2 Miller Grove Junior High Robotics Teams Advance To Global Contest
Two Miller Grove Junior High Robotics Teams have advancing to the Global VEX Robotics Competition, while the Grove’s high school team competed in their second state robotics tournament this year.
The MGISD teams compete in VEX Robotics Competitions featuring competitors from schools ranging in size from 1A to 6A, as well as home school teams. The Junior High and High School teams all compete together and against each other at competitions, not dividing into grade levels until state. Then, junior high and high school have separate tournaments, explained Laura Smith, who along with David Mosley and Robert Smith, serves as a MGISD robotics sponsor.
The MGJH teams ranked third and seventh in state in the robotics skills competition and qualified for the Junior High State Competition. As has been the case for many things this year, both teams competed virtually in the state skills competition and judges’ interviews. The MGJH teams won the Build Award and the Amaze Award from the judges’ interviews, which qualified them for the World Robotics Skills Competition.
Both Junior High Teams had their judges interviews virtually with a panel of judges from across the world. They are still waiting to be sent the appropriate links so their robots can be checked in and their skills competition scheduled.
(Photos: Courtesy Miller Grove ISD Robotics )
“Those should drop any time. The World Competitions are all happening virtually this year, which is actually kind of exciting for our students. We should be competing some time next week,” Laura Smith said Tuesday.
Junior high robotics students include Alessandro Alvarez, Blanca Culbertson, Kaden Hiller, Yahir Santana and Sebastian Tovar.
For the second time, the MGHS robotics team qualified for and competed at the State Tournament.
“They competed very well, but were beaten out by 5A and 6A in the tournament. We are very proud of how well they did,” Laura Smith said.
The MG High School Robotics Team includes George Back, Aiden Yudell and Hannah Nalls.
Since the junior high robotics students’ won’t get to experience the live global contest, MGISD is planning a Watch Party for the robotics teams at the end of the month so they can watch the Global finals in their tournament division, as well as announcement of awards and the reveal of next year’s game.
Wrap up Report on Lady Cats Golfer Mariam Tran’s 9th Place Finish at State Golf Tourney
With everything complete at the Girls Class 5A State Golf Tournament, Lady Cat senior Mariam Tran finished in 9th place in the State. There were 71 players in the field.
The two day tournament, played Monday and Tuesday (May 10-11), was at the White Wing Golf Club in Georgetown. Tran played very well both days shooting 74 and 73 for a two-day total of 147, 3 over par.
It marked a great finish for Tran’s 4 years of excellent golf as the Lady Cats #1 player.
There were only 9 sub par rounds recorded over the two days of the State Golf Tournament.
Tran was 7 strokes out of the lead.
The winner was Mason Lewis of Granbury, one of Tran’s playing partners during the first round. San Antonio Alamo Heights won the team championship.
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.
Lady Cats Softball Tops Huntsville in Game 1 in Extra Innings
It took an extra inning, but the Lady Cats softball team capitalized when they needed to most, winning against the Huntsville Lady Hornets in 8 innings, 1-0 on Wednesday, May 12.
The two teams starting pitchers started out on a tear.
Both teams struggled to make contact early in the game.
When either side did get a runner on base, and at times two runners on base, each time those same runners were left stranded after neither team could capitalize by getting runners home.
After 7 full innings, both teams had 3 hits a piece, but neither team could manage to get a runner home to take the lead.
Sulphur Springs looked as though they could have walked it off in the bottom of the seventh, because with only 1 out, the Lady Cats had the bases loaded.
With the game threatening to go to extra innings, it looked as though this might be the best chance for Coach David Carrillo’s squad to get the win in Game 1 of the Regional Quarterfinal.
But it would not be so, as the two following Lady Cats batters were called out to end the inning and send the game to extra innings.
The top of the eighth was a tense one for the traveling Sulphur Springs fans, as the story was flipped.
Huntsville looked to be knocking on victory’s doors when with one out, LF for Huntsville Kylie Woods tripled to be only 90 feet away from taking the lead in a deadlocked 0-0 tie.
Unfortunately for the Lady Hornets, 2 of the next 3 Huntsville batters struck out to thwart any chance of the Lady Hornets taking the lead.
Now taking on DP/Relief pitcher JJ Duke, the Lady Cats knew they had to close the game out in the bottom of the eighth if they wished to win in Game 1 of the Regional Quarterfinal.
The second batter of the inning, RF Grace Magnuson, was walked with one out.
