Skaters gonna Skate: Skatefest 2017
Skatefest was a success! Skaters came from all over Texas, with varying ages and skills. There was a barbecue vendor and an ice-cream truck. A tattoo parlor gave out real and airbrush tattoos. There were nine talented bands in the line-up, and a masseuse who massaged the competitors. Even the impending rain couldn’t stop this crowd from having a good time!
Malcom Holiday, an 18 year-old from Paris, Texas, was out skating and enjoying the event. His favorite trick is the Ghetto Bird-which is a hard 180 degree flip. Malcom got into skating when “the first Tony Hawk game came out on Gameboy.”
Todd Welch, a 23 year-old from Paris, Texas, was also in attendance. His favorite trick is a Blunt Slide-which is when the skater Ollies over a rail, and slides down. Todd became a skater when his grandpa bought him a skateboard when he was a kid.
Todd Welch and Malcom Holiday
Check out more pictures from the event!
SSHS Grad Jessica Rivera Awarded Stars on the Rise Scholarship
COMMERCE, TX—The Office of Hispanic Outreach & Retention and Profes! at Texas A&M Commerce co-hosted the annual Stars on the Rise Scholarship Awards Program in collaboration with The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The event was held at the Dallas County Schools Technology & Training Center. The event was led by Dr. Lee Young, associate vice president for enrollment management, Dr. Fred Fuentes, assistant dean for enrollment management, and Mr. Gilbert Hernandez, director of the Profes! grant. The Stars on the Rise Scholarship serves marginalized populations by providing competitive scholarships to students in the DFW area. The GDHCC works to foster the Hispanic business community; by extension, with this scholarship, it connects student to resources that would help mitigate the rising costs of universities and community colleges.
This year, Jessica Rivera of Sulphur Springs High School and Ruth Gainzar of Bonham High School were recognized as Stars on the Rise Scholars. Both plan to attend A&M Commerce this upcoming fall.
Rivera will major in Mathematics and minor in Spanish. “I’m excited to further my education at TAMUC in the fall,” said Rivera. She is also the recipient of the TAMUC Regents Scholars Program, Sulphur Springs Soccer Association Scholarship, Junior Waverly Club Scholarship, Gerald and Glenn Fry Memorial Scholarship, and the Sulphur Springs Area of Retired School Personnel Scholarship.
Gainzar is a recipient of the TAMUC Honors College Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, and Hagan Scholarship. She is a Verne Cooper Foundation Scholar and Bonham HS Student Council Scholar. She also serves on the Spanish National Advisory Committee and the Bonham Education Foundation. “Being a Stars on the Rise Scholar is such a blessing and an honor because I believe that the theme behind the scholarship embodies my character,” said Gainzar.
The Office of Hispanic Outreach and Retentions provides scholarships through the Stars on the Rise and University Crossroads scholarship programs. For more information on future scholarships, please visit the Texas A&M University-Commerce Hispanic Outreach page. www.tamuc.edu.
Cedillo Faces State Jail Felony Charges for Shattering Glass Wall With Ring
His act is a State Jail Felony due to the value of the damage done. During an interview with Sulphur Springs Police Department Detective Bo Fox, Wesley Lane Cedillo, 18, listed as homeless confessed to vandalizing the glass restroom on the west side of Celebration Plaza Wednesday night.. He stated that he shattered the glass with his ring. The glass and other damage done in the Criminal Mischief is valued at over $2500.
CEDILLO, WESLEY LANE
The glass restroom now has two shattered windows and a barricade with police tape around it following the act of vandalism Wednesday night around 10 p.m. Video showed Cedillo wearing a ball cap and in the company of a female companion. He shattered the window and vandalized the flower beds and a flag pole nearby according to Detective Fox. 
Behind the Scenes: Sulphur Springs Symphony League
As many people know, the Annual Independence Day Concert is coming up on July 1st, but what goes on behind the scenes to make this amazing event possible? KSST sat down with Linda Galligher, member of the Sulphur Springs Symphony League to discuss the history of the league and the upcoming concert.
