Wildcats Could Qualify for Tourney Top Bracket With Morning Win
The Wildcats’ basketball team split two games in the Leroy Romines Memorial Baketball Tournament at Longview Wednesday.
The Wildcats opened play with a 83-57 loss to powerful Pro Vision of Houston Wednesday afternoon in pool play. Pro Vision led 21-8 after one quarter and 40-23 at the half.
The Wildcats bounced back to defeat Pleasant Grove, 69-65 Wednesday evening. The game was tied 13-13 after one. The Wildcats surged out in front 36-27 at halftime. Pleasant Grove used a big third quarter to take a 49-47 lead after three quarters. The Wildcats rallied to take the win.
Victor Iwuakor sealed the win with a big dunk in the final minute. Iwuakor led the Wildcats with 17 points. Bryson Lynn canned five of the Wildcats 10 three-pointers and had 16 points. Michael Jefferson scored 12 and Ke’Ontae Dunn added 10.
The Wildcats will wrap up pool play against Henderson Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in the Longview practice gym. The top two pool teams head for the Gold Bracket while the bottom two will be in the Silver Bracket.
The Wildcats will qualify for the Gold Bracket with a win over Henderson. Quarterfinal play in both brackets starts Thursday afternoon. The Wildcats are 15-3 for the season going into play on Thursday.
Lady Cats Improve Record in Idabel Tournament
The Lady Cats’ basketball team was raring to go in the Idabel, Oklahoma Warriors Winter Classic Wednesday morning as they soundly defeat Haworth, Oklahoma, 66-34. It was the Lady Cats eighth straight win and improved their season record to 15-3. That streak includes a 3-0 mark in district games.
The Wednesday morning Idabel tournament victory was similar to the Lady Cats, 61-30 victory over Haworth in he tournament last year. This year the Lady Cats got off to a so-so start and were tied with Haworth 14-14 after the first quarter. The Lady Cats outscored Haworth 52-20 the rest of the way.
The Lady Cats got good scoring from starters and from the bench. Kaylee Jefferson led the Lady Cats with 15 points. Autumn Tanton added 12. Sadavia Porter scored 11. Tori Moore and Daieyshia Pruitt had 9 points each. Rita Hill chipped in 6 and Destinee Weeks added 4. Jefferson had 10 rebounds.
The Lady Cats now play either Marlow, Oklahoma or Northwest Classen, Oklahoma at 4 p.m. Thursday.
SSHS Soccer Alumni Games
We promised you times for Wildcats and Lady Cats’ Alumni Soccer Scrimmages as we get them.
The Wildcats’ soccer team will go up against their Alums Saturday with JV action at 5 p.m. at the Sulphur Springs High School Track Field with the Varsity to follow at 7 p.m.
The Lady Cats will play their Alumni scrimmage at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Lady Cats are scheduled to scrimmage at Paris Thursday at 3 p.m. Then they are scheduled to go to Pleasant Grove for scrimmage action Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Saltillo Wins By 1 Over Como-Pickton in Mt Vernon Tournament
The Saltillo Lions’ basketball team won one and lost one on the first day of the Mt. Vernon Classic Tuesday. The Lions opened with a 70-30 loss to Mt. Vernon. Then the Lions won a 48-47 thriller over Como-Pickton.
Como-Pickton had a four point lead after the first quarter and at halftime. The Lions tied the score, 36-36 after three quarters. The Lions outscored Como-Pickton 12-11 in the fourth quarter to win the game. Lyle Bench led the Saltillo scoring with 12 points against Como-Pickton.
Walker McGill scored 10 points, Dakota Patridge had 7, Trevor Moore 6, Clayton Wilson 5, Logan Camp 4 and Ryan Pruitt and Michael Simmons had 2 points each.
The Lions are now 8-11 for the season. Wednesday they play Longview Christian at 10:20 a.m. and Winnsboro at 1 p.m.
In JV action Tuesday, Saltillo defeated Prairiland, 40-17. The Lions JV plays Mt. Vernon and Winnsboro Wednesday.
Community Calendar December 28-January 2
The Sulphur Springs Post Office will be closed on Monday January 2 to observe the New Year’s holiday. Mail will run on Saturday December 31.
The City of Sulphur Springs offices will be closed on Monday January 2.
The Sulphur Springs Public Library will be closed on Saturday December 30 and on Monday January 2.
Hopkins County offices will be closed on Monday January 2.
Local bank closings include: Alliance Bank, City National Bank and Texas Heritage Bank to be closed on Monday January 2. Guaranty Bank and Trust will be closed Saturday December 30 and on Monday January 2.
The SSISD Tax office will be open weekdays through December and will be open on Monday January 2.
