Wildcats Basketball in Tyler For Season-Opening Match With Tyler Legacy
It has been something of a busy week for Coach Brandon Shaver’s men’s basketball team.
On Thursday they took on the Lions in Greenville for their final scrimmage of two before the regular season begins today.
The Wildcats won both halves against Greenville 34-18 and 21-16 to win their second scrimmage of the winter 2021-22 season.
Sulphur Springs was led in scoring by Kordrick Turner on Thursday with 13 points followed by Caleb Alexander with eight, Cason Arrington notched seven and Justin Haire recorded six in the scrimmage victory.
Not only that, but on Wednesday, Nov. 10 Haire signed his letter of intent in the SSHS Main Gym to play college basketball at Dallas Baptist University.
He was joined by a good number of his fellow student body, as well as his family, team, and coaching staffs; past and present.
Both current head coach Shaver and former coach Clark Cipoletta expressed how much of a blessing it was to coach such a talented and above all coachable player.
His current coach, Brandon Shaver said he is a coach’s dream in that he does all the right things, is extremely coachable, and will be successful in whatever he does.
Former Wildcats coach Clark Cipoletta, now at Allen HS, made the trip from the metroplex to see his former star sign on to play at Dallas Baptist and echoed a lot of the statements Coach Shaver said in that Haire was a blessing to coach.
The regular season begins for DBU signee Justin Haire and Sulphur Springs today when they travel to Tyler today to take on the Raiders.
Coach Shaver, Justin Haire and the Wildcats will be all too ready for their road-opener when they take on a tough 6A team in the Tyler Legacy Raiders at 3 P.M.
Freshmen and junior varsity will precede the varsity contest at 1 P.M. and 1:30 P.M., respectively.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Republican Candidates File For Reelection
Many Republican candidates took the opportunity on Saturday morning, November 13th, to file for reelection for their various posts in the Hopkins County government. The Republicans signed up for the March 1st, 2022 primary to seek to be the candidate in the May 7th general election. The deadline for any challengers to sign up is December 13, 2021. Republican challengers will need to call Donnie Wisenbaker to sign up at (903)485-3080. Those signing up for reelection were: (l-r) Danny Davis-County Treasurer, Cheryl Fulcher-District Clerk, JP #2 Brad Cummings, Tracy Smith-County Clerk, JP #1 B.J. Teer, County Judge-Robert Newsom, Precinct 2 Commissioner, Greg Anglin, Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price, and Clay Harrison-County Court at Law.
Smith Officially Appointed To Serve As City Attorney
City Manager Authorized To Negotiate Engineering Contract For Sulphur Springs Water Treatment Plant Improvements
As anticipated, local attorney Nate Smith was officially appointed to serve as Sulphur Springs City Attorney. Sulphur Springs City Council during the regular November meeting voted unanimously for Smith to fill the opening beginning Dec. 8, 2021, approved a resolution to attain an engineering firm for improvements at the City Water Treatment Plant.
Smith will fill an opening created by the upcoming retirement of long-time City Attorney Jim McLeroy at the end of December. During the July 6, 2021 meeting, Marc Maxwell told the City Council he anticipated coming to them later this year to officially recommend that Smith be appointed to serve as the city’s lawyer, that occurred at the Nov. 2, 2021 council meeting.
Philip Nathan “Nate” Smith Jr. has been working with McLeroy some since then to learn the job and make the anticipated change.
Maxwell in July said that Smith knows the city’s issues, knowledge that goes beyond just the law but the ins and outs of the city, including personnel. Maxwell noted that Nate Smith seems a “natural fit” and has already been taking some of the responsibility from McLeroy.
Smith is an attorney at Smith & Smith Law Firm in Sulphur Springs, specializing in civil law including the areas of consumer and family litigation, commercial litigation, personal injury, and wills, trusts and probate. He has been with the family practice for 10 years, starting as a paralegal. The Winnsboro High School graduate went to Texas A&M School of Law, where he graduated in 2013 with a doctor of jurisprudence. He said his time at Smith & Smith Law Firm, which has five attorneys and 15 employees, and working with has helped prepare him to become city attorney.
Smith is married. He and his wife have two children. Upon officially being voted city attorney by the City Council, Smith said he is honored to serve among people of such quality of excellence. He is excited to work among the people involved in leadership in this city. He said he is very excited for this opportunity and thankful to those who recommended and appointed him to become the Sulphur Springs City Attorney.
Longtime City Attorney Jim McLeroy plans to remain with the City of Sulphur Springs as assistant city attorney until Dec. 31, 2021, to offer guidance to Smith and make the transition go as smooth as possible. McLeroy said is thankful to have been involved in the process of recommending such a sharp attorney to serve as is replacement. He expressed confidence in leaving it with someone very capable for the future.