The Northeast Texas Symphony Association (NETSA) was founded years ago and turned into the Sulphur Springs Symphony League (SSSL). “The original officers were from Paris, Commerce, and the surrounding areas so it was a pretty big group…Our Musicians come from all over northeast Texas.” Their mission is “to provide entertainment for Hopkins County residents and visitors at periodic orchestra concerts…The League seeks to educate younger residents in developing their cultural understanding and improving their social skills.” Galligher said “Maleta Reynolds is the President of the League, and she is doing a fantastic job! It takes all of the board-members working together to make this happen.”
The Independence Day celebration concert begins at 7:45, and is free to the public. “We’re going to have our traditional Independence day music. The conductor is Dr. Douglas Bakenhus. He selects the music for us, sometimes we’ll ask him to throw in something different or something new. I know last year we had some requests for something a little more country. So he picked God Bless the USA, which was a hit. But normally we keep it to the traditional music and the musicians are incredible.” There will also be a special surprise planned during the concert-you don’t want to miss it! Special guest conductor will be Patty Isonwood, and Bill Owens will be guest detonator. It is recommended that people come early to enjoy the other festivities on the square. There will be food vendors set up on the south side of the square, vendors include: Plain & Fancy, Potato House, Corner Grub Restaurant, Idzi-Bitsy Bakery, Muddy Jakes, and The Magic Scoop General Store.
The league couldn’t put on the Independence Day celebration without help from their major sponsors: Alliance Bank and Grocery Supply. The only fundraiser the league puts on is the auction on KSST Channel 18, and they always hope to make about $14,000-15,000. But that is not enough to pay for the professional musicians and all of the fireworks-the total event costing between $35,000-40,000. “The league also provides a children’s concert each year to all the schools in Hopkins County and they provide scholarships to students in the strings program. They also bring in the Dallas Opera to the Middle School.” The league is going to be signing up memberships and taking donations at the celebration. Memberships are $120 or $250, and all donations are accepted.
Galligher talked about her favorite part of the event. “I love the music, but I love seeing all of the people on the square and just walking down through the crowd and getting to visit with people that it may have been months or years since I’ve seen…Seeing the children and their reactions to the music and the fireworks is always fun. I always describe it as a Norman Rockwell Scene-its just a really fun hometown event.”
Thunderstorm Alert for Northeastern Hopkins County Until 11 p.m.
Significant weather advisory for Northeastern Hopkins and Delta Counties until 11 p.m. Friday evening, June 23, 2017. A strong thunderstorm was identified by radar 8 miles northeast of Cooper Lake State Park South Sulphur. Lightning and heavy rain with winds gusting to 50 miles per hour possible. Localized flooding is possible. This storm is moving South at 10 mph.
Sulphur Bluff and Tira will be affected by this storm as well as segments of Franklin County.
Governor Signs Flynn Authored American Laws in American Courts Bill Into Law
AUSTIN-Last week, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 45 authored by Representative Dan Flynn (R-Van) into law. This bill, known as American Laws in American Courts, will require the Texas Supreme Court to adopt rules to ensure that the application of foreign laws cannot be used to violate constitutional rights guaranteed under the Texas or United State Constitutions.
An Inside Look at Skatefest
What is Skatefest? KSST sat down with David Brantley, founder of Super Honkey Skateboarding, and creator of Skatefest to talk about the upcoming event. Skatefest is the first annual skateboarding competition in Sulphur Springs.
There will be: competitions, bands, lesson sign-ups, ice cream, snow cones, Fireside Barbecue, face-painting and airbrush tattoos. Highwayman Ink, giveaways, Eric King will be giving out information on his Blueprint to Manhood event, there will be Bible giveaways, as well as talent scouts, and sponsorships.
There will be a game of Skate-which is when competitors take turns doing a trick, and all the other competitors must complete that trick to continue on. The game ends with the person who has the best or hardest trick. There will also be an overall use of the skate park freestyle run.
