Meet Dairy Festival Contestants #7 and #8, Lucia and Caitlyn
It’s a full week of rehearsals for the eight Dairy Festival contestants on the stage of the SSISD Auditorium inside the Civic Center. That’s where the Coronation Pageant will be held on Saturday June 16th at 7 pm. Tickets will be $10 at the door, and the exciting evening will be filled with beauty, creativity and talent. Let’s meet the final two contestants from a KSST Morning Show interview held on Thursday June 14, 2018.
L. to R. Lucia Yanez and Caitlyn Williams
Contestant #7 Lucia Yanez came away from last weekend’s Milking Contest with smiles and fun memories, as her cow “Curtis” definitely displayed an attitude about being milked! Despite the drama, Lucia came in second place in milking. For the parade, her float’s theme was “Tailgate Party”. IN deciding her pageant talent, Luci created a skit about finding a talent to perform, and it will incorporate her skills in singing, acting, playing the French horn and stage management. A member of the SSHS Marching Band, she actually found similarities between her field marching training and the gliding “walk” that contestants are taught to use onstage during the Pageant. Lucia has selected a teal evening gown with sparkling top and silk skirt. She gives credit to her sponsors Christus Mother Frances Hospital ad Dairy Max for their helpful support during the past weeks, as well as her 4 sisters and her parents Jose Yanez and Celina Yanez.. After high school, Lucia’s plans are to attend college, and work toward her dream of establishing a Dog Rescue Sanctuary.
Contestant #8 Cailtyn Williams is a tap dancer who will perform to “Singing in the Rain” during the Dairy Festival Queen’s Pageant. She also did pretty well at last weekend’s Contestant’s Milking Contest, placing third. Her parents and younger sister were on her parade float team, and helped design and construct it with a “Masquerade Party” theme. For evening gown competition, Caitlyn selected a royal purple dress in a classic style with a sparkling belt. She has especially enjoyed watching the other contestant’s talent presentations during rehearsal nights, and says that everyone is great. Caitlyn will be a Senior at SSHS, has been involved in Jr. Key Club and has competed in FCCLA, where she advanced to State competition in 2017. She thanks her sponsors Junior Waverly Club and Ag Workers Insurance, friends who are like family, also her dance coach Christi Lewis and pal Terry Fox who will provide backstage assistance on Pageant night.
Hearts of Life Presents Rowdy for Adoption
Rowdy is still searching for his forever home! Rowdy is 2 years old. He is medium to large in size. Rowdy is still in his “puppy” years and full of energy but he is also incredibly smart and willing to learn! His adoption fee is $100.00 which includes all previous vetting, neuter and rabies shot.
Please contact Hearts of Life Animal Rescue by phone at 903-439-5019, email at [email protected], www.facebook.com/heartsoflife or find him on Petfinder.com.
Chamber Connection June 14, 2018
We had such a wonderful time at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce 2018 Homemade Ice Cream Freeze-off! I would like to extend an extra special thank you to our sponsors for Ice Cream. We wouldn’t be able to host this traditional event without YOU! TRIPLE DIP Sponsors: Sulphur Springs Dodge, Fire in Texas, Alliance Bank/Alliance Financial/Galyean Insurance, Martin Marietta Ready Mix Concrete. DOUBLE DIP Sponsors: Phinesse’ Farm Winery, S.S. Commercial Services, Hope Family Fellowship, Jon Wayne Company, Chicken Express, State Representative Dan Flynn, Dairy Health Services, Inc., Interstate Body Shop, City National Bank, A& S Air Conditioning, Magic Scoop General Store, Dairy Queen, Southwest Dairy Museum, Saputo, HC Sheriff’s Department, Walgreens. Single Dip Sponsors: Fix & Feed, Jay Hodge Chevrolet, Cypress Basin Hospice, Advantage Copy Systems, Super Handy, Too Good! Treats, Circle E Western Store, Bear Littleton State Farm. Finally, we are so thankful to Shannon Oaks Church and the Dairy Festival for all of their assistance with the Ice Cream Freeze-off. The week of Dairy Festival is certainly a busy one, and it takes a village to pull that off. I love being a part of this place we call home!!!