Swearing-in ceremonies of Hopkins County office-holders will be held on Sunday January 1, 2017 at 4pm in the District courtroom of the courthouse. The public is invited to attend.
Most property taxpayers can remit their 2016 tax payments by mail as long as the letter is postmarked by December 31, 2016.
Greenville Woman Reported A Burglary; Police Found Meth
December 28, 2016 – Sulphur Springs Police were called to a reported burglary in a room at Royal Inn on South Broadway in Sulphur Springs. There they found a Greenville woman alone in the room. In plain view was less than 1-gram of methamphetamine.
Darla Denette Rittenour
Darla Denette Rittenour, 47, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 less than 1-gram in a Drug Free Zone, a Felony 3. She is being held in Hopkins County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
District Attorney Ramsay Notes Busy 2016
District Attorney Will Ramsey and staff have concluded a busy 2016. Ramsey noted three major cases in Hopkins County and three in Franklin County that resulted in convictions for murder and one for organized crime.
In January of 2016, an 8th Judicial District Court a Hopkins County jury set the punishment for Stanton Wayne Yates, 30, at four life sentences in state prison and one 20 year prison sentence with a $10,000 fine. The sentences run concurrent by law. Yates was found guilty of four counts of engaging in organized criminal activity and one count of burglary. Approximately 40 witnesses were called by Assistant District Attorney Clay Harrison. Yates is one of two Hunt County brothers who were found in Collin County jail for burglary of a habitation. Yates’ brother, Perry Jeff Yates, pled guilty to burglary and was been sentenced to 20 years in the state penitentiary.
In August of 2016, in Eighth Judicial District Court, a Hopkins County Jury having found him guilty assessed a penalty of 99 years without a fine in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Tilton Joshua Isaiah Mapps in the murder of Jonathan Trahern Young. The jury deliberated for 30 minutes on the guilty verdict but took four hours to determine the penalty. That four hours was separated by a night of having requested they be allowed to “sleep on it”, according to District Judge Eddie Northcutt. In reading the sentence, Northcutt stated that Mapps sentence would be credited for time served since June of 2015 when he was incarcerated in Hopkins County Jail. Mapps will be eligible for parole in 30 years. He will be 51 at the time of eligibility. Assistant District Attorney Matt Harris said that whether the jury had given him 99 years or Life, the sentence was basically the same with eligibility for parole occurring at the same time. Mapps stood stoic as the sentence was read and complied with requirements of paperwork without any hesitation. The final witness on the stand was Mapps. Mapps testified on his own behalf following a number of law enforcement and forensic experts that testified regarding the arrest of Mapps, the ballistic residue found and shell casings found at the sight of the shooting, and the autopsy of Young. The forensic pathologist testified that Young was shot in the chest with the projectile exiting his back. The projectile passed through his heart and other organs. Other projectiles entered his back. The shell casings found at the scene were all fired by the same weapon. In Mapps testimony, he said he was being railroaded and others were playing lying games. Mapps shot Young in an incident in Pacific Park in 2015.
In November, two leaders of the organized crime ring that stole ATV’s in Sulphur Springs and across a three state area made plea agreements in Eighth Judicial District Court Thursday afternoon. Christopher Lee Chambers, 29, was sentenced to 15 years and Dustin Kyle Garcia, 33, to 28 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Both defendants will do one half of the time on their sentence before being eligible for parole, according to Clay Harrison, Assistant District Attorney. In February of this year, Garcia, of Mesquite, was arrested in room 221 at the Seagoville Inn in Seagoville Texas. At that time he was transported to Hopkins County Jail. In April Chambers, of Maybank was arrested. Approximately $234,000 in stolen property has been recovered including six (6) units from the November theft at Nor-Tex Tractors and eight (8) units stolen from other jurisdictions in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas.
In October, a Franklin County Jury sentenced James Crawford, 21 to Life without parole in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice following a two week and a day trial in Eighth Judicial Court there. Crawford, of Talco, was tried for the murder of 75-year old Kenneth Raley of Mt. Vernon. The body of Raley was found in his Miller Street home. The home had also been burglarized. Crawford was tried for Capital Murder but did not face the death penalty. Working on a tip, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department arrested Crawford for the capital murder in Mt. Vernon in September, 2015. He was arrested in an apartment in Marshall.
In 2016, the step-mom of a Franklin County child plead guilty to the murder of the child that occurred in December 2015. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Mount Vernon Police Department assisted by the Texas Rangers investigated the murder of six year old Wesley Benjamin “Ben” Roycroft, at the Logan’s Pointe Apartments on Whitten Drive in Mount Vernon. They arrested Christie Lynn Roycroft, a 30 year old female and step-mother to Benjamin. She was taken into custody at the scene by responding and charged with Capital Murder.
