Winter Cattle Feeding by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
Feeding cattle during the winter season heavily depends on forage availability and this on moisture to keep up with its growth. Many beef producers may need a Plan B when it comes to winter forages due to dry conditions, according to Dr. Jason Banta, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist in Overton. Supplemental feeding is underway in parts of the state due to dry conditions. Continued dry conditions could hinder winter annual growth and increase the need for nutritional supplements for cattle herds. Banta said supplemental feeding started earlier than usual for many producers around the state because of dry fall conditions. The Texas state climatologist’s long-term winter forecast called for warmer, drier conditions. This means producers will have to feed hay much earlier compared to recent years. “If producers get rain, they’ll want to utilize those winter annuals as best as possible,” he continued. “If they don’t get rain, producers need to be calculating how much hay they have on hand and whether they might need to start looking for sources to purchase additional hay.”If winter pasture growth is abundant, then pairs can be grazed full time. However, dry cows in the last third of gestation should be limit-grazed for about two hours per day because full-time grazing can result in increased calf birth weights. If winter pasture is short, limit grazing will be the best strategy for both spring and fall-calving cows. Banta said now is the time for producers to prepare for worst-case scenarios and maintain or improve herd body condition scores. Hay should be tested for protein and total digestible nutrients, or TDN, so producers can calculate their herd’s nutritional needs and decide which supplemental sources are most appropriate. For example, to maintain its body condition, a lactating cow would require hay that is about 11.5 percent protein and 62-63 percent TDN. A dry cow in late gestation would need about 8 percent protein and 55 percent TDN. Producers should select supplements based on the cost per unit of nutrient needed, Banta said. Cubes are a common supplement used by many producers. If both energy and protein supplementation are needed, a 20 percent protein cube would likely be most cost effective, he said. However, if only a protein supplement is needed, then a 40 percent protein cube is more cost effective. Producers should start slow and build up with supplements, such as concentrates and grains, because cows are designed to consume grasses. It’s also important to feed them supplements consistently each day to avoid digestive problems such as acidosis, which can lead to founder, foot abscesses, damage to the rumen lining or death. It is recommended to starting with no more than 2 pounds of supplement per cow per day and slowly building up from there. Generally speaking, if cows are in good condition then 1-1.5 pounds of a 40 percent protein cube or something similar is a good place to start for dry cows; 2-3 pounds per day would likely be needed for wet cows, Banta said. If cows also need energy, then something like a 20 percent protein cube could be a good option. With average quality hay, a common feeding rate for dry cows would be about 2-3 pounds per day per cow or 4-6 pounds for wet cows. Two – and three-year-old cows should have a body condition score of 6 or better at calving. Cows 4-years-old and older should be in a body condition score of 5 or greater at calving.Cows with a body condition score of 5 don’t look fat or thin. Ribs are not noticeable and areas on each side of the tailhead are fairly well filled in but fat pones have not developed, according to the AgriLife Extension overviews..A body condition score of 6 represents cows that are in good shape for calving. Ribs are covered completely with fat. Fat deposits are beginning to increase in the brisket and on each side of the tailhead.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please call the Hopkins County Extension Office in Hopkins County by calling 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Hopkins County Extension
Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas
75482 903-885-3443
Tuesday Game Day Has Wildcats Basketball On The Road And Lady Cats At Home
There will be Wildcats and Lady Cats’ basketball on this game day Tuesday, Dec. 1.
The Wildcats travel to Rockwall for a game Tuesday evening. The schedule calls for a freshmen game at 4:30 p.m. Then, a JV contest takes place at about 6 p.m. The varsity game is scheduled to get underway at around 7:30 p.m.
The Wildcats enter the contest with a record of 2-3. The Wildcats are 1-1 on the road so far this season with a loss at McKinney Boyd and a win at Dallas Lincoln. The Wildcats won their last game before Thanksgiving break defeating Lincoln, 60-47 last Wednesday night.
