Latest KSST News

Search Warrant Nets Suspected Meth, Firearm, Felony Arrest

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Search Warrant Nets Suspected Meth, Firearm, Felony Arrest

Execution of a search warrant at a Sulphur Springs residence netted suspected methamphetamine, a firearm and a felony arrest, according to sheriff’s reports.

Chase Craig Hudson

Deputies and investigators served the search warrant at the city address. While doing so, officers located Chase Craig Hudson in his bedroom. As the investigators approached from the hallway, Hudson allegedly ran into his bedroom and locked the door. When told to open the door, the 40-year-old Sulphur Springs man refused, so the door was breeched by the officers. Hudson was removed from the room by Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Todd Evans and Deputy Jason Lavender.

Investigators alleged finding a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and a firearm in Hudson’s bedroom. The suspected meth weighed 0.39 gram and field-tested positive as meth. Consequently, Hudson was placed under arrest for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, then transported to the county jail on the charge.

Hudson’s Hopkins County jail record shows he was booked in after being sentenced to a 2-year commitment for a 2006 impersonating a public servant conviction and a 20-year sentence for a 2014 injury to a child, elderly or disabled person conviction, violation of parole in 2020 and a Franklin County 2020 aggravated perjury charge. The felony convictions would prohibit the 40-year-old from having a firearm.

Authorities also reportedly seized several electronic items during their search of the home and investigation into potential online offenses.

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.

Chamber Connection – August 31, 2021: Registration Deadline For Stew Cooks Approaching

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Chamber Connection – August 31, 2021: Registration Deadline For Stew Cooks Approaching

By Butch Burney

The deadline is approaching for all stew cooks to get their registration forms in for the 52nd Annual World Championship Hopkins County Stew Contest, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 23, at Buford Park.

Come by the chamber office or send us an email and we will get the registration form to you or download one off our website, hopkinschamber.org. We are expecting a big turnout for this year’s event, so be sure and get your spot.

The deadline is also approaching for businesses that would like to sponsor some of the winning stew pots.

For this opportunity, call or email Butch Burney at [email protected].

Additionally, the Camber is still accepting vendors for the Stew Fest Market, which will be located on the south side of Buford Park during Friday night and Saturday Stew Contest activities. This is a great opportunity to sell goods or to promote your business to 7,000 people who attend the Stew Contest annually. Vendors may rent booth space to sell goods or distribute information about their business. Booths will be assigned on a first-paid basis. Access to electricity is not guaranteed. Generators are permitted. Vendors who are interested in purchasing booth space, call the Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515 email us at [email protected]

Register to Hear Hall and Slaton

The Texas State Legislature has been in the national news, and you will have a chance to get the inside scoop when State Sen. Bob Hall and State Rep. Bryan Slaton will be in town for a Lunch and Learn from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15. Registration forms are on our website, so sign up to learn how laws passed (and not passed) by the Texas Legislature will affect your business. Lunch will be provided at the Sulphur Springs Country Club. Tickets are $15 for Chamber members and $20 for nonmembers. Thanks for Atmos Energy and Oncor for sponsoring this important luncheon.

Neal McCoy Concert

A concert featuring country music artist Neal McCoy is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 10, to benefit the “Wall That Heals” that will be stopping in Sulphur Springs in November.

Concert tickets may be purchased at outhousetickets.com for $40-75. 

The Wall That Heals is a mobile replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. It will be making the only stop in Texas here the first week of November. Help defray the costs of bringing this tribute to Sulphur Springs and enjoy a great concert at the same time.

Go to Hopkins County Freedom Ball or Wall that Heals Sulphur Springs on Facebook for more information.

Postcards are in!

People ask about Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County postcards, and now the Chamber has them in. We have five different postcards featuring the landmarks and events of the county.

Come in, they are for purchase for $2 each.

Christmas Ornaments

Our annual Christmas ornaments are for sale for $40 at the Chamber office. They feature the City Hall at Christmastime, and are the fourth in our series of ornaments featuring county scenes.

Ribeye Roundup

The Ribeye Roundup, kids zone and evening concert are coming to Celebration Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 2. You can purchase tickets at Texas Heritage National Bank.

