Lady Cat Golf Finished Third in District; Tran Qualifies for Regional Touranment
Mariam Tran
Round two was a much better day for the LadyCats. As a team we shot 426 which is one of our best round of the year. This got us a third place finish.
Senior Emma Lane shot a 123, sophomore Addison White shot 112, sophomore Alyssa Underwood shot 104, and Freshman Mariam Tran shot 87.
Tran battled the entire round with Autumn Parrott from Texas High for second place. Tran ended up beating Parrott by 3 strokes to place second. With her scores, Mariam qualifies for the Regional tournament that will be played at Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club on April 25th and 26th.
Franklin County Sheriff Reports Murder At American Inn in Mt Vernon
April 7, 2018 – Franklin County Sheriff, Ricky Jones, reported he and Investigators and Officers of the Mount Vernon Police Department and the Texas Rangers are investigating a murder which occurred at the American Inn located at 415 NW Access Road of Interstate-30 in Mount Vernon, Texas on April 6, 2018.
The Victim, Timothy Franks, is a 49 year old White Male who resides in Mount Pleasant, Texas.
Joshua Anthony Parker, 19 year old white male of Morris County, Texas was arrested and booked into Titus County Jail for the Offense of Murder by MVPD CID, Texas Rangers and Mt Pleasant Police Department Officers’.
Sheriff Jones stated a Mount Vernon PD Officer and Animal Control Officer were dispatched to the hotel around 12:30PM after the occupant failed to check out of the room at the appropriate time. The Manager of the American Inn also reported the sound of a continuously barking dog in the room. Once officers opened the door they discovered the Victim, Timothy Franks, in the room and immediately contacted Mount Vernon Police Department investigators stated Sheriff Jones.
During the investigation here in Mount Vernon, Stated Sheriff Jones, investigators were able to obtain a description of the suspect and a description of the vehicle he left the scene in. Sheriff Jones went on to say, Investigators called and spoke with Mount Pleasant Police Department CID since the deceased, Mr. Franks, was from Mount Pleasant. After relaying to the MPPD CID the suspect description we had in our case we learned they had an incident with a person matching our suspect description in the early AM hours which involved a short stand-off with MPPD Officers and eventually ended in his arrest.
We also discovered the suspect had stolen the vehicle which he had fled the murder scene here in Mount Vernon from a residence in Morris County on the evening of Thursday, April 5th. This vehicle was recovered by MPPD CID and we are working with them on the recovery of evidence from the vehicle in our Murder case here in Mount Vernon stated Sheriff Jones.
“This case has involved multiple agencies over multiple jurisdictions with evidence collected in four counties. I would like to thank Morris County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburg Police Department, Camp County Sheriff’s Office, Titus County Sheriff’s Office and especially the Mount Pleasant Police Department Officers and CID for in their assistance in recovery of evidence and arrest of Joshua Parker for Murder in this case.” Stated Sheriff Jones. He said that more information will be released as it becomes available and safe to do so.
Sheriff Ricky Jones
UPRA Rodeo April 20-21, 2018
The always exciting and entertaining 2018 U P R A Rodeo at the Hopkins County Civic Center
Arena is Friday, April 20th and Saturday, April 21st 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Nine rodeo events each evening along with calf scramble, chuck wagon races, celebrity steer riding, mutton busting, steer scramble, and more. Children Tickets are $8… Friday Adult Tickets are $10… Saturday Adult Tickets are $12 and include the Dance after the rodeo with the Jason Waldon Band… Tickets are available at Circle E Western Store.
PJC-Sulphur Springs Speech Class; Summer Registration Underway
PREPARING FOR SPEECH: These students are about to give their speeches in Instructor Paul May’s speech class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs campus. Getting ready to speak are, from left, Kayla Harris, McKenzie Ingalls and Lacey McClain. Registration for the summer semester at the Sulphur Springs campus is now underway. Call 903-885-1232 or go by the campus located at 11378 Loop 301 East for more information.
Hotdogs for Hope: How You Can Support Local Veterans: TODAY
The Operation Victor Echo Tango (V.E.T.) will be out today, April 7th, at Atwoods. Operation V.E.T. is a veteran oriented non-profit organization that provides assistance to local Veterans, their families, and other non profit organizations with a similar mission. They are there to “fill in the gaps” by using funding to provide veterans with food, bill payments, home repairs and more.
