the Chimneysweep will perform at 7pm Friday July 20, at 7pm Saturday July 21 and at 2pm on Sunday July 22. Tickets are $12 on the day of the show. Advance tickets may be purchased through July 19 at $10 each from Alliance Bank and SS Public Library, and with a link on facebook.com/ShiningStarProductions.
Miss Kassidy Branch as Mary Poppins and Josh Thompson as Bert
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s ‘Mary Poppins’ is a musical based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, and presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI).
Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest
When the Sulphur Springs Police officer made the traffic stop on the 2009 Acura SUV at the 126 mile marker on I-30, marijuana was in plain view.
A probable cause search led to the discovery of more marijuana as well as liquid THC.
Ashley Michelle McMillian, 28, of Sulphur Springs was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2 more than 4-grams but less than 400-grams, a Felony 2 and Possession of Marijuana more than 4oz but less than 5lbs, a State Jail Felony.
She is in Hopkins County Jail held on a $25,000 bond for the Felony 2 charge and a $5,000 bond for the State Jail Felony charge.
Lil 4’s Club Hosts a ‘Preparing for College’ Event on Saturday Morning July 28
The Lil 4’s Kids Club in Sulphur Springs is a weekday afternoon mentoring program for local youngsters 5-17 years of age. The Club’s next public event is Saturday July 28, 2018 from 11:30-1:30 at the Club building location, 200 Fuller St. The event will be geared toward Preparing for College. Speakers from Dallas and Texas A&M Commerce have been invited to come and talk to the students and help any and all high school students and their parents with making choices for their students’ continued education. Director Letitia Condiff says this workshop will include a FAFSA Q and A session as well. Attendees are asked to give a $5 donation which will help with planning future motivational and educational speaker events for Lil 4’s Kids Club members. For details, call 903-438-0689. Also, persons planning to attend the Planning for College event are asked to RSVP by Friday July 20 at 903-438-0689.
Summer II: Anatomy and Physiology II Class at PJC-Sulphur Springs Campus
CLASSWORK PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Instructor John Hemphill (standing) points out some important information in his Anatomy & Physiology II class. Students pictured are from left (front), Sarah Massey and Jasmin Campos; (back) Maritza Velasco and Parker Cummings.
