Wildcats, Lady Cats Coaches Prepare for Friday Bi-District Action
Wildcats Soccer
Wildcats Soccer Coach Nicky Wiggins feels his Wildcats are better than your average fourth place playoff team. The Wildcats will be matched up with district champion Lovejoy in a bi-district game Friday at 8 p.m. at Princeton, part of a Lady Cats and Wildcats doubleheader. Coach Wiggins also feels his team is playing really well right now, like they were before district games begin. The Wildcats were 7-1-1 going into district. After a bad first half of district play, the Wildcats have turned things around. Everything came down to a Hallsville game on the road just like it did last year. The Wildcats won 4-1 to capture the last playoff spot. Concerning Lovejoy, Coach Wiggins said they lost only one game in district play. He said Lovejoy has lots of juniors and sophomores along with some seniors. Coach Wiggins said they are very athletic and he can tell quite a few of their players participate in club ball. He said the Wildcats attitude lately has been who is the next one we play. He expects to give Lovejoy a good game.
Lady Cats Soccer
The Lady Cats’ soccer team enters the playoffs against Royse City after what Lady Cats Soccer Coach Jesus DeLeon called a complete game with everyone playing well against district champ Hallsville. The Lady Cats came out on top at home, 2-1. Coach DeLeon thought the win was very significant because the Lady Cats had to rally after getting behind 1-0. He expects Royse City to present a good challenge for the Lady Cats but he adds all playoff games do. Coach DeLeon said he has played Royse City regularly in the past with mixed results. The two teams did not play this year. He said the coaches are familiar with each other and their styles. As Royse City has grown, Coach DeLeon said their players have gotten taller and more athletic. They remind him of Hallsville and last year’s bi-district foe Whitehouse. Coach DeLeon said Royse City has very talented midfielders. He sees play in the midfield as a key to the game. As always, Coach DeLeon said a big key to the game will be to not give them anything easy. The Lady Cats play Royse City at 6 p.m. Friday as the first half of a Lady Cats and Wildcats soccer bi-district doubleheader.
PJC Working Through The Pathways Institute
One of thirty institutions in the country selected last year for the national Pathways Project to better guide academic and a career pathway, Paris Junior College is well along in the process.
Recently staff and faculty attended the fourth of six institutes, this one focusing on student engagement in the classroom. Pathways provides support services and re-aligns curricula and instruction to help students master the knowledge and skills they need to meet their ultimate career goals.
To prepare for the workshop, PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin held focus groups with students and faculty to get fresh input on how well PJC is doing in the classroom, with the goal of ensuring students are making progress along their chosen pathway.
Towards that end, the fourth Institute set the following objectives:
- promote integration of educational practices into pathways;
- redesign program learning outcomes so that students start with the end in mind of either a career or effective transfer;
- review current data on students’ experiences and how that can be used to improve current educational practices;
- highlight effective practices ensuring students are achieving the desired outcomes;
- build cultural competence in classrooms and achieve equitable outcomes for all student groups;
- instill a constant quest for educational quality into college culture and practice.
Joining Dr. Anglin at the Institute were Vice President of Student Learning Dr. Pamela Millsap, Vice President of Workforce Education John Spradling, Associate Vice President of Student Access and Success Sheila Reece, and History/Government Instructor David Larkin.
“Being a part of the Pathways Project will be beneficial to all current and future PJC students,” said Dr. Anglin. “Our participation has provided us access to top leaders and researchers across the country.”
PJC also received early word that the college will be a pilot school in another national project to promote a “growth mindset” this fall, tackling the problem of students who do not believe themselves smart enough to succeed in college.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is paying expenses for PJC’s participation in the Pathways project. The Pathways Project is an American Association of Community Colleges initiative that aims to improve student success both in the classroom and in the field.
PLANNING FUTURE At the recent Pathways Institute on student engagement, Paris Junior College staff and faculty worked on different assignments. Shown from left are History/Government Instructor David Larkin, Vice President of Student Learning Pamela Millsap, Associate Vice President of Student Access and Success Sheila Reece, Vice President of Workforce Education John Spradling, and President Dr. Pam Anglin.
Wild Turkey Federation Hunting Heritage Banquet March 25th, 2017
The Hopkins County Longbeards of the National Wild Turkey Federation are having their Hunting Heritage Banquet Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the Sulphur Springs VFW Hall. Doors open at 6:00 pm. There will be raffles, silent auctions, and live auctions for hunting equipment, art, and guns. Dinner will be catered by Bodacious.
