Inductees For Friday’s 2021 Hall of Honor Ceremony Revealed
Information courtesy of the Hall of Honor committee
Four former Sulphur Springs athletic greats will be inducted into the Sulphur Springs High School Hall of Honor in pre-game ceremonies Friday night, October 22, before the football game against Greenville.
A former NFL player, a record-setting girls soccer player, a state medalist distance runner and a defensive standout on the 2008 state championship football team will all be added to the Hall of Honor in a reception beginning at 5:15 p.m. Friday in the Multipurpose Building, and then they will be introduced at 7 p.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium.
The public, friends and fans are invited to the pregame reception and ceremony.
The inductees are Keenan Clayton (2005 graduate), (Gayle Grand-Lienard Bowman (2007 graduate), Graham Northcutt (2007 graduate) and Colton Miles-Nash (2009 graduate).
Keenan Clayton
Class of 2005
Keenan Clayton was an All-State football player for the Wildcats who received a scholarship to play for The University of Oklahoma and later played in the NFL.
Clayton was a 3-year letterman at SSHS and finished his senior season ranked as the No. 3 safety in the country, the No. 8 player in the state and No. 74 nationally. He was named All-State his junior year as a kick returner and All-State his senior year at safety. He also was voted All-District both years, including being named District MVP his senior year.
As a senior, Clayton had a team-high 111 tackles along with four interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.
Over his three years as a Wildcat starter, he had 221 tackles, seven interceptions, a school-record seven kickoff returns for touchdowns and also played running back.
He was heavily recruited by several schools and chose Oklahoma, where he was moved from safety to linebacker after his freshman season.
He forced a school-record six fumbles as a junior at OU, and his nine passes broken up were the second most by a linebacker in school history. He was voted All Big-12 by the coaches and AP.
Clayton was then drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played two seasons with the Eagles and then two seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He followed that up with a one-year stint with Toronto of the CFL.
He now lives in Sulphur Springs and is a member of the Wildcat coaching staff. Keenan is the son of Quon Clayton and the grandson of Frank and Mardell Clayton.
His award will be presented by Brad Turner, his former high school coach.
Gayle Grand-Lienard Bowman
Class of 2007
Gayle Grand-Lienard Bowman, who set the school record for career goals scored while playing Lady Cats soccer, will be the first girls soccer player inducted into the Hall of Honor.
Bowman, a 2007 graduate, was a two-time District MVP in soccer, as a sophomore and a senior. Her freshman year, she was named District Newcomer of the Year and was All-District First Team as a junior. She was also named team MVP as a sophomore, junior and a senior.
In addition, she was named an All-Tournament member of the Whitehouse tournament as a sophomore and the Richardson Berkner tournament as a junior.
Gayle’s senior year, she was the Ladycats’ team captain and Forrest Gregg MVP Award winner. She also scored 16 goals in the team’s first 11 games. She played club soccer for FC Texas East ‘88 her junior year and FC Dallas Youth East ‘89 her senior year. A versatile athlete, she was also a three-year letterman in cross country and track.
She received a scholarship to play soccer at Texas Woman’s University, where she played in 71 games with 25 starts over her four-year career. She helped lead the team to two Lone Star Conference tournament appearances and received the team’s Rookie of the Year award as a freshman.
Gayle graduated from TWU with a Bachelor in Business Administration degree majoring in Marketing in 2011.
She has been married for nine years to Ethan Bowman, and they have a 3-year-old daughter, Ellis, and a 2-year-old son, Wells. They reside in Rockwall, where she has worked at Special Products and Manufacturing for 10 years. Gayle and her husband also own and operate Rockwall Fit Body Boot Camp.
Gayle’s parents are Rob and Diana Grand-Lienard, and she has two siblings, Jim Grand-Lienard and Abby Swanson.
She will be presented her award by her high school coach, Joel Bailey.
Graham Northcutt
Class of 2007
Graham Northcutt was a multi-sport athlete but gained the most prominence on the track and in cross country, where he set multiple school records.
He set the 1600-meter and cross country records at SSHS, winning multiple regional championship races and earning multiple state appearances in both cross country and track. He was also named Team Captain of the soccer team his senior year and was voted District Defensive MVP.
At SSHS, Northcutt earned 12 varsity letters (cross country, track and soccer all four years). He was a multiple-time district champion in cross country and in the 800-meter, 1600-meter and 3200-meter races in track.