The Lady Cats Basketball Team plays host to Terrell in the Main Gym at Sulphur Springs High School on Tuesday. A JV contest is set for 5 p.m. with a varsity game to follow at around 6 p.m.
After having their first three games of the regular season canceled due to a coronavirus quarantine, the Lady Cats were able to get in two games last week. They are 1-1 for the season after a Monday evening road loss at Liberty-Eylau and a Tuesday afternoon home win over Mineola, 45-34. The Lady Cats are 1-0 at home so far this young season.
The Lady Cats will have several players back, after the volleyball season ended last week. Back with the Lady Cats are Addisyn Wall, Nylah Lindley and Bre’Asia Ivery.
According to MaxPreps, Terrell has a 5-1 season record so far this season.
KSST will bring you the Lady Cats and Terrell game starting at around 6 p.m. Tuesday. The game is expected to feature live video and audio streaming. The game will be recorded for replay at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
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.
Wildcats Varsity Football Game At Forney Friday Canceled After Jackrabbit Virus Issues
The Wildcats Friday night, Dec. 4, varsity football game at Forney has been canceled due to coronavirus at Forney.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens confirmed the report Tuesday morning. He informed his coaches and staff earlier Tuesday.
Forney, which had managed to play all nine of their previously scheduled games this season, became aware of the situation Monday evening.
Coach Owens says he is trying to reschedule an opponent for the Wildcats varsity for this weekend.
He says the Wildcats 9th grade’s game at Forney at 5 p.m. Wednesday is still on. Coach Owens said the Wildcats JV game against Forney at The Prim Thursday at 5:30 p.m. is also still a go.
Stay tuned. KSST will have the latest on Wildcats’ varsity football as the situation continues to develop.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Click here for more Wildcat and Lady Cat Sports
Two Kilograms Of Suspected Methamphetamine And A Stolen Firearm Found During SH 11 Traffic Stop
Two kilograms of suspected methamphetamine and a stolen firearm were found during a State Highway 11 traffic stop Monday, resulting in the arrest of Leesburg brothers, according to arrest reports.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Britan Marlow reported being alerted by a special DPS agent of a possible narcotics courier traveling east from Greenville. Marlow stopped a Nissan Altima at 4:40 p.m. Nov. 30, 2020, on State Highway 11 for following too close to another vehicle.
While talking to the two brothers in the vehicle, Marlow noted the Leesburg men “appeared extremely nervous.” When Marlow requested permission to search the car, he was denied consent.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Colt Patterson was requested to respond at the location with his trained canine partner. The police K-9 conducted a sniff search of the car, giving an alert for contraband. The driver, identified in arrest reports as 34-year-old Lillard Charles Hart, allegedly admitted there was illegal narcotics in the vehicle.
Officials recovered a bag with four bundles of suspected methamphetamine that weighed approximately 2 kilograms (4.8 pounds) from the passenger’s seat of the car and a .40-caliber Glock handgun from under the front passenger’s seat, where 32-year-old Nathan Paul Hart had been seated. Records checks confirmed the handgun had been reported to Murfreesboro authorities as stolen and Nathan Hart was found to be a convicted felon.
Consequently, both Hart brothers were arrested for possession of 400 grams or more of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance. Lillard Charles Hart was also charged with theft of a firearm and later a warrant for failure to display driver’s license, while his brother, Nathan Paul Hart, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon Both men remained in Hopkins County jail on the charges Tuesday morning, Dec. 1, 2020.
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.
Morning Jury Duty Cancelled For Dec. 7
Eighth Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt has jury summons out for Monday, Dec. 7, at 8:30 a.m. Judge Northcutt has cancelled the jury panel, according to Hopkins County District Clerk Cheryl Fulcher. Thus, those who received a jury summons for the 8:30 a.m. Dec. 7 do not need to report for duty.
