2021 IJSBA World Finals -Rider Spotlight for Local Rider Andrew Vo
This marks an inaugural year for Andrew Vo, your local Sulphur Springs 12-year-old Junior Jetski racer. Andrew was able to travel to Lake Havasu City, Arizona for 10 days to participated at the IJSBA Jet Ski World Finals – where the best of the best Jetski racers from all over the world battle it out for the coveted world title. This momentous event has been held in Lake Havasu for past 40 years.
This season was Andrew’s first year racing jet skis in the Jettribe Texas series where he respectfully earned a solid first place leader in overall points in the Texas/ Mid-West region. Coming into the World Finals, while facing many riders with higher levels of competition and experience, our expectations were set low.
But with all the emotional ups and downs, Andrew was able to earn a third place spot on the podium for the Junior 10-12 Year-Olds, 4-Stroke Lites class, behind his team mate and friend Tristan Heibert.
Many thanks to Andrew’s teachers at SSMS for their support by allowing Andrew to do his school work on the road. Plus, we could never do all this without Team Nauti Water racing, for adopting Andrew into their team. Their help extended to the aspects of racing including mechanic, tech inspection, launching and retrieving skis from the water, and track practices.
Our gratitude extends to Justin and Hendrix Smith for believing in Andrew, from their encouragements to even driving Andrew’s race ski from Texas to Lake Havasu, Arizona. And last of all, we are thankful to Brian Snyder for standing by Andrew all week from fueling, race practices, race schedules to holding Andrew’s ski at the starting line. All of this would not have happened without the kind heart of Larry Spector, who mentored Andrew throughout the race season!
It is priceless how Andrew has matured this season, with all of racing’s ups and downs. He learned to face defeats, as well as celebrate success with humility. The friendships we have made this year are what really matter the most. We look forward to 2022 race season in Texas, Kansas, Tennessee, and planning is underway to race in California and Poland.
FDA Takes Additional Actions On Use Of A Booster Dose For COVID-19 Vaccines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Wednesday, Oct. 20, took action to expand the use of a booster dose for COVID-19 vaccines in eligible populations. The agency is amending the emergency use authorizations (EUA) for COVID-19 vaccines to allow for the use of a single booster dose as follows:
- The use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine that may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals:
- 65 years of age and older
- 18 through 64 years of age at high risk of severe COVID-19
- 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure toSARS-CoV-2
- The use of a single booster dose of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 2 months after completion of the single-dose primary regimen to individuals 18 years of age and older.
- The use of each of the available COVID-19 vaccines as a heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose in eligible individuals following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine.
- To clarify that a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series to individuals 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
“Today’s actions demonstrate our commitment to public health in proactively fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “As the pandemic continues to impact the country, science has shown that vaccination continues to be the safest and most effective way to prevent COVID-19, including the most serious consequences of the disease, such as hospitalization and death. The available data suggest waning immunity in some populations who are fully vaccinated. The availability of these authorized boosters is important for continued protection against COVID-19 disease.”
“The amendments to the emergency use authorizations to include a single booster dose in eligible populations are based on the available data and information and follows the input from the members of our advisory committee who were supportive of the use of a booster dose of these vaccines in eligible populations,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “We are also taking action today to include the use of mix and match boosters to address this public health need. We will work to accrue additional data as quickly as possible to further assess the benefits and risks of the use of booster doses in additional populations and plan to update the healthcare community and public with our determination in the coming weeks.”
Authorization of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose
To support the authorization for emergency use of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, the FDA analyzed immune response data from 149 participants 18 years of age and older from the original clinical studies who received a booster dose at least 6 months after their second dose and compared it to the immune responses of 1,055 study participants after completing their two-dose series. The antibody response of the 149 participants against SARS-CoV-2 virus 29 days after a booster dose of the vaccine demonstrated a booster response.
The FDA also evaluated an additional analysis from Moderna comparing the rates of COVID-19 accrued during the Delta variant surge during July and August 2021, which suggest that there is a waning of vaccine effectiveness over time.
