Weekend Sports Update: Football; Volleyball; Cross Country
Owens on Football
After Friday night’s Wildcats scrimmage loss to Liberty-Eylau, Wildcats Fotoball Coach Greg Owens said it look like the Wildcats first scrimmage. He said things were sloppy, especially right at first. He said the Leopard’s speed exposed lots of Wildcats’ weaknesses. On Saturday, Wildcats’ coaches used the video to work on correcting things with players. Coach Owens said he liked where the Wildcats are right now and he said he saw some good things during the Friday scrimmage. He said the Wildcats defense was extremely aggressive. Coach Owens said L-E made a lot of plays because they have lots of play makers. He said the Wildcats have to step up and make plays as well. Coach Owens said the scrimmage overall was good. He said everyone got to play. Coach Owens said it was all about reps and getting better. He said L-E is right up there with talented teams the Wildcats will play this year such as Texas High and Marshall. The Leopards have 35 seniors and Coach Owens noted that’s a lot for a Class 4A team. He said the Wildcats need to work on being consistent. He added all Friday night’s errors are fixable.
Maness on Lady Cats Volleyball
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team is on a four game winning streak. After losing three tough matches in pool play Thursday in a Tyler tournament, the Lady Cats returned to the home court Friday and topped Caddo Mills, 3-1. Back in Tyler in tournament play Saturday, the Lady Cats swept all three matches they played to win their bracket. They defeated Eustace, Tyler Grace Community and Nacogdoches. The Lady Cats did not loss a single set. The Lady Cats are now 14-9 for the season. Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness said he thought the Lady Cats pool in Tyler contained the four best team’s in the tournament. Coach Maness said he believes the Lady Cats are starting to find a little consistency. He said even in losses, he sees the Lady Cats getting better. Coach Maness said he really liked his team’s back row defense Saturday in Tyler. He said the team is becoming very defensive minded. Coach Maness said they will need to be against a tougher schedule this year. This week the Lady Cats travel to Paris Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and then will host Liberty-Eylau Friday.
Hicks on Cross Country
The Wildcats and Lady Cats’ cross country teams both sent two teams to participate in the Greenhill Relays at Norbuck Park in Dallas Saturday. Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks said the 6-mile, 4-person relay race was a fun way to open the cross country season. The Wildcats’ top boys team finished 15th and Coach Hicks said they were fourth best among 5A schools. The Wildcats’ second team was 26th. The Lady Cats’ top team finished 25th. Their second team was in the mid-30’s according to Coach Hicks. He said the girls’ second team included some younger runners who had to step in and participate when some other girls could not compete. Coach Hicks said he was impressed with Wildcats Peyton Vickery, Landon Thornton, Ed Ramirez and Eli Sellers and Lady Cats Syndey Washburn, Landry McKinney and Hannah Dixon. Next the Wildcats and Lady Cats will run at the Rise and Shine cross country meet in Wylie Saturday. Coach Hicks said the more traditional 5K cross country race gets underway at 7:30 a.m. At least 26 teams will be there and they are all either 5A or 6A schools.
North Hopkins ISD To Conduct Tax “Swap” Ratification Election
According to Superintendent Darin Jolly, in an effort to maximize state funding, North Hopkins Independent School District is seeking to pass a Tax “Swap” Ratification Election. The purpose of the election is to allow the district to move $0.13 from the Interest and Sinking (I&S) (debt payment) tax rate to the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate. This move causes the $0.13 to generate more money from the state for the district, without raising the total tax rate. The public is invited to attend an Informational Meeting on September 5th at 7pm in the North Hopkins Cafeteria.
The proposed change generates the same projected local tax revenue – $981,648, because the pennies are just “swapped” between M&O and I&S, but the move increases the projected state revenue by $251,635 for the 2017-2018 school year. The tax “swap” election will not change the total tax rate:
Current Tax Rates: M&O $1.04; I&S $0.215; Total Tax Rate $1.255
Proposed Tax Rates: M&O $1.17; I&S $0.085; Total Tax Rate $1.255
Early voting by personal appearance shall take place beginning on September 19, 2017 and ending October 2, 2017 at the following hours and location: Between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. each weekday and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm. on October 2, 2017 at the North Hopkins ISD Secondary Office, located at 1994 FM 71 W, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.
Voting on Election Day, October 6, 2017, will be conducted from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the North Hopkins ISD Administration Building Board Room, located at 1994 FM 71 W, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.
The public is invited to attend an Informational Meeting on September 5th at 7pm in the NH Cafeteria.
For more information, contact Superintendent, Darin Jolly or Business Manager, Jan Vaughn at 903-945-2192 EXT 8029 or online at www.NorthHopkins.net
Hopkins County EMT’s and AMBUS in Rockport
The most recent update from Hopkins County AMBUS crew and EMS Director Brent Smith received by KSST:
“Its been about 16 hours since I was able to update you last. Yesterday morning on Saturday when around daybreak, is when our crew was briefed and tasked to attach in a convoy with an IRAT (Incident Response Assessment Team) with DPS, TxDOT, 20 Coach Buses and a compliment of 2 ambulances to make entry into “ground zero” Rockport Tx. Of the initial tasks given yesterday morning, I am proud we were chosen to lead the way with this specialized team. Our purpose was to get to Rockport and establish a medical assessment and treatment rally point for the locals. As you may of heard about damage to a shelter at a school in Rockport on the news with persons trapped inside, this was our first stop.
