Wildcats Take Over in Middle Innings for 8-2 Win in Greenville
After a slow start, the Wildcats’ baseball took over their game with Greenville in the middle innings to register an 8-2 win Thursday evening (March 29) in Greenville. The game was moved from Sulphur Springs to Greenville Thursday due to wet grounds at new Wildcat Park.
The Lions jumped out in front with 2 runs in the bottom of the first inning. It was the fourth inning before the Wildcats could tie the game with a pair of runs of their own. A Tyler Armstrong RBI single helped the Wildcats’ cause in the top of the fourth. A Ryan Humphries RBI single in the top of the fifth gave the Wildcats their first lead at 3-2. The Wildcats stretched out the lead with a four run top of the sixth to go up 7-2. Austin Dodd, Kaden Argenbright and Humphries all had singles in the big inning. The Wildcats scored one more run in the top of the seventh to go up 8-2.
Kamren Harrison had a big night at the plate going 2 for 3 with an RBI, a run scored, a walk and a double. Humphries was 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Argenbright was 2 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBIs. Dodd, Dawson Draper and Armstrong all had an RBI.
Triston McCormick got the pitching win going all seven innings allowing only 2 runs on 7 hits with 8 strikeouts and only 1 walk. The Wildcats improved to 4-0 in district play. They are 11-7 for the season and they have won 8 straight games.
The Wildcats play next on Good Friday at 2 p.m. in Mount Pleasant. The game was moved to Friday after rain outs on Tuesday and Wednesday. Left unanswered was why the game was not played on Monday, like softball did, before the rains came for two days after that.
Wildcats, Lady Cats Soccer Seasons End at Bi-District
Lovejoy 2, Wildcats 1
The Lovejoy Leopards scored a goal with just 2:18 left in the second half that proved to be the difference in a hard fought 2-1 bi-district win over the Wildcats’ soccer team Thursday evening at Pirate Stadium in Wylie. Both teams scored earlier in the second half after a scoreless first half. Both of Lovejoy’s goals were scored by Caleb Toomey. His first goal put the Leopards on top, 1-0 at the 26:31 mark of the second half. Just 32 seconds later, the Wildcats evened the score with a goal from Enrique Arellano assisted by Ricardo Torres at the 25:59 mark of the second half. Wildcats Coach Nicky Wiggins said after the game Lovejoy players congratulated the Wildcats on how well they played. The game was the last one for 14 Wildcats seniors. The Wildcats end the season with a 13-13 record. They had a district record of 6-6.
Wylie East 2, Lady Cats Soccer 1
The Lady Cats’ soccer team gave a strong Wylie East team quite a game before the Lady Raiders eked out a 2-1 win in a bi-district game at Rockwall’s Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadum Thursday night (March 29). The Lady Cats utilized a Keeley Hudgins goal in the first half to take a 1-0 lead into the halftime locker room. Wylie East fought back in the second half to tie the game and then finally take the lead. The Lady Cats had six seniors who played their final game for Sulphur Springs Thursday night. The Lady Cats end the season with a record of 15-8-3. They were 7-5 in district play.
Tira News: March 29, 2018
By Jan Vaughn
Rachel Lewis reported, “A memorial service was held for Travis Eugene (Gene) Lewis on Saturday, March 24th, 2018 at the Tira cemetery. He passed on December 19, 2017 in Georgia.” She shared that he donated his body to science for a lasting gift to humanity. Gene was the fifth child born to Thomas Barney Lewis and Edna Lee Speaks Lewis. Surviving are Wanda Lewis Clayton, Gary J. Lewis and wife Rachel of Sulphur Springs; Dorothy Lewis Hargrave of McKinney; Judy C. Lewis and Richard G. Lewis of Irving; a step-daughter and step-son, Tarah Harriel Voyles of Thomasville, Georgia and Michael (Bubba) Jackson of Rome, Georgia; and many nieces and nephews.
Landon and Laiken Joslin shopped in Greenville on Saturday and enjoyed dining on Japanese food at Shogun. Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden stayed with their “Gimmee” Tiffany and aunt Jaidyn. The kids had fun painting buckets for Easter.
