Top Awards Presented At SSHS All-Sports Banquet
Golfer Brody Blackmon and track and cross country distance runner Jacob Gatewood shared the Forrest Gregg MVP Award for a Wildcat and volleyball and softball player Sarah Womack got the Forrest Gregg MVP Award for a Lady Cat at the Wildcat All-Sports Banquet Thursday night.
Football, soccer and cross country player Tanner Ramirez won the James Cameron Fighting Heart Award for a Wildcat. Basketball senior Lexie Moore and volleyball senior Sidney Dietze shared the James Cameron Fighting Heart Award for a Lady Cat.
Team MVP’s named included Drew Fisher for athletic trainers, the whole team for volleyball, the seniors for football, Lauren Helm for Lady Cats cross country, Jacob Gatewood and Tanner Ramirez for Wildcats cross country, Kaylee Jefferson for Lady Cats basketball, Cain Cody for Wildcats basketball, the entire team for Lady Cats soccer, Tanner Ramirez for Wildcats soccer, Joe’ell Morales for powerlifting, Karolina Espinoza and Andrew Sant for Wildcats tennis, Jessie Ash for Lady Cats golf, Brody Blackmon for Wildcats golf, Abbi Baier and Imani Taylor for Lady Cats track and Jacob Gatewood and Bubba Hall for Wildcats track.
Athletic Director Greg Owens also recognized, cheerleaders, the Blue Blazes Drill Team, band drum majors and special athlete Jose Brito.
During the banquet it was also announced that long time soccer coach Andy Holt would be leaving to take a job elsewhere. Also leaving are football coach Johnny Irvin and wife volleyball coach Allison Irvin and powerlifting coach Jacob Alford.
Tira News By Jan Vaughn
Tira News
By Jan Vaughn
Robert and Yvonne Weir are proud grandparents of Nicolaas Robert Esterhause. Nicolaas was born on April 29, 2016 and weighed 3 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 16-¾ inches long. He is still in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, but Yvonne says he is doing well and is very sweet. His parents, Destri and Eben, live near the hospital. Robert, Yvonne, and Wesley spent the weekend at their home and kept the baby’s big sisters, Mena and Emlyn. They also got to visit with Dustin, Dakota, and Dacy.
Gwen Karney returned home from a Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Roatan, and Belize, only to find that her shed had been destroyed by wind during last Friday night’s storms. Gwen and four friends from the Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild, Pat Sparks, Lou Jane Brandenburgh, Dianna McGregor, and Judy VanWinkle, and a friend, Debra Ren, from the McKinney Guild, went on the cruise out of Galveston. They attended quilting classes on three days and had three days of sightseeing.
Our community had quite a bit of damage to trees, in addition to a couple of barns, during the storms last Friday night.
Floyd and Martha Payton have experienced a great change in their lives, Floyd fell at the Tira Cemetery four weeks ago and he suffered three fractured ribs and a punctured lung. He was transported from Hopkins County Memorial to Trinity Mother Francis in Tyler where he spent sixteen days in the Trauma Center, then ICU. He is having therapy at Carriage House Manor at The Cottages at this time. Martha reports, “Due to the injury, age and trauma he is resigning from the Tira Cemetery Board, where he has served for almost twenty years. Thank you for the support he has received through out the past years. We want to thank everyone from our church and community for the well wishes and prayers. Jan Vaughn has been so gracious to get the cemetery toward reorganization and moving forward again.”
I hesitate to include Martha’s quote, but I appreciate her encouragement. I really haven’t done much, but would like to add that Floyd and Martha have been hard workers and such an asset to our community.
The Tira Cemetery Board had a called meeting on Thursday, May 5th, to discuss the resignation of Floyd Payton, Board President. The group voted to move board member Mick Petty into the position of President. Mick’s brother, Rick Petty, is willing to help with the cemetery duties, so the board appointed Rick to fill the vacant slot. They also discussed the repairs needed to the grave stones and the fence.
**Last Minute Addition**
Tiffany Vaughn and Darris Cross visited with Darris’ daughter, Tabitha, in Kopperl over the weekend.
