For Regional Track Meet: Wildcat Track Qualifies Three; Lady Cats Qualifies Four
Wildcats Track Qualifies Three for Regional Meet at Area Meet Thursday
The Wildcats’ track team had three athletes qualify for the Regional Track Meet at an Area Track Meet Thursday (April 19) at Pine Tree. Dedric Godbolt qualified with a third place finish in high jump. Godbolt came in with a best jump of 6-feet but cleared 6-foot-3 at the Area competition. Wildcats Track Coach Matt Young said Godbolt bested the district champion. Kylan Wade also qualified for Regional in the 110-meter hurdles with a fourth place finish. Coach Young said Wade was slow out of the blocks but still ran a good 15.69 time. In the 300-meter hurdles, Ryan Humphries finished in second place to qualify for Regional. Coach Young said Humphries would skip the Regional Track Meet to play in a big baseball game next Friday against Hallsville. Wildcat Landry Tyson will get to go in Humphries’ place. Coach Young said Tyson started the race like a mad man but then tightened up and clipped a hurdle. Despite that Tyson finished fifth earning alternate status allowing him to fill Humphries’ spot. Coach Young said 800-meter runner Eli Sellers may also end up going to the Regional Track Meet. Coach Young said Sellers ran a personal best but missed out on fourth place by the smallest margin he’s ever seen, .008 of a second. Coach Young said it took a frame by frame comparison of the end of the race to determine fourth and fifth place. Coach Young said one of the qualifiers has indicated he might not run the 800-meter run at Regional so he can concentrate on the 1600-meter run instead. Shot putter Ian Blanch got fifth and is a Regional alternate. Jermond Bryant-Amos was sixth. Landon Thornton finished seventh in the 3200-meter run. Ricardo Torres did not qualify in the 400-meter race. Simeon Taylor matched his best time in the 200-meter dash but it was not good enough to qualify. The Regional Track Meet will be at UT Arlington April 27-28.
Lady Cats Have Four Regional Qualifiers at Area Track Meet Thursday
Four Lady Cats’ track athletes qualified for the Regional Track Meet at the Area Track Meet Thursday (April 19) at Pine Tree. Lady Cats Track Coach Triston Abron said his athletes were familiar with the Pine Tree track site since the District Meet was also held there two weeks ago. Coach Abron said Imani Taylor competed in three jumping events and qualified for Regional in two of them. Taylor took first in the long jump and third in the triple jump. She finished fifth in the high jump and is a Regional alternate. Coach Abron said two jumps were all Taylor needed in the long jump. Her best was 18-feet 6 and a quarter inches, which was far ahead of the field. Coach Abron said Taylor clear 5-feet in the high jump. Taylor also ran the first leg of the Lady Cats first place 4 X 100-meter relay team that qualified for Regional. Taylor was joined by Sadavia Porter, Abbi Baier and N’Sya Dugan. Their time was 47.63. Porter also qualified for Regional with first place finishes in both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Coach Abron said Porter ran a 11.9 100-meters and a 24.9 200-meters. He added Porter also drew the attention of college coaches watching the meet. Baier also qualified for Regional by finishing second in the 100-meter hurdles and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. Dugan also qualified for Regional as a member of the 4 X 100-meter relay team. Coach Abron said he would also take freshman Bre’Asia Ivory to the Regional Track Meet as an alternate for the 4 X 100-meter relay team. Ivory ran on the Lady Cats’ 4 X 200-meter relay team that did not qualify at the Area Meet. Coach Abron would like to take his entire group of Regional qualifiers to Austin for the State Track Meet. Other Lady Cats competing at the Area meet were Shelby McCormick and Jadyn Booth in pole vault, Danielle Godbolt in discus, Sydney Washburn in the 3200-meter run and 1600-meter run and Faith Hatley in the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. The Regional Track Meet will be at UT Arlington on April 27-28.
Game Day: Dedication of Baseball, Softball Fields; Lady Cat Senior Night
The Wildcats’ baseball team hopes to stay near the top of the district standings while the Lady Cats’ softball team has a chance to wrap up a district championship on this busy game day Friday (April 20). Mount Pleasant is coming to town to play the Wildcats and the Lady Cats.
The Wildcats’ baseball team is 7-2 in district play and they are in second place. The Wildcats trail Hallsville by one game. The Wildcats have not played since last Saturday when they lost at Texas High, 10-3. The Wildcats had an open date Tuesday (April 17). There will be a JV game against Mount Pleasant Friday at 4 p.m. The varsity game is scheduled to begin at around 7 p.m. Just before the start of the varsity game, a field dedication ceremony is scheduled at Wildcat Park.