The following batter, 3B and clean-up hitter Addison Caddell advanced Magnuson to second with a sac bunt.
So with two outs, and with Magnuson in scoring position at second, it was all up to starting P Crimson Bryant in her fourth at-bat of the evening to determine if the Lady Cats would walk-off with an extra inning victory, or if the game would go to the ninth inning.
Bryant cashed in on her opportunity, doubling on a line drive to center field to get Magnuson home to walk-off the game with a 1-0, extra inning victory over the Huntsville Lady Hornets in Whitehouse.
Both teams fought tooth-and-nail for the victory, but it would be Coach David Carrillo’s Lady Cats who emerged victorious.
Bryant had an incredibly solid outing, pitching the full 8 innings while giving up no earned runs on 4 hits. The dynamite ace walked three batters in the eight inning game, but did manage to strike out 18 Lady Hornet batters in the victory.
The win over Huntsville gave the Lady Cats a Game 1 victory in the best-of-three series. The win increased Coach Carrillo’s squad’s season record to 27-3 overall (11-1 district).
With the game 1 victory over the Lady Hornets, Sulphur Springs will now be looking at Game 2 with the hopes of closing out the series.
Next up, the Lady Cats will be in Rusk, TX on Friday, May 14 for Game 2 of the Regional Quarterfinal series. That game is set to tee off on Friday at 6:30 PM.
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.
After Fan Sendoff From Home, Lady Cats Softball Team Opens Regional Quarterfinal Series Wednesday Night
Some of the parents of Lady Cats’ softball players organized a send off event as the team left Lady Cat Park on their bus headed for their game against Huntsville Wednesday evening at Whitehouse.
It gave the girls’ fans a chance to cheer the girls as they departed town.
The Lady Cats Softball Team does begin their best 2 out of 3 Regional Quarterfinal Series with Huntsville Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Whitehouse.
Huntsville was a district champion and the Lady Cats were co-champs, Huntsville in District 16-5A and the Lady Cats in District 15-5A.
The Lady Hornets went 10-0 in district play and they are 28-5 for the season. Huntsville defeated Texas High and Forney to get to the Regional Quarterfinal. The Lady Hornets are ranked #7 in the State in Class 5A according to a Texas Girls Coaches Association Poll.
The Lady Cats were 11-1 in district play and they defeated Hallsville in a seeding game to earn the district’s number one seed. The Lady Cats downed Lufkin and Crandall to get to the Regional Quarterfinals. The Lady Cats are 26-3 for the season.
Lady Cats Coach David Carrillo says he has fond memories of the Whitehouse all-turf field. The Lady Cats defeated Whitehouse there in game one of a bi-district series in 2019, 14-4, in a game shortened to 5 innings due to the ten run rule.
The next day, at Lady Cat Park, the Lady Cats got a win to wrap up the series.
This marks the fifth time Coach Carrillo’s Lady Cats have made it to the Regional Quarterfinal round. Game two is at Rusk Friday at 6:30 p.m.
A game three, if needed, will be back at Whitehouse Saturday at 2 p.m. KSST sister station, KRVA-FM, 107.1, will bring you Lady Cats and Lady Hornets Regional Quarterfinal action tonight at 6:30 p.m. from Whitehouse. Ross LaBenske will have the play by play.
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.
Dallas Man Jailed After Bond Revoked On Felony Charge
A 46-year-old Dallas man was jailed at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2021, after his bond was revoked on a felony charge, according to arrest reports.
Kenneth Paul Tolly Jr. was taken into custody in the district courtroom by a Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office corrections officer and escorted into the jail for bond revocation on a possession of less than 1 gram of a 2020 Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to arrest reports. He man remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday morning, May 12, 2021, on the bond revocation order.
Tolly was initially arrested on July 15, 2020, on the controlled substance charge as well as an assault by threat charge. Deputies responded to reports of a person trying to break into his own residence and arguing going on at an Interstate 30 address shortly after 5 a.m. July 15. Upon arrival, deputies found Tolly screaming and yelling at his father and his girlfriend. Tolly allegedly made threatening comments to harm both and sent text messages about harming his girlfriend, deputies wrote in 2020 arrest reports. Tolly was arrested on the assault by threat charge, then later served with a controlled substance warrant.
The Dallas man was released from jail Aug. 20, 2020, on a $10,000 bond on the controlled substance charge, according to jail records. A Hopkins County Grand Jury indicted the Dallas man in December of 2020 for possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
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.
