Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report October 10, 2017
In his report to city council Tuesday night, October 10th, City Manager Marc Maxwell noted:
MOORE STREET – The concrete work is completed. All that remains is a little backfilling behind the curbs and some cleanup.
PAMPA STREET – The reconstruction of Pampa Street has begun. The Capital Construction Division has finished replacing the sewer line. Construction on the water line is about to begin. After that the street will be stabilized with Portland cement and will be overlaid with asphalt.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT – The work at the wastewater treatment plant is on schedule despite all the spring/summer rains. The three primary clarifier basins have been constructed, and backfilling continues. Other concrete structures adjacent to the clarifiers are under construction.
CLAIMS – Workers’ Compensation – A team of four firefighters were exposed to flood waters that possibly contained E coli while assisting in Hurricane Harvey evacuation. Employees were evaluated / tested and are receiving recommended precautionary medical treatment. Claims have been submitted to TML.
Also, we received 4 minor liability claims in September. The TML risk pool denied 3 of them.
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director, Peter Karstens will present a year-to-date summary of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Repaired the Highway 11 lift station.
- Installed a new camera on the courthouse.
- Began installing Christmas lights.
- Installed an intercom at the Police Department.
- Performed preventative maintenance on wastewater aerators.
- Rebuilt pumps at the Oakridge lift station.
- Treated wastewater to a daily average total suspended solids (TSS) reading of .96 mg/L.
- Repaired 12 water main ruptures.
- Replaced 17 water meters.
- Unstopped 13 sewer mains.
- Repaired 13 sewer mains.
- Washed 75,000 feet of sewer mains.
- Flushed 35 dead end water mains.
- Repaired flood gates at Lake Sulphur Springs.
- Rebuilt fluoride pump and repaired water treatment flocculators.
- Treated 130 million gallons of potable water.
- Performed 70 fire inspections.
- Performed preventative maintenance on 75 fire hydrants.
- Responded to 139 fire rescue calls including 4 structure fires.
- Made 5 felony arrests in the special crimes unit.
- Seized 15 grams of methamphetamine.
- Seized $99,680 on two traffic stops on the interstate, and another $13,471 while working a crash.
- Closed 55 code enforcement cases and opened 51 more.
- Recorded 46 offences, wrote 495 traffic citations, made 71 arrests and responded to 37 accidents.
- Sold 2,450 gallons of AvGas and 7,815 gallons of JetA fuel.
- Made 19 extensive street repairs following utility repairs.
- Patched 601 potholes.
- Checked out 2,827 items from the library and another 492 e-books.
- Conducted 34 building inspections, 27 electrical inspections, 27 plumbing inspections, 10 mechanical inspections and issued 22 building permits.
Wildcat, Lady Cat Cross Country Teams Qualify for Regional
Both the Wildcats and Lady Cats’ cross country teams qualified for the regional meet at the district meet Tuesday in Mt. Pleasant. The Wildcats finished second, just 4 points Hallsville. The Lady Cats were third behind Mt. Pleasant and Hallsville.
The Wildcats were led by Landon Thornton who was second in the race. Peyton Vickery was fifth, Christian Palomino was tenth, Andrew Escobar was twelfth, Eli Sellers was fourteenth, Nabian Ramirez was sixteenth and Ed Ramirez was nineteenth.
For the Lady Cats, their top finisher was Sydney Washburn in sixth place. Bailey Arrington was twelfth, Kaitlyn Ferrill was seventeenth, Hannah Dixon was twenty-first, Landrie McKinney was twenty-eighth, Ashley Noe was thirtieth, and Samantha Vargas was thirty-second.
The regional cross country meet will take place Monday, October 23 at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie.