Safety was evaluated in 171 participants 18 years of age and older who were followed for an average of approximately six months. The most commonly reported side effects by the clinical trial participants who received the booster dose of the vaccine were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, chills, swollen lymph nodes in same arm as the injection, nausea and vomiting, and fever. Of note, swollen lymph nodes in the underarm were observed more frequently following the booster dose than after the primary two-dose series.
Ongoing analyses from the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) safety surveillance systems have identified increased risks of inflammatory heart conditions, myocarditis and pericarditis, following vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, particularly following the second dose. Typically, onset of symptoms has been a few days following vaccination. The observed risk is higher among males under 40 years of age, particularly males 18 through 24, than among females and older males.
The Moderna COVID-19 single booster dose is half of the dose that is administered for a primary series dose and is administered at least six months after completion of a primary series of the vaccine.
Authorization of Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose
The authorization for emergency use of a single booster dose of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine is based on the FDA’s evaluation of immune response data in 39 participants from a clinical trial including 24 participants who were 18 through 55 years of age and 15 participants who were 65 years of age and older. The study participants received a booster dose approximately 2 months after their first dose, and the results demonstrated a booster response.
Overall, approximately 9,000 clinical trial participants have received two doses of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine administered at least two months apart and of these, approximately 2,700 have had at least two months of safety follow-up after the booster dose. Janssen’s safety analyses from these studies have not identified new safety concerns.
Earlier analyses from the FDA and CDC safety surveillance systems suggest an increased risk of a serious and rare type of blood clot in combination with low blood platelets following administration of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. This serious condition is called thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). People who developed TTS after receiving the vaccine had symptoms that began about one to two weeks after vaccination. Reporting of TTS has been highest in females ages 18 through 49 years. In addition, safety surveillance suggests an increased risk of a specific serious neurological disorder called Guillain Barré syndrome, within 42 days following receipt of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.
Authorization of “Mix and Match” Booster Dose
Today, the FDA is also authorizing the use of heterologous (or “mix and match”) booster dose for currently available (i.e., FDA-authorized or approved) COVID-19 vaccines. Following a presentation of clinical trial data from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee’s discussion of information submitted for consideration, along with the agency’s evaluation of the available data, the FDA has determined that the known and potential benefits of the use of a single heterologous booster dose outweigh the known and potential risks of their use in eligible populations.
A single booster dose of any of the available COVID-19 vaccines may be administered as a heterologous booster dose following completion of primary vaccination with a different available COVID-19 vaccine. The eligible population(s) and dosing interval for a heterologous booster dose are the same as those authorized for a booster dose of the vaccine used for primary vaccination.
For example, Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine recipients 18 years of age and older may receive a single booster dose of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (half dose) or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine at least two months after receiving their Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine primary vaccination.
In another example, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine recipients falling into one of the authorized categories for boosters (65 years of age and older, 18 through 64 years of age at high-risk of severe COVID-19, and 18 through 64 years of age with frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2) may receive a booster dose of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (half dose), Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine at least six months after completing their primary vaccination.
The agency recognizes that health care providers and COVID-19 vaccine recipients will have questions about booster doses. The individual fact sheets for each available vaccine provide relevant information for health care providers and the vaccine recipients. The agency encourages health care providers to also follow the recommendations that will be provided by the CDC following a meeting of their Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and formal recommendations signed by the CDC director.
Related Information:
TAMUC To Honor Veterans At 31st Annual Veterans Vigil
COMMERCE, Texas — Texas A&M University-Commerce will continue its storied tradition of honoring our nation’s veterans by hosting the 31st Annual Veterans Vigil. The event is scheduled for Nov. 12, and the theme is “The Forever Oath.”
Brigadier General Mike H. McClendon (Ret.) is this year’s guest speaker for the opening ceremony. McClendon is a 1975 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
He initially flew the A-7D fighter in Tactical Air Command and was part of the initial cadre to introduce the A-10 into the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. From the USAFE, McClendon attended the Air Force’s Experimental Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He was a chief A-10 test pilot and director of flight tests. He also served as the deputy program manager for the highly classified special program.
Later, he performed consecutive tours with the Air Force in research and development and senior leadership roles, including the F-22 System Program Office, Air Force Material Command Headquarters Directorate of Operations, Air Force Research Laboratory and the former AFC2ISR.
