Game Day: Lady Cats Begin District Play in Greenville; Wildcats Take on Old Rival Paris
There is Wildcats and Lady Cats’ basketball on this Tuesday game day.
The Lady Cats begin district play at Greenville this Tuesday evening. A JV Gold game gets things started with a 5 p.m. game against Greenville. A JV Blue game will be played next at 6:15 p.m. The varsity Lady Cats play the Greenville Lady Lions at 7:30 p.m. The Lady Cats come into the game having won an Edgewood tournament in impressive fashion this past weekend. The Lady Cats season record is 11-3. Lady Cats Coach Jeff Chapman said Greenville can cause a team problems, especially when they play at home. The Lady Cats are the defending district champions and Coach Chapman said they wouldn’t be able to sneak up on anyone anymore.
An incredible high school basketball game is expected to occur in Paris this Tuesday night as the Wildcats take on old rival Paris. Paris has had the better of it lately. The Wildcats last win against Paris was in 2013. Paris has won the past two years. The Wildcats have a fine 12-1 record so far this season. The Wildcats just won a Nacogdoches Central Heights tournament this past weekend. Tuesday evening, the Wildcats freshmen play at 5 p.m. The JV team plays at 6:15 p.m. The Wildcats varsity plays Paris at around 7:30 p.m. 
Wildcat Soccer Prepares for Season
Wildcat and Lady Cat soccer games will be played at the soccer-track complex this season. Prim Stadium is undergoing reconstruction.
Nicky Wiggins, the new Wildcats Soccer Coach, was the guest on KSST Radio and Channel 18 TV’s Saturday Morning Coach’s Show. Coach Wiggins had been Coach Andy Holt’s assistant for the past four years. Coach Holt went to Frisco Wakeland. This is Coach Wiggins first head coaching job in soccer. He coached baseball at Nacogdoches, his alma mater. Having been the Wildcats assistant coach, Coach Wiggins said he had coached just about all of his current players as JV coach. He and the players know each other.
Coach Wiggins said he has a good bunch of returning players. His current team had 10 seniors and nine juniors. He will have to replace his keeper Dakota Stalcup, four year starter Tanner Ramirez and forward Scott Galarza. JV keeper Rafael Lopez is expected to step in at keeper. Johnathan Alvarez, a power lifter like Galarza, could see more time at forward. Coach Wiggins is still pondering replacing Ramirez.
The Wildcats begin play with an Alumni Scrimmage on New Year’s Eve at 5 p.m. After a Royse City scrimmage in early 2017, the Wildcats will open the season January 5 in a Forney tournament.
Concerning district play, having Longview move into Class 6A will make one less team the Wildcats will have to fight to get into the p[layoffs. Mt. Pleasant and Pine Tree are highly rated in preseason polls. Hallsville is always tough. Texas High is showing improvement as is Greenville.
December 13, 2016 Proclaimed Saltillo Boys 1-A State Champion Cross Country Day
The members of the Class 1A Boys State Cross Country Champions from Saltillo were honored with a proclamation read by Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom in front of the County Courthouse Tuesday morning The proclamation declared Tuesday as Saltillo Boys 1A State Champions Day. Members of the team are Lyle Bench, Branson McGill, Walker McGill, Dakota Patridge, Trevor Moore, Hendrick Rios, Matthew Gurley and Adam Valenzuela.
Judge Newsom said winning state is a rare event as only one team in a division ends up as state champ.Judge Newsom, who has done some running, said he appreciated the hard work required to reach their goal. The proclamation noted that the Saltillo runners approached their coach Bill Giles in April and told him they wanted to get on the podium at the state cross country meet. Coach Giles asked them if they were ready to work and they said yes. He said the running began then and included Saturdays and during the summer.
Coach Giles said the team ran 15 miles one day one Saturday in the fall. He said, for the most part he didn’t have to motivate the team. The proclamation noted that the Saltillo boys team finished in the top three of most early events this season. They won two of those early meets. Saltillo boys also won district and regional. On November 12, they finished first in state in Class 1A. Coach Giles said seven members of the team finished between 13th and 30th place.
