Animals of the Week: The Solar System
In what is the largest collection of animals to be presented for this weekly article, the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter is presenting nine cats, each named after the various planets in our own solar system. All are short-haired domestics with an age range of one to six months across all nine cats. The group includes a litter of four kittens, three cats that have been in foster care with a volunteer, and another two that reside at the Shelter. “We named them that way because it was something different,” Animal Shelter Officer Barbi Blanch said. “When you have a large group of animals, and we have plenty, you tend to run out of names. So we started naming them after the planets and even a couple of constellations.”
The litter of four is still at an age where they can adapt to life around new people or animals with relative ease. These nine kittens are part of a total of 18 cats currently housed at the Animal Shelter, leading to an issue of space for Animal Shelter Officers Barbi Blanch and Annie Patridge. “We only have five cat cages, and we have two crates set up now since we have so many and with no place to put them,” Officer Blanch said. “We have a kennel that’s not usable for dogs right now, so we’re utilizing it for the cats in the meantime.”
All nine of the cats have been socialized with people and other animals, and normally play with each other when not sleeping in a giant huddle. None of the cats have been spayed or neutered and the Shelter is currently running a special on cats for only $35 per animal to cover fees, shots, and spaying/neutering. All nine will be included in an off-site adoption event this Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 222 Main St. This location is indoors with a windowed area, allowing for the inclusion of cats.
With the new school year about to begin within the next two to three weeks, Officer Blanch hopes that this transition from Summer to Fall will help the Shelter find more homes for its animals. “Hopefully [our adoption rates] will get a little better,” Officer Blanch said. “People are no longer doing vacation, and the cooler weather eventually will hit. It may not pick back up right now since people are spending money on school supplies and clothes, but it will eventually start picking back up, and the holidays later on is usually a pretty good time.”
Shelter Mascot “Gracie” guards the door while the officers are out on the job
Volunteers of the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter
Ladies from the Sulphur Springs area began hosting off-site adoptions with a card table and their own kennels about a year ago for the Sulphur Springs Animal Shelter. Flash-forward a year and a Facebook Group later, and a new community volunteer opportunity has arose. The group has decided to begin hosting monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of every month, beginning in September, at Pizza Inn at 6 pm.
Several different volunteer opportunities exist within the group. Volunteers 16 years of age or older may help with off-site adoption events, volunteers younger than 16 years old may help with set up and clean up at the adoption events. They also have people who help with photographing the animals and creating collages or people to transport the animals to and from events. Volunteers with this group only foster pets and help with off-site adoption events. Anyone who can’t help with adoption events can always donate blankets, towels, or give monetary donations. For more information Cathy Newsome Singleton may be contacted at 903-243-3416.
Wildcats Team Tennis Wins Season Opener
The Wildcats’ team tennis squad opened the season Tuesday with an 11-8 non-district win over Mt. Pleasant on the road. Wildcats Tennis Coach Tony Martinez was especially impressed with freshman Jonah Kirkpatrick who teamed with senior Jesse Allen to win a boys number 1 doubles match and he also won his singles match as well. In fact, all the boys won their matches. Veteran girls Karolina Espinoza and Jaspyn Johnson, who played mixed doubles last year, won their girls doubles match, 6-2, 6-2. All the other girls lost matches. Coach Martinez said some of the girls were a little behind but he expected them to be much improved over the next couple of weeks.
A planned Tuesday match at Whitehouse had to be canceled after Whitehouse apparently overbooked and ended up playing John Tyler at the time the Wildcats thought they were to play. The Wildcats will host Sherman Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Wildcat Tennis Complex.
Lady Cats Volleyball In Garland Tourney Friday-Saturday
After the Lady Cats’ volleyball team opened the regular season with a 3-0 win over Sherman and a 3-2 loss to North Lamar Tuesday night, Lady Cats Coach Justin Maness had several messages for his players. He told them they were learning a little bit after each match they play. He noted the team played real well against Sherman and he said he knew North Lamar would be a touch opponent like they always are.
Coach Maness said he told his team he saw lots of good things and also some stuff to iron out. He reminded them its early as they continue to work to learn his new faster system. Coach Maness said one of the officials Tuesday commented on the new faster look from the Lady Cats. He said the team might get another shot at North Lamar in a Tyler tournament later this season. Coach Maness said he expected the Lady Cats to be a much better team then. He added he complimented the players for playing hard and showing heart. Coach Maness said the Lady Cats’ schedule includes lots of good teams that would make the Lady Cats a better team.
The 1-1 Lady Cats play next in a Garland tournament on Friday and Saturday. Among opponents will be Forney, North Garland and Richardson Berkner.