You can also buy t-shirts to promote the event for $12 at the Chamber office, 110 Main St. Come by and pick up your shirt today.

Arts and Crafts Show

The 2021 Hopkins County Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show will take place in the Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria and north entry way on Friday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 23.  This event is open to anyone with hand-made, hand-crafted items to sell.  Unique items, including handmade soaps and lotions, greeting cards, Christmas and seasonal decorations, jewelry, wood carvings, and much more will be available for purchase. Contact Johanna Hicks at 903-885-3443 for more information..

Business Highlight

The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a member of the Chamber each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for Sept. 1, Buff City Soaps. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.

Ribbon Cutting

Merle Norman, 212 North Davis St., hosted a ribbon cutting on Friday to introduce patrons to not only their beauty products but their boutique as well.

Merle Norman Ribbon Cutting

2 Arrested On Felony Warrants

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2 Arrested On Felony Warrants

At least two people were served and arrested on felony warrants, according to arrest reports.

Jesus Escobedo-Fernandez Jr.

Sulphur Springs Police Special Crimes Unit Lt. Mark Estes and Sgt. Joe Scott served Jesus “Chewy” Manuel Escobedo-Fernandez Jr. at 4:05 p.m. Aug. 30, 2021, with a warrant for manufacture or delivery of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone. The officers reportedly, while investigating the man, used a confidential informant to purchase a quantity of methamphetamine weighing more than 1 gram. This led to the warrant and arrest of the 24-year-old Sulphur Springs man. He was released from jail on Aug. 31, 2021, on a $25,000 bond.

Bret Kevin Albrecht

SSPD Sgt. Brandon Mayes and Office Dustin Green took Bret Kevin Albrecht into custody at 12:15 p.m. Aug. 30 at the hospital emergency room on a warrant for violation of parole. Officers learned he was at the ER, took him into custody when he was released and took him to jail.

KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.

If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.

The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.

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.

3 Local Schools Closed Until Sept. 7 Due to COVID, Illnesses

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3 Local Schools Closed Until Sept. 7 Due to COVID, Illnesses

At least 3 local school districts that serve Hopkins County students are closed for at least a week due to COVID-19 cases and related absences.

North Hopkins ISD

North Hopkins ISD officials were the first Hopkins County school to make the decision this week to close. District officials posted a notice at 5:31 p.m. Aug. 30 that the campus would be closed due to COVID-19.

“Due to an increase in Covid related absences and infection levels and symptoms, North Hopkins ISD is cancelling all classes and extra-curricular activities for the remainder of this week to allow for deep cleaning of facilities and everyone a chance to separate and recuperate. Classes will resume on Tuesday, September 7, 2021,” the notice from the school stated.

NHISD officials ask families to report any new COVID concerns to the school nurse by email at [email protected] or by phone at 903-945-2192, ext. 8014.

Cumby ISD

Cumby ISD Superintendent Shelly Slaughter distributed a letter at 1 p.m. to families and scheduled an “all-call” notification Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 31, notifying them that the district will be closed starting Wednesday, Sept. 1 due to illness and COVID case. All classes and extracurricular activities are suspended until Tuesday, Sept. 7, with the next week’s activities pending until further notice.

CISD too will spend the time to clean all facilities. CISD also asks that families social distance their children from group situations, wear masks as a precaution and continue good handwashing and health and safety protocols while away from school.

Anyone who has COVID symptoms is asked to be tested and not to return to school after it resumes until either they receive a negative test result or have gone to the doctor and received a different diagnosis.

Rapid COVID testing at the school is currently suspended. Testing will resume on Sept. 7 on an as needed basis. Parents are asked to please return their students’ form either giving or denying consent for the test so the school can respond accordingly for their students. This is required to be on file regardless of the parents’ preference. Any Cumby student who does not have a form on file by Sept. 7, will be required to quarantine if they are flagged as having a high risk exposure.

While not currently mandated, Cumby ISD is also asking and highly encouraging everyone to wear masks when indoors and around crowds upon return to campus on Sept. 7, 2021. Screening will resume each morning and visitors to campus will be limited.

