Wildcats Finish Third at Lindale Tournament
The Wildcats’ golf team finished third at a tournament at Hideaway Lake Golf Course in Lindale Monday (March 19). Teams from Hallsville finished first and second.
Wildcats Golf Coach Chris Owens says his team shot a 336. He says Andrew Escobar led the Wildcats with an 79. Carter Lewis shot 81. Colton Bench shot 84. Cameron Morris had 92. Kip Childress shot 99. Coach Owens says it was a little windy Monday but he says for the most part the weather was pretty good. He says he hopes his team can improve by about 20 strokes before the district golf tournament on April 5-6.
Based on the Wildcats performance at a district preview at Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club before spring break, Coach Owens says he expects to district race to come down to Hallsville, Texas High and the Wildcats battling for the two spots to qualify for the regional tournament.
The Wildcats play next at The Cascades Golf Club at Tyler next Monday in a tournament sponsored by All Saints Episcopal School.
Teen Click It or Ticket Campaign Begins Thursday
AUSTIN – Texas teens have an important message for their friends and fellow students: Always buckle up. The message is part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s annual “Teen Click It or Ticket” campaign, in partnership with high school students, to urge young drivers and their passengers to wear their seat belts every time they’re in a vehicle.
“In Texas, 42 percent of all teenagers killed in traffic crashes in 2016 weren’t buckled up,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “We know seat belts save lives, but only if motorists use them. We want to make sure this message gets through to teens, and no one knows how to reach teens better than other teens.”
Partnering with students from the Texas-based group Teens in the Driver Seat, TxDOT’s “Teen Click It or Ticket” campaign will reach teens through radio and TV public service announcements, social media and peer-to-peer outreach at statewide high schools. The initiative kicks off Thursday with an entirely student-run press conference at Memorial High School in Houston.
Teens also will lead interactive events at high schools and sporting events this spring to convince their peers that seat belts are their best defense against being killed or badly injured in a crash. A mangled truck involved in a rollover crash will be on display at each event. Two Texas teens survived that crash with only minor scratches thanks to their seat belts. The campaign also will offer teens the digital experience of wearing virtual reality goggles to test their reaction times.
“Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells us that new teen drivers are twice as likely to be in a fatal crash as adults,” said Bryce Cunningham, co-chair of the Teens in the Driver Seat national Teen Advisory Board and a senior at Chisum High School in Paris, Texas. “It just doesn’t make any sense to not wear your seat belt when you’re in a vehicle.”
In Texas in 2016, one in five vehicle crashes involved a teen driver. Of the 269 teen drivers and passengers killed in crashes that year, 114 were unbuckled.
Texas law requires drivers and all passengers to wear a seat belt. Unbuckled drivers and passengers — even those in the back seat — face fines and court costs up to $200.
Local Little Caesar’s Participating in March Madness “If Crazy Happens” Free Pizza Offer
When the # 16 seed University of Maryland-Baltimore County defeated #1 Seed Virginia, not only did the opening round of March Madness create history, but Little Caesar’s Pizza will be keeping their promise of a free lunch April 2nd. Little Caesars Pizza at the corner of Gilmer and Oak Avenue in Sulphur Springs is participating in the free lunch but rules do apply.
Little Caesar’s will be giving away free $5 Hot-N-Ready Lunch Combo, which includes four (4) slices of DEEP!DEE!TM Dish pepperoni pizza and a 20 oz Pepsi product on April 2, 2018 to each family who comes into a participating store between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and mentions this offer a the check-out counter. The offer is good only April 2, 2018 from 11:30 a.m. until 1p.m. or while supplies last, whichever occurs first. The offer must be placed before 1 p.m. and even if you are in line and have not placed your order at 1 p.m., the offer will expire and not be fulfilled. Offer redeemable only at Participating Stores and not redeemable in any manner other than provided herein, including, but not limited to, via online, mobile app, or delivery. If the Conditional Event does not take place for any reason whatsoever, including due to forfeiture and/or a failure to play a game, no Promotional Item will be awarded and Sponsor will have no obligation under these Terms.
Only one promotional item per family. Additional toppings and any other items are extra and not included in the offer. Additional rules apply.
Rotary Club’s 5th Annual Crawfish Boil Set for April 28 on Celebration Plaza
Carrie Nuckolls is a busy member of the Rotary Club of Sulphur Springs, helping spreading the word about the service organization’s most delicious fundraiser of the year! The “Claws for a Cause” Crawfish Boil will be held downtown on Celebration Plaza in Sulphur Springs starting at 4pm on Saturday April 28, 2018. The open-air event can seat crowds of people and there will be plenty of crawfish…tons, actually…for the masses. Tickets are $25 in advance and will be $30 on the day of the event. You can refill your tray of crawfish, potatoes and corn as often as you like, and Vince Vance and the Valiants will fill the plaza with music into the evening. VIP seating and tables are available, so plan to bring your family and invite your friends. Tickets are available from any Rotarian and through Facebook Rotary Claws for a Cause.
