Lady Cats Senior Night 5 p.m. Saturday
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo decided early Friday that Lady Cat Park could benefit from one more day of sunshine. The planned Senior Night game against Pine Tree, originally scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m., has been postponed. It will now take place Saturday at 5 p.m. at Lady Cat Park. It will be the second half of a unique baseball and softball doubleheader as the Wildcats will be playing Hallsville on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Eagle Stadium. That game was originally scheduled for Tuesday evening but was postponed due to wet grounds at Eagle Stadium. In other Lady Cat news, after their big 7-4 win over Hallsville Thursday evening at Texas A&M-Commerce, Lady Cats Coach David Carrillo learned his team had nailed down the third place playoff slot in the district when Pine Tree lost to Mt. Pleasant Thursday night. The victory over Hallsville had insured a playoff spot for the Lady Cats.
KSST will broadcast the Lady Cat game following Texas Rangers baseball Saturday. The Rangers first pitch is 1:05 p.m. Lady Cats begin at 5 p.m.
State Jail Felony Charges Filed in Area ATV Theft
Two Greenville men were arrested Thursday morning at 4 a.m. after they attempted to retrieve an ATV they had tampered with and pushed into a tree line. Last weekend a construction crew alerted Hopkins County Sheriff’s officers that someone had tampered with an ATV the crew had been using in the Brashear area. The ATV was discovered in a tree line where it had been pushed in an attempt to hide it for later retrieval. Hopkins County officers began an investigation of situation and the location where the ATV had been found.
When the suspects attempted to retrieve the ATV early Thursday morning around 4 a.m., a traffic stop was initiated at the 101 mile marker on Interstate 30. Two 17-year old Greenville men, David Lopez and Jonathan Obed Godoy, were arrested for the theft and for the attempted theft of a motorcycle in Hunt County. The theft charge is a state jail felony. Lopez and Godoy were booked into Hopkins County jail and bond was set at $5,000 each.
Auditorium Remodel Forces Cancellation of Children’s Concert
An annual cultural event for all third, fourth, and fifth graders in all Hopkins County Schools has been canceled. The Sulphur Springs Symphony League has been presenting the annual children’s concert that features a music-focused learning experience for students for the past 18 years. This year the May event has been cancelled due to lack of venue. Over 1,000 students were to have attended the event at the Civic Center/SSISD auditorium.
According to members of the symphony league board, the decision to cancel the event was both difficult and heart breaking. The event allows elementary students to taste classical music presented in a manner that both entertains and educates. This year, the music for the concert had already arrived and the professionally trained musicians and Northeast Texas Symphony Director Doug Bakenhus had scheduled the appearance. However, the continued remodel of the auditorium will not be completed by the May date. No other venues that would seat that number of students and provide the proper acoustical environment for classical music could be found locally. The number of students negated the only backup available—the worship center at First Baptist Church.
The Symphony League supports a number of musical activities for the local school system. They provide not only the Dallas Opera touring company for Middle School students but also support the strings program and donated to the band program during UIL events recently.
The Symphony League does plan to continue the concert for elementary students next year.
Saltillo Track Advances Five to Regional
At the Area 1-A Track Meet hosted by Mt Pleasant High School Wednesday, April 20th 2016, Saltillo Lions and Lady Lions advanced five to the regional meet in Stephenville at Tarlton State University, April 29th and 30th.Miller Grove News April 22, 2016
by Brandon Darrow
I guess the biggest news I have this week is the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Miller Grove Elementary addition. Of course with all of the rain in the forcast everyone was worried that it wouldn’t be dry enough to conduct any type of ceremony outside, but good fortune prevailed and the weather couldn’t have been better.
People began to gather in the front yard of the school around 11:45 am. By noon there was a nice crowd that had formed. Several notables were there. We had Dan Flynn (State Representative), Robert Newsome (County Judge), Meredith Caddell (Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce), and Beth Wisenbaker (Hopkins County Precinct 1 Commissioner) on site for the ceremony. Of course the media was there – Enola Gay Matthews (KSST Radio), Bobby McDonald (Front Porch News), and Kay Thompson (Rains County Leader). We had quite a few students and faculty on the scene to help usher in the construction site. We were very fortunate to have 3 special Miller Grove Alumni on hand to help us shovel our way to success. The Alumni I am speaking of were Hollis Garmon (1938 MG Graduate), Olivia Mahand Manning (1939 MG Graduate), and Thelya White Bone (1936 MG Graduate) – our eldest graduates who lived in the area that could come out and enjoy the day.