Chip and I were in Georgetown, at Union on the 8th , on Saturday evening to attend the wedding of Paige Shafer and Travis Stafford. Paige is the great-granddaughter of the late Lloyd and Beulah Smiddy of Tira. She is the daughter of Tim and Teresa (Smiddy) Barcus and Mike Shafer and granddaughter of Gail and the late Jerry Wayne Smiddy. Chip and I drove to Hill Country Resort on Canyon Lake on Friday afternoon. On the way, we stopped in Waco and had dinner with our son, Delayne Vaughn, at Old Chicago. The next day we enjoyed a drive among the hills and along the River Road, just out of Gruene, where we had a delicious meal at The Gristmill River Restaurant overlooking the Guadalupe River. We met our nephew, Michael Horn and his wife and daughter, Tracy and Lani, at Cracker Barrel in San Marcos on Sunday and had lunch and a good visit with them before returning home.
I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very blessed Easter!
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945- 2190 or 903-438- 6688 or [email protected].
Understanding your Lawn: St. Augustine Grass By Mario Villarino
Understanding your lawn: St Augustine grass
As our temperatures steadily increase and maintain temperatures, so is our desire and interest in the garden and lawns. After last weekend, the consultations coming to the extension offices related to lawn issues increased significantly. Common questions related St. Augustine grass lawns. St Agustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze), is a perennial robust grass widely used for pastures and lawns. In the warmer climates of the tropics and subtropics it rivals bermudagrass in importance. St. Augustine grass is adapted to moist, coastal areas with mild winter temperatures. It is known to be tolerant of high summer temperatures, and St. Augustine grass retains its color at temperatures as much as 10° lower than those which discolor bermudagrass.
St. Augustine grass tolerates moderate shade, being as good or better than other warm season grasses for shaded sites. However, under densely shaded conditions, St. Augustine grass develops thin, spindly turf. So long as fertility and drainage are adequate, St. Augustine grass tolerates a wide range of soil types. St. Augustine grass grows satisfactorily at a pH range from 5.0 to 8.5, but develops a chlorotic appearance in highly alkaline soils (above pH 7.5). It does not tolerate compacted or waterlogged soil conditions. St. Augustine grass is highly tolerant of soil salinity, producing satisfactory growth at salt levels as high as 16 mmhos. Bermudagrass will tolerate only slightly higher salt levels.
St. Augustine grass is used primarily for lawns as it does not tolerant traffic as well as some other warm season species. It produces satisfactory turf at moderate levels of maintenance, effectively competes with weeds and other grasses and has only a few serious pests. After establishment the success of St. Augustine grass as a lawn grass depends largely on management. Mowing, fertilization and supplemental watering are required to maintain a dense, green, weed-free turf of St. Augustine grass. The growth rate of St. Augustine grass is dependent on temperature, moisture availability and nutrient availability. Any one of these factors can limit the rate of growth of this species. In the spring with mild daytime temperatures and cool night temperatures, St. Augustine grass greens up, but makes little growth. As day and night temperatures increase during late spring and summer, the growth rate increases.
Thus, an established turf of St. Augustine grass may require mowing every 2 weeks in early spring and as often as every five days by late spring if nitrogen fertilizer is applied. St. Augustine grass is responsive to nitrogen fertilizer in terms of color and growth rate. On sandy soils St. Augustine grass requires about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per month during the growing season to maintain satisfactory color and density. At rates above 1 pound per 1,000 square feet, St. Augustine grass produces lush growth that is highly susceptible to insects and diseases. On heavier textured soils 1/2 pound of nitrogen every month is adequate to maintain good color and growth. Thatch accumulation is also a problem when nitrogen fertilization exceeds the required rate.
Pests. Several insect pests cause serious damage to St. Augustine grass lawns. The Southern lawn chinch bug is the most serious pest on St. Augustine grass where the insect if active most of the year. In other states it ranks among the most serious pests along with SAD, brownpatch and white grub.