The Lady Cats’ softball team is in sole possession of first place with their 10-1 district record. Hallsville is right behind at 9-2. Mount Pleasant comes to Sulphur Springs with an 8-3 record. If the Lady Cats defeat Mount Pleasant, they will wrap up the district championship. It would be the first sole district championship for Coach David Carrillo in Sulphur Springs. His Lady Cats shared a title back in 2009. There will be a JV contest Friday at 4:30 p.m. with varsity action at 6 p.m. Right before the varsity game, there will be a field dedication for renovated Lady Cat Park followed by Senior Night. The Lady Cats will recognize four seniors: Alyssa Abron, Karlee Adams, Macee Hollins and Jacklyn Semler. We will bring you all the action of Lady Cats and Mount Pleasant softball on KSST Radio beginning at around 6 p.m. We will also videotape the game for replay at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Davidson Withdraws From City Council Place 1 Race
Justin Davidson, Candidate for Sulphur Springs City Council Place 1 has announced that he will be withdrawing from the May 5, 2018, election for City Council.
In Davidson’s official statement, he stated the following:
“With disappointment, anger and frustration and against my better judgement, I must withdraw my candidacy for City Council. Small town big brother, you win! The personal threats against me and my family, including my elderly parents, is despicable. I may be a lot of things to a lot of people but I have not threatened your families. So, I have to protect them more than I can continue to help this city. So, again, you win. And you know who you are. At the end of the day elected official, you work for me and you are responsible for me and my city. Every first Tuesday, I will be there to keep you accountable.”
Davidson continued, “I appreciate the hate club(s) that I have gained throughout this process and my prayer and hope is that through an extensive investigation that many of the “who’s who” and common denominators are exposed and prosecuted for illegal acts. I have remained silent and not entertained the absurd remarks made throughout this campaign by others however, rest assured, I will not rest until the culprits behind emails, texts and letters left on my doorstep are exposed.
It is with the utmost respect, that I ask all of my supporters to cast your ballot for Erica Armstrong and help me, by casting an important vote to change the face of our current City Council. I now must change an official statement regarding the social media posts that I would not obtain “one vote” and state that the naysayers very well may be correct as I will be casting my vote for Erica Armstrong.”
The Winner of the Texas Rangers Suite Tickets and Parking Pass
The Winner of 4 suite tickets and a parking pass for the April 23rd, 2018 Texas Rangers Baseball Game is.
The Tickets:
- 1 set of 4 admission tickets to the Connie Mack Suite, and 1 parking pass for the Monday April 23rd game, 7:05 first pitch.
Rules:
- The tickets must be picked up from the KSST Studios before 5pm Monday April 23th, 2018. If can’t pick them up before Monday, a Saturday morning pickup can be arranged. 903 885 3111
- The tickets must NOT be resold!
- Unclaimed tickets will be dispersed by KSST.
- Employees of KSST can not win.
- Winner’s names will be posted on Facebook.
- Winners will be notified via Facebook.
How to enter: Like KSST on Facebook, AND like this Post on Facebook.
North East Texas Children’s Museum Takes Step Towards the Future
Northeast Texas Children’s Museum Executive Director Sharline Freeman with Board of Directors President Donna Tavener
A KSST Morning Show visit with Northeast Texas Children’s Museum Sharline Freeman and Museum Board of Directors President Donna Tavener shed some light on an important upcoming event for the educational needs of children in the ever-expanding area of outreach by the Museum. Plan to attend the Silent Auction and bid on fossil-hunting trips, horseback riding lessons, a flyover, a Taste of Sulphur Springs Restaurants package and more exciting items!
The 2018 Silent Auction for the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum will be a pivotal event for the Museum. The event is set for Monday, April 23 in the Sam Rayburn Student Center on the Texas A&M University-Commerce campus. The bidding begins at 6:00 PM and closes at 8:00 PM.
The Museum continues its challenges as it deals with issues involving the current building site. In June 2017, Texas A&M University-Commerce announced that the Museum could look forward to a new site at the location of the previous University president’s home. The Museum would join a proposed agricultural complex at the site.
Finalization of this exciting proposal includes a new building for the Museum’s future. The 2018 Silent Auction will initiate an active step toward raising the $3 to $5 million needed for the new building.