McClendon is a senior pilot with over 10,000 hours in more than 35 aircraft types, ranging from helicopters to fighters to transports. As a civilian, he is a captain for a major airline, flying internationally.
Some of his major awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with a bronze hourglass.
A&M-Commerce is proud to announce that scholarship winner Major Christopher Brecheisen (Ret.) will host this year’s Veterans Vigil. Colonel James Bass (Ret.) will serve as honorary flame lighter.
From Nov. 9 through 12, veterans will receive a 10% discount in the Sam Rayburn Student Center Bookstore on clothing, supplies or gifts with their military ID or veteran status proof. Veterans will also receive a free lunch courtesy of Sodexo on Nov. 11 with military ID or veteran status proof.
The Vigil will begin with a reception starting at 10 a.m. in the foyer outside Rayburn Student Center Conference Rooms. The opening ceremony will follow at 10:30 a.m. in the Conference Rooms.
Following the opening ceremony, a vigil flame will be lit. It will burn continuously until it is extinguished at the Closing Ceremonies held on the walking mall of the RSC at 4 p.m.
For more information on the Veterans Vigil or activities, view the website at tamuc.edu/Veterans-and-Military-Services or contact Dustin Pearson at [email protected] or 903.886.5123.
About Texas A&M University-Commerce
Texas A&M University-Commerce serves rural and metropolitan East Texas with a dedicated mission to Educate. Discover. Achieve. With an enrollment of 11,624 students, the university is the third-largest member of The Texas A&M University System. The 2,100-acre Commerce campus provides many opportunities for students to learn and grow. The university offers more than 130 degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. A vibrant student experience includes 14 NCAA Division II athletic teams, a thriving Greek system and more than 120 student-led organizations. Classes are delivered on-site in Commerce, Corsicana, Dallas, McKinney, Frisco and Mesquite. In November 2021, the university will open A&M-Commerce at Dallas, located at 8750 North Central Expressway.
Man Who Escaped From District Courtroom Wednesday Still Wore Handcuffs When Located
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office launched a search Wednesday morning for a 53-year-old Sulphur Springs man who managed to escape from the district court room after being placed into custody; the Sulphur Springs man still wore handcuffs when located shortly after midnight, according to sheriff’s and arrest reports.
(HCSO jail photo)
HCSO Sgt. Tanner Steward, in arrest reports, reported being notified Oct. 20, that Daryl Christopher Simmons, a man scheduled during the 9 a.m. court session in the 8th Judicial District Court for arraignment on manufacture or delivery and possession of Penalty Group 1 controlled substances in drug-free zones charges, had escaped from custody. At some point he was placed into handcuffs, but managed to escape from the courtroom, reportedly under the guise of using the restroom according to individuals said to have been in the district courtroom at the time.
At 10:27 a.m. Oct. 20, Lake Country Crime Stoppers issued a social media post with a prior jail photo of Simmons,and two images taken from area video of a white 2001 Mitsubishi car with body damage he was reportedly last seen driving in. He was reported at that time to have last been seen driving the car east on Jefferson Street. The social media post asked the community to assist law enforcement in their efforts to locate Simmons, by calling the sheriff’s office of Lake Country Crime Stoppers with any information regarding Simmon’s whereabouts.
The message was shared on the sheriff’s office’s social media page about 10 minutes later. During the day Wednesday, HCSO updated the post, noting that the “the suspect’s vehicle was located today near his residence. A search was conducted with TDCJ K9’s. The suspect was not located in the search. The investigation is ongoing.”
During his shift, Steward reported contacting Simmons by cell phone, and pretending to be an acquaintance of Simmons. The pair allegedly discussed narcotic-related information. During the conversation, Simmons reportedly told the officer he was at his rural residence.
Sgt. Steward and HCSO Deputies Zack Horne and Josh Davis went to the man’s residence late Wednesday night. The front door was breached so the officers could make entry into the CR 2310 residence. The sheriff’s officer reported seeing Simmons walk down the hallway of his residence; he still wore the handcuffs put on him in district court, the deputies alleged in arrest reports. Simmons was arrested around midnight on warrants revoking his bond on both controlled substance charges and booked into jail on just before 1 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, according to arrest and jail reports.
