Varisty Basketball by Justin Brock and Brenden Lynn
“To make Varsity, you must be a player who’s invested in the game of basketball. A player who will go the extra mile to be better and to make the team better,” Coach Cipoletta adds. Coach Cipoletta, or as everyone else calls Coach Cip, is the head boys and Varsity coach at Sulphur Springs High School (SSHS). Coach Cip likes for his players to pay attention to details. “In order to be a good basketball player you have to work hard and earn it. We need kids willing to put in time during the summer to improve their game. This is the only way we, as Sulphur Springs, can be very good,” says Coach Cip.
There are many different players who make up the Varsity team this year. It consists a total of 15 players this year (list of names below). Keaston Willis, who’s the only freshman on Varsity, is youngest player, and he’s averaging the most points per game on the team with 17.4. “Having this freshman on the team is a good addition knowing that most of my players are seniors and are leaving after this year,” Coach Cip adds. Trenton Brock, Cain Cody, Garret Jones, Matthew Malone, Derrick Weeks, Keylon Hall, and Zach Haywood are the seniors that’ll be leaving after this year.
Injuries are some of the hardest things Coach Cip has to deal with this year, so far. Cain Cody and Simeon Taylor are two of the players who started last year but both out for the season with injuries. Simeon, only being a sophomore, has two more years at SSSHS, but as for Cain, he’s going to be leaving SSHS after this year, due to him being a senior and having a foot injury. Knowing that he’ll be out for the year, Coach Cip says, “Cain has been our biggest lost this year. He has been the defensive MVP of our district 2 years in a row.” Hopefully he’ll be back in time for the next athletic event, which is baseball or track and field, so we can use his skill and potential in order to win games.
So far this year, the Wildcats are 10-15. “Our hardest opponent that we played this year so far has been Mount Pleasant, and we lost 63-53. They have the size we don’t and guards to go along with it. We played them well, but in the end, their size killed us on the boards..,” says Coach Cip. Our district is tough and they are hard to play against (district schedule on page 2). Coach Cip thinks we’ll make it to the playoffs if we play the way we know how, and finish our season with a positive record.
“My expectations for this team is that I want them to reach their full potential. I don’t focus on loss and win record. I worry about making out guys as good as they can be and the winning will take care of its self,” Coach Cip replies. All Coach Cip is trying to accomplish this year is to make it to the playoffs. “After this year I think that the players would learn how to be good teams and how to handle adversity. All I’m trying to teach them this year is most importantly that the team is the most important. Without it, you won’t have much.” Coach Cip might be one of the best Varsity basketball coaches that Sulphur Springs, Texas has ever seen. Hopefully he’ll use his skills to teach, not just the basketball players, but every other student that enrolls into SSISD.
| # | Name | Class | Height |
| 1 | Ke’Ontae Dunn | Junior | 5’10 |
| 2 | Keaston Willis | Freshman | 6’1 |
| 3 | Mason Buck | Junior | 6’1 |
| 5 | Keylon Hall | Senior | 6’3 |
| 10 | Matthew Malone | Senior | 6’0 |
| 11 | Bryson Lynn | Sophomore | 5’10 |
| 12 | Zach Haywood | Senior | 5’9 |
| 14 | Dane Rutherford | Junior | 6’1 |
| 21 | Trenton Brock | Senior | 6’2 |
| 22 | Michael Arnold | Junior | 6’0 |
| 23 | Garrett Jones | Senior | 6’1 |
| 24 | Iverson Wade | Sophomore | 6’3 |
| 30 | Cain Cody | Senior | 6’3 |
| 32 | Tyrese Pryor | Sophomore | 6’2 |
| 33 | Derrick Weeks | Senior | 6’3 |
Varsity Basketball Players (2015-2016)
Additional Allocations for United Way 2014-2015 Fund Drive Presented Friday
Hopkins County United Way presented additional funds to the 17 beneficiaries of the 2014-2015 campaign allocations during a special event Friday, February 05, 2016. Chris Voorheese, Campaign Chair for the 2014-2015 drive and current Chair of United Way, presented an additional $36,423.12 to the various organizations.