“We will need support from throughout northeast Texas to make the proposed building a reality”, said Sharline Freeman, Director of the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. “I envision our visitors – parents, grandparents, students and children – engaging to help us achieve what appears be a Herculean task. I do think it can be done. This year’s Silent Auction is a new beginning.”
Guests at the auction will find a variety of items for bidding as they enjoy a fun and festive evening out with friends and neighbors. Items include floral arrangements, furniture, home accents, original paintings and artwork, collector’s items, holiday décor and jewelry, as well as unique experience packages, and much more.
An exciting part of this year’s Silent Auction will be the raffle. A number of ways exist to purchase raffle tickets include purchasing them from Museum board members, at State Farm Insurance in Commerce, in person or by calling the Children’s Museum – or even by purchasing them at the door on the night of the event. With the support of the community this year’s raffle will include three items. These will be cards totaling $1,000 sponsored by Alliance Bank, Cypress Bank, Guaranty Bank and Trust, and Inwood Bank; a 60” TV donated by 10-2-4 Ranch; and a Yeti package donated by Commerce Veterinary Clinic. Raffle tickets are $5 or 5 tickets for $20.
The Market provides another venue for shopping. With family recipes of hot sauces and barbecue sauce, the Market will also have an assortment of baked goods and other culinary delights. Popular items from the Children’s Museum Gift Store will also be available. The Museum accepts checks, cash and credit cards.
“There are so many ways to support this event. Donate an item for the auction, purchase a raffle ticket, or visit the Museum Market. We request community support by attending and participating in the bidding of more than 300 items,” said Donna Tavener, Museum board president. “We hope that this year’s Silent Auction will be a great event as the Children’s Museum moves toward a new building.”
You’ve Been Whipped By Johanna Hicks
You’ve Been Whipped!
Many of you have already gotten wind of a new event being held during the 2018 Hopkins County Dairy Festival. Excitement is building, and plans are in full swing as we prepare for the “Whipped” Challenge. Businesses, civic clubs, and organizations are encouraged to enter a team. Here’s how it works:
1) The contest will take place on the front grounds of the Hopkins County Civic Center, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, TX on Saturday, June 16, 2018. Check-in begins at the gazebo at 9:30 a.m. Orientation begins at 10:00 a.m., and the contest starts at 10:15 a.m.
2) Participation will be limited to the first eight teams (4 members per team). Teams are requested to bring their own knives for chopping and slicing ingredients. After registering, teams will be directed to a food preparation station. There will be a set of ingredients at each station, but no recipe. The ingredients will represent a dish from one of the following: nutritious snack, main dish, dessert.
3) Preparation: each team will be provided with a set of ingredients reflective of the assigned category, and will create a single dish (not a full meal) using the ingredients.
- Teams are challenged to be creative by developing their own recipe with provided ingredients.
- Team must incorporate each ingredient into the dish. However, teams may determine the exact amount of each ingredient to use.
- Teams will have access to an equipment table and “pantry” of additional ingredients that may be used to compliment or garnish the dish.
- Each dish must contain at least 2 dairy products, provided in the pantry.
- Round 1: Eight teams will prepare a nutritious snack/appetizer (20 minutes), after which two teams will be “whipped.” Round 2: Six teams will prepare a main dish (40 minutes). Three teams will be eliminated. Round 3: The three remaining teams will prepare a dessert (20 minutes). One team will be named “Whipped” champion. Prizes will be awarded.Note: times include planning, preparation, and plating.
4) Presentation: When time is called, each team will step away from their preparation station and take the completed dish to the judges’ area. The following pertains to team presentations:
- All team members will participate in the presentation.
- A maximum of 3 minutes will be allowed for each team’s presentation, which may include questions from judges. Note:teams should follow food safety practices since judges will taste dishes.
5) Cost to enter is $40 per team. Team applications are due by May 31 and may be returned to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs. Checks should be made out to
Hopkins County Dairy Festival. Applications are available at the Extension Office at http://hopkins.agrilife.org, (click on publications) and will soon be posted on the Dairy Festival website.
So, gather your co-workers, fellow civic club members, and friends, and join the fun! If you have questions, please call my office at 903-885-3443, and I’ll be glad to help you.
What’s Missing in Your Pantry?
