End of October/ Early November Events at the SR Center
Chance to Win 250 Bobcat Welder, Job Box, and 16ft Bumperpull Trailer at Help a Child Event Saturday
Help-a-Child Benefit at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center is observing it’s tenth year in sending assistance to three children’s charities: Southern Christian Home, Scottish Rite Hospital and Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center. Already a successful source of funds for these organizations, the 2017 Help-a-Child Benefit may be the biggest one yet due in part to an increased number of sponsors and one very large donation, a Bobcat 250 Welder, Job Box with Accessory Tools mounted on a 16″ trailer. Tickets to win the complete premium welding rig are available at $20 each or 6 for $100. Notification of the winner of the welding prize will be announced at 6:30pm. (Read more about the event here)
Wade Bartley, who also serves as Hopkins County Commissioner Precinct 3, says that thanks to generous sponsors and loyal volunteers, the Help-a-Child Benefit will continue to assist the established charities in their work to house and educate school-age victims of neglect and abuse, to treat and cure pediatric orthopedic conditions, and to advocate and serve the best interests of child victims of abuse and violent crime. If you would like to help the fund any time of year, donations may be mailed to Help-a-Child Benefit, 161 CR 3513, Dike, Texas 75487 or by phoning Wade Bartley at 903-348-1878.
Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab Pumpkin Decorating Contest Results
The Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab Departments had a Pumpkin Decorating
Contest on Friday, October 20th. Here are the winners!
1st Place – Therapy Department (Little Old Lady on her Walker)
2nd Place – Marketing Department (Pink Troll)
3rd Place – Office (Raggedy Ann and her Mummy)
The Nurses Stations also did 2 cute Pumpkins. Super Nurse and Masquerade Ball
Dixie Dave Davidson Named to Class of 2017 Dixie Baseball Hall of Fame
M. D. “Dave” Davidson has been selected as a member of the Class of 2017 Dixie Baseball Hall of Fame by the Dixie Baseball Board of Directors during their biennial meeting in Bluffton, South Carolina. Davidson is one of sixteen nominees this year. Of the 16 nominees, the 2017 Hall of Fame Class is composed of five members that have provided distinguished service to the organization and advanced opportunities for youth to participate in Dixie Boys/Majors Baseball. Dave will be inducted into the Dixie Boys Baseball, Inc., Hall of Fame in November of 2017 in Pineville, La.
Davidson, also known to his local league as “Dixie Dave”, began his career with Dixie Baseball, Inc. in 1976 for the Hopkins County Boys Baseball Association (HCBBA) as a minor league coach. Dave coached both of his boys (Shane & Justin) from 1976 to 1984. Dave was the HCBBA commissioner in 1982. In the Fall of 1986 as the District Director for District 2 in Texas serving under Bill Hart (then State Director) and Don Chaney (then National Board Member). He served in this role until the Fall of 1990 when he was sought by his peers and other state officials to seek the position of Texas State Director for Dixie Majors.
In 1990, at the State Meeting in Texarkana, Texas, he defeated long-time incumbent Johnny Whisenut to become the new Texas State Director for Dixie Majors. During his tenure as the State Director, the Majors program grew tremendously with record numbers of franchised leagues and producing World Series Champions and World Series Records by Texas teams and players.
In 1994, he was elected to become a National Board Member. He held this position until his retirement in 2002. In this valuable role, he promoted youth baseball and was responsible for much of the exposure garnered at the national level by players and organizations throughout the southwest. In addition to his role in the National Board, he served on several rule committees and served as the center point for Texas for submission of the National Dixie Baseball Scholarship award.
During his career, his prime purpose was to instill in youth the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage and reverence to the end that participants of the program may be finer, stronger and happier than any other youth in other organizations resulting in those youth becoming responsible adults.
Dave was honored by the HCBBA in 1999 throwing out the first pitch to kick-off the ’99 season.