Here is the schedule for the remaining parts of the Dairy Festival:
Wednesday through Sunday, June 13–17
Carnival on the Civic Center Grounds
Saturday. June 16th
Whipped Challenge, 9:30 a.m. at Civic Center Grounds
Coronation Pageant, 7:00 p.m. at Civic Center Auditorium
Sulphur Springs Public Library presents their Summer Reading Program for June and July
The Sulphur Springs Library is hosting a summer reading program called Fun with Mary Poppins Reading Program 2018. Story time will be each Tuesday at 10 a.m. in June and July (except for July 10 and 17). Watch for special guest appearances along with fun, stories and great prizes. Minecraft is back every Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. beginning June 1 and ending July 27. Thursday, June 21st at 6 p.m. is a special Mary Poppins Story time event, and Friday, June 22nd at 3 p.m., don’t miss the Bubble Show with Brett Roberts. Then, Thursday, June 28th, at 11 a.m. the library will welcome Will Parker with a very musical story time. The library is happy to answer any questions, please call (903) 885-4926, or you can visit www.sslibrary.org.
Heart of Hope is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration
Heart of Hope, located at 407 S. Davis Street in Sulphur Springs, is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, June 13th at noon. Please make plans to attend the ribbon cutting to learn more about Heart of Hope and the benefits they offer Hopkins County.
AgriLife Extension offers Rebalancing Work & Life Webinar
The Military Families Learning Network (MFLN) is providing a free monthly webinar in partnership with USDA, U.S. Department of Defense, and Extension. The June 13th webinar will take place at 10:00 a.m. To sign up, go to: https://learn.extension.org/events/3261. To join the webinar, use the ‘event location’ link designated for each webinar and follow directions within the site. The MFLN offers both continuing education credit (CE) and certificates of completion for webinars. For more information, call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office – Hopkins County – at 903-885-3443.
Reilly Springs Jamboree hosts Hanah and Hailee
Reilly Springs Jamboree will welcome teen sister duo Hanah and Hailee back to the stage on Saturday, June 16th, starting at 6 p.m. Hanah and Hailee and their Scatter Proof Band will bring their original songs and country favorites before taking off on their “The Road Ahead” Summer Tour. For tickets and information, contact Enola Gay Mathews 903-438-3568.
AFLAC hosting ribbon cutting celebration
Leann Oliver and Sheila Askins with AFLAC are hosting a ribbon cutting celebration at the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, June 20th at noon. The Chamber is located at 300 Connally Street in Sulphur Springs. Please make plans to come by and network with these business professionals at the Chamber.
Workforce Solutions is hosting a Career & Community Resource Expo on June 28th
Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas is hosting a Career & Community Resources Expo at the ROC, 120 Oak Street in Sulphur Springs, on Tuesday, June 28th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are accepting vendors on a first come first served basis with a deadline for vendors of June 16th. Exhibitor space is free of charge but limited. For additional information, please call Workforce Solutions at (903) 885-7556 x 414.
AgriLife hosts Community Health Talks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is hosting a round-table discussion series on issues affecting health in our community. Session 1 is called Animal and Human Health and will be held on July 6th at 6:30 p.m. at the Hopkins County Extension Office located at 1200 W. Houston in Sulphur Springs. Dr. Leah Larsen, DVM, will speak on rabies and diseases affecting pets and humans. Danielle Altenbaumer, Dept. of State Health Services, will speak on clearing up the human vaccination confusion. Register by calling 903-885-3443 by June 29th. Session 2 is called Food and Food Safety. It will be held on July 13th at 6:30 p.m.at the Hopkins County Extension Office located at 1200 W. Houston in Sulphur Springs. Brad Fain, of Zoetis Animal Health, will speak on food security including temperature danger zone, safe food handling.
Ribbon Cuttings:
Opening Ceremonies Ribbon Cutting for the Dairy Festival was Friday, June 8th at noon
The Dairy Festival officially kicked off with a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, June 8th at noon on Celebration Plaza. What a fun way to celebrate the start of the Dairy Festival!
Express Employment Professionals held their ribbon cutting celebration
Express Employment Professionals hosted their ribbon cutting celebration on Tuesday, June 12th at noon. They are located at 204 Shannon Road West in Sulphur Springs. Express Employment Professionals can help you with all of your job and career searching needs. Make plans to drop in and visit with them today.
Avoid State Highway 24 in Delta County Wednesday Afternoon
Those traveling in Delta County on State Highway 24 are asked to avoid this area, according to our friends at the Cooper Review.
Photo Credit: Cindy Roller
Dinner Bell Sponsored by the Worsham Family
The June 13th, 2018 Dinner Bell was sponsored by the Carol and Don Worsham Family.
Served at 11:45 AM at the First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs, TX.