Steel For the New Grays Building Being Installed At Pacific Park
Design, Engineering Service Contract For TPWD Grant For Pacific Park Improvements On Dec. 1 City Council Agenda
Work on the new Grays Building progressed Tuesday morning at Pacific Park with Hawk Construction putting up the steel beams that will be the backbone for the new building. The steel was delivered from Sulta Manufacturing last week, and work was well under way Tuesday by Hawk to install the steel.
The progress brings the project one step closer to completion, but there is still a lot of work to be done before the Grays Building will be ready for use. The building is expected to be complete in late spring of 2021. All dirt work, construction of all sidewalks, on-street parking, all plumbing and electrical work will be performed by city staff.
The new Grays Building will be twice the size of the current structure and will include roll-up bay doors to allow the side of the building facing the park to be opened into the park for big indoor-outdoor events and a patio.
The new community building at Pacific Park is also being prepared for solar panels. While the solar panels will not initially be installed, but the Grays Building will be equipped with conduits in place so that they can be added at a later time, according to the city manager. The new structure will also include a generator so that the appliances can be used by the community in the event of a big power outage as well, according to Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell.
The Grays Building and improvements at Pacific Park are being funded with a portion of the $3 million received in bond proceeds: $1.5 million for Pacific Park and the remainder toward construction of a new activity building for senior citizens. Sulphur Springs residents in November 2019 voted to allow the city to use up to $200,000 of EDC money for up to 20 years for a 4B purpose. The project has to be finished within 3 years of issuing the bonds.
Sulphur Springs City Council during the regular 7 p.m. meeting, which will be conducted tonight via Zoom and streamed on the City of Sulphur Springs Meetings YouTube page for the public to view, is expected to act on two items related to the Pacific Park upgrades and senior center construction projects.
The City Council will be asked to consider a contract between the City of Sulphur Springs and MHS Planning & Design LLC for professional services for design and engineering for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant for Pacific Park. A resolution for a service contract agreement with Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation for sharing the cost of improvements to Pacific Park and a new senior citizens activity center is expected to be submitted to the council for approval during Tuesday’s meeting.
Also on the Dec. 1 agenda is a public hearing for final reading and approval of an ordinance establishing an industrial reinvestment zone and five agricultural license agreements at the old Thermo mine/Luminant property.
Blue Santa’s Drive-Thru Open December 1 til 7pm on WalMart Lot… Toys and Donations Needed!
Today, December 1, is the second and final day of the annual Blue Santa Toy Drive in Hopkins County. Parents of local children ages 0-16 who are on the Blue Santa list will receive toys for Christmas during Blue Santa distribution in mid-December. Hopkins County always has a big heart for Blue Santa…last year over 4,000 toys were distributed to the families signed up on the program. This generous help from the community makes Christmas brighter for them. 2020 has been an especially tough year financially for many local families. Can you help? New toys for newborns through teens are needed, as well as monetary donations. Drive through today and drop off something. Local law enforcement personnel will accept your gifts and donations at your car window on the Wal-Mart parking lot. A Merry Christmas to all from Blue Santa!
Nov. 30 COVID-19 Update: 90 Active Cases, 25 in COVID Unit at CMFH-SS
Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials in the Nov. 30 COVID-19 update reported 90 active COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County and 25 patients in the COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs. Texas Department of State Health Services also on Monday, Nov. 30 reported the COVID-19 percentage of hospital patients in Trauma Service Area F remained above 15 percent for the third consecutive day in a row.
HC/SSEM Nov. 30 COVID-19 Update
According to the HC/SSEM Nov. 30 COVID-19 update, 35 Hopkins County residents received positive lab-confirmed molecular COIVD-19 results over the last week. According to DSHS reports, two Hopkins County residents tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 24, seven on Nov. 25, 21 on Nov. 26, four on Nov. 28 and one on Nov. 30. That increases the active case count from 56 last Monday, Nov. 23, to 90 on Monday, Nov. 30, according to DSHS Case Counts dashboard and Data Over Time by County reports.
