Wildcats Soccer Seek Playoff Spot
For the Wildcats’ soccer team, all signs seem to point toward a winner take all battle at Hallsville that will end district play Friday night. The Wildcats and the Bobcats are tied for the fourth and last playoff spot and both teams have winnable games on the schedule Tuesday night. The Wildcats on Tuesday will play Texas High at Gerald Prim Stadium and it will be senior night for five Wildcats seniors: Tanner Ramirez, Scott Galarza, Mark Maddox, Dakota Stalcup and Ronald Arellano. The Wildcats defeated Texas High, 5-0 in Texarkana on February 12. Still Wildcats Soccer Coach Andy Holt, on KSST and Channel 18 TV’s Saturday Morning Coaches Show, noted that the Tigers just lost to Hallsville, 3-2 twice this season. Plus a couple of the Wildcats top scorers are not expected to play Tuesday night. Chris Espinoza suffered a broken nose a couple of weeks ago and recently sprained an ankle. Israel Lopez, who the team calls Pinky, has a nagging hamstring pull.
If the Wildcats pick up two wins this week, they could move past Longview into third place. Just one loss to Hallsville and the Wildcats could miss the playoffs. The Wildcats scored an early goal against Hallsville and then saw it stand up in a 1-0 win at Prim Stadium back on February 16.
Last Two District Games Determine Lady Cats Soccer Playoff Position
The odds are pretty good that the Lady Cats’ soccer team will make the playoffs after two big games this week. The Lady Cats are currently in fourth place, the last playoff spot. Lady Cats Soccer Coach Jesus DeLeon, on KSST and Channel 18 TV’s Saturday Morning Coaches Show, said if the Lady Cats win both games this week and other things happen, the Lady Cats could end up as high as second in the district.
On the other hand, Coach DeLeon said a two loss week with other factors, could result in the Lady Cats falling out of the playoff picture. The Lady Cats have their work cut out for them. They have to travel to Texarkana Tuesday night. Texas High has won the last few meetings against the Lady Cats including a 1-0 verdict at Prim Stadium back on February 12. Coach DeLeon said the one goal was skillfully scored and the Lady Cats were unable to match it. He knows the Lady Tigers coach well from coaching against him in Wichita Falls and Coach DeLeon believes the coach will say he was fortunate to come away with a win in the first match. He adds the Lady Cats don’t lack for confidence going into Tuesday night’s road match.
The Lady Cats close out the season by hosting Hallsville on Senior Night Friday. They will honor Mary McMillan, Emily Moran and Jasmine Ramirez. The two teams battled to a scoreless tie in Hallsville on February 16 before the Lady Bobcats picked up the extra point by winning the shootout, 3 to 2.
Wildcats Track Finishes Third at Aubrey Meet
The Wildcats’ track team finished third at an Aubrey track meet last Thursday. The field events were canceled because of wet conditions. The Wildcats racked up about 70 points in running events.
Wildcats Track Coach Matt Young said Eli Sellers finished second in the 800-meter run. Jacob Gatewood won the 3200-meter run and Payton Vickery was third. Gatewood also won the 1600-meter run with Sellers third and Will Fain fifth. Terrell Turman picked up a point with a sixth place finish in the 110-meter hurdles. Ryan Humphries ran a strong race and finished second in the 300-meter hurdles. Turman placed sixth. Bubba Hall claimed third place in the 100-meter dash. It was his first time to compete in the event this year. Hall also had a third place finish in the 200-meter dash.
Coach Young continues to tweak the Wildcats 4 X 400-meter relay team. The team of Fain, Hall, Mason Cleveland and Gatewood finished third Thursday night.
The Wildcats will compete at a Paris Meet after spring break on March 24.
Five Arrests in Seven Day Report for Winnsboro Police
Five arrests, 177 calls for service, 52 citations and 48 warnings were reported by Winnsboro Police during the seven day period of March 7 to March 13, 2016.
Dalton Goode, 20 of Flint, was arrested Monday the 7th for driving while license invalid with previous conviction.
Michael Roberts, 65 of Winnsboro, was arrested Wednesday the 9th on a Wood County warrant for possession of a controlled substance more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams.
Patrick Joiner, 39 of Winnsboro was arrested Friday the 11th on a Franklin County warrant.
Kimberly DeWitt, 23 of Winnsboro, was arrested Sunday the d13th for a Titus County warrant.
Devin Bullard, 25 of Gilmer, was arrested Sunday for a Gregg County warrant.