In track, he was a regional qualifier his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. He was the regional champion in the 800 meters as a junior, when he qualified for state. As a senior, he qualified for state in the 1600 meters and earned a silver medal.
In cross country, he was a regional qualifier all four years and was regional champion his senior year. He qualified for state as a sophomore, junior and senior, and placed sixth his senior season.
His awards include being a three-time SSHS MVP in cross country, a two-time MVP in track and the recipient of the Forrest Gregg MVP Award as a senior.
In addition, Northcutt won the Footlocker National Cross Country race for High School juniors held in North Carolina, and as a senior placed fourth in the Congress Avenue Mile, which hosts the top eight 1600 meter runners from the four regions of Texas.
He received a scholarship to Texas A&M University, where he competed on the cross country and track teams and was on the varsity travel team for three years. He was a member of the 2008 NCAA South Central Cross Country Regional Championship team and set new personal records in the 800 meter, the mile, 8,000 meter and 10,000 meter races. Graham has also competed in four marathons.
He graduated from Texas A&M in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development and minor in Business and moved to Denver, Colorado, where he met his future wife, Leann Rucker. They were married in March of 2017.
They currently reside in Austin, where Graham works in Human Resources for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicle’s Headquarters and Leann is a nurse anesthetist with the Austin Anesthesiology Group.
They currently don’t have children, but they do have nieces and nephews and a 110-pound German Shepherd named Kojax. Graham is the son of Eddie and Karen Northcutt and has one sibling, Charles Northcutt.
His presenter will be his high school coach, Andy Holt.
Colton Miles-Nash
Class of 2009
Colton Miles-Nash was one of the stalwarts on the defensive side for the 2008 State Championship Wildcats, and that earned him a Division I scholarship to the University of Arkansas.
His senior year, Miles-Nash had 80 unassisted tackles and 110 total tackles with eight sacks, eight tackles for losses and 23 quarterback hurries as defensive end.
Miles-Nash was named First Team All-State defensive end by the Texas Sports Writers Association as a senior. He was also chosen First Team All-District and was ranked as the No. 35 defensive end in the country by Rivals.com. As a junior, he had 43 tackles, six sacks and was an All-District selection.
He played in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in South Carolina his senior year.
At SSHS, Miles-Nash also played basketball, where he was an All-District selection as a junior and senior, and he was also a track letterman.
Miles-Nash originally wanted to play football for Oklahoma, where his cousin and Hall of Honor inductee, Keenan Clayton, was a senior, but he eventually chose Arkansas. He was a four-year letterman, a two-year starter and had a memorable blocked punt against Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl in 2011. He was also recruited by Auburn, Baylor, Colorado, Colorado State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and UTEP.
After college, he played semi-pro football with the Nebraska Danger from 2015 to 2018. Colton currently works for Load Trail and coaches for the Commerce Tigers Youth Football Association.
He is the son of Biankah Miles and the late Charles Nash. He is married to Yvonna Hines Miles-Nash and has two children, Journee and Courtney Miles-Nash. His siblings are Kris Nash and Charlisa, Angelina and Ashton.
Colton’s award will be presented by his high school coach, Greg Owens.
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.
DPS Urges Children, Drivers to Learn Safe Habits During National School Bus Safety Week
National School Bus Safety Week is Oct. 18-22, 2021, and the Texas Department of Public Safety would like to remind the public that they play an important role in ensuring the school buses make it to their destinations safely each day.
“School buses are the safest mode of travel for children to get to school, and drivers need to do simple but crucial things, such as not passing a school bus or paying attention when they see a bus, to keep it that way,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “By not speeding around school buses and always looking for children, you just may save a life.”
DPS offers the following tips for school bus safety:
- Children should limit what they carry and stick to what fits in their backpacks. This lessens the chance of dropping things in the road on the way to the bus stop.
- Children should be at the bus stop five minutes early so they are not making dangerous choices to reach the bus in time, such as running to the bus, crossing the street illegally, running after the bus or running in front of it.
- Parents should walk children to the bus stop if possible. If not, encourage them to walk to the bus stop with other children so they are more visible to drivers.
- Ensure children know how to look both ways before crossing streets. Also, teach children to watch for vehicles pulling out of nearby driveways.
- When a child is getting off the bus and needs to cross the street, make sure they don’t assume traffic will stop for them just because a bus has its stop arm out and lights flashing. Always look both ways before crossing.