Yantis ISD

Yantis ISD posted a notice just after 4:15 p.m. Aug. 31, 2021, notifying parents that the district will be closing and suspending all extracurricular activities until Sept. 7, citing an increase in COVID cases and other illnesses. The district will use the time to thoroughly clean all facilities. Families are asked to social distance their children from others and and “out of group situations” and to be mindful of safety protocols in the mean time to better reduce potential spread of illness.

Superintendent Tracey Helfferich asks families to contact hte school nurse at 903-383-2462, ext. 111, or [email protected] if they have a student who tests COVID positive.

Several others school districts’ activities are being impacted as other schools are closing or having to miss games due to COVID and other illnesses.

Sheriff’s Officers Still Investigating Reports Involving Similar Type Of Vehicle

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Sheriff’s Officers Still Investigating Reports Involving Similar Type Of Vehicle

Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating reports of possible crime involving similar vehicles. The reports were made Monday afternoon and Tuesday, including one alleged child abduction, and two reports of suspicious activity.

Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office at 4:20 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, received a report of an attempted abduction of a juvenile on County Road 4586 in the North Hopkins area. The child was reportedly able to reach safety. The suspect vehicle was described as a black two door passenger car, possibly a Honda Civic. The suspect was described as a white male estimated to be in his 30s or 40s, with what appeared to be a shaved-bald head, seen on Monday wearing a blue short sleeve shirt and blue jeans.

Deputies actively searched the area Monday and continued to check on Tuesday. Other law enforcement agencies were also notified and asked to check their records for similar incidents, according to HCSO investigator.

Anyone who has property in the area of CR 4586 with video cameras is asked to please check to see if they have video with a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle. If so, they are asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 903-438-4040 to share the video with HCSO officers.

A suspicious vehicle was reported just before 9 p.m. Aug. 30 on FM 71 east in the North Hopkins area; a male in a similar style vehicle, described as possibly being a 2-door dark gray Honda or Nissan, was reportedly asking people for gas for the vehicle.

Because an Amber Alert was also issued by Cherokee County Monday night for two children reported to be missing, who were thought to be in a vehicle with a similar description as the one said to have been involved in the reported child abduction attempt in North Hopkins, HCSO did check into the matter to see if the instances were connected. The car in that case was reported to be a Honda Civic, and the suspect a white male.

That Amber Alert was canceled Tuesday afternoon, with the location of the missing Cherokee County children.

“Our situation appears to be unrelated but we are not ruling anything out based on the limited information we have. Our hope is that someone saw our suspect’s vehicle in the area or knows the suspect from our incident based on the information released,” sheriff’s investigators reported.

Tuesday morning, Saltillo ISD posted a notice on social media to families, notifying them of a suspicious person report. A male reportedly parked a black Honda Civic around 7 a.m. Aug. 30 on FM 900 at U.S. 67 near Saltillo ISD. The car was reported to be missing one headlight, have damage on the back bumper, to have paper tags and a faded front bumper.

While it appears all of the reports are unrelated, HCSO deputies and investigators are looking into these claims.

Hopkins County Sheriff
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle

Wildcats Basketball 2021-2022 Season Schedule Finalized

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Wildcats Basketball 2021-2022 Season Schedule Finalized
Wildcat Basketball

On Tuesday, Aug. 31, Wildcats football head coach and Athletic Director of SSISD Greg Owens released the Wildcats basketball 2021-22 season schedule.

New Wildcats basketball coach Brandon Shaver and his squad will no doubt be ready to get their season underway when they take part in their first scrimmage of the season on Nov. 6 when they travel to Irving to take on MacAuthor High School.

After taking on the Greenville Lions on Thursday, November 11 for the Wildcats’ second and final scrimmage of the 2021-22 season, Coach Shaver’s squad will be in Tyler taking on Tyler Legacy at 3 P.M.

The men’s basketball team after that will take on four teams before participating in the Mansfield Tournament held December 2-4, 2021.

Sulphur Springs Wildcats Basketball Semifinals dribble block
2018-19 Sulphur Springs Wildcats Basketball in the State Semifinals taking on SA Wagner

The following week, Coach Shaver’s team will take part in their second-to-last tournament of the year when they travel to Forney on Dec. 9-11.

The Wildcats’ first district match of the year will be on Dec. 21, just before Christmas break when they take on Marshall at 7 P.M.

