Lady Cat Track to Area
Several Ladycat Track members qualified for area at the District 15 5-A track meet in Pine Tree earlier this week.
Maddeline Massey placed third in the One Mile run, and first in the Two Mile run. Nasai Dougan placed second in the 100 Meter Hurtle, and second in the 300 meter hurdle. McKenzie Moore also qualified in the 100 meter hurdle with fourth. Ajalon Pyor in Shot Put placed fifth. Delaine Sears placed fourth in the Pole Vault.
Amonne Taylor placed first in Triple Jump and fifth in High Jump. The 4 x 1 relay team placed third, advancing to area.
Ladycats Track will compete in Area next week.
Wildcats Advance to Area
Several Wildcats athletes qualified for Area at the District 15 5-A meet this past Wednesday and Thursday in Pine Tree. Varsity placed sixth overall with 54 points. The JV team placed fourth with 84 points.
For the varsity, Seth Harred advanced following his fourth place heave in Shot Put. Jaylon Dougan advanced in the Long Jump to the finals, but was unable to place for Area. Bubbah Hall and Tyrease Peters both Triple Jumped in the finals, finishing seventh and eighth.
In Discus, Dylan Carpenter advanced to the finals placing fifth. Jacob Gatewood ran a 10:19 time in the Two Mile Run placing fifth. Colby Hutchinson took sixth in Pole Vault. The Sprint Relay team ran their best of the year with a time of 42:96, taking fourth. In the 800 Meter Dash, Carter White ran a 2:05, his best time of the year, placing seventh.
In the 110 hurdle, Zach Spagner advancing to area with a 14:42 time. The 4 x 2 relay had their best run of the year taking fifth with a 130:11. In the 300 hurdle, Zach Spagner got first place. Jaylon Dougan took fifth place. The Mile Relay team took seventh.
Area will be next Thursday in Pine Tree.
Summer Reading Program at the Public Library
Summer Reading Program at the Sulphur Springs Public Library is an answer to the summer slide, a time when children do not keep up their reading skills, according to Librarian Hope Cain. Cain said is to read for fun in the summer is a great way to help children to be prepared for the start of school in August. Everyone likes something, she said. Some like to read about animals, some about cars, some like mysteries, some non-fiction, everyone has some interest that can be found in reading.
A reading log is available to children to keep up with what they have read. Also, children receive small prizes for reading during the summer program.
Currently, the local library is working with the ECLC with a program called 1-K before K. The object is to have children read 1,000 books before Kindergarten. Visit the library for more details.
Theft of Money Bag at Local Convenience Store
It wasn’t a robbery but a theft. The Sulphur Springs Police Department is investigating a theft case where a masked man jumped over a counter in a convenience store, grabbed a money bag and then fled the store with another masked man. The incident occurred at Gary’s Food Mart on College Street at around 11 p.m. Thursday. Both men were dressed in black. The men displayed no weapon.
Man Arrested for Continual Sexual Abuse of a Child
Joe Gilbert Valdez, AKA HERRERA,ERIC LOY, NAGY,ERIC L, GONZALEZ,RAMON ARCE, GEUARA,RAMON GEUARA-JR
A 65-year old River Oaks Texas man, Joe Gilbert Valdez, was arrested by Sulphur Springs Police Lt. Detective David Gilmore for continual sexual abuse of a child. The arrest was made in Sulphur Springs due to the local connection for the child. Justice of the Peace B J Teer set bail at $200,000. Teer said that if the man is released on bail, he will be required to wear an electronic device that will tell law enforcement where he is at all times.
Apology Tweeted by At Least One Bully Tweeter; Lamb Says Discipline Administered
At least one bully tweeter at SSHS has tweeted an apology. Stating that they had brought shame on their family, school, and self, the individual asked for forgiveness and stated they hope to remain friends with those mentioned in the bullying texts.
The apology came after actions taken yesterday at Sulphur Springs High School where Superintendent Mike Lamb says some breakthroughs in the bullying twitter situation occurred . Lamb said some “mean stuff was being said” and that school authorities were concerned as to how they could end the situation. He said that school actions were being taken to discipline those involved. He called the discipline fairly severe.
Sulphur Springs school district officers working with Twitter (the company) were able to make inroads into who held the local bullying accounts. Lamb noted that for two days a lot of behind the scenes work has been conducted using the partnership of company,school officials and campus police. At first couple of sites were shut down but came back up with a single letter change to the account name. Copycat accounts had also started up. Lamb said for some time it seemed that some of the accounts could be in the hands of those who were not students in the local district. He said one or two may have started the bullying but several others picked up on it. He called the difficulty of locating those involved like looking for a needle in a haystack.
However, as of Thursday, several had been identified and shut down according to Lamb. He is concerned that others, even those outside the district, would take up the bullying process. The school has adopted a wait and see attitude even though they have found the students and/or individuals locally who were involved.