Simmons, who is also known to use the aliases Bryson Alphonso Hill, Charles Kartney James, Charles Karney James, Triple OG and Simmons Schristopher, remained in Hopkins County jail on both charges late Thursday morning, Oct. 21, 2021, according to jail reports.
The arrest marks the third time Simmons has been in Hopkins County jail in the past 7 months. He was also arrested and jailed for possession of less than 1 gram of the Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone March 24-30, 2021. Simmons was jailed June 11-15, 2021, on a warrant for manufacture or delivery of 1 gram ore more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to jail records.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
National Drug ‘Take Back’ Day Collection Will Be Saturday October 23 at 223 Rosemont St. Parking Lot
PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL DRUG TAKE BACK DAY SATURDAY OCT. 23, 2021
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Posse/ DEA
National Pharmaceutical Take Back
On October 23, 2021, from 10am-2pm, in conjunction with the DEA, The Hopkins
County Sheriff’s Posse will coordinate a collaborative effort with state and local
law enforcement agencies focused on removing potentially dangerous controlled
substances from our nation’s medicine cabinets. A national take-back day will
provide a unified opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or
unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law
enforcement officers for destruction. This one-day effort will bring national focus
to the issue of pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse.
*Liquids (including intravenous solutions), injectable items, and syringes will not
be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.
- DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at the collection
location provided lithium batteries are removed.
Collection Site
DISTRICT COURT PARKING LOT
282 Rosemont St.
Sulphur Springs, Tx.
District & Campus Improvement Plans, Policy Update, Personnel Recommendations Considered During Sulphur Springs SSISD Board Meeting
Fine Arts Letter Jacket Policy, Head Start Policies Discussed As Well
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees worked their way through their regular October agenda this week rather quickly. Approved were campus and district improvement plans, several Head Start documents, a policy update, and 10 personnel recommendations. During public forum, a parent and grandmother asked the school board to review policy requirements for students to letter and earn letter jackets to ensure fairness, consistency and effective communication of those specifications. Trustees also received an update on planned Red Ribbon Week activities on Sulphur Springs ISD campuses and Head Start training.
Personnel Changes
Following an executive session Monday night, SSISD Board of Trustees approved four resignations, five new hires and one campus swap.
Bruce Taylor resigned as a special education aide at Barbara Bush Primary, and Ramona (Leah) Gore was approved to join the Bush Primary faculty as a special education teacher.
Sulphur Springs High School lost three teachers, science teacher Steven Allemang, culinary arts teacher Lauren Arden and English teacher Jennifer White. Dana Strain will fill the English teacher opening at SSHS, and Linda Thompson was hired as a special education aide for the high school Connections program.
Bryan Guigere will continue to serve as a special education aide, but moves from the Sulphur Springs Middle School campus to Rowena Johnson Primary. Shelby Polk was approved to fill one special education aide opening at SSMS. Bowie Primary also has anew special education aide, Irene Bautista.
Head Start
Board members were provided with copies of the Head Start Director’s Report for August/September, Policy Council Minutes for September and Financial Report for September. The school board approved as submitted as part of the consent agenda Head Start Policy Council Bylaws, Organizational flow chart for Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center Head Start Program, Head Start Mission Statement and Philosophy and Head Start Personnel Policy Summary.
Head Start Director/Principal Angela Edwards provided required Head Start training for school board members via information from a PowerPoint presentation.
Edwards noted no major changes from last year, but did emphasize a few key points of the training. As the district’s governing body, the school board’s role in the Head Start program is overseeing legal and fiscal responsibility, safe guarding fiscal funding.
Also, Edward reminded that Head Start is different from pre-kindergarten, each have different eligibility. Many parents do not understand how students are chosen for Head Start, or why one student might be accepted into the program and another is not. There is a punishment if a district enters an ineligible student in Head Start ahead of an eligible student.