Coach Shaver’s team will be reunited with former Wildcats basketball coach and new Allen HC Clark Cipoletta when they take part in Allen’s Invitational held Dec. 27-28.

Once that is over just before the new year, it will be all district foes all the time. The district schedule is:

  • Dec. 21 versus Marshall — 7 P.M.
  • Jan. 4 at Pine Tree — 7 P.M.
  • Jan. 7 — Bye
  • Jan. 11 versus Hallsville — 7 P.M.
  • Jan. 14 at Longview — 7 P.M.
  • Jan. 18 at Mt. Pleasant— 7 P.M.
  • Jan. 21 versus Texas High — 7 P.M.
  • Jan. 25 at Marshall — 7 P.M.
  • Jan. 28 versus Pine Tree — 7 P.M.
  • Feb. 1 — Bye
  • Feb. 4 at Hallsville — 7 P.M.
  • Feb. 8 versus Longview — 7 P.M.
  • Feb. 11 versus Mt. Pleasant — 7 P.M.
  • Feb. 15 at Texas High — 7 P.M.

All games in bold are home, and all times listed are varsity teams. For district foes that have freshman and JV teams, the freshman will play at 5 P.M. and the JV will follow at 5:30 P.M.

In addition, several appreciation nights and a toy drive will be held during these games:

  • Nov. 16 versus Paris is Medical Personnel Appreciation night
  • Dec. 21 versus Marshall (the first district match-up) will include a toy drive for fans to contribute and donate to
  • Jan. 11 versus Hallsville is teacher appreciation night
  • Jan. 21 versus Texas High is Junior Wildcats night
  • Jan. 28 versus Pine Tree will be a blue-out, inviting all fans attending the game that night to wear blue
  • Feb. 8 versus Longview is junior high night
  • And lastly Feb. 11 versus Mt. Pleasant is Senior night

For the full 2021-22 season schedule, click here.

Former Wildcats basketball coach Clark Cipoletta posing with the 2020-21 Wildcats basketball team. The former head coach will be reunited with his former student-athletes when Sulphur Springs participates in the Allen tournament on Dec. 27-28, 2021.

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.

Click here for more Wildcat and Lady Cat Sports

Fall Semester Opening at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Campus

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Fall Semester Opening at the Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Campus

CHECKING IN

PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Office Manager Dana Smock, center, checks Mario Veloz’ paperwork and directs he and student Andrea Munoz to their classes during opening day of fall semester at the campus. 

Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Dana with students 1st day fall semester opening at the PJC Sulphur Springs campus
Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Dana with students 1st day fall semester opening at the PJC Sulphur Springs campus

Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.

Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.

The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.

Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.

Vision

To be the educational provider of choice for the region.

Mission

Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.

SSISD Trustees Approve 6 Personnel Recommendations, 2 Firms To Assist With Facilities Planning

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SSISD Trustees Approve 6 Personnel Recommendations, 2 Firms To Assist With Facilities Planning

Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees at a special board meeting approved 6 personnel recommendation and hired two firms to assist with facilities planning.

Personnel Changes

The school board on Aug. 27, 2021, approved three new hires and for three staff members to swap job, all at two campuses, Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center and Sulphur Springs High School.

Aliah Johnson and Sheila Perry will essentially be swapping jobs at Douglass ECLC. Johnson will go from being a pre-kindergarten aide to being a Head Start aide at Douglass ECLC, while Perry switches from Head Start aide to pre-k aide at Douglass.

Wendy White will move from Douglass ECLC, where she teaches special education to SSHS, to teach Connections. Julia Shadix has been hired to teach special education at Douglas ECLC.

Also joining the special education staff at SSHS will be Kaitlyn Page as a special education aide and Jennifer Virgel as a special education teacher.

Facilities Study

“As you know we are entering into a phase of really studying our facilities. We’ve got people here today to talk about that thing,” Superintendent Mike Lamb said, referring to the long range planning visioning session planned with Dr. Lizzy Asbury, after the executive session during which the personnel matters were discussed.

