L-E Provides Good Test According to Wildcat Offensive Coordinator Young
Some former Wildcats’ football stars showed up to watch the current Wildcats practice outside in the heat Monday afternoon. Observing were quarterback of the state champion Wildcats Tyrik Rollison along with former NFL player Kennan Clayton and former receiver Boo Evans and former safety Sharard Timmons. While the former players watched, the Wildcats continue to prepare for their first and only scrimmage this season at Liberty-Eylau Friday at 7 p.m.
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young says L-E will provide a good test for his offense because of their pace of play on defense. He says the Wildcats won’t be able to get away with little things and will have to pay attention to details. Coach Young calls it a great opportunity and he says it’s what you want to continue to improve. He says Liberty-Eylau definitely will reveal where a team’s shortcomings are. Coach Young says he will be watching his team carefully to see their pace of play. He says he is interested in how the offensive line does against the Leopards. Coach Young says he’s looking forward to watching his running backs, how they handle the ball and how they do with ball security when they are hit. He says he is not only looking forward to how the Wildcats’ receivers catch the ball but also how well they block. Coach Young is also hoping his top players will get about 40 snaps or more during the scrimmage.
Wildcat, Lady Cat Cross Country Begin Season
Members of the Wildcats and Lady Cats’ cross country teams spent some time this summer getting ready for the fall season. Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks says it found it very encouraging that a good number of boys and girls showed up to run during the summer months. Coach Hicks says he determined who is on the varsity based on results from a intersquad meet held last Saturday.
He says he will be taking his top eight boys and girls to a distance relay race, the 6 mile Greenhill Relay, coming up Saturday in Dallas. Each participant will run 1.5 miles. There will be two Wildcats and two Lady Cats teams entered. Coach Hicks says it is an older race. He calls it fun and different. There will be hay bales on the course along with other things to jump over. Coach Hicks says he expects to see competition that the Wildcats and Lady Cats may face in regional or hopefully state competition this year.
Following the Greenhill Relay, the Wildcats and Lady Cats will begin a traditional series of 5K races that make up their season. Coach Hicks say his teams this year are very committed. He says he is stressing to them consistency in workouts and in life in general.
Game Day: Volleyball, Team Tennis
This Tuesday game day features Lady Cats’ volleyball and Wildcats’ team tennis. The Lady Cats’ volleyball team will be playing at Forney. This has the appearance of a measuring stick game to give the Lady Cats the opportunity to how they measure up to a quality opponent on the road. Forney defeated the Lady Cats three times last season including in a bi-district playoff match. The Lady Cats are hoping to turn the tables on Forney this time. There will be a freshmen match at 4:30 p.m. with a JV game at 5:30 p.m. and then the varsity match at around 6:30 p.m. The Lady Cats come into the contest with a 10-5 record after claiming the consolation championship at a Wills Point tournament last Friday and Saturday.
Meanwhile the Wildcats’ team tennis squad will be hosting a good Sherman team at the Wildcats Tennis Complex beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Wildcats won their last match at Terrell last Thursday and the Wildcats have a season record of 1-3.
City Council Sets Special Meeting for Friday
Sulphur Springs City Council meets in special session Friday, August 25, 2017 at noon to conduct a public hearing in council chambers, 201 North Davis Street for the proposed tax increase and other items of business. An executive session will be held at 11:30 a.m. regarding personnel matters specifically related to the termination of the position of Fire Chief.
The following items will be discussed:
- Call to order.
- Conduct a Public Hearing for the proposed tax increase.
- Discussion/action on Public Hearing on the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 2711, an ordinance amending Chapter 21 of the City of Sulphur Springs Code of ordinance entitled Streets and Sidewalks by adding Article V entitled Right of Row Management and Article VI entitled Wireless Infrastructure Management, regulating the physical use, occupancy and maintenance of city rights-of-way by wireless network providers; describing the purpose; providing definitions; requiring compliance with the city design manuals and applicable codes for installation of network nodes and node support poles pursuant to Chapter 284 of the Texas Local Government Code; providing City procedures for applications for permits; establishing time periods for approval of permit applications; providing application fees and annual public right-of-way rental rates; providing restrictions on placement of network nodes and node support poles in municipal parks, residential areas, historic districts and design districts; providing indemnity for the City; providing repealing and savings clauses; proving a Texas Open Meetings Act Clause; and providing an effective date of September 1, 2017.
- Discussion/action on Executive Session item regarding termination of position of Fire Chief.
- Adjourn.