When applying for the Head Start program, data provided by parents is entered into the Head Start Child Plus database. A report prioritizing students by need is generated by Child Plus. Priority is given to the need of a student. AT least 90 percent of students must live in a home in which the household income is at or below the established poverty level, with the other 10 percent of enrolled Head Start students identified as special needs. The SSISD Head Start program enrollment is limited to 179 students, including 17 students identified as having special needs Ten percent may be from families whose income is over the poverty level. After Head Start slots are filled with all low-income eligible applicants, if there are any remaining slots, the district is allowed to fill some with students whose household income is above the low-income eligibility level, but no more than 10 percent. Thirty-five percent of enrolled students may be in the 130 percent household income category following the list from the Child Plus database, Edwards explained.
SSISD Board President Robert Cody commended Edwards and the Head Start staff for their work, which includes a tremendous amount of paperwork.
School board member Robbin Vaughn again volunteered to serve as the school board representative to the Head Start Policy Council for 2021-2022.
District/Campus Improvement Plans
SSISD State and Federal Programs Coordinator Jason Evans presented for board approval the district improvement plans. He noted that a needs assessment was conducted on each campus, then strategies identified for each campus and district to use to meet those goals.
The current plans were adapted to meet the mandate to document Title 1 funding and state Comp Ed funding. An audit was performed. The plans include the needs, funding and what it’s being used for.
Each campus plan has the same four common Goals, as does the district plan, Evans explained. Those goals include:
- Students will be encouraged and challenged to meet their fullest potential.
- Students will be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug-free and conducive to learning.
- Students will be taught by highly qualified and exceptionally trained staff
- SSISD will encourage parents, family and community engagement in school activities.
One example of the strategies in the plan is the addition of math interventionists, just as there are reading interventionists, to help improve third graders improve math scores on state tests. Federal Title 1 funds are being used to add interventionists at the primary campuses. This is listed in goal 1, Objective 2 – narrowing gaps, and also meets Strategy 4.
SSISD has had a Strategic Planning Committee for two years who’ve worked to identify needs, establish goals and strategies to meet them. This year, they came up with and added 5 goals to the district and campus improvement plans, identified as Strategic Plan Goals:
- Innovative learning opportunities that foster risk taking and student passing. (Object 7, Goal 1)
- Need for social and emotional learning, implementing plans for staff and students (Goal 2)
- Excellent facilities where students can pursue their passions and meet their needs (Goal 2)
- All leaders and learners will receive individualized training and continual support (Goal 3)
- Students will be provided with opportunities to pursue their passion and partnership with families and communities (Goal 4)
Those are six different goals and strategies that have been added to the district and campus plans. Evans said the process begins in the spring with the looking at data from STAAR tests, Reading A to Z program, common assessments; and usage reports detailing the number of times each campus logs in to specific software, how much it is used, how much it costs per login.
These things are plugged in to the goals, where they are discussed at the administrative level, with the curriculum team, at the campus level, the District Advisory Council meetings. In the spring, each of the groups look at offerings to determine whether various programs are still needed, any needs not listed in the plan that should be addressed.
Then, they begin identifying potential funding sources for the various needs, document those in the plan and write strategies for those needs. That’s all combined to form campus and district improvement plans, which are updated regularly, and presented at the appropriate time each year to the school board.
SSISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the district and campus improvement plans as presented by Evans at the Oct. 18, 2021 meeting.
Campus and district improvement plans can be viewed on the district website, www.ssisd.net, by selecting “About SSISD,” then clicking on SSISD District and Campus Improvement Plans.
Policy Update
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams then presented for board consideration Local Policy Manual Update EIF, which has to do with academic achievement and graduation. Notably, the policy change adds to foundation program plan a clause about extenuating circumstances clause. Students under the foundation program will still be required to complete 5 credits in addition to the number mandated by the state for graduation without an endorsement, as authorized by state laws and rules. The clause allows an exception to that if the superintendent determines there are extenuating circumstances. Students who have an endorsement are required to complete only 1 credit above credits mandated by the state.
Letter Jackets
Katie Martin and Kate Evans told the school board that their choir student had difficulty getting his letter jacket, despite placing and qualifying for state more than once. They reported Evans’ son was measured last year for a jacket, but when they were awarded this year, did not receive one. He was told by his instructor he did not qualify for one because he was not in the class this year.
