Lady Cats Lose to Texas High; Defeat Lindale
The Lady Cats basketball team won one and lost one at the Winnsboro Hoopfest Friday. The Lady Cats lost to district foe Texas High, 46-38 and then outscored Lindale, 56-34. The Lady Cats have now won 3 and lost 1 in the tournament.
In the Texas High game, the Lady Cats trailed by a point, 9-8 after the first quarter. The Lady Cats outscored the Lady Tigers, 18-9 in the second quarter to take at 26-18 halftime lead. Texas High trimmed the lead to five, 32-27 after three quarters. The Lady Tigers used a big fourth quarter to win the game 46-38. They outscored the Lady Cats in the quarter 19-6. Kaylee Jefferson led the Lady Cats with 15 points. Sadavia Porter scored 7 points and Autumn Tanton had 6. Imani Taylor and Danielle Godbolt had 5 points apiece. Poor shooting hampered the Lady Cats. They shot only 24% for the game and 20% from three point range. To their credit, they made all 9 of their free throw attempts. The Lady Cats also had 26 turnovers. Godbolt had a team high 14 rebounds and Jefferson had 9.
Later the Lady Cats ended Friday on a high note with a big win over Lindale. The Lady Cats outscored the Lady Eagles in every quarter and continued to build their lead. Kaylee Jefferson had a huge game with 26 points including 4 three-pointers. Sadavia Porter added 18 points and Autumn Tanton had 6. Imani Taylor had 4 points and Danielle Godbolt had 2. The Lady Cats shot a fine 48% from the field. They hit both of their free throw attempts. Tanton led the team with 6 rebounds. The Lady Cats had only 12 turnovers.
The Lady Cats are now 7-2 for the season. They earned the right to play Mount Pleasant in the Gold Bracket Consolation Final at the Winnsboro Hoopfest Saturday at noon. Neither of the teams seem interested in playing this game. These two teams battled for the district championship last year and apparently both teams feel like two district games against each other is enough. This consolation final is not expected to be played.
107.1 FM Young Country Now On Air
The owners of KSST radio have agreed to purchase 107.1 FM from The Promise Radio Group. The signal is now broadcasting on 107.1 FM as Young Country playing the latest hits in Country Music.
Artists include Lady Antebellum, Rascall Flats, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean and more.
With KSST as the leader in storm coverage with live broadcasts and radar reports, that coverage will be expanded to the area through 107.1.
After purchasing KSST from the Bradford Family three and one half years ago, KSST experienced a transformation of the station, adding the website, which has received over 5-million hits to date, and will be continuing the tradition as the news source for Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County and surrounding area.
Owner Chad Young states, “The FM station gives us an opportunity to offer a different music format that may appeal to a different listener as we continue to increase service to all living in the area.”
On the heels of this acquisition, KSST has partnered with the county, school district, and city to provide a smartphone app for residents as well as tourists. The app provides a way for residents to gain easy access to local services in county and city, local news and weather, and it will inform visitors regarding the services, sites and events in and around our area. The app will include local retail stores, restaurants, and information about other businesses. You can download this app by clicking here for Android and here for iPhone.
How To Save Money On Christmas Shopping This Year
Finding the perfect gift for one person is hard enough, but your family and all of your friends? Christmas shopping is difficult for many reasons, but the one that rises highest in most people’s mind this time of year is the financial cost. Save money this year with these helpful tips!
1. Download coupon apps and browser add-ons like honey. It scours the internet for cheat codes, discounts, and coupons, then applies them at checkout, saving you tons of money.
2. Register in online stores. You’ll get great insider deals, some of which you can print out and use in a physical store.
3. Ask your cashier if any discounts are available to you. Most stores have military, police, and senior discounts.
4. Use cash, not credit. You’re far less likely to overspend if you can see your money disappearing.
5. In the store, do not touch the item until you have definitively decided to buy it. Studies have shown that holding an item increases a person’s desire to buy it, and therefore heightens their willingness to pay more for it. Look, don’t touch.
6. Decide how much you’re spending before you actually shop. Having a budget automatically helps you make better spending choices.
7. Make a list of what you want to buy. If you know what gifts to get, you’re less likely to impulse buy something expensive or unwanted.
8. Start shopping early. Thinking about Christmas and birthday gifts all year round ensures that you can choose the best time to buy and keep December as stress-free as possible.