Timely applications of insecticides will control chinch bugs. Two or more treatments are required during the growing season in most areas, and as many as 5 or 6 may be required in some areas. White grub are also a serious pest on St. Augustine grass lawns. The grubs are the larvae of the May beetle or June bug that develop in the summer and fall just below the soil surface. The grubs feed on roots of St. Augustine grass and cause significant losses of turf during some years.
Damage usually appears the following year as dead areas of grass that can be easily lifted from the lawn. Grub control is difficult since the larvae are often quite large when detected and feed below the soil surface. Also, for them to be effective, insecticides must be drenched into the soil where the insects feed. Since some insecticides are tightly bound to the thatch layer of St. Augustine grass, drenching the material into the soil is difficult.
St. Augustine grass is susceptible to a number of turfgrass diseases including brownpatch, SAD, gray leaf spot, Helminthosporium, Pythium, rust, downy mildew and others. All of these diseases, except SAD, are caused by fungi and can be controlled by good management and fungicides. SAD is a virus disease for which there is no chemical control. Only resistant varieties of St. Augustine grass are effective against this disease. Floratam, Seville, Raleigh and several experimental varieties have shown good resistance to the SAD virus.
Brownpatch and gray leaf spot are the most serious diseases caused by fungi attacking St. Augustine grass. Although these diseases rarely kill St. Augustine, they severely weaken and thin the grass to the degree that the lawn is unsightly. Preventive applications of fungicides are most effective against these diseases.
A healthy St. Augustine grass lawn effectively crowds out most weeds. But St. Augustine grass that is not properly maintained or is weakened by insects or disease can be invaded by grassy and broadleaved weeds. Cool season weeds such as henbit, chickweed and clover are a serious problem in dormant St. Augustine grass. These weeds can be controlled by hormone-type herbicides in early spring.
Annual grassy weeds such as fescue, annual bluegrass and crabgrass are best controlled by timely applications of preemergence herbicides. Perennial grasses such as dallisgrass and bermudagrass are difficult to control in St. Augustine grass turf. Nonselective products can be applied as directed sprays to these weeds to obtain control. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic, please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email [email protected].
Coming UP
Basic Vegetable Training with the Hopkins County Master Gardeners, Tuesday April 24, 2018 at the Hopkins County Extension Office 7:00 to 9:00 PM. $10 at the door.
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Atmos Energy to Perform Routine Maintenance/Flare in April 2018
Atmos Energy to Flare Natural Gas in Sulphur Springs
SULPHUR SPRINGS, Texas (April 3, 2018) – Atmos Energy crews and contractors will oversee a controlled natural gas flaring beginning April 3rd from approximately 7 a..m. to 7 p.m. at the intersection of Hopkins County Road 2319, just east of FM 1870. It is expected to last approximately two days while the company works on a a section of natural gas pipeline in the area as part of normal, routine maintenance operations.
If further work is needed, an additional flaring will be conducted April 10 – 12th, 2018.
“Flaring” is a standard industry practice to safely burn natural gas that must be removed from a specific section of pipeline so employees can work on the pipe. People in the area will notice a large, controlled flame and moderate noise during this process. Atmos Energy employees will be on site to monitor the process as natural gas is vented into the atmosphere.
The Hopkins County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, Volunteer Fire Departments in the area, 911 operators and city and county officials are being advised of the flaring prior to the work beginning April 3rd.
For an informational video explaining why Atmos Energy performs flaring operations click, here.
Wildcat Baseball to Play Greenville
Farmers say it’s too wet to plow. It’s also too wet to play baseball at new Wildcat Park on this game day Thursday (March 29). Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack said Greenville’s baseball field is in playable condition so the Wildcats game, varsity only, is moving to Greenville at 7 p.m. Thursday. To complete the switch, in the second round of district play on April 24, that game will be at Wildcat Park instead of Greenville. The Wildcats are off to a good start in district play with a 3-0 record. Their season record is 10-7 and the Wildcats have won seven straight games. Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack is expected to pitch either Ryan Humphries or Triston McCormick Thursday against Greenville and again the game will be in Greenville Thursday (March 29) at 7 p.m.
