Saltillo Lions Remain Undefeated in District With Win in Sulphur Bluff
The Saltillo Lions improved their district leading record to 4-0 and evened their season mark to 14-14 with a 51-33 win at Sulphur Bluff Friday night.
After a tight first half with the Lions only up 18-16, Saltillo pulled away in the third and fourth quarters. Trevor Moore led the Lions with 26 points and Mathew Gurley added 12 points. Walker McGill had 5 points and Michael Simmons and Lyle Bench had 4 points each.
The Lions play Tuesday at Fannindel.
The Saltillo JV also defeated Sulphur Bluff, 40-15 Friday night. Nathan Valenzuela had 15 points. The Saltillo JV is now 16-3 for the season. They will host Sulphur Bluff on February 14.
Wildcats Baseball Practice Begins
Friday marked the first day for practice for the Wildcats’ baseball team. Friday morning, Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack anticipated a chilly outdoor practice after school at Eagle Stadium since the Multipurpose Building is unavailable due to Saturday’s Powerlifting Meet. Coach Hammack said the Wildcats have a lot of questions to answer after a disappointing season last year. The Wildcats ended up out of the playoffs.
Coach Hammack will have several pitchers returning including starter Ryan Humphries. Heston Golightly and Triston McCormick also pitched some last year. Coach Hammack said he also wants to look at Michael Arnold, lefty Cameron Harrison, Ryder Caddell, JV pitcher Zane Haywood and others. Coach Hammack said that’s what scrimmages and tournament games are for as varsity and JV players will be determined and roles for players will be established. Coach Hammack said most of the top of the Wildcats batting order returns including Mason Buck, Humphries, Golightly, McCormick and Easton Silman. Gavin Millsap also logged quite a bit of playing time.
Coach Hammack said there has been a lot of emphasis on weight training in the off season trying to get players stronger.
The Wildcats first scrimmage is rapidly approaching. They will host Sherman at Eagle Stadium on February 6.
Annual SSHS Powerliftilng Meet Saturday
The annual Sulphur Springs Powerlifting Meet takes place Saturday at the SSHS Multipurpose Building. Weight-ins for lifters will begin at 6:30 a.m. Saturday according to Wildcats Powerlifting Coach Casey Jeter. They will wrap up at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast will be available in the morning.
The first event, squats, begins at 9 a.m. Bench press competition will follow. Coach Jeter said after a lunch break, dead lift competition will take place in the afternoon. He said the Wildcats would be able to enter eleven varsity lifters plus eleven more lifters.
Coach Jeter said about 20 teams and 250 lifters would compete in all including 10 or so girls’ teams. He said the Multipurpose Building is large enough to accommodate a seventh platform for lifting. Coach Jeter said a lot of people are giving their time to make the meet a success.
Wildcats’ lifters have not lifted competitively since an Emory Rains meet back on January 7. He said they are raring to go. Coach Jeter said since the delay between meets, he expects his lifters to show a lot of improvement. He said during a practice this week, D’idrec Dugan, who will lift in the 242 pound weight class, dead lifted 500 pounds cleanly. Coach Jeter said that pumped everyone up. He said his lifters should begin to approach maximum lifts. Coach Jeter said they weren’t even close to that level after the first meet.
Game Day: SSHS Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis
The Lady Cats are at home and the Wildcats are on the road this Friday game day. The #18 state ranked Lady Cats’ basketball team will host Marshall in Wildcats Gym Friday night. A freshman team game is at 5 p.m., the JV contest is at around 6:15 p.m. and the varsity game should start at around 7:30 p.m. The Lady Cats are in first place and are 9-0 in district play. They are 23-3 for the season and they have won 16 games in a row. The Lady Cats defeated the Lady Mavs in Marshall, 82-15 back on January 3. We will have the Lady Cats and Lady Mavs varsity game for you Friday at around 7:30 p.m. on KSST Radio. We will also videotape the game for replay on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable at a later date.
The Lady Cats’ soccer team is also at home as they host Pine Tree Friday night in a district opener for each team. The game will be at the field at the SSHS Track/Soccer Complex. There will be a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. wth the varsity game to follow at around 7:15 p.m. The Lady Cats varsity enters district play with a season record of 5-3-2 in official UIL games.
The Wildcats’ basketball team is on the road at Marshall Friday night. They will have a freshman game at 5 p.m., a JV game at around 6:15 p.m. And the varsity match up at around 7:30 p-.m. The Wildcats are all alone in second place in district with a 6-1 mark. They are 21-5 for the season. The Wildcats defeated Marshall 72-40 in Wildcats Gym back on January 3.