9. If you have a group of friends, coworkers, or extended family that you don’t know how to buy for, arrange a Secret Santa or gift exchange with them. Everyone has a good time and goes home with a gift, but you only have to buy one.
10. If the gift is perfect but still expensive, check to see if the store has a layaway plan. This applies to online stores, too!
11. If your kids have their own money, don’t pay for gifts that are supposed to be from them. It’ll teach them to handle their own expenses and help you handle yours.
12. Ask your sibling or spouse or friend to pitch in on a present for someone you both know. Co-gifting is great, for the givers and the receiver.
13. Give a gift that includes more than one person. A couple’s spa appointment for your parents, concert tickets for your nephews. You won’t have to buy two (or more) presents, and many places offer discounts for package deals.
14. Make a Christmas savings account. Sell old clothes you don’t wear, or old gifts you’ve never liked or used, and put the money in your Christmas fund.
15. Don’t buy stuff for yourself. NRF stats have said that 20% of the typical person’s holiday budget goes to small treats for the buyer.
Saltillo Lady Lions Continue in Hoopfest
The Saltillo Lady Lions dropped their first two games in the Winnsboro Hoopfest Thursday. The Lady Lions lost pool games to powerful Winnsboro, 58-11 and to Georgetown East View, 49-43.
In the Winnsboro game, the host Lady Red Raiders jumped out to a 17-3 first quarter lead and never let up. The Lady Lions were led by Tori Mobley who had 6 points. Madison Simmons had 4 points and Maddie Smith had 1 point.
Against East View, a bad fourth quarter resulted in defeat for Saltillo. The Lady Lions led 15-7 after one quarter, 26-17 at halftime and 39-23 after three quarters. East View then outscored the Lady Lions 26-4 in the fourth quarter to take an improbable 49-43 win. The Lady Lions got 11 points from Madison Simmons, 10 from Maddie Smith, 7 from Tori Mobley, 6 from Anna Reeder, 5 points from Jocelyn Ochoa and 4 from Jordan Sustaire.
The Lady Lions are now 4-9 for the season. They will continue play at Hoopfest in the Silver Bracket Friday evening in the Winnsboro High School Gym.
Blue Santa Will Assist 300 Local Families through CANHelp Application Process
With the application deadline of Friday, December 1, it appears that the number of families applying for assistance with Blue Santa Christmas toys will exceed 300. Adela Martinez, Client Services and Community Outreach Specialist at CANHelp has been taking applications since November 1. She says that this year, the number of children in the households is greater while the number of families has remained largely the same. To qualify, families must meet guidelines including income limits and parental of guardianship of the children whose names appear on the application.
Adela Martinez, Client Services and Community Outreach at CANHelp is also a Blue Santa volunteer
With the application deadline of Friday December 1, it appears that the number of families applying for assistance with Blue Santa Christmas toys will exceed 300. Adela Martinez, Client Services and Community Outreach Specialist at CANHelp has been taking applications since November first and says that this year, the number of children in the households is greater that last year while the number of families has remained about the same. To qualify, the families must meet guidelines, including proof of income and parental or guardianship of the children whose names appear on the application.According to Executive Director Shanna Martin, CANHelp takes pride in being part of this community-wide effort to provide Christmas toys, with Hopkins County Law Enforcement taking the lead. If you haven’t donated in the 37 blue barrels located at the retail areas of town, then you can still “pitch in” new unwrapped toys. And you can donate toys during the Lions Club Christmas Parade on the night of December 1. Also you can take part in the two-day drive for toys on Monday December 4 and Tuesday December 5 on the parking lot of the Lowe’s store in Sulphur Springs. The donation site will be open all day and into the evening, In addition to accepting donations of toys that day, there will also be a fundraiser burger lunch both days prepared by Lowe’s, with proceeds going to the Blue Santa Fund.
Organizers set a goal of $30,000.00 for this year’s drive to cover expenses for the bicycles and toy wishes of the children accepted into the program. There are storage facilities around town for the toys already gathered and those which have been purchased through the year. On distribution day, a league of volunteers will orchestrate the distribution to each family at a central location in town. Once the toys are placed, the family can wrap the gifts and get ready for a Merry Christmas at home, made possible by the generosity of the Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County community.
Video Presentation: 22nd Anniversary of the Lights of Life Tree Lighting
Charles and Sharon Helm, Campaign Chairs for Lights of Life, threw the switch for the 22nd Anniversary Lights of Life Tree Lighting ceremony Thursday night at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs. the Lights of Life campaign benefits the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation.
