Lady Cats Face Marshall in Wildcats Gym; Tennis at Mt Pleasant
There will be Lady Cats’ volleyball and Wildcats’ team tennis on this Tuesday, September 26 2017 game day.
The Lady Cats will play Marshall in Wildcats Gym. There will be a freshman contest at 4:30 p.m. followed by a JV game and then a varsity match at around 6 p.m. Marshall is a much improved team according to Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness. The Lady Cats are 2-2 in district play and 19-12 for the season.
Meanwhile the Wildcats’ team tennis squad will host Mt. Pleasant at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (September 26) at the Wildcat Tennis Complex. The match is a critical one for both teams and it has lots of playoff implications. The Wildcats are 1-2 in district play. Mt. Pleasant won 10-9 at home against the Wildcats last year. The loss greatly hurt the Wildcats playoff chances last year.
Sentencing Given in 2011 Murder Case
Sarilu Ann Mettlen
Brian Allen Tucker
55-year old Sarilu Ann Mettlin was sentenced to 10-years probation for aggravated robbery in Hopkins County’s Eighth District Court Tuesday morning. The sentence was part of a plea bargain in a case involving the death of 63-year old Bobby Riley in Hopkins County in 2011.
Mettlin was originally arrested along with Brian Allen Tucker for capital murder. Tucker escaped from the Hopkins County Jail several years ago and after he was recaptured, he decided to enter a guilty plea for live in prison without parole.
Tucker also indicated to authorities that he would not testify against Mettlin. DA Will Ramsey said the testimony by Tucker would have been vital in the case against Mettlin. Later three aggravated robbery charges were filed against Mettlin in the case. As part of a plea bargain, Ms. Mettlin pleaded guilty on two of the charges and was sentenced to two 10-year prison terms to run concurrently.
The plea bargain also specified that she be sentenced to 10-years deferred adjudication or after her prison time was served. That was the business before Judge Eddie Northcutt Tuesday morning and he sentenced Ms. Mettlin to ten years probation.
Shannon Oaks’ Pumpkin Patch Brings a Season of Fun for All Ages
Mandy and Eden Godwin
Mandy McGraw Godwin and her husband Pastor Eric Godwin of Shannon Oaks Church are natives of Sulphur Springs. As a church activity, they decided to plan a “Pumpkin Patch” for area families to enjoy, and it soon became a community-size idea! Mandy had noticed that not only her own but other families were traveling at least an hour’s distance from Sulphur Springs for this type of seasonal entertainment for their children, and might be something needed locally. Through October, the Pumpkin Patch is a themed area of the Shannon Oaks church grounds filled with activities for children and for kids and parents to enjoy together. The pumpkins…a few thousand of them…arrived by semi truck in about 35 large bins. In a large open space behind the church, volunteers have set up the Hay Slide and Hay Bale maze and areas for the Pumpkin Launch and Pumpkin Bowling. Several people at once can get into a life-size Hamster Wheel, and if you like Paint Ball, you can enjoy that too. For a slower pace, there will also be Hayrides and Story Time. In all, there will be a dozen different fun and safe activities with plenty of supervision. All the activities can be enjoyed for a single fee of $5 per person. Children under age 2 are admitted free.
The Pumpkin Patch opens Saturday September 30 and will be open each Friday and Saturday in October. You can also reserve the Pumpkin Patch for a group. Pumpkins of all sizes and colors as well as gourds and squash will be for sale. You can purchase them with or without the $5 admission fee to the pumpkin park. Choose from mini-size pumpkins all the way up to 100-pound “Big Mac” pumpkins. A small concession stand with drinks and snacks will be open. See photos and find out more about the SOC Pumpkin Patch on Facebook, and about the church and it’s family services at shannonoakschurch.com
Como-Pickton FFA Students Compete at East Texas State Fair
Jesus Gonzales and Breanna Bowen of Como-Pickton FFA at the Speaking Contest in the East Texas State Fair in Tyler
Como-Pickton FFA members, Breanna Bowen and Jesus Gonzalez competed in the East Texas State Fair Speaking competition on Saturday, September 23rd in Tyler, Texas. Breanna Bowen placed first in the Agri-Business division with her speech over Jersey Cattle and the Free Enterprise System.
