Four Wildcat Band Members Perform in Area Band Tryouts
Four members of the Wildcats’ band took part in Area Band Tryouts in Richardson Saturday (January 13). This was the last competition before state. Band Director Charles McCauley said all four students performed very well. He said they did not make the All-State Band but they did a good job with the music.
Competing were senior flute player Celeste Leeds-Laliberte, junior clarinet player Carissa Carter, senior tenor sax player and drum major Riley Farley and sophomore trumpet player Nathan Braddy. McCauley explained that the students were going up against the best of the best at the Area competition. They faced tough competition from Metroplex area musicians. McCauley said it is a high honor to make it to Area. He said the students have been working on the music for the tryouts since the beginning of the school year.
The students qualified for Area at Regional Band Tryouts held last month.
Game Day: Wildcats, Lady Cats Face Greenville
Wildcats Basketball Game Day
The Wildcats’ basketball team will attempt to stay unbeaten in district play as they welcome the Greenville Lions into Wildcats Gym Tuesday night (January 16). There will be a freshman game beginning at 5 p.m. The JV game is scheduled to start at around 6:15 p.m. The varsity plays at around 7:30 p.m. The Wildcats are the #8 ranked team in Class 5A. They are 4-0 in district play and 21-3 for the season. The Wildcats are coming off perhaps their biggest win of the season as they defeated Mount Pleasant in a battle of district unbeaten teams, on the road, 57-54 Friday night. On KSST Radio and Cable Channel 18’s Saturday Morning Coaches Show, Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta talked about the Lions of Greenville. He said they have a new coach this year. Coach Cipoletta said they had some young players and he added they are learning. He said Greenville has played well at times but also has struggled at times. Coach Cipoletta called the Lions very athletic. He said they can get hot and hit some three-pointers. Coach Cipoletta said he would prepare for them like any other team. He said he was glad to be back home. Coach Cipoletta said it should be an exciting game and he added the Wildcats were ready for the challenge.
We will bring you all of the action of the Wildcats and Greenville game tonight on KSST Radio beginning at around 7:30 p.m. We will also videotape the game for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Lady Cats Game Day
The Lady Cats’ basketball team went a perfect 6-0 in the first half of district play. Tuesday night (January 16)the Lady Cats begin the second half as they travel to Greenville to play the Lady Lions. The two teams opened district play in Wildcats Gym back on December 12 and the Lady Cats took a 66-37 win. The Lady Cats are ranked #9 in Class 5A and they are also 20-3 for the season. In Greenville, there will be a Lady Cats JV Blue game at 5 p.m. A Lady Cats JV Gold game will follow at around 6:15 p.m. The Lady Cats’ varsity game is scheduled to begin at around 7:30 p.m. On KSST Radio and Cable Channel 18 TV’s Saturday Morning Coaches Show, Lady Cats Coach Jeff Chapman talked about the Greenville Lady Lions. He said going to Greenville can be tough. Coach Chapman noted that Texas High defeated the Lady Lions in Greenville pretty handily recently. He said the Texas High coach told him Greenville seemed to be off balance that night. The Lady Tigers Coach said something seemed to be going on with the Lady Lions that night and for some reason they did not play well.
PJC-Sulphur Springs Students Begin Spring Semester
FIRST DAY BACK The very cold weather and a little snow didn’t stop students from attending the first day of spring semester classes at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center. Many of them gathered in the foyer to get warm and visit before going to classes.
SSHS Academic UIL Place Second at Lindale Invitational
Academic University Interscholastic League (UIL) season has begun for Sulphur Springs High School. One student competed in the State UIL Congress Competition and a number of academic competitors participated in the Lindale UIL Invitational last weekend.
State – UIL Congress Competition
Noah Hammons and Coach Kayla Weir traveled to Austin, TX for UIL State Congress Competition. Noah made some excellent speeches and was noticed by several judges but was unable to advance to finals.
Lindale UIL Invitational Meet
The SSHS Wildcat UIL Academic Team finished 2nd place overall this past Friday and Saturday, January 12 – 13, at the Lindale Winter UIL Invitational meet. The following students or teams brought home awards in their events.
