Tira News By Jan Vaughn
Tira News
By Jan Vaughn
Michael McNiel stopped by to visit with his parents, Joyce and William Dodd, on Thursday afternoon. He was on his way back to Dallas, after spending a few days in Arkansas and Missouri.
Robert Yvonne and Wes spent Saturday visiting Destri and going to Earth Day at Fair Park with Dakota. It sounds like lots of people had the same idea. Yvonne says, “We couldn’t get close to the tiny houses we wanted to see.”
Kim Beck reports, “Lee Beck is now a Licensed Home Inspector and is building his business up, if you know anyone that needs an inspection.”
She also adds, “Jackson Dailey has completed his thesis and is defending it next week. Next stop, graduation!”
Rylan Joslin, son of Landon and Laiken Joslin, celebrated his 4th birthday with family & friends at Kids Kingdom in Sulphur Springs on Saturday, April 9th. On Friday the 8th, his actual birthday, we kept his brothers, while he and his parents enjoyed a meal out.
The Horn Family Reunion was held at the Tira Community Center on Saturday, April 23rd. We had a small, but good group and we enjoyed visiting, playing games, and, of course, eating.
Rylan, and Brailon Joslin went with their parents, Landon and Laiken, to Sour Lake (near Beaumont) on Thursday, April 21st, to pick up their sister, Dixie. Their younger brother, Slaiden, spent the day with his Grandpa Chip. On Friday evening, they all came to our house for hamburgers, hot dogs, and homemade ice cream, and then the kids enjoyed fishing. Tiffany, Kenden, and Jaidyn joined us, too. Morgan was involved with Civil Air Patrol activities over the weekend. On Saturday afternoon, Dixie, was honored with an early birthday party with family at Kids Kingdom. Chip and I took Dixie back to Sour Lake on Sunday afternoon. Her aunt Jaidyn (7) accompanied us on the trip. After dropping Dixie off, we drove to Conroe, where we spent the night at Piney Shores Resort. The next day Chip and Jaidyn played tennis, while I watched & kept score, and then we all enjoyed swimming and playing miniature golf, before returning home that afternoon.
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].
SSHS All-Sports Banquet Moved to Thursday Night
Although originally scheduled for Monday night, May 2, 2016, the Sulphur Springs High School All-Sports Banquet has been moved to Thursday night,May 5, according to Athletic Director Greg Owens. Several sports activities have been moved due to field conditions and Wildcat baseball will be playing early in the week. Time and place will not change for the banquet–6 p.m. high school cafeteria, barbecue, $8 per person.
The All-Sports Banquet honors top student-athletes in each sport and names outstanding athletes within the total program.
Lady Cats Advance to Area; Face Waxahachie in One Game Winner Take All
The never-give-up Lady Cats’ softball team fell behind big for the second straight playoff game but again rallied to win their second straight and the bi-district series against Corsicana.
On Saturday, at North Forney, the Lady Cats actually went out in front with a single run in the top of the first. Brinklee Driver walked and Kristen Allen doubled before Sarah Womack drove in a run with a single. The wheels fell off for the Lady Cats in the bottom of the second as Corsicana scored six runs. The Tigers took the lead with a single and a walk and a dropped fly ball that allowed two runs to score. Four more runs came home on a double, single, double and an infield error.
Down 6-1, the Lady Cats began to come back. In the top of the third, Kristen Allen’s RBI single scored Hannah Crowson making it 6-2. In the fourth, Jaye Doughtie’s double scored Kelsey Wallace who had singled and it was 6-3. The Lady Cats tied it up 6-6 with three more runs in the top of the sixth. Sadie Stroud’s single drove home Womack who had singled. Wallace’s ground out scored Macee Hollins who ran for Molly Johnston who had doubled. Doughtie’s sacrifice fly plated the tying run scored by Stroud. All of that set up the game’s most dramatic moment. Driver clobbered a pitch over the center field wall in the top of the seventh. When Bailey Haggerty retired the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Cats won the game 7-6 and the series two comebacks to zero.
Haggerty again got the pitching win throwing five innings of scoreless relief allowing five hits and striking out three.
The Lady Cats will face Waxahachie next in an Area matchup. The two teams will play a one-game winner take all contest next Saturday at 6 p.m. back at North Forney.
Wildcat and Lady Cats Regional Track Update
Lady Cat track hurdler freshman Abbi Baier finished fourth at regional in the 300-meter hurdles Saturday evening. Only the top two finishers at regional go to the state meet. Baier also competed in the prelims Friday for the 100-meter hurdles. She finished tenth but did not make Saturday finals in that event.
Wildcat Jacob Gatewood ran the 3200-meters Friday and finished ninth. Gatewood also ran in the 1600-meter run Saturday.
Lady Cat Imani Taylor competed in the long jump Friday. Taylor finished ninth in the prelims and did not advance to the finals.
“UPDATE” Another Change for Game Day Saturday–Lady Cats Play at 5:00 p.m. at North Forney
Lady Cats softball was to have been in Corsicana for a 4:30 p.m. second game of a best of three bi-district series. Now the game is at North Forney at 5 p.m. The game was originally set for Friday night but field conditions due to rainfall challenged the timing of the game. Friday night the game was set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday but, again, field condtions delayed it an hour. If a third game is needed, it will be played at North Forney High School field following the earlier game Saturday. KSST will broadcast the game for radio this afternoon and tonight, if the third game is played.
Wildcat Baseball scored one run and had a runner on base in the top of the first Friday night in Marshall when rainfall created issues and the grounds crew could not get the field covered in time to preserve the integrity of the field for the game that night or for a Saturday afternoon game. The game will be reset at a later date.