- If an adult meets a child when they get off the bus, always stand on the side of the street of the bus, so the child doesn’t have to cross the street alone.
- If a child drops something when getting on or off the bus, they should never pick it up. The child should tell the driver, then wait for instructions on what to do.
- Children should not stand or play in the street while waiting for the bus. It is dangerous and other drivers may not see them.
- It’s safest if children stay three giant steps away from the road until the bus arrives. When children walk in front of the bus, they should stay about 10 feet away from the hood of the bus to ensure the driver can see them.
- Children shouldn’t yell on the bus or run around, as it’s distracting for the driver.
- When drivers see a school bus on the road, they should always give them plenty of room, knowing they stop frequently.
- Drivers should be careful around railroad crossings. School buses are legally required to stop at them.
- Drivers should reduce their speed when they see a school bus and know children may unexpectedly step into the road without checking for traffic.
- Drivers also need to watch for children. While children should be alert, it is also up to drivers to pay attention, as students may be distracted, looking at mobile devices, talking to friends or not looking at traffic.
- Drivers must stop if a bus has flashing lights and its stop sign out, regardless of which way a bus is headed. Drivers are allowed to continue once the bus is in motion, the flashing lights have stopped or the driver signals you to proceed. Approaching drivers do Not have to stop for a school bus that is operating a visual signal if the road is separated by a physical barrier or intervening space, such as a divided median. If the highway is only divided by a left-turn lane, it is not considered divided and drivers must stop for school buses.
- It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus and may result in a fine up to $1,250 for a first offense. For people convicted of the offense more than once, the law allows for the person’s driver license to be suspended for up to six months. A ticket for this offense cannot be dismissed through defensive driving. Criminal charges are possible if a driver causes someone serious bodily injury.
Winnsboro Police Department Oct. 11-17, 2021 Media Report
The Winnsboro Police Department’s weekly media report for Oct. 11-17, 2021, included the following:
Arrests
- Kyle Locke, age 21, of Mount Vernon was arrested on October 13, 2021, on a charge of driving while intoxicated-second offense and fleeing the scene of an accident.
- Jay West, age 45, of Winnsboro was arrested on October 14, 2021, on an Apache County warrant for failure to appear on a stolen vehicle charge and a Wood County motion to adjudicate on an injury to a child.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 162 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 38 citations and 53 warnings during this reporting period.
Lady Cats Basketball Season Schedule Finalized
Wildcats football head coach and athletic director of SSISD Greg Owens released the Lady Cats basketball schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 13.
It will be the first year under new head coach Erica Delley, who previously coached at Greenville.
The season gets underway later this month on Saturday, Oct. 30 when Sulphur Springs participates in a tri-match hosted by Lone Oak.
The Lady Cats will host a tri-match of their own before traveling on the road to take on a couple of foes around the surrounding areas.
Coach Delley will take on her alma mater in Dallas Kimball on Dec. 11 in Dallas before district play gets underway on Dec. 14 in Mount Pleasant.
The full schedule can be found 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.
Prizes Awarded At 2021 Help A Child Benefit, But True Winners Will Be Children Who Benefit From Fundraiser
Several prizes were awarded at the 2021 Help A Child events, but the true winners will be the children who will benefit from the annual fundraiser. All proceeds from the event will be divided among Scottish Rite Hospital, Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center and three local foster families, to help support children who have been or are alleged to have been abused, neglected or have certain medical maladies that require specialized care.
Approximately $15,000 to $16,000, funding allowing, will go to the Masonic Lodges who put on the Help A Child event to be awarded later in scholarships to assist local youth in their pursuit of a higher education or post secondary training. The Lodges will then apply to the Grand Lodge of Texas for a funding match of up to $3,000, which would mean roughly $30,000 in scholarships for students at schools within the participant Lodges’ service area.
This year’s sponsors included the following Masonic Lodges; Columbia Lodge No. 81, Hopkins County Lodge No. 180, Sulphur Springs Lodge No. 221, Sulphur Bluff Lodge No. 246, Greenville Lodge No. 335, Yantis Lodged No. 382, Commerce Lodge No. 439, Caddo Mills Lodge No. 581, Mount Vernon Lodge No. 691, Gus Garrison Lodge No. 1273 of Winnsboro, and Emory-Mars Hill Lodge #1440. Several, in addition to serving as hosts, also entered cook teams in the cookout as well.