Dike Woman Reportedly Had Child In Car During Drunk Driving Crash
A 39-year-old Dike woman had a child in the car with her during a drunk driving crash. The crash occurred Tuesday afternoon, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jason Lavender reported finding Sydnee Rochelle Kirk at the scene of a suspected drunk driving crash reported at the intersection of County Road 3512 and FM 3236 around 4 p.m. May 11, 2021. Lavender, in arrest reports, noted a child passenger had been in the Ford Fusion with Kirk.
While speaking with the Dike woman, Lavender reported smelling a metabolized alcohol odor emitting from her breath. When asked, she claimed she had “only had one or two shots” around 2 p.m. Lavender determined Kirk was intoxicated following standard field sobriety tests and took her into custody for drunk driving.
When asked, Kirk agreed to a breath test. The test was administered by a state trooper. She tested 0.103 g/210L on the first sample and the second breath sample had a reading of 0.102 g/210 L.
Kirk remained in Hopkins County jail Wednesday, May 12, 2021, on the driving while intoxicated with a child passenger under 15 years of age charge. Her bond was set at $10,000 on the felony DWI charge.
KRVA Summer Fun Trip Giveaway
After the year you’ve had, you deserve a break.
KRVA appreciates you, and wants to help you take time to unwind and reset this summer with a free trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas!
With a 3-night stay at Edgewater Resort, and tickets to Magic Springs Waterpark, this trip will be fun for the whole family.
To enter to win, go to the KRVA Facebook page, “like” the homepage, and the “KRVA Summer fun” post-and that’s it! You’re automatically entered to win!
Don’t wait! Winners for this trip will be announced Friday Morning at 7:15am on KRVA 107.1 FM.
And make sure to keep listening all summer long for more great giveaways from KRVA!
Fort Worth Woman Sentenced On A Stolen Vehicle Case
A 19-year-old Fort Worth woman has been sentenced on a stolen vehicle case, which Sulphur Springs Police believed to be one of three connected stolen vehicle crashes and multiple burglary cases, which they worked early Friday, Nov. 13, 2020.
Sunny Lea Sweatman appeared before 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt in a sentencing hearing. She was accused Nov. 13, 2020 of two offenses, unauthorized use of a vehicle and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.
A vehicle burglary was reported to be in progress on Houston Street early Nov. 13, while officers were still investigating a suspicious vehicle report that began near the city library the ended with the stolen truck fleeing to Main Street, then crashing into a light pole behind the police department. In an areas where additional suspected burglaries were also being reported, officers spotted on Houston Street and attempted to stop a car being driven with no headlights on. The driver, later identified as Sweatman, reportedly crashed into into a concrete divider or road control device, on Houston Street at North Hillcrest Drive around 2:50 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, police alleged in the 2020 arrest reports. She was ordered out of the car at gunpoint and taken into custody for evading arrest or detention. Officers later learned the crashed Honda Accord had been stolen from a Main Street address, resulting in the UUV charge, according to the SSPD chief and arrest reports.
The 19-year-old remained in Hopkins County jail on both charges from Nov. 13, 2020 until Jan. 7, 2021; bond on the charges totaled $15,000: $10,000 on the evading arrest charge and $5,000 on the UUV charge.
Sweatman pled guilty on the stolen vehicle charge and acknowledged her guilt in the evading case as part of a what is referred to as a 12.45 agreement or plea, according to prosecutors.
This refers to Section 12.45 of Texas Penal Code which allows a defendant to admit during a sentencing hearing to guilt of one or more unadjudicated offenses and request the court to take each into account in determining sentence for the offense or offenses of which the defendant stands adjudged guilty. While considered the unadjudicated offenses are dismissed.
Sweatman was sentenced to a 12-month commitment in a state jail and ordered to pay a $500 fine on the stolen vehicle charge as well as $500 in restitution. She was taken into custody and jailed Monday, May 10, 2021, on the UUV conviction, according to court and jail reports.
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.
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.
SSISD Wildcat Theatre Programs Display Skills In 2 Free Productions
If you like live theater or just supporting local student thespians, you’ll want to be sure to mark May 13 and May 18 on your calendar. The Sulphur Springs ISD Wildcat Theatre Programs will be displaying their skills in two free productions offered on those days.