That also makes 138 additional Hopkins County residents who received positive molecular COVID-19 test results this month, That’s less than half the total number of new cases reported in October, but still more than any other month since the pandemic began. From March-June 24, only 50 Hopkins County residents had received positive COVID-19 results. The totals picked up from there, with 89 reported during July, 91 new cases in August, 118 in September and 323 new cases in October. That makes a total of 833 Hopkins County residents (2.25 percent of the population) who have received positive molecular COVID-19 test results.
An additional 47 Hopkins County residents received positive COVID-19 antigen test results over the last week, the fewest number of antigen positives reported since September. That could be due in part to the fact that many medical clinics were closed one or more day last week in observance of Thanksgiving.
Positive antigen test results are considered by the case to be “probable” cases and are not included in the daily case counts reported by DSHS and weekly by HC/SSEM.
While DSHS and HC/SSEM have reported no recoveries by patients who tested positive on molecular tests for COIVD-19 since the 42 recoveries reported Nov. 9, DSHS notified HC/SSEM on Monday, Nov. 30 that 55 Hopkins County residents who had received positive antigen results were considered to have recovered from the virus on Monday. That makes 744 of 823 residents who received positive antigen results who have recovered since March, according to the Nov. 30 COVID-19 update.
Combined, that’s 82 positive COVID-19 results (molecular and antigen) received by Hopkins County residents in the last week. That leaves 90 active molecular cases and 79 active probable antigen cases Monday, according to the Nov. 30 COVID-19 update.
Hospital Reports
HC/SSEM officials in the Nov. 30 COVID-19 update also reported 25 patients in the COVID-19 unit at CHRISUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, a new record high reported for the COVID unit since HC/SSEM began reporting them in August.. On only one of the last five hospital reports from HC/SSEM has the patient count at CMFH-SS been less than 20: there were 22 patients in the COVID unit on Nov. 23, 24 on Nov. 24 and 27, and 22 on Nov. 26, and 19 on Nov. 25. That’s 25 beds filled out of a possible 35 beds available for COVID-19 patients.
In Trauma Service Area F, which includes most of Northeast Texas, including Hopkins County and CMFH-SS, there were reported to be 1,056 total staffed beds, including 965 total staffed inpatient beds, leaving 382 available hospital beds, six available ICU beds and 66 available ventilators as of 4:50 p.m. Nov. 30, according to the DSHS Nov. 30 report.
DSHS reported that 169 COVID patients accounted for 16 percent of the 583 hospitalizations in Trauma Service Area F on Monday, that’s down from 16.25 percent on Sunday.
Monday, Nov. 30, marked the third consecutive day COVID-19 patients have accounted for more than 15 percent of the total capacity of all hospitals in the region; COVID-19 hospitalizations accounted for 15.76 percent of total hospitalizations on Nov. 28.
The state monitors COVID-19 percentages of total hospital capacity daily to determine “high hospitalizations” among TSAs.
According to Governor’s Executive Order GA-32 enacted on Oct. 14, when a TSA’s hospitalized molecular lab-confirmed COVID-19 patient percentage exceeds 15 percent of the total capacity for seven consecutive days, the TSA is considered to have a high COVID-19 hospitalization requires more stringent COVID-19 guidelines and requirements for those areas. That means with “any business establishment that otherwise would have a 75 percent occupancy or operating limit” will be reduced to operating at 50 percent occupancy. For additional information about GA-32 click here.
Across the state there are 8,900 lab-confirmed positive COIVD-19 patients in Texas hospitals, Three were 63,412 total staffed hospital beds, 57,580 total staffed inpatient beds, 13,020 available ICU beds, 840 available ICU beds, 7,404 available ventilators in Texas hospitals late Monday afternoon, Nov. 30, according to the DHS report.