MGISD Superintendent, Steve Johnson, welcomed the crowd of onlookers and announced how proud he was of the new elementary addition that was forthcoming. He also let everyone know how carefully things had been planned to make sure the financial stability of the district was still going to be intact while adding a building to the campus makeup. He then turned the floor over to Jaime Fox, Elementary Principal and 1994 graduate, who relayed that she went to school for a time in the portable buildings that had been recently been moved so that construction on the elementary could begin.
School Board Trustees were recognized and asked to make their way in front of the audience. Mrs. Fox asked that each board member say their name followed by the year they graduated from Miller Grove; if they graduated from our school. All board members were present and were as follows: Doug Hall (1985), myself (2001), Brian Lennon (1983), Bret Garrett (1984), Kristi Burnett, Eric Mabe (1982) and Lewis Russell (1971).
I had the honor of being asked to announce our three special guests for the day. Hollis Garmon was first in line and was introduced as being a previous educator and later a judge but foremost a MGHS graduate. The next graduate that I recognized was Olivia Manning who was wearing the first school ring that was ever handed out at Miller Grove, in 1939. Finally I had the privilege of calling on my good friend, Thelya Bone, who graduated from MG in 1936.
Then Mrs. Fox asked the teacher with the longest tenure at the district to come forward. Mrs. Ginger (Harris) McCreight has taught at Miller Grove since 1988, making this her 28th year of service in the district.
With hardhats on and shovels in hand the board members, the 3 alumni, principal, superintendent and Mrs. McCreight all posed for photos with the backdrop of rough ground that will soon be a concrete pad and foundation for the new school. Looking behind us, there was also the machinery that would soon be making this construction reality.
Cake was served to everyone from IdziBitzi Bakery in Sulphur Springs. There was enough for all guests and students to get a taste of the culinary confection. This day was also special for Mrs. Manning, being her 95th birthday. Students lead us all in singing Happy Birthday to her.
As things settled down several reminisced about days gone by at Miller Grove School. Hollis Garmon mentioned the school busses they had to ride – much like an old pickup truck. Olivia remembered playing for 2 years with the girl’s basketball team that went to state. Thelya told of how she went to school in the two-story wooden school house and how different things were for students in these days. By 1:00 pm the guests were slowly drifting away and the ceremony disbanded. The day was a success and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves – especially our honored alumni guests.
Happy Birthday this week to Lethia Ferguson on Apr. 24, Derick Petty and my niece Savanna Darrow on Apr. 25, Fred Moseley Jr on Apr. 28, and Natalie Darrow & Dwayne Wren on Apr. 29.
Remember Saturday, May 7, as the day of Miller Grove FFA’s Stew & Auction as well as the Miller Grove Cemetery Memorial Day. More information on those events as they get closer.
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].
Baier, Gatewood Qualify for Regional Track Meet
Lady Cat hurdler Abbi Baier and Wildcat distance runner Jacob Gatewood were big winners at the area track meet at Whitehouse Thursday. They will advance to the regional track meet April 29-30 at Arlington. Baier took first place in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. Gatewood captured first place in the grueling 3200-meter run. He defeated a runner who has bested him all year long. The Lady Cats also had a good showing from two hurdlers that earned alternate or second alternate status. Mackenzie Moore was sixth in the 100-meter hurdles and Faith Hatley was fifth in the 300-meter hurdles.
Friday Gatewood will attempt to qualify for the regional meet in the 1600-meter run. Lady Cat Imani Taylor will also compete in the long jump and the triple jump. She is the district champ in the long jump and was second in the triple jump.