This year’s fundraiser add three new events, a Cattle Show which reportedly drew more than 100 livestock entries from local youth, a cornhole tournament, and Clydesale carriage rides and photos. Bounce houses were provided near the cook sites for children to enjoy during the benefit. In addition to the projects prepared and auctioned during the Ira Black FFA Project Show, several local individuals and businesses donated items for silent and live auctions as well. Many local businesses contributed as well to help cover costs and provide supplies needed to host the vent. Help A Child Committee members thanked all of the contributors, volunteers participants and visitors without whom the event could not be held nor continue to be a success for the children served at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital and NETCAC, as well as those in the three foster families.
Chili Cookoff
Fifteen different teams participated in the chili cook off, including some whose commitment to helping children’s charities keep them coming back year after year and a few whose schedules opened up to or who had recently learned about the cook off and participated for the first time this year. with top bragging rights and a trophy going to the Bobby Neal family. At auction, a quart of the Neals’ chili sold for $100.
Second place honors in the Chili Cookoff went to the Roadkill BBQ team. A quart of their chili sold for $25.
The third place chili entry was prepared by the Luck U team. A quarts of the team’s chili sold for $25 at auction as well.
Brisket Cookoff
The 2021 Help A Child Brisket Cookoff drew six entries, with first place honors going to Mo Duff’s Barb-B-Q.
The second place brisket was prepared by Wayne Bartley and Larry Rose.
Receiving third place in the brisket contest was the Sulphur Springs High School Construction group.
Bean Bake
The beans contest drew only three contestants, so only one award was presented. The first place winner in this contest was the cook team of Wayne Bartley and Larry Rose. Bartley has been cooked at the event since its creation, and is known for his peach cobbler.
Ira Black FFA Shop Project Show & Auction
The Ira Black FFA Shop Project Show & Auction featured not only shop projects such as tables, fire pits, wooden toolboxes, a lounge chair metal home décor and cutouts, a bench and other items, but also an arts and crafts competition and recognition for cookie creations all created by area high school FFA and FCCLA students. Projects were then sold at auction, with proceed benefitting the children’s charities supported by the Help A Child Benefit.
Both first and second place honors in the arts and crafts and flora design contest went to Como-Pickton students.
Recognized for their cookie creations, large platters of elaborately decorated treats was the Saltillo FCCLA. The students also submitted baked breads and cakes they made and donated to for the auction.
The 2021 Ira Black FFA Project Show grand champion trophy went home with Como-Pickton FFA students, who built a patriotic table. Honorable mention went to the Sulphur Springs Construction class’s cedar chair, Sulphur Springs FFA’s fire pit and grill as well as a picnic table constructed by Sulphur Springs FFA as well. The winning patriotic table was auctioned to Farm Country for $1,000.
Drawing
Another component of the benefit is a raffle item. This year Faulk Company and Como-Pickton FFA partnered to donate a brand new Polaris Ranger 500, 4×4 with trailer. Twice as many tickets for chances to win the prize were sold this year than last, due in part to the additional Masonic Lodges that partnered to help sponsor the Help A Child Benefit this year, acording to Wade Bartley, who not only got the event started but who continues to help ramrod it annually.
All entries were dropped into a tote with a lid, shaken up, then five names were drawn by a small child, a family member of one of the Help A Child Committee members . Those five names were placed into a bucket, shaken up. Another girl attending the event, Madelyn M., was asked to draw from the bucket the winning ticket. The four-wheeler and trailer went to Robert Fisher of Emory.
Hopkins County Genealogical Society October 21, 2021 Monthly Meeting Will Be Virtual by Patti Todd Gillespie
Patti Todd Gillespie brings energy and humor to her classes. She is a huge believer in lifetime learning and inclusive, respectful presenting. An avid hobby-genealogist for 30 years, Patti formed Family Lines & Stories, her own research group, 6 years ago. She stays busy researching for clients and speaks to groups, small and large, in and out of Texas – usually virtually now.
She presented two sessions at RootsTech Connect 2021; in 2020 she presented several sessions for the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS); she has spoken several times at Texas State Family History Conference. A former teacher of French & English, Patti very much enjoys presenting. She watches as many genealogy webinars as possible when not attending to her husband, children, grandchildren, landscaping and rescue dog. Eventually Patti plans to continue her blog for the 25 avid readers she treasures.
| When: Oct 21, 2021 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYuc-ytrjsvGtfvk3T90n3DugPjnN-tBiBu After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. |
Attached you will find the agenda for this virtual meeting”Armchair Mysteries Solved at Home with Old School Communication and New School Technology”.