Lil’ 4’s Kids Club Director Letitia Conliff of Sulphur Springs Featured on “The View”, Receives Major Funding
Letitia Conliff who started Lil 4’s Kids Club in 2001
Seven years ago, this gracious woman decided to open her arms and her heart to the “inner city” kids in Sulphur Springs who had no “safe haven” or positive place to go after school. Letitia Conliff did not have a lot of money and really no place to open an after-school program, but she has done it anyway. At a small building she rents near downtown Sulphur Springs, she prepares and serves a light afternoon meal and snacks with the use of a crockpot, a microwave and a donated refrigerator. She and her volunteer mentors read and sing, play games and see that the children ages 5-17 study and get their homework. They show pride in the kids and teach practical life lessons, like teamwork and getting along together like a family. She dreams of taking the children on educational trips to show them the world beyond their home town.
For most of the seven years, Letitia has paid the rent and utilities from her own pocket and from various local donations she received. At times she was dismayed, but always prayed that the club could continue. As attendance began to grow to 50 kids at times, at times Letitia really needed extra help to keep the doors open for the boys and girls who arrived each afternoon. She admits that termination notices from utility companies often came to her mailbox, and that many mornings when she unlocked her building, she felt joyful when the lights came on.
In 2017, she decided to try GoFundMe to help raise some money for the organization. Recently, Whoopie Goldberg saw the GoFundMe video on You Tube and was impressed. Next thing you know, a film crew from The View was in Sulphur Springs at the 200 Fuller Street location, and Letitia was in New York on the set of the popular TV talk show. In response to the broadcast, three different organizations pledged $20,000 plus services and a nationwide grocery chain kicked in $10,000 plus shipments of food to be delivered weekly for a year.
Now, long-awaited assistance in on it’s way! The club will have a new fully-equipped kitchen, new heating and AC system, thousands of dollars worth of foods, skin and hair care products, backpacks and more for the children, plus funds to help with operating expenses. Letitia gives the glory to God for making it happen for the kids of Lil 4’s Kids Club.
Meet Dairy Festival Contestants # 4, #5 and #6, Cameron, Harley and Abbie
We’re counting down the days until the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Pageant takes place on Saturday June 16, 2018 at 7 pm onstage in the SSISD Auditorium inside the Civic Center. Let’s meet three more “dairy debutante” contestants!
L. to R. Contestants #4 Cameron Horton, #5 Harley McLarry and #6 Abbie Peckham
Contestant #4 Cameron Horton has proven her cow milking skills by winning the hands-on contest last weekend. Her ride in a hot air balloon was so exhilarating that she plans to crew a balloon festival in a nearby town later this summer with her brothers and parents. Now, Cameron will join her fellow contestants in the on-stage talent and evening gown competition. Her gown is sequined black and white with a full tulle overskirt, made by her stepmother. Her talent will be a song played on the electric guitar. After high school, she plans to purse a degree in Animal Science and hopes to become a Veterinarian. Her thanks go out to her sponsors Dairy Health Services and Dial Study Club for their support and help on ticket sales.
Contestant #5 Harley McLarry will demonstrate a unique talent, speed painting, in her bid for the title of Dairy Festival Queen. Her pageant gown is a slim mermaid style with black and gold sequins. Her parade float was themed “Tea Party” which her family and friends helped her design and construct. Speaking of family, she comes from an extended one and spends lots of time with them in the Cumby and Reilly Springs communities. Upon graduation, she plans to enter programs at PJC and Texas A and M Commerce leading to a career as an OB Stenographer. Harley sends out heartfelt thanks for the help and support from siblings, parents Johnrene McLarry and Sean McLarry, family friend Russell Taylor, and sponsors Carriage House Manor and Saputo.
Contestant #6 Abbie Peckham had never milked a cow before and has experienced stage fright at times, but competing in the Dairy Festival Pageant gives her a chance to sing, and she plans to do that for her talent competition. A singer from childhood, Abbie is now taking private vocal training and hopes to continue in UIL Solo and Ensemble contests during her Senior year in SSISD. She hopes to be a chosen contestant on American Idol someday, and it is her dream to attend The Juilliard School’s Vocal Arts program. She is also drawn to a career as a Pediatric Nurse. Her parents are Kate and Cameron Evans, and Bobby Peckham. Her sincere thanks is to Pageant Coach Patricia Chase and to her sponsors the Southwest Dairy Museum and CBJ Embroidery and Screen Printing.
Plan to enjoy the talent and the royal festivities on Pageant night as one of the eight contestants is crowned Hopkins County Dairy Festival Queen 2018. Tickets at the door will be $10 at the SSISD Auditorium inside the Civic Center, 1200 Houston Street in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
School Board Notes Campus Improvements, Summer Activities, Action Items During June Meeting
New signs are being erected at Primary Schools and Douglass ECLC has a new sign with the correct spelling of the name of the school—Douglass. This information and more was presented to the Sulphur Springs School Board Tuesday night during their June session. Along with the signs, other physical changes are being made to buildings in the district as well.
