SS FFA Team Leaves Mark at Ft Worth Stock Show, Now Heads to Houston
January has been a busy time of year as we have been gearing up for the county show at the end of February and we just returned from the Ft. Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. The second weekend of January Jr. FFA member Layden Pace showed his fire pit in the Outdoor Recreation Division and received a blue ribbon. The next week the SS FFA show team took 10 head of beef heifers to compete in the Ft. Worth Junior show. There were 2,400 junior show heifers being shown by FFA and 4-H members from across Texas.
Blaine Flemens in the show ring with Pistol Annie
We had a very successful show week with Blaine Flemens placing 4th out of a class of 17 with Pistol Anne his Santa Gertrudis, Blaine Allen placed 4th out of 17 with Maryann his Grey Brahman, and Savannah Allen placed 4th out of 17 with Caroline her Grey Brahman! Sydney Swatsell placed 5th out of a 18 with Dot her Beefmaster heifer. Cash Vititow placed 5th out of 25 with CC his Red Brahman. Phillip Rater had the largest class with 50 heifers in his class alone, and he placed 14th overall with Panda his Chiannina heifer. We also had Micah Flemens showing Cinnamon his Santa Gertrudis heifer, Hayden Daniel showed Pearl his Chiannina heifer, Jodie Tippit showed Mo-Jo her Beefmaster heifer, and Breanna Sells showed Dixie her Black Angus heifer. Overall every SS FFA member showed extremely well and all came back with goals to reach by Houston Stock Show and Rodeo the second weekend of March. All in all this has been one of the best trips to Ft. Worth that I have been apart of and can not wait to see what these students and their heifers will do in Houston. In addition, Elida Miller competed and caught in the Ft. Worth Calf Scramble on Jan 24th, and she plans to purchase a Hereford heifer and show it next year at the major shows. There is a quote that sums up this group of students and that is “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out”.
John Holland, SS FFA Advisor
Junior FFA member Laydon Pace with blue-ribbon fire pit
4th Place Savannah Allen with Caroline
5th Place Blaine Allen with Maryann
5th Place Sydney Swatsell with Dot
Around 200 Birds Seized in Cockfight Investigation
A tip regarding a large cockfight, a blood sport between two cocks, or gamecocks, held in a ring called a cockpit, sent Hopkins County Criminal Investigators, deputies, and their newly acquired drone to a location between Como and Sulphur Springs, just off State Highway 11. Around 200 gamecocks were seized at an established site for cockfights and were turned over to the SPCA Saturday.
Using the drone to fly over the site, law enforcement was able to determine that a fight was in progress with around 70 individuals and just fewer than 200 birds involved. When those present at the fight site saw the drone, deputies were immediately dispatched to the area where they were able to make contact with 40 of the people involved. Another 30 people fled on foot from the scene into the woods around the area.
Investigators were able to determine the cockpit was permanent and that the site had been used before. Deputies began rounding up the chickens. Many of the birds were in small boxes scattered around the area after those present at the scene had spied the drone. Ten (10) birds in boxes were found under one cedar tree, according to Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford.
The investigation continues, according to Weatherford. No arrests have been made at this time. Cockfighting is illegal in Texas under chapter 42 of the Texas Penal Code. However, it is permissible under certain circumstances if “the actor is engaged in bona fide experimentation for scientific research”, according to the code.
Dinner Bell Menu For January 31, 2018
Honoring Fidelity Express
this week’s Community Partner.
Oven Roasted Squashes
Garden Salad
Buttered French Bread
Cherry Crisp
Meal A Day Menu for January 29th through February 2nd
Meal A Day Menu
January 29th – February 2nd
Monday
BBQ Rope Sausage
Baked Beans
French Fries
Cole Slaw
Tuesday
Chicken Pot Pie
Broccoli
Pickled Beets
Wednesday
Meatloaf
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Roll
Thursday
Soft Chicken and Cheese Tacos
Lettuce Tomato and Onion
Refried Beans
Tortilla Chips and Salsa
Friday
Tater Tot Casserole
Corn
Tossed Salad
Aviation History: VC-137C 85-6973 (SAM 973)
SAM 973 entered active service in Aug. 1985, when the Air Force acquired the aircraft from the United States Customs Service. The aircraft was originally built in March 1969 at the Boeing Company, in Seattle. It was constructed as a Boeing 707-396C, serial number 20043. The aircraft was built with a large cargo door on the left side of the fuselage and began service as a cargo/passenger transport.
An Austrian leasing company operated the aircraft with the name “Montana Austria” on the fuselage serial OE-IDA. .In May 1981, the U.S. government was legally awarded the aircraft after the US Justice Department in Texas confiscated it for attempting to run U.S. arms from Houston, Texas to Durban, South Africa. The government stored the aircraft at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. In Aug. 1985, the Air Force purchased the plane for $22,500, which at that time was the price of fuel needed to fly the plane out of the desert. This was no easy task. The plane was in disrepair. It had very little instrumentation and no operational navigation equipment. An 89th Military Airlift Wing crew flew the aircraft to E-Systems in Greenville, Texas using only freeways and roads as their navigation system.