The Rotary “Claws for a Cause” event raises money for Rotary projects as well as raises awareness of services performed by the Rotary Club which benefit the local area. The club holds a noon meeting weekly with catered lunch and new members are being sought. 2018 Rotary President is Brandon Williams, and the Crawfish event is chaired by Logan Vaughn of Sulphur Springs Country Club.
SSISD Board Approves Lower Grade Campus Restructure
A restructure of lower grade campuses was approved by the Sulphur Springs School Board during a Monday, March 19, 2018, afternoon special session. The restructure will allow students to stay on the same campus longer. The restructure, which has been a desire of Superintendent Michael Lamb since his taking office (see video below), will ultimately place four classes of four grades on each of the four lower grade schools and will create a re-purposing of two buildings in the district. The changes will begin with the start of the 2018-2019 school year.
What is now Sulphur Springs Elementary School will now find its fourth life as home for fourth (4th) and fifth (5th) grade students. The current building began life as a high school, then junior high, and now as the third (3rd) and fourth (4th) grade elementary school. Holly Folmar will be principal at the Intermediate School which will also house a Dual Language and Behavior as well as Self Contained SPED 4th and 5th programs. The change will bring fifth grade students from the single grade campus at Douglas School.
The Douglas Campus will become the Early Childhood Learning Center with Principal Angela Edwards and Director Hillary Young leading all things Pre-Kindergarten and Early Childhood Learning.
The current Early Childhood Learning Center will be renamed and repurposed as an Elementary School for grades Kindergarten through third (3rd) grade. The building will house four classes for each grade as well as the Transitional first (1st) grade and Self Contained SPED K and 1st grade. There will also be rooms available for future growth. During the years of Lambs term as Superintendent, the district elementary program has grown by about 50 students per year. Ashanta Alexander will be the principal at the fourth elementary school. Board members have not chosen a name for the elementary school.
Lamar Primary School will contain four classes for each of the four grade levels K-3rd and Rowena Johnson will continue as principal there.
Bowie Primary School will contain four classes for each of the four grade levels K-3rd and also house the Special Program: Behavior. Amanda Fenton will be Principal at Bowie.
At Travis, Principal Michelle Wallace will oversee four classes of four grade levels K-3rd plus a Special Program: Dual Language 2 Way Program for K 2018-2019 and a Self Contained SPED 2nd and 3rd. The Dual Language Program will take Kindergarten students who only speak Spanish and Kindergarten students who only speak English providing a language study as well as typical classes for the grade. The Dual Language program will be limited to approximately 44 students. Travis will have six classes of the same grade until those students move on to the next grade level building.
Lamb said he “believes with all my heart” that the move will enable a better learning experience for students as they remain on the same campus for a longer period of time which will provide a greater stability for their experience. He also believes the move will assist in the increase in standardized test scores. He stated that the four districts that follow the current model used in Sulphur Springs consistently score lower than other schools that use the approved model. He noted that 40 school districts of similar size and socio-economic level are used for the comparison.
He noted that a team of district employees assisted in the studies that lead to the plan that will be implemented in the next school year.
Cumby’s Ashley Haygood Named ‘Community Hero’ by Chicken Express
Cumby Powerlifting team placed third in State for 2017. Shown are Ashley (far right) and her twin sister Samantha, along with team members Cheyenne Jones and Paige Seely
After Cumby High School Senior Ashley Haygood graduates this Spring, she plans to continue the momentum she has built with a goal to pursue and complete a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. With a stellar high school career in sports and in the classroom, Ashley was noticed for the impact she’s made on and off the field of play. In March 2018, Lone Star’s Nick Bolton and Cumby High School’s Ashley Hagood were selected as Chicken Express Community Heroes. Male and female student athletes who lead by example on the field of play and in the classroom can be honored as Community Heroes through Chicken Express and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and receive scholarship money to continue their education beyond high school. Athletes can be nominated at TexasFootball.com/ChickenExpress.
The following is a bit about Ashley’s high school career.
When Tom Dracos took the job as athletic director at Cumby High School in 2013, things quickly changed for Ashley Hagood.
She was just an eighth grader at the time, but Dracos’ arrival sparked a new passion in sports for Hagood. Now, she has developed into an award-winning competitor in cross country, volleyball, basketball, powerlifting and track.
“Coach Dracos is the person who taught me to love sports and have a passion for them,” Hagood said. “Every time I thought I was not good enough or there was no reason for me to compete, he pushed me to keep going even though it was tough. He is the person who got me seriously involved in sports, and he is still the person who pushes me every day to be the best I can be.”