(Asbury’s company, TRANSCEND4, helps Texas school districts keep projects on track by facilitating bond committees, special projects, and school board professional development to keep superintendents, school boards, and communities aligned, according to the business’ website)

Weston Emmert and Keith Anderson, principals with WRA Architects; Lizzy Asbury, Transcend4

One of the first steps: we have to pick our method. The methods vary from at-risk agent, design build – several different methods available. We’ve come to enjoy the benefits that come with construction manager agent. So I would ask you to deem that our method. Once we deem that our method, we can take a few other steps,” Lamb said, asking the board to approve construction manager agent as the district’s method for any potential future project that might result from the facilities study.

The board opted to utilize a construction manager agent. Lamb then asked the board to consider hiring Gallagher Construction Services to serve as the construction manager agent

“You are familiar with Gallagher who helped us with our stadium and a few other projects. We’d like to contract with their services to go through their process of once again looking at our facilities, deciding on a long-term plan for our facilities, and if it does lead to any type of building they would be who takes us through that process in that method,” Lamb said.

The board unanimously agreed on a 5-0 vote (Board members Leesa Toliver and Robbin Vaughn were unable to attend the meeting) to hire Gallagher Construction Services as construction manager agent for the facilities planning and any projects that might result from the study.

Gallagher Construction Services was founded in 1968, and is a a family-owned and operated business that serves independent school districts, municipalities, higher education districts and other government agencies, many of who return to us for new projects year after year. According to the company’s website, the fee for Gallagher’s services is a lump sum fixed amount based on the project schedule, budget and scope.

SSISD trustees then were asked to consider hiring WRA Architects to assist in the process as well. At their regular Aug. 9 meeting, SSISD Board of Trustees viewed presentations from two different professional groups, VLK Architects and WRA Architects, recommended to the board to assist the district with an extensive long range facilities planning process.

WRA Architects Principals Weston Emmert, Keith Anderson and Michael Holmberg pitch their firm to SSISD Board of Trustees and Superintendent Michael Lamb during the Aug. 9 school board meeting.

“This is my 10th year and we’ve done a lot of construction projects in 10 years’ time. Not only have we done a lot, I inherited the back end of some when the Middle School was built and what have you. We’ve learned a lot of lessons in building projects. One of them is the quicker we can get all parties to the table to discuss and figure out which way to go, the better. In some of our past projects, we didn’t get everybody together as quick and you run into some issues. With that said, we’d like to enter into contact and hire WRA Architects,” Lamb told the school board members present at the Aug. 27 meeting.

The trustees agreed with the recommendation by agreeing to contract with WRA Architects for the district facilities study and potential future projects.

“This is a step, along with Gallagher of getting everybody at the table quickly. As you know we have a consultant here to talk to us about the process we’re going to go to through once again with our community and deciding what the future of our buildings need to look like. So, it’s exciting, but yes, this recommendation of hiring WRA Architects comes with 10 years of things going on in the last 10 years and realizing hte quicker we get everybody put together the better,” Lamb said.

WRA Architects provides architectural design and planning services for educational facilities. Founded in 1954, WRA focuses on making learning spaces not only functional, but beautiful as well. Company principals, on average, have invested 22 years of their careers with WRA.

Operating Procedures Manual

The trustees also approved the board operating procedures manual as presented.

“That’s something we need to do every year. They didn’t change much from this year to last. That’s just kind of hte when or if we ever have an issue, we go back there and see kind of how to handle it. If we don’t have a lot of issues, we don’t have to use that book a lot. It’s there if we need it,” Lamb explained when the manual was presented to the school board.

Sulphur Springs ISD Superintendent Mike Lamb and Board of Trustees President Robert Cody, Vice President Craig Roberts and board member John Prickette

Wildcats Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks Speaks on Solid Outing Last Friday in Kaufman Run With the Lions

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Wildcats Cross Country Coach Ross Hicks Speaks on Solid Outing Last Friday in Kaufman Run With the Lions

Wildcats cross country Coach Ross Hicks called Friday’s outing at the Kaufman Run with the Lions a good day.

Both teams got underway in Kaufman before 8 A.M. on Friday, Aug. 27, so both teams embarked on their journey at 5 A.M. last Friday.

Coach Hicks said this ended up working well for the team, as the weather therefore was much cooler and nicer for the teams and as a result several runners hit their personal records in the meet.

The girls team got underway at 7:15 A.M., with Haylee Schultz again leading the Lady Cats XC team, this time in 8th place.