I’ve received several comments about this program, targeted toward the 55+ crowd. Join us for this informative, fun, and interactive event. Two days have been scheduled, with each day covering a different topic, so choose one or both! There is no charge to attend and participants will receive great information and even get to sample some delicious dishes! Both sessions will take place at First United Methodist Church (enter through the Family Life Center to the Crusader’s classroom), starting around 9:30 a.m. Learn how to add more fruits and vegetables to classic favorites. Below are the topics and dates:
- Wednesday, April 25: What’s Missing in Your Pantry? In this session, we’ll cover several nutrients which are often not consumed in adequate amounts by adults over the age of 50 years. Can you DETERMINE the warning signs of poor nutrition? The acronym outlines nine warning signs for nutritional risk. A nutritional risk self-assessment can help you determine changes are needed.
- Thursday, April 26: Eat Smart, Live Strong – Colorful and Classic Favorites You may never have thought of adding a fruit or a vegetable to a classic dish. This session may inspire you to try it! Hear and experience how easy it is to add fruits and vegetables without giving up your favorite foods.
In order to make adequate preparations, please contact the Extension Office at 903-885-3443 to sign up. Invite a friend, too!
4-H Members Participate in District Contests
District 4-H Contests will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28. Hopkins County will be well represented! The following 4-H members will compete:
- Friday, April 27:
– 4-H Food Show: Kiley Vaughan, Junior, Protein Dish; Ethan George, Intermediate, Fruit & Vegetable Dish
– Educational Presentations: Ethan George, Intermediate, Beef; Braden Lennon, Intermediate, Open Ag/Natural Resources; Honesty Bridges, Intermediate, Open category; Zia Miller, Intermediate, Open Ag/Natural Resources; Christian Ebel, Junior, Open Ag/Natural Resources; Savannah Allen, Senior, Beef; Elida Miller, senior, Open Ag/Natural Resources.
– Public Speaking: Eric Bridges, intermediate
- Saturday, April 28:
– Share-the-Fun: Diego Childs, Poetry/Prose; Nathan Bilyeu, Vocal
Congratulations to each of these fine 4-H members. We wish you the very best!
Closing Thought
A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him – David Brinkley
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
Pond Management: Algae By Mario Villarino
Aquatic vegetation management can be a perplexing problem. The first part of that problem is proper identification. Management of most aquatic plant species depends on properly identifying the desirable or nuisance plant. Many ponds have more than one type of aquatic plant, and care must be taken to identify all the aquatic plants inhabiting the pond. Some pond plants may be beneficial to local or migratory wildlife, and therefore, may want to be encouraged or at least not eliminated.
Planktonic algae are the microscopic, single-celled, and free-floating algae that exist in the top few feet of a pond or lake where the sunlight penetrates. This type of algae is what gives the water a green coloration, a plant mass does not have to be visible. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, planktonic algae are normal and are in fact desirable, because they are essential to the pond’s food chain. Planktonic algae (phytoplankton) provide food for the microscopic animals (zooplankton) that are eaten by fish fry, baitfish, and other pond inhabit-ants, which ultimately support a larger fish population. They display seasonal abundance, with explosions of growth called ‘blooms’ in the spring or summer that often change the color of the pond.
Plank-tonic algae are also important in oxygenation of the pond as they photosynthesize during the day creating oxygen as a byproduct. Rapid die-off due to algae-cide treatments or natural degradation of algal blooms can lead to oxygen depletion and fish kills in the pond. Planktonic algae are the kinds of algae pond owners actually WANT and the fish NEED! It is important to manage and promote planktonic algae to build good fish populations because they provide food and oxygen for fish.
Clear water is not good if pond owners desire a good fishery. Clear water is the equivalent of a disked, fallow field with little vegetation. Just like many cattle can’t be raised well on a fallow field, fish can’t thrive in clear water. Now imagine a lush rye-grass field twelve inches tall. A lot more cattle can exist in this field because it has the food they need. The same is true with green water—many more fish can survive because it contains the food they need.
In order to properly manage planktonic algae, provide nutrients the same as one would for the grass used for cattle forage. Strive to maintain hardness and alkalinity above 30 ppm, which means agricultural limestone (ag lime) may need to be added to the pond every 3 to 7 years. Pond owners might also want to fertilize their bloom, (similar to grass) but with very different nutrients. Nitrogen (N) is the most limiting nutrient for most land-based crops. However, nitrogen is fairly prevalent in water because it diffuses into water from the nitrogen found in the atmosphere. Phosphorous is the limiting nutrient in water, since phosphorous precipitates in water and becomes locked in the pond sediments where planktonic algae cannot reach it.