Hopkins County Historical Society Student Art Show Results
Best in Show Winners
Hopkins County High School students are presenting their own pieces of work in an art show this Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30 at Heritage Park in Sulphur Springs, TX. The art show is sponsored by the Hopkins County Historical Society. SSHS Art Teacher Dr. Phillip Dick made it a requirement for his advanced art students that they enter the art show for their class. “It’ll range from print making to paintings, ceramics, some really fine graphite drawings, mosaics, and three or four different sculptures,” Dr. Dick said.
Awards are given to students throughout the show based on category of artwork. “The reason that they host the show is because they want to give some recognition to the kids that have worked all year,” Dr. Dick said. “They give awards in a number of categories, so when students created their entries, they had to enter according to ‘prints being judged among other prints’ and ‘paintings among other paintings’ and so on.”
The art show is free to the public from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
The Student Art Show, sponsored by the Hopkins County Historical Society, was open to the public today, April 29.
In the Pen & Ink category, freshman Kayla Stidham won first, junior Kayci Nymeyer won second, and junior Hollie Stidham won third.
In the Pastel Chalk category, 7th grader Valerie Jenkins won first.
In Prints, senior Jerrica Passmore won first, and senior Whitney Davis won second and third with two entries.
In Scratch Art, junior Beatriz Olvera won first.
In Tempera, 7th grader Valerie Jenkins won first.
In Pencil, senior Caroline Burns won first, junior Emily Kuiper won second, and freshman Kayla Stidham won third.
In Paper Mache, Tommy Jolly won first, Victoria Wilburn won second, and Camey Cox won third.
In Plaster Sculpture, Raegan Sachs won first, Hunter Vargas won second, and Kira Stewart won third.
In Mixed Media (Marionette) Sculpture, Tommy Jolly won first, Joshua McElrain won second, and Hally Allen won third.
In Ceramics, Mary Bronon won first, and Gladys Cardena won second and third with two entries.
In Paper Mosaics, Peana Rosas won first and Eli Ham won second.
In Mosaics, Hannah Skaggs won first Alexis Howard won second and Tyler Harris won third.
In Acrylic, Caroline Burns won first, Dean Matthews won second, and Lauren Arneke won third.
In Water Color, Kaylynn Allen won first, Jaspyn Johnson won second, and Makaya Rich won third.
In Colored Pencil, Marbella Santivanet won first, Reed Hewiitt won second, and Lauren Arneke won third.
In Charcoal, Makaya Rich won first and Kassidy Branch won second.
In Photography, Kelsey Horton won first, Ryan Nance won second, and Hunter Tubb won third.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Hopkins Count Until 5 a.m. Saturday
The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 5 a.m. for Anderson; Angelina; Bell; Bowie; Camp; Cass; Cherokee; Coryell; Delta; Falls; Fannin; Franklin; Freestone; Gregg; Harrison; Henderson; Hopkins; Houston; Hunt; Kaufman; Lamar; Lampasas; Leon; Limestone; Madison; Marion; McLennan; Milam; Morris; Nacogdoches; Navarro; Panola; Rains; Red River; Robertson; Rusk; Sabine; San Augustine; Shelby; Smith; Titus; Trinity; Upshur; Van Zandt; Wood
Flood Warning Until 7:30 p.m. for Hopkins and Surrounding Counties
This graphic warns about driving around barricades during a flood, and encourages people to be safe. The text reads as follows: “Please do not drive around barricades. Be safe.”
Created by Loretta Kuo.
Original photo by Steve Zumwalt/FEMA. Location: West Alton, Mo., June 6, 2013 — Missouri Route 94 flooded.
The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Advisory for Hopkins, Rains, Hunt, Delta, Lamar, Van Zandt, and other Northeast Texas Counties. Very heavy rainfall is creating runoff that is filling creeks and streams flooding roadways and low lying areas. Up to two inches has already fallen in most places. Ponding of water on roadways is also a hazard. If you can’t see the highway or bridge, don’t drive into the water.
No Bail for These Two
Russel Edward Skeen and Caitlan Prestidge will remain in jail without bail for up to 60 days or until they can be tried for the cases against them. Friday morning, the District Attorney’s office sought the court to grant motions filed under Article 1 Section 11a of the Texas Constitution against the two defendants based on new charges for which they were arrested on the 27th of April. They were both out on bond for previous possession of a controlled substance less than 1 gram charge. The 8th Judicial District Court granted the motions.
Skeen, 49, and Prestidge, 24, both of Sulphur Springs were arrested Wednesday evening for two counts of Endangering a Child and for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Amanda Weatherford performed a routine traffic stop on a 2004 Chevy Silverado traveling north bound on Fisher Street. The vehicle was carrying two adults and two young children of the ages of 7 and 8.
Weatherford made contact with Skeen, who was the driver, and Prestidge, the front passenger in the truck. Skeen was showing signs of nervousness as Weatherford detected a strong air freshener smell inside the cab of the truck as if Skeen was attempting to cover up another odor. Weatherford then asked Skeen to exit the vehicle and requested to search the truck.
Upon Skeen’s denial of the request, Weatherford found a marijuana roach lying in plain view which led to a probable cause search. Two syringes containing suspected methamphetamine were found wrapped in a blue napkin lying in the front passenger seat, where Prestidge was attempting to hid them, and a bottle containing a crystal like substance also believed to be meth was located inside the truck.
Skeen and Prestidge were then placed into custody and the two young children were released to their mother after officers made contact with her.
SSPD Officers then transported Skeen and Prestidge to the Hopkins County Jail where they each sit on $30,000 bond: $20,000 for Possession of a Controlled Substance greater than 1 gram and less than 4 grams; and a total of $10,000 on two charges of Abandonment and Endangerment of a Child by Criminal Negligence for each child.
