Troop 69 All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast is Saturday Dec. 2 at FUMC
On Saturday December 2, Boy Scout Troop 69 will hold a Pancake Breakfast from 6 am until 12 noon in the Fellowship Hall of First United Methodist Church in downtown Sulphur Springs. Adult tickets are $7 and tickets for children under age 12 are $5. The breakfast is all-you-can-eat and the menu includes pancakes, bacon, sausage and beverages. The public is invited and tickets are available at the door.
Line Up for the Lions Club 10th Annual Lighted Christmas Parade on Dec. 1
John Campbell, a member of the local Lions Club chapter, stopped in for a chat with Enola Gay on the KSST Morning Show about the annual Lighted Christmas Parade on Friday December 1.
John Campbell, loan officer with Alliance Bank, is also a member of the Sulphur Springs Lions Club and organizer if the annual Lighted Christmas Parade.
Since it’s formation in 1937, the Sulphur Springs Lions Club has been a community leader and a long-time sponsor of the town’s Christmas parade. Ten years ago, the night-time lighted parade idea became a big hit with the local public which seemingly gets “into the Christmas spirit” when they see the red-suited Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus waving at the crowds from their well-lit float. Parade-goers line the special parade route which begins and ends at the same place, Buford Park. The route covers Connally Street east to Celebration Plaza along the front of Alliance Bank, then heading north on Church Street, then back west on Houston Street. This year, a play-off game has reserved Gerald Prim Stadium, so expect extra vehicles parked in Buford Park and on the stadium parking lot.
If you wish to enter a float in the parade, just fill out a simple application form at any sponsor location: Carriage House Manor, Alliance Bank, City National Bank, Farmer’s Electric Co-op, Brian Toliver Ford, Jay Hodge Chevrolet or at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce office. The only fee to enter a float in the parade is a new, unwrapped toy for the Blue Santa drive. Parade-goers are also encouraged to assist in the drive by bringing new, unwrapped toys to the parade to be handed up as the Blue Santa float passes by.
Winning floats will be selected from Large Business, Small Business and Non-Profit categories. First, second and third places will be awarded to winners at the next Lions Club weekly meeting on Tuesday December 5 at noon at Pizza Inn, and the Large Business Trophy will be conferred at that time. Carriage House Manor is the presenting sponsor of the parade for 2017.
Also planned for downtown previous to the start of the parade is the Lighting of the Community Christmas Tree on Celebration Plaza at 5:30 pm, hosted by the Downtown Business Alliance. The Snow Slide and White Tigers will be added attractions for families on the night of Friday, December 1, 2017.
For information on the Lions Club Christmas Parade, contact John Campbell at 904-439-6734 or other Lions Club members.
Lady Cats Suffer First Loss; Enter Winnsboro Tourney Thursday
The Lady Cats’ basketball team, ranked #18 in the state, lost their first game of the season, 64-51 against Idabel, Oklahoma on the road Tuesday night (November 28).
A slow start hampered the Lady Cats as they were down 15-6 after the first quarter. They also trailed at the half, 31-20. The Lady Cats staged a comeback in the third quarter outscoring the Warriors, 19-11 to cut the deficit to 42-39. Idabel had a big fourth quarter outscoring the Lady Cats, 22-12 to win the game, 64-51.
The Lady Cats are now 4-1 for the season. The Lady Cats will play in the Winnsboro Hoopfest this Thursday through Saturday. The Lady Cats play Lindale in pool play Thursday at 8 a.m. in Winnsboro’s Memorial Middle School. They wrap up pool play against Tyler Grace Community School Thursday at 1:20 p.m. at Winnsboro High School.
Wildcats Remain Undefeated with Win in Denison
The Wildcats’ basketball team, ranked #13 in the state, remained unbeaten as they topped Denison on the road, 80-66 Tuesday night (November 28). The Wildcats got out to a big lead early and then held on to win as their lead decreased.
The game was similar to the Wildcats home win over Lindale according to Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta.
The Wildcats improved their season record to 5-0. They will compete in the Curtis Culwell Invitational in Garland this Thursday through Saturday. The Wildcats play Garland Lakeview Centennial Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Garland Naaman Forest High School.
Gandy Sentenced; Appeals Sentence Based on Arguments Consistent with Republic of Texas Group
Dana Lynn Gandy, 26, was sentenced by Judge Eddie Northcutt to six months confinement in state jail for the offense of Felony Theft following a sentencing hearing Tuesday, November 28, 2017. Earlier this month, Gandy had been found guilty by the jury in thirteen and a half minutes, the defendant elected to have her punishment assessed by Judge Northcutt instead of the jury.The range of punishment for the crime is a minimum of six months up to a maximum of two years. The offense carries a potential fine of up to $10,000 however Judge Northcutt did not assess a fine. After being sentenced to the minimum punishment of six months confinement, the defendant filed legal documents with the court consistent with the arguments and legal positions of The Republic of Texas group, a group that believes that the laws of Texas do not apply to them because they are “sovereign citizens”, according to Assistant District Attorney Clay Harrison.
Dana Lynn Gandy
Gandy was found guilty by a Hopkins County jury of stealing approximately $1000.00 worth of groceries from Walmart in Sulphur Springs. The defendant first attempted to push a shopping cart out of the store without paying, but she was stopped by a Walmart employee. She then waited inside the store for a few hours before attempting to steal a second time. During her second attempt, she “under-rang” items in the self-checkout machine and then pretended to pay for her merchandise before leaving the store. She was stopped by Walmart loss prevention officers.