The Sulphur Springs High School Wildcat Theatre will present Don Nigro’s “Cinderella Waltz” starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13, on the stage at the SSHS Auditorium. While this senior showcase is offered free of charge, donations will be accepted for any who feel generous to help the SSHS theatre program offset costs and provide funding for future productions.
According to Concord Theatricals, the Samuel French, Inc., title tells the story of Rosey Snow, a girl “trapped in a fairy tale world that is by turns funny and a little frightening, with her stepsisters Goneril and Regan, her demented stepmother, her lecherous father, a bewildered Prince, a fairy godmother who sings salty old sailor songs, a troll and a possibly homicidal village idiot.”
“Cinderella Waltz” contrasts the familiar happily ever after fairy tale with the darker, more ancient disturbing tale recorded by the brothers Grimm. Don Nigro’s version is an adult fairy tale which blends “grotesque farce and romantic fantasy.”
The Sulphur Springs Middle School Wildcat Theatre then will offer a musical program at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 18. The SSMS theatre students will perform Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka Jr.,” on the SSMS stage. The doors will open for seating at 7 p.m.
The play is based on Dahl’s classic novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The play features words and music by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, which were adapted to the stage by Bricusse and Timothy M. McDonald.
As is the case with the movies based on Dahl’s book, “Willy Wonka Jr.” tells the story of candy manufacturer Willy Wonka’s contest. Golden tickets are hidden in candy bars; those who hold golden tickets win a free tour of the Wonka factory and a lifetime supply of candy – provided they follow Wonka’s rules. Four of the five children who take the tour are brats, while a fifth child, Charlie, is more likeable. Those who do not follow the rules face calamitous consequences.
Chamber Connection – May 13, 2021
By Butch Burney
There are so many recognitions happening lately, and like our Chamber Board President Rusty Posey says, you can’t go wrong recognizing people.
We give a salute to Rowena Johnson, who dedicated her life to teaching our children. She was my third grade teacher her first year teaching, and was a loving, disciplined teacher and principal who touched more children and parents than we will ever know. The SSISD board voted to rename Lamar Primary as Rowena Johnson Primary in a proper memorial. Also, thanks to Coach Cip and his family for all they have done in the community. Best of luck moving forward. Lastly, in the education realm, a warm, thoughtful prayer was given at the National Junior Honor Society ceremony Monday night for dedicated SSMS teacher Senor Mangon in his battle with cancer. Hopkins County is blessed to have so many outstanding educators.
While we’re at it, Hopkins County EMS Appreciation Week is May 16-22, and many events are being organized on their behalf, including luncheons, breakfasts, cards, letter and drawings. Our thanks go out to all first responders.
Chamber Showcase
Plans are being made for the Third Annual Chamber Showcase in early August. This is a fantastic networking event and a way for you, as a business owner or representative, to get your name and services out to the public. Only Chamber members can reserve booths for display (the public is invited to attend free of charge), so contact us at the Chamber to find out how your affordable annual membership not only allows you to rent a booth at the Showcase but gives you advantages and opportunities all year long.
Ribbon Cuttings
The Chamber will be hosting a ribbon cutting at noon Thursday, May 13, for Money Law Firm. The celebration will be held at their Sulphur Springs location, 1335 South Broadway Suite 40, and we would love for you to join us.
Davison Development & Building will be hosting their ribbon cutting on May 18, at noon. We would love for you to join us, at 204B Linda Drive, for a fun celebration with free barbecue and refreshments.
Brookshire’s Food Store in Sulphur Springs is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its updated store, located at 809 Gilmer St., at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 19. There will be a small ceremony inside the store and conclude with a ribbon cutting outside. Brookshire’s Community Kitchen will be there to serve free breakfast, and their 13-foot Big Grocery Cart will be on display. Please join us for this celebration.
Volunteer Fair
The Volunteer Fair on Thursday, May 13, at The ROC has about 20 agencies looking for volunteers. The fair, which is scheduled for 1-4 p.m., will have lots of door prizes and refreshments. If you’re interested in volunteering, it will be a great place to start.
Salute to the Veterans
Also, don’t forget about the 5th Annual Salute the Veterans BBQ Cookoff at VFW Post 8560 on May 14-15. There will be music on Friday night, then the barbecue cookoff is set for Saturday.
Mammography Mobile Coach
The Hunt Regional Tubby Adkisson Mobile Mammography Coach will be at the Spring Village Shopping Center on May 20. To schedule individual screening mammograms, call 903-408-5010. Appointments and pre-registration are requested.
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 May 10, Latson’s. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