Day Three of Wildcats Football Practice: Aches and Pains, Few Complaints
The third day of football practice for any season has a certain reputation. It’s the day players really start to feel aches and pains. Wildcats Offensive Coordinator Matt Young said players seemed to be dog tired. He said in the weight room coaches could hear weights move but there was no other noise. Coach Young said it was the same on the field Wednesday night. He said at least there was little whining like he has heard in years past. Players spirits always seem to rise on the first day in pads. That will come Friday evening. A 7 p.m. scrimmage is planned.
Coach Young has a goal in mind for the first kickoff of the season. He said he’s looking for execution at a high level and winning football games. Coach Young said the players have worked their tails off since January. He said the talk has been to earn things all along. He added they have earned physical strength, they are earning their trip to Disney World, they are earning the opportunity to win football games and many took part in The Edge conditioning program. Coach Young said a group of players went through a walk through from 7 a.m. until 8 a.m. Wednesday and then showed up for practice from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. He said the high level of commitment excited the coaching staff.
Coach Young said the players genuinely seem to like each other and they choose to hang out together. He said Offensive Line Coach Jeremy Offutt is developing a unit that features togetherness. Coach Young said the line is getting good leadership from Richard Green and Gideon Gregory. Concerning the Wildcats skill players, he said that bunch is already at a skill level not seen for the past four or five years. Coach Young said he has put a lot on their plates but he added they are not only handling it but are wanting more. He said the offense was getting better every day and that he said is the key.
AgriLife: Armyworms
Recently the warm weather and sporadic rains have trigger the outbreaks of several insects including with reports of armyworms in east and west portions of the county. According to Sansone, Minzemayer and Merchant Extension Entomologists, Texas AgriLife – Extension, armyworm outbreaks are difficult to predict but infestations seem to occur in portions of the state every year especially after early fall rains. Common species of armyworms present in Texas include: the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda; the yellowstriped armyworm,Spodoptera ornithogalli; the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua; and the true armyworm, Mythimna (=Pseudaletia) unipuncta. The fall armyworm is the insect that causes the most problems in golf courses and home landscapes. The fall armyworm has four life stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The fall armyworm has not shown the ability to diapause so its ability to survive winter depends on the severity of the temperature. The fall armyworm does overwinter in the southern regions of Texas in the pupal stage. The adult is a moth that migrates northward as temperatures increase in the spring. Armyworm eggs and larvae are also sometimes transported from one part of the state to another on grass sod intended for residential and commercial turf. The adult fall armyworm moth has a wingspan of about 1.5 in. The hind wings are white; the front wings are dark gray, mottled with lighter and darker splotched.
On male moths each forewing has a noticeable whitish spot near the extreme tip. Eggs are very small, white laid in clusters of 50 or more and are covered with grayish, fuzzy scales from the body of the female moth. The eggs are seldom seen and are laid at the base of appropriate host plants.Larvae hatch from the eggs and when full-crown larvae are green, brown, or black and about 1 to 1.5 in. long when full grown. The larva has a dark head capsule usually marked with a pale, but distinct, inverted “Y.” Along each side of its body is a longitudinal, black stripe, and along the middle of its back is a wider, yellowish-gray stripe with four black dots on each segment. The larvae have five stages or instars and usually hide in debris on the soil surface in the middle of the day. When full grown, larvae will enter the soil and form the pupal stage. Adult moths emerge from pupae.
Moths mate and lay eggs, thus starting the life cycle over again. Lush plant growth is preferred by the adults for egg laying. Several generations (A generation is the development from egg to adult stage.) occur each year and typically the life cycle from egg to adult takes 28 days. The life cycle can be extended if cooler temperatures occur and can last up to several months. Armyworms in the spring and summer occur in more distinct groups than later in the season. Fall populations of larvae often blend together several generations and may appear to be continually occurring. When feeding, larvae strip foliage and then move to the next available food. High populations appear to march side by side to the new food. Thus, the name armyworms has been applied.Armyworms attack many different kinds of plants. When food is scarce, they will move to plants that are not normally attacked. Thus, armyworms can be found on nearly any plant as they migrate in search of edible foliage.Besides warm-season turfgrasses, plants attacked by armyworms include grain and forage sorghum, corn, small grains, sweet potato, beans, turnip, clover, tobacco, spinach, cucumber, potatoes, tomatoes, cowpeas, cabbage, bluegrass and others.Damage consists of foliage consumption. The small larvae will chew the green layer from the leaves and leave a clearing or “window pane” effect. The first three instars do very little feeding while the last two instars consume 85% of the total foliage consumed. Although armyworms outbreaks are memorable when they occur, in reality, the outbreaks are usually small in scope.