He had planned to be in choir, but due to COVID, was told just before his senior year started that the counselors were unable to make his schedule work to include all of the required classes as well as choir this year. Both he and his brother have been in choir since 6th grade. He has had choir successes every year except his sophomore year, when all UIL and school related activities ceased when schools were ordered to close after spring break due to COVID-19.
Although through circumstances beyond his control, he was unable to fit choir into his schedule. Thus, he was told by his instructor without the class he is ineligible to receive the letter jacket. Evans and her mother, Mrs. Katie Martin, contend their student earned the letter and should receive the jacket. Requiring him to be in the class this year to reap the benefits of a prior term’s achievement is akin to having a worker return to work at a job this week in order to receive pay earned last week, Evans argued.
School policy regarding students eligibility to letter in a school activity is set by each department head. They were told the instructor gave their singer the current policy. However, Evans said, she never saw it, not even an email. Her child worked hard, going above and beyond the call for choir. They believe measuring him for the jacket, then denied it, and only telling him 6-8 weeks into the year that he wouldn’t be receiving one after all was not right. They appealed to school personnel, working their way up the chain to Principal Derek Driver, who after checking into the matter agreed the choir student probably should have gotten a jacket. Instead of putting the order in, the young choral musician’s mother and grandmother noted, their student was told to go order it and pick it up.
“It’s not the student’s job to order it. It’s the place of the coach, head of department, to order it and honor the student in front of peers. He was denied that. He was told two times he did not qualify, then when he did, he was told to go order it. He was fitted his junior year,” Martin said.
While their singer has ordered and is getting his letter jacket for choir, they would like to see change regarding requirements for lettering in an activity and earning a letter jacket. They would like to see qualifications printed and included in student handbooks, one a memo or poster and in school policy so no other student experiences the disheartening frustration their student experienced. They also asked for a uniform policy for lettering and earning patches for letter jackets. When implemented, the policy should remain the same from the time a student is a freshman through the end of senior year. If letter qualifications change, the change, they believe, should apply to entering freshmen, not seniors who’ve worked hard to meet previously set standards. They say their student worked hard his junior and sophomore years to go to region and state choir contests, and should receive the recognition for the successes that hard work achieved.
The comments were voiced during public forum at Monday evening’s regular school board meeting. SSISD Board of Trustees President Robert Cody thanked the women for providing “useful information” which will be taken under advisement. Cody said they can expect to hear back from school staff regarding the matter.
School administrators talked with the pair briefly after the school board meeting regarding the issue.
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams today told KSST that the district is looking into the issue to ensure the police sin place make sense and are proper for each activity. it is typical for the lead sponsor or coach to communicate to students their expectations as well as requirements for lettering in their activity, whether that’s FFA, football, volleyball, cheerleading, band, choir or something else. The district does not currently have ay set policy for earning a letter jacket as each activity is as unique as it’s schedule, level of difficulty and requirements. For instance, football and track are very different, not just in the way the activities are conducted and physical requirements and gear but also when each is held. Administrators have asked for department heads and coach to be contacted and surveyed regarding lettering in their area and are looking at it to see if the requirements make sense and are property.
Lady Cats Volleyball Drops Four Game Set in Edgewood
Coach Bailey Dorner’s program was able to jump out to a 1-0 set lead, but lost three straight sets to drop a four game match to Edgewood.
The Lady Cats volleyball team were originally set to have a bye on their schedule, but Coach Dorner added another game to the mix to make sure her team was prepared for the playoffs.
After set one it looked like a good decision, with Sulphur Springs taking a tight first set 25-22 to take the 1-0 lead over the Lady Bulldogs.
Set two proved to be Edgewood’s time, as they won the set 25-17 to tie it up and won two more sets, both with scores of 25-19 in favor of the Lady Bulldogs to win the match 3-1.
The loss dropped the Lady Cats season record to 20-15 overall (still 6-4 district).
Also, Longview’s five set loss to Marshall Tuesday officially eliminated the Lady Lobos, so Sulphur Springs is officially playoff bound.
Next up, Coach Dorner and her volleyball team will be back at home for their final home game of the regular season.
It should prove to be another good one as Sulphur Springs will host the Hallsville Lady Cats.
Hallsville comes in to the game with a 8-3 district record and in third place of District 15-5A.