The program included the Sulphur Springs High School Jazz Band, Water Oak Elementary School Kids, and the CHRISTUS Physicians Choir. Hospital CEO Paul Harvey welcomed those in attendance. Santa arrived and heard Christmas requests from children present.
TxDOT Recommends “Plan While You Can”
AUSTIN – During last year’s holiday season, December 1-January 1, approximately one in four deaths on Texas roadways were alcohol-related. In an effort to reduce these fatalities, the Texas Department of Transportation’s “Plan While You Can” campaign reminds drivers to make planning a sober ride part of their holiday celebrations.
“Tragically, there are many families who experience the holidays without a loved one due to a drunk driver,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “We need to remember that each time someone dies or is seriously injured on our roadways, it affects a family and an entire community. Don’t make a bad decision that could cause heartache for your family and others. Make a plan to get home safely. It could save lives.”
In 2016, there were 2,321 alcohol-related crashes in Texas during the holiday season.* Those crashes killed 82 people and seriously injured another 199.
The “Plan While You Can” campaign includes a statewide tour featuring an interactive dodgeball game where participants avoid incoming “snow balls” as virtual drinks are added to the screen. As more drinks are added, participants experience how drinking can slow their reaction times as on-screen avatars begin responding more slowly to their players’ movements. The experience will visit eight Texas cities during December.
While drivers under the influence of alcohol risk killing or seriously injuring themselves or others, they also face up to $17,000 in fines and fees, jail time and loss of their driver’s license. As always, TxDOT strongly encourages everyone to plan for a sober ride before going out. Visit SoberRides.org to find alternatives to drinking and driving, such as:
- Designating a sober driver.
- Contacting a cab or ride-share service.
- Using mass transit.
- Asking a sober friend or family member for a ride home.
- Spending the night.
Tira News December 1, 2017
by Jan Vaughn
Martha Payton was rather busy last week. She reports, “Brad Payton came on Tuesday for a couple of days. Regina Payton arrived Wednesday afternoon, so we had Thanksgiving dinner early since Brad had to return home on Wednesday night. Regina and I decided to enjoy a very leisurely day on Thursday, watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, then that afternoon the Dallas Cowboy game.” On Saturday Martha’s sister Ann Sullivan from Longview and brother B. C. Honzell from Pittsburg came for a visit. They enjoyed lunch together at Furr’s, then coffee and double pecan pie. Martha comments, “That dessert was rich! A very blessed time together.”
William and Joyce Dodd enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving lunch for their family on Thursday. Those attending included Michael McNiel, Tanja, Rob, Brad, Tanya, Trenton, and Matthew Dodd, Tiffany, Emery, Elliana, and Eadon McPherson, Maegan Shelton and her friend Matt, Alyssa, Gavin, and Ethan Shelton. Joyce says, “We had a house full, but we enjoyed being together. We almost had our whole family. We were missing our granddaughter, Mandi Owens, Stuart McPherson, who was hunting, and Trenton’s friend Melony, who had to work. Mary Helen Hillman visited us on Friday afternoon.”
Landon & Laiken Joslin and the kids, Dixie, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden, had Thanksgiving lunch and dinner with Laiken’s family on Thursday. Kenden and Jaidyn Joslin spent Thanksgiving Day with their dad, Malcolm, and his family. Morgan Joslin spent Thanksgiving Day with his friend, Allison Langston, and her family.
Liz Steinsiek hosted Thanksgiving lunch for a few family members and friends at her Tira cabin on Thursday. Guests included Harold, James, and Carol Cowley, Johnny and Cilla Hudson, Donna Gregory and her mother, Mary Barnett, and friend Don Horne, and Chip, Tiffany, and myself. We enjoyed a relaxing meal and visiting in the beautiful country setting.
Our son, Delayne Vaughn, arrived from Waco on Friday morning, and then Tiffany and her family, Kenden, Jaidyn, Morgan Joslin and friend Allison, Landon, Laiken, Dixie, Rylan, Brailon, Slaiden Joslin and, Chip’s mother, Linda and Grace Vaughn. joined us for Thanksgiving lunch. Delayne left to return home on Saturday morning, and then Chip and I took Dixie back to Beaumont. After dropping her off, we went to Piney Shores Resort on Lake Conroe. We spent the night there, had a late breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and then came back through Tyler and did some Christmas shopping and ate at Olive Garden.
