Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens Says His Team Will Not Do Formal Spring Football This Year
For the past several seasons since 2016 but not including last year’s COVID-19 cancellation, the Wildcats Football Team has had formal spring football practice.
That will not be the case this year.
The decision means the Wildcats will be able to begin fall football practice on August 2, a full week ahead of the schools that do spring football.
It also means the Wildcats can have two scrimmages instead of the one for spring football schools.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens says the football team is currently concentrating on football during their one hour school day athletic period Monday through Friday.
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.
April 15 Tira News: Dodd Family Celebrates Newest Addition
By Jan Vaughn, Tira News correspondent
William and Joyce Dodd had five generations of their family at their home on April 1. Joyce shared, “We met our new great-great-granddaughter, Brookelynn Rayne Foster for the first time. She is 4 months old. Her great-grandma, Tonja Lucas, was here also to meet her for the first time. Brookelynn was here with her grandparents, Maegan and Matt Childress, her mother and dad, Ray and Alyssa Foster, and her uncle Ethen Shelton. Brad and Matthew Dodd came by to meet her, too. She is such a precious new addition to our family. We really enjoyed having them here for lunch and a short visit before they had to return to their home in Arkansas.”
Robert, Yvonne, and Wesley Weir drove to Princeton on Saturday to watch Eli Campbell play soccer. He made two goals and his team won. The met back up with Mike, Dacy, Elise, and Eli at El Fenix in Greenville for lunch.
We received some food and cash donations for the Tira Food Pantry this week. We always want the contributors to know that we appreciate their help.
Chip and I went to Arkansas on Saturday to watch our granddaughter, Jaidyn Joslin, play volleyball. We picked her up, along with our daughter, Tiffany, and son-in-law, Perry, in Malvern and went to Lakeside School in Hot Springs. Jaidyn and her team played well and won their game. Perry’s son and daughter-in-law, Logan and Hannah, got to the game late, but we all went to lunch together at On The Border before Chip and I returned home that afternoon. John Vaughn came over and stayed at our house with his mother, Grace Vaughn, while we were gone.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Drug Take Back Day Planned April 24 In Sulphur Springs
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and Posse will be hosing a Drug Take Back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 24, 2021 in the parking lot of Atwoods, 817 Gilmer St.
Anyone can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications. The DEA and its partners will be collecting tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs.
However, liquids – including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted.
The DEA will accept vaping devices and cartridges at the collection location, provided lithium batteries are removed.
Wildcats Golfer Grant Mohesky Signs Letter of Intent with Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils
Wildcats senior golfer Grant Mohesky, a three-year member of the Wildcats Varsity Golf Team, signed a letter of intent Thursday (April 15) to play golf at the next level at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Mohesky is the son of Mike and Neva Mohesky.
Mohesky said he met the coach of the Boll Weevils late last year and had a chance to talk with him. He was invited for a visit, was given a campus tour, got a chance to meet the team and even played a few holes with them.
Mohesky said it just felt like a good fit for him. He said the golf coach seemed amazed at Mohesky’s driving distance off the tee. Mohesky said that is one of the real strengths of his golf game.
He said his putting and short game are pretty good but he acknowledged that in golf there is always room for improvement.
He said Monticello is in a pretty part of Arkansas. He said it reminded him of Sulphur Springs. The campus is about a 4 hour drive from Sulphur Springs.
Mohesky said UAM has a good golf program. He said they have finished in the top five of every tournament they have entered this season. Mohesky said getting a university golf offer is a dream come true. Mohesky plans to work on a degree in criminal justice with emphasis in forensic science.
Mohesky’s Wildcats Coach Jeremy DeLorge said he has seen growth in Mohesky’s game over the past two years adding he has put in the work and effort to improve. Coach DeLorge said Mohesky did a good solid job reaching his decision.
Coach DeLorge said Mohesky was a great kid and a great student.
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.
At Least Six People Booked Into Hopkins County Jail On Felony Warrants
At least six people were booked into Hopkins County jail on felony warrants over the couple of days, according to arrest and jail reports.
Justin Alexander Carty was served at 11:15 a.m. April 13 by Sgt. Todd Evans and Communications officer Caitlyn Wilson with an indictment for burglary of a vehicle with two or more prior convictions.
The 25-year-old Commerce man has been in custody since his arrest Dec. 30, 2020, on three theft of firearm charges and one unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon charge, according to arrest reports. He was one of two arrested in connection with a string of thefts and burglary cases in mid-December.
He was arrested on Dec. 12, 2020, after a stolen pistol was found in the bottom drawer in a case in the refrigerator and two other guns were located elsewhere in a Helm Lane apartment . Carty also allegedly admitted to breaking into multiple cars on Jill Lane, clearing some of those cases as well, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Carty remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, April 15, 2021 on the indictment, according to jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s deputies and investigators were made aware a wanted Cleveland, Texas man was traveling on Interstate 30 west at mile. A Cumby Police officer located the Ford Ranger in question and stopped it on Interstate 30 west near mile marker 105 at 5:23 p.m. April 13, 2021.
HCSO Chief Investigator Corley Weatherford and Investigators Dennis Findley and Shea Shaw took 33-year-old Jonathan Tyrell Haney into custody on the Crossett, Arkansas police warrant for rape. Haney was transported to Hopkins County jail, where he remained until April 15, 2021; the pickup was impounded, according to arrest and jail reports.
Weatherford also was alerted a 41-year-old Garland woman was being held in Dallas County jail on a Hopkins County warrant. The deputy took Sabrina Kay Morgan into custody at 2:52 p.m. April 13 and transported her from Dallas County jail to Hopkins County jail. Morgan remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, April 15, 2021, on the warrant for bond forfeiture on a June 30, 2020 possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office was notified Nathan Aaron Potter was being held in Wood County jail on a Hopkins County warrant. Deputy Amanda Weatherford took the 26-year-old Yantis man into custody at 9:30 a.m. April 14 and transported him to Hopkins County jail. Potter was booked into jail for violation of probation, which he was on for a possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance, according to jail reports.
Weatherford traveled to Bowie County and took Troy Tenell Ross into custody at 12:38 p.m. April 14 at the jail, where he was being held on a Hopkins County warrant. Ross was transferred to Hopkins County jail. He was booked and remained April 15, 2021, in Hopkins County jail on a third-degree felony warrant for violation of probation, which the 48-year-old Sulphur Springs man was on for assault of a family or household member with a previous conviction.
HCSO Sgt. Todd Evans and Communications Operator Caitlyn Wilson took Francisco Mameil Velasco into custody at the adult probation office at 4:45 p.m. April 13, 2021, and transported him to Hopkins County jail. The 27-year-old Sulphur Springs man was booked for violation of probation, which he was on for a second-degree felony arson charge, according to arrest reports. Velasco, who is also known by Franny, Cisco and Francisci, was held in the county jail without bond Thursday, April 15, 2021, according to jail reports.
Two Wildcats and Four Lady Cats Qualify for Regional Track Meet at Area Competition Wednesday
The Wildcats and Lady Cats Track Teams will be represented at the Regional Track Meet next weekend in Arlington.
Two Wildcats and four Lady Cats made it into the top four at the Area Meet Wednesday (April 14) in Hallsville to qualify for Regional.
For the Wildcats, Korderrian “Bull” Turner qualified in the long jump with a 4th place finish leaping 21′-1”. In the triple jump, Jermaine Cleveland qualified in 3rd place with a mark of 42′-9 3/4”. Turner also qualified finishing 4th going 42′-9.
Cleveland finished 5th at the District Meet but was only allowed to go to Area when another qualifying athlete above him could not go. Other Wildcats finishers at Area included Alex Flecker with 5th place in the 800-meter run.
Raydon McCormack took 7th in the shot put. Corde Mayo finished 6th in pole vault. Devon Franklin competed in the high jump.
For the Lady Cats, Haylee Shultz qualified in 4th place in the 3200-meter run with a time of 12:36.926. Bre’Asia Ivery qualified in two events taking 2nd in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.492 and finishing 4th in the long jump with a mark of 16′-8 3/4”.
Claire Bybee qualified with a 1st place finish in pole vault soaring 12′-0”. Bybee finished 3 feet higher than the rest of the field. Dalanee Myles qualified getting 4th in the high jump leaping 4′-10”.
Other Lady Cats results at Area included a 5th place finish by the 4X100-meter relay team of Ivery, Myles, Janine Yamaguchi and Nylah Lindley. Vaness Wayne was a relay alternate. Bybee took 5th in the 300-meter hurdles, Shultz was 7th in the 1600-meter run. Mia Jones was 5th in the shot put.
The Regional Meet will take place in Arlington on April 23-24.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Has Open Spots April 28 For First Dose Of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has open spots April 28 for the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
The first shot will be administered Wednesday, April 28 and the second on Wednesday, May 19, at the hospital.
“We do ask that you are able to attend both dates, so that we are able to be good stewards of our supply. These dates are unable to be changed due to the short-stability of the vaccine once opened, and the quantities we are administering at a time,” said Holly Ragan, Senior Market Development for CHRISTUS® Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs.
There is no cost associated with the vaccine, but registration is required. The vaccine is available to anyone age 16 or older who has yet to receive a dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
To register, click here, select the desired time from those available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28, then fill in your information and submit the registration process.
7 Commerce Tigers Qualify for Regional Meet at Area Meet Held This Week
The Commerce Tigers men’s track and field team placed second at the 3A Region 2 Area track meet held on Wednesday, Apr. 14 in Rains, TX.
The Tigers have 7 athletes advancing to the regional meet. Commerce placed second at the Area meet after accumulating 78 points as a team.
In running events, Aidan Crowder qualified for the Regional track meet after snagging silver in the 200M dash. Ashton Seale got sixth in the event. Speaking of getting sixth, Enrique Morales placed sixth in the 400M dash.
The second Tiger to qualify for the regional meet came thanks to Enrique Morales finishing with bronze in the 800M run. Isaac Hernandez and Oliver Roberts missed the threshold to qualify by placing sixth and seventh, respectively.
Roberts did manage to qualify for regionals after getting second in the 1600M run.
Roberts qualified for his second event by winning the 3200M run. Jovani Castanada got seventh. Ty Hoffman fared very well in the hurdles, placing sixth in 110M hurdles and becoming the first alternate for the Tigers after finishing fifth in the 300M hurdles. J’den Wilson won the 300M hurdle event, so he will be moving on to the regional meet.
The Commerce team of Seale, Edgar Castillo, Carlos Aubrey and Da’shawn Jackson placed seventh in the 4x100M relay. In the 4x200M relay, the Tiger team of Seale, Jackson, Castillo, and Crowder did well enough to finish fifth, becoming the second alternate at the meet for Commerce.
Lastly in running events, the 4x400M relay team of Castillo, Hernandez, Crowder and Morales did well enough to finish sixth in the event.
In field events, Omarhi Davis did well enough in long jump to get a top-10 finish, but not enough to qualify for regionals as he placed seventh. Davis was not done, though, as he qualified in both shot put and discuss after placing fourth and second, respectively.
Richard Jackson fared even better in shot put than Davis, as Jackson took third in the event and will be participating in the regional meet with six other Commerce Tigers.
Anton Stapleton was the third and final alternate for the Tigers as he managed to grab fifth place in shot put. The final Commerce athlete to qualify for regionals is Jayston Jones, who took the final qualifying spot in discuss at fourth place.
Cameron Warren, Tigers mens track coach, said after the meet that it is “Exciting to go out every week and see our kids battle and compete.”
The Commerce track coach said he was super proud of all of the Tigers’ dedication and hard work.
Next up, seven Tiger track members will be competing in the 3A Region 2 Regional Track meet held next Thursday and Friday, Apr. 23-24, in Whitehouse.
Alabama Man Caught With A Drug Test Falsification Device
A 23-year-old Demopolis, Alabama man was caught with a drug test falsification device as well as marijuana Wednesday night, according to arrest reports.
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper reported stopping a white TTST Freightliner at 8 p.m. April 17, 2020, on Interstate 30 east at mile marker 137 for a defective head light. A probable cause search revealed a usable quantity of marijuana and a drug test falsification kit in the vehicle.
The 23-year-old southwestern Alabama resident in the big rig admitted to using the kit to pass his drug test for work. The truck driver was taken into custody and transported by a Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office deputy to the county jail, where he was booked on the misdemeanor offenses of possession of a drug test falsification device (the kit) and possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana. The truck tractor and semi trailer were inspected, inventoried and released by the DPS officer to a towing service for storage.
The Alabama truck driver remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday morning, April 15, 2021. His bond was set at $1,000 each on the marijuana and drug test falsification kit.
KSST does not publish the names or photos of people charged with misdemeanor crimes in staff-generated reports, only those accused of felony 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.
Hopkins County Approves Another Solar Project: Grants 100% Tax Abatement
The Hopkins County Commissioners recently approved another 381 agreement for a solar project to be located in Precinct 4 with two major land owners involved. The contract provides a 100% tax abatement for the Bright Arrow Solar project for the first ten years of the contract as Hopkins County has chosen to take a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) in the amount of $360,000 annually for those same ten years. The solar company would then start paying 100% of the taxes owed on the depreciated value of the panels and equipment for the following years. The original investment in panels and other equipment for the 300 megawatt facility is estimated to be $275 million and will include a “battery array” for electricity storage as well which has driven the value of investment up from previous estimates. Bright Arrow Solar representative, Sean Pattee, told KSST News that local solar projects are having to re-evaluate their installations in the area as the wholesale prices for electricity that is being paid to solar providers has been going down recently due to supply and demand.
The largest solar farm in the country is under construction currently north of Hopkins County and covers portions of Lamar, Franklin, and Red River counties. The Samson Solar Energy Center will provide over 1,300 megawatts of electricty (enough to power 300,000 homes) and that electricity will be transferred directly to the grid. As more electricity is transferred to the grid from our area, theoretically the price paid will go down for additional providers to transfer their electricity to the grid.
The two major land owners that will be leasing their land to the solar company, BK Hill Real Estate LLC. and the Champagne family will be losing their “ag exemption” on their leased property and will now be responsible for taxes at the “non Ag” rate going forward as well as having to pay a rollback of the past three years at the higher tax rate per state mandate.
SSISD board of directors also approved their contract with Bright Arrow Solar, which involves a Chapter 313 agreement allowing the solar company to pay taxes on a reduced amount of taxable value of $25 million instead of the original value of $275 million. This contract will run for the first ten years of the project and then Bright Arrow Solar agrees to pay full taxes on the depreciated value of approximately $55 million taxable value. This latest solar project is located completly within the boundaries of the Sulphur Springs Independent School District and Hopkins County.