Breanna also exhibited in the photography contest where she received 1st place overall in the 13-19 age division. She also received a first and second with two other photos.
Jr FFA member, Brody Busby, exhibited three breeding gilts at the fair where he received two 1st in class honors and a 4th in class placing.
Breanna receiving First Place in the Agri-Business Division at the East Texas State Fair Speaking Contest
Coach Owens Comments on Whitehouse Loss
On KSST and Channel 18 TV’s Saturday Morning Coach’s Show, Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens indicated he and his staff would be working long hours evaluating personnel to correct weaknesses that are plaguing the team this season. Coach Owens said the Wildcats defense had to play too many plays in Friday night’s 28-6 loss to Whitehouse. He said it was another sluggish night for the offense. Even though the defense played well at times, they could not contain one quarterback and receiver combo that clicked for four touchdowns. Coach Owens said the team played a lot of the game with low energy. He said the offensive struggles now have spread over three games. Coach Owens said a strong and physical Whitehouse defensive front won the battle up front. He said the Wildcats quarterbacks were not accurate Friday night. Some receivers dropped balls. Key third and fourth downs were not converted. The theme last week was be consistent and finish and Coach Owens said the Wildcats did not do either one Friday night. He said there is an urgency to improve things this week with district play beginning.
Pine Tree comes to Prim Stadium with an 0-4 record. Coach Owens said it seemed the whole district is full of teams trying to figure out who they are.
Lady Cats Volleyball Win 3-0 in Greenville
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team played with consistency and took care of business against Greenville, winning 3-0 in a district match at Greenville last Friday. That was the assessment of Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness. He added the Lady Cats were very strong on defense and put a lot of things together on offense.
Coach Maness said he is very pleased with how the Lady Cats are serving right now. He said the Lady Cats have only missed about six serves during the past two matches. Coach Maness said he was glad to see the Lady Cats beat a team that had defeated them earlier in the season. He said everyone contributed to the victory. Coach Maness said five or six Lady Cats had at least five kills. He said the team had a ton of digs. Coach Maness said Maggie McGlamery had around 19 digs. The Lady Cats improved their district record to 2-2 with two road wins last week. This week, the Lady Cats will be home for two matches.
Coach Maness said a much improved Marshall team would be coming in Tuesday evening. He added always tough Pine Tree would be here Friday.
SSHS Cross Country Teams Place at Lovejoy
Cross Country
The Wildcats finished fifth and the Lady Cats were seventeenth at the Lovejoy Cross Country Fall Festival last Saturday at Myers Park in McKinney. Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks said the meet drew a large and very competitive field of 5A and 6A schools.
The Wildcats’ Landon Thornton was out due to injury and the Lady Cats Hannah Dixon did not participate due to illness. The Lady Cats were led once again by Sydney Washburn followed by Bailey Arrington. Freshman Landry McKinney was the third Lady Cat to finish followed by sophomore Ashley Noe. Coach Hicks said several Wildcats had personal bests Saturday. Peyton Vickery led the Wildcats followed by Christian Palomino. Eli Sellers was the third Wildcat to finish. Coach Hicks said the first three finished within 15 seconds of each other and he added they pushed each other. Next to finish for the Wildcats were Ed Ramirez and Nabian Ramirez.
This Saturday, the Wildcats and Lady Cats will be at the Mount Pleasant Titus County Fair Invitational. Coach Hicks calls it a district preview. Many district opponents will be present and the Wildcats and Lady Cats will get to run the course they will run on October 10 at the district meet.
Traffic Stop Yields Arrest of Robbery Suspect
Carlos Roberto Zuniga
A 25-year old Mount Pleasant man was arrested Saturday morning by a DPS trooper in Hopkins County after the man reportedly misidentified himself in hopes of avoiding a connection with an aggravated robbery case in Titus County.
The man was a passenger in a car that was stopped for a traffic violation at the 136 mile marker along I-30. Carlos Roberto Zuniga was charged with failure to properly identify himself. JP B.J. Teer set bond at $2,000 on the charge and added a $7,500 bond for violation of probation for aggravated robbery in Titus County.