The proclamation noted that at the state meet, the team got to step on the podium and receive their individual state champion medals and the team trophy.
Christmas Calendar for December 17, 2016
THERE WILL BE A CHRISTMAS “ONE” EVENT ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 AT 5PM IN DOWNTOWN SULPHUR SPRINGS. THIS IS A CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT THAT YOU CAN BE A PART OF, FREE OF CHARGE AND OPEN TO PERSONS OF ALL AGES, SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS. FREE COFFEE AND COCOA WILL BE OFFERED.
LEAGUE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST WILL SPONSOR A FREE GIVEAWAY OF COATS, JACKETS, HOODIES, SOCKS, ETC ON THE PARKING LOT OF COST SAVER GROCERY ON MAIN STREET IN SULPHUR SPRINGS, BETWEEN 10AM AND NOON ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 17, TIL SUPPLIES RUN OUT.
THE ANNUAL RESCUE THE PERISHING FOOD DRIVE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 STARTING AT 8AM AT MITCHELL CHAPEL CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST AT 404 JACKSON SOUTH STREET. BRING A DRIVERS LICENSE OR WATER BILL AS I.D.
WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH WILL HOLD A CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 FROM 9AM TIL 2PM AT WESLEY HALL, 614 TEXAS STREET. THERE WILL BE CAKES, PIES, COOKIES, CANDY, SOUPS, CASSEROLES, ETC.
THE HAYSTACKS YOUTH CHOIR WILL BE FEATURED IN A CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT THE REILLY SPRINGS JAMBOREE ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 AT 7PM, FOLLOWED BY A COUNTRY CONCERT BY SHELBY GLENN AND TEXAS THUNDER. ADMISSION IS $10 PERSON.
OLD DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1962/63 WILL HOLD THEIR 53RD CLASS REUNION ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 17 FROM 7PM TIL MIDNIGHT AT THE H.W.GRAYS BUILDING. ANYONE WHO ATTENDED DOUGLAS HIGH IS ALSO WELCOME TO COME AND HELP CELEBRATE.
Malnourished Cattle Seized Near Birthright; 10 Head Dead
A call Monday morning alerted Hopkins County Deputy and Animal Cruelty Investigator Coby Hume to approximately 45 head of cattle that were malnourished. Approximately 10 head were found dead near a pool and two of the bovine bodies were in the pool. According to Hume it seems the cattle had broken through a weak fence and torn down bales of hay to eat. That hay is now trampled under their feet and ruined by their own waste. The cattle were located in a Birthright pasture next to the water storage facility for the volunteer fire department.
Hume contacted Art Muñoz with the SPCA who brought a team to take the cattle to a safe place with food, water, and veterinarian services. Justice of the Peace B. J. Teer signed a warrant for the seizure of the cattle.
Hume stated he is not sure who the owner of the cattle is but he has a good lead to the owner. A motorist passing by on State Highway 19 Monday had stopped to speak with Hume about the cattle. Hume described that individual as enraged.
A veterinarian with the SPCA was examining one of the dead animals to determine whether or not the cattle died of starvation, disease, or another cause. Hume stated that at this time the charge is only a misdemeanor but should the veterinarian tests prove more, criminal charges will be filed.
Bill Bradford Rd Partial Opening Impacting Local Business
Construction on Bill Bradford Rd, resulting in partial closure earlier this year, has impacted businesses and traffic on both ends of the road. Within the VF Outlet Mall, several businesses have reported a decline in customers due to the construction. Just recently, the road has opened up to one way traffic. Gary Jordan, owner of the Good News Bookstore located inside the mall, stated, “This time of year can be slow for us due to the Presidential Election for some reason, but there have been more customers lately. The road opening has helped us a little.” Road construction is projected to be finished before February of 2017.