Vandergriff Keynotes I-30 Corridor, TEX-21 Meeting
TEX-21 and the I-30 Corridor Task Force will meet Friday, March 18, 2016, at Texarkana College in the Patman Room of the Truman Arnold Student Center to consider updates on freight movement, the effect of the Panama Canal Expansion on freight movement on Interstate 30, and hear an update on transportation funding. Keynote speaker for the event is Texas Transportation Commissioner Victor Vandergriff.
TEX-21 is a statewide organization that has been working for a few years on transportation issues in the state, according to Chris Brown, Executive Director of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments. Brown says TEX-21 has now expanded into Oklahoma thanks to Highway 75 and into Arkansas thanks to I-30 planning. The I-30 Corridor Task Force, composed of representatives of cities and counties along I-30, has also been working over the past several years to seek the continued expansion, continuing safety, and future planning for the needs as noted by the cities and counties along I-30.
This event will focus on broad based transportation, funding, proper planning and tools for that planning for the Northeast Texas area. Education regarding projects such as the Panama Canal expansion will also be presented. The effect of the Panama Canal expansion expected to be completed sometime in early 2017 is also on the agenda. The expansion of the canal will allow for ships with three times the capacity of current ships that use the canal. That expansion will multiply the number of trucks on highways and rail cars carrying those containers once they reach U S ports.
The Friday meeting will follow a Wednesday meeting of members of the I-30 Corridor Study Committee. Members of the committee, which includes Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom and Sulphur Springs Mayor Kayla Price, will examine the expansion, capacity, safety, future plans and future needs of the corridor.
Along with keynote speaker Vandergriff, other speakers include State Representatives Dan Flynn (Dist. 2), Bryan Hughes (Dist. 5), Gary VanDeaver (District 2) as well as TxDOT area engineers. Rick Mackey, TxDOT Director of Transportation Planning and Development for the Paris District will also participate.
Vandergriff is a member of the Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees statewide activities of the Texas Department of Transportation. He was appointed commissioner by Gov. Rick Perry on March 26, 2013, and took his seat on the commission on April 30, 2013. Vandergriff is an attorney and private businessman specializing in business development and legislative issues. From 2009 to 2013, Vandergriff served as the chairman of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board. He was also a board member for the North Texas Tollway Authority from 2007 to 2013 and served as chairman from 2010 to 2011.
Business History Month: Tire Town
Tire Town
Tire Town opened in 1981 with Sam and Pam Word. Their business had the goal of providing a place where customers can purchase tires at the best value available in Sulphur Springs. Four years later in 1985, Mike Gilmer, the current owner of Tire Town, joined the company and ran the retail portion of the business while Sam ran the wholesale business. With the two working together, the business quickly expanded beyond the City Limits.
“Between 1985 and 1990, we established other stores in the vicinity, patterned after Tire Town,” Gilmer said. “Under the corporate name of Road Runner Tires, Inc., locations in Paris, Hugo, Commerce, Bonham, Sherman, and Quinlan were developed and operated successfully for years. All locations except Sulphur Springs were sold to other individuals, usually the manager hired to run that location.”
Mike and his wife, Bonnie Gilmer, became the sole owners of Tire Town after Sam Word sold his half of the business to pursue his own interests. The Gilmer’s ran Tire Town from the original location on I-30 before moving to their current location on 622 Oak Ave. in 2005.
“The new facility was designed to allow us to better serve our customers, provide them with a comfortable waiting area, a clean service area, and a better buying experience. This also allowed us to expand our service capabilities and offer first class alignment, front end repairs, and brake service. We have a 30 year history with providing quality Cooper tires plus we have daily access to all other brands and types of tires.”
As a family-owned business, the Gilmer’s have supported local youth and school activities, the Northeast Texas Choral Society, Ducks Unlimited and church-related activities. Also, Bonnie Gilmer was declared Hopkins County Lady of the Year for her community work. The Gilmer’s continue to offer the best service possible at Tire Town and strive for customers to leave their business wholly satisfied.
“Our goal from the beginning has been to provide the very best in quality, value and service to all our customers,” Gilmer said. “We work every day to make that happen for all our automotive related customers.”
Mike Gilmer (far right) and the Tire Town Crew
*UPDATED* Avila Arrested for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child
March 13, 2016 – Jesus Avila, 39, of Saltillo was arrested Saturday for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child under the age of 14. Hopkins County Sheriff Deputies received a call from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office informing them that Avila, who was accompanied by a child, turned himself in on previous sexual assault incidents. Both Avila and the child voluntarily came to the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office to be interviewed. During the interview, Avila admitted that he had sexually abused the victim for approximately 4 years. Deputies then placed Avila in custody and booked him into the Hopkins County Jail.