Lamb praised the work of Principal Josh Williams and Assistant Principal Steve Carter along with campus police for the success of uncovering the tweeters. The superintendent said that as the tweeters were being discovered, he and Principal Williams were attending a conference at Region 8 where a law firm was addressing the pitfalls and issues surrounding schools, students and social media. He said Williams was making notes and getting texts regarding the work in the local district at the same time during the meeting. Lamb said Williams was delighted to know that the steps being taken by the local district were inline with requirements that surrounded this type of investigation and discipline. (see our story: “SSHS Seeks Bully Tweeter” for more background on this story)
Children’s Museum to Hold Second Annual Silent Auction & Market
Children’s Museum to Hold
Second Annual Silent Auction & Market
Funds Will Go Toward Enhancements to New Outdoor Addition
April 16, 2015 (COMMERCE, TEXAS) – The Board of Directors of the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is pleased to announce the second annual Silent Auction & Market, to be held Monday, April 27, 2015 in the Sam Rayburn Student Center on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce. The bidding will begin at 6:00 pm and close at 7:30 pm.
Guests at the auction will find all kinds of items for bidding, while enjoying a fun and festive evening out with friends and neighbors. Items will include floral arrangements, furniture, home accents, original paintings and artwork, collector’s items, holiday décor, and jewelry as well as unique experience packages, and much, much more.
In addition, an assortment of baked goods and other culinary delights will be available for purchase at the Market. Checks, cash and credit cards will all be accepted.
“Our most ambitious fundraiser to date, the Silent Auction & Market generates monies that directly impact the children of our region by supporting one of our community’s greatest treasures,” said Board President Kathleen Hooten.
“The proceeds for this year’s event have been earmarked to help fund enhancements for the ‘Great Outdoor Discovery Area,’ a new, open-air addition to the Museum that will include exploration and discovery in art, science, music, and health areas – something that our Board sees as important to the development of children,” she added.
Tickets are available now for just a $5 donation and can be purchased at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum, Commerce Chamber of Commerce, from any board member or at the door. Children are welcome, and those 12 years old or younger will be admitted free of charge.
Raffle tickets are also on sale for $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00. This year’s prizes are: Patio Heater, donated by J&R Hill Self Storage; Yeti Cooler, donated by Commerce Veterinary Clinic; and a $250.00 Brookshire’s Gift Card, donated by Cypress Bank and Brookshire’s.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Museum and will directly impact the lives of young children. Each day at the Museum, hands-on, creative play inspires our youth to discover their place in the world in which they live. Because of the generosity of our community, even more innovative experiences to foster curiosity and ingenuity can be provided.
Call 903.886.6055 for more information, or if you would like to donate an item for the auction.
*Updated* History by Foot on Main Street Saturday 10:45 AM Only
Local historian John Sellers is offering his History by Foot program Saturday 10:45 a.m. only! Tickets are $10 and are available at Alliance Bank and City National Bank downtown. Sellers plans a walk down Main Street featuring sites of an old federal stockade, springs and the old Coke plant, plus Connally Street and more.
House Bill SB1158 Inches Forward
The Hopkins County recommended Bill to offer voter’s a chance to increase the local sales’ tax in Hopkins County has been placed on the docket for discussion in the Texas Senate Finance Committee. Senator Hall, the Bill’s sponsor, surely will be invited to the Finance Committee to explain the Bill, but is not listed yet on the agenda. The meeting, which will take place April 21st at 9:00 am, will most likely be just a reading and explanation of the Bill to the committee members, but is the next step in the process. The Bill has been mired in controversy since its last minute filing on March 17th. Since then, it has been the subject of much discussion with those in favor of the bill wanting to give the voter’s a chance to raise our local sales tax up to 1/2 of a percent to pay off the bonds that are building our new jail. Those opposing the Bill, including a majority of the City Council of Sulphur Springs, contend that the rise in sales tax will stymie retail sales and business growth. Lots of questions have been raised over the details of the Bill, but until it has made it out of committee and sent over to the House, the final draft cannot be determined. Keep checking back with KSSTRadio.com for updates on the progress of SB1158.
Lightning, Hail, High Wind as Thunderstorms Move Across Area
Thursday afternoon, a Thunderstorm watch was issued for North Central Texas but did not include Hopkins County. KSST Weather noted by radar a thunderstorm west of Commerce in Hunt County. Shortly after, at 5:30 p.m. radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Commerce, Wolfe City and Campbell moving Northeast at 10 mph. Nickel size hail and winds up to 40 mph were possible with the storm. The storm also was expected to stretch along Interstate 30 between Mile Markers 102 and 110. Hopkins County was then included in a weather advisory until 6:15 p.m.
At 6:09 p.m., the radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Cumby with half inch hail and 40 mph winds possible. The storm was expected to stretch from Mile Marker 109 to 128 asthe storm changed directions. Frequent cloud to ground lightning was occuring with this storm. A general thunderstorm watch was in effect until 10 p.m. and a watch until 7 p.m.
Meanwhile a storm in Rains County was moving across Lake Fork into northeast into Wood County. It would eventually move northward into Hopkins County. As the storm passed the Lake Fork area, large hail covered the ground. At 7:12 p.m., this thunderstorm had reached Como and was moving northeast at 25 mph. Dime size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph were possible. I-30 Mile Markers 114-142 were expected to be within the boundaries of the storm. The warning was extended until 8 p.m.
A flood advisory for southwestern Hopkina County was issued at 6:24 p.m. as heavy rain due to thunderstorms reached from Cumby to Lone Oak to Sulphur Springs. The flood warning was to end at 7:30 p.m.
After the thunderstorm passed through Sulphur Springs, it was immediately followed by sunshine. The weather alert for North Central Texas were concluded by the weather service shortly before 8 p.m.