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].
Miller Grove News May 6, 2016
by Brandon Darrow
Another week packed full of activities in Miller Grove. Monday was my birthday and I was shocked at now many birthday wishes I received either through cards, Facebook, or messages. It was a good day even though it did rain that morning and I couldn’t get much accomplished outside.
I guess most of our community is aware of the pipeline that is snaking through our community. The machinery and men have been working quite a bit on getting things ready to start. They have put in wire gates, cleared a path for the line, and added culverts for crossings. The line goes south east across Edward Clark’s place, across the Clem’s and to Johnny Ferguson’s land. It crosses FM 2653 and makes it’s way across Patsy Yates’ place and across to Kim Irby’s land where it crosses FM 1567. You can also see in the Daugherty community of Rains County where it crosses the highway.
I hope anyone with a connection to the cemetery will come out for the annual Memorial Day services. The morning service begins at 10:30 am at the Miller Grove United Methodist Church. This year’s Master of Ceremonies will be Nick Lamb, son of T.S. Lamb. The message will be delivered by Bro. Ronald Davis (MGHS teacher and preacher at Miller Grove Baptist Church). Mr. Davis’ wife, Jeanette, will be the pianist this year and Kim Irby was chosen to bring the special music for the day. A business meeting will be held just before lunch and everyone is encouraged to say for dinner on the grounds. The weather should be nice so I’m hoping for a good crowd that day.
That afternoon will be the MG FFA Stew and Auction. The FFA students have put together quite a few items to be auctioned and, as always, there are many donations to be auctioned off. Stew begins at 5:00 pm with the auction to begin at 6 pm. I know the FFA Chapter will appreciate any donations that the community would like to bring that night and of course they hope for a good showing of community members to raise the funds to keep them going all year long.
This week was Teacher Appreciation Week and MG PTO had lunch catered from Juan Pablo’s for all of the faculty and staff at Miller Grove. I heard that everything was really good and enjoyed by everyone. The PTO helps the school in so many ways. They ask the teacher for a “Wish List” each year for things that are not in the school’s operating budget. They also give out 2 scholarships each year to graduating seniors. They also coordinate the Fall Carnival stew and chili each year.
Upcoming events at the school will be: Academic & Athletic Banquet (May 19), End of School Stew (May 20), FFA Banquet (May 20), Baccalaureate Services (May 22), Elementary Awards Assembly (May 24), Kindergarten & Junior High Graduation (May 26), and High School Graduation (May 27). Wow, I can’t believe the school year is almost over!
Barbara Lynn will be honored with a retirement reception on Sunday, May 15, at Quitman Elementary School. Barbara has taught school for 52 years and has decided to retire. Best wishes to her on her retirement and what a honor it is to have educating students for more than half a century!
Happy Birthday to Yan Heijligers, Donna Poteet, Connor Hall, Madison Rater, and Leon Hallman on May 8; my mother, Lynda Darrow, and Jalayne (Boggs) Minter on May 10; Travis Lennon on May 11; Laryn Cummings on May 12; Cristy Wren on May 13; and Vicki (Mabe) Lee and Tommie Jean Lennon on May 14.
Happy Anniversary to Tim and Melanie (Lynn) Clem on May 10.
As you travel the highways and byways don’t forget that all roads lead back home and back to Miller Grove. Please send me any newsworthy information. My email address is [email protected].
Auto Fire, Repossessions, Questionable Business Practices Plague Lot on Gilmer Street
A Sulphur Springs fire investigator is seeking to determine the reason for an April 29th auto fire discovered at 2:03 a.m. behind what has been the location for Father and Son Auto on Gilmer Street. Fire Inspector Aaron Kager is seeking the cause of the fire discovered when Sulphur Springs Firemen were returning to Fire Station 2, according to the City Fire Marshall. The firemen noticed the blaze and responded to the location. After putting out the fire, the Captain on duty discovered a few things that were abnormal regarding the fire and notified the City Fire Marshall. The scene of the fire was cleared at 3:55 a.m. on the 29th. This is just one of the unusual events to occur at the 900 Gilmer Street location recently.