Weather and multiple natural enemies usually act together to keep populations under control. Parasites such as wasps and flies are very effective against armyworms. Predators, such as ground beetles, are also effective in limiting outbreaks. Birds, skunks and rodents also consume large numbers of larvae and pupae. Diseases such as insect viruses and fungi can also be important. Sometimes weather conditions occur that favor armyworms. High egg survival of fall armyworms is favored by above-average rains in August and September. Because armyworm moths are strong fliers, outbreaks can also occur when storms move the moths and allow them to escape natural enemies. Armyworms should be controlled when they occur in large numbers or plant damage is becoming excessive. Armyworms should be controlled when they occur in large numbers or plant damage is becoming excessive. This will be apparent in turfgrass by examining the grass blades. Damaged areas of lawns appear off-color and eventually turn brown as damage progresses from small windowpane strips of damaged leaf tissue to destruction of entire leaves. Armyworms feed any time of the day or night, but are most active early in the morning or late in the evening. Treat with a labeled insecticide when leaf damage becomes evident and large numbers of caterpillars are visible. Effective, low-impact insecticides include halofenozide (small caterpillars only) and spinosad. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products are widely available and will selectively control small armyworm larvae without harm to beneficial insects; however, Bt residues does not last on turf for more than 1-2 days. Conventional insecticide choices for armyworms in lawns include bifenthrin, carbaryl, esfenvalerate, permethrin and others.
For more information about armyworms in agriculture, refer to Extension fact sheet B-1220, Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Texas Sorghum; B-1251, Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Small Grains; B-1401, Integrated Pest Management Guide for Texas Forage Crops. These publications, and help with additional questions about armyworms or other pest problems, can be obtained by contacting the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Mapps Sentenced to 99 Years for Murder of Young
Thursday morning in Eighth Judicial District Court, a Hopkins County Jury assessed a penalty of 99 years without a fine in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Tilton Joshua Isaiah Mapps of the murder of Jonathan Trahern Young. Wednesday at noon that same jury found Mapps guilty.
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 he was pleased with the verdict and the sentence. He said that whether they 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.
Mapps Testifies on His Behalf Wednesday; Jury Finds Him Guilty
At noon Wednesday, Tilton Joshua Isaiah Mapps was found guilty of the murder of Jonathan Trahern Young. Mapps is accused of the murder of Young at Pacific Park on June 8, 2015.
Just before 10 a.m., both the Prosecution and defense closed their case before a Hopkins County Jury in Eighth Judicial Court in Hopkins County in the murder trial. The punishment phase of the trial will begin at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 10, 2016.
The final witness on the stand Wednesday morning was Mapps. Mapps followed Tuesday afternoon’s list 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 Wednesday, he said he was being railroaded and others were playing lying games. He testified that the only gun he had with him in Sulphur Springs was a .25-calibur weapon. He said he was not involved in the shooting and did not know of it until later. He said he stayed in Greenville the night following the shooting and arrived in Arkansas later that week. He said he became aware of the shooting of Young only after he heard that threats against him were being made. He stayed in Fort Smith Arkansas with friends to get away from the treats and intended to come back to Sulphur Springs and speak with law enforcement later. He said he did not contact local law enforcement because he intended to return. He claimed that he was unaware of police looking for him. He stated that he was not trying to hide in the backseat of an auto in Fort Smith at the time of his arrest. He said that he had walked from the apartment to the auto and attempted to get in the front seat but there was not room, so he sat in the back. He also stated that he was not covered by a pool flotation devise as the U S Marshal had testified Tuesday.
Mapps said that all, including Dillon Burk and one identified by Mapps as the mother of his children, who had testified they saw him shoot Young were mistaken. He stated that in the interrogation video he had agreed to self-defense only because he felt threatened by the Texas Ranger when he was told that he would never see his son grow up and play football.
When asked if he shot Young, Mapps replied, “No Sir.” He said he did not have a .40-calibur weapon. He had told law enforcement that Young was killed with a .40-calibur Smith & Wesson only because he had seen another person with it. He said he was not at the Park at the time of the shooting but saw Dillon Burk with the weapon running from the park.
Law enforcement had found Mapps by using technology available to locate the cellphone with him. He said he did not have a cellphone with him. He stated that his girlfriend Tessa Macon had the phone and he didn’t know why she turned it on and off.
His testimony ended after Assistant District Attorney Matt Harris played an audio file of a phone conversation of Mapps and Adaris Matthews initiated by Mapps while in Hopkins County Jail. In it Mapps stated that he had a good lawyer that would get him off the charges.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
