Safety Texturing Work Begins Sept. 26 Across TxDOT Paris District
PARIS – Texas Department of Transportation officials today announced that motorists traveling in seven of nine counties in the Paris District may encounter contractor crews working along several roadways during the next few weeks.
Contractor Stripe-A-Zone of Grand Prairie, Texas, will be milling rumble strips into roadway shoulders and centerlines on many roadways beginning Sept. 26. Rumble strips are a road texture safety feature designed to alert drivers when they have wandered out of their travel lane, TxDOT officials said.
Several roadways in Delta, Fannin, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar and Rains counties will receive rumble strips, from Farm-to-Market Roads to larger highways. This work can be accomplished quickly, so delays for motorists are expected to be minimal, TxDOT officials said.
Even so, TxDOT officials advised drivers who travel frequently in these counties to be on alert and watch for contractor crews while this work is underway. Drivers should reduce their speed and remain alert as they approach and travel through work zones, and avoid distracted driving. The target completion date for this project is mid-October 2016.
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Wildcats Win District Opener as Offense Rolled Up 518 Yards
For the first half of the first quarter against Pine Tree on the road Friday night, the Wildcats appeared to be in trouble. The Pirates scored on two short runs and had a 14-0 lead. They recovered an onside kick after the first touchdown and promptly scored the second. Then the Wildcats unveiled a secret weapon, senior wide receiver Tyrese Peters, who has missed the last season and a half due to injuries.
Quarterback Ryan Humphries threw two touchdown passes to Peters and by the end of the first quarter, the game was tied, 14-14. In the second quarter, the Wildcats offense continued to roll. Humphries used a brilliant fake to a running back and raced around end 53 yards for a touchdown. After a goal line stand by their defense, the Wildcats went 97 yards for a touchdown. Humphries again found Peters on a screen play that went 66 yards for a score. A swinging gate after TD run netted the Wildcats two points. The Wildcats scored one more before halftime. Humphries fired a 29 yard TD pass to Simeon Taylor with only 22 seconds left on the second quarter clock. The Wildcats led 36-14 at the half. Their offensive prowess continued in the third quarter as Humphries threw an 8-yard TD pass to Calvin Eckert. After scoring 43 unanswered points, the Wildcats led 43-14. After a final Pine Tree score, the Wildcats hit pay dirt in the fourth quarter as Cason Goodson scored on an 11 yard run and the Wildcats took at 49-21 win.
Humphries was magnificent completing 15 of 19 passes for 326 yards with five touchdown passes and one running TD. The Wildcats rolled up 518 yards of offense.
The Wildcats are 1-0 in district play and 2-3 for the season. They will host Marshall next Friday night at Gerald Prim Stadium.
Lady Cats Win Epic Battle in Pine Tree
The Lady Cats’ volleyball team won an epic district volleyball match Friday at Pine Tree. They seemed to be on the ropes all evening.
The Lady Pirates took set one, 32-30. The Lady Cats fought back for a set two win, 25-17. Pine Tree then took a 2-1 lead in sets winning 25-16. On the verge of defeat, the Lady Cats managed a 25-23 set four win. In the decisive fifth set, the Lady Cats pulled out the 3-2 victory, winning 15-10.
It was the first district road win for the Lady Cats this season. They are now 3-1 in district play and 24-8 for the season.
The Lady Cats will travel to Mt. Pleasant for a district match Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Wildcats Stats as 2016 District Season Begins
Here is the statistical picture for the Wildcats’ football team as they open district play Friday night. They have averaged 29.8 points per game and have allowed 44 points per game. Their season record is 1-3.
The Wildcats have the number 2 rated offense in the district averaging 367.3 yards per game. The Wildcats have the district’s fifth best defense. They have allowed 406.8 yards per game.
Looking at turnover plus and minus, the Wildcats have broken even. They have lost nine turnovers but also have claimed nine turnovers.
Back Searn Rodgers is the district’s second best rusher having gained 323 yards in four games. Back Cason Goodson is ninth in district with 132 yards. Quarterback Ryan Humphries is the district’s number 2 passer. He’s has completed 62 of 118 passes, that’s 53%, for 822 yards with 8 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Receiver Simeon Taylor is the district’s top pass catcher with 26. Receiver Cor’Tavius Pruitt is tied for seventh in district with 9 catches while receiver Calvin Eckert is tied for eleventh in district with 8 catches.
Kicker Angel Tavera is the district’s third ranked punter averaging 31.78 yards on 18 punts. D.Q. Pitts, out due to injury, still remains the district’s fourth rated punt returner averaging 16 yards per return on 2 punt returns. Taylor is sixth in district averaging 5 yards per return on two punt returns. Taylor is also fifth in the district on kickoff returns averaging 26.5 yards a return on 2 returns. Cason Goodson is tied for seventh in district on kickoff returns averaging 24.33 yards per return on 3 returns.
Safety D.J. Abron is tied for the district lead in interceptions with 2. Safety Austin Dodd and linebacker Jaxon Reneau are tied for fourth in district with 1 pick off each. Taylor is tied for eighth place in district points with 24 on 4 touchdowns.
Tavera is tenth in scoring with 19 points on 13 extra point kicks and two field goals. He is ranked as the district’s second kicker in scoring.
On defense, the leaders with total tackles and assists are Reneau with 26 and Tiesan Goodson with 25. The team sack leader is D’Idrec Dugan with 3. Five players have recovered a fumble: Terrell Turman, Dodd, Damiyon Dugan, D.J. Abron and Jose Rodriquez.
NCL Releases Rock-Bottom Pricing on 14 Day Cruise!