TxDOT Reminds All of the Dangers of Drinking and Driving
Texas Department of Transportation “Plan While You Can” campaign seeks to save lives by decreasing alcohol-related crashes as Texans approach the Labor Day holiday. With the start of schools in Texas, that campaign takes to the road utilizing a victim of drinking and driving.
Sean Carter looks out onto a sea of high school students before beginning his speech. Most of these students likely share the same dreams Sean once had — to have a successful career and a family. The life Sean dreamed about abruptly ended in 2005 when he got into a truck driven by a friend who had been drinking. The driver caused the truck to hydroplane, striking a tree and causing Sean to suffer a traumatic brain injury that left him unable to walk or talk.
“I was not born needing a wheelchair,” Sean told the students through an iPad that speaks the words he types. “The choices I made put me here. For 12 years, I’ve lived with the consequences of my choices. Nothing can undo my decision to ride with a drunk driver, and despite how much I improve, I will never escape those consequences.”
Sean tells his powerful story to students across the country, hopeful that they will not make the same mistake. He is also sharing his story through the Texas Department of Transportation’s “Plan While You Can” campaign, which aims to save lives by decreasing alcohol-related crashes leading up to and beyond the Labor Day holiday weekend. In 2016, there were 344 alcohol-related crashes in Texas during the Labor Day holiday weekend (September 2-5, 2016), resulting in 12 fatalities and 39 serious injuries.
“We appreciate Sean sharing his story with others and we wish him continued luck on his tremendous efforts to recover from the terrible incident,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “We need to remember that each time someone dies or is seriously injured on our roadways, it’s someone’s son or daughter, mother or father, or friend. We hope Sean’s story will encourage safe driving behaviors so that we can all see fewer deaths on our roadways.”
The “Plan While You Can” campaign includes a statewide tour featuring an interactive dodgeball game where participants avoid incoming “dodgeballs” 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.
Drivers under the influence of alcohol can face up to $17,000 in fines and fees, jail time and loss of their 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.
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CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Quitman Welcomes New Provider
TYLER, TX – CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – Quitman welcomed new provider Nancy Gegbe, M.D., to serve the patients of their growing community practice at the beginning of August.
Dr. Gegbe joins CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System after completing her Family Medicine residency at the University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences – Texarkana. Dr. Gegbe earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Norkolk State University in Virginia before completing a Masters in Biochemistry at the University of New Hampshire and finishing her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica, West Indies. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Board of Family Medicine, the American Medical Association and the Alpha Chi Sigma Chemistry Fraternity.
“I’m thrilled to be joining CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System through CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic – Quitman,” said Dr. Gegbe. “The physicians, nurses, APPs and staff are top-notch, and I cannot wait to learn more about the people of this community and serve their health care needs while extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.”
SSPD Recognize Local Man in Video of Burglary
August 22, 2017 – Sulphur Springs Police were called to 1217 South Broadway in reference to a burglary. The officer watched a video and knew the offender, Kerry Renaldore Duffey, Jr. on sight.
Kerry Renaldore Duffey, Jr
The officer went to the last known address for Duffey in Sulphur Springs and spoke with Duffey’s mother. Using her phone, the officer called Duffey and asked him to meet with the officer at the South Broadway location. However, Duffey was located in the 200 block of Parkins Street on foot. In his possession was the property stolen.
Duffey is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Theft of Property less than $2,500 with 2 or more Previous Convictions, a State Jail Felony. He was previously arrested for theft in February, March and twice in May of this year.
Following Review of the Video , Coach Calls It A Good Day
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens watched video of Friday’s first day in pads practice and then declared it a good day. The team’s top units went at each other in pads head to head.
Coach Owens said the defense dominated on inside running plays by the offense. He said the offense also had a good day. Coach Owens said he believed they only had to punt once. Coach Owens said the offensive line lacked some proper techniques but did not allow any sacks. He liked that eight different receivers caught passes, Coach Owens said running backs ran exceptionally well. He added the defense also had some good moments and he said he liked the way the inside linebackers were flying around.
The coaches cautioned the players not to overdo things to keep anyone from getting hurt. Coach Owens said no one wins any championships on the first day of pads. He said every player had snaps and reps and it was all captured on video that is being used to correct things. Coaches reviewed video with players Saturday morning The team also worked on special teams and other team scenarios Saturday before varsity picture day.
Practice Monday will take place 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. School starts Tuesday with practices through Thursday from around 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. after school. Coach Owens said this week will be structured somewhat like a typical game week except with no game planning.
The Wildcats travel to Texarkana to scrimmage Liberty-Eylau Friday evening. Freshman and JV teams will scrimmage at 5 p.m. with the varsity to follow at around 7 p.m.