Lady Cat Volleyball Sweeps Greenville 3-0 Tuesday Night; Host Texas High Friday
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team swept the Greenville Lady Lions, 3-0 Tuesday evening in Wildcats Gym to give themselves a chance to play Friday for a part of the district lead. The Lady Cats defeated Greenville, 25-10, 25-14 and 25-15. Meanwhile Hallsville knocked off district leader Texas High 3-1 in Hallsville, 25-13, 25-23, 23-25 and 25-19. Texas High now has one loss and the Lady Cats are 7-2. The Lady Cats season record improves to 24-12.
The Lady Cats host Texas High Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Wildcats Gym. Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness said he was impressed with the way the Lady Cats played against Greenville. He said the Lady Cats served very well with ten service aces and he added Kaylee Jefferson was knocking the ball through the floor as she had a team high ten kills. Autumn Tanton had seven kills and Mieke VanBenthem six kills. Abbi Baier, Erika VanBenthem and Lexie Wisenhunt had two kills apiece. Madi Vickery had one kill. Setter Anden Hammack had a team high 23 assists. Libero Maggie McGlamery had a team high 12 digs. Jefferson had nine digs. Imani Taylor had five digs. Jefferson had a block solo and Tanton and Vickery both had a block assist.
Wildcat Team Tennis Edged Pine Tree in Final District Match
The Wildcats’ team tennis squad closed out the season on a positive note as they edged by Pine Tree, 10-9 at the Wildcats Tennis Complex Tuesday. The Wildcats improved their district record to 2-4. Their season mark is 3-10.
In early matches played Tuesday, the Wildcats swept all three boys doubles matches. Alex Benitez and Jonah Kirkpatrick won their match, 6-3-6-0, Chase Crouch and Blaine Flemens won 6-1, 6-1. Logan Schumacher and Waylon Matlock won 6-1, 6-1. Perhaps the key match win was the mixed doubles as Aaron Lucas and Heather Harris prevailed, 6-4, 6-1. Flemens won his boys singles match, 6-0, 6-0.
We’ll have more complete match results Wednesday.
11th Annual Senior Expo Featured 50 Vendor Booths
The 11th Annual Senior Expo was conducted at League Street Church of Christ on Tuesday morning. There were 50 Vendor Booths at the Expo, according to Karen Weatherman, Director of the Sulphur Springs Senior Center. She said that every Vendor brought a $ 25.00 Door Prize for people in attendance could win.
Wildcat Football Coordinators Set Sights on Texas High; A Look Back at Marshall
Wildcats Offense
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young said he just hated how the Friday night game at Marshall finished after what he called a great first half. During the first half, Coach Young said the Wildcats executed their running game and the quick passing game and were making plays. He said early, back Colton Allen had a couple of big runs that made the Mavericks change their philosophy on defense. They actually backed off the Wildcats and that opened up the Wildcats passing game. Coach Young said in the second half, the Wildcats first two drives hurt them. The Wildcats made one first down on each of them but then got aggressive on first down but got nothing and then could not get it going again. Then Coach Young said might Mo swung. He was talking about the big scramble play and long touchdown pass. Then came a lost fumble. Still Coach Young said the Wildcats offense is playing better. He said the kids were working extremely hard and he said he is waiting for them to be rewarded for it. Coach Young said the Wildcats hit some big plays early in the season but not lately. He said offensive coaches are challenging the players to maintain their focus. Concerning Texas High’s defense, Coach Young said they remind him of Paris. He said they do a good job of getting off blocks and running to the football. Coach Young said he was impressed with their inside linebackers.