Engineering Services
In other businesses at the Nov. 2, 2021 City Council meeting, Assistant City Attorney/Finance Director Lesa Smith said the City of Sulphur Springs has received half of the $4,022,000 in American Rescue Plan Act Funds the city has been allotted, and anticipates receiving the rest of it either in spring or summer 2022. A portion of the ARPA funds have been designated by the city for costly improvements at the city’s Water Treatment Pant.
The city sought references for qualifications for engineering services for the improvements, and received three responses. A committee composed of the mayor, city manager, city development director and utilities director graded the submissions based on established criteria. Garver received the highest rating and KSA the next best rating. She recommended the council authorize City Manager Marc Maxwell to negotiate a contract with Garver for engineering services, and if that that for some reason isn’t successful, then authorize him to negotiate with KSA.
Maxwell pointed out that Garver Engineering is the firm that designed the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade.
The City Council gave full approval to Resolution No. 1266, authorizing the city manager to negotiate with Garver Engineering, with KSA as an alternate if the contract negotiation with Garver isn’t successful.
Other Business
Community Players Vice President of Membership Jeannie Perkins expressed appreciation to the City Council and manager for the necessary reconstruction of the walls at Main Street Theatre and invited them and community members who are interested to become involved in Community Players, attending meetings and as a dues paying member voting on items related to the theatre and upcoming productions. The theater troupe used the opportunity granted them to raise funds for lobby and interior renovations by selling drinks at the Stew Contest this year. They are hosting a fire pit raffle, held a yard sale, and thanks to supportive community businesses, agencies and individuals have been able to use and perform at alternate venues while the building is being repaired.
With exterior work progressing well, organization President Lyndie Mansfield has set Jan. 14-15, 2022 dates for the theatre’s grand reopening, which will so far include a performance from The Heroes, a Commerce duo of Brad Davis and Joel Weaver both nights.
Also during the Nov. 2, 2021, City Council meeting Mayor John Sellers welcomed the the Chamber Adult Leadership Class was in attendance, packing the Council Chambers, learning more about city government. As a graduate of the program, Sellers asked the group to remain after the meeting for a group picture with the city council to chronicle the occasion.
Friday Game Day Has Lady Cats Basketball at Mesquite Horn
The Lady Cats basketball team are the lone squad in action on this Friday game day.
Coach Erica Delley’s women’s basketball team will be in the DFW metroplex taking on Mesquite Horn for their third game of the regular season.
While the Lady Cats have fought hard and never quit, Sulphur Springs is still looking for their first win on the winter 2021-22 season.
Coach Delley’s squad lost their season-opener last Friday at home to Prestonwood, then travelled out to Tyler Legacy on Tuesday and dropped their contest to the Lady Raiders 63-15 to fall to 0-2 to start the year.
They can put those losses behind them if they can rebound by getting the win versus the Lady Jags later today.
Mesquite Horn enters Friday’s contest 1-1 after getting the win against Plano West in their season-opener a week ago before falling in a close one to a top-ranked 6A Cedar Hill squad Tuesday.
Both teams will be hungry to get the win on Friday when Coach Delley’s Lady Cats travel to the DFW metroplex to take on Mesquite Horn.
That game is set to tip-off at 5:30 P.M. with varsity only taking on the Lady Jags.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats Basketball Team Wins Second Scrimmage in Greenville
The Wildcats basketball team made the short trip out to Greenville on Thursday, Nov. 11 for their second and final scrimmage of the winter 2021-22 season.
Coach Brandon Shaver’s squad beat the Lions in both halves, 34-18 and 21-16.
Sulphur Springs led after one 21-14, but the Wildcats ran away with the first half 34-18 thanks to Kordrick Turner’s 10 points through two quarters. Turner would finish the game with 13.
When the second half began in Greenville, both scores went back to zero and a different rotation for Coach Shaver’s team fell behind 11-9 after the third quarter.
Once the starting five of DBU signee Justin Haire, PG Caleb Alexander, Cason Arrington and Branson Lynn came back out Sulphur Springs took control of the scrimmage and won 21-16 in the second half.
Kordrick Turner led the Wildcats in scoring with 13 in the scrimmage victory. Alexander racked up eight in the first half, Arrington got seven through two quarters and Haire finished with six points.
Next up, Coach Shaver and his men’s basketball team will travel out to Tyler on Saturday for their first regular-season contest.
Coach Shaver and his Wildcats will be all too ready for their road-opener when they take on a tough 6A team in the Tyler Legacy Raiders at 3 P.M.
