Blackmon is Regional Medalist
Wildcats’ golfer Brody Blackmon, an Ole Miss commit, won the Regional Golf Tournament played at the Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club Monday and Tuesday. He’ll play in the State Tournament later this month. Blackmon shot a two-round 140, four under par, at the Regional Tournament.
Wildcats Golf Coach Ross Funk said Blackmon had trouble finishing the first day and shot a one-over par 73. The second round Blackmon fired a five-under 67. He also won the District Tournament with a two-round 140 on the same course. Blackmon and two other golfers not on teams advancing to state qualified for the State Tournament.
The Wildcats’ golf team was unable to finish as one of the top three teams at regional to qualify for the State Tournament. They missed out by 24 strokes. The Wildcats shot 317 on Monday and 321 on Tuesday. For the Wildcats, Alex Motes had a first round 73 and then a second round of 81. Matt Calhoun had rounds of 82 and 85. Carter Lewis had a 92 and 88 and Caleb Lewis shot 89 and 94.
Lady Cats Softball Moved to Mount Pleasant Thursday; Track at Pine Tree for District
The Lady Cats’ softball game against Mt. Pleasant scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday has been postponed a second time due to a wet Lady Cat Park. Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo said the game would now be played Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Mt. Pleasant. The game was originally scheduled to be played Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. The Lady Cats, after a disappointing 4-3 record in the first half of district play, have won three games in a row in the second half giving them a 7-3 record. Mt. Pleasant won by a single run when the two teams played back on March 18 in Mt. Pleasant. The Lady Cats season record is 23-5. Once again no softball in Sulphur Springs Wednesday. The game has been rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Mt. Pleasant
Meanwhile the Wildcats and Lady Cats’ track teams are competing in the District Tract Meet in Pine Tree Wednesday. It will wrap up Thursday. Athletes will be attempting to qualify for an Area Meet at Whitehouse next week.
Salvation Army Disaster Training
There are natural disasters happening each year in the state of Texas. From floods, forest fires, hail storms to tornados Texans need to be prepared. It is not a matter of if, but when a disaster happens in a Texas community. Disaster training is vital when it comes to protecting the lives of those in Texas communities.
The Salvation Army State Disaster Training Team has scheduled free training in Sulphur Springs at the Trinity Harvest Church, 1150 Shannon Road East this Saturday, April 16 from 8 am through 2 pm. When completing this one day training course, you will be certified to assist with multiple types of natural disasters in your community and in the state of Texas. Lunch will be provided for each attendee.
Today is the last day for registration. To register, call Joshua Moseley by 5 p.m. at 682-300-2404 or call Sharon Wilson at 214-274-0514. Wilson is Regional Representative for the Salvation Army, Texas Division.
Community Chest Honors Board Members for Lifetime of Service
Hopkins County Community Chest recognized board members Imogene Jacobs, Fred Dial, Valinda Hathcox, and Joe Pogue for leadership and vision in a lifetime of service to the organization. Radina Adams, President made the presentation Wednesday morning following a board meeting at Community Chest, 217 Linda Drive in Sulphur Springs. Lucy Vaden, previous Executive Director of Community Chest, was a special guest for the event.
Left to right, Lucy Vaden, previous Executive Director, Valinda Hathcox, Fred Dial, and Imogene Jacobs. Not present, Joe Pogue.
Matthews Named Interim County Fire Chief
Hopkins County Fire Marshall Mike Matthews will supervise operations for the county fire department following the resignation of Kevin Yates, who resigned Tuesday as Fire Chief here after having taken a Fire Chief position in Louisiana. Matthews will serve as interim Fire Chief for the county as a search for a new chief begins in the next couple of weeks, according to County Judge Robert Newsom.
Matthews is a Hopkins County native whose first full time fire-fighter job was with the county. He worked full-time with the Hopkins County Fire Department for 13 years prior to becoming a fireman in Longview. Currently, he is a driver engineer and paramedic for the Longview department and spends two (2) of every three (3) days in Hopkins County as Fire Marshall here. The third day is in Longview.
Matthews told KSST News that he will seek to bring some things back on track for the county fire department and for volunteers in the county. County Judge Newsom told KSST News that Matthews, who the judge has known since Matthews was a baby in his mother’s arms, has already unified the volunteer and paid fire departments in the county as they “…have rallied around Matthews”.
Matthews said that when he returns to the county Thursday, he will begin gathering a list of things that need to be done in the various departments, look over the county budget for fire departments, and examine any problems and/or issues faced by the volunteers and paid staff. Also on his list of duties is oversight of the day to day operations of the department and scheduling payroll. He stated he will serve as liaison between the fire departments and commissioners’ court.
