Friday Second Half Rally Secures Win for Wildcats; Face Frisco Lone Star Friday at Princeton
The Wildcats’ basketball team led 17-16 at the half of their bi-district game with Lovejoy Tuesday night at Paris and Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta did not like what he was seeing. After the game, he admitted he tore into his team during the halftime break. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats displayed no grit during the first half. He felt Lovejoy wanted it more than the Wildcats during the first two quarters.
Coach Cipoletta was especially unhappy to see his taller team getting out rebounded. He said his team responded well to his criticism and he added he was proud of them. Coach Cipoletta said the Leopards attempted to take away post Victor Iwuakor and the Wildcats’ inside presence. He said Wildcats’ shooters did a good good of knocking down shots in the second half. Coach Cipoletta said the team did not find those shooters in the first half but they did after halftime. He was pleased his team held Lovejoy to less than 10 points during three quarters of the game. Coach Cipoletta said the Lovejoy coaching staff did a good job early of executing their strategy to slow down the game. He said the Wildcats points per possession in the first two quarters was as low as it has been this season.
Frisco Lone Star is next for the Wildcats. The Area game will take place at Princeton Friday at 7 p.m. Coach Cipoletta said he does not expect any delay tactics from the Rangers. He called them good, big and athletic. The game will be broadcast on KSST and the video replay will follow on Suddenlink Cable Channel 18.
Saltillo FFA Chapter Gets Ready for Mt. Vernon/Saltillo Young Farmers Show, Stew and Auction
The Saltillo ISD FFA Chapter partners annually with Mt. Vernon ISD for the Young Farmer’s Livestock and Ag Mechanics Show. This event is coming up on March 24 in the Young Farmer’s Show Barn in Mt. Vernon. Spectators are encouraged to come out and see the steers and dairy heifers as well as gates, tables and other projects the students have worked on. Then on April 19, the Chapter’s Stew and Auction will feature ag mechanics construction, horticulture projects and other items that will be up for sale. This event raises money for the Chapter as well as the Senior Scholarship Fund.
FFA Advisors Ian Zeringue and Dena Neal brought seven FFA officers to the KSST/Channel 18 studios for a live interview about the chapter’s upcoming events. They are Chapter President Jordan Sustaire (Sr.), V. Pres Corey Brown (Sr.) , Treasurer Cheyenne Neal (Soph), Secretary Calli Callahan (Jr.), Advisor Dillon Beedle (Soph), Representative McKenna Wiley (Jr.) and Sentinel Monica Harvick (Jr.) Chapter Advisor Dena Neal teaches math and enjoys working with the FFA Chapter. Advisor Ian Zeringue is new to Saltillo this year, having replaced Michael Teague who retired in 2017 after a long career with Saltillo ISD and FFA Chapter.
Front Row:L. to R. Corey Brown, Jordan Sustaire, Cheyenne Neal Second Row: Dillon Beedle, Calli Callahan, McKenna Wiley, Monica Harvick Back Row: FFA Advisors Ian Zaringue, Dena Neal
Sheriff Presents Plan for Student Safety to Schools Without Law Enforcement Presence
With concerns for student safety heightened by the recent shooting death of 17 students in a Florida School, Hopkins County Sheriff Lewis Tatum has proposed a law enforcement presence at the four Hopkins County Schools that, as of Monday, did not have security on campus. One school, North Hopkins, immediately responded and accepted the plan.
Sheriff Tatum told KSST News Wednesday morning that he and the Sulphur Springs Police Department are offering to provide off-duty licensed peace officers to the schools, take all the liability, and provide training for the officers. The schools would in turn pay an hourly wage to those officers on duty. The officers would be trained for the specific assignments in schools. He stated this was not to provoke difficulties for students or the school but rather a safe-guard against any threat to student, staff, or administrative safety. He said the safety of Hopkins County youth is a high priority for his department. Currently, Detective Bo Fox with the Sulphur Springs Police Department is teaching the ALICE Program, a free kindergarten through12th grade program that helps students, teachers, parents, and community members be prepared through implementation of the school safety program.
Currently, Sulphur Springs, Como-Pickton, and Saltillo have a law enforcement presence. Now North Hopkins will have that presence. Three other schools, Cumby, Sulphur Bluff, and Miller Grove are considering the offer.
Along with Sheriff Tatum and Rusty Stillwagoner and Bo Fox, with the Sulphur Springs Police Department, County Judge Robert Newsom, Texas Ranger John Vance, members of the Sheriff’s administration and Brandi Leiber with Adopt a Cop were present for the presentation to the schools. Adopt a Cop is offering some funding for the program. Tatum said the primary concern is response time to the county schools should a threat be present. He said three minutes is too long.
Any one officer would not become a permanent fixture at any one of the schools. Officers would be changed out daily. Tatum said the officer would not be there to discipline a student but to provide safety to those attending a county public school.
Brisk Start for Primary Election Early Voting
The first day of early voting in the March 6th Primary election was Tuesday, February 20th and the pace was brisk with 216 Republicans and 23 Democrats casting ballots at the Justice of the Peace Courtroom 128 Jackson Street in Sulphur Springs. The site is the only place for early voting in Hopkins County.
Early voting continues 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day through Friday, March 2nd, including Saturday, February 24th. Early voting is also available Sunday, February 25th from noon until 5 p.m.
On Primary Election Day, all Hopkins County voting sites will be open 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. All but one county election will be finalized in the Republican Primary this year. Only the race for the County Clerk position will be contested in the November Election.
On the first day of early voting, some voters are concerned about candidates and candidate signs near the polling place. However, candidates or their representatives can stand or place signs more than 100-feet from the early voting site. They cannot be within the 100-ft boundary.