Davidson was born in Hopkins County, Texas, in 1934. A life long citizen of this community. He served the HCBBA as commissioner from 1981 to 1985. In the Fall of 1986, he was selected to serve as the District Director for Texas Dixie Boys Baseball District 2 serving 5 counties. He served in this role until the Fall of 1990 when he was elected to the Texas State Director for Dixie Majors. During his tenure as the State Director, the Majors program grew tremendously with record numbers of franchised leagues and producing 3 World Series Champions and World Series records by Texas teams and players. In fact, the Little League World Series representatives from Lufkin, Texas, from 2017 was coached by Bud Maddux who also coached the Angelina County, Texas, World Series Champions while Davidson was the State Director.
Dave was also honored in October of 2016 by Hopkins County naming October 11th as M. D. “Dave” Davidson Day in Hopkins County. Dave was also honored by Congressional Member John Ratcliffe for Service to His Community in October of 2016. Dave is married to Georgia Davidson and reside in Sulphur Springs. He has two sons, Dr. Shane Davidson and wife Amy of Newburgh, Indiana and Justin Davidson and wife Kristyl, of Sulphur Springs.
Special Sports Day for SSISD, Rains ISD, and Como-Pickton CISD at SSHS Gym Friday
About one hundred special needs kids attended the annual Special Sports Day in the Sulphur Springs High School Main Gym Friday. Rains ISD and the Como-Pickton CISD sent students. There were also SSISD, students participating from Lamar Primary, Sulphur Springs Elementary, Douglas Intermediate, the Middle School and the High School. During opening ceremonies, there was a parade of athletes, singing of the National Anthem, pledges to the Texas and U.S. Flags and introductions of teams and players.
The special kids did long jump, sit ups, cone races, scooter races, jump rope, football throw and basketball free throws. Performing were Sulphur Springs Cheerleaders, Choir, Drill Team and Band Drum Line. There was a closing ceremony followed by lunch. The Kiwanis Club provided lunch. The Pilot Club donated the medals. High School Key Club members aided the special athletes. The High School Cat Pack and Wally the Wildcats also were involved. Lady Cats Soccer Coach Joel Bailey did the announcing for the event.
Non-Game Day: Wildcats, Lady Cats Off Tonight
Absolutely nothing to report on this Friday non-Game Day (October 20). With seven-team districts for both the Wildcats’ football team and Lady Cats’ volleyball team, some school has a bye every time district games are played. Friday is the bye for the Wildcats’ football team.
It’s the second bye this season for the Lady Cats’ volleyball team since they have two rounds of district play. The Lady Cats hit their second bye of the season Friday in first place by a half game over Texas High. Since the Lady Tigers have already taken their byes, the Lady Cats are 9-2 in district play while Texas High is 8-2. The Lady Tigers play Mt. Pleasant on this Friday. The Lady Cats have won 9 straight district games since they opened district play with 2 straight losses. The Lady Cats are 26-12 for the season. They return to the court next Tuesday as they host Mt. Pleasant on Senior Night. Texas High will play Greenville. If the Lady Cats and Texas High end up in a tie, there will be a seed determining contest at a neutral site.
The Wildcats hit the break with an 0-3 district record. Their season record is 2-5 and they are on a five game losing streak. After the break, there will be three district games to play starting with a game at Mt. Pleasant next Friday (October 27). If the Wildcats win all three of their remaining DISTRICT games, they should have a shot at a playoff spot.
Sulphur Springs ISD Middle School Students Visit LEAP Youth Career Expo
Students from the Sulphur Springs ISD Middle School visit the 3rd annual Career Expo at the Hopkins County Civic Center Friday October 20th, 2017.
Hopkins County Republican Party October Meeting
Hopkins County Republican Party October Meeting is Monday October 23rd at 6:30 pm at the Hopkins County Civic Center.
The speaker will be Craig Vincent Mitchell, PhD. He is a Christian ethicist, economist, and engineer. He has served as an associate professor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Criswell College in Dallas, Texas. He also served as a Senior Fellow for the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation. Additionally, he is a board member for the Institute of Religion and Democracy. Dr. Mitchell is also a writer, and speaker on Christian ethics, public policy, and has served as a research fellow for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2005-2014. He has testified before Congress on public policy issues and has served as an officer in the United States Air Force. His topic for the meeting will be the “History and Development of the Progressive Movement in America from the 19th century to today.”
They will also hear from a number of Republican primary candidates for local and state offices as they introduce themselves to our local constituents.