Jesus Avila,
During a magistrate’s hearing on Sunday afternoon, Justice of the Peace B.J. Teer set bond at $300,000 with a requirement for Avila to wear a GPS monitor if released on bail.
State BPA Sees Sole National Qualifier
Fifteen Sulphur Spring High School students competed at the State Business Professionals of America competition. Of those 15, only one student qualified for the National Competition, while another will attend as an alternate.
Sean Allemang competed in Java Programming and Network Design.
Maro Bausio competed in C++ Programming and Network Design.
Lydia Burleson competed in Advanced Word Processing.
Natalie Cruise competed in Human Resource Management and Economic Research.
Lilibeth Gallegos competed in Database Applications.
Sofia Gaheo competed in Legal Office Procedures.
Emily Johnson competed in Administrative Support Research.
Carson McIllwain competed in PC Servicing and Troubleshooting and Network Design.
Sam Robinson competed in Economic Research.
Austin Reyes competed in Advanced Accounting.
Anne Marie Winbourn competed in Presentation Management.
Elijah Drum competed in Graphic Design Promotion.
Jaspyn Johnson competed in Advanced Interview Skills.
Dylon Joiner was the only student to advance to the national competition after placing second in Economic Research. He also competed in Presentation Management. Timothy Charlton will be an alternate at nationals. He competed in PC Servicing and Troubleshooting and Network Design.
The National BPA competition will be May 5-9, 2016 at Boston, Massachusetts.
Boston Skyline
Carter Blood Care Drive At SSHS Friday
Carter Blood Care held a blood drive at Sulphur Springs High School on Friday, March 11, 2016. Students and teachers that chose to gave blood participated from 8 a.m. until around 2:30 p.m.. Students had to be 16 with parental consent or 17 years of age and picture ID was to be provided.
Mapps Trial Set for August
An August trial date has been set for Tilton Joshua Isaiah Mapps, 21, according to the office the Eighth Judicial District Attorney. Mapps is accused of the murder of Jonathan Trahern Young at Pacific Park on June 8, 2015. He is being held in Hopkins County Jail on a $1.5 million bond for murder and two $20,000 bonds for tampering with evidence. He was arraigned before 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt Monday, October 26, 2015. He was indicted for the charges by a Hopkins County Grand Jury on Wednesday afternoon, September 23 2015.
Mapps became a suspect in the murder after local law enforcement questioned several witnesses at the park. Police obtained a warrant for Mapps arrest the day of the shooting. At that time, Mapps, who was known to live in Greenville, was considered armed and dangerous and area citizens were asked to report his whereabouts to local law enforcement.
Mapps allegedly shot Young multiple times and disposed of the fire arm after he admitted to throwing the weapon into an unspecified body of water. SSPD Criminal Investigator David Gilmore had said at the time that one of the key pieces of evidence in a homicide is the murder weapon. Gilmore said Mapps was very vague regarding what body of water the weapon was thrown. Tampering with evidence is a felony 3 carrying 2-10 years in a state penitentiary.
Mapps proved to be elusive. On June 11th, KSST News reported that Texas Ranger John Vance, the U. S. Marshal’s office, and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety were assisting in the search. They felt hampered in the search because, as they stated, the family members and associates of Mapps are not law abiding citizens and were assisting Mapps in eluding law officers. Mapps was arrested in Fort Smith Arkansas on Monday June 29.
Mapps, along with his girlfriend, Tressa Macon, were located by the Marshal’s office. Marshalls along with Ranger Vance, Sgt. Gilmore, and the Fort Smith Police made the arrest at an apartment complex where the pair and others were staying. Mapps was being assisted in his attempt to evade arrest by several individuals, according to Gilmore. A decoy car was used in an attempt to draw law officers away from the scene. After the first vehicle had left with two police cars giving chase, a second vehicle was used in which Mapps laid down in the back seat and, in an attempt to hide from view, pulled a pink swimming pool floaty over him. Gilmore said that the Marshal Service and the Fort Smith police worked together with a part of the force apprehending the first vehicle while the remainder of the force continued to watch the apartment. That group of officers was able to apprehend the second vehicle as Marshals converged on the vehicle as it was pulling away from the curb. Gilmore stated that even though the law officers had not worked together before, they were able to orchestrate the arrest as though they had worked on other arrests.