HHS COVID-19 Reports
One additional resident death was reported at Sulphur Springs Health & Rehab, for a total of seven COVID-19 resident fatalities reported at the facility as of Nov. 13 and a total of 38 resident fatalities at Sulphur Springs nursing home as of Nov. 16, the most recent COVID-19 nursing facility data available from HHS on Nov. 30.
There were 12 active employee and five active resident COVID-19 cases reported for the four nursing facilities in Sulphur Springs, one more than on Nov. 10 but 4 less than on Nov. 13.
On Nov. 16, Carriage House Manor continued to have four active employee cases (up from 1 on Nov. 10) and four active resident cases (up two from Nov. 10).
Rock Creek Health and Rehab had five active employee cases (up from none on Nov. 10) but no resident cases on Nov. 16 (down from one on Nov. 10), according to arrest reports.
SSHR’s active employee count dropped from 10 on Nov. 10 to six on Nov. 13 and two on Nov. 16. SSHR was reported to have three COVID-19 cases on Nov. 10, down from 13 n Nov. 9, but only one active resident case on Nov. 16.
Sunny Springs Nursing & Rehab picked up one active COVID-19 case on Nov. 13 and still had one on Nov. 16. The facility had no active COVID-19 cases on Nov. 16, according to the Nov. 30 HHS Covid-19 nursing facility report.
The only active COIVD-19 case reported Nov. 16 for Sulphur Springs assisted living facilities was an employee at Wesley House, HHS reported on Nov. 30.
There were no active COIVD-19 cases reported for Hopkins County licensed child care centers, school-age programs, and before and after-school programs on Nov. 29.
COVID-19 Fatalities
Of the 833 Hopkins County residents (2.24 percent of the population) who have received positive molecular results, 52 (6.24 percent) residents were confirmed by death certificate to have died from COVID-19.
Only one other county in the eight counties immediately around Hopkins had a higher fatality rate among positive cases: 8 percent (18 residents) of the 225 Red River County residents who have received positive COVID-19 results died from the virus.
Two other counties have had more fatalities than Hopkins, but also have larger populations and more positive molecular COVID-19 cases, so their fatality percentages are lower than those of Hopkins County, according to the Nov. 30 DSHS Case Counts dashboards.
Hunt County as of Nov. 30 had received confirmation 59 of the 2,740 residents who have tested positive on molecular tests died from COVID-19. That’s a positivity percentage of 2.78 percent of the population, and a death rate of 2.15 percent among positive cases and 0.06 percent among the overall population.
In Lamar County, 67 of the 2,674 positive cases have died from COVID-19. That’s a positivity rate of 5.37 percent among the overall population, and death rates of 2.5 percent of COVID-19 positive residents and 0.13 percent of the overall population.
Only two other counties have had more residents test positive for COVID, but both have had fewer deaths, so their COVID-19 fatality percentages are smaller as well.
In Wood County, 891 of the more than 45,500 residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, for a positivity rate of 1.96 percent. Of the 891 positive cases, there have been 49 COVID-19 fatalities. That’s 0.11 percent of the total population of Wood County and 5.5 percent of positive cases that have resulted in death due COVID-19.
In Titus County, which has about 4,250 fewer residents than Hopkins County, 1,793 residents (5.47 percent) have tested positive for COVID-19 since March, including 41 residents who died from COVID-19. That’s a COVID-19 fatality rate of 2.29 percent among infected Titus County residents and 0.13 percent of the total population.
A second COVID-19 fatality has been reported from among the 50 Delta County residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. That’s a COVID-19 positivity rate of 0.94 percent percent, but death rates of 4. percent of infected residents and 0.04 percent of the Delta County population of just over 5,300.
Ten (4.02 percent) of the 249 COIVD-19 positive residents in Franklin County have died from COVID-19.