At Lamar Primary School, additional parking area is being constructed along Milligan Street. At Bush Primary, four classrooms are being removed to make way for a gym. A plumbing project is underway at Bowie Primary. At Sulphur Springs Elementary School, new classroom carpet is in being installed and the kitchen floor has been opened for a plumbing project. Furniture from other campuses has been moved to the SSES. At the Connections campus, a sidewalk project is underway. The ceiling is being repaired in the high school gym.
Activities for students in SSISD continue this summer. Summer School currently has 117 students registered in grades K-4. The programs for those students include Dual Language Education, general education, and extended school year programs for those students who qualify.
At Douglass, meetings are in progress for students who did not meet passing standards for the May administration of STAAR math and reading. For EDGE, the athletic summer training program for student-athletes, 230 students are enrolled. YMCA program at the Middle School is active with activities and field trips for those enrolled. The gym at the Middle School housed the girls and the High School gym housed the boys during the Summer Work Camp program that painted 21 homes in Sulphur Springs. Summer school is also underway at the Austin Academic Center with 36 students in each of the two sessions per day.
The board voted to provide a turn-around for school buses delivering special education students and other large truck deliveries to the high school. The paved drive, at a cost of $76,000 will enable a better flow of traffic and provide a more efficient use of time for school employees.
With an upward adjustment, the an amended budget for the school year was approved. There were no changes to the Food Service or Debt Service but the general fund was increased to $39,088.979. The budget for the year began at $36,682,926 and was amended in February to $38,389,530. The increases to the budget were made due to construction and remodel at sports facilities and other locations.
The board conducted a budge work session Tuesday evening as they began to plan for the 2018-2019 school year budget needs.
Personnel changes were also made (See story here.)
Personnel Changes at SSISD Approved in June Board Meeting
Tuesday evening during the SSISD Board meeting, a number of personnel changes were noted. Among the resignations was Wildcat Defensive Coordinator Triston Abron. Abron’s replacement in the slot, Alexander Guerra, was hired. Nicolus Wiggins, Head Boys Soccer Coach and Science Teacher, also resigned. Other resignations, new personnel, and personnel changes are noted below.
Summer Contract- due to mid-term hire date
Kaley Williams Science Teacher High School
Resignations
Amanda Nabors Head Start 3 Teacher ECLC
Kori Reed Kindergarten Teacher ECLC
Kati Adair Grade 2 Teacher Bowie Primary
Carmen Contreras Grade 4 Bilingual Teacher SS Elementary
Amanda Fowler Grade 3 Teacher SS Elementary
Charlotte Wilson Grade 4 Teacher SS Elementary
Deanna Cousin SpEd/Math Co-Teach Middle School
Victoria Smith SpEd Aide Middle School
Triston Abron PE Teacher/Coach (Defensive Coord.) High School
Kayla Weir English Teacher High School
Nicholus Wiggins Science Teacher/Head Boys Soccer Coach High School
New Personnel
Alexander Guerra Defensive Coordinator/PE Teacher High School
Steve Proctor Band Administrative Assistant High School
Destiny Shumate SpEd Aide High School/Connections
LaTosha Utt Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Douglass ECLC
Sara Helms SpEd Aide Barbara Bush Primary
Mariah Kendricks SpEd Aide Barbara Bush Primary
Lanie Smith SpEd Aide Barbara Bush Primary
Lisa Sutterfield Grade 3 ELAR Teacher Bowie Primary
Patricia Aulbaugh Grade 3 ELAR Teacher Lamar Primary
Melinda Butts Kindergarten Math/Science Teacher Lamar Primary
Carolina Moreno-Alcantara SpEd Aide Travis Primary
Joanna Byrd Grade 4 ELAR Teacher SS Elementary
Ashley Jovanovich Grade 4 ELAR Teacher SS Elementary
Jamie VanWinkle Grade 4 Math & Science Teacher SS Elementary
Personnel Changes New position/campus Former position/campus
Angel McCoy Kindergarten SpEd Teacher/ SpEd Aide/SS Elementary
Barbara Bush Primary
Alma Ramirez Library Aide/Travis Primary Library Aide/Bowie Primary
Tiffani Contreras Grade 1 Math & Science Teacher/ Library Aide/Travis Primary
Travis Primary
Christine Rogers Grade 4 SpEd Self-Contained Teacher/ SpEd Aide/Douglas
SS Elementary