Skatefest is open to all ages! Skill level also doesn’t matter-Brantley said there is “lots of potential” in even novice tricks. Judges will include David Brantley, Jason Darden as well as a few others who have yet to be named. Judges are looking for skaters who are well rounded, and have originality. There will be prizes given out to winners of the competitions as well as a Best Trick.
Skating since he was 7, Brantley said it was “just a way to get where you needed to go” around town. Brantley never competed or went pro, but remembers building ramps with his friends in an old abandoned ice cream factory when he was younger. Now Brantley explained that he is hoping to open up a store in Sulphur Springs as well as sponsor and create a local skateboarding team. “I know how that lifestyle can open up negative opportunities, and influences…and a lot of kids [involved in skating] are virtually homeless or have a terrible family life, so you end up being with your other skater buddies more than anything else… this is why I wanted to try to make a difference when it comes to that inject the positivity…and I want to try and make sure that kids don’t take the wrong turn…That’s where the mentoring thing comes in I try to race everybody no matter what, don’t judge them, not try to tell them what to do, but to give them positive information.”
Brantley offered advice to people wanting to get involved in skating “Make safety your number one starting out, because I dont care who you are, how old you are, when you skate you are going to fall…[Skating is] not just pulling off tricks but falling down and getting hurt and rising above it. Coming back and trying harder, and staying positive. [New skaters also need] patience, dedication and determination…Seek Help-Find somebody that can teach you, we offer beginners lessons, but you don’t have to come to us, find somebody willing to take time and teach you.”
Come on out, Saturday, June 24, 2017 to Skatefest to try something new, listen to the bands, and eat some awesome food!
Check out some of the bands that will be playing:
Hopkins County Man Arrested for Cruelty to Animals
Thursday night around 11 p.m., Hopkins County Deputies were called to 1850 CR 4592 where they found malnourished dogs in a cage on the side of the road. In the cage were five puppies alive and one dead.
The puppies appeared malnourished with hip bones and ribs visible through the skin and the puppies were crying. No food in the cage and only green colored water caused the deputies to obtain a seizure warrant. The dead puppy appeared to have been eaten by the other puppies for food.
Cody Ray Self, 44, the resident at the location was arrested, given Miranda Warning, and then admitted the puppies were his. He signed a copy of the seizure warrant. Self is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals: Fail to Provide
Officers seized the puppies and transported them to Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office. Friday morning, the SPCA received the puppies into care.
Tira News By Jan Vaughn
By Jan Vaughn
The Tira Homecoming is coming up on Sunday, July 2nd. Make plans to come enjoy the program at 11:00 in the Tira Methodist Church, followed by a covered dish lunch at the picnic tables on the grounds.
Brad, Tanya, Matthew, Tonja, and Will joined William and Joyce Dodd for Fathers Day lunch on Sunday. Rob visited later in the day and Michael called from Richardson to wish William a Happy Father’s Day.
Tiffany, Jaidyn, and I went to Sour Lake on Saturday and picked up Dixie to come spend a week with Landon, Laiken, and the boys. Chip attended the skeet shoot at Chuck and Karen Olmsted’s that day. Chip, Tiffany, and I attended the Dairy Festival Pageant in Sulphur Springs that night. Tiffany had lunch with us for Father’s Day, and then she and I went to DFW airport to pick up Morgan, upon his return from Air Force ROTC training in Alabama and Mississippi. When we returned, Malcolm and Jaidyn joined us for a snack supper and cake, in honor of Morgan’s birthday, which was on June 2nd, while he was gone.
Minnie Hillis Reagor shared the following report on the Hillis Family Reunion.
The 2017 Hillis Family Reunion was held at Tira Community Center June 17th and 18th. Eighty-three Hillis connections came from near and far this year… Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, California, Oregon, and Florida.
Alvin E. Hillis cooked up a big batch of Chicken Stew in his big iron pot over his A-Frame. It made for a delicious Saturday evening supper!