SSISD Board Conducted December Meeting Monday
During Monday’s noon meeting of the Sulphur Springs School Board, members reported that all either met or exceeded training requirements for board member training credit hours. Also during the noon meeting before Christmas break for the school district, they noted the Comprehensive Annual Report on Investment Activity and heard District auditors, Rutherford, Taylor, and Company, announce the district received the best opinion of “unmodified” for their Annual Financial and Compliance Report.
The board approved the high school campus improvement plan for 2016-17, a six-year plan to upgrade district security cameras, and the over-spraying of the Middle School track. Settlement, as presented by a mediator, for the Middle School moisture issues was also approved.
PERSONNEL
Resignations
Cris Hughes Grade 3 Teacher SS Elementary
Darla Reed SpEd Teacher SS Elementary
Lindsay Goff Grade 5 Teacher Douglas
New personnel
Mary Taylor Office Clerk ECLC
Amanda Woods LVN Bowie/Travis
Chelsea Jordan SpEd Aide SS Elementary
Amy Voss SpEd Aide SS Elementary
Mystie Wilson Title I Aide SS Elementary
Personnel Change New position/campus Former position/campus
Stephanie Cowden SpEd Aide/Connections SpEd Aide/SS Elementary
Maria Martinez Grade 5 Teacher/Douglas Title I Aide/Douglas
Hill Signs With Tyler Junior College
Lady Cats’ senior volleyball player Sheretta “Rita” Hill will play college volleyball at Tyler Junior College next season. The announcement was made Monday morning at the Multipurpose Building before numerous student friends, Rita’s mother Rochelle Hill, Basketball Coach Jeff Chapman, Volleyball Coach Justin Maness, TJC Volleyball Coach Brandi Hood and media members.
Hill said she liked how Coach Hood was serious about everything but was also loving. She said the TJC team was very together like sisters. Hill said she liked the school campus and she added everyone was friendly. Hill got to participate in a TJC workout. It was described to her as an easy workout but Hill kidded that she was dead at the end. She said she actually got better at blocking from just the one workout. Hill agreed getting the scholarship at TJC was like a dream come true and she said it was a real Heaven sent blessing. Hill, who also plays basketball, has only played volleyball for three years. She returned to the varsity this year after a two-year absence.
Hill said her Lady Cats’ teammates helped her have a good season this year. She also said The Edge conditioning program improved her vertical jump this season.
Lady Cats Volleyball Coach Justin Maness said Rita has a high ceiling and he said he can see her becoming one of he best players in the conference next year as she concentrates on one sports throughout the year. Coach Maness said Rita loves the game and will be a fast learner.
Tyler Junior College second-year Head Coach Brandi Hood said the TJC staff had seen Rita early and she said it was fun to watch her progress under Coach Maness. Coach Hood said Rita would be kept at her right side hitter position that she played for the Lady Cats.
Ten SSHS Band Members Named to All-Region Band
Ten members of the Wildcats’ band, including two freshmen, made the All-Region Band during tryouts held last Friday at North Lamar. Making the list were Celeste Leeds Laliberte on flute, Christian Corona on trumpet, Nathan Braddy, a freshman, on trumpet, Christian Diaz-DeLeon on trombone, Riley Farley on tenor sax, Owen Lee on alto sax, Natalie Cruz on bass clarinet, Zach Phillips, a freshman, on French horn, Carissa Carter on clarinet and Kate Flores on clarinet. Four of these students qualified for Area Tryouts to be held the week of January 1-7 at Richardson Berkner High School: Celeste Leeds Laliberte, Christian Corona, Riley Farley and Carissa Carter.
Nine freshman qualfied for the All-Region Ninth Grade Band at tryouts held on December 5 at Sulphur Springs Middle School. Those students are Elizabeth Lopez, Alondra Santillan, Sydney Kuiper, Adam Ost, Nathan Barddy, Zach Phillips, Branden Hodges, Andrew Weslund and Ty Connally. These students attended their Ninth Grade All Region Band Clinic this past Saturday in Paris.
Band Director Charles McCauley said he was proud of all the students. He said those that participated in the tryouts had to work on their music during marching season that lasted until mid-November and during Thanksgiving holidays.