Wildcats Defense
Wildcats Defensive Coordinator Triston Abron said the Marshall game last Friday was a tale of two halves. A familiar problem arose for the Wildcats defense: giving up the big play. Coach Abron said he was pleased that the defense held the Mavs to a field goal after a 15-play opening drive. Included was a fake punt that kept the drive alive. He referred to the biggest play of the night for Marshall as “the play”. Mavs quarterback J.J Green scrambled from one side of the field to the other and then found a wide open receiver on the other side of the field near the goal line for a touchdown. Coach Abron said the play was like a knife that deflated the Wildcats defense and he admitted they had a hard time recovering. He said except for the two long quarterback runs for scores, he thought the Wildcats front seven did a good job containing the Marshall running game. On all the big plays, Coach Abron said the Wildcats had players in position to make tackles but did not do so. He was pleased with linebacker Jaxon Reneau’s interception and with linebacker Cason Churchman’s caused fumble and recovery. Coach Abron said the defense needs to play a complete game so the Wildcats can end up ahead on the scoreboard. Concerning the Texas High offense, Coach Abron started by talking about their talented receivers. None more so than Tevailance Hunt. Coach Abron is very worried with how well they run slant passes. He said Texas High has a good running back that does a good job of hitting holes. Coach Abron said big quarterback Coltin Clack reminds him of the big Pine Tree player who sometime runs from the quarterback position. The Wildcats base out of a 3-4 defense and Coach Abron said it has been difficult preparing for Texas High this week because in all their games so far this season, they have faced even 4-3 looks. Coach Abron also gave a lot of credit to Texas High players and their coaching staff for the way they have dealt with an awful situation where a Tiger player died in his sleep earlier this year. Leonard Parks, a senior defensive end committed to SMU, passed away September 2.
Wildcat Marching Band Finished 6th at Mineola Monday
The Wildcats Marching Band went to its second contest of the season Monday at Mineola and again made the finals. Band Director Charles McCauley said it was a hot day, perhaps the hottest he can remember for a contest. It was the second year for the Mineola contest and McCauley said it was well run and the venue was great. He said the field was nestled into surrounding woods.
The field included bands from strong programs such as Canton and Wills Point. Tyler Lee and Lindale were also there. McCauley said three judges paid attention just to the bands looking for marching, music, visuals and general effect. Individual judges also were assigned to percussion, the color guard and drum majors. All sections of the band and the band got a score of one or first division except percussion, which got a two or second division. McCauley said out of 30 percussion units, only 5 received scores of one.
Seven bands were selected for the finals, including the Wildcats band. They finished in sixth place after a finals performance that McCauley said was the band’s most complete performance so far this season.
After the Wildcats band performs at the football game Friday night at The Prim, they will attend a contest Saturday at Mt. Pleasant. The Wildcats are scheduled to perform at 3 p.m.
Fields of Faith Wednesday Night at Prim Stadium
The local Fellowship of Christian Students is sponsoring an event called Fields of Faith Wednesday evening at Gerald Prim Stadium. Guest speaker will be Wildcats Basketball Coach Clark Cipoletta. Christian athlete and student groups are sponsoring the events at stadiums all over the country.
Gates open at The Prim at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens says he has been involved with this type event for several years now. He says there will also be a local student band. Coach Owens calls it a fun and encouraging night. People from surrounding towns have been invited and Coach Owens says everybody is welcome. There is no charge to attend.
Game Day: Lady Cat Volleyball; Wildcat Team Tennis; District for Wildcat and Lady Cat Cross Country
We have Wildcats and Lady Cats Cross Country, Lady Cats Volleyball and Wildcats Team Tennis on this Tuesday game day.
The Wildcats and Lady Cats’ cross country teams are competing in the district cross country meet this game day Tuesday in Mt. Pleasant. The top three teams will advance to the regional meet. Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks expects to compete with Hallsville and Mt. Pleasant for the district championship on both the boys and girls side.
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team will take on Greenville in Wildcats Gym this evening at 6:30 p.m. The Lady Cats are 6-2 in district play and they are in second place. They have won six straight matches in district after losing their first two. They defeated Greenville on the road back on September 22. We will bring you the Lady Cats and Greenville volleyball match live from Wildcats Gym beginning at 6:30 p.m. on KSST Radio. We will also videotape the game for replay on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable at the later date.
Meanwhile the Wildcats’ team tennis squad wraps up their season at home with a district match against Pine Tree. It gets underway at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