Three Arrested for Drug Possession Near Skate Park
Three individuals were arrested following a traffic stop on Main Street by a Hopkins County deputy. The stop took place around 10 p.m. Tuesday and within 1,000ft of the Buford Park skate park.
The smell of Marijuana was emitting from the vehicle led to a probable cause search that found a cloth bag in the left rear floorboard. Inside the bag the deputy located a sealed bag of K2 and two small baggies containing a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine. The three occupants of the vehicle denied ownership of the items.
Arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, less than 1-gram but more than 4-grams in a Drug Free Zone and Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 2-A less than 2oz in a Drug Free Zone were:
Shelby Reeves Hammack, 19, of Commerce
Lafayette Trey Crosby, 21, of Sulphur Springs
Ashton Marie Lindley, 28, of Sulphur Springs
All three are in Hopkins County Jail.
Sulphur Springs Ranked 46th Safest City in Texas; Neighboring Cities Rank Less Safe
According to the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report, Sulphur Springs is the 46th safest city in Texas in 2018. Compared to other nearby cities of similar size and larger, Sulphur Springs is one of the safest cities in Northeast Texas.
Cities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) per 1,000 people.
Colleyville is the safest city in the state according to the report. Keller, Highland Village, Trophy Club, and Murphy are the top five. Colleyville, population 26,038, reported six (6) violent crimes or 0.23 per 1,000 population and 149 Property Crimes or 5.72 per 1,000, well before both state and national averages.
Locally, ranked 46th, Sulphur Springs, a city of 16,227, saw 29 violent crimes or 1.75 violent crimes per 1,000 in population and 252 property crimes or 15.53 per 1,000, during the report period.
Other cities of similar size and near Sulphur Springs ranked higher including Forney, 49th; Greenville, 147th; Kilgore, 159th; Mount Pleasant, 171st; Paris 197th; and Terrell, 206th.
Cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI and those with populations fewer than 10,000 were not listed. The report was released Tuesday, February 20, 2018 by the National Council for Home Safety and Security, a trade association of home security professionals who advocate for home safety and community involvement.
Roads Closed; River Flood Warning Issued; Flood Watch Remains in Effect
According to a county resident, FM 2653 from Brashear to Ridgeway, FM 1567 near Miller Grove, FM 71 in northern Hopkins County, FM 69 east of Sulphur Springs and service road along I-30 east of Sulphur Springs were closed with water over the roadway Wednesday morning but the roadways were expected to be open later in the day according to TxDOT.
A Flood Warning for the South Sulphur River near Cooper has been issued through Thursday morning or until the warning is cancelled. The river is expected to rise above flood stage and continue to rise to a crest near 19 feet, three feet above flood stage. The river should fall below flood stage sometime Wednesday evening.
The National Weather Service issued the flood warning that will affect Delta and Hopkins Counties. Do not drive through flooded areas and caution is urged when walking near riverbanks.
A Flood Watch remains in effect for the Northeast Texas area as rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches with localized amounts of 6 inches may occur. Flooding in low lying areas is expected.
Created by Loretta Kuo.
Original photo by Steve Zumwalt/FEMA. Location: West Alton, Mo., June 6, 2013 — Missouri Route 94 flooded.
Wildcats Defeat Lovejoy Face Frisco Lone Star in Area Game
For about half of the bi-district game between the #13 state ranked Wildcats and Lovejoy Tuesday night at Paris, the Leopards strategy of slowing things down seem to be working as planned. The Wildcats led at the half but the score was only 17-16.
Then in the third quarter, aided mostly by 7 points from Victor Iwuakor and a three-point basket by Keaston Willis, the Wildcats outscored Lovejoy 14 to 7 to take a 31-23 lead after three quarters. The Wildcats blew the game wide open outscoring the Leopards 19-4 in the fourth quarter to win going away, 50-27.
The Wildcats had three players in double figures: Iwuakor with 13 points, Willis with 12 points and Bryson Lynn with 11 points. Both Willis and Lynn had 3-three-point baskets each. Godsgift Ezedinma scored 6 points. Michael Jefferson added 3 points, Dedric Godbolt and Day Day Hall had 2 points apiece and Xavier Cork had 1 point. Lovejoy’s Luke Ledebur led the Leopards with 10 points. Ledebur also hit the Leopards only 3 point basket.
The Wildcats improved their season record to 29-4. The Wildcats now face Frisco Lone Star in an Area game at Princeton Friday at 7 p.m. The Rangers defeated The Colony.
Boyer Signs Soccer Letter of Intent
Gracie Boyer, a member of the Lady Cats’ soccer varsity for four years, signed a letter of intent Tuesday morning to play college soccer at Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant. Boyer said she made initial contact with NETCC through their website.
She said the coach called a couple of days later and invited her to a practice. Boyer said she did that and she said the coach liked what he saw. Boyer said the campus is located out in the country near Mount Pleasant. She said it reminded her of home. Boyer said she watched a NETCC game last fall against Paris Junior College and she said the NETCC Eagles won by a good margin. She said NETCC wants her to play outside forward. It’s her current position for the Lady Cats and Boyer called it her favorite position.
Boyer said she is undecided on a college major but she said she is considering a business degree. She said she expects to compete for a spot on the team. Boyer said the coaches need to fill an outside forward position. Boyer seems to be improving as a goal scorer. She has 14 goals this season. That’s her most ever for a season.
Boyer said it was one of her goals to play college soccer. She has been playing since she was 4 years old. Lady Cats Coach Joel Bailey said he is very proud of Boyer. He noted that she is the fourth Lady Cat to sign to play college soccer. Coach Bailey said the signings send positive signals to younger players. Coach Bailey said Boyer is good with both her feet. He cited her leadership. Coach Bailey said she is experienced and has technical abilities.