Lady Cats in Playoffs, Defeat Hallsville in District Play for First Time in Ten Years
softball
The Lady Cats’ softball team made history as they defeated Hallsville 7-4 in a district game at Texas A&M-Commerce Thursday night. The win marked the first time the Lady Cats had ever defeated Hallsville in district play in the ten-year tenure of Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo. Coach Carrillo added this Lady Cats’ team is the first he has ever had that won as many as 25 games. The Lady Cats are now 25-6 for the season. They are 9-4 in district play. They clinched a playoff berth and will play for third or fourth place in district on Senior Night coming up. Coach Carrillo is leaning toward playing Saturday at 5 p.m. at Lady Cat Park. The Wildcats’ baseball team will be playing Hallsville Saturday at 2 p.m. at Eagle Stadium.
On Thursday night, the Lady Cats got solid pitching to defeat one of the state’s top rated teams. Hallsville falls to 28-2 for the season and 12-1 in district play. Landri Bell got the win throwing five innings allowing four runs on only 3 hits with a strikeout and two walks. Bailey Haggerty earned a save pitching two scoreless innings and allowing only 1 hit. She struck out 2. The Lady Cats pounded out eight hits. Allysa Abron was two for three with two runs scored and two RBIs on a triple. Brinklee Driver was 3 for 3 with a run scored and two RBIs. Sarah Womack was one for three with a walk and she had two RBIs. Hannah Crowson was 2 for 4 with a run scored and Jaye Dougthtie scored a run. After Hallsville opened the scoring with a run in the top of the third, the Lady Cats struck back with three runs in the bottom of the third. Abron, Driver and Womack all had singles. The Lady Cats scored three more times in the bottojm of the fourth. Abron had her two-RBI triple and Driver drove home another run with a single. After Hallsville closed the gap to 6-4 with three in the top of the fifth, the Lady Cats added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Womack drew a walk with the bases load to plate another run. Haggerty surrendered a hit in the seventh but retired the other three hitters and the Lady Cats celebrated.
Bankhead Highway 100th Anniversary
Bankhead Highway Centennial Celebration Members
Today, April 21, the Bankhead Highway Centennial Celebration stopped at Celebration Plaza to showcase their selection of classic automobiles and to interact with the people of Hopkins County. Roughly 50 to 60 cars from 1919 through 1933 were involved in the celebration. The showcase was part of a celebration for the 100th Anniversary of the Bankhead Highway. The Bankhead Highway Centennial Celebration left Texarkana, TX at 8 a.m. and will end in Odessa, TX Sunday night, a 620 mile long trip. Those involved in the celebration have stopped in multiple towns since departing and have even stopped at schools to allow the children to come out and view the cars. When not stopping, the cars took a scenic route through each town in order to showcase the cars and allow children to see the cars as they drove by.
The cars and their drivers were welcomed to Sulphur Springs by Mayor Kayla Price-Mitchell and City Councilman and local historian John Sellers. “It is great to know that we are part of such an important event as the commemoration of 100 years of the Bankhead Highway,” Councilman Sellers said. “It makes me reflect on how important this highway has been to the development of our city and our county, and how small business owners over the years from 1920 forward prospered and raised and fed their families based on traffic through the south on the Bankhead Highway. Also, how it brought the county and the city closer together and gave us a means of transportation to go see extended family and friends.”
Law Enforcement Association Endorses Glass For City Council
Emily Glass, center, standing with members of the Hopkins County Law Enforcement Association
Members of the Hopkins County Law Enforcement Association have officially endorsed Emily Glass’ campaign for re-election to the Sulphur Springs City Council. Emily is running for Place 5 on the council.
“We stand behind Emily Glass for City Council based upon her integrity, honesty, and the ideas that she promoted here throughout her tenure,” said Dennis Findley with the HCLEA. “We look forward to everybody coming out to vote for the best person for the job and we feel that she is that person.”
In the city of Sulphur Springs, early voting will take place at City Hall in the second floor conference room. Hours for early voting in the city election are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day except Tuesday, April 26th and Thursday, 28th when early voting is from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Election day is May 7th when the polling place is open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. KSST will broadcast election returns and post to ksstradio.com as soon as they are available.