This is the defendant’s first felony conviction, however she has an extensive misdemeanor history. She has a previous theft conviction from Smith County and a previous theft conviction from Hopkins County. Her Smith County probation was revoked when the defendant committed theft in Titus County. She also has a DWI conviction from Camp County.
During the sentencing phase, Assistant District Attorney Clay Harrison called Sherry Scallions, a CPS worker, who testified that the defendant presented her with a forged government record and claimed that the State had dismissed her pending felony case for Child Endangerment. The State also called SSPD Detective Mark Estes who testified that he had recently been contacted by a man claiming to be an investigator with the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The man told Detective Estes that he was investigating allegations of misconduct by CPS and court officials in the defendant’s case. Detective Estes later determined that the man was impersonating a peace officer and when he attempted to reach him, the man had disconnected his phone. Carol Gunderson with the probation department testified that the defendant had lied to her and was uncooperative during her pre-sentence report investigation.
The defendant’s father, John Gandy, testified that he believed CPS had not been totally fair in his daughter’s case and that he believed she should get probation. The prosecutor cross-examined Mr. Gandy about whether the defendant was a member of the Republic of Texas.
She was indicted in August of this year for Abandon Endanger Child Criminal Negligence. Special Crimes Unit, working with Child Protective Services, arrested her at the CPS office in July. CPS opened an investigation in June of this year testing Gandy, her husband and their 4-year old child. The 4-year old child tested positive for Methamphetamine. Both the biological mother and the biological father tested positive for a variety of controlled substances. The biological father was in a drug rehab program at this time of her arrest. His arrest was pending his release. The now 5-yr old child continues to be placed with relatives.
Game Day: Wildcats Ranked 13th; Lady Cats Ranked 18th
Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats’ basketball teams return to the court on this Tuesday (November 28) game day.
The Wildcats travel to Denison to play the Yellow Jackets. Games begin with a freshman contest at 5 p.m. The JV team plays at around 6:15 p.m. The varsity contest begins at around 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats are 4-0 so far this season and they are ranked #13 in the state in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Poll. Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta says Denison is a scrappy team coached by a friend of his Chet Byerly. The Wildcats have wins against three Class 6A teams, Arlington Bowie, Rockwall Heath and Rockwall. They also defeated Lindale at home.
The Lady Cats play at Idabel, Oklahoma. Lady Cats Coach Jeff Chapman coached at Idabel for quite a few years before coming to Sulphur Springs in 2010. The Lady Cats are 4-0 so far this season and they are ranked #18 in the TABC Poll. The Lady Cats have road wins at Emory Rains, North Lamar and Paris. They also have a home victory against Hugo, Oklahoma. Idabel is coached by one of Coach Chapman’s former Idabel players. There will be a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. followed by a varsity game at around 7 p.m.
Lady Cat Soccer First Day of Practice with New Head Coach
The Lady Cats’ soccer team had their first day of practice for this season Monday (November 27). Long time Lady Cats Assistant Coach Joel Bailey is now head coach replacing Jesus DeLeon, who went to Texas High. Coach Bailey also served as interim head coach in 2009 after the resignation of Martin Bryant. Coach Bailey says he doesn’t plan a whole lot of changes. He admits he may do some tinkering.
Coach Bailey says he liked what he saw from his Lady Cats Monday. He says he had a great turnout and the girls worked hard. Coach Bailey says he was impressed with their work rate, their intensity level, their skill level and their soccer IQ. He experts to have 19 or 20 players on the varsity. Coach Bailey says the puzzle pieces are there and he just needs to see how they fit best. Coach Bailey says he has a good group of seniors and he adds most of them have been on the varsity since they were freshmen.
Coach Bailey says senior forward Mileena Zirretta has that rare combination of speed and skill. He says he may move senior forward Makenna Kager to the midfield for better ball control. Coach Bailey says senior forward and captain Gracie Boyer may also be used in the midfield. The Lady Cats other captain is senior defender Jo McMillan. Coach Bailey says he can also count on senior midfielder Taylor Robinson. He says he is expecting an increased role for senior defender Erika Lara. Move in Jessica Rocca is also expected to help the Lady Cats this season.
Coach Bailey will be assisted by Ross Hicks, who was a Wildcats assistant coach last year. Coach Bailey says he liked how Coach DeLeon gave him a lot of freedom to prepare JV players for the varsity and he expects to give Coach Hicks the same freedom. Coach Bailey says he wants his Lady Cats to be mentally strong, to be better at possessing the ball in the midfield and to be able to speed up or slow down the game as needed. He notes the teams first scrimmage is just a month away. They will scrimmage Paris at Gerald Prim Stadium on December 28. The Lady Cats will open the season against Balch Springs Christian Academy in a Terrell tournament on January 4.
Photo from previous season
Winnsboro Police Department Report November 20-26, 2017
Winnsboro Police arrested one, investigated one accident, responded to 207 calls for service, issued 66 citations and wrote 65 warnings during the report period November 20-26, 2017.
Vincent Wennberg, 21, of Winnsboro, was arrested November 20th on a Hopkins County warrant.
No injuries were reported in a minor accident in the 100 block of West Broadway in Winnsboro. The accident occurred on November 21st. Two autos were stopped at a signal light and the second vehicle behind a truck thought the truck had moved forward so the driver of the second vehicle accelerated striking the rear of the truck. A roll of linoleum flooring extended from the back of the truck and struck the hood of the second vehicle. Police report no damage to the linoleum flooring for the truck.