Community Chest, which received $70,000 in the initial allocation will received $18,103.84 or 49.7% of the total received in the 2014-2015 campaign. Others receiving allocations include North East Texas Child Advocacy (2.09%), ETCADA (0.89%), Christian Alliance (5.86%) , The Dinner Bell (2.49%), NETSEO Trails Council/Boy Scouts (1.30%), Our Place/Lakes Regional MHMR (3.55%), Teen Court (3.11%), Lakes Country CASA (6.39%), SAFE-T (2.41%), Hopkins County 4-H (2.34%), Girl Scouts of North East Texas (1.42%), Meal-A-Day (4.86%), CANHelp (5.57%), Heritage Outreach (5.56%), Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center (2.09%), and Winnsboro Community Resources Center (0.36%)
Allocations in the 2014-2015 campaign totaled $140,833 prior to the additional allocations paid out Friday. The 2015-2016 campaign totals climbed even higher.
Kids Kingdom Closed Monday – Wednesday
Kids kingdom will be closed Monday February 8, Tuesday February 9, and Wednesday February 10 for mulching.
Brashear News by Debbie Young
Is time flying by fast for anyone else besides me? Cannot believe that we are in February 2016 already. The weather has been spectacular. The cool is needed to kill off all of the bugs. Thank goodness not too cool though.
Gardening time is upon us. Everyone we meet is asking how the garden is coming along. Someone we met last week already had blooms on their Brussels sprouts. Tom bedded the garden and has started the process. He planted greens, onions, and, He is thinking of getting the potatoes in the ground just wondering when the rain will come. They will need some rain before too much longer. It is getting dry again.
We were visiting the Brashear Library and found a box of new books. We want to thank the person who donated these books. Also to thank everyone else who is sharing books with all of us in Brashear. The selection is very eclectic. Check it out.
The Brashear Store is busy. Decided to lunch there this week, and had to wait in line. Lot of people had the same idea we had. The hamburgers were delicious and Taco Soup was the dish of the day. It was just right for a cool day.
If you know of anyone who would like to purchase a church pew, the Brashear Community Center has a few for sale. Contact Red George for more information. You can usually find him at the store from 8:00 until 9:00 in the morning.
Has anyone else noticed the large number of buzzards in the air lately? We have seen several in the air. Just wondering if they have increased in number around here or what.
Just winding down, for everyone has been remiss in getting their news to me lately, so not much to report. So remember to call me at 903.612.8806; or email me at [email protected]; or drop by and swing a while with us. We have a large selection of swings to sit and watch the world go by. Love to hear from each and every one of you. Take care.
Tira News By Jan Vaughn
A large group of Panthers fans gathered for the North Hopkins School Homecoming game on Tuesday night. Aysha 
Day was voted Homecoming Queen for 2016 by the student body. She is the daughter of Brandi Day and Chanse Fite and the grand-daughter of Kathy Day and the late Jimmy Day, Debbie and Bobby Harris, Mike and Valaree Fite and Sherry Smiddy and Powell Vickery. Aysha was escorted by her dad Chanse Fite and her pop Bobby Harris.
Powell Vickery is in Baylor Heart Hospital in Plano. Sherry shared that he is in stable condition and wanting to come home. Please be in prayer for him.
Dustin Weir spent Saturday the 23rd visiting with his parents, Robert and Yvonne Weir. They went to see the movie, The Revenant. Yvonne shared that the story of Hugh Glass occurred near her South Dakota home.
Dacy (Weir) Campbell and her children, Elise and Eli, spent last Friday night with Robert and Yvonne. Dacy helped put up a new mirror. On Saturday, they all went to garage sales and had lunch at Juan Pablo’s before Dacy and the kids returned home. On Sunday afternoon, Wesley Weir’s bowling team, My Heroes, went on a hayride and enjoyed hot dogs and the beautiful weather at their coach Johnny’s country retreat.
Tiffany, Kenden, Jaidyn, Chip, and I attended a fellowship for the hearing impaired at the ROC on Saturday. The group enjoyed pizza, bingo and visiting. Tiffany and I interpret for the deaf at First Baptist Church. Morgan was teaching a rocketry class at the Sulphur Springs airport that day. I shopped for Bingo prizes in Greenville on Friday and visited my friend, Natali Lawson, in the hospital. She had taken a bad fall and had broken bones in her arm and leg. She was very disappointed to miss the deaf fellowship. Prayers for her recovery would be welcome.