There were several ticket drawings, several of which Theresa Marlow McGregor made 6 Crochet Scarves and 2 Baby Blankets, and donated. Those who won the drawings were: Laigen Hillis [Home/Our Family Plaque], Savannah Chalk [Family Forever Plaque], Sampson Stembridge [WiFi Coozie], Neva Yarbrough [Family Mug], Sarah Hillis [Family Mug], Judy Hillis [Family Mug], Iva Haren [Yellow Baby Blanket], Hunter [Blue Baby Blanket], Dana Wilson-Martinez [Blue Scarf], Natalie Hillis [Purple Scarf], Dorothy Shields [Purple Scarf], Theresa McGregor [Green Scarf], Terri Hillis [Red/White/Blue Scarf], and Laigen Hillis [Maroon Scarf].
Joe Self also came by and gave rides in his mule drawn wagon to those who were interested. Many thanks to Joe for making this a reunion many of the younger ones (and older ones, too!) will remember for a long time!
Those in attendance were: Minnie P. Hillis Reagor, Ryan W. Reagor, and Dustin W. Halbert of Vidor, Texas; Hayley R. Halbert and Sampson J. Stembridge of Bridge City, Texas; Johney W. Hillis, Dorthy Goodson Hillis, Jackey L. Ferrell, Vicki L. Hillis Ferrell, Kortni Ferrell, and Kaden Ferrell of Tira, Texas; Winona R. Hillis Yates, Albert Bass, Hillis Bass, David Bass, Khristy M. Hillis Santjer, Alvin E. Hillis, Sarah Daniels Hillis, Sierra C. Hillis, Dakota W. Hillis, Skylin B. Stonaker, Crystal Crocker Romero, Garry Hutchison, Zoe Hutchison, and Joe Ayden of Sulphur Springs, Texas; Troy A. Hillis of Trinidad, Texas; Clarence “Chip” & Paulette Hillis of Harrison, Arkansas; Jose Martinez, Cheryl A. Wilson, Dana Wilson-Martinez, Lana Wilson-Martinez, Hunter and Lee, of Greenville, Texas; David E. Marlow, Sherry Keener Marlow of Naples, Texas; Tommy E. Hillis, Terri Rowe Hillis, and Natalie C. Hillis of Ingleside, Texas; Blaine R. Gibson, Elizabeth N. Hillis Gibson, Klaire A. Gibson, and Cade L. Gibson of Magnolia, Texas; Joe R. Hillis Sr. and Velma Jane Vincent of Cresswell, Oregon; Cynthia G. Hopson Sadler of Gladewater, Texas; Savannah L. Chalk and Rickie L. Chalk III of Big Sandy, Texas; Dorothy S. Hillis Shields of Lone Oak, Texas; Josh Lifto, Fred Sharrow, Lennie F. Hillis Sharrow of Rowlett, Texas; Justin McGregor, Theresa M. Marlow McGregor of Cookville, Texas; Calvin W. Hillis, Sherril Renee Gooding Hillis, Daniel W. Hillis, Larissa Amber Moore Hillis, Laigen M. Hillis, Grayson W. Hillis of Aransas Pass, Texas; Diane C. Baker Canyonville, Oregon; Susan E. Baker of Concord, California; Bennie E. Hillis, Diana Davis Hillis of Scurry, Texas; Freddie L. Yarbrough, Neva J. Hillis Yarbrough of Cedar Hill, Texas; Patricia A. Hillis Harris of Clovis, New Mexico; Iva N. Hillis Haren of Cooper, Texas; Jelle Jongsma, Casey L. Beall Jongsma, Emma L. Jongsma, Ryan Jongsma of Winnsboro, Texas; Dial D. Atkins, Ruby M. Hillis Atkins of Lake Kiowa, Texas; Bobby W. Marlow, Jessica Miranda Marlow, Hannah R. Marlow, Savannah L. Marlow of Winfield, Texas; Cullum O. Hillis, Judy James Hillis, Kinnadiee L.C. Thatcher, Richard Clayton Thatcher, Ty Thatcher of Klondike, Texas. If others are not mentioned, they did not sign the register.
Minnie adds, “Mark your calendars for the 2018 reunion on June 16th and 17th. Hope to see everyone there!”
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