If Sulphur Springs can topple Hallsville on Friday, senior night for the Lady Cats, and win next Tuesday in Longview, Coach Dorner’s program could slide in to third place for the playoffs.
But before they can look ahead to closing out their season they must first get through an always-tough Hallsville squad on senior night at the SSHS Main Gym.
Friday’s festivities will begin at 4:15 P.M. to honor seven seniors in the volleyball program and will follow with the varsity showdown at 4:30 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.
Wildcats Basketball 2021-22 Season Firmed Up
Wildcats football head coach and athletic director of SSISD Greg Owens released the Wildcats basketball schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 20.
It will be the first year under new head coach Brandon Shaver, who previously coached at Pine Tree.
The season gets underway in a few weeks on Saturday, Nov. 6 when they travel to the thick of the DFW metroplex to take on Irving MacAuthor.
The Wildcats basketball team has another scrimmage, in Greenville against the rival Lions on Thursday, Nov. 11. JV will start the action at 5 P.M. followed by the varsity teams at 6:15 P.M.
Regular season play for Coach Shaver and his program will commence when they go on the road for their third straight match when they travel to Tyler to take on Tyler Legacy starting with JV and freshmen squads, whose start times are 1 and 1:30 P.M., respectively.
The varsity team will compete at 3 P.M.
The first home game for the Wildcats is on Nov. 16 when they take on Paris in what will be Medical Personnel Appreciation night.
That game tips off with varsity only at 4:30 P.M.
From there the Wildcats will take on nine more opponents before their district opener before Christmas Break on Dec. 21 when they host Marshall.
That match will also be a toy drive before the holiday season gets underway.
After both taking part in the Allen tournament on Dec. 27-28, 2021, and once the new year is upon us, the Wildcats and Coach Shaver will make the trip to the coach’s previous gig, Pine Tree.
The return for the new Wildcats basketball coach to take on his former team in the Pirates will tip-off at 5 P.M. (Freshman), 5:30 P.M. (JV), and the varsity showdown will begin at 7 P.M.
To see the full schedule for the basketball team though, click here or here.
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 Middle School Football A and B Teams Stay Undefeated With Two Games Left
The Middle School Wildcat Football A and B team traveled to Pine Tree to face the Pirates and both teams came out victorious.
This makes six straight wins for the Wildcats Middle School Football teams with only two games left in the season. A and B teams are 6-0 for the season.
The eighth grade A Team won 35-26 versus the Pirates.
On both offensive and defensive lines Juan Reyes, Justin Strickland, Aiden Godbolt, Jeffery Stevenson, Dallin Horton, Lucas Shirley, Anthony Solis, Michael Walker, Trey Pennal, Vincient Johnson and Aiden Mcarroll, had a great game, executing the run block and passing blocking schemes on the offensive side, and did a great job of clogging up gaps in the defensive side.
Quarterback Gage Gideon also played well throwing for a 75-yard touchdown pass and 1 rushing Touchdown.
Wide receiver Jaxson Haire continues to have a great season, catching the 75-yard reception for a touchdown and 10-yard rushing Touchdown.
Running backs Alex King ran the ball hard all night, and rushed for 80 yards on the night, also adding 1 rushing Touchdown. Other RB Keyshaun John also played well and added 1 touchdown on the ground.
Coach Flores said the defense did a great job of flying around making plays and had huge defensive stops in the 4th quarter.
The B Team also won, beating Pine Tree 28-0.
In the trenches, Josh Dixon, TJ Abron, TJ Bolden, Jermiah Robinson, Bryson Reyes, Aiden Koon, Kendrick Harris, Marcos Ramirez, Blaine Allen, and Jacolby Arceneaux did a great job of blocking on the offense, and defensively did a great job of getting in the backfield of the Pirates offense to disrupt plays.
WR Za Godbolt had 1 touchdown reception and played well on defense at the Free Safety position. QB Deuce Timmons had a great game throwing for 1 touchdown pass and getting one on the ground as well.
RBs Cazden Holton and Chase Maynard both scored with rushing touchdowns, and ran the ball hard all game.
The middle school football coach said the defense did a great job of flying around making plays and swarming to the Football.