The Montana Austria 707 arrived at E-Systems in Greenville, Texas on 15 August 1985 and departed to Andrews Air Force Base as VC-137C 85-6973 on 5 May 1990. During the time at E-Systems it was in a “stop work” order, and stored, from 22 April 1988 until 3 April 1989.
While in Greenville, the aircraft received the many modifications needed for converting it to a Special Air Mission aircraft. These included a stateroom with lavatory, conference area, staff compartment and passenger seating. The aircraft was also fitted with a Mission Communications System similar to the one installed on Air Force One. The airframe and all components were completely overhauled and replaced to essentially move the airplane back to zero time.
On May 5,1990, after the modifications were completed, SAM 973 was flown to Andrews Air Force Base, where it began operation as a DV transport. Upon arrival at Andrews the aircraft began operating as Air Force One backup and primary Air Force Two. When not supporting its primary roles, the aircraft flew in support of the 89th’s mission of transporting our nation’s leaders and other world heads of state around the globe. While assigned to Andrews, after nine years of service, SAM 973 accumulated a total of 48,089 flying hours, and 20,806 takeoff and landing cycles.
SAM 973 was transferred to the 552nd Air Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma in 1999, where it continued operation as an E-3 AWACS pilot trainer. In February 2000, the aircraft was transferred from Tinker to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where it was modified to perform duties as a J-Stars aircraft.
The included information comes from local Sulphur Springs resident Tony Hughes. Mr. Hughes worked on, performed engine run up, pre-flight/post flight and flew as an aircraft mechanic observer on FCF’s (functional check flight), along with supervising hangar and flight line operations for over 40 years (1956-1996) at the Greenville, Tx. plant, formerly known as TEMCO. The Greenville plant started as Temco (Texas Engineering & Manufacturing Co.) and changed to Ling-Temco Electronics, Inc. in 1960, then Ling-Temco-Vought, Inc. in 1961. The company changed again to LTV Electrosystems, Inc. in 1965, and E-Systems, Inc. in 1972. In 1995 a merger changed the name to Raytheon/E-Systems, and now the company has been managed by L-3 Communications since 2002.
Lady Cats Now 10-0 in District with Win at Marshall; Senior Night is Tuesday
The Lady Cats defeated Marshall 41-37 to go 10-0 in district play. For the Lady Cats, the game following the long trip to Marshall became a challenge as foul trouble plagued the team.
The Lady Cats outscored Marshall in every quarter except the fourth. The Lady Cats led 22-16 at the half. Lady Cats held Marshall to four points in the third before giving up 17 while scoring only 10 in the fourth quarter. Coach Jeff Chapman called the game a “grind” for the Lady Cats but says it was the type of game the team needed to prepare for the play-offs.
Kaylee Jefferson (Senior) and Sadavia Porter (Junior) scored 14 each to lead the Lady Cats. Autumn Tanton (Junior) contributed 9 and Tarayla Kelly (Junior) added 4. Jefferson and Porter also ended the game with 4 fouls each. Danielle Godbolt (Junior) and Te’arria Rose (Junior) each had 3 fouls. Imani Taylor (Senior) had 2 personal fouls.
The Lady Cats host Texas High in the local’s Senior Night game Tuesday. Texas High hopes to pick up a chance to grab a piece of the district title with a win against the Lady Cats and Mt Pleasant on Friday. The Lady Cats are now 10-0 in district and 24-3 on the season. They are ranked 9th in Texas 5-A basketball.
FREE AARP Tax Return Aide
You’re Invited: Lil’ 4’s Club Hosts One Year Anniversary
The Lil’ 4’s Club invites you to celebrate their one year anniversary on Saturday, February 24th from 10am-5pm, at the Lil’ 4’s building (200 Fuller st).
For more information or if you want to get involved contact Letitia C. at (214)-809-1908.
Wildcats Defeat Marshall 53-25; Qualify for Play-offs with Win
Marshall showed discipline as they sought to keep the Wildcats away from the ball Friday night at Wildcat gym. Marshall controlled the ball for most of the first quarter and never took a shot until late in the second quarter in the 53-25 win for the Wildcats. Sulphur Springs began to press at mid-court in the second quarter to master the Marshall game plan.
The Wildcats were able to score six points in the first quarter and 14 in the second quarter to take a 20-0 lead at the half. Marshall kept the ball on the perimeter and even when the ball went deep near the basket, kicked it out to the guards. The Wildcats did not get into severe foul trouble even though it looked like the Mavericks were trying to draw the high scoring, rebounding Wildcats to foul to give a later game advantage. Marshall did take three shots under the basket at the end of the second quarter but missed all three. Keaston Willis hit 13 in the first half to lead Wildcat scoring for the half.
In the third quarter, the Mavericks did score has Carrington Love hit three 3’s and a 2-point bucket. Tay Brooks who had been heavily involved in the outside passing game in the first half contributed a 3. The Wildcats spread out the scoring in the third quarter and again in the fourth.
Willis led Wildcat scoring with 17, Victor Iwvakor had 10, Day Day Hall added 8, Godsgift Ezedinma had 4, Cameron Kahn and Grayson McClure both hit 3’s in the fourth quarter, Xavier Cork and Deric Godbolt had 2 each, and Michael Jefferson had 1 point.
The Wildcats qualified for the playoffs with the win. The Wildcats travel to Texas High Tuesday.