For new ponds, it is important to start fertilizing shortly after the pond begins to fill. This practice will promote the growth of planktonic algae and limit the growth of nuisance rooted vegetation. Existing ponds also benefit from fertilization, but there is a caveat. Do not fertilize a pond if rooted aquatic vegetation is present or if the pond has extensive areas less than 30 inches deep. Fertilizing when rooted vegetation is present results in as much as four times the amount of rooted vegetation because they will utilize the nutrients before an algal bloom can be-come established. Treating ponds with large areas less than 30” deep promotes the growth of unwanted rooted vegetation.
Instead, first treat existing aquatic vegetation with an aquatically approved herbicide for the species present, and then fertilize. Generally, most recreational ponds receive the most benefit from two fertilizations per year when the management goal is to increase fish density.
However, more frequent fertilizations may be required when the management goal is to prevent the establishment of rooted aquatic vegetation. The first fertilization should be done in the spring when the water temperatures are between 55 and 65°F, before rooted vegetation begins to recover from the winter and start growing. The second fertilization should occur in late spring to mid-summer as needed; i.e., as determined by the state and concentration of the algal bloom.
Oftentimes, ponds require the addition of 5 to 8 pounds of phosphorous per acre at the spring appli-cation while the summer fertilization is made at half to the full rate of the spring fertilization. It takes the addition of 6 pounds of phosphorous per acre to establish a good bloom during the spring fertilization. 3 to 6 pounds of phosphorous per acre is typically adequate for the summer fertilization. Seek fertilizers high in phosphorous content such as ammoniated polyphosphate (9-32-0), polyphosphate (11-37-0), orthophosphate (13-38-0) in liquid forms, diammoni-um phosphate (18-46-0), or triple super phosphate together with ammonium nitrate (0-46-0 + 34-0-0) in granular forms.
An alternative to the inorganic fertilizers (those that come in granular, powdered, or liquid forms) is to add an organic fertilizer. The aquaculture industry has been using cottonseed meal as an organic fertilizer in fish fry ponds for decades. For most farm ponds, 150 – 250 pounds of cottonseed meal spread around the edge of the pond is sufficient to produce a good algal bloom. Organic fertilizers produce blooms more slowly because they release nutrients slowly over time as they decompose.
Remember, the right amount of fertilization is good, but a little extra can be very bad. Too much fertilization can lead to very dense blooms, which consume large amounts of oxygen through respiration during the night when photosynthesis is not occurring. This can lead to early morning fish kills caused by low dissolved oxygen concentrations. Whether they cause a fish kill or not, extremely dense blooms will eventually die-off due to nutrient limitations, and sometimes collapse during massive algae die-offs. Massive algal bloom collapse can also lead to fish kills caused by low dissolved oxygen concentrations.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected]
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Coming UP!
- Basic Vegetable Gardening, April 24, 2018, 7:00 PM. Cost $10 at the door. Hopkins County Extension Office
- Hopkins County Master Gardeners Annual Plant Swap. April 28, 2018. Bright Star Veterinary Clinic Parking lot. 9:00 to Noon.
- NETBIO Beef Up Cattlemen’s Conference, May 11, 2018 3:00 PM, Regional Civic Center Arena, Free (dinner included). Call 903-449-6079 to secure meal by May 1, 2018.
Complete Video Presentation: Chamber of Commerce City Council Candidate Forum
In one hour and 17 minutes, five candidates for three places on the Sulphur Springs City Council presented opening and closing statements and answered submitted questions regarding their individual view of the past, present, and future of the city during a Thursday night, April 19, 2018, candidates forum sponsored by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce at the Sulphur Springs Middle School.
Place 1 candidates, challenger Erica Armstrong and incumbent Craig Johnson, along with Candidates Place 2 Sara Gibson and Jimmy Lucas and Place 3 incumbent Oscar Aguilar answered questions regarding budget, police and fire, future development for the city, and other subjects of city interest.
Absent from the forum were Place 1 candidate Justin Davidson and Place 3 candidate Norman Sanders. A letter from Sanders was read by forum moderator Chris Brown, Executive Director of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments and husband of Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce Director Lezley Brown. Sanders was not present but was with his wife, who had surgery Thursday. In the letter Sanders did not speak to any city issues but did state his reason for not attending. Davidson had withdrawn from the forum last week in a letter to KSST News stating that he had reservations regarding the process of approval for questions that would be asked during the forum. He said his campaign was not represented in the question choice.
Questions asked by Moderator Brown were drawn from a bowl. Brown then asked one question to the candidates in an individual race.
Below is the complete, unedited forum:
