Texas Ranger Ticket Giveaway #6
KSST has Texas Ranger Baseball tickets available for the Saturday May 22th, 2021 game against the Astros. 3:05 first pitch.
This years tickets will be offered in a digital format. To be a winner, you will need to download and install the Offical MLB Ball Park App for your smart device. Think of the app as a digital wallet for your tickets.
How to Win
Like KSST and this post on Facebook to enter. Winners will be chosen at random. Remember, you will need to provide a valid email address, and that email must be linked to your MLB Ballpark app.
The Process
Once you win, KSST will forward the digital ticket information to your email. Your MLB Ballpark app will accept the ticket information and store them until you need them. You will need to take your device to the ballpark to display the QR code at the gate. Get all the details at MLB.COM
Just to be clear, KSST and KRVA did not receive paper tickets, so we can not furnish paper tickets to our winners.
Osornio, Krotky Named Top Graduates of Cumby High School Class of 2021
Cumby High School announced Lucero Ruth Osornio and Rylee Jo Krotky as the top 2021 graduates, with only 0.01 separating the top two places. Each of the top CHS 2021 honor graduates has also received her associate’s degree three weeks before she will receive her high school diploma.
Lucero Ruth Osornio
Lucero Ruth Osornio, daughter of Ruth and Jose Osornio, earned top ranking as this year’s Cumby High School Class of 2021 valedictorian both at the May school board meeting and during the annual Academic/Athletic Awards program Monday evening. She has attended Cumby ISD since pre-kindergarten and graduates with a a 4.18 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Although Osornio has been involved with Beta Club and active in FFA, she has focused more on her academics than extracurricular activities at school. While she used to be in sports, half-way through her freshman year she decided to dedicate her focus during high school toward academics.
“I had my mind set on what I was going to do and sports just wasn’t going to fit into it,” Osornio said.
Her favorite classes at CISD have been math classes; she said she really enjoys the structure and organization of math as opposed to English which has so many different ways to answer written questions.
She began taking college courses her sophomore year, and was among a six Cumby seniors who graduated from Paris Junior College with an associate’s degree earlier this month. Osornio receive her associate’s in biology.
“What we had set for high school was to do a general studies program, but personally I knew that going into the medical field I was going to need different classes that had to do with veterinary medicine. So, I started to do classes that were in the biology field. I’ve taken chemistry and I’ve taken both semesters of biology on campus. I know we’ve taken other difficult classes. I’ve taken pre-cal, algebra, physics,” Osornio explained. “We didn’t have to take anything particular to our degree in high school. It was just a matter of what classes you’ll still have to take once you graduate.”
The CHS valedictorian said saying aloud that she already has an associate’s degree before she graduates, feels and sounds strange. However, knowing that she’s already that far ahead of other graduating seniors who don’t have a program at their school which allows them to pursue an associate’s along with their high school diploma is also exciting. While college classes are more challenging, taking them in high school has helped to calm nerves regarding the degree of difficulty. It shows high school students they can succeed in college classes
Osornio’s advice to other students who are hoping to achieve academic success in school is to focus more on the bigger picture, the future, than their immediate social and personal circumstances.
“One mistake I think people make is trying to be too involved in the social life around them. I think they should really focus on their future,” the 2021 Cumby High School valedictorian recommends. “I’m not saying to cut everything else out, but to make sure you have your priorities straight, focus on what’s important for you.”
Her junior year, Osornio began an internship at a Greenville veterinary clinic, and since then has been hired, and thus is now working in a paid internship. She works every day except Wednesday, and every other weekend. She’s logged about 500 hours altogether at the clinic, a step closer toward her goal of one day becoming a veterinarian herself. Working at the veterinary clinic for almost 2 years has strengthened her desire for the field and resolve to become a veterinarian herself.
She said she’s currently working toward attaining her CVA1 certification, for which she has completed all of her lessons and is now waiting on the vet to administer her final.
“I’ve always loved animals, ever since I was little. I’ve never been afraid of them. I just felt comfortable around them personally. I guess you could say I’m not a very social person, so I’ve always found comfort in the company of animals,” Osornio said.
While she didn’t bring home every stray she encountered, those that have made their way to her house in the country have been fed and eventually became family pets. She said current there are three dogs, a horse, a cat and approximately 30 cows at her house.
Osornio plans to attend Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she will take part in the pre-veterinary program for two years and attain her bachelor’s degree. She considered applying to the honors college, which include extra commitments. She knows she’ll have to carry a full load of courses on her transcript, which has to look good when she applies to transfer to Texas A&M University-College Station, where she hopes to spend four additional years in veterinary school. She also is looking to retain her current employment for the Greenville vets while attending TAMUC, which is only a 15-20 minute drive from home.
The two doctors she works with encourage her to stay the course. While six years may seem like a long time to continue her studies, they assure her that they will fly by if she stays focused on her studies. At this time, she’s not sure where opportunities will take her, but has been offered employment in Greenville with the veterinarians she’s been assisting for the past 2 years if she chooses to return to the area.
When asked if she has a preference or plans to specialize in larger or small animals, Osornio said she would like to work with both. She’s looked into some global rescue programs that help wildlife and rescue endangered species and is exploring the possibility of incorporating that into her future plans.
The CHS Class of 2021 valedictorian said initially, she’d planned to attend a college further from home, but opted for the more economically sound choice to remain in Cumby and attend TAMUC. She’ll save on housing and related costs, leaving the cost of tuition, books and necessities for the next couple of years while enrolled in the pre-vet program at the Commerce university.
“I am excited to finally go to vet school, but just the thought of having to manage everything on my own – I’m ready for the experience to be on your own and truly make your own decisions – to adult on your own,” she said, but offered appreciation to the school. “Personally, I appreciate the fact that it’s a very small school so basically, it’s like a family.”
Osornio said that while the thought of going to a bigger school makes her a bit nervous, she benefitted from the biology and chemistry classes she took on campus. They helped to alleviate one of her biggest fears about attending college at a bigger and different campus. Her fear of not making friends at college was dispelled almost immediately. She got to know the people in her study and lab groups during classes and has stayed in contact with them. She thought it’d be harder to make friends on a larger campus where she doesn’t know anyone, but found it was actually easier to relate to people with similar interests who are “in the same boat.”
She said her mom, Ruth Osornio, is one of her biggest inspirations. While academics weren’t Ruth’s passion, she attend college for a short time but did not attain a degree, opting instead to marry and raise a family, she has always been very supportive of Lucero, encouraging her to keep her grades up as she pursues her academic goals.
“I appreciate that she understands my priorities even if they they may not have been hers at the same age,” Lucero said, noting that it’s her mom’s attitude toward others which she admires most. “She just has a lot of patience and is super kind to everyone. That’s something that I probably need to work on a little bit too.”
Rylee Jo Krotky
Rylee Jo Krotky, daughter of Mark and Marsha Krotky, was announced at the May 6 school board meeting and honored at the May 17, 2021, Cumby High School Academic/Athletic Awards program as the CHS Class of 2021 salutatorian. She has attended Cumby ISD since kindergarten and will graduate on June 4 with a 4.17 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Krotky has been very involved in athletics during high school, as a member of the school volleyball, basketball, softball, track, cross country and powerlifting teams. She served as a captain of the volleyball and basketball teams, but notes her favorite has been volleyball. She says while she might play intramural or rec volleyball later on, she does not currently plan on playing for a college team.
Her dedication to sports has resulted in Krotky earning several honors for her abilities and contributions to the team. In volleyball she was named Libero MVP for the district as well as 1st Team in volleyball, is the school’s Offensive MVP and received 1st Team recognition in basketball, and 2nd Team in softball,
She serves as president of the Cumby chapters of the National Honor Society and Beta Clubs, vice president of Student Council, and is a FCA leader.
Her favorite classes have been math and English. Krotky loves writing letters because they allow her to express herself, something she does better written than aloud.
“Being top of my class with all of that going on is probably a big accomplishment for me,” Krotky said.
She follows in her mom’s footsteps in her academic achievements; Marsha Krotky was valedictorian of her class as well. Rylee will be the first Krotky on her dad’s side of the family to be at the top of her class.
“I think my mom is my biggest drive or inspiration. She’s just overall a great woman. She’s vice president of our school board and she’s involved in church. She’s a leader in the children’s ministry. She does it all. She’s just such an inspiration and I want to be like her,” the 2021 Cumby High School salutatorian said.
Her advice for other students hoping to be successful in high school is to work hard.
“Hard work always pays off. You can be involved just like I am in so many things and still do good in the academic area, I just think if you put your mind to it, it’s all about effort. I know so many people under me in rank that are so much smarter than me, but didn’t put in the effort. I put in the effort, and here I am sitting at number 2 ,” Krotky said.
She said she’s not 100 percent certain, but she’s currently leaning toward a career as a dental hygienist. Krotky is planning to complete a dental internship this summer, to try it out. Her current plans are to attend Texas A&M University-Commerce this summer and fall to get the necessary prerequisite courses out of the way, the apply to Collin College dental program. The school only accepts 20 people a year into the program. If she’s accepted, she’ll work for the next two years toward certification as a dental hygienist. She then anticipates applying at Complete Dental for a full-time position.
Krotky also is one of the six Cumby seniors who already have a head start on college, each graduating this month from Paris Junior College. Krotky received an associate’s in general studies.
“At the time I picked mine, general studies, I didn’t know what I wanted to do so I thought general studies was the best option for me at the time. So, if I could go back and I knew I wanted to be dentist, I would go more towards that path,” the 2021 CHS salutatorian said.
Attaining an associates is a good feeling, Krotky said. It makes her feel two steps ahead of other graduating seniors. Know she will already be a college junior when she graduates high school is very exciting.
She said she is interested in the medical field, but doesn’t feel nursing would be a good fit as needles and lots of blood aren’t things she feels comfortable with. She decided to “pick something and go with it,” and if she doesn’t like it, she can always change directions.
“The mouth doesn’t bother me that much, so I think I could do that,” Krotky said.
While looking forward to beginning a new chapter of life at TAMUC, Krotky’s feelings about graduation and life away from Cumby ISD are bittersweet.
“I’m going to miss the people. I’m going to miss our close friendships that we have here, but I think it’s going to be a good experience to get out and see what the real world’s all about,” the CHS salutatorian said.
Saltillo Lady Lions Softball Team Falls Short In Regional Semifinal
The Saltillo Lady Lions softball team gave up late runs that proved too much to handle, losing to Bloomburg 3-1 on Friday, May 14 to conclude their season.
The two teams looked to be involved in a pitchers duel, as through five innings, both teams had only accumulated 4 hits combined.
That changed in the top of the sixth, when with two outs, two Bloomburg batters got timely singles, the second of which crossed home to break the 0-0 tie for a 1-0 lead for the Lady Cats.
Saltillo was able to get a single from starting P Chandler Bain, and Ryleigh Redar grounded out to the Lady Cat second baseman which gave Bain enough time to cross home and even the score at 1-all in the bottom of the sixth.
Unfortunately for the Lady Lions, Bloomburg struck again in their next at-bat, thanks to two singles, two doubles, and a fly out which turned in to a 3-1 lead for the Lady Cats in the top of the seventh.
With their season on the line in the one-and-done game, Saltillo was able to get a single from lead-off batter in the bottom of the seventh Maddy Smith, the Lady Lions was picked off at second from a fielders choice to make it two outs.
While the next Saltillo batter Ofelia Cabrera was walked, Chandler Morris was struck out to end the game and end the season for the Lady Lions in a 3-1 loss in the 1A Region 3 Regional Semifinals of softball.
Chandler Bain got the loss, but had a solid outing before Bloomburg was able to pull the game out in the top of the seventh. Bain pitched a complete 7 inning game, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits. Bain struck out three Lady Cat batters and walked two.
In hitting, Bain was 1 for 3 with a run and a walk. Both Julianna Giles and Ryleigh Redar were 0 for 3, but Redar was able to get an RBI. Paisley Kastner fared a bit better at 1 for 3. Maddy Smith was 1 for 1 and was walked once. Ofelia Cabrera went 0 for 2 behind the plate. Regan Speir, Gabby Ross, and Chandler Morris all went 0 for 3 on the evening.
While it was a tough way to end the season, it was an impressive run nonetheless.
Saltillo’s season record finishes at 8-6 overall (6-0 district). The Lady Lions were 17-1A District Champions and beat Avery in Bi-District 19-6 and Union Hill 1-0 in the Regional Quarterfinal before falling in the Regional Semifinals to Bloomburg.
SSHS Switching Up Senior Activities A Little Bit This Year
Sulphur Springs High School will be switching up senior activities a little bit this year, according to one school counselor.
The 12th graders ranked in the top 10 percent of their graduating class will still be honored this year with a special breakfast starting at 7 a.m. Thursday, May 20, with interior design and culinary arts students reported to be collaborating to ready the facility for the event. So, this could look a bit different.
Later in the day, seniors will be celebrated with a senior walk and assembly. Seniors will walk the halls in their caps and gowns, then will be celebrated by family and friends; this is expected to occur around 3 p.m. They will then proceed to the Civic Center Exhibit Hall for a “signing” time, where students will look for banners for designating the school, work force area or military that factor into their future plans following high school graduation.
From there, senior activities continue with an assembly at the Civic Center. Due to a scheduling conflict, however, this year’s senior awards program will begin at 4:30 p.m. May 20, instead of later in the evening.
The annual senior Shut Out will follow on Friday, May 21; students are to wear their senior shirts.
SSHS Graduation is slated to be held Friday evening, May 28, at Gerald Prim Stadium.
5th Annual OVET BBQ Cookoff Brings 25 Best Cooks to Town!
Just as the delicious aromas of BBQ cooking draw people, so did the idea of all the best BBQ cooks coming together in one place! That place was Sulphur Springs, Texas over the weekend of May 14 and 15. And the VFW Post Home 8560 along the Interstate was the perfect place to hold it, on the north side of the property which was once a rodeo grounds. The only thing there wasn’t quite a-plenty of was parking, however the OVET committee hopes to have that solved before the next contest rolls around this Fall. Meantime, congratulations are in order for the winning and placing cooks who came from near and far to compete in the categories. As one participant posted on Facebook, “I want to thank you guys for putting on such a amazing event. We had a amazing time and met so many awesome people. I can’t wait to do it next year. Thank you guys for the bottom of my heart”.
WINNERS ARE:
People’s Choice: Nolen Johnson/Team Kookin
Cook’s Choice: Logan Vaughn/Tableleaf
Quick Fire Challenge:
1st: Logan Vaughn/Tableleaf
2nd: Todd Daniel
BEST OF WINNERS ARE:
Beans: Adrian Sitzes/Off Duty BBQ
Sauce: Brandon Wynn/NE TX Coop
Dessert: Angela Allen/KG Crew
Quick Fire Challenge:
1st: Logan Vaughn/Tableleaf
2nd: Todd Daniel
Brisket:
1st: BackStory Brewery
2nd: Fast Times BBQ
3rd: Fallen S BBQ
Ribs:
1st: LugNut BBQ
2nd: Safety Control BBQ
3rd: Off Duty BBQ
Pulled Pork:
1st: Slaughter’s BBQ
2nd: Hopkins Co EMS
3rd: Hopkins Co Sherrif’s Office
Reserve Grand Champion:
A tie between Nolen Johnson and Todd Daniel resulted with Nolen
Johnson taking the honors due to a 4 point difference with his
brisket score.
Grand Champion:
Derek Fort/Woody’s BBQ
50/50 Raffle Winner: Fallen S BBQ
Registration For SSISD Summer Day Camp Now Open
Sulphur Springs ISD is offering Summer Day Camp to assist families who need summer child care for students ages 5-11 years?
Summer Day Camp is available for any school-aged child, from 5 to 11 years old. The program is offered in place of the YMCA program, since they will not be able to offer a program this summer.
The camp will begin Tuesday, June 1, and continue Monday-Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through July 23, at Barbara Bush Primary, 390 Hillcrest Drive. Whether August camp will be offered has yet to be determined.
The cost for the camp is $115 a week, which averages $23 a day or $2.80 an hour for reliable care with background-checked staff. Amy Voss will serve as site coordinator.
Students will receive free breakfast and lunch Monday – Thursday, from the school’s child nutrition program. Field trips will be scheduled weekly.
“We want your children to have a FUN, SAFE summer!” SSISD noted in a release about the summer day camp.
To register parents/guardians should fill out a registration packet, available at 631 Connally St. from Patty Garcia,
Administrative Assistant to Assistant Superintendents Kristin Monk and Josh Williams; or from the secretary at SSISD children’s campuses.
Any additional questions may be directed to Patty Garcia at 903-885-2153, ext. 1107, or emailed to [email protected].
Texas Ranger Ticket Giveaway #5
KSST has Texas Ranger Baseball tickets available for the Friday May 21th, 2021 game against the Astros. 7:05 first pitch.
This years tickets will be offered in a digital format. To be a winner, you will need to download and install the Offical MLB Ball Park App for your smart device. Think of the app as a digital wallet for your tickets.
How to Win
Like KSST and this post on Facebook to enter. Winners will be chosen at random. Remember, you will need to provide a valid email address, and that email must be linked to your MLB Ballpark app.
The Process
Once you win, KSST will forward the digital ticket information to your email. Your MLB Ballpark app will accept the ticket information and store them until you need them. You will need to take your device to the ballpark to display the QR code at the gate. Get all the details at MLB.COM
Just to be clear, KSST and KRVA did not receive paper tickets, so we can not furnish paper tickets to our winners.
Practice Welding Goes Well at PJC-Sulphur Springs
Cody Belz of Sulphur Springs, left, and Jordan Cummings of Quinlan work on their pipe welding skills during their recent class at the welding school on the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus.
For information about the program call 903-885-1232.
To see offered classes, go to www.parisjc.edu/schedule.
To apply to PJC, go to www.parisjc.edu/apply or email [email protected].
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.
Hicks: Hopkins County 4-H Members Earn Hefty Scholarships
Tucked away at the end of my column las week was mention of two Hopkins County 4-H members who earned sizable scholarships from the Texas 4-H Foundation.
I wanted to give them the recognition they deserve for their accomplishments.
If you keep up with my column, you have read about these two young ladies, but previously, the amounts of their scholarships were unknown.
As it turns out, they each received the highest amount awarded through the Texas 4-H Foundation’s Houston Livestock & Rodeo Scholarship – $20,000.
Jorja Bessonett has been in the news a lot lately. Not only is she Valedictorian for Miller Grove High School, but she is an accomplished athlete, scholar, and all-around good person!
Jorja has been a Hopkins County 4-H member for 10 years.
She started out as a Clover Kid on the heels of her older sister, Aleigh, who also received a $20,000 scholarship her senior year. Jorja’s major 4-H projects have been Food & Nutrition, Clothing and Textiles, Family Life, Beef, and Health & Personal Safety.
4-H awards have included the Gold Star Award, Danforth “I Dare You” award, state record book award, Outstanding Junior and Intermediate awards, and numerous community service projects.
She plans to attend Texas A&M University – Commerce, and major in Kinesiology, followed by a Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program.
Savannah Allen, daughter of Sara Allen, is a senior at Sulphur Springs High School.
She has been a Hopkins County 4-H member for 10 years and has held offices on the club, county, district, and state levels, most recently as a Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador.
Her major projects have been Beef, Leadership, Photography, veterinary science, food & nutrition, and livestock judging.
Some of her 4-H Awards include Gold Star Award, Danforth “I Dare You” award, Vet Tech program completion, numerous public speaking awards, Outstanding Intermediate and Junior awards, and numerous community service projects.
Savannah’s younger brother, Blaine, is also active in the Hopkins County 4-H program. Savannah plans to attend Texas A&M University with a major in Animal Science and minor in Ag Economics focusing on real estate.
Previous recipients from Hopkins County were Travis Hicks, Sara Forsman, Cade Goldsmith, and Aleigh Bessonett, plus many more before I came on board with the Extension Service.
Our staff is so proud of these two young ladies and those who came before them.
These young ladies truly exemplify the 4-H pledge: I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health for better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
Closing Thought
Advice for graduating seniors: Have fun, be safe, make good choices, make your bed, call your grandmother!
Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Community Health Agent
Hopkins County
P.O. Box 518
1200-B W. Houston
Sulphur Springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443
60 Bottles Of Medication, Stolen Gun, Marijuana Found During I-30 Traffic Stop
Hopkins County sheriff’s Office Deputies Drew Fisher and Nick Marney reported finding 60 bottles of medication, a stolen gun and misdemeanor amount of marijuana during an Interstate 30 traffic stop early Sunday morning.
The deputies stopped a Chevrolet Avalanche at 1:49 a.m. May 16, 2021, at the rest stop on I-30 east in Hopkins County for an expired registration. Deputies conducted a probable cause search of the truck after smelling a marijuana odor. The search revealed a GLOCK pistol and more than one bag of marijuana in a backpack in the back seat where Jeremiah Nahum Jones sat. The 23-year-old Little Rock, Arkansas man claimed the bag. A records check using the serial number showed the firearm to have been reported to Arkansas authorities as stolen. The suspected marijuana weighed 3.7 ounces.
As a result, Jones was taken into custody at 2:19 a.m. Sunday on theft of firearm, possession of 2 ounces or more but less than 4 ounces of marijuana and unlawful carrying of a weapon charges.
Fisher reported 60 bottles of plain Promethazine were also located in the vehicle. Promethazine, a generic name for the phenothiazine drug Phenergan, is often prescribed as an antihistamine for allergies, to relieve severe nausea and vomiting such as that resulting from chemotherapy or radiotherapy, as a sedative or sleep aid, according to www.drugs.com. The driver, a 24-year-old Little Rock man, was arrested on a misdemeanor possession of a dangerous drug charge,.
Both Arkansas men were released from Hopkins County jail Sunday, the 24-year-old on a $2,000 bond on the dangerous drug charge; and Jones on $9,000 in bonds: a $5,000 bond on the firearm charge, and $2,000 each on the misdemeanor marijuana and weapon charges, according to jail reports.