We hope you will take the time to enjoy Patti’s presentation with us. Click on the link to join the meeting somewhat ahead of the start time and then if you need technical support you can call the library at (903)885-8523 and someone will assist you.
The more often you use Zoom, the easier it becomes!!
2021 Earl W Martin 42 Tournament Winners
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center hosted the 2021 Autumn version of the Earl W. Martin 42 Tournament on Saturday October 16. The Texas-bred domino game is extremely popular amongst Hopkins County folks, and there are actually three tournaments held per year at the Seniors Center. Winners are included in the slideshow!
Meal A Day Menu For Oct. 18-22, 2021
Volunteers prepare meals at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center and deliver them five days a week to Meal A Day program recipients in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. The Meal A Day Menu for Oct. 18-22, 2021, includes:
- Monday –Cheesy Beef and Potato Casserole, Normandy Vegetables and Roll.
- Tuesday – Chicken Cuisine, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and Broccoli with Cheese.
- Wednesday – Rope Sausage, Stewed Squash and Tomatoes, Butter Beans and Corn Bread.
- Thursday –Sour Cream Beef and Cheese Enchiladas, Re-fried Beans, Chips and Salsa, and Tossed Salad.
- Friday – Hopkins County Stew, Crackers, and Cheese Cubes .
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
Ghost Glow Ride October 29
ATTENTION GLOW RIDERS!
Get your Halloween costume on and let’s ride…..
Ghost Glow Ride is a free family bicycle riding event (perfect for Trunk-n-Treat rounds). We will meet at VR Social, in costumes, and ride to Coleman Park October 29 6 p.m.
We cannot wait to crowd the streets with Ghosts & Goblins on bikes!
This is part of the ScreamFEST week of events.
Full details are here: https://www.vrsocialss.com/latest-news/
Arbala VFD To Receive Funding Cut For Violating Contract With County
Arbala Volunteer Fire Department will receive a month’s funding cut, effective at the next payment cycle, for violating the contract signed with the county, Hopkins County Commissioners Court determined during the regular meeting Friday, Oct. 15, 2021.
All volunteer fire departments are required to sign a fire protection agreement in order to received benefits from the county. Those benefits include paying the VFD’s fuel bills, providing a monthly stipend which averages more than $700 a month, providing workers compensation for each member in the event any are injured while responding to calls, and offering reimbursement for vehicle insurance.
Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley noted that AVFD had violated section 16 of department’s contract with the county by responding to a call in another jurisdiction before they were dispatched. When there was no response from the volunteer fire department for the jurisdiction, AVFD was then dispatchers to the call. The department member over recorded communications advised the department had already been en route for 3-4 minutes. A check of the GPS system no in the different apparatus confirmed the responding apparatus supported the statement from made, the fire marshal said when presenting the alleged violation before the court.
The policy as outlined in the contract, Endsley noted, stipulates that departments are not to respond to calls unless alerted to do so or toned. Doing is what is known in fire and emergency services as “freelancing.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley noted that, as pointed out in a previous meeting, the requirement is stipulated out of necessity. If property is damaged or an individual injured while a fire truck is on or responding to a call, county insurance would not cover those costs if the department was not dispatched. By responding without being toned to the call, AVFD put themselves and in danger.
Endsley said when notified, an AVFD officer stated for the court to take funding from the department if that’s the consequence for violating the contract.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker proposed doing just that, withholding one full month of funding, the amount allocated to Arbala VFD by the county for the contract violation.
Barker seconded the motion to withhold AVFD’s monthly stipend during the next funding cycle. The motion was unanimously approved by Hopkins County Commissioners Court during their regular court session held on Friday this week since members of the court were out of town on business on Monday,
While the department will not receive a full month of funding, the department will remain in service to be dispatched to calls in their jurisdiction or according to county protocol.
Arbala is the second volunteer fire department to have funding cut for violating the contract each signed with the county by self-dispatching to a call for service. On Jan. 25, 2021, Hopkins County Commissioners Court voted to withhold half a month’s worth (2 weeks worth) of funding from Brinker VFD, when that department was reported to have violated Section 16 of the contract between the county and VFD. The county still covered Brinker’s fuel costs and other benefits stipulated in the contract. Typically, Brinker VFD receives a little over $800 monthly from the county, Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley noted. Thus, the amount withheld was a little over $400.