Freshmen and junior varsity will precede the varsity contest at 1 P.M. and 1:30 P.M., respectively.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
2021 Veterans Day Oberservance Downtown
Hopkins County Marine Corps League along with the Military Coaltion and veterans took part in a Veterans Day service Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, on the downtown plaza.
History of Veterans Day
Veterans Day commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at 11 a.m., the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m. The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926. The Senate called on the President of the United States to issue a proclamation calling on the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
An act approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be celebrated and known as “Armistice Day,” a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I.
In 1954, after American forces fought in World War II and in Korea, veterans service organizations urged congrest to amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” ith the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. On October 8, 1854, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation” designating the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee to coordinate national planning for the observance. The proclamation also called for heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive Branch of the Government to assist the National Committee.
The Uniform Holiday Bill signed on June 28, 1968, to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees provided four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971, and disapproval from many.
On September 20, 1975, supported by an overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 returning the annual Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978.
Veterans Day continues to be observed on Nov. 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls, preserving not only the historical significance of the date and focusing attention on the purpose of Veterans Day: a celebration honoring America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Sulphur Springs Observance
The Nov. 11, 2021, Veterans Day observance in downtown Sulphur Springs began with an invocation. County Judge Robert Newsom offered a prayer for those who serve America, and gratitude for the blessings enjoyed in the city, county and across the country.
HCMCL Judge Advocate Bob Kerr welcomed all to the observance and introduced Capt. E. Ridley Briggs, who recounted a soldier killed in service, and described the impact of seeing a flag folded into a precise triangle and presented to his mother, who kept it in a prominent place in her home. Briggs said while he can’t say exactly what the soldier’s thoughts were regarding that flag, OId Glory is special to him.
He takes the Pledge of Allegiance to the USA flag very seriously. He explained, breaking down each part, what the Pledge of Allegiance means to him him. It’s is a sacred vow taken, a promise to love and legal duty to serve the flag and all she represents. He said he loves the flag, which stands for freedom around the world and appreciation for those who died to keep her flying in wars around the world and those united with a common goal to serve, fight and defend her and this nation to the death. As a republic power flows from the people to the individuals elected to serve, not from the elected to the people. As a nation, we stand united together for liberty and justice for all people.
Briggs then lead the veterans and community members gathered around the flag in the town square in the Pledge of Allegiance to the USA flag.
Hopkins County Military Coalition performed a 3-round volley in honor of deceased veterans. The US and service flags were lowered and Taps played as well.
Melissa Harris and Sarge were introduced as honorary members of HCMCL. They attend occassions such as the Veterans Day service held in memory of those lost while serving, as appropriate. The riderless horse contains a pair of boots turned backwards, symbolizing those lost while serving. The boots placed backward in Sarge’s stirrups represent one last look at family and troops a service member lost in battle is leaving behind.
Harris said she hopes that when someone sees Sarge with empty saddle and backward boots they’ll remember someone’s loved one is never coming home from battle.
Kerr closed the service by reading the 2021 Presidential Proclamation declaring November as National Veterans and Military Families Month.
Wildcats Basketball in Greenville Thursday For Final Tune-Up Before Regular Season
Coach Brandon Shaver’s Wildcats basketball team will be out in Greenville tonight on this Thursday game day.
The men’s basketball team’s Thursday contest with the Lions is the second and final scrimmage before the winter 2021-22 regular season begins.
Justin Haire on Wednesday, Nov. 10 signed his letter of intent in the SSHS Main Gym to play college basketball at Dallas Baptist University.
He was joined by a good number of his fellow student body, as well as his family, team, and coaching staffs; past and present.
The regular season begins for DBU signee Justin Haire and Sulphur Springs on Saturday when they travel to Tyler to take on the Raiders.
Coach Shaver and his Wildcats will be all too ready for their road-opener when they take on a tough 6A team in the Tyler Legacy Raiders at 3 P.M.
Freshmen and junior varsity will precede the varsity contest at 1 P.M. and 1:30 P.M., respectively.
But before the men’s basketball team can shift their focus to their regular-season opener they must first get through the Greenville Lions today.
JV will get the action going tonight in Greenville at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity at 6:15 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Receives National Distinction
Sulphur Springs, Texas, Nov. 11, 2021 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs received an “A”grade in the Fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ achievements protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has also achieved “Straight As” in the fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, the nation’s most prestigious honor for patient safety. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns an “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” or “F” grade to all general hospitals across the country and is updated every six months. It is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospitals’ prevention of medical errors and other harms to patients in their care.
“I know I speak for everyone at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs when I say just how proud we are to receive yet another ‘A’ rating in patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, this time for the fall 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade,” said Paul Harvey, President/CEO, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. “It means so much to everyone here working hard, but it means even more to the patients we treat. This is the fifth consecutive ‘A’ rating this team has earned, which is a testament to their continued dedication to excellence and to the safety of every patient who depends on us for their care!”
