Wildcats’ Team Tennis Season Ends; CANHelp Benefit Next
The Wildcats’ team tennis squad ended the season on a high note as they defeated Pine Tree on the road, 11-8. Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez said the team prevailed despite some circumstances. The Wildcats top boy and girl player were unavailable due to illness. One player was with the band at their UIL contest. Anoher varsity girl was also unavilable.
Coach Martinez said doubles specialist Tyler Stout played his first singles match in a couple of years and won the tenth match that assured the Wildcats of the win. Freshman Jonah Kirkpatrick then won his singles match for the eleventh Wildcats’ point. Coach Martinez said the win excited the squad.
Spring play is next for Wildcats’ tennis. Coach Martinez added his CANHelp benefit tennis tournament will be taking place Saturday, November 5 at the Wildcats Tennis Complex. Entry fee is a new or gently worn coat. All sizes are needed. Coach Martinez said the tournament last year raised $3,000 and 150 to 175 coats and blankets were donated. He expects entrees from Greenville, Mt. Pleasant, Paris and Tyler.
He is also planning a Polar Bear tournament in January.
Wildcats Marching Band Scores UIL Division I Rating
The Wildcats’ marching band earned a first division score at UIL competition Tuesday at Mt. Pleasant. Band Director Charles McCauley said the band had their best performance of the year, especially playing music. He admitted that some issues remained to be solved in marching.
McCauley said it has taken some time for the band to get this year’s show together, especially the difficult ending. Despite mostly positive critiques from judges, McCauley said the band still has things to work on. They’ll get another chance at a contest this Saturday at Prariland. The band will perform at 2:45 p.m.
McCauley said the band had to overcome the heat at the contest in Mt. Pleasant. He said Tuesday’s contest was one of the hottest he had ever been a part of. It was 92 degrees when the band took the field at 4:30 p.m. McCauley said he allowed band members to put on their coats right before they performed. He also credited the band’s afternoon practices with getting them ready for the heat. Some other bands may have been impacted by the weather. McCauley said one band director told him his band just wilted and had no energy.
Because of a quirky old UIL rule, the Wildcats’ band will have no opportunity to advance to another round this year. They can only advance every other year. McCauley said the rule is very unfair. He said the band was the only group with such a rule. McCauley said could you imagine such a rule for sports teams or UIL Academic teams.
Wrong Month: City of Sulphur Springs to Re-Mail Water Bills
Residents are asked to examine their water bills recently received from the City of Sulphur Springs. The bills received in October are actually bill for January to February, 2016 usage and not up-to-date. A city employee told KSST News that a computer error had caused the printing and mailing of the incorrect bill.
The correct bill will be mailed to residents later this week.
Bi-Partisan Candidate’s Forum Held
PARTY CHAIRS TOMMY LONG AND DONNIE WISENBAKER
Approximately 75 Republicans and Democrats attended a bi-partisan Candidate’s Forum on Tuesday evening October 18, 2016 in the Fellowship Hall of League Street Church of Christ in Sulphur Springs. Republican party chair Donnie Wisenbaker and Democratic party chair Tommy Long welcomed the audience. Moderator was Dr. John Allen and timekeeper was Dr. Suzanne Bankston. On the schedule was a question and answer sessions for the audience with Precinct 3 candidates, to be followed by a presentation from PJC President Pam Anglin. At 6:20pm, following a coin toss, the first to speak was Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley, the Republican candidate for the office. His Democratic opponent Billy Emerson also answered the 5 prepared questions. Here is a brief overview.
- “SINCE I PAY A LOT OF TAXES EVERY YEAR, WHY CAN’T OUR COUNTY ROADS BE IN BETTER SHAPE?” Both candidates replied that maintaining county roads is challenging with the present demands on the budget.
- MR. EMERSON’S CAMPAIGN TRUCK HAS A SLOGAN THAT SAYS “THERE IS A DIFFERENCE”. CAN YOU EACH EXPLAIN WHAT YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR POSITIONS MAY BE?” Bartley explained that his experience in doing the job, his wife, children and grandchildren, his church attendance, and his contributions to the community through fundraising events display the difference he is proud to convey. Emerson answered that a different approach to doing the job of commissioner is the difference he would offer.
- “THE ISSUE OF THE NEW PARKING LOT ON JEFFERSON AT ROSEMONT STREET HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP IN THE NEWSPAPER. CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW IT CAME INTO BEING AND WHAT IS YOUR POSITION?” Emerson replied that the parking lot is now completed, but it took time away from the work of county roads during the length of the project. Bartley stated that in 2007, an agreement to save funds from the sale of a downtown building (Fidelity Express) set the money aside for the parking lot. It was a partnership between the City of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County, and that $100,000 was saved through work done through this partnership. Also, he hoped the same sort of partnership could benefit the proposed Pipeline Road project.