All Hopkins County, Winnsboro, Yantis School Districts Received Superior FIRST Ratings
All Hopkins County, Winnsboro and Yantis school districts have received superior FIRST ratings from the state of Texas. These are the annual Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas evaluations of fiscal year 2018-2019 finances based on information submitted by districts using a state template.
According to Texas Education Agency, 1,021 school districts across the state were evaluated. Only 9 school districts (Meridian ISD, Culberson County-Allamoore ISD, Karnes City ISD, Divide ISD, Roscoe Collegiate ISD, Leander ISD, Floresville ISD, Rio Hondo ISD and Jim Hogg County ISD) received failing FIRST ratings. Overall, 898 or 88.04 percent of districts evaluated receive superior ratings (As), 81 districts (7.94 percent) received a B or Above Standard rating, 32 districts (3.14 percent) received a C or meets Meets Standard FIRST ratings.
Scoring Explained
The state evaluates districts’ finances based on 15 indicators, four with yes or no answers and 11 with formulas to derive numbers which then are checked against a scale, which determines points per indicator.
In order to pass, school districts had to score at least 60 points on the FIRST indicators. Al Hopkins County districts as well as Yantis and Winnsobro received As. In fact, the lowest score received by any of the 9 school districts was a 92, received by Cumby ISD. Sulphur Bluff and Winnsboro each received a 98. The six remaining school districts — Como-Pickton, Miller Grove, North Hopkins, Saltillo, Sulphur Springs and Yantis – received a perfect score of 100 on the FIRST rating, according to the final scores posted for 2019-2020 by Texas Education Agency.
SB received was one of 154 schools across the state (15.10 percent) to receive a score of 8 of a possible 10 points on indicator 11 which asks “Was the school district’s administrative cost ratio equal to or less than the threshold ratio?” Because Sulphur Bluff ISD’s administrative cost ratio is 0.2589 and the average daily attendance is 217.214 SB received a score of 8. In order to receive a perfect score, SBISD’s administrative cost ratio would have to be 0.2404 or less.
Cumby ISD received less than perfect scores on three indicators.
Indicator 6 asks “Was the number of days of cash on hand and current investments in the general fund for the school district sufficient to cover operating expenditures (excluding facilities acquisition and construction)?”
This is derived by dividing the total of Cash & Equivalents and Current Investments (740,634 +10,493) by the Total Expenditures minus Facilities Acquisition and Construction (4,588,036 -112,091), then multiplying that by 365. Cumby’s total was 61.2522, for which the district received 6 of a possible 10 points.
Indicator 7 asks “Was the measure of current assets to current liabilities ratio for the school district sufficient to cover short-term debt? This is derived by dividing the district’s current assets by its current liabilities (1,515,307/535,236). Cumby ISD scored 2.8311, for which the district received 8 of 10 points.
Indicator 10 asks “Was the debt service coverage ratio sufficient to meet the required debt service? The formula for Indicator 10 requires the district to subtract the total expenditures from total revenues in the General and Debt Service Funds ($4,626,473 revenue – $4,738,487 expenditures). Debt service function codes 71, 72, and 73 in the General and Service Funds; Fund Code 599 for the ending debt service fund balance; and Function Code 81 are then added to the first number ($280,183 + $45,727 + $112,091). That total amount is then divided by debt service function codes 71, 72, and 73 (in the General Fund and Debt Service Fund ((280,183). That gave Cumby ISD a 1.1635 percentage, for which the district received 8 points.
| School District Evaluated | FIRST Score | FIRST Grade | FIRST Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Como-Pickton CISD | 100 | A | Superior |
| Cumby ISD | 92 | A | Superior |
| Miller Grove ISD | 100 | A | Superior |
| North Hopkins ISD | 100 | A | Superior |
| Saltillo ISD | 100 | A | Superior |
| Sulphur Buff ISD | 98 | A | Superior |
| Sulphur Springs ISD | 100 | A | Superior |
| Winnsboro ISD | 98 | A | Superior |
| Yantis ISD | 100 | A | Superior |
The only indicator on which Winnsboro did not receive a full 10 points was on indicator 8, which asks “Was the ratio of long-term liabilities to total assets for the school district sufficient to support long-term solvency? If the school district’s increase of students in membership over 5 years was 7 percent or more, then the school district passes this indicator?”