| Number Sense | Bracken Sant | 1st Place |
| (Gerald Grafton – Coach) | Kendall Little | 4th Place |
| Number Sense Team
Bracken Sant Kendall Little Andrew Westlund |
1st Place Team | |
| Mathematics | Kendall Little | 3rd Place |
| (Gerald Grafton – Coach) | ||
| Current Events | Brandon Hodges | 4th Place |
| (Madison Millsap – Coach) | Current Events Team
Brandon Hodges Vanessa Diosdado Chase Charlton |
2nd Place Team |
| Ready Writing | Annemarie Gunn | 3rd Place |
| (Gail Herman – Coach) | Brianna Wooten | 4th Place |
| Lainey Whittle | 6th Place | |
| Spelling | Chase Charlton | 1st Place |
| (Gail Herman – Coach) | Sarah Harper | 2nd Place |
| Gisselle Garcia | 3rd Place | |
| Spelling Team
Chase Charlton Sarah Harper Gisselle Garcia |
1st Place Team | |
| Accounting
(Paula Hass – Coach) |
Caleb Yanez
|
5th Place |
| Computer Science | Brayden Fisher | 1st Place |
| (Matt Wilder – Coach) | Joshua Rissman | 4th Place |
| Nathan Tiegiser | 5th Place | |
| Computer Science Team
Brayden Fisher Joshua Rissman Nathan Tiegiser |
1st Place Team | |
| Social Studies | Brandon Hodges | 1st Place |
| (Madison Millsap – Coach) | Leif Thomas | 3rd Place |
| Social Studies Team
Brandon Hodges Leif Thomas Vanessa Diosdado Alex Plumley |
1st Place Team | |
| Literary Criticism | Chase Charlton | 1st Place |
| (Gail Herman – Coach) | Lainey Whittle | 3rd Place |
| Sarah Harper | 5th Place | |
| Literary Criticism Team
Sarah Harper Chase Charlton Lainey Whittle |
1st Place Team | |
| Lincoln-Douglas Debate | Corban Philo | 3rd Place |
| (Kayla Weir – Coach) | ||
| Poetry | Jaci Reed | 3rd Place |
| (Lesha Woodard – Coach) | ||
| Prose | Sarah Harper | 3rd Place |
| (Lesha Woodard – Coach) | Rachel Bramlett | 4th Place |
| Other Notable Result – Corban Philo advanced to semifinal rounds in Informative Speaking. | ||
Winnsboro Police Department Report January 8-14, 2018
Winnsboro Police Department made three arrests, investigated one non-injury accident, responded to 116 calls for service, issued 40 citations, and wrote 34 warnings during their January 8-14, 2018 report period.
John Raney, 43, of Mt Pleasant, was arrested January 11th for Driving While License Invalided with no financial responsibility.
Francis Thacker, 51, of Sumner, was arrested January 13th for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 more than 4-grams but less than 200-grams.
John Caraballo, 29, of Winnsboro, was arrested January 14th for Display fictitious motor vehicle registration.
WPD responded to a minor two vehicle accident in the 500 block of South Main on January 12th.
27th Annual Hopkins County Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Ceremony Rescheduled
After concerns regarding travel caused the postponement of Monday night’s 27th Martin Luther King, jr. Awards Presentation, the event has been rescheduled for Monday, January 22 at 7 p.m. in the worship center of Morning Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Keynote speaker will be Mark Bryant and Dr. Ray Keck, President of Texas A & M Commerce, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
A large number of individuals will be honored for reflecting the timeless values King taught and exhibited by his example — the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service. Bennie Harris will be named MLK Man of the Year. Jose Nash, MLK Woman of the Year, and Justice of the Peace and Municipal Judge B. J. Teer will receive the Leadership Award.
The program will feature an emphasis on Dr. King’s life by students from Douglas Intermediate School, music, and the presentation of awards to students, teacher, pastors, law enforcement, and others who contribute to the community.
Acker Capital Murder Decision to Go Before Supreme Court
The Capital Murder verdict delivered in Eighth Judicial Court in 2001 will go before the United States Supreme Court after all other appeals have provided questions that can only be answered by the nations top court. Daniel Clate Acker, 46, is on Death Row convicted of the kidnapping and murder of 32-year old Marquetta “Markie” George. Acker, a native of Hunt County, was 29 at the time of his conviction. County Judge Robert Newsom was the District Judge who presided during the trial. Local attorney Frank Long was the District Attorney.
Acker was no stranger to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prior to his Capital Murder Conviction. He was received in TDCJ in May, 1993 on a ten year sentence for Burglary of a Habitation in Delta County. Released on parole in October of 1995, he returned in April of 1997 without a new conviction. He was released on Mandatory Supervision in September 1999. He was accused of the murder of George in March, 2000.
Acker, a laborer with an 8th grade education, and George left their rented trailer home to attend a rodeo and then “Bustin’ Loose”, a honky-tonk at the Southern edge of Sulphur Springs on State Highway 154. At the honky-tonk, they argued and witnesses say he threatened to kill her. Acker was kicked out of the club but returned looking for George. He went home around 1 a.m. without her. She showed up the next morning when a bouncer from the club took her home. She admitted to spending the night with the bouncer. Neighbors testified that George ran out of the house screaming for them to call the sheriff. Acker forced George into his pickup and that’s when the story became somewhat murky.
The means of George’s death seems to be in question and that is the intent of the appeal. Different means of death are now being presented. All would have been at the hand of Acker. In appeals court it was presented that Acker strangled her and then removed her from the pickup. Another theory is that she was not strangled but died of blunt force injuries. In district court, testimony pointed toward Acker opening George’s passenger side door while the vehicle was in motion and pushing her from the vehicle causing her death. The question of new evidence has not been defined by the Supreme Court in the context of actual innocence.
Acker’s attorney expects a decision by the Supreme Court in August of this year.
Yantis ISD Has Two Hour Delay Tuesday
Yantis ISD will start their Tuesday with a two hour delay unless an early morning decision is made to cancel classes for the day.
