Tribute to TSN Agriculture Director Tony Purcell to be Aired Friday
His iconic voice that was often a wake-up call to many KSST listeners is now silenced in death. Texas State Network Agriculture Director Tony Purcell’s death came as “…a sorrowful surprise for his wonderful family and our Texas State Networks team,” according to Raul Jaurequi, TSN Affiliate Relations Director. A tribute to Purcell will be aired on the Lone Star Farm and Ranch Report Friday.
Purcell joined Texas State Networks in 1998. He helped the network gain a #1 ranking in the AMR ratings, won 4 “Oscar’s” in Agriculture, six NAFB “Best Newscast” honors, and seven awards in the “Best Market Cast” category. Along with the Friday Lone Star Farm and Ranch Report tribute, TSN Facebook Page will include a tribute allowing people to share their thoughts.
TSN will continue to provide their complete portfolio of Agriculture programming and will seek a permanent “Voice of Texas Agriculture” in the near future.
Book Signing and Meet N Greet Discussion on February 24
In a KSST/Channel 18 TV Good Morning Show interview, Dr. Marie Hawkins discussed the writing of her book “Pressing for the Prize Volume I” with host Enola Gay. You are welcome to watch the video interview at ksstradio.com and attend the book signing on February 24 from 12-2 pm at Mitchell Chapel Church of God in Christ, 402 South Jackson Street.
Dr. Marie Hawkins, Bible teacher and executive producer of the radio ministry broadcast, Pressing for the Prize Radio Ministries, has added the title of author to her years of experience as encourager and equipper of the saints. The book, “Pressing for the Prize Vol.1: Spiritual Strategies and Disciplines for Personal Victories”, is a God inspired compilation of study, personal experience and revelation from years of both walking with the Lord and sharing these strategies in broadcasts, retreats and conferences with the body of Christ. The book is the first in an equipping series of materials and interactions specifically created to empower, equip and edify the body of Christ.
Dr. Hawkins has labored for 35 years in serving the people of God, she is the wife of Bishop Charles R. Hawkins, formerly of Anchorage, AK. She invites you to join her on Saturday, February 24, 2018 from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm for a book signing, discussion and meet and greet, at Mitchell Chapel Church of God In Christ, located at 404 Jackson St., Sulphur Springs, TX. Meanwhile….Don’t Give Up, Don’t Give Out, Don’t Give In…Keep Pressing for the Prize!
Author Invites Believers to Keep ‘Pressing for the Prize’ at Upcoming Book Signing in Sulphur Springs on February 24, 2018
Chamber Connection February 22, 2018
If you missed this year’s Chamber of Commerce Banquet, you sure missed a great time! We had so much fun spending the evening set in the 1920’s amongst period typewriters, newspapers, adding machines, radios, and cameras. We honored respected people and businesses in Hopkins County, and had a humorous time doing so. Thank you to everyone who attended and shared that special night with us! We are already planning the next one!
Lil 4’s Club hosts an Anniversary Party
Lil 4’s Club, located at 200 Fuller Street in Sulphur Springs, is hosting a one-year anniversary party on Saturday, February 24th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make plans to enjoy gumbo or BBQ, silent auction/garage sale, train rides, hay rides, raffles, and live entertainment. All money received will be donated to the Lil 4’s upcoming events for their kids!!
Etiquette by Emily is holding their Ribbon Cutting, Wednesday, February 28th at noon
Make plans to attend Etiquette by Emily’s ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, February 28th at noon. Emily has a blog located at EtiquettebyEmily.com. She also offers etiquette classes for all ages, beginning Kindergarten through Adult. Cotillion classes are offered as well. Please come hear all about it and enjoy refreshments and good fellowship while we have her ribbon cutting. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Ribbon cuttings:
Saucy’s Pizza & Wings hosted their Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday, February 20th at noon
Our newest downtown restaurant, Saucy’s Pizza & Wings, hosted their ribbon cutting to celebrate their opening on Tuesday, February 18th at noon. Saucy’s is located at 209 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. Please stop by to see their new restaurant and to enjoy their pizza, wings, and salad bar.
Rain Causes Cancellation of Thursday Sports Events
All the rainfall lately is causing cancellations of sporting events and more are expected. Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo said the first two days of an Allen softball tournament on Thursday and Friday have been canceled . The Saturday games are still on the schedule for now.
Wildcats Track Coach Matt Young said the Denison track meet scheduled for Thursday has been canceled. Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats’ track teams had planned to attend. It would have been the first meet for both teams. Again more events are sure to follow so stay tuned.
Wildcats Tennis Successful at Tyler Tournament; Host Varsity Invitational Friday
The Wildcats’ tennis team dodged the rain Tuesday and were able to play in their third tournament of the season at John Tyler. The key to success was an early start and early finish just before rains came.
Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez said each of his players got to play 3 or 4 matches. Among the highlights for the Wildcats was the play of the boys doubles team of Alex Benitez and Jonah Kirkpatrick who made it all the way to the finals. They played a Jacksonville pair. Coach Martinez said his duo should have won the matched but he said hey just made too many mistakes. Another highlight of the tournament was the play of junior boys singles player Chase Crouch. He finished third.
Coach Martinez said the tournament was made up of a small number of teams but he added they were quality teams including Jacksonville, Whitehouse, Corsicana, host John Tyler and Sulphur Springs.
Next week is expected to be a busy one for the Wildcats. They will host a JV tournament at the Wildcat Tennis Complex next Tuesday. They will then host the Sulphur Springs Varsity Invitational on Friday, March 2.
Saltillo Lady Lions’ Basketball Season Ends
One bad quarter can end a team’s season in the playoffs. Tuesday night in a regional quarterfinal game, the Saltillo Lady Lions’ basketball team entered the fourth quarter in a game against Slidell trailing by only 2 points, 32-30. The Lady Lions were outscored 17-10 in the fourth quarter and the Lady Lions saw their season end with a 49-40 loss to Slidell.
Saltillo actually led after one quarter, 12-11 and the game was tied at halftime, 23-23. Madison Simmons again led the Lady Lions with 12 points. Maddy Smith scored 10 points. Jocelyn Ochoa had 8 points. Chandler Bain scored 5 points. Jordan Sustaire and Anna Reeder had 2 points each, Tori Mobley had 1 point.
The Lady Lions end the season with a 20-16 record.
Saltillo Lady Lions: Kneeling L to R: Jordan Sustaire & Chandler Bain; Standing L to R: Coach Bill Giles, Christie Curley, Maddy Smith, Anna Reeder, Jocelyn Ochoa, Brittney Peeples, Kristina Wade, Shelby Matlock, Madison Simmons, Tori Mobley & Coach Colton Smith.
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.
