SSISD Schools Accountability Ratings Reported to Board; Douglas Intermediate Has Outstanding Year
Superintendent of SSISD schools Michael Lamb said there are solid performance points and areas of work noted in the accountability rating received from the Texas Education Agency. Lamb told KSST News Wednesday morning that the 2017 Accountability Summary for reflected outstanding scores for Douglas Intermediate and Sulphur Springs High School. The Middle School and Elementary, grades 3-4, were lower but did meet standards.
Lamb said that the stronger scores in the upper grades are encouraging. He stated that the ultimate goal is for those in high school to perform at a high standard reflecting a strong educational system. He noted that the 60% of students falling into the low socioeconomic level and that has a greater effect on the lower grades. Reading levels fall in lower socioeconomic groups. However, the testing shows that the reading level raises as the students progress through the grade levels. Lamb says he likes the fact that improvements are made over time as students go into higher grades.
For the high school, the students scored well in six out of seven scoring factors for distinction. The only area that missed distinction, by 3% points, was student progress.
The Middle School scored in the top middle of the 40 comparable schools. The students scored strong in math and reading. The school has concentrated in math rather than science in the past few years.
Douglas Intermediate School students performed at an outstanding level. The school scored five of six stars. The math star was missed only by less than 2%. In student achievement, Douglas scored first among the 40 schools with which the district is compare. They were second in student progress and post-secondary readiness and sixth in closing performance gaps. Lamb called it a phenomenal year for Douglas. He said what happened in Douglas did not happen in just one year. He credited the work performed in the elementary level that assisted in the success.
Lamb stated that for students in the lower socioeconomic level, change is often hard and that has an effect on the elementary level. SSISD is one of two schools in the 40 used for comparison where students moved from one campus to another at 3rd grade level. He also noted that for some of those students, parents’ work hours affect how much time is spent in assisting the student in reading and in other studies.
For Lamb, the most positive achievement for the local district is that the district is working hard and doing well. He pointed to the scores on college entrance tests and the involvement in career and technology education as an indicator of the district’s success. He stated that the high scores in Algebra, a gatekeeper course, and Biology point to the progress of the district.
Testing is sometimes deceiving, according to Lamb. He said high scores may disappoint when other schools score as high or higher and low scores deceive as is noted when other schools in the comparison group are scoring lower than your school.
Overall, Lamb is pleased with the success seen in the high school. He has noted the areas that need additional focus and work.
DBA Debuts Brick Street Vintage Market This Saturday September 16
All the details are in place, down to custom-printed shopping bags! for the Brick Street Vintage Market set to open Saturday September 16 at 8am through downtown Sulphur Springs. The Market will be set up until 6pm in a large horseshoe shape along Connally, Jefferson, Gilmer and Main Streets. About 50 vendors, most from out of town, will be displaying vintage antiques and art, quilts, handmade furniture, repurposed and handmade items, vintage-inspired home and garden decor and clothing items for sale. Over on Celebration Plaza, your purchase of a $10 raffle ticket allows you to the opportunity for three major prize packages. There will also be Vintage Market T-Shirts for Sale. The first 100 shoppers who come to the Information Center at 220 Connally Street will receive a free shopping bag filled with goodies. Organizers of the vintage market did not include food vendors because they want to point shoppers to the 17 different restaurants, cafe’s, wineries, bars and gourmet shops within walking distance of Celebration Plaza, as well as the retail businesses located there. There will be free transportation to and from the Quilt Show at The Roc via the Sulphur Springs Trolley.
Along with her committees, Judy Heilman, President of Downtown Business Alliance and owner of Gourmet Kitchen and Company at 213 Main Street has been working diligently on the debut event for months. Local artist Mike Elliot designed the Vintage Market logo, and many downtown merchants got on board by promoting the event through their own advertising mediums.