“Traveling to Rockport was slow going due to high water and debris associated with road closures. Approx 7 hours from being launched from San Antonio staging we arrived at the Live Oak School in Rockport. Upon arrival there was 2 local EMT’s and approx. 175 civilians located inside the school, which looked to be fairly new in construction. We assessed breathing difficulty patients that normally are on oxygen at home which had run out, and a few diabetic patients. We used one of our attached ambulance crews from Argyle FD to dO an immediate to CHRISTUS Spohn in Corpus Christi with a dialysis patient in moderate distress. Just note, even when not in Sulphur Springs we still take our patients to CHRISTUS. The school shelter and evacuation of the approx. 175 took a few hours. We arrived at our current location in Rockport Tx which is an old HEB store parking lot and established a staging area. Fuel trucks, State Military Forces which were also in our convoy were setting up staging while we did the school evacuation. Last night just after midnight we were able to refuel our vehicles at staging and finally get something to eat (MRE’s). Fortunately we were able to sleep from around 0100 until 0700 this morning.
“The City of Rockport is pretty destroyed overall, with obviously no power, water, etc. We were fortunate to get a small portable cell tower running this morning that is part of the DPS assets. Other than that are only form of communication since around 1300 yesterday has been with our MSAT’s (satellite) phones. Current operations today have included treating patients here at our established base. We have seen several, mostly walking wounded, but have had 2 transports by ambulances to Corpus Christi one of which was an active MI. All staff and crews are doing well with no issues.”
Forney Man Charged with Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon in Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Parking Lot
A disturbance in the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office parking lot resulted in the arrest of David Allen Calhoun, 52, of Forney. Calhoun is charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon Family Violence and is being held on a $200,000 bond.
Advised of a disturbance in the front parking lot at the Sheriff’s Office, Communications Supervisor David Ray detained Calhoun until deputies arrived to make the arrest. Calhoun assaulted a female victim and a knife was used and/or exhibited during the assault. The deputies escorted Calhoun to the jail where he was booked in and housed.
Exiting I-30 Through Ditch Leads to Meth Arrest
A Dodge SUV exited I-30 by driving through the ditch on Sunday afternoon, August 27, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. A Cumby Police Officer, parked stationary at the 112-mile marker, noted the indiscretion. The officer initiated a traffic stop.
Johnny Ray Cason
The drive identified himself as Johnny Ray Cason, 26, of Lewisville but stated he did not have his driver’s license with him. The officer ordered the man out of the vehicle and performed a pat-down for officer safety. During the pat-down, the officer found a plastic baggy containing a crystal substance containing methamphetamine.
Cason is in Hopkins County Jail being held on a $5,000 bond.
Townsend Named Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert
On August 25th, 2017 Meredith Townsend the SSISD secondary instructional technology specialist was announced today as a Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert joining the more than 6,700 educators in the MIE Expert program worldwide. Each year, Microsoft selects innovative educators to share ideas, try new approaches and learn from each other as a global community dedicated to improving student outcomes through technology.
“Meredith has worked tirelessly to lead the HS 1:1 initiative and support teachers. This is a great recognition of that hard work and the impact she is having. The best part is she is making that impact well beyond SSHS and SSISD as a connected educator and this is part of those efforts” – John Bimmerle, Instructional Tech Coordinator
As an MIE Expert, educators build their capacity for using technology in both the classroom and curriculum to improve student learning, advise Microsoft and educational institutions on how to integrate technology in pedagogically sound ways and be an advocate at conferences, events and trainings for how Microsoft technology can improve learning.
“Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts are inspiring examples of educators applying new ways of teaching and learning in their classrooms that motivate students and empower them to achieve more,” said Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education, Microsoft. “We celebrate and support the work they do every day!”
To learn more about the MIE Expert program, you can find out more here. If you are an educator and interested in joining the MIE program, you can begin by joining the Microsoft Educator Community, where you can learn and grow professionally, exchange ideas and learn from others, and make connections globally and earn recognition.
Dinner Bell Menu For August 30, 2017
Dinner Bell Menu for
August 30, 2017
First Presbyterian Church
this week’s Community Partner.
Baked Pasta Casserole
Fried Cabbage
Spicy Roasted Carrots with Cilantro
Garden Salad
Garlic French Bread
A Lemon Cake to Die for!
Lemon Sugar Free Pudding
Photos from Senior Olympics….Annual Fun Event for Local Senior Citizens
Local seniors had a lot of fun during competition in almost a dozen different indoor “sports” at The Roc on Thursday afternoon August 24, 2017. There were competitors in age categories of 50 plus, 60 plus, 70 plus and 80 and above. Medals were awarded to first, second and third place winners in each game. Games included wheelchair race, bean bag toss, horseshoe pitching, nerf javelin, scooter races and 1k.
Ten nursing homes were represented and numerous individuals got involved, about 250 persons altogether. The Spirit Award went to Heritage Healthcare of Quitman. “Most Athletic” was Ana Benson from Rock Creek Nursing and Rehab with a total of five medals. The 1K Race winners were: First Place Michael Smith, Second Place John Little and Third Place Ron Phillips.