Be sure you have the Tira Community Christmas Party on your calendar. It’s scheduled for Saturday, December 9th, at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center. We will gather to share a meal and time of visiting with our neighbors. Brisket will be provided and residents are asked to bring side dishes and/or desserts. We will be collecting canned goods for the Tira Food Pantry. Santa will be stopping by to visit with the kids. Make plans to come enjoy the food, fun, and fellowship.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
AgriLife: December Gardening
December is the month when shorter daylight hours and cold weather really begin to restrict the gardener’s outdoor activities. Winter gives you a great opportunity to catch up on reading your favorite gardening magazines and books. Here are a few tips and topics to occupy the gardener’s time this month. Here the recommendations for December according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension:
PLANTING
There’s still time to plant pansies. These colorful annuals will live through the winter and be spectacular next spring. They work especially well when mixed with bulbs. Chose bright and light colors if you’d like the bed to be seen from a distance.
Also, hardy trees and shrubs can be planted this month. Just take care to water them carefully, not letting them dry out, nor keeping the soil sopping wet.
If you are planning to create a new shrub, flower or rose bed for next spring, go ahead and prepare the soil now. Dig it up, remove the weeds, and work in leaves and compost. If you discover that the soil stays wet longer than it should, add more organic matter, sand and soil and create a raised bed to facilitate better drainage.
Remember those tulips and hyacinths you have chilling in the refrigerator? After 45 to 60 days of chilling, they can be set out in the landscape.
PRUNING
Don’t get too anxious to do major pruning. Most woody trees and shrubs can be safely pruned December through early March. But, if you can’t justify the removal of each branch or limb, put up your clippers and go spade the garden instead.
Some of the right reasons for pruning include removing dead or winter-killed or diseased or insect-injured wood, as well as branches broken by wind or wild kids. Avoid severe pruning if possible. Never leave stubs, long or short, which do not heal properly and invite the entry of insects and disease.
Plants which bloom in early spring, like azaleas, forsythia and spirea, should be pruned after they flower, while those that bloom later in the spring and summer can be pruned during wintertime. Roses are pruned in mid-February except spring-only bloomers which are cut back after spring flowering.
One pruning practice that needs to be changed is how crapemyrtles are pruned. Every winter crape myrtles are severely cut back to short stubs resulting in ugly plants. Although there is disagreement among landscapers on whether or not to prune back crapemyrtles, scientific research indicates that early winter pruning of crapemyrtles can result in significant freeze damage.
In my opinion, it is better to leave crapemyrtles unpruned altogether. If you just cannot tolerate those seed capsules (which add winter interest to the landscape), then delay pruning until late February or early March, and remove no larger than pencil-sized twigs. Resist the urge to cut them back hard.
MISCELLANEOUS
If it continues to be dry this month, occasionally water the lawn, shrubs and small trees to help prevent winter damage.
Winter is a good time to browse plant catalogs, visit nurseries and study your landscape to make improvements or additions. If you are not a do-it-yourselfer, get professional advice on landscape design. An attractive landscape around the house not only beautifies but also adds to the value of the property – an increase anywhere between 5 to 15 percent of the sales price.
Don’t let fallen leaves remain on the lawn all winter. Either mow them back into the lawn, collect them to be used as a weed suppressing and water conserving mulch, or compost them for use next spring and summer to improve the soil. Leaves left on the lawn can cause disease problems if a thick layer keeps the grass too wet and dark.
What does the vegetable patch look like now? Remove dead vegetation and weeds to prevent a build up of diseases, weeds and insects. Order seeds now for spring vegetables so you will have them in plenty of time for starting early transplants or sowing directly into the garden in early spring.
Most fall-planted vegetables if you haven’t experienced a really hard freeze yet. Many cool season, fall crops, like lettuce and spinach, have shallow root systems. So, be sure to frequently apply water to keep the soil slightly moist to keep the plants healthy and growing. Between the rows and around the plants in the garden is a good place to use leaves to help conserve soil moisture and control weeds.
Order seeds now for spring vegetables and flowers so you will have them in plenty of time to start early transplants or sow them in early spring.
Goldfinches, tufted titmouse, black-capped chickadees, and other birds will be showing up at feeders. Remember to provide both food and fresh water for birds this winter. You can attract just as many birds with a bird bath as with food, especially during dry spells. If you put out a variety of seeds, like sunflower, thistle, safflower, and millet, plus suet, you will draw a diversity of birds. Once you begin putting out bird food, continue feeding them through the spring time.
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