In our constant effort to find the best deals on cruises, we just got an offer from Norwegian Cruise Line for January sailings on the Norwegian Breakaway sailing out of New York City. They have a great selection of Balcony cabins for less than $1700 per person including taxes and fees. There are also some unpublished “on-board credit” offers that will bring your final cost down. This 14-day cruise leaves NYC for the Caribbean and visits San Juan, Puerto Rico as well St, Thomas, St Kitts, Barbados, St Lucia, and other ports. There are actually cheaper cabins available than the balcony offering, but the on-board credits are not as attractive. Non-stop flights are available with this offering at substantial savings as well. If you want to get away in January to the Caribbean, this is the deal for you! Email us for details at [email protected]
The Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Liner is one of NCL’s offerings in its Freestyle Line of ships. The Breakaway was built in 2013, and is the largest ship to ever home port in New York.
Como-Pickton FFA Successful at Four States Fair
Como-Pickton FFA found success at the Four States Fair recently and have a number of events on the calendar for October.
Ag Mechanics:
FFA members from Como-Pickton FFA participated in the Four States Fair Ag Mechanics contest for the first time. They exhibited four projects at the show: A 14ft decorative entry gate constructed by Osvaldo Gutierrez and Brynden Andrews which placed third in its class. First in class projects were a 7ft x 12ft single axle utility trailer constructed by the Ag Metal Fab class and a 10 bale grapple for handling little square bales that was constructed and shown by Tristen Sickles. The top scoring project of the entire show was a 24ft gooseneck lowboy trailer constructed by Heston Wilburn, Denton Lawson, Robert Flewelling and Tyler Osborne. The placing scores for these projects earned the CP FFA the 2nd place sweepstakes award for the Four States Fair Ag Mechanics Show.
Dairy Cattle:
Como-Pickton FFA and Jr. FFA members competed in the Four States Fair Dairy Show. Caden Anglin, Breanna Bowen, Baylee Bowen, Presli Cummings Alex Holcomb, Avery Holcomb, Cameron Matthews And Evan Pegues exhibited 14 head in the Brown Swiss, Holstein, Commercial Holstein and Jersey divisions. They earned 10 first place in class, two second place in class and two third in class placings. At the end of the day, Presli Cummings had won Reserve Jr. Champion and Reserve Grand Champion of the Holstein show and Cameron Matthews was named the Reserve Jr. Champion of the Commercial Holstein show. In the Jersey division, Breanna Bowen was named the Senior Champion and the Grand Champion and Baylee Bowen exhibited the Reserve Senior Champion and the Reserve Grand Champion. The CP FFA Dairy team had a great trip to the Four States Fair and are looking forward to exhibiting at the East Texas State Fair in Tyler the first weekend in October.
Beef Cattle:
The Como-Pickton FFA and Jr. FFA members competed at the Four States Fair beef heifer and prospect steer show. Between the two shows they exhibited six head of cattle. Brynden Andrews brought a steer and a heifer, placing 3rd and 2nd in his classes. Canyon Thomas also exhibited a steer and heifer, placing 1st and 2nd. Also River Thomas brought two steers placing 7th in class with each. Overall the Como-PIckton beef cattle show team had a great trip with their animals and look forward to exhibiting them this year until their final show at the Hopkins County Jr. Livestock Show in February.
Coming Events:
The Como-Pickton FFA will be participating in these events:
Sept 30 – Oct 1 – East Texas State Fair Dairy Show
October 8th – Help-a-child Benefit
October 11 – State Fair of Texas (SFT) Livestock Judging
October 12 – SFT Wildlife Contest
October 12-13 – SFT Ag Mechanics Project Show
October 22 – SFT Dairy Judging Contest
October 18-22 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN
October 29 – Jack Cross Memorial Livestock Show – Winnsboro, TX
Work at Municipal Airport Pond Enhances Its Purpose
No grass growing in a pond means fewer birds attracted to the water. That’s the goal of the work underway at the Sulphur Springs Airport pond. City workers are pouring concrete this week to conclude a project that has been delayed for some time. The project is funded by a Texas Ramp Grant and the city’s enterprise fund.
Peter Karsten, City Finance Director, said the pond was first put in place to serve as a retention pond to assist with drainage in the area in front of the aerodrome terminal. However, its use has changed over the years. Karsten says it is now a detention pond to slow the flow of water to assist with stopping erosion along the taxi way.
Valves are also in place in the pond to assist with flushing lines when and if a raw water pipeline next to the pond begins to leak. The pipeline is 20 years old according to Karsten and when it leaks, which currently seldom happens, it takes the city water treatment plant six to seven hours to flush the lines. That six or seven hours of diverted flow can be crucial for water pressure in the city. Karsten said seven or eight year ago, city water treatment workers watched the level in water towers drop while the flushing took place. He said that in hot, dry seasons the continual flow of water to the towers become urgent. With the valves installed in the airport pond, that water can be used to flush the pipes into Lake Sulphur Springs.
The cost of the work currently underway is a 50-50 split between the city enterprise fund and the ramp grant, according to Karsten. He said keeping birds away from the local airport landing and takeoff patterns was a problem due to the proximity of the lake and grass in the pond could only add to the issue. The fountain in the pond serves as both an aerator for the pond to keep the water fresh and a water feature for the ambiance of the airport entrance.
Wood County’s Delayed Response only Delayed Arrest
A delayed result of a registration search did not deter the arrest of William Raymond Tate, 51 of Yantis and the recovery of a stolen Wood County vehicle.
A traffic stop followed normal procedure but when Wood County returned a delayed hit for the stolen vehicle, Hopkins County deputies and Sulphur Springs Police became aware of the Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. SSPD located the 2011gray Jetta in the Super Handy parking lot at the corner of Broadway and State Highway 11. Tate was arrested at 9:30 p.m. Thursday.