The work as acting chief will be added to his current tasks of investigating structure and vehicle fires in the county, home inspections for foster parents, building inspections in the county, mapping fire hydrants for county fire departments and doing pre-planning on certain structures and areas where county firefighters could be called on in times of fire and/or emergency. Matthews stated that firefighters need to know the lay of the land as they begin to attack a fire.
Accident Closes I-30 Exit
An 18-wheel tractor-trailer rig carrying a load of watermelons overturned Tuesday morning at the I-30 exit near EZ Mart and the Best Western Motel on the east side of Sulphur Springs when the load shifted. Although the truck was set upright, the watermelons remained in the ditch. The exit was closed during cleanup.
Wildcats Break Losing Streak with Win at Mt Pleasant
The Wildcats’ baseball team broke their five game losing streak with a 4-3 win in eight innings at Mt. Pleasant Tuesday night.
In the eighth, the Wildcats Heston Golightly led off with a triple and then he scored on Triston McCormack’s single. Ryan Humphries, pitching in relief of starter Tyler Follis, stranded a Tiger runner in the bottom of the eighth to pick up the pitching win. The Wildcats had a strong start scoring two first inning runs on a Humphries’ walk and RBI singles from Cole Cooper and Golightly. Mt. Pleasant chipped away with a single run in the third and then took a 3-2 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. The Wildcats tied the score 3-3 in the sixth with a Cooper single and two Tigers’ errors.
The Wildcats are now 3-6 in district play and their season record is now 6-11-1. They will host Greenville Friday night at 7 p.m.at Eagle Stadium.
Texas Rangers on KSST April 12-17
Texas Rangers Baseball on KSST: April 12-17
Tuesday, April 12: at Seattle Mariners, Game time is 9:10 p.m. Pregame begins at 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 13: at Seattle Mariners, Game time is 2:40 p.m. Pregame begins at 2 p.m.
Home Stand:
Thursday, April 14: Baltimore Orioles, Game time is 7:05 p.m. Pregame begins at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 16: Baltimore Orioles, Game time is 7:05 p.m. Pregame begins at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 17: Baltimore Orioles, Game time is 2:05 p.m. Pregame begins at 1:30 p.m.
Schedule for the next seven (7) days will now be posted each Monday
TxDOT Urges Safety During Work Zone Awarness Week April 11-15
“Whether it was pure adrenaline or by the grace of God, I survived,” said Matthews, who now works as a TxDOT project manager. “I was lucky. I’m here today sharing my story to remind everyone to pay extra attention when driving through work zones, because the consequences of not doing so can be deadly.”
Two seconds. That’s how long Rodney Matthews, former construction inspector for the Texas Department of Transportation, had to react after he heard a crash and a driver drove through his work zone. Matthews was thrown 30 feet in the air and sustained a concussion and severe injuries, but was lucky to survive. Not everyone gets that second chance.
While these types of close calls are becoming too familiar to TxDOT workers, statistics show more motorists die in work zones than workers. Work zone crashes increased by 13 percent in Texas last year and killed 138 people.
As part of National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 11-15, TxDOT urges drivers to slow down, pay attention and be extra cautious to save not only the lives of work zone workers, but their own lives as well.
“People often think work zone crashes result in the deaths of roadside workers, but last year, 81 percent of these fatalities were motorists,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “Work zones require complete attention and strict adherence to posted traffic signs. For the sake of everyone working in and traveling through work zones, we urge drivers to be extremely careful and responsible so everyone can arrive home safely to their loved ones.”
With the state’s population continuing to boom, the price of progress can mean more than 2,500 active TxDOT work zones at any given time. In 2015, there were 21,886 work zone crashes in Texas. The top two causes of these crashes were speeding and driver inattention.
By law, drivers are required to move over or slow down when approaching work crews, emergency vehicles or tow trucks stopped on the roadside or shoulder with flashing blue or amber lights.
During National Work Zone Awareness Week, TxDOT’s message signs along state highways and roadways will remind drivers to use caution in work zones. Traffic fines in work zones double when workers are present and can cost up to $2,000.
Also during the week, TxDOT will share video testimonials on its Facebook and Twitter pages from workers who had close calls while working on their job sites. TxDOT also will be sharing photos and bios of TxDOT workers on its social media pages with the hashtags #NWZAW and #BeSafeDriveSmart to introduce them to Texans on a more personal level.