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].
Hearts of Life Presents Abby for Adoption
Abby is seeking a home. You can adopt Abby at Hearts of Life Animal Rescue. To see adoptable dogs, call Hearts of Life at 903-439-5019.
Micah “The Warrior” Reed’s Party by DeQuarian Wilkerson
In Memory of Micah Reed, #MICAHSTRONG
On December 5th, 2015 Micah’s 13th birthday was held. It was at the ROC from 2pm to 4pm. Micah Reed will always be remembered here at Sulphur Springs Middle School. If you don’t know who Micah is he was a boy at our school Sulphur Springs Middle School who died of cancer at the age of 12. He loved sports, he was a great “Warrior “and a great person. I bet Micah was very happy with everyone that showed up to his birthday.
If you wanted a great time to spend with your friends and Micah’s family then you should have gone. You were all invited!!! They were asking you to bring unwrapped gifts, as a gift to the Children’s Medical Center’s Cancer & Blood Disorder Toy Closet in memory of Micah Reed. He enjoyed getting a prize out of his closet and this was a great way to give back and honor him, and also give to the hospital.
They had a lot of gifts given from students and parents from the school. Gift cards and monetary donations were also accepted. Everyone had a very great time at Micah’s party. At his party you were able to play basketball, football, jump in the bounce house, play pool, table tennis, and etc. . They also had a room to talk, eat pizza, and have refreshments. You also could listen to some of Micah’s favorite songs that he listened to all the time.
The theme of the party was some of his favorite sports teams like the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Socks. There was over 300 total people at his party and around 400 gifts, and everyone had a wonderful time. People who were at his party all received a bracelet and it said “In Memory of Micah Reed, #MICAHSTRONG”. There was also a huge cake with a huge picture of Micah on the side and they had his favorite kind chocolate. Dillon Odom said “It was fun and a wonderful time to spend with his friends and celebrate Micah’s birthday,” Kohlson, Micah’s cousin, said “He had a very great time and that he is hoping to do it again next year”.
Duct Tape and Back to Work; Man to be Charged With Assault of a Peace Officer
A piece of duct tape borrowed from the fire department first responders at the scene and it was back to work for Hopkins County Deputy Koby Hume Thursday night after he and others responded to a call on County Road 1174. A man was threatening to kill himself at a residence on the county road. When officers arrived, the man began firing his weapon at them. One of the bullets went through the windshield of a patrol vehicle and another struck and bent the radio antenna on the vehicle. The man is now in ICU at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital due to inhalation of tear gas shot into the residence to control the man’s behavior. Neither the officer nor any that responded were injured.
Responding officers requested assistance from the SWAT Team, made up of Hopkins County, Sulphur Springs, and DPS officers. “Restraint…” was the key to this situation stated Hopkins County Chief Criminal Investigator Lewis Tatum. Tatum said the seasoned officers showed a great deal of restraint in dealing with the issues surrounding this incident.
The man will be placed in Hopkins County Jail following his recovery at Memorial. He will be charged with Assault of a Peace Officer.
Unreachable February 8th? Civic Center and AgriLife Extension Office
On Monday, February 8, (and worst-case scenario, Tuesday and Wednesday) the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office will not be accessible by phone or internet due to work being done on the system. 
According to Johanna Hicks with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, individuals needing assistance are welcome to drop by in person and the staff will accommodate their requests.
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
Animal of the Week: Katie
Katie is 2-3 month old Pit Bull mix. She has been at the Animal Shelter for less than a month and is currently up to date on all of her shots.
“She is an owner give-up from January 13,” Animal Shelter Officer Barbi Blanch said. “The owner who adopted her wanted a short-haired, female dog that was going to be small. When he found out she was a Pit mix and not going to stay that small, he brought her in to us.”
Since arriving at the Shelter, Katie has been a sweet, loving and playful dog. She has had multiple roommates and has made a close friendship with her current one.
“She’s a puppy and she loves to play and she gets along with other dogs,” Officer Blanch said. “We picked up one that’s her same size, same puppy and female, and we just put them together this morning. They’re having a ball back there playing.”
Katie will be involved in an off site adoption this Saturday, February 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Animal Shelter will also be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on that same day.
Katie’s first time on a leash