The building at 900 Gilmer Street has served as a location for a number of local businesses. Most have outgrown the location and moved on to larger facilities. Herschel’s, Chicken Express, Potato House, and others have at one time been found at that location and thrived. The last business at the location was Father and Sons Auto Sales. It is now no longer there. However, the reason for the auto sales company no longer doing business at the location is quite different from the others who are no longer there.
Overnight the auto sales lot was emptied by a number of people dressed in vests normally worn by those who work traffic control, according to law enforcement who drove past while the work was performed. According to sources, Father and Sons Auto Sales sold cars on which they, as a business, were making payments. As each auto was sold, the specific auto was paid off and the amount over the original cost to the auto sales establishment was used to pay expenses and what was left resulted in profit to the proprietor or, as the auto was sold and payments made to Father and Son, the payments were to be forwarded on to the financial operation that funded the autos. It seems the process wasn’t working well.
According to information given KSST, Father and Sons were unable to make their payments on the vehicles. It was also reported that some of the business practices were questioned by customers who had purchased an auto from the group but had not received the benefits of certain guarantees that accompanied the sale. One individual reported that they had made a sizable down payment for the purchase of an auto but that vehicle had been repoed and, some who purchased vehicles also had those vehicles repossessed because the auto sales was receiving their payments but not passing those payments on to the financial institution that served as financier for the enterprise. In other words, payments were being pocketed and not passed up line.
Father and Son Auto Sales also list a location in Mt Pleasant, Texas, according to their website. Calling the toll-free number resulted in learning that number is disconnected. A look at one of their Facebook sites, there are two, has a last entry of February 5th on one and the other has only one comment, “Do not buy anything from Father and son. They’re scums and in a lot of trouble.”
Lady Cats Count on Hitting Skills Against Waxahachie
When one hears about the Waxahachie Lady Indians that the Lady Cats’ softball team will be playing in an Area game Saturday at 6 p.m. at North Forney, they sound just like the Lady Cats. However Lady Cats Coach David Carrillo says there are some subtle differences that should gave his team an advantage.
Coach Carrillo says Waxahachie is a young teams and a good hitting team. He adds the offensive strength of the Lady Indians mainly comes from their first five hitters. The main Waxahachie pitcher is a sophomore. Coach Carrillo says the pitcher does a good job of moving the ball around. He says she doesn’t throw that hard but has good off speed stuff that she will use to try and get Lady Cats’ batters to chase after.
As for differences, Waxahachie played Whitehouse last year and the Whitehouse coach told Coach Carrillo that the Lady Indians are just about a carbon copy of the Lady Cats. However the Whitehouse coach added that the Lady Cats seem to have a little better hitting lineup. Coach Carrillo says even though the Lady Indians are a fourth playoff seed in their district, they actually tied for the third spot but were bumped to fourth when they lost a coin flip. Waxahachie finished behind two very tough teams: Mansfield Timberview and Ennis. Coach Carrillo says he likes how his Lady Cats’ team is playing right now. He says his team will be ready Saturday night.
Sports Banquet Honors SSHS Athletes Tonight
May 5, 2016) – The 2015-2016 Sulphur Springs Wildcat All-Sports Banquet takes place tonight (Thursday, May 5, 2016) beginning at 6 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria. Decorations were being put in the cafeteria this morning. Big Smith’s Barbeque will be served starting at 6 p.m. Wildcats Athletic Director Greg Owens will be giving some special awards including one for a special athlete. In all some 17 teams will be recognized in 11 different sports.
Coaches for each Wildcats and Lady Cats’ teams will introduce their squads, will mention their accomplishments and will name team MVP’s. The final awards are the James Cameron Fighting Heart Awards for Wildcats and Lady Cats and the Forrest Gregg MVP Awards for Wildcats and Lady Cats. We’ll bring you coverage of the Athletic Banquet tonight starting around 6:30 p.m. or so on KSST Radio. We will videotape the banquet for airing on Channel 18 TV on Suddenlink Cable at a later date.