Ladycats Soccer to Play Wylie East
The Lady Cats’ soccer team is hoping to extend their season as they play Wylie East in a bi-district playoff soccer match Thursday (March 29) at 6 p.m. at Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium in Rockwall. The Lady Cats finished in third place in district while Wylie East ended up second in their district. The Lady Cats were 7-5 in district play and they have a 15-7-3 season record. The winner of Thursday’s bi-district game will play the winner of a Prosper and Frisco game also being played Thursday evening.
Wildcats Soccer to Play Lovejoy
The Wildcats’ soccer team plays Lovejoy again this year in a bi-district playoff match Thursday (March 29) at 7 p.m. at Pirate Stadium on the campus of Wylie East. The Wildcats are the four seed in their district while Lovejoy is a district champ. On KSST Radio and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday Morning Coaches Show, Wildcats Soccer Coach Nicky Wiggins said that Lovejoy is a solid team with no apparent weaknesses. He said the Wildcats would have their work cut out for them. Coach Wiggins said the Wildcats would have to prepare and play as well as they can. He said the Leopards lost their best player last year, Cal Cranfill, to graduation. The Dallas Morning News is touting Benji Merrick as a player to watch. Coach Wiggins said former Wildcat Coach Andy Holt, now at Frisco Wakeland, said Lovejoy is just like a Frisco team with their team full of club ball players who all can touch the ball and can play multiple positions.
Coach Wiggins said the Wildcats have played well lately. He said they have been involved in some intense games including the 1-0 victory over Hallsville that wrapped up a playoff spot. Coach Wiggins said he liked the Wildcats’ chances. He said the Wildcats would need to win balls in the air, avoid turnovers, limit mistakes and play good and hard. Taking inspiration from recent March Madness Basketball, Coach Wiggins said #1 doesn’t always beat #4. The Wildcats are 13-12 for the season including a 6-6 district record.
The winner of this bi-district contest will face the winner of a Lake Dallas and Frisco Lone Star match also played Thursday evening. We will bring you Wildcats Soccer versus Lovejoy live on KSST Radio from Wylie. We will also videotape the game for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – To Open New Parking Garage
TYLER, TX – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System will open their newly constructed 850-space parking garage on Dawson street to improve ease of access for patients and visitors to the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler and the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler.
“The older garage facility has served the hospital and our patients very well, but it was important that we relocate and improve the parking structure to allow for the construction of the new Bradley-Thompson Tower to begin in full” said Jason Proctor, Chief Operating Officer of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler and the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler.
The new garage was built to accommodate the logistical and vehicle needs of hospital and clinic patients, families and visitors, and it is open and ready to help improve the ability of all those who visit the Tyler campus to access the treatments and services they need.
“The new garage opening is a huge help to the flow of traffic, a convenience for visitors and an important first step in the ongoing expansion of the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler campus,” said Proctor. “We are incredibly excited to open this new garage and take a huge step toward the finalization of the new Bradley-Thompson Tower being constructed where the old garage is currently located.”
For the ease of those using the new garage, there will be a clearly defined and partially covered walkway from the garage to the hospital entrance. However, because it may be more difficult for some patients or visitors to walk the distance from the new garage, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System will be offering shuttle service from the garage to the hospital’s front door every 5-7 minutes.
The new garage is part of a multi-million-dollar expansion project that includes the new 200,000 (actually 190,000 but what’s 10,000 SF)-square-foot Bradley-Thompson Tower to be built on the South side of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler, with a skywalk leading to a new garage across Dawson Street. The Tower will house a state-of-the-art Emergency Care Center, advanced Intensive Care Units and multiple support departments, as well as space for future growth. Construction of the tower is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2020.
“This expansion project will build on a legacy of more than 80 years of critical care service to the people of Northeast Texas that was set forth by our Founding Congregations and the caregivers here when they opened a day early to care for the victims of the New London School disaster,” said Chris Glenney, FACHE, Senior Vice President of Group Operations for CHRISTUS Health, Chief Executive Officer of CHRISTUS Health Northeast and President of CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System. “This organization has completed a lot of important projects; each one of which has had outstanding community support. This expansion is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by this health system, and we cannot do this without the support of the Northeast Texas community. This project is future-focused and patient-centered, enabling us to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ for generations to come.”