Former Radio Manager/Talent Arrested Monday
Craig “Moose” Morgan was booked into Hopkins County Jail Monday afternoon, March 20, 2017 following a two week investigation that will be ongoing, according to local law enforcement. Morgan, former President and lead talent for The Way Radio Group and former Chief of the North Hopkins Fire Department, had been removed from management of the group by his partners and as chief by the Volunteer Fire Department. Morgan was best known as host of “Moose in the Morning” on Thunder Country FM 107.1 in Sulphur Springs.
Morgan has been charged with a Felony 3 Theft and with Giving False Statement to Obtain Property or Credit, a State Jail Felony. According to Dr. Darrel Pierce, now President of the The Way Radio Group, the current charges stem from Morgan’s mismanagement at the radio station. Dr. Pierce stated that much of the theft was found in the operations’ day to day financial discrepancies. Although he limited his comments due to the ongoing investigation, Dr. Pierce said the group is currently unsure of the exact amount taken from the radio stations that make up The Way Group.
Dr. Pierce said the radio group is forming a new LLC partnership that will remove both Morgan and his wife from the group and will be reworking their radio license with the Federal Communication Commission.
He said the members of the group, which include Dr. and Mrs. Darrel Pierce, Mr. & Mrs. Mike Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. Benny Johnson, Mr. & Mrs. Bobby Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Endsley, and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Sustaire, became involved in the venture specifically because of the Christian Radio Station.
Wednesday night, March 15, 2017, the North Hopkins Volunteer Fire Department announced a change in administration. The press release was issued one week following the departure of Craig “Moose” Morgan as Fire Chief. According to the release Morgan is no longer associated with the department. The announcement follows a change in management at The Way Radio Group where Morgan was listed as President. Bobby Harris, a member of the NHVFD and also a partner in The Way Radio Group, has been named Interim Fire Chief.
The North Hopkins Fire Department announced a change in its administration on March 15th, although the change was made March 8th of this year. Morgan is no longer the Fire Chief or associated with NHFD according to a press release they issued. The Interim Fire Chief is Bobby Harris.
The Way Radio Group, in a press release recently, stated they will continue to provide Christian music through one station they operate and will be changing the format of another. They will continue their events scheduled as well.
Meal A Day Menu for March 20th-24th
Tossed Salad
Former Resident Injured in Dirt Bike Accident
Hunter Culpepper 21,of China Springs, TX, formerly of Sulphur Springs, was critically injured in a dirt bike collision Tuesday morning, March 14, 2017 when a deer ran out in front of him.
He was careflighted to Baylor Scott and White- Hillcrest Medical Center in Waco with extensive head injuries. Hunter remains in intensive care.
Hunter has a very long recovery ahead of him. There is a gofundme.com account setup to help the family with medical and travel expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/hunt
Man Wanted By ATF Found in Hopkins County
An Indiana man is in Hopkins County Jail following his arrest in the 1400 block of Industrial. Robert Leonard Ofcky, Jr, 57, was arrested after local law enforcement spotted a 2000 Gold colored Ford Ranger at the location. The license plate was covered with the state name not showing.
Ofcky was wanted on three warrants including two issued by the ATF in Washington DC. He was wanted for Unlawful Making and Possessing an Explosive Device, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and a LaPorte County Indiana warrant for Possession of a Destructive Device.
He is in Hopkins County jail being held without bond.
Deputies Sought Felon; Three Arrested for Organized Crime
March 20, 2017 – Three individuals were arrested in the 200 block of Houston Street Sunday morning at 8:39 a.m. when Hopkins County Deputies were searching for a wanted felon.
When they arrived at the scene, deputies heard a possible verbal disturbance in the residence. They also found in plain view in the living area a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine and more controlled substance on a mirror in plain view in the same room. The location is in a drug free school zone. During a pat down of one of the subjects, a glass pipe was found. Multiple paraphernalia was also located in the living area.
Arrested at the scene were Julie Dexter Davis, 25, Dakota Shane Humphries, 20, and Jamie Lee Lindsey, 27, all of Sulphur Springs.
DAVIS, JULIE DEXTER is in Hopkins County Jail Charged with Engage in Organized Criminal Activity and is being held on a $30,000 bond.
Humphries is charged with Engage in Organized Criminal Activity and is being held on a $30,000 bond.
Lindsey, is also held on a $30,000 bond for Engage in Organized Criminal Activity.
Child Dies From Injuries; SSPD Investigating
Sulphur Springs Police are investigating an incident in which a vehicle struck a child on property located on Church Street Sunday, March 19,2017, at 5:55 p.m. A six year old child, Tessa Nicole Skeen, was struck and killed when a vehicle was being moved on the property. Jason Ricketson, Patrol Captain for SSPD, said the accident investigation will continue today.