“Click It or Ticket” Campaign Saving Lives
“Click It or Ticket.” It’s simple, it’s the law and it’s a reminder from the Texas Department of Transportation that seat belts save lives.
“With Memorial Day weekend and summer vacation season approaching, we’re urging people to buckle their seat belts every time they get in their vehicle,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. “Every person in a vehicle, front or back seat, needs to buckle up. Not only is it the law, but seat belts save lives.”
Last year in Texas, 2,370 vehicle crashes involving unrestrained occupants resulted in 889 fatalities and 1,854 serious injuries. In TxDOT’s nine-county Paris District in Northeast Texas there were 51 motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2015, in which vehicle occupants sustained fatal or serious injuries from not wearing a seat belt. Wearing a seat belt increases the chances of survivial by 45 percent. In pickup trucks, that number jumps to 60 percent, as those vehicles are twice as likely as cars to roll over in a crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that since its inception, the “Click It or Ticket” campaign in Texas has resulted in 4,687 fewer traffic fatalities while preventing 79,578 serious injuries. When the “Click It or Ticket” campaign launched in 2002, only 76 percent of Texans used their seat belts. Today, 9 out of 10 Texans buckle up.
Along with TxDOT’s annual, statewide “Click It or Ticket” campaign and awareness tour, police departments across the nation will step up enforcement efforts from May 23 – June 5. In Texas, the law requires everyone in a vehicle to buckle up or face fines and court costs up to $200. Children younger than 8 years old must be in a child safety seat or booster seat unless they’re taller than 4 feet 9 inches.
Burgers and Fries makes Another Wonderful Donation
Karon Weatherman, Christina Thomas, Beth Garcia, Jackie Garcia and Irene Ramierez
Burgers and Fries made a Wonderful donation to the Meal A Day Program on Wednesday, May 4th. Their customers leave donations in the TIP jar and the employees donate all of their tips to Meal A Day.
Burgers and Fries, 208 College St, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 Phone:(903) 885-9496
Daehn’s Essay Chosen by Nursing Leadership Group
Left to right: Dawn Sheffield, Roberta Vanderburg, Miranda Daehn, Terri Bunch, Jennifer Carter, Amber Moore, Susan McGrady, Anitha Sanderson, Shelley Williams and Jana Crews
Forty-six (46) essays with the topic “Caring is the Essence of Nursing” were submitted by high school students in the area. The essays were written as a precursor to National Nurses Week 2016. Miranda Daehn’s essay was chosen as the top essay (see below) by the Nursing Leadership group at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital.
Miranda is in the Heath Science program at Sulphur Springs High School and recently decided to enter the health care field as a nurse. Jennifer Carter, HST Instructor at SSHS, said Miranda …”is great in clinical and requests assignments such as medical floor when no one else chooses that.”
Qualifications for essays submitted to the Nursing Leadership group included originality, thoroughness, and clarity of thought.
In her essay, Miranda wrote:
“Being in the Health Science program at school, I’ve learned a few things about what it means to be a nurse. Nursing isn’t just about healing a patient physically. Nurses don’t just treat wounds, give stitches, or do everything they learned from a book. No book is capable of teaching a human being how to inform a patient’s loved one that he lost a life or is on the verge of losing a life. No book can teach you how to cry with a patient. No teacher can show you how to find dignity in giving a patient a bed bath.
“Being a nurse isn’t just about handing out pills; starting IV’s, charting, or caring for the patient’s needs. It’s being able to love a person when he’s at his weakest and most vulnerable state, and when the time comes where a nurse loses a patient, it’s about being able to freely break down, yet knowing he did everything in his power to help that person. Nursing isn’t making money; it’s making yourself a respectful, loving human being. It’s not something you just wake up and want to be one day, it’s a calling that requires tears, blood, stress, lack of sleep, and most importantly, care. One has to strive to be a nurse; has to want to be able to help everyone in every way possible even if they don’t agree with the patient’s beliefs, actions, or even the way the patient presents himself.
“If I could retain only one thing from being in the Health Science program, I want it to be that not everyone is cut out to be a nurse, and that’s okay. But to be a nurse, it takes a special type of person.”