The Wildcats’ soccer team opens district play at Pine Tree Friday night. A JV contest is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity playing at 7 p.m. The Wildcats enter district play with a season record of 7-1-1.
Finally the Wildcats’ tennis team is scheduled to play at a Hallsville tournament Friday. It got underway with matches at 8 a.m.
The Building Fund Begins
Members of the First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs presented a check to Senior Citizens Center Director Karon Weatherman. Members of FUMC gave what they could during a 5 month campaign in 2016. The funds were kept separate from other church offerings. “This was over and above our regular giving to the church,” said Campbell. The congregation voted to divide the donations 3 ways, and give to 3 separate needs in the community. The amount given to the Senior Center was $2738.33.
Anyone wanting to donate to the building fund can now do so. Contact Karon Weatherman at 903 885 1661.
Sue Anders, Karon Weatherman, Ursula Campbell, Nel Ferny, Nancy Rooks
Midterm Teacher Change Prompts Letter from SSISD to Parents
(Editor’s Note: See the complete interview with Rusty Hardin on Channel 18 News Friday, January 27, 2017)
A midterm teacher change at Sulphur Springs High School prompted a letter to parents from the district. The letter stated that the teacher assigned to instruct for more than 30 days does not hold an appropriate state teaching certificate. Texas law required the letter from the district.
In the letter, Superintendent of Schools Michael Lamb indicated the district’s support of the assigned teacher stating the individual is “…qualified to teach in this assignment.” Campus administration will be evaluating the teacher’s performance in the classroom to ensure the quality of instruction, according to the letter.
Rusty Hardin, Assistant Superintendent and Human Resource Director for the district, said a mid-year teacher change often causes difficulties in placing certified teachers in the specific classroom especially if it is math or science. In this instance, a teacher resigned to begin retirement from teaching. Hardin said the district seeks to match the incoming teacher based on their education background—studies in that specific subject. Hardin said to post a new teaching job in midyear, few responses are received. He stated the letter has to be sent for long term substitutes as well as replacements.
Hardin noted that 99% of the teachers in the SSISD are certified or seeking certification.
Hiring new teachers is a challenge for all districts. Hardin stated he goes to five job fairs each year and uses job posting sites as well. He stated that finding new teachers is becoming more difficult each year.
New Yoga Shop Opens
Bindi Yoga opened at 215 Main St. in downtown Sulphur Springs on January 26. Morning, noon and evening classes are being formed, from beginner to “hot” yoga. Cost is on donation basis. Owner and instructor is Vannoy Fite, who formerly conducted classes inside Bookworm Box.
Sulphur Springs Man Attempted to Conceal over 200-grams of Meth During Traffic Stop
Constant requests by a Hopkins County Deputy resulted in Joshua Aaron Blaylock, 24, of Sulphur Springs eventually giving up what he had in his hand and had attempted to conceal from the officer.
Blaylock was stopped by the deputy at 7:39 p.m. at the corner of Craig and Camp Streets. There the deputy observed him attempting to hide something in his hand. He also attempted to place the concealed matter in a Styrofoam cup. Finally he complied. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine.
Blaylock is in Hopkins County Jail charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, more than 200-grams, less than 400-grams and with Tampering With Evidence. He is being held on a total of $85,000 in bonds.
Tira News, January 27, 2017
by Jan Vaughn
Wesley Weir, son of Robert and Yvonne Weir, bowled with the “My Heroes” team on Saturday, and then he and his family had a great lunch at Redneck Café. Wesley had appointments in Dallas on Friday and Monday. Yvonne reports, “We have a new great-niece. Kaitlyn (daughter of Dana and granddaughter of Mary Helen) had a sweet baby girl this week. Her name is Avalynn.”
In honor of School Board Appreciation Month, the North Hopkins Hospitality/Restaurant Management class prepared a wonderful meal for the board members, administrators, and a few others who attended the board meeting on Thursday night. The group, including 5 students, were served by the class teacher, Dee Ann Melton and Maygan Adams, another teacher at NH. The board members and superintendent wore corsages and boutonnieres, which were made by the Floral Design Class. Everyone enjoyed the formal dinner. I want to express my appreciation to the board, and to the teachers and students who made the evening so special.
Yvonne Weir, Regina Taylor, and I met Brenda Allen at Arturo’s Wood Fired Pizza for lunch on Thursday, in honor of Brenda’s birthday. We enjoyed a delicious meal and time of visiting.
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].