“An ‘A’ safety grade is an elite designation that your community should be proud of,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “The past year has been extraordinarily difficult for hospitals, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs shows us it is possible to keep a laser focus on patients and their safety, no matter what it takes.”
Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,700 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade’s methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs was awarded an “A” grade when Leapfrog updated grades for fall 2021. To see CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care.
The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information, they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade,
Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
About CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs; the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler; CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital, a partner of Encompass Health; Tyler ContinueCARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility; and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic.
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic, headquartered in Tyler, Texas, is the region’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers representing 45 specialties, in 113 locations serving Northeast Texas and Louisiana. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 457 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler ContinueCARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Justin Haire Signs Letter of Intent with Dallas Baptist University Patriots
Wildcats senior basketball players Justin Haire, a four-year member of the Wildcats varsity basketball team, signed a letter of intent Wednesday, Nov. 10 to play basketball at the next level at Dallas Baptist University.
Haire is the son of Jason and Traci Haire.
Haire said he met the coaching staff of the Patriots a few years ago when DBU recruited former Wildcat and current sophomore at the university Cameron Kahn. The senior said he had a chance to talk with him in an unofficial visit late this summer. He was invited for a visit, was given a campus tour, got a chance to meet the team and even played a few hoops with them.
The senior said it just felt like a good fit for him. He said the basketball coach seemed amazed at Haire’s driving ability and working the low-post game.
Haire said it is one of the strengths of his game.
He said DBU is in a pretty part of the metroplex. The campus is about an hour and a half drive from Sulphur Springs.
The senior said DBU has a good basketball program.
Haire said they can run through the bigs or through the guards. He said Dallas Baptist is all about good, team basketball. He said it reminded him of Sulphur Springs.
The senior said getting a university basketball offer is a dream come true. Haire plans to get a degree in business.
Haire’s Wildcats Coach Brandon Shaver said he has seen incredible growth in the short time has worked with the senior, adding he has put in the work and is an exemplary student on and off the court.
The men’s basketball coach said Haire did a good solid job reaching his decision.
Coach Shaver said Haire was a great kid and a great student.
Former men’s basketball coach Clark Cipoletta made the trip back out to Sulphur Springs to see his former player sign his letter of intent and echoed a lot of the statements Coach Shaver made; it was a blessing to coach him and he is exactly what it means to be an athlete and student for Sulphur Springs.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
2 Critical Care Paramedics, Flight Medics Receive Lifesaver Award From Parkland
Two critical care paramedics received an award Wednesday from Parkland Health and Hospital system for their work, which not only saved a life but also saved the patient’s limb as well.
Dudley Wilcoxson, trauma EMS liaison for Parkland Health & Hospital System, Nov. 10, presented Hopkins County EMS critical care paramedics Corey Coker and Chris Johnson with “EMS Lifesaver Recogntion” for their work Aug. 29, 2021, in Hopkins County. The CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Francis Health System Flight for Life #2 team of RN Kevin Hanley and RN Paul Putnam, as well as the pilot out of Mount Pleasant also were presented with the recognition Wednesday morning.
“Today’s about recognizing EMS. I think we’re in the service that doesn’t get thanked enought,” said Wilcoxson, who had already made the trip to Mount Pleasant to recognize the flight medics for their role in the patient care. “Your EMS crews are being recognized by Parkland’s Rees-Jones Trauma Center for outstanding lifesaving trauma care of a patient transported to Parkland. Due to quick EMS intervention on a deteriorating patient, a bad outcome was prevented. This patient had a great outcome and was discharged home in stable condition,” Wilcoxson said.
The Parkland liaison said not only are the paramedics capable in the field, but their use of a special tourniquet save the person’s limb.
“Te intervention they did with the tourniquet saved this person’s limb. That’s beyond – really extraordinary service. I just wanted to come out and recognize you for that,” Wilcoxson said.
Coker and Johnson also reportedly notified the incoming crew they would be turning over patient care to that the person would require blood, which the flight medics in turn were able to give on the flight to Parkland. Because of the “exceptional job” performed in the field and flight paramedics, the outcome of the patient changed for the better.
“I think the community needs to know what type of service they have here. They should be really thankful they have such good service here. I’ve always heard good things about Hopkins County. When I was a different EMS provider, I’ve always heard great things. Talking to the flight crew this morning, they said the crew did an exceptional job. It was about their first intervention,” Wilcoxson said.
Hopkins County EMS paramedics during the presentation offered additional credit to a local police officer, who attempted to use a belt to help slow the blood flow until they arrived.