The Middle School Wildcats Football Teams will travel to Hallsville to Face the Bobcats on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
The action begins at 4:30 P.M. starting with the C team, followed by the B and A teams at 5:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. respectively.
Coach Flores said he would like to thank the parents and fans that came out and showed support Tuesday night.
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.
Week 3: Hopkins County United Way At 40 Percent Of Goal
Hopkins County United Way marked the half-way point in the United Way campaign, after three full weeks of the campaign approximately 40 percent of the $150,000 campaign goal had been collected.
Over the last week alone, HCUW campaign workers collected $27,786. When added to the 22 collected during the first two weeks of the campaign, that brings the total amount raised as of Oct. 19 to $60,554.15. That leaves three weeks to go in the 2021-22 campaign, which will benefit 18 local nonprofit organizations which provide services and enrichment programs that benefit all segments of the population.
HCUW President Mike Horne thanked the HCUW volunteers who attended Tuesday morning’s campaign report meeting, whether or not they had any new donations or updates to report.
Horne said in his experience last year as campaign chair, the more people who showed up at the meetings each week the more support he felt and more excited he and others present became for the campaign. He encourages all HCUW campaign workers and volunteers to attend the final three meetings if possible (Oct.26, Nov. 3 and Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. at Texas AgriLife Extension Office) to continue building support for this year’s HCUW Campaign Chair Kristy Moseley.
Moseley thanked all for their dedication to the campaign and encouraged those who still have packets out to return to the businesses and industries they approached about funding to try to collect donation packets so that next week’s report total can equal this week’s progress. The goal is to get all donations in by the Nov. 9 meeting if at all possible, so they can be counted toward the goal.
The campaign president also read a letter received from Rep. Bryan Slaton thanking and acknowledging HCUW for their efforts to help others.
As packets were turned in Tuesday, campaign workers noted which donors the donations came from. A representative from CHRISTUS Mother Frances-Sulphur Springs reported the the hospital is holding a pledge drive, offering a friendly Make A Change contest with the name of each person who pledges to HCUW by the end of the month to be placed into a raffle for a chance to win gift cards and donated prizes.
HCUW officer reported generous contributions from several faithful contributors to HCUW, as well as other new donors, whose contributions are all equally important as each helps HCUW grow the campaign fund closer to the goal to support the local agencies.
Sulphur Springs ISD Business Manager Sherry McGraw reported the school district’s campaign started a little bit later than some to allow a little time between the school’s annual Foundation fundraiser and the HCUW campaign.
Bill Owens at a previous meeting handed the campaign officials a check from Jay Hodge Chevrolet as a “down payment” on the amount the dealership hopes to raise this month through a giveback campaign being conducted this month. This week, he reported another $2,900 contribution from Jay Hodge Chevrolet; the dealership is contributing $100 to HCUW for every new car sold this month. So far, the business has contributed $5,500 to HCUW.
Some campaign workers turned in personal donations they were making or had received to HCUW.
HCUW Executive Secretary Susan Berning reported donation packets are still a lot of packets out, some at very large industries which have traditionally been generous supporters of United Way. Some are anticipated to come in later than the typical 6-week campaign scheduled. For example, Holt CAT’s annual campaign will be conducted through the corporation, which matches employee donations. Red River Credit Union will have their numbers in January. HCUW is still waiting to hear back about a Brookshire’s Grant the United Way officials have applied for.
Thanks was again expressed to all contributors and campaign workers, which often include representatives of some of the agencies which HCUW supports, including Teen Court and SAFE-T, as well as Larry Crowson and some of his staff for installing the campaign “thermometer” on the Sulphur Springs Fire Department Station 2 grounds to update the community weekly on the campaign’s progress.
Those who wish may make donations or learn more about Hopkins County United Way and the 2021-22 campaign via the organization’s website, https://hcuw.org, via PayPal or debit/credit card, or by clicking the Shop Now button on the Hopkins County United Way Facebook page. Donations may also be mailed from individual contributors to HCUW Campaign Headquarters, at PO Box 735, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483.
For more information about this week’s contributors, be sure to watch KSST’s YouTube videos of the campaign workers report meetings.
