Updated: Ground Breaking For Dobyns Rods Adds to Employment Strength in Sulphur Springs
With a ground breaking in the near future for Dobyns Rods, at Pioneer Park next to Cell-O-Core, on the corner of CMH Road and Main Street, employment numbers in Hopkins County should continue to reflect a low unemployment rate. The ground breaking was set for 11 a.m. Thursday, January 18. However, according to the Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation, the ground breaking has been postponed due to the cold temperatures. The groundbreaking will be rescheduled, according to the EDC, who notified KSST regarding the change Wednesday morning after the original story was posted.
Dobyns Rods are designed by Gary Dobyns with input from other elite anglers across the country. With over 100 fishing rods in 5 series ranging in price from $80 to $350, Dobyns Rods has the technique specific rods for any situation. With every model carefully tuned and optimized for performance, “…the fisherman can be assured that it is absolutely the right tool for the job: to help you fish to win!”
Using Portugal cork grips, Kevlar wrapping, Fuji graphite and other quality parts, the rods are used by many of the top anglers in the world of championship fishing.
Hopkins County Unemployment Rate Below State Average
Employment remains strong in Hopkins County according to the latest report from the Northeast Texas Workforce Development. In their Area Labor Market Information for November 2017, the unemployment rate for the county is 3.1 with a labor force of 17,211 and 16,671 of those employed. Texas unemployment rate is at 3.7.
Hopkins County leads all other counties in the Northeast Texas area except Delta County. Delta County also has the lowest employment numbers with a labor force of 2,524 and employment numbers of 2,451.
Hopkins County showed 540 unemployed seeking employment in the November numbers. Partnerships between local industry and Paris Junior College has aided in providing a well trained work force in the area according to EDC Executive Roger Feagley.
Lamar County is the only other county with an unemployment rate below 4. Morris County has the highest unemployment rate of 6.9 followed by Cass County with 5.1.
In the area outside Northeast Texas, Rains County has a 3.2 and Rockwall County a 3 with Hunt County at 3.4. Wood County has a 4.1 unemployment rate.
COMPUTER AIDED DRAFTING
Students Stephen Hudson, left, and Francisco Vazquez receive help from Instructor Brandon Eulberg in the basic computer aided drafting class at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus. The new workforce training program was launched in the fall semester class lineup. To inquire about this program and other workforce training opportunities, call 903-885-1232.
Tuesday Power Outage Affects Yantis Schools, Businesses, Churches
A SWEPCO/Wood County Electric power outage in the Yantis area left approximately 12,000 customers without power. Yantis schools sent students home early due to the lack of electrical power.
The outage occurred around 8 a.m. Tuesday morning and Power was restored in the Yantis Lake Fork area around 2:30 p.m. according to a customer affected by the outage.
Businesses in the area were affected. A Christian music and encouragement streaming radio service lightradio.online, a ministry of White Oak Baptist Church, was off air during the outage.
Wednesday, January 17, 2018 Delayed Opening at Como-Pickton, Others
Delayed openings for Wednesday, January 17, 2018:
- Due to lack of power Como-Pickton is on a 2 hour delay. Buses will run two hours later than usual.
- Community Chest will open at 1 p.m.
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.