Racing for the first time on a true 5K, Coach Hicks said Schultz ran her personal best. The Wildcats cross country coach said he was very proud of Schultz’s effort and her strong finish.

Next up was freshman Jaicee Jasmer, claiming the last medaled spot at 15th.

Coach Hicks said that she really competed well and continues to make incredible strides during the still-young fall 2021 season. Jasmer, like Schultz, ran a PR-best 20:59 in the Kaufman 5K.

Pictured: 2018 Wildcats XC, District 15-5A Champions

Rebekah Stanley finished third for the team at 69th, running close to her personal best on the season with a time of 24:38. Maddie Poskey finished behind Stanley, crossing the finish line at 24:58 notching 71st place.

The last runner for the women’s cross country team was Beida Palomino, another freshman, who finished with a time of 27:47.

The Lady Cats cross country team combined for 248 points, good enough for 10th place at the Kaufman meet that featured 15 schools.

Moving over to the men’s team, Jose Mejia lead the way for the Wildcats, coming in at 16th with a time of 17:27, good enough for his season-best.

Mejia just narrowly missed a medaled-spot at 16th, one spot behind the final medal position at 15th.

The men’s cross country team had three runners place in the top-40, starting with seniors Evan Patrick and Alex Flecker, finishing with times of 18:12 and 18:14, good enough for 34th and 36th, respectively.

Coach Ross Hicks calls Patrick a hard-worker, in that rain or shine, no matter the distance he must travel, he makes it to practice and puts in the work each day. Patrick’s time Friday was also a season best.

Sulphur Springs Wildcats logo

Cristobal Torres cracked the top-40 for the men’s 5K at 39th with a finish time of 18:16.

He said that both Torres and Flecker pushed themselves towards the end of the Kaufman 5K so that they could finish with a better time and place than they were accustomed to.

Coach Hicks said they both push each other to improve themselves.

Rounding out runners for the Wildcats cross country team, freshmen Erick Osornio got a time of 19:35, followed by Candelario Monsivias at 19:57, and the last runner placing for the men was senior Jonathan Scott, who crossed the finish at 20:57.

The men’s team ended up placing 7th at the Kaufman Run with the Lions with 189 points.

Coach Hicks said he was pleased with the team’s effort on Friday.

Wildcats XC will be off this week before competing in their first district meet next Saturday in Hallsville at the Hallsville Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 11.


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.

Click here for more Wildcat and Lady Cat Sports

What To Do About Walnut Caterpillar Infestations On Pecan Trees

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What To Do About Walnut Caterpillar Infestations On Pecan Trees

By Mario Villarino, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Recently, many pecan trees have shown infestations of fuzzy caterpillars. These caterpillars are growing in hundreds and are easy to find. Basically if your trees are having an infestation now you will notice. Unlike early season caterpillars that feed on new growth, walnut caterpillar larvae prefer mature foliage. Consequently, infestations will not appear until late spring or after foliage has matured. Trees or branches that were defoliated will initiate new growth, which should not be damaged by the next generation.

To help prevent significant defoliation, homeowners and commercial operators should know the following symptoms. Early detection is important so control measures can be applied before significant damage occurs.

During most years, natural predators and parasites keep walnut caterpillar populations in check. Several species of wasps and flies consume egg masses and larvae, and many other insects and spiders prey upon larvae.

On small trees, homeowners can achieve some control by removing egg masses from leaves and larvae from the branches.

For large trees or for large acreage, an insecticide application is the most practical way to prevent damage. Insecticides that are recommended for homeowners will contain spinosad or Bacillus thuringiensis as their active ingredient. These insecticides are selective for caterpillars (Lepidoptera larvae) and very safe to humans.

Colony of later instar larvae (Courtesy Texas AgriLife Extension)

To increase the effectiveness of insecticides, apply them when the larvae are small and ensure that the spray covers the entire canopy. Broad-spectrum insecticides can be effective but carry some risk for the applicator and may cause secondary insect outbreaks.

Insecticide labeling is subject to change, so always consult the label for target sites and pests, application rates, and safety precautions. The user is responsible for the effects on his or her plants, as well as problems caused by drift onto adjacent properties.

For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].