Business owner Judy Heilman, DBA President and Vintage Market organizer
Cumby Police Arrest One After Suspected Crack Cocaine Found in Vehicle
Cumby Police initiated a traffic stop around noon Tuesday when a 2004 GMC Yukon was speeding along I-30. Odor of a narcotic caused the officer to deploy his K-9 partner who alerted causing a probable cause search of the vehicle. In the vehicle was found approximately 3.5 oz of marijuana and what was believed to be more than 10-grams of crack cocaine. Also, $2,581 was found in the front pocket and wallet of Calvin Lynn Johnson, 57, of Dallas.
After being read his Miranda Warning, Johnson refused to answer questions and was transported to Hopkins County Jail. At book-in additional money and a money order were found in Johnson’s wallet.
SCU Arrests Man After Two Drug Buys
Following two separate purchases in which a quantity of methamphetamine was sold, the Special Crimes Unit arrested William Ray Cadle, 36, of Sulphur Springs. The arrest follows an investigation over a period of time in which purchases of more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams of meth were purchased. He was arrested in August of this year and arrests for other drug related charges date back to 2007.
Cadle is in Hopkins County Jail charged with two counts of Manufacture Delivery Controlled Substance more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams.
Texas High Defeats Lady Cats’ 3 Sets to 2
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team lost a tough five-set match on the road at Texas High Tuesday night.
The Lady Cats opened with a close 25-23 win. The Lady Tigers took the second set 25-16. The Lady Cats went up 2 sets to 1 with a 25-20 set three win. Again Texas High evened the match with a set four win, 25-21. The Lady Tigers won the deciding set five, 15-12.
Lady Cats Coach Justin Maness said it was an overall good match. He said the Lady Cats should have taken care of business at certain points. Coach Maness said Texas High played good defense and he added the Lady Cats should have been a little more aggressive at times. He said the Lady Cats can learn from the defeat and move on to the next match. Coach Maness said the Lady Cats can’t dwell on much of the loss. He said the Lady Cats have a tough match coming up Friday. Hallsville is coming to Wildcats Gym Friday at 4 p.m. Coach Maness said the Lady Cats will bounce back.
In stats, Autumn Tanton and Mieke VanBenthem led the Lady Cats with 12 kills apiece. Kaylee Jefferson had 9. Erika VanBenthem had 4. Setter Anden Hammack had 31 assists. Libero Maggie McGlamery had a team leading 12 digs. Imani Taylor had 10 and Hammack and Tanton had 8 digs apiece. Tanton had 4 service aces. Mieke VanBenthem had 5 block assists and Tanton added 4. The Lady Cats are 0-1 in district play and 17-11 for the season.
Wildcats’ Team Tennis Defeat Marshall 14-5
The Wildcats’ team tennis squad won an important district match against Marshall, 14-5 at the Wildcat Tennis Complex Tuesday afternoon. The short-handed Mavericks had to give up 6 points to the Wildcats.
The Wildcats got boys’ singles wins from Alex Benitez, Jonah Kirkpatrick, Chase Crouch and Blaine Flemens. Katherine Herd and Jazzmin Cruz got wins in girls’ singles. Crouch and Logan Schumacher got the win in the only boys’ doubles match contested. Aaron Lucas and Heather Harris won a mixed doubles match.
The Wildcats are now 1-1 in district play and 2-6 for the season. The Wildcats have a non-district match Saturday morning against Pleasant Grove at the Wildcat Tennis Complex. The Wildcats will resume district play next Tuesday afternoon at Texas High.
Winnsboro Police Report September 4-10, 2017
Winnsboro Police Department arrested four (4), responded to 139 calls for service, issued 34 citations, and wrote 28 warnings during the September 4-10, 2017 report period.
Larissa Benson, 27, of Scroggins was arrested September 4th on a Hopkins County warrant.
Eric Stokes, 34, of Winnsboro was arrested September 4th on a City of Winnsboro warrant.
Judith Arata, 34, of Winnsboro was arrested September 6th for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, family.
Jennifer Baker, 34, of Virginia Beach was arrested September 6th for Assault Causing Bodily Injury, family.
There were no accidents investigated.