- “CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT PORTION OF OUR TAXES GOES TO THE MAINTENANCE OF COUNTY ROADS?” Emerson gave a breakdown of how tax money is apportioned for purchases and for labor, saying that about half the almost $950,000 in tax revenue is split between the two types of expense. Bartley gave a breakdown of how an individual’s taxes are spent by the county. He used $313.70 as an example of an individual’s County Tax bill. He stated that 24% of the total goes to roads and bridges, so about $79 would go to the County Commissioners’ office to be split four ways, resulting in about $18 for each precinct to devote to road maintenance.
- “WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE RE-OPENING OF PIPELINE ROAD AND WHY?” Bartley stated that he feels that Pipeline Road could provide quicker access by EMS for the residents of the eastern part of the county, including persons as far out as Weaver. He stated that he has discovered possibilities of a grant through FEMA , as well as an offer from TxDot to put that road’s bridge back on it’s list to repair it at no cost to the county. Emerson stated that not all residents of Pipeline Road would like to have the road re-opened.
The Q & A session ended, followed by an intermission, while the audience awaited the arrival of Dr. Anglin who had presented a similar session in the community of Roxton. Upon the arrival of the PJC representatives, Dr. Anglin spoke to the audience about the tax rate proposal. Also speaking against the tax issue was a member of Texas Senator District 2 Bob Hall’s office, District Director Destin Semsky. Semsky told the audience that they have to pay taxes but no more taxes.
First Night of Cover Girl Contest–Video Presentation
by Doug Haston
Tuesday night was the first night of the Hopkins County Fall Festival Cover Girl Contest. The four contestants competed in cow milking, saddling a horse, calf scramble, and driving a tractor. Thursday the contestants will stack hay, cut up a chicken, and sowing in the rodeo arena at the civic center.
The new Cover Girl will be named Saturday during the performances in the civic center auditorium.
Lady Cats Fall to Pine Tree; Tied for Second Place in District
The race for second place in the district tightened up as the Pine Tree Lady Pirates defeated the Lady Cats, 3-1 at a very hot Wildcats Gym Tuesday night. It appeared the air conditioning in the gym was not turned on during the contest.
The Lady Pirates came out as hot as the gym and seized set one, 26-24. They continued their solid play and took set two, 25-19. The Lady Cats got out to a strong lead in set three before having to hang on to win, 27-25. In a set four that looked like it could go either way, the Lady Pirates won 26-24 to take the match.
The Lady Cats slipped to 7-3 in district play. Pine Tree improved to 7-4. The Lady Cats can still clinch second with victories over Mt. Pleasant Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Sulphur Springs Middle School Gym and over a struggling Marshall team in Marshall next Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
For the Lady Cats, Rita Hill led the team with ten kills. Autumn Tanton had eight, Mieke VanBenthem five, Kaylee Jefferson four and Tori Moore two. Moore had 22 assists. Anden Hammack had a team high twelve digs, Imani Taylor had six and Moore five. Tanton had five block assists, Jefferson had three and Hill, VenBenthem and Madi Vickery had two apiece. In service aces, Maggie McGlammery had two and Taylor and Hammack had one apiece.
The Lady Cats also missed a chance to set the all time school record for victories in a season. They are now 28-10. They remain tied with last year’s team, which also won 28 games.
Lady Cat Volleyball Senior Night
Tuesday night was an emotional time for two very special Lady Cat volleyball players and their parents. As the 2016 volleyball season is wrapping up, the Lady Cat team honored Sheretta Hill and Tori Moore. The girls highlighted the things they’ve learned from their coach and team in their special comments as their name was read. Both girls thanked their families, each other, and coined the student section as the “best student section ever”.
Keck Named Lone Finalist for President of A & M University-Commerce
COMMERCE, TX— The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents held a special telephonic meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18, in the Board of Regents annex of the Memorial Student Center on the campus of Texas A&M University, College Station.
The Board convened and immediately recessed in executive session before reconvening in open session to consider action on, as one of its items, the naming of sole finalist for the position of president of Texas A&M University-Commerce.
Ray M. Keck III was chosen as sole finalist after a series of meetings with campus leaders.
“I am profoundly humbled and energized to follow a long line of distinguished presidents and rich history at A&M-Commerce,” Keck said.
Keck assumed the role of interim president on June 1, 2016, and was to continue through to the 85th Legislative Session, which begins in January 2017 and will conclude in May 2017.
Snapchat Fun At 2016 Hopkins County Stew Contest
From 6 am throughout the rest of October 22nd, the Hopkins County Stew Contest will have it’s very own Snapchat Geotag! The Geotag will be available anywhere across Buford Park. To access the Geotag, you must first take a photo on your Snapchat App, swipe right on your photo, and the tag will appear. Here is a sneak peek of the tag!