In March, 2016, Scott Everett Shine was found guilty of three counts of engaging in organized crime in Franklin County. It was the third day of his trial. Ramsay said some called Shine Franklin County’s number one methamphetamine dealer. In January, 2016 pretrial, district court records show he faced two counts of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance over 4-grams and under 200-grams, one count of manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance under 4-grams, and three counts of engaging in organized crime. The range of activity stretched from November 2014 to December 2015.
TxDOT Begins Rework of Section of State Highway 11 West in Hopkins County
Texas Department of Transportation officials announced Tuesday that construction to improve a portion of State Highway 11 in Hopkins County will begin Jan. 2, 2017.
Contractor AK Gillis Inc., Sulphur Springs, Texas, was awarded the contract for this project valued at more than $5.5 million. TxDOT officials said the contractor has 231 working days, weather permitting, to complete this project. The target completion date is November 2017.
This work will take place along State Highway 11 from .08 miles southeast of Hopkins-Hunt County line to 3.03 miles west of FM 2653 South. The contractor will regrade the road bed, install drainage structures, apply treated and non-treated flexible road base, repave the road surface and install pavement markings in order to widen and upgrade the roadway, TxDOT officials said.
Those who must travel in this area are asked to pay special attention to all signs and traffic controls, and reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.
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Winnsboro Police Report December 19-25, 2016
Winnsboro Police Department reports three arrests, two accidents, 136 calls for service, and 35 citations and 40 warnings written during the days of December 19—25, 2016.
Cameron Whitlock, 19, of Winnsboro, was arrested Tuesday, December 20th on a Winnsboro Police Department warrant for Evading Arrest or Detention with Previous Convictions.
Jamie Hubbard, 40, of Van, was arrested on Friday, December 23rd for Failure to Identify and Fraudulent Use of Possession of Identifying Information.
Jonathan Rasco, 36, of Quitman, was arrested for Possession of Identifying Information (more than 10, less than 50) on Friday, December 23rd.
A one vehicle roll over in the 1000 block of West Broadway resulted in unknown injuries on Thursday, December 22nd at 6:45 a.m.
Unknown injuries also resulted in a two vehicle accident at 2:45 p.m. in the 800 block of South Main Street.
Children’s Museum Sets Annual Children’s Health and Safety Fair
Where can children walk through an eight-foot tall lung? Where can they see the effect of exercise on their oxygen level and pulse rate? When children wash their hands, are they really clean? These questions highlight the activities to be held at the Children’s Health and Safety Fair at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum on January 14 from 9:30 to 11:30. The event will include free admission.
Children may take a walk through the MegaLung at the Children’s Health Fair on Saturday, January 16 from 9:30 to 11:30. The MegaLung is the only one in the state of Texas and was received by the Children’s Museum as part of the Tobacco Grant from Hunt Regional Hospital Foundtion.
Hands-on activities will highlight children’s health. For example, after exercise children will compare their oxygen level and pulse rate to their resting levels using oximeters. Lonnie, the Museum’s MegaLung, will provide children an opportunity to walk through an eight-foot tall lung. With Glo-Gel children can see the cleanliness of their hands before and after washing. Children’s safety will be emphasized as a children’s ID card with picture and fingerprints will be provided by the Commerce Police Department. Lamar County Texas Department of Transportation will participate by providing information on child safety seating. This is important because according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3 out of 4 child safety seats are not used correctly which increases the risk of death in a vehicle crash. And, of course, the Children’s Museum will be open for play and exploration of more than fifty different play areas.
“This is our second year to offer this event,” said Sharline Freeman Director of the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. “This year we have added “safety” to our event. TX Dot from Lamar County will be one of our new participants. What could be more important than the health and safety of children? We are excited to be offering such a beneficial event for children and their parents.” In addition to health activities set up in the Children’s Museum and the play areas which will be open, children will receive a Children’s Activity Book. This book will be given to children who participate in the Children’s Health Fair and then will be distributed throughout Hunt County.
“We appreciate the sponsors for the event and for the Children’s Activity Book. Hunt
Regional Healthcare has played a large role in this event. Other sponsors include Commerce Veterinary Clinic, Live Oak Professional Center, Primary Care Associates, Atmos Energy, and Community Health Service Agency, Inc. We appreciate these groups for making the Children’s Health Fair possible,” said Elana Barton, Director of Development for the Children’s Museum.
“We hope this event will impact the area as we emphasize the health of our children,” said Donna Tavener, Board President. For more information, call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055.