Hagood placed in the top 5 at the state powerlifting meet in each of the last two years and is in the process of making a run at a state title in her senior year. She was the volleyball Defensive MVP in District 9-2A and was a second team all-district basketball player. On the track team, Hagood has contributed to three straight district championships. She was also named to First Team in Academic All-State Cross Country.
Her prominence in athletics carries over to the classroom, where she has been on the ‘A’ Honor Roll for her entire high school career. Hagood is the FCA president, a member of the National Honor Society, delivers food to the community food pantry and works weekly with third and fourth graders needing help in class.
She was named a Chicken Express Community Hero for making an impact on and off the field in Cumby.
“Winning this award is important to me because it means I can represent my community by being able to contribute in a positive way,” Hagood said. “I believe it’s important for high school students to be involved in their community because it helps make a student become a better role model.”
After graduating this year, Hagood plans on getting her Associates degree before attending a Physical Therapy Assistant program. Eventually, she wants to go through the process of obtaining her Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
“High school was a big learning experience because I learned who I am and what I want to do with my life,” Hagood said. “I learned what my goals are and how I can achieve them, my likes and dislikes, and I learned many different lessons about life.”
Ashley Haygood, 305 lb squat lift
Lady Cats Host Texas High Tuesday
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo said his team had a battle on their hands last Thursday as the Lady Cats scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to squeeze past Marshall 3-2 in Marshall. He said the Lady Cats are finding ways to win. They are off to a 4-0 start in district, matching the best start ever for a David Carrillo-coached Lady Cats Softball Team. The 2015 team also started district 4-0.
Coach Carrillo credited the Me over We approach of the team for their good start this year. He noted the Lady Cats have already picked up wins on their two longest district road trips on the 2018 schedule, at Hallsville and at Marshall. Bailey Haggerty continues to pitch well. Coach Carrillo said she struck out six straight Marshall batters at one point during Thursday’s game. He said he was confident his team would find a way to win Thursday.
Alyssa Abron hit a single that scored runners from third and second to put the Lady Cats out in front. They trailed the whole game until that point. Coach Carrillo said he could tell the team had a lot of fight in it Thursday night.
The Texas High Lady Tigers visit Lady Cat Park Tuesday evening.
Wildcats Host Texas High Tuesday
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack looked different Monday. On Friday he got a big monkey off his back as his Wildcats won at Marshall. The last Wildcats’ win there was in 2010 and the Wildcats had lost five straight times on the Mavericks’ field going into Friday’s game.
Coach Hammack said the win did not come easy and he added it never does. He said it usually ends up as a one-run game and Marshall always seem to find a way to come out on top. Coach Hammack said Friday it looked like that would be the case again.
After trailing for most of the game, Marshall scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead. Coach Hammack said the inning included a very reliable Wildcats’ outfielder slipping while chasing a fly ball and a Maverick swinging bunt down the third base line that went for a hit. Coach Hammack said he knew he had some good hitters coming up in the top of the seventh but he said he couldn’t help but thinking here we go again after the Mavs scored their sixth inning runs. The pattern seemed to be continuing as Ryan Humphries hit a bullet right at a fielder for an out to start the Wildcats’ seventh. Then things began to change. Triston McCormick got on and Jaxon Chaney hit a very high fly ball to center field that landed over the fence. Coach Hammack said pandemonium broke out on the Wildcats side. Chaney then mowed the Mavs down in the bottom of the seventh and the Wildcats had a big win.
The Wildcats are at the top of the district standings with a 2-0 record. The Wildcats will play host to Texas High, 1-0 in district play, at new Wildcat Park Tuesday night.
Lady Cats Defeat Greenville; Face Hallsville
The Lady Cats’ soccer team, revved up on Senior Night and frustrated by a recent loss to Mount Pleasant, seemed to take it all out on the Greenville Lady Lions Friday night at Prim Stadium. The Lady Cats scored early and often in a 7-1 one-sided match.
Six Lady Cats seniors were recognized. Four of them have plans to play in college. Three of them scored goals against Greenville. Mileena Zirretta had a three goal hat trick. Gracie Boyer scored a goal as did Makenna Kagar on a penalty kick. Also honored were Taylor Robinson, injured four-year letterman Jo McMillan and Erika Lara, who was away on a college trip. Bailey Arrington and Keeley Hudgins also scored goals.
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Joel Bailey, on KSST Radio and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday Morning Coaches Show, said he would never forget the six special seniors in the class of 2018.
The Lady Cats have a tough closing assignment in district play Tuesday night. They travel to first place Hallsville. The Lady Bobcats have yet to surrender a goal in district play and they have only 3 losses this season. The Lady Cats seemed destined for third place in the district standings. They are expected to meet Wylie East in a bi-district match.