They will be at Atwoods all day, selling hot dogs, waters, drinks, baked goods, raffle tickets to win a meat smoker, and t-shirts starting at $10. If you would like more information, or would like to donate or get involved with Operation V.E.T. find them on Facebook, or visit their website.
Driving Class, Banquets, and Brunch: Upcoming April Events
National Health Care Decision Day, Monday, April 9th 11:00 AM 
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Until 6 p.m.
National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm warning for Northeastern Hopkins County until 6 p.m. Quarter size hail and 60 mph wind possible. Radar indicates this storm moving southeast at 25 mph. A Dike resident reports hail and heavy rain but no heavy winds at this time.
The storm could impact Sulphur Springs and Tira. Interstate 30 between mile markers 127-142 could also be affected.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued for Hopkins County and Region
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch in effect until Midnight tonight, Friday, April 6, 2018 for Hopkins, Hunt, Delta Rain, and most of the Northeast and North Central Texas area.
Ten Lady Cats Qualified for Area Track Meet
The Lady Cats’ track team qualified ten athletes for the Area Meet on April 19 in Pine Tree at the District Track Meet Wednesday and Thursday at Pine Tree. The Lady Cats got edged out for the district championship by Texas High on the meet’s final event. The top four in each event qualified for the Area Meet.
In pole vault, Shelby McCormick was third and Jayden Booth was fourth.
Imani Taylor collected a complete set of medals getting a gold for first in the long jump, a silver for second in the triple jump and a bronze for third place in the high jump. Taylor was also on the first place 4 X 100-meter relay team and the third place 4 X 200-meter relay team. Lady Cats Track Coach Triston Abron said for the second year, Taylor received the high point award at the meet. He said Taylor scored more than 30 points in her events.
Danielle Godbolt took fourth in discus. She just took up the event last year.
Sydney Washburn was fourth in the 3200-meter run and the 1600-meter run.
N’Sya Dugan qualified as a member of the 4 X 100-meter relay team and the 4 X 200-meter relay team. Dugan is also an Area alternate for fifth place finishes in the long jump and 100-meter dash.
Sadavia Porter won both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. She is also on the 4 X 100-meter relay team.
Abbi Baier took first in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. Baier is also on the 4 X 100-meter relay team.
Faith Hatley was second in the 100-meter hurdles and third in the 300-meter hurdles. Hatley is also on the 4 X 200-meter relay team.
Freshman Bre’asia Ivory qualified as a member of the 4 x 200-meter relay team.
Wildcat Track Qualifies 10 for Area Meet
The Wildcats’ track team had ten athletes qualify for the Area Meet on April 19 at the District Track Meet on Wednesday and Thursday in Pine Tree. Several others just missed out finishing fifth and they are listed an alternates and will go to Area if one of the top four can’t go for some reason.
Jermond Bryant-Amos finished second and Ian Blanch was fourth in the shot put. Wildcats Track Coach Matt Young said Blanch improved from sixth to fourth on his last toss.
In the 3200-meter run, Landon Thornton ran a personal best and was third.
Eli Sellers was fifth in pole vault and is an alternate.
In triple jump, Damiyon Dugan had a good final prelim jump to make and finals and then finished fifth.
Logan Caton, in the discus, threw two personal bests. One got him into the finals where he finished fifth despite another best ever throw.
Wildcats went second, fourth and sixth in the high jump. Jeremiah Roland finished second and Dedric Godbolt was fourth qualifying for the Area Meet. Landry Tyson finished sixth.
The Wildcats 4 X 100-meter relay team finished fifth, just .4 seconds out of fourth place.
Sellers ran his personal best in the 800-meter run and finished third to qualify.
Kylan Wade qualified by finishing first in the 110-meter hurdles. Tyson finished fifth and is an Area alternate.
Ryan Humphries was fifth in the 100-meter dash and is an alternate.
The Wildcats 4 X 200-meter relay team finished seven. Coach Young said they were .5 seconds out of fourth place.
Ricardo Torres was second in the 400-meter run to qualify.
Both Tyson and Humphries qualified in the 300-meter hurdles. Tyson was second and Humphries fourth.
Simeon Taylor was sixth in the 200-meter dash.
Christian Palomino improved his time by 9 seconds and finished fifth in the 1600-meter run.