Wildcat Football Coordinators Review Avalon; Plan for Paris
Wildcats Offense
Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young says the biggest compliment he can give to the Wildcats’ offense is that they stuck with it last Friday in an 18-13 Wildcats’ win in a defensive struggle against Avalon of Maryland. He admits the first half against the Black Knights was not a pretty one. A big part of the problem was unsuccessful third down and short conversions.
In the first half, the Wildcats were stopped on 4 of those third and short plays. The Wildcats clicked on 5 of 6 against Sherman the week before. Coach Young says the offense never panicked or argued or placed blame. He says there was frustration because the players are competitors. Coach Young says they hung in there.
The second half was completely different. Coach Young says the offense racked up about 250 yards of offense. He says slot receiver Jase Thompson made a play on a route on the sideline and caught a pass and ran for a touchdown. Coach Young says the offense moved the football after that. He says the offensive line calmed down in the second half that they saw a totally different look from Avalon than they planned for in the first half. Coach Young says Avalon refused to let wide receiver Simeon Taylor go deep so the Wildcats started throwing short passes to him Coach Young says he was pleased with the offense for keeping their cool.
Paris will provide the opposition this Friday for the Homecoming football game. Coach Young says the Paris defense flies to the ball, provides multiple looks and plays hard. He says a 25 yard gain against another team will only get about 12 against Paris because he says they get off blocks and recover. Coach Young says the Wildcats will have their hands full Friday and the offense must execute their plays.
Wildcats Defense
You might think Wildcats Defensive Coordinator Triston Abron loved every minute of last Friday night’s 18-13 win over Avalon of Maryland in a defensive struggle. Coach Abron says it was a fun game at the end when it was over. He says fans may like to watch a defensive struggle but he says the tight game is not much fun for a defensive coordinator.
Coach Abron says the Wildcats defense gave an unbelievable effort. He says the Wildcats played hard and fast and with passion. He really noticed on tape how well they ran to the football all night. Coach Abron says the defense played close to a flawless game. They have played two good games in a row. Coach Abron says he will now expect them to play that way every week. He says he wants the defense to continue to be a nuisance to offenses, like a gnat.
Coach Abron singled out lots of players for praise. He says defensive lineman D’Idrec Dugan had a great game. Team leading tackler inside linebacker Jaxon Reneau had another great game. He says inside backer K.J. Abron did a good job and was all over the field. Cason Churchman had a good game at outside linebacker as did outside backer Rio Becerra, who filled in when Kylan Wade got sick on Friday. Coach Abron was very pleased with the safety play of Sebastian Adams, Austin Dodd, D.J. Abron and Jase Thompson. Cornerback Day Day Dugan was upset his interception was not allowed due to a penalty. Cornerback Terrell Turman was credited with a big hit on a fourth down stop that fired up the Wildcats.
Concerning this week’s opponent Paris, Coach Abron says they present a challenge because they have big threats at quarterback and running back. Running back Donovan Williams had four touchdowns and over 200 yards in week one against Terrell. Coach Abron calls quarterback Kobe Savage fast, shifty and a great athlete. Savage, who used to live in Sulphur Springs, is well known not only by Coach Abron but also by lots of Wildcats. Paris also has two offensive tackles that weigh in at 300 pounds for more. Coach Abron says the Wildcats’ defense will have their work cut out for them.
“Ribeye Roundup”Judges Selected for Oct. 6 Downtown Cook-off, Concert
The NetBio Cattleman’s Classic and Ribeye Roundup is a major annual event in downtown Sulphur Springs, set for Friday October 6, 2017. The 3rd annual steak cook-off will be going on through the day, with educational producer programs starting at 2pm in the courthouse followed by 6 pm outdoor dinner and concert by Stoney LaRue at 8 pm. Tickets are $25 each, available at Texas Heritage National Bank and at Brookshire’s. The advance purchase of tickets is recommended.
The Ribeye Roundup will be judged by a panel of six beef industry professionals from around the state. Read about the judges below. With questions, contact any NetBio member or Dwyatt Bell at Texas Heritage National Bank or [email protected].
2016 NETBIO Cattleman’s Classic and Ribeye Roundup