School Districts’ FIRST Public Meetings
School districts are required to hold public meetings to allow community members to ask questions about the rating. The following notices were provided to KSST regarding district FIRST meetings:
- Miller Grove ISD will conduct a public meeting on Monday, December 14, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the High School Library to review and discuss the 2020 School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating. This year’s rating of Superior is based on the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
- Saltillo ISD will conduct a public meeting on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Superintendent’s office to review and discuss the 2020 School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating. This year’s rating of Superior is based on the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
- Sulphur Bluff ISD will conduct a public meeting on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room to review and discuss the 2020 School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating. This year’s rating of Superior is based on the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
Monday Practice Begins For Wildcats, Lady Cats Soccer
Monday, November 30, marks the first day the UIL will allow soccer teams to start up practice after school. The Wildcats, under third year Coach Alexi Upton and the Lady Cats of second year Coach Javier Aguayo, will be hitting the practice field.
Wildcats Soccer
Coach Alexi Upton says his Wildcats are excited and, after the season was cut off last March due to coronavirus, are ready to get back and get started. Coach Upton says his first task will be to just get everyone together. He says they are ready talent-wise but, he says, he is set to begin teaching team tactics and team concepts.
Coach Upton expects his Wildcats to get off to a good start. He says he likes the draws his team got in tournaments and he says he does not see any match ups right now with any super teams.
The Wildcats open the regular season in a Forney tournament on January 7. Coach Upton says he expects his team to have a good record going into district play February 2.
He says district foes Mount Pleasant and Longview to be formidable opponents. There will also be Pine Tree, Hallsville, Texas High and Marshall.
Among the returning Wildcats are senior forward Omar Hernandez, who had 12 goals last year, Alejandro Diosdado, who scored 8 goals, and senior defender David Moreno, a Wildcats captain last season. Coach Upton says they will be joined by a lot of Wildcats who have grown up a lot since last year.
Among question marks, Coach Upton says he must find a goalkeeper. He says one candidate is Alex Rodriguez, currently finishing up the football season as a nose guard. Coach Upton says there are also some young candidates.
He says another mission is to develop the Wildcats into a unit that can get the job done. Coach Upton says that means playing solid defense while being athletic and playing fast. He says he is super excited.
The Wildcats have six scrimmage dates to get ready for the regular season. The first one is on December 12 against North Lamar, Sabine and Mineola. Then comes a December 14 scrimmage against a soccer power last season, West Mesquite.
Lady Cats Soccer
Lady Cats Coach Javier Aguayo says he and his players are excited about the beginning of practice. He says the first practice will include an emphasis on conditioning. Coach Aguayo says he will also begin to stress the importance of ball possession.
He says the Lady Cats have the potential to be good this season but, he also notes, they are young. He says experience does matter. Back for the Lady Cats will be seniors Janine Yamaguchi and defender Chloe Jones, junior Vanessa Lara, and sophomores, goal scorer Rebekah Stanley and defender Isabelle Thesing.
Coach Aguayo says he too must find a goalkeeper after two graduated last year. He says he will also have to replace an All-District Midfielder of The Year, Ashley Noe, and an All-District First Team defender, Shelby McCormick. He is also in need of a right back defender. Coach Aguayo says a freshman is penciled into the position right now.
The Lady Cats also have six scrimmage dates starting with a home match against Royse City on December 10. Among other scrimmage foes are Paris, North Lamar, Community, Terrell and North Forney. Coach Aguayo expects tough district battles with Mount Pleasant and Longview. Tough Hallsville and Pine Tree along with Texas High and Marshall round out the district.
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.
